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HOMILIES ARCHIVE
HOMILIES
Dear Audience,For better understanding of the spiritual message behind this homily I kindly remind you to first read and contemplate the biblical texts before reading or listening to my preaching - a human reflection on the Word of God!
Eleventh Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year A)
233
2
0First Reading
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel (17:22-24)
Thus says the Lord God: I, too, will take from the crest of the cedar, from its topmost branches tear off a tender shoot, and plant it on a high and lofty mountain; on the mountain heights of Israel I will plan it. It shall put forth branches and bear fruit, and become a majestic cedar. Birds of every kind shall dwell beneath it, every winged thing in the shade of its boughs. And all the trees of the field shall know that I, the Lord, bring low the high tree, lift high the lowly tree, wither up the green tree, and make the withered tree bloom. As I, the Lord, have spoken, so will I do.
(P) The word of the Lord.(R) Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalms of David (116:12-13, 15-16, 17-8)
(R) Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praise to your name, Most High, to proclaim your kindness at dawn and your faithfulness throughout the night. (R)
The just one shall flourish like the palm tree, like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow. They that are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. (R)
They shall bear fruit even in old age; vigorous and sturdy shall they be, declaring how just is the Lord, my rock, in whom there is not wrong. (R)
Second Reading
A reading from the First Letter of Saint Paul to the Hebrews (9:11-15)
Brothers and sisters: We are always courageous, although we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yet we are courageous, and we would rather leave the body and go home to the Lord.
Therefore, we aspire to please him, whether we are at home or away. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.
(P) The word of the Lord.(R) Thanks be to God.
Gospel
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (14:12-16, 22-26)
Jesus said to the crowds: "This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and through it all the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come."
He said to them, "To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade." With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.
(P) The Gospel of the Lord.(R) Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Homily
The word "compassion" comes from the Latin words cum pati, means "to suffer with". So, moved with compassion means being so deeply stirred by some one's suffering that it propels you to take action to help them. It goes far beyond the passive feelings of sadness or sorrow. It is a co-suffering meaning you feel the pain of others as if it were your own and try to ease it. Time and again, we read in the Gospels that moved with compassion, Jesus responded to a wide variety of human suffering. In fact, compassion was the driving force behind Jesus' earthly ministry.
For instance, Matthew recounts two events. One is that when Jesus saw a great crowd; and He was moved with compassion for them and cured their sick, Matthew (14:14). The other is that moved with compassion, Jesus healed two blind beggars outside of Jericho on the way to Jerusalem. Despite the crowd telling them to be quiet, the men shouted for mercy. Jesus stopped, asked what they needed, and upon hearing their request, touched their eyes, and restored their sight immediately, Matthew (20:30-34). Mark mentions two events. One is that when a man with leprosy begged for healing, Jesus being moved with compassion for his plight, intentionally broke the strict social and religious barriers of His time by touching the untouchable, demonstrating that God's love and mercy reach far beyond human boundaries, Mark (1:41).
The other is that moved by deep compassion for a large crowd of people who were exhausted and hungry after following Him for days, Jesus miraculously provided them with food, Mark (8:1-3). Luke refers to one event in his gospel. When Jesus saw a grieving widow who had lost her only son, He was moved to compassion. He told her not to cry, touched the coffin and miraculously brought her son back to life, Luke (7:11-15). John writes that Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus out of deep compassion and empathy for the profound grief of Mary and Martha, John (11:35). Thus, we see Jesus' compassion drove Him to heal the sick, feed the hungry, and comfort the grieving. At the same time, His compassion extended far beyond immediate physical and emotional relief. His ultimate mission was to redeem humanity from spiritual suffering, humanity's separation from God.
Today's gospel describes, "As Jesus moved through towns and villages, teaching and healing, He was moved with compassion for the crowds because they were "troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd", Matthew (9:36 - 10:8). The phrase "troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd" refers to a deep state of spiritual destitution. It refers to the people who were spiritually neglected, wandering aimlessly, and lacking proper spiritual guidance or protection. Deeply moved by their inner, spiritual condition, Jesus took immediate action. First, He noted that while spiritual "harvest" of people searching for purpose, truth, and relief from their struggles is plentiful, the "workers" available to guide and nurture them are few. So, He urged them to pray to God to send more people to help. Secondly, Jesus formally selected twelve men from his broader group of followers to become His apostles so they could be with Him, learn His teachings, and go out into the world to continue His ministry of saving humanity. Thirdly, as He sent them out, He gave them some specific instructions:
He exhorted them to focus their preaching on the "lost sheep of the house of Israel" meaning the Jewish people and to avoid going to the Gentiles. This was, first, to fulfil God's covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that their descendants would be His chosen people. Second, the Jewish people possessed the foundational knowledge of the scriptures, God's law and the concept of Messiah, yet many did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah. So, Jesus wanted the message to be presented to the Jewish people before it could be effectively taken to the rest of the world.
He told them to announce "the Kingdom of heaven is at hand" meaning God's reign had arrived and it was breaking into human history through His very presence, teachings, and miracles.
He commanded them to perform acts of compassion like healing the sick, raising the dead, cleansing the lepers, and driving out demons.
He reminded them that all the grace, power, and spiritual authority given to them were unearned gifts or free from God, and therefore they must share them freely and generously with others.
What is the message for us?
Physical and emotional suffering are heavy realities all around us. We read about it in the newspapers. We watch it on television. We see it in the tears of others and hear it in their voices. Everyone can tell a story about suffering we have lived through or are living with, whether it's our own, our loved ones', or strangers'. No doubt, sometimes, like Jesus, we too are driven by a deep desire and compassion to alleviate others' physical or emotional suffering. While Physical and emotional suffering are widely visible, acknowledged, validated, and actively addressed, spiritual suffering or spiritual distress is easily overlooked because it's deeply internal. Spiritual distress is often tied to feelings of emptiness, purposelessness, and disconnection from self, others, or God, which the 16th century Spanish mystic and poet, Saint John of the Cross, describes as the "dark night of the soul".
Today we are reminded that as Christians, our calling from God extends far beyond offering temporary physical or emotional relief; it is also addressing the deeper, often invisible wounds of the soul. We are to nurture the spirit, guiding people through doubts, grief, and crises of faith, and to help them experience God's comfort, peace, and eternal redemption. It is the most profound expression of love, compassion, and service. By offering support, active listening, directing people toward God, and helping them recognize how God is moving in their daily lives, we embody the purest form of love and service.
Feeling a distance from God often stems from simple life distractions, unaddressed pain, unconfessed sin or hidden sin, unmet expectations, or underlying mental health struggles like burnout, exhaustion, or depression. If we, or our loved ones or someone we know, are going through such a suffering, immediate action is crucial. This reminds me of a proverb or poem:
For want of a nail, the shoe was lost;
For want of the shoe, the horse was lost;
For want of the horse, the rider was lost;
For want of the rider, the battle was lost;
For want of the battle, the kingdom was lost.
All on account of a lost nail!
This poem or proverb seems to have been in circulation since the 14th century and is frequently linked to the tragic death of King Richard III of England at the Battle of Bosworth Field. According to the legend, a lost horseshoe nail caused the king's horse to stumble, ultimately costing him the battle, his kingdom, and his life. It serves as a powerful reminder to pay close attention to the details in life. Minor neglects, oversights or omissions can lead to severe consequences. For us Christians, it is a warning that failing to share our faith, especially with those closest to us can negatively impact both them and us. When we keep the faith to ourselves, our own spiritual life can become stagnant or self-focused, while our loved ones will miss out the opportunity to hear a message of hope, leaving them without a guide to the cure for life's challenges.
In today's first reading from the Book of Exodus (19:2-6a), through Moses God reminded the Israelites of how He carried them out of Egypt as if on "eagle's wings" and brought them to Himself, meaning He was their protector and faithful rescuer. Furthermore, He reminded them of His covenant to reassure them of their unique identity and status as "His special possession" and a "kingdom of priests". This shows that sharing faith is effective when it is an authentic conversation centred on personal testimony rather than just quoting scriptures or teaching prayers. It is ultimately about testifying to how God has lifted us up, protected us from life's storms, and made us instruments of His love and grace.
However, sharing faith is most powerful when it goes beyond external events and includes internal transformation. In today's second reading, Romans (5:6-11) St. Paul states that God's love is demonstrated through Christ's sacrificial death for us while we were still sinners and enemies of God. So, when sharing our faith, we must also boldly declare our past helplessness and estrangement from God, and the subsequent forgiveness and reciliation with God through the sacrificial death of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Today, as Jesus taught, we shall pray earnestly that the "Lord of the harvest" may send out more caring, faithful and compassionate people to comfort, heal and provide relief to those who are spiritually lost, hurting, or in distress. However, it is also our task to present ourselves as workers for the Lord. As the saying goes, "Pray as if everything depends on God, but work as if everything depends on you," we must also become the answer to our own prayers. Whenever we see others, especially our loved ones, in spiritual pain - whether from grief, loss of purpose, or existential doubts and confusion, let us step out of the observer role and take active charge. Let us boldly and freely share our deeply personal and meaningful journey of faith with them so that they too will find the same hope, peace, happiness, and spiritual richness.
(P) Amen.God Bless You!
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