Homily: Wednesday of the fourth Week of Ordinary Time
Wednesday of the fourth Week of Ordinary Time (Heb 12:4-7, 11-15) “Hard Love”
We have been reading the Letter to the Hebrews for several weeks at Mass. We are moving towards the end of the epistle and the writer offers many words of encouragement. The Christian life was not an easy life in the first and second century for two reasons.
The first reason is that Christians were being persecuted. The persecution did not necessarily revolve around prison time or exile or capital punishment, but it might involve losing out on opportunities.
Christians, many times, could not hold certain jobs and they could not hold political office. Christians were at the bottom of the social ladder. People did not want to associate with Christians. The Christian church did not turn slaves away. Christianity embraced all races and people from all levels of society.
The second reason the Christian life was difficult was that it was morally demanding. One had to live a certain code of ethics. Christians and a different value system that demanded non-violence, humility and chastity for example. This required discipline. Discipline is always difficult. But discipline is necessary if we are going to achieve great things in life.
A parent who disciplines a child is a loving parent. Parents want to be liked by their children, but this can be a trap. Sometimes a parent must say no. At other times they may have to punish children to teach a lesson. If parents are unwilling to challenge children, they are not very good parents.
Our God is a loving parent. We can get mad about the difficulties we have in life, but then again, we can see misfortune as an opportunity to grow. We all learned more from misfortune than we have from success. If we navigate through struggle, we will be more confident and stronger. We may not understand why bad things happen, but the hope is that we learn to trust God implicitly.
Reflection Questions:
1. Have I had to discipline my children? Did I like to do it?
2. Was I ever disciplined by my parents? What was the result of that?
Dear Parishioners,
Tomorrow is what is known as Candlemas day. This the day when we bless the candles that we will be using during the year at our liturgies. This used to mark the end of the Christmas season. It has been 40 days since Christmas. Isn’t it hard to believe?
I always like to leave my creche up until the 2nd of February. I find it consoling to reflect on the mystery of the Incarnation for a month rather than a day. Jesus came in time to dwell with us. He became human which elevated the status of all humanity. We are reminded by the mystery of the Incarnation that we are made in the image and likeness of God.
Come tomorrow to our 6:30a.m. or 8 a.m. Mass and be reminded that the light of Christ has come into the world and has dispelled the darkness of doom and despair. Jesus is with us, and we are with him, now and for all eternity.
May Our Lady of Peace intercede for us.
Fr. Mark