People Who Remember - Weekday Homily Video

We live in a time where remembering is harder than ever. Our attention spans are shrinking faster than the lifespan of an Instagram story. We have passwords we can’t remember (I now have started keeping a word document for my passwords alone; and that document is password protected too, and I have difficulty remembering that password!), phones and keys we misplace daily, and memories that vanish somewhere between breakfast and lunchtime.

Yet in the midst of our forgetful frenzy, Moses steps in with a timeless message: Don’t forget. Don’t forget what your eyes have seen, don't forget what your ears have heard. Don’t forget the wisdom. Don’t forget the journey. 

The word remember is sacred. And sometimes, the best memories come from grandma’s kitchen. My grandmother had a legendary fish recipe. She’d make it with tamarind, mustard seeds, and just the right amount of chili—spicy chilly, yeah, that's a must. She would grind these spices on a stone slab, simmer the curry until it sang, and serve it with the kind of love you could taste—no written recipe, just instinct passed down from generations. But every time she made it, she would whisper to us, don’t mess with this recipe. It works because it’s been tested in fire—and in hungry stomachs. 

Of course, my cousin— who is the family’s self-declared MasterChef—decided to “update” it. Out went the mustard seeds; in came rosemary. Instead of tamarind he used mango; he added tofu to fish. “Fusion food,” he called it. What came out of the pan was so bad we offered it to the cat, who sniffed it, tasted it a bit and walked away, offended. Grandma just laughed and said, “some things don’t need fixing. They need remembering.” 

That’s exactly what Moses is saying in the Book of Deuteronomy: “Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it.” God’s law isn’t outdated tradition—it’s a recipe for life that’s been tested in the wilderness, refined through fire, and served with love. But we live in a world that constantly wants to tweak it. We trade mercy for convenience. We replace integrity with popularity. We remove forgiveness and wonder why everything feels bitter. 

But here’s the deeper truth: this isn’t about rigid rules. It’s about trust. God’s commandments are less like a cage and more like a compass. They don’t fence us in—they free us to live lives of peace, purpose, and deep joy. Like guardrails on a winding mountain road, they keep us from flying off the edge while still letting us enjoy the view. 

And Moses says something more: “Teach these things to your children and grandchildren.” Not just your biological kids, but the people coming up behind you. The new hires at your job. The teens at your church. That’s legacy. That’s faith not just spoken but lived. My grandma didn’t hand us a scroll with recipes—she handed us a spoon, taught us patience, and told stories while the curry simmered in the oven. That was theology in an apron. 

So, let’s be people who remember. Remember what God has done. Remember the wisdom handed down. And remember that the best sermons are not loud—they’re lived. With humility. With consistency. And sometimes, with a really good plate of grandma’s fish curry. 

• Today’s Readings

• Father Boby's inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. You can view the Mass (and the Rosary at the 30-minute mark) on the Family Rosary YouTube page. 

• To join the Rosary and Mass Livestream, visit the Family Rosary YouTube or Facebook page at 11:30 a.m. Eastern, Monday – Friday. Consider inviting others to join too! (*If you are not a member of Facebook and a signup window appears, simply select the X at the top of the pop-up message and continue to the livestream.)