August 30, 2026. 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

Readings: Jer. 20:7-9; Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 16:21-27

The Burden of Preachers!

1.     In the first reading, Jeremiah used the language of a betrayed lover to describe his relationship with God. According to him, God seduced, enticed, and manipulated him with promises of fidelity and commitment into a relationship. The Lord told him, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I dedicated you, and a prophet to the nations I appointed you.” (Jer.1:5). When Jeremiah protested, “Ah, Lord God! I know not how to speak; I am too young.” God told him, “Say not, “I am too young.” To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak. Have no fear before them, because I am with you to deliver you” (Jer. 1:7-8) The Lord then touched his mouth, saying, “See, I place my words in your mouth! This day I set you over nations and over kingdoms, to root up and to tear down, to destroy and to demolish, to build and to plant.” (Jer. 1:9-10). Jeremiah was further assured: “But do you gird your loins; stand up and tell them all that I command you. Be not crushed on their account, as though I would leave you crushed before them; for it is I this day who have made you a fortified city, a pillar of iron, a wall of brass, against the whole land: Against Judah’s kings and princes, against its priests and people. They will fight against you, but not prevail over you, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord” (Jer. 1:17-19).

 

2.     So why is Jeremiah so mad in today’s reading? Hear him: “Violence and outrage is my message.” God’s Word brought him “Derision and reproach.” Jeremiah thought God’s promises at the time of his call meant people would love him and be receptive to his prophetic messages. Instead, those he preached to hated, ridiculed, and suspended him in a pit of mud; they threw him into jail, threatening to kill him. And so, in the first reading, he cried, “You duped me, O Lord, and I let myself be duped; you were too strong for me, and you triumphed.” (Jer. 20:7). Jeremiah’s plight is the burden of every preacher who preaches God’s word, not what people want to hear, but what would bring them salvation.

 

3.     Jeremiah’s burden came from his mission. He was to point out rottenness and corruption in high places, in sacred sanctuaries, among people who were supposed to be shining examples of virtue and champions of justice. He called on the priests to reform their lives and confronted kings and rulers to render justice to the poor. When he prophesied violence and destruction, he was mocked and ridiculed by the powerful and the priests. And so, he resolved not to speak of God’s Words anymore. But he confessed his complete inability to remain silent. Instead, he cried out that the word of God was like fire burning in his heart, imprisoned by his bones: “I grow weary holding it in, and I cannot endure it.” God would not let him be. Jeremiah, gripped by the power of unrelenting love, must keep on preaching.

 

4.     Jeremiah had to deal with the burden of his mission, just as Christ had his as well, dealing with his disciples who did not quite know what his mission was all about. Last week he confronted his apostles with the question: “Who do you say I am?” Peter had an A+ with his answer that Christ was the anointed one of God. Christ gave him an exalted position and called him the Rock on which he would build his church. Peter was given the keys of the kingdom, to bind and to loose. Yes, Peter had his five minutes of fame. But in today’s reading, Jesus called Peter Satan. “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”  So, how deep was Peter’s knowledge of Christ? By saying Christ was the anointed one, he thought that, as the anointed one, Christ would rescue God’s people from the Romans and establish a kingdom where there shall be no more poor, sick, blind, or lame. In that kingdom, as we read in the ‘Sermon on the Mount’ (Matthew 5-7), there will be peace, love, and justice. Sinners would be converted to the Lord; “There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the Lord as water covers the sea” (Is. 9:15)

 

5.     The Anointed One was expected to be a high priest or a judge; he was to be a warrior or a great prophet like Elijah. He was to be so great, prosperous, and powerful that suffering and pain would have no place in his life. The Apostles, on the other hand, saw themselves as sharing in the master’s greatness. They were destined to have high and influential positions in that kingdom. How could Christ be talking about suffering, the cross, or even dying? Peter had to prevent Christ from talking like that. But Christ saw in Peter’s reaction another temptation trying to derail him from his mission. He called him Satan, tempter, a barrier, an adversary, and a stumbling block. Just like Jeremiah, no one wants to suffer, no one wants the cross, and no one wants pains of any kind. We want an easy way out, so we cut corners, peddle the truth, and compromise our principles and follow the crowd. No, Lord, this must not happen to you. So, Jesus rebuked Peter and reminded him that he does not give instructions to Jesus but should learn from the master.

     

6.     Jesus lived a sacrificial life. His love went above and beyond his call of duty, because his aim was always to bring us to a life of union with God. And so, Christ constantly calls us to take up our cross and follow him daily. He said that we must deny ourselves for his sake. This means saying ‘Yes’ to God and ‘no’ to self and self-inclinations. He calls on us to dethrone ourselves and enthrone God in all spheres of our lives. We must seek to please God in everything. Secondly, Christ invites us to take up our crosses as he did his and live a life of sacrificial service. We must abandon our personal ambition to serve Christ and those entrusted to our care. By so doing, we learn the meaning of true happiness, which lies in following Jesus, obeying his command, and walking in his footsteps. We do this through prayer, our sacramental life, and by living a life of service. Let us pray that we may offer ourselves, as St. Paul reminds us in the second reading, “As a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.” Amen.

 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP.

August 23, 2026. 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

Readings: Isaiah 22:19-23; Romans 11:33-36; Matthew 16:13-20

 

Who Do You Say I Am?

1.  Six years ago, as I was reflecting on the above question. I got a call that my 91-year-old dad had passed away. There and then, the question took on a different dimension for me. Who do I say Jesus is for me at a time like this? When faced with difficult situations in life, who is Jesus for you? Sometimes it feels like we don’t know who Jesus is. This reminds me of a story by Mark Link in his Sunday Homilies. A little girl went to CCD class for the first time. After class, her mother asked her, “Amy, how did you like CCD today?” The little girl said, “I didn’t like it at all.” Her mother said, “It was your first time. Just wait a few weeks. You’ll come to like it.” Three weeks later, the little girl came home from CCD with big tears in her eyes. “What’s the matter?” her mother asked. “It’s CCD,” the little girl said. “Must I keep going?” “Why?” asked her mother. “What’s wrong?” “Well,” said the little girl, “everybody talks about somebody named Jesus. And I don’t know who he is. I’ve never even met him.”

 

2.    I’m sure Christ will resonate with this girl’s feelings. Everybody is talking about Christ; do they know who Christ is? Was he ever understood? Was Christ recognized for who and what he was? After his ascension, is there anyone who will carry on his work and labor for his kingdom? Do we know what his mission really is? Is Christ only a miracle worker, a healer, a provider, or the one who raised the dead? This question was crucial to Christ.

 

3.    So, to the question “Who do you people say I am?”, many people have different opinions about Jesus and who they thought he was. But Christ was not interested in what others said about him, but rather in an individual experience of him. And so, when Peter made his profession of faith: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”, Christ knew that there was at least someone who knew and understood his mission. He knew that with Peter at the helm, his work was safe, and his mission would go on even without him. And so, Christ appointed Peter to the leadership role and gave him the keys of the kingdom. But how did Peter come to this sublime knowledge of Christ? This type of knowledge can only come from God, as St. Paul opines in the second reading: “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgements and how unsearchable his ways! For from him and through him and for him are all things.”

 

4.    Peter came to this knowledge through his personal encounter with the person of Jesus. Peter encountered Jesus when he was directed to catch a great number of fish to the point that his nets were tearing. He had to signal to his partners in the other boat to come to help him. When Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” (Lk. 5:1-11). How could Peter have forgotten that experience? He saw firsthand how Jesus healed the sick, beginning with his mother-in-law. (Lk. 4:38-39). He heard Jesus’s teaching many times. He knew that Jesus taught with authority, unlike the Scribes and Pharisees. (Matt. 7:29). He was rescued from drowning in the Sea of Galilee. (Matt. 14:22-33). He saw Jesus doing the kind of work reserved for slaves, like washing feet. (Jn. 13:1-17). He saw Jesus feed the multitude with just five loaves and two fish. (Matt. 14:13-21). He, of course, witnessed Jesus as he spent hours in prayer, sometimes even throughout the night. (Lk 3:21; 11:1-13). Jesus lived with his apostles, and so they saw how simple his life was. No ordinary human being could do all these, except the anointed one of God! Yes, I know who you are: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

 

5.    With Peter’s confession, he was given the keys. Christ entrusted him with the responsibility of leading his church because Peter understood what true power meant. It is service above all; it is suffering, and, at times, it entails sacrifice. It means being responsible for others in love. Jesus knew that Peter would always fall back on him for support. He knew that he would not arrogate power to himself, as Shebna did in the first reading. Shebna used his power and authority to enrich himself. He forgot the one who put him there and the reason he was placed in that exalted position. Corrupt leaders often feel that they have absolute power and forget that he who gave power can also take it back. And Shebna’s power was transferred to Eliakim.

 

6.    A true leader will always look for the source of his power. And this comes from the knowledge of God. We know a person’s worth by the power they wield. Our knowledge of Christ will assure our humility in the exercise of power. That is why power in the Church is service, and to exercise this power appropriately, one must have a deeper relationship with Christ. So, in your position of authority, who do you say Jesus is? In your family, who do you say he is? When faced with temptation and sickness that defiles all cures, who is Jesus for you? In your free time alone and in your confusion, who is Jesus for you? When entrusted with a position of leadership, who do you say Jesus is?

 

7.    Let us pray for a true understanding of power and authority. May we get to know Jesus personally and intimately so that he may use us for his kingdom. Amen.

 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

August 16, 2026. 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

Readings: Isaiah 56:1,6-7; Romans 11:13-15, 29-32; Matthew 15:21-28

Children’s Food and House Dogs!

1.     Jesus was naturally compassionate and kind to women, children, the poor, and the sick? Why then was he unkind to the Canaanite woman, a Gentile, a non-Jew who begged him to heal her daughter?  She was an outsider. She did not belong to the family of God’s chosen people. She must have heard about Jesus’ healing power, and so she came to him, crying desperately for help. After ignoring her for some time, Jesus told her, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Yes, Jesus was sent to his Jewish people. This passage describes the first time Jesus was outside Jewish territory. It foreshadowed the taking of the gospel to the whole world.

 

2.     How do we treat outsiders in our midst? How do we relate with those who are different from us, speak different languages, have accents, or do not belong to our class? They are the immigrants and the marginalized. We often put people into categories like Democrats, Republicans, or Independents. We are not comfortable when people hold political views different from ours. We are either with or against them. They are not one of us: they are Outsiders. The outsiders are freeloaders, we reason. We often ignore their academic background or their professions. According to an African proverb, “He who sees a person in the bush forgets that they came from a home.” So, this woman, an outsider, goes to Jesus for mercy and healing for her daughter. The disciples saw her as an embarrassment or a nuisance. They demanded, “Give her what she wants and get rid of her.” Just the way we see and treat the outsiders in our communities. They are an embarrassment in our streets; we are tired of them because they are taking all our jobs; we are spending too much money on their welfare. The disciples’ reaction was not compassion and love, but an unchristian response to human needs. It was shameful and reprehensible. But just like all the outsiders in our midst, no insult would prevent her from getting what she wanted for her daughter. Yes, even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the master’s table. But she was a foreigner, a non-Jew, an outsider! Where did her faith come from?

 

3.     Her faith came from her love for her daughter. It was love that made her approach this stranger. It was love that made her accept rebuff and insult. She saw compassion in the seeming words of insult from Jesus. There is nothing stronger and nothing nearer God than our love for others. We live better when we live for others. This woman’s faith grew stronger when confronted by Jesus. She looked into Jesus’ face, discovered something divine in her heart, and ended up calling him Lord. “Lord, help me.” When faced with sickness and deprivation, the outsiders fall back on God, and their faith grows ever stronger. God is truly close to the brokenhearted. She came crying out for help and ended up on her knees in prayer of adoration. She humbled herself and acknowledged the God of her salvation. She was not discouraged because the prayer of a contrite heart always wins the Lord’s favor.

 

4.     Christ’s mission was to the Jews first, but this woman was a Gentile crying for mercy; He had to awaken true faith in her heart. “It is not right to take the children’s bread and to throw it to the dogs.” Her answer, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters”, shows that her faith was strong enough for her miracle to be granted. The true meaning of this story is not in the healing of her daughter but in her audacity of faith that dares to trust in the face of silence, of delay, and exclusion. She did not argue for her right or demand what she believes she deserves but threw herself entirely upon the mercy of God and was convinced that his goodness is greater than every obstacle before her. Jesus, moved by such extraordinary faith, declares, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” The Canaanite woman teaches us that when we approach God, we must drop our sense of entitlement and pride and lean entirely on his absolute goodness. When we encounter obstacles, delays, or apparent silence, we must resist the temptation to surrender to discouragement. God’s silence is not always God’s absence. And his delays are not necessarily his denials. If you are standing before a closed door today or carrying a burden that seems impossible to bear, do not lose heart. Do not allow divine silence to harden you into resentment; instead, kneel in prayer and continue to trust, hold firm to God’s generosity, and remember that even the smallest touch of grace can transform your story because the crumbs that fall from the master’s table carry the power of heaven even for an outsider. Jesus reinforced the woman’s faith and showed it as an example to others.

 

5.     Because of her faith, being an outsider was no longer a barrier to approaching God for mercy. Peter recognized this after he visited Cornelius’ house, himself a Gentile, “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.” (Acts 10:34-35). John the apostle adds, “But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God.” (Jn. 1:12). And John Rose wrote, “The Jews were the chosen race. They had the right to receive the blessings of the Messiah. The non-Jewish people, the Syro-Phoenician woman, who did not belong to the Chosen race of the Jews, will still receive the same blessing because of their faith.”

 

6.     Our faith and the water of baptism are, indeed, stronger than the racial and tribal bond. In Jesus, it doesn’t matter whether you are an outsider or not; once you believe in God and commit yourself to him, “Observe what is right, do what is just; for my salvation is about to come, my justice, about to be revealed.” Those who join themselves to God, foreigners, outsiders and all, who minister to God and worship his name, will come to God’s holy mountain where they will pray freely to him, for his house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. May God who accepts us as we are, help us to accept others as they are. Amen.

 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

August 09, 2026. 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

Readings: 1 Kings 19:9,11-13; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:22-33

 

“Truly, you are the Son of God.”

1.      Today’s readings demonstrate the faith of two men: Elijah in the first reading and Peter in the Gospel. In the First Book of Kings, Elijah struggled to turn Israel away from the precipice of collapse and decadence and back to the worship of the true God. Zeal for God and righteous indignation led Elijah to put to death the 450 prophets of Baal. Jezebel, King Ahab’s wife and a passionate promoter of paganism and the worship of the Canaanite god Baal, was furious with Elijah and threatened to kill him. Elijah fled for his life, even begging God to take his life. God did not grant that plea; instead, he miraculously fed Elijah. Strengthened by nourishment from above, Elijah journeyed to the mountain of God at Horeb, where God revealed himself not in thunder, lightning, or earthquake, but in a gentle breeze. God is as effective and powerful in the gentle wind as he is in dramatic and earth-shaking signs. Elijah’s faith was tested, and he almost gave up, but God changed his fortune and renewed his faith as Elijah turned his gaze from himself to God and allowed God to direct his life. It is amazing what we hear when we pay attention to God’s word. Meditation and contemplation are forms of prayer that help us listen to God in a very special way.

 

2.     Last Sunday we read about the miracle of the multiplication of loaves and two fish and the feeding of five thousand men, not counting women and children. Today, after the banquet, Christ sent his disciples to the other side of the lake while he dismissed the crowds. He then went up the mountain to pray. Nothing would prevent him from keeping the appointment with God. If he couldn’t pray during the day, he could do it at night. Prayer gave him strength to do his father’s will and carry out his mission. When we listen to God in prayer, we come to know his will. We should not complain that we cannot find time to pray; we should not be too busy to pray. To be effective and productive in his mission, Christ needed to spend time with God. Prayer is the key to a successful life, to a productive ministry, and to a committed Christian life.

 

3.     While praying, Christ sensed that his disciples were in trouble at sea, struggling as their boat was buffeted by strong wind and waves. “It is I; do not be afraid”, he assured them. Peter retorted, “If it is you, bid me come to you on the water.” Christ invited him, and he stepped on the water, with his eyes fixed on Christ. As soon as he took his eyes off Jesus, he began to go down into the water. Then he cried out for help, “Lord, save me!”

 

4.     The raging waves of the sea can be compared to the storms of our lives. At times our lives are ravaged by turbulent waves of atrocities and adversities. No matter how much we fix our gaze on Jesus, he does not seem to notice. Our faith has been tested over and over again like Peter’s and Elijah’s. How do we handle the stormy weather of broken relationships and shattered dreams? Unfortunately, some of our storms are self-inflicted. We find it difficult to free ourselves from the shackles of misguided dreams and misplaced priorities. We are drowned by worldly desires each time we try to get out. How do we deal with the waves of problems that defile all logic in our families? Our Church is not spared the turbulent waves of sin, deceit, cover-up, and unaccountability. We face innumerable problems and unanswerable questions. At times like this, we cry like Peter, “Lord, save us; we are drowning.” Christ will hear and say, men and women of little faith, why did you doubt? It is I; do not be afraid.

 

5.     From these readings we learn that no matter the condition of our faith, Christ will meet us at the hour of our needs. He will come to us, as he went to the disciples, in the rough and turbulent sea. He knows us, and he is willing to assist us. No matter what our waves, be it bad marriage, struggle with temptation, dealing with depression, or grieving the loss of a loved one, we are not alone. Jesus tells us, “In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” (Jn. 16:33). Just like the wind died down and there was calm when Jesus entered the boat, if we invite Jesus into our boats, he will calm our storm and grant us peace. Let us worship and acknowledge that, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”

 

 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP