Homily (Reflection) for the Memorial
of Saint Monica (27th August, 2019) on the Gospel and the Memorial
1Thess 2:1-8;
Ps 138:1-3.4-6. (R. v.1);
Matt 23:23-26.
Saint Monica was born on 331 AD in Thagaste and was
married to a pagan, Patricius at a very tender age. Her children were Saint
Augustine (August 28), Navigius, and Perpetua. She endured her husband’s and
her mother’s-in-law bad temper. Although
Patricius criticized her for her charity and piety, but he always respected
her. She later won him and her mother-in-law to Christianity. She stopped
Augustine from eating and sleeping in her house when he accepted the Manichean
heresy and was living immoral life. Monica readmitted him after a vision that
assured her that Augustine would return to the faith. She stayed too close to
Augustine with prayers and fasting than he wanted. Augustine tricked her and
left for Rome. On her arrival, she learnt that he had left for Milan. She did
not give-up. In Milan, Augustine came under the influence of the bishop, Saint
Ambrose, who also became Monica’s spiritual director. Saint Ambrose baptized
Augustine and several of his friends at Easter, 387. Soon after, they left for
Africa. She became ill and suffered severely for nine days and died on 387 AD
in Ostia Antica. She is the patron Saint of Alcoholics, Married women, and
Mothers.
Topic: Nothing is hidden from God.
Jesus further denounced the scribes and the Pharisees,
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint,
dill, and cumin, and neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and
mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the
others. You blind leaders! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!
This corroborates with the words of Prophet Micah in chapter 6
verse 8, “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord
require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with
your God?” Many erroneously think like the scribes and the Pharisees that by
doing tithing and other offerings they hide their atrocities from God.
Activities in churches today also downplay these weightier
matters of the law. Almost every bit of energy is geared towards offerings.
There are several strategies for achieving this and new ones are coming up
daily. Yet little or no effort is channelled towards conversion. Saint Monica we
celebrate today on the contrary worked successfully for the conversion of her son,
husband, and mother-in-law. We ought to follow her example.
No one can hide his/her sins from God, cf. Ps 69:5. 139:15; Heb 4:13. He will
bring everything to light, cf. 1Cor 4:5.
Hence Jesus tells us, “Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or
hidden that will not be known” including our sins (Lk 12:2).
There is need for total transformation, cf. Rom 12:2. We ought to avoid “eye-service,
as men-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the
heart” (Eph 6:6). And unless we
become true servants of Christ, we might do worse things. Let no one be
deceived; everyone will reap what he/she sows, cf. Gal 6:7.
Bible Reading: Rom 12:9-21.
Thought for today: Do not please humans.
Let us pray: May God help us serve Him with our
whole being – Amen.
Saint Monica – Pray for us.
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consider it worthy.
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