Homily: May 2, 2022, Monday, Memorial of Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

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 So they said to him, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?”

Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of the Lord, that you believe in the one he sent.”

Is discipleship really so simple? That the only work we need to accomplish for God is simply to believe in Jesus?

But don’t we have a lot to do to be a good Catholic? Sunday obligations, frequent reconciliations, obeying commandments and church authorities, ministries, tithing, loving our neighbours, even enemies, fasting, praying, works of mercy…

Do you feel burdened?

When I was young, I used to help mummy in the kitchen. My duty was to chop big logs of wood into smaller pieces of firewood for mummy’s cooking. Since mummy cooked all meals every day, there were a lot of firewood to cut. It was hard labor. Many children hated that.

But I enjoyed it. Why? Because mummy once told me that cutting wood would help me build big muscles. I would become strong. So, I was motivated and I would do as much as I could. I did it happily and with enthusiasm because I believed mummy.

Believing is powerful. It directs, it motivates, it transforms. It makes something burdensome into something enjoyable. It turns an obligation into a passion.

And so, Jesus is right.

If we truly and fully believe in Him, we would not just want to attend Mass on Sundays, we would love to attend Mass all days, like all of you here. Reconciliations will no longer be painful but joyful. We will be eager to fast and pray with the Lord. Obeying commandments, doing ministry, loving others will be a privilege we embrace.

And like St. Stephen in the first reading, and like all the apostles, the martyrs, the saints, for us to suffer humiliation, persecution and hardship for the sake of the Lord, will be an honour we look forward to.

They were inspired. They wanted to do all these and more for the Lord. Nothing in this world could stop them. They lived for Jesus. They died for Jesus.

So, what works are we to accomplish for God?

Believe in the one He sent. Amen.


Comments

  1. TL4 May 2022 at 05:52

    haha... so did you grow big muscles?? i like your wood cutting story! thank you Father :) yes i agree, when we believe, we will do anything for what we believe in. sadly, in the modern world, it looks as if few people truly believe in a good thing anymore, too many believe in themselves, and i think we ourselves are the most unreliable beings in this world.

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