HOMILY OF 17TH FRIDAY OF THE ORDINARY TIME — YEAR A
HOMILY THEME: “ISN’T THIS JUST THE CARPENTER’S SON? WE KNOWLEDGE HIS FAMILY!”
BY: Fr Deotacious Chikontwe SMA
Lev 23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34b-37; Psalm 81:3-6, 10-11; Matt 13:54-58
My friends, brothers, and sisters in Christ,
Today is August 1st, and the readings of today have a simple but powerful message for us. They remind us to give thanks to God with a joyful heart and to keep our faith strong, even when it’s hard.
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ABOUT THE FIRST READING
Our first reading today, is like a list of special parties God wanted His people to have. He gave them a calendar of holy days and feasts, like Passover and Pentecost. These weren’t just a bunch of rules; they were invitations. Invitations to stop working, to rest, and to remember all the good things God had done for them. They were times for the whole community to come together to thank God and celebrate His goodness. This was how they kept their faith strong, by never forgetting God’s love and care.
WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM THIS FIRST READING?
This is a good lesson for us today. We have our own special times to remember God—like Sunday Mass, or the big holidays like Christmas and Easter. These are our opportunities to take a break from our busy lives, to gather as a community, and to say “thank you” to God. When we do this with a happy heart, we are doing just what the Israelites did: we are strengthening our faith and getting closer to God.
ABOUT THE GOSPEL READING
In our gospel reading, Jesus goes back to His hometown, to the people who knew Him best. And what happens? They can’t believe in Him. They say, “Isn’t this just the carpenter’s son? We know his family!” They were so used to seeing Him as just a normal person that they couldn’t see the Son of God standing right in front of them. Their lack of faith kept them from receiving His blessings.
Jesus couldn’t do any miracles there because their hearts were closed.
WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM THE GOSPEL READING?
This part of the Gospel asks us to look at ourselves. Do we ever miss out on God’s blessings because we think we know it all? Do we put limits on what God can do in our lives? The people in Jesus’ hometown had a choice to believe, but they didn’t. This story reminds us that we need to keep our hearts open to Jesus. We must trust in His work, even when it surprises us, and even when other people doubt.
CONCLUSION
So today, let’s try to do two things. First, let’s make a commitment to thank God with a joyful heart, especially during our times of worship. And second, let’s ask God for a heart that is open and trusting, a faith that is strong enough to see His work in our lives, no matter how He chooses to show it to us.
Have a blessed new month of August
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