HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE 13TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME CYCLE II
THEME: And Jesus replied, ‘Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their dead.’
BY: Fr. Diotacious Chikontwe SMA
HOMILY FOR MONDAY JUNE 27 2022
Memorial of St. Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop and Doctor of the Church.
*READINGS OF THE DAY*
Amos 2:6-10,13-16
Psalm 49:16-23
Matthew 8:18-22
*LITURGICAL COLOUR*
Green
*FROM OUR FIRST READING*
In our first reading today, which was taken from the Book of the prophet Amos, we heard of the Lord speaking to the people of Israel, about their wickedness and sins against Him, and how wicked they had been in their behaviour, in their mistreatment of one another especially for the poor and the weak, and God reminded them how He Himself had rescued them when they were struck down and oppressed by the same prideful and wicked people.
*FROM OUR GOSPEL READING*
In today’s Gospel reading, we also heard of the Lord speaking to His disciples regarding the matter of following Him and being His servants and in walking down the path that He had set before them. The Lord told them frankly how following Him does not mean having good and pleasant lives, and they may have to endure difficulties and challenges in their path and in being faithful disciples and role models for one another. The Lord did not mince His words and He told them the truth, so that they know that to be Christians, to be His followers and disciples, much are expected of us all.
*CONCLUSION*
We can all be tempted to put off following the Lord until sometime in the future. We may be aware that the Lord is calling us to something, but we kept putting off our response to that call. Jesus’ words remind us that there is an urgency about his call. Today, now, the present moment, is always the ideal time to respond to his call. The two responses of Jesus in today’s gospel reading suggest that he doesn’t want us to become too settled in our following of him, or to keep postponing our response to his call indefinitely.
A Blessed Week i wish for you!
Fr. Diotacious Chikontwe SMA