HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 1ST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME/The Place of Rest

Homily for Friday of the 1st Week of Ordinary Time

Hebrews 4:1-5,11; Mark 2:1-12

Theme: The Place of Rest

In the following words, the first reading of today’s liturgy admonishes us as pilgrim on the realization of the place of rest: "While the promise of entering his rest remains, let us fear lest any of you be judged to have failed to reach it" (Heb.4:1). 

The place of rest was the place of fulfilment, a realization of God's promises. The people of Israel lost it as a result of disobedience and lack of faith.

The place of rest for the people of Israel was for them to enter the promised land of Canaan and this foreshadowed the promise given to us as Christians to enter heaven. There is an analogy between us, Christians in this life and the people of Israel in the desert. While the people of Israel failed to have this rest as a result of lack of faith, we as Christians have the same need for faith, otherwise the same penalty which the people of Israel incurred will be our lot ie not making heaven eventually.

While the people of Israel failed to trust in God, the four friends of the paralytic in today's Gospel entrusted their friend to the mercy of Christ. What the paralytic could not do for himself, his four friends did for him resulting to both spiritual and physical healing for him from Christ Jesus.

Let us put our trust in God always. For those who put their trust in Him are like Mount Zion that can never be shaken. What the people of Israel could not enjoy due to lack of faith, the paralytic now enjoys because he and his four friends believed that Jesus could heal him. When Jesus comes back again, will He find faith on earth?

May God grant us an increase in faith to always put our trust in Him through Christ our Lord. Amen.