Sunday, July 26, 2026

 

SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

(1 ​​Kings 3:5-13; Romans 8:28-30; Matthew 13:44-46)

Three scenarios of misfortune. First, your husband has been in an accident. He is injured, and the only car in the house is totaled. You feel deeply distressed. Second, your wife has Alzheimer's. You have placed her in a nursing home. The facility is high-quality, but she doesn't like it there. Every time you visit, she cries, begging you to take her home. The situation is so sad that you no longer want to visit her. Third, your oldest son has become rebellious. He has stopped attending Sunday Mass with the family for a long time and recently dropped out of school. But what has disturbed you most is that yesterday you found a gun in his bedroom.

These situations are not so rare that they could not happen to any of us. They would cause us to examine our lives to see if we've done anything to deserve such a dismal state of affairs. Also, we begin to doubt God's existence, or at least His goodness. We truly don't know what to think, much less what to do.

Then we recall the story of Saint Augustine's conversion. One day, as he was walking in his garden reflecting on his disordered life, he heard a child's voice. The child said, "Take this and read." Augustine found his Bible, opened it, and came across the passage in the Letter to the Romans, which says, “… let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and licentiousness, not in rivalry and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh” (Rom 13:13-14). The experience confirmed his decision to become a Christian.

In our predicaments, it would be helpful to recall another verse from the same Letter to the Romans. It is found in the second reading at Mass today. It says: “… all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose” (8:28). The words dissipate our anxiety. We know that we can handle the difficult situation because God is with us. His presence gives us confidence that nothing can overcome us as long as He supports us. Everything will be “all right.” We now know what Jesus means in the Gospel when he speaks of the “Kingdom of God.” He says that it is worth more than the finest pearl because it assures us of God’s love forever. By maintaining a friendship with God, we can face any difficulty with peace. For who can snatch us out of His hands?

There are several Bible verses that not only capture our attention but also our memory. One is John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Another is Jesus’ commandments of love: “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second (commandment) is this: Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:29-31). Romans 8:28 is another verse we should never forget: “…all things work together for the good of those who love God…”

Thursday, July 30, 2026

 

Thursday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Jeremiah 18:1-6; Matthew 13:47-53)

Preachers today often speak of God’s “unconditional love.”  Rightly understood, the term indicates that God only wants human flourishment.  Unlike humans, God doesn’t reserve His affection for some and withhold it from others.  Yes, God has a special love for the poor, but this does not mean that He does not care as well for the rich. 

Yet it seems that some may run too fast with the idea of God’s unconditional love.  They say that it assures everyone a place in the Kingdom.  They make to claim that nothing anyone does might alienate him or her from eternal life.  A funeral director, who heard many homilies about God’s mercy, said that universal salvation was one of the results of Vatican II. 

But, of course, the bishops at the Council arrived at no such conclusion nor could they do so today.  It would counter Jesus’ teaching in this mass’s parable of a huge catch of fish.  Some of the haul were good and are prized.  Others are bad and discarded.  A theologian once said that we cannot know if everyone will be saved but we can pray for it.  We also might pray that people who do evil will turn from their misdeeds and make amends.  And while we are at it, let us also pray that we church-goers may be forgiven our many sins.

 

Friday, July 24, 2026

 

Friday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Jeremiah 3:14-17; Matthew 13:18-23)

The Ark of the Covenant was the singular, most holy element of the Jerusalem Temple.  It contained the two tablets of the law, a jar of manna from Israel’s desert wanderings, and Aaron’s miraculous staff.  For unknown reasons the Ark was lost around the beginning of the seventh century before Christ.  As meaningful as the Ark was to the people of Jerusalem, the prophet Jeremiah says that it will be forgotten in today’s first reading.

Jeremiah envisions a new covenant between God and Israel.  It will be characterized by a select people sifted from all over Judah.  The nation’s wise leaders will strive to please the Lord, not themselves or others.  People from all over the world will come to Jerusalem to praise the God of Israel.

Christians recognize this prophecy fulfilled in the Church Jesus leaves behind.  Jerusalem is the Church’s cradle and still serves as its holiest sanctuary city.  More importantly, the Jerusalem community has become a model of pleasing the Lord’s heart.  The Ark of the Covenant has been more than adequately replaced by Mary, who bore God’s Son in her womb.

Thursday, July 23, 2026

 Thursday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

(Jeremiah 2:1-3.7-8.12-13; Matthew 13:10-17)

The biblical history of Israel is largely a story of human unfaithfulness to a gracious God.  In its beginning Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit.  After God frees them from slavery in Egypt, the Israelites grumble against Him in the desert.  In today’s first reading Jeremiah tells of Israel’s prophets betraying the Lord.  Finally, Jesus continually castigates the people for rejecting him as God’s messenger.

Israel’s flaw – and the flaw of all humanity -- is a corrupt heart.  Jeremiah will describe the human heart, especially Israel’s, as “tortuous” and “beyond remedy” (17:9).  it seeks pleasure for its owner, power over others, and prestige among the people.  Somehow this heart must be healed. 

Jesus comes into the story as a heart specialist. He removes the rot of our hearts with miracles and exorcisms.  He teaches our hearts the will of God as their first priority.  His preaching moves our hearts to act on behalf of others. Finally, Jesus leaves behind the Sacraments of Penance and Eucharist so that our hearts may be continually rejuvenated. 

Wednesday, July 22, 2026

 

Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene

(Song of Songs 3:1-4b; John 20:1-2.11-18)

The word “apostle” is derived from the Greek apostolos which means “one sent forth.” Today we celebrate St. Mary Magdalene, who, in a sense, was the first apostle.  She was the first person Jesus sent forth to announce his resurrection from the dead.

According to Luke’s Gospel, Mary Magdalene along with other women accompanied Jesus and his disciples from Galilee to Jerusalem.  That she was a reformed prostitute is doubtful although she had a serious malady -- perhaps demonic possession as it is considered today -- of which Jesus healed her.  She became his friend as evidenced by her standing at the cross.  She watched him die along with Jesus’ mother, one or two other women, and the “Beloved Disciple.”

Mary Magdalene has become a model for all Christians.  Nowhere in the Gospels does Jesus call Mary to follow him like he does Peter and Matthew.  Evidently, she pursued a prompting of the heart to accompany him.  Like her, then, Jesus heals all of us -- men and women, clergy and lay -- of our sins in Baptism.  Also like her, we follow Jesus as the source of our spiritual life.  Finally, like Mary Magdalene, we announce the Lord’s resurrection by our willingness to sacrifice ourselves for what is true and loving.