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.