Homily: Janaury 30, 2026, Friday of the Third week in Ordinary Time (Be vigilant)

“David, however, remained in Jerusalem. One evening David rose from his siesta and strolled about on the roof of the palace.”

Have you ever watched a particular movie many times, and having known how the movie ends, you still go through the same emotions as if it were the first time?

Well, I have. There are a few movies which I have watched many times. I know the story well, I know exactly how it will end, and yet I still wish the story would end differently especially in emotional scenes. 

That is what I experience whenever I read the scenes of today’s first reading.

For the past couple of weeks, we have been journeying with David through the high moments of his life, his anointing, his courage and faithfulness, his kindness to Saul and his rise to kingship. 

Then today, the story took on a regretful twist. Suddenly, our hero falls, not into one sin, but multiple. It just got worse as he tried to cover up his first..

How? Why?

David did not go out to battle as he should have. He remained in Jerusalem while his soldiers were fighting. He was idling. He allowed himself to be too comfortable, and thus opened the door to temptation, which led to adultery, deception, and eventually murder.

From a good guy in the story, he now became the bad guy.

Indeed, “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop”.

David did not seek to sin. He was simply unguarded. He let down his vigilance. He was complacent. And the devil, who ironically never rests, was ready to pounce on this opportunity to take down the hero in his weakness.

If David had been where he was supposed to be, at the battlefield, this tragedy would never have happened.

St. Paul says in Ephesians, “Do not give the devil an opportunity.” And St. Peter reminds us: “Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

The devil does not always hit us with a big obvious sinful temptation. He begins slowly and often when we are most unaware, with minor distractions, easy comfort, insignificant laziness, and small compromises. Nothing too serious at first glance. But one slip could lead to a big fall. 

We usually fall at the point when we think we are strongest. Arrogance is no different from ignorance when it blinds us to our real weakness.

Let us ask the Lord today for the grace of vigilance, not fear, alertness, not idleness, self-awareness, not blindness. May we stay rooted in prayer, faithful to our duties, and attentive to God’s presence all the time. Amen