Homily for Friday of the 4th Week in Ordinary Time

The Gospel describes John the Baptist as a "righteous and holy man." He courageously spoke the truth about God and His ways, which ultimately led to his beheading. Similarly, Jesus was crucified for the same reason: He, too, proclaimed the truth and purpose of God's teachings.

We are all called to share God's ways, as revealed by Jesus. This often requires courage, much like that of John the Baptist and Jesus. One of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit is courage. Today, perhaps more than ever, we need a courageous faith and the strength of the Holy Spirit to bear witness to the values and messages of the Gospel, as John the Baptist and Jesus did.

It is important to remember that a courageous faith is not the same as an arrogant faith; it is not condescending or self-righteous. Instead, it is a firm, lasting faith that remains strong in adversity because its roots run deep.