💖 HOMILY - DECEMBER 3 💖

First Reading - Ezekiel 3:17-21 

Second Reading - 1 Corinthians 9:16-19,22-23 

Gospel - Mark 16:15-20

There are moments in life when we realize that what we carry within us is not meant for ourselves alone. A truth, a gift, a calling—something entrusted to us that seeks to be shared. The readings today draw us into this sense of sacred responsibility. They remind us that faith is never a private treasure; it is a mission, a fire to be passed on, a word that longs for a voice.

God speaks to Ezekiel as a watchman, someone who stands between danger and safety, between wandering and returning. He is told that if he sees someone moving toward harm, he cannot remain silent. Love demands courage, and silence becomes a kind of betrayal. Ezekiel is not responsible for the outcome, only for the faithfulness of his witness. That is the heart of mission—not forcing anyone, not controlling them, but speaking truth with fidelity and love.

Paul, many generations later, carries this same fire in his heart. He says, “Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel,” not out of duty or fear, but because he knows the transforming power of Christ. The encounter with Jesus has marked him so deeply that he cannot keep it to himself. And so he adapts, he listens, he lowers himself, he becomes the servant of all so that even one more soul might discover the freedom he has found. The Gospel is not about elevating the messenger; it is always about reaching the one who is searching.

And then Jesus, in the Gospel, sends His disciples with a simple and universal command: go into all the world and proclaim the Good News. This mission is not limited to the ordained, not reserved for the gifted, not confined to certain personalities. It belongs to every disciple. To believe is to be sent. The signs Jesus describes—driving out evil, speaking new languages, healing—are expressions of what happens when a life is shaped by God’s grace. They show the world that faith brings freedom, renewal, and strength.

Dear friends, we are entrusted with the Gospel, and our lives are meant to speak it.

This mission becomes very concrete in our daily routines. Being a watchman may look like offering gentle guidance to someone who is drifting into harmful choices. It may be a word of encouragement to someone who feels invisible. It may be the quiet witness of living with integrity, kindness, and hope in a world that often leans toward cynicism. Paul teaches us to meet people where they are, to walk with them patiently. And Jesus reminds us that the strength behind our witness is not our talent but His presence with us.

This calling is not meant to weigh us down; it is meant to give our lives depth and purpose. It means that every conversation, every small act of compassion, every moment of patience can become a doorway through which Christ’s love enters the world.

So today, we ask for the grace to embrace this sacred responsibility with renewed devotion. May we recognize the trust God places in us. May our words and actions reflect the mercy we have received. And may others come to know Christ because, in our time and in our place, we chose to be faithful witnesses.