HOMILY FOR 20TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME — YEAR B
HOMILY THEME: THE ART OF LIVING WISELY
BY: Fr. Anthony O. Ezeaputa
Proverbs 9: 1-6, Ps. 34, Ephesians 5: 15-20, John 6: 51-58
Life can get overwhelming with all the demands and distractions around us. It’s easy to lose focus and overlook what truly matters. But our first and second readings today encourage us to step back and think about how we can live more wisely. This means being intentional with our time and energy, focusing on what really matters, and cultivating a life of integrity, hospitality, and compassion.
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In our first reading (Proverbs 9:1-6), wisdom is personified as a woman who builds a sturdy house with seven pillars, symbolizing her strength and stability. She prepares a banquet, slaughters animals, and sends out invitations to all, calling on simple and foolish people to leave their simplicity behind and walk in the way of insight.
This image shows us that wisdom is more than just being smart or knowing the right answers. Wisdom is about living a life that’s genuine, kind, and welcoming to others (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1806). It is about how we use it to live our lives, be open to others, and create spaces for meaningful relationships to grow.
When you think of a friend who’s always willing to lend a listening ear and offer words of encouragement, you’ll notice that they’re not always book-smart or knowledgeable about the right things to say. However, they’re wise because they create a safe space for others to open up and share their struggles, and they respond with empathy and kindness. That’s wisdom in action—it’s not just about knowing the right answers but about living a life that’s genuine, kind, and welcoming to others.
In our second reading (Ephesians 5:15–20), St. Paul exhorts us to “live wisely” and “make the most of the time.” This means being intentional with our time and energy, prioritizing what truly matters, and using our gifts and talents to make a positive impact. In doing so, we become effective stewards of the resources God has given us.
Imagine you’re a gardener, and you’ve got a small plot of land to tend. You could scatter your seeds randomly, hoping some will grow, or you could carefully prepare the soil, plant your seeds intentionally, and nurture them to maturity.
In the same way, our time and energy are like those precious seeds. We have the option to disperse our time and energy among various distractions and activities, such as engaging in gossip, mindlessly scrolling through social media, binge-watching excessive TV, or spending endless hours playing video games, or we can direct them towards what truly matters: fostering our relationships, pursuing our passions, and embodying our values.
St. Paul’s advice to “make the most of the time” is like a reminder to tend our garden wisely. It’s an invitation to be intentional with our time, to prioritize what truly matters, and to use our gifts and talents to make a positive impact. By prioritizing what’s truly important, we can cultivate a life that’s intentional, meaningful, and fulfilling.
Nigerians have a term for something they think is common: “PHDS” or “Pull Him/Her Down Syndrome.” Basically, it means spending way too much time tearing others down instead of building them up. We do this in all sorts of ways: gossiping, criticizing, making false accusations—you name it. Imagine what we could accomplish if we spent that energy wisely on something positive. We might have even found cures for diseases like HIV, AIDS, and cancer by now!
As we reflect on the wisdom that guides our lives, let’s ask ourselves: Am I living intentionally, or am I letting distractions and competing demands dictate my path? Am I prioritizing what truly matters, or am I getting bogged down in non-essentials? Am I cultivating a life of integrity, hospitality, and compassion, or am I holding onto grudges and negativity?
May we also ask ourselves: Am I welcoming others and creating spaces for meaningful relationships to grow, or am I building walls and barriers? Am I using my time and energy to make a positive impact, or am I scattering them across multiple distractions and activities? Am I tending my “garden” wisely, nurturing my relationships, passions, and values, or am I letting them wither and die?
Just as Jesus offers us his flesh as food for eternal life (John 6:51–58), let us offer our lives as a living sacrifice, intentional and wise, that we may truly live and flourish. May we tend our “garden” wisely, nurturing what truly matters, and may we become the wise and compassionate people God calls us to be. Amen.
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