💖 HOMILY - OCTOBER 16 💖

First Reading - Ephesians 1:11-14 

Gospel - Luke 12:1-7

We all want to be accepted and valued by others. Sometimes, because we are afraid of being judged or rejected, we try to appear better than we really are. We hide our weaknesses, put on a mask, and worry about what people think of us. Today’s Gospel invites us to examine our hearts and discover a deeper freedom: the freedom of living sincerely before God, knowing that we are precious in his eyes.

Jesus warns his disciples against the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Just as a little yeast can influence the whole dough, hypocrisy can gradually affect our entire life. We may begin by hiding a small weakness, but eventually we can become more concerned with maintaining our image than with living the truth. Jesus reminds us that what is hidden will be revealed. Before God, appearances and masks are unnecessary because he knows us completely.

Yet Jesus does not say this to make us afraid. On the contrary, he tells his disciples not to fear those who can kill the body but cannot destroy the soul. He reminds them that not even a single sparrow is forgotten by God and that the hairs of their heads are all counted. If God cares for even the smallest creatures, how much more precious are we to him!

This message connects beautifully with the first reading. St Paul tells the Ephesians that in Christ they have obtained an inheritance and have been sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. The Spirit is the pledge of the inheritance God has prepared for us. We are not forgotten or abandoned; we belong to God, who has called us to live in hope.

When we know that we are loved by God, we no longer need to build our identity on the approval of others. We can acknowledge our weaknesses without pretending to be perfect. We can speak the truth with charity, admit our mistakes, and seek forgiveness without allowing fear or shame to control us. Our worth does not depend on how impressive we appear before people, but on the love with which God holds us.

This does not mean that we can live carelessly or ignore our responsibilities. Rather, because we are loved and known by God, we are invited to live with greater sincerity and courage. The Holy Spirit, who has sealed us as God's own, helps us become the people God calls us to be.

Today, let us ask ourselves: Am I living to please others, or am I seeking to please God? Do I hide behind appearances, or do I allow God's grace to transform my heart?

May we live without hypocrisy and without fear, trusting that we are known, loved, and treasured by our heavenly Father. For when we know how precious we are in God's eyes, we find the courage to live truthfully and faithfully before him and before others.