June 22, 2026 Monday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time / Saint Paulinus of Nola / Saints John Fisher and Thomas More, Martyrs Gospel: Matthew 7:1–5
Today is Monday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time. The Church celebrates today the Optional Memorial of Saint Paulinus of Nola, Bishop, and Saints John Fisher and Thomas More, Martyrs.
The Roman Martyrology tells us: Saint Paulinus of Nola (c. 335–431) was born in Bordeaux, France, into a patrician Roman family. Before his baptism, he held several public offices and married. After receiving the Sacrament of Baptism and the death of his only child, he withdrew to Spain with his wife, Therasia, where they lived a life of prayer, study, and penance. Later moving to Nola in Campania, he was ordained Bishop in 409. During the Gothic invasions, he displayed remarkable courage, and his poetry and letters remain treasured to this day.
Saint John Fisher (1469–1535) was born in Beverley, Yorkshire. He studied at the University of Cambridge, later serving as its Chancellor. In 1504, he was appointed Bishop of Rochester and became a model shepherd; Saint Charles Borromeo kept his portrait alongside that of Saint Ambrose in his personal quarters. For refusing to take the Oath of Supremacy acknowledging the king as supreme head of the Church in England, he was imprisoned. Pope Paul III created him Cardinal shortly thereafter. He was beheaded at Tower Hill, London, on June 22, 1535.
Saint Thomas More (1477–1535) was born in London, England. A highly esteemed lawyer and humanist scholar, he served as Lord Chancellor under King Henry VIII. Deeply devoted to his family, he persevered in a life of prayer despite countless public duties. When the King sought to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, Saint Thomas resigned from office. He was beheaded at Tower Hill on July 6, 1535. In 2000, Saint John Paul II named him Patron of Statesmen and Politicians.
Today’s Gospel from Saint Matthew continues the Sermon on the Mount. In this passage, Jesus calls us to constant self-examination rather than rash judgment. Let us reflect briefly.
In daily life, we habitually measure people, things, and events against our own standards. Too often, we apply these worldly measures to our brothers and sisters, convinced that others are wrong and we alone are right. Such arrogance stems not from strength, but from an inability to accept our own weakness and limitations. At times, we pray and feel our petitions go unanswered; then we may accuse God of imperfection for withholding what we demand.
Jesus teaches us today to accept ourselves—our imperfect, fragile selves. Only by embracing our own need for mercy can we extend compassion to those who seem to us most deficient. Only by acknowledging our failings and imploring God’s pardon do we experience the depth of His merciful love. And having received that love, we become capable of bringing it to others—healing divisions, overcoming hatred, and restoring charity among all.
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 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
全属于祢 
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