TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A, 2026 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

 Sirach 27:30-28:7; Psalm 103:1-4, 9-12; Romans 14:7-9; Matthew 18:21-35

 

Christianity is the most radical of all religions because of its teaching on forgiveness. No other religion has so much emphasis on forgiveness as in Christianity. Retaliation and revenge are clearly enshrined in the spirituality of some religions and many cultures, and deep in the way of life of many men and women. The first reading says, “Anger and wrath are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight.” The reading explains how forgiveness is important to our prayer life and our relationship with God: “Forgive your neighbor’s injustice; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven. Could anyone nourish anger against another and expect healing from the Lord? Could anyone refuse mercy to another like himself; can he seek pardon for his own sins?” Jesus emphasizes this teaching on forgiveness in Mark 11:25-26, “And when you stand to pray, if you have anything against anyone, forgive, so that your heavenly Father may also forgive your sins.” We pray in the Lord’s Prayer “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us” (Matthew 6:12). The first reading admonishes us, “Remember the last days, set enmity aside; remember death and decay, and cease from sin!”

 

One of the lessons we can draw from today’s gospel parable is that we sin against God every day but he does not treat us according to our sins. Today’s Psalm says, “Who pardons all your iniquities, and heals all your ills. He redeems your life from destruction and crowns you with kindness and compassion. He will not always chide nor does he keep his wrath forever, not according to our sins does he deal with us, nor does he requite us according to our crimes. For as the heavens tower over the earth, so surpassing is his kindness towards those who fear him.  As far as the east is from the west, so far has he has put our transgressions from us.”

 

Yet, many times we are very unforgiving to one another, even over minor offenses. At the end of the Lord’s Prayer Jesus cautions us, “If you forgive others their wrongdoings, your Father in heaven will also forgive yours. If you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive you either” (Matthew 6:14-15). St. James further warns us, “For the judgment is merciless to one who has not shown mercy” (James 2:12). This is repeating the message of the first reading.

 

However, we must not confuse justice with forgiveness. Justice aims to correct a wrong through lawful or restorative means. Justice aims to protect others and seek lawful accountability without being driven by hatred or a desire for revenge. Evil breeds and flourishes where there is no justice. To expect forgiveness in the middle of an on-going assault or aggression does not make sense. For forgiveness to be truly meaningful and for healing to occur, the aggression must first stop, regardless of whether there is an apology or justice. That is why we have the Defense Department and Law Maintenance and Law Enforcement Departments. That is why the Catholic Church Just War Doctrine defines the conditions under which force can be used to halt aggression and protect a victim or victims.  We continue to pray for the repentance of those who inflict pain on others.

 

When an assault or an aggression is over (regardless of whether there is an apology or justice), forgiveness follows, and healing is possible. Forgiveness is a personal choice to let go of bitterness, hatred, and the desire for personal revenge so that the victim can find inner peace. Deacon Ignatius Joseph says, “If you do not confess your sins, you keep your sins.” In the same sense, if you do not forgive the sins against you, you keep them with you. That is to say, you keep the hurt, the pain, and the grief. Depending on the depth of the hurt, healing after forgiveness can be a gradual process. It requires prayer and patience.

 

Sometimes, we ask, “I have forgiven my someone, yet I still remember the offense. Does it mean that I have not forgiven the person?” We must not underestimate the immense power of memory. Some experiences can remain in our memory for a very long, and sometimes forever. However, prayer, time, and goodwill can heal and erase the hurt, even if we still do remember the experience. When this happens, the offense may be remembered, but faintly.

 

We know that forgiveness and healing have taken place:

 

(1) When the offense is no longer vivid in our mind. We have forgotten the details.

 

(2) When we no longer make reference to the offense to support any kind of claim or reason for our actions.

 

(3) When we are no longer upset when we remember the offense or the offender.

 

(4) When we, in no way, wish to retaliate or wish misfortune to the offender.

 

(5) When we treat the offender with acceptance, understanding, and kindness.

 

(6) When we remember the offense, we are grateful for the lesson or lessons we learned from the experience.

 

(7) When we remember the offense, we acknowledge that we have, also, offended other people many times and in many ways. We, also, are in need of forgiveness.

 

Let us conclude with the words of St. Paul (Ephesians 4:32), “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” May God grant us the grace to reconcile, the grace to forgive, and the grace to be healed. Amen.

 

TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A 2026, BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Ezekiel 33:7-9; Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9; Romans 13:13:8-10; Matthew 18:15-20

 

The people of Israel’s disloyalty to God resulted in their conquest and captivity by Babylon. While in exile in Babylon, God did not abandon them. God called one of them, Ezekiel, to prophesy to them. In the first reading, God spoke to Ezekiel, “I have appointed you a watchman for the house of Israel…”

 

In the same way, God has appointed each one of us to watch over one another and to be one another’s keeper. Priests are appointed to watch over the faithful and the faithful are to watch over their priests. Family members are appointed to watch over one another. Neighbors are appointed to watch over one another. Church members, coworkers, business partners, colleagues, and so on are appointed to watch over one another. We are not appointed to fight and destroy one another. Rulers and leaders are appointed to watch over the citizens; not neglect them, or mistreat them, or abandon them, or steal what belongs to them, or kill them. No one should be like Cain who murdered his brother and questioned God, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9).

 

God called Ezekiel to speak truth to his people to save them. In the same way, God calls us to speak truth to one another to save one another. God says in the first reading, “If you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I shall require from your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity, but you will have saved your life.” St. James writes, “Remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:20). Therefore, God has not called us to rumor, or to gossip, or to slander, or to be silent in the face of evil.

 

Dietrich Bonhoeffer says, “Silence in the face of evil is evil: God will not hold us guiltless.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran pastor and theologian who was executed for his role in the political resistance against Adolf Hitler. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stated that remaining silent in the face of wrongdoing makes a person cooperative with evil and that the inaction of good people is a greater tragedy than the acts of bad people. He was equally executed.

 

While we are challenged to speak truth to one another, we are also challenged to accept the truth we hear and not harden our hearts or shoot the messenger. Some people are like the guilty Hebrew man who attacked Moses for correcting him, “Who made you a ruler and judge over us?” (Exodus 2:14).

 

Watching over one another and speaking truth to one another are acts of love. That is why St. Paul writes in the second reading, “Owe no one anything, except to love one another… hence, love is the fulfilment of the law” (Romans 13:8-10). St. Jerome recorded that St. John the Evangelist lived to about 100 years old. He became so frail and weak that he could no longer walk and had to be carried by his disciples into the gatherings of believers in Ephesus. Because he lacked the strength for long or complex preaching, he would simply address the church with the same words every week: “Little children, love one another.” Growing weary of hearing the exact same phrase week after week, the disciples finally asked him, “Master, why do you always say this?” St. John replied, “Because it is the Lord's command, and if this only is done, it is enough.”

 

In today’s gospel, Jesus presents to us a difficult and a radical act of love, which is to make humbling personal extra efforts to seek reconciliation. St. Paul refers to this spiritual maturity as “becoming a fool for Christ” (1 Corinthian 4:10). It takes prayer and God’s graces of humility, courage, and perseverance to follow the four steps of seeking reconciliation which Jesus commands: Step one: Don’t presume, don’t rumor, don’t gossip, don’t grudge, don’t malign, don’t slander, don’t conclude. Initiate a private meeting for reconciliation. If the private meeting fails, don’t give up, proceed to step two: Make a second attempt with one or two mediators. If the second attempt fails, still don’t give up, proceed to step three: Bring the matter to the leadership or the community. After these three steps and the person still refuses reconciliation, then step four: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). This means that we do not fight or retaliate against someone who remains unreconciled. We are to pray for the person and treat the person with empathy.

 

Jesus continues in today’s gospel, “Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:18-20).

 

Prophet Amos asks, “Do two journey together unless they have agreed?” (Amos 3:3). The answer is, “No.” Therefore, let us be in agreement and journey together and watch over one another. Then, there will be the positive energy of doing things together, praying together, and binding and loosing in Jesus’ name, and we will experience his presence in our midst. The psalmist exclaims, “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! … For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore” (Psalm 133:1-3).

 

TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A 2026 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Jeremiah 20:7-9; Psalm 63:2-9; Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 16:21-27

 

We are all carrying various kinds and sizes of crosses. That is why Jesus invites us in today’s gospel, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). “Deny oneself” means to surrender one’s personal plans to God and put God first. Our crosses are our afflictions, difficulties, trials, temptations, responsibilities, love of God and love of neighbor, and our faith journey.

 

In the first reading, Prophet Jeremiah’s cross was his responsibility to prophesy to his people, their rejection of him, and the persecution he suffered in their hands.

 

When God called Jeremiah, he said to him, “To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you … See, I place my words in your mouth! Today, I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, to uproot and to tear down, to destroy and to demolish, to build and to plant” (Jeremiah 1:7-10).

 

The first reading was a time Jeremiah felt that God had not fulfilled his promises to him, “to uproot and to tear down, to destroy and to demolish.” Rather, he continued to see “terror on every side” and hear “denounce him, denounce him” (Jeremiah 20:10). In his frustration, Jeremiah accused God of duping him (deceiving him). He wanted to stop prophesying. “I say to myself, I will not mention him, I will speak in his name no more. But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it.” Despite how he felt, Jeremiah did not give up. He continued to prophesy. The prophesy of Jeremiah does end with chapter 20 of the first reading, it ends with chapter 52. Jeremiah teaches us to continue the work of God even when the work is not recognized, and when there is no apparent good result, and when one is not appreciated, and when one is persecuted for no just reason. That is the way to carry our crosses and follow Jesus.

 

St. Paul encourages us in the second reading not to embrace the standard of “If you can’t beat them, join them.” St. Paul encourages us, “Do not conform yourselves to this present age…” We are to remain steadfast to the will of God, to what is good and to what is pleasing to God. Not what is pleasing “to this present age.” That is the way to carry our crosses and follow Jesus.

 

In the gospel, Jesus speaks about his own cross, that he “must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed …” Peter wanted Jesus to refuse his cross. “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” Peter was an obstacle to the will of God, to what is good and to what is pleasing to God. Therefore, Jesus rebuked him, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me.”

 

The encounter between Jesus and Peter reveals to us the pressure we go through in times of our crosses. Jesus teaches us not to refuse or abandon our crosses. He says, “Whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:38). We need to be watchful of the pressures that come from our close ones. Peter was very close to Jesus. The most difficult trials and temptations are not from enemies. They are from close ones. Many times, we compromise/conform ourselves due to pressures from close ones against what is good, what is God’s will, and what is pleasing to him. We pray for the grace to resist such pressures.

 

Let us conclude with this story:

 

God, according to his divine plan, gave a man a tall cross to carry and told him, “While on your journey, pray for anything, and I will give you.”  The man set off on his journey. After a few miles, he cried to God, “Lord, my cross is too heavy, please, cut it down a little.” God threw a handsaw to him to cut the cross to the size he wanted. He was delighted and continued his journey. After a few more miles, he cried to God again, “Lord, please cut it down a little more, I will be able to carry it better.” God threw a handsaw to him to cut the cross a little more according to his wish. He was glad. After a few more miles, he got to a gully. The easiest way he would have crossed over the gully would have been to place the cross across the gully to become a bridge. Sadly, the cross was, now, too short to go across the gully.

 

May our crosses become our bridges across the gullies in our life journeys. Amen.

 

The story of Jesus’s cross ends with his resurrection. May the stories of our crosses end with testimonies of victory. Amen. However, we know that there are incomprehensible lifelong crosses. In such conditions, we pray for enduring grace while trusting in God in whose will is our strength and peace. To God be the glory, even in incomprehensible lifelong crosses. Amen.

 

TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A, 2026 BY FR MARTIN EKE, MSP

 Isaiah 22:19-23; Psalm 138:1-3, 6, 8; Roman 11:33-36; Matthew 6:16:13-20

 In the first reading, Shebna, the chief steward of King Hezekiah, was a wicked, deceitful, and proud man. It was said that he conspired with Assyria in an attack against Jerusalem. God sent Isaiah to prophesy his removal from office and to be replaced by Eliakim, a faithful and trustworthy servant of God. Isaiah prophesied God’s blessings on Eliakim. He would take over the authority Shebna used to have. “He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the house of Judah. I will place the key of the house of David on his shoulder; when he opens, no one shall shut; when he shuts, no one shall open. I will fix him like a peg in a sure spot …” The first reading reminds us Mary’s magnificat, “He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly” (Luke 1:51-52).

 

The prophesy about Eliakim was a prophesy about Jesus, “the Christ, the Son of the living God” as Peter professed in today’s gospel. God replaced Shebna (the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the lawyers, the scribes, the chief priests, and the old laws) with Jesus the Christ (the new Eliakim), and gave him the authority above all authorities. Jesus, then, passed the authority to Peter and the Catholic Church, “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

 

Today’s gospel helps us to understand the origin of the Catholic Church and the papacy. Jesus is the founder, and St. Peter is the first pope. It is only the Catholic Church that has Jesus as her founder. Every other Church traces its founder to a human being. The declaration and prophecy of Jesus in today’s gospel have kept the Catholic Church going for more than two thousand years of her existence, and the gates of hell have not been able to prevail over her. From her very beginning, as early as the time of the apostles to our generation, the Church has gone through strong wind and storm, earthquake and fire; yet the Church has continued to survive. Jesus’ declaration and prophecy concerning the Church stand forever; which is to say, no matter what happens, the Catholic Church will remain till the end of time.

 

In many countries and in many places, there are rulers and leaders, like Shebna, who are wicked, deceitful, proud, and corrupt, and who conspire against their own people. We pray for the fulfillment of Mary’s words on such rulers and leaders.

 

Like Shebna, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the lawyers, the scribes, the chief priests were equally unfaithful wicked, deceitful, and proud stewards. Jesus challenged them, “they tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them” (Matthew 23:4). I need to ask myself what kind of steward I am. Am I an unfaithful servant like Shebna or am I a faithful and trustworthy servant of God like Eliakim?

 

TWENTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A, 2026 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

 Isaiah 56:1, 6-7; Psalm 67:2-8; Romans 11:13-15, 29-32; Matthew 15:21-28

 

The first reading took place when the Israelites returned from the Babylonian captivity and rebuilt the temple of Jerusalem. Through Prophet Isaiah, God commanded the Israelites, “Foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, ministering to him, loving the name of the Lord, and becoming his servants; all who keep the Sabbath free from profanation; and hold fast to my covenant; them I will bring to my holy mountain and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on my altar, for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” By this command, God communicated to the Israelites the universality of salvation and his rejection of the discrimination against the Gentiles.

 

In the second reading, St. Paul, although a Jew, was an apostle to the Gentiles. He states that God’s call to reconciliation and his mercy are for all; Jews and Gentiles. He writes in Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Salvation is not a prerogative of any special group of people, but for all peoples.

 

In the gospel, the Canaanite woman did not mind the enmity between the Canaanites and the Jews or the disparagement of the Canaanites by the Jews. She made her way to see Jesus to present her case. Her daughter was tormented by a demon. Although Jesus tested the faith of the woman, more importantly, he wanted the encounter to be a teaching moment for his disciples and the Jews. Jesus did not say a word when the woman prayed to him. The disciples reacted, “Send her away, for she is calling after us.” Jesus responded, “I was sent only for the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Jesus reechoed the Jewish belief that the Messiah was going to come to save only the Jews.) “It is not right to take the food for children and throw it to the dogs.” (Jews used the term “dogs” as a slang for Gentiles to signify ritual impurity or a separation from God’s covenant.)

 

Jesus’ response did not discourage the woman. She persisted in her pleading, “Please Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their master.” Jesus was amazed and exclaimed, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And the woman’s daughter was healed from that hour. By attending to the woman, Jesus cancelled the erroneous Jewish belief that the Gentiles were outsiders who were separated from salvation and God’s covenant. By attending to the woman, Jesus implied that the derogatory remark against the Gentiles was nullified and withdrawn.

 

The Canaanite woman has a few lessons to teach us. First is her unwavering faith in Jesus, although she was a non-Jew. She believed that Jesus would heal her daughter. Nothing could discourage her. Second, she persisted in her prayer. She did not stop until her prayer was granted. Third, she was not deterred by what people thought of her or said about her. She remained focused on her goal. Fourth, she displayed great humility.

 

Today’s gospel maintains the theme of the first and second readings, that God is the creator and father of all, and that Jesus came to save everyone. Jesus came to break down dividing walls of enmity between races and destroy hostility of separation (Ephesians 2:14).

 

The disciples said to Jesus, “Send her away, for she is calling out after us.” We hear this same kind of hate speech against fellow human beings: “Send them away, they don’t look like us.” “Send them away. They don’t speak like us.” “Send them away. Their religion is different.” “Send them away. They are taking our jobs.” “Send them away. They don’t belong to our party.” “Send they away. They will overtake us.” “Send them away. They don’t reason like us.” “Send them away. They don’t agree with us.” “Send them away. They don’t support us.” “Send them away …”

 

Is there someone calling after us for help whom we have neglected or dismissed? Is there someone we disrespect or disdain because he or she is different, or because he or she is not one of our own? Is there someone we want to be sent away or be displaced because we are envious or jealous, or we just do not like the person?

 

We pray for a change of heart of perpetrators of the evils of discrimination of others, rejection of others, killing of others, destruction of property, sponsors and implementers of injustice, and enablers of conflicts, violence, and wars. Jesus prays for us and the world that we may be one (John 17:21); one in our homes, in our church, in our communities, in our society, in our country, and in our world.

 

We pray with Pope Leo: “… give us the courage to build bridges where the world raises up boundaries. In this time afflicted by conflict and division, intercede for us so that we may become peacemakers: unarmed and disarming witnesses of the peace that comes from Christ. Amen.” (Jubilee Year Prayer of Pope Leo VIX)

 

NINETEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A, 2026 BY FR MARTIN EKE, MSP

 1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a; Psalm 85:9-14; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:22-33

 

In the first reading, Elijah escaped from Jezebel who wanted to kill him. It took Elijah forty days and forty nights to reach Mount Horeb, the Mountain of God. (Mount Horeb is called the Mountain of God because it was the site of profound divine encounters by Moses with God. On this mountain, Moses experienced the Burning Bush and received the Ten Commandments). Elijah went into a cave and took shelter. God did not say, “Welcome, my good and faithful servant;” rather, God put Elijah to further test. God said to him, “Come and stand on the mountain before the Lord, the Lord will be passing by.” (It sounds like God said, “You are on my mountain. Come out of your fear, dejection, and hiding, and experience me as Moses did. You can’t experience me hiding in a cave!”). When Elijah stood on the mountain, a strong and heavy wind came rending the mountain and crushing rocks. This was followed by an earthquake, and the earthquake followed by a fire. Elijah remained where God told him to stand. It was after the fire that God’s presence descended in a tiny whispering sound. Then, God sent Elijah to another phase of mission (1 Kings 19:14-18).

 

The following points are worth noting:

 

First, when things were going rough for Elijah, he went looking for God. He made the rough and long journey to the Mountain of God. In difficult times, we are to go to God, not go away from God.

 

Second, God called Elijah out of the cave means that God called Elijah and calls us out from hiding, withdrawal, despair, self-pity, and fear to strength and purpose.

 

Third, God was not in the strong and heavy wind, the earthquake, and the fire but in a tiny whispering sound means that many times, God is found beyond noise and beyond loud dramas.

 

Fourth, Elijah was not reluctant to continue another mission God sent him, not minding his disappointments and frustrations. Despite our disappointments and frustrations, if it is God’s will that we are to start a new journey or mission, all we have to do is to pray for the grace that we need.

 

In the second reading, St. Paul expressed his frustration, “… I have great sorrow and constant anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, my kindred according to the flesh” (Romans 9:2-3). St. Paul was willing to sacrifice anything, even his own salvation, if such would bring salvation to his people. Elijah voiced similar frustration while on his way to Mount Horeb and prayed for death: “Enough, Lord! Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors” (1 Kings 19:4).

 

In one way or another, we all go through strong and heavy winds, earthquakes, fires, and heartbreaking frustrations, as Elijah and Paul did. These great fathers of faith teach us to persevere during troubled times and to have unwavering faith in God. They teach us not to despair and give up but to press forward. They teach us to make a fresh start if that is the way to go.

 

Today’s gospel is about Jesus walking on water. There is a joke that the following day after Jesus walked on water, his disciples boasted to the disciples of the Pharisees that their master, Jesus, was the greatest of all masters because he walked on water. The disciples of the Pharisees told the Pharisees the latest miracle Jesus performed. The Pharisees, scornfully, replied that there was nothing special about Jesus walking on water; that Jesus walked on water because he did not know how to swim! Many of us are guilty of never acknowledging anything good in people we do not like.

 

In the gospel, Jesus left his disciples and went up on the mountain by himself to pray. It was night. The disciples’ boat was being tossed by the waves, for the wind was against it. They were miles away from offshore. In their fear, they did not recognize Jesus. They thought he was a ghost and became more terrified. Many of us can relate to the disciples’ experience. Some of us are so frightened by issues in our lives that we see ghosts instead of feeling the presence of Jesus. Some of us feel like being tossed up and down by waves of life. For some of us, things are as dark as if it is night. For some of us, the shore is not in sight. Jesus says to us as he said to the disciples, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”  

 

At Peter’s request and Jesus’ invitation, Peter walked on water. But quickly, Peter doubted and looked away from Jesus. Peter turned his attention to the strong wind. He became frightened and began to sink. During strong winds of trials and temptations, we are encouraged to look upon Jesus and to call upon him, instead of seeking solutions outside Jesus. Away from Jesus, we sink and drown. As we remain steadfast in times of strong winds, earthquakes, fires, and tossed by waves, may we hear God’s reassuring “tiny whispering sound.”  May Jesus bring calm to our troubled situations and save us. Amen.

 

EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A, 2026 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

 Isaiah 55:1-3; Psalm 145:8-9,15-18; Romans 8:35, 37-39; Matthew 14:13-21

 

The first reading is God’s message of consolation to the Jewish exiles in Babylon. At that time, the exiles were in despair and desolation. Many of them no longer trusted that God was going to take care of them. Through Prophet Isaiah, God called upon them: “All you who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come, receive grain and eat; come without paying and without cost, drink wine and milk! Why spend your money for what is not bread; your wages for what does not satisfy? … Come to me heedfully, listen, that you may have life. I will renew with you everlasting covenant, the benefits assured to David.”

 

This message is very relevant to us during these difficult and trying times. In one way or another, we are all hungry, thirsty, and sick. God, the origin and source of life, invites us, “Come to me heedfully, listen, that you may have life.” The Collect prayer of last Sunday’s Mass reminds us that without God nothing is holy and nothing has firm foundation. Why, then, spend our money for what is not “bread” and wages for “what does not satisfy”? That is, why, then, seek satisfaction and solutions in worldly and ungodly things?

 

In the gospel, Jesus withdrew himself to a deserted place to mourn the death of his cousin, John the Baptist. The vast crowd discovered where he went and followed him. Jesus was moved with pity and cured the sick among them, and miraculously fed the hungry crowd with five loaves and two fish. Although Jesus was grieving, he did not turn the people away. Someone called Jesus “The Wounded Healer.” John 6:37 says, “All that the Father gives to me come to me, and whoever comes to me, I shall not turn away.”

 

We pray that difficult and trying times do not weaken our faith or make us lose our faith in God. St. Paul encourages us in the second reading that anguish, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or sword must not separate us from the love of Christ. St. Paul adds, “No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” No matter what comes our way, “we conquer overwhelmingly” if we are close to God through Jesus Christ.

 

Hebrews 13:6 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” His saving grace and miraculous deeds remain abundant in our time. Let us, therefore, accept God’s invitation in our moments of exile, desert, thirst and hunger, sickness, heavy burden, despair, and desolation. These are not the moments to seek solutions and satisfaction outside God (“spend your money for what is not bread; your wages for what does not satisfy”).

 

In the gospel, when it was evening, the disciples said to Jesus, ‘“This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.’ Jesus said to them, ‘There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.’” Jesus could have decided not to attend to the crowd because it was a time of a great loss for him, the murdering of his cousin, John the Baptist. Jesus could have listened to his disciples’ suggestion to dismiss the crowd so that they could “go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” But he did not.

 

By his action, Jesus taught his disciples and teaches us a few lessons: to have hearts of compassion for people in need; that our difficulties and limitations should not be excuses to neglect or dismiss those in need; to be wounded healers like him; and that God multiplies abundantly his blessings when we share the little we have with the needy. We are invited not only to share material things but also our presence, time, talent, etc., with the needy.

 

In one of his homilies, St. Basil the Great challenges those who are slow in charity: “You avoid meeting people in case you might be obliged to part with even a little of what you have. You can say only one thing: ‘I have nothing to give you. I am only a poor man.’ Indeed, you are poor and utterly destitute. Poor in love, poor in humanity, poor in faith in God…” (On Charity 3, 6).

 

A few Sundays ago, we reflected on how the widow of Zarephath shared with Elijah a handful of flour and a little jar of oil, the only food that remained for her and her son. What was the result? God multiplied the flour and the oil and “She was able to eat for a year, and Elijah and her son as well; the jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry…” (1 King 17:7-16).

 

God multiplies his blessings for those who trust in him, who come to him, and who have a charitable heart.