HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE 5TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR I.
THEME: This is why a man leaves his father and mother and joins himself to his wife, and they become one body.
BY: Fr. Diotacious Chikontwe SMA.
*READINGS OF THE DAY*
Genesis 2:18-25
Psalm 127:1-5
Mark 7:24-30
*LITURGICAL COLOUR*
GREEN
*FROM OUR FIRST READING*
In our first reading today, the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone. I will make him a helpmate.’ So from the soil the Lord God fashioned all the wild beasts and all the birds of heaven. But no helpmate suitable for man was found for him. So the Lord God made the man fall into a deep sleep. And while he slept, he took one of his ribs and enclosed it in flesh. The Lord God built the rib he had taken from the man into a woman, and brought her to the man. The man exclaimed: This at last is bone from my bones, and flesh from my flesh! This is to be called woman.This is why a man leaves his father and mother and joins himself to his wife, and they become one body.
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*FROM OUR GOSPEL READING*
In today’s gospel reading, we find a Gentile woman who puts Jesus on the spot by pleading for His mercy on her daughter who was afflicted with an evil spirit. At first Jesus seems no attention is given to her and this made his disciples feel embarrassed. Jesus does this to test the woman to awaken faith in her. For the Greeks the ‘dog’ is a symbol of dishonor and is used to describe a shameless and audacious woman. Matthew’s gospel records the expression: do not give dogs what is holy. Jesus, no doubt, speaks with a smile rather than with an insult because this woman immediately responds with wit and faith, “even the dogs eat the crumbs.” Jesus praises this Gentile woman for her faith and for her love.
*CONCLUSION*
Dear brethrens, with the inspiration of todays readings, may all of us continue to grow ever more in faith, and may we all grow ever stronger in our devotion and love for God, and may all of us do all that we can in order to glorify Him by our lives, our actions, words and every deeds. Let us all turn towards the Lord with renewed faith and zeal, and let us all be good examples and inspirations to one another, so that we may encourage each other to keep our faith and to turn away the falsehoods and lies of Satan. May God be with us always, and may He guide us to Himself, and help us to walk ever more faithfully in His Presence, now and always, forevermore. Amen.
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