God’s Power is Greater than our Problems Homily for Saturday of the 18th week in ordinary time 12th August 2023

HOMILY FOR SATURDAY OF THE 18TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Deut.6:4-13; Ps.18; Matthew 17:14-20

God’s Power is Greater than our Problems

As children growing up, when we were offended by a mate who is bigger and stronger than we are, we dare not put up a fight with the person but seek other ways to express our displeasure. This is because it was obvious to us that putting up a fight will be a lost battle. Generally, in life, a wise person considers his/her capacity before venturing into any project, else, one may begin but may not be able to complete.

In the gospel reading of today, Jesus reprimanded his disciples for their lack of faith. It is easy to understand why the disciples were lacking in faith. They weighed the problem before them (the epileptic child) to be higher than the power of Jesus. If not that the man brought the issue to them, they would not have on their own attempted to confront such situation. The description of the father about the condition of the son further cast fear and intimidation on the minds of the disciples.

Beloved, this is the tactics the devil keeps using to incapacitate the children of God. He tries to amplify the challenge before us so that we panic and worry in doubt. He suggests to us that this is not a problem to be solved by “mere” praying the rosary, visiting the Blessed Sacrament, booking Masses, or other pious acts. The moment he succeeds in making us doubt these efficacious channels of obtains Divine graces, he then puts us on a cat race that will yield no result but worsen the situation at the long run.

The responsorial psalm assures us that the Lord will always be our rock where we can take refuge. God is bigger than all our difficulties and challenges of life. So, we have no reason to be afraid. Stop magnifying your problems for you are not to face them by your strength alone. So long as we remain in Christ Jesus, in all our battles we are surely going to be victorious.