SOMETIMES GOD HAS TO BREAK YOU TO SAVE YOU - Homily by Fr. Dave Concepcion on Aug. 19, 2024

Summary

The homily begins with a Gospel reading where Jesus advises a young man to keep the commandments and to sell his possessions to follow Him. The speaker reflects on the limits of sin and how God sometimes allows suffering to bring about spiritual growth. Using examples, he emphasizes that material wealth is meaningless without Christ and that God may allow pain to save our souls. The homily concludes with a reminder that true value lies in following Christ and living a life centered on faith.

Takeaways

• 🙏 The Lord be with you and with your spirit.
• 📖 A young man asked Jesus what he must do to gain eternal life, and Jesus instructed him to keep the commandments.
• 🛑 Jesus emphasized the importance of not killing, not committing adultery, not stealing, not bearing false witness, honoring one's parents, and loving one's neighbor as oneself.
• 💰 Jesus told the young man that if he wanted to be perfect, he should sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him.
• 😔 The young man left sad because he had many possessions, highlighting the difficulty of giving up material wealth.
• 🕊️ The first reading from the prophet Ezekiel reminds us that sin has limitations, and God may allow sin but does not approve of it.
• 📜 The homily discusses how sin can lead to suffering, and sometimes God allows pain to bring us back to Him.
• 💔 Not all wounds are bad; sometimes, God wounds us to heal us and save our souls.
• ✝️ The Gospel emphasizes that having everything in the world means nothing without Christ.
• 💡 The homily concludes with the reminder that despite God's love, sin has its consequences, and it's essential to prioritize a life with Christ.

Q & A

What was the young man seeking when he approached Jesus?

The young man was seeking to know what good deeds he must do to gain eternal life.

How did Jesus initially respond to the young man’s question about gaining eternal life?

Jesus responded by asking why the young man inquired about the good, stating that only one is good, and then instructed him to keep the commandments if he wished to enter into life.

Which commandments did Jesus specifically mention to the young man?

Jesus mentioned the commandments: 'You shall not kill,' 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' 'Honor your father and mother,' and 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'

What additional instruction did Jesus give the young man who claimed to have observed all the commandments?

Jesus told the young man that if he wished to be perfect, he should go, sell what he had, give to the poor, and then follow Him, promising that he would have treasure in heaven.

How did the young man react to Jesus' instruction to sell his possessions and give to the poor?

The young man went away sad because he had many possessions.

What is the significance of the saint mentioned in the homily, and how is he connected to the first reading?

The saint mentioned is Saint Ezekiel Moreno. The connection to the first reading lies in the similarity of their names, though they are different individuals. The prophet Ezekiel lived between 590 and 570 BC, while Saint Ezekiel Moreno was born in 1848.

What does the first reading in the homily remind us about sin?

The first reading reminds us that sin has its own limitations, and although God may allow us to commit sin, He does not approve of it. The reading emphasizes that sin brings consequences and limitations.

What is the main lesson the homily aims to convey about pain and suffering?

The homily conveys that pain and suffering can be a form of divine intervention. God may allow us to experience pain to prevent us from becoming complacent and forgetting our spiritual origins. It suggests that sometimes God breaks us to save our souls.

According to the homily, why is it important to have Christ in your life, even if you have everything else?

The homily emphasizes that without Christ, everything else is meaningless. It states that you might have everything you want, but if you do not have Christ, you have nothing, because we came into the world with nothing and will leave it with nothing.

What is the final blessing given by the priest at the end of the homily?

The final blessing given by the priest is: 'May Almighty God bless you and your family, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.' The priest then sends the congregation forth in peace to love and serve the Lord.