💖 HOMILY - OCTOBER 2 💖

First Reading - Nehemiah 8:1-12 

Gospel - Matthew 18:1-5,10

There are moments in life when a single word of encouragement, a message of hope, or the rediscovery of truth can completely change us. Think of how we feel when someone reminds us of our worth or points us back to what truly matters. That’s the power of God’s Word — it doesn’t just inform us, it transforms us. Today’s readings invite us to rediscover the joy and strength that come from listening to God’s Word with childlike hearts.

In the first reading, the people of Israel gather to hear the Law proclaimed after returning from exile. As Ezra reads aloud, the people are deeply moved — some to the point of tears. They realize how far they had strayed, but also how merciful God is. Nehemiah reminds them that this is not a day for sorrow but for joy: “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” God’s Word does not crush us; it lifts us up, giving us hope and renewal.

In the Gospel, Jesus points us to children as models of greatness in the Kingdom of Heaven. Children are humble, open, and ready to trust. They don’t complicate things — they receive with simplicity. Jesus tells us that unless we become like children, we cannot enter His Kingdom. In other words, the greatness of a disciple lies not in status or power, but in humility and openness to God’s Word.

Dear friends, when we approach God’s Word with humility and openness, it becomes a source of joy, strength, and transformation. The people in Nehemiah’s time rejoiced because God’s Word brought them life. Jesus calls us to do the same — to receive His teaching with childlike hearts, ready to be led, guided, and strengthened.

This challenges us to ask: how do I approach the Word of God? Do I listen with humility, allowing it to guide my decisions, heal my wounds, and give me joy? Or do I treat it as just words on a page? When we allow God’s Word to penetrate our hearts, it shapes us into people of hope and witnesses of joy.

Let us approach God’s Word with the simplicity of children and the openness of hearts hungry for life. For truly, “the joy of the Lord is our strength,” and it is through His Word that He lifts us, heals us, and makes us strong.