Jesus was born into Jewish culture, significantly shaping His way of life. When the Scriptures say He came to His native land and amazed the people with His wisdom (Matthew 13:54-58), it refers to His return to the Jewish territory of His birth. Notably, Christianity inherited several observances from Judaism, such as the Passover and Pentecost, some of which today’s first reading from Leviticus highlights (23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34b-37).
St. Alphonsus Liguori, an Italian bishop, theologian, canon, and civil law doctor, offered profound contributions to Christian teaching in the 17th and 18th centuries. Founder of the Redemptorists, he authored influential works such as The Glories of Mary and writings in moral theology. His legacy continues to inspire Christian devotion and simplicity.
As we celebrate his feast, the Church reminds us, echoing Mother Teresa of Calcutta, that we need not perform incredible feats to make a difference. Instead, we can create something beautiful for God by doing small things with great love. This example is our calling today: not to measure the size of our actions, but to focus on how they transform lives and glorify God.