HOMILY FOR TUESDAY 28TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME B
(Galatians 4:22-24,26-27,31-5:1;Luke 11:29-32)
Today, Jesus wishes to tell us his stand on the essence of religion. Religion is summarized in offering to God a clean heart filled with love, mercy, compassion, and forgiveness. However, mere external observance of rituals without a cleansing of the heart is hypocrisy, which God hates. Jesus uses the occasion to accuse the Pharisees of harboring evil thoughts like greed, pride, bitterness, envy, and arrogance in their hearts. Jesus concludes by suggesting that one method of expressing real love of God and neighbor originating from a compassionate heart and making one pure and clean is giving alms to the poor. Charity or Almsgiving in the proper sense means realizing the needs of others and letting them share in one’s own goods, especially by way of spiritual help, financial and emotional support, consolation, fraternity, and love. St. John of the Cross explains this passage, remarking that in the evening of our lives we will be judged on our love expressed by works of charity.
Dear brothers and sisters In order to have interior cleanliness, let us do some charitable acts which externally express our loving relationship with God and our eagerness to do His will. Since we are offering our hearts and lives on the altar, let us expel everything evil from our hearts by true repentance. Agape love is what we have to give others: selfless love with understanding, mercy, respect for their freedom, and deep concern for their spiritual and material welfare. Giving this gift requires that we have love in our thoughts, words and actions always.
Pax Vobis
Catholic Diocese of Ilorin, Kwara State,
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