by Fr Raymond Raj
Jeremiah 20:10-13
Psalm 17:2-7
John 10:31-42
Speaking of blasphemy, today’s Gospel theme: Blasphemy. Blasphemy in religious context simply means ‘Great disrespect to God or something that is holy‘. Always remember this.
Blasphemy means disrespect shown to God or something that is holy.
By the way, if you disrespect me, that is not blasphemy. Don’t worry about it. But if during Mass you disrespect me as I take the Persona Christi, it is a blasphemy.
Brothers and sisters, in the Old Testament, when a person commits sins of blasphemy, he or she will be stoned to death, not worthy to be alive.
However, in the New Testament, Jesus spoke a special type of blasphemy – Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Sin of blasphemy.
There is a reason why Jesus spoke about this. The Pharisees were eyewitness of the many works of the Holy Spirit, of the miracles done by Jesus but yet, the Pharisees attributed the work of Holy Spirit to the presence of demon. That is why Jesus calls them blasphemer, unforgivable.
Likewise, my dear friends, my message to you today is:
You and I also witness a lot of miracles in our life. Each time you experience miracle or healing, the question remains is do we attribute it to Holy Spirit or do we say it is the work of nature?
Brothers and sisters, there is an old saying in English: Give credit where credit is due.
Therefore, let us not be adamant/stubborn to glorify God all the days of our life. As I always say this in my sermon, if you have forgotten let me remind you again:
You and I exist because of God. You and I exist, we are alive, because of God. If you and I fail to honour, fail to respect God, then our very existence has no meaning.
Amen.
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