REFLECTION/HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 29TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME 25TH OCTOBER 2023

REFLECTION/HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 29TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME 25TH OCTOBER 2023

Rom.6:12-18; Ps.124; Luke 12:39-48

Never Give up the Struggle

It has become common to find people who defend and justify themselves in some wrongs they do. A man will drive wrongly on the road and still dare to raise his voice at another who attempts to correct him. This mentality has somehow been adopted in our moral life such that we sometimes create reasons why we cannot and will not drop some sinful habits. When we do this, we give ourselves the license to remain is such sins; a matter of self-deception.

This was what St. Paul was referring to in the first reading when he spoke about sin reigning in our moral bodies. When we give up the struggle against sin, we allow sin to reign in us. Then, we become like the servant who was not found awake when his master returned in the gospel reading. Our beating will be severe because we knew quite well what the master’s will is but refuse to do it.

We are God’s children because He adopted us for himself. Therefore, the strength and wisdom to overcome sin cannot come from us. To overcome sin is to defeat the devil and this is only possible by the power of God. To rely on God’s power means to humble oneself before him. Those who justify their sinful habits are never able to do this and so are not able to overcome sin. The responsorial psalm tells us that “Our help is in the name of the Lord”.

There is no sin that has become so rampant to be permitted by God; not premarital sex, not sycophancy, not stealing to make a living, not breaking of one's priestly or marital vows, not falsification of records or use of substandard materials for work. Every sin is an offence against God. When you offend God, you are already pleasing the devil. Those who live their lives pleasing the devil can never successfully cast/bind him in prayer sessions.