Reflections by Fr Mathibela Sebothoma

  Homily for Tuesday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time  – Memorial of Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church (30 September 2025, Cycle I) : Theme:  “The Word of God: Fire for the Journey.” Introduction There is an old saying: “Dust on the Bible leads to rust in the soul.” If Saint Jerome were here today, he would nod furiously at that! Jerome, the fiery scholar who translated the Bible into Latin, once said: “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” He reminds us that the Word of God is not optional – it’s our lifeline. Life story I once heard a story of a child who asked his mother: “Mum, who wrote the Bible?” The mother replied, “God did.” The child thought a little and then asked, “Then how come He keeps spelling things differently in different books?” We laugh, but the truth is – many of us don’t even notice these details because we don’t open the Bible often enough! The Word of God Zechariah 8:20–23 : The prophet envisions people from...

 Homily - Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels Theme: “God’s Messengers, Our Protectors” Introduction: Today we celebrate the mighty Archangels—Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. Each of them reveals something of God’s closeness to us: Michael defends, Gabriel announces, and Raphael heals. Together, they remind us that heaven is never far, and that God sends His messengers to guide, strengthen, and protect us. Life story: Someone once said, “Angels may be invisible, but they spend all their time cleaning up our messes!” How true that is—whether it’s defending us from evil, bringing us God’s word, or healing our wounds. The Word of God (Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14; Psalm 138; John 1:47-51): Daniel shows us God’s throne surrounded by angels, a reminder that our God is Lord of history. The Psalm assures us: “In the presence of the angels I will bless You, O Lord.” The Gospel (John 1:47–51) reminds us of Jacob’s dream—the heavens open, angels ascending and d...

  Homily for the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time  (Cycle C – 2025)   Theme:  “The Great Reversal: Living for God, Not for Wealth” Introduction Have you noticed how our world often celebrates people who live large—big houses, flashy cars, social media followers—while quietly ignoring those who struggle every day just to survive? Today’s Gospel gives us a sobering reminder that God’s view of success is very different from the world’s. Life Story A little boy asked his grandmother, “Gogo, why does Father always preach about heaven being so wonderful, but he never asks us to go there right now?” Gogo smiled and said, “Because he knows people still want to finish their braai first!” It’s a funny reminder: we love comfort here, but today’s readings challenge us to think about eternal life and how we treat others now. The Word of God Amos 6:1a, 4-7 The prophet condemns the wealthy in Israel who live in luxury—lying on ivory beds, eating lambs and calves—whil...

  H omily for Saturday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time (Cycle I)  Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest : Theme:  “True Greatness is Found in Humble Service.” Introduction Sometimes we imagine greatness in terms of power, titles, and positions. But God’s idea of greatness is often the opposite—it is seen in humility, service, and love. Today, as we celebrate Saint Vincent de Paul , the patron of charity, we are reminded that true greatness lies not in being served but in serving others. Life Story A young boy once told his mother, “When I grow up, I want to be important like our parish priest. Everyone shakes his hand and says ‘Good morning, Father.’” The mother replied, “That’s lovely, my son. But remember—it’s not the handshakes that make him important. It’s the fact that he spends his life shaking hands with the poor, the sick, and those no one else wants to greet.” The boy thought for a moment and said, “So… being important means shaking dirty ha...

  Homily for Friday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time (26 September 2025). Readings Haggai 2:1-9 Psalm 43:1, 2, 3, 4 Luke 9:18-22 Theme: “The Glory of the New Temple and the Cost of Discipleship.” Introduction Today’s Word of God invites us to look beyond appearances. In life, there are moments when things seem small, weak, or even disappointing—but God promises a greater glory. Jesus Himself reminds us that this glory is only possible through the cross. Life Story Someone once said: “Everyone wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die!” That is exactly what Peter struggles with in today’s Gospel. He wants the Messiah, but not the suffering. The Word of God First Reading (Haggai 2:1-9): The prophet comforts the people who see the rebuilt temple as less glorious than Solomon’s. God promises: “The latter splendour of this house shall be greater than the former.” The true glory is not in gold or size, but in God’s presence. Psalm 43: The psalm...

 Homily for Thursday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time   (Haggai 1:1-8; Psalm 149; Luke 9:7-9): Theme: “Building God’s House Before Our Own” Introduction My dear brothers and sisters, today’s Word is a gentle but firm nudge from the Lord. Through the prophet Haggai, God reminds His people that while they were busy decorating and upgrading their own homes, His house remained in ruins. The Gospel then shows us Herod, restless and curious about Jesus, yet unwilling to change. Both readings point us to one truth: we cannot neglect God while expecting peace in our own lives. Life story Someone once said: “We spend thousands on building kitchens but don’t have time to cook. We buy big TVs but no longer sit together as a family. We upgrade our homes but sometimes downgrade our souls.” That’s exactly what Haggai is challenging—our mixed-up priorities! The Word of God Haggai 1:1-8: The prophet speaks to the returned exiles, reminding them that while they have rebuil...

  Homily f or Wednesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time  Readings: Ezra 9:5–9 Tobit 13:2, 3–4a, 4befghn, 7–8 Luke 9:1–6 Theme: “Restored by God, Sent on Mission.” Introduction A parishioner once asked me after Mass: “Father, why does God always choose weak people? Couldn’t He just pick the perfect ones to do His work?” I smiled and said: “If God only chose the perfect ones, we would all be unemployed!” God delights in taking weak, broken, even sinful people—and restoring them for His mission. The Word of God Ezra 9:5–9 : Ezra prays with deep humility, confessing the sins of Israel. He recognises that God, despite Israel’s unfaithfulness, has granted mercy, given them a “stake in His holy place” , and allowed them to return and rebuild. This is not just history—it’s a model of repentance and renewal. Tobit 13 : A hymn of praise for God who punishes but also restores, who scatters but gathers again. God’s justice is never without mercy. He rest...

  Homily for Tuesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time  – Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio), Priest . Readings: Ezra 6:7–8, 12b, 14–20; Psalm 122:1–2, 3–4ab, 4cd–5; Luke 8:19–21 . Theme: “Hearing the Word, Living the Word, Bearing the Wounds of Love” Introduction There’s a story of a little boy who saw a statue of a saint in church. The boy asked his father, “Why does the saint have holes in his hands?” His father replied, “Those are the wounds of love, son. They remind us that holiness always costs something.” Today we celebrate Saint Padre Pio , a man who bore the wounds of Christ in his body (the stigmata) and who reminds us that true discipleship is not just about listening but also about suffering, loving, and living the Word of God. The Word of God In Ezra 6 , the exiles joyfully completed the Temple’s rebuilding, despite many obstacles. It was a testimony that God’s Word and promise endure, and obedience to Him brings blessing. Psal...

H omily for Monday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time   Theme: “Let Your Light Shine – Rebuilding with God.” Introduction: A young boy once tried to hide a torch under his blanket at night so he could read comic books secretly. His mother walked in, saw the light shining through the blanket, and said, “You may think you’re clever, but even Moses couldn’t hide that light!” Light has a way of revealing itself—it cannot be hidden for long. The Word of God: In the first reading (Ezra 1:1-6) , God stirs the heart of a pagan king, Cyrus of Persia, to allow the exiles to return and rebuild the Temple. God shows that He can use anyone—even outsiders—to bring about His plan. The light of God’s providence shines in unexpected places. Psalm 126 sings of joy when the Lord restores His people: “The Lord has done marvels for us.” This joy is not shallow happiness, but the deep gladness of those who see God’s faithfulness through hardship. In the Gospel (Luke 8:16-18) , Jesu...

  Homily -   Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C, 2025) : ✝️ Theme: “Faithful in Little, Faithful in Much: Living Stewardship in the Light of Eternity” Introduction A man once prayed: “Lord, please give me a promotion, more money, and a bigger house. I promise I’ll serve you more faithfully.” But when the blessings came, his prayer life got smaller, not bigger. Isn’t it funny how sometimes the more we receive, the less faithful we become? Today’s readings remind us that God measures our hearts not by the size of our possessions, but by our faithfulness in using what we have. The Word of God Amos 8:4–7 – The prophet condemns dishonest merchants who exploit the poor, warning that God does not forget injustice. Wealth without righteousness becomes corruption. Psalm 113 – God raises the poor from the dust, reminding us that He is always on the side of the lowly. 1 Timothy 2:1–8 – Paul calls for prayer for all people, including leaders, because God desire...

Homily -  Saturday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time – Memorial of Saint Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Priest, and Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, and Companions, Martyrs   Theme: “A Faith That Bears Fruit in Perseverance” Introduction There is a story of a little boy who planted a bean seed in the garden. Every morning, he would run outside to check if it had grown. By the second day, he became impatient and dug it up to see if it was sprouting. Needless to say, the seed never grew. Sometimes, like this boy, we want quick results in life, but the Gospel today reminds us that God’s Word needs patience, perseverance, and care in order to bear fruit. The Word of God 1 Timothy 6:13-16 – Paul exhorts Timothy to keep the commandment of faith unstained until the coming of Christ. It is a call to perseverance and fidelity, even under pressure. Psalm 100 – A psalm of joy: “Serve the Lord with gladness.” The psalmist reminds us that worship is not a burden but a joyful response to God’...

Homily -  Friday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time (Cycle I, 2025) : 📖 Readings : 1 Timothy 6:2c-12 Psalm 49:6-7, 8-10, 17-18, 19-20 Luke 8:1-3 Theme: “True Riches: Living for Christ Alone.” Introduction We live in a world that often measures worth by wealth, status, or success. Yet today’s readings remind us that true wealth is not in possessions but in godliness, faith, and service. The Word of God 1 Timothy 6:2c-12 – Paul warns Timothy against greed and the love of money, calling it a root of many evils. Instead, Christians must “pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.” Psalm 49 – reminds us that wealth cannot save us from death; it cannot buy eternal life. Only God redeems. Luke 8:1-3 – Jesus is accompanied by women who, out of gratitude for being healed, support His ministry with their resources. Their generosity reflects a heart transformed by God’s love. Connection of the Readings Paul cautions against...

  Homily - Thursday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time 1 Tim 4:12–16; Ps 111; Luke 7:36–50; Matt 11:28 Theme: “Forgiven to Love, Strengthened to Serve.” Introduction Today’s readings bring us face to face with two realities of our faith: God’s mercy that lifts the sinner, and God’s call that strengthens the believer for mission. Both Paul’s encouragement to Timothy and Jesus’ mercy towards the sinful woman show us that God sees beyond weakness and shame. He calls, forgives, and empowers. Life A little boy once prayed: “Lord, if You can’t make me a better boy, don’t worry, I’m having fun just the way I am.” We laugh, but sometimes we too settle with our weaknesses instead of allowing God to transform us. The good news is: God never gives up on us. The Word of God 1 Timothy 4:12–16 – Paul reminds Timothy that his youth is not an obstacle. What matters is faithfulness: living as an example in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. His task is to be faithful in teaching ...