This Sunday’s Gospel Message from the Priest
11th Sunday in Ordinary Time Gospel Message
Matthew 9:36-10:8
Have you ever felt weary looking at the situations around you? Injustice, suffering, or people who seem to have lost their way in life. In today’s reading, we see how Jesus views such situations. When He saw the crowds, weary and helpless like sheep without a shepherd, His heart was moved with compassion.
The phrase “moved with compassion” in the original language refers to a deep sense of pity that stirs the very depths of a person’s being. Jesus did not merely feel pity and then walk away. His compassion was active and transformative. He saw that “the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.”
Interestingly, after asking the disciples to pray that the Father would send workers, Jesus immediately sent the disciples themselves. Those who were initially only invited to observe and pray are now called and sent to be part of the solution. Jesus gave them the power to heal and cast out evil spirits, then sent them with the message: “Go and proclaim: The Kingdom of Heaven is near.”
There is one key phrase at the end of the passage that forms the foundation of our entire ministry: “You have received freely; therefore, give freely.”
As Catholics, we often admire Jesus’ compassion but forget that we are His hands and feet in the world today. The harvest around us is still plentiful. Many people long for a touch of love, a word of hope, or simply to be listened to. We often make excuses that we are unable or do not have the time. However, Jesus reminds us that what we have—life, faith, talents, and love—are free gifts from God.
Being a worker in God’s field doesn’t always mean becoming a pastor or a nun. Within our families, workplaces, and communities, we are called to bring the peaceful and healing presence of the Kingdom of Heaven. When we love selflessly and serve without expecting anything in return, that is when we are answering His call. Don’t wait until you’re perfect to serve. Start with a heart willing to be moved by compassion, just like Jesus.
Fr. Wifridus Ngalla, cicm
The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ Sunday Gospel Message
John 6:51-58
On the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, we are invited to reflect once more on the greatest mystery of love that Jesus left for His Church: the Sacrament of the Eucharist. In today’s Gospel of John, Jesus radically affirms His identity: “I am the bread of life that has come down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever.” For the Jews of that time, these words were shocking and hard to accept. But for us believers, this word is a guarantee of the inseparable bond of love between God and humanity.
The Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ—or what we often call Corpus Christi—is not merely a remembrance of a past event. Every time we receive Holy Communion, a powerful spiritual miracle takes place: we do not merely remember Jesus, but we “become one body” with Him. Jesus Himself said, “Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in him.” There is an intimate and personal unity.
In a world that offers so many things to satisfy fleeting ambitions—from material possessions and power to digital recognition—the human soul often remains hungry and thirsty for true peace. We are busy filling our lives with “worldly bread” that never satisfies. Through this Feast, Jesus reminds us that the only thing that can quench our soul’s thirst is He Himself. The Eucharist is the provision for our journey (viatukum) that strengthens us as we face life’s challenging pilgrimage.
However, receiving the Body and Blood of Christ also carries social consequences. After we are united with Christ in the form of bread and wine, we are sent forth to become “broken bread” for our neighbors. We are called to share love, care, and sacrifice with the poor, the marginalized, and the suffering. Thus, Christ’s presence does not remain confined to the tabernacle or within us alone, but radiates tangibly through our daily good deeds until we one day partake in the eternal banquet in heaven.
Fr. Wifridus Ngalla, cicm
Holy Trinity Sunday Gospel Message
John 3:16-18
On this Church Feast Day celebrating the Holy Trinity, we are all invited to reflect on God, who is not only Almighty but also full of love. In the Gospel we hear today, it is recounted that the Lord Jesus said that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son so that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. God’s love is evident in the relationship of the Trinity: The Father who loves, the Son who was sent to save, and the Holy Spirit who continually enlivens faith in our hearts. The Triune God is not a distant God, but a God who is present, near, and continually at work in our daily lives. So, what can we reflect on? I offer just three points:
- God has loved us first. Often, we feel we must be perfect first in order to be worthy of God’s love. Yet today’s Gospel affirms that God’s love comes first, even when humanity is still weak and sinful. God’s love is not a reward for our goodness, but a saving grace. The Feast of the Holy Trinity reminds us that our lives spring from love and are called to return to that love. The reflective question is: “Do I truly believe that God still loves me even though I have weaknesses and sins?”
- Faith is not merely knowing about God, but believing in Him. The Lord Jesus said that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life. To believe means to surrender one’s life to God, not merely to be familiar with His teachings. In our daily lives, we often place more trust in our own strength, our fears, or our worries. The Triune God invites us to learn to rely on Him with a heart full of faith. Then the question is: “In the struggles of my life right now, am I truly surrendering myself to God, or am I still relying on my own strength?”
- God’s love must be made real through our lives. The love of the Triune God does not stop with ourselves. We are called to be a sign of that love for others: through care, forgiveness, patience, and small acts of kindness every day. The world needs people who reflect God’s loving face, not those who are quick to judge and hurt. The question is: “Has my presence become a sign of God’s love and comfort for those around me?”
The Feast of the Most Holy Trinity invites us to become more aware that the Christian life is rooted in God’s love. We come from love, live in love, and are called to share that love with the world. When we open our hearts to the Holy Trinity, our lives are gradually transformed to be more peaceful, more humble, and more caring toward others.
Fr. Wifridus Ngalla, cicm
Pentecost Sunday Gospel Message
John 20:19-23
In the Gospel of John 20:19–23 that we just heard, the Lord Jesus appeared to the disciples who were locked away in fear. He greeted them with “shalom” (peace), breathed on them the Holy Spirit, and granted them the power to forgive sins. This was, in fact, the moment of the Church’s formation—a Church sent into the world to bring salvation and reconciliation.
As context, the passage we heard states, “On the evening of that first day of the week, the disciples were gathered in a room with the doors locked…” (John 20:19). The disciples were hiding in fear of the world’s authorities (namely, the Jews). We can reflect on or highlight this as a sign of modern humanity’s fragility. We often lock the doors of our hearts out of fear, anxiety, and worry about the future, failure, or even losing control.
Well, the presence of Jesus—who came and stood among the frightened disciples and said, “Peace be with you!” (John 20:19b)—shows that the risen Christ did not knock on the door to enter; rather, He passed right through the closed door because His divinity transcends the laws of nature. The greeting “Shalom” is not merely a polite greeting or empty words, but points to true peace of heart. Realize that the encounter with the risen Jesus is the center of the Christian faith. The Resurrection is not a myth, but a real historical event that transforms fear into joy.
Then what about Jesus’ action of breathing on the disciples and saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit”? Jesus’ act of “breathing” reminds us of the Book of Genesis, where God breathed the breath of life into the nostrils of the first human. Thus, we view this event as a new creation. Remember that the Church was born through the breath of the Holy Spirit from Christ’s open side. Without the Holy Spirit, the Church is merely a social organization, not the living Body of Christ.
Finally, the words of the Lord Jesus, who was present among His disciples at that time: “If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven…” (John 20:23). This is the sacramental foundation of the Sacrament of Penance (Reconciliation). Christ grants authority to His Church (the apostles and their successors) to serve as instruments of God’s reconciliation. The forgiveness of sins is not merely a human moral decision, but a divine work entrusted to the Church so that humanity may be freed from the bonds of sin.
Therefore, let us “not be afraid” of the Lord Jesus who comes into the reality of our lives. He takes nothing from us; rather, He gives us everything. Let us allow Him to enter through the “locked doors” of our lives. We must be witnesses of reconciliation: For through the baptism we have received, just as the Father sent Jesus, we too are sent into this secular and challenging world. We are called to be peacemakers and witnesses of God’s mercy through forgiveness.
Fr. Wifridus Ngalla, cicm
The Ascension of the Lord
Matthew 28:16-20
Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord. In the first reading, the disciples witnessed Jesus being taken up into heaven. They stood there, gazing at the sky. But two men dressed in white said to them, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking up at the sky?”
This question is the focus of our reflection today. The disciples were indeed allowed to gaze at the sky, for that is where Jesus ascended. But they must not stop merely at looking up. Heaven is the destination, but the world is the place of mission. Therefore, after gazing at the sky, the disciples must learn to look at the world through the eyes of Christ.
The Lord’s Ascension does not mean that Jesus abandoned the disciples. He ascended to heaven not to distance Himself, but to be present in a new way. He is no longer physically present as before, but is present through the Holy Spirit, through the Word, through the Church, and through every disciple sent to be His witness.
In the Acts of the Apostles, Jesus said: “You will be my witnesses.” This is the identity of a disciple of Christ: to be a witness. Not merely a spectator, not just someone who marvels at the glory of God, but someone who continues His work in the world. Thus, after Jesus ascended into heaven, the disciples’ task was not to stand still, but to move forward. Not merely to gaze at the sky, but to look upon the world.
A world that is wounded, poor, confused, unjust, and without hope must be viewed through the eyes of Christ. This is the essence of Jesus’ words: the eyes of Christ. To gaze upon the world through the eyes of Christ means to see as Christ sees. Christ looks upon sinners not to condemn, but to forgive. He looks upon the sick not to turn away, but to heal.
He sees the poor not as a burden, but as brothers and sisters. He sees humanity not only through the lens of sin, but through the dignity of being children of God. In the second reading, Saint Paul prays that God may enlighten the eyes of our hearts. He says: “May He enlighten the eyes of your heart.”
Without enlightened eyes of the heart, we easily view the world through eyes of fear, anger, disappointment, suspicion, or despair. But when the eyes of our hearts are enlightened by Christ, we will see the world not as a place to be avoided, but as a mission field.
Today’s Gospel affirms the same thing. Jesus says: “Go, make disciples of all nations.” Go and make disciples of all nations. The word “go” is very important. Faith must not remain in comfort. Faith always sends us out.
Therefore, the Church is not a community that merely looks upward, but also a community that reaches out. We come to church to gaze upon God, but we leave the church to bring God to others. We pray to be strengthened, and then we are sent out to be witnesses.
Yet Jesus did not merely give a command. He also made a promise: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” This is the strength of Christ’s disciples. We are not sent out alone. Christ, who ascended into heaven, continues to be with His Church. Sometimes we are like the disciples: we gaze at the sky for too long. We enjoy praying, celebrating the liturgy, and reflecting on heavenly things. That is good and necessary.
But faith must not stop within the church building. After the Eucharist, we are sent back to our homes, workplaces, communities, and the world. That is where today’s theme becomes real: after gazing at the sky, look at the world through the eyes of Christ. Look at your family with love. Look at the poor with compassion.
Look upon those who are different with respect. Look upon the wounded with tenderness. Look upon the future with hope. The Ascension of the Lord teaches us two directions of Christian life. First, toward heaven, for that is the ultimate goal of our lives. Second, toward the world, for that is where our mission lies now.
So do not stop merely at gazing at the sky. Listen to Christ’s command: go. Be witnesses of Christ. And look upon the world through the eyes of Christ. For Christ, who ascended into heaven, has not forsaken us. He said, “I am with you always.” Amen.
Fr. Wifridus Ngalla, cicm
6th Easter Sunday Gospel Message
John 14:15-21
Today’s Bible passage reminds us that there is a constant battle between the Holy Spirit and evil spirits in human life. Evil spirits often drag people into selfishness, greed, hatred, and indifference. On the other hand, the Holy Spirit draws people closer to God and guides them toward a life filled with love, truth, and a sense of responsibility. And one of those Holy Spirits is none other than the Holy Spirit promised by Jesus Himself—the Helper, the Advocate, and the Spirit of Truth.
Therefore, we must not merely know the Holy Spirit as a mere doctrine or theory of faith. We must seek the Holy Spirit daily, invite Him in, and continually renew His work in our lives. For without the Holy Spirit, people easily lose their way. Their hearts grow cold, their lives become self-centered, and they gradually lose love.
Jesus said, “Whoever loves me will keep my commandments.” Yet we know that loving Christ and keeping his commandments is not always easy. At times we grow weary, feel disappointed, become angry, or feel that life is too heavy to bear. It is precisely in such situations that we need the Holy Spirit to remain in Christ and in his truth.
My friends, this life always comes with responsibilities. We do not live alone. Our actions always affect other people and the natural world that God created. In hope, and sometimes even in suffering, we are called to keep fighting to live on. And one of the most important battles today is to preserve the harmony of the natural world that God created.
The Apostle Peter said, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do so with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience. Then those who slander your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame by their own slander.” In a skeptical world, we are called not to attack, but to bear witness with love and kindness. We speak the truth without shouting and proclaim our faith without insulting others.
Jesus fully understands the state of His disciples’ hearts—and of our own hearts. He knows that we are weak, prone to fear, and often feel lonely. That is why, in the Gospels, Jesus promised the Helper—the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Comforter who dwells within us, giving us courage when our hearts tremble and unwavering strength when the world is in turmoil. Through the Holy Spirit, we are enabled not only to endure, but also to bear witness and love just as Christ Himself did.
Therefore, in this world filled with thirst and weariness, we must never retreat. We are called to be messengers of hope—not because we are perfect, but because Christ, who lives within us, is the light that never fades. Through us, the world will come to know that God still loves this world.
The Holy Spirit helps us to have hearts that are sensitive to life. The Holy Spirit makes us realize that this earth is not our private property, but a common home entrusted to us by God. Therefore, protecting nature is not merely a matter of cleanliness, but a matter of responsibility born of love for God and faith.
Fr. Wifridus Ngalla, cicm
4th Sunday of Easter Gospel Message
John 10:1-10
When we hear Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel, their meaning becomes deeper because we are in the season of Easter. We have celebrated Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Jesus had to die to himself to live a new life. He has shown us how to live fully: to die to oneself to rise to a new life.
We can apply Jesus’ words today to the false notions of happiness offered by the world: “The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10). Only by dying to ourselves and following Jesus will we find the true happiness we seek.
Jesus teaches that the path to happiness is not found in fulfilling all our desires and cravings. The path to happiness lies instead in a different way of life: making sacrifices and carrying the cross with Jesus and bringing Jesus’ life into our own lives.
That is why Jesus said: “I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved; they will come in and go out and find pasture” (John 10:9); and “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10).
Pope John Paul II repeatedly encouraged the faithful to discover a life of fullness by following Jesus, saying: “Do not be afraid! Open wide the door to Christ!”. Furthermore, he designated this Fourth Sunday of Easter as the World Day of Prayer for Vocations.
Each of us has a vocation! Each of us, regardless of our life situation, has been and is being called by God through the Holy Spirit to offer our unique gifts for the good of the entire community. Therefore, this “Vocation Sunday” is certainly not just for those specifically chosen for a religious vocation, but for “all of us” here.
On one hand, each person needs to reflect on their specific calling and how they can respond to it for the well-being of the entire parish community. Furthermore, we need to help others and not become an obstacle for them in responding to the special call and grace that God grants through His Spirit.
If we all actively respond to that call, how beautiful our community would be! For, by God’s grace, “We are His people, the flock of His pasture.” We also pray that more people may hear the voice of Jesus calling, that they may enter through Him into the sheepfold and receive abundant life….Amen. God bless!!
Fr. Wifridus Ngalla, cicm