{"id":9404,"date":"2023-06-25T11:10:41","date_gmt":"2023-06-25T15:10:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/?p=9404"},"modified":"2023-06-25T11:20:05","modified_gmt":"2023-06-25T15:20:05","slug":"12th-sunday-in-ordinary-time-year-a-homily-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/12th-sunday-in-ordinary-time-year-a-homily-3\/","title":{"rendered":"12th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A – Homily"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

12th<\/sup> Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A<\/a>
Jeremiah 20:10-13
Psalm 69:8-10, 14, 17, 33-35 (14c)
Romans 5:12-15
Matthew 10:26-33
June 25, 2023<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jeremiah faced danger.  He heard \u201cthe whisperings of many<\/em>\u201d who sought to \u201cdenounce him<\/em>.\u201d  Why did they want to denounce him?  Because he was pointing out their sins.  He was telling them that they needed to change but they didn\u2019t want to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who was denouncing Jeremiah?  Those who used to be his friends.  It\u2019s bad enough when strangers denounce us for our faith but worse when it is our friends who are supposed to have the same faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jeremiah lamented this but he knew the Lord was with him.  He knew that as long as he followed the Lord, his persecutors would eventually stumble.  The Lord triumphs over all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is there someone who denounces you for your faith?  Stand up for our faith but then leave it to the Lord.  Do not seek vengeance yourself.  Hand it over to God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jeremiah was not the only one to face such struggles.  The psalmist today speaks of the insults they faced, how they became an outcast to their brothers and a stranger to their children because of their faith.  We do not desire division but we need to hold fast to the faith that God has given us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many people have been martyred over the centuries for their faith in Jesus Christ.  Even today people are still being martyred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does Christ say to this? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDo not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why are people martyred?  Why do some countries restrict or prohibit the practice of Christianity?  Because they want to silence the voice of Christ.  Why?  If they are so sure they are right, what difference does it make what we say?  They must be concerned we could be right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Knowing of coming persecution, Jesus said, \u201cFear no one.<\/em>\u201d  Do not be afraid to speak up.  Before you speak, ask the Lord what He wants<\/u><\/em><\/strong> you to say.  Then share his message with others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus continued, \u201cNothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known\u2026what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Initially God\u2019s message was made known to few.  After Jesus rose from the dead, He sent the disciples out to all<\/em><\/strong> nations.  Over the course of centuries, the faith was no longer a secret known to just a few.  It was proclaimed to the whole world, revealed to all.  Christianity became the foundation of western civilization. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, many have abandoned the foundation.  Others hold to some faith but God is not first in their lives.  They listen more to worldly voices than God\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is Jesus your foundation?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What does Jesus want you to offer<\/u><\/em><\/strong> to the world?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note that I said \u201coffer.\u201d  We are not to force faith on the world but we are to share it with the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The world does not want us to reveal Christ to others.  They want us to keep our faith a secret.  Some even kill those who speak about Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you afraid to speak up for Jesus?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are not to be afraid of those who can kill our bodies.  Jesus says, \u201crather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christ wants us to offer the faith to the world.  Then, they must choose for themselves.  If they don\u2019t want to follow Jesus, you don\u2019t have to force them.  Speak the truth and then leave it in God\u2019s hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I leave you with two questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, do you choose to follow God\u2019s truth or the worldly voices that have rejected what Jesus taught?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second, where do you want to spend eternity?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year AJeremiah 20:10-13Psalm 69:8-10, 14, 17, 33-35 (14c)Romans 5:12-15Matthew 10:26-33June 25, 2023 Jeremiah faced danger.  He heard \u201cthe whisperings of many\u201d who sought to \u201cdenounce him.\u201d  Why did they want to denounce him?  Because he was pointing out their sins.  He was telling them that they needed to change but …<\/p>\n

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