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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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