The following Homily is provided by Friar Sidney as a way
     of enriching the ministry of the Word as presented through
     this web site.  Friar Sidney, who has spent much of his
     ministry in India, is currently a Professor of Philosophy
     in Rome.  He can be reached at smascarenhas@ofm.org.  The texts
     used by Friar Sydney come from the Roman Lectionary - which in
     most points agrees with the Revised Common Lectionary.

    
READINGS: 
Zechariah 9:9-10;  Romans 8:9, 11-13;  Matthew 11:25-30.


INTRODUCTION: 
Let us today reflect on how we pray.


HOMILY:
Life is not always a bed of roses. It is mostly a struggle. It is
a struggle to make ends meet. It is a struggle to be efficient. 
It is a struggle to be productive.

So often our prayer is filled with petitions. We want favours
from God. We ask him to bless us with success.

Today's readings are one big surprise. 

The first reading depicts God coming to meet us riding on an ass.
He is not riding a horse, which is a symbol of power.  He comes
riding on an ass, which is a symbol of service.  He is not coming
to us because we searched for him.  He searches us out.

The second reading tells us that He has made His Home in us.  He
has made us His tabernacle and tent.

In the Gospel, Christ blesses His Father, Lord of heaven and
earth, for revealing this to mere children.

Is all this not a big surprise?

Let us stop a while to see how we pray?

Do we not use many words in our prayer?  Do we not fill our
prayer with many petitions?  Do we not search for God in special
places and shrines?  Do we not feel that God is with us only in
our triumphs and successes?

What irony!  While we search Him everywhere, God Himself has made
us His dwelling place.  While we search Him in grandeur and
splendour, He has made us His dwelling place.  While we search
Him in success and triumph, He has made us His dwelling place.
What a great Mystery!

If we really realize the greatness of this mystery, we will stop
all our babble and listen to Him.

If we realize the greatness of this mystery, our prayer will be
as simple as that of Jesus Christ: "I bless you, Father, Lord of
heaven and earth."

Shalom.

  
copyright - Friar Sydney Mascarenhas and  Rev. Richard J. Fairchild - Spirit Networks, 1999 - 2006
           please acknowledge the appropriate author if citing these sermons.