A Jesuit Adventure

  19 July Wisdom 12:13, 16-19 ; Romans 8:26-27 , Matthew 13:24-43   Have you ever asked, "Why doesn't God remove all evil?" or "Is God really listening to my prayers?" Today's readings on the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A answer both questions by revealing a God who is patient, merciful, and always at work through His Spirit. The Book of Wisdom was written around the first century BC for Jews living in Alexandria, Egypt, who were surrounded by Greek culture and beliefs. The author reminds them that the God of Israel is unlike any other god. He is the one true God who cares for all people and governs the world with both justice and mercy. In today's reading, we discover a beautiful truth about God: His power is revealed not through harsh punishment but through patient love. Unlike human rulers who often use power to control others, God uses His strength to show mercy. Because God is all-powerful, He does not need to prove His power throu...

  12 July Isaiah 55:10-11 ; Romans 8:18-23 , Matthew 13:1-23   My dear friends today we celebrate the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A. Today's readings invite us to reflect on the quiet but powerful work of God's word in our lives and the kind of hearts we offer to receive it. If you have ever felt like giving up, then today's first reading from Isaiah is meant for you. This passage was written towards the end of the Babylonian exile, when the people of Israel were preparing to return home after many years of suffering and uncertainty. They wondered whether God's promises would really come true. Into their doubts, the prophet Isaiah reminds them that God's word is always trustworthy and effective. Isaiah uses a beautiful image from nature. He says that just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it fruitful and giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so God's word never returns empty. Rain ...

5 July Zechariah 9:9-10 ; Romans 8:9, 11-13 ; Matthew 11:25-30 My dear friends today we celebrate the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A. The readings of today invite us to discover a God who comes to us not with power or force, but with humility, gentleness, and love. They also challenge us to lay down the burdens we place on ourselves and to find true freedom by allowing Christ to lead our lives through His Spirit. The prophet Zechariah ministered to the people of Judah after they returned from exile in Babylon. Although they had come back to their homeland, life was still difficult. Into this situation, Zechariah gave a message of hope: "Your king is coming to you." This promised King is very different from the rulers of the world. Earthly kings usually display power through armies, horses, and weapons. But Zechariah describes a King who is righteous, victorious, and humble, riding on a donkey instead of a war horse. The donkey is a sign that He comes in peace,...

 My dear friends today we celebrate the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A. Today’s readings invite us to reflect on a powerful truth: when we make space for God in our lives and place Him first, He transforms the way we live and the way we love. From simple acts of hospitality to radical surrender, we are called to a deeper, freer love rooted in Christ. The first reading taken from the book of 2 Kings unfolds during the ministry of the prophet Elisha in the 9th century BC, a time when Israel was spiritually unstable, and prophets served as signs of God’s living presence among the people. As Elisha travelled from place to place, a woman from Shunem recognized something others might have missed—she saw in him a “holy man of God.” Her response is very surprising. She does not offer a one-time act of kindness but creates a space for him—a small room where he can rest whenever he passes by. Her hospitality is intentional, generous, and rooted in faith. She didn’t just welcome El...

 My dear friends, today we celebrate the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A. Today’s readings speak to a very real human experience—fear, rejection, and feeling alone in our struggles. Yet, they also remind us that in the midst fear, God stands with us, calling us to trust Him and live with courage. The prophet Jeremiah lived in the late 7th and early 6th century BC, during a time when Babylon was rising, and Judah was in danger. His message warned the people that judgment was coming, so many leaders and neighbors rejected him and treated him as a troublemaker. The first reading comes from such a time of public shame, fear, and deep inner struggle. Jeremiah hears people whispering against him, waiting for him to fail. Even his close friends are watching for him to stumble. Jeremiah feels surrounded by fear and betrayal. Yet, in the middle of this fear, Jeremiah declares, “But the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior.” Faith is not the absence of fear, but trust in the middle o...

 My dear friends today we celebrate the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A. Today’s readings remind us that God does not just save us—He calls us into a relationship and sends us on a mission. From being loved in our weakness to being moved with compassion for others, we are invited to become instruments of His grace in the world. The first reading taken from the book of Exodus comes at a very important moment in Israel’s history. The people have been freed from slavery in Egypt and are now in the wilderness at Mount Sinai. This is not just a stop in their journey—it is a turning point where God forms them into a people with a mission. God begins not with commands, but with a reminder: “I carried you on eagle’s wings and brought you to myself.” Like an eagle that lifts its young above danger, God has protected and guided Israel. Their story is rooted not in their strength, but in God’s faithful love. Then comes an invitation, not a demand: “If you obey my voice and keep my cov...