August 16, 2026 Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Gospel: Matthew 15:21-28
Today is the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The Gospel passage from Saint Matthew presents Jesus’ dialogue with a Canaanite woman in the region of Tyre and Sidon. I would like to offer some reflections on this text.
First, Matthew tells us that Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon (cf. Matt 15:21). He clearly enters a Gentile territory, among people living outside the covenant. As I write these reflections, I am reminded of the present state of our Church. Today, the Church coexists with a secularized society. By “secularized society,” I mean a world that views all things not according to the worldview, values, and anthropology that Jesus came to establish for this passing world, but according to the mindset of this world which is passing away. Similarly, within our own Church, we often encounter “secularized” thinking. Such thinking within the Church seeks to handle various internal affairs according to the principles of the “children of this world,” rather than according to the Gospel. This mindset often undermines ecclesial communion and sows the seeds of schism within the Church which Christ founded upon the Apostle Peter.
Next, Matthew presents a woman crying out after Jesus: “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon” (cf. Matt 15:22). Mark, describing this woman, identifies her as a Greek, of Syro-Phoenician origin (cf. Mark 7:26). Neither Evangelist tells us how she came to know of Jesus. Perhaps she heard of His power to heal diseases and cast out demons from the people of Capernaum—His center for ministry—knowing that Capernaum was a semi-Gentile region.
Furthermore, Matthew tells us that Jesus initially did not respond to her plea, and even the disciples urged Him to send her away (cf. Matt 15:23-24). In some parishes where I have served, I have often seen sacristans or altar servers preventing the faithful—especially those who have been absent from Mass for a long time—from approaching the priest for Confession, arguing that the priest is too busy. A similar scene unfolds in our own prayer: we cry out to God with longing, and He seems not to answer. In such moments, like those turned away, we grow discouraged, thinking God no longer loves us, that He is withdrawing His Spirit and handing us over to death. Yet, this is precisely an opportunity to exercise our faith. For God permits us to endure a measure of suffering and trial so that we might be justified by faith.
Finally, Matthew recounts the dialogue between the woman and Jesus (cf. Matt 15:25-28). Here we see the image of the Church as a tender Mother. When Mother Church sees her children bound by the devil and the powers of the netherworld, she acts like a loving mother, interceding for her children trapped in sin. In this maternal intercession and in the Canaanite woman, we observe five virtuous dispositions: (1) Humility: “Even the dogs under the table eat the children’s scraps.” (2) Patience: She patiently bore what seemed to be the Savior’s rebuke. (3) Supplication: “Lord, have mercy on me.” (4) Perseverance: She persisted in prayer until she received what she desired. (5) Faith: “O woman, great is your faith!” (cf. Matt 15:28). If we possess these five virtues, we shall be freed from every demonic influence and delivered from all sin. May the Lord grant us this grace. (cf. Sermo IV: Anima peccati, St. Thomas Aquinas).
Today, the daughter of this Syro-Phoenician woman was healed by her mother’s faith. Likewise, let us, with unwavering trust in the Divine Word, bring before Jesus those who await His mercy. May He recognize in our prayers for them the faith we have in Him, the charity we bear for our neighbor, and the hope we place in His abundant compassion. According to His mercy, may He free those for whom we intercede—those we bring before Him—from the bonds of sin and death, restoring them to the freedom of the children of God.
O God, who have prepared for those who love you good things which no eye can see, fill our hearts, we pray, with the warmth of your love, so that, loving you in all things and above all things, we may attain your promises, which surpass every human desire. 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
August 15, 2026 Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Mass during the Day) Gospel: Lk 1:39-56
Today the Church celebrates the Mass during the Day for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Solemnity of the Assumption is, in many ways, the preeminent feast of Our Lady, as it commemorates her passing, body and soul, into the glory of heaven, where she stands beside her Son clothed in golden vesture. Though the dogma of the Assumption was only defined in 1950, it was widely held by the earliest Christians. The Blessed Virgin truly leads the way; she fulfilled her vocation in humility, and, because of her Immaculate Conception, the tomb was not fitting for her body. Where she is now, we hope one day to be.
The Gospel for today’s Mass during the Day is drawn from one of the most beautiful passages in the Gospel according to Luke. I would like to take this opportunity to offer some reflections.
From Luke’s account we see that, after learning from the Angel Gabriel that her kinswoman Elizabeth had conceived a son in her old age (cf. Lk 1:36-37), the Blessed Virgin Mary set out immediately for the house of Zechariah (cf. Lk 1:39-40). Her greeting to Elizabeth was twofold. As I noted in last year’s reflection for the Solemnity of the Assumption, both the blessing of Mary and the blessing of Jesus came upon the house of Zechariah together: the infant Jesus in Mary’s womb blessed His forerunner John the Baptist and the entire household of Zechariah. She bore not only her own greeting, but also the greeting of Jesus. She greeted not only Elizabeth, but also John the Baptist in Elizabeth’s womb. So much so that Elizabeth spoke those stirring words: “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who believed that what was spoken to her by the Lord would be fulfilled.” (cf. Lk 1:42-43)
We see in the words and deeds of the Blessed Virgin Mary her profound humility: she did not presume upon her dignity as the Mother of the Son of God but called herself the “handmaid of the Lord” (cf. Lk 1:46-48), thus setting an example for us. Therefore, on this Solemnity of the Assumption, let us imitate the Blessed Virgin and humbly offer this prayer to God:
Almighty ever-living God, who assumed the Immaculate Virgin Mary, the Mother of your Son, body and soul into heavenly glory, grant, we pray, that, always attentive to the things that are above, we may merit to be sharers of her glory. 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.
August 14, 2026 Vigil Mass of the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Gospel: Lk 11:27-28
Today is Friday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time. This evening, the Church celebrates the Vigil Mass of the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The recently published Roman Missal reminds us: The Solemnity of the Assumption is, in many ways, the preeminent feast of Our Lady, as it commemorates her passing, body and soul, into the glory of heaven, where she stands beside her Son clothed in golden vesture. Though the dogma of the Assumption was only defined in 1950, it was widely held by the earliest Christians. The Blessed Virgin truly leads the way; she fulfilled her vocation in humility, and, by reason of her Immaculate Conception, the tomb was not fitting for her body. Where she is now, we hope one day to be.
The Gospel for this evening’s Vigil Mass is taken from the holy Gospel according to Luke. I would like to take this opportunity to offer some reflections.
In our daily lives, we often hear the saying: “A mother is honored by her son.” This means that if a woman’s son accomplishes something extraordinary in the world, the mother who bore him must surely be great.
In today’s Gospel, we hear a woman cry out: “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed!” (cf. Lk 11:27). In what context was this said? Saint Luke tells us: It was while Jesus was speaking. What was He speaking about? He was teaching the crowds in parables. Who is this woman? She is a figure of the Church. For the Church, seeing God’s salvation in the words of Jesus and moved by the Holy Spirit, praises the Blessed Virgin Mary, who conceived and nurtured Jesus.
The Blessed Virgin Mary, from the moment she received the Annunciation from the Angel Gabriel and humbly assented to God’s plan, saying: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (cf. Lk 1:38); after the Savior’s birth, fled into Egypt with her spouse, Saint Joseph; and after the death of Herod, dwelt with Saint Joseph and Jesus in Nazareth; she observed the Law of Moses, presenting Jesus in the Temple on the eighth day, where Simeon prophesied concerning her destiny and that of the Infant Jesus (cf. Lk 2:21-38). When Jesus reached the age of twelve, she once lost Him; upon returning to Jerusalem and finding Him in the Temple, she expressed her maternal care and treasured His words in her heart (cf. Lk 2:41-52). At the wedding feast at Cana, perceiving that the wine had run out, she prayed to her Son with firm faith: “They have no wine” (cf. Jn 2:1-12), thus moving Jesus to perform His first miracle, changing water into wine. As Jesus preached the Gospel to the multitudes, His Mother remained close by (cf. Mt 12:46-50), standing by Him even until His death upon the Cross (cf. Jn 19:25-27). After Jesus’ Ascension, she accompanied His Church through her prayer (cf. Acts 1:14), thereby leaving us a perfect example to follow.
This evening, let us imitate the Blessed Virgin Mary and humbly offer our prayer to God:
O God, who, looking on the lowliness of the Blessed Virgin Mary, raised her to this grace, that your Only Begotten Son was born of her according to the flesh and that she was crowned this day with surpassing glory, grant through her prayers, that, saved by the mystery of your redemption, we may merit to be exalted by you on high. 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.
今天是常年期第十九周星期五。教會在今天日間舉行聖國柏司鐸殉道的紀念日。最近出版的彌撒經書告訴我們：聖國柏（1894–1941年）是方濟各住院會會士（Conventual Franciscan priest）和殉道者，出生于波蘭羅茲附近。從小就對榮福童貞聖母瑪利亞懷有深厚的虔誠之心，聖母在他小時在神視中向他顯現，他成立聖母騎士團（Militia of the Immaculata）以此推動對榮福童貞聖母瑪利亞的敬禮，他在波蘭的聶波穆克（Niepokalanów）和日本的長崎（Nagasaki）建立了修院。終遭納粹囚於奧斯維辛集中營（Auschwitz），自願代一被判死刑的父親赴死。聖若望保祿二世於1982年將其冊封聖人，並立為“苦難二十世紀”的主保。
今天是常年期第十九周星期五。教会在今天日间举行圣国柏司铎殉道的纪念日。最近出版的弥撒经书告诉我们：圣国柏（1894–1941年）是方济各住院会会士（Conventual Franciscan priest）和殉道者，出生于波兰罗兹附近。从小就对荣福童贞圣母玛利亚怀有深厚的虔诚之心，圣母在他小时在神视中向他显现，他成立圣母骑士团（Militia of the Immaculata）以此推动对荣福童贞圣母玛利亚的敬礼，他在波兰的聂波穆克（Niepokalanów）和日本的长崎（Nagasaki）建立了修院。终遭纳粹囚于奥斯维辛集中营（Auschwitz），自愿代一被判死刑的父亲赴死。圣若望保禄二世于1982年将其册封圣人，并立为“苦难二十世纪”的主保。
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