Homily - Saturday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

Readings:

  • Leviticus 25:1, 8–17

  • Psalm 67:2–3, 5, 7–8

  • Matthew 14:1–12
    Theme: Jubilee, Justice, and the Prophetic Voice


🌄 Introduction 

There’s an old joke:
A preacher was preparing his Sunday sermon on courage and honesty. His little son asked, “Dad, what’s your sermon about today?”
He replied, “It’s about being bold and truthful, no matter what!”
The boy nodded and said, “Then you better hide your sermon notes. Last week, you changed everything after seeing who was sitting in the front pew!”

Truth is easy to admire, but hard to live. Today’s Scriptures confront us with that challenge.

📖 The Word of God

🧾 Leviticus 25:1, 8–17 – The Jubilee Law

God commands Israel to observe a Jubilee every 50 years: a holy time of release, rest, return, and restoration. Land is returned, debts are forgiven, slaves are set free. The law disrupts greed and restores dignity.

"You shall not wrong one another, but you shall fear your God."
Theological Insight: Jubilee is not just about economics—it’s a divine reset for society. It teaches that everything belongs to God, and no system should permanently enslave.

🎶 Psalm 67:2–3, 5, 7–8

A song of global blessing and justice.

“Let the peoples praise you, O God… for you govern the peoples with equity.”
This psalm echoes the hope that when God's justice reigns, all nations flourish. It’s a liturgical anthem for Jubilee living.

📜 Matthew 14:1–12 – The Death of John the Baptist

John dies because he told the truth to Herod. The king, caught between fear and pride, chooses violence over repentance.
Exegesis Note: John is a martyr for Jubilee truth. He calls out unlawful power structures. He is silenced not by argument but by force. His death prefigures Christ’s own.

🔗 Connection of the Readings

  • Leviticus shows God’s vision for society: freedom, fairness, and rest.

  • The Gospel shows what happens when truth disrupts entrenched power.

  • Psalm 67 gives the voice of hope that despite injustice, God's justice will prevail.

❓ Reflection Questions

  1. What systems in my world today need a Jubilee reset?

  2. Am I willing to speak up for what is right, even when it costs me?

  3. How do I view land, debt, and property—as personal possessions or sacred trust?

  4. Where am I being called to restore relationships or forgive?

🧭 Implications for Daily Living in Light of the Jubilee Year & Synod on Synodality

  • Jubilee Year 2025 calls us to restore right relationships—economically, spiritually, and socially.

  • Synodality invites us to listen to the voices at the margins—like John, like Jeremiah—those who challenge the Church and society to be more just, more faithful, more courageous.

Let’s not fear prophetic voices in the Church. Let’s make room for them.

💬 Inspiration / Motivation

We live in a world where prophets are often silenced. But the Spirit continues to raise them—sometimes in the pews, sometimes in the pulpit, often in the streets.

Being prophetic is not about being loud—it’s about being faithful.

🕯️ Quote for the Day

“Proclaim the truth and do not be silent through fear.”
— St. Catherine of Siena

✍️ Final Thoughts

The Gospel reminds us: truth-telling is costly. But silence in the face of injustice costs even more.
Leviticus offers a radical vision of society grounded in God's mercy and justice.
As Christians, we are called not just to admire that vision—but to embody it.

🙏 Concluding Prayer

God of mercy and justice,
You taught your people to rest, to forgive, and to return to You.
You raised prophets who stood for truth, even to the point of death.
Give us courage like John, vision like Moses, and praise like the psalmist.
Teach us to live as your Jubilee people—
generous, just, and free.
May we never fear truth,
but embrace it with boldness and love.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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