Homily for the 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time

In today's world, finding a moment of peace and quiet to connect with ourselves and God is difficult. The constant barrage of calls and messages makes it hard to escape daily life's worries and hurried pace. Finding the tranquility to enjoy God's presence can be challenging, even in our homes filled with television and digital media.

Have we forgotten the importance of pausing, interrupting our rush, and freeing our minds for a few moments? It is often enough to stand still and be silent briefly to calm our spirits and regain clarity and peace. We need to seek the silence that allows us to connect with our true selves, helping us recover our freedom and rediscover our inner energy.

Being used to noise and busyness, we may not realize the wellness that can come from solitude and silence. In our eagerness for news, images, and information, we can easily forget to nurture and enrich the deepest parts of our being.

We cannot hear God or recognize His divine presence without inner silence. This lack of silence hinders our growth as human beings and as believers. According to Jesus, people draw goodness from the abundance in their hearts, but goodness does not flourish without cultivation. We must nurture it to let it grow within us. Our lives will truly blossom if we take the time to notice what God is stirring in our hearts.

Let us pray that during this coming season of Lent, we may find times to slow down, be aware of God's presence around us and within us, and allow His love to transform our lives.