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by Fr. Joseph Ruan HOUSTON, Texas — Aug. 2, 2026 — The US-China Catholic Association (USCCA) concluded its 30th International Conference on Aug. 2 at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas. Held from July 31 through Aug. 2, the three-day gathering brought together a bishop, priests, religious sisters and brothers, scholars, pastoral leaders and lay faithful for prayer, dialogue, scholarship and fellowship. Founded in 1989 by concerned U.S. bishops together with Maryknoll, the Society of Jesus and representatives of other religious communities, the US-China Catholic Association promotes mutual understanding, friendship and fraternal ties between Catholics in China and the United States through prayer, education, academic exchange and pastoral collaboration. Centered on the theme “Nourishing Trust and Friendship: Following the Way of Christ,” the conference reflected the USCCA's enduring mission of fostering friendship, mutual understanding and communion between the Church in China, the Church in the United States and the universal Church. Through a keynote address, academic presentations, panel discussions, workshops and liturgical celebrations, participants explored how trust, personal encounter and Christian friendship can strengthen the Church's witness across cultures and national boundaries. Sessions examined faith formation and communicative catechesis in China, the spiritual lives of Chinese religious sisters, the celebration of the Easter Triduum in Beijing, Chinese wisdom in dialogue with Christian faith, and the pastoral accompaniment of Chinese international students studying at American universities. Other presentations focused on Catholic social services, missionary history, intercultural Christianity, psychological and spiritual formation among women religious, Catholic life across cultures and the witness of the first Chinese religious communities. Presenters represented universities, seminaries, dioceses, parishes, foundations and Catholic organizations from the United States, mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Belgium, Italy and the Philippines. Together, their scholarship and pastoral experience reflected the diversity of the worldwide Chinese Catholic experience while demonstrating a shared commitment to dialogue, mutual understanding and collaboration in the service of the Gospel. Looking Toward the Future The final day featured workshops and panel discussions on China–Holy See relations, intercultural Christianity, biblical studies and historical perspectives on Catholicism in China. A concluding multi-generational panel, “The Past and Present of Catholicism in China,” brought together speakers from different generations to share personal experiences of visiting China, growing up in Catholic families and villages, witnessing the resilience of Chinese Catholics and accompanying younger generations as they look toward the future of the Church. Throughout the conference, participants experienced a central conviction: authentic dialogue begins with personal encounter. Trust grows through attentive listening. Friendship develops through shared faith, mutual respect, and the willingness to walk together in hope. In a world often marked by misunderstanding and division, the Gospel continues to call Christians to become bridge-builders and witnesses to reconciliation. At the end of the three-day Conference, participants departed Houston renewed in faith and strengthened by friendship. With their hearts and minds refreshed by God and by each other, they looked toward the future with fervent hope and a shared commitment to walk together in faith and build bridges between the Church in China and the Church in the United States. Fr. (Joseph) Guozhang Ruan was born and ordained in China. After serving in parish ministry in the Diocese of Mindong, Fujian, he pursued advanced studies in moral theology in Rome, earning a doctorate from the Pontifical Lateran University. Since coming to the United States in 2004, he has served in several parishes in the Archdiocese of New York. He is currently the Director of the Chinese Apostolate for the Archdiocese of New York and Parochial Vicar of Holy Rosary Church on Staten Island. His ministry focuses on serving Chinese Catholics, promoting evangelization, and fostering greater understanding between the Church in China and the universal Church. ---------------------- The USCCA is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. Your donations are tax-deductible to the maximum extent allowed by law. The success of our work depends upon the generosity of people like you.

Storm image generated by AI This Sunday's Gospel narrates the miracle of Jesus walking on the sea during a severe storm, after which the disciples gained greater faith and a deeper understanding of who he was. In the midst of many storms, Jesus says to us, "It is I. Do not be afraid." We invite you to read more in Fr. Joseph's latest bilingual Scripture reflection, included below in Chinese and then in English: Scripture Reflection in Chinese 常年期第十九主日　甲年 今天我们庆祝常年期第十九主日。福音记载耶稣步行海面的奇迹。圣玛窦把这个奇迹安排在五饼二鱼之后，最后以门徒的一句信仰宣认结束：“你真是天主子。”整个过程逐步启示耶稣的身份。门徒经历黑夜、逆风和恐惧，又亲眼看见伯多禄在水面上行走、下沉和获救，终于对耶稣有了更深的认识。第一篇读经中的厄里亚在曷勒布山辨认上主的临在；福音中的门徒也在风浪中学习认出向他们走来的主。 五饼二鱼的奇迹结束以后，耶稣“催门徒上船”，叫他们先到对岸去。门徒按照耶稣的吩咐出发，却在途中遇到逆风，船被波浪颠簸。这里让我们看到一个重要的信仰经验：跟随基督的人仍然会经历风浪。亚巴郎蒙召以后离开故乡，梅瑟接受使命以后面对法郎，以色列人出离埃及以后经过旷野，宗徒跟随耶稣以后也经历许多考验。信德给人的力量，在于无论环境怎样改变，仍然相信天主的带领。 当门徒在海上挣扎的时候，耶稣独自上山祈祷。到了夜间第四更，耶稣踏着海面向他们走来。门徒最初没有认出祂，反而惊慌地说：“是个妖怪！”救援已经来到，他们却因为恐惧而认不出主。耶稣立刻对他们说：“放心吧！是我。不必害怕！” “是我”这句话值得注意。它使人想起旧约中天主启示自己的语言。耶稣步行海面也有深厚的圣经背景。在旧约中，大海经常象征人无法控制的混乱和危险。《约伯传》称天主为那位“独自展开苍天，步行在海涛之上”的主（约9:8）。耶稣在海面上行走，显示祂拥有超越风浪的权威。圣玛窦借着这个奇迹，引导门徒逐渐认识耶稣真正的身份。耶稣说“是我”的时候，同时告诉门徒：“不必害怕。”他们可以放心，因为主已经来到他们中间。 伯多禄听见耶稣的声音，便说：“主啊！如果是你，就让我在水面上走到你那里去吧！”耶稣回答：“来吧！”伯多禄真的离开了船，开始在水面上向耶稣走去。我们常常记得伯多禄后来沉下去，却容易忽略他曾经勇敢地跨出了这一步。在十二位宗徒中，是伯多禄走出了船。他敢于回应耶稣的召叫，把自己交托给主。耶稣说“来吧”，伯多禄便开始走。这也说明圣召最基本的意义：基督先召叫，人以信德回应。人的力量来自召叫他的基督。 随后，伯多禄“看见风势强大，便害怕起来，并开始下沉”。其实风浪一直都在那里。伯多禄离开船的时候有风，他走在水面上的时候也有风。后来发生变化的是他的目光。他开始注意风浪，恐惧便占据了他的心。 耶稣称伯多禄为“小信德的人”。圣玛窦多次用“小信德”来形容门徒。这句话很符合我们的信仰经验。我们已经相信天主，信德仍然需要成长。我们回应天主的召叫，有时仍会害怕。我们把生命交托给主，有时仍会因为眼前的困难而动摇。伯多禄的经历让我们看到，信德是在一次又一次的考验中成长的。 伯多禄开始下沉时大声喊道：“主啊！救命啊！”这是一句非常简单而真实的祈祷。人在危难中意识到自己的有限，也更深地明白自己需要天主。圣玛窦接着写道：“耶稣立刻伸手拉住他。”这里的“立刻”很重要。伯多禄的信德虽然软弱，他所呼求的主始终忠信。基督徒的希望建立在基督伸出的这只手上。人在下沉的时候仍然可以呼求祂，因为基督愿意走近人，听见人的呼求，把人从深水中拉起来。 耶稣随后问伯多禄：“你为什么怀疑呢？”怀疑常常出现在信德成长的过程中。伯多禄已经离开了船，已经向基督走去，后来才发生动摇。我们的信仰生活也有这样的经验。我们已经相信天主，有时仍然无法理解祂带领我们的方式。亚巴郎、梅瑟、先知和宗徒都经历过这样的考验。信德经过考验，会逐渐放下对自己的依赖，更深地信赖天主的忠信。 当耶稣和伯多禄上船以后，风停了。福音在这里达到高峰：“船上的人都朝拜他说：‘你真是天主子。’”在《玛窦福音》中，“朝拜”具有重要的意义。贤士来到白冷朝拜婴孩耶稣；耶稣复活以后，门徒在加里肋亚山上看见祂，也俯伏朝拜。今天门徒在船上作出同样的行动。他们经过风浪，对耶稣的认识更深了。他们逐渐明白，与他们同船的这一位拥有来自天主的权威。这场风浪因此成为一次信仰的启示，使他们能够宣认：“你真是天主子。” 今天第一篇读经中的厄里亚也经历了一个辨认天主的过程。他来到曷勒布山，看见暴风、地震和烈火，最后在“轻微细弱的风声”中认出上主。厄里亚的经验提醒我们，天主临在的方式常常十分安静。我们希望马上看见答案，天主有时带领我们等待；我们希望环境迅速改变，天主有时先在我们的内心工作。长期的祈祷、圣言带来的光照、圣事赐下的恩宠和良心深处的一份平安，都能帮助我们逐渐辨认天主的临在。 第二篇读经中的圣保禄让我们看到信德成熟以后所产生的爱。他为了自己的同胞“极度忧愁，心中不断痛苦”，甚至愿意为他们承受巨大的牺牲。保禄深深经历了基督的救恩，因此他的心开始承担别人的得救。真正经历过基督救恩的人，会关心那些仍在风浪中的人。我们曾经呼喊“主啊！救我”，也曾经感受到基督伸出的手，因此我们更能理解别人的软弱，并帮助他们重新发现基督的临在。这也是教会福传使命的重要基础。 弟兄姊妹们，我们每个人都会经历自己的风浪。家庭、工作、健康、人际关系和信仰生活，都可能使我们感到不安。有时祈祷似乎得不到回答，原来清楚的道路突然变得模糊，我们也可能无法理解天主为什么允许某些事情发生。这个时候，我们很容易像伯多禄一样，只看见眼前的风浪。 今天的福音提醒我们，基督知道我们的船在哪里。门徒在黑夜中看不见耶稣的时候，耶稣已经向他们走来；伯多禄开始下沉的时候，耶稣已经伸出手来。我们生命中也有许多这样的时刻。经过多年以后回头看，我们才发现某一次困难加深了我们的信仰，某一段等待使我们的祈祷更加真实，某一次失败教会我们谦卑，某一个危机使我们懂得怎样把自己交托给天主。 当风浪再次来到的时候，让我们记住耶稣的话：“放心吧！是我。不必害怕！”当自己的力量已经不够时，让我们像伯多禄一样呼喊：“主啊！救我！”愿我们在人生一次又一次的经历中更深地认识基督，接受祂伸出的手，最后能够和门徒一起，以自己的生命宣认：“主，你真是天主子。” Scripture Reflection in English Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time — Year A Today we celebrate the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The Gospel presents the remarkable scene of Jesus walking on the sea. Matthew places this event immediately after the multiplication of the loaves and brings the story to its climax with the disciples’ profession of faith: “Truly, you are the Son of God.” The whole passage gradually reveals the identity of Jesus. Through darkness, contrary winds, fear, and Peter’s experience of walking on the water, sinking, and being rescued, the disciples come to a deeper understanding of the One who stands before them. In the first reading, Elijah learns to recognize the presence of the Lord at Horeb. In the Gospel, the disciples also learn to recognize the Lord as he comes to them in the midst of the storm. After the multiplication of the loaves, Jesus “made the disciples get into a boat” and go ahead of him to the other side. They obey his command, yet they soon encounter a strong headwind, and their boat is tossed about by the waves. This reveals an important truth about the life of faith: those who follow Christ will still encounter storms. Abraham left his homeland after receiving God’s call. Moses had to confront Pharaoh after accepting his mission. Israel passed through the wilderness after leaving Egypt. The apostles themselves encountered many trials after following Jesus. Faith gives us the strength to trust in God’s guidance even when circumstances become difficult. While the disciples are struggling at sea, Jesus goes up the mountain alone to pray. During the fourth watch of the night, he comes toward them, walking on the sea. At first, the disciples fail to recognize him. Terrified, they cry out, “It is a ghost!” The One who comes to save them is already near, yet fear prevents them from recognizing him. Jesus immediately speaks to them: “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” The words “it is I” deserve particular attention. The Greek expression egō eimi recalls the biblical language of divine self-revelation. The act of walking on the sea also carries a rich biblical background. In the Old Testament, the sea often represents forces of chaos and danger beyond human control. The Book of Job speaks of God as the One who “treads upon the crests of the sea” (Job 9:8). Jesus’ walking upon the water therefore reveals an authority that belongs to God. Matthew leads the disciples toward a deeper recognition of Jesus’ identity. When Jesus says, “It is I,” he immediately adds, “Do not be afraid.” Their courage rests upon his presence. The Lord has come into the very place where they are afraid. Peter hears the voice of Jesus and replies, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” Jesus simply says, “Come.” Peter steps out of the boat and begins to walk toward him. We often remember that Peter eventually sinks, but we should first recognize the courage of his response. Among the Twelve, Peter is the one who steps out of the boat. He entrusts himself to the word of Christ. Jesus says, “Come,” and Peter goes. Here we see the basic pattern of every vocation: Christ calls, and the disciple responds in faith. The disciple’s strength comes from the One who calls. Then Peter “saw how strong the wind was,” became frightened, and began to sink. The wind had been there all along. It was blowing when Peter stepped out of the boat, and it was still blowing while he walked on the water. What changes is Peter’s attention. He begins to focus on the wind, and fear takes hold of him. Jesus calls Peter a man of “little faith.” Matthew uses this expression several times in describing the disciples. It speaks directly to our own experience. We believe, yet our faith still needs to grow. We respond to God’s call, yet we sometimes become afraid. We entrust our lives to the Lord, yet difficulties can still shake our confidence. Peter’s experience shows us that faith grows through testing and through a renewed trust in Christ. As Peter begins to sink, he cries out, “Lord, save me!” It is one of the shortest and most sincere prayers in the Gospel. In a moment of danger, Peter recognizes his limits and his need for the Lord. Matthew then tells us, “Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught Peter.” The word “immediately” is significant. Peter’s faith is weak, but the Lord whom he calls upon remains faithful. Christian hope rests upon this outstretched hand of Christ. Even when we feel ourselves sinking, we can call upon him. Christ draws near, hears the cry of the disciple, and reaches into the depths to raise him up. Jesus then asks Peter, “Why did you doubt?” Doubt often arises within the process of growing in faith. Peter has already left the boat and begun walking toward Christ when his confidence begins to falter. We know this experience as well. We believe in God, yet there are times when we cannot understand the way he is leading us. Abraham, Moses, the prophets, and the apostles all passed through such moments. Faith tested by difficulty gradually learns to rely less upon our own certainty and more deeply upon the faithfulness of God. When Jesus and Peter enter the boat, the wind dies down. At this point the Gospel reaches its climax: “Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, ‘Truly, you are the Son of God.’” This act of homage has particular significance in Matthew’s Gospel. The Magi come to Bethlehem and do homage to the child Jesus. After the Resurrection, the disciples see the risen Lord on the mountain in Galilee and bow down before him. Here, on the sea, the disciples respond in the same way. Their experience of the storm has brought them to a deeper knowledge of Jesus. They begin to recognize that the One who is with them possesses divine authority. The storm becomes a moment of revelation, leading them to confess: “Truly, you are the Son of God.” The first reading presents another experience of learning to recognize God. Elijah comes to Horeb and witnesses a strong wind, an earthquake, and fire. Finally, he encounters the Lord in a “tiny whispering sound.” Elijah’s experience reminds us that God often works quietly. We may hope for an immediate answer, while God sometimes leads us through a period of waiting. We may want our circumstances to change quickly, while God may first be working within our hearts. Perseverance in prayer, light received through the Word of God, grace received in the sacraments, and a quiet peace within the conscience can gradually teach us to recognize the presence of God. In the second reading, Saint Paul shows us how mature faith bears fruit in love. He speaks of his “great sorrow and constant anguish” for his own people and expresses his willingness to make an extraordinary sacrifice for their salvation. Paul has experienced the saving grace of Christ so deeply that his heart now carries concern for the salvation of others. Those who have experienced the saving hand of Christ become attentive to others who are still struggling in the storm. Having cried out ourselves, “Lord, save me,” and having known the hand of Christ reaching toward us, we become more capable of understanding the weakness of others and helping them recognize the presence of the Lord. This experience lies at the heart of the Church’s mission of evangelization. Brothers and sisters, each of us encounters storms in life. They may arise in our families, our work, our health, our relationships, or even within our life of faith. There are moments when prayer seems unanswered, when a path that once seemed clear becomes uncertain, and when we struggle to understand why God permits certain things to happen. At such times, like Peter, we can become absorbed by the wind and the waves before us. Today’s Gospel reminds us that Christ knows exactly where our boat is. While the disciples cannot see Jesus in the darkness, he is already coming toward them. When Peter begins to sink, the hand of Jesus is already reaching out to him. We often discover the same truth only after many years have passed. Looking back, we realize that a certain difficulty deepened our faith, a period of waiting made our prayer more sincere, a failure taught us humility, or a crisis taught us what it truly means to entrust ourselves to God. When the storms of life come, may we hear again the words of Jesus: “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” When our own strength is no longer enough, may we have the faith to cry out with Peter, “Lord, save me!” Through every experience of life, may we come to know Christ more deeply, receive his outstretched hand, and make the confession of the disciples our own: “Truly, you are the Son of God.” Fr. (Joseph) Guozhang Ruan was born and ordained in China. After serving in parish ministry in the Diocese of Mindong, Fujian, he pursued advanced studies in moral theology in Rome, earning a doctorate from the Pontifical Lateran University. Since coming to the United States in 2004, he has served in several parishes in the Archdiocese of New York. He is currently the Director of the Chinese Apostolate for the Archdiocese of New York and Parochial Vicar of Holy Rosary Church on Staten Island. His ministry focuses on serving Chinese Catholics, promoting evangelization, and fostering greater understanding between the Church in China and the universal Church. ---------------------- The USCCA is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. Your donations are tax-deductible to the maximum extent allowed by law. The success of our work depends upon the generosity of people like you.

The USCCA is happy to announce two upcoming events in August 2026. 1) Thursday, Aug 20, 8-9:30 pm ET--Happy Hour panel discussion on Zoom: "The Digital Revolution and a Restless Heart: A Chinese Catholic Conversation on Pope Leo XIV's Encyclical." We will have four panelists gathered for a round-table discussion: Fr. Emanuele Angiola (Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei), Mr. Victor Lam (IT Professional, Hong Kong), Fr. Joseph Ruan (Director of Chinese Apostolate, Archdiocese of NY), and Dr. Zeng Qi (theologian, Independent Scholar). These distinguished speakers include priests and laity, three theologians and one engineer, who come from the US, mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. They will discuss both the exciting prospects of the Digital Revolution in the near future and the challenge of the restless heart amplified by the "omnipresent" digital consciousness. You will have an opportunity to ask questions in the Q/A segment. To sign up, click this link: 2) Saturday, Aug 22, 9-10 am ET--Book Circle on Zoom. We will begin our Fall semester Book Circle discussion of Sun Yanfei's book, Religious Change in Post-Mao China: Toward a New Sociology of Religion. We will meet once a month on a Saturday morning from August through December. This book explores the remarkable rise of Protestantism, the challenges faced by Catholicism, the revival of Chinese popular religion, the complex dynamics of Chinese Buddhism, and the unrealized potential of new religious movements. It will give us an excellent picture of past evolutions and current dynamics in the Chinese religious landscape. If you are interested, please sign up using this link: ---------------------- The USCCA is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. Your donations are tax-deductible to the maximum extent allowed by law. The success of our work depends upon the generosity of people like you.

1936 painting by Wang Suda 王肅達 (1910-1963), Housed in the Société des Auxiliaires des Missions Collection – Whitworth University The multiplication of bread is a miracle that turns human limitations into abundance and blessing. Even today, human beings can participate in God's miraculous actions by offering up our small acts of kindness: "A word of consolation, patient listening, sincere service, generous assistance, and a decision to forgive can all become five loaves and two fish placed in the hands of Christ." We invite you to read Fr. Joseph Ruan's latest bilingual Scripture reflection, included below in Chinese and then in English: Scripture Reflection in Chinese 常年期第十八主日（甲年） 今天的福音是耶稣增饼的奇迹（玛14:13-21）。四部福音都记载了耶稣所行的这个奇迹（玛14:13-21；谷6:30-44；路9:10-17；若6:1-15），显示它在初期教会的信仰记忆中占有极为重要的地位。增饼奇迹揭示耶稣对人的慈悲，彰显祂默西亚的身份，预告圣体圣事，说明教会如何领受并延续基督的使命。 玛窦圣史首先告诉我们：「那时候，耶稣听说若翰死了，就上船，自己一个人到一个偏僻的地方去了。」（玛14:13）若翰洗者刚刚遭到黑落德杀害。这个背景使整段福音笼罩着十字架的阴影。若翰为了真理献出生命，他的死亡预示耶稣将要经历的苦难。耶稣听见这个消息，便退到偏僻的地方。祂在悲痛中转向天父，在祈祷中继续辨认自己的使命，耶稣以完全的信赖走向天父所指定的道路。 玛窦把若翰殉道和增饼奇迹连接起来，让我们看见两种完全不同的宴席。在前一段经文中，黑落德举行生日宴会。那个宴会充满权力、虚荣、酒色、誓言与死亡，最后端上来的竟是若翰洗者的头颅（玛14:6-12）。今天的福音同样描写一场宴席。地点在荒野，参与者是贫穷、患病和饥饿的群众，主人是充满慈悲的耶稣。黑落德的宴席带来死亡，耶稣的宴席赐下生命；++，耶稣把自己赐给群众；黑落德的王国建立在恐惧之上，基督的国度建立在慈悲、奉献和丰盛之上。 这组强烈的对照帮助我们理解玛窦圣史的用意。人间的权力常常以占有维持自身，基督的权能则藉着给予显露出来。世界上的君王希望别人服侍自己，耶稣来到人群中服侍众人。黑落德为了保住自己的地位而牺牲无辜者，耶稣为了拯救罪人而献出自己的生命。增饼奇迹因此成为天国的标记，显明耶稣是慈悲与爱的君王。 耶稣来到荒野，群众却从各城市步行跟随祂。荒野在圣经中具有深厚的救恩意义。以色列子民离开埃及以后，在旷野中领受天主的法律，也在那里天天领受玛纳。天主藉着荒野塑造自己的百姓，教导他们信赖祂的照顾。梅瑟曾在旷野牧养以色列，今天，耶稣也在荒野聚集群众，医治病人，并为他们预备食物。玛窦藉着这些细节，引导我们认出耶稣是新的梅瑟，是牧养天主子民的默西亚。 福音说：「他下了船，看见这一大群人，就对他们动了怜悯的心，治好了他们的病人。」（玛14:14）「动了怜悯的心」揭示耶稣内心的深厚情感。祂看见群众，也看见每个人具体的痛苦。祂看见患病者身体的软弱，看见家庭的重担，看见贫穷人的忧虑，看见人心对于真理、希望与生命的渴望。 耶稣的慈悲带来行动。祂接近群众，医治他们，陪伴他们，照顾他们身体的饥饿。福音中的救恩始终触及完整的人。天主关心人的灵魂，也关心人的身体；关心人的永生，也关心人今天所承受的困难。耶稣的慈悲具有具体的面容，也藉着具体的行动进入人的生命。 到了傍晚，门徒对耶稣说：「这地方是荒野，时候也不早了，请你遣散群众，让他们各自到村庄去买食物吧！」（玛14:15）门徒已经看见群众的需要，提出了一个符合常理的办法。群众可以离开荒野，自己寻找食物。耶稣却回答说：「他们不必去，你们给他们吃的吧！」（玛14:16） 耶稣说：「你们给他们吃的吧！」成为整段福音的中心，也是耶稣对门徒的一项召叫。耶稣邀请门徒进入祂的慈悲，分享祂对群众的责任。门徒不能只做旁观者，不能只向耶稣报告问题。基督召叫他们成为救恩工程中的合作者。 门徒回答：「我们这里除了五个饼和两条鱼，什么也没有啊！」（玛14:17）他们清楚看见自己手中的有限。五个饼、两条鱼，面对数千群众，显得微不足道。这个场景也反映出教会和每一位基督徒经常面对的处境。世界的需要如此庞大，人的能力如此有限；贫穷、孤独、疾病、战争、家庭破裂和信仰冷淡，都容易让人产生无力感。 耶稣说：「你们给我拿来！」（玛14:18）这句话揭示奇迹发生的关键。五个饼和两条鱼首先交到耶稣手中。门徒所拥有的十分有限，他们仍然愿意交出来。人的奉献与基督的恩宠在这里相遇，天主的丰盛也从这里开始彰显。 天主常常从人的有限中开展祂的工程。梅瑟只有一根牧杖（参阅出4:2,17），达味只有一副投石器（参阅撒上17:40），寡妇只有一把面粉和一点油（列上17:12-16），宗徒们也只是一些平凡的渔夫（参阅玛4:18-22）。当天主召叫他们时，他们把自己所有的交托给天主。天主接纳这些微小的奉献，并使它们成为祝福许多人的工具。 接着，耶稣吩咐群众坐在草地上。这个细节令人想起圣咏所描写的善牧：「上主是我的牧者，我实在一无所缺。祂使我卧在青绿的草场。」（咏23:1-2）耶稣把饥饿的群众安置在草地上，显明祂就是牧养天主子民的善牧。祂使人安坐在自己面前，亲自为他们预备生命的筵席。 玛窦继续说，耶稣「亲自拿起那五个饼和两条鱼，举目望天，赞颂了；把饼分开，交给门徒，门徒又分给群众。」（玛14:19）这里出现四个极为重要的动作：拿起、赞颂、擘开、交给。到了最后晚餐，玛窦再次使用相同的动作：「耶稣拿起饼来，祝福了，擘开，递给门徒说：『你们拿去吃吧！这是我的身体。』」（玛26:26） 增饼奇迹因此指向最后晚餐，也指向基督在十字架上的自我奉献。耶稣拿起饼，也接纳自己从天父领受的使命；祂祝福，表达对天父的感恩与顺服；祂擘开饼，预示自己的身体将为众人而舍弃；祂把饼交给门徒，将自己的生命赐给教会。 每一台感恩祭都延续着这些动作。司铎奉基督之名拿起饼，感谢天父，祝圣并擘开，然后把基督的圣体分给天主子民。祭台上的圣体就是基督自己。祂继续以自己的身体和宝血养育教会，使我们分享祂的生命，使我们在祂内成为一个身体。 福音特别指出，耶稣把饼交给门徒，门徒再分给群众。基督是恩宠的泉源，门徒则成为恩宠的服务者。门徒无法制造天主的恩宠，他们可以忠实地领受，并慷慨地分施。教会的使命也具有同样的性质。教会从基督领受福音、圣事和救恩的生命，然后把这一切传递给世界。 司铎宣讲圣言、举行圣事、牧养天主子民；父母在家庭中培育子女的信仰；传道员教授要理；教友陪伴病人、关怀贫穷者、宽恕冒犯自己的人。每一项服务都在延续门徒分饼的行动。教会手中真正能够养育世界的礼物，始终来自基督。 「你们给他们吃的吧！」今天也向整个教会发出。世界上有许多人渴望食物，也有许多人渴望尊严、陪伴、真理、宽恕与希望。有人物质富足，内心却十分空虚；有人每天接收大量资讯，却失去了人生的方向；有人身处人群之中，却感到深深的孤独。教会领受基督的生命，也肩负着把这生命带给他们的使命。 第一篇读经中，依撒意亚先知呼喊说：「口渴的人哪，到水泉来吧！没有钱的人哪，也来吧！来买不花钱，不付代价的酒和奶吧！」（依55:1）这是一场面向所有人的邀请。天主的恩宠出于祂丰盛的慈爱，人以信德前来领受。依撒意亚所预告的宴席，在今天的福音中已经展开，并在感恩祭中继续实现。 耶稣今天把群众带到一场新的宴席。在这里，人无需凭财富换取食物，也无需凭社会地位取得座位。病人、穷人、妇女、孩子和普通百姓都坐在草地上，共同领受祂的恩赐。天国的筵席向所有愿意来到基督面前的人敞开。 福音说：「众人吃了，也都吃饱了。」（玛14:20）天主所赐的恩典使人获得饱足。这里的「吃饱」超越身体一时的满足，也指向默西亚时代丰盛的救恩。先知们曾预告，天主将为万民摆设盛宴，除去忧愁和死亡（依25:6-8）。耶稣在旷野中所举行的宴席，正是这项许诺的预尝。 门徒随后把剩下的碎块收拾起来，装满了十二筐。十二这个数字使人想起以色列十二支派，也使人想起耶稣所拣选的十二位宗徒。这个细节显示，耶稣正在聚集新的天主子民。祂赐下的食物充满丰盛，足以养育全体以色列，也将藉着宗徒传向普世万民。 收拾碎块也表达对恩赐的珍惜。天主的恩典丰盛，人应以感恩的心善用一切。教会领受基督的圣体，珍惜基督所托付的每一个人。没有一个人可以被遗忘，没有一份真诚的奉献应该被轻视，没有一项恩宠可以被随意浪费。 答唱咏歌颂说：「上主，你慷慨伸出双手，满足众生的需求。」（咏145:16）今天，天主藉着耶稣伸开双手。祂曾在荒野中擘饼，并将在十字架上张开双臂。荒野中的双手分施食物，十字架上的双手倾流生命。这两幅画面共同显明天主的爱：祂把自己完全赐给人。 第二篇读经中，圣保禄宣告：「谁能使我们与基督的爱隔绝呢？」（罗8:35）随后，他列举困苦、窘迫、迫害、饥饿、赤贫、危险和刀剑。这些经历都曾真实地发生在初期教会，也曾发生在保禄自己身上。然而，他仍然坚定地说：「靠着那爱我们的主，我们在这一切事上，大获全胜。」（罗8:37） 增饼奇迹正好帮助我们理解这份信念。群众来到荒野，食物短缺，天色已晚，人的办法已经走到尽头。耶稣仍然与他们同在，祂的慈悲也为他们开辟道路。信仰虽不能保证人生永远没有荒野，却会使我们在荒野中认出与我们同行的基督。饥饿、痛苦、疾病和死亡都无法切断基督对我们的爱。 保禄最后说：「无论是死亡，是生活，是天使，是掌权者，是现存的或将来的事物，是有权能者，是崇高或深远的势力，或其他任何受造之物，都不能使我们与天主的爱相隔绝，就是与我们的主基督耶稣之内的爱相隔绝。」（罗8:38-39）这份爱已经在耶稣怜悯群众的目光中显露，也在祂擘开的饼中显露，且在十字架和圣体圣事中达到圆满。 每一次参加感恩祭，我们都像福音中的群众一样，来到基督面前。我们带着身体的疲惫、家庭的忧虑、内心的创伤、信仰的软弱和对未来的担心。耶稣看见我们，对我们动了怜悯的心。祂藉着圣言教导我们，藉着圣体养育我们，并以自己的生命更新我们。 感恩祭结束时，我们也听见基督的派遣：「你们给他们吃的吧！」领受圣体使我们与基督结合，使我们参与祂对世界的慈悲。我们在祭台前领受基督，随后在生活中把基督带给别人。一句安慰的话，一次耐心的聆听，一项真诚的服务，一份慷慨的援助，一个宽恕的决定，都可以成为交在基督手中的五饼二鱼。 基督所需要的只是我们愿意奉献的心。当我们把有限的一切交在祂手中，祂便能使我们的生命成为许多人的祝福。但愿我们常常来到基督面前，聆听祂生命的话语，领受祂至圣的身体，把自己完全交托给祂。祈求耶稣使我们在祂的爱中获得饱足，并使我们成为祂慈悲的工具，把生命之粮带给仍在饥渴中的人。 Scripture Reflection in English Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) Today’s Gospel presents the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves (Matthew 14:13-21). All four Gospels record this miracle of Jesus (Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-15), showing the particularly important place it held in the faith and memory of the early Church. The multiplication of the loaves reveals the compassion of Jesus, manifests his identity as the Messiah, anticipates the Eucharist, and shows how the Church receives and continues the mission of Christ. Saint Matthew begins by telling us: “When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself” (Matthew 14:13). John the Baptist had just been killed by Herod. This background casts the shadow of the Cross over the entire Gospel passage. John gave his life for the truth, and his death foreshadowed the suffering that Jesus would undergo. When Jesus heard the news, he withdrew to a deserted place. In his sorrow, he turned to the Father; in prayer, he continued to discern his mission; and with complete trust, he walked the path appointed by the Father. Matthew connects the martyrdom of John with the multiplication of the loaves, allowing us to see two entirely different banquets. In the preceding passage, Herod holds a birthday banquet. That banquet is filled with power, vanity, sensuality, reckless promises, and death; the final dish brought in is the head of John the Baptist (Matthew 14:6-12). Today’s Gospel also describes a banquet. Its setting is the wilderness, its guests are poor, sick, and hungry people, and its host is Jesus, whose heart is filled with compassion. Herod’s banquet brings death; the banquet of Jesus gives life. Herod protects his reputation; Jesus gives himself to the people. Herod’s kingdom rests on fear; the Kingdom of Christ rests on compassion, self-giving, and abundance. This striking contrast helps us understand Saint Matthew’s purpose. Human power often seeks to preserve itself through possession, while the authority of Christ is revealed through giving. Earthly rulers want others to serve them; Jesus enters the crowd and serves everyone. Herod sacrifices an innocent man to protect his position; Jesus offers his own life to save sinners. The multiplication of the loaves thus becomes a sign of the Kingdom of Heaven and reveals Jesus as the King of compassion and love. Jesus goes to the wilderness, and the crowds follow him on foot from their towns. The wilderness carries profound meaning in salvation history. After leaving Egypt, the Israelites received God’s Law in the wilderness and were nourished there each day with manna. Through the wilderness, God formed his people and taught them to trust in his providence. Moses once shepherded Israel in the desert. In today’s Gospel, Jesus gathers the people in the wilderness, heals the sick, and prepares food for them. Through these details, Matthew leads us to recognize Jesus as the new Moses, the Messiah who shepherds the people of God. The Gospel says: “When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick” (Matthew 14:14). The words “his heart was moved with pity” reveal the deep compassion within the heart of Jesus. He sees the crowd, and he sees the particular suffering of each person. He sees the physical weakness of the sick, the burdens carried by families, the anxieties of the poor, and the human longing for truth, hope, and life. The compassion of Jesus gives rise to action. He approaches the people, heals them, remains with them, and attends to their physical hunger. The salvation offered in the Gospel always touches the whole human person. God cares for the soul and for the body; he cares for eternal life and for the burdens people bear today. The compassion of Jesus has a concrete face and enters human life through concrete acts. When evening came, the disciples said to Jesus: “This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves” (Matthew 14:15). The disciples had recognized the people’s need and proposed a reasonable solution. The crowds could leave the wilderness and find food for themselves. Jesus answered: “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves” (Matthew 14:16). The words of Jesus, “Give them some food yourselves,” stand at the center of this Gospel passage and form a call addressed to the disciples. Jesus invites them to enter into his compassion and to share his responsibility for the people. The disciples cannot remain observers or merely report the problem to Jesus. Christ calls them to become collaborators in the work of salvation. The disciples reply: “Five loaves and two fish are all we have here” (Matthew 14:17). They clearly see the limits of what they possess. Five loaves and two fish seem insignificant before a crowd of several thousand people. This scene also reflects the situation often faced by the Church and by every Christian. The needs of the world are immense, while human ability is limited. Poverty, loneliness, illness, war, broken families, and indifference toward faith can easily leave us feeling helpless. Jesus says: “Bring them here to me” (Matthew 14:18). These words reveal the key to the miracle. The five loaves and two fish must first be placed in the hands of Jesus. The disciples possess very little, yet they are willing to offer it. Human self-giving and the grace of Christ meet here, and the abundance of God begins to be revealed. God often begins his work through human limitations. Moses had only a staff (Exodus 4:2, 17), David had only a sling (1 Samuel 17:40), the widow had only a handful of flour and a little oil (1 Kings 17:12-16), and the Apostles themselves were ordinary fishermen (Matthew 4:18-22). When God called them, they entrusted all that they had to him. God received these small offerings and made them instruments of blessing for many people. Jesus then orders the crowds to sit down on the grass. This detail recalls the Lord portrayed as the Good Shepherd in the Psalms: “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. In green pastures he makes me lie down” (Psalm 23:1-2). Jesus seats the hungry crowd on the grass and reveals himself as the Good Shepherd of God’s people. He settles them in his presence and personally prepares a banquet of life for them. Matthew continues: “Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds” (Matthew 14:19). Four profoundly important actions appear here: taking, blessing, breaking, and giving. At the Last Supper, Matthew uses the same actions again: “Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, ‘Take and eat; this is my body’” (Matthew 26:26). The multiplication of the loaves thus points to the Last Supper and to Christ’s self-offering on the Cross. Jesus takes the bread and embraces the mission he has received from the Father; he blesses and expresses thanksgiving and obedience to the Father; he breaks the bread and foreshadows the offering of his body for all; he gives the bread to the disciples and entrusts his own life to the Church. Every celebration of the Eucharist continues these actions. The priest, acting in the name of Christ, takes the bread, gives thanks to the Father, consecrates and breaks it, and then distributes the Body of Christ to the people of God. The Eucharist upon the altar is Christ himself. He continues to nourish the Church with his Body and Blood, enabling us to share his life and forming us into one body in him. The Gospel specifically tells us that Jesus gives the bread to the disciples, and the disciples distribute it to the crowds. Christ is the source of grace, and the disciples become servants of that grace. The disciples cannot produce God’s grace; they receive it faithfully and distribute it generously. The mission of the Church has the same character. The Church receives from Christ the Gospel, the sacraments, and the life of salvation, and then carries all these gifts into the world. Priests proclaim the Word, celebrate the sacraments, and shepherd the people of God; parents form their children in faith at home; catechists teach the faith; and the faithful accompany the sick, care for the poor, and forgive those who have offended them. Every act of service continues the disciples’ distribution of the loaves. The gift in the Church’s hands that can truly nourish the world always comes from Christ. “Give them some food yourselves” is addressed to the whole Church today. Many people hunger for food, and many others hunger for dignity, companionship, truth, forgiveness, and hope. Some are materially affluent yet inwardly empty; some receive vast amounts of information each day yet have lost the direction of their lives; some are surrounded by people yet experience profound loneliness. The Church receives the life of Christ and bears the mission of bringing this life to them. In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah cries out: “All you who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come, receive grain and eat; Come, without paying and without cost, drink wine and milk!” (Isaiah 55:1). This invitation is addressed to everyone. God’s grace flows from the abundance of his love, and we approach in faith to receive it. The banquet foretold by Isaiah unfolds in today’s Gospel and continues to be made present in the Eucharist. Today Jesus gathers the crowd around a new banquet. No one needs wealth to obtain food, and no one needs social status to secure a place. The sick, the poor, women, children, and ordinary people all sit together on the grass and receive his gift. The banquet of the Kingdom is open to everyone who is willing to come to Christ. The Gospel says: “They all ate and were satisfied” (Matthew 14:20). The grace given by God brings satisfaction. The word “satisfied” reaches beyond the temporary fulfillment of physical hunger and points to the abundance of salvation in the messianic age. The prophets had foretold that God would prepare a banquet for all peoples and destroy sorrow and death (Isaiah 25:6-8). The banquet offered by Jesus in the wilderness is a foretaste of that promise. The disciples then collect the fragments that remain, filling twelve wicker baskets. The number twelve recalls the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve Apostles chosen by Jesus. This detail shows that Jesus is gathering the renewed people of God. The food he gives is abundant enough to nourish all Israel, and through the Apostles it will be carried to all nations. Gathering the fragments also expresses reverence for God’s gifts. Divine grace is abundant, and we should use everything with gratitude. The Church receives the Body of Christ and cherishes every person entrusted to her by Christ. No one may be forgotten, no sincere offering should be despised, and no grace may be carelessly wasted. The Responsorial Psalm proclaims: “You open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing” (Psalm 145:16). Today God opens his hands through Jesus. Christ stretches out his hands to break bread in the wilderness and will stretch out his arms upon the Cross. In the wilderness, his hands distribute food; on the Cross, his hands pour out life. These two images together reveal God’s love: he gives himself completely to humanity. In the second reading, Saint Paul asks: “What will separate us from the love of Christ?” (Romans 8:35). He then lists anguish, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, and the sword. These experiences were a reality in the early Church and in Paul’s own life. Yet he confidently declares: “In all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). The multiplication of the loaves helps us understand this conviction. The people are in the wilderness, food is scarce, evening has come, and human solutions have reached their limit. Jesus remains with them, and his compassion opens a way forward. Faith cannot guarantee a life without wilderness, yet it enables us to recognize Christ accompanying us there. Hunger, pain, sickness, and death cannot sever Christ’s love for us. Paul concludes: “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39). This love is revealed in the compassionate gaze of Jesus toward the crowd and in the bread that he breaks. It reaches its fullness in the Cross and the Eucharist. Each time we participate in the Eucharist, we come before Christ like the people in today’s Gospel. We bring the weariness of our bodies, the worries of our families, the wounds of our hearts, the weakness of our faith, and our fears about the future. Jesus sees us, and his heart is moved with pity for us. He teaches us through his Word, nourishes us with his Body, and renews us with his own life. At the conclusion of the Eucharist, we also hear Christ’s commission: “Give them some food yourselves.” Reception of the Eucharist unites us with Christ and draws us into his compassion for the world. We receive Christ at the altar and then carry Christ into our daily lives. A word of consolation, patient listening, sincere service, generous assistance, and a decision to forgive can all become five loaves and two fish placed in the hands of Christ. Christ asks only for hearts willing to offer themselves. When we place all our limitations in his hands, he can make our lives a blessing for many. May we come often to Christ, listen to his words of life, receive his most holy Body, and entrust ourselves completely to him. May Jesus satisfy us with his love and make us instruments of his compassion, bringing the Bread of Life to those who still hunger and thirst. Fr. (Joseph) Guozhang Ruan was born and ordained in China. After serving in parish ministry in the Diocese of Mindong, Fujian, he pursued advanced studies in moral theology in Rome, earning a doctorate from the Pontifical Lateran University. Since coming to the United States in 2004, he has served in several parishes in the Archdiocese of New York. He is currently the Director of the Chinese Apostolate for the Archdiocese of New York and Parochial Vicar of Holy Rosary Church on Staten Island. His ministry focuses on serving Chinese Catholics, promoting evangelization, and fostering greater understanding between the Church in China and the universal Church. ---------------------- The USCCA is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. Your donations are tax-deductible to the maximum extent allowed by law. The success of our work depends upon the generosity of people like you.

At the end of each month, the USCCA compiles a brief list of interesting news articles about Chinese Catholicism. Here is an aggregate of links for July 2026. Sheshan Basilica near Shanghai (image by lobia, obtained from Wikipedia under CC BY 2.0 license) “Under the Agreement with China, Leo XIV Appoints a New Bishop,” Zenit: The World Seen from Rome, July 23, 2026: “Papal Envoy Urges Asian Bishops to Build Bridges,” Union of Catholic Asian News, July 22, 2026: “In Beijing, Women Religious Urged to Shine as ‘City on a Hilltop,’” Sunday Examiner, July 22, 2026: “Chinese Catholics Offer Aid to Victims of Devastating Floods,” Union of Catholic Asian News, July 21, 2026: ---------------------- The USCCA is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. Your donations are tax-deductible to the maximum extent allowed by law. The success of our work depends upon the generosity of people like you.

The Hidden Pearl (AI-generated image) In the Sunday Gospel, Jesus tells three parables about the Kingdom of Heaven, reminding us of our hearts' true desire and our true destiny beyond the challenges and distractions of this life. Below, we invite you to read the latest bilingual Sunday Scripture reflection from Fr. Joseph Ruan, included in Chinese and then in English: Scripture Reflection in Chinese 常年期第十七主日（甲年） 今天的福音记载了耶稣连续讲述三个比喻：地里的宝藏、贵重的珍珠和撒网捕鱼（玛13:44-52）。三个比喻都围绕着同一个主题——天国。在《玛窦福音》中，「天国」是耶稣宣讲的中心。「从那时起，耶稣开始宣讲说：『你们悔改吧！因为天国临近了。』」（玛4:17）耶稣公开生活的开始，是宣讲天国；祂借着比喻启示天国；祂借着神迹彰显天国；祂借着自己的死亡与复活建立天国。 圣经所说的「国」，不是一个地理空间，而是君王的统治。因此，天国就是天主藉着耶稣基督在人类历史中施行祂的统治，把祂的权能、慈爱与救恩带给世界。哪里接受基督，哪里便开始有天国；哪里遵行天主的旨意，哪里便开始实现天国；哪里有真理、圣德、正义、和平与仁爱，那里便是天国的临在。 因此，天国既已经来到，也期待最后的圆满。耶稣来到世界，天国已经开始；教会继续宣讲福音、施行圣事，天国不断在人心中成长；当基督光荣再来，万有得到更新时，天国将达到圆满。今天福音中的三个比喻，是从三个不同的角度，引导我们认识天国：前两个比喻启示天国的价值，第三个比喻启示天国最终的完成。 耶稣首先说：「天国好像藏在地里的宝藏；人找到了，就把它藏起来，高兴地去变卖自己所有的一切，买了那块田。」（玛13:44）这是当时人们熟悉的一幅生活图画。古代巴勒斯坦战乱频繁，人们没有现代银行，常把金银财宝埋藏在地下，以免遭受抢夺。如果主人突然离世，宝藏便留在地下，后来的人偶然发现，是常常可能发生的事情。 整个比喻有三个连续的动作：发现、变卖、买下。推动这一切的，正是宝藏无可比拟的价值。福音特别强调：「他高兴地去。」这份喜乐正是整个比喻的中心。一个人发现更大的财富，自然愿意放下较小的财富；一个人得到真正的宝藏，自然愿意付出相应的代价。他放弃的是有限的产业，得到的却是无法估量的财富。 耶稣藉着这个比喻告诉我们，天国就是这样的宝藏。当一个人与基督相遇，真正认识福音，体会到天主的慈爱，他便开始明白，没有任何东西能够与天主相比。圣保禄分享自己的经验说：「为了基督，我把一切都看作损失，因为我以认识我主基督耶稣为至宝。」（斐3:8）保禄的一生发生了巨大的改变就是因为他发现了真正的宝藏。 人的一生，总是按照自己所珍惜的价值作出选择。一个学生努力学习，因为知识具有价值；父母辛勤工作，因为家庭具有价值；一位运动员坚持训练，因为赢得比赛具有价值。同样，一个基督徒愿意祈祷、参与弥撒、服务教会、实践福音，因为天国永生是生命中最大的价值。 紧接着，耶稣又讲了第二个比喻：「天国又好像一个寻找完美珍珠的商人；他一找到一颗贵重的珍珠，就去，变卖自己所有的一切，买了它。」（玛13:45-46）这个人一直在寻找珍珠。他是一位经验丰富的商人，对于珍珠的价值具有准确的判断。当他终于找到一颗真正无价的珍珠时，他同样变卖自己的一切，把它买下来。 珍珠在古代一直被视为最珍贵的宝物。一颗真正完美的珍珠，可以超过其他所有珍珠的价值。耶稣借着这个形象告诉我们，在整个世界上，真正值得人全心拥有的，就是天国；真正值得人一生追求的，就是基督。 两个比喻共同表达一个真理：天国值得人付出一切。这里所说的「变卖一切」，并不表示每一位基督徒都必须放弃财产，过完全贫穷的生活。耶稣所强调的是，人心应当把天主放在首位。当一个人的心属于天主，财富成为服务爱的工具，事业成为实践使命的平台，家庭成为活出福音的团体，人生的一切都会拥有新的意义。 第三个比喻把我们的目光引向天国最后的完成。耶稣说：「天国又好像撒在海里的网，网罗各种各样的鱼。网一满了，人就拉上岸来，坐下，把好的收在器皿里，把坏的扔掉。」（玛13:47-48）加里肋亚海拥有丰富的渔业资源，渔夫常用大型拖网捕鱼。拖网撒下以后，各种鱼都会进入网中，直到最后拉上岸，才开始分类。耶稣借用渔夫熟悉的工作，说明天国在历史中的发展。 耶稣接着说：「世界终结时也将如此：天使要出去，把恶人由义人中分开。」（玛13:49）这里启示了最后的审判。历史不会漫无目的地不断循环，而是朝向天主所预备的圆满迈进。天主是无限仁慈的，也是至公义的；天主赐给每个人悔改的机会，也尊重每个人自由的回应。每天都是恩宠的时期，也是回应福音的时候。每一次真诚的祈祷，领受圣事，实践爱德，宽恕他人，就是在塑造我们的生命，也准备我们进入天国圆满的光荣。 福音最后，耶稣问门徒：「这一切你们都明白了吗？」他们回答说：「明白了。」于是耶稣继续说：「凡成为天国门徒的经师，就像一个家主，从自己的宝库里，拿出新的和旧的东西来。」（玛13:51-52）这里所说的「新的和旧的」，表达天主救恩计划的完整。旧约准备默西亚的来临，新约完成天主的救恩；先知的预言在基督身上得到实现，法律的精神在基督内达到圆满。天国的门徒忠实保存宗徒传下来的信仰，也不断向每一个时代宣讲福音，使更多的人认识基督，进入天国。 今天的社会充满各种吸引人的「宝藏」和「珍珠」。财富、名誉、权力、享受、成功，都能够带来短暂的满足，却无法满足人心最深处的渴望。因为人的心原是按照天主的肖像受造，唯有天主能够完全满足人心无限的渴望。圣奥斯定在《忏悔录》中写道：「祢为了祢自己创造了我们，我们的心若不安息在祢内，便永远得不到安息。」这句话跨越了一千六百多年，今天仍然真实地描述着现代人的心灵状态。科技不断进步，生活不断改善，人对于真理、爱、永恒和生命意义的渴望依然存在，因为这些渴望最终都指向天主。 今天，耶稣邀请我们重新思考：什么才是生命中真正的宝藏？如果基督成为我们最大的财富，我们便会重新安排自己的时间，珍惜每一次弥撒、每天的祈祷，以及每一个实践爱德的机会。我们的家庭会因为基督而更加和睦，我们的工作会因为福音而更有意义，我们的人生也会充满真正的喜乐与平安。但愿我们都能认出这份永不消失的宝藏，一生跟随基督，将来与众圣人一起，在天国分享天主永恒的福乐。 Scripture Reflection in English The Kingdom of Heaven Is Worth Everything In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells three parables in succession: the treasure hidden in a field, the pearl of great price, and the dragnet (Mt 13:44–52). All three center on the same theme—the Kingdom of Heaven. In the Gospel of Matthew, the Kingdom of Heaven stands at the heart of Jesus’ preaching. “From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, ‘Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand’” (Mt 4:17). From the beginning of His public ministry, Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom. Through His parables He revealed it; through His miracles He made it visible; and through His Death and Resurrection He fulfilled the Father’s saving plan and opened the Kingdom to all humanity. In Sacred Scripture, a “kingdom” refers first to the reign of a king, rather than to a parcel of land. The Kingdom of Heaven, therefore, is God’s reign made present in human history through Jesus Christ, bringing His power, love, and salvation to the world. Wherever Christ is welcomed, the Kingdom begins to take root; wherever God’s will is embraced, the Kingdom becomes visible; wherever truth, holiness, justice, peace, and charity flourish, the presence of the Kingdom is revealed. The Kingdom has already come, and it still awaits its final fulfillment. With the coming of Jesus, the Kingdom has begun. As the Church continues to proclaim the Gospel and celebrate the sacraments, the Kingdom continues to grow in human hearts. When Christ returns in glory and all creation is renewed, the Kingdom will reach its fullness. The three parables in today’s Gospel reveal the Kingdom from three different perspectives: the first two disclose its incomparable value, while the third points to its final fulfillment. Jesus first says, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field” (Mt 13:44). This was a familiar scene to Jesus’ listeners. Ancient Palestine was often troubled by war, and people had no modern banks. They frequently buried gold, silver, and other valuables to protect them from being stolen. If the owner died unexpectedly, the treasure could remain underground until someone else happened to discover it. The parable unfolds through three successive actions: finding, selling, and buying. They follow one another without hesitation because the value of the treasure has already determined the man’s choice. The Gospel emphasizes that he goes “out of joy.” This joy lies at the heart of the parable. Joy moves him to sell everything, because he knows that what he is gaining far exceeds everything he is giving up. When someone discovers a greater treasure, it becomes natural to let go of a lesser one; when someone finds the true treasure, the price is worth paying. The man gives up possessions that are limited and receives a treasure beyond measure. Through this parable, Jesus teaches us that the Kingdom is such a treasure. When a person encounters Christ, truly comes to know the Gospel, and experiences God’s love, that person begins to understand that nothing can compare with God. Saint Paul describes his own experience: “I consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Phil 3:8). From then on, Paul’s life was completely transformed because he had discovered the true treasure—Jesus Christ. We make our choices according to what we value. A student studies diligently because knowledge matters. Parents work tirelessly because their family is precious. An athlete perseveres in training because victory is worth the effort. In the same way, Christians pray, participate in Mass, serve the Church, and live the Gospel because they know that the Kingdom and eternal life are life’s greatest treasure. Jesus then tells a second parable: “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it” (Mt 13:45–46). The first man discovers the treasure unexpectedly; the second has been searching for pearls. He is an experienced merchant who knows how to judge their worth. When at last he finds a truly priceless pearl, he too sells everything he owns and buys it. Although the two parables are similar, they portray two different journeys of faith. Some people resemble the man who finds the treasure: they encounter Christ at a particular and unexpected moment in life. Others resemble the merchant: after a long search and a persistent quest for truth, they finally find the answer to life’s deepest questions. Saint Augustine searched for years before embracing Christ. Saint Ignatius of Loyola found a new direction after being seriously wounded. Many catechumens study and reflect for a long time before receiving Baptism and entering the Church. Their paths differ, but they all lead to the same destination—Jesus Christ. In the ancient world, pearls were among the most precious of all treasures. One truly priceless pearl could be worth more than all the others. Through this image, Jesus teaches us that the Kingdom of Heaven alone is worthy of our wholehearted commitment, and Jesus Christ alone is worthy of our lifelong pursuit and complete devotion. To know Christ is the true beginning of a new life. Together, the two parables proclaim one truth: the Kingdom of Heaven is worth everything. “Selling everything” does not mean that every Christian must give away all possessions and live in absolute poverty. Jesus teaches us to give God first place in our hearts. When our hearts belong to God, wealth becomes a means of serving others in love, work becomes a place where we live our vocation, the family becomes a community in which the Gospel is practiced, and every part of life receives new meaning. Our society offers many attractive “treasures” and “pearls.” Wealth, prestige, power, pleasure, and success may bring satisfaction for a time, but they cannot satisfy the deepest longing of the human heart. We were created in the image of God, and only God can fill the human heart completely. Saint Augustine wrote in his Confessions, “You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” More than sixteen centuries later, these words still speak truthfully about the human condition. The third parable directs our attention to the final fulfillment of the Kingdom. Jesus says, “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a net thrown into the sea, which collects fish of every kind. When it is full, they haul it ashore and sit down to put what is good into buckets; what is bad they throw away” (Mt 13:47–48). Fishermen on the Sea of Galilee often used large dragnets. Once the net was cast, it gathered fish of every kind; only after it had been hauled ashore did the sorting begin. Jesus uses this familiar work to describe the Kingdom’s unfolding in history. The Church today resembles this net cast into the sea. The Gospel is proclaimed to all nations, and the Church welcomes everyone who comes to Christ. Those who are holy live within the Church, as do those who are still growing in holiness. New believers and those who have followed the Lord faithfully for many years journey together in the same Church. God continually pours out His grace and leads each person toward holiness. Jesus continues, “Thus it will be at the end of the age. The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous” (Mt 13:49). Here He reveals the Last Judgment. History is moving toward the fulfillment God has prepared. God is rich in mercy and perfect in justice. He gives every person the opportunity to repent and respects each person’s free response. Today is the time of grace, and every day is a time to answer the Gospel. Every sincere prayer, every reception of the sacraments, every act of charity, and every gesture of forgiveness shapes our lives and prepares us to enter the glory of the Kingdom in its fullness. At the end of the Gospel, Jesus asks His disciples, “Do you understand all these things?” They answer, “Yes.” He then says, “Every scribe who has been instructed in the Kingdom of Heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old” (Mt 13:51–52). The “new and the old” express the unity of God’s saving plan. The Old Testament prepares for the coming of the Messiah, and the New Testament brings God’s saving work to fulfillment. The promises of the prophets are fulfilled in Christ, and the Law reaches its fullness in Him. Disciples of the Kingdom faithfully preserve the faith handed down by the Apostles and proclaim the Gospel to every generation, so that more people may come to know Christ and enter His Kingdom. Today, Jesus invites us to ask once more: What is the true treasure of our lives? If the Kingdom becomes our greatest treasure, we will reorder our time and priorities. We will treasure every Mass, our daily prayer, and every opportunity to practice charity. Our families will grow more united in Christ, our work will take on deeper meaning through the Gospel, and our lives will be filled with genuine joy and peace. May we recognize this true treasure, place Christ first in our lives, and one day enter the Kingdom with all the saints, sharing forever in the life and glory of God. Fr. (Joseph) Guozhang Ruan was born and ordained in China. After serving in parish ministry in the Diocese of Mindong, Fujian, he pursued advanced studies in moral theology in Rome, earning a doctorate from the Pontifical Lateran University. Since coming to the United States in 2004, he has served in several parishes in the Archdiocese of New York. He is currently the Director of the Chinese Apostolate for the Archdiocese of New York and Parochial Vicar of Holy Rosary Church on Staten Island. His ministry focuses on serving Chinese Catholics, promoting evangelization, and fostering greater understanding between the Church in China and the universal Church. ---------------------- The USCCA is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. Your donations are tax-deductible to the maximum extent allowed by law. The success of our work depends upon the generosity of people like you.

by Fr. Xavier, SJ Dear You—A Heartfelt Portrayal of Family, Migration, and Love 給阿嬤的情書Dear You (literally translated Love Letters to My Grandmother) emerged as a remarkable dark horse in China’s 2026 film market. It opened with 3.77 million RMB in box office receipts and held the top spot for five consecutive weeks, resonating strongly across Malaysia, Singapore, and other markets, where it set new records for Chinese-language cinema. Directed by Lan Hongchun(藍鴻春), this Teochew-dialect family drama is the third installment of his acclaimed Teochew Trilogy, weaving nostalgia, migration, and kinship into a quietly powerful narrative that triumphed through authentic word of mouth. At its core, the film centers on Southeast Asian Chinese immigrants and the enduring bonds of family. For those who leave home to build a life abroad, love for family remains an unshakable anchor and spiritual strength to endure hardship—and this love is mutual. The fidelity, loyalty, and quiet devotion between separated loved ones strike a deeply human chord. Letters carrying news of life overseas, paired with hard-earned remittances that sustain families and villages, become tangible expressions of hometown affection, duty, and solidarity. Beyond blood ties, the film also honors the fraternal friendship forged in shared toil. To find a kindred spirit in a foreign land, especially amid struggle, is a grace; over time, integrity, humility, and genuine virtue draw hearts together, nurturing steadfast friendship that ripples outward to embrace a wider community. Here, respect, admiration, and selfless love transcend fleeting impulse, completing one another in life’s journey. It is a different kind of love, yet the same love; a different family, yet the same family of care. Love need not be named or proclaimed; it is lived, felt, and bound in truth. From a Catholic perspective, these themes echo our Church’s timeless social teaching: to welcome the stranger, honor the family, and live in love and solidarity. The Bible reminds us, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Matthew 25:35), calling us to see Christ in every migrant and displaced person. The film’s portrayal of cross-border sacrifice, faithful remembrance, and quiet charity aligns with the virtue of caritas—love of God and neighbor—that animates Christian life. The story begins with a quest for inheritance, yet gently evolves into a search for truth, a testimony to love, and ultimately a journey toward meaning. In this process—rooted in time and animated by love—characters are transformed: from selfishness to generosity, from prejudice to understanding, from greed and cowardice to courage and fidelity. They are changed by encountering selflessness, loyalty, and kindness in others, reflecting the grace of conversion that Christ offers to all. Nostalgia in the film is embodied not in rhetoric, but in quiet acts of charity, faithful friendship, and reverent teacher-student bonds. Life is shown to be simple, yet ablaze with love that transcends boundaries of gender, age, distance, culture, and even division, touching the deepest core of the human heart. Widely screened around the world, Dear You will premiere in North America as the closing film of the 25th New York Asian Film Festival on July 26. Well Go USA will co-distribute the film, with a theatrical release across North America this September. For Catholic viewers and families, this film is more than a moving family story: it is a witness to the dignity of the migrant, the sanctity of the family, and the power of self-sacrificial love. It invites us to cherish our loved ones, welcome those far from home, and live out the truth that love—rooted in fidelity, mercy, and grace—transcends all borders and lasts forever. ---------------------- The USCCA is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. Your donations are tax-deductible to the maximum extent allowed by law. The success of our work depends upon the generosity of people like you.

AI-generated image This Sunday's Gospel, July 19, 2026, presents three parables about the Kingdom of Heaven: wheat and weeds, the mustard seed, and the yeast. Fr. Joseph reminds us that both wheat and weeds exist simultaneously in our hearts. How, then, shall we prepare for the final harvest? Read more in Fr. Joseph's latest bilingual Scripture reflection, included below in Chinese and then in English: Scripture Reflection in Chinese 常年期第十六主日　甲年 今天是常年期第十六主日。耶稣在福音中讲了三个有关天国的比喻：麦子、芥菜子和酵母（玛13:24-43）。三个比喻从不同角度描绘天国的奥迹：天国已经临在人间，仍在逐步成长；天主的恩宠一直运行，只是许多时候悄无声息，犹如种子埋在泥土中，又像酵母藏在面团里。麦子和莠子的比喻尤其触及一个历代以来困扰人心的问题：天主既然美善，世上为何仍有邪恶和痛苦？主人明明撒下好种子，田里却长出莠子。面对仆人的疑问，主人回答：“这是仇人所做的”（玛13:27-28）。这句话把罪恶的来源说得很清楚：天主创造的一切原本美好，罪恶则来自受造物对自由的滥用，扭曲了天主美善的工程。 第一篇读经宣认：“除你以外，别无照顾万物的神”（智12:13）。天主是唯一的创造者，也是历史的主宰。魔鬼只是受造物，能力有限，结局早已注定（参阅《天主教教理》391-395）。莠子的出现，显示受造界与人的自由已经受到罪恶的创伤；天主依然掌管这块田地。邪恶虽然真实，也具有强大的破坏力，却绝非世界的根源，更无法决定历史的终局。世界由天主创造，始终在祂的掌管中，最后的胜利必定属于天主。这个信念使我们面对黑暗时仍能怀抱希望。我们既无须低估邪恶，也无须把邪恶看得过分强大，仿佛天主对它束手无策。 福音中，仆人听见是仇人撒了莠子，马上问：“你愿意我们去把莠子拔出来吗？”主人回答：“不用了，免得你们拔莠子的时候，连麦子也拔出来。让两样一起长到收割的时候好了”（玛13:28-30）。主人对莠子的危害看得清楚，对麦子的成长更为珍惜。仆人急于清理田地，主人却顾念每一株尚未成熟的麦子。人往往根据眼前的表现判断，便急着给别人盖棺论定；天主看到一个人的整个生命，也看到他在恩宠推动下仍有悔改和成长的可能。智慧篇说，天主虽然“掌握大权”，施行审判却“很温和”，治理我们也“极为宽厚”（智12:16-18）。祂的宽仁显示出力量的从容，因为真正有能力者，无须依靠暴力和报复来证明权威。教宗本笃十六世曾说：“世界因天主的耐心得救，却因人的急躁而毁灭。”（本笃十六世，《教宗任职典礼弥撒讲道》，2005年4月24日）仆人的热心值得肯定，可是一旦操之过急，便容易矫枉过正，最后连麦子也受到伤害。 天主的耐心始终与正义同行。莠子终究要在收割时与麦子分开（玛13:30、40-43），所以福音要求我们正视暴力、不义、滥权和各种伤害。我们有责任保护弱小、制止恶行、纠正错误，并维护应有的公道。与此同时，纠正的目标应当指向悔改和救恩。我们可以按照福音分辨行为的善恶，人的最终归宿则在天主手中（参阅玛7:1-5；格前4:5）。慈悲若离开真理，容易沦为姑息；真理若失去慈悲，也会变得冷酷无情。天主的正义与慈悲彼此相合：祂审判邪恶，使受害者的眼泪得到回应；祂耐心等待，给罪人留下回头的机会。正如先知所说，天主愿意恶人离开他的道路而获得生命（参阅则33:11）。 这个比喻也帮助我们认识教会。教会的圣洁来自基督和圣神，教会成员却仍在悔改和成圣的道路上。梵蒂冈第二届大公会议教导我们，教会把罪人拥抱在自己怀中；她是圣洁的，同时常须净化，不断实行补赎和更新（《教会宪章》8）。《天主教教理》进一步指出，直到世界终结，“罪恶的莠子仍会同福音的好麦子混在每一个人心中”（《天主教教理》827）。这项教义要求教会勇于正视自身的罪过，保护受害者，清除丑闻，承担应有的责任；同时也提醒我们，教会是一所培育罪人成圣的学校，而非一座只准完美者进入的殿堂。其实，麦子和莠子也生长在每个人的心里：爱天主时可能夹杂骄傲，服务时可能寻求称赞，信德中也会掺杂恐惧。与其整天挑剔别人，不如先让天主圣言照亮自己的内心。认清自己的软弱以后，我们对别人自然会多一分体谅，少一分苛刻。 芥菜子和酵母的比喻进一步说明，天主在等待期间一直默默工作。天国好像一粒微小的芥菜子，后来却长成大树（玛13:31-32）。一句真诚的安慰、一次无人知晓的宽恕、一项忠实完成的小责任，在人眼中也许微不足道，在天主手中却能结出意想不到的果实。天国又像酵母，在面团里面慢慢发挥作用，直到全团发起（玛13:33）。天主的恩宠也这样进入人的内心，逐渐医治我们的创伤，净化我们的欲望，提升我们的自由，使我们能够参与天主的生命（参阅《天主教教理》1996-2001）。恩宠的工作往往润物无声，生命的改变也很少一蹴而就。天主尊重人成长的过程，祂耐心陪伴，一步一步引领人走向成熟。 第二篇读经告诉我们：“圣神扶助我们的软弱”（罗8:26）。当痛苦使我们无话可说，当内心一片混乱，连自己需要什么都说不清楚时，圣神仍在我们心中“以无可言喻的叹息”代为转求（罗8:26-27）。所以，田地表面纵然杂乱，圣神仍在深处耕耘；芥菜子虽然微小，天国的生命已经萌芽；酵母藏在面团里，整个面团已经开始改变。教宗方济各解释这个比喻时指出，主人首先关心的是保护和挽救麦子。基督徒应当拒绝邪恶，同时对犯罪的人保持耐心，因为基督来到人间，正是为了寻找迷失者，引领罪人走向救恩（方济各，《三钟经讲话》，2020年7月19日）。 今天的福音邀请我们既正视莠子，更用心栽培麦子。我们要抵抗邪恶、纠正错误，也要认真悔改；与此同时，还要鼓励善良、扶助软弱者、以爱德宣讲真理，并信赖圣神在人心中隐而不显的工作。判断别人以前，可以先想想天主曾怎样耐心地对待我们；准备放弃一个人时，也该记起天主曾多少次给我们回头的机会。撒好种子的人子，也是那一粒落在地里死去的麦子（若12:24）。在十字架上，邪恶看似得胜；借着基督的死亡与复活，十字架反倒成为邪恶败亡的地方。让我们祈求分辨的恩宠，使我们明辨善恶；祈求耐心的恩宠，使我们珍惜天主仍在引导和塑造的人；也祈求希望的恩宠，使我们坚信历史始终掌握在天主手中。希望我们在最后收割到来时，成为扎根于基督、接受恩宠转化的成熟麦子，能在天父的国里“像太阳一般发射光辉”（玛13:43）。 Scripture Reflection in English Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time — Year A Today we celebrate the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. In the Gospel, Jesus gives us three parables about the Kingdom of Heaven: the wheat and the weeds, the mustard seed, and the yeast (Mt 13:24–43). Each one reveals a different aspect of the Kingdom. God’s reign has already entered the world and continues to grow, though its work is often quiet and hidden, like a seed buried in the earth or yeast mixed into flour. The parable of the wheat and the weeds address a question that has troubled the human heart for generations: if God is good, why do evil and suffering remain in the world? The master sows good seed, yet weeds later appear among the wheat. When the servants ask where they came from, he replies, “An enemy has done this” (Mt 13:27–28). His answer makes the origin of evil clear. Everything God created was originally good; evil entered through the misuse of created freedom and has distorted God’s good work. The first reading proclaims: “There is no god besides you who have the care of all” (Wis 12:13). God alone is the Creator and Lord of history. The devil is a creature whose power is limited and whose final defeat is certain (cf. CCC 391–395). The presence of weeds reveals that creation and human freedom have been wounded by sin, while the field itself remains under God’s authority. Evil is real and possesses terrible destructive power, yet it is neither the source of the world nor the master of history’s destiny. God created the world, continues to hold it in his hands, and will bring his saving plan to fulfillment. This conviction allows us to face darkness without surrendering to despair. Evil should be taken seriously, but it should never be granted a power that belongs to God alone. When the servants learn that an enemy has sown the weeds, they immediately ask, “Do you want us to go and pull them up?” The master replies, “No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. Let them grow together until harvest” (Mt 13:28–30). The master clearly recognizes the danger posed by the weeds, yet his greater concern is the growth of the wheat. The servants want the field cleared immediately; the master is mindful of every stalk that has not yet reached maturity. We often judge people according to what we see at a particular moment and quickly assume that their story is finished. God sees the whole course of a person’s life, including what grace, freedom, repentance, and time may still bring forth. The Book of Wisdom says that although God is “master of might,” he judges “with clemency” and governs “with much lenience” (Wis 12:16–18). His mercy reveals the serenity of true power. He has no need to prove his authority through violence or revenge. Pope Benedict XVI expressed this mystery memorably: “The world is redeemed by the patience of God. It is destroyed by the impatience of man” (Benedict XVI, Homily for the Inauguration of the Pontificate, 24 April 2005). The servants’ zeal is understandable, but zeal without patience can become destructive and uproot the very good it hopes to defend. God’s patience always walks together with justice. At the harvest, the weeds will be separated from the wheat (Mt 13:30, 40–43). The Gospel therefore calls us to confront violence, injustice, abuse of power, and every form of harm. We have a duty to protect the vulnerable, restrain evil, correct wrongdoing, and uphold justice. At the same time, Christian correction should always seek repentance and salvation. We may discern the moral character of an action according to the Gospel, while the final destiny of a human soul remains in God’s hands (cf. Mt 7:1–5; 1 Cor 4:5). Mercy separated from truth easily becomes indulgence; truth separated from mercy can become cold and cruel. In God, justice and mercy work in perfect harmony. He judges evil so that the suffering of victims will receive an answer, and he waits patiently so that sinners may still return. As the prophet declares, God desires the wicked to turn from their ways and live (cf. Ez 33:11). This parable also helps us understand the mystery of the Church. The Church’s holiness comes from Christ and the Holy Spirit, while her members remain on the path of repentance and sanctification. The Second Vatican Council teaches that the Church embraces sinners within her and is therefore “at once holy and always in need of purification,” continually following the path of penance and renewal (*Lumen Gentium*, 8). The Catechism further explains that until the end of time, “the weeds of sin will still be mixed with the good wheat of the Gospel” in everyone (CCC 827). This teaching calls the Church to face her own sins honestly, protect victims, confront scandal, and accept responsibility. It also reminds us that the Church is a community in which sinners are formed for holiness, rather than a sanctuary reserved for those who have already reached perfection. Wheat and weeds grow within every human heart. Love for God may be mixed with pride, service with a desire for praise, and faith with fear. Instead of spending our lives examining the faults of others, we should first allow the Word of God to illuminate our own hearts. Awareness of our weakness will make us more understanding and less severe toward others. The parables of the mustard seed and the yeast reveal that God remains quietly at work during this time of waiting. The Kingdom is like a tiny mustard seed that eventually grows into a large plant (Mt 13:31–32). A sincere word of encouragement, an act of forgiveness known only to God, or a small duty faithfully completed may appear insignificant, yet in God’s hands it can bear fruit beyond anything we imagined. The Kingdom is also like yeast working within the dough until the whole batch is leavened (Mt 13:33). Grace enters the human heart in a similar way, gradually healing our wounds, purifying our desires, and elevating our freedom so that we may share in the life of God (cf. CCC 1996–2001). Grace usually works quietly, and the transformation of a human life rarely happens all at once. God respects the process of growth. He accompanies us patiently and leads us step by step toward maturity. Fr. (Joseph) Guozhang Ruan was born and ordained in China. After serving in parish ministry in the Diocese of Mindong, Fujian, he pursued advanced studies in moral theology in Rome, earning a doctorate from the Pontifical Lateran University. Since coming to the United States in 2004, he has served in several parishes in the Archdiocese of New York. He is currently the Director of the Chinese Apostolate for the Archdiocese of New York and Parochial Vicar of Holy Rosary Church on Staten Island. His ministry focuses on serving Chinese Catholics, promoting evangelization, and fostering greater understanding between the Church in China and the universal Church. ---------------------- The USCCA is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. Your donations are tax-deductible to the maximum extent allowed by law. The success of our work depends upon the generosity of people like you.

Image courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA The feast day of St. Augustine Zhao Rong (d. 1815) and Companions, also known as the Martyr Saints of China, was celebrated by the whole Church this Thursday, July 9th, 2026. Fr. Joseph Ruan connects the spirit of these martyrs with the finest values of Chinese civilization and the challenge of the Gospel for our time. We invite you to read Fr. Ruan's reflection below, included in Chinese and then in English: Scripture Reflection in Chinese 中华殉道诸圣 今天，普世教会隆重庆祝中华殉道诸圣。教会将这一百二十位圣人列入圣品，并不是为了追忆一段悲壮的历史，也不是为了歌颂人的英雄气概，而是藉着他们的生命，让整个教会重新默想福音的真理。对于中国教会而言，这是一个充满感恩与希望的日子。因为今天所纪念的，并非遥远时代的传奇人物，而是一群曾经生活在中华大地上的信友。他们说着中国人的语言，遵循中国人的礼仪习俗，深爱自己的家园，也深爱基督。他们当中有主教、司铎、修女、传教士，也有农夫、工匠、母亲、青年和孩童；身份各异，经历不同，却都在生命最重要的时刻，以坚定的信德回应了天主的召叫，为福音留下了永不磨灭的见证。 圣人与我们的距离，并没有想象中那样遥远。他们同样经历过家庭的温暖，也体会过人生的艰辛；曾面对恐惧，也经历挣扎；曾为亲人流泪，也曾在黑暗中祈祷。他们的伟大，并非源于天赋异禀，而是在关键时刻，将生命牢牢建立在基督之上。正因如此，他们的人生成为福音最有力的注解，他们的鲜血成为信德最真实的宣认。 今天福音记载，耶稣站在平地上，向门徒宣讲天国的真福：「你们贫穷的人是有福的……你们现在哭泣的人是有福的……如果为了人子的缘故，有人恼恨你们，排斥你们，并且辱骂你们，你们才是有福的。在那一天，你们要欢欣雀跃，因为你们在天上的赏报是丰厚的。」（参阅路6:20-23）这段福音，始终挑战人的思想，也更新人的价值标准。在人性的本能中，都会追求富足、健康、平安和尊荣，都会躲避贫穷、眼泪、羞辱和迫害。这也是人之常情。然而，耶稣却把人的目光提升到永恒的层面，使我们重新认识什么是真正的福。 福音所说的「福」，首先是一份来自天主的恩宠，是人与天主相契相通所拥有的新生命。它不会随着财富的增减而改变，也不会随着环境的顺逆而消失，因为它植根于天主永恒的爱。一个人的生命与基督结合得越深，内心便越自由；对天国怀抱的望德越坚定，越能够超越现实中的得失荣辱。因此，贫穷并不会自动成为祝福，眼泪本身也没有救恩的价值。真正具有永恒意义的，是人在贫穷中依然信赖天主，在眼泪中依然怀抱希望，在迫害中依然忠于基督。人的境遇或许充满艰辛，信德却能够把这一切转化成为走向永生的道路。 今天第一篇读经《希伯来书》描绘了一幅壮丽的信德画卷。作者回顾旧约历代义人的生命，他们因着信德征服列国，执行正义，获得恩许；有人堵住狮子的口，有人扑灭烈火，也有人遭受监禁、酷刑、鞭打、石击和利剑。他们的人生经历千差万别，信德却始终如一。《希伯来书》最后特别指出：「这一切人虽然因着信德获得了美好的证言。」圣经没有按照他们在人世间获得多少成就来评价他们，而是以他们对天主的忠诚作为生命的尺度。 这里揭示了一项极其重要的真理。整个救恩史所关注的，从不是人的成功，而是人与天主之间的盟约关系。真正决定一个人生命价值的，不是财富、地位或权势，而是他是否忠信到底。十字架正是这一真理最圆满的启示。当耶稣被钉在十字架上时，在许多人眼中，那是一场彻底的失败；宗徒四散，群众讥笑，敌人得意。然而，就在人看来最黑暗的时刻，天主却完成了整个救恩计划。复活并没有抹去十字架，而是赋予十字架新的意义；死亡没有成为终点，反而开启了永恒生命的大门。 中华诸圣正是在基督的十字架内，理解了生命真正的价值。他们深知，人的生命固然宝贵，灵魂更加宝贵；世上的荣耀终将过去，天国的产业却永不衰残。他们怀着这样的信德面对审讯，面对威胁，面对酷刑，也面对死亡。他们心中拥有的平安，并非来自环境，而是来自复活的主基督。 教会自古便相信，殉道者参与了基督逾越奥迹的圆满见证。殉道并非单纯忍受死亡，而是在圣神的扶助下，以整个生命回应天主的召叫。因此，殉道首先是一项信德的行动，也是一项望德的行动，更是一项爱的行动。因为他们深爱基督，所以愿意将自己完全交托给基督。教父戴尔都良曾写下著名的一句话：「殉道者的鲜血，是教会的种子。」这句话在中国教会的发展历程中，获得了深刻的印证。 福音传入中国已经历一千多年。从唐代景教，到元代教会；从明末利玛窦来华，到近代无数传教士和中国教友共同建立地方教会；从义和团时期的流血见证，到近现代各种艰难岁月，中国教会的发展始终伴随着风雨洗礼。历史的道路几经曲折，却始终没有中断；信德的火焰历经考验，却始终没有熄灭。正所谓「疾风知劲草，板荡识诚臣」，越是在艰难的岁月中，越显明信德的坚贞；越是在考验之中，越彰显福音生命的力量。 今天，我们生活的时代已经发生了巨大变化，很多地方不再面对流血的考验，却时时面对信仰的考验。物质主义不断冲击人的价值观，消费文化容易使人迷失生命的方向，个人主义削弱了人与天主、人与他人的关系，相对主义模糊了真理与错误的界限。人在这样的环境中，或许不会因为信仰而失去生命，却可能因为妥协而逐渐失去信仰；不会遭遇监禁，却可能在繁忙中忽略祈祷；不会面对刑场，却可能在日复一日的选择中远离福音。 每一位基督徒都承担着见证福音的使命。家庭是见证的地方，工作岗位是见证的地方，学校、社会、文化生活同样都是见证的地方。诚实守信、敬畏生命、维护公义、关怀弱小、宽恕仇敌、坚持真理，这些看似平凡的选择，都在默默宣讲福音，都在回应基督的召叫。 中华诸圣留给中国教会最宝贵的财富是一份永不褪色的信德。他们证明，福音能够在中华文化中生根发芽，结出圣德的果实；基督信仰能够塑造真正高尚的人格，也能够孕育真正属于中华民族的圣人。他们以生命说明，忠、孝、仁、义等中华文化的优秀传统，在福音光照下能够获得圆满的真理。 今天，当我们仰望中华诸圣的时候，心中充满感恩，因为天主曾在中华大地兴起如此众多忠信的见证人；心中也充满责任，因为他们曾经守护的信仰，如今已经交托到这一代基督徒手中。 祈求中华殉道诸圣为中国教会转祷，使所有信友在任何环境中都能坚守福音，在任何时代都能忠于基督，在任何挑战中都能怀着望德前行。但愿我们以圣人的生命作为榜样，让信德日益坚定，让望德不断成长，让爱德愈加圆满，使基督的福音继续在中华大地结出丰盛的果实，直到主再来的那一天。 Scripture Reflection in English The Holy Martyrs of China Today the universal Church joyfully celebrates the Feast of the Holy Martyrs of China. In canonizing these 120 saints, the Church does far more than commemorate a tragic chapter of history or honor extraordinary human courage. Through their lives, she invites the entire People of God to contemplate the truth of the Gospel anew. For the Church in China, this feast is a day of profound gratitude and hope. Those whom we honor today were not legendary figures from a distant age, but ordinary believers who once lived on Chinese soil. They spoke the language of the Chinese people, embraced the customs of their homeland, loved their country, and loved Christ above all. Among them were bishops, priests, religious sisters, missionaries, farmers, craftsmen, mothers, young people, and children. Though their backgrounds and life experiences differed greatly, they all responded faithfully to God’s call and, at the decisive moment of their lives, bore an enduring witness to the Gospel. The saints are far closer to us than we often imagine. They experienced the warmth of family life and the hardships of daily existence. They knew fear, struggled through trials, shed tears for those they loved, and prayed in the darkness of uncertainty. Their greatness did not lie in extraordinary natural gifts but in their unwavering decision to build their lives firmly upon Christ. For this reason, their lives became the clearest interpretation of the Gospel, and their blood became the most eloquent profession of faith. In today’s Gospel, Jesus stands on level ground and proclaims the Beatitudes: “Blessed are you who are poor… Blessed are you who weep now… Blessed are you when people hate you, exclude you, insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven” (cf. Luke 6:20–23). These words have challenged human thinking and transformed human values throughout the centuries. By nature, every person longs for prosperity, health, peace, honor, and security, while instinctively avoiding poverty, sorrow, humiliation, and persecution. Such desires are deeply human. Yet Jesus lifts our gaze beyond earthly horizons and teaches us what true blessedness really means. The “blessedness” proclaimed in the Gospel is first and foremost the gift of God’s grace—the new life born of communion with Him. It does not depend upon wealth or poverty, success or failure, favorable circumstances or adversity, because it is rooted in the eternal love of God. The more deeply one’s life is united with Christ, the greater one’s interior freedom becomes. The more firmly one’s hope rests in the Kingdom of Heaven, the less one’s heart is dominated by the changing fortunes of this world. Poverty in itself does not make a person blessed, nor does suffering possess saving power on its own. Blessedness arises when one continues to trust God in poverty, clings to hope amid sorrow, and remains faithful to Christ even under persecution. Human suffering may remain, yet faith transforms suffering into a path that leads toward eternal life. The First Reading from the Letter to the Hebrews presents a magnificent panorama of faith. The sacred author recalls the heroes of the Old Testament: some conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and obtained God’s promises; others shut the mouths of lions, quenched raging fires, or endured imprisonment, torture, scourging, stoning, and death. Their earthly lives followed very different paths, yet they were united by one common virtue—faith. The Letter concludes with these remarkable words: “All these were approved because of their faith.” Sacred Scripture measures human life by a standard very different from that of the world. God does not evaluate people according to their accomplishments, possessions, or social status, but according to their fidelity. Throughout salvation history, what matters most is not worldly success but the covenant relationship between God and His people. The true measure of a person’s life is found neither in wealth nor in power, but in faithful perseverance. This truth reaches its fullest expression in the mystery of the Cross. When Jesus hung upon Calvary, many saw only defeat. His disciples had scattered, His enemies appeared victorious, and the crowds mocked Him. Yet precisely in that darkest hour, God accomplished the work of redemption. The Resurrection did not erase the Cross; rather, it revealed its deepest meaning. Death did not become the final chapter, but the gateway to eternal life. The Holy Martyrs of China understood the true value of life through the mystery of Christ’s Cross. They recognized the preciousness of earthly life, yet they knew that the soul is of infinitely greater worth. Earthly glory passes away, but the inheritance of Heaven endures forever. Sustained by this faith, they faced interrogation, threats, torture, and death with unwavering confidence. Their peace did not arise from favorable circumstances but from the living presence of the Risen Lord. From the earliest centuries, the Church has understood martyrdom as the fullest participation in Christ’s Paschal Mystery. Martyrdom is far more than the endurance of death; it is the complete offering of one’s life to God through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is at once an act of faith, an act of hope, and an act of perfect charity. Because they loved Christ above all else, the martyrs entrusted themselves entirely to Him. The early Christian writer Tertullian famously declared, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.” The history of Christianity in China powerfully confirms the truth of these words. The Gospel has been preached in China for well over a millennium. From the arrival of the ancient Church during the Tang Dynasty, through the Yuan Dynasty, the missionary efforts of Matteo Ricci and his companions in the late Ming period, the witness of countless missionaries and Chinese believers, the Boxer Rebellion, and the many trials of the modern era, the Church in China has continually grown through adversity. Its path has often been difficult, yet the journey has never ceased. Its faith has been tested by fire, yet its light has never been extinguished. As an old Chinese proverb reminds us, “Only a strong wind reveals the strength of sturdy grass.” Times of trial have repeatedly revealed the steadfastness of faith and the enduring power of the Gospel. Today we live in circumstances very different from those faced by the martyrs. In many places, believers no longer confront the threat of shedding their blood, yet faith continues to face serious challenges. Materialism reshapes human values. Consumerism easily obscures life’s true purpose. Individualism weakens our relationship with God and with one another. Relativism blurs the distinction between truth and error. Many Christians may never lose their lives because of their faith, yet they may gradually lose their faith through compromise. They may never face imprisonment, yet they may slowly abandon prayer amid the busyness of life. They may never stand before an executioner, yet they may drift away from the Gospel through countless small decisions made each day. Every Christian is therefore called to bear witness to the Gospel. Our homes, workplaces, schools, and communities all become places where faith is lived. Honesty, reverence for human life, the pursuit of justice, compassion for the vulnerable, forgiveness of enemies, and fidelity to truth are not merely moral virtues; they are concrete expressions of Christian discipleship. These seemingly ordinary choices quietly proclaim the Gospel and answer Christ’s call. The greatest treasure that the Holy Martyrs of China have entrusted to the Church is an unshakable faith. They demonstrated that the Gospel can take deep root within Chinese culture and produce the fruits of genuine holiness. Christian faith forms noble character and raises men and women to true sanctity. Their lives also reveal that the finest values of Chinese civilization—loyalty, filial piety, benevolence, and righteousness—find their fullest meaning and perfection in the light of the Gospel. As we look to the Holy Martyrs of China today, our hearts are filled with gratitude because God has raised up so many faithful witnesses from among the Chinese people. Our hearts are also filled with responsibility, for the faith they defended at so great a cost has now been entrusted to our generation. May the Holy Martyrs of China intercede for the Church in China and for Chinese Catholics throughout the world. May they strengthen us to remain faithful to the Gospel in every circumstance, steadfast in every age, and filled with hope amid every trial. May we follow their example with ever-deepening faith, steadfast hope, and perfect charity, so that the Gospel of Christ may continue to bear abundant fruit throughout China until the day when our Lord comes again in glory. Fr. (Joseph) Guozhang Ruan was born and ordained in China. After serving in parish ministry in the Diocese of Mindong, Fujian, he pursued advanced studies in moral theology in Rome, earning a doctorate from the Pontifical Lateran University. Since coming to the United States in 2004, he has served in several parishes in the Archdiocese of New York. He is currently the Director of the Chinese Apostolate for the Archdiocese of New York and Parochial Vicar of Holy Rosary Church on Staten Island. His ministry focuses on serving Chinese Catholics, promoting evangelization, and fostering greater understanding between the Church in China and the universal Church. ---------------------- The USCCA is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. Your donations are tax-deductible to the maximum extent allowed by law. The success of our work depends upon the generosity of people like you.

Parable of the Sower, by unknown author, published by The Religious Tract Society of Hankow (and Shanghai), 1929, Yale Divinity Library God is the sower of good seeds, but our hearts are the field that must respond to the sowing. We invite you to read Fr. Joseph Ruan's latest Bilingual Sunday Scripture Reflection below, included in Chinese and then in English: Scripture Reflection in Chinese 常年期第十五主日（甲年） 今天是常年期第十五主日。今天的福音记载了耶稣所讲的「撒种的比喻」（玛13:1-23）。这是四部福音中最广为人知的比喻之一。许多教友一听到这段福音，立刻想到四种土地：路旁、石头地、荆棘中和好地。耶稣后来也亲自解释了这四种土地所代表的意义。不过，在解释四种土地之前，我们应当先按照玛窦福音的叙述，一步一步跟随耶稣的讲论。福音中的每一句话都有它的意义，每一个细节都有它的目的，引导我们更深入地认识天国的奥秘。 福音一开始说：「那一天，耶稣从家里出来，坐在海边。」玛窦福音很少记载没有意义的细节。「那一天」这一句话，把今天的福音与前面发生的事情连接起来。就在前一章，法利塞人已经开始商议怎样除掉耶稣。虽然跟随耶稣的人越来越多，却不是每一个人都相信祂。有人惊叹祂所行的奇迹，却拒绝接受祂的教导（玛11:20-24）；有人听见祂的话，却始终不愿意悔改。在这样的背景下，耶稣开始用比喻讲论天国。比喻不仅是一种容易理解的教学方法，启示了天国的奥秘，同时也显露出人的内心。愿意寻求天主的人，会继续聆听，也会逐渐明白；已经关闭心门的人，即使听见比喻，不过当作一个故事而已。 玛窦接着告诉我们，耶稣「坐在海边。后来，由于聚集的人越来越多，耶稣便上了船，坐下来教训群众。按照犹太人的传统，老师坐着讲道，是正式施教的姿态（玛5:1-2）。因此，耶稣并不是随意与群众交谈，而是以教师的身份、带着权威宣讲天国。至于海边，也值得我们留意。玛窦虽然没有解释它的象征意义，但福音多次记载，各地群众来到加里肋亚海边聆听耶稣讲道。这幅图画已经暗示，耶稣所宣讲的福音，不是为少数人，而是向所有愿意聆听天主圣言的人开放。从福音一开始，玛窦便向我们展示了耶稣是天国的导师，也是向普世宣讲天主圣言的救主。 耶稣随后说：「看，有一个撒种的出去撒种。」这句话看起来十分平常，却揭示了整个救恩历史的起点。值得注意的是，耶稣先介绍撒种的人，然后才讲种子和土地。主动的一方始终是天主。整个救恩历史都证明这一点。天主先召叫亚巴郎（创12:1-3），先拣选以色列作为自己的子民（申7:6-8），又不断派遣先知，劝勉百姓回头归向祂（耶7:25-26）。到了时期圆满的时候，天主更派遣自己的独生子来到世界（若3:16；迦4:4）。因此，每一项救恩工程，都始于天主的主动，而不是人的寻找。当天主圣言临到我们之前，祂已经先寻找了我们；在我们回应祂以前，祂已经先向我们说话。 接下来，有另一个细节也特别值得留意。撒种的人把种子撒向整个田地，有的落在路旁，有的落在石头地里，有的落在荆棘中，也有的落在好地里。按照一般农夫的经验，没有人会故意把珍贵的种子撒在不能生长的地方。然而，耶稣却故意描写这样一位撒种者。这正显出天主无限的慈悲与慷慨。天主不会先衡量一个人是否配得恩宠，然后才向他说话。祂愿意把自己的圣言赐给每一个人。无论是忠信的门徒，还是远离教会的人；无论是义人，还是罪人，天主都不断向他们发出邀请（弟前2:4）。祂从不停止播撒圣言，因为祂始终盼望每一个人能够悔改归向祂（伯后3:9）。 这一点，正好得到今天第一篇读经的印证。依撒意亚先知代表上主宣告：「我口中发出的言语，不能空空地回到我这里来，反之，它必实行我的旨意，完成我赋给它的使命。」（依55:10-11）先知把天主的圣言比作从天降下的雨和雪。雨水不会立刻带来丰收，却会默默滋润土地，孕育生命，直到庄稼成熟。天主的圣言也是如此。很多时候，我们希望立刻看到成果；天主却常常在安静中工作，在忍耐中完成祂的计划。一句小时候听过的圣经，一篇多年以前听过的讲道，一句简单的祈祷，都可能在若干年以后成为一个人回头归向天主的开始。天主的圣言永远不会失去它的能力，因为它一定会完成天主托付给它的使命。 直到这里，耶稣才开始解释四种土地。注意，种子没有改变，撒种的人没有改变，改变的是土地，也就是人的内心。耶稣借着这个比喻告诉我们，天主圣言本身始终具有同样的能力，真正影响结果的，是人是否愿意接受这份恩宠。 第一种土地是路旁。耶稣说，这是指那些听了天国的道，却没有真正明白的人，邪恶者便来把撒在他心里的夺去了。圣经所说的「明白」，并不仅仅指知识上的理解，也是指以信德接受天主的圣言，让圣言进入生命，改变自己的生活。许多人听过福音，也知道福音，却没有让福音成为自己生活的准则。圣言停留在耳中，很快便消失了；只有进入心中，才能扎根成长。 第二种土地是石头地。这样的人听了圣言，立刻欢喜接受，却没有根，一旦为了福音遇到困难或迫害，便很快跌倒了。耶稣提醒门徒，真正的信德必须深深扎根于天主。人的情绪会改变，热情会减退，环境也会不断变化。如果信仰只建立在一时的感动上，便难以经得起考验。每天坚持祈祷，勤领圣事，忠于本分，在平凡生活中持守信德，这些都像树木隐藏在地下的根一样，虽然不容易被人看见，却支撑着整个生命。 第三种土地是荆棘中。耶稣解释说，这是指那些被「世俗的焦虑和财富的迷惑」所占据的人。耶稣特别先提到焦虑，然后才提到财富，因为很多人的信仰，并不是首先被财富夺去，而是先被焦虑占满了内心。对健康、工作、家庭、前途、经济的忧虑，使人的心渐渐失去对天主的信赖。财富本身并不是罪恶，真正的危险在于它慢慢占据了原本属于天主的位置。荆棘不会一夜之间长满田地，它是在不知不觉中不断生长，最后窒息了幼苗。同样，世俗的事物若不断侵占我们的内心，也会慢慢削弱我们的信德。 最后，耶稣讲到好地。这些人听了圣言，明白了，并且结出果实，有一百倍的，有六十倍的，也有三十倍的。值得留意的是，耶稣并没有要求每一个人都结出同样的果实。天主赏给每个人不同的恩宠、不同的圣召，也交付不同的使命（格前12:4-11）。祂所期待的，是每一个人都忠实回应自己所领受的恩宠，让圣言在自己的生命中结出应有的果实。 今天第二篇读经，圣保禄进一步把我们的眼光带向整个受造界。他说：「凡受造之物，都热切地等待天主子女的显扬。」（罗8:19）圣言所结出的果实，并不只影响个人。当一个人的生命因福音而更新，整个教会便得到建立；当教会不断迈向圣善，整个世界也开始分享天主所应许的更新。天国的丰收，最后将临于整个受造界。 亲爱的弟兄姊妹，每一个主日，我们首先围绕圣道的餐桌，然后围绕圣体的餐桌而聚集（参阅《天主启示宪章》21号）。基督先藉着圣言向我们说话，然后藉着自己的圣体圣血滋养我们。那位撒种的主，也赐给我们成长所需要的一切恩宠。今天，当我们聆听天主圣言的时候，让我们祈求上主预备我们的心田，使祂的圣言深深扎根在我们的生命中，结出丰盛的果实，并最终引领我们进入祂永恒的天国。 Scripture Reflection in English Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) Today we celebrate the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells the Parable of the Sower (Mt 13:1–23). It is one of the best-known parables in all the Gospels. Most Christians immediately think of the four kinds of soil: the path, the rocky ground, the thorns, and the rich soil. Jesus Himself explains what each of them represents. Yet before we arrive at the explanation of the four soils, it is important to follow the Gospel as Matthew presents it. Every sentence has its purpose, and every detail helps us understand what Jesus is teaching about the Kingdom of Heaven. The Gospel begins by saying, “On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea”. Matthew rarely includes details without purpose. The expression “on that day” connects today’s Gospel with what has just taken place in the previous chapter. Jesus has encountered increasing opposition from the Pharisees, who have already begun to plot against Him (Mt 12:14). Although large crowds continue to follow Him, many refuse to believe in Him. Some admire His miracles but reject His message (Mt 11:20–24). Others listen to His teaching but refuse to change their lives. It is at this moment that Jesus begins to teach in parables. The parables are not merely illustrations; they reveal the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven while at the same time exposing the disposition of the human heart. Those who sincerely seek God will continue listening and come to understand. Those who have already closed their hearts will hear only a story. Matthew also tells us that Jesus “sat down by the sea”. Soon the crowd becomes so large that He enters a boat and teaches from there. Sitting was the traditional posture of a Jewish teacher (cf. Mt 5:1–2). Jesus is not speaking casually to the crowd; He is teaching with authority. The sea, beside which great crowds from many regions gathered to hear Him (cf. Mt 4:25), also reminds us that His message is destined for all who are willing to listen. From the very beginning of this scene, Matthew presents Jesus as the Teacher of the Kingdom who proclaims God’s Word to all people. Jesus then begins with a very simple sentence: “A sower went out to sow”. At first glance, this sounds like the beginning of an ordinary farming story. Yet this first sentence already reveals an important truth. Jesus begins with the sower before He speaks about the seed or the soil. The initiative always belongs to God. Throughout the history of salvation, God is always the first to act. He called Abraham before Abraham knew Him (Gen 12:1–3). He chose Israel before Israel became His faithful people (Dt 7:6–8). He sent the prophets again and again, even when His people rejected them (Jer 7:25–26). Finally, He sent His own Son into the world (Jn 3:16; Gal 4:4). Every work of salvation begins with God’s initiative. Before we search for God, He has already come searching for us (1 Jn 4:10). Before we respond to His Word, He has already spoken. One detail of the parable deserves careful attention. The sower scatters his seed everywhere. Some falls upon the path, some on rocky ground, some among thorns, and some on rich soil. An experienced farmer would normally avoid wasting precious seed in places where it could never grow. Jesus deliberately describes a different kind of sower. His generosity reflects the generosity of God Himself. God does not reserve His Word only for those who seem ready to receive it. He offers His grace to everyone (1 Tim 2:4). The Gospel is proclaimed to believers and unbelievers, saints and sinners, the faithful disciple and the one who has wandered away. God never grows tired of speaking because He never gives up hope that hearts can change (2 Pt 3:9). This truth is beautifully confirmed in today’s first reading. Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord says, “So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; my word shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it” (Is 55:10–11). Isaiah compares God’s Word to the rain and snow that come down from heaven and give life to the earth. Rain works quietly. It enters the soil, nourishes the seed, and prepares the harvest long before anyone can see visible results. God’s Word works in the same way. We often expect immediate results. God usually works patiently and silently. A word heard today may bear fruit years later. A child taught the faith may return to the Church after many years. A single verse of Scripture may remain hidden in the heart until the moment God chooses to bring it to life. God’s Word never loses its power because it always accomplishes the purpose for which He sends it. Only after presenting the sower does Jesus explain the four kinds of soil (Mt 13:18–23). The seed never changes. The sower never changes. What changes is the condition of the soil. Jesus is teaching us that the effectiveness of God’s Word does not depend upon the Word itself but upon the disposition of the human heart. The first seed falls upon the path. Jesus says this represents those who hear the Word without understanding it, and the evil one comes and steals it away. In the language of Scripture, understanding is more than intellectual knowledge. It means welcoming God’s Word with faith and allowing it to shape one’s life. Many people hear the Gospel, but hearing alone is not enough. The Word must enter the heart before it can bear fruit. The seed that falls on rocky ground represents those who receive the Word with joy but have no roots. When difficulties or persecution arise, they quickly fall away. Jesus is reminding His disciples that faith must be rooted deeply in God. Feelings come and go. Enthusiasm rises and falls. A faith that depends only on emotion cannot endure trials. Strong roots are formed through daily prayer, the sacraments, faithful obedience, and perseverance. These often remain hidden, just as roots remain hidden beneath the ground, yet they sustain the whole life of the believer. The seed among thorns represents those whose lives become occupied by “worldly anxiety and the lure of riches”. Jesus chooses these words carefully. Anxiety fills the heart with fear, while riches fill the heart with false security. Both leave little room for God. The problem is not that work, responsibilities, or material possessions are evil. The danger appears when they gradually occupy the place that belongs to God alone. Like thorns, they grow slowly until they choke the life of faith. Finally, Jesus speaks of the rich soil. These are the people who hear the Word, understand it, and bear fruit—some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. Notice that Jesus does not expect every disciple to produce the same harvest. God gives different gifts, different vocations, and different responsibilities (1 Cor 12:4–11). What He desires is that every disciple allows His Word to bear the fruit that He intends. Saint Paul broadens this vision in today’s second reading (Rom 8:18–23). He tells us that “creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God” (Rom 8:19). The fruit produced by God’s Word is never limited to one individual. Whenever a human heart is transformed by grace, the whole Church is strengthened. Whenever the Church grows in holiness, the world itself begins to experience the renewal that God has promised. The harvest of the Kingdom ultimately embraces all creation. My brothers and sisters, every Sunday we gather first around the table of God’s Word and then around the table of the Eucharist (cf. DV 21). Christ first speaks to us and then gives Himself to us. The same Lord who sows the seed also provides the grace needed for that seed to grow. As we listen to His Word today, let us ask Him to prepare the soil of our hearts. May His Word take deep root within us, bear abundant fruit in our lives, and one day lead us to share in the fullness of His Kingdom. Fr. (Joseph) Guozhang Ruan was born and ordained in China. After serving in parish ministry in the Diocese of Mindong, Fujian, he pursued advanced studies in moral theology in Rome, earning a doctorate from the Pontifical Lateran University. Since coming to the United States in 2004, he has served in several parishes in the Archdiocese of New York. He is currently the Director of the Chinese Apostolate for the Archdiocese of New York and Parochial Vicar of Holy Rosary Church on Staten Island. His ministry focuses on serving Chinese Catholics, promoting evangelization, and fostering greater understanding between the Church in China and the universal Church. ---------------------- The USCCA is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. Your donations are tax-deductible to the maximum extent allowed by law. The success of our work depends upon the generosity of people like you.

Icon depicting Christ's entry into Jerusalem (ca. 14th century, St. Catherine's Monastery of Mount Sinai) In this week's bilingual Scripture reflection, Fr. Joseph Ruan invites us to consider how Jesus promises rest for those who are weary and burdened. Fr. Ruan's reflection is below, in Chinese and then in English: Scripture Reflection in Chinese: 常年期第十四主日（甲年） 今天的福音，是《玛窦福音》中最温暖、最安慰人心的一段经文。耶稣向所有劳苦、疲惫、背负重担的人发出邀请：「凡劳苦和负重担的人，你们都到我跟前来，我要使你们安息。」（玛11:28）两千年来，这句话不断安慰着无数人的心灵。无论是在战争中、疾病中、贫穷中，还是在家庭、工作、信仰的挣扎中，许多人都是因着这句话重新找到了希望。今天，这句话同样是耶稣亲自向我们每一个人说的。 要真正理解这段福音，我们需要了解它的背景。在《玛窦福音》第十一章之前，耶稣已经在加里肋亚宣讲天国，治愈病人，驱逐魔鬼，施行了许多奇迹。然而，许多人虽然亲眼看见这些神迹，却仍然拒绝相信祂。苛辣匝因、贝特赛达和葛法翁等城镇，并没有因为见到默西亚而悔改（参阅玛11:20-24）。法利塞人和经师更不断质疑耶稣、反对耶稣。在这样的背景下，我们原以为耶稣会感到失望，甚至责备那些拒绝祂的人。然而，福音却告诉我们，耶稣首先举目感谢天父：「父啊！天地的主宰，我称谢祢，因为祢将这些事瞒住了智慧和明达的人，而启示给小孩子。」（玛11:25） 这里所说的「智慧和明达的人」，并非指真正有学问的人，而是那些自以为知道一切、自以为不需要天主的人。相反，「小孩子」并非年龄幼小，而是指心灵谦卑、愿意信赖天主的人。他们承认自己的有限，因此愿意接受天主的启示。事实上，天主从不拒绝有知识的人，而是拒绝骄傲的心；天主不会偏爱无知的人，而是喜爱谦卑的人。正如《箴言》所说：「天主抗拒骄傲人，却赏赐恩宠给谦卑的人。」（箴3:34；参阅雅4:6） 今天的世界，比任何时代都拥有更多的知识和科技。人工智能、高速网络、医学进步，使我们的生活越来越方便。然而，人类的内心却未必因此更加平安。许多人拥有丰富的物质，却失去了心灵的宁静；拥有许多朋友，却依然感到孤独；拥有成功的事业，却承受巨大的压力。焦虑、忧郁、失眠、家庭破裂、人际关系紧张，这些问题并没有随着科技的发展而减少。现代人最大的贫穷，并非缺少金钱，而是缺乏内心真正的安宁。 正因为如此，耶稣才向全世界发出邀请：「凡劳苦和负重担的人，你们都到我跟前来，我要使你们安息。」（玛11:28）这里所说的「劳苦」，不仅是身体上的辛劳，也包括精神上的疲惫、心灵上的挣扎和信仰上的软弱；「重担」不仅是生活的压力，也包括罪恶感、失败、恐惧、焦虑，以及那些压在心中多年无法放下的伤痛。耶稣知道人的生命有许多重担，因此祂不会说：「等你们解决所有问题以后再来。」祂只是说：「到我这里来。」因为真正的安息是在困难中拥有基督的陪伴。 耶稣继续说：「你们背起我的轭，跟我学习吧！因为我是良善心谦的，这样，你们必会得到安息。」（玛11:29）现代人听见「轭」这个字，很容易联想到束缚和压力。但在耶稣时代，「轭」是套在两头牛肩上的木架，使牠们能够一起工作。通常，一头年长而强壮的牛，会带着年轻的牛前进，承担大部分重量。因此，当耶稣邀请我们背负祂的轭时，并不是要增加我们的负担，而是邀请我们与祂同行，让祂带领我们、扶持我们。基督徒的生命，就是每天与基督一起走人生的道路。 因此，耶稣才会说：「我的轭是柔和的，我的担子是轻省的。」（玛11:30）这句话并不是说跟随基督就不会遇到困难。事实上，耶稣自己已经背起了十字架（参阅若19:17）；宗徒们为了福音遭受迫害（参阅宗5:41）；历代圣人也经历了无数考验。耶稣并没有应许我们一生没有十字架，但应许我们永远不会独自背负十字架。当人与基督同行的时，同样的痛苦，因为有了恩宠，便能够坚持；同样的眼泪，因为有了希望，便不会绝望；同样的人生道路，因为有了主耶稣的陪伴，便充满了光明。 今天第一篇读经同样帮助我们认识耶稣是谁。匝加利亚先知预言：「请看，你的君王要到你这里来，他是正义的，也是救主；谦虚地骑在驴上，骑在驴驹上。」（匝9:9）古代君王凯旋时，都会骑着高大的战马，象征权力和军事力量。然而，耶稣进入耶路撒冷时，却故意骑着一匹驴驹（参阅玛21:1-11），应验了先知的话。祂来不是要征服别人，而是来拯救罪人；不是建立地上的王国，而是建立天主的国；不是依靠武力，而是依靠爱与牺牲。匝加利亚进一步说：「祂要向万民宣布和平。」（匝9:10）耶稣正是这位和平的君王。直到今天，世界依然充满战争、冲突和分裂，而真正的和平，仍然来自基督，因为只有祂能够改变人的心。 圣保禄在今天第二篇读经提醒我们：「如果那使耶稣由死者中复活者的圣神住在你们内……祂也必要藉着住在你们内的圣神，使你们有死的身体获得生命。」（罗8:11）保禄告诉我们，一个真正属于基督的人，是一个让圣神居住在心中的人。按照肉性生活，就是让自私、贪婪、嫉妒、骄傲、愤怒控制自己；按照圣神生活，就是让天主每天改变我们的思想、言语和行为。圣神并不会一下子消除我们的软弱，却会不断赐给我们力量，使我们越来越肖似基督。 今天耶稣邀请我们做的是回到信仰最简单、也是最重要的一步──来到祂面前。每天花一点时间祈祷，每个主日忠实参与感恩祭，经常领受修和圣事和圣体圣事，把自己的忧虑放在天主手中，学习以基督的眼光面对人生。当我们越亲近主，内心便越平安。正如圣伯多禄宗徒劝勉我们：「你们要把一切挂虑都托给祂，因为祂必照顾你们。」（伯前5:7） 弟兄姐妹，今天我们每个人都背负着不同的重担。有人为家庭忧心，有人为健康担忧，有人为子女操心，有人为未来感到迷惘，也有人长期背负着心中的伤痛和罪恶感。耶稣今天要求我们来到祂面前；祂只是温柔地邀请我们：「到我这里来。」（玛11:28）希望我们怀着谦卑信赖的心，回应主耶稣的邀请，把自己的生命交托给祂，与祂同负一轭，向祂学习良善与谦卑。如此，我们便会亲身体验祂今天所应许的恩典：「你们必得到安息。」（玛11:29） Scripture Reflection in English: Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) Today’s Gospel contains one of the most beautiful and comforting invitations in all of Sacred Scripture. Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). For more than two thousand years, these words have brought hope to countless people. In times of war, illness, grief, poverty, family struggles, and personal failure, Christians have found strength in this promise. Today, Jesus speaks these same words to each one of us. To appreciate the depth of this invitation, we need to understand the context of today’s Gospel. By the time we reach Chapter 11 of Matthew, Jesus has already spent much of His public ministry preaching throughout Galilee. He has healed the sick, cast out demons, and performed many miracles. Yet many people remain unmoved. The cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum have witnessed His mighty works but refuse to repent (Matthew 11:20–24). The Pharisees and scribes continue to question His authority and reject His message. Faced with such unbelief, we might expect Jesus to express disappointment or frustration. Instead, He turns to His Father in prayer and says, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to little ones” (Matthew 11:25). Jesus is not criticizing education or human intelligence. Throughout the history of the Church, many saints have been brilliant scholars and gifted theologians. The problem is not knowledge but pride. The “wise and the learned” represent those who trust so completely in themselves that they no longer believe they need God. The “little ones” are those who approach God with humility. They recognize their limitations, place their trust in Him, and remain open to His grace. God does not reject those who are intelligent; He resists those whose hearts are proud. As Scripture reminds us, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6; cf. Proverbs 3:34). Our modern world possesses more knowledge and technology than any previous generation. Artificial intelligence, advanced medicine, instant communication, and scientific discoveries have transformed our daily lives. Yet despite all these achievements, the human heart is often more restless than ever. Many people enjoy material abundance but lack inner peace. They have hundreds of online friends but still experience deep loneliness. They achieve professional success while carrying tremendous stress and anxiety. Depression, fear, family conflict, and emotional exhaustion have become common experiences. The greatest poverty of our age is often not the lack of material things but the absence of lasting peace. It is to this weary and burdened world that Jesus extends His invitation: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). The burdens Jesus speaks about are not limited to physical labor. They include the weight of disappointment, guilt, anxiety, grief, illness, broken relationships, financial worries, and the hidden wounds we carry within our hearts. Jesus does not say, “Solve your problems first, and then come to me.” Neither does He say, “Become perfect before approaching me.” He simply says, “Come.” True rest does not come from the absence of difficulties but from the presence of Christ in the midst of them. Jesus continues, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves”(Matthew 11:29). To many people today, the image of a yoke suggests another burden. In the time of Jesus, however, a yoke was a wooden beam placed over two oxen so they could work together. Usually one ox was older, stronger, and more experienced, guiding the younger animal while carrying most of the weight. When Jesus invites us to take His yoke, He is not placing a heavier burden upon us. He is inviting us to walk beside Him. He shares our burdens, guides our steps, and gives us the strength we do not possess on our own. The Christian life is never meant to be lived alone. This is why Jesus can say, “For my yoke is easy, and my burden light”(Matthew 11:30). He is not promising a life without suffering. Jesus Himself carried the Cross (John 19:17). The apostles endured persecution for the sake of the Gospel (Acts 5:41). Throughout history, the saints experienced countless trials and hardships. Christ never promised that His followers would be free from crosses. What He promised is that we would never carry our crosses alone. His grace gives us the strength to persevere. The same suffering becomes more bearable because His love sustains us. The same tears become filled with hope because He walks beside us. The first reading from the prophet Zechariah helps us understand who this Jesus truly is. The prophet proclaims, “See, your king shall come to you; a just savior is he, meek, and riding on an ass” (Zechariah 9:9). In the ancient world, victorious kings entered cities riding magnificent war horses as symbols of military power. Jesus deliberately fulfilled this prophecy when He entered Jerusalem riding on a humble donkey (Matthew 21:1–11). He came not to conquer nations by force but to conquer hearts through love. He came not to establish an earthly kingdom built on violence but the Kingdom of God founded upon mercy, peace, and self-giving love. As Zechariah continues, “He shall proclaim peace to the nations” (Zechariah 9:10). In a world still divided by war, hatred, and violence, Christ remains our true King of Peace. In today’s second reading, Saint Paul reminds us that “if the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you… he will give life to your mortal bodies also” (Romans 8:11). A Christian is called to live according to the Holy Spirit rather than according to selfish desires. Left to ourselves, we easily become controlled by pride, anger, greed, envy, or fear. But when the Holy Spirit dwells within us, He gradually transforms our hearts, enabling us to become more patient, more forgiving, more generous, and more like Christ. The Christian life is not simply about trying harder; it is about allowing God’s grace to work within us every day. Ultimately, Jesus invites us to do something very simple, yet profoundly life-changing: to come to Him. We come to Him each day in prayer. We come to Him every Sunday in the Holy Eucharist. We come to Him in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, where He lifts the burden of our sins. We come to Him whenever we place our worries into His loving hands. The closer we draw to Christ, the more deeply we experience the peace that only He can give. As Saint Peter encourages us, “Cast all your worries upon him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). Every one of us comes to church today carrying some kind of burden. Some worry about their families. Others struggle with illness, loneliness, financial difficulties, or uncertainty about the future. Some continue to carry wounds from the past or the heavy weight of guilt. Jesus does not ask us to become stronger before we come to Him. He simply invites us, “Come to me”(Matthew 11:28). May we respond with humble and trusting hearts, place our lives into His hands, learn from His meekness and humility, and discover the fulfillment of His promise: “You will find rest for yourselves”(Matthew 11:29). Amen. Fr. (Joseph) Guozhang Ruan was born and ordained in China. After serving in parish ministry in the Diocese of Mindong, Fujian, he pursued advanced studies in moral theology in Rome, earning a doctorate from the Pontifical Lateran University. Since coming to the United States in 2004, he has served in several parishes in the Archdiocese of New York. He is currently the Director of the Chinese Apostolate for the Archdiocese of New York and Parochial Vicar of Holy Rosary Church on Staten Island. His ministry focuses on serving Chinese Catholics, promoting evangelization, and fostering greater understanding between the Church in China and the universal Church. ---------------------- The USCCA is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. Your donations are tax-deductible to the maximum extent allowed by law. The success of our work depends upon the generosity of people like you.

Icon depicting Peter and Paul In this week's bilingual Scripture reflection, Fr. Joseph Ruan invites us to consider the exemplary faithfulness and perseverance of Saints Peter and Paul. Fr. Ruan's reflection is below, in Chinese and then in English: Scripture Reflection in Chinese: 圣伯多禄及圣保禄宗徒节 今天普世教会隆重庆祝圣伯多禄及圣保禄两位宗徒。他们一位是渔夫，一位是法利塞人；一位跟随耶稣三年，一位曾迫害教会；一位受派牧养羊群，一位奉命向万民传扬福音。他们的个性不同、背景不同、恩宠不同、使命也不同，却走向同一个目标：为基督献出生命，为教会奠定基础。因此，今天教会把他们放在同一天庆祝，不仅纪念两位伟大的圣人，同时也让我们看到：天主不要求每一个人都一样，祂愿意藉着不同的人、不同的恩宠、不同的使命，共同完成同一个救恩计划，建立同一个基督的教会。 今天的福音一开始，耶稣来到斐理伯的凯撒勒雅，先问门徒：「人们说人子是谁？」（玛16:13）门徒回答了各种不同的意见：「有人说是洗者若翰；有人说是厄里亚；也有人说是耶肋米亚，或先知中的一位。」（玛16:14）这些答案都不错，却都是别人对耶稣的看法。于是耶稣进一步追问：「你们说我是谁？」（玛16:15）这是整部福音最重要的问题之一，也是每一位基督徒一生都必须回答的问题。因为信仰不能建立在别人怎么说，而必须建立在我们与耶稣真实的关系上。伯多禄代表所有宗徒回答：「你是默西亚，永生天主之子。」（玛16:16）这是玛窦福音最伟大的信仰宣言。耶稣立即称赞他说：「这不是血肉启示你的，而是我在天上的父。」（玛16:17）换句话说，真正的信德，不是人的推理，不是知识的累积，也不是一种宗教习惯，而是天主的恩宠，是天父亲自开启我们的心，使我们认识耶稣、相信耶稣，并愿意跟随耶稣。 紧接着，耶稣说出了一句影响整个教会历史的话：「你是伯多禄，在这磐石上，我要建立我的教会。」（玛16:18）这里有一句话值得我们特别留意，耶稣没有说：「建立你的教会」，也没有说：「建立人的教会」，而是说：「我的教会。」（玛16:18）教会属于基督，不属于任何一个人。教宗不是教会的主人，而是基督托付羊群的牧者；主教、神父、修女以及所有教友，都只是教会的服务者。正因为教会属于基督，所以两千年来，无论经历多少迫害、战争、分裂、异端或世俗主义的冲击，教会始终没有灭亡，因为真正保护教会的是基督自己。所以耶稣继续保证说：「阴间的门决不能战胜她。」（玛16:18）这并非保证教会不会受苦，而是保证教会永远不会失败，因为教会建立在基督这块永不动摇的磐石上。 今天第一篇读经，正好印证了耶稣这句话。黑落德为了讨好犹太人，先杀了雅各伯宗徒，又把伯多禄关进监狱。圣经特别描写当时的情景：伯多禄被两条铁链锁住，两旁各有士兵看守，门外还有卫兵把守，在人的眼中已经毫无希望，第二天就可能被处死。然而，《宗徒大事录》特别记下一句话：「教会却恳切为他向天主祈祷。」（宗12:5）就在黑落德准备提审他的前一夜，天主派遣天使来到监狱，锁链脱落，铁门自动打开，伯多禄平安地走了出来。当他恢复清醒时，说：「现在我确实知道，主派了他的天使来救我。」（宗12:11）伯多禄能够获救，不单是天使显现，也因为整个教会同心祈祷。这告诉我们，教会真正的力量，不在武力，不在财富，也不在权势，而是在祈祷，在天主的恩宠。今天世界许多地方，教会仍然面对战争、暴力、世俗主义、冷漠和迫害，有些地方不能自由传扬福音，有些地方神父修女受到限制，也有不少教友因为信仰而受苦。然而，只要教会继续祈祷，继续忠于基督，上主仍会在祂的时候，开启那一道在人看来无法打开的「铁门」。 第二篇读经让我们看到另一位伟大的宗徒——圣保禄。他写这封信时，已经知道自己离世的时候到了，因此留下了一段极其感人的临终遗言：「这场好仗，我已打完；这场赛跑，我已跑到终点；这信仰，我已保持了。」（弟后4:7）这是一个即将结束生命的人，对自己一生最真实的总结。他没说自己建立了多少教会，没说自己写了多少书信，没说自己赢得多少荣耀，更没说自己拥有多少财富。他只说了三件事：好仗打完了，赛跑跑完了，信仰守住了。这就是基督徒一生最大的成功。今天这个世界习惯用财富、地位、名声和权力来衡量一个人的价值，但天主衡量我们的标准只有一个，就是有没有忠于祂。保禄一生经历鞭打、监禁、沉船、饥饿、误解和迫害，却始终没有放弃福音；最后在罗马为主斩首殉道。伯多禄则谦卑地请求倒钉十字架，因为他认为自己不配像师傅一样受死。在世人的眼中，他们似乎失败了；但在天主眼中，他们却赢得了「正义的冠冕」。（弟后4:8）他们的一生告诉我们，真正的成功，其实并非活得多么辉煌，而是忠于基督直到最后一刻。 今天教会把伯多禄和保禄放在同一天庆祝，还有一个很深的意义。伯多禄代表教会的合一，保禄代表教会的福传。伯多禄使教会保持同一个信仰，同一个牧者，同一个团体；保禄把福音从耶路撒冷带到小亚细亚、希腊，最后一直传到罗马，使救恩临于万民。教会若只有合一，却没有福传，就会失去生命力；教会若只有福传，没有合一，就容易四分五裂。因此，教会既需要伯多禄，也需要保禄；既要坚守纯正的信仰，也要勇敢向世界宣讲福音。这也是今天教会不断提醒我们的使命。 事实上，每一位基督徒都有自己的圣召。有人像伯多禄一样，默默牧养家庭，忠诚守护信仰；有人像保禄一样，积极传扬福音，勇敢见证基督。有人善于祈祷，有人善于服务；有人善于教导，有人善于关怀；有人站在前面领导，有人在幕后默默奉献。恩宠可以不同，使命可以不同，工作方式也可以不同，但目标永远只有一个，就是光荣天主，建立教会。 最后，让我们再次回到耶稣提出的那个问题：「你们说我是谁？」（玛16:15）这是两千年前耶稣向宗徒提出的问题，也是今天祂向我们每一个人提出的问题。如果耶稣只是历史人物，我们不会坚持信仰；如果祂只是伟大的道德导师，我们也不会愿意背起十字架跟随祂。只有当我们真正相信祂是「默西亚，永生天主之子」（玛16:16），我们的生命才会真正改变，我们才能像伯多禄和保禄一样，无论顺境或逆境，都坚定跟随基督，直到生命的最后一刻。 祈祷圣伯多禄帮助我们，拥有坚固如磐石的信德，始终与教会保持共融；祈愿圣保禄帮助我们，燃起传扬福音的热火，勇敢在生活中见证基督。但愿我们有一天也能够像圣保禄一样，在人生终点满怀平安地说：「这场好仗，我已打完；这场赛跑，我已跑到终点；这信仰，我已保持了。」（弟后4:7）到那一天，我们也将与圣伯多禄、圣保禄一起，同享天主早已为忠信的人所预备的光荣冠冕。 Scripture Reflection in English: Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles Today the universal Church joyfully celebrates the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, the two great pillars of the Church. One was a fisherman, the other a Pharisee. One followed Jesus throughout His public ministry; the other once persecuted the Church. One was entrusted with shepherding Christ’s flock; the other was sent to proclaim the Gospel to the Gentiles. Their personalities, backgrounds, gifts, and missions were very different, yet they shared the same goal: to give their lives for Christ and to lay the foundation of His Church. Today we celebrate not only two great saints, but also the wonderful way God accomplishes one plan of salvation through different people, different gifts, and different vocations. In today’s Gospel, Jesus first asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” (Mt 16:13) They answered with many different opinions: “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” (Mt 16:14) These answers were not entirely wrong, but they reflected only what other people thought about Jesus. Then Jesus asked the most important question of all: “But who do you say that I am?” (Mt 16:15) This question is not only for Peter and the Apostles. It is a question that every Christian must answer personally. Our faith cannot be based merely on what others believe, what our parents taught us, or what we learned in religion classes. Faith becomes real only when we personally encounter Christ and recognize who He truly is. Speaking on behalf of all the Apostles, Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Mt 16:16) This is one of the greatest professions of faith in the entire New Testament. Jesus immediately replied, “Blessed are you… For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.” (Mt 16:17) True faith is not simply the result of human intelligence, philosophical reasoning, or accumulated knowledge. It is first of all a gift of God’s grace. Before we seek God, God has already sought us. Before we come to know Christ, the Father has already opened our hearts to believe in Him. Jesus then made a promise that would shape the entire history of the Church: “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church.” (Mt 16:18) Notice that Jesus did not say “your Church,” but “my Church.” The Church belongs to Christ. It does not belong to any pope, bishop, priest, or individual Christian. The Pope is not the owner of the Church but the shepherd entrusted by Christ to care for His flock. Bishops, priests, religious, and all the faithful are servants of the Church. Because the Church belongs to Christ, she has survived persecutions, wars, divisions, scandals, and countless trials throughout two thousand years of history. Christ also assures us, “The gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.” (Mt 16:18) This does not mean that the Church will never suffer; it means that she will never be defeated because Christ Himself remains her foundation. The first reading beautifully illustrates this promise. King Herod imprisoned Peter, placing him under heavy guard and preparing to execute him. Humanly speaking, there was no hope. Peter was chained between soldiers, guarded by multiple squads, and locked behind iron gates. Yet the Acts of the Apostles tells us, “Prayer by the Church was fervently being made to God on his behalf.” (Acts 12:5) During the night, the Lord sent an angel. Peter’s chains fell away, the prison gates opened, and he was set free. When Peter finally realized what had happened, he declared, “Now I know for certain that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me.” (Acts 12:11) The greatest strength of the Church has never been political influence, military power, or material wealth. Her true strength has always been prayer and the grace of God. Even today, many Christians around the world continue to experience persecution, restrictions, indifference, and suffering. Yet the same Lord who opened the prison gates for Peter continues to open doors that seem impossible to us. Whenever the Church remains faithful in prayer and trust, God continues to work in ways beyond human expectations. The second reading presents the final testimony of Saint Paul. Knowing that his earthly life was coming to an end, he wrote these moving words: “I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.” (2 Tim 4:7) These are not the words of a man boasting about his achievements, but of a faithful servant reviewing his life before God. Paul did not speak about how many churches he founded, how many letters he wrote, or how many places he visited. Instead, he rejoiced that he had remained faithful to Christ until the end. Our world usually measures success by wealth, status, influence, or popularity. God measures success differently. He asks only one question: Have we remained faithful? Paul endured beatings, imprisonment, shipwrecks, hunger, misunderstandings, and persecution, yet he never abandoned the Gospel. Peter, although he once denied Jesus three times, allowed God’s mercy to transform him into a courageous shepherd who ultimately gave his life for Christ. In the eyes of the world, both seemed to have failed. Yet in God’s eyes they received “the crown of righteousness.” (2 Tim 4:8) Their lives remind us that true success is not measured by earthly achievements but by faithful perseverance. There is another beautiful lesson in celebrating Peter and Paul together. Peter represents the unity of the Church, while Paul represents the missionary spirit of the Church. Peter safeguarded the unity of faith; Paul carried the Gospel to the nations. A Church without unity becomes divided. A Church without missionary zeal loses its vitality. Christ desires both: unity in faith and courage in evangelization. The same is true for each one of us. God gives different gifts and different vocations to different people. Some are called to be like Peter, faithfully caring for their families and strengthening the faith of others. Some are called to be like Paul, boldly proclaiming Christ wherever they go. Some lead; others serve quietly behind the scenes. Some teach; others console; some pray; others work tirelessly in charity. God does not ask us all to be Peter or Paul. He asks each of us to be faithful to the vocation He has given us. Finally, let us return to the question Jesus asks every disciple: “But who do you say that I am?” (Mt 16:15) If Jesus is only a historical figure, we will not remain faithful when difficulties come. If He is merely a great moral teacher, we will not take up our cross to follow Him. Only when we truly believe that He is “the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16) will our lives be transformed. Then, like Peter and Paul, we will remain faithful in times of joy and in times of suffering, trusting Christ until the very end. May Saint Peter obtain for us a faith as firm as the rock upon which Christ built His Church. May Saint Paul obtain for us the zeal to proclaim the Gospel with courage and love. And may each of us one day be able to say with confidence, “I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.” (2 Tim 4:7) Then we, too, will share with Saints Peter and Paul the eternal crown prepared by the Lord for all who remain faithful. Fr. (Joseph) Guozhang Ruan was born and ordained in China. After serving in parish ministry in the Diocese of Mindong, Fujian, he pursued advanced studies in moral theology in Rome, earning a doctorate from the Pontifical Lateran University. Since coming to the United States in 2004, he has served in several parishes in the Archdiocese of New York. He is currently the Director of the Chinese Apostolate for the Archdiocese of New York and Parochial Vicar of Holy Rosary Church on Staten Island. His ministry focuses on serving Chinese Catholics, promoting evangelization, and fostering greater understanding between the Church in China and the universal Church. ---------------------- The USCCA is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. Your donations are tax-deductible to the maximum extent allowed by law. The success of our work depends upon the generosity of people like you.