Homily (Reflection) for the Memorial
of Saints Cyril, Monk, and Methodius, B (14th February, 2017) on the
Gospel
(Tuesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
(I))
Gen 6:5-8;7:1-5.10;
Ps 28:1-4.9-10. (R. v.11); Mk 8:14-21.
After a brilliant course of studies, Cyril refused the
governorship of a district and withdrew to a monastery where his brother
Methodius had become a monk after some years in a governmental post. The duo
undertook the missionary task when the Duke of Moravia secured political
independence from German rule and ecclesiastical autonomy. Cyril invented an
alphabet which they used to translate the Gospels, the psalter, Paul’s letters
and the liturgical books into Slavonic, and also composed a Slavonic liturgy.
Cyril appealed to Rome as a result of the opposition from the German clergy and
the bishop’s refusal to consecrate Slavic bishops and priests. Pope Adrian II
approved their new liturgy. However, Cyril died in Rome 50 days after taking
the monastic habit. Methodius worked for 16 more years. He was papal legate for
all the Slavic peoples, consecrated a bishop and then given an ancient see (now
in the Czech Republic). Opposition continued after his death, and the work of the
brothers in Moravia was brought to an end and their disciples scattered. But
the expulsions had the beneficial effect of spreading the spiritual,
liturgical, and cultural work of the brothers to Bulgaria, Bohemia and southern
Poland.[1]
Topic: Our trust in God.
Jesus warned His disciples while in a boat, “Watch out – beware of the yeast of the
Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.” They thought He said this because they
hadn’t enough bread. Jesus queried,
Why
are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not perceive or understand?
Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes, and fail to see? Do you have ears,
and fail to hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the
five thousand.... And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of
broken pieces did you collect?
The disciples had witnessed a number of miracles yet when
Jesus warned them against the teachings of the Pharisees and Herod (cf. Matt 16:12) they thought it was because
they had not enough bread. Sometimes we also see ourselves behave in the same
way forgetting all He has done in us and around us. We need not be afraid
because He is always faithful, cf. Ps
31:5; 2Tim 2:12-13.
We suffer trials for the genuineness of our faith to be
revealed, cf. 1Pt 1:6-7. The saints
of the day are examples we ought to emulate, cf. Heb 13:7. They placed their trust entirely in God as they faced
every jealousy and oppositions.
Bible Reading: 2Tim 2:1-13.
Thought for today: How strong is your faith in God?
Let us pray: God, help us through the prayers of
Saints Cyril and Methodius to be always faithful – Amen.
Saints Cyril and Methodius – Pray for
us.
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