Homily: July 15, 2024, Monay of the fifteenth week in Ordinary time (Pleasing God).

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“In the blood of calves, lambs, and goats, I find no pleasure.”

Why does God find no pleasure in such blood sacrifices? What would please God?

In the past, one of the parishes in my home diocese in India used to practice animal sacrifices in church. I do not know how it all started but I know how it all ended.

In 1924, exactly one hundred years ago, the bishop at that time banned all animal sacrifices in our parishes. It was a huge decision and he faced strong opposition. Why?

The parish church was dedicated to St. Anthony attracted many visitors from other states. People would go and offer animal sacrifices, in the hope of getting their petitions granted. The church would sell chickens outside the church, and when a devotee wanted to offer a sacrifice, they would cut the necks of the chickens, and sell it to the devotees for their sacrificial offertory. The parishioners who sold the chickens to the church made a lot of money and the church profited from the offertory as well.

You can understand now why those people were happy with keeping the tradition. But we can also imagine, would God find pleasure with such sacrifices? No, never. His kingdom is not built on the blood of animals.

Profiteering humans would be pleased with anything that brings in money for them, but not God. We might think that we can please God in the same way we please other human beings superficially, but God sees deeper and beyond all external show and empty promises.

So, what would please God?

In the Gospel today, Jesus says, “…whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

When two people are truly in love with each other, they do not take delight in external gifts, but they desire only in the gift of each other. External gifts are nice, but they remain just a representation, an expression of love. What they truly desire is to give their life totally, fully and permanently to each other.

Similarly, God yearns for us to receive Him, and to love His Son whom He sent to us. By receiving and accepting Jesus totally, fully and permanently into our hearts, we receive and accept God totally, fully and permanently into our life. This is what God wants. To be united forever with His people, in true everlasting love.

Let us ask ourselves, “Do I want to please God?”

If yes, then do not pour animal blood onto the altar but receive Jesus from the altar. Let Jesus’ blood flow in our blood, let His heart rest in our heart, let His Holy Spirit move our being.

No animal sacrifices, only personal surrender.

Lord God, I aspire to love you with all my heart, all my mind, all my soul. Amen.


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