Reverend Larry Silva, Bishop | Diocese of Honolulu

On the Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time, a homily delivered focused on the challenging nature of love as depicted in the "Sermon on the Plain" from the Gospel of St. Luke. The bishop began by contrasting typical human perceptions of love, often seen as romantic and sentimental, with how Jesus challenges us to view it through God's eyes.

In this sermon, Jesus pronounces blessings on those who are poor, hungry, sorrowful, and mistreated—qualities often associated with being an "underdog." These blessings resonate with many people who admire advocacy for those less fortunate. However, Jesus also pronounces woes on those who are rich and well-regarded. This may seem unloving at first glance but serves to illustrate that "God’s ways are not our ways."

The homily continued by addressing how expressions of love can sometimes take unexpected forms. The bishop cited examples from parenting and marriage to demonstrate that both leniency and control can be harmful if not balanced correctly. For instance, parents might avoid correcting their children out of a desire for friendship rather than instilling discipline in a loving context.

Similarly, couples facing marital difficulties might ignore problems instead of addressing them openly—a practice that can lead to further alienation. Honest communication is encouraged as a means to find solutions together.

Throughout the sermon, emphasis was placed on understanding God as pure love—expressed in various forms including "tough love." The Scriptures reflect this through stories where God's unwavering love for Israel included moments of punishment intended as lessons.

The homily concluded with an appeal for regular participation in church services to draw strength from God's Word and presence in the Eucharist. As stated by St. Theresa of Avila: “Lord, if this is the way you treat your friends, it is no wonder that you have so few!” Her words highlight that honesty aligns with godly virtues.

Believers were reminded that life's dilemmas should be approached with guidance from the Holy Spirit to think and act according to divine principles rather than human instincts.