DAILY- HOMILY

September 19, 2018 – WEDNESDAY, 24TH Week in Ordinary Time

St. Januarius, Bishop and Martyr

Green.

1 Cor 12: 31 - 13: 13 / Lk 7: 31 – 35

Born in Benevento, St. Januarius (d. 305) was martyred in Naples during the reign of Diocletian. He is the Patron of Naples. When the container-reliquary of his blood is exposed on this day and a couple of other days in the year his blood liquefies.

FROM THE 1ST READING:             1 Cor 12: 31 - 13: 1, 11 - 13

Be that as it may, set your hearts on the most precious gifts, and I will show you a much better way..

If I could speak all the human and angelic tongues, but had no love, I would only be sounding brass and a clanging cymbal. ....

When I was a child I thought and reasoned like a child, but when I grew up, I gave up childish ways. Likewise, at present we see dimly as in a faulty mirror, but then it shall be face to face. Now we know in part, but then I will know as I am known. Now we have faith, hope and love, these three, but the greatest of these is love.

GOSPEL READING:           Lk 7: 31 - 35

Jesus said, "What comparison can I use for this people? What are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace, about whom their companions complain: 'We piped you a tune and you would not dance; we sang funeral songs and you would not cry.'

"Remember John: he didn't eat bread or drink wine, and you said, 'He has an evil spirit.' Next came the Son of Man, eating and drinking, and you say: 'Look, a glutton for food and wine, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But the children of Wisdom always recognize her word."

REFLECTION

In his great hymn on love in his First Letter to the Corinthians, Paul extols the greatness and supremacy of love, now and forever.

We can test ourselves on what Paul wrote: Do we act out of love? Have we forgiven offensive people or remarks? Have we been kind at home to the family? Have we been grateful to and loving of God?

In the Gospel reading Jesus compares the people to little children who would not dance to dance music nor cry with funeral songs: they could not understand John the Baptist who neither ate nor drank and yet they complained about Jesus for eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners.

We need wisdom to properly understand and interpret the actions of people. John the Baptist led a life of penance and austerity: he was not possessed by an evil spirit. The Son of Man ate and drank with tax collectors and sinners: he was neither a glutton nor a drunkard; as missioned by his Father, he sought out sinners to save them from their sins.

Lord, give us the gift of wisdom to properly discern, interpret and understand the complex world and people around us.

Have a good day!

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