Homily: March 27, 2027, Friday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time (God's Presence)

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 “But the LORD is with me, like a mighty champion: my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph.” 

Another powerful declaration from the prophet Jeremiah.

If you remember how it all began for Jeremiah. When God first called him, Jeremiah responded: “I do not know how to speak. I am too young.”

He didn’t think he could be God’s messenger. He felt inadequate, afraid and not at all confident.

But from today’s first reading, we see a changed Jeremiah. He spoke without fear, with confidence and was very inspiring to his listeners.

What caused the change?

God caused the change.

By trusting God and accepting His call. As he acted on the mission, his awareness and sense of God’s constant presence grew. He became more confident not in himself, but in what God can do through Him. He spoke fearlessly because he knew God would speak through him. 

It is the same with the apostles and saints. People like Dorothy Day, St. John Paul II, Mother Teresa. They had their own strengths and weaknesses, they surely had their fears and uncertainties when they first started, but they faced the challenges and oppositions of their mission with a deep conviction that God was with them and worked through their obedience, their efforts.

In the same way, when God calls us to do His work, He will not let us face the difficulties and challenges alone. He will work through us if we are humble enough to let Him.

And through that intimate union, we grow in faith, we grow in wisdom, we begin to change, we begin to live and work like Jesus, trusting in His Father and surrendering to His will all the time.

Jesus was always united with the Father. And because of that, He had the strength to face rejection, to suffer, to die on the cross, because He knows God is with Him always. The deep awareness of God’s loving presence sustained Him. We too need to believe firmly that God loves us and will never leave us alone if we seek Him and follow Him.

Never let anyone make us think that we are never good enough for God’s love. We may not be lovable, or worthy, but God is loving, generous and compassionate.

So today, let us hold on to that truth.

When God brought us into this life and calls us to mission, He will work with us and through us like a mighty champion. As long as we are in His team, we will win.

Amen.


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