Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Also Read: Mass Readings for 02 August 2026
First Reading: Isaiah 55: 1-3
Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labour on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. (2)
In today’s reading, we are told to spend what is precious on the good food. Our Life is the most precious gift we have received from God. What are we spending our life on? We need to work for our physical food, but we also need to focus on the spiritual food that will last! We must reflect on where we are investing our time — time spent is life spent! What we earn through our investment must benefit our eternal life too! But do we find ourselves drawn into worldly pursuits of pleasure, power, or strength? How does this income we accumulate enrich our inner lives?
“Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.” (1) — How often do we realize how much the Lord God has provided us, without any cost? Where is the wine and milk that satisfies our soul? – It is: The Holy Eucharist, the Holy Bible – the Holy Word of God, the Holy Sacraments, the Inspired prayers and devotions we have been blessed to receive from the Lord. While the Lord provides for our physical needs, he has also provided for our spiritual needs! The wine gives us pleasure, and the milk gives us nourishing food. Let us take delight in the Lord, for He satisfies our heart’s desire. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 145: 8-9, 15-18
The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. (15–16)
Alleluia, Amen!
Second Reading: Romans 8: 35, 37-39
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (38–39)
St. Paul was convinced about God’s love for him, amid peak persecution! In all the battles that St. Paul had to fight — spiritual and physical, he knew that he was a conqueror! He knew because he says: “…in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us!” (37)
Therefore, he tells us today to fight and not be weary! We have saints like Sts. Peter and Paul supporting our efforts! (1Pet 5: 6–11) We praise God for the intercession we receive from the Saints. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Alleluia: Matthew 4: 4b
Alleluia! Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ Alleluia, Alleluia!
Gospel: Matthew 14: 13-21
“Bring them here to me,” he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children. (18–21)
The Lord had just heard of John the Baptist’s beheading and had ‘withdrawn privately to a solitary place.’ Jesus may have been grieving, but even in his grief, he tended to the sick who were following him desperately! He also worked the miracle and fed the hungry souls! We take what we have and give it to the Lord — it is for the Lord to render the miracle!
When he sees us following him, yearning for his mercy, the Lord has compassion! Let us bring to the Lord all that is fighting us! Jesus is the Conqueror; let us have no fear! Let us also walk with generosity towards the humble and needy! In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen!
Praise God, Happy Sunday, everyone!
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