TRIGÉSIMO DOMINGO DEL TIEMPO ORDINARIO 2026

Mis queridos hermanos y hermanas la palabra de Dios de este domingo nos invita a proclamar nuevamente el amor a Dios como el centro de nuestra vida. Pero ese amor no puede quedarse únicamente en palabras o sentimientos: se hace realidad en el cuidado, el respeto y el servicio que ofrecemos a los demás, sin olvidar también el cuidado de nosotros mismos. Cuando vivimos este amor, dejamos de considerarnos extraños unos a otros y reconocemos que, como nos recuerda el apóstol san Pablo, ya no somos extranjeros ni advenedizos, sino miembros de una misma familia y ciudadanos del cielo llamados a construir el Reino de Dios aquí en la tierra. Por eso, hoy podríamos preguntarnos: ¿cómo y de qué manera estamos haciendo realidad el amor a Dios y a nuestros hermanos?

La primera lectura, tomada del libro del Éxodo, nos muestra cómo el amor de Dios se manifiesta concretamente en el cuidado de los más débiles y desprotegidos de la sociedad. Dios no se limita a pedirle al pueblo de Israel que atienda a quienes más lo necesitan, sino que le advierte sobre las consecuencias de ignorar su sufrimiento y actuar injustamente contra ellos.

El Señor pide que se proteja al extranjero, recordándole al pueblo su propia historia: también ellos fueron extranjeros en Egipto y experimentaron el maltrato y la opresión. Por eso, no deben repetir con otros la injusticia que ellos mismos padecieron. Asimismo, les ordena que no maltraten a las viudas ni a los huérfanos, quienes en aquella sociedad representaban a algunas de las personas más vulnerables. Finalmente, les advierte que no se aprovechen de la necesidad ajena mediante préstamos abusivos, sino que actúen con justicia, generosidad y honestidad, respetando la dignidad de los pobres y sin quitarles aquello que necesitan para vivir.

De esta manera, la lectura del Éxodo nos recuerda que el amor a Dios se demuestra en la manera como tratamos a los demás, especialmente a quienes atraviesan situaciones de necesidad, vulnerabilidad o desamparo. El mensaje es claro: estamos llamados a protegerlos, acompañarlos y velar por su bienestar, nunca a rechazarlos, explotarlos ni aprovecharnos de sus circunstancias difíciles.

Este llamado sigue siendo profundamente actual. Hoy, más que nunca, estamos invitados a reconocer el rostro de Dios en los extranjeros y, de manera especial, en quienes se han visto obligados a abandonar sus hogares por la pobreza, la violencia, la persecución o las amenazas contra sus vidas, a aquellos que han venido a este país o a cualquier otro país a trabajar de manera honesta y responsable para mejorar sus condiciones de vida y las de sus familiares. Frente a la xenofobia, la indiferencia y el rechazo, la Palabra de Dios nos propone un camino diferente: la acogida, la solidaridad, el respeto y la justicia. No se trata solamente de tolerar a quienes vienen de otros lugares, sino de reconocer en ellos a seres humanos con la misma dignidad y los mismos derechos que nosotros.

Por eso, vale la pena preguntarnos: ¿quiénes son hoy los más débiles y vulnerables de nuestra sociedad? ¿Quiénes viven a nuestro alrededor en condiciones de pobreza, soledad, exclusión o desamparo? Y, sobre todo, ¿qué estamos haciendo concretamente para aliviar su sufrimiento y contribuir a su bienestar?

Que esta Palabra nos ayude a comprender que amar a Dios significa también amar y cuidar al prójimo. Que nuestra fe no se limite sólo a la oración y a las celebraciones litúrgicas, sino que se traduzca en gestos concretos de compasión, justicia y fraternidad. Solo así podremos construir una sociedad más humana, en la que nadie sea tratado como un extraño y en la que el amor de Dios se haga visible a través de nuestras acciones.

Este domingo tendremos la bendición de recibir en nuestra comunidad parroquial la visita de la imagen de Nuestra Señora de San Juan de los Lagos. Esta visita tan especial coincide con la celebración de nuestro festival parroquial, una hermosa oportunidad para compartir nuestra fe, fortalecer nuestros lazos de fraternidad y celebrar juntos la alegría de ser una comunidad unida en el amor de Dios.

Invitamos cordialmente a todos a participar en este gran acontecimiento parroquial, a acercarnos con devoción a nuestra Madre Santísima y a disfrutar de este tiempo de encuentro, alegría y convivencia familiar. Que la presencia de la Virgen María nos anime a seguir caminando juntos en la fe y nos ayude a crecer como una verdadera familia parroquial. ¡Los esperamos a todos para celebrar juntos nuestra fe y disfrutar de esta gran fiesta de nuestra comunidad!

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THIRTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 2026

Dear brothers and sisters the Word of God invites us once again to proclaim the love of God as the center of our lives. But this love cannot remain merely in words or feelings; it must be made real through the care, respect, and service we offer to others, without neglecting our own well-being. When we live out this love, we stop seeing one another as strangers and recognize that, as the Apostle Saint Paul reminds us, we are no longer foreigners or strangers, but members of the same family and citizens of heaven, called to build the Kingdom of God here on earth. Therefore, today we might ask ourselves: How, and in what ways, are we making the love of God and the love of our brothers and sisters a reality?

The first reading, taken from the Book of Exodus, shows us how God's love is made visible through the care of the weakest and most vulnerable members of society. God does not simply ask the people of Israel to care for those most in need; He also warns them of the consequences of ignoring their suffering and treating them unjustly.

The Lord commands His people to protect the foreigner, reminding them of their own history: they, too, were foreigners in Egypt and experienced mistreatment and oppression. Therefore, they must not inflict upon others the same injustices they themselves endured. Likewise, He commands them not to mistreat widows or orphans, who represented some of the most vulnerable people in that society. Finally, He warns them not to take advantage of those in need by charging excessive interest on loans. Instead, they must act with justice, generosity, and honesty, respecting the dignity of the poor and never depriving them of what they need to survive.

In this way, the reading from Exodus reminds us that our love for God is demonstrated by how we treat others, especially those experiencing need, vulnerability, or abandonment. The message is clear: we are called to protect them, accompany them, and look after their well-being, never to reject them, exploit them, or take advantage of their difficult circumstances.

This call remains deeply relevant today. Now more than ever, we are invited to recognize the face of God in foreigners, especially in those who have been forced to leave their homes because of poverty, violence, persecution, or threats to their lives. We must also recognize those who have come to this country, or to any other country, to work honestly and responsibly in order to improve their living conditions and provide a better future for their families. In the face of xenophobia, indifference, and rejection, the Word of God offers us a different path: welcome, solidarity, respect, and justice. It is not simply a matter of tolerating those who come from other places, but of recognizing them as human beings who possess the same dignity and the same rights that we do.

For this reason, it is worth asking ourselves: Who are the weakest and most vulnerable members of our society today? Who among those around us lives in poverty, loneliness, exclusion, or abandonment? And above all, what are we doing in concrete ways to alleviate their suffering and contribute to their well-being?

May this Word of God help us understand that loving God also means loving and caring for our neighbors. May our faith not be limited to prayer and liturgical celebrations, but instead be expressed through concrete acts of compassion, justice, and fraternity. Only in this way can we build a more humane society, one in which no one is treated as a stranger and the love of God becomes visible through our actions.

This Sunday, we will be blessed to welcome the image of Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos to our parish community. This very special visit coincides with the celebration of our parish festival, a wonderful opportunity to share our faith, strengthen our bonds of fellowship, and celebrate together the joy of being a community united in the love of God.

We warmly invite everyone to participate in this special parish event, to draw closer to our Blessed Mother in devotion, and to enjoy this time of fellowship, joy, and family togetherness. May the presence of the Virgin Mary inspire us to continue walking together in faith and help us grow as one true parish family.

We look forward to seeing everyone as we celebrate our faith together and enjoy this wonderful parish celebration! Amen.

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2026 A

My friends, in today’s Gospel, the Pharisees continued their conniving antics to discredit Jesus.  In last week’s Gospel, they sent some of their disciples to trick Jesus.  Today, the Pharisees themselves approached Jesus and one of them, a Scholar of Jewish Law, asked Jesus:

"Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" 

The Pharisees thought whichever commandment Jesus might choose, He could be discredited in that the remaining Commandments were not as important than the one Jesus would choose. 

Again, with His unique wisdom, Jesus quoted Scripture to answer the Scripture Scholar’s question.  Jesus quoted Deuteronomy Chapter 6 verse 5:  "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”  Jesus went on to say: “This is the greatest and the first commandment.”

Now, Jesus could have stopped there.  He answered their question and no one could disagree with His answer. 

But Jesus went beyond that.  He quoted  Leviticus Chapter 19 verse 18:  “The second is like it:  ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."

My friends, it could be said that in the brief conversation with the Scripture Scholar, Jesus gave a complete definition of religion. 

Religions, with their many rules and regulations could be condensed into these Two Commandments given to us by Jesus.  Jesus emphasized this in the last sentence in our Gospel today:

“The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."

In these Two Commandments, Christ Jesus gave us the key to holiness.  All we need to do is to live both of them.  The First, of course, is to Love God with our whole being.  Most people have little or no problem with the First.  The Second, however, is a stumbling block for many – going all the way back to Cain and Able.

We cannot profess to love God and at the same time, hate a person or group of people.  If that’s the case, then we’re just using words in order to look, sound, and act pious.  To truly love God is to love all of God’s creation – people and things.  It’s impossible to truly love God and at the same time ignore God’s people – the poor, the weak, the foreigner, the vulnerable.

My friends, God loved each and every person into creation.  God sent Jesus to teach us how to love one another.  We remember the many time Jesus said:  “Love one another.  As I have loved you so you should love one another.”  They weren’t just empty words.  There should be no hatred, but there is.  Sadly, so many people are actually taught and urged to hate. 

Thankfully, we find hope in the Book of the Prophet Isiah:  “God shall judge between the nations.  They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.  One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again.”

That’s the Hope Jesus gave us today: 

“The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."