Growing in Knowledge and Wisdom of God

 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time: August 23, 2026

Readings: Isaiah 22:15, 19–23; Psalm 138:1–3, 6, 8; Romans 11:33–36; Matthew 16:13–20

The Giving of the Keys to Saint Peter by Pietro Perugino

“Know thyself” is a common expression that is often used today and was first inscribed at the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, in ancient Delphi, Greece. We can know about ourselves in various ways. When you know yourself, you can achieve many things in the best possible way. Self-ignorance might leave a person in distress or frustration. Knowledge of oneself is a must to win, conquer, or at least navigate tough situations. Jesus knew about himself. However, he wanted to know what others think about him. The liturgical readings on the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time give us a beautiful account of Jesus' popularity among the masses. In other words, the readings invite us to grow in knowledge and wisdom of God in every day of our lives. 

1. The person of Jesus to oneself and others

The Gospel of Matthew 16:13–20 presents a decisive moment in the relationship between Jesus and his disciples. Jesus asks two questions: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” and, more importantly, “But who do you say that I am?” The first question concerns public opinion; the second demands personal faith. Christianity ultimately is not merely about knowing what others say about Jesus. It is about discovering and proclaiming who Jesus is for me.

The answer to the question of who Jesus is for me is based on one's experience and relationship with him. We cannot give a ready-made answer from books or from the life of others. For a Christian, Jesus Christ is everything - life and breath. Just as St Peter answered, Jesus Christ is truly the Son of the living God. Without Christ, we have no meaning as a Christian. He is the foundation of our lives to live and give witness. 

2. Experience strengthens our faith. 

St Peter recognizes Jesus not simply as a teacher, prophet or miracle-worker, but as the Messiah, the Son of God. This confession becomes the foundation of his discipleship. This question also applies to us. Our faith becomes meaningful when Jesus moves from being someone we know about to someone we personally know and follow.

Often we speak about our God experience. Our God experience is built upon the foundation of faith. It also determines how big our God is. Is our faith simply built on rites and rituals, external celebrations, installing statues or constructing Churches? Faith is a gift from God. We need to pray that God may increase our faith. When we have faith, God reveals himself. 

3. Leadership is a responsibility, not a privilege

We can study theology, read Scripture, listen to sermons and participate in religious practices, but genuine faith requires an openness to God's grace. Faith is ultimately a grace. Faith grows when we allow God to reveal himself in Scripture, prayer, the Eucharist, community, suffering, service and the people we encounter every day. Faith is also a responsibility. Faith makes you grow in leadership. Therefore, faith is leadership with responsibility. In other words, you have to lead others in faith; that means first you must have faith. 

Just as God revealed to St Peter, we too are called to receive that revelation. Even though we may not be perfect, God makes us worthy in our imperfection. In fact, God chooses us because we are imperfect. God does not call perfect people; God calls ordinary people and transforms them through grace. God can build something beautiful even with imperfect people when they surrender themselves to him. Ultimately, Christian leadership is not about power, status or recognition. It is about service, responsibility and care for others.

Questions for self-reflection

1. Who is Jesus in my life?
2. What place does Jesus occupy in my life?
3. Do I genuinely allow him to shape my decisions, relationships and priorities?
4. When life becomes difficult, do I continue to recognize him as the Son of the living God?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, help me to love You above all things, to carry my cross with courage, and to recognize Your presence in every person I meet. Make me generous in service, faithful in discipleship, and open to the transforming power of Your love. I make this prayer in Jesus' Holy Name. Amen.

- Fr Olvin Veigas, SJ

E-mail: olvinveigas@jesuits.net

Blog: Celebrate Faith

Video: YouTube

21 August 2026

When God's Face Shines on Us

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time: August 16, 2026

Readings: Isaiah 56:1, 6–7; Psalm 67:2–3, 5, 6, 8; Romans 11:13–15, 29–32; Matthew 15:21–28

Juan de Flandes: Christ and the Canaanite Woman
To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/-yUotv31b2o

Persistence and a never-give-up attitude are what keep us going in times of suffering and failure. When things become difficult, our thoughts usually turn to giving up. The situation, circumstances and people around us, instead of encouraging us to hold on to our goal, discourage us and even influence us to give up. Often, people give many reasons why you should not hold on to your convictions. Their passive attitude can influence us greatly. However, if we are firm in our faith, we can overcome difficult situations, including our health issues. A positive mind with perseverance will win ultimately. The liturgical readings on this 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time give us a beautiful experience of how repeated requests do not go unrewarded.

1. A Faith That Refuses to Give Up

The Gospel of Matthew 15:21–28 presents us with a deeply moving encounter between Jesus and a Canaanite woman. At first, the episode appears uncomfortable: Jesus seems silent, distant, and even harsh toward the woman. Yet beneath this difficult conversation lies a profound message about faith, perseverance, humility, inclusion, and the boundless mercy of God. The Canaanite woman comes to Jesus with a desperate plea: “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.”

She is a Gentile, an outsider to the Jewish community, and therefore someone who would normally be considered outside the community. Not ours. Yet she approaches Jesus with extraordinary confidence. Jesus does not immediately respond. The disciples even ask Him to send her away. But she does not leave. She cannot be stopped. She makes her point. Her faith is not dependent on receiving an immediate answer. She believes even when God appears silent.

2. Faith is Tested in Difficult Moments

The woman's faith goes through several tests. First, Jesus is silent. Then the disciples seem to reject her. Finally, Jesus tells her: “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Yet she continues. She comes closer and says simply: “Lord, help me.” These three beautiful words are enough to reach God. We do not need elaborate, lengthy prayers. It's enough to say: “Lord, help me.” When we are exhausted, confused, grieving, anxious, or disappointed, we may not know what to say. The prayer of the Canaanite woman can become our own prayer: “Lord, help me.”

The Canaanite woman teaches us: God's silence is not necessarily God's absence. There are moments when we pray, and nothing seems to happen. We ask for healing, guidance, reconciliation, employment, peace in the family, or strength in difficult circumstances—and God seems silent. Sometimes faith means continuing to pray when we do not understand what God is doing.

3. Humility Opens the Door to Grace

Despite Jesus being a bit harsh towards the woman because she is an outsider, the great humility of the woman is inspiring. Her attitude of trust and reverence for Jesus and her inner conviction that the Messiah of the Jews will give something she asks for is worth pondering. The woman does not become angry or walk away; instead responds with  humility: “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” We make judgments about people based on their religion, caste, social status, education, wealth, nationality, background, past mistakes, or social standing.

We often expect too many things from God. We want quick answers, immediate solutions, etc. We demand from God. We don't need big trophies from God. We need only a small portion of God's mercy. Jesus appreciates the great faith in the woman. In fact, the Gospel challenges our tendency to divide people into insiders and outsiders, worthy and unworthy, respectable and unacceptable. God's mercy is bigger than human boundaries.  Our faith becomes stronger when we pray not only for ourselves but for someone we love.

Questions for Self-Reflection

1. How strong is my faith when God seems silent, or my prayers appear unanswered?
2. Do I persevere in prayer, or do I easily become discouraged when I do not get what I ask for?
3. Do I sometimes judge people because of their background, status, religion, or past, instead of seeing their dignity as children of God?
4. What difficult situation in my life is God inviting me to face with greater faith and perseverance?

Concluding Prayer:

Lord Jesus, we come before You with humble and trusting hearts. Give us the faith and perseverance of the Canaanite woman, especially when our prayers seem unanswered and You appear silent. Teach us to place our struggles, our families, and our loved ones into Your merciful hands. Help us to welcome everyone without prejudice and to recognize Your presence in every person. May we never lose hope, but always dare to say, “Lord, help me.” Strengthen our faith and deepen our trust in Your unfailing love. We make this prayer in Jesus' Holy Name. Amen.

- Fr Olvin Veigas, SJ

E-mail: olvinveigas@jesuits.net

Blog: Celebrate Faith

Video: YouTube

14 August 2026

God's Help in Times of Trouble

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time: August 09, 2026

Readings: 1 Kings 19:9, 11–13; Psalm 85:9–14; Romans 9:1–5; Matthew 14:22–33

St. Peter is Walking on the Water by Lluis-Borrassa
To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/3si1QV1J0GY

Often we think that we are strong. We are not afraid of anyone. We keep going, until at an unexpected moment, a turn takes place. We think that we are failing. We are losing. There is no one to help. In fact, we are sinking. Our life is uncertain. As mortals and sinful persons, we cannot predict our future with certainty. There is nothing that is sure or certain. COVID-19 showed us that none of us are immune from ill health. Illness and death come at an unexpected hour. God can take us from this world at any time. In these fragile circumstances, our life teaches us a lot. We must hang on to someone who is more powerful than us. God, who gave us the possibility of making our life possible on this earth, knows how to strengthen us when we are sinking. The liturgical readings on this 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time invite us to see that God is our strength. We must listen to Him and never doubt His promises. 

1. Storms of life come and go

The Gospel of this Sunday, Matthew 14:22–33, begins immediately after the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves. Jesus sends his disciples ahead by boat while he withdraws to the mountain to pray. The disciples, however, find themselves caught in the middle of a storm. The winds are against them, the waves threaten them, and darkness surrounds them. It is precisely in this moment of fear and helplessness that Jesus comes walking on the water.

Ever Embracing Power of God's Grace

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time: August 02, 2026

Readings: Isaiah 55:1–3; Psalm 145:8–9, 15–18; Romans 8:35, 37–39; Matthew 14:13–21

Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes, Giovanni Lanfranco, 1620-1623
To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/gyIP5Hrf3qI

One of the beautiful German expressions used in understanding life in context is "Sitz im Leben." Often this expression is used in the study of the Holy Scriptures, when we study the context in which the scriptural passages are written. Today everything must be read and understood through life in context. Even the Gaudium et Spes, the Vatican II document "Joy and Hope," called to read the signs of the times. When we do this, things become clearer. We do not jump into hasty conclusions or carry with us prejudices and stereotypes. Every situation or problem must be looked at from the viewpoint of Sitz im Leben. Often we make blunders because we do not read news in its entirety or its completeness. In this AI world, we are stuck with the plague of conciseness, shortness and summarization. In this context, we have beautiful reading from the Holy Bible on this 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Jesus sees the context in which his countrymen live. He goes an extra mile, making them feel at home with a grand meal in an open-air setting, thus driving away all the fears of people and his own, as he had taken a step back in the wake of the death of his cousin and the prophet John the Baptist.   

1. Cautiousness in the wake of threats

The Gospel of St Matthew 14:13–21 presents to us love in action. Jesus had just learned of the death of John the Baptist. Seeking solitude to grieve, he withdrew to a deserted place. Yet the crowds followed Him. Instead of sending them away, Jesus was moved with compassion. He healed their sickness, listened to their needs, and when evening came, He fed them with five loaves and two fish.

St Ignatius of Loyola - A Saint with a Spirituality of Restlessness

St Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556)

Every year on the 31st July, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of St Ignatius of Loyola. Currently, 13,768 Jesuits are living and working in 105 countries of the world. Even though St Ignatius did not start any women's congregations, many follow the spirituality and charism set by St Ignatius. On this occasion, a few thoughts on this mystic saint!

1. St Ignatius: A man beyond his time

Perhaps one of the most charismatic figures who has contributed immensely to a spirituality of restlessness for God is St Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), the founder of the Society of Jesus. The members of this Order are called Jesuits. St Ignatius of Loyola was no monk or a mendicant at all. However, for him the whole world was a monastery. Even though he spent some time at the monastery of Montserrat, Spain, with the Benedictine monks, somehow or the other, he was not attracted towards the monastic life. He saw the world as a spiritual battlefield where he had to be an active pilgrim just like his Master Lord Jesus Christ. We do not find Ignatius a man who would be stuck inside the four walls of the monastery. In fact, it was a novel idea to start an Order (Congregation) completely different from the already existing ones like Benedictines, Carthusians, Dominicans, Franciscans and so forth. The time that he started his new journey of "Salvation of oneself and of others" was during the Reformation period, when the Catholic Church was in shambles with all its ills and fallacies. In this period, Ignatius came up with a novel idea of starting an Order dedicated to the name of "Jesus" and Jesus alone, while Martin Luther, already an Augustinian Catholic monk, had thought otherwise and moved away from the Catholic Church, where he had spent so many years of his monastic life. 

Called to be a Precious Treasure

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time: July 26, 2026

Readings: 1 Kings 3:5, 7–12; Psalm 119:57, 72, 76–77, 127–130; Romans 8:28–30; Matthew 13:44–52

Parable of the Hidden Treasure
To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/E7O_Eu1-br4

Often we are lost in small things. We do not get the bigger picture. Our thinking pattern, the way we behave and act, all demonstrate that we are lost in our small world. Opening our horizons to see the world much more on a larger scale is necessary to play a crucial role in this world. We cannot deny our role in making this world better and beautiful. Our country is going through a silent turmoil. Only a few deplorable things are becoming visible as mainstream media is controlled by those who are in power. Very few intellectuals and those who are supposed to voice out concerns of the people are keeping silent. Somehow or the other, silence has become part of life. Unless and until all of us realize our responsibility, we cannot make this world just, hospitable and free from fear. The liturgical readings on this Sunday invite us to the preciousness of our lives and call us to live accordingly.

1. Discovering the Priceless Treasure of God's Kingdom

In today's Gospel, Matthew 13:44–52, Jesus concludes His discourse on the Kingdom of Heaven with three powerful parables: the hidden treasure, the pearl of great price, and the fishing net. Though brief, these stories challenge us to examine what we truly value and how we respond to God's invitation. 

Growing in the Likeness of God in the Midst of Evil

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time: July 19, 2026

Readings: Wisdom 12:13, 16–19; Psalm 86:5–6, 9–10, 15–16; Romans 8:26–27; Matthew 13:24–43

Parable of theSower by Domenico Fetti
To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here: https://youtu.be/5nXBjyfe2LY

How dare someone do that? Why is there so much evil in this world? Why does wickedness never cease to exist? These are some typical questions we often ask when we are threatened or see evil occupying the good places. Often we see this daunting task of overcoming evil. However, evil does exist. Wicked people continue to do things which are not supposed to be done. There are no limits, age, status or position. In this context, we must read today's liturgical reading on the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time and draw inspiration for our lives.  

1. God Works Patiently in the Midst of Imperfection

In the Gospel of Matthew 13:24–43, Jesus tells the parable of the wheat and the weeds. The servants want to pull out the weeds immediately, but the master tells them to wait until the harvest. This teaches us that God is infinitely patient. We often want quick solutions to problems, instant justice, or immediate perfection in ourselves and others. Yet God allows time for growth, conversion, and transformation.

Deeply Rooted, Growing Mightily

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time: July 12, 2026

Readings: Isaiah 55:10–11; Psalm 65:10–14; Romans 8:18–23; Matthew 13:1–23

To listen to my audio-video reflections via YouTube, please click here:https://youtu.be/0e_JnzsTs4g

Patience, trust, confidence and hope determine the life of a farmer. A person who tills the soil knows what it is going to bring. Every effort has its fruits. There are no calculated risks here. It is said in most parts of India that farmers depend on the rains. A farmer's life depends not on choice but chance. It is not that everyone is gifted with everything. However, each one is blessed with great capacity to improve upon the gifts that one is bestowed with. As we celebrate the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the liturgical readings give us rich food for thought and reflection, so that we continue to grow in wisdom and knowledge even about the things of this world. 

1. God is ever generous

In today's Gospel, Matthew 13:1–23, Jesus uses a simple image from everyday life—a farmer sowing seeds—to reveal a profound truth about the Kingdom of God. The seed is the Word of God, generously scattered by the sower without discrimination. The difference lies not in the quality of the seed, but in the condition of the soil. This parable invites each of us to examine the "soil" of our own hearts. It is to cultivate loving relationships, integrity in our work, concern for the poor, forgiveness of enemies, and joyful witness to Christ. 

Our Burdens and God's Intervention at the Right Moment

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time: July 05, 2026

Readings: Zechariah 9:9–10; Psalm 145:1–2, 8–11, 13–14; Romans 8:9, 11–13; Matthew 11:25–30

Christ blessing the children
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Often our lives are burdened with things. Life here on earth is not easy. It may seem nice, beautiful, happy-go-lucky, yet there are times when we feel down and have questions which may not have immediate answers. Especially when the person is diagnosed with an incurable illness, when married life gets into trouble, when there is no peace in religious or priestly life, when someone does not find the right partner in one's life, when someone struggles to find an appropriate job, when, despite hard work and investment, nothing is clicking in one's business enterprise, we feel immensely miserable. The list is endless. Everyone is in trouble on this earth. Philosopher Thomas Hobbes said, "We are chained everywhere." However, when we place our trust in God completely and allow God to take control of us, our worries certainly go down. Sometimes, we must allow God to decide for us rather than we decide for ourselves based on our abilities and inclinations. It is not we who decided to come into this world. The liturgical readings on this 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time encourage us to put our burden on our God.

1. Our Success only when God intervenes in our lives

The readings of this Sunday invite us to discover the true source of peace, strength, and freedom. In a world that glorifies success, competition, and self-sufficiency, Jesus presents a radically different way—the way of humility, surrender, and life in the Spirit. Jesus begins with a prayer of thanksgiving in Matthew 11:25–30: "I thank you, Father... because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned and revealed them to little children."