Homily: March 9, 2026, Monday of the Third week in Lent (prophet -Accepted )

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 “No prophet is accepted in his own native place.”

I have experienced this personally many times.

Years ago, when I was newly ordained and was about to preach at a relative’s wedding, my oldest sister, lacking confidence with my ability, whispered to me, “Make sure you do a good job.” I whispered back, “Why don’t you do the preaching!”

Last year I went to my nephew’s First Holy Communion. The parish priest asked if I could give the homily, and I happily agreed. The night before the Mass, my second sister came to my room and questioned me, “Do you really want to do the homily? People expect a good one for this occasion.” She worried I would do poorly.

And my third sister who lives in Ireland, keeps sending me videos of popular preachers - like Fr. Mike Schmitz and Bishop Barron. She probably hopes I will learn to preach like them.

My siblings grew up with me at home, and they know me well from young. However, they were not with me in my seminary life and have not witnessed my growth throughout my ministry assignments. Thus, their expectations of my ability remained where they have known me in the past. 

“No prophet is accepted in his own native place.” I can understand what He means.

The people of Nazareth knew Jesus from His childhood. To them He was simply the carpenter’s son, they did not know Him as a preacher. They had placed His ability and vocation in a particular category, a small box of limitations with no possibility of more. They thought they knew Him well, and so they could not see who He truly is, they could not accept that He is someone great.

Don’t we sometimes behave the same? We form expectations about people, who they are, what they can do, what they cannot do, based on what we already know about them. We cannot see them being different, we struggle to accept that they have great potential which we have missed.

We are blinded by our own biased judgement.

Naaman in the first reading was blind the same way too. He wanted to be healed, but he wanted it in his own way. He could not see how things could happen any other way. Thus he took offence at prophet Elisha’s simple instruction to wash in the Jordan River.

Only when he humbled himself did the miracle happen.

We need eyes of faith to see the works of God. Prideful vision can only see the works of man.

Let us free ourselves from the ways of man, so we will never miss the wonders of God. Amen.


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Homily: March 23,2025, Third Sunday of Lent (First Scrutiny of the elect)

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