BE TRUE TO YOUR PROMISES | 27 SEP 2026 HOMILY with Fr Jerry Orbos SVD

HOMILY | September 27, 2026
26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The story is told about a patient who went back to his doctor and said: "Well doctor, you sure kept your promise that I will be walking after a month. Yes, I am walking now because I had to sell my car, to pay for my medical bill!”
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In today’s Gospel (Mt. 21: 28-32) we hear the story about a son who broke his promise to his father. It would be good for all of us to renew the promises we have made to God, to others and to ourselves. If we have been faithful to those promises, then let us praise God for his grace. If we have broken our promises, then let us turn to God in sorrow, and renew them. Let not our broken promises break us.
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Our government officials and our elected leaders made a promise when they were put in office - that they will serve the public and that they will do their very best to serve the common good. Today, we enjoin them to remember and make true their promise to God and to our people.
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Likewise, we church and religious people made a solemn vow to God to serve Him and His people. We too beat our breasts today and say "mea culpa" for the many times we have been so untrue, and for the times we gave in to personal comfort and agenda.
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Husbands and wives likewise must remember and renew today their marriage vows. Remember, the Lord said: "Love one another," not “love another one”! And remember that you promised to love each other “for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part.”
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Reminds me of a story about a little boy from China whose family settled in America. One day, in exasperation, he said: "I am so confused with the English language: they point to electrical gadget, they say 'plug,' they point to a croaking animal, they say 'plug,' they point to a cloth on top of a pole, they say 'plug'!" This story should remind us adults to stop confusing the children with