Homily: February 16, 2023, Thursday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

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 “Get behind me satan.”

Jesus’ words to St. Peter, the first pope, are so powerful.

Last week, a man came for reconciliation, and he gave me this beautiful chain with a cross which has the Holy face of Jesus on one side. The other side of the cross has these words: ‘Vade Retro Satana’ in Latin, which means ‘Get behind me, satan’. These are powerful words used in exorcism.

Satan is evil and cunning, he tempted Adam and Eve by cleverly rationalising for them how it seemed logical to disobey God. In the same way, Peter was suggesting to Jesus to avoid the way of suffering and death, which seemed logical but was ultimately against God’s plan.

If we look around us, we see the same thing happening in our world. Satan continues to tempt us with the good life, using technology to increase pleasure, enhance comfort and convenience, to make life easy and avoid anything that could involve hardship, even for the good and betterment of the world. He tempts women to destroy life of the unborn with lies of independence and freedom. All these lead to disobedience to God, turning against God’s plan. His lies lead many of God’s children to slavery.

Like Jesus, we have to repeat these words quite often, ‘get behind me, satan’, back off, step aside, go away, do not tempt me!

In today’s first reading, we see God establishing a new covenant with Noah who represents the whole of humanity. God did not make a new creation but He gave a new beginning to the same creation. A covenant is a solemn vow, that will never be broken. Even if one party fails his part, the other party remains faithful. 

As we come to the end of the daily readings from Genesis, we see clearly the covenantal relationship of God with His people. Man breached, and continues to fail, but God has been faithful and remains so.

Satan may seem to have destroyed the beautiful plan God had for His creation by tempting the first woman and first man. The ripple effect of that sin continues to our generation until the end of time. But God’s plan is a plan of love, which can never be destroyed. This selfless, self-emptying love has triumphed over sin through Jesus’ suffering and death, and will continue to triumph and rule forever.

So whenever we face the temptation to turn against God’s plan, to go the easy way, be firm and say, “get behind me, satan.”

Amen.


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Homily, Wednesday,January 5, 2022, Memorial of Saint John Neumann, Bishop

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Homilía: 3 Julio, 2022, XIV Domingo Ordinario

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Homily April 29, Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor of the Church

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 “And all day long, both at the temple and in their homes, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the Christ, Jesus”. Even after being flogged, all day long, the disciples continued teaching and preaching everywhere… Amazing, isn’t it?  These past few days, we have been reading from Acts of the Apostles. We see how the Jewish leaders and high priest tried to stop the apostles from preaching in the name of Jesus. But they failed. The Pharisee Gamaliel rightly said, “if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.” How true. The church is from God. The disciples did not stop teaching and proclaiming. They even rejoiced at being flogged for what they were doing. They were on fire for Jesus. They were so eager and excited to tell everyone about Jesus. What about us? If there is a new restaurant serving delicious food or a store is having a great end-of-summer sale, we would hear many people talking about it. Some w...
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Homily: August 20, 2022, Saturday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time

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Christmas Homily 2021,

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Homily: December 10, 2024, Tuesday of the second week In Advent (Word of God)

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Homily: November 2, 2024, The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls); Pleanary Indulgnce.

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