💖 HOMILY - NOVEMBER 20 💖

First Reading - 1 Maccabees 2:15-29

Gospel - Luke 19:41-44

There are moments in life when we stand at a crossroads—when a decision must be made, not because it is easy, but because it is right. Today’s readings place us in those moments. They show us what happens when people resist God’s call, and what happens when people choose faith with courage.

In the first reading from Maccabees, soldiers arrive in the town demanding that the people abandon their beliefs and conform to the king’s decrees. Many are tempted to give in, but Mattathias stands up, and with deep anguish he cries out that he will not forsake the covenant. His act is not one of anger but of conviction. He knows that faithfulness sometimes requires saying no to the pressures that try to reshape our identity. His courage inspires others, and together they flee to the hills, choosing faith over fear.

Then in the Gospel, Jesus approaches Jerusalem and weeps. He weeps not out of frustration, but out of love—a love that sees a city blind to the peace He longs to give. The people had missed their moment of grace. They were so caught up in their expectations, fears, and distractions that they did not recognize the One who came to bring them life. Jesus’ tears reveal the heart of God: a God who desires our good, who longs to guide us, but who will not force His way into a heart that refuses to see.

Dear friends, faith requires awareness and courage. It requires the awareness to recognize God’s presence in our lives, and the courage to respond when He calls.

We know how easy it is to be distracted today. We know how many pressures—social, professional, emotional—push us to compromise, to hide our faith, to settle for less than what God desires for us. Like the people in Maccabees, we may face moments when standing firm costs us something. Like the people of Jerusalem, we may face moments when we are tempted to overlook God’s voice because it is quieter than everything else around us.

But today’s readings invite us to pause and ask:

What moment of grace is God offering me right now?

Where is He calling me to stand firm, to be faithful, to see clearly?

Mattathias reminds us that one act of courage can change the course of many lives. Jesus’ tears remind us that God’s heart breaks when we turn away from the peace He offers.

So today, may we be attentive to God’s presence. May we recognize the moments of grace He places before us. And may we have the courage to choose Him—even when the world pushes in another direction—trusting that His way always leads to life, peace, and a deeper sense of who we truly are.