19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

 1 Kgs. 19:9, 11-13; Rom. 9:1-5; Mt. 14:22-33

There is a remarkable story in the life of Corrie ten Boom that illustrates what extraordinary faith can look like when everything around a person seems to say, “There is no reason to trust.” During the Second World War, Corrie and her family in the Netherlands risked their lives by hiding Jewish people from the Nazis. Eventually, Corrie and her sister Betsie were arrested and sent to the Ravensbrück concentration camp. Betsie died there, but Corrie survived. After the war, Corrie became known not only for speaking about suffering but also for speaking about forgiveness. One day, after a Christian meeting, a former concentration-camp guard who had participated in the cruelty came toward her. Corrie recognized him. For a moment, everything inside her resisted extending her hand. Yet she chose to forgive him. Her faith was not simply faith when life was comfortable; it was faith when her memories, emotions and circumstances told her to do the opposite. Her story has been remembered as an example of faith, courage, perseverance and forgiveness.

Transfiguration (A)

 Dan. 7:9-10, 13-14; 2 Pet. 1:16-19; Mt. 17:1-9

Jesus takes Peter, James and John up a high mountain, and there, before their eyes, something extraordinary happens. His face shines like the sun, his clothes become dazzling white, Moses and Elijah appear, and then a bright cloud overshadows them. From the cloud comes the voice of God: “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” These words are not merely words spoken to Peter, James and John. They are words spoken to every generation of believers, including us today: This is my Son. Listen to him.

The Transfiguration becomes even more meaningful when we understand the significance of the cloud in the Bible. In Scripture, the cloud is often much more than something in the sky. It becomes a sign of the mysterious presence of God. When the Israelites were leaving Egypt, the Lord went before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. When they did not know which way to go, the cloud showed them the way. They did not possess a map. They did not know what lay ahead. But they had the presence of God. The lesson is beautiful: when we cannot see the road ahead, we can still trust the One who leads us.

The cloud appears again on Mount Sinai. Moses goes up the mountain, and the glory of the Lord settles upon it in the form of a cloud. The mountain is covered by the presence of God. Moses enters into that cloud and receives God's word. The cloud therefore becomes associated not only with God's presence but

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

 Is. 55:1-3; Rom 8:35, 37-39; Mt. 14:13-21

Compassion is sometimes found in the most unexpected places. A little-known story is told from the winter of 1982 during a terrible snowstorm in the United States. An elderly widow lived alone in a small house. Heavy snow blocked her door, and she had no food or medicine left. The roads were closed, and no one even knew that she was trapped inside. A young postal worker, who had noticed that her mailbox had not been emptied for two days, became worried. Although delivering mail was finished for the day, he walked through waist-deep snow carrying a small bag of groceries from his own home. When he reached her house, he had to dig through the snow to open the door. The old woman broke into tears because she had begun to think that everyone had forgotten her. The young man simply said, "I did not want you to feel alone." Years later, when people asked him why he had risked his life, he answered, "Anyone can deliver letters. I only wanted to deliver hope." Compassion begins when we refuse to let another person suffer alone. It is not measured by the greatness of the gift but by the greatness of the heart.

That is exactly what we see in today's Gospel. Jesus had just received the heartbreaking news that John the Baptist had been brutally executed by Herod. John was not only the prophet who prepared His way; he was also His cousin, His friend, and the courageous witness who had proclaimed the truth without fear. Naturally, Jesus wanted to be alone. He crossed the lake seeking a quiet place where

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

 1 Kgs. 3:5-12; Rom. 8:28-30; Mt. 13:44-52

The Gospel of today presents three short parables spoken by Jesus—the hidden treasure, the pearl of great price, and the dragnet. At first they seem like three separate stories, but in reality they are three chapters of one great message about the Kingdom of Heaven. The first parable tells us how the Kingdom is discovered, the second teaches us how the Kingdom should be valued, and the third reminds us that everyone who enters the Kingdom must persevere faithfully until the end. In other words, Jesus invites us first to discover Him, then to choose Him above everything else, and finally to remain faithful to Him until we meet Him face to face.

 Jesus begins by saying, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field." In the time of Jesus, people often buried their treasures because there were no banks and no safe places to keep valuables. During wars or invasions, many died without returning to recover what they had hidden. Imagine an ordinary

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

 Wis. 12:13, 16-19; Rom. 8:26-27; Mt. 13:24-43

Dear brothers and sisters 

In today's Gospel, Jesus gives us three beautiful parables that together reveal the mystery of the Kingdom of God. At first glance they seem to speak about farming and baking, but in reality, they speak about our lives, our families, our Church, and our eternal destiny. The parable of the wheat and the weeds teach us about patience and discernment. The parable of the mustard seed teaches us never to underestimate small beginnings. The parable of the yeast reminds us that God's transforming power often works quietly and invisibly. These three parables together invite us to trust God even when we cannot understand everything that is happening around us.

Jesus begins with the story of a farmer who sowed good seed in his field. The seed was healthy, the field was prepared, and everything was done properly. But during the night, while everyone slept, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat.