💖 HOMILY - OCTOBER 9 💖

First Reading - Malachi 3:13-20 

Gospel - Luke 11:5-13

We all know what it feels like to pray and not seem to get an answer. We ask, we wait, and sometimes heaven feels silent. In those moments, doubt can creep in — “Is God really listening? Does He care?” Today’s readings speak directly to that struggle and remind us that perseverance in faith always leads to blessing, even when God’s timing seems slow.

In the first reading, the people of Israel complain that serving God is useless. They look around and see that those who ignore God seem to prosper, while the faithful face hardship. But through the prophet Malachi, God assures them that He has not forgotten those who fear His name. He promises that a day will come when the difference between good and evil will be made clear, and those who remain faithful will shine like the sun. God sees the hidden sacrifices, the prayers whispered in silence, the good done without recognition. Nothing escapes His eyes.

In the Gospel, Jesus tells His disciples to keep asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking. The friend who persistently knocks at midnight receives bread, not because of friendship, but because of his persistence. And Jesus assures us that if persistence can move a human heart, how much more can it move the heart of our loving Father! God does not delay out of indifference; sometimes He delays to deepen our trust, to shape our hearts, and to prepare us to receive what is best.

Dear friends, faith that perseveres is faith that grows. True prayer is not about getting quick results but about building a relationship of trust. When we pray, God is not only hearing our requests — He is transforming us. Every “not yet” from God is an invitation to trust more deeply, to stay faithful even when the answer isn’t visible.

In our lives, we are called to be people of persistent faith — parents who never stop praying for their children, workers who stay honest despite hardship, believers who keep serving even when it’s unnoticed. God sees every act of faithfulness. Like the people in Malachi’s time, we may not see immediate rewards, but one day the Lord will make His justice and goodness shine forth.

So, let us keep praying, keep trusting, and keep knocking on heaven’s door. The God who loves us is not far away — He is already working, even in the silence. And when His answer comes, it will be more than we asked, because His gifts always flow from a heart of perfect love.

May our faith never tire, and may our perseverance in prayer make us radiant with the light of His presence.