HOMILY FOR THE 30TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C.
THEME: One good thing you should not take by yourself.
BY: Fr. Justus Oruma.
HOMILY FOR SUNDAY OCTOBER 23 2022.
(a) It is good to note that there is at least one thing, though good, you should not give to yourself. This is honor. Never praise or honor yourself before people. Never honor or justify yourself as righteous before God. If you must be honored and praised, let it come from the people willingly, and at best, from God who knows the secrets of our hearts
(b) This was mistake of the Pharisee, he honored and justified himself. The Gospel of Luke 18, presents this as idolatory and egoism- the Pharisee in self-praise of what he does special prayed to himself and not to God. He praised and worship himself and not God. Anyone who honors or justifies himself as a righteous person because of what he thinks he does, is a proud person. In this state of self-acknowledgment and honor, he will never acknowledge that he is a sinner, he will never accepts his mistakes, and can never say, I am sorry. He is always right. Even in the confessional, he seeks to justify himself why he commit a sin. He thinks himself a special one while despising others for their lacks and short-coming. The Pharisee could not entertain sharing the same Temple with the Publican, who accepted his faults and mistakes and was asking for God’s mercy. He saw himself even unworthy to look up, but God justified him.
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(c) While praying to God or in your discussions with your fellow human beings, let the good works you do speak and loud your praises and then you must wait for the honor and justification from above as St Paul captured it; “which the Lord the just judge will render to me in that day” (2Tim.4:8) for the ultimate justification and glory comes from God for as we read; “those He called, He justified and those he justified He glorified” (Rom.8:30). We are justified by his grace (Rom.3:24), and not just because we fast and pay our tithes as the Pharisee prayed. Allow God to honor, justify and glorify you in your good works. Never you take the honor upon yourself (Heb.5:4) and never despise anyone.
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