HOMILY OF FRIDAY OF THE 30TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A
Phil 1:1-11, Luke 14:1-6.
Though the community may condemn evil, the world cannot readily accept us simply because of our good deeds. Our only motivation is the love of God which has been poured into our heart. Our power to conquer is rooted in love.
Though the pharisees were not always happy seeing Jesus performing miracles on the Sabbath, he could not look side-way at the sight of human suffering. In today’s gospel, he was invited by a Pharisee for a dinner and his activities were been monitored. Since no one is expected to work on the Sabbath, the miracles of Jesus was categorized as work as a way of finding fault with him.
There are points to single out here.
- He was invited for dinner on a Sabbath day.
- A man with dropsy was also invited by the same host.
- His host was watching him.
This makes the invitation a kind of trap.
This is a call to be careful and to censure every act of charity or hospitality we receive from others. What the Pharisee did to Jesus can happen to anybody whose good works are already attracting jealousy and envy in the society.
It is not every problem that is brought to us that comes genuine request. Though the problem may be real, they may be brought to us to indict us. It is not every host who invites on account of hospitality. There are some people who throw a feast so as to catch their targeted or selected preys. Some use good deeds as mere baits. We must be aware of Greek gifts.
However, in the midst of the different traps and the wiles of the enemies, an authentic life style is the only antidote. As long as we know what is right, and we strive to live a good Christian life, no trap of the enemies will catch us. Paul’s prayer in the first reading sums it up.
“It is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruits of righteousness which come through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”
May our love be constant. May no human sentiments or faulty religious observance kill our love instinct. Amen.
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