HOMILY OF FRIDAY OF THE 5TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Saint Scholastica, Virgin
Genesis 3:1-8, Mark 7:31-37
THEME: DOUBT AND SELF IDENTITY
Quotes: There is nothing to prove if you know who you are.
In the beginning, man fell, having disobeyed God. Jesus mission on earth was to restore what was destroyed by the first fall. God made all things well. And here in today’s gospel, it stands written,
“Their admiration was unbounded. ‘He has done all things well,’ they said ‘he makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak.”
The first fall came as result of Satan’s deception which created an identity crisis in Adam and Eve. Satan confused their thoughts when he asked them,
“Did God really say you were not to eat from any of the trees in the garden?” This question created a doubt in them, and they fell prey to Satan tricks. He would later use the same trick on Jesus when he came to tempt him in the wilderness.
“If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” Matthew 4:6.
The clause, “if you are the Son of God”, is a suggestion for identity crisis. However, Jesus’ response showed that he knew his own identity. In verse 7, he said, “Jesus said unto him, it is written again, thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.” He knew his identity as the Lord.
According to Benjamin Franklin, “When in doubt, don’t”. In Eve and Adam’s case, they succumbed to doubt. So, they had to try out Satan’s suggestion or prompting, and they fell.
Moreover, we face such temptations every day when we hear such phrases, like, “if you are truly a man,” If you are not fake,…if you are not a bastard…and the like. There is nothing to prove if you know who you are.
Therefore, knowing our self-identity is a key to meaningful existence. We are unique and have our peculiarities. So, we cannot be lost in the crowd. In our today’s gospel, when the deaf and dumb man was brought to Jesus, he took him aside in private, away from the crowd, because he did not consider him merely a case, but as an individual. He healed him based on his peculiar health condition.
We are God’s children. We have our unique fingerprint, and we are special. I pray that we may have the perfect knowledge of our life’s script and that we may live according to God’s divine plan through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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