A Homily on Matthew 23: 27-32:The Pain of Love (27-8-25)

A reflection on Jesus’ painful cry of love in Matthew 23 :27-32, illuminated by the tears of St. Monica and a simple story of a pigeon. (27-8-25)

Praise be to Jesus Christ 

One day a pigeon built her nest on the branches of a tree. She laid eggs and sat on it with carefully. As the squabs came out she sheltered them from the rain, brought them food, and kept them warm under her wings.  She taughtthem how to eat the grain and how to flap their tiny wings. However, as they grew, the young ones refused to listen. They jumped out of the nest too early. One fell and hurt itself. Another was caught by a cat. The mother pigeon sat on the roof and cooed in sorrow. Her cry was not anger. It was the pain of love — the pain of a mother who gave everything, yet saw her children turn away.

This image helps us enter the Gospel today. Jesus says, “You are like whitewashed tombs, outwardly beautiful but inside full of uncleanness.” At first, we may think he speaks only with anger. But if we listen deeply, we will hear his wounded heart. He is like that pigeon. He gave everything to his people. He taught, he healed, he forgave, he loved without measure. Yet they refused to listen. They cared only for the outside show of religion, not the inside truth of love. His sharp words are not hatred. They are the cry of love that has been rejected.

We hear the same cry in the Old Testament. Through the prophet Hosea, God says, “How can I give you up, Ephraim? My heart recoils within me, my compassion grows warm and tender.” God feels the pain of a parent who loves but is not loved in return. This is the pain of love we see in Jesus’ words today.

And today, the feast of St. Monica, shows us this same truth in a living example. Monica loved her son with all her heart. She prayed for him for many years, often with tears. She corrected him, sometimes with strong words, but always with love. Her heart was wounded, but she did not give up. Her tears were her prayer, and in the end, God answered. Her pain of love bore fruit when her son returned to God.

This Gospel must touch us personally. Jesus is not only speaking to Pharisees. He is speaking to me. I must ask myself: Am I living only for the outside? Am I like a house painted bright but empty within? Am I like those young pigeons, refusing to listen to the love that protects me? Jesus asks these questions to me because he loves me. His words are sharp, but his heart is tender.

And in our daily life, the same lesson must guide us. Parents correct their children, sometimes with tears. Superiors correct their members, sometimes with pain in their hearts. Real correction, if it comes from love, is not to hurt but to heal. The danger is when we pretend to be holy outside while inside our hearts remain cold. Jesus calls us to drop the mask and be true before God.

So, my brothers and sisters, let us not hear this Gospel as a harsh judgment. Let us hear it as the cry of love. The cry of Jesus who gave everything and still longs for our hearts. The cry of St. Monica, whose tears watered the faith of her family. The cry of a love that hurts because it is real.

 Lord, let me never forget your pain of love, and make my heart true before you.

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