Homilies

Dear sister, dear brother, here we are once again, gathered together with our beloved Church, beginning a new week in the love of Christ to nourish ourselves with His Word and the food par excellence of our faith: His Most Holy Body and Blood in the Eucharist. We find ourselves at the last weekend of October—a month during which we have, in a special way, renewed our missionary zeal and our love for praying the Holy Rosary. For our reflection, the Church offers us today texts of profound wisdom and commitment. In the Gospel according to Matthew, we see the Pharisees approaching Jesus with the intention of setting a trap for Him, asking Him which is the greatest commandment of the Law. Originally, God gave us the Ten Commandments through Moses. However, over the centuries, the teachers of the Law added various prescriptions, eventually reaching a total of more than six hundred precepts. Just imagine how difficult it must have been to live under such a burden! That is why they wanted to ...

*HOMILY* [10/18/26] (Fr. Kleber Luiz Cardoso, css) Dear sisters and brothers, we begin a new week accompanied by our Mother Church, during this month of October dedicated in a special way to the holy missions and the Holy Rosary. Today’s readings present us with fundamental teachings regarding our life in society, the role of authorities, and the authentic living out of our faith. In the Gospel according to Matthew, we see the Pharisees once again trying to put Jesus to the test. In their hypocrisy, they approach Him with flattering words, only to then spring a trap with their question: "Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" They sought to corner Him: if Jesus said yes, He would incur the enmity of the people oppressed by Rome’s abuses; if He said no, the Romans would accuse Him of rebellion and condemn Him. However, Jesus responds with extraordinary wisdom. He asks to be shown a coin and inquires whose image is inscribed upon it. Those Pharisees, who boasted so much a...

Dear sisters and brothers, we begin a new week united with our Mother, the Church. In this month of October—consecrated as the month of missions and the Holy Rosary—the liturgy offers us profound readings for our spiritual meditation. The Gospel according to Saint Matthew presents the parable of the wedding feast that a king prepared for his son. The great feast of humanity's reconciliation with God is likened to this wedding banquet. Sadly, the first invited guests—the people of Israel—rejected the invitation, scorned the Son of God Himself, and mistreated the messengers. Yet, the king did not give up; the door of grace was opened to all, summoning both good and bad to fill the banquet hall. However, the Gospel warns us of an essential truth: it is not enough simply to enter the banquet hall—which we can liken to the Church—for one must wear the proper garment. This wedding garment is a living faith in Jesus Christ, united with charity, love, and concrete deeds. It is of no use to...

Dear sisters and brothers, we have reached the first weekend of October. This is a very special month for our life of faith—traditionally known as Missionary Month, inspired by the radiant example of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, the universal patroness of the missions, and also consecrated as the Month of the Rosary, as we approach the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary this coming October 7th. With this beautiful inspiration, let us pause to meditate on the Holy Word of the Lord. This Sunday’s readings immerse us in a deeply significant image: the vineyard of the Lord. In the prophecy of Isaiah and in the Gospel according to Saint Matthew, we see how God has taken the initiative out of love. He planted His vineyard, fenced it in, provided everything necessary, and cared for it with the devotion and tenderness of a Father. That vineyard represents His people, whom He led by the hand and with whom He established an eternal covenant. However, the Gospel recounts a painful story of resi...