💖 HOMILY - SEPTEMBER 27 💖

First Reading - Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 

Gospel - Luke 9:18-22

We all love to be happy and experience joyful moments continuously. However, we are reminded today that change is inherent in nature. Therefore, we cannot permanently hold onto the same situation indefinitely. The readings invite us today to be ready to accept change in our lives in order to encounter the wisdom of God behind it.

The first reading reflects on the transitory nature of everything because time changes. Life encompasses happy moments and sad moments, successes and failures, pressures and relaxation. However, the passage reminds us that all such situations in our lives are appropriate for the given moment. Moreover, people are to consider the significance of each moment. This means we should not be attached to one situation or another but be ready to accept them as lessons and memories because they are not permanently ingrained in our lives and are short-lived. Therefore, it is important to accept every moment as God's gift, whether good or bad. By accepting every situation and facing it as it is, we can encounter the wisdom behind every event in our lives.

In the Gospel, Jesus reveals his glory, which lies not in a magnificent crown but on the wood of the cross and in the betrayal of the people, which ultimately results in his resurrection on the third day. Jesus recounts his suffering as the path leading to his glory. The fascinating part of Jesus' glory seems to be hidden from others, as they do not recognize him; some take him for John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the prophets. However, his disciples, represented by Peter, seem to recognize him as the Messiah, or Christ. Perceiving their belief in him, Jesus reveals himself to them as the suffering Messiah.

Dear friends, we see a strong connection between both readings today. The first reading reminds us to accept the transient nature of life and understand that we cannot cling to the same state of life permanently. This is also reflected in nature itself. We cannot have only happy moments but must also endure sad ones, along with other events in our lives. When we learn the lessons of acceptance in our situations, we can see the great wisdom of God. The Gospel continues with the message of accepting the wisdom of God in the sufferings of Jesus. Jesus relentlessly embraced his fate, which is why he could openly admit that he was a suffering Messiah rather than a glorious one. Suffering, as Jesus viewed it, should be seen from the perspective of the manifestation of God's love for humanity.

Many times, we are challenged by the struggles and sufferings of our lives. Many are broken by their tragedies, but a message of assurance is given to us that things will change, and every suffering and pain will become a sign of God's glory in our lives, just as the cross of Christ—Jesus' suffering on the cross—is the glory of God for humanity. Let us not boast of our successes or happy moments because they are transitory, but this does not mean we should not enjoy them. Certainly, we must enjoy them, but at the same time, we should remind ourselves that just as we receive our good times with joy, we should also accept difficult times with courage and confidence.