Prayerless life is powerless life (HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 27TH WEEK IN THE ORDINARY TIME, YEAR II

Homily for Wednesday of the 27th week in the ordinary time year II

Galatians 2:1-2,7-14; Luke 11:1-4

Theme: prayerless life is powerless life

In today's liturgy of the word, the first reading brings before us the need for us make sure that the Gospel we preach always is in tandem with the teaching of the Apostles.

Paul writes: " Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. I went up in response to a revelation. Then I laid before them the Gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure that I was not runnings, or had not run, in vain" (Gal 2:1-2).

Paul acknowledged that nevertheless the Gospel he preached came through the revelation of Jesus Christ (Gal 111-12).  He saw the need to lay the Gospel he preached before the Apostles. Hence, the genuineness of all preaching must equally be tested according to the teaching of the Aposltes.

Beloved friends in Christ, in our contemporary age where many ministers take to the pulpit and streets to proclaim the Gospel of Christ Jesus, care must be taken not to preach a Gospel contrary to the laid down teachings of the Apostles. The Apostles are pillars (Gal 2:9) of the church. Without the pillars the building cannot stand. Without the Apostles the church cannot stand. The Apostles belong to the heirarchical structure of the church. 

The Gospel tells us that "Jesus was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, Lord teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples" (Lk 11:1). By implication, the disciples of Jesus must have observed their master in prayer and the arouse in them the desire to imitate him. 

Jesus was a man of prayer. In Luke 3:21-22: After baptism and was praying the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him like a dove". In chapter 6: 12 we are told that he used to spend all night praying to God. At the transfiguration, while praying his face change and his clothe became dazzling white (Lk 9:28-29). At the garden of Gethsemane, he prayed: "Father let this cup pass over me, it is your will and not mine be done (Lk 22:41-42. On the cross of Calvary, he prayed: Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing" (Lk 23:34). "Into your hands I commend my spirit" (Lk23:34)

Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, like Jesus, we must also be men and women of prayer.  Prayer keeps us constantly in the presence of God. If we live a prayerless life then we are powerless in life. Prayerful life is powerful life. Without prayer we are weak and empty. A man or woman of prayer is like a hot stove upon which flies (the evil one) can't perch not settle. However, by prayer we are alive and active, able to discern the will of God for us and obtain the endurance to do God's will fervently. Hence, let us ask the Lord, like the Apostles did to teach us to pray (Lk 11:1). Let's ask him to educate us on the effectiveness of prayer for we want to follow his example.

As we submit ourselves entirely to God in prayer today, may he continue to bless everyone of us and answer all our good heart intentions.

Have a gracious day!

Fr Remi osj