23 September 2026 Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio) Gospel: Luke 9:1–6
Today is Wednesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time. The Church celebrates the Memorial of Saint Pius. As the recently published Roman Missal recounts: Saint Pius (1887–1968), better known as Padre Pio, was born in Pietrelcina, Campania, Italy, and joined the Capuchin community at Marcone. Ordained to the priesthood in 1910, he moved six years later to San Giovanni Rotondo on the Gargano peninsula. Bearing the marks of Christ’s Passion on his body—known as the stigmata—he became renowned for his ministry in the confessional, spiritual direction, and the miracles wrought through him. In 1956, he founded the “Home to Relieve Suffering” adjacent to his friary. Despite his widespread devotion among the faithful, he faced considerable opposition, even from Church authorities. He was canonized in 2002.
Today, the passage from the Gospel of Saint Luke sets before us the Lord’s instruction to his first disciples. Let us reflect on this reading.
First, Luke tells us: Jesus summoned the Twelve Apostles and gave them authority and power over all demons, and to cure diseases. (cf. Luke 9:1)
We know that Israel was composed of twelve tribes. In the same way, Jesus called twelve disciples and sent them to the twelve tribes of Israel. He gave them authority to overcome all the forces of evil. What are these “demons”? They are the things that hinder us from knowing God and drawing near to him: money, wealth, fame, social status, every form of vanity, and all the ideologies that hold us captive.
Beyond this, Jesus sent his disciples to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. (cf. Luke 9:2) Clearly, this is the mission every Christian is called to fulfil throughout our lives. We are called to imitate Saint Pius, who bore the five wounds of Christ, by embracing a life of evangelical poverty, and thus proclaim to the world the reign of God that Jesus preached. In this way, the souls of those who live under the power of evil will no longer be like lepers covered in the sores of sin but will be filled instead with every grace God bestows.
Almighty ever-living God, who, by a singular grace, gave the Priest Saint Pio a share in the Cross of your Son and, by means of his ministry, renewed the wonders of your mercy, grant that through his intercession we may be united constantly to the sufferings of Christ, and so brought happily to the glory of the resurrection. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
22 September 2026 Tuesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time Gospel: Luke 8:19–21
Today is Tuesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time. The passage from the Gospel of Saint Luke presents us with an encounter in time and space between two groups belonging to distinct realms. I would like to offer some reflections on this reading.
First, Luke tells us: Jesus’ mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. (cf. Luke 8:19) The Evangelist wishes to show us that Mary, the Virgin Mother from Nazareth, and his brothers, having heard reports of all Jesus was doing in Capernaum, thought he was out of his mind and sought to restrain him. (cf. Mark 3:21) This mirrors the very situation faced by Christians living in this passing world today. For we too are constantly challenged by the secular powers: the ruler of this age and his agents often entangle us in the bonds of kinship, directing our energies toward the familial love we share with our parents and family, rather than fixing the heart of our faith on our relationship with God.
Today, Jesus declares: “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.” (cf. Luke 8:21) It is easy to take these words literally, assuming Jesus means: “I do not recognize my mother, nor do I recognize my brothers.” The reality is quite the opposite. Our Lord Christ, rich in mercy, uses this veiled expression to extol his beloved Mother. The Blessed and Most Holy Virgin, when told by the Angel that she was to become the Mother of God, humbly replied: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (cf. Luke 1:26–38) After Jesus’ birth, through her intercession, he performed his first sign at Cana in Galilee, as recorded in the Gospel of John. (cf. John 2:1–12) He wishes to teach us that only by genuinely receiving the Kingdom he proclaims, and living out his word with sincere hearts, can we avoid living like the people of Nazareth. For then, though we dwell in this passing world, we foretaste the joys of the Kingdom of Heaven. We will no longer follow the desires of the flesh, but will be led by the Holy Spirit, setting our minds on the things of the Spirit. Imitating the Mother of God, we will do the will of the Father in all things, and thus truly become his brothers, sisters, and mother.
O God, who founded all the commands of your sacred Law upon love of you and of our neighbor, grant that, by keeping your precepts, we may merit to attain eternal life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever
21 September 2026 Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle Gospel: Matthew 9:9–13
Today is Monday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time. The Church celebrates the Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle. As the recently published Roman Missal recounts: Saint Matthew (1st century), also called Levi, was the son of Alphaeus. When he encountered Jesus in Capernaum, he was working as a tax collector for the Romans — a profession held in deep contempt at the time. Yet Jesus Christ called him to be an Apostle. After the Ascension, he likely travelled to Persia or Ethiopia to preach the Gospel; wherever he went, he ultimately gave his life for the faith. The Gospel written by Saint Matthew stands first in the New Testament, and his name is listed among the other Apostles in the prayers of the Roman Canon.
Today, Saint Matthew the Evangelist uses the very Gospel he wrote to offer us his own account of his vocation. I would like to share some reflections on this reading.
First, Matthew tells us: At that time, as Jesus passed through Capernaum, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. He said to him, “Follow me.” And Matthew got up and followed him. (cf. Matthew 9:9)
Here we meet that familiar place — Capernaum. A village of fishermen and farmers, Capernaum stretched roughly 300 meters along the western shore of Lake Gennesaret (Galilee). Galilee was home to many people the Israelites regarded as “half-Gentile”, since their lineage was a mix of many peoples. They were seen as people living in darkness and ignorance. After Jesus began his public ministry, Capernaum became the center of his work. In his theological reflection, Matthew interprets this change of residence — a seemingly insignificant detail — as the fulfilment of prophecy: “The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light; on those who sat in the region and shadow of death, light has dawned.” (cf. Matthew 4:16) The first to receive Jesus’ light and choosing were not the “pure-blooded” Jews, but those who were rejected and cast out. Matthew was one of them. He was ostracized because he was a tax collector. In the Roman Republic and later the Empire, tax collectors were public officials: they supplied provisions to Roman legions, oversaw port duties, supervised public works, and contracted to collect provincial taxes for Rome. By the New Testament era, local people knew them chiefly as revenue agents. They were regarded as open sinners: not only did they betray their fellow countrymen’s interests, but they also extorted more than Rome required and kept the surplus for themselves.
Today, Jesus approaches Matthew unprompted. He does not use eloquent words to win him over — he simply says, “Follow me!” At this call, Matthew immediately leaves everything behind to follow him. His choice to follow Jesus was, in part, because Jesus was a fellow Jew. Given his long-standing isolation from his own people, seeing a Jewish man come to him with an invitation moved him to resolutely surrender all he had and walk with Jesus, setting us a clear example to follow.
Jesus extends this same invitation to us today. He has a special closeness to those who, like Matthew, are isolated or marginalized by society. He went to Matthew’s house and ate with him, drawing many tax collectors and sinners to himself in the process. (cf. Matthew 9:10) From this we can draw a clear conclusion: no Christian can live the life of faith alone in the Church. We need to regularly receive the Body and Blood of Christ, to nourish our souls and deepen our communion with the Word of God. In this way, when we face trials in life — especially in our faith journey — we can remain unafraid. For in those moments, our Lord Jesus Christ is with us. We know that wherever Jesus Christ and his Gospel are proclaimed, the devil and all the powers of the Antichrist are driven out.
O God, who with untold mercy were pleased to choose as an Apostle Saint Matthew, the tax collector, grant that, sustained by his example and intercession, we may merit to hold firm in following you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
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