TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Gospel (Mk 7:31-37) Again Jesus left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis. And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!”— that is, “Be opened!” — And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly. He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it. They were exceedingly astonished and they said, “He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” The Gospel of the Lord: Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ. The Word of God for Everyone Dear People of God, In the Word of God today, God reveals to all mankind His plan and His work. All of God's salvation for mankind has been arranged by God the Father since the beginning of creation til today and into the future, originating from His love for mankind. God the Father always watches over mankind every second, every minute, in every breath of human life on this earth. God the Father is the Lord of all creatures, whether in the heavens above or on the earth below. All is in God the Father’s powerful hands. That is what God the Father wants people to thank, worship, and always trust and believe in Him. As in the book of Isaiah, the prophet was inspired by the Spirit of God to speak His Word. He called on all people to trust and believe in God, especially when facing difficulties, challenges, disasters, and calamities, to courageously run to God; ask for His help, ask for His protection, ask for His powerful hand to support and protect you from the evils of Satan and their minions. And until today, God has always accompanied and been with people. Because His Word has said: "I am with you always, until the end of the age.” This togetherness is realized when people have faith in Jesus Christ who died and rose again. This is the only thing God the Father left for people in the Salvation Work of Jesus Christ: for people to live in the Kingdom of Heaven, they must absolutely believe in Jesus Christ who died and was resurrected to atone for their sins. Today's Word of God teaches people that: His power is supreme, He can do everything, He drives away Satan, and He heals all illnesses and disabilities among people. But, to receive the power and strength of God for ourselves, He wants people to believe, trust, and rely absolutely on the power of God. Because of that absolute trust, God can manifest His power on us. He can drive away Satan, heal all illnesses, and disabilities according to His will. As God always respects human freedom. This is what God the Father wants people to know, to listen,and to follow the will of God. This is what God the Father wants people to believe absolutely in Jesus Christ who is truly present. He is the true God and true man when He heals all illnesses and disabilities among the people; when He teaches good things that lead to eternal life; when He delivers the command of God the Father, when He sacrifices Himself to die and rise again to save all mankind. Moreover, God also promised that He would be with mankind until the end of the world. That is His Word and He Himself is hidden in the small bread at the Holy Eucharistic Table, in the Eucharist to love, to nourish mankind. This is what God the Father calls people to have to believe, since it is the mysterious manifestation of His love for humanity. Without faith, people will live far from God, live in loneliness, and die at the hands of Satan. Therefore, to be happy in the love of God the Father in the Kingdom of Heaven, He calls us when living on this earth: to run to God, practice the Word of God every day, worship God present in the Eucharist with firm trust, surrender, and hope in the power and strength of God the Supreme Father; Trust in His great power in the work of the Holy Spirit in the new era, the work of Sanctification of all creatures that He has created. Thanks be to God. Amen.

SATURDAY OF THE TWENTY-SECOND WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME Gospel (Luke 6:1-5) While Jesus was going through a field of grain on a sabbath, his disciples were picking the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating them. Some Pharisees said, "Why are you doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?" Jesus said to them in reply, "Have you not read what David did when he and those who were with him were hungry? How he went into the house of God, took the bread of offering, which only the priests could lawfully eat, ate of it, and shared it with his companions?" Then he said to them, "The Son of Man is lord of the sabbath." The Gospel of the Lord: Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ. The Word of God for Everyone Dear People of God, Today's Word of God wants to tell all humanity that God is the master of the Sabbath, the master of every day in human life, and the master of all laws. God wants humans to obey the law, but that law must be God's law, which is the law of love. God always puts love above all laws and puts humankind above all things. Therefore, God always calls everyone to follow God's law of love, rather than obey the law of outward appearance, because it will not lead to eternal life. God gave the law to save humanity, and to bring God's love and mercy to all mankind. In today's Gospel, God shows two images: -The First image is the image of Jesus' disciples on the way to follow Him. Because they were hungry, they picked grain to eat on the Sabbath. The disciples plucking grain to eat to nourish their bodies is not wrongful, they are not breaking the law. But those who keep the law in an outward appearance condemn His disciples for breaking the law. Through that, Jesus wants to tell everyone that His disciples are not wrong at all. Furthermore, He also teaches those who are living a fake life, keeping God's law in a formal way, to wake up to obey and live according to the law that God gave to mankind; do not follow the law of the world to harm humanity and cause humankind to distance from God. - The second image is the image of the Pharisees blaming Jesus' disciples: why did they pick grain and eat it on the Sabbath, also leaves a lesson for humanity today that the Catholic Church is a holy Church of God, with Jesus Christ as the head, the master of the Church, so He does not want His Church to fall into the traps and temptations of Satan, which is keeping the formal laws; because maintaining the keeping of the formal laws will not please God and will cause stumbling blocks for His children. He also reminds the children in His Church to live and keep the law that God Himself gave, which is the Law of Love, and put love and charity towards others above all laws; do not let the formal laws cause the souls of the suffering sheep to be separated from God. Today, God calls upon the shepherds of His Church to put God's Law of Love above all laws to help suffering souls return to God the Father; do not rely on human laws and reasoning to overwhelm God's law of love. Because human laws do not bring us love, happiness, and eternal life. Only God's law given to His Church, to every soul, is the Law of Love, which can lead to perfect happiness, which is the Kingdom of Heaven. God calls upon all His children to live and put the Law of Love above all laws. Which is to love God above all things and to love others as ourselves. Thanks be to God. Amen

FRIDAY OF THE TWENTY-SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME Gospel Lk 5:33-39 The scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, “The disciples of John the Baptist fast often and offer prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same; but yours eat and drink.” Jesus answered them, “Can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.” And he also told them a parable. “No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one. Otherwise, he will tear the new and the piece from it will not match the old cloak. Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined. Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins. And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’” The Gospel of the Lord: Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ. The Word of God for Everyone Dear People of God, In the Word of God in today's Gospel, God teaches the disciples as well as everyone: do not have a heart that compares, judges, and calculates like people in the world. He reminds those who have an impure heart, that they do not belong to God but belong to the world: God does not want His children to walk in darkness: that is when their hearts are always judging and jealous of their brothers and sisters. God does not want people to use human reason to judge and condemn anyone, because no one understands the hearts of others. Only God alone has the right to judge and condemn the thoughts and actions of their brothers and sisters. Today's Gospel recounts the story of the Pharisees blaming and condemning Jesus' disciples for not fasting. They intended to blame the disciples for not having a moral, holy and sacrificial life like the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees. Through this story, God wanted to remind them that: where God is present, there is happiness, joy and peace, so people do not need to fast; because they sacrifice and fast to wait for God to come to save the world, and He is already present among them. Therefore, Jesus said, when the bridegroom is taken away from them, they will fast. God never criticizes or condemns people for sacrificing, fasting, and mortifying themselves. But He wanted to teach His disciples the meaning of fasting and repentance to strengthen their faith and convince them why people fast. To talk about keeping the law, Jesus gave the parable: 'new wine with new wineskins', and 'old clothes and new clothes'. These are two images symbolizing the Old Law and the New Law. Through that, He wants to emphasize to everyone that: When God brings the New Law to people, people must live in accordance with this New Law, which is the law of Love. God does not tell people to give up fasting and self-denial, but He wants to emphasize and call on each person to be aware of their sinful condition and to be awake and aware of their actions before God. We must always examine ourselves and check our conscience before God: have our words and actions pleased God? Have we listened to and obeyed the law of love that God has given us? Only then will our souls always be converted and renewed so that we can live more pleasingly to God every day. Thanks be to God. Amen

THURSDAY OF THE TWENTY-SECOND WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME (Luke 5:1-11) While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had dis-embarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." Simon said in reply, "Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets." When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that the boats were in danger of sinking. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man." For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men." When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him. The Gospel of the Lord: Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ. The Word of God for Everyone Dear People of God, The Word of God today wants to tell all humanity that the power and strength of the Word of God will be spread throughout this world. The Word of God is powerful, a Word that can save and bring life to people; it never brings death, suffering, or darkness. Therefore, the Word of God must be spread throughout the world. God calls His apostles to cooperate in God's work of salvation: to go out and preach the Good News of the Kingdom of Heaven, calling everyone to repent and return to God. Today's Word of God shows the authority, power, and strength of God over all humanity. God knows everything. He understands what each person is thinking and what they need. He knows that humans are very weak and limited; they cannot understand God's thoughts and ways of working, so He always accompanies them to teach them. As today's Gospel recounts, after the disciples toiled all night without catching anything, Jesus told Simon: "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." The disciples listened and followed His instructions and caught a lot of fish. The image of the disciples pulling in a large net of fish when they obeyed God is a lesson for today's apostles: they must always know how to listen and carry out God's commands; because only when they completely obey God, can people fulfill the duties that God has given them. No matter how well-educated and knowledgeable people are, they still cannot fully understand God's ways. Therefore, the Word of God today invites His children: - Ask for a simple, small heart to always listen, obey God in all things, and follow God's teachings, do as He teaches. - Do not rely on human reason and limited thinking, but wisely accept the teachings of God. Listen to the spirit of the Holy Spirit to guide you and walk on the path of Truth and the Truth of God. - Live humbly and humble yourself before God, because all people are sinners and lowly before Him. - Have absolute trust in the power and strength of God. He always accompanies people. He sees and knows clearly what people are doing and what they need. Run to Him and pray. - Be confident and live your faith before God: He is the God of love, the true God, and the true man. No one has greater love than He. In today's world, God calls all His children to run and to take refuge in His loving heart. He will care for His children as He cared for His apostles in the past. Run to God the Father, so that He can teach you how to live to please Him. Thanks be to God. Amen

WEDNESDAY OF THE TWENTY-SECOND WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME Gospel (Luke 4:38-44) After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon. Simon's mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever, and they interceded with him about her. He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and waited on them. At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him. He laid his hands on each of them and cured them. And demons also came out from many, shouting, "You are the Son of God." But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Christ. At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place. The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him, they tried to prevent him from leaving them. But he said to them, "To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent." And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea. The Gospel of the Lord: Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ. The Word of God for Everyone Dear People of God, Today's Word of God tells of Jesus healing Peter's mother-in-law from a fever, and through that, God wants to express His love for all humanity. The image of Jesus commanding the fever and the fever disappearing from Peter's mother-in-law, shows everyone that God's authority and power are infinitely mighty, there is no one like Him. Through that healing, God wants to express His love for all humanity. Only God's mercy can help people be healthy and peaceful. God is the master of the entire universe and humanity. If humans did not have God to protect and heal us from all illnesses and disabilities, we would forever live in suffering in this world. But God's mercy always overflowed on all of humanity. He can not bear to abandon humans when we are suffering, sick, or disabled. He will touch every human's pain to care for and heal us. God does not abandon anyone who knows how to run to God to plead for help. As He has a desire to heal and save humans, He wants His work of preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven to be spread to everyone throughout the world. He does not limit the healing of humanity to just one nation, one organization, or one small group. Instead, He desires to pour out those graces to everyone on this entire earth. Therefore, today, God calls His apostles to follow the example of Jesus Christ. - Go out and preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven throughout the world, and spread God's mercy to all mankind. For that to happen, the apostles of God must become like Jesus Christ, look up at His image hanging on the cross, and follow His example: daring to give our own lives for the lives of others. - As His apostles become like Jesus Christ each day, the strength, power, and holiness of God will reign in the souls of those people. Through this, the power of God will drive Satan out of the sick and sinners and will heal all illnesses and disabilities for others. To receive God's strength and power, God calls His apostles today to: - Be good shepherds. - Live worthy of the calling to be children of God and to be chosen and sent by God. - Live according to God's commandment: become like Jesus Christ, carry the cross with Him to Calvary, and suffer with Him to save sinful souls for God. With that practice and with the power given by God, Satan will be terrified and will have to leave the sick and sinners. Thanks be to God. Amen

TUESDAY OF THE TWENTY-SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME Gospel Lk 4:31-37 Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee. He taught them on the sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority. In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out in a loud voice, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!" Jesus rebuked him and said, "Be quiet! Come out of him!" Then the demon threw the man down in front of them and came out of him without doing him any harm. They were all amazed and said to one another, "What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out." And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region. The Gospel of the Lord: Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ. The Word of God for Everyone Dear People of God, Today's Word of God tells all mankind that God's teachings are always the most powerful, noble and best. There is no teaching as sublime as the Word of God that teaches mankind. Whoever wants to seek wisdom should run to the Word of God that is engraved in the Bible. God also wants to tell all mankind that today, there are many Satans, and they will not let people go. They will find every way to oppose and steal people's souls from God's hands. For that reason, God came down to earth and became a human to fight Satan, to redeem people from countless sins. God is the One who conquers Satan and drives them out of people's souls. People today need to be alert at all times and places, because Satan sneaks into people's souls to tempt them a lot. They also sneak into the souls of moral and holy people, to find every way to snatch their souls from God's hands. The Word of God invites everyone to: - Be aware of our sinful status before God. - Run to Him for refuge; do not be arrogant, complacent, think ourselves wise, know everything about today's world. - Do not fall into the traps of Satan, because they only do evil and deceitful things. Nothing they do is good in the eyes of God. What they bring to people is only fake and fleeting. - Only God, who is holy and powerful, can drive Satan out of people. Therefore, He invites all His children: those who are imprisoned by Satan and bound in soul and body to commit sins, to run to God, to His Word, the only Word that has full power and strength to drive Satan out of people. As in today's Gospel: the image of Jesus exorcising a demon possessed person in the synagogue; thereby showing the power and authority of the Word of God that makes Satan submit and come out. Those who believe in the power of God should run to Him, and He will support and drive Satan out of them. Thanks be to God. Amen

The Word of God for Everyone Dear People of God, In today's Word of God, God the Father recounts the journey of Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, and how His return back to His hometown went. It is so that His children today when we encounter persecution and condemnation from our loved ones in our villages, we may also firmly believe in the work of God. For when we follow God's work and live according to His teachings: by practicing charity, love, meekness, and humility, we will also be condemned and persecuted. Today's Word of God warns His children that: when we follow God the Father and obey His will, we should live according to what God the Father teaches: to love all our brothers and sisters all over the world, for wherever God the Father is present, there are also our brothers and sisters. Today's Word of God also reminds the prophets and priests of God the Father in this new era that: - When they are born in a homeland, a family, they are also part of God the Father's plan. That place will be the place of growth and nurturing that God the Father places in His plan. Yet afterward, when the time comes for God the Father to call them out to be prophets and priests of God the Father, then they should give up all their previous personal human feelings, and completely go out, obey God the Father's will, and love all of God the Father's children in this world. To have a universal love without feeling special affection for any individual or any circumstances. - God the Father also calls the prophets and priests of God the Father that when the time comes, God the Father calls them to go out and do the mission that God has given them, they should also pay attention to the people in their family and homeland through their sacrifices, prayers, and gratitude, so that God the Father can save the souls where they were born and raised, and placed by God the Father, but God the Father does not call them to be ungrateful to those who have raised them. - Following the call of God the Father to the prophets and priests of God: to be faithful, courageous, and obedient to the will of God the Father above all things; do not follow their personal feelings of human nature. God the Father will be more pleased if they live like that. - Look at the image of Jesus Christ, the supreme Prophet, who did everything that God the Father wanted, but was still despised, being insulted, condemned, and expelled, let alone the small, ordinary, sinful people who were placed by God the Father in a prophetic and priestly position by God the Supreme Father. Be awake to that and carry out what God the Father teaches: to be faithful and obedient to His will in all things. Thanks be to God. Amen.