25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A (2026) – Homily
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
Isaiah 55:6-9
Psalm 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18 (18a)
Philippians 1:20c-24, 27a
Matthew 20:1-16a
September 20, 2026
Who do you know who seems to be seeking more in life?
We are called to “Seek the Lord while he may be found.” Yet, I wonder how many people are seeking more in life without even knowing it is the Lord they seek.
We seek more when we realize we are not fulfilled. Yet, many seek to find fulfillment in earthly things when it is only in coming to know the Lord that we can find fulfillment for we are created to know and love the Lord.
Our faith formation programs for our children and youth start this week. Recognizing this, we celebrate Catechetical Sunday in the United States with the theme “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me…to bring good news to the poor” (taken from Luke 4:18).
We have a number of ministries to help the poor. Last week we had our annual corn sale to help children in Haiti. Each month we collect food for local food cupboards. We support Habitat for Humanity. Through your generosity in our weekly collection, we support a number of other local charities in their work to serve the poor with Corporal Works of Mercy.
As we help the poor, our Lord invites us to “bring good news” to all. We do this with Spiritual Works of Mercy like “Counseling the Doubtful and “Instructing the Ignorant.”
We all need to open our hearts and our thoughts to the Lord’s Way as we let go of worldly ways. At times the Lord’s Way are mysterious to us, beyond our comprehension. Yet, the Lord’s Ways are what is best.
We need to praise our Lord for all He does for us. Do your words and actions praise the Lord?
Is Christ magnified in your body? Do you “conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ?” Does your life witness to a strong faith in our Lord?
God calls all of us to be laborers in his vineyard. He will make our efforts to share the gospel “fruitful labor.” We do not all serve the same role in sharing the faith but we are called to do some part. It is not just someone else’s job to share the gospel.
Who did you learn your faith from? Parents? Grandparents? Godparents? Church teachers? Who has been an example of faith to you? Who do you serve as an example of faith to?
You might be surprised to hear that our Catholic faith sees parents as the primary catechists for their children (see Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2226). To be a catechist is to be a teacher of faith.
After all, it is the parents who are the first to teach their children to make the Sign of the Cross and bless themselves when they enter church. It is the parents who can set the first example of faith in their home with little things like saying grace before meals. For a child to embrace the faith, they need to see it lived at home.
While parents are the primary catechists for their children, we do not expect them to teach their children on their own. Canon Law speaks of the parish’s responsibility to provide catechesis.
Leading our Faith Formation activities we have our Faith Formation Director, Wendy Stansbury for K-7 classes, along Courtney Thomas for Confirmation and youth group, and Theresa May for OCIA. Their faithful service is vital to what we do.
Yet, where would they be without the over thirty volunteers who give of their time and talents to teach and assist in our faith formation activities?
This is why we honor our volunteers and thank them as we celebrate Catechetical Sunday. We will offer them a special blessing at our 10:30 Mass.
Our gospel reading today speaks of what workers are paid. What do our volunteers receive as payment for their ministry?
We do not pay them money but their service is not without reward.
God rewards them with grace.
Their ministry can also help them grow in their own personal relationship with Jesus. As James Pauley writes, “A teacher must also be a learner” (An Evangelizing Catechesis: Teaching from Your Encounter with Christ by James C. Pauley (Huntington, IN: Our Sunday Visitor Publishing. 2020. 33.).
They can also find reward in knowing they have helped others learn about Jesus. Like any teacher, sometimes they may wonder if they have made a difference for their students. Have you ever thanked the catechists who taught you or are teaching your children for what they have done for you?
Today, we thank our staff, Wendy, Courtney, and Theresa for their ministry and we especially thank all of our volunteers who help in any way for the gift of their time and talents.