VIGÉSIMO NOVENO DOMINGO DEL TIEMPO ORDINARIO – 2026

DOMINGO MUNDIAL DE LAS MISIONES

Mis queridos hermanos y hermanas, reciban un cordial saludo. Les deseo a todos paz, bienestar y abundantes bendiciones de Dios en sus labores y actividades diarias.

Este vigésimo noveno domingo del Tiempo Ordinario nos invita no solamente a escuchar y meditar la Palabra de Dios, sino también a celebrar dos acontecimientos significativos para la Iglesia universal y para nuestra comunidad parroquial: el Domingo Mundial de las Misiones y la celebración del Señor de los Milagros, tan querida por nuestros hermanos de la comunidad peruana.

En primer lugar, celebramos el Domingo Mundial de las Misiones. Esta jornada nos recuerda el mandato de Jesús de ir por todo el mundo y anunciar el Evangelio a todos los pueblos y naciones. Pero también nos recuerda una verdad fundamental de nuestra fe: todos somos misioneros desde el día de nuestro bautismo. Cada uno, según su vocación, sus dones y sus circunstancias, está llamado a ser testigo del amor de Dios y a llevar la luz de Cristo a los demás.

En cada generación, el Evangelio sigue llegando a nuevos corazones porque hay personas dispuestas a anunciarlo, vivirlo, compartirlo y transmitirlo. A veces, la misión se realiza de maneras extraordinarias: un sacerdote que viaja a una comunidad lejana para anunciar la Palabra de Dios; una religiosa que construye una escuela o dedica su vida al cuidado de los enfermos; o un catequista que, con generosidad y perseverancia, enseña la fe en medio de circunstancias difíciles.

Sin embargo, la misión también se lleva a cabo en los pequeños gestos de cada día. Un padre o una madre que enseñan a sus hijos a rezar; una familia que permanece unida y fiel a Dios en medio de las dificultades; una persona que elige perdonar en lugar de buscar venganza; un joven que responde generosamente a la llamada de Dios; o un cristiano que vive con honestidad, amor y coherencia en un mundo que muchas veces propone valores contrarios al Evangelio.

En todos estos gestos, la fe deja de ser solamente palabras y se convierte en vida. Así, el Evangelio transforma los corazones, fortalece a las familias y renueva nuestras comunidades.

Por eso, en este Domingo Mundial de las Misiones, la Iglesia nos invita no solo a admirar la entrega de quienes anuncian el Evangelio en tierras lejanas, sino también a participar activamente en esta gran obra misionera. Podemos hacerlo mediante nuestra oración, nuestros sacrificios ofrecidos por las misiones y nuestra generosa contribución económica, que ayuda a llevar el mensaje de Cristo a lugares que quizá nunca tendremos la oportunidad de visitar.

Recordemos que, en las manos de Dios, ningún gesto de amor es insignificante. Una oración, una palabra de esperanza, una ayuda generosa o un acto de caridad pueden convertirse en instrumentos para que la luz de Cristo llegue a quienes más la necesitan.

En segundo lugar, hoy nos unimos con alegría a nuestros hermanos de la comunidad peruana para celebrar al Señor de los Milagros, una de las expresiones más profundas de la fe y la devoción popular del Perú.

Esta devoción tiene sus raíces en el siglo XVII, en Lima, cuando un hombre de origen africano, según la tradición, pintó la imagen de Jesús crucificado sobre una pared de adobe en el barrio de Pachacamilla. En 1655, un fuerte terremoto sacudió la ciudad y destruyó numerosas edificaciones, pero aquella pared permaneció en pie. Este hecho fue considerado un signo extraordinario y contribuyó a extender la devoción al Cristo de Pachacamilla, conocido hoy como el Señor de los Milagros.

Desde entonces, miles de fieles manifiestan su amor y confianza en Jesús crucificado mediante la oración, la penitencia y las procesiones que se celebran especialmente durante el mes de octubre. Por eso, este mes es conocido en el Perú como el Mes Morado, un tiempo de fe, conversión, esperanza y profunda expresión de amor a Cristo.

Más allá de las tradiciones y de las manifestaciones externas de nuestra fe, esta devoción nos invita a contemplar el amor de Jesús, que entregó su vida por nuestra salvación. Mirar al Señor de los Milagros significa recordar que Cristo permanece con nosotros en medio de nuestras dificultades, escucha nuestras súplicas y nos invita a confiar en la misericordia de Dios. Pero también significa comprometernos a seguir sus pasos, amando al prójimo, perdonando de corazón y sirviendo con generosidad a quienes más lo necesitan.

Queridos hermanos y hermanas, estas dos celebraciones nos dejan una invitación común: encontrarnos con Cristo, fortalecer nuestra fe y convertirnos en testigos de su amor. La misión y la devoción van de la mano, porque quien ama verdaderamente a Jesús no puede guardar ese amor solamente para sí, sino que siente el deseo de compartirlo con los demás.

Pidamos al Señor que renueve en nosotros el espíritu misionero recibido en el bautismo; que bendiga a todos los misioneros y misioneras del mundo; que fortalezca a nuestras familias y comunidades; y que, por intercesión de María, Estrella de la Evangelización, nos ayude a vivir una fe auténtica, visible y creíble.

Que el Señor de los Milagros nos enseñe a confiar siempre en su amor y que, con nuestras palabras y, sobre todo, con nuestras obras, podamos anunciar a todos que Jesucristo está vivo, camina con nosotros y sigue transformando nuestras vidas. Amén.

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TWENTY-NINTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – 2026

WORLD MISSION SUNDAY

My dear brothers and sisters, greetings to all of you. I wish you peace, well-being, and God’s abundant blessings in your daily work and activities.

This Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time invites us not only to listen to and reflect on the Word of God, but also to celebrate two significant occasions for the universal Church and our parish community: World Mission Sunday and the celebration of the Lord of Miracles, a devotion deeply cherished by our brothers and sisters in the Peruvian community.

First, we celebrate World Mission Sunday. This day reminds us of Jesus’ command to go throughout the world and proclaim the Gospel to all peoples and nations. It also reminds us of a fundamental truth of our faith: we are all missionaries from the day of our Baptism. Each of us, according to our vocation, gifts, and circumstances, is called to be a witness to God’s love and to bring the light of Christ to others.

In every generation, the Gospel continues to reach new hearts because there are people willing to proclaim it, live it, share it, and pass it on. Sometimes, the mission takes extraordinary forms: a priest who travels to a distant community to proclaim the Word of God; a religious sister who builds a school or dedicates her life to caring for the sick; or a catechist who teaches the faith with generosity and perseverance amid difficult circumstances.

However, the mission is also carried out through the small gestures of everyday life. It is seen in a father or mother who teaches their children to pray; a family that remains united and faithful to God amid difficulties; a person who chooses to forgive rather than seek revenge; a young person who generously responds to God’s call; or a Christian who lives with honesty, love, and integrity in a world that often promotes values contrary to the Gospel.

Through all these gestures, faith becomes more than words; it becomes a way of life. In this way, the Gospel transforms hearts, strengthens families, and renews our communities.

For this reason, on World Mission Sunday, the Church invites us not only to admire the dedication of those who proclaim the Gospel in distant lands, but also to participate actively in this great missionary work. We can do so through our prayers, our sacrifices offered for the missions, and our generous financial contributions, which help bring the message of Christ to places we may never have the opportunity to visit.

Let us remember that, in God’s hands, no act of love is insignificant. A prayer, a word of hope, a generous act of assistance, or an act of charity can become an instrument through which the light of Christ reaches those who need it most.

Second, today we joyfully join our brothers and sisters in the Peruvian community in celebrating the Lord of Miracles, one of the most profound expressions of faith and popular devotion in Peru.

This devotion dates back to the seventeenth century in Lima, when, according to tradition, a man of African origin painted an image of Jesus crucified on an adobe wall in the neighborhood of Pachacamilla. In 1655, a powerful earthquake struck the city and destroyed numerous buildings, but that wall remained standing. This event was regarded as an extraordinary sign and helped spread devotion to the Christ of Pachacamilla, now known as the Lord of Miracles.

Since then, thousands of faithful have expressed their love for and trust in Jesus crucified through prayer, penance, and processions held especially during the month of October. For this reason, October is known in Peru as the Purple Month, a time of faith, conversion, hope, and a profound expression of love for Christ.

Beyond traditions and the outward expressions of our faith, this devotion invites us to contemplate the love of Jesus, who gave His life for our salvation. To gaze upon the Lord of Miracles is to remember that Christ remains with us amid our difficulties, hears our prayers, and invites us to trust in God’s mercy. But it also means committing ourselves to follow in His footsteps by loving our neighbors, forgiving wholeheartedly, and generously serving those who need our help the most.

Dear brothers and sisters, these two celebrations offer us a common invitation: to encounter Christ, strengthen our faith, and become witnesses to His love. Mission and devotion go hand in hand because those who truly love Jesus cannot keep that love to themselves; instead, they feel called to share it with others.

Let us ask the Lord to renew within us the missionary spirit we received at Baptism; to bless all missionaries throughout the world; to strengthen our families and communities; and, through the intercession of Mary, Star of Evangelization, to help us live an authentic, visible, and credible faith.

May the Lord of Miracles teach us always to trust in His love. And may we, through our words and, above all, through our actions, proclaim to everyone that Jesus Christ is alive, walks with us, and continues to transform our lives. Amen.

29th Sunday A

My friends, in our Gospel today, Jesus has yet another encounter with the religious leaders.  For the past three weeks, Jesus has been debating with them and challenging them:

• Three weeks ago, Jesus told a parable of the two sons.  He told the religious leaders that they were like the son who told his father that he would work in the vineyard but did not.  Jesus said that the religious leaders profess obedience to God, yet they are far from it.

• Two weeks ago, Jesus told a parable of the wicked tenants who killed the servants of the vineyard owner and then killed the vineyard owner’s son.  In this parable, Jesus told the religious leaders that they were like the tenants in that they were supposed to lead people to God but instead they were more interested in their own power and wealth.

• Last week, Jesus told the parable about the King who gave a wedding banquet for his son.  Jesus compared the religious leaders to those who were invited to the banquet but refused to attend.  So now, they would not be attending the banquet of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Up until now, we have seen Jesus, so to speak, on the attack.  Jesus was upfront in calling the religious leaders phonies and hypocrites.

In today’s Gospel, the devious Pharisees launch their counterattack.  The Pharisees were so conniving and hypocritical that they stayed in the background and sent their disciples and some Herodians to do their dirty work.

The Pharisees plan was to ask Jesus a carefully formulated question.  The question would be asked in public, while the crowd looks on and listens.  Their aim is to make Jesus discredit himself by His own words, in the presence of the people. 

The question:  “Tell us, what is your opinion. Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not ?" 

The question which the Pharisees asked put Jesus a real dilemma. If He said that it was unlawful to pay the tax, they would promptly report him to the Roman government officials as a seditious person and He would certainly be arrested.  If Jesus said that it was lawful to pay the tax, He would be discredited in the eyes of the people.  Not only did the people resent the tax, they resented it even more for religious reasons. 

To a Jew, God was the only King.  This was emphasized in the last sentence of our First Reading from the Prophet Isaiah:  “I am the LORD, there is no other.”  To pay tax to an earthly king was to admit the validity of his kingship and therefore insult God, which would be wrong at every level.

So, whichever way Jesus might answer, the Pharisees were confident that He would open Himself to serious trouble.

But Jesus was wise.  With His unique wisdom, He asked to see a denarius, which was a coin stamped with the image of the Emperor's head.  That coin was held to be the property of Caesar.   Jesus’ answer was simple:  "Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God."

Jesus was never impressed with rules and regulations.  Jesus was obedient to civil laws but was opposed to religious laws which disregarded the poor and vulnerable. 

There’s the way of the world and the way of God.  Ideally, they should be the same but we know they are not.  Jesus pointed this out with His answer regarding Caesar’s Coin.  His teaching is timeless and never goes out of date. 

My friends, Jesus always placed humanity before all else.  As His disciples, we are called to learn from Him and proclaim His Gospel to everyone in our life by following His many examples of love and service.

Speaking of proclaiming the Gospel of Christ, today is World Mission Sunday and we are so fortunate to have the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC’s) serve our parish.  We have been blessed to have Fr. Luis, Fr. Lomano, Fr. Raj, Fr. John, Fr. David, and Fr. Frank.  Today is an opportunity to support the MSC’s and all missionaries in our Second Collection as well as using our Online Giving.

We also pray for His Holiness Pope Leo XIV as he recovers from his surgery.  May almighty God bless him and heal him and keep him safe from all harm.  Amen.

There is a statement from our Bishop Rojas regarding Pope Leo on our website.