Homily for Thursday, Week 5 of Ordinary Time

Homily for Thursday
Week 5 of Ordinary Time

Feb. 12, 2026
1 Kings 11: 4-13
Christian Brothers, St. Joseph’s Residence, N.R.

King Solomon amid His Wives & Concubines
(godsbless.ing/commentary)

“When Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart to strange gods, and his heart was not entirely with the Lord, his God” (1 Kgs 11: 4).

The preceding verse, which wasn’t part of our reading, informs us that Solomon has 700 wives and 300 concubines.  He must not have had a lot of time for statecraft!  One commentary remarks drily that the “number is surely somewhat exaggerated.”[1]

In any case, Solomon is seduced by his foreign wives to take up the worship of foreign gods.  [Clip of “An Ordinary Man,” My Fair Lady]  Perhaps some form of dementia has struck Solomon in his old age, or perhaps he’s just trying to keep his harem happy.  Hundreds of years later, St. Paul will caution the Corinthians:  “The unmarried man is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to please the Lord; but the married man is anxious about worldly affairs, how to please his wife, and his interests are divided” (I, 7:32-34).

The Lord isn’t pleased with Solomon’s divided heart.  As the Lord abandoned Saul for his disobedience, now he’ll abandon Solomon; this is the sacred historian’s reading in hindsight.  But for David’s sake, the dynasty will survive and will continue to rule Judah—in contrast to the repeated coups and leadership chaos that will engulf the northern tribes.

Solomon fails to persevere in his relationship with the Lord, which had begun so well.  Any one of us is susceptible to that temptation, that failure of the heart.  One theory for the last line of the Lord’s Prayer is that we’re praying to be delivered from the final temptation—to abandon the Lord at the end or despair that he’ll abandon us or perhaps even doubt that he’s there.  So we do well to pray for final perseverance, which we do, e.g., whenever we pray that the holy Mother of God will be with us “now and at the hour of our death.”

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[1] Charles Conroy, MSC, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings (Wilmington, Del.: Glazier, 1983), p. 165.

3 Brazilian Provinces Welcome 17 Novices

3 Brazilian Provinces Welcome 17 Young Men to Their Novitiate

(ANS - Jaboatão dos Guararapes, Brazil – February 9, 2026) – On February 5, the Salesian novitiate welcomed 17 novices from the provinces of Recife, Porto Alegre and São Paulo. The provincial of Recife, Fr. Francisco Inacio Vieira Jr., welcomed the future young Salesians and the novice master, Fr. Edson Donizetti Castilho.

Before the start of the novitiate, on February 3, the young men participated in a Mass of sending forth, which took place in the chapel of the provincial house in Campos Eliseos, São Paulo . Family members and members of the community participated in the celebration, strengthening the bond between vocation, Church, and mission.

Brazil has 3 other provinces, based in Belo Horizonte, Campo Grande, and Manaus. The 6 provinces had 621 Salesians among them as of Dec. 31, 2024 (the most recent data).

Homily for Tuesday, Week 5 of Ordinary Time

Homily for Tuesday
Week 5 of Ordinary Time

Feb. 10, 2026
1 Kings 8: 22-23, 27-30
Christian Brothers, St. Joseph’s Residence, N.R.

Solomon Plans the Temple
(Providence Lithograph Co.)

In yesterday’s 1st reading, Solomon moved the Ark of the Covenant from its tent in one part of Jerusalem into the magnificent new temple he’d built for it (1 Kgs 8:4,6) and sacrificed “sheep and oxen too many to count” (8:5) in honor of the Lord, and the Lord’s descended upon the temple in the form of a cloud (8:10).

Today, Solomon prays for himself and the people—a prayer of praise and gratitude (8:23), and a prayer of petition for the temple:  a prayer that the Lord remain there amid his people (8:28-30).  Implied is prayer that God protect the city and the people by his presence.  The reading skips over Solomon’s prayer for the preservation of David’s dynasty (8:24-26).

Solomon’s temple is long gone.  The temple of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah, rebuilt by Herod in Jesus’ time, is long gone.

God replaced the Jerusalem temple with his permanent presence in Jesus, of David’s lineage.  He preserves thus not only the dynasty but also the divine presence—no cloud needed.  God dwells in his Church on earth, in the Holy Eucharist, and in every individual Christian on whom he’s conferred the Holy Spirit.

Made into living temples by the Spirit, we pray that the Lord remain with us and in us, that he preserve his people in holiness, and that he guide us to the heavenly Jerusalem, to the eternal temple not built by hands (Heb 9:11), to worship him and thank him forever.

Homily for 5th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Homily for the
5th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Feb. 8, 2026
Matt 5: 13-16
St. Francis Xavier, Bronx

(pinterest.com)

“Jesus said to his disciples:  ‘You are the light of the world.  Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” (Matt 5: 14, 16)

Last week we began 3 weeks of gospel readings from the Sermon on the Mount, a fundamental core of Christ’s teachings.  Right after laying out the Beatitudes, the dangers of discipleship, and discipleship’s rewards, Jesus compares his followers to salt, a lofty city, and light.

Light is a constant theme in the sacred Scriptures, right from the 3d verse of the book of Genesis:  “God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light” (1:3).  That divinely created light, according to Genesis, overcame the initial darkness of the universe (1:2).

St. John’s Gospel, modeling its opening on that 1st chapter of Genesis, tells us, “All things came to be thru” the divine Word, and “what came to be thru him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (1:1-5).  Further on, St. John quotes Jesus’ announcement to crowds of people in Jerusalem, “I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (8:12).  Jesus overcomes the darkness in our lives:  sin and death.

That’s why the Eastern Churches, both Catholic and Orthodox, refer to Baptism as “enlightenment.”  Baptism joins us to Jesus Christ, the light of the world.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us:  “This bath is called enlightenment….  Having received in Baptism the Word, ‘the true light that enlightens every man,’ the person baptized has been ‘enlightened,’ he becomes a ‘child of light,’ indeed, he becomes ‘light’ himself” (CCC 1216, adapted).

So Jesus tells his disciples that they are light in themselves and light for the world.  Those who practice the virtues he teaches in the Beatitudes (last Sunday’s teaching) possess his divine light.  But the light isn’t for ourselves; it’s for the world.  “A lamp … is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house” (Matt 5:15).  “Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father” (5:16).

That is, whatever virtues we have must be put into practice, must be exercised in action.  Our faith, our charity, our patience, our gentleness, our kindness, our humility, our honesty must be seen by others—not so that people will exclaim, “Oh, how wonderful you are!  How holy!” but so that people will see Christ acting in us and thru us.

Isaiah today commands us, in God’s name, to “remove from your midst oppression, false accusation, and malicious speech” (Is 58:7-10), which is sound advice in this age of political division and mud-slinging and bias against a whole lot of people.  He commands, “Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless, clothe the naked.”  He doesn’t tell us to restrict our concern only to our friends or our fellow citizens.  It’s an open-ended command.  Our country ought to be ashamed of the disgraceful abuse of immigrants—our bishops and the Holy Father have said that.  We ought to be ashamed of having canceled almost all our foreign aid programs—feeding the hungry and combating disease and providing education—while cutting the taxes of our wealthiest and most powerful citizens.[1]

Christ the light of the world wants to shine on others thru us.  We show others the power and goodness of Christ so that they may come to him, learn from him, grow in him to be closer to God our Father.  In and thru Christ, we glorify God.

Just by coming to church at an early hour on Sunday, you’re glorifying God our Father and giving good example to your fellow parishioners and your neighbors.  If you’re a parent or a grandparent, you reveal the light of Christ to youngsters by teaching them to pray, by catechizing them, by giving them the good example of virtue.  We’re citizens of our blessed country, and we can be light by bringing Christ’s teachings to our civil life, our culture, and our politics.

I’ll end by quoting something our new archbishop said yesterday:  “We exist to follow Jesus, who fed the hungry, healed those ill in body and spirit, rejected hatred, and proclaimed love.”[2]

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[1] After I drafted this, I found in the NYT of Saturday, 2/7/26, on p. A8 a full-page, amply illustrated article, “After U.S. Aid Cuts, ‘Biblical Diseases’ Could Return in Africa” (‘Biblical Diseases’ Could Resurge in Africa, Health Officials Fear - The New York Times).

[2] Dave Collins, Associated Press, “New Catholic archbishop of New York wants a church that ‘shows respect for all’ and builds unity,” at CRUX online, 2/7/26.

Holy Certifies Diocesan Inquiry into Fr. Luis Bolla's Cause

Holy See Certifies Diocesan Inquiry into the Cause of Fr. Luis Bolla

(ANS – Vatican City – February 6, 2026) – On February 6, the anniversary of the Servant of God Luis Bolla’s entry into heaven, a communique was sent to the postulator general for the Causes of Saints of the Salesian Family, Fr. Pierluigi Cameroni, stating that the Vatican Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, in its session on January 14 had given legal validity to the diocesan inquiry for the cause of beatification and canonization of the Servant of God Luigi Bolla, professed priest of the Salesian Society of St. John Bosco. Fr. Bolla, born at Schio, Italy, August 11, 1932, was a missionary among the Shuar and Achuar Indians of Ecuador and Peru. He died at Lima, Peru, February 6, 2013. The Vatican certification verifies the formal procedures and the consistency of the evidence gathered at Lima: number and quality of witnesses, documents collected.

The postulator general emphasizes that “this is a great achievement, the result of the passionate and competent work of the members of the diocesan tribunal in Lima and all those who contributed, in particular the historical commission, the theological censors, and the vice postulator, Fr. Jesus Adrian Jurado Alarcon, SDB.”

The Dicastery for the Causes of Saints will now be asked to appoint a rapporteur to guide the preparation of the Positio super virtutibus of the Servant of God.

The diocesan inquiry took place at the archiepiscopal chancery in Lima from September 27, 2021, to May 30, 2025.

The life of Fr. Luis Bolla (Father Yankuam’) among the Shuar and Achuar peoples teaches us that mission is not “doing something” but choosing to “be there,” allowing oneself to be profoundly transformed by the encounter with those to whom the mission is directed. He knew how to realize God’s dream for him: in 1943 and 1944, at the age of 11 and 12, the young oratory boy in Schio, Luis Bolla, heard the voice of Jesus (he was certain of it), indicating his plan: “You will be a missionary in the jungle among the indigenous people, and you will bring them my Word. You will walk a great deal on foot in the jungle....” And all this came true between 1953 and 2013.

Joyful International Celebration of Don Bosco in Moscow

A Joyful International Celebration of Don Bosco in Moscow

(ANS – Moscow – February 5, 2026) – Despite intense cold, snow, and temperatures reaching –7°F, the Salesian house and orphanage in Moscow was filled with warmth and joy during the celebration of the feast of St. John Bosco, held on February 4. The large turnout exceeded expectations, with so many participants that it was impossible to include everyone in photographs—a visible sign of the affection and closeness surrounding the Salesian presence in the city.

A Celebration Marked by Wide Participation

The feast brought together a vibrant and diverse assembly of people. Besides Salesian priests and brothers, Salesian sisters, former pupils, young people, benefactors, and friends of the Salesian Family took part in the celebration, reaffirming a long‑standing tradition that makes Don Bosco’s feast a true family event in Moscow.

Strong Diplomatic and International Presence

The celebration was further enriched by the presence of distinguished guests from the diplomatic community. Among those attending were the ambassador of Argentina, accompanied by his secretary, members of the diplomatic corps of the Italian embassy, representatives of Italian associations in Russia, including an Italian women’s club actively involved in supporting charitable initiatives—and representatives from the Polish and German embassies. Their participation highlighted the esteem and trust enjoyed by the Salesian mission.

An Italian Spirit in Honor of Don Bosco

In honor of Don Bosco’s Italian origins, the celebration took on a distinctly Italian character. Following the Eucharistic celebration, a cultural and theatrical performance was presented, portraying Italy through its ancient, medieval, and modern periods. The performance, rich in color and meaning, captivated the audience and was received with great appreciation.

More than 30 Years of Salesian Mission in Moscow

The Salesian orphanage in Moscow has been serving poor and abandoned children for more than 30 years. While the liturgical feast of Don Bosco is celebrated on  January 31—and was in fact celebrated in the parish—the celebration at the orphanage was held on a later weekday to allow for greater participation. This year’s feastday Mass was presided over by Fr. Dariusz Gojko, director of the Salesian Community in Moscow, in the absence of the bishop, who was ill.

A Feast of Fraternity and Hope

The celebration concluded with a festive gathering marked by joy, fraternity, and gratitude. Even amid winter’s harsh conditions, the feast of Don Bosco once again demonstrated how his charism continues to bring together people of different cultures and nations around a shared mission of education, care, and hope.

Homily for Thursday, Week 4 of Ordinary Time

Homily for Thursday
4th Week of Ordinary Time

Feb. 5, 2026
1 Kings 2: 1-4, 10-12
Christian Brothers, St. Joseph’s Residence, N.R.

David, by Nicolas Cordier
(St. Mary Major, Rome)

“When the time of David’s death drew near, he gave [his] instructions to his son Solomon” (1 Kgs 2: 1).

David has been completely rehabilitated before the Lord in spite of his sins and the blood he shed over the years.  His youngest son, the favorite of his old age, will succeed him.  But even so great a servant of the Lord as he must “rest with his ancestors” (2:10).  He’s wise enuf to prepare for inevitable death, and he meets it calmly.

His instructions to Solomon are twofold.  We heard the 1st set; the reading skipped the political set about dealing with his enemies so as to secure the throne, and our future readings will pass over how Solomon did so.

The 1st part of David’s advice reminds his son to be faithful to the Lord, and the Lord will be faithful to him.  David does as Moses and Joshua had done in years past.  His assurance to Solomon, tho, is conditional:  “If your sons so conduct themselves…” (2:4).  The sacred historian knew that many of Judah’s kings—even Solomon himself—wouldn’t be fully faithful, David’s kingdom would soon be divided, and the part ruled by his dynasty would end in disaster.

Yet God was—is—faithful; the Son of David, Jesus of Nazareth, would prove most faithful and would be given sovereignty over not only Israel but all the nations, greater than David could have dreamed.  We are witnesses to Jesus’ faithfulness and God’s fidelity.

David’s instructions remind Solomon and all rulers—God’s word is permanent—that they are subject to God’s rule; to God’s conditions, if you will.  Our Baptism into Christ has made us kings, as well, members of his royal family.  If we’re faithful to God’s covenant with us, he’ll protect us and preserve us for his eternal kingdom, “from eternity to eternity” (1 Chron 29:10).

Ven. Fr. Carlo Crespi Returns to MHC Shrine in Cuenca

Venerable Fr. Carlos Crespi Returns to MHC Shrine in Cuenca

(ANS – Cuenca, Ecuador – February 3, 2026) – Saturday, January 31, was a historic day of faith and gratitude in the city of Cuenca with the blessing of the chapel in memory of the Venerable Salesian Fr. Carlos Crespi Croci, and the final transfer of his mortal remains, which will now rest permanently in what was his home for many years: the city's Mary Help of Christians Shrine.

The Mass that accompanied the transfer was presided over by Abp. Marcos Perez Caicedo of Cuenca and was attended by members of the Salesian Family, ecclesiastical and civil officials, as well as numerous faithful who gathered to accompany the “Apostle of the Poor.”

In the context of the feast of St. John Bosco, the celebration also had a special meaning for the province of Ecuador, thanks to the simultaneous profession of perpetual Salesian vows by Edin Oswaldo Villamar Franco, who thus consecrated himself definitively to God, to the service of the Church, and to the Salesian mission.

After Communion, Fr. Marcelo Farfan, provincial of the Salesians in Ecuador, together with the Commission for Beatification, presented the mortal remains of the Venerable Fr. Crespi to the archbishop. For over 40 years, these remains had rested in the Patrimonial Cemetery of Cuenca, as a sign of gratitude for a life totally dedicated to God and as a gift offered to the whole Church.

In an atmosphere of profound silence, Archbishop Perez received the remains and, accompanied by the celebrants, began the procession inside the church toward the new chapel. This moment was marked by an intense expression of popular faith: many faithful approached the coffin in tears, placing rosaries, images, and photographs on it and invoking the intercession of the venerable Salesian, while remembering his goodness and compassion, especially toward those most in need.

Once they reached the chapel, a solemn blessing was celebrated for this space, conceived as a permanent place of prayer, recollection, and spiritual encounter. The sprinkling of holy water marked the consecration of the place, entrusting it to God as a living memory of the gospel and a school of charity, in harmony with the charism of Don Bosco.

Subsequently, the Ordinary of Cuenca proceeded to place the mortal remains in the columbarium, specially prepared for their dignified custody, emphasizing that holiness has a place in the community and that the witness of Venerable Fr. Crespi will thus continue to animate the faith of the believing people.

The ceremony concluded with a communal prayer of thanksgiving, in which the life of Fr. Crespi was remembered, a life entirely devoted to proclaiming the Gospel, serving the poor, and accompanying young people.

With this event, the Salesian Family of Ecuador reaffirms the deep spiritual bond between the Fr. Carlos Crespi and the Shrine of Mary Help of Christians, and offers the Church and the city of Cuenca a permanent place of prayer, inviting the faithful to have recourse to his intercession and to keep alive the hope of seeing him soon raised to the altars.

Angelica Almeida,
Secretary of the Commission for the Beatification of Fr. Crespi

Salesian Missions Helps Feed Thousands in Ethiopia

Salesian Missions and Feed My Starving Children Partner to Feed More Than 2,500 Families

(ANS – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – February 3, 2026) – More than 2,500 families across 8 communities in Ethiopia had access to better nutrition thanks to a partnership between Salesian Missions of New Rochelle and Feed My Starving Children, a nonprofit Christian organization committed to “feeding God’s children hungry in body and spirit.” The families have felt the impact of the ongoing strife in the Tigray region of the country.

A Salesian explained: “The war started in November 2020. Until the peace agreement was reached in November 2022, there were active clashes between the federal military and the regional force, and hundreds of thousands of people died on both sides. The food shortage began around November 2020, coinciding with the start of the conflict in Tigray. As the war unfolded, it worsened food access and contributed to the broader humanitarian crisis.”

Salesians have been a crucial lifeline for war-affected people in Tigray, operating primarily through established communities in Mekelle, Adigrat, Adwa, and Shire. Salesians address immediate humanitarian needs while also focusing on long-term recovery and resilience.

This donation was sent in partnership with Flexport.org, which managed the shipping and funded the shipping costs. Salesian Missions will partner with Flexport.org for additional upcoming humanitarian aid shipments.

Salesians have also organized and distributed food baskets containing essentials like wheat, rice, and oil to tens of thousands of internally displaced persons and families facing food shortage-like conditions. They are running programs for the most vulnerable, especially malnourished children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers, providing high-nutrient food like fortified flour to combat acute malnutrition. They are also providing non-food items like blankets, mattresses, and other items.

With infrastructure broken, Salesians have taken on projects to restore clean water access. They are currently working to repair damaged wells and boreholes in order to provide a more sustainable water source for local communities.

In addition, Salesians are providing education to children and skills training for older youths and adults. A Salesian explained, “Education is at the heart of what we do in these communities. Salesians have been instrumental in getting schools functional again by providing books and pens, repairing damaged classrooms, and paying incentive salaries for teachers who otherwise wouldn’t work. For children who have missed years of schooling, we also provide informal classes for internally displaced people, setting up temporary learning spaces to help them catch up. For older youths and adults, we provide access to skills training with short technical and vocational courses and startup kits to help them generate a small income.”

Salesians were in these communities well before the war started and will be there long after it’s done. The existing trust with the community means that Salesians can often operate when international non-governmental organizations are unable to gain access. This has been critical in assessing nutritional needs and ensuring that food shipments reach people most in need.

Source: Mission Newswire

Homily for Tuesday, Week 4 of Ordinary Time

Homily for Tuesday
4th Week of Ordinary Time

2 Sam 18: 9-10, 14, 24-25, 30—19: 3
Mark 5: 21-43
Feb. 3, 2026
Christian Brothers, St. Joseph’s Residence, N.R.

David Mourns for Absalom
(Gustave Dore')

In our 1st reading we heard one of the most heart-wrenching stories in the Bible.  It seems to come to us out of nowhere, partly because we missed the readings for Monday of Week 4 on account of yesterday’s feastday, and partly because only 2 passages of the whole sad tale of Absalom make it into the lectionary—a tale that takes up a section of ch. 12 and almost all of ch. 13-18 of 2 Samuel.

Absalom has come to battle and defeat because he’s been vengeful, resentful, ungrateful, proud, and lacking in filial piety.  He’s attempted to overthrow God’s anointed king.  So God undoes him, which is part of the message that the biblical historian intends for us.

We heard the Cushite messenger’s wish that all the king’s enemies should suffer Absalom’s fate (18:32).  Those who indulge in Absalom’s vices risk a worse fate from the Lord.

David, on the other hand, exhibits a spirit of forgiveness and mercy.  He anticipates the sentiments that Jesus shows in the double episode of today’s gospel:  willingness to go out of his way for the welfare of someone in anguish (Mark 5:24), sensitivity to the touch of a desperate woman (5:30), gentleness with a child (5:41), and even the practical wisdom of seeing to food for a youngster (5:43).

David lost his son.  Jairus got his daughter back.  By imitating David’s patience and Jesus’ compassion, we strive to defeat the vices that might impede our happiness and we feed our hope that on the Last Day Jesus will take us by the hand and bid us rise.