June 21, 2026 Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time Gospel: Mt 10:26-33
Today is the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The Gospel passage taken from the Gospel according to Saint Matthew gives us the Lord’s teaching concerning the proclamation of the Christian faith. I wish to take this opportunity to offer some reflections.
In our daily lives, we constantly interact with others. Among those with whom we associate are some who have received a fine education. For instance, during our years of study, our teachers—who imparted to us various skills and abilities for survival—were like bright lamps on our life’s journey, enabling us to subsist in this shifting world of change. Likewise, when we gather as families, our relatives—bound to us by ties of flesh and blood—often care for us deeply, showing concern in ways they deem fitting. Similarly, when we enter the workplace, we frequently interact with our colleagues and superiors. When dealing with them, we often speak many flattering words, and even when we see them perhaps going astray, we refrain from correcting them, for we are unwilling to provoke greater trouble by doing so. Whenever such thoughts arise, we fall into the snares of the devil, for the devil speaks only pleasing words, deceiving others and hindering them from coming to Christ.
Today, Jesus encourages us: “What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops” (cf. Mt 10:27). He invites us to boldly proclaim the true doctrine to the world. Even should we encounter opposition from the world and face considerable resistance, we must still proclaim, for where the Gospel reaches, the devil and his powers are utterly unable to withstand it.
But how ought we to proclaim? If we continue to preach in the manner of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Herodians, it shows that we have not truly embraced the teaching of Jesus, for our instruction originates from those who preach to us. To become children of God, we must believe that we are made in God’s own image (cf. Gn 1:26-27). He has given us all that He created, commanding us to be fruitful and multiply, to fill the earth and subdue it, and to have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and every living creature that moves upon the earth (cf. Gn 1:28). Our lives are precious because the Son of God, through the sufferings He endured on the Cross, atoned for our sins and restored to us the life of God’s children. When we received the holy Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ, our corruptible life was united with His incorruptible life, so that His eternal life might fill us and make us children of God.
Having received His Baptism and the anointing of the Holy Spirit, we must profess His Name before the world and acknowledge that we are Christians, disciples of Jesus. Thus, our Lord Jesus Christ will surely acknowledge us before His Heavenly Father (cf. Mt 10:32-33).
Grant, O Lord, that we may always revere and love your holy name, for you never deprive of your guidance those you set firm on the foundation of your love. 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
June 20, 2026 Saturday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time Gospel: Matthew 6:24-34
Today is Saturday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time. Traditionally, the Church dedicates Saturdays in a special way to the honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Gospel passage from Saint Matthew continues the Sermon on the Mount. In this part of the discourse, Jesus teaches His disciples the right orientation of values and offers consolation to those burdened by anxiety.
In life, we are constantly called to make choices. When faced with the choice between the eternal riches that faith offers and the fleeting wealth of this world, we often, out of concern for survival, opt to pursue worldly gain—sometimes even abandoning the eternal values that faith bestows. At times, we may desire both: to cling to the treasure of faith while still possessing earthly riches. Yet Jesus tells us plainly: “No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth” (cf. Mt 6:24). For we frequently find ourselves in situations where both cannot be held together.
When such a dilemma arises, anxiety takes hold, for we do not know which path to choose. It is precisely then that we must recall the words of Jesus. He says to us: “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear” (cf. Mt 6:25). And He consoles us further: “Your heavenly Father knows all that you need. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil” (cf. Mt 6:33–34).
O God, strength of those who hope in you, graciously hear our pleas, and, since without you mortal frailty can do nothing, grant us always the help of your grace, that in following your commands we may please you by our resolve and our deeds. 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
June 19, 2026 Friday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time / Saint Romuald, Abbot Gospel: Matthew 6:19–23
Today is Friday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time. The Church celebrates the Optional Memorial of Saint Romuald, Abbot. The Roman Martyrology tells us: Saint Romuald (c. 950–1027) was born in Ravenna, Italy, of a noble family, and entered the Benedictine monastery of San Miniato, influenced by the Cluniac reform. He later founded hermitages at Fonte Avellana and Camaldoli, the latter becoming the motherhouse of the Camaldolese Order of hermit monks following the Rule of Saint Benedict. After a life wholly dedicated to prayer and severe penance, the Saint died in peace in 1027.
Today’s Gospel passage from Saint Matthew continues the Sermon on the Mount. In this portion of the discourse, Jesus teaches His disciples the true scale of values.
In daily life, we constantly face challenges posed by this present world. All that belongs to this world can draw us into an excessive pursuit of passing things. Too often, we adopt what seems to us the most natural means of claiming for ourselves what was never ours to begin with, failing even to recognize that our ways run contrary to all that God has taught us. We tell ourselves that what we now possess has been earned solely by our own hands, and so we forget the God who gives all. In truth, without His gift, we could not even continue to exist in this world.
Worse still, we may imagine that by amassing treasures here below, we secure for ourselves a life of ease and luxury in the world to come, as though our earthly existence could somehow be prolonged by material wealth. Such is the mindset of those who follow this passing age.
The value system of a Christian, however, stands in stark contrast. We believe that all we have is God’s, and that we are but His unprofitable servants. If we embrace this outlook and order our lives accordingly, we come to understand that nothing of this world can accompany us into the Kingdom of Heaven. Earthly riches cannot be carried across the threshold of eternity by our mortal flesh. What avails for entrance into that Kingdom is the good we have done in this life, and those brothers and sisters who, moved by our prayer and witness, choose to receive Baptism in Christ, to be cleansed in His infinite mercy from Original Sin, and to share in the eternal life of His divinity through the Anointing of the Holy Spirit and communion with all the Saints. United with us in faith, they sustain us by their prayers and support us by their deeds—and in them, we store up treasure in heaven.
O God, strength of those who hope in you, graciously hear our pleas, and, since without you mortal frailty can do nothing, grant us always the help of your grace, that in following your commands we may please you by our resolve and our deeds. 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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