"WHOEVER HAS EARS OUGHT TO HEAR."

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time                                                                          Lectionary: 103

Reading 1                  Isaiah 55:10-11

Thus says the LORD: Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; my word shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.

 Responsorial Psalm                 Psalm 65:10, 11, 12-13, 14

You have visited the land and watered it;
greatly have you enriched it.
God's watercourses are filled;
you have prepared the grain.
R. The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest.

Thus have you prepared the land: drenching its furrows,
breaking up its clods,
Softening it with showers,
blessing its yield.
R. The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest.

You have crowned the year with your bounty,
and your paths overflow with a rich harvest;
The untilled meadows overflow with it,
and rejoicing clothes the hills.
R. The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest.

The fields are garmented with flocks
and the valleys blanketed with grain.
They shout and sing for joy.
R. The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest.

 Reading 2                 Romans 8:18-23

Brothers and sisters: I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us.  For creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God; for creation was made subject to futility, not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it, in hope that creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God.  We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now; and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.

 Gospel                  Matthew 13:1-23

On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea.  Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore.  And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow.   And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up.  Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil.  It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots.  Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it.  But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.  Whoever has ears ought to hear.” The disciples approached him and said,  “Why do you speak to them in parables?”   He said to them in reply, “Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted.  To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away.  This is why I speak to them in parables, because they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.  Isaiah's prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says: You shall indeed hear but not understand, you shall indeed look but never see. Gross is the heart of this people, they will hardly hear with their ears, they have closed their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and be converted, and I heal them.  “But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear.  Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. "Hear then the parable of the sower. The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the kingdom without understanding it, and the evil one comes and steals away what was sown in his heart.  The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy.  But he has no root and lasts only for a time.  When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, he immediately falls away.  The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit.  But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.”

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/////  BIL-MALTI   ////////                                                    

Wieħed bidwi ħareġ jiżra’.

>>>>  Qari tal-Ħmistax-il Ħadd taż-Żmien ta’ Matul is-Sena

Qari 1                  mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta Isaija 55, 10-11

Dan jgħid il-Mulej:  “Bħalma x-xita u s-silġ jinżlu mis-smewwiet, u ma jerġgħux lura mnejn ġew bla ma jsaqqu l-art, imma jġegħluha tnissel u tnibbet, u tagħti ż-żerriegħa lil min jiżra’ u l-ħobż lil min jiekol, hekk jiġri minn kelmti: hija toħroġ minn fommi, u ma terġax lura vojta, imma tagħmel dak li jogħġob lili, u ttemm dak li nkun bgħattha tagħmel”.    Il-Kelma tal-Mulej  >>  R/. Irroddu ħajr lil Alla

Salm Responsorjali                     Salm 64 (65), 10abcd.10e-11.12-13.14

R/. (ara Lq 8, 8): Iż-żerriegħa waqgħet f’art tajba, u għamlet il-frott

Inti żżur l-art u ssaqqiha,
u tagħniha bil-ġid tiegħek.
Il-wied ta’ Alla mimli bl-ilma,
il-qamħ tagħhom ħejjejtilhom. R/.

Hekk int tħejjiha:
issaqqi r-raddiet u twitti t-tub tagħha,
bl-irxiex trattabha u tberkilha ż-żrieragħ.
Fawwart is-sena bi tjubitek,
triqatek bil-ġid joqtru. R/.

Joqtru bin-nida l-mergħat tad-deżert,
u bil-ferħ jitħażżmu l-għoljiet.
Il-mergħat jimtlew bl-imrieħel,
il-widien jinksew bil-qamħ;
jgħajtu lkoll u jgħannu bil-ferħ! R/.

Qari 2                   mill-Ittra ta’ San Pawl lir-Rumani 8, 18-23

Ħuti, jiena għadni persważ li t-tbatijiet ta’ issa ma għandhom xejn x’jaqsmu mal-glorja li għad trid tidher fina. Il-ħlejjaq kollha qegħdin jistennew ħerqana r-rivelazzjoni ta’ wlied Alla; għax il-ħolqien jinsab taħt il-frugħa – mhux minn rajh, imma minħabba dak li xeħtu taħtha – bit-tama li l-ħlejjaq huma wkoll għad ikunu meħlusa mill-jasar tat-taħsir u jiksbu l-ħelsien tal-glorja ta’ wlied Alla.  Aħna nafu li l-ħolqien kollu għadu s’issa jitniehed bl-uġigħ tal- ħlas; u mhux hu biss, imma wkoll aħna li għandna l-ewwel frott tal-Ispirtu, aħna wkoll nitniehdu fina nfusna waqt li nistennew l-adozzjoni ta’ wlied, il-fidwa ta’ ġisimna.    Il-Kelma tal-Mulej   >> R/. Irroddu ħajr lil Alla

Evanġelju                 Qari skond San Mattew 13, 1-23

Dakinhar Ġesù ħareġ mid-dar, mar f’xatt il-baħar u qagħad bilqiegħda hemm. U nġabru madwaru folol hekk kbar ta’ nies li kellu jitla’ fuq dgħajsa u jinżel bilqiegħda fiha; in-nies qagħdu lkoll wieqfa fuq ix-xatt, u hu beda jkellimhom fuq bosta ħwejjeġ bil-parabboli. U qalilhom: “Darba wieħed bidwi ħareġ jiżra’. Huwa u jiżra’, xi żerrigħat waqgħu mal-mogħdija, ġew l-għasafar u naqqruhom kollha. Oħrajn waqgħu f’art kollha blat, fejn ma kienx hemm wisq ħamrija, u malajr nibtu, għax il-ħamrija ma kinitx fonda; iżda mbagħad telgħet ix-xemx, u nħarqu u nixfu, għax ma kellhomx għeruq. Oħrajn waqgħu qalb ix-xewk, u x-xewk kiber magħhom u ħonoqhom. Imma oħrajn waqgħu f’art tajba, u għamlu l-frott, min mija, min sittin, u min tletin. Min għandu widnejn, ħa jisma!”.  Resqu lejh id-dixxipli u staqsew: “Għaliex tkellimhom bil-parabboli?”. Hu weġibhom: “Għax lilkom ingħata li tagħrfu l-misteri tas-Saltna tas-Smewwiet, iżda lilhom dan ma kienx mogħti. Għax kull min għandu, jingħatalu, u jkollu żżejjed ukoll; iżda min ma għandux, jitteħidlu saħansitra dak li għandu. Jien għalhekk inkellimhom bil-parabboli; għax iħarsu kemm iħarsu ma jarawx, u jisimgħu kemm jisimgħu ma jifhmux. U hekk isseħħ fihom il-profezija ta’ Isaija li tgħid, “Tisimgħu kemm tisimgħu ma tifhmux,  u tħarsu kemm tħarsu ma tarawx. Għax il-qalb ta’ dan il-poplu twebbset; kienu tqal biex jisimgħu b’widnejhom, u għalqu għajnejhom li ma jmorrux jaraw b’għajnejhom, u jisimgħu b’widnejhom u jifhmu b’moħħhom, u hekk ibiddlu ħajjithom u jiena nfejjaqhom”.  Intom, iżda, henjin għajnejkom, għax qegħdin jaraw; henjin widnejkom, għax qegħdin jisimgħu. Tassew, ngħidilkom, li bosta profeti u nies ġusti xtaqu jaraw dak li qegħdin taraw intom u ma rawhx, u jisimgħu dak li qegħdin tisimgħu intom, u ma semgħuhx!  Mela isimgħuha intom il-parabbola ta’ dak li ħareġ jiżra’. Kull min jisma’ l-kelma tas-Saltna u ma jifhimhiex, jersaq il-Ħażin u jisraqlu dak li jkun inżera’ f’qalbu: dan huwa dak li nżera’ mal-mogħdija. Dak li nżera’ f’art kollha blat huwa dak li jisma’ l-kelma u jilqagħha minnufih bil-ferħ; imma għeruq ma jkollux fih innifsu, u għalhekk ftit idum; imbagħad jiġi fuqu l-għawġ, jew isib min iħabbtu minħabba l-kelma, u malajr jitfixkel. Dak li nżera’ qalb ix-xewk huwa dak li jisma’ l-kelma iżda l-inkwiet żejjed għall-ħwejjeġ tad-dinja u l-ġibda għall-ġid tal-art joħonqulu l-kelma, li għalhekk ma tagħmilx frott. Dak imbagħad li nżera’ f’art tajba huwa dak li jisma’ l-kelma u jifhimha; u tassew hu jagħmel il-frott; dan jagħmel mija, dak sittin, u l-ieħor tletin”.    Il-Kelma tal-Mulej   >>  R/. Tifħir lilek Kristu

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/////////////  REFLECTION  .....  Fr Tony Kadavil's Weekly Eight-minute homily in one page)    

THE TRANSFORMING POWER OF THE WORD OF GOD

Introduction: 

Sunday’s readings are about the transforming power of the word of God when read, preached, and lived. They also warn us not to be disappointed at the absence of immediate results. We must take a positive and optimistic view of our missionary efforts, as we keep on bearing witness to Christ’s Gospel. The parable of the sower in Sunday’s Gospel challenges us to listen intently to God’s Word, to be open to it, and to allow our lives to be shaped by its power. The parable reminds us that man’s reception of God’s Word is determined by the condition of his heart.

Scripture lessons summarized: 

In the First Reading, Isaiah consoles the Jewish slaves in Babylon, assuring them that, like rain and snow which water the earth so that seeds may sprout and grow, God's word will accomplish His purpose, in this case by returning the exiles to their homes in peace as God has promised. In the Second Reading, St. Paul reminds us that just as seeds must fall into the earth and die to produce an abundant crop, the pain and sufferings God permits in our lives work in us for our redemption. Paul wants us to wait for our eternal reward while we continue sowing the word of God diligently and suffering for the Lord, as he did. 

Sunday’s Gospel teaches us that the word of the Lord is the seed, and our hearts and minds are the soil. The seed’s good spiritual yield in one’s life depends on how fully one willingly accepts and responds to the word of the Lord. The yield arising from the positive response will be abundant beyond all imagining. The parable tells us to do our part by preparing fertile soil in our hearts in which the word of God can germinate, grow, and yield 30-, 60, or 100-fold.

Life messages: 

1) We need to assess our use of the word of God. We need to read the word of God every day, starting with a prayer to the Holy Spirit for the gifts of attentive reading and the ability and willingness to apply the message we receive to our daily living. When we listen to the word of God as read and preached in the Church during the Holy Mass, or in a televised program, we need to pay full attention to the message given by God, Who uses the priest or preacher as His instrument.

2) We need to keep our spiritual soil free from weeds, fertile, and well-prepared for the word of God:

 First, we need to keep our hearts open to the word of God instead of closing it with pride, prejudice, fear, or laziness. 

Second, we also need to ask God’s special grace to remove all types of blocks which hardenour hearts, like laziness, anxiety, worries, hatred, jealousy, prejudice and the burden of un-repented/unconfessed sins, any of which can prevent the word of God from influencing and transforming our lives. 

Third, we have to remove from our hearts the weeds like evil habits and addictions, evil tendencies, hatred, jealousy, fear, and greed. 

Fourth, we should not allow the trials and tribulations of this world (the cares of this world, our ambitions, or our desires for worldly success and happiness), to choke out the messages that God gives through His word. 

Last, we have to keep the soil of our hearts fertile by our prayer life, repenting daily of our sins receiving the sacrament of reconciliation when necessary, and receiving the spiritual food of the Holy Eucharist by participating in the Holy Mass. When we receive Jesus, the Word of God and the Source of the word of God [Holy Scripture and Sacred Tradition], in Holy Communion we need to ask him to transform our lives so that we may see Jesus in all of us (for we are all brothers and sisters in Him), and share with each Jesus’ unconditional love, mercy, compassion, and forgiveness.

//////////////////////////////////////     Fr Tony's Homilies © 2026.  /  https://frtonyshomilies.com  ////////

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"COME TO ME, ALL YOU WHO LABOUR..." "

 Readings for Sunday, July 5, 2026 

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time                                                                    Lectionary: 100

Reading 1                Zechariah 9:9-10

Thus says the LORD:  Rejoice heartily, O daughter Zion, shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem! See, your king shall come to you; a just savior is he, meek, and riding on an ass, on a colt, the foal of an ass. He shall banish the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem; the warrior's bow shall be banished, and he shall proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. 

Responsorial Psalm                Psalm 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13-14

I will extol you, O my God and King,
and I will bless your name forever and ever.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
or: R. Alleluia.

The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
or: R. Alleluia.

Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
or: R.  Alleluia.

The LORD is faithful in all his words
and holy in all his works.
The LORD lifts up all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
R. I will praise your name for ever, my king and my God.
or: R. Alleluia.

 Reading 2                  Romans 8:9, 11-13

lBrothers and sisters: You are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you.  Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.  If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that dwells in you.  Consequently, brothers and sisters, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.  For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

 Gospel                  Matthew 11:25-30

At that time Jesus exclaimed:  "I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to little ones. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father.  No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him."  .... "Come to me, all you who labour and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."

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/////  BIL-MALTI   ////////

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"Jien ta’ qalb ħelwa u umli"

>>>>  Qari tal-Erbatax-il Ħadd taż-Żmien ta’ Matul is-Sena

Qari I                  mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta Żakkarija 9, 9-10
          
Dan jgħid il-Mulej: “Ifraħ kemm tiflaħ, bint Sijon, għajjat bil-ferħ, bint Ġerusalemm!  Ara, is-sultan tiegħek ġej għandek; ġust u rebbieħ, umli u riekeb fuq ħmar, fuq felu ta’ ħmara. Hu jeqred il-karru minn Efrajm u ż-żiemel minn Ġerusalemm; jinqered il-qaws tal-gwerra. Hu jxandar il-paċi lill-ġnus, il-ħakma tiegħu tkun minn baħar sa baħar, u mix-xmara tal-Ewfrat sat-trufijiet”.  >> Il-Kelma tal-Mulej   R/. Irroddu ħajr lil Alla

Salm Responsorjali                Salm 144 (145), 1-2.8-9.10-11.13cd-14

R/. (1): Mulej, inbierek ismek għal dejjem

Ħa nkabbrek, Alla tiegħi, sultan,
u nbierek ismek għal dejjem ta’ dejjem.
Kuljum irrid inbierkek,
u nfaħħar ismek għal dejjem ta’ dejjem. R/.

Twajjeb u ħanin il-Mulej,
idum biex jagħdab u kollu tjieba.
Twajjeb ma’ kulħadd il-Mulej,
tjubitu fuq kull ma għamel. R/.

Kull ma għamilt iroddlok ħajr, Mulej;
iberkuk il-ħbieb tiegħek kollha.
Is-sebħ tas-saltna tiegħek ixandru,
fuq is-setgħa tiegħek jitkellmu. R/.

Ta’ kelmtu l-Mulej fil-wegħdiet tiegħu kollha,
twajjeb f’dak kollu li għamel.
Iwieżen il-Mulej lil kull min se jaqa’,
iqajjem lil kull min hu mitluq. R/.

Qari 2                      mill-Ittra ta’ San Pawl lir-Rumani 8, 9.11-13

Ħuti, intom ma intomx taħt il-ħakma tal-ġisem, imma tal-Ispirtu, ladarba hemm l-Ispirtu ta’ Alla jgħammar fikom. Jekk xi ħadd ma għandux fih l-Ispirtu ta’ Kristu, dan mhuwiex tiegħu. Jekk l-Ispirtu ta’ dak li qajjem lil Ġesù mill-imwiet jgħammar fikom, Alla stess li qajjem lil Kristu mill-imwiet iqajjem għall-ħajja wkoll il-ġisem mejjet tagħkom, bis-saħħa tal-Ispirtu li jgħammar fikom.  Hekk mela, ħuti, aħna m’aħniex midjunin mal-ġisem biex ngħixu skond il-ġisem. Għax jekk tgħixu skond il-ġisem, tmutu; imma jekk tmewtu l-għemil tal-ġisem bl-Ispirtu, tgħixu.   >> Il-Kelma tal-Mulej   R/. Irroddu ħajr lil Alla

Evanġelju                      Qari skond San Mattew 11, 25-30

F’dak iż-żmien Ġesù qabad u qal: “Infaħħrek, Missier, Sid is-sema u l-art, għax inti dawn il-ħwejjeġ ħbejthom lil min għandu l-għerf u d-dehen u wrejthom liċ-ċkejknin. Iva, Missier, għax lilek hekk għoġbok. Kollox kien mogħti lili minn Missieri, u ħadd ma jagħraf lill-Iben jekk mhux il-Missier, kif ħadd ma jagħraf lill-Missier jekk mhux l-Iben u dak li lilu l-Iben irid jgħarrafhulu. ....   Ejjew għandi, intom ilkoll li tinsabu mħabbtin u mtaqqlin, u jiena nserraħkom. Ħudu fuqkom il-madmad tiegħi u tgħallmu minni, għaliex jiena ta’ qalb ħelwa u umli, u intom issibu l-mistrieħ għal ruħkom. Għax il-madmad tiegħi ħelu u t-toqol tiegħi ħafif”.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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/////////////  REFLECTION  

(Fr Tony Kadavil's WEEKLY Eight-minute homily in one page) 

Jesus encourages us to persevere in doing the work He started

Introduction:

Most Americans probably are aware or have heard all or part of Emma Lazarus’ poem inscribed on the base of the Statue of Liberty: “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores! Send these, the homeless tempest-tossed to me – I lift my lamp beside the Golden Door!” (https://youtu.be/rsRemx7ANg4)  

And next Sunday’s Readings, especially the Gospel, give us the same message in a more powerful way: "Take my yoke . . . and you will find rest."

Scripture lessons summarized: 

In the First Reading, the prophet Zechariah consoles the Jews living in Palestine under Greek rule, promising them a “meek” Messianic King of peace riding on a donkey, who will give them rest and liberty. The Responsorial Psalm (Ps 145) praises and thanks a kind and compassionate God Who “raises up those who are bowed down” under heavy yokes.

In the Second Reading, Paul tells the first-century Christian community in Rome about two yokes, namely, the “flesh” and the “Spirit,” and he challenges them to reject the heavy, fatal yoke of the flesh and accept the light, life-supporting yoke of the Spirit of Jesus. Christian spirituality, according to Paul, proceeds from the initiative of the Holy Spirit and means living in the realm of the “Spirit” as opposed to the “flesh."

In this week's Gospel, Jesus offers rest to those “who labour and are burdened,” IF they will accept his “easy yoke and light burden.” By declaring that his “yoke is easy,” Jesus means that whatever God sends us is made to fit our needs and our abilities exactly. The second part of Jesus’ claim is: "My burden is light." Jesus does not mean that the burden is easy to carry, but that it is laid on us in love, that it is meant to be carried in love, and that love makes even the heaviest burden light.

Life messages: 

1) We need to unload our burdens on the Lord. This “unloading” is the main purpose of our personal and family prayers and is one of the functions of Divine Worship in the Church. During our daily prayers in the evening, we ask God’s forgiveness for the sins and failures of day and receive the consoling assurance that we are reconciled with God and our fellow human beings. During the Holy Mass in our parish Church, we place our stress-filled lives on the altar and allow Jesus to cool down the overheated radiators of our hectic lives. We also unload the burdens of our sins and worries on the altar and offer them and ourselves to God during the Holy Mass.

 2) We need to be freed from unnecessary burdens: Jesus lays the light burden of his Commandment of Love on us and yokes us with himself, giving us his strength through the Holy Spirit to fulfill that Commandment. Jesus is also interested in lifting from our backs the burdens that suck the life out of us, so that he can place around our necks his own yoke that brings to us and to others through us, new life, new energy, and new joy. We are called, not only to find peace, refreshment, and rest for ourselves, but also to live the kind of life through which others, too, may find God's peace, God's refreshing grace, and the joy of placing their lives in God's hands.

//////////////////////////////////////     Fr Tony's Homilies © 2026.  /  https://frtonyshomilies.com  ////////

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“MY KINDNESS IS ESTABLISHED FOREVER!"

  Readings for Sunday, June 28, 2026 

 Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time                                                 Lectionary: 97

                                    Reading 1                   2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16a

One day Elisha came to Shunem, where there was a woman of influence, who urged him to dine with her.  Afterward, whenever he passed by, he used to stop there to dine. So she said to her husband, “I know that Elisha is a holy man of God. Since he visits us often, let us arrange a little room on the roof and furnish it for him with a bed, table, chair, and lamp, so that when he comes to us he can stay there.” Sometime later Elisha arrived and stayed in the room overnight.  Later Elisha asked, “Can something be done for her?” His servant Gehazi answered, “Yes! She has no son, and her husband is getting on in years.” Elisha said, “Call her.” When the woman had been called and stood at the door, Elisha promised, “This time next year you will be fondling a baby son.”

Responsorial Psalm                  Psalm 89:2-3, 16-17, 18-19

The promises of the Lord I will sing forever, 
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, “My kindness is established forever;”
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
R. Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

Blessed the people who know the joyful shout;
in the light of your countenance, O Lord, they walk.
At your name they rejoice all the day,
and through your justice they are exalted.
R. Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

You are the splendour of their strength,
and by your favor our horn is exalted.
For to the Lord belongs our shield,
and the Holy One of Israel, our king.
R. Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

Reading 2                  Romans 6:3-4, 8-11

Brothers and sisters:  Are you unaware that we who were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life.If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him. As to his death, he died to sin once and for all; as to his life, he lives for God. Consequently, you too must think of yourselves as dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus.

Gospel              Matthew 10:37-42

Jesus said to his apostles: “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."   "Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.  Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because the little one is a disciple— amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.” 

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/////  BIL-MALTI   ////////

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" Indfinna miegħu permezz tal-magħmudija, biex ngħixu ħajja ġdida....."

>>>>  Qari tat-Tlettax-il Ħadd taż-Żmien ta’ Matul is-Sena

Qari 1                   mit-Tieni Ktieb tas-Slaten 4, 8-11.14-16a

Ġurnata waħda Eliżew kien għaddej minn Sunem. Hawn kienet toqgħod mara għanja, u din ġagħlitu joqgħod jiekol għandha; u kull meta kien jgħaddi minn hemm kien idur għal għandha biex jiekol hemm. U hi qalet lil żewġha: “Ara, jien żgura li dan ir-raġel, li jgħaddi għandna sikwit, hu raġel qaddis ta’ Alla. Ħa ntellgħulu għorfa fuq is-setaħ, u nqegħdulu fiha sodda, mejda, siġġu u mnara, u meta jgħaddi għandna, ikun jista’ jidħol fiha”.   U ġurnata waħda wasal hemm, u daħal fl-għorfa, u raqad hemm. U Eliżew qal lil Ġeħażi, il-qaddej tiegħu: “X’nistgħu nagħmlulha lil din il-mara?”. U Ġeħażi wieġbu: “Jaħasra, ma għandhiex tfal, u żewġha xiħ!”. U wieġbu: “Sejħilha”. U dak sejħilha u ġiet fil-bieb. U Eliżew qalilha: “Bħal dan iż-żmien sena, int tkun tħaddan iben”.  > Il-Kelma tal-Mulej   R/. Irroddu ħajr lil Alla

Salm Responsorjali                 Salm 88 (89), 2-3.16-17.18-19

R/. (2a): It-tjieba tal-Mulej irrid dejjem ngħanni

It-tjieba tal-Mulej irrid dejjem ngħanni;
f’kull żmien ixandar fommi l-fedeltà tiegħek.
Għax jien għedt: “Tjubitek tibqa’ sħiħa għal dejjem;
bħas-smewwiet int wettaqt il-fedeltà tiegħek”. R/.

Hieni l-poplu li jaf jgħajjat bil-ferħ,
li jimxi, Mulej, fid-dawl ta’ wiċċek.
B’ismek jithennew il-jum kollu,
u bil-ġustizzja tiegħek jifirħu. R/.

Għax inti l-foħrija tal-qawwa tagħhom;
għal tjubitek nerfgħu rasna fl-għoli.
Għax il-Mulej it-tarka tagħna,
il-Qaddis ta’ Iżrael is-sultan tagħna. R/.

Qari 2                   mill-Ittra ta’ San Pawl lir-Rumani 6, 3-4.8-11

Ħuti, ma tafux li aħna lkoll li tgħammidna fi Kristu Ġesù, tgħammidna fil-mewt tiegħu? Indfinna miegħu fil-mewt permezz tal-magħmudija sabiex kif Kristu kien imqajjem mill-imwiet permezz tal-qawwa glorjuża tal-Missier, hekk aħna ngħixu ħajja ġdida.  Jekk aħna mitna ma’ Kristu, nemmnu wkoll li għad ngħixu ma’ Kristu. Nafu li Kristu qam mill-imwiet u ma jmutx aktar; il-mewt ma għadhiex taħkem fuqu. Hu li miet, miet darba għal dejjem għad-dnub; u issa li qiegħed jgħix, qiegħed jgħix għal Alla. Hekk ukoll intom għandkom tqisu lilkom infuskom mejtin għad-dnub, iżda ħajjin għal Alla fi Kristu Ġesù.  >  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej  R/. Irroddu ħajr lil Alla

Evanġelju                  Qari mill-Evanġelju skond San Mattew 10, 37-42

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù qal lill-appostli tiegħu: “Min iħobb lil missieru jew lil ommu iżjed minni ma jistħoqqlux li jkun miegħi; min iħobb lil ibnu jew lil bintu iżjed minni ma jistħoqqlux li jkun tiegħi. U min ma jerfax salibu u jimxi warajja ma jistħoqqlux li jkun miegħi.  Min isib lil ħajtu, jitlifha; u min jitlef lil ħajtu minħabba fija jsibha. Min jilqa’ lilkom jilqa’ lili, u min jilqa’ lili jkun jilqa’ lil Dak li bagħatni. Min jilqa’ profeta għax hu profeta, ħlas ta’ profeta jieħu; u min jilqa’ bniedem ġust għax hu ġust, ħlas ta’ wieħed ġust jieħu. U kull min jagħti mqar tazza ilma frisk lil xi ħadd minn dawn l-iżgħar għax hu dixxiplu, tassew ngħidilkom li ma jitlifx il-ħlas tiegħu”.  >  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej     R/. Tifħir lilek Kristu

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OUR WITNESSING MISSION AS GOD'S CHOSEN ONES 

Fr Tony Kadavil's WEEKLY Eight-minute homily in one page

Introduction: 

The common theme of next Sunday’s readings is the witnessing mission given to Christ’s followers to love God and our brothers and sisters through hospitality, generosity, commitment in humble service, and the practice of corporal and spiritual works (acts) of mercy (charity). The readings also remind us of the sacrifice demanded of Jesus’ disciples and the suffering they will endure for their Faith when they bear witness to Jesus. 

Scripture lessons: 

In our First Reading, we see, the welcome given to the prophet Elisha by an elderly, childless couple who lived in Shunem. The wife recognized the holiness of Elisha. She showed him reverence and hospitality by inviting him to dine with her and her husband and by arranging an upper room of their house so that Elisha might stay with them when he visited the area. In response, Elisha promised her, "This time next year you will be fondling a baby son."The promise was fulfilled by God. 

Sunday’s Responsorial Psalm (Ps 89), reminds us that we are the children of God Who tells us, “My mercy [kindness] is established forever.” The Second Reading, taken from Paul’s letter to the Romans, explains why those who care for the followers of Jesus are caring for Jesus himself, and those who show hospitality to any one of them are eligible for a reward. 

By our Baptism, we have been baptised into Jesus’ death and buried with him, and we look forward to our resurrection with him (Rom 6:5). Since Baptism is our entrée into this new life, it makes us part of the Body of Christ, and Christ is truly present in us. That is why the one who welcomes us welcomes Christ and becomes eligible for a reward. 

Sunday's Gospel lesson concludes Jesus' great “missionary discourse” in which he instructs the twelve apostles on the cost and the reward of the commitment required of a disciple. The first half of these sayings of Jesus details the behaviour expected of his disciples, and the second half speaks of the behaviour expected of others towards the disciples. Jesus assures his disciples that whoever shows them hospitality will be blessed. Those who receive Jesus receive the One who sent him. Also, those who help the "little ones," (believers) and the poor, the sick, and the needy, will be amply rewarded.

Life message: 

1) We need to be hospitable and generous:      Hospitality means acknowledging the presence of God in others and serving Him in them, especially those in whom we least expect to find Him. We, as individuals and as a community, are to look for opportunities to be hospitable--and, of course, there are plenty of ways of offering hospitality. Maybe hospitality is offered through a kind word to a stranger, or even just a smile. 

A kind smile or a “hello" to someone waiting with us in a grocery line may be the only kindness that person encounters all day. We become fully alive as Christians through the generous giving of ourselves. What is more important than the sending of checks for charitable causes is the giving of ourselves to people, primarily in the way we think about them, for from that spring will flow the ways we speak to them and about them, forgive their failings, encourage them, show them respect, console them, and offer them help. 

Such generosity reflects warmth radiating from the very love of God.

//////////////////////////////////////     Fr Tony's Homilies © 2026.  /  https://frtonyshomilies.com  ////////

"...YOU WHO SEEK GOD MAY YOUR HEARTS REVIVE!"

 Readings for Sunday, June 21, 2026 

>>>   Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time               Lectionary: 94

Reading 1                 Jeremiah 20:10-13

Jeremiah said: "I hear the whisperings of many: 'Terror on every side! Denounce! let us denounce him!' All those who were my friends are on the watch for any misstep of mine. 'Perhaps he will be trapped; then we can prevail, and take our vengeance on him.' But the LORD is with me, like a mighty champion: my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph. In their failure they will be put to utter shame, to lasting, unforgettable confusion. O LORD of hosts, you who test the just, who probe mind and heart, let me witness the vengeance you take on them, for to you I have entrusted my cause. Sing to the LORD, praise the LORD, for he has rescued the life of the poor from the power of the wicked!"

 Responsorial Psalm                  Psalm 69:8-10, 14, 17, 33-35

For Your sake I bear insult, and shame covers my face. 
I have become an outcast to my brothers,
a stranger to my mother's children, 
Because zeal for your house consumes me,
and the insults of those who blaspheme you fall upon me.
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.

I pray to you, O LORD, for the time of your favor, O God!
In your great kindness answer me with your constant help.
Answer me, O LORD, for bounteous is your kindness;
in your great mercy turn toward me.
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.

"See, you lowly ones, and be glad; 
you who seek God, may your hearts revive!
For the LORD hears the poor, 
and his own who are in bonds he spurns not.
Let the heavens and the earth praise him,
the seas and whatever moves in them!''
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.

Reading 2                 Romans 5:12-15

Brothers and sisters:  Through one man sin entered the world, and through sin, death, and thus death came to all men, inasmuch as all sinned— for up to the time of the law, sin was in the world, though sin is not accounted when there is no law. But death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin after the pattern of the trespass of Adam, who is the type of the one who was to come. But the gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, how much more did the grace of God and the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ overflow for the many.

 Gospel                  Matthew 10:26-33

Jesus said to the Twelve:  "Fear no one. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light;  what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul;  rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father."

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"Dak li jien ngħidilkom fid-dlam għiduh fid-dawl...."

>>>>  Qari tat-Tnax-il Ħadd taż-Żmien ta’ Matul is-Sena  

Qari 1                   mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta Ġeremija 20, 10-13

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġeremija qal: Ma nismax ħlief taqsis il-kotra; biża’ madwari kollu! “Ixluh! Ħa nixluh!”.  Jgħajtu saħansitra ħbiebi kollha, ifittxu l-qerda tiegħi: “Għandu mnejn jitqarraq u negħlbuh; ta’ kollox nitħallsu minnu!”.   Il-Mulej miegħi bħal raġel qalbieni, għalhekk dawk li jagħmlu għalija jogħtru, ma jagħmlu xejn, jitħawdu bis-sħiħ, għax ħsiebhom ma jseħħx; għajb għalihom li ma jintesa qatt. Int, Mulej tal-eżerċti, li ġġarrab il-ġust, li tara l-ġewwieni u l-qalb, ħallini nara l-vendetta tiegħek kontrihom, għax f’idejk ħallejt il-kawża tiegħi.  Għannu lill-Mulej, faħħru lill-Mulej, għaliex ħajjet l-imsejken ħelisha minn id il-ħżiena.                                                                                                            Il-Kelma tal-Mulej  R/. Irroddu ħajr lil Alla

Salm Responsorjali                 Salm 68 (69), 8-10.14.17.33-35

R/. (14ċ): Fil-kobor ta’ tjubitek weġibni, O Alla

Minħabba fik qiegħed nilqa’ t-tmaqdir,
u l-mistħija tiksili wiċċi.
Sirt barrani għal ħuti,
ulied ommi ma jagħrfunix.
Għax il-ħeġġa għal darek fnietni,
it-tagħjir ta’ min jgħajjar lilek waqa’ fuqi. R/.

Imma jien lilek nitlob, Mulej;
meta jogħġbok, o Alla, weġibni,
fil-kobor ta’ tjubitek
u skond il-wegħda tas-salvazzjoni tiegħek.
Weġibni, Mulej, għax mill-aħjar tjubitek;
dur lejja fil-kobor tal-ħniena tiegħek. R/.

Hekk jaraw l-imsejkna u jifirħu;
u tagħmlu l-qalb, intom li tfittxu lil Alla.
Għax jisma’ l-fqajrin il-Mulej,
ma jistmellx l-imjassrin tiegħu.
Ifaħħruh is-sema u l-art,
l-ibħra u kull ma jitħarrek fihom. R/.

Qari 2                     mill-ittra ta’ San Pawl lir-Rumani 5, 12-15

Ħuti, kien permezz ta’ bniedem wieħed li fid-dinja daħal id-dnub, u permezz tad-dnub il-mewt, u hekk il-mewt laħqet il-bnedmin kollha, għax kollha dinbu. Kienet għadha ma waslitx il-Liġi, id-dnub kien ġa fid-dinja: imma d-dnub ma kienx magħdud, ladarba Liġi ma kienx hemm. Madankollu l-mewt saltnet ukoll minn Adam sa Mosè, mqar fuq dawk li ma waqgħux fid-dnub li fih kien waqa’ Adam, li kien xbieha ta’ dak li kellu jiġi. Imma d-don mhuwiex bħall-ħtija. Għax jekk permezz ta’ ħtija waħda mietet il-kotra, aktar u aktar issa l-grazzja ta’ Alla u d-don mogħti bil-grazzja ta’ bniedem wieħed li hu Ġesù Kristu, xterdu bil-bosta fuq il-kotra.                                                                                                            Il-Kelma tal-Mulej  R/. Irroddu ħajr lil Alla

Evanġelju                 Qari skond San Mattew 10, 26-33

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù qal lill-Appostli tiegħu: “La tibżgħux mill-bnedmin. Għax xejn ma hu mgħotti li ma jinkixifx, u xejn ma hu moħbi li ma jsirx magħruf. Dak li jien ngħidilkom fid-dlam għiduh fid-dawl, u dak li ngħidilkom f’widnejkom xandruh minn fuq il-bjut. U tibżgħux minn dawk li joqtlu l-ġisem bla ma jistgħu joqtlu r-ruħ; imma aktar ibżgħu minn dak li jista’ jeqred kemm ir-ruħ u kemm il-ġisem flinfern.  Żewġ għasafar tal-bejt mhux b’ħabba jinbiegħu? U b’danakollu anqas wieħed minnhom ma jaqa’ fl-art mingħajr ir-rieda ta’ missierkom. Intom imbagħad sax-xagħar ta’ raskom kollu hu magħdud. Mela xejn la tibżgħu; intom aqwa minn ħafna għasafar tal-bejt. Kull min jistqarr quddiem il-bnedmin li hu miegħi, jien ukoll nistqarr li jiena miegħu quddiem Missieri li hu fis-smewwiet. Iżda min jiċħad lili quddiem il-bnedmin, jien ukoll niċħad lilu quddiem Missieri li hu fis-smewwiet”.                                                     Il-Kelma tal-Mulej   R/. Tifħir lilek Kristu

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(Fr Tony Kadavil's WEEKLY Eight-minute homily in one page) 

Jesus encourages us to persevere in doing the work He started

Introduction:

Our Scripture readings for this Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time challenges us to preach Christ through our words and lives without fear.

Scripture lessons summarized: 

The first reading tells us how the prophet Jeremiah trusted in the power of God while he faced opposition for his prophetic ministry. He was intimidated by attacks upon his character, but he was unafraid to speak out in the name of the Lord. The psalmist in today’s Responsorial Psalm (Ps 69) trusts in God when he is misunderstood and ill-treated even by his brothers and relatives. In the second reading, Paul assures the Christians in Rome that they need not be afraid of opposition both because they share in the death of Jesus and because they are united with Christ, the new Adam, in his Resurrection.

Today’s Gospel passage is taken from the end of Jesus’ instruction to his disciples as he sends them forth to carry on his mission of preaching and healing. He asks them to live simple lives and to expect opposition and rejection. After having foretold future opposition and persecution, Jesus encourages his disciples to stand firm. Three times they are urged, "Do not fear!" "Do not be afraid!" Instead of shrinking from their task, they are to proclaim the Gospel boldly because they will be protected, just as Jeremiah was assured of God's protection. 

Hence, Jesus commands his disciples not to fear their persecutors. He presents before them the image of the sparrow to reinforce the disciples’ trust and hope in God. The readings hint at the opposition we future Christians will encounter as we carry on the work of Jesus in the world, and they encourage us to persevere in doing the work of Jesus. They assure us that we will be successful, despite the opposition we encounter.

Life messages: 

We need not be afraid because our life is in the hands of a loving God. Sometimes we are afraid that we will make a wrong decision. At other times, we are afraid of what others will think when we speak up for Jesus. We are afraid of what the future will bring to our children. We are also afraid of growing old. Sometimes we are afraid of what declining health will bring us. 

At the root of these fears is the fear of loss. Every fear we have is grounded in the knowledge that we have something or someone to lose. I can lose my job, family, house, money, reputation, health, and even life itself. Rejection and loss are the basis of our fears. But we forget one thing: whatever trouble or crisis affects us, we know that God understands it better than we ourselves do. 

Our Heavenly Father knows exactly what is happening. What a release from fear it is to know that God is with us; that our life is in the hands of a loving God! The next time fear grips us we need to remember that being faithful to Christ wherever we meet him in this life is much more important than our fear of loss or rejection by others. Also, let us take a moment to recall some of the great promises of God. Let us remind ourselves that God cares – we are each a dear child of His, and He cares for each of us. "Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." The last verse of Psalm 27 sums it up nicely: "Trust in the Lord. Have Faith; do not despair. Trust in the Lord."

//////////////////////////////////////     Fr Tony's Homilies © 2026.  /  https://frtonyshomilies.com  ////////

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"WITHOUT COST YOU HAVE RECEIVED; WITHOUT COST YOU ARE TO GIVE."

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 91

Reading 1                Exodus 19:2-6a 

In those days, the Israelites came to the desert of Sinai and pitched camp. While Israel was encamped here in front of the mountain, Moses went up the mountain to God. Then the LORD called to him and said, “Thus shall you say to the house of Jacob; tell the Israelites: You have seen for yourselves how I treated the Egyptians and how I bore you up on eagle wings and brought you here to myself.  Therefore, if you hearken to my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my special possession, dearer to me than all other people, though all the earth is mine. You shall be to me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.” 

Responsorial Psalm                  Psalm 100:1-2, 3, 5

Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
    serve the LORD with gladness;
    come before him with joyful song.
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.

Know that the LORD is God;
    he made us, his we are;
    his people, the flock he tends.
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.

The LORD is good:
    his kindness endures forever,
    and his faithfulness to all generations.
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.

Reading 2                             Romans 5:6-11

Brothers and sisters:  Christ, while we were still helpless,  yet died at the appointed time for the ungodly. Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die.  But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. How much more then, since we are now justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath. Indeed, if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, once reconciled, will we be saved by his life.  Not only that, but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Gospel                  Matthew 9:36—10:8

At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned,  like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harve st is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” Then he summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon from Cana, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him. Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”

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"B’xejn ħadtu, b’xejn agħtu”

>>>> Qari tal-Ħdax-il Ħadd taż-Żmien ta’ Matul is-Sena

Qari 1                  Qari mill-Ktieb tal-Eżodu19, 2-6a

F’dak iż-żmien, wara li refgħu t-tined, minn Rafidim ulied Iżrael waslu fid-deżert tas-Sinaj u waqqfu t-tined fid-deżert. Iżrael waqqaf it-tined hemm, biswit il-muntanja.  Mosè tala’ ħdejn Alla, u l-Mulej sejjaħlu mill-muntanja u qallu: “Dan għid lil dar Ġakobb u għarraf lil ulied Iżrael: “Rajtu intom x’għamilt lill-Eġizzjani, u kif lilkom ġarrejtkom fuq il-ġwienaħ tal-ajkli u ressaqtkom lejja. Issa, jekk tisimgħu leħni u żżommu l-patt tiegħi, intom tkunu l-wirt tiegħi minn fost il-popli kollha, għax l-art kollha tiegħi. Intom tkunu għalija saltna ta’ qassisin u ġens qaddis””. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej    R/. Irroddu ħajr lil Alla

Salm Responsorjali                  Salm 99 (100), 2.3.5

R/. (3c): Aħna l-poplu tiegħu u n-nagħaġ tal-mergħa tiegħu

Għajtu bil-ferħ lill-Mulej, nies kollha tal-art,
aqdu bil-ferħ lill-Mulej,
idħlu quddiemu b’għana ferrieħi. R/.

Kunu afu li Jaħweh hu Alla,
hu ħalaqna u aħna tiegħu,
aħna l-poplu tiegħu u n-nagħaġ tal-mergħa tiegħu. R/.

Għax twajjeb il-Mulej,
għal dejjem it-tjieba tiegħu;
minn żmien għal żmien il-fedeltà tiegħu. R/.

Qari 2                    mill-Ittra ta’ San Pawl lir-Rumani 5, 6-11

Ħuti, meta aħna konna bla saħħa, Kristu, meta wasal iż-żmien, miet għall-ħżiena. Bilkemm wieħed imut għal wieħed tajjeb, għad li wieħed għandu mnejn jagħmel il-qalb u jmut għal wieħed ġeneruż.  Iżda Alla wriena l-imħabba tiegħu meta Kristu miet għalina, aħna li konna għadna midinbin. Kemm aktar u aktar issa li aħna ġġustifikati b’demmu, insalvaw permezz tiegħu mill-korla ta’ Alla!  Jekk meta konna għadna għedewwa ta’ Alla tħabbibna miegħu bis-saħħa tal-mewt ta’ Ibnu, kemm iktar issa, li aħna ħbieb miegħu, insalvaw permezz tal-ħajja tiegħu? Mhux hekk biss, imma niftaħru wkoll f’Alla b’Sidna Ġesù Kristu li permezz tiegħu ksibna din il-ħbiberija.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej,    R/. Irroddu ħajr lil Alla

Evanġelju                 Qari skond San Mattew 9, 36 – 10, 8

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù ra n-nies u tħassarhom, għax kienu mdejqa u mitluqa bħal nagħaġ bla ragħaj. Imbagħad qal lid-dixxipli tiegħu: “Il-ħsad huwa kbir, iżda l-ħaddiema ftit. Itolbu mela lil Sid il-ħsad biex jibgħat ħaddiema għall-ħsad tiegħu”. Sejjaħ lejh it-tnax-il dixxiplu tiegħu, u tahom is-setgħa fuq l-ispirti ħżiena biex ikeċċuhom, u jfejqu kull xorta ta’ mard u ’l kull min kien nieqes minn saħħtu.  L-ismijiet tat-tnax-il appostlu huma dawn: l-ewwel Xmun, jgħidulu Pietru, u ħuh Indrì, u Ġakbu ta’ Żebedew, u ħuh Ġwanni, Filippu u Bartilmew, Tumas u Mattew il-pubblikan, Ġakbu ta’ Alfew, u Taddew, Xmun il-Kanani, u Ġuda l-Iskarjota, li mbagħad ittradieh.  Lil dawn it-tnax Ġesù bagħathom b’dawn l-ordnijiet: “Taqbdux triq il-pagani, u tidħlux f’belt tas-Samaritani; imma qabel xejn morru fittxu n-nagħaġ il-mitlufa tad-dar ta’ Iżrael. Intom u sejrin, xandru u għidu li s-Saltna tas-Smewwiet waslet. Fejqu l-morda, qajmu l-mejtin, fejqu l-lebbrużi, keċċu x-xjaten. B’xejn ħadtu, b’xejn agħtu”.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej  R/. Tifħir lilek Kristu

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/////////////  REFLECTION .....  

 Eight-minute homily in one page

He gave you grace and talents without charge, "so now you have to give without charge..."

Introduction: 

The main theme of this Sunday’s readings is that we are commissioned or sent, to transform others with the “Good News” of God’s love, mercy, forgiveness, and salvation through Jesus His Son.

Scripture lessons: 

The first reading gives Israel the “Good News” that the God of Mount Sinai loves and cares for his people. God showed His continuing care for Israel by liberating the people from slavery in Egypt and by offering them a relationship in which they would be God’s “special possession,”-- “a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.” 

Paul, in today’s second reading, reflects on how Jesus in his life, death, and resurrection made manifest God’s love and care for mankind. According to Paul, the greatest proof of God’s love and care for us is Jesus’ willingness to die on behalf of sinful mankind and so make possible a new and better relationship with God. 

Sunday’s Gospel is, in effect, a reminder from God to each one of us: “You have received grace and talents from Me without charge, and so you have to give without charge through your simple, responsible, sharing lives.” This is indeed the core of the priestly vocation and of the vocation of every Christian through his or her Baptism. Up to this point in the story, Jesus himself was the focus of the healing, teaching, and controversy. With the commissioning of his disciples, others began to assume some of the responsibility for the new movement that heralded the kingdom of God. That new movement was destined to grow later, with increasing diversity, as it extended beyond the borders of Galilee, into Gentile territory, becoming the Universal Christian Church.

Life Messages:

1) Be Jesus-Presenters: Jesus continues to be active in our lives through the Bible and the Sacraments. In addition, the Lord God gives us the Holy Spirit, the One Who teaches us, and reminds us of all that Jesus has said to us. We are invited to become one with God and Jesus, and to let the Holy Spirit work through us. We are asked to perform the works of Jesus, and through these works to reveal the power and character of God to the world. If we accept this invitation and live it out wholeheartedly, with God’s grace people will look at us and say, “Jesus!”

2) Be healers in the modern world: People are sick in body as well as mind. As Christians sharing Jesus’ mission, we can bring healing and wholeness to people with whom we come into contact. Although we cannot raise the dead, we can help people to recover interest and a zest for living. People can be physically alive but dead in many other respects. “Cleansing the lepers” means rehabilitating and bringing back fully into our communities all those who, for one reason or another, are marginalized, rejected, despised, or ostracized on the basis of race, nationality, marital status, financial condition, religion, gender or sexual orientation. 

We have to help casting out from our people the demons who possess them by means of addictions to alcohol, nicotine, drugs, pornography, sexual deviations, and the like, first by asking God and others for help to free ourselves from our own chains of evil addictions, and then turning to helping others to remove theirs in the same way.

//////////////////////////////////////     Fr Tony Kadavil's Homilies © 2026.  /  https://frtonyshomilies.com  ////////  

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"FOR MY FLESH IS TRUE FOOD AND MY BLOOD IS TRUE DRINK"

 The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Lectionary: 167

Reading 1                 Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14b-16a

Moses said to the people: "Remember how for forty years now the LORD, your God, has directed all your journeying in the desert, so as to test you by affliction and find out whether or not it was your intention   to keep his commandments.  He therefore let you be afflicted with hunger, and then fed you with manna, a food unknown to you and your fathers, in order to show you that not by bread alone does one live, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of the LORD.  "Do not forget the LORD, your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery; who guided you through the vast and terrible desert with its saraph serpents and scorpions, its parched and waterl ess ground; who brought forth water for you from the flinty rock and fed you in the desert with manna, a food unknown to your fathers."

 Responsorial Psalm                 Psalm 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20

Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem;
praise your God, O Zion.
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;
he has blessed your children within you.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
or: R. Alleluia.

He has granted peace in your borders;
with the best of wheat he fills you.
He sends forth his command to the earth;
swiftly runs his word!
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
or: R. Alleluia.

He has proclaimed his word to Jacob,
his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
He has not done thus for any other nation;
his ordinances he has not made known to them. Alleluia.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
or: R. Alleluia.

 Reading 2                   Corinthians 10:16-17

Brothers and sisters: The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.  

Sequence — Lauda Sion  (shorter form) 

Lo! the angel's food is given
To the pilgrim who has striven;
see the children's bread from heaven,
which on dogs may not be spent.

Truth the ancient types fulfilling,
Isaac bound, a victim willing,
Paschal lamb, its lifeblood spilling,
manna to the fathers sent.

Very bread, good shepherd, tend us,
Jesu, of your love befriend us,
You refresh us, you defend us,
Your eternal goodness send us

In the land of life to see.

You who all things can and know,
Who on earth such food bestow,
Grant us with your saints, though lowest,
Where the heav'nly feast you show,
Fellow heirs and guests to be. Amen. Alleluia.

 Gospel                 John 6:51-58

Jesus said to the Jewish crowds: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." The Jews quarrelled among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"  Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.  Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.  For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.  Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.  Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.  This is the bread that came down from heaven.  Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever." 

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/////  BIL-MALTI   ////////

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"... La l-ħobża hi waħda, aħna, li aħna ħafna, aħna ġisem wieħed ..."  

>>> Is-Solennità tal-Ġisem u d-Demm Imqaddes ta’ Kristu

                                                                       

Qari 1                       mill-Ktieb tad-Dewteronomju 8:2-3,14b-16a

F’dak iż-żmien, Mosè kellem lill-poplu u qal: “Ftakar fil-mixja kollha li mexxiek il-Mulej, Alla tiegħek, matul dawn l-erbgħin sena fid-deżert, biex iċekknek u jġarrbek, ħalli jkun jaf x’għandek f’qalbek, jekk tridx toqgħod għall-kmandamenti tiegħu jew le. Huwa ċekknek, ried li tbati l-ġuħ, imbagħad temgħek il-manna, li la int u lanqas missirijietek ma kontu qatt tafu biha, biex jurik li mhux bil-ħobż biss jgħix il-bniedem, imma b’dak kollu li joħroġ minn fomm il-Mulej, b’dan jgħix il-bniedem. Qis li ma titkabbarx qalbek u tinsa l-Mulej, Alla tiegħek, li ħarġek mill-art tal-Eġittu, mill-art tal-jasar. Hu li mexxiek fid-deżert kbir u jwaħħax, mimli sriep velenużi u skorpjuni, art niexfa bla ilma xejn, li ħariġlek l-ilma mill-blata taż-żnied, li temgħek il-manna fid-deżert, li missirijietek ma kienu jafu biha xejn”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.  R. Irroddu ħajr lil Alla.

Salm Responsorjali                 Salm 146(147):12-13,14-15,19-20

R. (12a): Sebbaħ, Ġerusalemm, lill-Mulej.

Sebbaħ, Ġerusalemm, lill-Mulej;
faħħar lil Alla tiegħek, Sijon!
Hu jsaħħaħ l-istaneg tal-bibien tiegħek,
u jbierek ġewwa fik lil uliedek. R.

Hu jqiegħed fis-sliem it-trufijiet ta’ artek,
u lilek bl-aħjar qamħ ixebbgħek.
Hu jibgħat fuq l-art il-kmand tiegħu;
bil-ħeffa tiġri l-kelma tiegħu. R.

Hu jxandar kelmtu lil Ġakobb,
il-liġijiet u d-digrieti tiegħu lil Iżrael.
Ma għamel hekk ma’ ebda poplu;
lil ħadd ma għarraf id-digrieti tiegħu. R.

Qari 2                   mill-Ewwel Ittra ta’ San Pawl lill-Korintin 10:16-17

Ħuti, il-kalċi mbierek li fuqu ngħidu l-barka mhuwiex għaqda mad-demm ta’ Kristu? U l-ħobż li naqsmu mhuwiex għaqda mal-ġisem ta’ Kristu? Għax la l-ħobża hi waħda, aħna, li aħna ħafna, aħna ġisem wieħed; ilkoll kemm aħna nieħdu sehem minn ħobża waħda.  La l-ħobża hi waħda, aħna, li aħna ħafna, aħna ġisem wieħed. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.  R. Irroddu ħajr lil Alla.

Sekwenza

Dan ħobż l-anġli, magħmul ikel
għall-bnedmin fit-triq tal-ħajja,
ikel bnin għall-ulied kollha,
li m’għandux fix-xejn jintrema.

Bi xbihat kien ilu mħabbar,
f’dik l-offerta ta’ Iżakk,
fil-ħaruf li nqatel fl-Għid,
u fil-manna tad-deżert.

Int ragħaj tajjeb, ħobż tassew,
Ġesù tagħna, ħenn għalina;
Int itmagħna u ħarisna:
Inti lilna l-ġid urina
fl-art imbierka tal-ħajjin.

Int li taf u tista’ kollox,
li titmagħna hawn f’dil-ħajja,
hemm agħmilna lkoll imsieħba,
f’għaqda waħda lkoll werrieta
mal-qtajjiet tal-qaddisin.

         Amen. Hallelujah.

Evanġelju                     Qari mill-Evanġelju skond San Ġwann 6:51-58

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù qal lin-nies: “Jiena hu l-ħobż il-ħaj, li niżel mis-sema. Jekk xi ħadd jiekol minn dan il-ħobż jgħix għal dejjem. U l-ħobż li jiena nagħti huwa ġismi għall-ħajja tad-dinja”. Fuq hekk il-Lhud tlewmu bejniethom, u bdew jgħidu: “Kif jista’ dan jagħtina ġismu biex nikluh?”. Ġesù mela qalilhom: “Tassew, tassew ngħidilkom, jekk ma tiklux il-ġisem ta’ Bin il-bniedem u ma tixorbux demmu, ma jkollkomx il-ħajja fikom. Min jiekol ġismi u jixrob demmi għandu l-ħajja ta’ dejjem, u jiena nqajmu mill-imwiet fl-aħħar jum. Għax ġismi huwa tassew ikel, u demmi hu tassew xorb. Min jiekol ġismi u jixrob demmi jibqa’ fija u jiena fih. Bħalma bagħatni l-Missier, li hu ħaj, u jiena ngħix b’Missieri, hekk ukoll min jiekol lili, hu wkoll jgħix bija. Dan huwa l-ħobż li niżel mis-sema; mhuwiex bħal dak li kielu missirjietkom u mietu; min jiekol dan il-ħobż jgħix għal dejjem”.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.  R. Tifħir lilek, Kristu.

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/////////////  REFLECTION 

Why do we celebrate the feast of Corpus Christ ?

Importance: 

1) The last two precious gifts given to us by Jesus are the Holy Eucharist as our spiritual food on Holy Thursday and Jesus’ mother Mary as our spiritual Mother on Good Friday 

2) Corpus Christi is the celebration of the abiding presence of a loving God as Emmanuel – God-with-us – in order to give collective thanks to our Lord for his living with us in the Eucharist. 

3) The feast also gives us an occasion to learn more about the importance and value of the “Real Presence” of Jesus in the Eucharist so that we may appreciate the Infinite Value of the Sacrament by adoring and receiving Jesus in It

We believe in the “Real Presence” of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist because 

1) Jesus promised it after miraculously feeding the 5000. 

2) Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist during his Last Supper. 

3) Jesus commanded his disciples to repeat it in his memory.

 4) “Nothing is impossible for God.”

We explain the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist by the Aristotelian philosophical term “transubstantiation” which means that the substance of the consecrated bread and wine is changed, by the action of the Holy Spirit at the Epiklesis through the words of the priest, into the substance of the risen Jesus’ risen glorified Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, while its accidents (like color, shape, taste etc.), remain unchanged.

Scripture lessons: 

In the first reading, Dt 8:2-3, 14b-16a, Moses instructs the Israelites to “remember and not forget” God’s miraculous provision of food in the manna given to them in the desert. The Church, through the Holy Mass, re-presents (makes present again) or re-enacts the Sacramental Self-offering Jesus makes on Calvary. In the second reading, Paul reminds the Corinthians that the Bread they share is the real Body of Christ which makes their community also the Body of the risen Christ. In Sunday’s Gospel passage, Jesus identifies himself as “the living bread that came down from heaven,” thus linking himself with the manna in the wilderness, while assuring his disciples that, unlike those who ate manna, “One who eats this Bread will live for ever.”

A Sacrament and a sacrifice: Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist both as a sacramental banquet and a sacrificial offering.

1) As a Sacrament: 

a) the Eucharist is a visible sign that gives us God’s grace and His life and, 

b) as a meal, it nourishes our souls. 

2) As a sacrifice: 

a) the Eucharistic celebration is a re-presentation or re-enactment of Jesus’ sacrifice on Calvary, completed in His Resurrection. 

b) We offer Jesus’ sacrifice to God the Father for the remission of our sins, using signs and symbols.

Life messages:

1) Let us appreciate the “Real Presence” of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, by receiving Him with true repentance for our sins, due preparation, reverence in our reception and spending time in thanksgiving to, and adoration of, Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, now within us.

2) Let us be Christ-bearers and -conveyers: By receiving Holy Communion, we become Christ-bearers as Mary was, with the duty of conveying Christ to others at home and in the workplace, through love, mercy, forgiveness, and humble, sacrificial service.

3) Let us offer our lives on the altar along with Jesus’ sacrifice, asking pardon for our sins, expressing gratitude for the blessings we have received, presenting our needs and petitions on the altar, and receiving Jesus with due preparation in Holy Communion.

//////////////////////////////////////     Fr Tony's Homilies © 2026.  /  https://frtonyshomilies.com  ////////

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