XVIII DOMINGO DEL TIEMPO ORDINARIO (2026)

Queridos hermanos y hermanas: la lectura del evangelio de este domingo nos invita a reflexionar sobre uno de los mayores desafíos de la humanidad: el hambre. Permítanme hacerles unas preguntas. ¿Alguna vez han sentido hambre de verdad? ¿Han compartido alguna vez su comida con una persona necesitada? ¿Desperdician comida? Cada pedazo de alimento que tiramos a la basura nos recuerda que, en algún lugar, hay alguien que estaría agradecido de recibirlo.

Hace algunos años, el Papa Francisco nos recordó que el hambre es una pandemia silenciosa que afecta a millones de personas en todo el mundo. Tal vez no podamos resolver este problema por nosotros mismos, pero el Evangelio de hoy nos enseña que cada uno de nosotros puede hacer la diferencia compartiendo lo que tiene.

El milagro de la multiplicación de los panes también podría llamarse el milagro de compartir. Los discípulos solo veían cinco panes y dos peces, y pensaban que no eran suficientes. Jesús vio una oportunidad. Tomó lo que le ofrecieron, lo bendijo y alimentó a miles de personas. La enseñanza es sencilla: cuando ponemos lo poco que tenemos en las manos de Dios, Él puede hacer grandes cosas.

La primera lectura, tomada del profeta Isaías, es una hermosa invitación de Dios: «Todos los sedientos, vengan por agua». Solo Dios puede saciar el hambre más profunda del corazón humano. Él nos ofrece gratuitamente su misericordia, su amor y su gracia a todos los que nos acercamos a Él.

En la segunda lectura, san Pablo nos recuerda que nada podrá separarnos del amor de Cristo. Ninguna dificultad, sufrimiento o prueba puede apartarnos del amor de Dios. Esa certeza nos llena de esperanza y nos da fuerza para preocuparnos también por las necesidades de los demás.

El Evangelio nos muestra que Jesús nunca fue indiferente al sufrimiento humano. Antes de alimentar a la multitude con el pan, la alimentó con su Palabra y sanó a los enfermos. Se preocupó tanto por las necesidades espirituales como por las materiales. Como discípulos suyos, también nosotros estamos llamados a hacer lo mismo. La fe no puede separarse de la caridad.

Cuando los discípulos quisieron despedir a la multitud, Jesús les dijo: «Denles ustedes de comer». Esas palabras también van dirigidas a nosotros. Quizá no podamos resolver todos los problemas del mundo, pero todos tenemos algo que ofrecer: nuestro tiempo, nuestros talentos, nuestros recursos, nuestra bondad y nuestra compasión. Los pequeños gestos de generosidad, ofrecidos con amor, pueden convertirse en grandes bendiciones en las manos de Dios.

Cada vez que celebramos la Eucaristía, Jesús nos alimenta con su Palabra y con su Cuerpo. Pero la Eucaristía no termina cuando concluye la Misa. Somos enviados a ser pan para los demás, compartiendo el amor que hemos recibido de Cristo.

Queridos hermanos y hermanas, pidamos hoy al Señor que nos libre del egoísmo y de la indiferencia. Que abra nuestro corazón para confiar en su providencia y compartir generosamente con quienes más lo necesitan. Así, con la bendición de Dios, el milagro de compartir seguirá haciéndose realidad en nuestras familias, en nuestra comunidad y en el mundo. Amén.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (2026)

Dear brothers and sisters, todays, Gospel invites us to reflect on one of humanity's greatest challenges: hunger. Let me ask you a few questions. Have you ever experienced real hunger? Have you ever shared your meal with someone in need? Do you waste food? It is important to keep in mind that every piece of food we throw away should reminds us that someone, somewhere, would be grateful to receive it.

A few years ago, Pope Francis reminded us that hunger is a silent pandemic affecting millions of people around the world. While we may not be able to solve this problem on our own, today's Gospel teaches us that each of us can make a difference by sharing what we have. The miracle of the multiplication of the loaves could also be called the miracle of sharing. The disciples saw only five loaves and two fish and thought they were not enough to feed that crowd. Jesus saw an opportunity. He took what was offered, blessed it, and fed thousands. The lesson is simple: when we place our little in God's hands, He can accomplish great things.

The first reading from the prophet Isaiah is an invitation from God: "Come, all you who are thirsty." God alone satisfies the deepest hunger of the human heart. He offers His mercy, His love, and His grace freely to everyone who comes to Him.

In the second reading, Saint Paul reminds us that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. No hardship, suffering, or difficulty can take away God's love for us. That assurance gives us hope and the strength to care for others, even in challenging times. The Gospel also shows us that Jesus is never indifferent to human suffering. Before feeding the crowd with bread, He fed them with His word and healed the sick. He cared for both their spiritual and physical needs. As His disciples, we are called to do the same. Faith cannot be separated from charity.

When the disciples wanted to send the crowd away, Jesus said, "You give them something to eat." Those words are addressed to us today. We may not have enough to solve every problem, but we all have something to share: our time, our talents, our resources, our kindness, and our compassion. Small acts of generosity, offered with love, can become great blessings in God's hands.

Every time we celebrate the Eucharist, Jesus nourishes us with His Word and His Body. But the Eucharist does not end when Mass ends. We are sent to become bread for others by sharing the love and the gifts we have received from Christ.

Dear brothers and sisters, let us ask the Lord to free us from selfishness and indifference. May He open our hearts to trust in His providence and to share generously with those in need. Then, through God's blessing, the miracle of sharing will continue in our homes, our communities, and our world.

Amen.

Rev. Luis Segura m.s.c.

18th Sunday – Cycle A – 2026

My friends, our gospel reading today is about giving.  Jesus, giving of Himself and his invitation to His disciples to give of themselves.

As we heard, Jesus went off by himself for several reasons:

• He had just finished preaching and healing for many days.  He was tired and in need of rest.

• He just heard that his cousin and friend, John the Baptist, was killed by Herod.

• He knew that that some day he would have a fate similar to John’s and he undoubtedly wanted to spend some time alone in prayer with His Father.

So, Jesus went off by Himself to a deserted place to get some rest for His body and soul – but He was not to get it.  When He got to the other side,  the massive crowds were waiting for Him.  When He  saw the vast crowd, His heart was moved with pity for them, and He cured their sick.

Jesus was always willing to gave more of himself.  Now, it was late in the day and Jesus must have been exhausted.

My friends, few of Jesus' miracles are as revealing as this one:

• It tells us of the compassion of Jesus.  Our Gospel tells us that when Jesus saw the crowds, His heart was moved with pity.  A few weeks ago, the meaning of the phrase, “His heart was moved with pity” was explained.  It means that Jesus was moved to the deepest level of His soul.

• It would have been understandable if He would have insisted on privacy.   But Jesus was not like that.  Far from finding them a nuisance, He was moved with pity for them.  Jesus never found anyone a nuisance, even if His whole being was crying out for rest and quiet.

• This story tells us that neither should his disciples find anyone a nuisance.  It was the end of the day, Hs disciples were tired and they had a simple solution for the huge crowd, “Dismiss them, get rid of them.”  Jesus said, “No.  You feed them.  You give them some food yourselves.”

•  In this story we see Jesus witnessing that all gifts are from God. He took the food and he said the blessing.  The Jewish prayer before meals was very simple: "Blessed are you, Yahweh, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth."   Jesus taught His disciples:  “It is not my bread that I eat, rather it is bread given to me by God.”

• This miracle tells us that clearly the work of the disciple is the  work of Christ.  Jesus gave to the disciples and the disciples gave to the crowd.  Jesus worked through the hands of his disciples on that day, and he still does today.

Pope Francis this about feeding the hungry:  “You pray for the hungry.  Then you feed them.  This is how prayer works.”

My friends, again and again we come face to face with the truth which is the heart of the Church.  The disciple is helpless without the Lord, and the Lord needs the help of the disciple.  That’s why He sent the Holy Spirit so that we could understand the ministry of Jesus and act on His behalf.

Our Gospel teaches us that great miracles are possible if Jesus and His disciples work together.  If we work with Jesus, great challenges with seemingly little or no resources can be accomplished.

Sometimes we can be discouraged by a task of great magnitude.  When Jesus told the disciples to feed the crowd, they told him that all they had was five loaves and two fishes.  Yet, with what they brought to Him, He brought about a miracle that fed 5,000 men, not counting women and children. Jesus does not demand from us what we do not possess.

Jesus teaches us that no matter how ill-equipped we might think we are, He will use it greatly in His service.  Little is always much in the hands of Christ.

At the end of the miracle the fragments were gathered up.  Even when the miracle fed thousands of people, there was no waste.  God gives to us in abundance but wasteful extravagance is never right.

God's generous giving and our wise sharing must go hand in hand.