Reflections by Fr Mathibela Sebothoma

  Homily for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) 12 July 2026 Readings: Isaiah 55:10–11; Psalm 65; Romans 8:18–23; Matthew 13:1–23 Introduction Have you ever wondered why some people seem to experience God so deeply while others feel nothing? Why do some prayers change a person's life, while others seem to disappear into silence? Why do two people hear exactly the same Gospel, yet one leaves transformed and the other remains exactly the same? Perhaps the greatest tragedy is not that God has stopped speaking. The tragedy is that we have stopped listening. Today's Gospel is not really about farming. It is about the human heart. Jesus is not examining the soil beneath our feet; He is examining the soil within us. Every day God throws His love, His grace, His truth and His mercy into our lives. The question is never whether God is speaking. The question is: What kind of soil am I? A Life Story A little boy came home from church. His mother asked, "Wha...

  Psalm 23 1  The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2       He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters. 3       He restores my soul; He leads me in paths of righteousness      for His name’s sake. 4  Even though I walk      through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;      for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff,      they comfort me. 5  You prepare a table before me      in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil;      my cup runs over. 6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me      all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord      forever.

  Homily for the Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) 5 July 2026 Readings: Zechariah 9:9-10; Psalm 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13-14; Romans 8:9, 11-13; Matthew 11:25-30 Introduction My dear friend, May I ask you a very personal question? How heavy is the load you are carrying today? Perhaps it is not visible to anyone else. It may be the weight of financial pressure. The burden of caring for an ageing parent. The disappointment of a broken relationship. The grief of losing someone you love. The loneliness of feeling misunderstood. Or perhaps it is the exhausting burden of trying to be perfect, trying to please everyone, trying to hold everything together. Many people are physically alive but spiritually exhausted. They wake up tired, work tired, pray tired, and go to bed tired. Today's Gospel is one of the most comforting invitations ever spoken by Jesus: "Come to me, all you who labour and are burdened, and I will give you rest." Notice that Jesus does not first deman...

  Homily for the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) 21 June 2026 Readings: Jeremiah 20:10-13; Psalm 69:8-10, 14, 17, 33-35; Romans 5:12-15; Matthew 10:26-33 Introduction My dear friend, Have you ever felt misunderstood, rejected, criticised, or even abandoned because of what you believe? Have you ever tried to do the right thing only to discover that doing the right thing sometimes attracts opposition? Perhaps you have felt alone in your family, isolated at work, ignored by people you love, or discouraged because your faith seems to cost more than it rewards. If so, today's readings were written for you. The prophet Jeremiah felt that way. The psalmist felt that way. Even the early Christians felt that way. And Jesus knew His disciples would feel that way too. Today's message is not simply about fear. It is about courage. It is about finding God when life becomes difficult and discovering that our deepest security comes not from people's approval but from God's l...

  Homily for Saturday, 20 June 2026 Matthew 6:24-34 Saturday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time Introduction Today I want to speak to you about one of the greatest struggles of the human heart: worry. Many people carry invisible burdens. They smile in public while privately asking difficult questions: "Will I have enough?" "What if things go wrong?" "What will happen to my family?" "Am I going to be okay?" Anxiety is one of the most common human experiences. It affects the rich and the poor, the young and the old, believers and non-believers. Yet in today's Gospel, Jesus addresses this universal human condition with astonishing boldness. He tells us: "Do not worry about your life." At first glance that sounds impossible. But Jesus is not denying reality. He is inviting us into a deeper reality: trust in God's loving providence. Life Story A man once said to his friend: "I have solved all my worries." His friend aske...

  Homily for Friday, 19 June 2026 Friday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time Matthew 6:19-23 Introduction Today's Gospel speaks directly to one of the deepest human experiences: the search for fulfilment. Every human being is searching for something. We search for happiness, security, recognition, success, love, peace, and purpose. Yet many people discover that after obtaining what they thought would satisfy them, there is still an emptiness within. The human heart has a hunger that material things cannot completely satisfy. Jesus understands this hunger. That is why He speaks today about treasures, vision, and the condition of the heart. Life Story A wealthy businessman spent his entire life accumulating possessions. He owned several houses, luxury cars, expensive watches, and investments. One day he told his wife, "When I die, I want all my money buried with me." His wife promised. At the funeral, just before the coffin was lowered, she placed a small envelope inside....