HOMILY/SERMON FOR 20TH MONDAY IN ORDINARY TIME — YEAR B

HOMILY/SERMON FOR 20TH MONDAY IN ORDINARY TIME — YEAR B

HOMILY THEME: LETTING GO, TO GAIN CHRIST

BY: Fr. Obinna Ezeaputa

Ezek 24:15-24; Psalm (Deut 32:18-21); Matt 19:16-22

Has anyone ever felt like they weren’t living their best life? Your pursuit of success, wealth, or status may not be bringing you happiness. Today’s gospel passage (Matthew 19:16–22) has a surprising message for you.

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Jesus tells a young man that to gain eternal life, he must sell his possessions and give to the poor. But what does that really mean for us? Is Jesus asking us to literally sell everything and live in poverty? Or is there something more profound going on?

Jesus is not necessarily asking us to literally sell everything we own and live in poverty. Rather, He’s inviting us to examine our hearts, let go of our attachment to wealth, status, and power, and attach ourselves to Him alone.

As the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, “The desire for riches and power can lead to greed, envy, and pride” (2536). Jesus wants us to detach ourselves from these temptations and instead attach ourselves to Him, who is the true source of life and happiness.

For Saint John Eudes, whose memorial we celebrate today, this meant putting his words into action. He sold his own possessions, including his family’s ancestral home, to fund his missionary work among the poor and marginalized. He used the money to build hospitals, orphanages, and churches, as well as to support his priests in their ministries.

But it wasn’t just about giving up material possessions; it was also about letting go of his own ambitions. Saint John Eudes had dreamed of becoming a renowned scholar and theologian, but instead, he devoted himself to serving the poor and spreading the Gospel, even in the face of opposition and hardship.

As we reflect on our own lives, let us ask ourselves: What am I attached to? What do I need to let go of to follow Jesus more closely? May Saint John Eudes’ example inspire us to radical detachment and attachment to God alone. Amen.

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