💖 HOMILY - OCTOBER 24 💖

First Reading - Romans 7:18-25 

Gospel - Luke 12:54-59

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to see when the weather is about to change, but how difficult it can be to notice when something within us needs to change? We can read the clouds, feel the wind, and predict the rain, yet we often miss the deeper signs — the signs that God places before us every day, calling us to grow, to repent, and to trust Him more deeply.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus challenges His listeners for this very reason. They were skilled at interpreting nature but blind to the signs of God’s presence right in front of them. Jesus was performing miracles, teaching truth, and revealing the Father’s love, yet many refused to see. His words are not just a rebuke to them — they are a wake-up call for us, too. How often do we overlook the quiet ways God speaks into our lives because we’re distracted by busyness, pride, or fear?

St. Paul, in the first reading, gives us a glimpse into this inner struggle. He confesses, “I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do.” His honesty is refreshing because it mirrors our own hearts. We often recognize what is right but find ourselves trapped by habits, temptations, or indifference. But Paul does not stop at his weakness — he finds hope in Christ. He realizes that his freedom does not come from his effort alone, but from the grace of God at work within him.

Dear friends, God continually reveals His signs — in Scripture, in people, in events, in the whispers of our conscience. But it is not enough to notice them; we must respond. Spiritual awareness is meant to move us to action — to forgive, to change, to serve, to love.

Think about the moments when God’s signs might have been quietly speaking to you: that gentle feeling that nudges you to reconcile with someone, that verse from Scripture that seems written just for you, or that unease that tells you it’s time to let go of a harmful habit. These are not coincidences; they are invitations. God is guiding you toward greater freedom, peace, and holiness — if only you are willing to see and respond.

The truth is, God’s signs are not hidden; they are woven into the ordinary rhythm of our lives. But we must pause long enough to notice them. We must listen with the heart. Awareness of God’s work in our lives should never leave us idle — it should stir us to conversion and action.

Today, Jesus asks us to open our eyes — not just to the world around us, but to the movement of His grace within us. He calls us to be people who read the signs of the times with hearts attuned to God’s will. Let us not wait for tomorrow to change what we can change today. Let us not miss the quiet voice of God speaking through the noise of daily life.

When we learn to recognize and respond to the signs of His grace, our lives become brighter, freer, and more aligned with His purpose. And in doing so, we no longer walk in confusion — we walk with Christ, who is the truest and clearest sign of God’s love for us all.