HOMILY OF THURSDAY 7TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR B




HOMILY OF THURSDAY 7TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR B

HOMILY THEME: THEME: AVOIDING EVIL TO EXPERIENCE LASTING PEACE!

BY: Fr. Isaac Awe

JAMES 5:1-6, MARK 9:41-50

“Act now, you who are wealthy! Weep and wail in your miseries, which will soon come upon you! Your riches have been corrupted, and your garments have been eaten by moths.” (James 5:1-2) Hmmmm! Is this not shocking? Is it a crime to be wealthy again? Should we not work again to earn our living? No, we should not think that way but we should give room for moderation and be contented. Let us keep in mind that we are in the world but not for the world. Hence, “For desire is the root of all evils. Some persons, hungering in this way, have strayed from the faith and have entangled themselves in many sorrows.” (1Timothy 6:10) Following the dictum of St Paul to Timothy, the gospel of today built on the foundations both laid by St James and Timothy by encouraging us to cut ourselves off of anything that serves as hindrance towards smooth and peaceful relationship with God and Man.

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Was Jesus’ exaggerating when he urged his followers to use drastic measures to avoid evil and its harmful consequences? Jesus set before his disciples the one supreme goal in life that is worth any sacrifice, and that goal is God himself and his will for our lives which leads to everlasting peace and happiness. Just as a doctor might remove a limb or some part of the body in order to preserve the life of the whole body, so we must be ready to part with anything that causes us to sin and which leads to spiritual death. Jesus warns his disciples of the terrible responsibility that they must set no stumbling block in the way of another, that is, not give offense or bad example that might lead another to sin. The Greek word for temptation (scandalon) is exactly the same as the English word scandal. The original meaning of scandal is a trap or a stumbling block which causes one to trip and fall. The Jews held that it was an unforgivable sin to teach another to sin. If we teach another to sin, he in turn may teach still another, until a train of sin is set in motion with no foreseeable end. The young in faith are especially vulnerable to the bad example of those who should be passing on the faith. Do we set a good example for others to follow, especially the young?

REFLECTION: And all the nations shall be gathered together before him. And he shall separate them from one another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. (Matthew 25:32)

PRAYER: Lord, fill us with your Holy Spirit that we may radiate the joy of the gospel to others. May your light and truth shine through us that others may find new life and freedom from sin and the corruption of evil. Amen

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