Homily: November 17, 2024, Thirty Third Sunday in Ordinary time (Shine like Stars)

 “And those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever.”

I remember in my childhood years, especially during the hot Indian summer nights, my siblings and I would go up to the rooftop of our family house, lie down on the cool concrete floor and look up into the sky. Everywhere was dark because we did not have streetlamps and electric lights in the village houses were weak. But the night sky was filled full with thousands and thousands of gently flickering stars. We would try to count them or spot constellations. I remember being very mesmerized by the stars.

Now I live in this modern city with bright lights and fully lit-up houses everywhere, I could hardly see any stars at night.

Just two weeks ago, I had my retreat in a monastery in Oklahoma. It was a simple and peaceful place, far away from the city and set within the great nature. Nights were calm and quiet, with only a gentle glow of dim lights in the retreat house. And yes, there, the night sky was filled with millions of smiling silent stars, looking down at me.

The stars are always shining, always there in the sky, they are faithful even though we forget them.

We are the ones who have blinded ourselves, surrounded by so much artificial worldly lights that block us from seeing the beauty of nature, the truth of God.

God wapnts all of us to be like the stars forever, bright and cheery, shining for all who search for God, small and humble but effective in creating a sense of awe and wonder for anyone who takes their eyes off earthly matters, and may be looking for a sign in the sky, to believe and hope.

Let us be that sign. To be that sign is to be a saint, leading all to hope and believe in God. And let there be many of us, thousands, millions, billions of us, to fill the whole world.

Today, our catechumens who desire to become Catholics will go through the Rite of Acceptance. They want to be members of the Catholic Church, to live in communion with the Church, and they seek our acceptance to pursue this journey. All of us here represent the Church to welcome and accept them, which also means that we are to support them and be their good role models in living a life of faith.

Their desire has brought them here to be in our midst. They will be preparing to receive the sacraments of Christian initiation, which will shower them with the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Above all, like us, they want to become saints, to shine like stars in the heaven of God forever.

Let us welcome them with joy and pray for them as they begin this beautiful journey. Amen.