Reflection/Homily: Fourth (4th) Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C (January 31 2016)

Theme: Courage in Christian Discipleship

The call to Christian discipleship is a call that requires a lot of courage. Courage is the ability to face difficulties and uncertainties without being overcome by the fear of the tribulations one might encounter. To be truly Christian, we need to be courageous. The Bible talks about so many great men and women of great courage. Peter was a good apostle because he had the courage to keep moving even when the circumstances were unfavourable. Stephen became the first Christian martyr because he had the courage to face a heroic death. St. Paul was successful in bringing the Good News to the gentile world because he had the courage to confront the difficulties he met on the way. Several other instances abound. 

Reflection/Homily: Twentieth (20th) Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C (August 18 2013)

Reflection/Homily: Twentieth (20^th) Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C (August 18 2013)

Theme: Courage to Swim Against the Tide

We live in a world where there is a constant clash of opposites. There is always a battle between good and evil forces. In our lives, the battle is between the desire to do good and the desire to go evil. Every attempt we make today is geared towards making a choice as to which force we will incline to or which desire we will satisfy. Often, we discover that these evil forces and desires seem to be stronger and appear more attractive. It apparently seems better to defraud an unsuspecting rich man to become rich quicker than to keep struggling for genuine wealth.

Today, our world has been ravaged by relativism. Everybody does what one considers best for oneself irrespective of its moral objectivity. There is almost nothing objectively morally good or bad. In a world where situationism (a case where the situation of things determines the morality of an action) have taken the day, the Word of God in the first reading (Jer. 30:4-6, 8-10) invites us to be courageous in doing what ought to be done. It presents us with the example of Jeremiah who despite the terrifying situation of things remained courageous to proclaim the Word of God. Jeremiah preached what was completely against the popular needs of his time. He prophesied doom to the unrepentant city of Judah.

Reflection/Homily: Fourth (4th) Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C (February 3 2013)

Reflection/Homily: Fourth (4^th) Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C (February 3 2013)

Theme: Courage in Christian Discipleship

The call to Christian discipleship is a call that requires a lot of courage. Courage is required in responding positively to this call and in carrying out the tasks required of one. Peter was a good apostle because he had the courage to keep moving even when the circumstances were unfavourable. Stephen became the first Christian martyr because he had the courage to face a heroic death. St. Paul was successful in bringing the Good News to the gentile world because he had the courage to confront the difficulties he met on the way. Courage therefore means the ability to face difficulties and uncertainties without being overcome by the fear of the tribulations one might encounter.

In the first reading (Jer. 1:4-5, 17-19), we see the call of the prophet Jeremiah. God called him from the womb to be a prophet to the nations and immediately, God disposed his mind to encounter difficulties. He said to him: “They will fight against you, but shall not overcome you, for I am with you to deliver you”. Today, we speak of Jeremiah’s success as a prophet because he was courageous enough to answer this call despite the difficulties and God did not let him down. Thus, courage is the ability to confront challenges believing not in your own power but in the power of God to save you from every danger.

In the gospel reading (Luke 4:21-30), we see in Jesus, the fulfillment of an ideal prophet to the nations. He also spoke with great courage to the synagogue audience despite all odds even aware of their tendency to kill him. He made them to understand that despite the familiarity and contempt with which they treated him, that he could still tell them the truth to their faces. Unfortunately, they were embittered and in an attempt to attack him Jesus escaped.