Homilia Ordinario 21A: Siguiendo a Pedro hacia Cristo

 Homilía para el 21.º Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario – Año A 2026

Introducción

“Tú eres Pedro, y sobre esta piedra edificaré mi Iglesia”.

Con estas palabras, Jesús le dio a Simón una autoridad particular para guiar y fortalecer a su Iglesia.

Pero ¿por qué, se preguntan algunos cristianos, necesitamos a un hombre que dirija la Iglesia de Cristo? ¿Por qué no podemos relacionarnos directamente con Dios? Por ejemplo, algunos preguntan: ¿Por qué tenemos que confesarnos con un sacerdote cuando puedo simplemente expresar directamente a Dios mi arrepentimiento?

Por supuesto, Dios puede actuar directamente, y siempre debemos acudir directamente a él en la oración. Pero Cristo quiso darnos algo más: una Iglesia, con ministros visibles, por medio de los cuales él continuaría enseñando, gobernando y santificando a su pueblo.

Y esto realmente no debería sorprendernos. Así es como Dios ha actuado desde el principio.

Escritura y teología

A lo largo de la historia de la salvación, Dios eligió repetidamente a personas concretas y les confió una misión.

·        Eligió a Noé para preservar al pequeño grupo de fieles cuando el mundo se había corrompido.

·        Eligió a Abraham para comenzar un pueblo que le perteneciera y por medio del cual todas las naciones llegarían a ser bendecidas.

·        Eligió a Moisés para sacar a Israel de la esclavitud y confió a Aarón el ministerio sacerdotal del pueblo.

·        Eligió a David para pastorear a Israel como rey.

·        Envió a profetas como Isaías, Jeremías y Ezequiel para comunicar su palabra a su pueblo.

Y en la primera lectura de hoy, escuchamos cómo el Señor confía a Eliacin un cargo importante en Jerusalén. El Señor dice que pondrá sobre sus hombros la llave de la casa de David y que será “un padre para los habitantes de Jerusalén y para la casa de Judá”.

Dios podría haber realizado todas estas cosas directamente. Pero eligió actuar por medio de seres humanos.  Y luego, cuando llegó la plenitud de los tiempos, Dios envió a su propio Hijo. Jesús mismo se hizo hombre y caminó entre nosotros, enseñando y sanando en los pueblos y aldeas de Palestina.

Por eso, no debería sorprendernos que Jesús continuara actuando de esta manera. Eligió a doce apóstoles, vivió con ellos, los instruyó y los preparó para continuar su misión después de su regreso al Padre.

Y en el Evangelio de hoy, Jesús da un paso más. De entre los Doce, elige a Simón y le confía una responsabilidad particular sobre toda la Iglesia.

¿Por qué Pedro?

Jesús no eligió a Pedro porque Pedro fuera perfecto.  Pedro no era perfecto en absoluto. Lo vemos a lo largo del Evangelio.

·        Hace unos domingos escuchamos cuando Pedro intentó caminar sobre el agua para encontrarse con Jesús, tuvo miedo y comenzó a hundirse. Jesús lo rescató y le dijo: “Hombre de poca fe, ¿por qué dudaste?”

·        El próximo domingo escucharemos cómo Pedro intenta impedir que Jesús acepte la cruz. Jesús lo reprenderá muy duramente: “¡Apártate de mí, Satanás! Eres un obstáculo para mí. Tú piensas como los hombres, no como Dios”.

·        Y, por supuesto, durante la Pasión, Pedro negó a Jesús tres veces.

Entonces, ¿por qué Pedro?

Porque Jesús no eligió a Pedro porque Pedro fuera perfecto; lo eligió porque Jesús es fiel.  La autoridad de Pedro no provenía de sus propias capacidades. Provenía de Cristo.  Y esto lo vemos claramente en el Evangelio de hoy.

Jesús pregunta a sus discípulos: “¿Quién dicen ustedes que soy yo?” Los demás habían dado diferentes respuestas. Algunos pensaban que Jesús era Juan el Bautista; otros, Elías; otros, Jeremías o alguno de los profetas. Pero Pedro da la respuesta correcta: “Tú eres el Mesias, el Hijo de Dios vivo”.

Y fíjense en lo que Jesús le dice inmediatamente después: “¡Dichoso tú, Simón, hijo de Jonás, porque eso no te lo ha revelado ningún hombre, sino mi Padre que está en el cielo!”  La confesión de fe de Pedro no procede simplemente de su propia inteligencia. Es un don de la gracia de Dios.

Hay una expresión que se usa a veces en el ministerio: Dios no elige a los capaces; capacita a aquellos que elige. Eso ciertamente se aplica a Pedro.

Jesús cambia el nombre de Simón por Pedro, que significa “piedra”, y le confía la tarea de ser un signo visible de unidad para la Iglesia.  Él será quien fortalezca a sus hermanos. Será quien apaciente las ovejas de Cristo. Y Jesús le dirá: “Yo te daré las llaves del Reino de los cielos”.

Por tanto, la autoridad de Pedro no es suya. Es una responsabilidad recibida de Cristo y ejercida al servicio del pueblo de Cristo.  Y ese ministerio continúa en la Iglesia por medio de los sucesores de Pedro, los papas.

Vida cristiana

¿Qué aspecto tiene ese ministerio de Pedro en nuestro tiempo?

Cuando el papa san Juan Pablo II visitó Uganda en 1993, yo estaba en la universidad y tuve la suerte de asistir a una de sus Misas. Pude verlo a unos cinco pies de distancia cuando caminaba hacia el altar. Algunos de ustedes quizá recuerden su visita a Nueva Orleans en 1987.

Juan Pablo II llevó el Evangelio a personas de todo el mundo. Una y otra vez repitió las palabras con las que comenzó su pontificado: “No tengan miedo”. Pongan su fe en Jesucristo, el Salvador del mundo.

Le sucedió el papa Benedicto XVI. Mis estudios en Roma comenzaron poco después de su elección, y con frecuencia lo veía en la Plaza de San Pedro. En una ocasión, incluso estuve a unos cinco pies de él en una audiencia privada. Recuerdo haber visto de cerca lo humilde y un poco tímido que era.

Recuerdo también vivamente sus primeras palabras después de su elección: “Después del gran papa Juan Pablo II, los cardenales me han elegido a mí, un simple y humilde trabajador en la viña del Señor”. Añadió que le daba consuelo saber que el Señor sabe trabajar incluso con instrumentos inadecuados.

Benedicto utilizó su gran inteligencia para recordar a la Iglesia la verdad de Jesucristo y la armonía entre la fe y la razón.

Después vino el papa Francisco, el primer papa de las Américas. Hace varios años asistí a una Misa presidida por él en la Basílica de San Pedro y pude ver con qué reverencia celebraba la Eucaristía.

Francisco tuvo una preocupación particular por quienes viven en las periferias. Una y otra vez predicó sobre la misericordia de Dios y recordó a la Iglesia que el Evangelio debe llegar a quienes fácilmente son olvidados: los niños por nacer y los moribundos, los niños y los ancianos, los enfermos y las personas con discapacidad, los presos y los inmigrantes, y quienes se sienten alejados de la Iglesia.

También él fue hasta los confines de la tierra, visitando incluso países pequeños y lejanos, fortaleciendo a las personas en la fe y recordándoles que la Iglesia no se había olvidado de ellas.

Y ahora, desde hace poco más de un año, tenemos otro Pedro: el papa León XIV, el primer papa estadounidense. Un hombre tranquilo y metódico, el papa León ha puesto mucho énfasis en la paz desde el comienzo de su pontificado. Sus primeras palabras como papa fueron un llamado a la paz en un mundo profundamente marcado por los conflictos.

También ha hablado con fuerza sobre la dignidad humana y sobre la necesidad de utilizar la tecnología, incluida la inteligencia artificial, de manera que sirva a la persona humana en lugar de disminuirla o explotarla.

Hombres diferentes. Personalidades diferentes. Énfasis diferentes.  Pero el mismo ministerio de Pedro.  Cada papa, a su manera, está llamado a hacer lo que Jesús le pidió a Pedro: fortalecer a sus hermanos y hermanas en la fe.

Conclusión

Y así, puesto que nuestro destino es el cielo, permanezcamos cerca de Cristo y cerca de la Iglesia que él estableció. Escuchemos a los pastores a quienes él ha confiado la tarea de guiar a su pueblo, y confiemos en la promesa que hizo a Pedro:

“Yo te daré las llaves del Reino de los cielos. Todo lo que ates en la tierra quedará atado en el cielo, y todo lo que desates en la tierra quedará desatado en el cielo”.

Seguimos a Pedro porque Cristo le dio las llaves. Pero, en última instancia, seguimos a Pedro hacia Cristo.

Homily Ordinary 21A: Following Peter to Christ

 Homily for Ordinary Time – 21^st Sunday Year A 2026

Introduction

“You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church.”

With these words, Jesus gave Simon a particular authority to lead and strengthen his Church.

But why, some Christians wonder, do we need a man to lead Christ's Church? Why can't we simply deal directly with God? For example, some ask: Why go to confession to a priest when I can simply express my sorrow directly to God?

Of course, God can act directly, and we should always turn directly to him in prayer. But Christ chose to give us something more: a Church, with visible ministers, through whom he would continue to teach, govern and sanctify his people.

And this should not really surprise us. This is how God has been working from the very beginning.

Scripture and Theology

Throughout the history of salvation, God repeatedly chose particular people and entrusted them with a mission.

·        He chose Noah to preserve the faithful remnant when the world had become corrupt.

·        He chose Abraham to begin a people who would belong to him and through whom all the nations would eventually be blessed.

·        He chose Moses to lead Israel out of slavery and entrusted Aaron with the priestly ministry of the people.

·        He chose David to shepherd Israel as king.

·        He sent prophets such as Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel to speak his word to his people.

·        And in today's first reading, we hear the Lord entrust Eliakim with an important office in Jerusalem. The Lord says that he will place the key of the House of David upon his shoulder and that he will be “a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.”

God could have accomplished all these things directly. But he chose to work through human beings.

And then, in the fullness of time, God sent his own Son. Jesus himself became a man and walked among us, teaching and healing in the towns and villages of Palestine.

It should not surprise us, then, that Jesus continued to work in this way. He chose twelve apostles, lived with them, taught them and prepared them to continue his mission after he returned to the Father.

And in today's Gospel, Jesus takes a further step. From among the Twelve, he chooses Simon and entrusts him with a particular responsibility for the whole Church.

Why Peter?

Jesus did not choose Peter because Peter was perfect.  Peter was not perfect at all.  We have seen this throughout the Gospel.

When Peter tried to walk on water to meet Jesus, he became frightened and began to sink. Jesus rescued him and said, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Next Sunday, we will hear Peter try to prevent Jesus from taking up the Cross. Jesus will rebuke him very strongly: “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”

And, of course, during the Passion, Peter would deny Jesus three times.

So why Peter?  Because Jesus did not choose Peter because Peter was perfect; he chose Peter because Jesus was faithful.  Peter's authority did not come from his own abilities. It came from Christ.

And we see this clearly in today's Gospel. Jesus asks the disciples, “Who do you say that I am?”  Others had given various answers. Some thought Jesus was John the Baptist, others Elijah, others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.  But Peter gives the right answer: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

And notice what Jesus says immediately afterward: “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.”  Peter's confession does not come simply from his own intelligence. It is a gift of God's grace.

There is an expression sometimes used in ministry: God does not choose the able; he enables those whom he chooses.

That certainly applies to Peter.  Jesus changes Simon's name to Peter, meaning “rock,” and entrusts him with the task of being a visible source of unity for the Church.  He will be the one who strengthens his brothers. He will be the one who feeds Christ's sheep. And Jesus will say to him: “I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven.”

Peter's authority, then, is not his own. It is a responsibility received from Christ and exercised in service of Christ's people. And that ministry continues in the Church through Peter's successors, the popes.

Christian Life

What does that Petrine ministry look like in our own time?

When Pope John Paul II, now a canonized saint, visited Uganda in 1993, I was in college and was fortunate enough to attend one of his Masses. I was able to see him from about five feet away as he walked toward the altar. Some of you may remember his visit to New Orleans in 1987.

John Paul II brought the Gospel to people throughout the world and reminded Catholics to be a missionary Church. Again and again, he repeated the words with which he began his pontificate: “Do not be afraid.” Put your faith in Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world.

He was succeeded by Pope Benedict XVI. My graduate studies in Rome began just after his election, and I often saw him in St. Peter's Square. On one occasion, I was even within about five feet of him at a private audience. I remember seeing close up how humble and somewhat shy he was.

I vividly remember his first words after his election: “After the great Pope John Paul II, the Cardinals have elected me, a simple and humble labourer in the vineyard of the Lord.” He added that the Lord's ability to work even with inadequate instruments was a source of comfort to him.  Benedict used his great intellect to remind the Church of the truth of Jesus Christ and the harmony between faith and reason.

Then came Pope Francis, the first pope from the Americas. Several years ago, I attended a Mass presided over by him in St. Peter's Basilica and saw how reverently he celebrated the Eucharist.

Francis had a particular concern for those on the margins. Again and again, he preached about God's mercy and reminded the Church that the Gospel must reach those who are easily forgotten: the unborn and the dying, children and the elderly, the sick and disabled, prisoners and immigrants, and those who feel distant from the Church.  He too went to the ends of the earth, visiting even small and distant countries, strengthening people in their faith and reminding them that they had not been forgotten by the Church.

And now, for a little more than a year, we have had another Peter: Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope. A quiet and methodical man, Pope Leo has emphasized peace from the very beginning of his pontificate. His first words as pope were a call to peace in a world deeply marked by conflict.

He has also spoken strongly about human dignity and about the need to use technology, including artificial intelligence, in ways that serve the human person rather than diminish or exploit him.

Different men. Different personalities. Different emphases. But the same Petrine ministry. Each pope, in his own way, is called to do what Jesus told Peter to do: strengthen his brothers and sisters in the faith.

Conclusion

And so, since our destiny is heaven, let us remain close to Christ and close to the Church he established. Let us listen to the shepherds whom he has entrusted with guiding his people, and let us trust the promise he made to Peter: “I will give you the keys to 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.”

We follow Peter because Christ gave him the keys. But ultimately, we follow Peter to Christ.

Homilia Ordinario 20A: ¿Quién está dentro y quién está fuera?

 Homilía del XX Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario Año A 2026

Introducción

¿Quién está dentro y quién está fuera? Estas son preguntas con las que luchamos todos los días.

En el patio de recreo, los niños tienen que decidir quién estará en su equipo y quién no. Para las fiestas de cumpleaños y las bodas tenemos que decidir a quién invitar y a quién no.

También más allá de la familia, la sociedad debe decidir quién está dentro y quién está fuera. Durante una epidemia, por ejemplo, la cuarentena es básicamente una decisión sobre con quién podemos asociarnos y con quién no. Los países tienen que decidir qué extranjeros pueden ser admitidos y cuáles no.

Necesitamos ayuda para tomar bien estas decisiones. Gracias a Dios, podemos recurrir a la Palabra de Dios para indicarnos la dirección correcta.

Escritura y Teología

En la primera lectura de hoy, Isaías ayuda al pueblo de Israel a luchar con este problema de quién está dentro y quién está fuera. La lectura se sitúa después del exilio del pueblo judío, cuando había aumentado la mezcla entre judíos y extranjeros.

Los judíos sabían que eran el pueblo especial de Dios, y se preguntaban: “¿Dios realmente acepta también los sacrificios y las oraciones de estos extranjeros?”

Isaías básicamente responde: sí, lo hace. Dios acepta el culto de los extranjeros siempre que cumplan ciertas condiciones. Como los mismos judíos, deben observar el día de reposo y obedecer los mandamientos de Dios que se les aplican.

En otras palabras, el criterio básico para pertenecer al pueblo de Dios no es la raza, la nacionalidad ni el origen. Es la fe en Dios. Por eso, al final de la lectura, Dios dice: “Mi templo será la casa de oración para todos los pueblos”.

En el evangelio, Jesús se enfrenta al mismo problema. Una mujer cananea, una extranjera y pagana, le pide que cure a su hija.  A primera vista, parece que Jesús no quiere compartir las bendiciones de Dios con los no judíos: “Yo no he sido enviado sino a las ovejas descarriadas de la casa de Israel”.

Pero cuando leemos atentamente este pasaje, y de hecho todo lo que Jesús dice en los evangelios, sabemos que el tema es más complicado. Jesús está dando a esta mujer la oportunidad de demostrar por qué ella, aunque extranjera, merece recibir las bendiciones del pueblo de Dios.  Y ella está a la altura del desafío.

Primero, responde con una gran confianza: si las sobras son suficientemente buenas para los perros, seguramente Jesús tiene algo que ofrecer también a los extranjeros. Pero, sobre todo, es su perseverancia y su reconocimiento de Jesús como Señor lo que demuestra que posee la condición esencial que Isaías había indicado: la fe.

Por eso Jesús le dice: “Mujer, ¡qué grande es tu fe! Que se cumpla lo que deseas”. Y en aquel mismo instante quedó curada su hija.

Vida cristiana

Al igual que el pueblo judío de la época de Isaías, y al igual que los discípulos que dijeron: “Despídela, porque sigue clamando detrás de nosotros”, también nosotros podemos sentir la tentación de decirles a algunos: “Ustedes están fuera”.

¿Cuál debe ser nuestro criterio para incluir o excluir a las personas?

Permítanme ofrecer tres principios.

Primero: como católicos, nuestra posición diaria debe ser incluir. Eso es lo que profesamos cuando decimos: “Creo en una Iglesia santa, católica y apostólica”. La palabra “católica” significa universal. La Iglesia está llamada a reunir a toda clase de personas, porque Dios desea salvar a toda la humanidad.

A veces incluso debemos ignorar lo que parecen ser razones legítimas para excluir. Se cuenta la historia de un hombre protestante que era el único no católico en un pueblo rural. Cuando murió, no pudo ser enterrado dentro del cementerio católico; así se hacían las cosas en aquellos días. Sin embargo, por consideración, el párroco permitió que lo enterraran justo afuera de la cerca.

Años después, su hija regresó para poner flores en la tumba de su padre. Pero para su sorpresa, ya no podía encontrarla.  Muy enojada, fue a la rectoría y reclamó al párroco: “No solamente se negó a enterrar a mi padre en el cementerio, ¡sino que ahora hasta ha destruido su tumba!”

El sacerdote le respondió: “Señora, no movimos la tumba de su padre. Movimos la cerca del cementerio para incluir la tumba de su padre.”

Como católicos, hemos aprendido a ser más inclusivos con nuestros hermanos no católicos: protestantes, musulmanes y judíos. Como dice el Papa Francisco, aunque discutamos nuestras diferencias doctrinales, debemos practicar un ecumenismo de caridad.

Segundo: aunque nuestra posición normal debe ser incluir, a veces debemos excluir. Pero cuando lo hacemos, debemos ser guiados por criterios objetivos, no por prejuicios.  Debemos hacer lo que Martin Luther King soñó para sus hijos: que juzguemos a las personas no por cosas extrínsecas como el color de su piel, sino por el contenido de su carácter.

Por ejemplo, si el tío Julio es un mal hablado, quizá podemos excluirlo de una fiesta donde habrá niños. Pero no debemos excluir a alguien simplemente porque es de otra raza, nacionalidad o religión.

En el ámbito nacional, esto significa que nuestras políticas de inmigración deben estar basadas en criterios objetivos como la seguridad, la necesidad de asilo y la dignidad humana, y no simplemente en la raza, la nacionalidad o la religión de una persona.

Tercero: a veces la exclusión es necesaria por el bien de la persona excluida y por el bien de la sociedad.

Por ejemplo, encerramos a los delincuentes para proteger a la sociedad y darles la oportunidad de reformarse. En la Iglesia existe también la excomunión, que pone a una persona temporalmente fuera de la plena comunión para ayudarla a reconocer su error y arrepentirse. El Papa Leon lo hizo recentemente con el grupo Leferbriano.

La cuestión, entonces, no es simplemente si debemos incluir o excluir. La cuestión es: ¿por qué estamos incluyendo o excluyendo?

Conclusión

Y entonces, si Dios ofrece la ciudadanía del cielo a todos los que tienen fe en Él, ¿por qué la negamos en nuestra sociedad terrenal a algunas personas?

Especialmente nosotros, que estamos a punto de celebrar y recibir la Eucaristía, el sacramento de la unidad, debemos preguntarnos:

·        ¿Tengo, a sabiendas o sin saberlo, prejuicios contra personas que son diferentes de mí?

·        ¿Actúo sobre esos prejuicios en lugar de pedirle a Jesús que me sane de ellos?

·        ¿He guardado silencio ante actos de racismo, odio o prejuicio?

·        ¿He hablado o actuado de maneras que denigran a individuos o grupos simplemente porque son diferentes de mí?

Hagamos nuestra la oración del Salmo de hoy:

“Que te alaben, Señor, todos los pueblos; que los pueblos te aclamen todos juntos. Que nos bendiga Dios y que le rinda honor el mundo entero.”

Homily Ordinary 19A: Turning to Christ in the storms of life

 Homily for 18^th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A 2026

Introduction

My favorite apostle has always been St. Peter. Not because he became the first pope, but because he is wonderfully human.

Peter loves the Lord with all his heart. Yet he often speaks before thinking. One moment he is full of courage; the next he is overcome by fear. At the Last Supper he promises to remain faithful to Jesus even unto death, yet a few hours later he denies him three times. In today's Gospel he boldly asks to walk on water, only to become frightened by the wind and begin to sink.

If there is a patron saint for imperfect disciples, Peter surely deserves that title. He reminds us that holiness is not about never failing. It is about learning where to turn when we fail.

Today's Gospel is not really about walking on water. It is about learning to trust Christ when the storms of life come. Peter simply shows us how difficult that can be.

For those of us who live here in south Louisiana, storms are not just images from the Bible. We know what they are like. We remember Hurricane Ida. Many families here lost homes, businesses, treasured possessions, and the sense of security they once had. Even today, some families are still rebuilding their homes and their lives. Storms leave scars long after the winds have stopped.

And not all storms come with rain and wind. Some come with a frightening medical diagnosis or with the death of a loved one or with the loss of a job. Others come with a child or grandchild who has drifted away from the faith. Others still come through disappointments in the Church itself.

The question is not whether storms will come. Jesus never promised that they wouldn't.  The real question is: How do we face them?

Scripture and Theology

The Gospel today begins with the disciples already in trouble. Their boat is battered by a storm, by waves, and yet, Jesus seems absent.

That image has always been understood as a symbol of the Church. We are all in the same boat, journeying toward our true home. Sometimes the waters are calm. Sometimes they are rough. Sometimes it feels as though the Lord is far away.  Perhaps we have all had moments when we have asked, "Lord, where are you? Why don't you seem to be doing anything?"

The disciples felt exactly the same way.  Then, in the darkest part of the night, Jesus comes to them.

Notice something important. Jesus does not first calm the sea. He first says, "Take courage; it is I; do not be afraid."  His first gift is not a change in circumstances.  His first gift is his presence.

That is often how God works in our lives. Sometimes he changes the situation. Sometimes he does not. But he always promises to remain with us.

But what does trusting Jesus really mean?  We often tell one another, "Just trust Jesus."  That is good advice—but what does it actually mean?

It surely cannot mean pretending that all is fine.  Some people try to deny the storm. They tell themselves that nothing is wrong. When my own mother died a few years ago, well-meaning people sometimes tried to take away the pain by saying, "She's in a better place." I knew they were trying to comfort me. But grief cannot simply be explained away. Faith does not deny the pain of loss. Faith allows us to bring that pain to Christ.

But neither is giving in to despair, such as when people become convinced that everything is falling apart and that there is no hope.

Fortunately for us, Christian hope lies somewhere else, in between these two extremes.  Hope looks honestly at the storm without pretending it isn't there. But it also refuses to believe that the storm has the final word.

That is what Peter teaches.  He teaches us what that hope looks like.  As long as Peter keeps his eyes fixed on Jesus, he walks on the water. When he becomes consumed by the wind and the waves, he begins to sink.  The problem was not the storm. The storm had been there all along. The problem was where Peter fixed his attention or rather when he turned his attention from Jesus.

Christian Life

The same temptation confronts us today. It is easy to become consumed by the endless stream of bad news, political arguments, social media, and everything that feeds our anxiety. Before long, we can spend more time listening to voices that stir fear than to the voice of Christ who says, "Do not be afraid."

So, where can we find Christ today? The beautiful truth is that Jesus has not left us to face life's storms alone.  After his Ascension he returned to the Father, but he did not abandon his Church.

The Second Vatican Council reminds us that Christ continues to be truly present among us in four main ways:

·        in the Eucharist,

·        in the other sacraments,

·        in the Scriptures proclaimed in the Church,

·        and whenever God's people gather together in his name.

That means relying on Jesus is not simply having pious thoughts or wishing that everything will work out.  It means deliberately turning our gaze away from whatever threatens to overwhelm us and toward the places where Christ has promised to meet us.

·        When we come to Mass carrying heavy burdens, Christ receives them.

·        When we come to Confession seeking mercy, Christ forgives us.

·        When we open the Scriptures with faith, Christ speaks to us.

·        When we pray with and support one another, Christ strengthens us through the members of his Body.

This is how Catholics rely on Jesus—not by escaping reality or by being engrossed in it, but by bringing reality to him.

Perhaps the most comforting part of today's Gospel is when Peter actually does begin to sink.  Jesus does not say, "Peter, you failed. You should have trusted me more."  Instead, when Peter cries out with one of the shortest and most beautiful prayers in all of Scripture: "Lord, save me,” immediately Jesus stretches out his hand.  Peter is not saved because his faith is perfect. He is saved because, even in his weakness, he knows whom to call.

That is the lesson for every disciple. The saints are not people who never fail or sink, or doubt, or stumble. Rather they are those who never stop turning back to Christ when they do.

Conclusion

Sooner or later, every one of us will face another storm. Some of us might be in one right now.  Some have just come through one.  Others do not yet know the storm that lies ahead.

The good news of today's Gospel is not that faithful Christians are spared every trial. The good news is that Christ never abandons his people. When fear threatens to overwhelm us, we do what Peter did. We cry out, "Lord, save me."

And where do we find the Lord who reaches out his hand?

·        Here at this altar.

·        Here in the sacraments.

·        Here in his Word.

·        Here among the people who make up his Body, the Church.

The winds may still blow and the waves still rise. But we do not face them alone.

In a few moments we will come forward to receive the Eucharist. We will receive not merely a reminder of Jesus, but Jesus himself—the One who walked upon the sea, who reached out his hand to Peter, and who still says to each one of us today: "Take courage. It is I. Do not be afraid."

Homily Ordinary 18A: Compassion over indifference

Homily for 18^th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A 2026

Introduction

"When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them."

Jesus was moved with pity not just this once. Throughout the Gospels, we find him showing compassion for the crowds, the sick, the blind, the bereaved, sinners, and the hungry. Again and again, the evangelists tell us that his heart was moved with compassion.

One of the things that seems to be disappearing from our world today is empathy—that ability not simply to feel for another person, but to feel with them in their suffering. Too often, compassion has been replaced by indifference, harshness, and even, at times, rejoicing when those we dislike experience misfortune.

What a contrast between the way of the Lord and the way of the world. Today, let us reflect on Jesus' compassion, and on the way that his pity for others unfolds.

Scripture and Theology

Matthew starts of by telling us that when Jesus saw the vast crowd, "his heart was moved with pity for them."  As often happens in his other miracles, before he speaks a word, before he heals anyone, his heart is moved. Compassion comes first: for the person in front of him whether it is for those who are spiritually lost, or now for people who are simply hungry.

Empathy is not a weakness. It is the very heart of God. But Jesus does not stop at feeling sorry for people.  Notice how his compassion quickly becomes action.

First, Matthew tells us that he heals the sick. Then, when evening comes and the disciples suggest sending everyone away to find food, Jesus responds with those challenging words: "There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves."

We can sympathize with the disciples. They have only five loaves and two fish. What are these among five thousand people?

The disciples see only what they lack; Jesus sees what God can do with what little they have. And thus he performs the miracle of feeding the five thousand with only a few loaves and a few fishes. A truly remarkable miracle.

This miracle of feeding the five thousand is not something completely new. Rather, it reveals the same compassionate God who had always cared for his people.  How can we forget the manna that God provided for Israel during the forty years in the desert? Every morning, the Lord fed his people.

In today's first reading, the prophet Isaiah reminds Israel that God's generosity has never failed, telling 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!”

God's love is never a business transaction. He does not begin by asking what we can give him. He begins by inviting us to receive what he freely gives.  Although Israel had often been unfaithful, the Lord had not abandoned them. Isaiah assures them that God will renew with them "the everlasting covenant, the benefits assured to David."

The responsorial psalm beautifully summarizes this whole history of God's providence: "The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs."  Why does he do so? Because, as the psalm says, "The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness."  And again, "The Lord is good to all and compassionate toward all his works."

Yet as wonderful as God's gift of material food is, Jesus has come to give us something infinitely greater. The feeding of the five thousand points beyond itself to another meal, the Eucharist.  Did you notice that Matthew describes Jesus using the very same actions that he will perform at the Last Supper?

·        Jesus takes the bread.

·        He gives thanks.

·        He breaks it.

·        He gives it to the disciples, who distribute it to the people.

These are the very actions of the Last Supper, and they continue every time we celebrate the Eucharist.

At the Presentation of the Gifts, the bread and wine are taken and brought to the altar, just as Jesus took the loaves into his hands.

Then, in the Eucharistic Prayer, the Church gives thanks. In fact, the word Eucharist itself means "thanksgiving." We thank the Father for all he has done through Jesus Christ, and through the power of the Holy Spirit the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ.

After the Eucharistic Prayer comes that little Fraction Rite, when the consecrated Bread is broken, recalling Christ's action at the Last Supper.

Finally, in Holy Communion, Christ gives himself to us. Just as he fed the crowds through the hands of his disciples, today he continues to feed his people through the ministry of the Church.

The miracle of the loaves satisfied the hunger of thousands for one afternoon.  The Eucharist satisfies a much deeper hunger—the hunger of the human heart for God himself.  Every time we gather for Mass, Jesus still looks upon us with compassion. He still feeds those who come to him. He still gives us not merely bread, but himself, the Bread of Life who nourishes us unto eternal life.

Christian Life

Having seen Jesus put his compassion into action by feeding both the body and the soul, we can now understand the challenge he gives his disciples: "Give them some food yourselves."

Those words are addressed not only to the Twelve, but also to us.  Jesus continues to feed the world through his disciples.  Of course, we cannot multiply loaves and fishes. But we can become instruments of his compassion.

The Church has always summarized this compassionate way of life in what we call the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. They are practical ways of carrying out Jesus' command to "give them some food yourselves."

When did you last perform one of these seven Corporal Works of Mercy?

·        feeding the hungry,

·        giving drink to the thirsty,

·        clothing the naked,

·        welcoming the stranger,

·        visiting the sick,

·        visiting those in prison,

·        burying the dead.

These care for the needs of the body.

But Jesus also reminds us that "man does not live on bread alone." People hunger not only for food, but also for truth, forgiveness, hope, and love.  That is why the Church also teaches the seven Spiritual Works of Mercy. When did you last have compassion on another person by doing one of them?

·        counseling the doubtful,

·        instructing the ignorant,

·        admonishing sinners,

·        comforting the afflicted,

·        forgiving offenses,

·        bearing wrongs patiently,

·        praying for the living and the dead.

These nourish the soul.  Whenever we perform these works of mercy, we become living signs of the compassion of Christ.

Conclusion

The Gospel ends with a detail that is easy to overlook. After everyone had eaten their fill, twelve baskets of fragments were collected.  Not one basket.  Twelve. 

This is not a lesson in mathematics, as though five loaves and two fish somehow became twelve baskets of leftovers.  Rather, the twelve baskets are a sign.  They remind us that God's generosity is never merely adequate. His grace is never rationed. His providence is never exhausted.

God always provides—not necessarily everything we want, when we want it, or in the way we expect—but always more than enough for our salvation and for the mission he entrusts to us.

As we come forward today to receive the Eucharist, let us ask the Lord for three gifts:

·        a heart that is moved with compassion like the heart of Christ;

·        hands and legs and bodies ready to become instruments of his mercy;

·        and the faith to trust that God's compassion is always abundant, his providence always sufficient, and his love always overflowing.