Homily: September 11, 2024 Wednesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time (best attitudes)

 "Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven."

When I was a small boy, I used to look up in the sky when I heard a plane fly by. At that time, no one in my village had ever flown in an airplane before, so my dream was to fly in a plane to a place far away from my home. I thought that would be the day I would be very happy. Today I am here in the USA, more than 8 thousand miles away!

Do you have a dream for yourself?

We all have dreams, and whatever our dreams are, we all believe that when they come true, we will be very happy.

I too have a dream for Holy Family School. I dream that every student who comes to this school will experience joy, that they will be happy learning and growing together, to make good friends and create beautiful memories here, and that every student here will gain not just great knowledge of the world, but also develop a deep understanding and love for God.

Today’s Gospel passage is known as the Beatitudes. The Beatitudes are the "best attitudes" for a joyful Christian life. 

How many of you want to be joyful or happy in life?

I am sure we all want to be happy, not just sometimes, but all the time, always and forever.

Some people think that they will be happy when they get more money, a bigger house, a fancier car, a smarter phone etc. Some people make fun of or bully others and get some laughs from it. Some even turn to alcohol or drugs to get a quick high feeling. Those might give some momentary feelings of happiness, but they will not last. What follows are regret, guilt and feelings of lowliness and loneliness.

True happiness is an inside job, not dependent on what we get or how things are on the outside of us. To be truly happy always, we must follow the beatitudes of Jesus.

The happiness that Jesus gives is fulfilling and permanent, and it is experienced even when we are poor, hungry, hated, or excluded, in the name of Jesus. For as long as we live for Jesus, and offer our life to Him, deep inside us we will have true peace and joy.

Beyond your happy years in this school, I also dream of the day after this life is done, when all of us will be together again in heaven. That will definitely be the happiest day ever, it will be the greatest reward to receive!

We will rejoice and leap for joy on the day we see Jesus face to face and find all of us there too!

I think it is a beautiful dream, and I will pray that it will all come true.

Amen!


Comments

Read

Homily: October 12, 2025, Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Gratitude)

Homily: October 5, 2025, Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (Wait-God's Time)

Homily: August 21, 2023, Monday of the twentieth week in Ordinary Time.

Homily: October 7, 2025, Tuesday of the Twenty-Seventh week in Ordinary time (Lord-Speak to me)

Homily: October 4, 2025 Saturday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time (devil's fear)

Homily: August 14, 2022, Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Homily: Feast of Saint John, Apostle and evangelist, Monday, December 27, 2021

Reflection: April 18, 2025 Bridge Churches stations of the cross on good Friday.

Funeral Homily: William J. Baum, June 8, 2023

Homily: August 30, 2025, Saturday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time (Work Hard)