DAILY- HOMILY

July13, 2019 - SATURDAY, 14th Week in Ordinary Time
St. Henry
Green.

Gn 49: 29 – 32; 50: 15 – 26a / Mt 10: 24 –33

St. Henry (973 – 1024) was Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire from 1014.  His wife was St. Cunegunda of Luxembourg (795 – 1040).

FROM THE GOSPEL READING: Mt 10: 28 – 33
Jesus said, "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but have no power to kill the soul. Rather be afraid of him who can destroy both body  and soul in hell. For only a few cents you can buy two sparrows, yet not one sparrow falls to the ground without your Father's consent. As for you, every hair of your head has been counted. So do not be afraid: you are worth much more than many sparrows.

"Whoever acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my Father in heaven. Whoever rejects me before others I will reject before my Father in heaven."

REFLECTION
We have big billboards, TV commercials, print and radio ads and social media posts to communicate to us the value and convenience of various products: they all promise something good, something pleasant and convenient for our lives. They promise better lives, happier lives for us.

Though not in the same way Jesus invites us to follow him: "Come, follow me, and I will make you fish for people." (Mt 4: 19) "Follow me and you will have eternal life." Unlike the current ads for convenient products, Jesus tells us that following him may not be that easy, "If you want to follow me, deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me." (Mk 8: 35)

Following Christ entails following the life he led, misunderstood, often not accepted, and eventually brought to death on the cross, "Fortunate are you when people insult you and persecute you and speak all kinds of evil against you because you are my followers. Be glad and joyful for a great reward is kept for you in God. This is how this people persecuted the prophets who lived before you." (Mt 5: 11 – 12)

They say that the young St. Teresa of Avila once complained to the Lord about her trials and difficulties. The Lord answered her, "Teresa, whom the Lord loves he chastises. This is how I treat all my friends." Supposedly Teresa retorted, "No wonder you have so few friends!"

Yes, the following of Christ entails difficulties: we are following a Lord who was God's suffering Servant. But Jesus assures us that he is with us all the way. We will never be alone. He and his Spirit will always be with us to guide and support us.

Jesus assures us that "not one sparrow falls to the ground without our Father's consent.   As for you, every hair of your head has been counted.   So do not be afraid: you are worth much more than many sparrows." Why should we doubt? Why should we be afraid?

FINALLY, WE PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER, FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ASKED OUR PRAYERS AND FOR THOSE WHO NEED OUR PRAYERS THE MOST.


Have a good day!

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