A Homily on Luke 13:22-30 : Does God Have Dementia (24-8-25)

A homily on Luke 13:22-30, when God says “I do not know you,” it is not His forgetfulness but our failure to live His will. (24-8-25)

 Praise be to Jesus Christ 

A few friends once went to see a man who was lying in the hospital. He was very sick and weak. When they spoke to him, he looked at them but did not recognise who they were. One of them leaned close and said, “Do you remember me? One day, in a heavy rain, we shared one umbrella together.” The man made a small sound. Then his friend asked again, “Can you recall my name?” The patient looked confused and replied, “Oh, today is Sunday.” The others who were standing there shook their heads and said, “He is affected by dementia. He cannot remember.”

When we listen to today’s Gospel, it almost feels like that. People come to Jesus at the door and they cry out, “We ate and drank with you. You taught in our streets.” But Jesus replies, “I do not know you.” It sounds as if God has forgotten. We may even be tempted to think that God has dementia, that He no longer remembers the works we did. And so we may try to remind Him: “Lord, do you not recall? We built schools, we started hospitals, we organised retreats, we worked for the parish.”

But God does not have dementia. He does not forget. His memory is perfect. If He says, “I do not know you,” it is not because His memory has failed. It is because we have failed to do what He asked of us. We remembered to do many things in His name, but we did not remember to live His commandment of love, mercy, and humility.

In the Old Testament, God told His people again and again, “I will remember my covenant with you.” He never forgot. But Israel often forgot their side of the covenant. They offered sacrifices and festivals, yet their hearts went after idols. The prophet Isaiah says, “This people honours me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” That is the danger we hear in today’s Gospel.

Saint John of the Cross once said that at the evening of life, we will be judged on love alone. Not on how many projects we started, not on how many titles we carried, but on whether we truly loved God and neighbour. The narrow door is not entered by achievements but by obedience to His will.

In our family life, this lesson is very close. Parents may do many things for their children, but if they do not spend time in love, the children may one day feel like strangers. A husband and wife may live under one roof, but if forgiveness is missing, they may feel unknown to each other. The same happens with God. We may be present at prayers and ceremonies, but if we lack a living relationship of love and trust, then we too will hear, “I do not know you.”

God does not forget us. He knows us more than we know ourselves. But the question is, do we live as His children or only as workers of empty deeds? If we forget His command to love, then when we knock on the door of heaven, it will seem like God has forgotten us. In truth, it is we who forgot Him in our daily living.

So today let us ask for the grace not only to do things in the name of God but to live in obedience to His will. Let us love, forgive, pray, and serve with humble hearts. Then when we come to His door, He will not say, “I do not know you,” but will welcome us as His own.

Lord Jesus, help me to discern your will and let me live accordingly. Amen