Today’s Catholic Mass Readings – Saturday, June 13, 2026

[00:00:00]You are welcome to Catholic Faith Family. Today is Saturday, June 13th, 2026.

[00:00:07]Saturday of week 10 in ordinary time.

[00:00:10]Memorial of Saint Anthony of Padua, priest and doctor of the church. Theme, the harvest is still plenty, but where are the true laborers?

[00:00:19]Have we become too busy to notice the souls God has placed around us? Is the harvest really lacking or are willing laborers becoming scarce? Could God be calling ordinary people like us to become his hands, his voice, and his heart in a world longing for hope and healing? As we reflect on God's word today, let us open our hearts and allow him to show us the place he has prepared for each of us in his harvest. Lord, we humbly place before you the intentions of Anya Godfrey, Lum Clarice, Parveen Rahmath, Martha Camera, for the healing of Naningorda, for the happy repose of the soul of Kyle, and every silent prayer entrusted to this platform today. Look with mercy upon all who call upon you with faith. Grant healing to the sick, comfort to the sorrowful, peace to troubled families, and hope to those carrying heavy burdens. May every sincere prayer receive your loving answer through Christ our Lord. Amen.

[00:01:15]>> First reading.

[00:01:17]A reading from the book of Isaiah. The spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for the Lord has anointed me. He has sent me to bring good news to the poor, to bind up hearts that are broken, to proclaim liberty to captives, freedom to those in prison, to proclaim a year of favor from the Lord, a day of vengeance for our God, to comfort all those who mourn and to give them for ashes a garland, for mourning robe the oil of gladness, for despondency praise. The word of God.

[00:01:52]>> Responsorial Psalm.

[00:01:55]Our response is, I will sing forever of your love, O Lord.

[00:02:02]I will sing forever of your love, O Lord. Through all ages my mouth will proclaim your truth.

[00:02:10]Of this I am sure, that your love lasts forever, that your truth is firmly established as the heavens.

[00:02:19]I will sing forever of your love, O Lord.

[00:02:23]I have made a covenant with my chosen one. I have sworn to David my servant. I will establish your dynasty forever and set up your throne through all ages.

[00:02:35]I will sing forever of your love, O Lord.

[00:02:39]I have found David my servant and with my holy oil anointed him.

[00:02:45]My hand shall always be with him and my arm shall make him strong.

[00:02:51]I will sing forever of your love, O Lord.

[00:02:55]My truth and my love shall be with him.

[00:02:58]By my name is might shall be exalted.

[00:03:02]He will say to me, "You are my father, my God, the rock who saves me."

[00:03:08]I will sing forever of your love, O Lord.

[00:03:13]Gospel Acclamation.

[00:03:15]Alleluia, alleluia.

[00:03:18]The Lord has sent me to bring the good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives.

[00:03:25]Alleluia.

[00:03:30]>> Gospel. A reading from the holy gospel according to Luke.

[00:03:35]The Lord appointed 72 others and sent them out ahead of him in pairs to all the towns and places he himself was to visit. He said to them, "The harvest is rich, but the laborers are few. So ask the Lord of the harvest to send laborers to his harvest. Start off now, but remember, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Carry no purse, no haversack, no sandals. Salute no one on the road. Whatever house you go into, let your first words be, "Peace to this house." And if a man of peace lives there, your peace will go and rest on him.

[00:04:15]If not, it will come back to you. Stay in the same house, taking what food and drink they have to offer, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not move from house to house. Whenever you go into a town where they make you welcome, eat what is set before you. Cure those in it who are sick and say, "The kingdom of God is very near to you."

[00:04:38]The Gospel of the Lord.

[00:04:43]Commentary. First reading. The prophet Isaiah speaks of the one anointed by the spirit of the Lord and sent to bring good news to the poor, to bind up broken hearts, proclaim liberty to captives, and comfort those who mourn. The passage reveals God's loving concern for those who suffer and points ultimately to Christ, who fulfilled this mission perfectly. Through him, sorrow is exchanged for joy and despair for hope.

[00:05:12]Gospel. Jesus appoints the 72 disciples and sends them ahead of him to prepare the way for the coming of God's kingdom.

[00:05:20]Their mission is simple, to bring peace, heal the sick, and proclaim that the kingdom of God is near.

[00:05:27]They are to trust completely in God's providence, relying not on material possessions, but on the power of the one who sends them. The harvest is abundant, and every disciple is called to share in Christ's mission of bringing hope and salvation to the world. Let us now listen to the reflection.

[00:05:48]Theme. The harvest is still plenty, but where are the true laborers? There is an old story about a farmer who owned a vast and fertile piece of land. Every year, the rains came at the right time, and the crops grew beautifully. As the months passed, the fields became golden, and the harvest promised to be one of the greatest the village had ever seen.

[00:06:11]One morning, the farmer climbed a small hill overlooking his land. He looked at the ripe crops swaying gently in the wind, but instead of rejoicing, his face was filled with sadness. His son, standing beside him, asked, "Father, why are you worried? Have the crops failed?"

[00:06:31]The old man quietly replied, "No, my son. The harvest is plentiful. The problem is that there are not enough willing hands to gather it."

[00:06:42]Day after day, some of the fruits fell to the ground and spoiled, not because the land was barren, but because there were too few workers. That simple story captures the heart of today's gospel.

[00:06:55]Looking upon the world, Jesus said, "The harvest is rich, but the laborers are few. So, ask the Lord of the harvest to send laborers to his harvest."

[00:07:05]These words are striking because even in the time of Jesus, there were many religious leaders. There were priests, scribes, Pharisees, and teachers of the law. Religion was visible everywhere, yet Jesus still said that the laborers were few. This tells us that God is not merely looking for people who carry religious titles. He is looking for people whose hearts are completely available for his work. The first reading from the prophet Isaiah reveals the kind of laborers God desires. They are people anointed by the spirit to bring good news to the poor, to bind up broken hearts, to proclaim liberty to captives, and to comfort those who mourn. When we look carefully at our world today, we discover that this harvest has not become smaller. If anything, it has grown even larger.

[00:07:58]Many young people smile during the day, but cry themselves to sleep at night.

[00:08:03]Many families are silently falling apart because forgiveness has disappeared from their homes. There are people trapped in addictions, fear, loneliness, depression, and hopelessness. There are those who appear successful outwardly, but carry heavy burdens within. There are many who long to hear that they are loved, forgiven, and not alone. The harvest is still plentiful. If Christ were to make this same request today, perhaps he would still ask the Father to send laborers who are willing to work wholeheartedly. Laborers who seek souls before wealth. Laborers who seek service before status. Laborers whose greatest joy is to lead another person closer to God. Today, we have thousands of priests, pastors, evangelists, catechists, and church workers. Churches continue to multiply, and Christian messages fill our radios, televisions, and social media platforms. Yet, at the same time, evil seems to multiply around us. Corruption increases, violence spreads, families break apart, and many hearts grow cold toward God. This should make us stop and reflect. Perhaps the problem is not simply that there are too few workers. Perhaps the deeper problem is that there are too few true laborers.

[00:09:28]Sometimes there is the temptation to work for recognition instead of conversion, to seek applause instead of holiness, to seek comfort instead of sacrifice, and to seek material gain instead of the salvation of souls. Yet, before we point fingers at priests, pastors, or evangelists, today's gospel quietly turns the question back to each of us.

[00:09:51]This message is not only for those who preach from the altar. Every baptized Christian is called to be a laborer in the Lord's vineyard. A father who teaches his children to pray is a laborer. A mother who keeps her family together through patience and love is a laborer. A teacher who forms young minds in truth is a laborer. A student who refuses to join others in dishonesty is a laborer. A neighbor who spreads peace instead of gossip is a laborer. Many people think that serving God requires standing behind a pulpit or holding a microphone. Yet, some of the greatest sermons are preached without words. They are preached through honesty, forgiveness, kindness, compassion, and a life that reflects Christ. Jesus sent out the 72 carrying no purse, no haversack, and no sandals. He wanted them to trust completely in God. Their strength would not come from what they possessed, but from the one who had sent them. In the same way, God is not first looking for people with great talents or great resources. He is looking for willing hearts. Perhaps one of the greatest tragedies of our time is not that evil people are becoming stronger.

[00:11:09]It may simply be that many good people have become comfortable. We see injustice and remain silent. We know someone who has lost hope, but we never encourage them. We know someone who has drifted away from God, but we never reach out to them because we think someone else will. The harvest continues to wait. Imagine what would happen if every Christian decided to become a true laborer this week. Imagine if every family brought one person closer to God through kindness. Imagine if every believer chose forgiveness instead of revenge, honesty instead of corruption, service instead of selfishness, and love instead of hatred. Our homes would begin to change. Our communities would begin to change. Even our nation would begin to change.

[00:12:00]Today, we also celebrate Saint Anthony of Padua, priest and doctor of the church. Saint Anthony became one of those true laborers for whom Christ prayed. He was not remembered because he sought wealth or popularity. He is remembered because he loved God deeply and spent his life bringing souls back to him. His words carried power because they came from a heart completely surrendered to Christ. His life reminds us that the world does not simply need more voices.

[00:12:31]It needs more authentic witnesses.

[00:12:34]Perhaps the greatest crisis in the church today is not that the harvest has diminished. Perhaps it is that too many of us have forgotten that we ourselves are called to be laborers. So, before we ask God to send more workers into his vineyard, let each of us quietly ask, "Lord, am I one of the laborers you have been waiting for?" The harvest is still plentiful. The brokenhearted are still waiting. The lonely are still waiting.

[00:13:04]The lost are still waiting. The world is still waiting. The question is not whether God is calling laborers. The question is whether you and I are willing to answer that call. May the example and intercession of Saint Anthony of Padua inspire us to become faithful, generous, and courageous laborers in the Lord's harvest. Amen.

[00:13:30]Lord Jesus Christ, good shepherd and lord of the harvest, on this memorial of Saint Anthony of Padua, priest and doctor of the church, you raised up a faithful laborer who preached your word with wisdom and led many souls back to you. As you once said that the harvest is rich, but the laborers are few, open our eyes to the fields around us and awaken our hearts to the mission you have entrusted to each of us. Do not let us become indifferent, distracted, or too comfortable to notice the souls you place in our daily path. Through the intercession of Saint Anthony of Padua, make us true laborers in your vineyard, faithful in service, generous in love, and sincere in witness. May our lives help others grow closer to you, and may we never work for ourselves, but always for your glory. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.