HOMILY, WEDNESDAY OF THE 11TH WEEK IN ODINARY TIME
2Kings 2:1.6-14, Matthew 6:1-6.16-18
At times, in order to put a good front before others, we do a lot of things to get their attention. We often tend to massage our ego with applause and preoccupy ourselves with what people say about us. In so doing, we forget what God is saying to us. He needs us to out of the crowd where we hide to feed on passing consolation and pancake admiration. He wants to meet us in our closet. He has personal messages to communicate for our individual lives. He has unique plans for us.
- Those who do charity for recognition are serving the god of self- a man-made god.
- Those who show off in prayers are simply praying to themselves. Their prayers go nowhere. They only present their testimonial to their fellow brothers and sisters.
- Those who fast for others to see are simply on hunger strike, starving themselves for nothing. We abstain to be with God in prayer and not to show others the sacrifice we are making.
They were fifty men of the sons of prophets with Elijah and Elisha. None of them was there when power was transferred from Elijah to Elisha. They had to cross the Jordan first and were alone together. Elisha had to walk with his master to where others could not come. It was a personal journey and he got what he wanted. Being alone saved him from distraction and was able to see the master while he was being taken away in the chariot of fire. Our personal journey with God gives us more spiritual benefits than the personal profiles which we build with the crowd.
Let us create time to be with the Lord. He is the one who announces whoever he has chosen. He works in us to will and to do. Phil 2:13. The fruits of his life in us should speak more than our outward show. God cannot be mocked. He knows those who serve him.
PRAYER
O Lord, may I know you as my personal Lord and saviour. Give me more of yourself that the world may see your hands on me. Make me humble that I may not waste my days in needless display of piety. Thy kingdom come.
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