💖 HOMILY - OCTOBER 4 💖

(Readings are proper to the feast of St. Francis)

First Reading - Galatians 1:13-24

Gospel - Luke 10:38-42

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the saint who listened to the voice of God at Spoleto: "Francis, Francis, who do you want to serve, master or slave." He responded, 'master' and the Lord told him, 'return to Assisi.' This voice changed his whole life. Today's readings invite us to pay attention to the Lord who comes to us; listen to Him.

The first reading gives an account of the call of Paul. The call of Paul, as narrated by he himself, gets us in touch with the great reality that God calls us and guies us. Paul mentions that in his enthusiasm for Judaism, he persecuted Christians but realising his call for Christ he also responded to him. The journey of Paul from a persecutor to a disciple of Jesus is certainly interesting because it stupifies us to ask a question; how come God chooses a persecutor to be his ardent disciple? The call of Paul reminds that it's very important that we are in tranquility to listen to God. Paul, in his confusion and enthusiasm, didn't pay attention to what God wanted from him but when he was given grace to realise it, he just threw himself into God's hands. He says, he didn't go about discussing after he was given the grace to realise his call but he went to Arabia, which refers to his spiritual journey or experience. He learned to listen to God and came out transformed.

The gospel presents a well known episode of Martha and Mary and reminds us to choose the better part. The scene depicts Martha engaged in the preparation for the food as happens many times in our houses too on the arrival of an important guest. The choice of Martha was not bad as she thought much like each one of us who may get occupied in such situations. However, Jesus reminds Martha that she is too busy to pay attention to Jesus, the main guest for whom everything is being done. Whereas, Mary sits at the feet of Jesus and listens to him, this is to say, she pays the most care to Jesus, the main guest.

Dear friends, the readings of today pose a question to us; are we quite enough to listen to God or pay him our attention? We begin our day with many activities and works, do we pay attention to the Lord who guides and helps us all through the day. Our lives also can become like Martha who was engaged in doing good works but may not the better one, to spare time for the Lord. Paul learnt it because he was given grace to recognize God's voice, do we realise it ourselves? We need to learn to spare our time for God in His presence which is the better part like Mary. Let's choose the better part like Mary to attend to the Lord who comes to us in the Eucharist, through His Word, through our different events and people.