15th Sunday - A (July 16, 2023)

 

Little Seeds

Matthew 13: 1-23

 

Last week, Jesus spoke of the little ones to whom God “graciously will” to reveal the mystery of God and God’s love. 

 

Today, Jesus speaks of the little seeds of “the word of the kingdom” that he sows with generosity and without discrimination.  The seeds though small can “bear fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirty fold.”  Such is the power of God’s words.

 

Now, we are empowered by Jesus, the Word of God Made Flesh, to also sow the seeds of God’s Kingdom in our attitudes, words, and actions, generously and without discrimination.  These can be little things, but with God’s grace, can “bear fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirty fold.”  Such is the power of God working in and through us.  

 

Image source: www.agnusday.org

14th Sunday - A (July 9, 2023)

 

God’s Gracious Will

Matthew 11: 25-3o

 

In this Gospel passage, Jesus gives praise to the Father, "Lord of heaven and earth," for having revealed to us, "the little ones," the mysteries of God's love in Jesus Christ. 

 

Who are we but God’s creatures.  On our own, we cannot know God.  It is God who, out of love, creates us and reveals to us God and the mystery of God’s love. 

 

That is God's "gracious will," which we can never fathom. 

 

Yet, imitating Jesus, let us give God praise and thanks for God’s love, and for calling us to share in Jesus' mission of making God known.    

 

 

13th Sunday - A (July 2, 2023)

 

“The little ones”

Matthew 10: 37-42

 

Jesus identifies “the little ones” as his disciples, as members of God’s family, as children of God.

 

It is in the little ones that we encounter God and the reality of God’s kingdom.

 

Then later in the Gospel According to Matthew, Jesus will identify “the least ones” as his brothers (25:40).  Jesus teaches us that in serving “the least,” we serve Jesus himself.

 

And with humility, may we embrace being little because that is when we are children of God.  

 

Image source: www.agnusday.org 

12th Sunday - A (June 25, 2023)

 

Matthew 10: 26-33

 

Last week, we heard Jesus sent the disciples to proclaim, “The Kingdom of God is at hand.”

 

In the same chapter, Jesus then warns the disciples of opposition and persecution.

 

But, the Kingdom of God is here,  so three times Jesus assures them, “Do not be afraid.” 

 

The Gospel of Matthew ends with Jesus again assuring the disciples, “I am with you always” (28:20).

 

Jesus is always with us, especially in his words and in the Eucharist.

 

And to us now, he says, “Do not be afraid.”  

 

 

11th Sunday - A (June 18, 2023)

Go, Preach, and Heal

Matthew 9:36 – 10:8

 

Jesus has been going “to all the towns and villages, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom, and curing every disease and illness” (9:35).

 

Then, he commissioned the disciples to do the same. 

 

He shared his missions with them.  He now shares his mission with us.

 

In order to proclaim the gospel and to be instruments of God’s healing, we must first imitate Jesus’ compassion whose “heart was moved with pity” for the people, second, be mindful that Jesus gives us the authority, and third, be generous (“Without cost you have receive, without cost you are to give”). 

 

Image source: Sacred Heart of Jesus by Pompeo Batoni, www.wikipedia.org

 

Body and Blood of Christ (June 11, 2023)

 

Living Bread

John 6: 51-58

 

“I am  the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever.”

 

These two sentences summarize the mystery of God’s love for us.

 

We cannot gain God’s eternal life on our own.  So, out of love for us, Jesus, the Son of God, came to share God’s life with us. 

 

In the Eucharist, he remains with us to be out food of eternal life. 

 

Most Holy Trinity - A (June 4, 2023)

 

“God So Loved the World”

Readings

 

Out of love God created the universe and humanity in God’s image and likeness.

 

Out of love, God “pardoned our wickedness and sins,” and chose us and made us God’s own (1^st Reading).

 

Out of love, God “gave God’s only Son so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life” (Gospel).

 

And “the God of love and peace is with us” out of love (2^nd Reading).

 

Let us celebrate this day of God’s love. 

 

 Image source: www.peakpx.com

Pentecost - A (May 28, 2023)

“Peace be with you”

John 20: 19-23

During the Last Supper, we learned from Jesus’ prayer that Jesus glorified God by accomplishing the work that God gave him to do.  He did that by making God known to the disciples.  (John 17: 1-4)

Now, to the disciples who are fearful and who had abandoned or denied Him, Jesus gives them peace and forgiveness through the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Thus, to know God is to know God’s forgiveness and peace.

Moreover, giving them the Holy Spirit, Jesus now entrusts his mission to his disciples, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 

Image source: www.agnusday.org 

Ascension of the Lord - A (May 21, 2023)

 

I Am With You

Matthew 28: 16-20

 

Before Jesus was born, the angel declared that the Savior is “Emmanuel, which means, God is with us.” 

 

Now, as Jesus ascends, he says, “I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

 

He is with us, always.  

 

 

6th Sunday of Easter - A (May 14, 2023)

“You and I”

John 14: 15-21

 

We continue to listen to Jesus’ words to his disciples during the Last Supper.

 

Last week, Jesus said, “I am in the Father and the Father is in me.”

 

Today, he continues, “I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you.” 

 

God so loves us that in Jesus’ death and resurrection, God has brought us into this union of love between God the Father and God the Son.