My Dear Friends in Christ,

We live in a world where people carry burdens - physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Many carry burdens that are invisible to others: the burden of sickness, financial struggles, broken relationships, loneliness, grief, anxiety, disappointment, and uncertainty about the future. We often smile on the outside while carrying heavy crosses within.

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Today’s readings invite us to reflect on the cost of discipleship, the power of hospitality, and the new life we have received in Christ. At the heart of all three readings is a simple but challenging truth: when we place God first in our lives, He transforms our ordinary acts of faithfulness into channels of grace and blessing.

Dear Friends in Christ,

The Word of God today speaks directly to one of the deepest human experiences: FEAR. We live in a world filled with uncertainties, disappointments, suffering, persecution, sickness, economic hardship, insecurity, and the fear of the unknown. Many people carry hidden burdens and anxieties that no one else sees. Yet, in the midst of all these realities, the Lord repeatedly tells us in today’s Gospel: “Do not be afraid” (Matthew 10:26, 28, 31).

Dear Friends in Christ,

Today’s readings reveal a beautiful movement in God’s plan of salvation: God chooses us, God loves us, and God sends us. Before God gives a mission, He first establishes a relationship. Before He asks us to serve, He first reminds us that we are loved.

My Dear Friends in Christ,

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) originated in the 13th century following a mystic’s vision and a Eucharistic miracle. St. Juliana of Cornillon, a Belgian nun, received a vision of a full moon with a dark spot, which the Lord revealed represented the absence of a liturgical feast dedicated exclusively to the Holy Eucharist.