HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 23RD WEEK IN THE ORDINARY TIME
Homily for Friday of the 23rd week in the ordinary time of the year II Theme: Self-examination a sine qua non 1cor9:16-19,22-27; Luke 6:39-42 From the Catholic Hymn Book MUST I GO, AN EMPTY-HANDED Must I go, and empty-handed,” Thus my dear Redeemer meet? Not one day of service give Him, Lay no trophy at His feet? Chorus : Must I go, an empty-handed? Must I meet my Saviour so? Not one soul with which to greet Him: Must I empty-handed go? Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, the liturgy of the word today, reawakens us to the truth that we are collaborators in the missionary exercise of the church which is winning souls for Christ. The greatest gift we can offer to God is to bring to Jesus the souls of our brothers and sisters. In the first reading of today, St. Paul recounts the sacrifices and renunciations he had to make to win people over to Christ. He declared: "For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, that I might win the more of them...