23RD THURSDAY HOMILY IN THE ORDINARY TIME: YEAR A
23RD THURSDAY HOMILY IN THE ORDINARY TIME: YEAR A
HOMILY THEME: BE MERCIFUL AS YOUR FATHER IS MERCIFUL
BY: Fr Karabari Paul
Beloved in Christ,
The Gospel today pierces our human nature and calls us into the heart of God Himself. Jesus does not merely invite us to kindness; He commands us to walk the difficult road of love that transcends human logic. “Love your enemies… bless those who curse you… pray for those who abuse you.” These words shake the foundations of our natural instincts. In a world where hatred meets hatred and vengeance answers vengeance, Christ reveals a higher path—the path of mercy.
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Mercy is not a weakness; mercy is divine strength flowing through fragile human hearts. When Jesus says, “Offer the other cheek… give without expecting… forgive without condemning,” He is showing us the very character of the Father. God loved us while we were still sinners. He forgave us when we least deserved forgiveness. He clothed us with grace when we had nothing to offer Him. To be merciful, then, is to reflect the face of the Father in a world scarred by cruelty and selfishness.
But let us be honest—it is not easy. To love those who wound us feels impossible. To bless those who mock us feels unnatural. Yet, that is the radical call of discipleship. We are not called to love only when it is convenient or to forgive only when it is comfortable. Christ says, “What credit is it if you love those who love you? Even sinners do that.” True holiness shines when we love where the world hates, when we forgive where the world retaliates, when we show kindness where the world shows cruelty. This is the mercy that turns enemies into brothers, hatred into reconciliation, wounds into testimonies of grace.
And here lies the promise: “Give, and it will be given to you—good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over.” Mercy is never wasted. Every act of compassion, every word of forgiveness, every gesture of undeserved kindness becomes a seed in God’s hands. In His time, He multiplies it, He rewards it, and He makes it overflow. When you forgive, Heaven opens its arms to forgive you. When you show mercy, the Father covers you with His mercy. When you love without limits, you become truly a child of the Most High.
So I ask you today: Who is your enemy? Who has hurt you, betrayed you, spoken evil against you? Carry their names to the altar of prayer. Bless them, forgive them, love them—not because they deserve it, but because you are a child of the God who is merciful. In doing so, you will shine as a light in the darkness, a living witness that the love of Christ is stronger than hatred, stronger than sin, stronger even than death itself. GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE. May God grant us the grace to reflect His image and likeness in us through Christ Our Lord Amen. Good morning.
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