Catholic Church Observes 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

On the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Catholic liturgies in Japan and the Philippines presented the same set of readings. The first reading was Isaiah 55:1‑3, calling the thirsty to come to the water and the poor to receive grain. The second reading was Romans 8:35,37‑39, affirming that nothing can separate believers from Christ’s love.

The Gospel reading was Matthew 14:13‑21, recounting Jesus feeding five thousand with five loaves and two fish, a miracle highlighted in both bulletins. The Japanese bulletin was issued by St. John Mary Vianney Sunday, while the Philippine bulletin came from a Catholic educational institution in Cebu City.