August 2, 2026

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Cycle A

Isaiah 55:1-3; Romans 8:35, 37-39; Matthew 14:13-21

A few years ago, my family and I traveled to Spain and we were privileged to see one of the great churches of the world in Barcelona. The basilica known as Sagrada Familia, or Holy Family, was recently in the news since it has become the tallest church in the world with the placing of a cross on the top of the main spire, and this spire was blessed and consecrated by Pope Leo on his visit in June during the centenary of the main architect's death, a man named Antoni Gaudi. I think this church exemplifies in a building what Paul is telling us as Christians in the second reading: the need for persistence.

The Sagrada Familia was started in 1882, and it should be noted that it is still not complete today. The main reason has been that it is funded solely by private donations, and so progress has been limited to the rate that money could be raised. But it has had other delays over the years. The first architect quit after only a year, and Gaudi had to take over an already started project. Then Gaudi died in 1926, and his pupil took over. All construction was stopped later during the Spanish Civil War. In 1936, anarchists set fire to the crypt and caused damage to the structure as well as the loss of some of the design plans, which then had to be laboriously reconstructed. After all of these fits and starts, they wanted to have the final completion done for the 100-year anniversary of Gaudi's death this year, but that didn't happen either. Remember a little thing called Covid-19? They now say completion will happen in 2030. Or 2035. Or sometime. [ https://sagradafamilia2026.org/en/ ]

I think that the history of this building mirrors our lives. Even those people who achieve greatness have setbacks at various times during their lives. Saint Paul knew this too and tells the Romans just that when he wrote: “What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?” [Romans 8:35 NABRE]. Paul tells us confidently that none of these things will prevent us from achieving true greatness, that is to say, unity in the body of Christ. Nothing “will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” [Romans 8:39b]. But here's something one must understand.

When Paul says “the love of God,” what does he mean? If you think it means our love of God, think again. Paul makes it clear throughout his letters that our love of God is not guaranteed, but something that we must strive to maintain, and often fail to do, a failure we call sin. No, “the love of God” is God's love of us, and although sometimes we struggle to see this love, especially in times of trouble, it is always there. Also, very importantly, it is not a deal that we make with God. We who live in a capitalistic society often get into the habit of thinking about interactions as bargains: if you do this, I'll do that. But God is not like that: God loves us regardless of what we do. Paul is describing a relationship, not a transaction. Great relationships, whether with God, our spouse, our family, friends, or even strangers, are not based on getting something in return for what we give. Great relationships give all, despite whatever comes along. Which is a good thing, since we humans can never hope to give back what God gives us.

So God doesn't make a deal with us that we will never undergo hardships. Faith is not a bargain. Faith is a relationship with God that he will be there with us to help us to deal with whatever life throws at us. Like a good spouse. Like a good parent or son or daughter. Like a good friend. Paul is telling us that God won't prevent pains and struggles; no, God will enable us to cope with them. The sum total of the gospel, indeed the whole bible, is this: God's never-ending love of us.

In just a few moments we will have what is my favorite thing to do at church: a baptism. It is a sacrament and therefore is what all sacraments are: an outward visible display of the invisible graces that God pours out upon us. Taylor, Kane, little Paul, and their extended family have brought Isabella here today to formally join her to the Church, the community of believers that share the faith of God's love. By this baptism we don't guaranty that nothing bad will happen in her life. No, unfortunately Father can't make that bargain when he pours the water and says the words that Christ gave us. What he, and we, can do is celebrate the love that God has for her and for us, witness the faith of the parents and godparents that bring them to raise her up in the Christian faith, as well as all of us here showing our faith in agreeing to be a joyful community that helps establish a Church that nourishes that faith. That is not the description of a bargain; that is the true meaning of a relationship with God and one another.

As we continue with the Mass with the baptism, followed by another sacrament, the Eucharist, the outward sign left to us by Christ of his physical presence in our lives, may we gain God's graces to really appreciate what faith means in our lives. May we always be able to see through the fog that sometimes clouds our ability to see the love of God, and also to be there for others who also struggle to see it. We know that, like the Sagrada Familia, the progress of our own lives will sometimes be slow or painful, but we know that, with God's love and in partnership with him and our Christian community, we, and of course little Izzy, will indeed build something great.