Pip: There’s a question that cuts across languages — what does it actually take to get God’s attention? Fr. Canice Njoku has been sitting with that question this week, and the answer turns out to be simpler, and harder, than most of us prefer.

Mara: Both homilies this week — one in English, one in Spanish — land on the same territory: humility as the condition for encountering God. Let’s start with what that actually means in practice.

Sunday Homilies On Humility

Mara: The 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time frames a specific claim: that God’s presence is not earned by status or achievement, but received by those who recognize their own need. The readings from Zechariah, Romans, and Matthew all point the same direction.

Pip: The English homily sets the stakes plainly, drawing from Matthew’s Gospel: “Come to me all who labor and are heavily laden, and I will give you rest.”

Mara: And the homily is careful about who that invitation actually reaches. It is not, the text says, for the proud-hearted — because they “hardly realize they are overburdened or need help.” The invitation lands only where there is already an acknowledgment of need.

Pip: So the condition for receiving rest is admitting you’re tired. Which sounds obvious until you notice how much energy most people spend proving they’re not.

Mara: Zechariah sets this up in the first reading — the king arrives “humble and riding on a donkey.” The homily calls this a “hope raiser,” specifically for the humble of heart and the poor in spirit. The Spanish version of the homily phrases it this way: the visit is for all, and “la importancia de cada uno de nosotros no depende de nuestras cuentas bancarias” — our importance to God does not depend on our bank accounts or careers.

Pip: Paul’s second reading in Romans adds the mechanism. The Spirit produces humility; the flesh produces pride. The homily draws a clean line: “Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Jesus does not belong to Him.”

Mara: And the reason given is immediate — it is the Spirit of Jesus that “gives life to our mortal body.” So this isn’t abstract theology; it’s presented as the animating principle of a renewed life, even when someone is materially poor.

Pip: The Spanish homily and the English homily cover the same ground, same readings, same argument — but reading them side by side, you feel the weight of the invitation doubling. He comes, both texts say, for those shouldering the burden of family, marriage, community, nation.

Mara: The closing line of both homilies is the same song: “I will bless your name forever, O God my king.” The argument ends not with a conclusion but with a response.

Pip: Which is probably the point — humility isn’t a position you reach, it’s a posture you keep returning to.

Mara: Two languages, one message: the door opens from the inside, and it opens low.

Pip: Next time, we’ll see what other territory Fr. Canice is mapping. Until then — travel light.

Dios visita y revela a sí mismo a los humildes

Lecturas: 1^ra: Zac 9:9-10; Sal: 145:2-3.4-9; 2^da: Rom 8:9. 11-13; Ev: Mt 11:25-30

Esta breve reflexión fue escrita por el Padre Canice Chukwuemeka Njoku, C.S.Sp., DMin., un sacerdote católico y miembro de la Congregación del Espíritu Santo (Espirítanos). Es un misionero en Puerto Rico. Es director del Santuario del Espíritu Santo, Dorado, y el Superior Mayor de la Congregación del Espíritu Santo (Espirítanos), Circunscripción de Puerto Rico y República Dominicana. El padre Canice es miembro de la Academia de Homilética (The Academy of Homiletics). Para más detalles y comentarios , se puede contactarlo al: canice_c_njoku@yahoo.com, canicechukwuemeka@gmail.com.

Encuentra otros libros en: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/904854

(Donar @ATH Móvil: Canice Njoku – 7873146309)

(https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8452-8392)

En este decimocuarto domingo, la Iglesia nos invita de manera especial a reflexionar sobre la humildad de Jesús y su opción por los pobres. Estas virtudes son muy necesarias para nuestro camino cristiano. La pobreza realmente humilla, sobre todo, cuando es libremente “elegida” por causa del reino de Dios y, en la imitación de Cristo.

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La primera lectura de este domingo prefigura y personifica la humildad de Cristo que había de venir. Esta lectura es un rayo de esperanza para todos nosotros. Esto es especialmente para a los humildes de corazón y a los pobres en el espíritu: “¡Alégrate sobremanera, hija de Jerusalén!  Mira a tu rey que viene a ti…humilde y montado en un burrito.” ¿No es esto maravilloso? Por supuesto, él viene a dar justicia y socorro a los humildes.

Esta visita es para todos nosotros. Por Dios, la importancia de cada uno de nosotros no depende de nuestras cuentas bancarias, o de nuestra profesión brillante, o de nuestra exitosa carrera política o de nuestro éxito en los negocios. Ser una persona humilde es ser importante, y es lo que importa a Dios. Esto es lo que nos merece esta visita divina de Dios.

En la segunda lectura, Pablo nos recuerda la necesidad de vivir en el espíritu. Esto es porque, es el espíritu que produce humildad. Por otro lado, la carne produce orgullo y todas las formas de vicios. La carne, como Pablo la emplea se refiere a la naturaleza humana. Es un principio que se apaga uno al mundo y sus tendencias materialistas. mientras que, el espíritu de la regeneración es la luz que viene del cielo. Eleva la mente a las cosas que son celestiales.

Así, la presencia del espíritu es una evidencia segura de una persona renovada. Incluso cuando uno es pobre materialmente, el espíritu lo mantiene activa y viva. Por lo tanto, Jesús enseña en la bienaventuranza: “Bienaventurados a los pobres de espíritu porque verán a Dios” (Mt 5, 3). Es sólo el espíritu de Jesús que puede ayudar a uno a alcanzar esta virtud. El espíritu mundano que se manifiesta en el materialismo y la codicia no puede permitirse esto. Por esta razón, Pablo nos dice: “El que no tiene el espíritu de Jesús no pertenece a él.” Esto es porque, es el “espíritu de Jesús que da vida a nuestro cuerpo mortal”.

En el Evangelio, Jesús nos revela y nos da la clave al corazón de su padre. Esta clave es la humildad. Dios revela a si mismo a los humildes de corazón. Por tanto: “Dios resiste a los orgullosos de corazón, pero da gracia a los humildes” (Prov. 29:23). Si debemos servir a Dios bien, debemos ser humildes de corazón como Cristo nuestro Señor. Si nos humillamos, Dios revelará los secretos de su reino a nosotros.

Hoy, Jesús nos invita: “Vengan a mí todos los que están fatigados y agobiados por la carga, y yo los aliviaré.” Esta invitación no es para a los soberbios de corazón, porque apenas se dan cuenta que están sobrecargados o necesitan ayuda. Más bien, es por a los sencillos y humildes de corazón que reconocen su necesidad de la intervención de Dios en su vida.

Es para aquellos que asumir la carga de su familia, de su matrimonio, de su comunidad y de su nación. Es una invitación a aquellos que verdaderamente buscan el rostro de Dios. Es para aquellos que están listos para presentar y entregar todo a Cristo. Él viene, y viene para todos nosotros. Él invita, e invita a todos nosotros. Así que, acerquémonos a Él cantando: “¡Bendeciré tu nombre por siempre, oh Dios, mi rey!

¡La paz sea con ustedes!

¡Maranatha!

God visits and reveals Himself to the Humble

Readings: 1st: Zac 9: 9-10; Ps 145:2-3.4-9; 2nd: Rom 8:9. 11-13; Gos Mt 11: 25-30

This brief reflection was written by Fr. Njoku Canice Chukwuemeka, C.S.Sp., DMin, a Catholic Priest and a member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans). He is a missionary in Puerto Rico. He is Director of Santuario del Espiritu Santo, Dorado, and the Major Superior of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans), Circumscription of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Fr. Canice is a member of the Academy of Homiletics. For more details and comments, contact him at: canice_c_njoku@yahoo.com, canicechukwuemeka@gmail.com.

Find other books @: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/893122

(Donate @ATH Mobil: Canice Njoku-7873146309)

(https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8452-8392)

On this 14^th Sunday, the Church invites us to reflect on Jesus’ humility and his option for the poor. These virtues are essential for our Christian journey. Poverty humbles one, especially when it is freely “chosen” for the sake of the kingdom of God and in imitation of Christ.

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The first reading of this Sunday prefigures and epitomizes the humility of the Christ who is to come. This reading is a hope raiser for all of us. This is primarily for the humble of heart and the poor in spirit: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion…behold your king comes…humble and riding on a donkey.”  Is this not wonderful? Of course, he comes to give succor and justice to the humble.

This visit is for all of us. Our importance to God does not depend on how much we have in our accounts, our brilliant profession, our successful political career, or our successful business. To be a humble person is what is important to God. This is what merits us this divine visit from Him.

In the second reading, Paul reminds us of the need to live in the spirit. This is because it is the spirit that produces humility. On the other hand, the flesh produces pride and all forms of vices. Flesh, as Paul employs, refers to human nature. It is a principle that attaches one to the world and its materialistic tendencies. In contrast, the spirit of regeneration is the light that comes from heaven. It elevates the mind to those things that are celestial.

Thus, the indwelling of the Spirit is sure evidence of a renewed person. The Spirit keeps one active and alive even when one is materially poor. Hence, Jesus, in the beatitude, teaches: “Blessed are the poor in spirit for they shall see God” (Mt 5, 3). Only the Spirit of Jesus can help one attain this virtue. The mundane spirit, which manifests in materialism and greed, cannot afford this. This is why Paul says to us: “Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Jesus does not belong to Him.” This is because the “Spirit of Jesus gives life to our mortal body.”

In the gospel, Jesus reveals and gives us the key to the heart of His Father. This key is humility. God reveals himself to the humble of heart and the lowly. Therefore, “God resists the proud-hearted but gives grace to the humble” (Prov 29: 23). If we must serve God well, we must be humble of heart like Christ, our lord. If we humble ourselves, God will reveal his kingdom’s secrets to us.

Today, Jesus beckons us: “Come to me all who labor and are heavily laden, and I will give you rest.” This invitation is not for the proud-hearted because they hardly realize they are overburdened or need help. Instead, it is for the simple and humble of hearted who are fast to recognize their need for God’s intervention.

It is for those who shoulder the burden of their family, marriage, community, and nation. It is an invitation extended to those genuinely seeking God’s face. It is for those ready to submit and surrender all to Christ. He comes, and he reaches for all of us. He invites, and he invites all of us. So, let us approach him singing: “I will bless your name forever, O God my king!

Peace be with you all!

Maranatha!

Pip: What does it mean to welcome someone — really welcome them, not just hold the door? That question turns out to have a two-thousand-year paper trail, and canicecnjoku has been working through it this week.

Mara: This episode follows a Sunday homily reflection on the thirteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time — the same reflection offered in both English and Spanish, covering hospitality, generosity, and what it means to recognize the sacred in the people around us.

Pip: Let's start with the homily itself and what it's actually asking of us.

—

Segment 1 — Sunday Homily Reflections

Mara: The central question this week is whether we still know how to welcome others — and whether our own presence is a blessing or a burden to the people we encounter. The readings for the thirteenth Sunday pull that question out of the abstract and put it in front of a specific household in ancient Shunem.

Pip: The English homily, "Welcoming Christ In Others," sets up the Shunem couple's hospitality toward Elisha as the hinge of the whole reflection — and the payoff is striking. The text reads: "Through this act of generosity, hospitality, and sensitivity, things turned around for their good. Their desire of the ages was fulfilled."

Mara: So the upshot is that sensitivity to someone else's need — noticing it, acting on it — becomes the mechanism of your own transformation. The blessing flows back.

Pip: And Elisha's side of the exchange is just as deliberate. Rather than press his hosts for more, he prays for them through his prophetic ministry. His name literally means "God saves," and the homily points out that his action affirmed exactly that.

Mara: The second reading from Romans adds a theological layer: Paul's argument is that through baptism we are united with Christ in death and life, which means Christ now lives in others. The homily draws the line directly — welcoming others is welcoming him.

Pip: Which makes indifference a theological problem, not just a social one. The homily names that plainly: a society flooded with self-proclaimed preachers has made it hard to recognize genuine messengers, and familiarity has made the sacred feel ordinary.

Mara: The Spanish version, "Acogiendo a Cristo en los Demás," covers the same ground for a Spanish-speaking audience — same readings, same pastoral questions, translated with care rather than just converted. Both versions close with the same challenge: "Is our presence a blessing to the people we meet or that meet us? Does it make any difference, or is it an added burden to their life?"

Pip: That's the question that actually lands. Not "are you generous in theory" but "what do people feel after they've been around you."

Mara: Both reflections end with "Maranatha" — Come, Lord — which is itself a kind of welcome, addressed outward.

—

Pip: Hospitality as a two-way current — you extend it, and something returns. That's the thread running through both of these.

Mara: And the question of whether we've lost the sense of the sacred is one worth sitting with past Sunday. More from this site next time.

Acogiendo a Cristo en los Demás

Lecturas: 1^ra: 2Re 4-8. 14-16; Sal 88; 2^da: Rom 6, 3-4.8-11; Ev: Mt 10, 37-42

Esta breve reflexión fue escrita por el Padre Canice Chukwuemeka Njoku, C.S.Sp., DMin., un sacerdote católico y miembro de la Congregación del Espíritu Santo (Espirítanos). Es un misionero en Puerto Rico. Es director del Santuario del Espíritu Santo, Dorado, y el Superior Mayor de la Congregación del Espíritu Santo (Espirítanos), Circunscripción de Puerto Rico y República Dominicana. El padre Canice es miembro de la Academia de Homilética (The Academy of Homiletics). Para más detalles y comentarios , se puede contactarlo al: canice_c_njoku@yahoo.com, canicechukwuemeka@gmail.com.

Encuentra otros libros en: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/904854

(Donar @ATH Móvil: Canice Njoku – 7873146309)

(https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8452-8392)

En este decimotercer Domingo, la Iglesia nos invita a acoger a Cristo en los demás. Esto es especialmente, a través de los mensajeros de Dios entre nosotros. Asimismo, nos alienta a ser sensible a la necesidad de uno a otro para hacer una diferencia positiva en sus vidas.

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En la primera lectura de este domingo, la generosidad de la pareja de Sunem hacia Eliseo los trajo la bendición y la alegría de su vida. Hay mucho que aprender de esta lectura. Eran sensibles a la situación y la necesidad inmediata del hombre de Dios. No Sabían que éste era el comienzo de su bendición. A través de este acto de generosidad, hospitalidad y sensibilidad, todo se cambió para su bien. Se cumplió su deseo de la edad.

Por otra parte, Eliseo igualmente era preocupado y sensible a las necesidades de esta pareja de Sunem. Así, en lugar de sobre cargarlos  por solicitar más de ellos, o aprovechar su generosidad, oró por ellos y los bendijo a través de su ministerio profético. Así que, su presencia fue de hecho, una bendición a esta casa, en lugar de ser una carga. Basta notar que el nombre de Eliseo significa: “Dios salva”. Esto es exactamente lo que su acción afirmó.

En la segunda lectura, Pablo relata cómo Cristo nos ofrece nueva vida a través de nuestro bautismo. Llegó y se ofreció a sí mismo como un rescate, no por su propia causa. Más bien, por el bien de nuestra salvación. Por aceptar a Cristo a través de nuestro bautismo, nos hemos convertido uno con él en la muerte y la vida. También, por acoger a Cristo, hemos recibido una parte de su gloriosa vida. Así que, no somos más esclavos al pecado y la muerte. Este mismo Cristo vive en otros. Por lo tanto, igualmente  debemos acogerlo en otros, incluyendo, en lo más mínimo de nuestros hermanos.

En el Evangelio de hoy Cristo habló claramente a nosotros sobre la necesidad de acoger a otros por su causa. Sobre todo, aquellos que llevan las buenas nuevas de salvación. A través de la generosidad y hospitalidad, como la familia de Sunem, en la primera lectura, podríamos atraer la bendición de Dios a nuestro hogar y familia. A través éstas, nuestras vidas y fortunas podrían transformarse también.

Por desgracia, hoy en día, tomamos muchas cosas por sentado. Somos tan indiferentes a los demás y sus necesidades. Esto incluye, a la presencia de los “auténticos mensajeros” de Dios entre nosotros. Esto podría ser debido a que, nuestra sociedad está inundada de muchos falsos “hombres de Dios.” Es decir, en la medida en que uno apenas podía distinguir entre un verdadero y falso hombre de Dios.

También podría ser que, somos tan acostumbrado al uno al otro y por supuesto, a los hombres de Dios, que se han vuelto tan comunes para nosotros. Más importante y lamentablemente, podría ser que, “los hombres de Dios”, así como el pueblo de Dios ha perdido el sentido de lo sagrado.

Por último, es importante hacerse a nosotros mismos estas preguntas tan importantes. ¿Aún valoramos la presencia de los demás? ¿Somos sensibles a sus necesidades? ¿Es nuestra presencia una fuente de bendición para las personas que encontramos o que nos encuentran? ¿Nuestra presencia hace alguna diferencia, o es una carga añadida a la vida de a los demás? ¿De qué bueno nuestra presencia traer para los demás?

¡La paz sea con ustedes!

¡Maranatha!

Welcoming Christ In Others

Readings: 1^st: 2 Kg 4, 8-11. 14-16; Ps: 88; 2^nd: Rom 6, 3-4.8-11; Gos: Mt 10, 37-42

This brief reflection was written by Fr. Njoku Canice Chukwuemeka, C.S.Sp., DMin, a Catholic Priest and a member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans). He is a missionary in Puerto Rico. He is Director of Santuario del Espiritu Santo, Dorado, and the Major Superior of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans), Circumscription of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Fr. Canice is a member of the Academy of Homiletics. For more details and comments, contact him at: canice_c_njoku@yahoo.com, canicechukwuemeka@gmail.com.

Find other books @: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/893122

(Donate @ATH Mobil: Canice Njoku-7873146309)

(https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8452-8392)

On this thirteenth Sunday, the Church urges us to welcome Christ in others. This is mainly through the messengers of God among us. She equally encourages us to be sensitive to the need of one another to make a positive difference in their lives.

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In the first reading of this Sunday, the generosity of the Shunem couple towards Elisha brought them the blessing and joy of their life. There is much to be learned from this reading. They were sensitive to the plight and immediate need of the man of God. Little did they know that this was the beginning of their blessing. Hence, through this act of generosity, hospitality, and sensitivity, things turned around for their good. Their desire of the ages was fulfilled.

On the other hand, Elisha was equally concerned and sensitive to the needs of this Shunem couple. So, rather than overburden them with more requests or exploit their generosity, he prayed for them and blessed them through his prophetic ministry. Thus, his presence was a blessing to this house rather than a burden. It suffices to note that the name of Elisa means: “God saves.” Precisely, this is what his action affirmed.

In the second reading, Paul recounts how Christ offered us new life through baptism. He came and offered himself as a ransom, not for his own sake but for our salvation. By accepting him through our baptism, we have become one with him in death and life. Also, by welcoming Christ, we have received a share in his glorious life and are no longer slaves to sin and death. This same Christ lives in others. So, we must equally welcome him in others, including in the least of our brethren.

In today’s gospel, Christ spoke clearly about the need to welcome others for His sake. This is especially, those who bear the good news of salvation. We could attract God’s blessings to our home and family through generosity and hospitality, like the Shunem family in our first reading. Through these, our lives and fortunes could be transformed as well.

Unfortunately, these days, we take many things for granted. Some of us are so indifferent to others and their needs. This includes indifference to the presence of God’s “genuine messengers” among us. This is because many self-proclaimed and false men of God flood our society with false messages. That is, to the extent that one could hardly differentiate between a genuine and a false preacher.

It could also be that we have become so used to one another, and of course, to men of God, that they have become so ordinary to us. Most importantly and sadly though, it could be that “some so-called men of God,” as well as some people of God, have lost the sense of the sacred.

Finally, it is important to ask ourselves these important questions. Do we still value the presence of others? Are we sensitive to their needs? Is our presence a blessing to the people we meet or that meet us? Does it make any difference, or is it an added burden to their life? What good do I bring to the life of others?  

Peace be with you!

Maranatha

Pip: Fear, death, and the question of who's actually on your side — not a bad set of topics for a Sunday morning, or any morning, really.

Mara: That's the territory canicecnjoku covers this week — a pair of homilies for the Twelfth Sunday of Ordinary Time, working through what it means to live without fear when the threats feel very real.

Pip: Let's start with those homilies and the readings driving them.

Ordinary Time: Living Without Fear

Mara: The frame here is a single claim that runs through all three Sunday readings — Jeremiah, Paul's letter to the Romans, and Matthew's Gospel — that Christ is present and active precisely when life feels most threatening.

Pip: The English homily puts it directly. Setting up the Gospel passage, it reads: "Do not be afraid of those who can kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, fear him who can destroy both body and soul in hell fire."

Mara: What this means in practice is a reordering of priorities — the thing most people fear most, physical death, is reframed as a transition rather than a terminus. The real stakes, the homily argues, are elsewhere.

Pip: And that reordering isn't just philosophical comfort. The first reading grounds it historically — God delivering Jeremiah from what the homily calls "deadly plots and hands of evil men." The pattern is ancient, and the homily wants you to feel its weight.

Mara: The Spanish homily covers the same scriptural ground and adds a structural comparison worth noting. It maps Adam's disobedience against Christ's obedience — death on one side, life on the other — and calls that contrast "the summary of what Christ did for us."

Pip: Which is a tidy way to hold a lot of theology.

Mara: Both homilies land on the same practical conclusion: "Every hair on your head has been counted. So, there is no need to be afraid." The assurance isn't abstract — it's meant to be personally specific.

Pip: The logic being that a God attentive enough to count hairs is attentive enough to notice whatever is threatening you this particular week.

Mara: And both texts close by naming what the appropriate response looks like — trust, justice in action, and what the homily calls "submitting entirely to Christ." The protection promised is conditional on being on Christ's side, not merely adjacent to it.

Pip: Fear as a diagnostic tool — what you fear most tells you where your trust actually sits.

Mara: The through-line this week is presence — a God who is not distant when things get hard.

Pip: Same territory next time, probably. The Ordinary Time calendar keeps moving, and so do the threats.

Cristo Nuestro Señor, Está Con Nosotros

Lecturas: 1^ra: Jer 20, 10-13; Sal 68; 2nd: Rom 5, 12-15; Ev: Mt 10, 26-33

Esta breve reflexión fue escrita por el Padre Canice Chukwuemeka Njoku, C.S.Sp., DMin., un sacerdote católico y miembro de la Congregación del Espíritu Santo (Espirítanos). Es un misionero en Puerto Rico. Es director del Santuario del Espíritu Santo, Dorado, y el Superior Mayor de la Congregación del Espíritu Santo (Espirítanos), Circunscripción de Puerto Rico y República Dominicana. El padre Canice es miembro de la Academia de Homilética (The Academy of Homiletics). Para más detalles y comentarios , se puede contactarlo al: canice_c_njoku@yahoo.com, canicechukwuemeka@gmail.com.

Encuentra otros libros en: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/904854

(Donar @ATH Móvil: Canice Njoku – 7873146309)

(https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8452-8392)

En este duodécimo domingo del tiempo ordinario, celebramos a Cristo nuestro Señor, que siempre está con nosotros. El sigue liberándonos de todo lo que nos amenaza y hace la vida difícil para nosotros. Esto incluye las persecuciones, los pecados y la muerte.

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En la primera lectura, Dios libera al profeta Jeremías de las parcelas mortales y de las manos de los hombres malvados. Nuestro mundo está lleno de amenazas contra los justos e inocentes. Hoy en día, apenas que un día pasa sin oír una noticia aterrorizante. Esto es la causa de gran temor y la inquietud de muchos, especialmente, para aquellos cuya confianza esta únicamente en este mundo, en lugar de estar Dios.

Sin embargo, para aquellos como el Profeta, que dan cuenta de que el Señor está de su lado, sin duda, sin Dios no los defraudará. Como un poderoso héroe, seguramente actuará. Las amenazas y la gravedad de estos terrores podrían parecer abrumadoras. Sin embargo, ciertamente no son más de lo que Dios ha manejado en la historia de la humanidad.

Hoy, la segunda lectura tiene mucho en común con la primera. En primer lugar, mientras que el profeta era inocente de las acusaciones y amenazas contra él, la humanidad heredó muerte mediante del pecado de desobediencia de sus progenitores (Adán y Eva). Del similar modo, mientras que Dios libró al inocente profeta Jeremías de las persecuciones y terrores de sus enemigos, Pablo relata cómo Cristo rescató a la humanidad de los terrores y grilletes de la muerte.

Así que, Pablo llama la atención sobre un aspecto bien importante de nuestra historia salvífica. Esto es, sobre todo, con respecto a la relación entre el pecado y la muerte; y la relación entre las consecuencias de la desobediencia de Adán, y de la obediencia de Cristo. Mientras que el pecado de la desobediencia de Adán nos trajo muerte, la obediencia de Cristo nos trajo vida.

Este es el resumen de lo que Cristo hizo para nosotros. A través de su muerte expiatoria y su obediencia a la voluntad de su padre, él disipa los terrores que amenazan nuestra vida, y restaura nuestra paz. Así que, nos libró de la condenación por el pecado, y la caída de Adán y Eva.

En el Evangelio, Jesús nos exhorta: “¡No tengan miedo, todo lo que está cubierto ahora será descubierto!” Esto incluye, los planes de los malvados que siempre amenazan, y tratan destruir a los justos. Basta de notar que, Cristo sabe que el miedo y la amenaza de muerte pueden paralizan a uno.

Como el Señor de los vivos y los muertos, él sabe que la muerte física no es el final. Por el contrario, es una transición a la eternidad. Por lo tanto, nos exhorta más: ¡No tengan miedo de aquellos que pueden matar el cuerpo, pero no pueden matar el alma! ¡Más bien, temen a aquel que puede destruir tanto el cuerpo y el alma en infierno!”

En estas palabras consoladoras de Cristo, resta nuestra esperanza y nuestro futuro como cristianos: ¡Cada pelo de su cabeza ha sido contado! ¡Por lo tanto, no hay que tener miedo!” Ellas simplemente indican, que el Señor nuestro Dios, está de nuestro lado. Él está listo y capaz a rescatarnos de tantos las consecuencias y efectos dañinos del pecado, así como, de todas las amenazas que enfrentamos en nuestra vida diaria.

Por último, todo lo que necesitamos hacer para merecer esa protección que Cristo nos prometió hoy es simplemente estar a su lado, y confiar en Él. Esto, exige ser justo e inocente en nuestros caminos y acciones. Significa, ser verdaderos cristianos. Por supuesto, también significa someter totalmente a Cristo.

¡La paz este con ustedes!

¡Maranatha!

Christ Our Lord, Is With Us

Readings: 1^st: Jer 20, 10-13; Ps: 68; 2^nd: Rom 5, 12-15; Gos: Mt 10, 26-33

This brief reflection was written by Fr. Njoku Canice Chukwuemeka, C.S.Sp., DMin, a Catholic Priest and a member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans). He is a missionary in Puerto Rico. He is Director of Santuario del Espiritu Santo, Dorado, and the Major Superior of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans), Circumscription of Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Fr. Canice is a member of the Academy of Homiletics. For more details and comments, contact him at: canice_c_njoku@yahoo.com, canicechukwuemeka@gmail.com.

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On this twelfth Sunday of ordinary time, we celebrate Christ, Our Lord, who is always with us. He continues to deliver us from all that threatens and makes life difficult. This includes persecution, sins, and death.

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In the first reading, God delivered the prophet Jeremiah from the deadly plots and hands of evil men. Our world is full of threats against the righteous and innocent. Today, hardly would a day passes without one hearing news of terror. This is the cause of great fear and inquietude for many, especially those whose trust is solely in this world rather than God.

However, for those who, like the prophet, realize that the Lord is on their side, God will surely not disappoint them. As a mighty hero, He will indeed act. The threats and gravity of these terrors might appear overwhelming.  However, they are certainly not greater than what God has handled in the history of humanity.

Today’s second reading has a lot in common with the first. First, while the prophet was innocent of all the accusations and threats against him, humanity inherited death through the sin of disobedience of her progenitors (Adam and Eve). Similarly, while God delivered the innocent prophet Jeremiah from the plots and terrors of his enemies, in the second, Paul recounts how Christ delivered humanity from the terrors and shackles of death.

Thus, Paul draws our attention to a very important aspect of our salvific history. This is especially concerning the relationship between sin and death; and, of course, the relationship between the consequences of Adam’s disobedience and Christ’s obedience. While Adam’s disobedience and sin brought death, Christ’s obedience brought us life.

This is the summary of what Christ did for us. Through his sacrificial death and obedience to his father’s will, He dissipated the terrors threatening our lives and restore our peace. Thus, He delivered us from damnation due to the sin and the fall of Adam and Eve.

In the gospel, Jesus encourages us: “Do not be afraid, for everything that is now covered will be uncovered.” This includes the plans of the evil ones who constantly threaten to persecute and destroy the just.  It suffices to note that Christ knows that fear and the threat of death can paralyze one. As the Lord of the living and the dead, He knows that physical death is not the end. Instead, it is a transition to eternity. Hence, he further exhorts us: “Do not be afraid of those who can kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, fear him who can destroy both body and soul in hell fire.”

In these comforting and assuring words of Christ, rest our hope and future as Christians. ”Every hair on your head has been counted. So, there is no need to be afraid!” They indicate that the Lord is on our side. He is ready and capable of delivering us from sin’s consequences and harmful effects and all the threats we face daily.

Finally, all we need to do to merit the protection Christ promised us today is to be on his side by trusting him. This calls for being just and innocent in our ways and actions. It means being true Christians. Of course, it also means submitting entirely to Christ.

Peace be with you!

Maranatha!

Pip: There is a missionary in Puerto Rico writing homilies in two languages for the same Sunday, which is either very dedicated or a sign that one congregation’s worth of conviction was simply not going to be enough.

Mara: That’s the territory today — canicecnjoku’s reflections on the Eleventh Sunday of Ordinary Time, exploring what it means to be called as God’s people and then sent as disciples. Let’s start with those homilies and what they’re actually asking of us.

Called, Covenanted, and Sent

Pip: The central tension in these reflections is a two-part call — first to belong, then to act. The question is what separates those two movements, and whether most of us ever make it from the first to the second.

Mara: The English homily sets up the covenant frame first, then lands this from the gospel: “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.”

Pip: That image does real work. Pity here isn’t passive — it’s the origin of the mission. The disciples aren’t sent because the project needs staffing; they’re sent because someone looked at the world and couldn’t look away.

Mara: Right, and the homily holds both sides of the covenant honestly. It acknowledges that the people’s response to Sinai — “All that the Lord has spoken we will do” — is sincere and also routinely broken. The reflection’s word for that is plain: “To err is human; to forgive divine.”

Pip: Which is doing a lot of theological lifting in a single proverb, but it lands because the argument earns it — God’s faithfulness is the constant, human faithfulness is the variable.

Mara: Paul’s letter to the Romans carries that forward. The homily quotes it directly: “What proves that God loves us is that Christ died for us while we were still sinners.” The reconciliation precedes the reform, not the other way around.

Pip: So the sequence matters. You don’t earn your way into the covenant and then get sent. You’re received, reconciled, and then the sending follows.

Mara: The Spanish homily — “Homilía del Undécimo Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario, Año A” — covers the same ground for a different congregation, and the instruction Christ gives the disciples is specific: start with the lost sheep of Israel, the immediate community, before extending outward.

Pip: Mission ad intra before mission ad extra — the homily’s phrase for it. Charity begins at home is the shorthand, but the theological point is sharper: you have to become God’s people before you can act as God’s disciples.

Mara: Both reflections close on that same note — a prayer to remain faithful to the call, in whichever language the congregation receives it.

Pip: Two languages, one Sunday, one argument: belonging comes before sending, and faithfulness is God’s job description more than ours.

Mara: Next time, we’ll see where that sending leads.