Mass Reading and Reflection for Sunday August 16th 2026

First Reading: (Isaiah 56:1, 6–7)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 67)

R. Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you.

Second Reading: (Romans 11:13–15, 29–32)

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: (Matthew 15:21–28)

Reflection: 

Persistence often pays!

From the Gospel the Canaanite woman was a pagan, yet she came to Jesus seeking help for her daughter.

The disciples wanted her sent away because she was crying after them.

But Jesus did not allow human prejudice to have the final word.

Her faith was ultimately recognized by Jesus:

“O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you desire.”

And her daughter was healed instantly.

Gentiles too are children of God.

Jesus came for all, Jews as well as Greeks.

Surprisingly, some of those who demonstrated the greatest faith were Gentiles who were almost pushed away by the Jews.

The first reading makes this universal invitation clear.

Isaiah speaks of foreigners who adhere to the Lord, serve him, love his name, observe the Sabbath and hold fast to his covenant.

God says:

“My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”

They too are children of God, and salvation is open to them.

This is the universal saving will of God: that all people may be saved.

God reaches out even to those who may seem distant from him so that they too may receive salvation.

In the second reading, Saint Paul calls himself an apostle to the Gentiles.

He reaches out to them so that all might be saved.

The responsorial psalm gives us the same universal vision:

“Let the peoples praise you, O God. Let all the peoples praise you.”

And:

“Let all nations learn your salvation.”

The question for each of us is therefore:

What do we do to reach out to everyone, even those who do not worship with us?

How universal are we?

How Catholic are we?

Let us pray that missionaries may continue to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth according to Christ's command:

“Go and make disciples of all nations.”

Let leaders work for the common good of all, not merely for a select few, remembering that all are citizens of the same country.

For we are all sons and daughters of the same heavenly Father.

And God is Father of us all.

That is why, at every Holy Mass, we address him as:

“Our Father,”

not merely “my Father.”

He is Father of us all.

Let us pray for the grace to live together, accepting one another as brothers and sisters of the same heavenly Father. 

Amen

The Trouble With Healthcare In America

 

Mass Readings and Reflection for Saturday, August 15th, 2026: Assumption Saturday

First Reading: (Revelation 11:19; 12:1–6, 10)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 45)

Response: On your right stands the queen in gold of Ophir.

Second Reading: (1 Corinthians 15:20–27)

Gospel: (Luke 1:39–56)

Reflection: 

Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The Church teaches that after her earthly life, the Blessed Virgin Mary was taken up into heaven, body and soul. As human beings, we know that death is the experience we shall all pass through. At death, the body is separated from the soul. The body decays at burial on account of sin, (Romans 8:10).

It is only at the resurrection that we shall have glorified bodies, different from our earthly bodies. As (Philippians 3:20–21), (1 John 3:2), and (1 Corinthians 15:42–44) tells us.

But in the case of the Blessed Virgin Mary, although she was a human being, she was privileged that the same body she used on earth was the same body she took into heaven. She was assumed body and soul into heaven. Her earthly body did not undergo decay.

When we teach this, some people think we are making Mary into a (g)od or comparing her with God. No, she isn't God.

There were others who received the privilege of not undergoing bodily corruption. The prophet Elijah, for example, did not even die. He was taken up into heaven by a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:1). Was he God? Not at all. It was a privilege granted to him.

There are also saints who had the gift of incorruptibility. We think of St. Bernadette Soubirous, St. John Mary Vianney, St. Catherine Labouré, St. Padre Pio, and St. Carlo Acutis (recent). These were human beings who died, but their bodies did not undergo corruption. It was a privilege granted to them by God.

There are other saints whose bodies decayed, but these ones did not. It was a privilege granted to them by God.

So why do we think Mary should not enjoy privileges granted to her by God as a human being?

The lives we are living now is itself a privilege. Others are dead. The jobs we have is a privilege. Others do not have it. The families we have, the talents we have, and the opportunities we have that others do not have are all privileges given to us by God.

So why do we think Mary should not enjoy privileges granted to her by God?

The Bible teaches us that our bodies decay on account of sin. If we teach and believe that Mary was without sin, that she was immaculately conceived, that God preserved her from the stain of original sin, and that she did not commit personal sin, then it follows that she did not have to undergo decay, just as Jesus did not decay because he did not sin.

Again, all this was a privilege granted to her by God.

For those who always seek biblical proof, where is it found in the Bible that Mary was taken up into heaven?

Some lay the claim to sola scriptura, meaning Scripture alone, and argue that if something is not explicitly in the Bible, therefore it is not true.

But Scripture itself confirms that it is limited in what it records. In (John 21:25), we are told that not everything Jesus said or did was written in the Bible. If everything had been written, the world itself could not contain all the books that would be written.

Therefore, certain things were written, but not everything.

For this reason, the Catholic Church teaches us that we should also make recourse to Sacred Tradition and to the teaching of the Magisterium, the teaching authority of the Church. They also reveal truth to us.

Jesus said:

“Many things I still have to say to you that I have not said, but when I go and the Holy Spirit comes, he will reveal to you all truth.”

The Holy Spirit continues to teach, inspire, and reveal truth.

When the Holy Spirit inspires the teaching authority of the Church, the Magisterium, and the Church teaches, Catholics receive that teaching as divinely revealed truth.

Therefore, the fact that something is not explicitly written in the Bible does not automatically mean that it is false.

Let us go back to those who claim that because something is not explicitly in the Bible, it cannot be true.

Where is it in the Bible that we should go to church on Sunday?

The Bible says, “Keep holy the Sabbath,” and the Sabbath is Saturday.

Yet Christians go to church on Sunday.

Where is the verse that explicitly says we should go to church on Sunday?

There is no such verse.

But through Sacred Tradition and the teaching of the Magisterium, Christians came to observe the day of the Lord's Resurrection. If we go back to the Acts of the Apostles, we see the early Christians beginning to honor the day of the Lord's Resurrection.

So we cannot limit ourselves simply to asking, “Where is it found in the Bible?”

The Church makes recourse to biblical passages and, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, understands and teaches the truths of the faith.

Mary's Assumption

Where does Scripture tell us explicitly that Mary was taken up into heaven body and soul?

There is no single verse that says, “Mary was assumed into heaven.”

But there are biblical passages that the Church makes recourse to and interprets in light of Sacred Tradition.

Did Mary die?

Yes, of course she died.

Because Jesus died, Mary, sharing in the earthly ministry of her Son, also certainly died.

But nowhere in Scripture do we find an explicit statement that Mary died.

Does that mean she did not die?

Of course not.

Nowhere in Scripture do we find an explicit statement that St. Joseph, the husband of Mary, died. Does that mean he did not die?

Of course not.

The fact that Scripture does not record something does not mean that the event did not happen.

Where does Scripture explicitly tell us that there are three persons in one God?

There is nowhere that the doctrine of the Holy Trinity is written in those exact words. Yet the Trinity is a truth taught to us by the Magisterium, grounded in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, and received as Christian truth.

The Church also makes recourse to the image of the Ark of the Covenant.

In (Exodus 25), God gave Moses instructions for the construction of the Ark of the Covenant. It was to be made of fine material, acacia wood, and pure gold.

The Old Testament Ark contained the covenant and the sacred things of God.

Mary can be understood as the New Testament Ark because she carried Jesus, the New Covenant between God and humanity, in her womb.

If the Old Testament Ark that contained the covenant was treated with such reverence, then Mary, who carried Christ Himself, the New Covenant, was uniquely privileged by God.

That is why she was preserved from the stain of original sin-a privilege granted to her by God.

“On Your Right Stands the Queen”

The response to today's Psalm says:

“On your right stands the queen in gold of Ophir.”

The Book of Revelation, chapter 12, depicts a woman appearing as a great sign in heaven, with a crown upon her head of twelve stars.

The Church understands this imagery in connection with the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In Luke 1, Mary herself says:

“All generations will call me blessed.”

She is full of grace, a special privilege granted to her by God.

But above all, celebrating Mary's Assumption foreshadows the resurrection of all the just.

It points us toward the destiny of every Christian who remains faithful to God.

Mary as Mother and Intercessor

The Assumption presents Mary to us as a mother and intercessor.

As we celebrate the great things that God has done for her and in her life, let us also celebrate what God has done and continues to do in our own lives.

The Preface of today's Mass beautifully expresses this mystery:

“It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, Holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Christ our Lord.”

Today the Virgin Mother of God was assumed into heaven as the beginning and image of the Church's coming to perfection and a sign of sure hope and comfort to your pilgrim people.

The Assumption of Mary is therefore not merely a celebration about Mary.

It is also a message of hope for us.

Mary's glorification points toward the destiny God desires for His faithful people.

Her Assumption reminds us that our earthly life is not the end. Death is not the final word. The resurrection awaits those who belong to Christ.

Mary stands before us as an example of what God can accomplish in a person who completely gives herself to Him.

Let us therefore imitate her faith, her humility, her obedience, her trust, and her willingness to cooperate with God's plan.

You will not allow her to see the corruption of the tomb, since from her own body she marvelously brought forth your incarnate Son, the author of all life.

Amen.

O Mary, assumed into heaven, intercede for us. 

Amen.

Mass Readings and Reflection for Friday, August 14th, 2026

First Reading: (Ezekiel 16:59–63)

Responsorial Psalm: (Isaiah 12)

Response:

Your anger turned away and you comforted me.

Gospel: (Matthew 19:3–12)

Reflection

In the Old Testament, the Jews were very accustomed to making solemn oaths or covenants. These covenants bound them to the promises they had made. God himself made covenants with Abraham, confer Genesis chapter 12, chapter 15 and chapter 17, where God promised to make him a great nation, to bless all families through him, and to give him land.

In Genesis chapter 15, we see the covenant ceremony through the blood sacrifice of animals. Each time a covenant was made, a sacrifice was made to ratify it. That is, to solemnize it. God made a covenant with Noah, with Israel, and he made a covenant with us, and he ratified it with the blood of Christ on the cross.

That is to show us the power of covenants. And in all of the covenants, God always kept his promises.

This is how serious oaths and covenants were, that the one who made them was bound by them.

We remember in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 14:1-12, King Herod swore an oath whatever his daughter asked for, he was going to give to her. Though it was rash, yet he had to keep his word.

This is the reason Psalm 116:18 says, “My vows to the Lord I will fulfill.”

No one forces you to make an oath, but if you do, you must keep it. Because in swearing oaths, we call God to be a witness, and we cannot therefore not keep it because we make God a liar. Being a witness to something that is false.

And this is the second commandment. Do not call the name of the Lord your God in vain.

I swear. I swear.

Calling God to be a witness for what you know is false.

Considering how much people fail to keep their oaths and covenants, how they joked about it, Jesus thought it were better not to swear at all. (Matthew 5: 34-37). Let your yes be yes, and let your no be no. Simple.

And the letter of James 5: 12 says the same.

In the first reading, the prophet Ezekiel says God will treat us badly for making light of an oath and breaking a covenant. While God keeps his covenants with us and renews them, we make mockery of ours. We joke about them. Saying things that we do not mean. 

This is how serious it is.

It were better not to make an oath at all than to make an oath and joke about it.

One of such covenants is marriage. When two people come to church before God and the people and make a solemn covenant, a bond of marriage, to live together as husband and wife forever till death, it is no joking matter.

Once a covenant is made, the couple must be ready to keep it. And marriage of course is a very challenging institution to say the least. We like to make vows and when things are not as we thought, we walk. That is classic of what the Gospel is talking about. 

This was to sound a strong warning to those who thought that they could make empty promises or make covenants they will not keep. 

We had better not do it at all than do it thinking and will walk out of it as we choose.

Therefore, it is an invitation, an exhortation to think carefully and choose wisely before getting into a covenant with anybody.

The insistence, therefore, is to know and understand what it entails and not be in a rush to get into it.

Better a covenant never made than a covenant made and you want to go back on your word.

And once we make our covenants to the Lord, our vows to the Lord, we must fulfill.

Amen.

Mass Readings and Reflection for Thursday, August 13th, 2026

First Reading: (Ezekiel 12:1–12)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 78)

Response: Never forget the deeds of the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation:

A new commandment I give you, says the Lord:

love one another as I have loved you.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: (Matthew 18:21–19:1)

Reflection:

Forgiveness! Forgiveness! Forgiveness! We all have have one or two things to say about this one. We also know that we often find it hard to forgive others and ourselves for several reasons.

Perhaps it is because of the kind of thing that was done to them. It could be betrayal or something more. We can find it hard to forgive one who betrayed or worse something more tragic.

It could also be because of the kind of person who did what they did. Perhaps it was a trusted friend, a spouse, or a sibling. No wonder the psalmist says, “If this had been done by an enemy, I could bear his stones. But it was done by you, someone I least expected it from.”

For that reason, some find it hard to forgive.

Some find it hard to forgive because of the number of times that the offender has consistently done it. It is not the first time, not the second, not the third, not even the fourth or the fifth. They kept doing the same thing all the time. They always did it. This time you said their cup was full, and you refuse to forgive.

Some find it hard to forgive because of how the offended felt, or still feels, as a consequence of what was done to them old time ago. They feel bitter. They feel empty. For that reason, some find it hard to forgive.

Others find it hard to forgive because the offenders have never ever apologized. Never have they said, “I am sorry for what I did.”

Perhaps if they apologized, they would have been forgiven.

Do you forgive someone who has never told you sorry for what they did?

For this reason, some find it hard to forgive.

Others find it hard to forgive because of the circumstances in which they found themselves before what was done to them. Perhaps they were desperate and needed help, but the help never came from those whom they expected it. And for that reason, they have chosen never to forgive.

If it were perhaps in an ordinary time, they would have understood. But not when they were desperate and badly needed your attention or help, and were failed.

And so on and so forth we go for plethora of reasons why some people find it hard to forgive.

Whatever the reasons may be, mind you, Jesus is not saying we should not feel hurt or feel bad. We have a right to feel hurt or to feel bad. When offended, we have every reason to be offended. We have every reason to feel sad. We have a right to express our feelings, our emotions, and disappointment.

Yet, there is also always a reason to forgive.

First, we forgive because God forgave us first. So it is a return favor.

In the parable, the king forgave the servant his debt. He expected him to show favor to his fellow servant.

“Look at you. I forgave you all that debt you owed me. Did you not also have to forgive your fellow servant?”

So we forgive because God forgave us first.

Look at the things we do to him. See how much we owe him, yet he forgives us our debt.

It is a reason, therefore, why we too must forgive others.

Do you know the kinds of things we do to God and how consistently, and even deliberately, we do them daily?

So we have no case to say, “I will not forgive because they have consistently done the same to me,” or, “I will not forgive because they deliberately did it.”

Yes, we do the same to God, yet he forgives us.

So it is a return favor.

We keep hurting God, yet he kept forgiving, and he kept no score of wrong.

We also have to forgive because it is the condition for our own forgiveness.

Forgiveness is a condition for our own forgiveness.

This is how God will refuse to forgive us if we refuse to forgive others.

And are you sure you are too good as not to need God's forgiveness?

And if the Lord were not to forgive us, who will survive?

“If you, O Lord, were to mark our guilt, Lord, who would survive?”

But you see, he forgives us.

And that is the condition we hear from the parable:

“This is how my heavenly Father will deal with each one of you if you fail to forgive your brother or your sister.”

So if we choose not to forgive, it means we are telling God directly:

“Don't forgive us as well.”

And if God does not forgive, we shall not make heaven.

This is the reason we forgive.

Jesus went through all we have been through, even worse, yet he forgave.

Forgiveness is not because the offender deserves it. We are not doing them a favor.

Rather, we are returning a favor God has done to us first.

Forgiveness is also doing Y

ourselves a favor. We are doing yourselves a favor.

Because when we forgive, indeed, we are the beneficiaries.

The true beneficiary of forgiveness is the one who forgives.

By forgiving, we choose not to let what happened bother us.

We choose to free our hearts, our minds, and our souls.

We choose peace over war.

We choose our mental health over brooding over an act for which, for all we know, we are killing ourselves, the offender is enjoying their life.

Just a little caution.

Remember, we are not God.

We may choose not to forgive them. We may choose not to act nicely towards them or to stop being supportive.

Yes.

But remember, we are not God.

We don't give them life.

So, with or without us, they will go on living their best life.

So you see, it is us hurting ourselves when we choose  unforgiveness.

Forgiveness itself is a strength, not Weakness

Forgiveness becomes easy when we first forgive ourselves and remember how we are also sinners in need of God's forgiveness.

In fact, if not for God's forgiveness, we would not be here speaking.

Who are the people we found so hard to forgive?

Open our hearts and let them go.

Who are those who have offended us?

Even if they have never told us sorry, open our hearts and let them go.

Remember, we too need forgiveness from God.

God has forgiven you and I.

It is a return favor.

Forgive others and let them go.

And if it is us who offend others, why make it hard for them to forgive us?. Sometimes, we all play a role.

Let's go to them and apologize if we had a role in anything leading to their attitude or offense towards us.

Tell them we are sorry so that it can become an easy process for them to forgive us also.

Let us pray for that grace that both offender and offended may find the path, the journey towards peace and reconciliation, towards genuine forgiveness from the heart.

That offenders may always go to the offended and tell them they are sorry, acknowledge their mistake, and ask for forgiveness.

And that the offended may always find a place in their heart to forgive those who have offended them.

Amen 🙏 

God bless you 🙏 

Mass Readings and Reflection for Wednesday August 12th 2026

First Reading: (Ezekiel 9:1–7; 10:18–22)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 11)

R. The glory of the Lord is higher than the skies.

Gospel Acclamation:

God was in Christ
to reconcile the world to himself,
and the good news of reconciliation
he has entrusted to us.

Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: (Matthew 18:15–20)

Reflection:

At mass, the prieat told a story of a young firefighter who once shared an experience that changed his life forever.

During a house fire, he entered the smoke-filled building after hearing that a little girl was still inside. He found her frightened and hiding under a bed.

Seeing her, he gently called her name, reached out his hand, and said:

“Trust me, I have come to take you home.”

The little girl slowly reached out, took his hand, and was safely brought out of the burning house.

Later, the firefighter said:

“That day, I learned that people are not saved by fear alone; they are saved when someone cares enough to go after them.”

That story beautifully reflects today's readings.

God is never indifferent when his people are in danger. He does not abandon them. He reaches out to save, to correct, and to restore.

The first reading from Ezekiel presents one of the most dramatic visions in the Bible.

Jerusalem had become filled with injustice, idolatry and corruption. God's people had repeatedly ignored his warnings.

Before judgment falls upon the city, God commands that those who remain faithful, those who grieve over sin and long for holiness, be marked on their foreheads.

They are protected because they have remained loyal to God.

Then Ezekiel witnesses another heartbreaking moment: the glory of the Lord departs from the temple.

The temple was the visible sign of God's presence among his people. Yet, because of persistent sin and refusal to repent, God's glory gradually leaves.

This vision is not merely about ancient Jerusalem. It is a warning for every generation.

God never forces himself where He is not welcomed.

Whenever selfishness, dishonesty, hatred and indifference replace love, prayer and justice, God's presence is pushed aside-not because God stops loving us, but because we close our hearts to him.

What Do We Value?

The responsorial psalm also reminds us:

“The glory of the Lord is higher than the skies.”

God's glory is greater than every human achievement, power or success.

We often chase wealth, popularity and comfort, forgetting that true glory belongs to God alone.

When we live for God's glory rather than our own, our lives become peaceful and fruitful.

Jesus Gives Us a Way to Handle Conflict

In today's Gospel, Jesus gives us a practical way of protecting God's presence within the Christian community.

He says:

“If your brother or sister sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone.”

Notice what Jesus does not encourage.

He does not encourage gossip.

He does not encourage public humiliation.

He does not encourage revenge.

His first concern is reconciliation.

His goal is not to win an argument.

His goal is to win back a brother or sister.

Speak to the Person, Not About the Person

How different our world would be if we followed this teaching of Jesus.

Today, disagreements often spread through social media, family divisions, workplace politics and church gossip.

Instead of speaking directly with the person involved, people speak to everyone else.

Relationships break apart because pride replaces humility.

Jesus invites us to become healers rather than agents of division.

He invites us to love, to focus on reconciliation, forgiveness and mercy.

As disciples of Christ, we are called to bring people back, to faith, to the family of God, and to one another.

That is our role as faithful disciples of Christ.

“Where Two or Three Are Gathered”

Jesus gives us another beautiful promise:

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”

The presence of Christ changes how we deal with one another.

If Christ is truly among us, there is no room for hatred, pride, revenge or gossip.

There must be room for mercy.

There must be room for forgiveness.

There must be room for reconciliation.

And there must always be a desire to bring the lost person home.

Like the firefighter who reached into the burning house for the frightened child, Christians are called to reach out to those who are wounded, separated,  lonely or drifting away from God's love.

Not with condemnation.

But with truth.

With love.

With patience.

And with the hand of Christ.

Amen.

Have a wonderful day 😊 

Mass Readings and Reflection On Tuesday, August 11th, 2026

First Reading: (Ezekiel 2:8–3:4)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 119)

Response:
How sweet is your promise to my tongue, O Lord.

Gospel: (Matthew 18:1–5, 10, 12–14)

Reflection

The Gospel readings these past  few days have been on point. Today's is of no exception. Childlike simplicity and greatness are contrary to what we believe in our world. We have grown up knowing that the greatest are those occupying positions of higher authority: those who call the shots, those who matter, those who are positively talked about, and the famous.

We have become accustomed to seeing the respect accorded to those in high office.

Oh, how we grew up wishing to be like them!

They even intimidate others because of their office and position. We hear it being said, “He is a big man. She is a big woman.” 

Now, the title “big man” or “big woman” is accorded to them, and respect is given to them, not necessarily for the great things they have done. It is simply for the position they occupy. Take the position they occupy from them, and that respect is gone with them as well. 

Because, yours truly, if respect and honor were to be accorded to people for what they have done and for the service they have rendered, some of our so-called “big men” or “big women” would be stripped of all their titles and positions.

We see great people being chauffeured, driven in expensive cars, and given privileged treatment. So much so that we have come to limit greatness to these external appearances only.

No wonder people fight for positions and can even kill for positions, not for service, but just for the glory attached to those positions.

But Jesus tells us that greatness is found in service rendered, not simply service received in the position occupied.

So, it is not enough to occupy a position. The question is:

How much service can be rendered?

Greatness is judged by the extent to which one makes oneself like a child, that is, to be of service, unassuming, forgetful of self, and, above all, humble.

If leaders or presidents of groups and associations were told that their responsibility was to do all the work of serving and cleaning while everyone else relaxed and ate, would anyone still want to be a leader?

Think about it.

If people were told that their office as leader or president was to do all the work while others enjoyed themselves, I wonder how many people would still vie for those positions. 

But how do we see service?

We see it as menial work and degrading to those in authority.

The executives sit and enjoy themselves and let the work be done by the ordinary members.

Yet it is precisely in that service that greatness is found and measured.

And if it is about service, a true servant is forgetful of self but ready to bring joy to others through his or her service.

In our lives and in our work, are we servants?

That is the true test of our greatness.

How much of ourselves do you give and burn out in service for others?

Not how much money we control.

Not how many people we have under us.

Not the number of decisions we can make concerning the lives of others.

We don't therefore need a position to be great.

We must not be heard or seen to be great.

The truly great people are mostly in the background, never seen, never heard, yet doing their work unnoticed and bringing joy to everyone else.

Like St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus.

In the little things, she found greatness.

Like St. Teresa of Kolkata.

In the little things, serving the poor, she found greatness.

Like our Lord Himself, Jesus Christ, humbling Himself to wash the feet of the apostles.

In that, he found greatness.

So, it is not about talking about our positions.

“Do you know who I am?”

“Do you know who you are talking to?”

We don't need to tell us who you are. Absolutely unnecessary. 

In our humility, we shall know who we are and so would the people around us.

But if we need to remind us of who we are, it means something is definitely off.

Amen

Mass Readings and Reflection on Monday, August 10th, 2026

First Reading: (2 Corinthians 9:6–10)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 112)

Response:
It goes well for the man who deals generously and lends.

Gospel: (John 12:24–26)

Reflection

Gospel reading today was brief but starting in the first reading, writing to the Corinthians in his second letter, St. Paul exhorts us to charity:

Let each one give as much as he has decided on his own initiative, not reluctantly or under compulsion, but freely, because God loves cheerful givers.

And as we give, so shall we receive from God and from others.

A person reaps only what they sow. The measure you give is the measure you receive. I am always delighted when the Gospel talks about farming or animals. It tightens my understanding beyond words for I know more about farming perhaps than anything in my life. 

That reading is encouraging us to have open hands and hearts.

For God will never let us lack because God is able to enrich us so that we always have enough and our resources will always overflow.

I am a living prove of that. Try it, too. That is the magic of Christ-like charity.

The more open-handed you are, the more God blesses you. Not necessarily the material things. 

But the moment we think we can be stingy and keep for ourselves without being ready to share, we might never have enough.

Sometimes we fear to give or share, thinking we lose.

Therefore, the temptation is to be stingy or to be selfish.

No. That is the logic of charity: the more open-handed we are, the more we receive. But the more stingy we are, the lesser we get with God.

It is in giving that we receive.

It is in losing that we gain.

That is the irony.

This is the reason Jesus says in the Gospel passage that unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains but a single grain.

But when it loses itself, when it gives all of itself, it multiplies and bears much more.

How can we apply this text to ourselves fully?

It is by asking: What is our attitude towards charity?

First, as the Church, are we still concerned about the poor?

Or do we rather exploit the poor and feed fat on them?

And when we talk about the poor, it is not only those who do not have, but even the marginalized.

Do we speak for them and do we defend them?

The Church sometimes may be silent while the poor are oppressed and the oppressors keep oppressing them.

The Church is meant to be the voice of the voiceless, to speak out.

That is charity: to speak on behalf of the marginalized.

The Church also tries to reach out to the poor through organizations and associations like the Catholic Charity in the U.S.

We have St. Vincent de Paul societies in many churches, and in some of those churches we find boxes with the label, "St. Vincent the Poor-give to the poor."

How charitable are we?

How charitable are we to give, to see that our brothers and sisters who are less privileged also have something?

As individuals, do we do charity to the needy around us?

Even to our families, are we charitable?

How about charity to God

Do we give to God?

Are we charitable to God with our time, with our energy, with our talents, with our resources, and, oh yes, even with our lives?

Can we die for God?

And can we die for the Church as Lawrence did?

We should also be charitable with our words.

Some of us, we don't have kind words for anybody. 

Anytime we are to say something about some other person, they are negative, words that can hurt or kill. If we can say anything kind to people keeping silent is the best way to go. 

By all means, we should be charitable with our words.

And talking about giving, everyone can give something including those of us who believe we have nothing to give. 

As believers, when we pray, we can pray for people we wish we could give something to them but can't afford to. Please pray for people, sincerely.

What is my attitude towards charity? How open-handed am I?

Even in our little ways, yes, there is something we too can give.

Charity is about being ready to share even from our little.

And today being the feast day of St. Lawrence, may he intercede for us, that we too may be charitable to God and to others.

Amen.

This Is Why Semiconductors Are So Global

 

Mass Readings and Reflection Sunday, August 9th, 2026

First Reading: (1 Kings 19:9, 11–13)

Responsorial Psalm: (Psalm 85)

Response:
“Let us see, O Lord, your mercy, and grant us your salvation.”

Second Reading: (Romans 9:1–5)

Gospel: (Matthew 14:22–33)

Reflection

The readings of this Sunday bring us comfort, consolation, and assurance.

When we are going through hardship and encounter difficult moments in life, we are never alone.

God comes to us.

God shows His face to us.

God brings us comfort, consolation, and assurance.

He never abandons us.

The question is:

Do we recognize Him when He comes to meet us?

Many times, when we are battered by difficult circumstances, we think or feel that God is far removed from us. We feel as though we are carrying our problems all by ourselves.

But perhaps the problem is not that God is absent.

Perhaps we simply fail to recognize His presence.

Look at the Gospel.

The disciples were in a boat in the middle of troubling waters. The wind was against them. The waves beating against the boat. They were afraid.

They were struggling.

And then Jesus came to them.

He came walking on the water.

They did not recognize Him at first. They were terrified and think they were seeing a ghost.

But Jesus immediately says:

“Take heart. It is I. Have no fear.”

Jesus came to journey with them.

He came to comfort them.

He came to assure them.

He came to rescue them.

He was there.

They will not sink.

Peter recognizes Jesus and asks to come to Him on the water.

Jesus says:

“Come.”

Peter steps out of the boat and began walking toward Jesus.

But then Peter looks at the wind.

He became afraid.

He began to sink.

And he cried:

“Lord, save me!”

What does Jesus do?

Does He abandon Peter because of his lack of faith?

No.

Jesus immediately reaches out His hand and catches him.

Even when Peter's faith becomes weak, Jesus remains faithful.

Then the first reading gave us another beautiful example.

Elijah was afraid. His life was being threatened by the wicked Queen Jezebel, and he fled to Horeb seeking refuge.

He was in a difficult moment.

He felt alone.

He was frightened.

Yet God comes to meet him.

There was a powerful wind.

But God was not in the wind.

There was an earthquake.

But God was not in the earthquake.

There was a fire.

But God was not in the fire.

Then comes a still, small voice.

A gentle whisper.

And Elijah recognizes the presence of God.

God did not need to arrive with thunder and spectacle.

He came quietly.

He came gently.

And in that quiet presence, Elijah received assurance:

“You are not alone. I am here with you.”

Where is God in your/ my storm? The same thing happens in our lives.

When we experience difficult moments, we often ask:

“Where is God?”

But perhaps the better question is:

“Can I recognize God in the middle of my storm?”

When friends fail you...

When your business fails..

When job fails..

When you do not succeed academically...

When sleep eludes you...

Health failure 

When society laughs at you or shames you...

When you are misunderstood, misinterpreted, or unappreciated...

When you feel discouraged or stressed...

When you are experiencing pain and frustration...

When your weaknesses and sins become the subject of laughter and mockery...

When you encounter sickness...

When death comes...

God comes to meet us.

And He tells you:

“Courage. It is I. Do not be afraid.”

The question is:

Do we recognize Him?

God is there, even when we cannot feel his presence. 

Sometimes we pray and hope that things will turn out positively, but they do not turn out the way we expected.

We ask God to change our circumstances.

We ask Him to remove the suffering.

We ask Him to take away the cross.

And when nothing changes, we may begin to think that God has abandoned us.

But God's presence does not depend upon our circumstances changing.

He remains with us even when the storm continues.

We are human beings with limited understanding. We cannot fully understand God's ways with our limited minds.

There are moments when we may feel that God has allowed us to undergo pain, suffering, and the cross.

We may even cry out, as Jesus did on the cross:

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Yet even in that moment, God is there.

He was there for the disciples.

He was there for Elijah.

He was there for Paul.

And He is there for us.

Look for God's face. How, then, do we recognize God?

The readings remind us that God can reveal Himself in unexpected ways.

He came to the disciples walking on the water.

He came to Elijah through a gentle breeze and a quiet voice.

God can even reveal His presence through nature.

But He can also reveal His face to us through other people.

Therefore, we must be careful not to disregard the people God sends into our lives.

We may never know whom God is using to show His face to us.

Sometimes the person who encourages us, helps us, listens to us, forgives us, or simply stays beside us during a difficult moment may be an instrument through which God is reminding us:

“You are not alone.”

Do not be afraid, let us pray for the grace to recognize God's presence despite the difficulties we experience.

Let us never conclude that God has abandoned us simply because life has become difficult.

He is there.

He accompanies us.

He journeys with us.

He reaches out His hand when we begin to sink.

And when the storms of life become overwhelming, He says:

“Take heart. It is I. Have no fear.”

So, whatever storm we may be facing today, remember:

We are not alone.

Whatever battle we may be fighting:

We are not alone.

Whatever pain we might be carrying:

We are never alone.

Whatever uncertainty lies before us:

We are never alone.

God comes to meet us in our difficult moments.

May we have the eyes to recognize Him, the faith to trust Him, and the courage to reach for His hand.

And when we feel ourselves sinking, may we have the humility to cry out:

“Lord, save me!”

And may we always remember that His hand is already reaching toward us.

Courage. It is He. Do not be afraid.

Amen.

God bless you

Happy Sunday