Evangelization from Home-HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE SEVENTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (JOHN VIANNEY) 4TH AUGUST 2023

Evangelization from Home-HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE SEVENTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (JOHN VIANNEY) 4TH AUGUST 2023

Lev.23:1,4-11, 15-16,27, 34b-37; Ps.81; Matthew 13:54-58

Evangelization from Home

In the gospel reading of today, Jesus had the courage and moral standing to teach in the synagogue of his own country; in a place where he grew up and was very much known from his infancy days. Though they people took offense at time, it is necessary we pay attention to the reason for such offence. Frist, they acknowledged the greatness of Jesus as reflected in the wisdom with which he preached and acted, and the mighty works he wrought. In fact, they could not reconcile his greatness with the humble beginning he had with them. They did not reject Jesus because they saw him as a pretender on the synagogue whose lifestyle outside the temple was nothing to write home about.

It is easier to pretend to outsiders but almost impossible to pretend to an insider, say a family member. To a greater extent, the insider knows the real you. So, when people talk about packaging, they are referring to a wonderful presentation towards outsiders. You really do not package for an insider. Now, more often than not, our Christianity is not authentic because what we are to the outsiders is not “the us” with the insiders. We package before outsiders in our way and manner of doing things, but when we get inside, there is not continuity in the “ought”. This is the life-style that Jesus does not approve of us.

Jesus was not one person to the outsiders and another person entirely to the insiders. The fact that he had the moral standing to preach the same gospel at home that he had been preaching in other places showed that he maintained one personality at every time and towards everyone. We too can be stable. If you will be known for any virtue, let the testimony come from those who know the “real you”.

You cannot be generous to outsiders but stingy at home. You cannot be soft spoken to outsiders but be an authoritarian at home. You cannot be a prayer warrior out-there but frown at family prayer at home. You cannot be sacrificial towards others but irresponsible at home. The personality you put forth when there is no one to impress is the real you. Let us struggle to be Christians when we are alone; when no one is watching; when no one can do us anything; when we are in control. See, if our Christianity is not convincing to those who know us “reach house”, then we may at best be sycophantic.