Homily - Friday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

Memorial of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Theme: "God's Appointed Times: Reverence, Resistance, and Renewal"

Introduction

Once, a young boy asked his priest, “Father, why do we go to church every Sunday?” The priest smiled and said, “So God doesn’t forget who we are.” The boy replied, “But Father, He’s God — it’s us who forget Him!”

That boy nailed it — God doesn’t forget us. We forget Him.

The Word of God

Leviticus 23 outlines the liturgical calendar God gives to Israel. These feasts — like Passover, Pentecost, and the Day of Atonement — are “appointed times,” sacred opportunities to stop and remember God’s mighty works and realign with His will.

Psalm 81 reminds the people to rejoice in these sacred festivals. But it also mourns their disobedience: “My people did not listen… they would not obey me.”

In the Gospel (Matthew 13:54–58), Jesus returns to His hometown of Nazareth. Instead of celebration, He meets skepticism: “Is this not the carpenter’s son?” Their refusal to believe restricts the miracles He could perform. Familiarity blinds them to God’s presence.

Connection of the Readings

The readings are tied by a theme of spiritual attention. Leviticus teaches that God works through sacred time to deepen His people’s awareness. Psalm 81 celebrates that memory. But the Gospel shows how people can miss the divine even when it's right in front of them — simply because it looks too ordinary.

The people in Nazareth were too familiar with Jesus to be open to the extraordinary. Just as Israel sometimes ignored the appointed times, the people of Jesus’ hometown ignored the appointed Person.

Reflection Questions

1. Do I treat sacred times and spaces with reverence — or routine?

2. In what ways am I resisting God’s presence because it looks too familiar?

3. What are the "appointed times" in my week when I intentionally open my heart to God?

Implications for Daily Living

In this Jubilee Year of Hope and the Synod on Synodality, we are reminded that every moment, especially in community, can be an “appointed time” to meet the Lord. The challenge is to slow down, pay attention, and recognize the sacred in the ordinary: in Mass, in the sacraments, in daily life, and especially in one another.

Saint Alphonsus Liguori modeled this beautifully. His spiritual writings taught people to honour sacred time — especially through devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and prayerful living.

Inspiration / Motivation

Don’t miss your miracle just because it wears familiar clothes. The sacred isn’t always spectacular. Sometimes, God shows up in your neighbour’s wisdom, your priest’s quiet persistence, or your child’s innocent insight.

Quote of the Day

“Acquire the habit of speaking to God as if you were alone with Him.”
— St. Alphonsus Liguori

Final Thoughts

God continues to give us “appointed times” — moments of grace, windows for growth, opportunities to recognize Him. But He doesn’t force us to notice. Faith unlocks the miracle. Resistance shuts it down. Choose openness.

Conclusion

This day, this moment, is a divine appointment. Don’t miss it. May we be like the faithful Israelite, not the hardened hometown crowd. May we learn from Saint Alphonsus to pray often, live humbly, and recognize God in the now.

Concluding Prayer

Lord God of our appointed times,
You call us daily into sacred moments.
Forgive us for when we’ve closed our hearts like Nazareth.
Open our eyes to Your presence in the ordinary.
Through the intercession of Saint Alphonsus,
make us gentle in our speech, bold in our faith,
and faithful in our worship.
Bless this day, that it may become a time set apart —
a holy moment with You.

Amen.