Daily Reflections

September 10, 2011
Faith On Its Feet

Jesus began His teaching today by reminding people that a good tree does not bear rotten fruits and a rotten tree does not bear good fruits. As God’s creatures, we have divine qualities that are proper to our humanity. We cultivate them to perfection every time we follow His command.
Then, to further guide His listeners, Jesus gave the parable of the house built on rock, saying that if we are to be strong, consistent and stable in faith, we must build our life in the “lived” Word of God. Having read or heard the Word only accomplishes an encounter with God.
After Mass one Sunday morning, a parishioner approached me and said that I just repeated the homily I gave last year for the same occasion. I thought about it and admitted to him that, yes, it was the same homily. I asked him if there is a problem. He said that it seems I did not prepare a homily. He had a point but repeating a homily is not bad. In fact, the Gospels give a united message: salvation. The Word of God is to communicate this message of salvation.
It is not about giving a new message but in having a new way of communicating the same message. The burden is more on the hearer. Given the right message, the hearer must go and live the message. I looked at the person and answered him, “Yes, I admit I delivered the same homily, the same message. Have you lived it?” Surprised at the table being turned on him, he went away quietly. Hopefully the message was clear to him.
We priests who give homilies are not exempt from living the message. In fact, our witnessing to the Gospel message is the best preaching. If people see the message in our lives, I believe we may already be exempted from giving homilies. The goal is for the message to be received as the Lord had given it.
In preparing a homily, the priest is already confronted by the Word. More than anyone, it is the priest who is first faced with the challenge of the Word. In a way, the delivery of the homily is influenced by how much the priest has been affected by it. Hopefully, the message is not only given but already testified to by the life of the priest. Fr. Benny Tuazon

Reflection Question:
Do you get tired of hearing the same message at Mass? It is perhaps time to live the message.

Lord, help me to build my life on a strong foundation — Your Word.

Blessed Lucy de Freitas, pray for us.