Effective Faith is Humble – Mar 04 – Homily – Fr John Lawrence

 

Fr John Lawrence gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Mar 04, 2024, where he warns against the dangers of familiarity and pride in faith, emphasizing humility and trust as essential for experiencing God's grace.

The homily focuses on the Gospel story of Jesus' rejection in Nazareth, emphasizing the dangers of familiarity breeding contempt and the importance of faith and humility for receiving God's grace. He highlights John's account of Christ's rejection ("He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him") as a cautionary tale for Catholics, urging us not to repeat Nazareth's mistake by failing to recognize and embrace the gifts of our faith??. Father draws parallels between the skepticism Jesus faced and the Old Testament stories of Elijah and Elisha performing miracles not for their fellow Israelites but for foreigners, attributing these actions to the Israelites' lack of faith. He particularly mentions the faith of the widow of Zarephath during a famine and Naaman, the Assyrian's healing from leprosy, both of which required humility and trust in God over pride and self-reliance.

External Links:

NAB Bible - Story of Jesus' Rejection - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/4?16
NAB Bible - Elijah and the Widow - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1kings/17
NAB Bible - Naaman the Syrian - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2kings/5

00:00 – Introduction: Jesus' Rejection in Nazareth
00:39 – The Significance of Faith for Catholics
01:27 – Insights from Old Testament Miracles
02:09 – The Widow of Zarephath: A Model of Faith and Provision
03:24 – Naaman's Journey: From Pride to Humility and Healing
05:45 – Baptism: The Path to Spiritual Cleansing
07:27 – The Role of Faith and Humility in Accessing Sacramental Graces
08:15 – Thirsting for God: The Journey Towards Divine Intimacy

Ave Maria!

Mass: Monday 3rd Week of Lent - Wkdy
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/030424.cfm
1st: 2ki 5:1-15
Resp: psa 42:2, 3, 43:3, 4
Gsp: luk 4:24-30

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1752

Also on Facebook: https://fb.watch/qBFbpVdH2s/
and YouTube: https://youtu.be/bNaFSpenoNI