|
|
 |
 |
Quick Links |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quick Survey |
|
| Do you know what a synod is? |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Online Chat |
|
 |
|
| |
|
|
 |
Important Info  Homily For The Day |
|
|
|
|
1. 6 February 2010—Paul Miki and Companions
1 Kgs 3.4-13/Ps 119/Mk 6.30-34
Emptying our hearts of hatred
Today the Church is honouring the great martyrs of Nagasaki in Japan, Paul Miki and his twenty-five companions. They were martyred by crucifixion in 1597 because of their conversion to Christianity. Indeed, the cost of discipleship can sometimes be very grave. That notwithstanding, those who have immersed themselves in their love for Christ and their commitment to the Christian faith shall always remain victorious, even in the face of death.
As Paul Miki hanged crucified he declared: "The only reason for my being killed is that I have taught the doctrine of Christ. I thank God it is for this reason that I die. I believe that I am telling the truth before I die. I know you believe me and I want to say to you all once again: Ask Christ to help you become happy. I obey Christ. After Christ's example, I forgive my persecutors. I do not hate them. I ask God to have pity on all, and I hope my blood will fall on my fellow men as a fruitful rain."
We are enjoined to ask Christ to make us happy. If Christ is our source of joy, nothing cruel can torment us. The joy of the Lord will even move us to forgive our enemies and always pray for their good. Paul Miki forgave his persecutors. In our First Reading from First Kings, King Solomon exhibited similar magnanimity when he did not ask for the life of his enemies. God said through the sacred writer: “Because you...have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies....indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind” (1 Kgs 3.11-12).
Can there be anything better than a gift of wise and discerning mind from the Lord? If we desire these gifts from God, then let us imitate Paul Miki and Solomon by asking the Lord. Let us learn to empty our hearts of hatred so that we can create space big enough to receive the blessings of God.
“Dear Lord, we thank you for the gift of our martyrs. May their blood continue to be a fruitful rain bringing many people to conversion. Give me their strength to be steadfast in the face f difficulties. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”
|
2. Homily: 5th Sun in Ord Time, Yr C Rev Fr J P Tindana
Isa 6.1-2a, 3-8/Ps 138/1 Cor 15.1-11 or 15.3-8, 11/Lk 5.1-11
Our First Reading from the prophet Isaiah recounts the marvellous vision the prophet had of God in the Temple of Jerusalem. He had that vision in the year King Uzziah died.
Uzziah became the King of Judah at the age of sixteen to succeed his father Amaziah (2 Chron 26.1). “He did what was right in the sight of the Lord...and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him prosper” (2 Chron 26.4-5). Under the reign of King Uzziah, Judah experienced political stability, victory in battles, cities were built and towers erected, agriculture and commerce were encouraged.
Unfortunately for Uzziah, “when he had become strong he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was false to the Lord his God, and entered the temple of the Lord to make offering on the altar of incense” (2 Chron 26.16).
The Lord struck him with leprosy and he died a leper, being separated from his royal court. This was punishment for his invasion of the temple of the Lord. It was not his duty to offer sacrifices. He failed to honour God who was the real power behind his throne.
Perhaps it was during the enthronement of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, in the temple that Isaiah had this vision. He saw the Lord, the real King, the real Sovereign sitting on a high and lofty throne. So awesome was the spectacle, Isaiah struggled to find appropriate words to describe what he saw. He said: “The hem of His robe filled the temple” (Isa 6.1). It was not God who filled the temple, but just the hem of His robe.
Listen: “Seraphs were in attendance above Him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew” (Isa 6.2). They covered their faces because the splendour of God was so much they could not behold it directly. If you like, the radiance of God was blinding.
The Seraphs sang the perfect holiness of God: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory” (Isa 6.3). So strong were the voices of those who sang, the very pivots on the thresholds shook and the house was filled with smoke.
If the very angels feared to look on the radiance of God, so that they covered their faces, how much more the prophet? He cried, and rightly so: “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” (Isa 6.5)
We are told one of the Seraphs took a live coal from the altar and touched the lips of the prophet and declared him clean. The voice of the Lord boomed: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” (Isa 6.8a) Isaiah said: “Here am I; send me!” (Is 6.8b)
In our Gospel Reading today Jesus called some unlikely people to be His disciples. They were of low status and estate in society. The people of higher class would have looked down upon Simon, James and John who were fishermen. Whereas society may disregard certain class of people, Jesus on the other hand welcomes all into His fold. Those who come into His fold are transformed into something new.
When our Gracious Lord told Simon Peter to put out into the deep water and lower his nets for a catch, he had his own doubts. He told Jesus they had worked hard all night and caught nothing. That notwithstanding, if Jesus wanted them to repeat the whole process again, they were ready to obey.
The obedience of Simon and his friends yielded unprecedented results in their lives as fishermen. Scripture says they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. So shocked was Simon Peter at the catch, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said: “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” (Lk 5.8)
He had a similar experience to what Isaiah had in our First Reading. Simon Peter came face to face with holiness. It was so overwhelming he wished to run away. Thankfully, God’s way is not to reveal Himself to us in order to abandon us. We are exposed to holiness in order to become holy ourselves.
Jesus told Peter: “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people” (Lk 5.10). The disciple must not fear when the Lord seeks to enter into his life. The Lord is not an inquisitive intruder whose presence will spoil the party of our lives. Indeed, the presence of the Lord in our lives will rather make it sweet.
Even in our day, the Lord is still asking: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Isaiah responded positively to this call and so did Simon Peter and the other disciples. What about you? What has been your response to the Lord’s calling?
Jesus has called us to follow Him. We are a blessed people and we must extend this blessing to others. Paul rightly stated: “He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Col 1.13-14). This is our blessing, let us bless others today.
We should always remember that we do not have to be holy before we come to the Lord. The opposite is correct—we come to the Lord in our wretchedness and He makes us whole. The prophets and disciples of old give credence to this truth. May this truth bring to your heart joy and peace.
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
|
Related Articles |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
