July 28, 2026 Tuesday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time Gospel: Matthew 13:36-43
Today is Tuesday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time. The passage from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew continues with Jesus’ parable of the Sower. Let us continue our reflection.
Like the disciples who came to Jesus and asked Him to explain the parable of the Sower (cf. Matthew 13:36), we too can fail to understand the parables spoken by Jesus. The reason they could not understand this parable is that although they were willing to accept the Kingdom of God proclaimed by Jesus, their fixed patterns of thought still conformed to this world—a world whose worldview, philosophy of life, and values are incompatible with those firmly believed and embraced by the Church. Therefore, they could not comprehend it.
Commenting on this passage, St. John Chrysostom said: In order to make the meaning clearer, Jesus said, “This is why I speak to them in parables, because they look but do not see…” If this were natural blindness, the Lord would have healed it long ago. But this is a blindness of their own choosing. They witnessed miracles with their own eyes, yet claimed they were done by the prince of demons; they heard the truth with their own ears, yet refused to listen. Therefore, although the Lord spoke plainly at first, and it was they who distorted His words, He now speaks in parables to prevent them from accusing Him of deliberate slander. (cf. Catena Aurea: Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew by St. Thomas Aquinas)
Today, within our Church, there are often brothers and sisters like this. Although they come to church to participate in the Mass and frequently listen to the Holy Word of God and read the spiritual books published by the Church, they do not interpret the Holy Word they hear during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with the eyes of faith. Even less are they willing to obey the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and, using physical eyes, understand the Holy Word with which God, in His providence and according to their capacity, inspires them in the Church’s publications. To them, the Holy Word of God is simply incomprehensible. Even when the shepherds of the Church explain it to them, they refuse to listen, because they are unwilling to open their hearts to the Holy Word, to open the eyes of their faith, and to unstop the ears of their faith, so that the soul dwelling within their perishable body may hear the Holy Word, understand the holy will of God, and be converted.
May we all become good soil capable of receiving the Holy Word of God, so that the seed of the Holy Word sown in our hearts by God may take root in the soil of our hearts, and we may live out the spirit of the Holy Word. Thus, through our remarkable transformation, the people of the world may see the beauty of humanity as created by God and also accept the Holy Word of God that has already taken root in our hearts, so that this imperfect world may, through the acceptance of the Holy Word, recover the beauty it possessed when God first created it.
O God, protector of those who hope in you, without whom nothing has firm foundation, nothing is holy, bestow in abundance your mercy upon us and grant that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may use the good things that pass in such a way as to hold fast even now to those that ever endure. 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
July 27, 2026 Monday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time Gospel: Matthew 13:31-35
Today is Monday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time. The passage from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew continues with Jesus’ parables about the Kingdom of Heaven. Let us continue our reflection.
First, Jesus says: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches” (cf. Matthew 13:31-32). The seed of the Kingdom of God mentioned by Jesus is His Holy Word. His Holy Word seems extremely small in the world, and very few people hear it. However, for those who listen to the Holy Word of God and act according to the teachings of the Savior, this Holy Word sprouts and grows in their hearts. The Holy Spirit Himself waters them, enabling it to continually grow in this world, thus forming the Kingdom of God which coexists with the world. When people are in the church, they can clearly see that those who come and go in the church contemplate God there, find ways to draw near to Him, and converse with Him. At that time, the church is like the large bush mentioned in the Gospel, welcoming all who seek the Holy Word of God.
Next, Jesus says: “The Kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened” (cf. Matthew 13:33). This fully demonstrates the relationship between Christians and the world. In this perishable world, Christians are often a minority. Those who, guided by the Holy Spirit, correctly understand the Holy Word of God are like the yeast that leavens the dough. Following the guidance of the Holy Spirit and in the manner, He shows them, they manifest God’s mercy and compassion to the world. Those who, moved by their preaching, resolve to receive the Baptism of Christ and the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and who resolve to remain always in communion with the Successor of the Apostle Peter, and even more so with the Successors of the Apostles who are in communion with him, are like the leavened dough, transformed by the Holy Word of God.
Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord! We have all received the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ and belong to Him. Therefore, let us follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In our daily lives, let us actively embrace and welcome those who interact with us, just as the mustard tree welcomes the birds of the sky to rest on its branches. Like yeast, let us become a catalyst for the harmonious coexistence of all humanity, so that through all that we do, people of the world may, together with us, courageously renounce all their selfish desires and disordered passions, entrust themselves to God, dedicate their lives, generously fulfill the holy will of God, and accomplish the vocation bestowed upon each of them by God.
O God, protector of those who hope in you, without whom nothing has firm foundation, nothing is holy, bestow in abundance your mercy upon us and grant that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may use the good things that pass in such a way as to hold fast even now to those that ever endure. 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
July 26, 2026 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time Gospel: Matthew 13:44-52
Today is the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time. The passage from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew presents us with three parables spoken by Jesus. I would like to take this opportunity to offer some reflections.
First, Jesus says: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field” (cf. Matthew 13:44). Clearly, Jesus wants to reveal to us a set of values different from those followed by the people of today. The values of the world are a culture of instant gratification, where people crave to accumulate more possessions in this passing world, because in their eyes, these accumulated possessions can bring them a greater sense of security. However, Jesus asks us not to store up more treasures in this perishable world. Instead, guided by the inspiration and light of the Holy Spirit, we are to recognize the hidden Kingdom of Heaven—a Kingdom composed of a God who loves humanity and humans who are loved by God.
Next, Jesus says: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls” (cf. Matthew 13:45). This reminds me of the world we live in today. People living in this changing world often seek various kinds of wisdom from perishable human beings. Human wisdom can make people good, but it can also lead them to evil. Jesus uses pearls as a metaphor for the wisdom of the Kingdom. The wisdom of the Kingdom always leads people to every good, restoring the beauty of those who have become disfigured by sin to the original beauty of humanity created by God in His own image.
Finally, Jesus says: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind” (cf. Matthew 13:47). This brings to mind the Catholicity (universality) of the Church. We know that a net can hold everything; it gathers fish as well as all kinds of weeds and mud. Similarly, in the beginning, our Church was composed only of Jews. But with the impetus of the Holy Spirit, Gentiles began to appear in our midst. Furthermore, as the Holy Spirit continued to guide, the Church gradually expanded throughout the world. It embraces people of all professions, languages, skin colors, living environments, and educational backgrounds. Yet, they remain in communion with the Successor of the Apostle Peter, as well as with the Successors of the Apostles who are in communion with him. When we come to church, we can witness this Catholicity.
O God, protector of those who hope in you, without whom nothing has firm foundation, nothing is holy, bestow in abundance your mercy upon us and grant that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may use the good things that pass in such a way as to hold fast even now to those that ever endure. 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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