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.

The Body and Blood of Christ homily (07 June 2026) The Body of Christ

 

THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST HOMILY, JOHN 6:51-58, JUNE 7, 2026

By: Fr. Vincent Corbelli, MM

1. STORY

One morning at breakfast, five-year-old John and his brothers and sisters were told by their mother that they had no food in the house to eat.  There was no bread, no eggs, nothing to eat; but if they prayed to God, he would give them food.  So little John, on his way to school, entered the church and went up to the altar.  Looking around carefully and seeing no one there, he prayed to God in a loud voice saying, “Dear God, we have no bread, no eggs and no milk.  My mother said if we asked you for food, you would help us.”  Having finished praying, he left the church to school. Upon his return home, he opened the door and saw bread, milk, eggs and other food.  He shouted with joy telling his mother that he prayed to God and his prayers were heard just as his mother had told him.  Yes, his mother replied but told him it was a kind woman who had heard him pray in church.  She purchased the food after hearing John pray for help.  God helped them through this kind woman.  God, through the Body of Christ, provides us with spiritual food.

 

2. GOSPEL, JOHN 6:51-58

A) I MYSELF AM THE LIVING BREAD COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN

Jesus helped people in many ways while on earth.  He cured the sick, calmed the storm on the sea, and multiplied bread feeding over 5,000 persons.  He not only has bread for our bodies, he has spiritual bread for our souls.

B) IF ANYONE EATS THIS BREAD, HE, SHALL I LIVE FOREVER 

Food brings us health.  The spiritual food Jesus provides for us gives us health forever which is eternal life.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A) THE GREAT GIFT OF SPIRITUAL FOOD 

i) Jesus freely provides this spiritual food, the Eucharist, at Mass.  There is no need to go to a store to obtain this wonderful gift. T here is no need to spend a lot of time preparing it as is necessary with ordinary food.

ii) We should receive the Eucharist at each Mass we attend if at all possible.  This food helps us to be spiritually strong so as to live our lives and be disciples of Jesus.

iii) We must always be grateful for this spiritual food provided by our caring Jesus.  We have done nothing to deserve it.

B) THE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE

We know that good food is an important way to stay healthy.  Even though this is the case, we know that eventually our health will decrease with age.  This material food will give us health for a limited amount of time.  On the contrary, the Eucharist will give us health forever, that is, eternal life.  We do not know how this is possible, but we believe what Jesus tells us that this spiritual food will bring us eternal life.  How blessed we are.

 

4. CONCLUSION

Just as Jesus provided food for five-year-old John through a kind woman, so does Jesus provide us with spiritual food through the Mass.  This food brings us health forever, which is eternal life.  We should receive the Eucharist every time we participate at Mass.  We should be grateful for this great gift.

 

The Holy Trinity homily (31 May 2026)

 

THE HOLY TRINITY HOMILY, JOHN 16:12-15, May 31, 2026

By Fr. Vincent Corbelli, MM

1. STORY

On their way to a buffet lunch, John and his friend were discussing and were puzzled by the doctrine of the Trinity.   They entered the restaurant and saw about 20 delicious dishes from which they could choose.  They chose about 10 different kinds of food lamenting that their stomachs were not big enough to eat all the other dishes.  John then thought as their stomachs were not able to eat all the delicious foods, their minds were not able to understand many doctrines of the Church, especially the one concerning the Trinity.

 

2. THE GOSPEL, JOHN 16:12-15

A. I HAVE MUCH MORE TO TELL YOU

For three years Jesus taught the disciples many wonderful things about God, about life, and about heaven.  He told them there was still much more they had to learn and that he would teach them through the Holy Spirit.  “When he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth.”

B. THE THREE NAMES

In this passage Jesus tells us about Himself, the Spirit, and about His Father.  This has led the great minds of the Church to conclude that there is only one God but three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  We call this doctrine the doctrine of the Holy Trinity.

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A. THE HOLY TRINITY

i) We are blessed knowing something of this great doctrine.  There is only one God but God is composed of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  It is only because Jesus taught us this that we know this great secret.

ii) In our prayers and in our liturgy, we use the prayer, “In the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

B. THE NEED FOR HUMILITY

i) Although we have a wonderful mind, our knowledge is limited.  There are many things we know but many more things we do not know.

a) We know that one candle can have a flame, heat, and light; but it remains one candle.

b) We know that water can be a solid, ice, a liquid, water, and steam; yet all are water.  From all of this, we recognize the importance of humility which means we know some things but there are many things that we do not know.

C. THE NEED FOR UNITY

The teaching of the Trinity helps us to know that the importance of unity for the Trinity is the model of unity.  We must work to bring about unity in our family, in our Church, in our society, and in the world.  How do we do this?

i) We PRAY for unity among all.

ii) We RESPECT others’ thought, we may or may not agree with their beliefs or actions.

iii) We use DIALOGUE and not violence to bring about unity.

 

4. CONCLUSION

A. John realized that as his stomach was limited in the amount of food he could eat, so too was his mind limited in how much he could understand.

B. Jesus told us that there was much more we had to learn, and the Holy Spirit will help us to find the truth.

C. Jesus taught us about the Father, himself, and his Spirit.  This doctrine is known as the doctrine of the Holy Trinity.  We must be humble knowing of our limitations and strive to bring about peace in our family, Church, society, and the world.  We ask Jesus for his help.

 

Pentecost homily (24 May 2026)

 

PENTECOST HOMILY, JOHN 20:19-23, May 24, 2026

By Father Vincent Corbelli, MM

1. STORY

John was sitting comfortably in the plane ready to take off for a long trip over the ocean when the pilot announced a slight delay due to trouble with the plane's compass.  The pilot then announced another delay explaining that the compass had to be replaced with a new one.  Finally, the pilot announced the plane was ready to depart as the compass was in order.  During this delay no one complained as all knew the importance of a compass to guide them during the long flight.  The Holy Spirit is our compass guiding us during our long journey in life.

 

2. GOSPEL, JOHN 20:19-23

A. THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

When the resurrected Jesus visited the disciples for the first time after his resurrection, he gave them the gift of the Holy Spirit. "He breathed on them and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit.”

B. JESUS GAVE THE DISCIPLES A MISSION

Jesus not only gave the disciples a gift but he also gave them a mission, a task for them to do.  He sent them out to preach the good news.  "As the Father has sent me, so I send you." 

 

3. APPLICATION TO LIFE

A. THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Jesus has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit both at our baptism and our confirmation.  How does the Holy Spirit help us? 

i)  During our complicated journey in life, the Holy Spirit will help us to better understand the problems we meet and will help us make the right decisions.  We must ask the Holy Spirit for his help.

iiI) There are many voices we may hear giving us advice on how to act or how to solve a problem.   We must listen carefully to his guidance and obey it.                    

B. JESUS HAS GIVEN US A MISSION

Just as Jesus was sent by his father into this world to preach the good news of their salvation, so does Jesus send us out on the same mission. 

i) Where shall we go?  St. Pope John Paul II answers this question, "The world today is one great mission land, even in countries of longstanding Christian tradition."  

ii) How do we carry out this mission?

a) We must pray for the people we wish to evangelize.

b) We preach by our actions.  We are kind, respectful, and caring towards others.

c) We share our message that for those who follow him, Jesus will bring them peace, happiness, and will give them eternal life. 

 

4. CONCLUSION

A. John knew the importance of the plane's compass to guide them to their destination.

B. Jesus gave the disciples the gift of the Holy Spirit and the mission to preach the good news about their salvation. 

C. We have also received the gift of the Holy Spirit and the mission to continue the work of sharing the good news about Jesus.