💖 HOMILY - OCTOBER 7 💖

First Reading - Baruch 4:5-12,27-29 

Second Reading - Luke 10:17-24

Today we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Rosary. The feast of the Holy Rosary was instituted by Pope Pius V to celebrate the anniversary of the defeat of the Turkish fleet at the battle of Lepanto on the first Sunday in October 1571, which ended the threat of Muslim domination of the Mediterranean and was ascribed in part to the prayers and processions of the Rosary confraternity in Rome. Later the feast was moved to the fixed date of 7 October.

This feast is an expression of gratitude to God for the success and the acknowledgment of God's work in everything. The readings of the day also invite us to acknowledge God's powerful works performed through us.

In the first reading from the Book of Baruch the speaker is depicted as a widowed mother, who has watched her children being taken away into captivity. She calls on her neighbours, presumably the neighbouring towns, to share her grief. It ends, however, in confident joy that they will be restored. This also means her grief for her children will be turned into joy.

In the gospel passage, we come across the episode where the disciples report to Jesus all that they did and experienced during their ministry. Jesus reacts three ways to the situation; firstly, he teaches his disciples the lesson of humility; secondly, he thanks his Father for the disciples and; thirdly he lauds the disciples for the opportunity to be able to see and listen to him. 

Jesus confirms that the power of God that his disciples experienced, he gave to them so that Satan would be vanquished, however, they must attribute its success to God. Jesus expects the attitude of humility from his disciples before God for all they did and will be doing. Jesus also underlines that their reason for great joy should not be their works or achievements rather their joy should be because they become worthy for the heavenly joy because of their works. However, this also requires an attitude of humility.

Dear friends, the gospel passage poses a challenge to us to rejoice because God chooses us for His purpose. We know that often we desire to take credit for our works and our achievements but forget to acknowledge the hand of God. Jesus teaches his disciples to acknowledge God's work through their instrumentality. It means that God enables us to do and achieve great things. God gives us His grace to meet His purpose through us. Let's not forget to humbly acknowledge it. 

Let's pray that God may give us grace to see His power actively working through us and others.