💖 HOMILY - NOVEMBER 10 💖

First Reading - Wisdom 1:1-7 

Gospel - Luke 17:1-6

Every relationship, community, and calling we have in life rests on one essential foundation: a heart that seeks goodness and truth. Today’s readings invite us to live with integrity before God — to be people whose hearts are aligned with what is right and whose faith, even if small, moves mountains. 

The first reading from the Book of Wisdom begins with a clear and practical exhortation: “Love righteousness, you who judge the earth; think of the Lord in goodness, and seek him with sincerity of heart.” The author reminds us that wisdom — the gift of seeing life through God’s eyes — is not found in deceitful or selfish hearts but in those who are pure and open to God’s truth. God’s Spirit is described as gentle and all-pervading, yet He refuses to dwell in a heart full of malice or falsehood. In other words, when our intentions are upright, when we act with integrity, we make space for God’s presence to guide and strengthen us.

In the Gospel, Jesus turns this call to sincerity into a lesson on faith and responsibility. He warns His disciples against causing others to stumble — especially the little ones, those who are weak or vulnerable in faith. True discipleship, He says, is not about power or prestige but about careful love — about living in such a way that we lift others up, not drag them down. And when wrongs happen, Jesus teaches the path of forgiveness: to forgive not once, but again and again.

Hearing this, the apostles ask for what we all need: “Increase our faith.” Jesus responds that even faith the size of a mustard seed — small, almost invisible — can do great things if it is real. The power of faith is not in its quantity but in its authenticity. When faith is sincere and alive, it can uproot bitterness, move obstacles, and transform our hearts.

Dear friends, the quality of our faith is shown in the way we live. Do we act with sincerity, or do we wear masks? Do our words and choices build others up, or do they cause harm? Do we nurture our faith through prayer and trust, even when it feels small or weak?

In a world where deception and selfish ambition often dominate, God calls us to a different kind of greatness — the greatness of simplicity, humility, and faithfulness. Even the smallest acts done with a sincere heart have power: a word of encouragement, a gesture of forgiveness, an honest effort to do what is right.

Let us ask the Lord today for the grace to live with sincerity and faith that works quietly but powerfully. May our hearts be transparent before God, our actions kind and truthful, and our faith steady enough to bring healing and hope to those around us. For where there is sincerity of heart and faith that acts, there God’s Spirit surely dwells.