Homily: July 7, 2024, Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Lack of Faith )

“He was amazed at their lack of faith.”

The word “lack” in Aramaic is ‘lachasirutha’, which is like saying ‘being small’ or ‘having a little of’.

So what Jesus was describing here of the people from his native place was that they had some faith but very little. The people in the synagogue upon hearing Jesus preach, were amazed at his eloquence and wisdom, believing it to be a gift beyond human doing but at the same time, they were also doubtful and skeptical because of what they knew about his background and family. They judged based on their familiarity and knowledge, but never did they consider that God could work through humble settings and simple beginnings.

Their line of thought is not uncommon, it is logical to some extent. Don’t we also rationalize the same way sometimes?

How could someone who was so poor become so generous?

How could someone from uneducated parents become a scholar or a scientist?

How could someone with a terrible sinful life become a saint?

How could someone who used to run away from faith formation classes become a priest?

Yes, this is referring to me. If you had known me from my childhood days and knew the naughty things I used to do, you would never believe that I can become a priest. Many people from my home parish are still amazed and have not fully accepted this fact till this day.

Yet we see how our God works. He is a God who likes to challenge our rigid ways and stubborn minds. He wants to break our stereotypical and discriminating mindset and attitudes.

In today’s first reading, He sent prophet Ezekiel to the Israelites who have rebelled against Him, “I am sending you to the Israelites, rebels who have rebelled against me. They and their ancestors have revolted against me to this very day. Hard of face and obstinate of heart are they to whom I am sending you.”

God was not sending Ezekiel to those who never knew Him, but to these His own chosen people, whom He had saved from enemies and disasters, they were people who knew Him and what He had done for them, yet they were rebellious and hardened of hearts. 

What about us?

Let us not look at the millions who do not yet know God nor believe in Jesus. Let us look at ourselves who profess to believe.

Are we also hardened of hearts to the will of God in our life? Are we rebellious to the teachings of the church and try to argue in favor of our personal preferences, worldly opinions and political allegiance?

Our God is the God of Truth. Whatever the church teaches stems from the teachings of Christ, it is not dependent on popularity votes, modernization trends, nor political climates.

Fulton Sheen said, “Moral principles do not depend on a majority vote. Wrong is wrong, even if everybody is wrong. Right is right, even if nobody is right.”

Let us be brave to give witness to our faith no matter what others think about us or criticizes about the Church. Do not just attend church and its activities but live in a way that speaks clearly who our Master is and what we are following.

This Sunday’s readings call us to have faith in Jesus, faith in his words, faith in his deeds, faith in his church, faith in what the church believes, teaches and stands for, not little or shaky faith, but firm and full faith.

At the same time, allow the Holy Spirit to work through you, never think you are too small, too weak, too unworthy, too simple to do God’s work. As the Lord told St. Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.”

Saul the Christian persecutor can become Paul the Christian preacher. The Savior of the world can come through a humble carpenter and his simple young wife. Water can be turned into wine. Imagine what God can do with you and me, and the little ones in our midst, if we allow Him. Amen.