HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE 6TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR B
THEME: No sign shall be given to this generation.
BY: Fr Deotacious Chikontwe SMA
READINGS OF THE DAY
James 1:1-11
Ps 118:67-68,71-72,75-76
Mark 8:11-13
LITURGICAL COLOUR
GREEN
INTRODUCTION
Good morning my dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we celebrate Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time of Year B.
ALSO RECOMMENDED: MONDAY HOMILY, 5TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME / YEAR B (St Agatha, Virgin, Martyr).
FROM OUR FIRST READING
In our first reading today, we heard from the letter of Saint James in which the Apostle Saint James told the faithful to put their faith and trust in the Lord, and whatever that they may be lacking, be it in wisdom or anything else, they should seek them in the Lord, Who would guide them and strengthen them in all things. They should not doubt or be filled with anxiety or uncertainty, as in the Lord there is true and real assurance of hope and redemption, help and recourse from our trials and troubles. Those who doubt and are divided in their minds will not have peace and happiness, because they cannot trust in God’s Providence, and will always try to seek for consolation and help in the various other means and assistance from the world.
FROM OUR GOSPEL READING
In today’s gospel reading, Jesus displays a weariness of spirit in response to the Pharisees’ demand of for a sign from heaven. Surely Jesus had already given them sufficient signs from heaven by healing the sick, communicating God’s forgiveness to sinners, proclaiming the presence of God’s kingdom in word and deed. They clearly wanted a more spectacular sign from Jesus that would make it impossible for them not to believe in him as God’s anointed one. Jesus does not submit to the demand of the Pharisees for such a sign but, rather, leaves them and crosses to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.
CONCLUSION
At some time in our lives, we can all find ourselves hoping for such a sign, even if we don’t demand one. Especially, if we are trying to discern what the Lord may be asking of us, we often long for some sign that would make the Lord’s will for our lives clearer to us. It is a legitimate and understandable longing. Yet, the response of Jesus to the Pharisees in the gospel reading suggests that the obtaining of clear signs should not be our primary longing. Rather than asking for signs from the Lord, what should we ask for? Wisdom is something we can certainly all pray for, in the expectation that our pray will be heard. We need the wisdom from on high if we are to discern what the Lord may be asking of us. Here is certainly a case of, ‘ask and you will receive, seek and you will find’, in the words of Jesus elsewhere in the gospels.
I wish everyone a Blessed New Week.
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