Wednesday, 31 August 2016

Unless you humble yourself: Thursday of the Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time (II) (1st September, 2016).


Homily (Reflection) for Thursday of the Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time (II) (1st September, 2016) on the Gospel

 

1Cor 3:18-23;
Ps 23:1-6. (R. v.1);
Lk 5:1-11.
Topic: Unless you humble yourself.
Jesus entered one of the boats at the shore of the lake of Gennesaret because the crowd was pressing in on Him. He asked Simon, the owner, to put out a little from the shore. He then sat down and taught the people. He later said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” Although they laboured all night in vain, they obeyed Him and caught so many fish. When Simon saw it, he pleaded at His feet, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” However Jesus said to him, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” They left everything and followed Jesus.
Simon humbled himself before Jesus by acknowledging that he was a sinner. Jesus did not throw him away instead, He fulfilled His promise, “...whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matt 23:12; cf. Matt 18:4; Lk 14:11.18:14). Jesus immediately transformed them from fishermen to fishers of men.
Many claim to know everything, to be the best in everything, ability to do everything, and so on. Only God knows everything, cf. 1Jn 3:20. He alone also is able to do all things, cf. Matt 19:26; Mk 10:27; Lk 1:37. We are but a breath, cf. Ps 62:9.94:11. And apart from God we can do nothing, cf. Jn 15:5. Pride closes the door to every help. Remember, when Simon boasted that he would lay down his life for Jesus, he ended up in humiliation, cf. Jn 13:37-38.
Acknowledging one’s weakness does not make one worse than he/she really is. On the contrary, it makes one better because it opens the doors for help from both God and man.

Bible Reading: 2Cor 12:1-10.

Thought for today: Do not boast.

Let us pray: Lord, we are nothing without you. Help us to acknowledge always our lowliness – Amen.

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