💖 HOMILY - MARCH 20 💖

First Reading - Wisdom 2:1,12-22

Gospel - John 7:1-2,10,25-30

Sometimes living a righteous life can invite misunderstanding, opposition, and even hostility. When someone chooses to live according to God’s truth, it may challenge the attitudes and actions of others. Today’s readings reveal this tension between the way of the righteous and the resistance of those who reject God’s wisdom.

In the first reading from the Book of Wisdom, we hear the thoughts of the wicked who plot against the just person. They see the righteous man as an obstacle because his life exposes their wrongdoing. His commitment to God reminds them of their own failures, and instead of changing their ways, they choose to silence him. They challenge him, mock him, and even plan to test whether God will defend him.

The passage reveals a deep truth about human nature. When people refuse to accept God’s guidance, they may feel threatened by those who live faithfully. The presence of someone who seeks truth and justice can become uncomfortable for those who prefer selfishness and deception. Rather than correcting themselves, they attempt to discredit or remove the one who stands for what is right.

This passage from Wisdom also foreshadows the suffering of Jesus. The description of the righteous one who trusts in God and is persecuted by the wicked echoes what will happen to Christ himself.

In the Gospel, we see this tension clearly in the life of Jesus. As he teaches in Jerusalem during the feast, people begin to question his identity. Some wonder if he might truly be the Messiah, while others doubt him because they think they know where he comes from. Their confusion reveals how difficult it is for them to recognize the deeper truth about him.

Jesus responds by pointing to the one who sent him. He reminds them that his mission comes from God, but many fail to understand because they do not truly know the Father. Some even attempt to arrest him. Yet the Gospel tells us that no one laid a hand on him because his hour had not yet come. God’s plan unfolds according to his own time.

Dear friends, the path of righteousness is not always easy. Faithfulness to God may bring challenges, misunderstandings, or rejection. Yet they also reveal that God remains present and faithful to those who trust in him.

During Lent, these readings invite us to examine our own attitudes. Are we willing to stand for truth and goodness even when it is difficult? Do we recognize Christ when he challenges our assumptions and calls us to deeper conversion?

The righteous person in the Book of Wisdom and Jesus in the Gospel both show that faithfulness to God requires courage and trust. Even when opposition arises, God’s purpose continues to unfold. Those who remain faithful to him will ultimately share in the victory of his truth and love.