💖 HOMILY - OCTOBER 11 💖

First Reading - Joel 4:12-21 

Gospel - Luke 11:27-28

Every day we are surrounded by countless voices — voices that call for our attention, our approval, and our loyalty. Yet amid all the noise of the world, the true blessing belongs to the one who listens — not just with the ears, but with the heart. Today’s readings remind us that real faith is not merely about hearing God’s word, but about living it.

In the first reading, the prophet Joel paints a dramatic picture of the “day of the Lord.” The nations are gathered for judgment, and the Lord stands to defend His people. While this might sound fearful, for the faithful it is a day of hope. God promises that His people will dwell in safety, that Jerusalem will be holy, and that His presence will fill their land. Joel’s vision reminds us that God is not indifferent to the choices we make or to the injustices of the world. In the end, He will vindicate truth, reward faithfulness, and restore what was broken.

In the Gospel, as Jesus is speaking, a woman cries out, “Blessed is the womb that bore you!” It’s a beautiful expression of admiration, yet Jesus gently redirects her, saying, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it.” In that moment, Jesus shifts the focus from privilege to discipleship — from admiration to action. True blessedness is not found in proximity to holiness but in obedience to it. It is not enough to praise God with our lips; we must allow His Word to take root in our lives.

Dear friends, true blessing comes from hearing and living God’s Word. We are not called merely to listen on Sundays or admire His teachings from a distance. We are called to let His Word shape our decisions, our relationships, and our responses to life’s challenges.

This means asking ourselves daily: How is God’s Word bearing fruit in my life? Do my actions reflect the faith I profess? When I encounter injustice, suffering, or temptation, do I respond with the strength that comes from God’s Word within me?

God’s promise, as Joel tells us, is to dwell among His people — to be their refuge and source of blessing. But that presence becomes real when His Word finds a home in us. Like good soil receiving seed, our hearts must welcome the Word and let it grow through obedience and love.

So, let us not just admire God’s Word — let us live it. Let us become people who reflect the presence of God through our actions, our compassion, and our integrity. For the greatest blessing is not to have heard Jesus, but to hear Him now — speaking in our hearts — and to keep His Word faithfully in our daily lives.