SPRINGS OF LIVING WATER

August 19, 2026August 19, 2026

20 AUGUST 2026

How I Prepare My Heart for God

THURSDAY, TWENTIETH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Memorial of St Bernard

Ez 36: 23-28 Ps 51: 12-15, 18-19 Mt 22: 1-14

HEART PREPARED FOR GOD

Sometimes the problem in our spiritual life is not that God stops calling us, but that our hearts grow distant from Him. Before we can truly respond to God’s invitation, our hearts must first be renewed by His grace. Prophet Ezekiel speaks about God’s promise to restore His people. Israel had failed to remain faithful to the covenant, and their actions had brought dishonour to God’s name among the nations. Yet God does not abandon them. Instead, He promises a profound spiritual renewal. The Lord speaks about cleansing His people, gathering them again and most importantly giving them a new heart and a new spirit. This transformation is not merely an external reform but an inner change welcoming them to live according to God’s ways.

The emphasis is striking: true obedience to God flows from a renewed heart. When the heart is hardened, God’s law feels like a burden; when the heart is renewed by grace, His will becomes a path of life. Ezekiel’s prophecy helps us understand how such a response becomes possible. God Himself prepares us by changing our hearts. The ‘new heart’ spoken of by the prophet allows us to recognize the value of God’s invitation and to live in a way worthy of it. Today the Church honours Bernard of Clairvaux. He often reminded Christians that the Christian life begins not with human effort but with God’s love working within us. He once wrote: “The measure of loving God is to love Him without measure.” Such love becomes possible only when the heart is renewed by grace.

Today we are invited to the banquet of the Lord, to a life of communion with Him. But the invitation is not enough by itself. God desires to reshape our hearts so that we can truly live as His people. Therefore, let us ask God to renew our hearts. When He cleanses our hearts from selfishness, fills us with His Spirit and teaches us to walk in His ways, we become ready guests at the banquet of His kingdom. A renewed heart recognizes the gift of God’s invitation and joyfully responds.

Response: I will sprinkle clean water on you,
and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses.

August 18, 2026August 18, 2026

19th AUGUST 2026

Sermons on Matthew 20:1-16: Understanding God's Grace

WEDNESDAY, TWENTIETH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Ez 34: 1-11 Ps 23: 1-6 Mt 20: 1-16

FROM BABEL TO THE TRUE VINE

The Scriptures frequently employ images drawn from creation—mountains, rivers, fields, sheep, and especially the vineyard—to reveal God’s relationship with humanity. After the flood, Noah plants the first vineyard (Gen. 9:20), symbolizing humanity’s renewed participation in cultivating God’s creation. Yet the account of the Tower of Babel reminds us that when human intelligence and planning seek independence from God, they result not in progress but in confusion and division. Even then, God never abandons His people. The human longing for meaning, truth, and eternal life is itself a sign that He has planted eternity within our hearts. Whenever we lose our spiritual vision amid worldly pursuits, God lovingly takes the initiative to draw us back to Himself.

This divine initiative is beautifully seen in the call of Abraham (Gen. 12:1–3). God invites him to leave behind the security of his homeland and journey toward a future that rests entirely on God’s promise. This invitation is not based on Abraham’s merits but on God’s desire to share His own life with humanity. Throughout salvation history, God continues to call His people to bear sweet grapes rather than wild ones (Isa. 5:1–7). The Psalmist echoes this image: “You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it” (Ps. 80:8). God liberates His people from bondage so that they may flourish in communion with Him.

All of this reaches its fulfilment in Jesus Christ, who declares, “I am the true vine” (Jn. 15:1–5). Human effort alone cannot attain salvation; it is God’s gracious gift. Apart from Christ, we can do nothing. Remaining united to Him through faith, humility, and repentance enables us to bear lasting fruit. Whether in ministry or daily Christian life, we are called to seek God’s glory rather than our own. Like Christ, we are to serve selflessly, remembering that our greatest joy lies not in recognition but in faithfully doing the Father’s will. As Jesus reminds us, “We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty” (Lk. 17:10).

Response: The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

August 17, 2026August 17, 2026

18th AUGUST 2026

Mt 19,23-30) È più facile che un cammello passi per la cruna di un ago, che un ricco entri nel regno di Dio. | manuroma86 IO E UN PO' DI BRICIOLE DI VANGELO

TUESDAY, TWENTIETH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Ez 28: 1-10 Dt 32: 26-28, 30, 35-36 Mt 19: 23-30

THE ILLUSION OF SELF-SUFFICIENCY

“True riches are found when we surrender our pride and place our complete trust in God rather than in ourselves or our possessions.” The deepest poverty of the world today, is not the lack of possessions or material wealth, but the illusion that we are self-sufficient. Today’s readings invite us to look honestly at the hidden attachments that quietly rule our hearts. Human beings often place their trust in wealth, power, success, intelligence, or status. Their gifts and possessions are valuable to humans. These gifts can be useful, but when they become the foundation of our security, they slowly take the place that belongs to God alone.

The tragedy of pride is that it blinds us. When everything seems to be going well, we tend to give in to the belief that our achievements are entirely our own handiwork. We may think that we are in control of our future and capable of handling our life by ourselves. Yet the bigger reality of life constantly reminds us that strength, opportunities, and even our next breath are gifts gratuitously given to us. When we forget this truth, our hearts become closed, and we lose the freedom to depend on God.

Jesus points to a different way. He invites us to hold everything lightly and to trust that God is enough. The kingdom of God is not entered through human power but through humble surrender. What seems impossible for us becomes possible when we allow God to work within us. The more we cling to ourselves, the less room there is for grace. The more we look upon ourselves, the less space we give to God, in our lives. The more we open our hands, the more God can fill them. This message challenges us today. What am I holding onto so tightly that it prevents me from trusting God completely? Is it money, recognition, control, comfort, or my own plans? True freedom begins when we place our confidence not in what we possess but in the God who possesses our hearts. In that surrender, we discover a treasure that never fades.

Response: It is I who deal death and give life.

August 16, 2026August 16, 2026

17th AUGUST 2026

Dal Vangelo secondo Matteo (Mt 19,16-22) | DehON accendi la vita...

MONDAY, TWENTIETH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Ez 24: 15-24 Dt 32: 18-21 Mt 19: 16-22

WHAT SHOULD I DO?

A Seeker: The one who came to Jesus in the Gospel asking a question what good deed could earn eternal life can be any one who seeks answers to the questions that arise in them. The person could be a sincere seeker or one who is inquisitive and curious who does not have real intention to follow the truth. One can seek answers only to satisfy oneself, merely for intellectual satisfaction. One can seek answers to give answers to the questions of others, for debate and teaching. One can ask questions so that he or she can sincerely follow in one’s life the answers received, for finding meaning to one’s life. The seeker in the Gospel seems to be sincere in his question. He knows Jesus is a teacher. But, when Jesus answers him, he seems to be over confident in following the commandments. He is certain that he has followed them perfectly. He asks further what he should do to be perfect. We can be sometimes overconfident, self approving and self praising regarding our life and the following of the commandments.

A Question: The question in the Gospel is not an ordinary one. It is about entering into eternal life. The question is very relevant to everyone. What is after-life? Our reason questions, scripture reveals the truth. The person in the Gospel wants to know the commandments he has to follow so that he can enter eternal life. What is the question that troubles me in my inner self? Am I able to listen to the answer the Lord gives? He may speak to us in the Scripture, through others, through the Church.

An Answer: Jesus gives a perfect answer to the question raised in the Gospel. The way to eternal life is to follow the commandments. When we keep the commandments, God guarantees eternal life. When the man wants to do more, Jesus tells him to sell everything, give to the poor and to follow Him. We are called by the Lord to follow the commandments and to be perfect in following the Lord.

Response: You forgot the God who gave you birth.

August 14, 2026August 14, 2026

16th AUGUST 2026

May be an image of text that says 'esus and the Canaanite woman FAITH THAT IMPRESSES THE LORD Vの格'

SUNDAY, TWENTIENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Is 56: 1, 6-7 Ps 67: 2-6, 8 Rom 11: 13-15, 29-32 Mt 15: 21-28

A HOUSE WITH NO WALLS

One day, a curious person in heaven asked Saint Peter, “How many Hindus are here in heaven?” St Peter smiled and replied calmly, “No Hindus.” Surprised by this answer, the man asked, “Well, then how many Muslims are here?” “Not even one,” replied St Peter. The man was completely taken aback. He said, “Oh! Then there are only Christians in heaven?” “No, there are no Christians in heaven either,” replied St Peter. Stunned, the man asked, “How many Catholics?” “No Catholics either,” Peter said. Seeing the man’s utter confusion, Peter explained gently, “Heaven is not meant for any particular group of people. All people are invited to God’s kingdom to enjoy the loving presence of God.”

This lovely story captures the deep meaning of the readings for the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary time. God shows us that His heart is wide open to everyone. He completely shatters our human tendency to leave people out. Through the prophet Isaiah, God promises: “I will bring foreigners to my holy mountain. My house will be called a house of prayer for all people.” Saint Paul also showed this all-encompassing love in his life and ministry. He wrote with great joy about his work, saying that he was proud to serve the Gentiles, who were considered outsiders by many at the time.

There is no doubt that Jesus knew that he was sent to the Jewish people. But with his interaction with the Canaanite woman from outside the Jewish territory, he revealed that his mercy and love is not limited to one nation alone. He noticed her deep faith and healed her sick daughter. That specific action proved that he came for men and women of every faith, every race, every colour, and every background, in every time and place.

To really understand this beautiful mystery, we ought to look at the history of the word ‘religion.’ It comes from an old Latin root word, religare. This word literally means “to bind fast,” “to tie together,” or “to connect.” By its very definition, true religion is meant to bind us closer to God. At the exact same time, it is meant to connect us deeply to one another. True religion is supposed to be a bridge that brings us together, never a wall that keeps us apart.

Today, we Christians live side by side with Hindus, Muslims, and people of many other faiths. What should our attitude be toward them, knowing that God wants to welcome everyone? First, we should notice that the spiritual values and cultural gifts of these different faiths are beautiful. Because of this, we should not view other religions as a threat or something to reject. Instead, we could see them as a welcome reality. The hand of God, which breaks down walls and builds up communities, is alive and active everywhere. In fact, a world with many faiths can be seen as a wonderful gift from God, meant to bring all His children together into one single family.

Therefore, we need to drop any negative attitude toward people of other faiths. Instead, we are called to build real relationships with them. Just living peacefully next to each other is no longer enough. We need to talk, listen, and truly meet one another. By doing this, we can work together to treat each other as true brothers and sisters under the care of God, our loving Father. This is what religare looks like in real life, being tied together in love. This welcoming spirit must also be visible in how we treat each other inside our own Catholic parishes. Do all parish members feel equal when it is time to share jobs and responsibilities? Or do some people feel left out of parish life? The word Catholic simply means “universal” or “open to the whole world.” Finally, God’s open invitation challenges our personal relationships. Do we treat others as outsiders? Charity might begin at home, but it cannot end there. If we only love our own kith and kin, or if we are too stubborn to change our plans for a stranger in need, we stop growing. It is easy to look down on others so we can ignore their needs. But God challenges us to see the common humanity in the face of the stranger, the person who is different, and the neighbour, responding with an open heart. Let us live out the true meaning of religare and let God’s love bind us all as one.

Response: Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!

August 14, 2026August 14, 2026

15th AUGUST 2026

The Assumption Presumption and the Dormition Tradition| National Catholic Register

SATURDAY, NINETEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Solemnity of the Assumption of The Blessed Virgin Mary

Rv 11: 19; 12: 1-6, 10 Ps 45: 10- 12, 16 1 Cor 15: 20-27 Lk 1: 39-56

STRUGGLE, RESURRECTION & HOPE

In the dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, the Second Vatican Council beautifully spells out the mystery we celebrate today. “…the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all guilt of original sin, on the completion of her earthly sojourn, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen of the universe…” (LG no. 59). In LG no. 68 the Council affirms that “…the Mother of Jesus, glorified in body and soul in heaven, is the image and beginning of the Church as it is to be perfected is the world to come, so too does she shine forth on earth, until the day of the Lord shall come…” The biblical readings of today help us to focus on struggle and conflicts in our daily lives, the resurrection of Christ and Christian hope.

In the pericope taken from the book of Revelation there is the vision of the struggle between the woman and the dragon. The figure of the woman represents the Church. The Church is on the one hand, glorious and triumphant. While on the other hand she is still in travail. In heaven she is already associated with the glory of her Lord, and in history she continues to live through the trials, challenges and conflicts in living our Christian life. In feasts like Assumption, Mary is both Mother of Christ and of the Church. In today’s world, as disciples, we may face trials, struggles, conflicts and she does not leave us alone. Mary accompanies us on our pilgrim journey through our joys, struggles and sustains us in our efforts to live a mature Christian life. Like Mary we are invited to be faithful to God and continually place our obedience and trust in God.

The responsorial psalm reminds us that we are united by Christ in his new covenant of love. Mary shows us how to live faithfully and joyfully in God’s grace. As members of the Church, just as Mary was, we are invited to live as Christ’s bride by being faithful to God and rejoicing in the love God graciously pours out to us.

The second reading speaks about the resurrection. St. Paul in his letter to the Corinthians insists that to be a Christian means to believe that Christ is truly risen from the dead. Our whole Christian faith is based upon this fundamental truth. It is an event and not an idea. The mystery of Mary’s Assumption both body and soul into heaven is fully inscribed in the Resurrection of Christ. Pope Francis in his homily on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 15 August 2013, at Castel Gandolfo affirms that “The Mother’s humanity is attracted by the Son in his own passage from death to life. Once and for all, Jesus entered into eternal life with all the humanity he had drawn from Mary; and she, the Mother, who followed him faithfully throughout her life, followed him with her heart, and entered with him into eternal life which we also call heaven, paradise, the Father’s house.” Christ is the “first fruits” of the resurrection. Mary is the first of the redeemed i.e., our Mother, our sister, our representative. For us, Mary’s glorification is a sign of hope. Where she has gone, we are called to follow. We are invited to see Mary as our Mother and companion on our pilgrim journey till we reach our Father’s heavenly abode.

Luke, much like Paul, in the Gospel, finds hope in God’s promise, not only for Israel, but for all the nations of the world. Luke places on Mary’s lips a hymn which appears to have been composed within the Jewish-Christian community to celebrate the risen Lord. The community saw in the risen Christ the fulfilment of all God’s promises to them and to their people. The Magnificat Mary is the song of hope. For us, it is the song we sing together as God’s people on our pilgrim journey in history. It is sung by the saints, parents, catechists, missionaries, priests, religious, young people, even grandparents, parish liturgy cell meetings at evening prayer etc. Mary teaches us to glorify the Lord even in suffering and in difficult moments in our life. Her Magnificat continually reminds us that hope is a grace, a gift from God, which is given to help us keep our eyes fixed on God.

Response: On your right stands the queen in gold of Ophir.

August 13, 2026August 13, 2026

14 AUGUST 2026

Mary Ann - Heart of Flesh 🤍 Ezekiel 11:19 is a Bible verse where God promises to give his people "one heart" and a "new spirit" by removing their "heart of stone"

FRIDAY, NINETEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Memorial of St Maximilian Mary Kolbe

Ez 16: 1-15, 60, 63 Is 12: 2-6 Mt 19: 3-12

THE PROMISED HEART OF FLESH

“They are no longer two, but one flesh.” When Jesus says this, He highly esteems the sanctity of marriage and explains from the Old Law what God has ordained in the union of man and woman. Firstly, He calls to mind the creation story where God says “It is not good that the man should be alone” (Gen 2:18) and how He made woman out of the rib of man, enjoining them together. This union ordained by God and entered into by one woman and one man is sacred, holy and pleasing to God.

Although Jesus had already spoken against divorce in the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5:31-32), He offers a deeper explanation here in response to the Pharisees. He tells them that Moses did not command divorce (as they misunderstand from Dt 24), but allowed it, even suffered through it because of their hardness of heart. The condition of hardness of heart continues in us even to this day, when our mind is not stayed on Him. We must allow God to give us a heart of flesh as in Ezek 36:26, “I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh”. It is this heart of flesh that enables us to live faithfully the vocation to which God has called each of us.

The final part of this passage shows how the disciples, feeling that marriage could be a daunting task, seek an escape. Jesus is quick to rebuke this tendency of escapism in each one of us. The call of God is never too daunting for a person of faith to undertake. The grace of God is given to those called to marriage to be in complete union with their spouse, and to those called to the single life for the sake of the Kingdom, to be in complete union with God. We rightfully rely on the grace of God and do not have anything to boast about, but the Lord (1 Cor 1:30-31). We rely on the heart of flesh that the Lord gives us, to make us more like him.

Response: Your anger turned away and you comforted me.

August 12, 2026August 12, 2026

13 AUGUST 2026

Mt 18,21-19,1) Non ti dico fino a sette volte, ma fino a settanta volte sette. | manuroma86 IO E UN PO' DI BRICIOLE DI VANGELO

THURSDAY, NINETEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Ez 12: 1-12 Ps 78: 56-59, 61-62 Mt 18:21–19: 1

THE DEBT WE CARRY

Brother Thomas had kept a careful ledger. Not in ink, but in memory. He had decided to remember every slight, every betrayal, every word that landed like a stone. He carried it the way a man carries a pack uphill; with shoulders bent, breath short, eyes fixed on the ground. “The soul that is attached to anything,” wrote John of the Cross, “however much good there may be in it, will not arrive at the liberty of divine union.”

Thomas knew the parable well. He had heard it a hundred times. Ten thousand talents forgiven. A debt so vast it staggers the imagination and yet the forgiven man goes straight out and seizes his neighbour by the throat over a few coins. Every time Thomas heard it, he shook his head at the servant’s foolishness. Until the morning, he recognized himself. It was a small thing, as most wounds are. A superior who had spoken carelessly. A trust deeply broken. Thomas had received so much grace in his own life. His failures covered, failures forgotten by those who loved him and still he found himself standing in the corridor of his own heart, hands wrapped around someone else’s debt, demanding payment.

Thérèse of Lisieux, who understood small wounds better than most, wrote with great gentleness: “It is not always possible to keep quiet; but it is always possible to speak without bitterness.” Thomas sat with that for a long time. Ezekiel made a sign to a people who could not see. He dug through walls, moved in darkness, and carried burdens on shoulders, all to show a people that ‘This is what exile looks like when we refuse to turn back.’ And Thomas understood, finally, that unforgiveness is its own exile. A prison, built stone by stone from inside.

The king in the parable does not ask the servant to forget. He asks him to remember what was given and let that remembering change his heart. “The measure of love,” wrote Thérèse simply, “is to love without measure.” Thomas opened the ledger. And slowly, page by page, he let it burn.

Response: Never forget the deeds of the Lord!

August 11, 2026August 11, 2026

12 AUGUST 2026

The Power of True Repentance: Finding Forgiveness and Freedom

WEDNESDAY, NINETEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Ez 9: 1-7; 10: 18-22 Ps 113: 1-6 Mt 18: 15-20

FINDING FORGIVENESS, TRUE REPENTANCE

It is human to err, but forgiveness is divine. If every good deed done for fellow humans is done for God, so too every evil done against fellow humans too is done against God. So, God alone can forgive in the true sense. We often get easily hurt by the hostile actions or adverse language used by others, especially those close to us. We disapprove of their behaviour and even we condemn them outright as totally bad people, excluding them from further contact. Breach is complete; bridge is broken. Thus, it is common that we are angry with the close ones in our life. Human Love can suddenly change into hatred, and even into violence and revenge.

Nevertheless, if we apply our mind, we can laugh at our silly behavior simply because we are not angels; we too have hurt in different levels very many people as those hurting us. If that is true, we have no right to be angry. Therefore, Jesus in his sermon the mount, upholds ‘unconditional love’ as supreme and attaches serious punishment to those who cause hatred to spread. In every hurt God is wounded since we all belong to him. For hurting anyone is hurting God primarily, and forgiveness belongs to God. Jesus prayed on the cross, “Father forgive them,” for they are not fully aware of the seriousness of their actions. He excused them to be free even from the feelings of hurt.

All the same Ezekiel reminds his fellow Israelites persisting in moral and social malice, that to take the goodness of God for granted would be totally presumptive. In God, kindness and justice are just two faces of one same reality. Only those who are marked by the salvific mark, as once in Egypt, will be saved from extermination. That mark of salvation is to be immersed in the blood of Christ and be purified – to be able to have the same mind of Christ to follow the repentant way. That is the sure path to deliverance from every inner enslavement and insertion into the community of joyful holiness.

Response: The glory of the Lord is above the heaven.

August 10, 2026August 20, 2026

21 AUGUST 2026

La Bella Notizia di Gesù secondo Matteo (22,34-40) | Collaborazione Pastorale Zerotina

FRIDAY, TWENTIETH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Memorial of Pope Pius X

Ez 37: 1-14 Ps 107: 2-9 Mt 22: 34-40

SPIRIT’S LIFE REVEALED IN LOVE

The first reading from Ezekiel and the Gospel from Matthew though appear different, speak of the same reality: God bringing life where hope has died. In Ezekiel, the prophet is taken into a valley filled with dry bones. These bones represent the people of Israel in exile. They feel abandoned and defeated. Their cry is, “Our bones are dried up, our hope is lost.” They are physically alive but spiritually dead. God asks Ezekiel, “Can these bones live?” Ezekiel trusted the Lord, though he knew humanly that it was an impossibility. As he prophesies, the bones come together, flesh covers them, and finally God’s Spirit, His breath, enters them. What was dead becomes alive. God promises: “I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live.” In the Gospel, a lawyer asks Jesus, about the greatest commandment. Jesus speaks of the very purpose of God’s creation: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and you shall love your neighbour as yourself.”

How are these readings connected? Because the valley of dry bones is what happens when love disappears. We may have religion, rituals, traditions, and rules, but without love, they become lifeless bones. Love is the breath of God’s Spirit in our lives. When we stop loving God through prayer and trust, our faith becomes dry. When we stop loving our neighbour through kindness, forgiveness, and service, our hearts become cold. We may look alive outwardly, but inwardly we become like the dry bones in Ezekiel’s valley. But even in our dryness, God never abandons us! He continues to breathe His Spirit into us. He revives our faith, heals our wounds, and teaches us to love again.

Today, the Lord asks each of us: “Can these bones live?” His answer is yes. Through His Word, His Spirit, and His Eucharistic presence, He raises us up and gives us new life. May we allow God’s Spirit to fill us so that we may no longer be dry bones, but a living people who reflect the very love of Christ.

Response: O give thanks to the Lord for he is good;
for his mercy endures forever!