💖 HOMILY - FEBRUARY 24 💖

First Reading - Isaiah 55:10-11 

Gospel - Matthew 6:7-15

The readings today invite us to reflect on the power of God’s word and the simplicity of true prayer. In a world filled with noise, repetition, and many words, we are reminded that what truly transforms us is not quantity, but depth — not many words, but a sincere heart.

In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah uses a beautiful image from nature. Just as rain and snow come down from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, so shall God’s word be. It does not return to him empty. It accomplishes what he intends. This image gives us great confidence. God’s word is not weak or ineffective. It carries life within it. When it enters a receptive heart, it produces growth, renewal, and transformation.

This means that every time we hear Scripture, every time we reflect on God’s promises, something is happening. Even if we do not immediately see results, God’s word is at work, quietly and faithfully, like rain soaking into the soil.

In the Gospel, Jesus teaches his disciples how to pray. He warns them not to multiply words like those who think they will be heard because of their many phrases. Prayer is not about impressing God or convincing him to act. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Prayer is not information for God; it is relationship.

Then Jesus gives the prayer we know so well: the Our Father. It is simple, direct, and profound. It begins not with our needs, but with God: hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done. Only then does it move to daily bread, forgiveness, and protection. The prayer teaches us trust, dependence, and surrender. We ask for daily bread, not abundance for years. We ask for forgiveness, and we commit ourselves to forgive others. Prayer shapes our hearts to reflect the heart of God.

Dear friends, God’s word is powerful and fruitful, and the prayer Jesus gives us is part of that living word. When we pray the Our Father with attention and sincerity, it is not empty repetition. It becomes rain for the soul, nourishing faith and humility.

It's an invitation for us to rediscover the meaning of prayer. It is not about speaking more, but about listening more. It is not about performance, but about trust. If we allow God’s word to sink deeply into us, and if we pray with a sincere heart, our lives will gradually bear fruit.

Like the earth after rainfall, the heart that receives God’s word and prays with faith becomes fertile ground. And in that quiet, hidden place, God accomplishes his work — gently, faithfully, and always with purpose.