This Sunday’s Gospel Message from the Priest
Epiphany Sunday Gospel Message
Matthew 2:1-12
Today the Church celebrates the feast of Epiphany. The name of today’s celebration may need a little explanation. The word “Epiphany” comes from Greek and means “revelation.”
At Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem was announced to the shepherds by an angel. The shepherds were told where they could find the newborn King of the Jews. They were told that He would be wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. And when they went to Bethlehem, everything was exactly as they had been told.
On the feast of Epiphany, the birth of Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. And three wise men from the East came to pay homage to the newborn King. But for the three wise men, it was not so easy because no angel gave them specific instructions. Although the star revealed to them the birth of the King of the Jews, the star was not always there to guide them. So, they went to Jerusalem, assuming that the newborn King was there. When they did not find him there, they asked Herod, and Herod, knowing their purpose, used the three wise men to find out more about the baby. However, it was then that the three wise men learned about the prophecy, that the newborn King was in Bethlehem. Meanwhile, for King Herod, it was a revelation that made him think of evil things.
God revealed Himself further to these three wise men in their search for the newborn King. The star reappeared and finally led the three wise men to the newborn King. They paid homage to Him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And here, there is another revelation. These three gifts, though valuable, were also mystical. Gold symbolizes kingship, that the baby is a King. Frankincense symbolizes divinity, that the baby is God become man. And myrrh symbolizes the humanity of the newborn King. And the revelation continues further, because these three wise men are warned in a dream not to return to King Herod, and they return to their own country by a different route.
Thus, the celebration of Epiphany is filled with revelation and meaning. The birth of Jesus Christ was revealed to the world, and wise men came to pay homage. This shows that even those who do not know the prophecies in the Scriptures will come to know the Savior of the world. And the three gifts also reveal the identity of Jesus Christ, that He is King, and He is both divine and human.
This celebration of Epiphany shows that God reveals Himself through people and through gifts. At Christmas, we receive gifts from others, and perhaps there is a revelation for us. God reveals Himself through people and the gifts they share with us. Therefore, let us reflect more deeply on these people and their gifts, and we will become wise like these three wise men. What can we reflect on from this celebration of Epiphany? And how are we going to follow up on that reflection in our daily lives as Catholics?
Finally, may God’s love bless our struggles throughout this day and throughout the new year 2026. May the Sacred Heart of Jesus always reign in all our hearts. Amen.
Fr. Wifridus Ngalla, cicm
4th Advent Sunday Gospel Message
Matthew 1:18-24
Today’s Gospel recounts the beginning of Jesus’ birth. But interestingly, the Gospel does not directly talk about Jesus, but about Joseph, an ordinary man with very human feelings. Joseph was in a difficult situation. He was engaged to Mary, but Mary was pregnant. We can imagine Joseph’s inner turmoil: disappointment, confusion, hurt, and perhaps fear. His life was not going according to plan. And it was precisely when Joseph’s life was chaotic and unclear that God entered and acted. This is an important message for us, that God does not wait for our lives to be neat and perfect to work. God is present in the chaos, in the confusion, in the wounds of our lives.
Joseph is described as a sincere man. He did not want to embarrass Mary. He chose the most humane and loving path according to his abilities. This shows that God works through good and open hearts. However, Joseph’s goodness alone was not enough to understand God’s plan. So, the angel of the Lord came to him in a dream and said, “Do not be afraid.”
My brothers and sisters, we often hear this phrase in the Holy Scriptures. Why? Because fear is often the biggest obstacle to our complete trust in God. Joseph was asked not to be afraid to accept Mary, not to be afraid to accept a situation he did not understand, and not to be afraid to take on a great responsibility. Here we learn that faith often requires courage, not certainty; the courage to surrender to Him.
Joseph’s courage to surrender changed his life. Joseph’s response was the essence of his surrender. After waking up from his sleep, he immediately did as the angel of the Lord commanded. There was no argument, no delay, no negotiation. He accepted a reality that was completely different from what he had planned. Joseph’s obedience was risky obedience, and it changed the course of his life, all for the sake of fulfilling God’s will for the salvation of the world.
Just like Joseph, we are often faced with unexpected situations that shake our plans and hopes because of problems at work, family, health, relationships, and various other life issues. May we learn from Joseph not to fear but to surrender. Together with Joseph, let us embrace Christmas by becoming humble individuals, bold in faith, and faithful in walking with God, for God never abandons us during our lives. May God bless and accompany us all. Amen.
Fr. Wifridus Ngalla, cicm
3 rd Advent Sunday Gospel Message
Matthew 11:2-11
Advent is a time of waiting and preparation for the birth of new faith. Waiting invites us to bepatient in silence. Be patient like farmers waiting for the rain to fall and the harvest season to be ready(James 5:7).
Preparing invites, us to improve and prepare ourselves by entering inner silence. For the fruit ofsilence is prayer, and the fruit of prayer is enlightenment from God.
This is the enlightenment that God gave through the prophet Isaiah. God will strengthen the weakhands and steady the feeble knees. God will strengthen the faint-hearted and reward those who believe.
God will show works of healing, the blind will see, the lame will leap, the deaf will hear, and themute will speak. In essence, God gives enlightenment so that we can clearly see His plan for our lives.
God's plan begins and ends beautifully in His time. The Psalms sing that we should believe thatGod alone is our helper, not one of many. Any healing or miracle that occurs is only one of the ways Godworks so that we believe that He is powerful, either because we see miracles or because we experiencehealing. God wants us to believe what is written in the Holy Scriptures and what was proclaimed by theprophets.
Fr. Wifridus Ngalla, cicm
2nd Sunday of Advent Gospel Message
Matthew 3:1-12
The road is a means to reach our destination. And the heart is the road to experiencing a joyful encounter with God. We need a straight road, a smooth road free of obstacles, to facilitate and smooth a safe, smooth, and peaceful journey. Conversely, if the road is winding, uneven, or damaged, it will become an obstacle to reaching our destination.
In this second week of Advent, John the Baptist appears, proclaiming loudly: “Repent and be baptized.” And this call is delivered in the desert. The desert symbolizes a life full of challenges, a heart that is dry and without hope, full of threatening dangers, devoid of life. The desert is a symbol of the human heart that is far from happiness and salvation because of sin. It is in this desert of the human heart that John cries out for repentance. The path of the heart must be prepared for the coming of the Lord. The crooked paths of the heart must be straightened, the bumps caused by pride must be smoothed out, so that all may see the salvation that comes from God. Salvation springs from the heart, the path of the heart that is worthy of God. The fruits of repentance are love, forgiveness, justice, good and righteous deeds according to God’s will. The path of the heart that is prepared is repentance. Repent in every word and deed.
Salvation requires preparation, which can sometimes be difficult for us, but it is not impossible. We must strive for salvation with perseverance and joy, as a pilgrimage toward salvation, which is God Himself. Preparation is necessary so that we can arrive at a joyful encounter without hindrance.
Advent, a time full of grace, is when we wait, prepare, and joyfully welcome His coming. We welcome Him with hope. We hope and allow God to work gloriously in each of our lives. This is the path we can take, namely repentance. Do not delay in repenting!
Fr. Wifridus Ngalla, cicm
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Gospel Message
Luke 21:5-19
Jesus’ message in today’s Gospel is that the continued existence of false prophets, disasters and conflicts between people, and the suffering of the Church are not signs of the end of the age. We will continue to encounter these situations in our lives because we are all human beings who have been redeemed or saved by Christ, but we must be willing to fulfill His conditions. What are these conditions?
The requirement is faith. That the end times will come is certain. But when that will happen, even Jesus said he did not know! Faith gives certainty about what will happen, but not when. People who want to know when the end times will come are not speaking with faith. Anyone who truly has faith will live through the difficulties that Jesus mentioned. It is understandable that it is not easy to accept this, but thanks to their strong faith, they always remember Jesus’ words: “This will be your opportunity to testify,” and “If you endure, you will gain your life.”
Today’s Gospel message reminds and invites us that when we experience difficulties in life, we must become more aware of what it means to live as people of true faith. To live as people of faith, it is not enough to seek certainty only through calculation or thought alone, but rather by holding fast to faith, which means truly believing in the teachings and example of Christ’s way of life.
Fr. Wifridus Ngalla, cicm
The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica Sunday Gospel Message
John 2:13-22
Today the Church celebrates the dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran. This cathedral is the papal cathedral and “the mother of all churches in the city and throughout the world.” Yet more than just a building, this feast reminds us that the true Church is not made of stone walls, but is a living body—Christ and us, His members. This feast day is not merely a commemoration of a building: it is an expression of gratitude for the grace of the Holy Church, the place where God dwells among his people. It is a symbol of the unity of the universal Church, for all Catholics worldwide are united with the Pope in Rome. It is a spiritual call inviting all believers to become the living house of God (cf. 1 Cor 3:16), where Christ himself dwells. In the Gospels, Jesus entered the temple and found the holy place turned into a marketplace. He overturned the money changers’ tables and sternly rebuked them: “Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!!” This act of Jesus was not merely moral indignation but a prophetic sign. It revealed that true worship resides not in rituals or places, but in a heart turned toward God. When Jesus said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up,” the crowd was astonished. But Jesus was actually speaking about His own body—that He Himself was the new temple, the place where God dwells within humanity. Since His resurrection, every liturgical celebration has become a real encounter with the risen Christ. Thus, every time we celebrate the Eucharist, we enter not only into the church, but into the mystery of Christ Himself.
Fr. Wifridus Ngalla, cicm
All Souls Day Gospel Message
John 6:37-40
In the day’s Gospel, the Commemoration All Soul’s Day, Jesus invites those who are weary and are heavily burdened. He was addressing those who are in sin. There is nothing that will cause more labor and weariness than sin. It makes us weak and almost helpless. Jesus offers the best rest which is forgiveness. Jesus summons the sinner to conversion. It becomes harder when one dies with the sin. But God can still save us. God’s mercy can still be availed of. We believe in the existence of Purgatory. It is a state where souls who are still unworthy of heaven undergoes cleansing through suffering. The Communion of Saints, which we profess in the Creed, tells us that we, the living here on earth, the saints who are in heaven, and the poor souls who are in purgatory are connected and can help each other in prayer. That is why we offer masses for those who are in purgatory. We are encourage to do it. We thank those who never forget to pray for those souls. This is an expression of our faith in God who is merciful. As Jesus promised to His Father,”This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.” True to His promise and obedience to His Father, He saved everyone, sinner or saint, when He died on the cross. All Creation are God’s. He loves each and everyone of us. His offering of His only begotten Son to die for us is a testimony to it. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” Any mother or father knew the feelings involved in this sacrifice. But for God, we were worth it. Thus, it is no surprise and fully to God’s credit to provide us an opportunity to be united with Him even after death. Purgatory is no walk in the park. It will certainly give us divine justice for everything we have done here on earth. But it gives us hope. God’s mercy and compassion, hopefully will be enough for us to endure and accept our suffering for the sake of being worthy to enter the Kingdom.
Fr. Wifridus Ngalla, cicm
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time Gospel Message
Luke 17:11-19 I
n today’s gospel, Jesus reminds us of the importance of gratitude to God for favors we have received from Him. In this reading, what caught the admiration of Jesus about the Samaritan was that he “Turned back, praising God at the top of his voice, and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.” When was the last time we expressed this kind of gratitude to God? Gratitude to God is an expression of our faith in His saving power. Many of us hardly have time to show gratitude to God for what he has done for us. Sometimes, even using the gifts we have received freely to serve him is hard for us. This is because we rationalize too much. Unfortunately, some of us offer to God as if we are investing in a lottery. In order words, “God has to do something for me because I have given something to Him. Or, “I give to God because He gives to me!” Showing gratitude to God is very important in our Christian journey with him. However, we should not see it as a burden. The truth is that there is no amount of money or material thing that would be enough to pay God for his goodness to us. So, the decision to show gratitude to God must flow from our hearts and a pure conscience. In light of this, we must approach the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist every day. It is a sacrament of gratitude or thanksgiving to God. It is one whole sacrifice through which we, the Church, give thanks to God when we gather as one big and united family in his presence.
Fr. Wifridus Ngalla, cicm
27 th Sunday in Ordinary Time Gospel Message
Luke 17:5-10 On this 27th Sunday of ordinary time, the holy mother church invites us to reflect on one of the most important Christian and theological virtues – Faith. It is the foundation of our Christian life. Faith gives us a new vision and version of life. Without faith, we see only the ugly and dark side of life. Without faith, we remain helpless and slaves to despair and hopelessness. Faith liberates us and helps us to see the power and love of God at work in our lives. In today’s gospel, the Apostles of Christ reminds us of what we should be praying for each day. That is, praying to Christ: “Lord increase our faith.” Their humility and acceptance of their lack equally remind us of the importance of faith in our Christian life and journey. Each time I read this passage, I remember this short story. A rusty shield once said to the sun, “dazzle me,” and the sun responded: “Polish yourself, and I will dazzle you.” Our Lord Jesus Christ is always ready to increase our faith. However, we must humbly ask for it. Second, we must make the necessary efforts through our actions. Finally, we need faith to persevere in good works. We need it to remain steadfast during difficult moments in life. We need more faith to trust in God’s will and judgment. So, we must humble ourselves each day to say: “Lord, increase our faith.”
Fr. Wifridus Ngalla, cicm