TWELFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, JUNE 21, 2026

MASS READINGS

Gospel Matthew 10:26-33

Jesus said to the Twelve: "Fear no one. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known.

What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops.

And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.

Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's knowledge.

Even all the hairs of your head are counted.

So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Everyone who acknowledges me before others I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.

But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father."

REFLECTION

Happy Father's Day to all fathers: natural/biological, foster/adopting, spiritual, and of course our Divine Father!

Natural and foster fathers give themselves to their families. Provide for them. Teach them. Prepare them for the world.

Saint Joseph is the prime example of what a father should be. Pope Francis tells us in his Apostolic Letter Patris Corde, that:

Being a father entails introducing children to life and reality. Not holding them back, being overprotective or possessive, but rather making them capable of deciding for themselves, enjoying freedom and exploring new possibilities. Perhaps for this reason, Joseph is traditionally called a “most chaste” father. That title is not simply a sign of affection, but the summation of an attitude that is the opposite of possessiveness. Chastity is freedom from possessiveness in every sphere of one’s life. Only when love is chaste, is it truly love. A possessive love ultimately becomes dangerous: it imprisons, constricts and makes for misery. God himself loved humanity with a chaste love; he left us free even to go astray and set ourselves against him. The logic of love is always the logic of freedom, and Joseph knew how to love with extraordinary freedom. He never made himself the centre of things. He did not think of himself, but focused instead on the lives of Mary and Jesus.

Also, according to the Holy Father, Pope Francis, fatherhood is not about possession, but is rather a “sign” pointing to a greater fatherhood. In a way, we are all like Joseph: a shadow of the heavenly Father, who “makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Mt 5:45). And a shadow that follows his Son.

How much more are our priests, our spiritual fathers, have given everything up in this world to be our fathers and guide us towards God? They give us the Sacraments to strengthen us in our spiritual battles. Their counsel, time, and even health, so we can go to Heaven.

Let your parish priest know how much you appreciate their sacrifice they do for their flock, and join us in praying the PAPA prayer for Priests so they can persevere in their vocation and be faithful to God always. And for the intercession of St. Joseph to all natural/adopting/spiritual fathers, specially for our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV.

God bless y'all!