DATE : 18/12/2020, Friday of the Third week of Advent Year (B)
EVENT : Mass of the Week day
COLOUR: VIOLET/PURPLE
READINGS : Jer. 23:5-8; Resp. Psalm 72:1-2,12-13,18-19; Matt. 1:18-24.
THEME: WHERE IS YOUR INTEGRITY
Greetings beloved people of God. I welcome you to "My Catholic Homily Digest". On this Eighteenth day of December, I wish to reflect with us on the theme: Where is Your Integrity". Beloved, it is often said that when money is lost, something is lost, but when integrity is lost, everything is lost. This is why Scripture tells us in Proverbs 22:1, "that a good name is to be desirable over great riches". But we know better dear friends, that as Christians today, many of us have thrown integrity to the winds, and give no damn about maintaining good name or reputation, in the frenzied search for material wealth, connection and our daily bread. According to the Webster English Dictionary, 'integrity is defined as a steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code without fear or compromise'. Now, as a Christian, how faithful are we to our Christian moral code? Do you easily compromise and lower your ethical standard in order to accomodate your appetitive desires? Do you care about the impression you sell out whenever you speak or act in public? Do you take out time to ask for feedback so as to find out what impression people have of you?
Beloved, in today's Gospel reading, Scripture recorded that Joseph, the son of David, was a man of honour and integrity. So, having made up his mind to divorce Mary his betrothed, he still did not want to daint her reputation, but to preserve her integrity by dismissing her informally. Now, the reason why Joseph was concerned about Mary's integrity was because he was a man of integrity himself, so he understood perfectly the value of honour. If you care for and value your integrity, you would also value that of others. But if you have lost your integrity and respect in the sight of men, how can you value and preserve that of others?
Beloved, I know it is difficult to preserve integrity especially in this our morally decayed era. I know it is difficult not to compromise your Christian ethics especially when your stomach is chunning, when as a single, lady age is against you; when as a business man, you need to make profit to feed your family; when as an employee, you need to secure your job; when as a priest or minister, you need to feed and live well. So, I pray with the first reading of today, that the Lord who is our integrity (Jer. 23:6), will give us the grace to keep struggling to be perfect and to maintain our integrity.
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
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