Inuunirivik Saint Gregory the Great-mik, Pope ammalu Doctor of the Church — ᐅᓪᓗᑕᒫᑦ ᐅᖃᐅᓯᖅ

Opening

Atataujup, Erniujup, Anirniup Aqtuqtup atingingani. Amen. Ataniup uummatissinniittup quviasungninga ammalu peace-nga ilissi tamainnut pilik.

Penitential

Ataniq, nalligijauvugut. Kristusi, nalligijauvugut. Ataniq, nalligijauvugut.

♪ “Kyrie - Version B (Majestic)” — A song for Ben

Word

Reading 1 · 1 Corinthians 3:18-23

Brothers and sisters: Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you considers himself wise in this age, let him become a fool, so as to become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God, for it is written: God catches the wise in their own ruses, and again: The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. So let no one boast about human beings, for everything belongs to you, Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or the present or the future: all belong to you, and you to Christ, and Christ to God.

Psalm · Psalm 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6

♪ “Psalm 24: Version B” — A psalm for Ben

Gospel · Luke 5:1-11

While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch." Simon said in reply, "Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets." When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that the boats were in danger of sinking. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man." For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men." When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.

Alleluia

♪ A song for Ben

To the Lord belongs the earth and all that fills it.

Homily

Paulos-up jemaat Korintus-miittut uqaqtitai: 'Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you considers himself wise in this age, let him become a fool, so as to become wise.' Isumagilauruk una takujassaq: Nutaqqaq, Benjamin, airport-mi issiarluni, Boeing 737-mik tingmituunik qiviarialuni. Ben-up ijiingit qaumajualuulaurpuq. Isumanga brilliant-nguluni, complex systems-nik, logic-nik ammalu coding-mik qaujimaniqaqtuq. Kisiani, taanna silatuuninga nunarjuap isumangitut ittuunngilaq. Ben-up silatuuninga Guutiup silatuuninganut atautsimiittuq—taanna silatuuninga iqqanaijarutiqanngittuq, quviasungnirmik ammalu uummataup salumajunianik tatatitaulluni.

Paulos uqaqpuq 'wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God.' Nunarjuap isumanga inuusiup takinirninganik, ukiunik, ammalu nunarjuami pigiaqtuqtuunik uuttuutisuungulluni. Kisiani, Guutiup silatuuninga inuusiup itininganik takujuq. Benjamin-up 15-nik ukiuqaqtilluni inuusia, inuusiup naatitaunngittuq, kisiani masterpiece-ngulluni. In the mind of Christ, Ben-up inuusia complete-ngulluni, uummataup salumajunianik ammalu asijinik asujinik tatatitaulluni.

In the Gospel, Simon Peter-up Jiisusi takulauqpaa, ammalu astonishment-nguluni, uqaqpuq: 'Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.' Simon Peter-up takulaurpaa inuup silatuuninga Guutiup silatuuninganut saniani inuusiqanngittuq. Jiisusiup uqaqpuq: 'Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.' Jiisusiup Simon Peter-up uummanga ammalu inuusia allanngurtipaa, inuusiqtaaqtitsilluni.

Alan ammalu Thao, ilissi uqumaittumik cross-mik tigumiavusi. 15-nik ukiuqaqtilluni Benjamin nuulaurmat, illu nipiqanngippallaarami uummammi aaniarnartuq saqqiqattarpuq. Issiarvik inuqanngittuq nirivingmi… Benjamin-up qunganninga, nipingalu tusaassaarutilimat illumi… Nallunngituugaluaq, qatanngutikka, uqumaittumi aaniarnirmi, uummavut qiaisinamat, taaqtuq isuma saqquqtisarpaa. Do not rush past the wound. The silence in the house is real. Kisiani, Jiisusiup nipinga uqaqpuq: 'Do not be afraid.'

Benjamin Vo, inuusiqaqluni, inuit takulaurtangit silataani: silatualuuniranga, mathematics-mi pialuktuuninga, coding-mi ammalu technology-mi qaujimaninga. Taakkua pitsiaqtut, silataani qaumajut. Kisiani, Benjamin-up inuusia sanningajuup ujaqqatut tomb-tut ippunngilaq. Ben-up uummanga light-vallaalaurpuq, open-vallaalaurpuq, free-vallaalaurpuq. Ben-up uummanga walk-laurpuq Ataniup aqqutingitigut with a pure, simple heart.

Isumagilauruk una facet Benjamin-mit: Ben-up qunganninga ammalu tingmisuunik nagligusungninga. Ben-up passion-nga aviation-mut, commercial jets-nut, ammalu Boeing 737-mut. Airport spotting-rluni ataatami Alan-lu, unikkaaqtuartillugu, tingmisuup wings-ngit qutsiktumut majuraqtillugit. Ammalu isumagiliuk una: Ben giggles-rluni ammalu smiles-rluni uqaqtillugu anaanaminut ammalu ataataminut piumaniqaqtillugu company-liuriamik, airlines-mik taijaujumik 'con chim airlines'—burung-kuluup qangatasuuranga! Think about that. A boy of 15, with a brilliant mind that could code games and understand complex DevOps, yet his heart was so simple, so joyful, that he giggled about a bird airline. This giggle, this smile, this wonder—this is not the heavy, closed world of the Pharisees. This is the light of a soul that knows how to look up.

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 that Banquet, standing beside Saint Carlo Acutis. Two brilliant, modern boys who loved technology, who loved the world, but who loved God more. They are not dead; they are more alive than we are. They are soaring in the light of the Father, free from all weight, breathing the pure air of heaven. 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.'

Meditasi

♪ “Con Xin Phó Thác (Version A)” — A song for Ben

Petitions

For the intentions entrusted to Ben on our prayer wall:

“Ben, ᐅᓪᓗᓕᒫᖅ ᐱᓕᕆᓚᐅᖅᑐᖓ ᐅᓐᓄᒧᑦ, ᓯᓂᒋᐊᓕᖅᑎᓪᓗᖓ ᓇᓕᓪᓗᖓ ᐃᓕᖕᓂᒃ ᐃᖅᑲᐃᓕᓲᖑᕗᖓ Ben, ᐅᖃᖃᑎᒌᖃᑦᑕᓚᐅᖅᓯᒪᓂᑦᑎᓐᓂᒃ. ᐃᓕᖕᓂᒃ ᐃᓱᒪᓕᕌᖓᒪ, ᖁᕕᐊᓱᙱᒻᒪᕆᓲᖑᕗᖓ. Ben, ᑕᐅᑐᐃᓐᓇᖃᑦᑕᕆᑦ ᑐᒃᓯᐅᔾᔨᖃᑦᑕᕐᓗᑎᓪᓗ ᐊᖓᔪᖅᑳᖕᓂᒃ ᐊᒻᒪ Ryan, ᖁᕝᕖᑦ ᐃᓗᒻᒧᑦ ᑯᕕᔪᑦ ᐋᓐᓂᕐᓇᕐᓂᖅᓴᒻᒪᕆᐅᖕᒪᑕ ᓯᓚᑖᓄᑦ ᑯᕕᔪᓂᑦ, Ben.”