💖 HOMILY - NOVEMBRE 16 💖

First Reading - Wisdom 7:22,8:1

Gospel - Luke 17:20-25

We celebrated the Feast of all Saints on November 1. This feast reminds us that the saints enjoy the eternal bliss in the Kingdom of God and they will intercede for us from heaven. On the other side, this feast also reminds us that we also have our destiny in the company of the saints in heaven but that calls for a different life here on earth; the life of holiness. The readings of today invite us to strive for the life of holiness to remain the part of the Kingdom of God.

The first reading continues with the instruction by wisdom. The passage of today can be divided into two parts; the first part speaks about the nature or characteristics of wisdom; and the second part speaks about the origin of wisdom. The first part refers to 21 attributes or characteristics of wisdom that explain what wisdom is or how wisdom-filled person acts (intelligent, holy, unique, manifold, subtle etc.). The attributes of wisdom disclose how wisdom possesses the power of God and collaborates in the creative work of God. The second part shows that wisdom has divine origin for it proceeds from God. She is the breath of God, meaning to say, an indispensable part of God. 

The reading also underlines that wisdom is far from those who are unholy or ungodly but dwells within the holy souls. Those holy souls who possess wisdom are filled with attributes of wisdom and wisdom leads them to enjoy close relationship with God for she is from God and leads people to God.

The first reading highlights that wisdom leads people to God. The gospel passage of today mentions about kingdom of God which branches into two ideas: 'already' and 'yet to come'. On the question of Pharisees about the 'kingdom of God', Jesus answers that it has already been inaugurated and is among them. This refers to the presence of Jesus that has inaugurated the kingdom of God. However, Jesus also refers to the kingdom of God as 'yet to come'. Jesus by this mentions that the culmination of the kingdom will reach with the glorious return of the Son of man to the earth to judge the humanity. Jesus in the meantime punctuates with warnings that never be deceived by unprecedented shouts of people about the coming of the Son of man. Jesus affirms that the Son of man will certainly return after he has suffered. The time of the coming of the Son of man will be at the Kairos (appointed day).

Dear friends, by the very fact of baptism, we are assured of being the part of the kingdom of God. Jesus, in the gospel, invites all the believers to see in him the kingdom of God realized and wait for the culmination of it in his glorious coming. However, this is also a fact that we can get deviated from the plan of God for us. If we indulge in unholy affairs of our lives or are bluffed by pretentious claim or false alarm of people of the immediate coming of God, we will miss the ultimate preparation for his coming. Jesus implicitly warns us in the gospel passage to live our lives not worrying about the coming of the Son of God but by living it in the present with the kingdom of God proclaimed by him.

The first reading lays down the principle of holiness as the way for possessing wisdom. St. Paul claims that Jesus is the Wisdom of God. Hence the way of holiness is also the way to prepare ourselves for the coming of the Son of God and to remain constantly the part of the Kingdom of God.

May God help us in our endeavours to strive for holiness.