29th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 18.10.2026

Isaiah 45:1, 4-6 / 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5 / Matthew 22:15-21                  

There are two basic and common ingredients that we consume, and they are sugar and salt. 

These two ingredients are not found on food menus, but we will notice it when they are missing. 

For those with a sweet tooth, the taste of sweet foods will make them smile. So for them, sweetness is happiness, but of course in moderate amounts. 

But there are people who can do without sugar, or has cut out sugar in their diets, and it is primarily for health reasons. 

But when it comes to food, we will know it when salt is missing. 

As the story goes, the wife asked the husband, "How is the dinner?" I tried a new recipe where I substituted salt with love." 

The husband replied, "My dear, the love tastes like warm paper towels." 

So, if there is no salt, then there will be no taste. But too much salt, then the taste buds will protest. 

So as much as sugar and salt are basic and common ingredients, they are to be used moderately and sparingly. 

The Bible does not mention of sugar as we know it, because it does not exist in that region at that time.

The natural sources of sweetness are honey and the natural sugars that come from fruits. 

But salt is mentioned in the Bible, and Jesus used it in His teachings when He said, "You are the salt of the earth, and the light of the world." 

In today's gospel passage, there is no mention of salt and sugar, but there is the mention of money and the question of taxes. 

The Pharisees, who were anti-Romans, and the Herodians, who were pro-Romans, had put aside their differences in order to trap Jesus in what He would say.

About the question of paying taxes, if Jesus said, "Yes, pay the tax," He would look like a traitor to God's people. 

And if He said, "No," then He could be arrested for inciting rebellion against the Romans. 

His brilliant response was to let Him see the money that was used to pay the tax. 

He was handed a denarius, and He asked whose name and whose image was on it. 

When they replied that it was Caesar's, Jesus gave them this profound reply, "Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God." 

That makes us reflect again at that coin, that denarius, with the image and the name of Caesar. 

The powerful people of this world make their authority felt by stamping their image and their name on what matters most to them, and that is money. 

Yes, money can make a lot of things taste sweet, and money can also make our lives taste sweet. 

But that may mean we have to put on the image of the world, and we put on a money face. 

Of course, we are in this world, but we are not of this world. 

So, we give back to the world what belongs to the world, and to God what belongs to God. 

We go back to God because we are created in His image, and our lives are under God's authority. 

There is this story about the famous sculptor Michelangelo and the block of marble. 

Michelangelo was asked how he created his masterpiece, the statue of David, from a huge, flawed block of marble that other sculptors had rejected. 

His reply was, "I did not create David. David was already in the marble. I just chipped away everything that was not David." 

In this Eucharist, we are restored and renewed in the image of God, when we come into communion with Jesus. 

We are restored back into our essence and our mission, which is to be the salt of the earth. 

Let us also be the light of the world so that our lives will give glory to God and lead others back to God.

28th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 11.10.2026

 Isaiah 25:6-10 / Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20 / Matthew 22:1-14                  

Whenever we go for holidays or tours, we would certainly like to visit scenic places.

In those scenic places, we would like to see, among other things, high mountains.

Mountains express the majesty of nature, and we are often awed by their beauty and majesty.

Mountains also have a spiritual significance.

In the Bible, it was on mountains that God revealed His majesty and glory.

It was on a mountain that God gave Moses the Ten Commandments.

It was on a mountain that God came to help of the prophet Elijah.

It was on a mountain that Jesus was transfigured in glory.

It was also on mountains that places of worship are built for God to meet His people.

It is in those high sacred places that God manifests His presence and people come to worship God.

In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah also speaks about a mountain.

On that mountain, the Lord of hosts will prepare for all peoples a banquet of rich foods and fine wines.

On that mountain, He will remove the morning veil covering all peoples.

He will wipe away the tears from every cheek and take away the people's shame.

From that mountain, the Lord God calls out to all peoples to come up to the mountain of the Lord for that grand banquet.

Certainly, upon hearing that call, we would want to go up to that mountain.

The only thing that we have to do is to climb it.

In the Gospel, Jesus told a parable about a king who gave a feast for his son's wedding.

The surprising thing is that the invited guests were not interested in going for the wedding feast.

Some made excuses, while others seized the king's servants, maltreated them, and even killed them.

It is difficult to understand the attitude of the invited guests, other than they were not interested.

But the gospel parable may have some connection to the first reading in that there was mention of a feast and a banquet.

In the first reading, the Lord God prepared a grand banquet on His mountain.

It was a joyful feast, a celebration, a time of healing and rejoicing.

The response of the people is to climb up to that mountain in order to partake of the banquet.

But some may not want to go. They are just not interested.

They would rather remain at the foothills and to live a mundane and monotonous life, and maybe even a life without much meaning.

No change is needed, nor is it wanted.

It may also seem that God is not needed, nor is He wanted.

But for us, we know that we need God and we want Him.

We hear His call to the banquet and we want to be there.

But we need to do some climbing to get to the banquet on the mountain of the Lord.

The act of climbing is like a part of our human nature.

Little children love to climb.

They climb up chairs and sofas, and they are always amused by steps.

Whenever there are steps, they would go and start climbing up and down.

That may also tell us something about our spiritual life.

There is this innate desire to reach out and climb towards God.

We need God and we want to be at His grand banquet to celebrate and rejoice in His love.

And Jesus has made it easier for us.

The Mass is where Jesus sacrificed and offered Himself for us and to be united with us.

So, we don't need to climb high mountains.

We just have to come for Mass, especially when we are burdened and troubled in life.

Here at Mass, Jesus will wipe away the tears from our cheeks, console us in our sorrow, and heal us with His love and forgiveness.

We just have to be present, and God will bless us.

Let us also bring others to this grand feast, so that they too will experience the love and the blessings from God.

27th Ordinary Sunday, Year A, 04.10.2026

 Isaiah 5:1-7 / Philippians 4:6-9 / Matthew 21:33-43                

It has often been said that money cannot buy happiness. 

That is true, because happiness is not a commodity or a thing that can be bought at a price. 

Nonetheless, money can also give us a sense of security so that the basic needs of life like food, shelter, clothing, and healthcare are met. 

But one thing that we need to think about with regards to money is this:

When it comes to money, is it the more the better? Is it the more the merrier? Is it the more the happier? 

Although we know that money cannot buy happiness, but somehow, we think that money is always not enough. 

Even though our financial assets tell us that we have enough, yet we desire for more. 

It stems from that sinful desire called greed, that makes us think that we don't have enough, and that we need more. 

So, in short, the desire and greed for money is our human weakness and failing. 

The lesson that keeps coming to us is that there is enough for everyone's need, but never enough for everyone's greed. And we are still learning that lesson. 

In the Gospel, Jesus told a parable that pointed out the human weakness and failing. 

It is a parable about a landowner who leased out his vineyard to some tenants. 

That landowner provided for everything. He fenced it round, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. 

So, the tenants had everything done for them, and they just have to give the landowner what is rightfully his at vintage time. 

But those tenants became greedy. What they rented, they now wanted. 

When the landowner sent his servants to collect his produce, the tenants turned violent and wicked. 

They seized the servants, trashed them, stoned them, and even kill them. 

And when the landowner sent his son, the servants also killed him, thinking that they can now take over the inheritance. 

Even though it is a parable, it is a reality and a tragedy, that human greed knows no limits and can even resort to violence. 

So initially, the tenants were happy, then they got greedy, and what followed was a tragedy. 

But the parable is not just about human greed and its tragic consequences. 

It is also about God's blessings that is bestowed on His people. 

God's blessings on us is that He will always provide for our needs. 

As the second reading tells us, “there is no need to worry, but if there is anything you need, pray for it, asking God with prayer and thanksgiving, and that peace of God, which is much greater than we can understand, will guard your hearts and thoughts”. 

With God's blessing and with God's peace in our hearts, we are to live virtuous and noble lives, doing what is good and pure, and doing it with love and honour. 

That is the fruit that we are to produce in our lives. 

God has called us and chosen us to bear those fruits for His glory. 

It is in bearing those fruits of holiness that others will see God present in our lives, and that they will want to know God through us. 

And that is actually our mission, isn't it? 

There is a story of a conversation between Jesus and the archangel Gabriel, and though it is just a story, it illustrates a good point. 

After Jesus ascended to heaven, the archangel Gabriel approached Him and said, "Master, You must have suffered terribly for men down there." 

"I did," Jesus said. "And," continued Gabriel, "do they know all about how You loved them and what You did for them?" 

"Oh, no," said Jesus, "not yet. Right now only a small group of people in Jerusalem know about it." 

Gabriel was astonished. "Then what have You done, to let everyone know about Your love for them?" 

Jesus said, "I've asked Peter, James, John, and a few more friends to tell other people about Me. Those who are told will in turn tell other people about Me, and My story will be spread to the furthest ends of the world. Ultimately, all of mankind will have heard about My life and what I have done." 

Gabriel frowned and looked rather puzzled. He knew how weak and flawed men are. "But what if Peter and James and John grow weary? What if the people who come after them forget? What if way down in the twenty-first century, people just don't tell others about You? Haven't You made any other plans?" 

And Jesus answered, "I haven't made any other plans. I'm counting on them" 

Twenty centuries later, Jesus still has no other plan! 

So, there is no "plan B". Jesus counted on His early disciples, and they delivered.

Jesus is also counting on you and me.

Those early disciples prayed and Jesus helped them.

Let us also pray and trust that Jesus will provide for us, and we will bear the fruits for His glory and lead others to Him.