CatholicJules.net

We may at one point of our life perhaps for lack of better judgement fallen into sin. And sowed as darnel by the evil one to provoke others into sin. It does not mean our fate of impending death is cast in stone. For so long as we breathe we have hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, for new life in Him.

So turn to Him always! Listen to Jesus calling out to you, come to Him with contrite hearts and He will purify and sanctify you. For He alone can turn all curses into blessings. And we will take our places with the virtuous glorifying the Lord our God now and forever. Amen

First reading

Jeremiah 14:17-22
We confess our wickedness; you, God, are our hope

The Lord said to me:

Say this word to the people:
‘Tears flood my eyes
night and day, unceasingly, since a crushing blow falls on the daughter of my people, a most grievous injury.
If I go into the countryside, there lie men killed by the sword; if I go into the city,
I see people sick with hunger; even prophets and priests plough the land: they are at their wit’s end.’

‘Have you rejected Judah altogether?
Does your very soul revolt at Zion?
Why have you struck us down without hope of cure?
We were hoping for peace – no good came of it!
For the moment of cure – nothing but terror!
the Lord, we do confess our wickedness and our fathers’ guilt: we have indeed sinned against you.
For your name’s sake do not reject us, do not dishonour the throne of your glory.
Remember us; do not break your covenant with us.
Can any of the pagan Nothings make it rain?
Can the heavens produce showers?
No, it is you, the Lord.
O our God, you are our hope,since it is you who do all this.’

Gospel

Matthew 13:36-43
As the darnel is gathered up and burnt, so it will be at the end of time

Leaving the crowds, Jesus went to the house; and his disciples came to him and said, ‘Explain the parable about the darnel in the field to us.’ He said in reply, ‘The sower of the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world; the good seed is the subjects of the kingdom; the darnel, the subjects of the evil one; the enemy who sowed them, the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; the reapers are the angels. Well then, just as the darnel is gathered up and burnt in the fire, so it will be at the end of time. The Son of Man will send his angels and they will gather out of his kingdom all things that provoke offences and all who do evil, and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. Then the virtuous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Listen, anyone who has ears!’

How much have you grown in your relationship with the Lord our God? Are you living a spirit filled life ever growing in His love? Striving to be faithful and growing in holiness. Does your family and friends see the wonderful changes in you? Are you part of a community growing and journeying together on the living word of God? Welcoming and reaching out to those in need?

Then for you the kingdom of God is close at hand. Amen

First reading

Jeremiah 13:1-11
Let this evil people become good for nothing

The Lord said this to me, ‘Go and buy a linen loincloth and put it round your waist. But do not dip it in water.’ And so, as the Lord had ordered, I bought a loincloth and put it round my waist. A second time the word of the Lord was spoken to me, ‘Take the loincloth that you have bought and are wearing round your waist; up! Go to the Euphrates and hide it in a hole in the rock.’ So I went and hid it near the Euphrates as the Lord had ordered me. Many days afterwards the Lord said to me, ‘Get up and go to the Euphrates and fetch the loincloth I ordered you to hide there.’ So I went to the Euphrates, and I searched, and I took the loincloth from the place where I had hidden it. The loincloth was spoilt, good for nothing. Then the word of the Lord was addressed to me, Thus says the Lord: In the same way I will spoil the arrogance of Judah and Jerusalem. This evil people who refuse to listen to my words, who follow the dictates of their own hard hearts, who have followed alien gods, and served them and worshipped them, let them become like this loincloth, good for nothing. For just as a loincloth clings to a man’s waist, so I had intended the whole House of Judah to cling to me – it is the Lord who speaks – to be my people, my glory, my honour and my boast. But they have not listened.’

Gospel

Matthew 13:31-35
The smallest of all seeds grows into the biggest shrub of all

Jesus put a parable before the crowds: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the biggest shrub of all and becomes a tree so that the birds of the air come and shelter in its branches.’
He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like the yeast a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour till it was leavened all through.’
In all this Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables; indeed, he would never speak to them except in parables. This was to fulfil the prophecy:

I will speak to you in parables
and expound things hidden since the foundation of the world.

We cannot lead lives of duplicity! Holy, good and proper when we are on church grounds. Then a free for all on the outside. Where is our integrity? Honour? Most of all love?

Yet the Lord is ever patient and merciful. He waits for us to come to Him with proper contrite hearts. And He will sanctify us. And so at every Eucharistic Celebration then must be a communion of hearts, for having received His body, we before one in Him and with one another. We are sent at the end to bear witness to Him by sharing His love with all we meet, through all that we say and do in His name.

The time for conversion is now… Amen

First reading

Jeremiah 7:1-11
Reform your behaviour and I will stay here with you, says the Lord

The word that was addressed to Jeremiah by the Lord, ‘Go and stand at the gate of the Temple of the Lord and there proclaim this message. Say, “Listen to the word of the Lord, all you men of Judah who come in by athese gates to worship the Lord. The Lord Sabaoth, the God of Israel, says this: Amend your behaviour and your actions and I will stay with you here in this place. Put no trust in delusive words like these: This is the sanctuary of the Lord, the sanctuary of the Lord, the sanctuary of the Lord! But if you do amend your behaviour and your actions, if you treat each other fairly, if you do not exploit the stranger, the orphan and the widow (if you do not shed innocent blood in this place), and if you do not follow alien gods, to your own ruin, then here in this place I will stay with you, in the land that long ago I gave to your fathers for ever. Yet here you are, trusting in delusive words, to no purpose! Steal, would you, murder, commit adultery, perjure yourselves, burn incense to Baal, follow alien gods that you do not know? – and then come presenting yourselves in this Temple that bears my name, saying: Now we are safe – safe to go on committing all these abominations! Do you take this Temple that bears my name for a robbers’ den? I, at any rate, am not blind – it is the Lord who speaks.”’

Gospel

Matthew 13:24-30
Let them both grow till the harvest

Jesus put another parable before the crowds: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everybody was asleep his enemy came, sowed darnel all among the wheat, and made off. When the new wheat sprouted and ripened, the darnel appeared as well. The owner’s servants went to him and said, “Sir, was it not good seed that you sowed in your field? If so, where does the darnel come from?” “Some enemy has done this” he answered. And the servants said, “Do you want us to go and weed it out?” But he said, “No, because when you weed out the darnel you might pull up the wheat with it. Let them both grow till the harvest; and at harvest time I shall say to the reapers: First collect the darnel and tie it in bundles to be burnt, then gather the wheat into my barn.”’

What state are we in when receiving the living word of the Lord our God? Has the stubbornness of our heart filled with pride and sin closed our ears? Or have we allowed the worries and cares of the world to overcome all our senses?

Pray that we are grace filled, faithful and upon listening to His Word plant it deep within and without. By planting we, understand, live, share and teach the Word. This is how we internalise His precious Word and is thereby planted in rich soil which bear fruit.

Oh the Word of my Lord, deep within my being. Oh the Word of my Lord, You have filled my mind. Amen

First reading

Jeremiah 3:14-17
Come back, my disloyal children

Come back, disloyal children – it is the Lord who speaks – for I alone am your Master. I will take one from a town, two from a clan, and bring you to Zion. I will give you shepherds after my own heart, and these shall feed you on knowledge and discretion. And when you have increased and become many in the land, then – it is the Lord who speaks – no one will ever say again: Where is the ark of the covenant of the Lord? There will be no thought of it, no memory of it, no regret for it, no making of another. When that time comes, Jerusalem shall be called: The Throne of the Lord; all the nations will gather there in the name of the Lord and will no longer follow the dictates of their own stubborn hearts.

Gospel

Matthew 13:18-23
The man who hears the word and understands it yields a rich harvest

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You are to hear the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom without understanding, the evil one comes and carries off what was sown in his heart: this is the man who received the seed on the edge of the path. The one who received it on patches of rock is the man who hears the word and welcomes it at once with joy. But he has no root in him, he does not last; let some trial come, or some persecution on account of the word, and he falls away at once. The one who received the seed in thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this world and the lure of riches choke the word and so he produces nothing. And the one who received the seed in rich soil is the man who hears the word and understands it; he is the one who yields a harvest and produces now a hundredfold, now sixty, now thirty.’

How do expect to hear the loving word of God spoken to you if you refuse to be obedient and faithful to Him? When you allow your sinful ways and inclinations to shut your ears to His call for repentance. When your heart, mind and soul is closed to the living water outpoured for you so that you might have life to the full?

Indeed those who strive for Holiness can hear Him clearly and they rejoice for His peace and joy reign in their hearts. Do not be discouraged for those reading this message there is still time. To turn your hearts back to Him. Come to Jesus and He will heal you. He will open your ears, mind and hearts. And your lips will once again be opened to praise and glorify Him. Then you can and will be blessing to all those around you. Amen

First reading

Jeremiah 2:1-3,7-8,12-13
I brought you to a fertile country and you defiled it

The word of the Lord was addressed to me, saying, ‘Go and shout this in the hearing of Jerusalem:

‘“The Lord says this:
I remember the affection of your youth, the love of your bridal days: you followed me through the wilderness, through a land unsown.
Israel was sacred to the Lord, the first-fruits of his harvest; anyone who ate of this had to pay for it, misfortune came to them –it is the Lord who speaks.”

‘I brought you to a fertile country to enjoy its produce and good things; but no sooner had you entered than you defiled my land, and made my heritage detestable.
The priests have never asked, “Where is the Lord?”
Those who administer the Law have no knowledge of me. The shepherds have rebelled against me; the prophets have prophesied in the name of Baal, following things with no power in them.

‘You heavens, stand aghast at this,stand stupefied, stand utterly appalled
– it is the Lord who speaks.
Since my people have committed a double crime:
they have abandoned me,
the fountain of living water,only to dig cisterns for themselves,leaky cisterns that hold no water.’

Gospel

Matthew 13:10-17
Prophets and holy men longed to hear what you hear

The disciples went up to Jesus and asked, ‘Why do you talk to them in parables?’ ‘Because’ he replied, ‘the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven are revealed to you, but they are not revealed to them. For anyone who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough; but from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. The reason I talk to them in parables is that they look without seeing and listen without hearing or understanding. So in their case this prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled:

You will listen and listen again, but not understand, see and see again, but not perceive.
For the heart of this nation has grown coarse,
their ears are dull of hearing, and they have shut their eyes, for fear they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears,understand with their heart, and be converted
and be healed by me.

‘But happy are your eyes because they see, your ears because they hear! I tell you solemnly, many prophets and holy men longed to see what you see, and never saw it; to hear what you hear, and never heard it.’

`I serve the Lord my God.’ Really do you? When you are not concerned with the well being of your fellow men? Especially the widow, the hungry, poor and sick? When you care little about your community, by not showing up for the sharing of the word, prayer meetings or not contributing in the general meeting. By not welcoming the parishioners but meeting them with a sense of irritability or resentment or would rather engage in your own personal conversations. When you seek the approval, recognition and praise of others, your peers, the priests instead of the Lord Your God. Whom do you actually serve if not Yourself?

For our Lord Jesus Christ clearly showed us the way to serve the Lord our God and to do His will. And that is to love one another as He loved us. By laying down our life for another though not all are called to endure a physical death. For just as He came to serve and not be served so by His example we too shall serve. With love and joy in our hearts no matter what may come our way. For He our Lord is with us every step of the way.

St James the Apostle pray for us. Amen

First reading

2 Corinthians 4:7-15
Such an overwhelming power comes from God and not from us

We are only the earthenware jars that hold this treasure, to make it clear that such an overwhelming power comes from God and not from us. We are in difficulties on all sides, but never cornered; we see no answer to our problems, but never despair; we have been persecuted, but never deserted; knocked down, but never killed; always, wherever we may be, we carry with us in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus, too, may always be seen in our body. Indeed, while we are still alive, we are consigned to our death every day, for the sake of Jesus, so that in our mortal flesh the life of Jesus, too, may be openly shown. So death is at work in us, but life in you.
But as we have the same spirit of faith that is mentioned in scripture – I believed, and therefore I spoke – we too believe and therefore we too speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus to life will raise us with Jesus in our turn, and put us by his side and you with us. You see, all this is for your benefit, so that the more grace is multiplied among people, the more thanksgiving there will be, to the glory of God.

Gospel

Matthew 20:20-28
‘Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?’

The mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons to make a request of him, and bowed low; and he said to her, ‘What is it you want?’ She said to him, ‘Promise that these two sons of mine may sit one at your right hand and the other at your left in your kingdom.’ ‘You do not know what you are asking’ Jesus answered. ‘Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?’ They replied, ‘We can.’ ‘Very well,’ he said ‘you shall drink my cup, but as for seats at my right hand and my left, these are not mine to grant; they belong to those to whom they have been allotted by my Father.’
When the other ten heard this they were indignant with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, ‘You know that among the pagans the rulers lord it over them, and their great men make their authority felt. This is not to happen among you. No; anyone who wants to be great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’

I know no other merciful and loving God. One who truly loves and cares for His people. One who hopes and prays for their conversion, their turning away from sin to return to Him. So that they might have life to the full and eternally with Him. A loving Father that sent His son to bridge the great divide, so that we can become sons and daughters;brothers and sisters to one another.

All that He asks of us is to do His Will. His will that only brings forth life, love, peace and joy. Amen

First reading

Micah 7:14-15,18-20
Have pity on us one more time

With shepherd’s crook, O Lord, lead your people to pasture,the flock that is your heritage,living confined in a forest
with meadow land all around.
Let them pasture in Bashan and Gilead as in the days of old.
As in the days when you came out of Egypt grant us to see wonders.

What god can compare with you: taking fault away,
pardoning crime, not cherishing anger for ever
but delighting in showing mercy?
Once more have pity on us, tread down our faults,
to the bottom of the sea
throw all our sins.
Grant Jacob your faithfulness, and Abraham your mercy, as you swore to our fathers from the days of long ago.

Gospel

Matthew 12:46-50
My mother and my brothers are anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven

Jesus was speaking to the crowds when his mother and his brothers appeared; they were standing outside and were anxious to have a word with him. But to the man who told him this Jesus replied, ‘Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?’ And stretching out his hand towards his disciples he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother.

Are you waiting for the Lord’s second coming before you start believing? Before you get your life ordered towards Him? In the meantime going for mass, if you go at all, out of obligation in case it might be true that the Lord is God. How is your heart changed?

He is already here and has in a sense never left. The faithful can feel His presence. When they gather in His name. They see Him at every Eucharistic Celebration and while in Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. And with every encounter they strive to grow in love and holiness. To act justly, walk humbly and love their neighbour tenderly.

Jesus my Lord, help me to love others as You do. Amen

First reading

Micah 6:1-4,6-8
The Lord asks only this: to act justly, to love tenderly, to walk humbly

Listen to what the Lord is saying:

Stand up and let the case begin in the hearing of the mountains and let the hills hear what you say.
Listen, you mountains, to the Lord’s accusation, give ear, you foundations of the earth,for the Lord is accusing his people, pleading against Israel:
My people, what have I done to you,how have I been a burden to you? Answer me.
I brought you out of the land of Egypt,I rescued you from the house of slavery;I sent Moses to lead you,with Aaron and Miriam.

– ‘With what gift shall I come into the Lord’s presence and bow down before God on high?
Shall I come with holocausts, with calves one year old?
Will he be pleased with rams by the thousand,with libations of oil in torrents?
Must I give my first-born for what I have done wrong,the fruit of my body for my own sin?’

– What is good has been explained to you, man;this is what the Lord asks of you:only this, to act justly, to love tenderly
and to walk humbly with your God.

Gospel

Matthew 12:38-42
There is something greater than Solomon here

Some of the scribes and Pharisees spoke up. ‘Master,’ they said ‘we should like to see a sign from you.’ He replied, ‘It is an evil and unfaithful generation that asks for a sign! The only sign it will be given is the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was in the belly of the sea-monster for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. On Judgement day the men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation and condemn it, because when Jonah preached they repented; and there is something greater than Jonah here. On Judgement day the Queen of the South will rise up with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here.’

Be holy as you are called to be. Not some of the time but all the time. Do not allow for vengeful thoughts that lead to the planning and execution of evil. For the Lord our God knows all that goes on in minds and hearts. Turn to Him instead with your troubles and He will grant you His peace.

Jesus has not come to crush sinners, but to embrace and offer them life. A life of peace and joy with love in their hearts. So let always turn to Him with repentant hearts, so that through His mercy and love we will be set free to live fully in His love. Amen

First reading

Micah 2:1-5
The plotters of evil will not escape

Woe to those who plot evil,who lie in bed planning mischief!
No sooner is it dawn than they do it – their hands have the strength for it.
Seizing the fields that they covet,they take over houses as well, owner and house they confiscate together,taking both man and inheritance.
So the Lord says this:
Now it is I who plot
such mischief against this breed as your necks will not escape; nor will you be able to walk proudly, so evil will the time be.
On that day they will make a satire on you, sing a dirge and say,
‘We are stripped of everything; my people’s portion is measured out and shared, no one will give it back to them, our fields are awarded to our despoiler.’

Therefore you will have no one to measure out a share in the community of the Lord.

Gospel

Matthew 12:14-21
He cured them all but warned them not to make him known

The Pharisees went out and began to plot against Jesus, discussing how to destroy him.
Jesus knew this and withdrew from the district. Many followed him and he cured them all, but warned them not to make him known. This was to fulfil the prophecy of Isaiah:

Here is my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved, the favourite of my soul.
I will endow him with my spirit, and he will proclaim the true faith to the nations.
He will not brawl or shout, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.
He will not break the crushed reed, nor put out the smouldering wick till he has led the truth to victory: in his name the nations will put their hope.

Indeed we have a compassionate and merciful God who listens and answers the prayers of His faithful. Who gave us laws and commandments in love. So that we might be lead faithful lives ordered towards right worship of Him who provides all that we need in His love.

No law is above love! Hence in leading others closer towards the Lord our God, our stewardship must be rooted in His love and mercy. While there are times for hard work so too there must be times of rest, prayer and being in Lord’s presence. For He is the Lord of the sabbath, the bread of life! Through Him and Him alone we will have eternal life. Amen

First reading

Isaiah 38:1-6,21-22,7-8
The Lord hears Hezekiah’s prayer and heals him

Hezekiah fell ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came and said to him, ‘The Lord says this, “Put your affairs in order, for you are going to die, you will not live.”’ Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and addressed this prayer to the Lord, ‘Ah, Lord, remember, I beg you, how I have behaved faithfully and with sincerity of heart in your presence and done what is right in your eyes.’ And Hezekiah shed many tears.
Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah, ‘Go and say to Hezekiah, “The Lord, the God of David your ancestor, says this: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will cure you: in three days’ time you shall go up to the Temple of the Lord.” I will add fifteen years to your life. I will save you from the hands of the king of Assyria, I will protect this city.”’
‘Bring a fig poultice,’ Isaiah said, ‘apply it to the ulcer and he will recover.’ Hezekiah said, ‘What is the sign to tell me that I shall be going up to the Temple of the Lord?’ ‘Here’ Isaiah replied’’ ‘is the sign from the Lord that he will do what he has said. Look, I shall make the shadow cast by the declining sun go back ten steps on the steps of Ahaz.’ And the sun went back the ten steps by which it had declined.

Gospel

Matthew 12:1-8
The Son of Man is master of the sabbath

Jesus took a walk one sabbath day through the cornfields. His disciples were hungry and began to pick ears of corn and eat them. The Pharisees noticed it and said to him, ‘Look, your disciples are doing something that is forbidden on the sabbath.’ But he said to them, ‘Have you not read what David did when he and his followers were hungry – how he went into the house of God and how they ate the loaves of offering which neither he nor his followers were allowed to eat, but which were for the priests alone? Or again, have you not read in the Law that on the sabbath day the Temple priests break the sabbath without being blamed for it? Now here, I tell you, is something greater than the Temple. And if you had understood the meaning of the words: What I want is mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the blameless. For the Son of Man is master of the sabbath.’

Have we not carried the burden of our sins enough? Are we not tired of the guilt? Or having failed to examine our conscience have fallen into greater sin? Have we also carried the burden of supporting our family alone or had other more ‘important’ focuses that resulted in neglect of prayer and worship of Him who created us in His image?

Come dear sisters and brothers, come to Jesus who loves you and is waiting for you to come to Him. He is standing with open arms to embrace you. To free you of the burden of sin, to set you free to love and be loved. To live more fully in His love.

Jesus it is in You alone that we have peace and joy. May Your Peace and love reign in our hearts, mind and soul always. Amen

First reading

Isaiah 26:7-9,12,16-19
‘Awake and exult, all you who lie in the dust’

The path of the upright man is straight, you smooth the way of the upright. Following the path of your judgements, we hoped in you, O Lord, your name, your memory are all my soul desires.

At night my soul longs for you and my spirit in me seeks for you; when your judgements appear on earth the inhabitants of the world learn the meaning of integrity.

O Lord, you are giving us peace, since you treat us
as our deeds deserve.

Distressed, we search for you, O Lord; the misery of oppression was your punishment for us.
As a woman with child near her time writhes and cries out in her pangs, so are we, O Lord, in your presence: we have conceived, we writhe as if we were giving birth; we have not given the spirit of salvation to the earth, no more inhabitants of the world are born.

Your dead will come to life, their corpses will rise; awake, exult, all you who lie in the dust,
for your dew is a radiant dew and the land of ghosts will give birth.

Gospel

Matthew 11:28-30
My yoke is easy and my burden light

Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.’

Instead of complaining for what we lack or being driven solely for the purpose of gaining wealth, are we grateful to the Lord our God for all that we have? Have we praised Him and offered thanksgiving? Have we ordered our lives to proper worship of Him so as to properly love our families and neighbour?

We go on thinking we have accomplished all that we have on our own. By our own strengths and wisdom. Hence even those who are illustrious in their studies of God end up knowing more about Him but not knowing Him personally in a relationship for they do not live their faith of any.

Today and everyday, let us invite Jesus personally into our lives. In everything we say and do, let the praise of God be on our lips. And in gratitude offer thanksgiving by living our lives according to His will for us. Amen

First reading

Isaiah 10:5-7,13-16
Assyria’s arrogance and coming ruin

The Lord of hosts says this:

Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger, the club brandished by me in my fury!
I sent him against a godless nation; I gave him commission against a people that provokes me, to pillage and to plunder freely and to stamp down like the mud in the streets.
But he did not intend this, his heart did not plan it so. No, in his heart was to destroy, to go on cutting nations to pieces without limit.

For he has said:

‘By the strength of my own arm I have done this and by my own intelligence, for understanding is mine; I have pushed back the frontiers of peoples
and plundered their treasures.
I have brought their inhabitants down to the dust. As if they were a bird’s nest, my hand has seized the riches of the peoples.
As people pick up deserted eggs I have picked up the whole earth, with not a wing fluttering, not a beak opening, not a chirp.’

Does the axe claim more credit than the man who wields it, or the saw more strength than the man who handles it?
It would be like the cudgel controlling the man who raises it, or the club moving what is not made of wood!
And so the Lord of Hosts is going to send a wasting sickness on his stout warriors; beneath his plenty, a burning will burn like a consuming fire.

Gospel

Matthew 11:25-27
You have hidden these things from the wise and revealed them to little children

Jesus exclaimed, ‘I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children. Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased you to do. Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, just as no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.’

It is only when someone cares enough that they will tell, even nag at you to change your ways for the better. Otherwise most will just give up and stop caring whether you lived or died. The love of our Lord Jesus Christ is such that He never stops loving and caring for you. Urging you to repent of your sins and come to Him. For He does not want you die in your sins.

There is no greater love for us then that of our loving Father in heaven. Let us choose then to be faithful and strive each day for greater holiness. With the grace He outpours on us each each day and our ardent desire to live in His love, we will surely be holy as He our heavenly Father is Holy. Amen

First reading

Isaiah 7:1-9
Isaiah tells the king not to fear

In the reign of Ahaz son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Razon the king of Aram went up against Jerusalem with Pekah son of Remaliah, king of Israel, to lay siege to it; but he was unable to capture it.
The news was brought to the House of David. ‘Aram’ they said ‘has reached Ephraim.’ Then the heart of the king and the hearts of the people shuddered as the trees of the forest shudder in front of the wind. The Lord said to Isaiah, ‘Go with your son Shear-jashub, and meet Ahaz at the end of the conduit of the upper pool on the Fuller’s Field road, and say to him:

‘“Pay attention, keep calm, have no fear,
do not let your heart sink because of these two smouldering stumps of firebrands, or because Aram, Ephraim and the son of Remaliah have plotted to ruin you, and have said:
Let us invade Judah and terrorise it and seize it for ourselves, and set up a king there, the son of Tabeel.
The Lord says this: It shall not come true; it shall not be.
The capital of Aram is Damascus,the head of Damascus, Razon;the capital of Ephraim, Samaria,the head of Samaria, the son of Remaliah.
Six or five years more
and a shattered Ephraim shall no longer be a people. But if you do not stand by me,you will not stand at all.”’

Gospel

Matthew 11:20-24
It will not go as hard with Sodom on Judgement Day as with you

Jesus began to reproach the towns in which most of his miracles had been worked, because they refused to repent.
‘Alas for you, Chorazin! Alas for you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. And still, I tell you that it will not go as hard on Judgement day with Tyre and Sidon as with you. And as for you, Capernaum, did you want to be exalted as high as heaven? You shall be thrown down to hell. For if the miracles done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have been standing yet. And still, I tell you that it will not go as hard with the land of Sodom on Judgement day as with you.’

We cannot buy our way of the evil committed against our sisters and brothers. And no amount of donations can make up for the proper worship of the Lord our God either. It is only through a sincere contrite heart seeking to love and be loved that we are redeemed.

In order to truly love our family and our brethren the way they ought to be loved, we must put the Lord our God first before all else. Only then can we love as He loves. With a love that is willing to be laid down for another.

Sweet heart of Jesus, let mine be moulded after Yours. Amen

First reading

Isaiah 1:10-17
Take your wrongdoing out of my sight

Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom;listen to the command of our God,you people of Gomorrah.

‘What are your endless sacrifices to me? says the Lord. I am sick of holocausts of rams and the fat of calves. The blood of bulls and of goats revolts me. When you come to present yourselves before me, who asked you to trample over my courts?
Bring me your worthless offerings no more, the smoke of them fills me with disgust.
New Moons, sabbaths, assemblies – I cannot endure festival and solemnity.
Your New Moons and your pilgrimages I hate with all my soul. They lie heavy on me, I am tired of bearing them.
When you stretch out your hands I turn my eyes away. You may multiply your prayers, I shall not listen. Your hands are covered with blood,
wash, make yourselves clean.

‘Take your wrong-doing out of my sight. Cease to do evil.
Learn to do good, search for justice, help the oppressed, be just to the orphan, plead for the widow.’

Gospel

Matthew 10:34-11:1
It is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword

Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth: it is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies will be those of his own household.
‘Anyone who prefers father or mother to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who prefers son or daughter to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who does not take his cross and follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it; anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it.
‘Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me; and those who welcome me welcome the one who sent me.
‘Anyone who welcomes a prophet will have a prophet’s reward; and anyone who welcomes a holy man will have a holy man’s reward.
‘If anyone gives so much as a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward.’
When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples he moved on from there to teach and preach in their towns.

We should never feel inadequate or unworthy of speaking to others of God’s immense love for us and for others. Who better to touch the heart of a sinner then one who had sinned greatly in the past and was made whole again by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. For it through Jesus that our sin is purged and it is He alone then sanctifies us so that we can live In his love and be powerful instruments of His grace. All we need is to be obedient to His call.

Indeed when we acknowledge that He is the Lord of Lords, King of kings in our lives, He dwells in us. What then have we to fear? Or have need for? For He is with us in all situations at all times. So let us strive to be faithful as He the Lord our God is faithful and stand ready always to be sent as He wills. Amen

Glory and Praise to You O Lord Jesus Christ, now and forever. Amen

First reading

Isaiah 6:1-8
Isaiah’s lips cleansed with a burning coal

In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord of Hosts seated on a high throne; his train filled the sanctuary; above him stood seraphs, each one with six wings: two to cover its face, two to cover its feet, and two for flying.
And they cried out to one another in this way,

‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts.
His glory fills the whole earth.’

The foundations of the threshold shook with the voice of the one who cried out, and the Temple was filled with smoke. I said:

‘What a wretched state I am in! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have looked at the King, the Lord of Hosts.’

Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding in his hand a live coal which he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. With this he touched my mouth and said:

‘See now, this has touched your lips,your sin is taken away,your iniquity is purged.’

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying:

‘Whom shall I send? Who will be our messenger?’

I answered, ‘Here I am, send me.’

Gospel

Matthew 10:24-33
Everything now hidden will be made clear

Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘The disciple is not superior to his teacher, nor the slave to his master. It is enough for the disciple that he should grow to be like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, what will they not say of his household?
‘Do not be afraid of them therefore. For everything that is now covered will be uncovered, and everything now hidden will be made clear. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the daylight; what you hear in whispers, proclaim from the housetops.
‘Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; fear him rather who can destroy both body and soul in hell. Can you not buy two sparrows for a penny? And yet not one falls to the ground without your Father knowing. Why, every hair on your head has been counted. So there is no need to be afraid; you are worth more than hundreds of sparrows.
‘So if anyone declares himself for me in the presence of men, I will declare myself for him in the presence of my Father in heaven. But the one who disowns me in the presence of men, I will disown in the presence of my Father in heaven.’

Have you ever wondered why the Lord is so patient in calling us over and over again to repentance? Apart from His genuine love for us, He knows we are a stubborn, headstrong lot. Some need more time and coaxing to realise just how empty their lives are without Him. Others are so entrenched in their sinful lives they rather bring others down with them for company then listen. Yet a few will eventually have a change of heart through the grace of the Lord our God.

We who strive for faithfulness and turn often to our beloved Lord and saviour Jesus Christ for the necessary graces to do so, are called to love. Love put into action through loving and humble servitude of brethren. To share the Gospel message of God’s love to all who will listen even those who refuse. Yes no doubt we will have many challenges, obstacles and much resistance but the Holy Spirit will be with us all the way. We will be guided on what to say and when. And we will often be astounded on greater reflection of how the word of God flowed through our lips to touch someone all because we were faithful.

Strengthen our faith and guard us against evil Lord, as we go forth to share Your Word according to Your will. Amen

First reading

Hosea 14:2-10
A call to conversion and promise of safety

The Lord says this:

Israel, come back to the Lord your God; your iniquity was the cause of your downfall.
Provide yourself with words and come back to the Lord.
Say to him, ‘Take all iniquity away so that we may have happiness again and offer you our words of praise.
Assyria cannot save us,
we will not ride horses any more, or say, “Our God!” to what our own hands have made, for you are the one in whom orphans find compassion.’
– I will heal their disloyalty, I will love them with all my heart,
for my anger has turned from them.
I will fall like dew on Israel. He shall bloom like the lily, and thrust out roots like the poplar, his shoots will spread far;he will have the beauty of the olive and the fragrance of Lebanon.
They will come back to live in my shade; they will grow corn that flourishes, they will cultivate vines as renowned as the wine of Helbon.
What has Ephraim to do with idols any more when it is I who hear his prayer and care for him?
I am like a cypress ever green, all your fruitfulness comes from me.

Let the wise man understand these words.
Let the intelligent man grasp their meaning.
For the ways of the Lord are straight, and virtuous men walk in them, but sinners stumble.

Gospel

Matthew 10:16-23
The Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you

Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘Remember, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be cunning as serpents and yet as harmless as doves.
‘Beware of men: they will hand you over to sanhedrins and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the pagans. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to speak or what to say; what you are to say will be given to you when the time comes; because it is not you who will be speaking; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you. ‘Brother will betray brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all men on account of my name; but the man who stands firm to the end will be saved. If they persecute you in one town, take refuge in the next; and if they persecute you in that, take refuge in another. I tell you solemnly, you will not have gone the round of the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.’

God our loving Father never abandons His children. Even though He is gentle and patient with us, we should never take Him for granted. For left to our own devices we are doomed. And He will leave us alone if we so choose.

Therefore He sends His faithful children out into the world, that by the power and grace of His son our Lord Jesus Christ; all His lost and downtrodden children may be gathered unto Him. For it is His will that all His children be saved. To share eternal life with Him.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Now and forever. Amen

First reading

Hosea 11:1-4,8-9
I am the Holy One in your midst and have no wish to destroy

Thus says the Lord:

When Israel was a child I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt.
But the more I called to them, the further they went from me; they have offered sacrifice to the Baals and set their offerings smoking before the idols.
I myself taught Ephraim to walk, I took them in my arms; yet they have not understood that I was the one looking after them.
I led them with reins of kindness, with leading-strings of love. I was like someone who lifts an infant close against his cheek;stooping down to him I gave him his food.

Ephraim, how could I part with you? Israel, how could I give you up?
How could I treat you like Admah, or deal with you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils from it, my whole being trembles at the thought.
I will not give rein to my fierce anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again, for I am God, not man: I am the Holy One in your midst and have no wish to destroy.

Gospel

Matthew 10:7-15
You received without charge: give without charge

Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘As you go, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils. You received without charge, give without charge. Provide yourselves with no gold or silver, not even with a few coppers for your purses, with no haversack for the journey or spare tunic or footwear or a staff, for the workman deserves his keep.
‘Whatever town or village you go into, ask for someone trustworthy and stay with him until you leave. As you enter his house, salute it, and if the house deserves it, let your peace descend upon it; if it does not, let your peace come back to you. And if anyone does not welcome you or listen to what you have to say, as you walk out of the house or town shake the dust from your feet. I tell you solemnly, on the day of Judgement it will not go as hard with the land of Sodom and Gomorrah as with that town.’

The kingdom of God is indeed at hand. Do you not think so? Some say there is still time, we are still young we will repent later. Fools! Do you know that today may be your last! Even so how have you lived your life? Do you have peace and joy in your heart? Do you have love in your heart for others and are loved by others? Or are you still searching for love? If so then you have not truly lived. For a child of God lives life to the full in His love.

You and I have been called by name, to seek our Lord’s lost sheep. And to lead them home to Him.
By proclaiming His love for them and His desire to raise them to new life in Him. This is our call, this is our mission. Amen

First reading

Hosea 10:1-3,7-8,12
Seek integrity and reap a harvest of kindness

Israel was a luxuriant vine yielding plenty of fruit. The more his fruit increased,the more altars he built;the richer his land became, the richer he made the sacred stones.
Their heart is a divided heart;very well, they must pay for it:the Lord is going to break their altars down and destroy their sacred stones. Then they will say,‘We have no king because we have not feared the Lord.’

But what can a king do for us? Samaria has had her day. Her king is like a straw drifting on the water. The idolatrous high places shall be destroyed –that sin of Israel;thorn and thistle will grow on their altars.Then they will say to the mountains, ‘Cover us!’
and to the hills, ‘Fall on us!’

Sow integrity for yourselves,reap a harvest of kindness,break up your fallow ground: it is time to go seeking the Lord until he comes to rain salvation on you.

Gospel

Matthew 10:1-7
‘Go to the lost sheep of the House of Israel’

Jesus summoned his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits with power to cast them out and to cure all kinds of diseases and sickness.
These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, the one who was to betray him. These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them as follows:
‘Do not turn your steps to pagan territory, and do not enter any Samaritan town; go rather to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. And as you go, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.’

Many are so caught up with the ways of the world that they are blinded. They do not see the toll it is taking on them and the lives of their families. Anxiety and depression are the norm. Some will eventually cry out,”Where is God?”

Yes indeed there are many searching for the Lord our God and yet few are responding to the call to lead them to Him. We all need to be obedient and respond in love to our calling. For He will pour out on us the graces we need to carry out our mission of love.

Here I am Lord, a labourer of Your love. Use me according to Your will. Amen

First reading

Hosea 8:4-7,11-13
They have sown the wind; they will reap the whirlwind

Thus says the Lord:

They have set up kings, but not with my consent,
and appointed princes, but without my knowledge.
Out of their own silver and gold they have made idols, which are doomed to destruction.
I spurn your calf, Samaria, my anger blazes against it.
(How long will it be before they purge themselves of this,
the sons of Israel?)
A workman made the thing, this cannot be God!
Yes, the calf of Samaria shall go up in flames.
They sow the wind, they will reap the whirlwind;
their wheat will yield no ear, the ear will yield no flour, or, if it does, foreigners will swallow it.

Ephraim has built altar after altar, they have only served him as occasion for sin.
Were I to write out the thousand precepts of my Law for him, they would be paid no more attention than those of a stranger.
They love sacrificing; right, let them sacrifice!
They love meat; right, let them eat it!
The Lord takes no pleasure in these. He is now going to remember their iniquity and punish their sins; they will have to go back to Egypt.

Gospel

Matthew 9:32-37
The harvest is rich but the labourers are few

A man was brought to Jesus, a dumb demoniac. And when the devil was cast out, the dumb man spoke and the people were amazed. ‘Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel’ they said. But the Pharisees said, ‘It is through the prince of devils that he casts out devils.’
Jesus made a tour through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom and curing all kinds of diseases and sickness.
And when he saw the crowds he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.’

No one can love us more than the Lord our God. For even when we led adulterous lives of sin and turned to idols for comfort; He called out to us through His prophets. To turn back to Him so as to save us from our own destruction.

Great is His love for us that just by turning to Him in faith He restores us completely. He takes away our guilt and shame. He breathes life into our once dead bodies. And beckons us to rise with Him into new life. This is our God! The one true and living God will love us to the end. Apart from Him there is no life, for He is the source of all life.

Thank You Jesus, praise You Jesus. You are the way, the truth and the life. Amen

First reading

Hosea 2:16,17-18,21-22
I will betroth you to myself and you will come to know the name of the Lord

It is the Lord who speaks:

I am going to lure her
and lead her out into the wilderness and speak to her heart.
I am going to give her back her vineyards, and make the Valley of Achor a gateway of hope.
There she will respond to me as she did when she was young, as she did when she came out of the land of Egypt.

When that day comes – it is the Lord who speaks –
she will call me, ‘My husband’,no longer will she call me, ‘My Baal.’
I will betroth you to myself for ever, betroth you with integrity and justice, with tenderness and love;I will betroth you to myself with faithfulness, and you will come to know the Lord.

Gospel

Matthew 9:18-26
‘Your faith has restored you to health’

While Jesus was speaking, up came one of the officials, who bowed low in front of him and said, ‘My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her and her life will be saved.’ Jesus rose and, with his disciples, followed him. Then from behind him came a woman, who had suffered from a haemorrhage for twelve years, and she touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to herself, ‘If I can only touch his cloak I shall be well again.’ Jesus turned round and saw her; and he said to her, ‘Courage, my daughter, your faith has restored you to health.’ And from that moment the woman was well again.
When Jesus reached the official’s house and saw the flute-players, with the crowd making a commotion he said, ‘Get out of here; the little girl is not dead, she is asleep.’ And they laughed at him. But when the people had been turned out he went inside and took the little girl by the hand; and she stood up. And the news spread all round the countryside.

Homes without love are empty shells for dwelling. Dryness and thirst, unfulfilled needs. Disunity in the family. All these are the consequences of disobedience to the Lord our God. When sin is allowed to rule our hearts and mind everything we built is soon destroyed.

Only through Jesus can everything be restored. Can there be peace, love and joy. Let all hearts then be turned to Him. So that by dying to our sins, we can be transformed into new Wine. So that the life giving blood of Jesus can course through our veins.
His living word a lamp unto our feet.

Lord Jesus have mercy on me a sinner, break all the bonds of sin in me. That I may life a new life in You. Amen

O Blessed Mother intecede for us. Amen

First reading

Amos 9:11-15
I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel

It is the Lord who speaks:

‘That day I will re-erect the tottering hut of David, make good the gaps in it, restore its ruins and rebuild it as it was in the days of old, so that they can conquer the remnant of Edom
and all the nations that belonged to me.’

It is the Lord who speaks, and he will carry this out.

‘The days are coming now – it is the Lord who speaks – when harvest will follow directly after ploughing, the treading of grapes soon after sowing, when the mountains will run with new wine and the hills all flow with it.
I mean to restore the fortunes of my people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them, plant vineyards and drink their wine, dig gardens and eat their produce.
I will plant them in their own country, never to be rooted up again out of the land I have given them, says the Lord, your God.’

Gospel

Matthew 9:14-17
When the bridegroom is taken from them, then they will fast

John’s disciples came to him and said, ‘Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?’ Jesus replied, ‘Surely the bridegroom’s attendants would never think of mourning as long as the bridegroom is still with them? But the time will come for the bridegroom to be taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one puts a piece of unshrunken cloth on to an old cloak, because the patch pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse. Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins; if they do, the skins burst, the wine runs out, and the skins are lost. No; they put new wine into fresh skins and both are preserved.’

Those who oppress or cheat others through their greed and selfishness can never hear the life giving word of God. For they distant themselves from the love of the Lord their God through their sin and despicable acts.

Still God our Father sees hope in His creation and sent His son our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ to turn the hearts of sinners back to Him. This act of love and mercy is given through no merit of our own but by the divine love of God our Father who wills that all may be saved.

So then sisters and brothers in Christ, let us pray for one another especially for the conversion of all sinners. And do all we can to lead all lost souls back to Jesus. Amen

First reading

Amos 8:4-6,9-12
A famine not of bread, but of hearing the word of the Lord

Listen to this, you who trample on the needy and try to suppress the poor people of the country, you who say, ‘When will New Moon be over so that we can sell our corn, and sabbath, so that we can market our wheat?
Then by lowering the bushel, raising the shekel, by swindling and tampering with the scales, we can buy up the poor for money, and the needy for a pair of sandals, and get a price even for the sweepings of the wheat.’
That day – it is the Lord who speaks – I will make the sun go down at noon,
and darken the earth in broad daylight.
I am going to turn your feasts into funerals,
all your singing into lamentation; I will have your loins all in sackcloth, your heads all shaved.
I will make it a mourning like the mourning for an only son, as long as it lasts it will be like a day of bitterness.
See what days are coming – it is the Lord who speaks – days when I will bring famine on the country, a famine not of bread, a drought not of water, but of hearing the word of the Lord.
They will stagger from sea to sea, wander from north to east, seeking the word of the Lord and failing to find it.

Gospel

Matthew 9:9-13
It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick

As Jesus was walking on, he saw a man named Matthew sitting by the customs house, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him.
While he was at dinner in the house it happened that a number of tax collectors and sinners came to sit at the table with Jesus and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your master eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ When he heard this he replied, ‘It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick. Go and learn the meaning of the words: What I want is mercy, not sacrifice. And indeed I did not come to call the virtuous, but sinners.’

Always turn back to the Lord. Try hard as you may and yet you fall again into sin, do not be disheartened. For Jesus our Lord seeks to heal and restore you. Many have been sent to call you back to the Lord our God who loves you.

We must continue to fervently pray for one another. The world is teeming with distractions and temptations which seek to lead us away from God our Father. By our faith and prayers we will overcome them, for through our faith we are granted His graces. Go therefore to the Sacrament of reconciliation frequently, encouraging one another to do likewise. For Jesus Christ our Lord is waiting to embrace us. Amen

First reading

Amos 7:10-17
The Lord took me from herding the flock and sent me to prophesy

Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent word to Jeroboam king of Israel as follows. ‘Amos is plotting against you in the heart of the House of Israel; the country can no longer tolerate what he keeps saying. For this is what he says, “Jeroboam is going to die by the sword, and Israel go into exile far from its country.”’ To Amos, Amaziah said, ‘Go away, seer;’ get back to the land of Judah; earn your bread there, do your prophesying there. We want no more prophesying in Bethel; this is the royal sanctuary, the national temple.’ ‘I was no prophet, neither did I belong to any of the brotherhoods of prophets,’ Amos replied to Amaziah ‘I was a shepherd, and looked after sycamores: but it was the Lord who took me from herding the flock, and the Lord who said, “Go, prophesy to my people Israel.” So listen to the word of the Lord.

‘You say:
‘“Do not prophesy against Israel, utter no oracles against the House of Isaac.”

‘Very well, this is what the Lord says,‘“Your wife will be forced to go on the streets, your sons and daughters will fall by the sword, your land be parcelled out by measuring line, and you yourself die on unclean soil and Israel will go into exile far distant from its own land.”’

Gospel

Matthew 9:1-8
‘Your sins are forgiven; get up and walk’

Jesus got in the boat, crossed the water and came to his own town. Then some people appeared, bringing him a paralytic stretched out on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, ‘Courage, my child, your sins are forgiven.’ And at this some scribes said to themselves, ‘This man is blaspheming.’ Knowing what was in their minds Jesus said, ‘Why do you have such wicked thoughts in your hearts? Now, which of these is easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up and walk”? But to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,’ – he said to the paralytic – ‘get up, and pick up your bed and go off home.’ And the man got up and went home. A feeling of awe came over the crowd when they saw this, and they praised God for giving such power to men.

By our baptism we are all called to Holiness. Let us not give up our birthright to eternal life for sin.

For if we choose to wallow in the filth of sin then we become more and more entrenched. Why remain trapped in the clutches of impending permanent death?

Choose to come before the Son of God, our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ with a contrite heart. He will liberate us from the filthy bonds of sin and cast out the evil into the abyss.

For we were made to love and be loved. To live life in the fullness of His grace. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Now and forever. Amen

First reading

Amos 5:14-15,21-24
Seek good and not evil so that you may live

Seek good and not evil
so that you may live, and that the Lord, God of Hosts, may really be with you as you claim he is.

Hate evil, love good,
maintain justice at the city gate, and it may be that the Lord, God of Hosts, will take pity on the remnant of Joseph.

I hate and despise your feasts,I take no pleasure in your solemn festivals.
When you offer me holocausts, I reject your oblations, and refuse to look at your sacrifices of fattened cattle.

Let me have no more of the din of your chanting,
no more of your strumming on harps. But let justice flow like water, and integrity like an unfailing stream.

Gospel

Matthew 8:28-34
The Gadarene swine

When Jesus reached the country of the Gadarenes on the other side of the lake, two demoniacs came towards him out of the tombs – creatures so fierce that no one could pass that way. They stood there shouting, ‘What do you want with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before the time?’ Now some distance away there was a large herd of pigs feeding, and the devils pleaded with Jesus, ‘If you cast us out, send us into the herd of pigs.’ And he said to them, ‘Go then’, and they came out and made for the pigs; and at that the whole herd charged down the cliff into the lake and perished in the water. The swineherds ran off and made for the town, where they told the whole story, including what had happened to the demoniacs. At this the whole town set out to meet Jesus; and as soon as they saw him they implored him to leave the neighbourhood.

In order to grow in love and faith as one community in Christ Jesus our Lord. We must first acknowledge that we are all individually special and so loved by God our Father that He sent His only begotten Son to redeem us for Himself. Then that each and everyone of us are truly sisters and brothers in Jesus, one as God our Father’s children.

Unless we put our knowledge of this into action it will not bear fruit, at home, church, work or anywhere for that matter. The great love we receive from the Lord our God must be put into action in our love for one another. Otherwise we will choose self before others, we will choose not to attend community prayer meetings, choose not to hear testimonies of our Lord by others, choose not to show up for church service, choose not to pray as family if to pray at all, choose to work long hours for money and where is God in all of these choices?

Jesus my Lord, St Thomas so yearned to see You for himself and You granted His prayer. Be with me always my Lord, my God. Amen

St Thomas pray for us.

First reading

Ephesians 2:19-22
In Christ you are no longer aliens, but citizens like us

You are no longer aliens or foreign visitors: you are citizens like all the saints, and part of God’s household. You are part of a building that has the apostles and prophets for its foundations, and Christ Jesus himself for its main cornerstone. As every structure is aligned on him, all grow into one holy temple in the Lord; and you too, in him, are being built into a house where God lives, in the Spirit.

Gospel

John 20:24-29
‘My Lord and my God!’

Thomas, called the Twin, who was one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. When the disciples said, ‘We have seen the Lord’, he answered, ‘Unless I see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe.’ Eight days later the disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. The doors were closed, but Jesus came in and stood among them. ‘Peace be with you’ he said. Then he spoke to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Doubt no longer but believe.’ Thomas replied, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him:

‘You believe because you can see me.
Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.’

It is time to follow Jesus now. Because if you are waiting for the right time, there isn’t. By the time you think you may be ready then it may already be too late. For death calls on us at anytime. Come to Him in the present as you are. With all your sins, worries and anxieties and He will set you free.

Discipleship begins now! Too many have given excuses of no time, too far, too troublesome, no aptitude, too tired, something more urgent to attend to and so on. Really? What are you doing when you choose not to serve? Does it not come down to a lack of love and commitment? To will the good in another by our love. How many have to go on hungry and thirsty by our inaction to love?

Jesus my Lord, following You is not easy but I know it leads to eternal life with You. Be with me always. Amen

First Reading

Amos 2:6-10,13-16
Because of your crimes I will crush you into the ground

The Lord says this:

For the three crimes, the four crimes, of Israel
I have made my decree and will not relent:
because they have sold the virtuous man for silver
and the poor man for a pair of sandals, because they trample on the heads of ordinary people and push the poor out of their path, because father and son have both resorted to the same girl, profaning my holy name, because they stretch themselves out by the side of every altar
on clothes acquired as pledges, and drink the wine of the people they have fined in the house of their god…
Yet it was I who overthrew the Amorites when they attacked, men tall as cedars and strong as oaks,
I who destroyed them,
both fruit above ground
and root below.
It was I who brought you out of the land of Egypt
and for forty years led you through the wilderness to take possession of the Amorite’s country.
See then how I am going to crush you into the ground
as the threshing-sledge crushes when clogged by straw; flight will not save even the swift, the strong man will find his strength useless, the mighty man will be powerless to save himself.
The bowman will not stand his ground, the fast runner will not escape,
the horseman will not save himself, the bravest warriors will run away naked that day.
It is the Lord who speaks.

Gospel

Matthew 8:18-22
The Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head

When Jesus saw the great crowds all about him he gave orders to leave for the other side. One of the scribes then came up and said to him, ‘Master, I will follow you wherever you go.’ Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’
Another man, one of his disciples, said to him, ‘Sir, let me go and bury my father first.’ But Jesus replied, ‘Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their dead.’