Homily for the Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, delivered in Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, Gladstone, Qld.

"A perfect wife – who can find her? She is far beyond the price of pearls. Her husband’s heart has confidence in her, from her he will derive no little profit. Advantage and not hurt she brings him all the days of her life. She is always busy with wool and with flax, she does her work with eager hands. She sets her hands to the distaff, her fingers grasp the spindle. She holds out her hand to the poor, she opens her arms to the needy. Charm is deceitful, and beauty empty; the woman who is wise is the one to praise. Give her a share in what her hands have worked for, and let her works tell her praises at the city gates." (cf. Prov 31).

"O blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways! By the labour of your hands you shall eat. You will be happy and prosper." (cf. Ps 128)

"... the Day of the Lord is going to come like a thief in the night. It is when people are saying, ‘How quiet and peaceful it is’ that the worst suddenly happens, as suddenly as labour pains come on a pregnant woman; and there will be no way for anybody to evade it. But it is not as if you live in the dark... for that Day to overtake you like a thief; we should not go on sleeping, as everyone else does, but stay wide awake and sober." (cf 1 Thes 5).

"Jesus spoke this parable to his disciples: ‘The kingdom of Heaven is like a man on his way abroad who summoned his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to a third one; each in proportion to his ability. Then he set out...' [to return] 'a long time after,' [and yet, very soon — even right now]." (cf. Mt 25:14).

Artwork: an image of Jesus amid a crowd of sufferers, generated using the Wonder app.