💖 HOMILY - SEPTEMBER 26 💖

First Reading - Ecclesiastes 1:2-11 

Gospel - Luke 9:7-9

Conscience, as stated by St. Augustine, is the voice of God speaking to us from within. Our conscience is a gift of God's presence in us that corrects and directs our actions. However, it is our responsibility to maintain the purity of our conscience by obeying it and not acting against this inner voice. Today’s readings invite us to examine whether our conscience is right or has become corrupted due to irresponsibility and moral compromise.

The passage from the first reading is thought-provoking, reminding us about the vanity of everything. At first glance, it may seem pessimistic, but it reflects vast life experiences. The passage expands on four major themes: the impermanence of life, monotony in nature, the insatiability of desires, and the lack of true novelty. The author seeks to counsel his readers not to waste their valuable lives on things that cannot provide lasting fulfillment. The first reminder is that life is temporary, and the second emphasizes that our desires are insatiable, so it is impossible to satisfy every craving. The third reminder tells us that there is nothing truly new under the sun—everything has existed before, even if forgotten or unnoticed. The passage discourages our pride in thinking we can equal God by taking credit for creating or discovering new things. In summary, the first reading advises us to live in a way that seeks true satisfaction and fulfillment, which requires a well-formed conscience to discern what is right and proper for life.

The Gospel passage presents the lax conscience of Herod, who heard about Jesus and was perplexed. Herod’s conscience was dulled by his sins, even though John the Baptist had pointed them out. Although the beheading of John certainly shocked Herod, it did not lead to any personal change. He failed to recognize his wrongdoing. When he heard rumors about Jesus—some saying He was John the Baptist, others Elijah—Herod’s curiosity was piqued, but not with the intent to change. He only wanted to see John alive again in Jesus. Herod’s right conscience was silenced by his indifference to it, as well as his disregard for John the Baptist's warnings.

Dear friends, we have a moral guide in our conscience. If we keep our conscience intact, unaffected by indifference and moral compromise, and always listen to it, we will never go wrong. In fact, God speaks and guides us through our conscience. When we make mistakes, our conscience corrects and pricks us, preventing us from repeating them. In today’s Gospel, we hear about Herod, who turned a deaf ear to his conscience and refused to change his ways, even when repeatedly challenged by John the Baptist. The first reading encourages us to keep our conscience pure so that we can make wise choices in life. Today’s readings call us to strengthen our conscience. We are warned not to let our conscience become lax like Herod’s, but instead, to keep it strong and firm. The readings encourage us to root our conscience in God, and one way to do this is through the daily Examination of Conscience. This practice helps us reflect on whether our conscience is still sensitive and right or has become lax, scrupulous, or perplexed.

Today, we are invited by the readings not to let our conscience become deadened by constantly acting against it. Rather, we should listen to it as the voice of God and act accordingly.

May God help us keep our conscience pure and right.