HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSIS, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH.
THEME: The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today. Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that have received–only what you have given.(St Francis)
BY: Fr Diotacious Chikontwe SMA
HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OCTOBER 4 2022.
*READINGS OF THE DAY*
Galatians 6:14-18
Psalm 15:1-2,5,7-8,11
Matthew 11:28-30
*LITURGICAL COLOUR*
WHITE
*INTRODUCTION*
Dear Friends in Christ, today we celebrate the feast of St Francis of Assisi. Baptised with the name Giovanni, renamed Francisco. His date of birth is not very well specified. One thing we are sure of is that he was born between 1181 or 112 at duchy of Spoleto in Italy. He died on 16th July, 1928. His feast day is always on the 4th of October. He is the founder of the Franciscan Orders of the Friars Minor(OFM), and the Women’s order of St Claire. (Poor Clares) and the lay Third Order (Teresiary). He is the patron saint of Ecology).
*FROM THE FIRST READING*
In our first reading of today, we have heard in our first reading today t, we are all reminded that God is calling on us all to follow Him, and He is the One Who is making us worthy and changed us, led us and guided us to the right path. We are reminded that there is hope for everyone, even for the worst sinners and the greatest offenders as long as they are willing to allow God to lead them once again down the right path.
*FROM THE GOSPEL READING*
In this morning’s gospel reading Jesus is offered hospitality by two women, Martha and her sister Mary. Each of the sisters offers a different type of hospitality to Jesus. Martha shows him the hospitality of activity, whereas Mary offers him the hospitality of listening. Both forms of hospitality are very valid in their own way. We can receive people into our lives by doing things for them and we can receive people by being attentive to what they have to say to us.
*CONCLUSION*
Dear brethrens, all of us living in this world today, St. Francis of Assisi and his examples remind us not to be easily swayed by those same worldly temptations, and not to have excessive attachments and entanglements with worldly matters and desires. Money, wealth, material possessions and other worldly things themselves are not evil per se, as those can very well be used for good and worthy purposes as well. It is rather our unhealthy attachments and obsessions with them that we must avoid at all costs. That is why we need to reexamine our conscience and our focus in life so that we do not end up walking down the wrong path like so many others had done before us.
Happy Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi.