Homilies

Together with Mother Church, we begin the seventeenth week of Ordinary Time, growing in our experience and knowledge of Jesus Christ, of the Good News of the Kingdom of Heaven, and of the mystery of the Church. As today is the fourth Sunday of July, we celebrate the 6th World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, instituted by Pope Francis, under the theme "I will never forget you" (cf. Isaiah 49.15). Let us pray for all the elderly, that they may be respected by their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. May grandparents and the elderly—bearing the mark of a long life and gray hair—be respected in their dignity. Today, the Evangelist Matthew speaks to us of the parables of the hidden treasure, the precious pearl, the net cast into the sea, and the treasure containing things both new and old. Jesus is the wise Teacher who uses the pedagogical tool of parables to address the complex and profound themes of the Kingdom of Heaven and the judgment at the end of time. ...

We begin the sixteenth week of Ordinary Time. The liturgy invites us to deepen our experience with Jesus Christ and His Word. Today, the Evangelist Matthew speaks to us of three parables—the weeds and the wheat, the mustard seed, and the yeast—which reveal the mystery of the Kingdom of God in our midst. Jesus presented us with the "weeds and the wheat." We live in a world marked by the presence of evil, but it is fundamental to understand: evil does not come from God. God is the source of all goodness and created us in His image and likeness. If evil exists, it is because human beings sometimes misuse their freedom—their free will—to distance themselves from the Creator. Yet, in His infinite mercy, God does not uproot the weeds immediately. He allows good and evil to coexist. Why this patience? Because God does not desire the death of the sinner, but rather their conversion. He gives us time to turn away from death and embrace life, right up until the day of final judgment. J...

We begin the fifteenth week of Ordinary Time with Mother Church, continuing our journey to deepen our experience of Jesus Christ and His teachings. Today, the Evangelist Matthew speaks to us of the famous Parable of the Sower. Jesus, who lived in a society deeply connected to nature and the simple lives of farmers and shepherds, used the realities of His time to proclaim the wonders of God and the Kingdom of Heaven. In this parable, Jesus is the Sower *par excellence*, scattering the seeds of the Good News. The seed is the Gospel—a word of life, transformation, and hope. However, the outcome depends on the "soil"—which represents us and the way we welcome this message of love. Some let the Word pass them by without it ever reaching their hearts. Others allow themselves to be distracted by the worries, responsibilities, and excessive ambitions of the world. Some face the challenge of breaking away from lifestyles contrary to the Gospel. We are invited to be "good soil...

Together with Mother Church, we begin the fourteenth week of Ordinary Time, growing in our experience and knowledge of Jesus Christ, the Gospel, and the Church. Today, the Evangelist Matthew speaks to us of the Father’s revelation to the little ones and of the rest found in the Son by the weary. In His ministry, Jesus turned His attention particularly to simple, poor, and needy people. It was to them that the Father—through the Son—revealed Himself, making known His loving plan of salvation and life. Those who considered themselves wise and learned—we might think of the high priests, the teachers of the Law, and the Pharisees—were often closed to Jesus’ revelation regarding the Father. Seeking wisdom is not a bad thing. The Church encourages the study of theological and philosophical sciences. The danger inherent in knowledge lies in thinking one has already attained absolute wisdom, thereby closing oneself off within one’s own truth and looking down on others. Perfect divine knowledge...