Homily for Monday of the 15th week in Ordinary time year II July 15 2024

Homily for Monday of the 15th week in Ordinary time year II July 15 2024

Isaiah 1:10-17; Psalm 50; Mathew 10:34-11:1

In today's first reading, Prophet Isaiah addresses the people of Israel and Judah, not Sodom and Gomorrah. He uses the terms "rulers of Sodom" and "people of Gomorrah" to highlight the extent of immorality that had engulfed Israel and Judah, making them detestable to the Lord. Isaiah's prophecy came at a time when the people were lamenting. Besieged by their enemies and devoid of hope for a bright future, they cried out to the Lord in the Temple, expecting an oracle of salvation—a miracle, as we might call it today. Instead, they received condemnation from the Lord, which was both surprising and unexpected. The condemnation stemmed from their immorality and deeds, which amounted to a rejection of God. They believed that attending Temple worship and offering sacrifices would appease God, making Him indifferent to their daily actions. They assumed that if God were to judge, He would only consider their attendance and performance in Temple worship and sacrifices. Consequently, they did not take these for granted. However, they failed to understand that God is not to be appeased but to be loved. Loving God means striving to emulate Him in actions and words. If we love God, we will live by His commandments, and our temple attendance and worship will naturally express the love we already have for Him. Regrettably, it is not far-fetched to describe many Christians today as "rulers of Sodom" and "people of Gomorrah." Certain sins have become so institutionalized that speaking against them seems odd and naïve. Price gouging has become commonplace; sexual sins are justified on the false premise that everyone commits them and that God will understand; stealing is rebranded as hustling, and selling sub-standard materials is simply called business. Despite these, our churches are filled to capacity on Sundays, our participation is commendable, and our petitions for miracles and breakthroughs are ever-increasing. We are always vigilant and take precautions against spiritual and physical attacks. Beloved, as we present our challenges to God, He wants us to examine ourselves and recognize how we may be contributing to our problems. One who has made themselves an enemy of God cannot expect God to defeat their enemies. I hope this version meets your needs! If you have any further adjustments or specific preferences, feel free to let me know.