Homily – Saturday after Ash Wednesday
By Fr. Williams Onyilo, CSSp
Readings: Isaiah 58:9b–15; Luke 5:27–32
Our spiritual journey toward God has different components that must work together if we are to experience its full fruits. These components are prayer, fasting, and good works. Today, however, we focus on prayer and good works.
St. James reminds us, “Faith without good works is dead” (James 2:26). In the same light, I would say, “Prayer without good works is epileptic.” It is unstable and incomplete. We cannot claim to be prayerful while ignoring opportunities to do good when they present themselves. When good works are missing, our spiritual effort is only half done, and such worship is not worthy of our God.
In the first reading, the people complained that they prayed and fasted, yet God did not answer them. Through the prophet Isaiah, God pointed out their shortcomings:
“Thus says the LORD:
If you remove from your midst oppression,
false accusation and malicious speech;
If you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted;
Then light shall rise for you in the darkness.”
(Isaiah 58:9b–10)
God makes it clear that prayer must be accompanied by justice and charity. Feeding the hungry, helping the afflicted, and removing oppression from among us are conditions for divine light to shine upon us.
In the Gospel, Jesus demonstrates this same spirit of love. He calls Levi, a tax collector, and dines with sinners. Despite His spiritual greatness, He does not distance Himself from those in need of mercy. His prayerful life is inseparable from His compassionate actions.
Today, the Church is rich in prayer activities—vigils, crusades, novenas, and deliverance services. Yet sometimes we lack the generous heart that notices the brother who cannot pay his house rent, the family struggling with school fees, the elderly person unable to afford hospital bills, or the poor who lack food and water. If we grow in practical charity, perhaps our prayers will rise like the dawn of a new day.
Dear brothers and sisters, perhaps we have been praying for a particular favor and the answer seems delayed. Let us try becoming a favor to someone else. Let us bless the less privileged around us, and we may discover that God Himself will bless us in return.
May the Lord give us the grace to unite prayer with good works, and may our light rise in the darkness.
Amen.
