Households of Faith

Good News Reflection for

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time
June 21, 2026

Jeremiah 20:10-13
Ps 69:(14c)8-10,14,17,33-35
Romans 5:12-15
Matthew 10:26-33

Be bold with your good news!

Think of a time when you were in darkness: a sin, for example, or when you felt abandoned by God or your prayers seemed dry and your spiritual gifts seemed covered over. What did Jesus say to you at that time (perhaps through scripture or friends or a homily at Mass)? What did his whisperings tell you? His words and his guidance were good news for you!

In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, Jesus says: “What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light.”

He’s calling you and commissioning you and empowering you, through his Holy Spirit, to share your good news with others, so that they can hear him in their darkness. Proclaim it boldly and visibly so that those who want to hear it will stop and listen. Do not be afraid to openly share how Jesus has been working in your life and how he’s helped you grow or heal or turn away from sin.

Yes, when we’re this bold, some people ridicule us and reject us, like how Jeremiah was treated in the first reading. But the Lord is with you, too, as “a mighty champion,” and your persecutors will eventually stumble and fail. Jesus tells us to “fear no one.” God takes good care of us.

Jesus acknowledges those who acknowledge him. In other words, when we’re insulted or persecuted for our faith, God holds us and comforts us. It’s his opinion of us that matters anyway, and no one else’s. Listen to him. In the whispers of the sanctuary of your heart, he’s telling you all the good that he sees in you. He’s telling you that he appreciates the good you have done. He’s giving you good news worth sharing.

Questions for Personal Reflection:
What is your testimony? What did Jesus teach you when you were in sin or handling a recent difficulty? Write it down; this exercise will help you feel more confident when you try to share your story with others.

Questions for Community Faith Sharing:
Practice sharing the testimony you realized during the above personal reflection: Proclaim it first to your community of friends who understand. And as you listen to the testimonies of others, encourage them: Tell them how their story helps you. Then, make a commitment to go forth and spread the good news. What does this commitment look like? What will you do first to fulfill your commitment?

© 2026 by Terry A. Modica, Good News Ministries 

Good News Reflection for

Sunday of the 11th Week of Ordinary Time
June 14, 2026

Exodus 19, 2-6
psalm 100:1-3, 5
Romans 5:6-11
Matthew 9:36–10:8

The Important Virtue of Collaboration

In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, notice how strongly Jesus was moved by the needs of the people. His heart ached for them, because he knew they felt troubled and abandoned. What’s surprising, however, is how he responded. Although he likened them to sheep without a shepherd, and elsewhere he describes himself as the Good Shepherd, instead of taking action as that shepherd, he immediately turned to his disciples and called them to do the work!

Today, there are many who suffer troubles and feel abandoned because not enough is being done to help them. So, when we see a parish lacking a pastor, or a ministry lacking a shepherd, or a need lacking a ministry, we do as Jesus tells us to do: We beg the master of the harvest to send forth more laborers. And Jesus taps us on the shoulder and says, “YOU do it.”

We ask God to increase the number of priest vocations, because there are too few men entering the seminary. And Jesus says, “Don’t just pray, get up and do some of the work! You have a vocation, too!”

The reason why many people feel that God hasn’t answered their prayers (and has therefore apparently abandoned them) is because Jesus responds to their needs through us — and too few of us are giving him a free hand to use. We don’t have enough lay people assisting the priests we do have. We don’t have enough Christians standing up against injustices and other evils, and so of course, to many who suffer, God seems distant and uncaring.

Jesus was one man serving a whole nation, and he accomplished much in only three years because of the apostles who assisted him. The harvest needs collaborators. There are a few things that only a priest-shepherd can do; everything else can be done by his assistants, under his guidance, so that all needs are met. This is how the Church is made whole and holy and effective in evangelization.

Questions for Personal Reflection:
What has Jesus asked you to do as an extension of himself? Which of his gifts are you using to help in the work of his kingdom? Which gifts has he given you that you’re not using? Why not?

Questions for Community Faith Sharing:
What would our Church be like if everyone became an extension of Jesus using the gifts and talents that God has given them? How would this change the face of your parish?

© 2026 by Terry A. Modica, Good News Ministries 

Good News Reflection for

Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ June 7, 2026

Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14b-16a Psalm 147:12-15, 19-20 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 John 6:51-58

How Jesus in the Eucharist helps us in difficulties

This Sunday we celebrate the Sacrament of the Eucharist and the reason why we believe it is truly and physically the presence of Jesus.

In the first reading, we’re reminded that God our Father always provides the food and drink that we need for survival in the desert days of life’s hardships. What he did for the Israelites, he does for us today in whatever ways we experience hot trials and dry faith. He provides what we need by giving us the True Presence of Christ, who comes to us in the bread of Mass (the Eucharist), and in the presence of his Holy Spirit dwelling within us (Baptism and Confirmation), and in the priest whose ordination makes Jesus present to us in Confession.

The Gospel passage tells us that the Eucharistic food and drink are truly Jesus himself, not a mere symbol of his love. Oh-my oh-my, how we need this food and drink to survive the serpents and scorpions and the parched and waterless ground of our desert experiences! Jesus literally fills us and quenches our thirsts. As we consume him, he consumes us. As we draw him into us, he draws us into himself. In this unity, we walk through our trials with all that we need for success.

The second reading tells us that the Eucharist increases our unity with Christ’s body on earth, the church community through which he provides the various resources that we need. In this unity — when it’s activated as it should be — no one lacks anything good because all necessary goods are shared. And ultimately in this unity, as Jesus said in the Gospel, we’re assured of eternal life in heaven, where all needs are met perfectly and completely.

Questions for Personal Reflection: What are the “serpents and scorpions” in your life right now? In what ways do you feel parched, thirsty to the point of desperation? During Mass, imagine that you’re walking through a desert to receive from Jesus what you need. How does it feel to approach Jesus this way?

Questions for Community Faith Sharing: How has the Eucharist helped you through a difficult time? Why did it make a difference? I kiss the Host before placing it in my mouth; what do you do that helps you become more aware of the presence of Christ in the Eucharist for all your needs?

© 2026 by Terry A. Modica, Good News Ministries, GNM.org Used by permission.