Marroingat Saavtaami 22-ngani Ordinary Time-mi

Ataataujup, Erniujup, Anirniup Aqtuqtup atingingani. Amen.

Isumagilauruk una takujassaq: Nutaqqaq boy-ngujuq, Aviation Museum-miittuq jet fighter cockpit-up saniani. Jet fighter cockpit-nga savigajugujuk, pialuktuunguluni, angijuuluni. Nutaqqaq 9-nik ukiulik, blue shirt-qarluni, quviasuktualuulluni titiraujaqsimajut instrument-nik look-arluni. Ryan Hogwarts sweatshirt-qarluni saniani nipingalaurpuq. Taanna nutaqqaq—Benjamin Vo— cockpit-up iluaniittunik dashboard indicators-nik, switches-nik, ammalu logic-nik kinguvasungniqanngittumik illiqtitsijuq. Ben-up ijiingit qaumajualuulaurpuq. Suuq? Suuqaimma Ben-up isumanga brilliant-nguluni, complex systems-nik, logic-nik, aviation-mik, coding-nik, ammalu sky-mi tingmituunik deeply understand-riamik piumalaurmat. Mind-nga open-ngulaurpuq silatunirmut. Kisiani switches ammalu jet engines ungataani, Ben-up uummanga gentle-nguluni, nipikitkaluaqluni itijuulluni, Guutiup Anirningata itininganik takujunnalaurpuq.

Una image—"Cockpit-mi Switches ammalu Anirniup Itininga"—tamma uummattinnik tigusiniarpuq ullumi.

Ullumi, Corinthians-nut Sivulliq Reading-mi, Paulos titiraqpuq silatunirmi itijualummik: "The Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God. Among men, who knows what pertains to the man except his spirit that is within? Similarly, no one knows what pertains to God except the Spirit of God." Paulos uqaqpuq inuit nunarjuap isumangitigut judge-risuunguninginik. Nunarjuap isumanga takujunnanngilaq spiritual realities-nik. Nunarjuap isumanga logic-mik takujunnaqtuq, kisiani uummatip itininganik takujunnanngilaq. Kisiani Paulos final sentence-mi uqaqpuq text-mi text-llaattaami: "But we have the mind of Christ."

We have the mind of Christ! Kristusiup isumanga tigumiaravut! What does it mean to have the mind of Christ?

And then, Gospel-mi Luke 4-mi, Jesus tikilluni Capernaum-mut, Sabbath-mi illumi ilinniaqtitsilaurpuq. Inuit amazed-laurput! Suuq? "Because he spoke with authority." Jesus authority-qarluni uqaqmat. Synagogue-mi inuk demon-lik nillialaurpuq, "Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!" Jesus authority-qarluni uqaqpuq: "Be quiet! Come out of him!" Demon anilaurpuq, inuk aaniartinnagu! Inukluktaat amazing-laurput uqaqlutik: "What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out."

Look at these two readings together today. Paul speaks of the Spirit searching the very depths of God, giving us "the mind of Christ." Luke shows us the Word of Christ spoken with absolute authority and power—a authority that silences chaos, brings peace, and restores human dignity without doing any harm.

Tagva marruuk taqqiik qangiqsimaliqtut—June 13, 2026-mit—Benjamin Vo nuulaurmat nunamit qilangmut. Marruuk taqqiik… Alan, Thao, ammalu Ryan-mut, suli ullaakkut makinniaqtillugit, illu nipiqanngippallaarami uummammi aaniarnartuq saqqiqattarpuq. Issiarvik inuqanngittuq nirivingmi… Benjamin-up qunganninga, nipingalu tusaassaarutilimat illumi…

Nallunngituugaluaq, qatanngutikka, uqumaittumi aaniarnirmi, uummavut qiaisinamat, taaqtuq isuma saqquqtisarpaa. Suuq? Suuq Benjamin? Suuq maanna? Inuusiq heavy-tut ippuq, suurlu chaos ammalu unnuap taarninga illumiittutut ippujut. Comfort-niq saqquqtinnagu, uqaqtariaqaqpugut sulijumik: sadness suli tatamnaqpuq. Alan ammalu Thao, Benjamin-mik 15-nik ukiuqaqtillugu asiujaarniq anniaqnaqtuq asuilaak. Guutiup illissi qiarumanissinnik tusaajuq, nalunngilaalu qanuq ititigimangaat uummatissinni aaniarniq. Suli qiajuvusi, ammalu Guutiup qiaqatauvuq ilissinnik. Do not rush past the wound. The silence in the house is real.

Kisiani, turn-nga tikippuq. Jesus-up nipinga Capernaum-mi nilliaqpuq: "Be quiet!"

Jesus-up nipinga chaos-mik numaktitsivuq. Jesus authority-qarluni uqaqmat, taartuq, qunmun-isuma, ammalu fear nilliajunnairput. Jesus authority-qangilaq inungnik qunuvakluarluni uvaluunniit aaniaqluni; Jesus-up authority-nga uqaqpuq peace-mik, restoring life, lifting up those who are bowed down, as Psalm 145 says today: "The LORD lifts up all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. The LORD is faithful in all his words and holy in all his works."

Isumagilauruk Benjamin Vo-p mind-nga. Benjamin Vo passed away two months ago, but his spirit, his brilliance, and his love remain completely alive in Christ.

Benjamin possessed an extraordinary mind. At 4th grade, he effortlessly tackled 8th-grade math. By age 14, he was exploring AI, DevOps, cloud infrastructure, AWS environments, coding applications, and GitHub repositories. Ben had a logical, brilliant, sharp mind that could scrutinize complex patterns, much like Paul describes: searching out how things work, seeking truth, desiring to master logic. Dad Alan-lu conversation-qaraangamik business, tech, and gaming-mik, Ben uqaqtiulaurpuq sophistication-qarluni twice his age!

Yet, what made Benjamin Vo truly unforgettable was not just his high IQ or his coding skills. It was that his brilliant mind was entirely directed by the Spirit of love. Among men, who knows what pertains to a person except the spirit within? Within Ben was a spirit of gentle kindness, profound empathy, and unwavering respect for his parents.

Think about this facet of Ben: Ben sitting next to Ryan at the aviation museum display, gazing into the fighter jet cockpit. Ben didn't look at the jet fighter as a weapon of destruction; he looked at it with pure boyish wonder, fascinated by aviation, fascinated by Boeing 737s, fascinated by how human ingenuity allows us to fly high above the clouds. He and his dad shared that sacred ritual of "airport spotting" in city after city, looking up at the sky, watching jets take off into the blue. Why? Because Ben's mind was made for the heights, and his heart was made for the sky!

Paul writes: "The natural man does not accept what pertains to the Spirit of God, for to him it is foolishness... But the one who is spiritual can judge everything." Worldly wisdom measures a life by its length, by how many decades a person lived, by earthly status. Worldly wisdom looks at 15 years and says, "It was too short, it was cut off." But spiritual wisdom—having the mind of Christ—looks at Benjamin's 15 years and sees a masterpiece of love, brilliance, and gentle grace.

In God's eyes, Benjamin Vo's life was not an unfinished equation. In the mind of Christ, Ben's life was complete because every day of those 15 years was filled with absolute love, joy, family connection, and generous heart. Ben didn't live for worldly vanity. He lived close to his "perfect four"—Dad Alan, Mom Thao, younger brother Ryan, and himself.

Alan and Thao, let us speak directly to you today. Two months have passed since June 13th. The ache in your chest when you walk past his room, when you see his books, when you look at the sky—it is real. But listen to the Gospel today: Jesus speaks with authority over every darkness, over every despair. When Jesus said, "Be quiet!", He commanded all fear to cease. Jesus is saying to your heavy hearts today: "Do not be afraid. Benjamin is with Me. I have spoken My Word of authority over his soul, and he is safe, whole, and joyful in My presence."

Remember Dad Alan's dream on July 23rd, 2026—just a month after Ben went to heaven. In that dream, Dad Alan and Ben were standing in line waiting to buy ice cream. And who paid for the ice cream? Ben paid! Ben was at the front of the line, smiling, paying for the treat, giving joy to his father. That dream is not just a random thought; it is a gentle window into reality! Ben is at the front of the line. Ben is in the light. Ben is living in that abundance where he offers sweetness and joy to those he loves. He is not lost; he is home.

And remember Ben's words in that other dream on June 25th, when he stood outside room 419, strong and peaceful, saying: "Không sao đâu, con sẽ dõi theo ba mẹ... Don't worry, Mom and Dad, I will watch over you." That is the mind of Christ at work in a boy's gentle spirit! Ben's love for you has not ended; it has been transformed into an eternal prayer watching over your family.

Ryan, my dear younger brother, Ben's best friend. You stood beside Ben in front of the cockpit display at the museum; you sat beside him on the bench at the laundromat; you stood beside him outside Phở 54 in your scout uniforms. Ryan, Ben loved you with all his heart. You were his partner in adventure, his brother, his daily companion. When you miss him, when the house feels too quiet, remember that Ben's mind and heart were deeply bonded to yours. You carry Ben's memory inside you. Live your life fully, Ryan! Study hard, play, laugh, explore tech or aviation or whatever brings you joy, knowing that your big brother Ben is cheering you on from heaven's best vantage point.

To all aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, and friends who loved Benjamin: Ben's life illuminated what it means to be truly wise. He was brilliant in math and computer logic, yet he was humble, respectful, and sweet-natured. He showed us that real intelligence is never loud or boastful; real intelligence is gentle, generous, and full of love.

To everyone tuning in from afar—especially families who are carrying heavy crosses, parents who grieve, and children who are suffering in hospitals or homes: You are seen by God. The Gospel reminds us today that Jesus' authority is not a heavy hand that crushes us, but a loving hand that heals, sets free, and restores. The Lord is just in all His ways, gracious, merciful, slow to anger, and full of great kindness. He lifts up all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.

Benjamin Vo is now in the Banquet of Heaven, resting in the light of Christ alongside Saint Carlo Acutis. Two modern 15-year-old boys who loved technology, who understood coding and the internet, but who used their brilliant minds to point toward God and love their families. They are interceding for us, praying for comfort, praying for healing, and watching over every family that mourns.

Ben's legacy continues to flow on earth, like the clean, life-sustaining water from the "Giếng Gioan Baotixita" well dedicated in his name in Cà Mau, Vietnam. His middle name, Đại Dương—Great Ocean—remains a sign of God's limitless mercy flowing to those in need.

What can we carry out the door today?

Today, when you encounter a complex problem, or when your heart feels overwhelmed by sadness, take a slow breath and remember Saint Paul's words: "We have the mind of Christ." Stop seeking answers only in human logic or earthly worry. Turn your mind to Jesus. Look up at the sky, just like Ben loved to watch airplanes soar into the clouds, and remember that God's authority is peace, God's Word is love, and Benjamin Vo is safe in the Father's eternal embrace.

Let us pray:

"Lord Jesus Christ, You spoke with authority in Capernaum and brought peace to troubled souls. Grant us the mind of Christ, that we may see beyond earthly tears into the eternal light of Your Kingdom. Comfort Alan, Thao, and Ryan with Your deep peace. Hold Benjamin Đại Dương Vo close in Your heavenly joy until we all meet again at Your eternal Banquet. Amen."

Benjamin Vo, saimmalirit Ataniup qaumarikningani isuqaqanngittumi. Amen.