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Homily 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A I Homily 16 August 2026 Year A

  16 Aug Isaiah 56:1, 6-7 ; Romans 11:13-15, 29-32 ; Matthew 15:21-28   My dear friends today we celebrate the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A. Today’s readings remind us that God’s mercy has no boundaries and His love leaves no one outside—but learning to trust that mercy often requires us to cross the boundaries we have built in our own hearts. The first reading taken from the prophet Isaiah comes from the period after the Babylonian exile, when the Israelites had returned to Jerusalem and were trying to rebuild their community and identity. Having suffered so much, there was a temptation to protect themselves by keeping outsiders at a distance. But Isaiah presents a different vision of God’s people. God says, “Maintain justice and do what is right.” He then makes an extraordinary promise: foreigners who love the Lord and keep his covenant will be welcomed into his house. Their offerings will be accepted, and God’s house will be called “a house of prayer for a...
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Homily 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A I Homily 9 August 2026 Year A

  9 Aug 1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a , Romans 9:1-5 , Matthew 14:22-33   My dear friends today we celebrate the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A. Today's readings invite us to listen for God's gentle voice and trust His presence even when the waves around us seem overwhelming. After his great victory over the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, Elijah expected Israel to return to God. Instead, Queen Jezebel threatened to kill him. Afraid and exhausted, Elijah fled into the wilderness and finally reached Mount Horeb (Sinai), the mountain where God had once revealed Himself to Moses. Elijah hid in a cave, discouraged and convinced that his mission had failed. It was there that God chose to meet him in an unexpected way. God told Elijah to stand on the mountain. A powerful wind tore through the rocks, then came an earthquake, and then a fire. These dramatic signs often symbolized God's presence in the Old Testament. Yet, the Lord was not in any of them. Finally, Elijah h...
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Homily 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A I Homily 2 August 2026 Year A

  2 Aug Isaiah 55:1-3 ; Romans 8:35, 37-39 ; Matthew 14:13-21   We all experience moments when our resources seem too small for the challenges before us. The readings on t he Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A invite us to trust in God's abundant generosity, His unfailing love, and His power to multiply whatever we place in His hands. The first reading taken from the prophet Isaiah gives us one of the most beautiful invitations in the Bible. The prophet speaks to the people of Israel who were returning from exile in Babylon. They had experienced loss, disappointment, and uncertainty. Through Isaiah, God invites them to begin again. Instead of condemning them for their failures, God calls them with tenderness: "Come, everyone who thirsts The images of water, wine, and milk symbolize the abundant blessings that God freely offers—life, joy, nourishment, and satisfaction. The people are invited to receive these gifts "without money and without price." This ...
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Homily 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A I Homily 26 July 2026 Year A

26 July 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12 ; Romans 8:28-30 ; Matthew 13:44-52   Many people spend their lives searching for success, security, or happiness, believing that one more achievement or possession will finally satisfy them. On this Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A, the readings invite us to ask a deeper question: What is the greatest treasure we are truly seeking? After the death of King David, Solomon became king of Israel. He was young and inexperienced, and his rise to the throne had not been without political tension. God invited Solomon with an extraordinary question: "Ask what I should give you." Instead of asking for wealth, a long life, or victory over his enemies, Solomon admitted his limitations. He described himself as "only a little child," not because of his age but because he recognized that leadership was beyond his own abilities. His request was unique: he asked for "a listening heart" (Hebrew: lev shomea ). Many English transla...
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Homily 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A I Homily 19 July 2026 Year A

  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...
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Homily 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A I Homily 12 July 2026 Year A

  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 ...
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Homily 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A I Homily 5 July 2026 Year A

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,...
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