Thursday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time — Daily Word

Greeting

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Welcome, dear family and friends, as we gather today in the gentle presence of our merciful Lord.

Penitential Act

Lord Jesus, you are moved with compassion for all who call upon you: Lord, have mercy. Christ Jesus, you invite us to open our hearts to your infinite grace: Christ, have mercy. Lord Jesus, you carry us through every dark shadow into your light: Lord, have mercy.

♪ “Penitential Act (Piano)” — A song for Ben

Liturgy of the Word

Reading 1 · Ezekiel 12:1-12

The word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, you live in the midst of a rebellious house; they have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house. Now, son of man, during the day while they are looking on, prepare your baggage as though for exile, and again while they are looking on, migrate from where you live to another place; perhaps they will see that they are a rebellious house. You shall bring out your baggage like an exile in the daytime while they are looking on; in the evening, again while they are looking on, you shall go out like one of those driven into exile; while they look on, dig a hole in the wall and pass through it; while they look on, shoulder the burden and set out in the darkness; cover your face that you may not see the land, for I have made you a sign for the house of Israel.I did as I was told. During the day I brought out my baggage as though it were that of an exile, and at evening I dug a hole through the wall with my hand and, while they looked on, set out in the darkness, shouldering my burden.Then, in the morning, the word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, did not the house of Israel, that rebellious house, ask you what you were doing? Tell them: Thus says the Lord GOD: This oracle concerns Jerusalem and the whole house of Israel within it. I am a sign for you: as I have done, so shall it be done to them; as captives they shall go into exile. The prince who is among them shall shoulder his burden and set out in darkness, going through a hole he has dug out in the wall, and covering his face lest he be seen by anyone.

Responsorial Psalm · Psalm 78:56-57, 58-59, 61-62

♪ “Psalm 78 (Version B)” — A psalm for Ben

Gospel · Matthew 18:21–19:1

Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’ Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused. Instead, he had the fellow servant put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.”When Jesus finished these words, he left Galilee and went to the district of Judea across the Jordan.

Alleluia

♪ International Liturgy Publications (ilpmusic.org)

Do not forget the works of the Lord!

Homily

In today’s Gospel, Jesus reveals the true heart of the Heavenly Father through a striking parable. When a servant owed a debt he could never possibly repay, Scripture tells us that the master was simply “moved with compassion.” He did not demand the impossible… he opened his heart and set him free.

Compassion is love in motion.

We saw that beautiful, compassionate heart so clearly in Benjamin Vo.

Ben was a boy whose soul naturally reached out to others. Think of him on a travel day in a busy airport terminal—amidst all the noise, the crowd, and people rushing off to catch flights. Benjamin didn't just walk past. He bent down with quiet tenderness to wrap his arms in a warm, sweet hug around a little girl. Right in the middle of all the airport bustle, Ben stopped to make sure someone felt held and loved.

That was Ben. A boy with a gentle heart shaped by God’s own mercy.

It has been eight weeks since Benjamin went home to the Lord. Eight weeks where missing his physical presence can feel like carrying a heavy burden through the dark.

Yet today’s Scripture reminds us of who God is: He is a Father whose heart is filled with boundless compassion for you.

In the quiet ache of deep loss, loved ones sometimes carry an unbearable, silent weight… wondering if they could have done more. But hear Christ’s gentle voice today: God does not accuse you. Sickness and loss are never a punishment, and they are never your fault. You loved Benjamin with every beat of your heart, and God holds you in that very same tender love.

To Alan, Thao, and dear Ryan: Jesus walks right beside you today. Lean into His gentle strength, hold tight to one another, and continue living with hope and courage for Ryan.

To Ben’s family, everyone joining us from afar, children who are suffering, and all carrying heavy crosses: Our Lady wraps her mantle around you.

Benjamin Vo rests peacefully in the Father's compassionate arms… forever safe, forever loved.

Meditation

♪ “The Solid Ground (Organ)” — A song for Ben

Universal Prayer

For the intentions entrusted to Ben on our prayer wall:

“Ben please pray for Aunt Maria Tran Ngoc Lan to rest in peace.”