Homily: February 21, 2026, Saturday After Ash Wednesday (Graceful Souls)

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 “He will renew your strength, and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring whose water never fails.”

Some of us would have experienced the grace of God in a very real way at some point in our lives. Perhaps after a very sincere confession, or during a spiritual retreat, maybe during deep prayer, or some may have felt it at Mass.

Different people would experience it differently. It could be a sense of lightness when the heaviness of a grave sin has been lifted, an indescribable feeling of deep peace, a sudden vision of clarity. Sometimes we would most undoubtedly know that God is close. There’s probably a certain quiet joy within. There are so many possible signs. If you have ever experienced that unusual but wonderful feeling, you would know what I mean.

And if you have not, try to make a good confession, I mean seriously, do it as if today is your last day, and you desperately want to be free from all sin, what we often call ‘deathbed confession’. And you might just get to experience that most beautiful feeling.

Prophet Isaiah today uses a common but vivid image to describe that feeling: a watered garden.

When a garden is well watered, everything looks alive, joyfully vibrant. Green leaves, happy plants, signs of liveliness everywhere. But when water is absent, especially after some time, the same garden becomes dry, lifeless, fragile, and would look pathetic and sad.

The same is true for our soul.

If we live in a state of grace - close to God – we are like a well-watered garden every day. Life may still be filled with struggles, but we see meaning, hope, and direction in every life experience. We would be able to go through it all with a quiet joy and firm consolation within.

The saints have experienced it and their life stories are prove of it.

In today’s Gospel, we see another example: Matthew.

Before encountering Jesus, Matthew’s life may have appeared successful. He had money, good material life, comfortable living. But he was also isolated, disliked, and likely burdened with guilt for working against his own people. He had everything to take care of his exterior life, but no joy to fill his interior being.

Then Jesus passed by and invited him with two simple words: “Follow me.”

Matthew’s life changed totally and forever. His life changed not because of the invitation, but because of his response to the invitation. He gave up his good worldly life and followed Jesus, the Good Shepherd.

The dry ground became a watered garden. The emptiness inside became a heart full of joy. And then Matthew shared that joy with others.

How does your life look like now? Is it a watered garden, alive with grace? Or is it dry, weary, thirsty and longing for something more?

Jesus is always inviting, “Follow me.”

What is your response?

Follow like Matthew, not just in name but in the real act of wanting to receive the waters of life, to be open to grace. If your life is full of junk, no water can fill, no grace can enter.

Throw away the junk, and let He renew you, refresh you, and you will truly feel what it is like to be a well-watered garden - full of life.

Amen.


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Homily: November 18, 2025, Tuesday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time (Courage)

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Homily: January 11, 2026, Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (Beloved)

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