Monday, 16 October 2017

Numerical increment: Monday of the Twenty-Eighth Week in Ordinary Time (I) (16th October, 2017).


Homily (Reflection) for Monday of the Twenty-Eighth Week in Ordinary Time (I) (16th October, 2017) on the Gospel
 
Rom 1:1-7;
Ps 97:1-4. (R. v.2);
Lk 11:29-32.

Topic: Numerical increment.
Just imagine what the comment of a bishop, a priest or a pastor will be like when he/she observes that his/her congregation is increasing. Certainly, majority will not only fan themselves but it will also form the headline in a good number of publications that the church or ministry is booming.
However, in today’s gospel, as the crowds increased, Jesus said:
This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation.
Everybody, both those who occupy leadership positions in the church and the rest of the members must consider seriously what they search for in the house of God – God or something else? And all the leaders – the bishops, priests, General overseers, pastors, prophets, prophetesses, and so on must look beyond the number in the church and/or the ministry.
Numerical increment does not signify increment in faith. And without faith, we can never please God, cf. Heb 11:6. The major problem we have in the world today is not the number of Christians but the increasing lack of faith among Christians. If up to 10 percent of those who go by the name, Christians, today are truly Christians, the world will not be what it is today. It would have been far a better place, cf. Matt 5:13.14.16. There is urgent need for us to look for the increment in faith and not in number. Strong faith attracts greater number. We need to sincerely ask God to increase our faith.
Bible Readings: Matt 5:13-16; Jude 3:3-23.
Thought for today: Jesus is the Way not signs, cf. Jn 14:6.
Let us pray: Lord, assist us to look for you and not for your signs – Amen.
You are free to share this reflection with others if you consider it worthy.

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