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HOMILIES ARCHIVE
HOMILIES
Dear Audience,For better understanding of the spiritual message behind this homily I kindly remind you to first read and contemplate the biblical texts before reading or listening to my preaching - a human reflection on the Word of God!
Fifteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year A)
159
12
0First Reading
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah (55:10-11)
Thus says the Lord: Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; my word shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.
(P) The word of the Lord.(R) Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalms of David (65:10, 11, 12-13, 14)
(R) The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest.
You have visited the land and watered it; greatly have you enriched it. God's watercourses are filled; you have prepared the grain. (R)
Thus have you prepared the land: drenching its furrows, breaking up its clods, softening it with showers, blessing its yield. (R)
You have crowned the year with your bounty, and your paths overflow with a rich harvest; the untilled meadows overflow with it, and rejoicing clothes the hills. (R)
The fields are garmented with flocks and the valleys blanketed with grain. They shout and sing for joy. (R)
Second Reading
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans (8:18-23)
Brothers and sisters: I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us. For creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God; for creation was made subject to futility, not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it, in hope that creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now; and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
(P) The word of the Lord.(R) Thanks be to God.
Gospel
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew (13:1-23)
On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore. And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on the rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. Some send seed fell among thorns, and the thons grew up and choked it. But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. Whoever has ears ought to hear."
The disciples approached him and said, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" He said to them in reply, "Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted. To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand. Isaiah's prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says:
You shall indeed hear but not understand, you shall indeed look but never see. Gross is the heart of this people. They will hardly hear with their ears, they have closed their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and be converted, and I heal them.
But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
Hear then the parable of the sower. The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the kingdom without understanding it, and the evil one comes and steals away what was sown in his heart. The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. But he has no root and lasts only for a time. When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, he immediately falls away. The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit. But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold."
(P) The Gospel of the Lord.(R) Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Homily
Today Catholic communities worldwide celebrate Sea Sunday. It is a day dedicated to recognizing, honouring, and praying for the world's two million seafarers who spend weeks and months at sea away from their families and facing isolation, dangerous conditions, harsh weather, and geopolitical conflicts and piracy. The tireless dedication of seafarers ensures continuous, uninterrupted flow of all goods that sustain the world's economies and billions of lives. Yet, the contribution and sacrifices of these workers are often taken for granted or overlooked by the general public because their labour largely occurs out of sight, over the horizon. So, for more than 100 years, the Catholic Chruch's maritime ministry called Stella Maris, also known as the Apostleship of the Sea, has been calling the world's attention to the vital needs of the seafarers and providing pastoral, spiritual and practical care to all seafarers regardless of their race, nationality, or religious beliefs.
Here in Hong Kong, Stella Maris works for seafarers' welfare since 1930s. As a port chaplain, I regularly visit ships at both terminals and anchorages to welcome the crew to the port, listen to their concerns, provide spiritual care, and offer practical help like arranging transportation from their ships to our church, shopping centres, and tourist destinations, and distributing free SIM cards so they can call their families. If necessary, I also provide help when seafarers are abandoned, detained or hospitalized, and conduct Mass or other religious services on board ships.
Seafarer abandonment has been one of the most pressing humanitarian crises in the maritime industry. It occurs when ship owners, recruitment agencies, and local agents sever contact with their crew, leaving them stranded at sea without wages, essential provisions like food and fuel, and the means to return home. A recent report suggests that 2025 was the worst year on record for seafarer abandonment. A total of 6,223 seafarers were stranded across 410 ships globally, one of which was in Hong Kong waters. The vessel, with six young, inexperienced Indian sailors and an Egyptian captain, had been declared unseaworthy and forbidden from sailing by the marine authorities which consequently led to its abandonment.
On the day of my visit in December last year, the crew had already been on board without pay, food, and medical care for three months! The ship had run out of fuel, leaving the crew with no electricity, and consequently no refrigeration for food, no light, no air-conditioning or heating. Shortage of fresh food and drinking water had forced them to ration provisions and reduce consumption to the barest minimum. Being far from their families had left them feeling lonely, isolated, nervous, anxious, and worried for their safety, their financial obligations back home, their uncertain futures and their consequent return home. Overall, the abandonment had severely affected their physical and mental health, caused immense financial hardship, strained their relationships with their loved ones and created tension and friction among themselves. So, my simple visit was a huge relief to them. Since then, we delivered groceries, clean drinking water, and other essential things for three months, brought them to medical appointments, and eventually with the help of maritime unions and the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) we ensured their safe return home in March. Since last month we are carrying out similar services to another abandoned ship with seven Indonesian crew. What is notable about these two encounters is that none of the seafarers, both in the first and second ship, is a Catholic or Christian.
In caring for strangers and those facing trials and hardships, such as these seafarers, regardless of their background or beliefs, we Christians embody the biblical promise of God's presence and companionship prophesied by Isaiah, where the Lord reassures, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you...", Isaiah (43:2). Here, "the waters'" represents life's overwhelming trials and afflictions. God spoke these words to the ancient Israelites as they prepared to face the Babylonian captivity, chaos of displacement, and oppression. He reassured them that just as He had delivered their ancestors from the past catastrophes, like crossing the Red Sea and the treacherous wilderness, He would be with them through future trials. The promise of God's unwavering presence to the Israelites remains a great comfort for anyone facing adversity, fear, uncertainty, or difficult transitions. However, for seafarers and all those who live and work at sea, this promise is the ultimate comfort as they literally face unpredictable oceans, terrifying storms, isolation, fatigue, fears of abandonment and uncertainty. When we step in to offer comfort, hope, and support to them, we bridge the gap between God's abstract promises and their lived experience, turning the promise "I will be with you" into a felt reality.
Today I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to our Stella Maris committee, St. Peter's Church community, and well-wishers around the world. Thank you for your prayers, generosity, encouragement, and support of our ministry here in Hong Kong. It is through your help that we have been able to reach seafarers and others in need, make God's presence tangible, and share His love in a real way. Let us continue to entrust all seafarers to God's protection. We shall pray that He may watch over every ship, protect every seafarer, and guide them safely through calm and storm, grant them courage and strength when uncertainty surrounds them, comfort them in times of loneliness and illness, and bring them home safely. We shall also pray for the Stella Maris chaplains, ship visitors and volunteers around the world that they may be continually guided in their mission to be signs of God's loving presence to all seafarers.
(P) Amen.God Bless You!
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