HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE 14TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME CYCLE II
THEME: Our Relationship with the Lord will always be a personal one.
BY: Fr. Diotacious Chikontwe SMA
HOMILY FOR MONDAY JULY 4 2022
*READINGS OF THE DAY*
Hosea 2:16,17-18,21-22
Psalm 144:2-9
Matthew 9:18-26
*LITURGICAL COLOUR*
Green
*ABOUT THE FIRST READING OF TODAY*
There is a very striking image of God’s relationship with his people in today’s first reading from the prophet Hosea, it is the image of God as the husband of his people. God betrothed himself to his people, giving himself in marriage to them, and, in doing so, displaying qualities of integrity, justice, tenderness, love and faithfulness. It was Jesus who fully revealed this faithful love of God for his people.
*ABOUT THE GOSPEL READING OF TODAY*
In the gospel reading this morning, two people approach Jesus for healing. One of them, a synagogue official, asks Jesus to come and touch his daughter who has just died, laying his hands on her. The other, a woman with a flow of blood, comes to touch Jesus for herself. Indeed, she limits herself to touching the fringe of his cloak. Both the official and the woman recognize the healing power of touching Jesus or being touched by Jesus.
*WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM THE LITURGICAL READINGS OF TODAY?*
Our relationship with the Lord is a deeply personal one. As we relate to each other out of our uniqueness, so too we relate to the Lord out of our unique personality and history. Even when we are praying together, as we do at Mass, reciting the same prayers together, we do so in a way that is personal to each one of us. The Lord respected the very different way that the two people approached him in the gospel reading and responded to each of them equally.
*CONCLUSION*
Dear Friends in Christ, our good Lord respected the very different way that the two people approached him in the gospel reading and responded to each of them equally. The Lord respects us in our uniqueness. He recognized and rejoices in the personal nature of our faith. He calls us by name, respecting our individuality. The Christian faith is a communal faith; we journey together to the Lord who is always at work to form a community of believers. Yet, that communal nature of our faith never eradicates what is unique to each of us.
*LET US PRAY*
Lord, you alone are the healer our world seeks. Help me to grow in faith, and when I am in need of healing. Give me the courage to witness to others about the healings I have already experienced so that my faith may lead them to seek you when all appears lost. Amen.
Fr. Diotacious Chikontwe SMA