God First! (HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE TWENTIETH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR II (ST. BERNARD - AUGUST 20 2024)

HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE TWENTIETH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR II (ST. BERNARD - AUGUST 20, 2024)

Ezekiel 28:1-10; Deut.32; Matthew 19:23-30

God First!

In the gospel reading of yesterday, the man who approached Jesus asking what more he must do to be saved, left Jesus’ presence sorrowfully having been told to sell all that he had and give to the poor. The sorrow of this man did not emanate from the difficulty in parting with the things of this world. No! So long as we are still in this world, we will always use the things of this world. In fact, these things are not evil in themselves.

Where the difficulty lies is in using them in a such a manner that we are not entangled by them such that our lives is ordered by material things. In truth, this is difficult. A rich man never thinks he has gotten enough for his mind keeps telling him what more he needs to get. Aware of this truth, Jesus testified to this difficulty in today’s gospel reading: “It will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven”. The disciples too pointed out the difficulty when they asked: “Who then can be saved?”

Jesus answered that it is only possible by the grace of God. This means that if we don't approach the things of this world with the Spirit of God, our hearts will be misdirected from God and the things of God. In the first reading, the Lord speaking through Ezekiel, revealed the deception of worldly things namely: they are capable of making us think that we do not need God.

Today, some persons justify their lack of spiritual life on the ground that the richest people on earth did not make it through religiosity. They forget that the primary goal of religion is not to make us financially buoyant but to guarantee us heaven even from this world. Religiosity cannot take the place of hardwork in the life of a Christian; so also work cannot take the place of worship in the life of a Christian.

Again, Jesus assures us in the gospel reading that when we put him first before every other person and thing, we will lose nothing. This is what he meant by saying that the last will become first. On the other hand, if we put other things first before God, we will lose everything. This is what he meant by saying that the first will become last. Beloved, in all you do and say, put God first and you will never regret it. 

Remain blessed 🙌