💖 HOMILY - OCTOBER 14 💖

First Reading - Ephesians 1:11-14 

Gospel - Luke 12:1-7

Our world has achieved a lot in the sphere of discovery, knowledge, exploration and innovation etc. The achievements of humanity make us proud and self-sufficient. They make us feel that we can achieve anything we want. At the peak of human pride in the midst of glorious achievements, the readings of today invite us to depend on God or walk humbly before God in faith.

The first reading reminds that faith in Jesus gives two assurances; firstly, the assurance of being owned by God and; secondly, the assurance of being marked by the seal of the Holy Spirit. Paul reminds that the seal of the Holy Spirit marks the disciples out as being saved through faith in Jesus.

The pericope of the gospel of today is filled with warning, encouragement and assurance. The warning of Jesus to his disciples is directed against the "leaven of the Pharisees" which refers to their hostile nature in the sense of hypocrisy. They apparantly seem pious and devout but inside their heart they are filled with evil. Jesus warns his disciples not to get trapped by their treachery and deceptive apperance. On the other side, Jesus also encourges his disciples to become witnesses of the good news. Jesus taught his disciples the message of God and now in the passage entrusts them with the responsibility to proclaim the good news to others or make it known to others, even though it incurs challenges and persecutions. Lastly, Jesus gives assurance to his disciples that they are valued by God. The persecutions can only destroy the body but not soul. It's God who is capable of destroying both body and soul. Jesus emboldens his disciples not to get frightened by the challanges and persecutions but they should be afraid of their infidelity to God who is capable of banishing them to eternal fire.

Dear friends, we can achieve many things on our own accord but not everything. The salvation is a gift that we have received from God. This gift of salvation has to be responded in faith. As Paul, in the first reading mentions that gift of salvation is offered by God and can't be simply appropriated by our own human efforts but through the obedience of faith. 

We have received a great gift of salvation in Jesus, we are also responsible to share this gift of salvation in Jesus with others. Jesus invites every believer to be His witness of the good news of salvation. Jesus forwarns us that witnessing is not easy but is fraught with challenges and difficulties but we are assured of God's protection and care for us always.

May God make us humble to give Him obedience of faith and share the gift of salvation in Jesus with others.