Following the promptings of the Holy Spirit is the way to keep the commandments of the Lord.
Homily:
Takeaway from first reading:
Short story:
Josephine was working as a Software Engineer in a big IT firm. She was a God fearing person and was devoted to spending her morning time in the presence of the Lord. She could hear the small voice of God guiding her through her daily journey. She worked really hard, maintained good relationships with her colleagues and managers and was liked by all.
One day as she was getting ready for the day, her mother made much ado out of some silly stuff and started screaming at her. Her mother was frustrated about the silly mistakes of her daughter, as she did not have anything else to think about. As Josephine was burning with anger and about to scream back, the small voice of God instructed her – “No, don’t give back answers to Mom”. But Josephine did not pay heed back and shouted back at her, “It’s very difficult for you to be happy anyway….”
Josephine clearly knew that it was not the way God wanted her to handle this conversation. But she was still proud of herself, because she felt that she was right in explaining to her mother that her mother cannot be happy if she does not meditate on the good happenings and keep worrying about the small silly habits of her. She had justified her own actions.
During the day in her office, in one of the meetings, she was cast down by one of her peers. She was deeply disturbed. Suddenly she remembered the way she shouted at her Mother. She analysed how deeply her mother would have been hurt. She could have just listened to the Holy Spirit’s advice.
Today’s first reading explains the “NOT TO DO” items in brief. We may not do the wrong things specified in the reading, but the “NOT TO DO” is not limited to it. It comprises of God’s fairness in our every thought, word and action as we have seen in our story. Josephine did not do any “NOT TO DO” item explicitly mentioned in this list, but it was a “NOT TO DO” item that can occur in her daily life. Let us be careful to avoid all the little “NOT TO DO” items possible in our walk of life.
God expects fairness in all our works in our day to day life.
Takeaway from Responsorial Psalm:
While first reading lists the “NOT TO DOs” and the consequences for doing the same, the Responsorial Psalm lists the saving power of God for those who do not commit the “NOT TO DOs”
Favours of God our Father for those who obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit:
God will be his –
1. Strength
2. Mighty help in all necessities
3. Rock to take refuge, Fortress, Shield
4. Saviour from all foes
5. Giver of great victory
Takeaway from second reading:
The second reading mentions that when we follow the gentle promptings of the Holy Spirit, we become an example to people around us. When we diligently do the “TO DOs” as guided by the Holy Spirit, we will receive the joy of the Lord and the peace that surpasseth all understanding will be ours.
When we face violent storms in our life, we will still have a peace in our innermost heart. Since we know we have done everything possible with our hands as guided by the Holy Spirit and we can rest in God’s hands. Our neighbours will wonder on seeing us enjoy peace in the difficult situations of our life.
Takeaway from Gospel reading:
Jesus has provided the formulae to have a completely joyful life (John 15:10)
If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
How to relate the commandments of God in our today’s life and follow them:
In the Old Testament, when Almighty God gave the Ten Commandments, He also gave many laws to ensure that they are practically implemented.
In the New Testament, Jesus gave the Two commandments. The way to implement the commandments is actually delivered then and there, through the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit is our real Teacher. He teaches us gently, the way God wants us to lead our life.
Never disobey the promptings of the Holy Spirit, because it’s all for our good only. If we disobey now, we will have to repent later. There is no one who cares so much for us like the Holy Spirit.
Let’s think about all the saints of our Church. Where did the saints get their guidance from? Was it not the silent voice guiding them? There are many saints who had visions of Jesus, Mother Mary, Saints, Angels… But all these visions did not last for long. Their constant companion was God who was living in their heart as the Holy Spirit.
The practical guidance to obey the commandments of God is provided directly by the Holy Spirit, as and when it’s required.
When we follow the gentle guidance of the Holy Spirit, our joy will be complete.
Tips to follow God’s commandments perfectly:
1. Holy Spirit gently tells us to ‘TO DO’ a task or ‘NOT TO DO’ a task. They are the practical steps to follow the commandments perfectly.
2. What a great gift it is to have our God as our Father and Teacher. Jesus was not feeling it’s good enough, if He teaches the people of His time. He knew that He needs to live in us and preach to us individually, according to our situation. Hence He has sent Holy Spirit to dwell within us. Listen to His silent voice, which you alone can hear.
3. More than the troubles caused by others, our own faults have the power to make us worried. Hence we can be diligent in obeying the silent voice.
4. Jesus has said, “How much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask of Him”. So please diligently pray to receive the Holy Spirit.
The guiding tool to obey the commandments of the Lord is the “NOT TO DO” and “TO DO” voice of the Holy Spirit.
My take with today’s Gospel is that we have to love God and neighbour. What is amiss in us almost all the time is that we do not love unconditionally. You will hear someone say that I love X because of this or that. Yet God sent His son to suffer and bring us back to God NOT that we deserved it. His love is unconditional; so should be our love. Hence Matthew 5:44-45; 1 John 4:19-21. He instructed us to love our enemies; and the latter says we can not pretend to love the God whom we don’t see when we don’t love the neighbour whom we see.
Key message:
Following the promptings of the Holy Spirit is the way to keep the commandments of the Lord.
Homily:
Takeaway from first reading:
Short story:
Josephine was working as a Software Engineer in a big IT firm. She was a God fearing person and was devoted to spending her morning time in the presence of the Lord. She could hear the small voice of God guiding her through her daily journey. She worked really hard, maintained good relationships with her colleagues and managers and was liked by all.
One day as she was getting ready for the day, her mother made much ado out of some silly stuff and started screaming at her. Her mother was frustrated about the silly mistakes of her daughter, as she did not have anything else to think about. As Josephine was burning with anger and about to scream back, the small voice of God instructed her – “No, don’t give back answers to Mom”. But Josephine did not pay heed back and shouted back at her, “It’s very difficult for you to be happy anyway….”
Josephine clearly knew that it was not the way God wanted her to handle this conversation. But she was still proud of herself, because she felt that she was right in explaining to her mother that her mother cannot be happy if she does not meditate on the good happenings and keep worrying about the small silly habits of her. She had justified her own actions.
During the day in her office, in one of the meetings, she was cast down by one of her peers. She was deeply disturbed. Suddenly she remembered the way she shouted at her Mother. She analysed how deeply her mother would have been hurt. She could have just listened to the Holy Spirit’s advice.
Today’s first reading explains the “NOT TO DO” items in brief. We may not do the wrong things specified in the reading, but the “NOT TO DO” is not limited to it. It comprises of God’s fairness in our every thought, word and action as we have seen in our story. Josephine did not do any “NOT TO DO” item explicitly mentioned in this list, but it was a “NOT TO DO” item that can occur in her daily life. Let us be careful to avoid all the little “NOT TO DO” items possible in our walk of life.
God expects fairness in all our works in our day to day life.
Takeaway from Responsorial Psalm:
While first reading lists the “NOT TO DOs” and the consequences for doing the same, the Responsorial Psalm lists the saving power of God for those who do not commit the “NOT TO DOs”
Favours of God our Father for those who obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit:
God will be his –
1. Strength
2. Mighty help in all necessities
3. Rock to take refuge, Fortress, Shield
4. Saviour from all foes
5. Giver of great victory
Takeaway from second reading:
The second reading mentions that when we follow the gentle promptings of the Holy Spirit, we become an example to people around us. When we diligently do the “TO DOs” as guided by the Holy Spirit, we will receive the joy of the Lord and the peace that surpasseth all understanding will be ours.
When we face violent storms in our life, we will still have a peace in our innermost heart. Since we know we have done everything possible with our hands as guided by the Holy Spirit and we can rest in God’s hands. Our neighbours will wonder on seeing us enjoy peace in the difficult situations of our life.
Takeaway from Gospel reading:
Jesus has provided the formulae to have a completely joyful life (John 15:10)
If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
How to relate the commandments of God in our today’s life and follow them:
In the Old Testament, when Almighty God gave the Ten Commandments, He also gave many laws to ensure that they are practically implemented.
In the New Testament, Jesus gave the Two commandments. The way to implement the commandments is actually delivered then and there, through the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit is our real Teacher. He teaches us gently, the way God wants us to lead our life.
Never disobey the promptings of the Holy Spirit, because it’s all for our good only. If we disobey now, we will have to repent later. There is no one who cares so much for us like the Holy Spirit.
Let’s think about all the saints of our Church. Where did the saints get their guidance from? Was it not the silent voice guiding them? There are many saints who had visions of Jesus, Mother Mary, Saints, Angels… But all these visions did not last for long. Their constant companion was God who was living in their heart as the Holy Spirit.
The practical guidance to obey the commandments of God is provided directly by the Holy Spirit, as and when it’s required.
When we follow the gentle guidance of the Holy Spirit, our joy will be complete.
Tips to follow God’s commandments perfectly:
1. Holy Spirit gently tells us to ‘TO DO’ a task or ‘NOT TO DO’ a task. They are the practical steps to follow the commandments perfectly.
2. What a great gift it is to have our God as our Father and Teacher. Jesus was not feeling it’s good enough, if He teaches the people of His time. He knew that He needs to live in us and preach to us individually, according to our situation. Hence He has sent Holy Spirit to dwell within us. Listen to His silent voice, which you alone can hear.
3. More than the troubles caused by others, our own faults have the power to make us worried. Hence we can be diligent in obeying the silent voice.
4. Jesus has said, “How much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask of Him”. So please diligently pray to receive the Holy Spirit.
The guiding tool to obey the commandments of the Lord is the “NOT TO DO” and “TO DO” voice of the Holy Spirit.
My take with today’s Gospel is that we have to love God and neighbour. What is amiss in us almost all the time is that we do not love unconditionally. You will hear someone say that I love X because of this or that. Yet God sent His son to suffer and bring us back to God NOT that we deserved it. His love is unconditional; so should be our love. Hence Matthew 5:44-45; 1 John 4:19-21. He instructed us to love our enemies; and the latter says we can not pretend to love the God whom we don’t see when we don’t love the neighbour whom we see.