Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. The rich man had everything he could wish for, but he failed to notice the poor man lying at his door. His sin was not simply wealth, but indifference. He lived for himself and ignored the mission that God had placed in front of him: to love his neighbor.

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches: “No servant can serve two masters… You cannot serve both God and mammon.” Discipleship always involves a choice. To follow Christ means to put Him first, above relationships, possessions, success, or comfort.

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

Today we celebrate the Exaltation the Cross of Christ—not as a sign of defeat, but as the very sign of victory and life. What once was an instrument of torture has become the throne of mercy, where God’s love is revealed in its fullest measure.

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

To be a disciple of Jesus is not simply to admire Him from a distance but to walk in His footsteps, to shape our lives according to His Gospel. It means putting Christ at the center, even above our comfort, preferences, and personal agendas.

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

Today’s Gospel reminds us that the way of Christ is the way of humility. Jesus teaches us that when invited to a banquet, we should not seek the places of honor but take the lowest seat. In God’s Kingdom, greatness is not measured by power, status, or recognition, but by service, humility, and love.

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Today’s Gospel is a challenging one. Jesus is asked if only a few will be saved, and He replies that we must strive to enter through the narrow gate. The Lord reminds us that, as baptized Christians, we have a duty to continually pursue holiness. This means working to grow in virtue and setting aside our vices and disordered passions. We must keep our eyes fixed on Christ and on the mission He has entrusted to us.

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus says something surprising: “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were blazing already!” He also speaks about division, not peace. This is not because Jesus enjoys conflict, but because the truth of the Gospel challenges our comfort zones, our sinful habits, and even certain patterns in our families or societies.

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

Before he ascended into heaven, Jesus gathered his disciples on a mountain in Galilee and commissioned them to make disciples, saying: “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” (Matthew 28: 18-20)

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the rich man who built bigger barns to store his harvest, only to lose everything that same night. His mistake wasn’t wealth itself—it was the illusion that material possessions could secure his soul. Jesus warns us: “One’s life does not consist of possessions.” This is a powerful message in a world obsessed with accumulation.

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

In today’s Gospel, we encounter Jesus in prayer—and it moves the disciples to ask, “Lord, teach us to pray.” Before we are missionaries, before we preach, act, or go—we must be disciples who pray, who stay at the feet of the Master, like Mary of Bethany in last Sunday's Gospel. Mission begins on our knees.

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

In today’s Gospel, we meet Martha and Mary—two sisters who welcome Jesus into their home. Martha is busy with the many tasks of hospitality, while Mary sits at the feet of Jesus, listening to His words. Martha’s frustration is understandable, but Jesus gently reminds her: “Mary has chosen the better part.”

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

Today’s Gospel is one of the most beloved parables—the Good Samaritan. But it is also one of the most demanding. Jesus is not just telling us to feel compassion; He is telling us to act with compassion.

A lawyer asks, “Who is my neighbor?”—seeking to limit his responsibility. But Jesus flips the question: not “Who is my neighbor?” but “To whom can I be a neighbor?” Discipleship is not about drawing lines but crossing them.

Dear Fellow Disciples, peace.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus sends out seventy-two disciples ahead of Him, two by two, into every town and place He intended to visit. This mission is not reserved to the Twelve—it is an invitation to a broader group of believers, a clear sign that discipleship is not for a few, but for all. Jesus doesn’t send them with wealth, weapons, or great prestige. He sends them with trust, with the Gospel, and with peace. “Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals…”