💖 HOMILY - SEPTEMBER 28 💖

First Reading - Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:8 

Gospel - Luke 9:43-45

What is the central focus of our life? The central focus of our life determines our actions, thoughts, and words. If our central focus consists of material objects, our actions, thoughts, and words will reflect that. If our central focus consists of spiritual things, our actions, thoughts, and words will reflect that instead. Today's readings invite us to fix our focus on spiritual things because material things will ultimately fail to support us in the end.

The first reading offers a beautiful reflection on the pains of old age and encourages us to enjoy youth and vigor while they last, though youth, the age of dark hair, is vanity—an insubstantial breath of air. The painful realities of aging are presented symbolically: the sun, light, moon, and stars all grow dark. Limbs tremble and become bowed. Teeth no longer grind at the mill. The voice grows shrill and bird-like. Climbing uphill becomes an ordeal, and walking is something to dread. Hair turns white like the almond tree in blossom, and the caper-bush no longer stimulates, until eventually, the silver thread is snapped. Earlier (3:21), Qoheleth questioned whether humans have any advantage over beasts, asking whether the human spirit goes upward while the spirit of the beast goes down to the earth. Now, more comfortingly, the dust returns to the earth and the breath returns to God, who gave it.

The Gospel continues with Jesus' prediction of his passion. People admire Jesus after seeing his healing of the demoniac. But Jesus reminds his disciples that they should not be carried away by the praise lavished on him after the miracle. Once again, he reminds them that he is the suffering Messiah. However, the disciples fail to understand that the sufferings of Jesus are the way to salvation for humanity, and this mystery remains hidden from them. Why is this not perceived by them? It is because of their preconceived ideas of the Messiah as a politically powerful figure. Perhaps they found it difficult to comprehend the idea of a suffering Messiah. Jesus’ reminder of his suffering was meant to prompt his disciples to see spiritual values in his sufferings, rather than material ones. In fact, the journey to Jerusalem becomes the destination for spiritual advantage for humanity through the sufferings of Jesus.

Dear friends, today we are challenged by the readings to reflect on our central focus in life: is it spiritual or material? The first reading reminds us that our physical life, represented by material things, is strong at certain points but does not remain the same. Jesus understood this fact, which is why he was not swayed by the praises of the people or his disciples. Instead, he reminded his disciples to view Jerusalem as his destiny. Jerusalem stands as the center of renewal for humanity because of Jesus. Jesus breaks down the barriers for the nation and invites everyone into renewed life in him. Jerusalem is figuratively the center of spiritual aspirations. The aspirations of Jesus' disciples and the people seem to be material, but Jesus' passion prediction directs them to seek spiritual aspirations and renewal in him. This is also an invitation for us to seek spiritual aspirations in Jesus.

What is our "Jerusalem" toward which our heart, mind, and soul are directed? Is it material things or spiritual? Jesus reminds us to fix our gaze on Jerusalem, which brings changes in us, as long as Jesus is at the center. Are we ready for that change?

May the good Lord become the center of our spiritual life.