30th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 25.10.2026

Exodus 22:20-26 / 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10 / Matthew 22:34-40                  

When we think about life, we may wonder what are the most basic truths about life. 

Christianity teaches us this truth about life, and that is we are created by God. 

With that, the purpose of life is to know God and to love Him and to serve Him. 

When we truly understand this, then we will be happy. 

And the expression for happiness in life will be like this: 

We will expect nothing and appreciate everything. 

We will speak beautiful things. 

We will believe that things will work out and there is no need to be too anxious. 

We will smile and help others to smile. 

We will keep life simple and sweet. 

We may be imperfect, but we are not missing anything either. 

These are the simple truths of life that express our happiness. 

But the simple things of life can become complicated when we expect too much. 

In the Gospel, the Pharisees got together and to disconcert Jesus, they asked him, “Master, what is the greatest commandment of the Law?” 

In the traditional Jewish teaching at that time, there were a total of 613 commandments for the precepts, the laws, and the prohibitions found in the Torah, which is the first five books of the Jewish scriptures. 

The first reading has some of these commandments. 

The Pharisees wanted to disconcert and to unsettle Jesus by asking Him which of the 613 commandments was the most important. 

And whichever one Jesus chose, they will then question Him further and try to catch Him on what He said to trap Him. 

But instead of picking one, Jesus summarized the 613 commandments into the following. 

He said, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second resembles it. You must love your neighbor as Yourself. On these two commandments hang the whole Law and the Prophets also.” 

That is as most fundamental as it can get, love God and love neighbor. 

Using a tree as an imagery, the love of God is the roots, and the love of neighbor is the fruits. 

Love of God is expressed in adoration and reverence, while love of neighbor is expressed in respect and compassion. 

There is this story of a journalist who once spent a week following Saint Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa) around the slums of Kolkata. 

He watched her endlessly bandage infected wounds, bathe dying men, and comfort desperate mothers under intense heat. 

Amazed, the journalist asked, "Mother Teresa, how do you keep doing this day after day without burning out?" 

Mother Teresa took him by the hand and led him into the convent chapel. She pointed to the monstrance on the altar and then out the window toward the slums, saying: 

"Every morning, we spend an hour in Adoration looking at the Host. In the Host, under the appearance of bread, we see Jesus. Then we walk out these doors, and under the distressing disguise of the poor, we see the exact same Jesus." 

That is love and compassion in action.

Another story is that on a cold evening, a priest noticed a homeless man sitting outside the church steps every morning, shivering in a thin jacket. 

Rather than simply giving him food and money, the priest went into his own closet, pulled out a winter coat, and walked outside. Instead of throwing it at him, the priest sat down on the cold concrete beside the man, handed him the coat, and stayed to talk with him for twenty minutes, learning his name—which is Joseph—and his sad story. 

Years later, after getting off the streets and finding employment, Joseph returned to the parish. 

He handed the pastor a donation and said, "It wasn't just that you gave me a coat to keep warm that morning. It was that you sat beside me on the concrete and treated me like a human being. Your coat kept my body warm, but your respect saved my soul." 

True Christian charity is never just about transactions; it is about recognizing the dignity of every person as a child of God. 

We have come into the house of God, and in the House of prayer, we are drawn closer to God to be deeply rooted in Him. 

After Mass, we go forth as the People of God to bear fruits of love for our neighbor. 

So, life is essentially, fundamentally, and simply about knowing that God loves us and we are called to love Him in return. 

And that response to God's love is in loving our neighbour. 

On these two commandments are the source of our meaning and direction in life, as well as our happiness and our eternal destiny.

29th Week, Ordinary Time, Saturday, 24-10-2026

Ephesians 4:7-16 / Luke 13:1-9    

When something bad happens, the first thing to do might be to blame something or someone.

The second thing to do might be to ask why did such a bad thing happen, so as to find a reason to come to terms with it.

In the gospel, some people told Jesus about the tragic deaths of some Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.

It seems that the cause of the deaths of those Galileans were pinned on Pilate.

But the question that was not asked was why those Galileans and not others.

Jesus also brought up that incident when the tower of Siloam fell and killed 18 people.

The question that might be on the minds of the people could be that those people who died tragically had committed some wrong doing, and thus they died tragically.

But Jesus dispelled that thinking. Instead, He emphasized on repentance so as to be prepared for any situation in life.

To repent is to turn towards God and fix our minds and hearts on Him.

So whether we are in the sunshine of confidence or in the depths of distress, we focus on God.

We place our lives in God’s hands and let Him hold us and keep us safe.

29th Week, Ordinary Time, Friday, 23-10-2026

Ephesians 4:1-6 / Luke 12:54-59  

In this world, there are many sights and sounds.

But we don’t need to see everything in detail, nor do we need to listen to every sound.

We only need to see what we have to see, and listen to what we have to listen to.

In the first reading, St. Paul implores us to lead a life worthy of our vocation.

The word vocation comes from the Latin word “vocare” which means “to call” or “to summon”.

It means that God is calling us to be His people and to live the life that Jesus Christ has shown us.

Our response is to bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience.

And in listening to the call of God, we also look at the signs that He is showing us.

There are many things to look at, so what is it that God wants us to see.

It is in prayer and listening to promptings from the Holy Spirit that we will look at what God is showing us.

We will look at people and how we are relating with them.

It is only when we listen to God and look at what He is showing us, then we will listen to what others are saying and what they are showing us.

29th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 22-10-2026

Ephesians 3:14-21 / Luke 12:49-53  

To grow a plant or a tree, it is not so simple as throwing a seed on the ground and let nature take over.

There are many considerations, like the soil, the weather, the type of plant or tree.

And then there is also a lot of work to be done, like preparing the ground, clearing the weeds, putting fertilizers.

So, there is much preparation, and also much work to be done, before the seed is sown in the ground and when it starts to germinate.

The first reading reminds us that God has given us the power through the Holy Spirit to grow strong.

We are the seeds that the Divine Sower plants in the world to grow and bear the fruits of His saving love.

God has prepared the ground, and so we are planted in love and built on love.

All this is the work of God, and we just have to be obedient and faithful in carrying out the mission that He has given us.

But there will be struggles and troubles, there will be division and violence.

But let us be firmly rooted in Jesus Christ, and we will bear the fruits of salvation for ourselves and for the world.

29th Week, Ordinary Time, Wednesday, 21-10-2026

Ephesians 3:2-12 / Luke 12:39-48   

We all know how unpleasant and frustrating it is to wait for someone or for something.

We just have to remember the last time we missed the bus or the train, and we have to spend the unproductive time waiting for the next one to come.

Or if the delivery person or the repair-man tells us that he will come between a certain time.

We may have no other choice than to just sit around and wait.

Not only can it be boring, the time is like wasted away.

Yet as much as we don't like to wait, let us also realize that the Lord is waiting for us.

He is waiting for us to respond to His promptings and to use the gifts and talents that He has bestowed upon us to reach out and serve others.

There is always someone waiting for us to help them in their troubles, to show love and care, to listen and to share.

The 1st reading says why St. Paul was so zealous and fervent about his mission.

Because he knew that what was entrusted to him was a gift of grace from God.

He knew that much was entrusted to him and much was also expected from him.

The Lord has entrusted us with His love. May we not wait any longer to put His love into action.

29th Week, Ordinary Time, Tuesday, 20-10-2026

Ephesians 2:12-22 / Luke 12:13-21

Many modern devices run on battery power.

The batteries power up ordinary devices like clocks and watches, torchlights and mobile phones, as well as laptops.

Batteries also power up medical devices that measure blood pressure, as well as other instruments.

Battery powered devices enable free movement without being attached to an electrical power source.

But that means that there must be battery power level indicators, without which there is the anxiety of the battery being flat.

In the gospel, Jesus told His disciples to be dressed for action and have their lamps lit, and to be like men waiting for their master to return from the wedding feast, ready to open the door as soon as he comes and knocks.

It is like having the battery of a device at optimum level of charge and to be ready for use at any time.

In the first reading, St. Paul reminded the Ephesians that once upon a time they had no Christ, and were without hope and without God.

Now that they have Christ in them, they must be ready to do God’s will at any time.

We too have Christ in us. Let us be dressed for action and with lamps lit and with our hearts fully charged with the Holy Spirit.

And when our Master Jesus Christ comes knocking at the door, we will open the door and be ready to do whatever He asks of us. 

29th Week, Ordinary Time, Monday, 19-10-2026

Ephesians 2:1-10 / Luke 12:13-21   

There are many famous paintings by famous artists.

These famous works of art are also expensive and they go by millions of dollars.

For example, the painting “Sunflowers” by Vincent van Gogh is priced at around US$100 million.

For those who appreciate these art pieces, they will understand the value.

For those who have little understanding and appreciation of those art pieces, they may wonder about the price.

In any case, no one would think of adding some other details to those paintings.

The first reading tells us this: We are God’s work of art, created in Christ Jesus to live the good life as from the beginning he had meant us to live it.

Yes, each of us is a unique and a special work of art, created by God Himself.

No one can add or subtract anything from us.

But we may think that we are not good enough, and so we begin to add things to make us more special and valuable.

It is like that rich man in the gospel parable who wanted to store up all his goods to feel secure.

Jesus taught us this: Watch, and be on your guard against avarice of any kind, for a man’s life is not made secure by what he owns, even when he has more than he needs.

What we have or may not have does not enhance or reduce our dignity as God’s work of art.

What matters is that God loves us and that is all that really matters.