Jan. 28, 2018: 4th Sunday B
Jan. 28, 2018: 4th Sunday B
Click to hear Audio Homily
Does anything change about us when we come to church? I don't mean something drastic and dramatic like what happened to the man in our Gospel whose demon reveals itself before Jesus and is forcibly expelled from the possessed man to give him freedom. But I believe that each time we come to church, Jesus helps us to regain freedom in areas of our lives that have become stressful, oppressive, and not life giving. For example, we may need Jesus to deliver us from inner forces that hold us in bondage such as unforgiveness, infidelity, prideful ambition, hatred, and lust of the flesh. Perhaps these forces are hiding below our awareness that we don’t even know that we are controlled by them.
Perhaps we are influenced by even more subtle tempting thoughts from the evil one such as, “I deserve this,” or “my life could be better only if so-and-so will change, or when I get what I want.” We may be caught up in a pursuit to look the best and be the most impressive because we believe what we have now is not enough. While God gave each of us life, faith, family, friendships, and love, we look around and compare what we have to others, and become unsatisfied.
Have we relegated our relationship to God as just an optional add-on to our lives when we have time, or have we made concerted effort to make Him the central hub of our lives? When we do not have the daily contact with God through our prayers, scriptures, and the Eucharist, we lose touch with the very source of purpose and meaning of our lives. Once we lose that contact with God, we may experience a pang of emptiness inside and we look toward unhealthy areas for fulfillment. What do you want Jesus to drive out from your lives, and with what would you ask Jesus to fill you? Jesus calls us to a life that is far more free than the small kingdoms that we have built and maintained for ourselves. If we are willing, Jesus will open us up to a deep and personal relationship with His Father who is our Creator and Provider. Jesus wants to reconnect us to the Father who gives us our faculties, talents, blessing, and our destiny. When we come before God in this church or in prayer, let us humbly acknowledge that left to ourselves, we so often lose our way.
Click to hear Audio Homily
Does anything change about us when we come to church? I don't mean something drastic and dramatic like what happened to the man in our Gospel whose demon reveals itself before Jesus and is forcibly expelled from the possessed man to give him freedom. But I believe that each time we come to church, Jesus helps us to regain freedom in areas of our lives that have become stressful, oppressive, and not life giving. For example, we may need Jesus to deliver us from inner forces that hold us in bondage such as unforgiveness, infidelity, prideful ambition, hatred, and lust of the flesh. Perhaps these forces are hiding below our awareness that we don’t even know that we are controlled by them.
Perhaps we are influenced by even more subtle tempting thoughts from the evil one such as, “I deserve this,” or “my life could be better only if so-and-so will change, or when I get what I want.” We may be caught up in a pursuit to look the best and be the most impressive because we believe what we have now is not enough. While God gave each of us life, faith, family, friendships, and love, we look around and compare what we have to others, and become unsatisfied.
Have we relegated our relationship to God as just an optional add-on to our lives when we have time, or have we made concerted effort to make Him the central hub of our lives? When we do not have the daily contact with God through our prayers, scriptures, and the Eucharist, we lose touch with the very source of purpose and meaning of our lives. Once we lose that contact with God, we may experience a pang of emptiness inside and we look toward unhealthy areas for fulfillment. What do you want Jesus to drive out from your lives, and with what would you ask Jesus to fill you? Jesus calls us to a life that is far more free than the small kingdoms that we have built and maintained for ourselves. If we are willing, Jesus will open us up to a deep and personal relationship with His Father who is our Creator and Provider. Jesus wants to reconnect us to the Father who gives us our faculties, talents, blessing, and our destiny. When we come before God in this church or in prayer, let us humbly acknowledge that left to ourselves, we so often lose our way.
