HOMILY FOR SATURDAY OF THE 29TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME OF YEAR II. (2)

HOMILY FOR SATURDAY OF THE 29TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME OF YEAR II.

THEME: But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!

BY: Fr. Diotacious Chikontwe SMA.

HOMILY FOR SATURDAY OCTOBER 22 2022.

 

*READINGS OF THE DAY*
Ephesians 4:7-16
Psalm 121:1-5
Luke 13:1-9

*LITURGICAL COLOUR*
GREEN

*FROM OUR FIRST READING*
In the first reading, Saint Paul makes a very consoling statement, ‘the Spirit of God has made his home in you’. We don’t often think of ourselves as the home of the Holy Spirit. We can be much more aware of our failings. Yet, in virtue of our baptism and the Lord’s continued investment in us we are all homes of the Holy Spirit, or, as Saint Paul puts it in another one of his letters, temples of the Holy Spirit. God has poured the Spirit of his Son, the Spirit of Christ, into our hearts. That continuing initiative of God towards us does not leave us complacent, but it means that we can be always hopeful in our own regard. There is no telling what good the Spirit can do in our lives, if we give him half a chance.

*FROM OUR GOSPEL READING*
In our Gospel passage today, we heard the Lord telling His disciples that all those people who had suffered due to the riot in Galilee and the collapse of the tower in Siloah had met their end, and while it was not due to any fault of theirs, but the Lord highlighted to them all, that unless they changed their ways and actions, then they would face the end in the same manner as those who had perished experienced. He used this example to highlight how all of our actions and works, our beliefs and faith truly matter as they all determine whether we are going to be worthy of the Lord, or whether our actions and lives will condemn us at the Day of Judgment. The choice and opportunities have been given to us, and now therefore it is up to us whether we will act on it or not.

*CONCLUSION*
The parable of the fig tree in todays gospel reading suggests that God waits patiently for us to turn more fully towards him. God is less like the vineyard owner who wanted to cut the fruitless tree down because it was taking up valuable space and more like the servant who looked after the vineyard and argued that the tree ought to be given more time. The Lord is always giving us time, but he looks to us to use the time to open our hearts more fully to his presence, his Spirit, so that our lives can be more fruitful, alive with the fruit of the Spirit. The Lord keeps giving us time, so that, over time, we can become, the person he desires us to be.
The Lord Be With You.

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