💖 HOMILY - SEPTEMBER 3 💖

First Reading - 1 Corinthians 2:10-16

Gospel - Luke 4:31-37

We live in a world where the allure of superheroes captures our imaginations. Their extraordinary powers, their authority over the forces of evil, and their ability to save the world often stir within us a longing for such power and influence. Yet, we know these stories are fiction, leaving us to marvel at something that remains beyond our reach. However, today's readings invite us to reflect on a different kind of hero—one who is not a figment of our imagination but a real and living presence in our lives: Jesus Christ. Unlike the superheroes of movies, Jesus invites us to share in His true power and glory, making this invitation not a fantasy, but a transformative reality.

In the first reading, St. Paul speaks to the Christians in Corinth, urging them to seek and possess spiritual wisdom, which comes from God. He draws a sharp distinction between secular wisdom and spiritual wisdom, emphasizing that the latter is far superior because it originates from the wisdom of God. Paul underscores that to attain this spiritual wisdom, one must live a spiritual life, guided by the Holy Spirit. For Paul, spiritual wisdom is personified in Jesus Christ Himself. Thus, to approach and grow in Christ, we must embrace the spiritual path laid out for us, one that leads us to deeper communion with God.

The Gospel passage today continues from the experience Jesus had in Nazareth, where He was rejected by His own townspeople. After this, He moved to Capernaum, a city by the Sea of Galilee, which became the center of His preaching and healing ministry. The people of Capernaum were struck by the authority with which Jesus taught. Unlike the prophets of the Old Testament, who spoke with God’s delegated authority, or the scribes and Pharisees, who relied on the teachings of Moses and other great rabbis, Jesus spoke with an authority that was His own. His knowledge of God the Father, His obedience to the Father’s will, and His absolute confidence in God were the sources of His unparalleled authority.

In the second part of the Gospel, we see Jesus demonstrating His authority through the exorcism of a demon. With a simple command, “Be silent, and come out of him!”, Jesus cast out the demon, who had no choice but to obey. The people were amazed at Jesus' power, recognizing that even the evil spirits were subject to His command.

The authority of Jesus is not borrowed or temporary—it is inherent and eternal, rooted in His divine nature. When the demon called Jesus "The Holy One of God," it was acknowledging His divinity. We, too, believe in this same Jesus, who is "The Holy One of God," and He invites us to share in His divine life and glory. But to accept this invitation, as St. Paul reminds us, we must live a spiritual life. This spiritual path is not something we must figure out on our own; it has been clearly laid out by Jesus in the Scriptures, safeguarded by the teachings of the Church, and lived out by believers throughout the ages.

The Gospel today challenges us to ask ourselves: Are we, like the people of Capernaum, truly impressed and moved by the words of Jesus? Do His teachings penetrate our hearts and lead to transformation? St. Paul tells us that it is the spiritual person who can truly perceive what is from the Spirit. If we find ourselves unmoved, perhaps it is a sign that we need to deepen our spiritual life, to open ourselves more fully to the movement of the Holy Spirit.

This spiritual wisdom and growth that Paul speaks of is not something that happens by accident. It requires intentionality and commitment. We must guard our spiritual lives, nurturing them through daily engagement with the Scriptures and the frequent reception of the Sacraments. The Word of God is not just ancient text; it is the living, authoritative voice of Christ that continues to speak to us today. The Sacraments are not mere rituals; they are encounters with the grace and power of God, strengthening us for the journey of faith.

Let us, therefore, take up the challenge to grow in our spiritual lives. May we be diligent in reading and meditating on the Word of God, and may we avail ourselves of the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation, to sustain and nourish our spirits. In doing so, we will not only grow in spiritual wisdom but will also share more fully in the glory and authority of Christ, our true hero.

May God bless us with the grace to embrace this spiritual journey and to live out our faith with the power and authority that come from being united with Christ. Amen.