Keep your heart fixed on God/HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 3RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Homily for Friday of the 3rd week in Ordinary Time

Hebrews 10:32-39; Mark 4:26-34

"Keep your heart fixed on God"

"Every Project of God has the power of growth" 

In the first reading of today, the author of the letter to the Hebrews wrote to the Jewish Christians, saying "Recall those earlier days when after you had been enlightened,  you endured a hard struggle with sufferings" (Heb 10:32). The concept "enlightened" means "baptism", while "sufferings"  refers to "persecution". It recalled the courage, sacrifice and endurance they put forward upon suffering earthly losses, because they knew they had better possession and an abiding one in heaven (Heb 10: 34&10:36).

Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, our gazed must always be fixed on the heavenly crown, hence, as pilgrims journeying to their heavenly homeland, we must with endurance, perseverance and needful sacrifices, amidst the difficulties and challenges there are, courageously achieve that we was promised by God. We must not stop half way nor miss the road. 

In the Gospel reading, Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a seed someone scattered on the ground, and would sleep and rise, night and day, and the seeds sprout and grow, he knows not how (Mk 4:26-28).

Beloved in Christ, the seed is the word of God and we must not tamper with the word of God. The word of God is organic and has inherently the power of growth.  Our obligation is to preach the word of God, the outcome of our preaching is what we do not know. Having preached the word of God, we must trust in God that he will do his work. 

The preaching of Peter and Paul in Rome had a humble beginning, that seed planted in Rome grew and right now Rome had become the center of Christian unity. 

Beloved in Christ, let us not be dissuaded by the humble beginnings of life. Every project of God has the power of growth in it. Let us be disposed to allow this growth to happen in accordance with the will and guidance of God and at God's time. All that is expected of us to to do our part faithfully.

May God bless his words in our hearts both now and forevermore.  Amen

Fr Remi osj