💖 HOMILY - JUNE 16 💖

First Reading - 2 Corinthians 6:1-10 

Gospel - Matthew 5:38-42

When we think of gifts, our minds often go to objects—things we give or receive on birthdays, celebrations, or special occasions. Rarely do we think of the spiritual gifts we’ve received as Christians—gifts not wrapped in paper, but written into our very being through grace. These are not momentary delights; they are lifelong companions meant to shape who we are and how we live. Today’s readings invite us to recognize, nurture, and live out the spiritual gifts—graces—we have received from God.

In the first reading, St. Paul reminds the Christian community that they have received grace from God—“charis” in Greek, which literally means gift. This grace is not vague or abstract. Paul names it in concrete terms: purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, love, holiness, truth, and endurance. He names grace especially in the context of struggle—where it matters most. The world may view Christians as weak, sorrowful, or lacking, but Paul proclaims the opposite: as dying, yet alive; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich. This is the paradox of grace—it lifts us beyond the judgments of the world and empowers us to live with inner strength, even when external conditions are hard.

In the Gospel, Jesus takes us further with teachings that feel radical—even shocking. He overturns two deeply held norms of his time: retaliation and self-defense. “An eye for an eye” was meant to ensure justice, and resistance to aggression was natural self-protection. But Jesus does not deny justice or self-worth—instead, he offers a deeper justice, rooted in mercy and love. He invites us to respond not from instinct, but from grace. To forgive is not to surrender to evil, but to conquer it with love. To give freely is not to lose, but to gain freedom from selfishness and possessiveness. This is not weakness—it is strength drawn from the grace of God.

Dear friends, the life Jesus calls us to—of forgiveness, generosity, and holiness—is not achievable by sheer willpower. It is only possible when we tap into the grace already given to us. St. Paul reminds us that these gifts are already within us. We need only to recognize them, develop them, and let them shape our lives. Grace is not something we earn; it’s a divine seed planted in us, waiting to grow.

Let us then ask ourselves: Do I live as someone who has received the gift of God’s grace? Do I try to respond to life’s challenges from a place of love, rather than instinct or revenge? If we learn to recognize and nurture these gifts, the teachings of Jesus will no longer seem idealistic or out of reach. They will become the natural fruit of a grace-filled life.

Let us pray today for the openness to recognize the graces we have received, and for the strength to live out the teachings of Jesus—so that our lives may shine with the beauty of holiness, love, and mercy.