NEW HEART AND SPIRIT: FUNDAMENTAL REQUIREMNTS FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THE CHURCH (HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE 20TH WEEK IN THE ORDINARY TIME
Theme: New Heart and Spirit: fundamental requirements for membership in the church. Ezekiel 36:23-28; Matthew 22:1-14 Homily for Thursday of the 20th week in the ordinary time Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, it is no news to assert that for us christians, our homeland is in heaven (Philippians 3:20). In other words, our citizenship is in heaven. Hence, we are pilgrims (strangers/foreigners) on this earth, making our journey to our heavenly homeland. In this context, there is a sense in which the term exile can be applied since we are strangers here on earth longing to return to our heavenly homeland. The first reading from the book of prophet Ezekiel speaks of the comforting promises of God to the Israelites while they were in exile in Babylon as strangers. The promise to bring them home to their own land from wherever they may be scattered. “Thus says the Lord, I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries, and bring you into your own land (Ezek 36:24)...