18A Sunday homily (02 August 2026) Jesus feeds the hungry

 

18A SUNDAY HOMILY MATTHEW 14:13-21, August 2, 2026

By Fr. Vincent Corbelli, MM 

1. STORY

Cardinal Joseph Zen tells this story about when he was a boy.  One cold winter day his family of seven, 5 children and his parents, were poor and there was no food in the house.  His father had a stroke and was ill.  His mother suggested he should not go to serve Mass as was his custom as it was so cold.  His father insisted that his son go as usual.  So little Joseph ran to church and served at Mass.   As he left the church to go home, an elderly Catholic asked him if he were Mr. Zen's son and why he had not seen his father at church for a long time.  Cardinal Zen told him that his father was ill and explained his family situation.  Mr. Chow dressed simply but was a rich man.  He told the cardinal to follow him home.  He took out a stack of money, wrapped it and gave it to the little boy to take home to his father.  The cardinal said they had enough money to feed the family for several months.  God had provided the family with their daily bread.

 

2.GOSPEL, MATTHEW 14: 13-21

A) JESUS' HEART WAS MOVED WITH PITY FOR THEM

A large crowd of people had been following him to hear his message and be cured.  He was very aware and concerned as they had not eaten and it was not easy for them to buy food in the area.  So, he took pity on them.

B) JESUS FED FIVE THOUSAND

Jesus took the food available, five loaves and two fish, blessed them and told the disciples to give this food to the crowd.  "They all ate and were satisfied." Jesus helped them in their hour of need.

 

3.APPLICATION TO LIFE

A) PEOPLE IN NEED

Today there are many people in need.  In our parish there are the poor, the sick, lonely and the elderly.  I was told that there are 33 homes for the elderly in our area.  We must follow the example of Jesus and be aware and concerned about these needy persons.  Jesus is aware that we are in need of spiritual food and so he daily provides us with spiritual food, the Eucharist.

B) JESUS HELPS THE NEEDY

Just as Jesus asked the disciples to help him so he asks us to help him care for the needy.  One way to help the poor is to support the work of our St. Vincent De Paul Society which helps the poor in our area.  We help the sick by praying for them and visiting them when possible.  We can help the lonely by calling them and showing them that you are concerned about them.  Jesus helps us by providing the Eucharist, our spiritual bread, to give us the strength to follow his example of helping the needy.

 

4.CONCLUSION

The elderly man, when made aware of Cardinal Zen's family situation, provided money for the family to buy food.  Jesus knowing that the people were hungry and it was difficult to buy food in the area, multiplied the bread and fish and feed over five thousand people.  Jesus cares for us by providing us with spiritual food, the Eucharist.  Strengthened by this spiritual food, Jesus wishes us to help him care for the need in our parish.

 

17A Sunday homily (26 July 2026) The pearl of great price

 

17A Sunday Homily, Matthew 13:44­-46, July 26, 2026

By Fr. Vincent Corbelli, MM 

1. STORY

Edward was single and about 36 years old when he met a woman named Wallis.  Though she had been married and divorced twice, he continued to see her.  Eventually they came to love each other deeply.  When he was 42 years old, his father died.  His father was not an ordinary man as he was the King of England.  In January 0f 1936, Edward became Edward VIII, the King of England.  He declared his intention to marry Wallis, his pearl of great price.  His family, the Church of England, and the British Parliament opposed this.  King Edward VIII had to make a choice; either be king or marry Wallis.  He could not have both.  In December of 1936, Edward made his choice.  He chose to marry Wallis and submitted his abdication which was accepted by Parliament the next day.  He became the only British monarch ever to resign voluntarily.  He chose his pearl, Wallis, over everything else.

 

2. GOSPEL, MATTHEW 13:44­-46

A) THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE

There was a merchant who loved pearls and searched high and low for fine pearls.  To his great joy, he found one of great beauty which was so beautiful that he decided that he must buy it no matter what the cost.

B) HE SOLD ALL HE HAD AND BOUGHT IT

He had to make a great sacrifice.  He sold all that he had to have enough money to buy his precious pearl.  He considered himself very fortunate in having the opportunity to buy what he so desired.  This purchase brought him great happiness.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A) MY PEARL OF GREAT PRICE

For some, health is the most important thing.  They eat carefully, exercise faithfully, and get enough sleep.  For others, money is most important.  They work hard, spend their money carefully, and save faithfully.  For others, happiness is number one.  Happiness for themselves, their family, and friends.  In this parable, Jesus tells us that God should be number one in our lives, our precious pearl.  Why?  The reason is that it is only God who can give us health.  He alone can give us strength to make money.  He alone can give us happiness.  So, in making God all important, we gain health, wealth, and happiness.

B) WHAT MUST I DO WITH THIS GREAT TREASURE?

First, we must love God.  We must pray each day, both in the morning asking for help during the day and in the evening thanking him for his blessings.  We must be faithful in attending Sunday Mass where we hear the word of God and are able to receive the Eucharist.  We must read the bible or some spiritual book when time permits.  Secondly, we must love our neighbor.  We must be kind in our speech, patient in our attitude, and helpful in our actions.  We cherish this great treasure by loving God and by loving our neighbor.

 

4. CONCLUSION

Edward VII, king of England, discovered that his pearl of great price was his friend and future wife, Wallis Warfield Simpson.  The price he had to pay was to give up the British throne and no longer be king.  The merchant in the parable sold all he had to purchase the pearl he wanted.  The parable teaches us that God should be our greatest desire and we show this by loving Him and our neighbor.  We pray for the grace to discover that God is truly our pearl of great price.

 

 

 

16A Sunday homily (19 July 2026) The parable of the wheat and weeds

 

16A Sunday Homily, Matthew 13:24­-30, July 19, 2026

By: Father Vincent Corbelli, MM 

1. STORY

John loved to climb mountains.  One day, wearing his heavy coat, he set off to climb to the mountain peak.  When he reached the top, he saw a rattlesnake.  To his great surprise, the snake spoke saying he was starving and freezing and asked John to put him under his coat and take him down to the valley.  John refused saying that the snake would bite him and the bite would kill him.  The snake responded that for this favor he would not harm him.  A t first John resisted but finally agreed to help the snake.  He picked up the snake and tucked him under his coat.   When they arrived at the valley, he took the snake from under his coat and laid it on the grass.  Then suddenly the snake bit John's leg.  John was shocked and reminded the snake of his promise not to harm him.  “You knew what I was when you picked me up,” answered the snake as he slithered away.  This is a reminder to avoid evil persons, places and things.

 

2. GOSPEL, MATTHEW 13:24­-30 

 A) A MAN SOWED GOOD SEEDS AND THE ENEMY SOWED WEEDS

The story tells us that in the field there are wheat and weeds.  The field represents the world, the wheat represents good people, and the weeds represent bad people.  In the world, there are both good and bad people.

B) LET THEM GROW TOGEHER UNTIL HARVEST

The slave is instructed not to take any action until the harvest when there will be a separation of the wheat and weeds.  God permits both good and bad people to live.  There will be a separation of the two at the last judgment.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A) THE WORLD HAS BOTH GOOD AND BAD PEOPLE

In the home, the church, and in the world, there are both good and bad people.  Good people, but their words and actions, harm us and we should avoid them.

B) GOD IS PATIENT AND GOD IS JUST

God wishes to save all and so is very patient with both the good and bad.  He gives people a chance for the better, to improve their moral lives.  He sent Jesus to help us, and his work is carried on by the Church.  Jesus gives us the wisdom and strength to be good.  God is just as he will separate the good from the bad on judgment day.  He will reward the just and punish the bad.

 

4. CONCLUSION

In the story, John learned that it is dangerous to associate with a rattlesnake.  In the parable, we learn that in the world there are both good people, represented by the wheat, and bad people represented by weeds.  God permits both to live side by side in the hope that bad people, the weeds, will have a change of heart and repent their ways.  Jesus has come to help us to be good.  Finally, God is just and at the last judgment will separate the good from the bad by rewarding the good and punishing the bad.

 

15A Sunday homily (12 July 2026) The parable of the sower

 

15A SUNDAY HOMILY: MATTHEW 13:1­-19 July 12, 2026

By Fr. Vince Corbelli, MM

1. STORY

John had a good business and a happy family life.  Due to work pressures, he began to drink which eventually caused him to separate from his family and lose his business.  While walking down the street, he picked up a bent and rusty nail which immediately reminded him of himself.  He was rusty and bent out of shape.  He took it home, hammered it to make it straight, and used sandpaper to remove the rust; it looked like a new nail.  He then thought that his life could straightened out just like the nail.  He decided to try.  Today John is reunited to his family and is back in business.  To this day, John keeps the restored nail in his wallet.  We need Jesus to avoid being a bent nail.

 

2. GOSPEL, MATTHEW 13:1­-19

A)  A FARMER WENT OUT SOWING SEED

In this beautiful parable, a farmer went out sowing seed.  Jesus went to preach the gospel, the word of God, which is like a seed.  Jesus helps us by giving us his teachings.

B) SOME FELL ON GOOD SOIL 

i) Some seed fell on a footpath, some on rocky ground, and some among thorns.  None of the seed grew. 

ii) Some seed fell on good soil and grew abundantly.  Just as some soil rejected the seed and some soil accepted the seed, so do some people reject and some people accept the teachings of Jesus.

 

3) APPLICATION TO LIFE

A) JESUS CONTINUES TO SOW THE SEED

Jesus continues to sow the seed, to preach the gospel, and to help us.  He does this each time we attend Mass and hear the homily, when we read the bible, and when we listen to the pope or our bishop.  Jesus is teaching us; he is sowing the seed.  We need the word of God to be his disciples.

B) SOME REJECT AND SOME ACCEPT THE WORD OF JESUS

i)  Some people, due to a busy life, laziness, or see no value in the teaching of Jesus, reject him.

ii) Some people accept the word of Jesus.  They accept Jesus by their head, heart, and hands.  They accept him by their heart when they follow his teachings.  They accept him by their hands when they carry out his commands.  In doing so, we change from being like a bent nail to a new nail, a follower of Jesus.

 

4)  CONCLUSION

Just as a bent nail help John to change his life, the word of Jesus helps us to change our lives.  Some reject and some accept his help.  We heard the word of Jesus and carry it out by our head, our heart, and our hands.  We need the word of Jesus to be his faithful followers, his disciples.

 

14A Sunday homily (05 July 2026) Be gentle toward others

 

14A SUNDAY HOMILY, MATTHEW 11: 25-30, JULY 5, 2026

By Fr. Vincent Corbelli, MM

 

1. STORY

The sun and wind had a dispute over which of the two was stronger.   One day an opportunity arose to settle the dispute.  A person dressed in a coat was walking down a country road.  The sun said to the wind that the one who could make the person remove the coat faster would be the winner.  The wind went first.  He blew and blew, but the more he blew, the tighter the person held on to the coat.  Finally, exhausted, the wind gave up.  Then the sun took over.  It merely shone on the person and within minutes, the person took off the coat.  The moral of the story is you can achieve more by gentleness than by violence.

 

2. GOSPEL, MATTHEW 11: 25-30

A) LEARN FROM ME

Jesus is our great teacher who taught us by his words.  He taught us forgiveness in the story of the prodigal son.  He taught us about how some people need extra help by the story of the Good Shepherd.  He taught us to help others by the story of the Good Samaritan.  Jesus taught us by his work.  He cared for the needy, the lame, the blind, the hungry and the sick.  He comforted those in sorrow and forgave the sinners. 

B) I AM GENTLE AND HUMBLE OF HEART

Jesus was gentle. 

i) He was understanding when dealing with the problems and difficulties of others.

ii) He was forgiving and not critical of those who were sinners.

iii) He helped people become better.  Jesus was humble as he always obeyed his Father's will.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A) LEARN FROM JESUS 

i) Many people teach us by their words and actions such as our parents, relatives, friends, and school teachers.  We are taught by what we read as from newspapers, magazines, what we watch on TV and the computer, and what we hear on the radio.

ii) We must remember that our great teacher is Jesus.  He teaches us when we attend Mass, read the bible, and other spiritual books.  He teaches us through our Pope, bishop and priests.  He teaches us through our parents and good friends.

B) BE GENTLE TOWARD OTHERS

We are gentle toward others by our words:

i) When we use kind, forgiving, encouraging, and supportive words.

ii) When we avoid using nasty, harsh, and hurtful words.

When we are gentle toward others by works:

i) When we help those in need by using our time and money to make life a bit easier for them.

ii) When we give our time to listen to people, to make a phone call showing our concern, and to visit the sick in the hospitals.

 

4) CONCLUSION 

Just as the warm sun was stronger than the powerful wind, so too was Jesus powerful as he treated people by his word and actions and taught us to treat others by our words and actions in a gentle way.  We follow Jesus' good example by using kind and encouraging words and by treating people with care and respect.

 

13A Sunday homily (28 June 2026) Choose Jesus

 

13A SUNDAY HOMILY, MATTHEW 10:37-44 June 28, 2026

1. STORY

Three-year-old Mary's uncle asked her to choose a gift on her birthday.  He offered her a choice to select one of two ten-dollar bills.  She noticed one was bigger than the other and was about to select the larger one when she paused and asked her mother for help.  Her mother told her to select the smaller one which she did.  Her mother than explained to her that the smaller one was a US ten-dollar bill worth much more that the larger one which was a Hong Kong one.  Mary made the right choice.

 

2. GOSPEL, MATTHEW 10:37-44

A) CHOOSE JESUS

Jesus told his apostles that he was more important than anyone else including the members of his family.  They must be willing to leave them in order to follow him.

B) WELCOME THE DISCIPLES OF JESUS

Jesus tells us that when a disciple of Jesus is welcomed by anyone, it is the same as welcoming Jesus himself and one will be rewarded by Jesus for such a welcome.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A) WHY WE SHOULD CHOOSE JESUS

We should choose Jesus for two reasons:

i) Jesus will remind us that it is our duty to love our parents and family members.  He will remind us of the importance of the fourth commandment, "Honor your father and your mother." 

ii) Jesus will give us the strength to carry out this command.  Though we may be burdened with many other responsibilities such as caring for one’s own family, or working long hours, Jesus will help as we pray, hear his Word and by receiving the Eucharist.

B) HOW TO WELCOME THE DISCIPLES OF JESUS

We welcome Jesus' disciples in two ways: 

i) When we welcome a priest, a nun or a Catholic we welcome Jesus. 

ii) When we help a needy person, we welcome Jesus.  He also tells us that by doing this we will be rewarded because we are following his example.  He will bring us peace, joy and happiness.

 

4. CONCLUSION

In the story Mary was able to make the right choice of selecting the US dollar bill because of her mother's help.  Jesus in today's gospel helps us to make the right choice of selecting him above all others including members of our family.  In doing so we actually love them more because Jesus reminds us of the importance of honoring our parents and family and he gives us the strength to do so no matter how many obligations we may have.  We welcome Jesus into our lives by welcoming his disciples such as priest, nuns, Catholics and the needy.  For this we will be rewarded with peace, joy and happiness.  We thank Jesus for his instructions and ask for his help to carry this out in our lives.

12A Sunday homily (21 June 2026) Proclaim on the housetops

 

TOPIC: PROCLAIM ON THE HOUSETOPS June 21, 2026

By Father Vincent Corbelli, MM

 

12A SUNDAY HOMILY, MATTHEW 10:26-33

1. STORY

John, a primary school student, was living with ten other boys in a dormitory while attending boarding school.  Though he was a Catholic no student knew this.  One day a new student, Jim, a fervent Catholic, arrived.  The young students made fun of Jim when they saw him kneeling at his bed when saying his morning and night prayers.  John remembered that his mother told him to say daily his morning and night prayers.  One evening when Jim was kneeling at his bed saying his night prayers, John also knelt by his bed and also said his night prayers.  When the other students saw this, they stopped making fun of Jim.  John and Jim followed the teaching of Jesus: "What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops."

 

2. GOSPEL. MATTHEW 10:26-33

A) WHAT JESUS HAS TAUGHT US

Jesus has taught us many things.  Here are three examples: i) He has taught us about God.

ii) He has taught us about men and women. 

iii) He has taught us about life.

B) SPEAK IN THE LIGHT, PROCLAIM ON THE HOUSETOPS Jesus instructs us to share his message with the whole world.  He wishes us to bring this joyful news to this near and far.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A) WHAT JESUS HAS TAUGHT US

i) There is a God who created us, loves us and cares for us.  He loves us so much that he has sent his only son Jesus, to save us. 

ii) We are God's children.  We must live a life of loving God, others and ourselves.  We must resist the temptations of being proud, selfish, and revengeful. 

iii) We know that life is like a journey which has a beginning and end.  We know that end of life is death which is not an end but the beginning of a new and happy life in heaven with God.

B) HOW TO PROCLAIM THE GOOD NEWS

i) We must proclaim the good news to our family, at work, with friends and with strangers. 

ii) We do this by telling others what we believe as Catholics.  There is a God who loves us, Jesus is our savior, we must live a life of love and there is eternal life and death. 

iii) We do this by our actions.  We are respectful of others; we try to help the needy according to our ability and we are forgiving towards those who have offended us.

 

4. CONCLUSION

Little Jim was not afraid to say his prayers even though the other students made fun of him.  By his good actions he influenced his fellow student, John, live out his faith.  Jesus wants us to share what he taught us to the whole world.  We do this in our family, at work, with our friends and strangers.  We tell them about God, about Jesus and how to live properly.  We do this by our actions of being kind to people, helping the needy and forgiving those who may have offended us.   We thank Jesus and ask him for the strength to do as he has instructed us.