Homily for Saturday of the 5th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle II
Theme: Lord Give me a Generous Heart of Giving minus counting!
By: Fr. Diotacious Chikontwe SMA
Homily for Saturday February 12 2022
*READINGS OF THE DAY*
1 Kings 12:26-32,13:33-34
Psalm 105:6-7,19-22
Mark 8:1-10
*INTRODUCTION*
Dear brothers and sisters today is the Saturday of the fifth week in Ordinary Time of Year C. And on this beautiful day, the Lord is reminding us how he has shown us that great love and compassion, even when we have openly rebelled against Him and abandoned Him through our sinful actions.
*THE FIRST READING*
The first reading of today is simply telling us about the story of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah, we heard of how Israel and Judah, the two halves of the once united Kingdom of Israel, were separated further after Jeroboam, the first king of the northern kingdom resolved to keep the kingdoms and their people further apart by establishing his own centres of worship in Bethel and Dan, rivalling the House of God in Jerusalem as he feared that the people would soon reject him and return to the House of David. Worse still, he made the likeness of golden calves as idols for his people to worship instead of God, a direct reference to the golden calf that the Israelites had made for themselves at Mount Sinai.
*THE GOSPEL READING*
Today’s gospel tells us about the feeding of Jesus of about four thousand people out of the seven breads that were offered to him. He feeds them because they are with Him for three days and they are hungry.
*WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM THE READINGS OF TODAY?*
Dear brethrens, let us know and always remember that the Lord loves us all, he sacrificed his life for us, by giving His own Most Precious Body and Blood, He, the Bread of Life, offering Himself freely to us so that all of us who partake of Him and share in the Eucharist, the gift of the bread and wine turned into Our Lord’s own Most Precious and Holy Body and Blood, that we shall have eternal life through Him. Through Him we have received the assurance of eternal life and true joy surpassing all other things, and through Christ we have found this new hope in life.
*CONCLUSION*
Are we all willing to embrace God’s love and kindness, His compassion and mercy for us? Are we still stubborn in our refusal to reject sin and all of our past wicked ways? Let us all discern these things carefully and remind ourselves just how fortunate we are to have been truly beloved by God all these while.
*LET US PRAY*
Heavenly Father, Teach me to be generous: to serve you as you deserve to be served; to give without counting the cost; to fight without fear of being wounded; to work without seeking rest; and to spend myself without expecting any reward, but the knowledge that I am doing your holy will. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Fr. Diotacious Chikontwe SMA