DATE : 16/12/2020, Wednesday of the Third week of Advent Year (B)
EVENT : Mass of the Week day
COLOUR: VIOLET/PURPLE
READINGS : Isaiah 45: 6b-8.18.21b-25; Resp. Psalm 84:9-14; Luke 7:19-23.
THEME: DO NOT BE AFRAID TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR FAITH
Greetings beloved people of God. I welcome you to "My Catholic Homily Digest". On this Sixteenth day of December, I wish to reflect with us on the theme: " Do Not Be Afraid to Ask Questions About Your Faith". Beloved, can you boast of having rational answers and explanations to all the believes, practices, rituals and teachings of the Catholic Church in which you belong? Often times, we tend to sheepishly accept and swallow every kind of teaching and practice that we hear or observe in the Church, without taking time to pause and ask questions and seek clarifications about them. I have come to observe that, most of us are confused and wish to ask question about certain aspects of our Catholic faith, but we are too shy or afraid to ask because we think it is wrong and sinful to do so.
In one of his Pontifical encyclicals titled, "Fides et Ratio (Faith and Reason), the Holy Father, St. Pope JohnPaul II, argued that faith is never opposed to human reason, hence the Church's believe that Philosophy is the handmaiden of Theology. To further show that there is a need to seek clarification in matters of faith and religion, St. Anselm of Canterbury, defined theology as, 'Fides Quearens Intellectum' that is, faith seeking understanding. Thus, far from diminishing faith, intelligent and rational question help to deepen one's faith. This is the case with John the Baptist in today's Gospel, when he sent his disciples to enquire from Jesus if he is truly the awaited Messiah. Now, John never doubted the divinity of Jesus, but he sent his disciples to Jesus because he wanted them to hear and see firsthand for themselves the signs that the Messiah had indeed come in the person of Jesus who was sent by the Father in heaven and anointed by the Spirit. And indeed, when they confirmed that Jesus was truly the Messiah, their faith in Jesus increased and many of them stopped following John and became disciples of Jesus like St. Andrew.
Beloved, I wish to tell you today that it is alright to walk up to a priest and ask him that question troubling you, to seek question about that practice of the Church that is leaving you bamboozled. It is also alright to ask God directly certain questions about his plans for your life, to seek clarification on the path he has destined for you and why certain things are happening to you the way they are at the moment. However, for you to be on the right path unlike Zachariah (Luke 1:5-24), you need to ask these questions with a positive mindset, geared toward deepening your faith and trust in God and in his promises. Anything short of these is contrary to faith.
Do not be afraid for you will be remembered in my priestly prayers throughout this month. God bless you
#End Sars,
#End Political Oppression
#End Bad Governance
Oh that today you would listen to his voice harden not your hearts (Ps.95:7-8)
LET US PRAY :Lord Jesus, set my heart aflame with the fire of your love and with the power of the Holy Spirit that I may boldly witness to the joy of the Gospel and serve your kingdom wherever you place me.....
The Lord be with you....... and with your Spirit.
May Almighty God bless you the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit......Amen
HAPPY MID-WEEK BELOVED FRIENDS
@ Fada Emmanuel Nnamdi Megwara, MSP. ⛪
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