Homily: August 26, 2024, Monday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time (Boast)

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 “Accordingly, we ourselves boast of you in the churches of God regarding your endurance.”

In today’s first reading, St. Paul writes to the Thessalonians, saying he boasts of them in the churches of God. He was so proud of them, the church in Thessalonia.

Has anyone boasted of you and your achievements before? 

Modern parents nowadays have access to many resources for parenting tips and wisdom, with lists of the do’s and dont’s. One common piece of advice is to never compare your child’s abilities and achievements with that of another child, especially in the presence of your child.

However, many Asian parents in the previous generations followed a parenting approach from the old school. They thought that by comparing children, it could motivate a weaker child to want to do better. My parents did that to me very often. They would always tell me how some of my friends were doing well in their studies and that I should model after them. Did it help me in my studies?

No. I continued to do poorly, and I never felt confident that I could ever do any better. My parents had never boasted of my results before but were proud of some of my siblings who did well, mostly my sisters. Only after I entered the seminary did my studies improve.

For St. Paul to boast about the church in Thessalonica, they must really be doing great. In what ways?

Thessalonica was one of the first communities converted and formed by St. Paul, and they were remarkable in their faith practices. They obeyed all the teachings of St. Paul and remained steadfast amidst challenges and difficulties.

He praised them for this: “because your faith flourishes ever more, and the love of every one of you for one another grows ever greater.”

Faith is not visible, but love can be seen in our actions, in the way we relate to one another.

Love is evidence of true faith in Jesus Christ. Those who have faith will have love for one another and for God. Because that is the commandment of Jesus, to love one another as He has loved us.

In every community, there will be disagreements and differences, but those who embraced and followed the faith obediently, will do what Jesus did: love and forgive. And this will show up in a community that is united, strong and growing. Otherwise, the community will break, weaken and disperse. The Thessalonians deserved to be praised.

If our community has faith, we will have love. If St. Paul were to look at our community here at St. Ambrose, would he boast of us too? Would he be proud of us too?

Mother Angelica said, “Faith is what gets you started. Hope is what keeps you going. Love is what brings you to the end.”

We have started. Let us keep going and arrive at the end stronger and together. 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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Christmas Homily 2021,

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