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!

Twenty Ninth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year A)

Oct 18, 2026

133

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First Reading

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah (45:1, 4-6)

Thus says the Lord to His anointed, Cyrus, whose right hand I grasp, subduing nations before him, and making kings run in his service, opening doors before him and leaving the gates unbarred: For the sake of Jacob, my servant, of Israel, my chosen one, I have called you by your name, giving you a title, though you knew me not. I am the Lord and there is no other, there is no God besides me. It is I who arm you, though you know me not, so that toward the rising and the setting of the sun people may know that there is none besides me. I am the Lord, there is no other.

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalms of David (96:1, 3, 4-5, 7-8, 9-10)

(R) Give the Lord glory and honor.

Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all you lands. Tell His glory among the nations; among all peoples, His wondrous deeds. (R)

For great is the Lord and highly to be praised; awesome is He, beyond all gods. For all the gods of the nations are things of nought, but the Lord made the heavens. (R)

Give to the Lord, you families of nations, give to the Lord the glory due His name! Bring gifts, and enter His courts. (R)

Worship the Lord, in holy attire; tremble before Him, all the Earth; say among the nations: The Lord is king, He governs the peoples with equity. (R)

Second Reading

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians (1:1-5b)

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace to you and peace. We given thanks to God always for all of you, remembering you in our prayers, unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father, knowing, brothers and sisters loved by God, how you were chosen. For our gospel did not come to you in word alone, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much conviction.

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Gospel

A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew (22:15-21)

The Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech. They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. And you are not concerned with anyone's opinion, for you do not regard a person's status. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?" Knowing their malice, Jesus said, "Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? Show me the coin that pays the census tax."

Then they handed him the Roman coin. He said to them, "Whose image is this and whose inscription?" They replied, "Caesar's." At that he said to them, "Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God."

(P) The Gospel of the Lord.
(R) Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Homily

Arthur Wellesley was a leading politician and prime minister in the 19th century United Kingdom. When it came to food, Wellesley was completely indifferent. He ate whatever was placed in front of him without much notice. His lack of interest was such that he once ate a rotten egg at breakfast without even realizing it or making a comment. Despite his status and wealth, Wellesley preferred a simple and plain diet, viewing food purely as fuel rather than a source of pleasure, whereas his French chef regarded cooking as an art and he felt that his culinary skills were completely wasted on Wellesley. One day, the chef abruptly handed in his resignation. Perplexed, Wellesley asked the chef why he was leaving this so honourable and well-paid job. The chef replied in frustration, "Sir, if the food is good, you say nothing. If it is bad, you say nothing. I cannot cook for someone who does not notice what he eats."

A simple word of encouragement or genuine appreciation can boost motivation, inspire confidence, elevate performance, and transform how people grow. The Apostle Paul is a primary example in the Christian faith of someone who constantly encouraged believers, mentored co-workers, and strengthened early churches through his letters, prayers, and personal relationships (Romans 1:8; Philippians 1:3-5). Today's second reading from Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians (1:1-5b) is one of the places where we see Paul offering encouragement, praise, thanksgiving, and assurance to believers.

Thessalonians were the ancient inhabitants and early Christian believers of Thessalonica, known today as Thessaloniki in Greece. It was the capital of the Roman province of Macedonia during the time of Paul around 50 AD and it was, and still is, an important seaport. After encountering a blinding heavenly light and hearing the voice of Jesus on the road to Damascus and receiving the call to preach the gospel, specifically to non-Jews or Gentiles, Paul made three missionary journeys across the Roman world during his lifetime. On his second missionary journey, Paul, along with his companions Silvanus, also known as Silas, and Timothy visited Thessaloniki and preached in the local synagogue for three weeks, proclaiming that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah. Within this brief time, they made many converts including a few Jews, a large group of God-fearing Greeks who were sympathetic to Judaism but had not become full-fledged Jewish proselytes, and many prominent women.

However, Paul and the new believers soon began to face persecution. Those who could not accept their teaching became jealous of the gospel's growth in Thessalonica and formed a mob against Paul and his companions, forcing them to flee to the neighbouring town of Berea, and eventually to Athens, where he delivered his famous sermon to the "Unknown God" at the Areopagus (also known as Mars Hill), where he received a mixed response (some believed and some mocked or sneered, particularly when he mentioned the resurrection of the dead), and then from there Paul went to Corinth (Acts 17). By the time, he arrived in Corinth - a wealthy, cosmopolitan, and morally loose commercial port city - Paul was socially isolated, physically exhausted, and emotionally drained by repeated rejection and threats to his life in other Greco-Roman cities. He described his historical arrival and mindset in his first letter to the Corinthians, "I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling", Corinthians (2:3). Yet while Paul was in Corinth, Silvanus and Timothy, who had paid a visit to Thessalonica, came to him with good news that the community there was strong, faithful, and active despite facing opposition and persecution. This encouraging report deeply inspired Paul and prompted him to write a letter to the Thessalonian Christians, a part of which we read today.

Paul opens his letter with a greeting. He writes, "Paul, Silvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace to you and peace" (v.1). Paul uses the phrase, "in Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:22; 2 Corinthians 5:19) or its variations such as "in Christ Jesus", "in the Lord", and "in Him" (Romans 6:11; Galatians 3-28) over a hundred times throughout his letters to describe the spiritual union, identity, and fellowship that believers share with Jesus. However, in today's text, Paul addresses the church "in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ," placing Jesus alongside God under a single preposition to indicate divine equality and shared authority. In doing so, Paul acknowledges the Christian community in Thessalonica as a community having a shared spiritual relationship and identity both in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul then adapts the ancient secular letter greeting chairein meaning "greetings" into charis meaning "grace" and combines it with another Greek word eirene meaning "peace" mirroring the traditional Hebrew/Jewish greeting shalom. Here, Grace refers to the unmerited and undeserved favour of God extended to believers through Jesus Christ. In other words, grace is God giving people spiritual life, forgiveness, and eternal standing that they cannot earn or deserve by their own works, cultural heritage, or ritual law; it's a free gift given to those who deserve the opposite. The peace Paul speaks of is harmony with God, ending spiritual hostility of sin and restoring a right relationship through Jesus Christ, rather than a passive quietness or mere absence of trouble or conflict. However, grace is the foundation for the peace (shalom) that restores a person's relationship with God and others. Grace always precedes peace because true spiritual peace is impossible to experience without first receiving God's grace. By merging these two cultural greetings, Grace to you and peace", Paul achieves two distinct purposes. (1) Paul actively unifies Greeks and Jews under a single, shared spiritual identity, demonstrating that Christ breaks down cultural divisions to form one new community. (2) He also introduces the Christianized greeting "grace and peace".

Paul then says a prayer for the Thessalonian Christians by stating, "We give thanks to God always for all of you, remembering you in our prayers, unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith, labour of love, and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God the Father", (vv.2-3). When severe persecution from local opponents forced Paul and his companions to leave Thessalonica abruptly, he was worried deeply about whether the new young believers would abandon the faith under pressure. However, when his companions brought back word that they remained firm, loving, and faithful despite the hostility, Paul overflowed with joy, relief, and gratitude to God. He states that he and his companions continually remember all of them and thank God for them in their prayers.

Paul's prayer reflects two main aspects of his pastoral care and prayer life. (1) Paul cares for the entire church rather than just the leaders, his close friends, or the spiritually mature. He intentionally includes everyone. (2) Instead of taking credit for establishing the church or praising the people's independent efforts, Paul immediately directs the gratitude to God so as to emphasize that the ultimate credit for their spiritual growth belongs to God. Paul then goes on to identify three permanent marks of their genuine conversion for which he and others continually give thanks to God. They are (1) Work of faith: Their inward belief in Christ does not remain passive; but instead manifests visibly in their obedience and service. (2) Labour of love: Their hard work and strenuous efforts come from a genuine, self-sacrificing love for God and others, rather than out of legalistic duty or guilt. (3) Endurance in hope: Their unshakable patience and ability to stand firm under trials, persecution, and suffering, is anchored in their confident expectation of Christ's return and promises.

Moreover, Paul states, "...knowing, brothers and sisters loved by God, how you were chosen. For our gospel did not come to you in word alone, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much conviction", (vv.4-5). In other words, Paul assures that the Thessalonian believers are loved and chosen by God because the gospel came to them with three things, beyond mere words. (1) The message was accompanied by the dynamic, transforming work of God rather than human eloquence alone. (2) The Holy Spirit was actively present and working to make the message take root in their hearts. (3) It came with deep certainty, assurance, or persuasion both in those who spoke it and those who received it.

What is the message for us?

The Thessalonians' active faith, sacrificial love for others, and unwavering hope in Jesus Christ despite intense persecution, hostility, and trials, became a powerful source of encouragement and joy to the apostles. Similarly, every Christian community, especially those facing discrimination and persecution - regardless of its size and location, can deeply encourage, inspire, and impact believers everywhere, even soothe and refresh the spirits of the preachers who bring the gospel. For instance, the modern underground or restricted Christian communities and persecuted believers today in countries like North Korea, China, India, various Muslim-majority nations, and other hostile regions demonstrate that genuine faith is active, endures hardship with joy through the power of the Holy Spirit, and inspires the global church. Therefore, let us also persevere through hardship with grace and joy, so that our life may become a model that inspires and encourages others in the faith including those in our own families and local communities.
Paul actively recognized, encouraged, and celebrated the Thessalonians' commitment to their faith and God's grace at work in their lives rather than remaining indifferent. Like Paul, we can actively look for and voice appreciation for the faith, love, and perseverance we see in believers around us, especially our children, family members, and local church members. We must recognize, encourage, and celebrate their spiritual growth and genuine conversion or transformation instead of falling into the trap of indifference, or taking them for granted. Because when it comes to living out our faith, we all, regardless of age, background, or status, face challenges and moments of doubt, temptation, or spiritual dryness.

We cannot expect other believers whether friends, family or church members, to just "be good", or "kind", or "friendly", or "welcoming" or handle things well without offering them encouragement, appreciation, and validation. Therefore, when leading, mentoring, or simply living in or belonging to a community of other believers, we must praise their progress and growth before demanding perfection; recognize and call out the specific ways they demonstrate faith, love, and hope. In addition, we must constantly remind them of who they are in Christ. We must remind them that they are loved and chosen by God particularly during the times of isolation, rejection, spiritual burnout, and cultural pressure or hardship. Because knowing that we belong to God provides the resilience needed to keep going or the spiritual stamina to handle trials well, helps shift our focus from temporary struggles to our permanent identity, motivates us to love and serve others with the same grace we received, and lifts the spirits of everyone around us. However, true encouragement goes beyond empty praise; it points people back to how God is working in and through their lives. Hence, let us also support them by bringing them before God in regular prayer so that trusting in the Lord they can continue living in holiness, love, and integrity.
Let us cultivate a heart of thanksgiving like Paul. Let us give thanks to God not just in general terms, but by observing the work of faith, love, and hope, both in our own lives and in fellow believers. Let us make a habit of thanking God specifically for the spiritual growth, kindness, and character we see in the believers around us and let them know that we are thanking God for them. By offering thanks to God, we acknowledge that God the Father is the source of all spiritual life, salvation, and transformation, brought to active, living fruition through the dynamic power of the Holy Spirit rather than human efforts.

(P) Amen.

God Bless You!

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