💖 HOMILY - NOVEMBRE 13 💖

First Reading - Wisdom 1:1-7

Gospel - Luke 17:1-6

We are in the world of information. The information is accessible/available at our fingertips through the use of internet and other means. The information can give us knowledge but readings of today invite us to look for wisdom which is more than information, a way of life, according to God's will.

The first reading opens a door to a new worldview of the understanding of wisdom. Jewish worldview of wisdom is personified as the Spirit of God which issues from God, engulfs whole universe and wants to enter humanity. The outstanding characteristics of wisdom can be seen in the omniscient nature of wisdom that penetrates human hearts and directs them to enjoy special affinity with God. The passage of the first reading poses some conditions to appropriate wisdom. The conditions are moral in nature where the people are invited to aspire to live in uprightness, truth and, simplicity of heart. The virtues of uprightness, truth and, simplicity of heart are explained as the password to possess wisdom from God.

The gospel of today gives us an opportunity to understand that the virtues of uprightness, truth and simplicity of heart should be lived in relation to one another. Jesus suggests in the gospel, how to live our life in relationship with one another; firstly, he admonishes to avoid leading the members astray. This evokes the historical problem of some prominent figures leading the Christians astray by their wrong teachings. Jesus pronounces harsher punishment for such people; secondly, Jesus stresses on the giving of corrections and forgiveness. He advises to correct the wronged with kindness and if the person realizes the mistakes and seeks pardon, Jesus tells us to forgive him/her.

Dear friends, the life of uprightness, truth, and simplicity of heart can be very well manifested in our relationship with one another. The mentioned virtues can help us possess wisdom from God and inspire us to lead others to the same path by showing them the right path by correcting and forgiving them. The given virtues also impel us to avoid giving or posing scandals to our fellow brothers and sisters and thereby leading them astray from God.

Correcting others is not easy for it calls for uprightness, truth and simplicity of heart on our part. One also needs guts to do so. However, condoning the errors of others will also be equal to leading our fellow brothers and sisters astray from God. Jesus admonishes us to avoid such scandals from our lives. However, this calls for change in ourselves first and then change in others. 

May God help us to care for our fellow brothers and sisters by setting them good examples through our lives.