Archive for August, 2019

Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted: August 31, 2019 by CatholicJules in Sunday Reflections
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To Go Up Higher: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings:

Sirach 3:17–18, 20, 28–29
Psalm 68:4–7,10–11
Hebrews 12:18–19, 22–24
Luke 14:1, 7–14

We come to the wedding banquet of heaven by way of humility and charity. This is the fatherly instruction we hear in today’s First Reading, and the message of today’s Gospel.

Jesus is not talking simply about good table manners. He is revealing the way of the kingdom, in which the one who would be greatest would be the servant of all (see Luke 22:24–27).

This is the way, too, that the Father has shown us down through the ages—filling the hungry, sending the rich away empty, lifting up the lowly, pulling down the proud (see Luke 1:52–53).

We again call to mind the Exodus in today’s Psalm—how in His goodness the Lord led the Israelites from imprisonment to prosperity, rained down bread from heaven, made them His inheritance, becoming a “Father of orphans.”
We now have also gained a share of His inheritance. We are to live humbly, knowing we are not worthy to receive from His table (see Luke 6:7; 15:21). We are to give alms, remembering we were ransomed from sin by the price of His blood (see 1 Corinthians 6:19–20).

The Lord promises that if we are humble we will be exalted and find favor with God; that if we are kind to those who can never repay us, we will atone for sins and find blessing in the resurrection of the righteous.

We anticipate the fulfillment of those promises in every Eucharist, today’s Epistle tells us. In the Mass, we enter the festal gathering of the angels and the firstborn children of God. It is the liturgy of the heavenly Jerusalem in which Jesus is the high priest, the King who calls us to come up higher (see Proverbs 25:6–7).

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 31, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Put your love for God and the love of God into action!

God our Father loves us so much that He pours out His graces upon us ever so lavishly. All of us by virtue of our Baptism have been given the gifts of the Holy Spirit and as we grow in our love and relationship with the Lord our God, much more gifts, talents and wisdom are added on; for we would have already put whatever we had received into action for building of His kingdom. The Spirit we received is certainly not one of timidity but one that is bold to proclaim His love to all.

True servants after the heart of God know that all what we have received according to our Lord’s will must be put to use, invested, shared. For only then we will harvest abundant fruits which are profitable for Him. The only fear a disciple should have is Holy fear, fear of disappointing our all merciful and loving Lord and God.

Lord Jesus let all that I do and say bring You glory, now and forever. Amen

First reading

1 Thessalonians 4:9-11 ·
You have learnt from God how to love one another

As for loving our brothers, there is no need for anyone to write to you about that, since you have learnt from God yourselves to love one another, and in fact this is what you are doing with all the brothers throughout the whole of Macedonia. However, we do urge you, brothers, to go on making even greater progress and to make a point of living quietly, attending to your own business and earning your living, just as we told you to.

Gospel

Matthew 25:14-30
You have been faithful in small things: come and join in your master’s happiness

Jesus spoke this parable to his disciples: ‘The kingdom of Heaven is like a man on his way abroad who summoned his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to a third one; each in proportion to his ability. Then he set out.
‘The man who had received the five talents promptly went and traded with them and made five more. The man who had received two made two more in the same way. But the man who had received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
‘Now a long time after, the master of those servants came back and went through his accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents came forward bringing five more. “Sir,” he said “you entrusted me with five talents; here are five more that I have made.”
‘His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have shown you can be faithful in small things, I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master’s happiness.”
‘Next the man with the two talents came forward. “Sir,” he said “you entrusted me with two talents; here are two more that I have made.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have shown you can be faithful in small things, I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master’s happiness.”
‘Last came forward the man who had the one talent. “Sir,” said he “I had heard you were a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered; so I was afraid, and I went off and hid your talent in the ground. Here it is; it was yours, you have it back.” But his master answered him, “You wicked and lazy servant! So you knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered? Well then, you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have recovered my capital with interest. So now, take the talent from him and give it to the man who has the five talents. For to everyone who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough; but from the man who has not, even what he has will be taken away. As for this good-for-nothing servant, throw him out into the dark, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.”’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 30, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Time and time again we are called to Holiness for the good of the Lord our God? Nay sisters and brothers for our own good. So that we may partake fully in the Lord’s goodness. Holiness demands sacrifice and a will bent on resisting sin at all cost. So then are we at this very moment reflecting the image and likeness of God of whom we are created from? Are we living authentic lives of love and service of and for one another?

Next to the sin of pride, one of the most heinous and prevalent sin in our society is the sin of lust. It does not help that social media, television, movies, games and soundtracks are filled with ideas of loose living, immoral activities and creative ideas for immodesty! Human dignity is stripped and the person is one to be objectified. Other Sins easily follow to fill us up to the point of our own destruction.

So let us make a decision this very day if we are going to leave our ‘lamps’ empty of the love of God? Devoid of His mercy and grace? Do we continue to live selfish meaningless lives? Or do we choose instead to fill our lamps with the ‘oil’ of His love, filled with corporal and spiritual acts of mercy for one another. Filled with the Holy Spirit such that we love as we are called to love and to lead one another home to Him. Surely He will take us by the hand and lead us into His heavenly kingdom.

Oh Holy Spirit sanctify me, that I may be a worthy instrument of Your love. Amen

First reading

1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 ·
What God wants is for you all to be holy

Brothers, we urge you and appeal to you in the Lord Jesus to make more and more progress in the kind of life that you are meant to live: the life that God wants, as you learnt from us, and as you are already living it. You have not forgotten the instructions we gave you on the authority of the Lord Jesus.
What God wants is for you all to be holy. He wants you to keep away from fornication, and each one of you to know how to use the body that belongs to him in a way that is holy and honourable, not giving way to selfish lust like the pagans who do not know God. He wants nobody at all ever to sin by taking advantage of a brother in these matters; the Lord always punishes sins of that sort, as we told you before and assured you. We have been called by God to be holy, not to be immoral; in other words, anyone who objects is not objecting to a human authority, but to God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.

Gospel

Matthew 25:1-13
The wise and foolish virgins

Jesus told this parable to his disciples: ‘The kingdom of heaven will be like this: Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were sensible: the foolish ones did take their lamps, but they brought no oil, whereas the sensible ones took flasks of oil as well as their lamps. The bridegroom was late, and they all grew drowsy and fell asleep. But at midnight there was a cry, “The bridegroom is here! Go out and meet him.” At this, all those bridesmaids woke up and trimmed their lamps, and the foolish ones said to the sensible ones, “Give us some of your oil: our lamps are going out.” But they replied, “There may not be enough for us and for you; you had better go to those who sell it and buy some for yourselves.” They had gone off to buy it when the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding hall and the door was closed. The other bridesmaids arrived later. “Lord, Lord,” they said “open the door for us.” But he replied, “I tell you solemnly, I do not know you.” So stay awake, because you do not know either the day or the hour.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 29, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Who are the Herodias’ in our lives that keep us rooted in our sins? Who keeps us living in a fog of obscurity? Who feeds us with evil thoughts as we give in to our base inclinations? How easy it is then that as a result’ the Salomes’ of the world can entice us such that we are willing to forgo our souls! Who is it that will actually lose their head for all eternity? For God’s justice will prevail always!

We only have ourselves to blame if we Do Not CHOOSE to walk blameless before the Lord our God. If we refuse to hear His call to repentance so as to grow in Holiness. To rid ourselves of all evil thoughts and desires by living according to His Word. We most certainly can overcome all obstacles, challenges and evil; Through and by the love and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ who desires that we be with Him for all eternity. For He conquered death and sin so that we might live life to the full in Him.

Let us strive then to live our lives with and in His grace. Let us encourage one another to grow in love and holiness as we journey on home to Him. May He so confirm our hearts in holiness that we may be blameless in the sight of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus Christ comes with all His saints.

Lord You are my Shepherd there is nothing I shall want. Amen

First reading

1 Thessalonians 3:7-13 ·
Now we can breathe again, as you are still holding firm in the Lord

Brothers, your faith has been a great comfort to us in the middle of our own troubles and sorrows; now we can breathe again, as you are still holding firm in the Lord. How can we thank God enough for you, for all the joy we feel before our God on your account? We are earnestly praying night and day to be able to see you face to face again and make up any shortcomings in your faith.
May God our Father himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, make it easy for us to come to you. May the Lord be generous in increasing your love and make you love one another and the whole human race as much as we love you. And may he so confirm your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless in the sight of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus Christ comes with all his saints.

Gospel

Mark 6:17-29
The beheading of John the Baptist

Herod sent to have John arrested, and had him chained up in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife whom he had married. For John had told Herod, ‘It is against the law for you to have your brother’s wife.’ As for Herodias, she was furious with him and wanted to kill him; but she was not able to, because Herod was afraid of John, knowing him to be a good and holy man, and gave him his protection. When he had heard him speak he was greatly perplexed, and yet he liked to listen to him.
An opportunity came on Herod’s birthday when he gave a banquet for the nobles of his court, for his army officers and for the leading figures in Galilee. When the daughter of this same Herodias came in and danced, she delighted Herod and his guests; so the king said to the girl, ‘Ask me anything you like and I will give it you.’ And he swore her an oath, ‘I will give you anything you ask, even half my kingdom.’ She went out and said to her mother, ‘What shall I ask for?’ She replied, ‘The head of John the Baptist.’ The girl hurried straight back to the king and made her request, ‘I want you to give me John the Baptist’s head, here and now, on a dish.’ The king was deeply distressed but, thinking of the oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he was reluctant to break his word to her. So the king at once sent one of the bodyguard with orders to bring John’s head. The man went off and beheaded him in prison; then he brought the head on a dish and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. When John’s disciples heard about this, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 28, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Not easy to listen and hear the Word of God which pierces the hearts of many so that change might take place from within. So much so that some have chosen to preach only about the Saints whose feast day we celebrate in hopes perhaps that more will be moved to change by emulating their lives.

Yes those who choose to live only exterior lives of Holiness, piety but have little or no true love of God or His people will bring about curses upon themselves by their actions whether or not they are concealed! For God sees within us all. In this day and age murder of the prophets as spoken in the Gospel does not and will not take place you might say. What about character assassination? Defamation? Do they not murder the spirit of their intended targets or the Holiness of the community? How many priests and modern day prophets have suffered at the hands of those who gossip and plot against them? How many who speak up for truth were silenced or dealt with by the higher echelon?

St Paul reminds us how to live according to the teachings of Christ who once said that the greatest among you must be your servant. Any one who exalts himself will be humbled and anyone who humbles himself will be exalted. That we should work hard and not rely on anyone as to be obligated in such a way that we are not free to proclaim the Good news and work for the glory of the Lord our God. Having heard the Word of God we must live our lives worthily and in the Spirit, whose power will effect change in our lives as well of those who will come to believe. For the Lord draws His faithful unto Himself. Amen

St Augustine pray for us….

First reading

1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 ·
We slaved night and day so as not to be a burden on any one of you

Let me remind you, brothers, how hard we used to work, slaving night and day so as not to be a burden on any one of you while we were proclaiming God’s Good News to you. You are witnesses, and so is God, that our treatment of you, since you became believers, has been impeccably right and fair. You can remember how we treated every one of you as a father treats his children, teaching you what was right, encouraging you and appealing to you to live a life worthy of God, who is calling you to share the glory of his kingdom. Another reason why we constantly thank God for you is that as soon as you heard the message that we brought you as God’s message, you accepted it for what it really is, God’s message and not some human thinking; and it is still a living power among you who believe it.

Gospel

Matthew 23:27-32
You are the sons of those who murdered the prophets

Jesus said: ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who are like whitewashed tombs that look handsome on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of corruption. In the same way you appear to people from the outside like good honest men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who build the sepulchres of the prophets and decorate the tombs of holy men, saying, “We would never have joined in shedding the blood of the prophets, had we lived in our fathers’ day.” So! Your own evidence tells against you! You are the sons of those who murdered the prophets! Very well then, finish off the work that your fathers began.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 27, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Recently our archbishop wrote about his encounter with a few young people who were sporting studs and tattoos. He shared they were wonderful, good natured, talented and hard working. Prayerfully no one read it and decided that they too would get tattoos *grins* And I too have encountered similar folks in my own parish. I remember distinctly giving a talk one year on encountering God through prayer for some primary 4 (junior) parents and at the very end of the talk only one pair came up to me to thank me for the talk and they were the ones who had tattoos all over. Today’s Gospel says it all! It is what is on the inside that counts. How the Lord our God had changed us from within and is continuing to work in us through His grace.

Many are still very much more concerned with appearances. Even church leaders are not exempt from this form of insecurity. They want to be respected and carry an air about them which they mistake to be spirit filled. St Paul reminds us however that we should be unassuming in our disposition with hearts only after our Lord Jesus Christ. So that in all things we bring glory alone to Him. Let us strive therefore to continually renew ourselves through the power of the Holy Spirit and to frequent the sacraments. So that docile to His promptings we give glory to God in all we say and do.

Jesus I am Yours. Amen

St. Monica pray for us…..

First reading

1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 ·
We were eager to hand over to you not only the Good News but our whole lives

You know yourselves, my brothers, that our visit to you has not proved ineffectual.
We had, as you know, been given rough treatment and been grossly insulted at Philippi, and it was our God who gave us the courage to proclaim his Good News to you in the face of great opposition. We have not taken to preaching because we are deluded, or immoral, or trying to deceive anyone; it was God who decided that we were fit to be entrusted with the Good News, and when we are speaking, we are not trying to please men but God, who can read our inmost thoughts. You know very well, and we can swear it before God, that never at any time have our speeches been simply flattery, or a cover for trying to get money; nor have we ever looked for any special honour from men, either from you or anybody else, when we could have imposed ourselves on you with full weight, as apostles of Christ.
Instead, we were unassuming. Like a mother feeding and looking after her own children, we felt so devoted and protective towards you, and had come to love you so much, that we were eager to hand over to you not only the Good News but our whole lives as well.

Gospel

Matthew 23:23-26
Clean the inside of the cup first, so that the outside may become clean

Jesus said: ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who pay your tithe of mint and dill and cumin and have neglected the weightier matters of the Law – justice, mercy, good faith! These you should have practised, without neglecting the others. You blind guides! Straining out gnats and swallowing camels!
‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who clean the outside of cup and dish and leave the inside full of extortion and intemperance. Blind Pharisee! Clean the inside of cup and dish first so that the outside may become clean as well.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 26, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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You can see the stark contrast between the worshippers of the Lord our God in the first reading and those spoken of in the Gospel. The first have surrendered their all to Him, have built up their relationship with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ through prayer, the Word lived out in their lives and the sharing of His love with the community. Then each new community is built upon the teachings and foundation of the old. The Lord Himself adds to their numbers.

The latter however have only an idea of who the Lord their God is and how they think they should live out their faith in Him ritualistically. There is no depth of understanding neither is there the required love that goes into the worship of the Lord their God. What lessons then will they have taught their followers in the ways of God? What would their children have learnt? How then can the Love for God grow in their hearts? How can they love one another as they ought to when they have not experienced His love the way they are meant to? They have shut themselves out from encountering Him in the deep personal way that He wants them to. Do we not have such leaders or parishioners in our Church today?

Lord Jesus be my guide in all I say and do, let my heart burn for love of You; such that the fire of Your love will spread to all You have sent my way. Amen

First reading

1 Thessalonians 1:1-5,8-10 ·
You broke with idolatry when you were converted to God

From Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, to the Church in Thessalonika which is in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ; wishing you grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We always mention you in our prayers and thank God for you all, and constantly remember before God our Father how you have shown your faith in action, worked for love and persevered through hope, in our Lord Jesus Christ.
We know, brothers, that God loves you and that you have been chosen, because when we brought the Good News to you, it came to you not only as words, but as power and as the Holy Spirit and as utter conviction. And you observed the sort of life we lived when we were with you, which was for your instruction, since it was from you that the word of the Lord started to spread – and not only throughout Macedonia and Achaia, for the news of your faith in God has spread everywhere. We do not need to tell other people about it: other people tell us how we started the work among you, how you broke with idolatry when you were converted to God and became servants of the real, living God; and how you are now waiting for Jesus, his Son, whom he raised from the dead, to come from heaven to save us from the retribution which is coming.

Gospel

Matthew 23:13-22
Alas for you, blind guides!

Jesus said: ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who shut up the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces, neither going in yourselves nor allowing others to go in who want to.
‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who travel over sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when you have him you make him twice as fit for hell as you are.
‘Alas for you, blind guides! You who say, “If a man swears by the Temple, it has no force; but if a man swears by the gold of the Temple, he is bound.” Fools and blind! For which is of greater worth, the gold or the Temple that makes the gold sacred? Or else, “If a man swears by the altar it has no force; but if a man swears by the offering that is on the altar, he is bound.” You blind men! For which is of greater worth, the offering or the altar that makes the offering sacred? Therefore, when a man swears by the altar he is swearing by that and by everything on it. And when a man swears by the Temple he is swearing by that and by the One who dwells in it. And when a man swears by heaven he is swearing by the throne of God and by the One who is seated there.’

Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted: August 24, 2019 by CatholicJules in Life's Journeys, Sunday Reflections
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Gateway to Life: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings:

Isaiah 66:18–21
Psalm 117:1, 2
Hebrews 12:5–7, 11–13
Luke 13:22–30

Jesus doesn’t answer the question put to Him in this Sunday’s Gospel. It profits us nothing to speculate on how many will be saved. What we need to know is what He tells us today—how to enter into salvation and how urgent it is to strive now, before the Master closes the door.
Jesus is “the narrow gate,” the only way of salvation, the path by which all must travel to enter the kingdom of the Father (see John 14:6).

In Jesus, God has come—as He promises in this week’s First Reading—to gather nations of every language, to reveal to them His glory.
Eating and drinking with them, teaching in their streets, Jesus in the Gospel is slowly making His way to Jerusalem. There, Isaiah’s vision will be fulfilled: On the holy mountain He will be lifted up (see John 3:14), and He will draw to Himself brethren from among all the nations to worship in the heavenly Jerusalem, to glorify Him for His kindness, as we sing in today’s Psalm.

In God’s plan, the kingdom was proclaimed first to the Israelites and last to the Gentiles (see Romans 1:16; Acts 3:25–26), who in the Church have come from the earth’s four corners to make up the new people of God (see Isaiah 43:5–6; Psalm 107:2–3).

Many, however, will lose their place at the heavenly table, Jesus warns. Refusing to accept His narrow way they will weaken, rendering themselves unknown to the Father (see Isaiah 63:15–16).
We don’t want to be numbered among those of drooping hands and weak knees (see Isaiah 35:3). So, we must strive for that narrow gate, a way of hardship and suffering—the way of the beloved Son.

As this week’s Epistle reminds us, by our trials we know we are truly God’s sons and daughters. We are being disciplined by our afflictions, strengthened to walk that straight and narrow path—that we may enter the gate and take our place at the banquet of the righteous

Lord do you hear me cry?

Posted: August 24, 2019 by CatholicJules in Life's Journeys
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I am an old man now with a young heart trapped in a broken body. In my prime I climbed trees, swam long distances in the ocean, hiked up mountains, canoed and loved such exhilarating physical activities! Now I struggle to walk from one point to the next. My eyes are dimmed I can hardly see. And I often need help to clean up after myself.

Lord do you hear me cry?

My memory is shot on a rapid decline. I have wonderful, unique memories from my childhood, of my teens and young adult years I cherish; soon all will be lost yet I have no one to share them with. For who is patient enough to hear an old man who tends to repeat himself? Who is willing to hear of my triumphs, trophies as well as my losses? Who has time for me? Nowadays it is difficult for me to have, or even make new memories!

Lord do you hear me cry?

My children have their own struggles and lives to lead. Still they visit me when they can, I am blessed they still care for and love me. This gives me joy even though it is shortlived. I have never wanted to be a burden to anyone, especially not to my wife and kids. But I am helpless in this regard. Where are you Lord? Are you not my strength, my fortitude? Where is the dignity in growing old?

Lord do you hear me cry?

I pray when I can, that is when I remember to. I pray to see Your light in my clear and present darkness. Now I pray that there are kind souls out there who are praying for me and my aged wife. Amen

Catholicjules.net

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 24, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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How wonderful it will be to hear Jesus say to us, ”Ah here comes my disciple who had spoke the truth and strived for holiness come dine with your master.” Then we might say, ” ”Lord You know who I am?” and He will reply, ”Yes, how often have I seen and heard you praying to me. I know how you have struggled to do my will always therefore the gates of heaven are opened to you.”

How have we progressed in deepening our relationship with the Lord our God and living our faith in Him from the start of the year? Have we truly been striving to lead our families and one another closer to this heavenly reality? We are already past the halfway mark for the year closing in on Advent have we stayed awake? Ready to greet our Lord when He returns?

My Lord, my God, from my heart; I’ve come to do Your Will. Amen

Saint Bartholomew pray for us…

First reading

Apocalypse 21:9-14 ·
He showed me Jerusalem, the holy city, coming down from God out of heaven

The angel came to speak to me, and said, ‘Come here and I will show you the bride that the Lamb has married.’ In the spirit, he took me to the top of an enormous high mountain and showed me Jerusalem, the holy city, coming down from God out of heaven. It had all the radiant glory of God and glittered like some precious jewel of crystal-clear diamond. The walls of it were of a great height, and had twelve gates; at each of the twelve gates there was an angel, and over the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel; on the east there were three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. The city walls stood on twelve foundation stones, each one of which bore the name of one of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Gospel

John 1:45-51
You will see heaven laid open, and the Son of Man

Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, the one about whom the prophets wrote: he is Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.’ ‘From Nazareth?’ said Nathanael ‘Can anything good come from that place?’ ‘Come and see’ replied Philip. When Jesus saw Nathanael coming he said of him, ‘There is an Israelite who deserves the name, incapable of deceit.’ ‘How do you know me?’ said Nathanael. ‘Before Philip came to call you,’ said Jesus ‘I saw you under the fig tree.’ Nathanael answered, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the King of Israel.’ Jesus replied, ‘You believe that just because I said: I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.’ And then he added ‘I tell you most solemnly, you will see heaven laid open and, above the Son of Man, the angels of God ascending and descending.’

In your…

Posted: August 23, 2019 by CatholicJules in Life's Journeys
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On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 23, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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If we declare that we love the Lord our God with all our heart. Then we would have already entered into a deep and personal relationship with Him. We are fully aware of His abundant love for us individually as well as collectively. We should therefore love ourselves as uniquely created in the image and likeness of our Lord and God. And it is through His love and with that same love for ourselves that we are called to love others.

Love not as an emotion but love that wills the good of another. One that wills that the other have joy and peace in their hearts. Love that is faithful to the end. In a sense to love when no one else can and will. Such great love can only come from our faithful ever loving God. A love which gives us the strength, power and fortitude to put that love into action for His glory. His mercy flows most profoundly from such radical love. And we have witnessed this in the many lives touched by the Saints who had responded wholly to that call to love, most recent of which are St John Paul II, St Theresa of Calculta.

We can witness the making of such Saints in our midst too, Parents who care lovingly for their helpless child, especially those with special needs, sons and daughters who care for their aged parents, especially those who are sick, suffering terminally, struggling with dementia, those who care for the outcast and downtrodden in society to name a few.

Sweet heart of Jesus reign in my heart. Let my love not be one of speech alone but one put into action for love of You. Through my love may all encounter Your love for them. Amen

First reading

Ruth 1:1,3-6,14-16,22 ·
Ruth the Moabitess is brought to Bethlehem by Naomi

In the days of the Judges famine came to the land and a certain man from Bethlehem of Judah went – he, his wife and his two sons – to live in the country of Moab. Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died, and she and her two sons were left. These married Moabite women: one was named Orpah and the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years. Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died and the woman was bereft of her two sons and her husband. So she and her daughters-in-law prepared to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard that the Lord had visited his people and given them food. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law and went back to her people. But Ruth clung to her.
Naomi said to her, ‘Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her god. You must return too; follow your sister-in-law.’
But Ruth said, ‘Do not press me to leave you and to turn back from your company, for

‘wherever you go, I will go,
wherever you live, I will live.
Your people shall be my people,
and your God, my God.’

This was how Naomi, she who returned from the country of Moab, came back with Ruth the Moabitess her daughter-in-law. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest.

Gospel

Matthew 22:34-40
The commandments of love

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees they got together and, to disconcert him, one of them put a question, ‘Master, which is the greatest commandment of the Law?’ Jesus said, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second resembles it: You must love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang the whole Law, and the Prophets also.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 22, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Let our yes be yes and our no be no. Why do we think we can barter with the Lord our God or bargain with Him? Or even have the need to? Perhaps we have chosen not to grow in our relationship with Him? We do not yet realise just how much He truly loves us and wants only the best for us. All He wants from us is faithfulness and obedience unto Him. To grow in His love and live in His peace together as His children.

And so what are we doing now to prepare ourselves for the wedding feast in heaven? How have we responded to the invitation to put on the wedding garment that is to grow in Holiness, in mercy, charity and love? Have we chucked away the invitation by the busyness in all matters of our heart’s desires? Have we inadvertently declined the invitation to life eternal with Him? How have we treated the sister and brother who was sent to lead us into home to Him? How is it our hearts and minds are not wrapped round the awesome mind blowing fact that we have been given the unique privilege and honour of attending it to begin with?

Lord Jesus indeed You have called and I respond with all my heart, mind and soul. Allow me to stand as one of your chosen. Amen

Dearest Blessed mother and Queen of Heaven pray for us…..

First reading

Judges 11:29-39 ·
Jephthah sacrifices his daughter in fulfilment of a vow

The spirit of the Lord came on Jephthah, who crossed Gilead and Manasseh, passed through to Mizpah in Gilead, and from Mizpah in Gilead made his way to the rear of the Ammonites. And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord, ‘If you deliver the Ammonites into my hands, then the first person to meet me from the door of my house when I return in triumph from fighting the Ammonites shall belong to the Lord, and I will offer him up as a holocaust. Jephthah marched against the Ammonites to attack them, and the Lord delivered them into his power. He harassed them from Aroer almost to Minnith (twenty towns) and to Abel-keramim. It was a very severe defeat, and the Ammonites were humbled before the Israelites.
As Jephthah returned to his house at Mizpah, his daughter came out from it to meet him; she was dancing to the sound of timbrels. This was his only child; apart from her he had neither son nor daughter. When he saw her, he tore his clothes and exclaimed, ‘Oh my daughter, what sorrow you are bringing me! Must it be you, the cause of my ill-fortune! I have given a promise to the Lord, and I cannot unsay what I have said.’ She answered him, ‘My father, you have given a promise to the Lord; treat me as the vow you took binds you to, since the Lord has given you vengeance on your enemies the Ammonites.’ Then she said to her father, ‘Grant me one request. Let me be free for two months. I shall go and wander in the mountains, and with my companions bewail my virginity.’ He answered, ‘Go’, and let her depart for two months. So she went away with her companions and bewailed her virginity in the mountains. When the two months were over, she returned to her father, and he treated her as the vow that he had uttered bound him. She had never known a man.

Gospel

Matthew 22:1-14
Invite everyone you can to the wedding

Jesus began to speak to the chief priests and elders of the people in parables: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a feast for his son’s wedding. He sent his servants to call those who had been invited, but they would not come. Next he sent some more servants. “Tell those who have been invited” he said “that I have my banquet all prepared, my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, everything is ready. Come to the wedding.” But they were not interested: one went off to his farm, another to his business, and the rest seized his servants, maltreated them and killed them. The king was furious. He despatched his troops, destroyed those murderers and burnt their town. Then he said to his servants, “The wedding is ready; but as those who were invited proved to be unworthy, go to the crossroads in the town and invite everyone you can find to the wedding.” So these servants went out on to the roads and collected together everyone they could find, bad and good alike; and the wedding hall was filled with guests. When the king came in to look at the guests he noticed one man who was not wearing a wedding garment, and said to him, “How did you get in here, my friend, without a wedding garment?” And the man was silent. Then the king said to the attendants, “Bind him hand and foot and throw him out into the dark, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.” For many are called, but few are chosen.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 21, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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We are all called to labour to build the Kingdom of God. And His kingdom is built upon the hearts of His children in the salvation of souls. There are many opportunities and ways to do this but all we need is to respond to the call. All else will be provided for. How then do we respond to this call? Do we agree to do so only when promised a fair return? Then later on grumble expecting more for the long hours in doing so? Comparing our blessings with others who seem to work far less? Or do we respond with joy in our hearts just for being given the opportunity to labour in His love! Not concerned with returns only that we trust in Him and work to glorify the Lord our God in all that we say and do.

Some of us will be called to lead the rest closer into His Kingdom. Do we reverently pray to discern who it is the Lord our God has sent to us? To struggle and wrestle with our decision so that he or she who is chosen will lead after the heart of our Shepherd. Or do we simply cast our vote not concerned with who takes up the position so long as we don’t have to? Or else we choose someone likeable who is easily swayed to do our bidding, one who will allow us to come as we please and do as we please? In short, do we elect someone to lead us closer to heaven or closer to hell?

Lord Jesus let me joyfully bear my cross for You always. Amen

Saint Pius X pray for us…

First reading

Judges 9:6-15 ·
The tale of the trees and their king

All the leading men of Shechem and all Beth-millo gathered, and proclaimed Abimelech king by the terebinth of the pillar at Shechem.
News of this was brought to Jotham. He came and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted aloud for them to hear:

‘Hear me, leaders of Shechem,
that God may also hear you!

‘One day the trees went out
to anoint a king to rule over them.
They said to the olive tree, “Be our king!”

‘The olive tree answered them,
“Must I forego my oil which gives honour to gods and men, to stand swaying above the trees?”

‘Then the trees said to the fig tree,
“Come now, you be our king!”

‘The fig tree answered them,
“Must I forego my sweetness,
forego my excellent fruit,
to stand swaying above the trees?”

‘Then the trees said to the vine,
“Come now, you be our king!”

‘The vine answered them,
“Must I forego my wine which cheers the heart of gods and men, to stand swaying above the trees?”

‘Then all the trees said to the thorn bush,
“Come now, you be our king!”

‘And the thorn bush answered the trees, “If in all good faith you anoint me king to reign over you, then come and shelter in my shade.
If not, fire will come from the thorn bush and devour the cedars of Lebanon.”’

Gospel

Matthew 20:1-16
Why be envious because I am generous?

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner going out at daybreak to hire workers for his vineyard. He made an agreement with the workers for one denarius a day, and sent them to his vineyard. Going out at about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the market place and said to them, “You go to my vineyard too and I will give you a fair wage.” So they went. At about the sixth hour and again at about the ninth hour, he went out and did the same. Then at about the eleventh hour he went out and found more men standing round, and he said to them, “Why have you been standing here idle all day?” “Because no one has hired us” they answered. He said to them, “You go into my vineyard too.” In the evening, the owner of the vineyard said to his bailiff, “Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with the last arrivals and ending with the first.” So those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came forward and received one denarius each. When the first came, they expected to get more, but they too received one denarius each. They took it, but grumbled at the landowner. “The men who came last” they said “have done only one hour, and you have treated them the same as us, though we have done a heavy day’s work in all the heat.” He answered one of them and said, “My friend, I am not being unjust to you; did we not agree on one denarius? Take your earnings and go. I choose to pay the last comer as much as I pay you. Have I no right to do what I like with my own? Why be envious because I am generous?” Thus the last will be first, and the first, last.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 20, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Does all the things we have come from the Lord our God? If so then why do we hold on so tightly to what we have such that it is very difficult for us to let go? Yes not all of us are rich, in fact it is pointless to compare our wealth with others for we are rich in many different ways. Question really is how much are we willing to give up for our Lord? For our sisters and brothers? Can we leave behind physical, emotional, sentimental ties behind to follow our Lord? Knowing that even while we may be little in numbers, wisdom, gifts and talents; when we offer up all we have He will multiply them. Great is our God and with Him nothing is impossible!

We fret and worry over inconsequential worldly things, when our only concern should be; how are we living in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ and working to build His Kingdom?

Lord Here I am to do Your will, uphold me in Your strennght that I may do great things to glorify Your name. Amen

First reading

Judges 6:11-24 ·
‘Peace be with you; have no fear; you will not die’

The angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah which belonged to Joash of Abiezer. Gideon his son was threshing wheat inside the winepress to keep it hidden from Midian, when the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘The Lord is with you, valiant warrior!’ Gideon answered him, ‘Forgive me, my lord, but if the Lord is with us, then why is it that all this is happening to us now? And where are all the wonders our ancestors tell us of when they say, “Did not the Lord bring us out of Egypt?” But now the Lord has deserted us; he has abandoned us to Midian.’
At this the Lord turned to him and said, ‘Go in the strength now upholding you, and you will rescue Israel from the power of Midian. Do I not send you myself?’ Gideon answered him, ‘Forgive me, my lord, but how can I deliver Israel? My clan, you must know, is the weakest in Manasseh and I am the least important in my family.’ The Lord answered him, ‘I will be with you and you shall crush Midian as though it were a single man.’ Gideon said to him, ‘If I have found favour in your sight, give me a sign that it is you who speak to me. I beg you, do not go away until I come back. I will bring you my offering and set it down before you.’ And he answered, ‘I will stay until you return.’
Gideon went away and prepared a young goat and made unleavened cakes with an ephah of flour. He put the meat into a basket and the broth into a pot, then brought it all to him under the terebinth. As he came near, the angel of the Lord said to him, ‘Take the meat and unleavened cakes, put them on this rock and pour the broth over them.’ Gideon did so. Then the angel of the Lord reached out the tip of the staff in his hand and touched the meat and unleavened cakes. Fire sprang from the rock and consumed the meat and unleavened cakes, and the angel of the Lord vanished before his eyes. Then Gideon knew this was the angel of the Lord, and he said, ‘Alas, my Lord! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!’ The Lord answered him, ‘Peace be with you; have no fear; you will not die.’ Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and called it The-Lord-is-Peace.

Gospel

Matthew 19:23-30
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven

Jesus said to his disciples, ‘I tell you solemnly, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Yes, I tell you again, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.’ When the disciples heard this they were astonished. ‘Who can be saved, then?’ they said. Jesus gazed at them. ‘For men’ he told them ‘this is impossible; for God everything is possible.’
Then Peter spoke. ‘What about us?’ he said to him ‘We have left everything and followed you. What are we to have, then?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I tell you solemnly, when all is made new and the Son of Man sits on his throne of glory, you will yourselves sit on twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or land for the sake of my name will be repaid a hundred times over, and also inherit eternal life.
‘Many who are first will be last, and the last, first.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 19, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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There is a time for God and there is a time to earn a living so that I my family and I shall not want; when I no longer choose to or am able to work, then I will serve Him. The soonest perhaps will be when my children are all grown and living on their own. I will then devote all my time to God.

So while you were so busy with your work where was the Lord your God? Where was He in all the much needed holidays taken? One day in a foreign church to fulfill the ‘obligation’?Whom were you praying to in your ‘spare’ time? Will you be offering your version of ‘first fruits’ at your retirement? Will you even be able to serve then? Will you be caring for the old and sick when you are old and sick yourself? Will you be teaching children about the faith when you have not grown in your own faith? Your very own children were watching you all those years they were growing up, what will they have learnt from you?

Keeping the commandments of our Lord is only the start, we are called to grow in Holiness and to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect. And if we are only perfected through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ then should we not do all we can now to grow in our relationship with Him? So that when the sufferings and pain come to perfect us, we will face them with joy in our hearts.

Lord Jesus You are my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want. Amen

First reading

Judges 2:11-19 ·
The Lord appoints judges to rescue the men of Israel

The sons of Israel did what displeases the Lord, and served the Baals. They deserted the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods from the gods of the peoples round them. They bowed down to these; they provoked the Lord; they deserted the Lord to serve Baal and Astarte. Then the Lord’s anger flamed out against Israel. He handed them over to pillagers who plundered them; he delivered them to the enemies surrounding them, and they were not able to resist them. In every warlike venture, the hand of the Lord was there to foil them, as the Lord had warned, as the Lord had sworn to them. Thus he reduced them to dire distress.
Then the Lord appointed judges for them, and rescued the men of Israel from the hands of their plunderers. But they would not listen to their judges. They prostituted themselves to other gods, and bowed down before these. Very quickly they left the path their ancestors had trodden in obedience to the orders of the Lord; they did not follow their example. When the Lord appointed judges for them, the Lord was with the judge and rescued them from the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived, for the Lord felt pity for them as they groaned under the iron grip of their oppressors. But once the judge was dead, they relapsed and behaved even worse than their ancestors. They followed other gods; they served them and bowed before them, and would not give up the practices and stubborn ways of their ancestors at all.

Gospel

Matthew 19:16-22
If you wish to be perfect, go and sell what you own

There was a man who came to Jesus and asked, ‘Master, what good deed must I do to possess eternal life?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you ask me about what is good? There is one alone who is good. But if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.’ He said, ‘Which?’ ‘These:’ Jesus replied ‘You must not kill. You must not commit adultery. You must not bring false witness. Honour your father and mother, and: you must love your neighbour as yourself.’ The young man said to him, ‘I have kept all these. What more do I need to do?’ Jesus said, ‘If you wish to be perfect, go and sell what you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ But when the young man heard these words he went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth.

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted: August 17, 2019 by CatholicJules in Sunday Reflections
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Consuming Fire: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings:

Jeremiah 38:4–6, 8–10
Psalm 40:2–4, 18
Hebrews 12:1–4
Luke 12:49–53

Our God is a consuming fire, the Scriptures tell us (see Hebrews 12:29; Deuteronomy 4:24). And in this week’s Gospel, Jesus uses the image of fire to describe the demands of discipleship.

The fire He has come to cast on the earth is the fire that He wants to blaze in each of our hearts. He made us from the dust of the earth (see Genesis 2:7) and filled us with the fire of the Holy Spirit in Baptism (see Luke 3:16).

We were baptized into His death (see Romans 6:3). This is the baptism our Lord speaks of in the Gospel this week. The baptism with which He must be baptized is His passion and death, by which He accomplished our redemption and sent forth the fire of the Spirit on the earth (see Acts 2:3).

The fire has been set, but it is not yet blazing. We are called to enter deeper into the consuming love of God. We must examine our consciences and our actions, submitting ourselves to the revealing fire of God’s Word (see 1 Corinthians 3:13).

In our struggle against sin, we have not yet resisted to the point of shedding our own blood, Paul tells us in this week’s Epistle. We have not undergone the suffering that Jeremiah suffers in the First Reading this week.

But this is what true discipleship requires. To be a disciple is to be inflamed with the love of the God. It is to have an unquenchable desire for holiness and zeal for the salvation of our brothers and sisters.
Being His disciple does not bring peace in the false way that the world proclaims peace (see Jeremiah 8:11). It means division and hardship. It may bring us to conflict with our own flesh and blood.

But Christ is our peace (see Ephesians 2:14). By His Cross He has lifted us up from the mire of sin and death—as He will rescue the prophet Jeremiah (see Jeremiah 38:10).
And as we sing in the Psalm this week, we trust in our deliverer.

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 17, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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God our loving Father dotes on us His children always looking out for us to keep us safe. All He asks of us is that we love one another, be obedient and faithful unto Him. For He wills only the best for us which is to live life to the full in Him.

Which father’s heart will not break when he’s child says to him, I don’t want you, I want another father! I don’t care what you say and I choose to live my life in sin! It’s my choice! Yes indeed it is our choice to make whether we want to honour God our Heavenly Father or Not.

O Heavenly Father I am your little child so loved by you. Forgive me all my sins, and I am truly sorry for having offended you in the past. Let me always run back into Your loving embrace. Let me live my life in the light of Your Son my Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. Such that I will proclaim Your love and message of salvation to all I meet; as I declare with conviction ”As for me and my House, we will serve the Lord.’’ Amen

First reading

Joshua 24:14-29
‘The Lord is a holy God, a jealous God’

Joshua said to all the people, ‘Fear the Lord and serve him perfectly and sincerely; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if you will not serve the Lord, choose today whom you wish to serve, whether the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are now living. As for me and my House, we will serve the Lord.’
The people answered, ‘We have no intention of deserting the Lord and serving other gods! Was it not the Lord our God who brought us and our ancestors out of the land of Egypt, the house of slavery, who worked those great wonders before our eyes and preserved us all along the way we travelled and among all the peoples through whom we journeyed? What is more, the Lord drove all those peoples out before us, as well as the Amorites who used to live in this country. We too will serve the Lord, for he is our God.’
Then Joshua said to the people, ‘You cannot serve the Lord, because he is a holy God, he is a jealous God who will not forgive your transgressions or your sins. If you desert the Lord to follow alien gods he in turn will afflict and destroy you after the goodness he has shown you.’ The people answered Joshua, ‘No; it is the Lord we wish to serve.’ Then Joshua said to the people, ‘You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the Lord, to serve him.’ They answered, ‘We are witnesses.’ ‘Then cast away the alien gods among you and give your hearts to the Lord the God of Israel!’ The people answered Joshua, ‘It is the Lord our God we choose to serve; it is his voice that we will obey.’
That day, Joshua made a covenant for the people; he laid down a statute and ordinance for them at Shechem. Joshua wrote these words in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a great stone and set it up there, under the oak in the sanctuary of the Lord, and Joshua said to all the people, ‘See! This stone shall be a witness against us because it has heard all the words that the Lord has spoken to us: it shall be a witness against you in case you deny your God.’ Then Joshua sent the people away, and each returned to his own inheritance.
After these things Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died; he was a hundred and ten years old.

Gospel

Matthew 19:13-15
Do not stop the little children coming to me

People brought little children to Jesus, for him to lay his hands on them and say a prayer. The disciples turned them away, but Jesus said, ‘Let the little children alone, and do not stop them coming to me; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.’ Then he laid his hands on them and went on his way.

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 16, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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I prefer not to have free will so that I may always do as the Lord bids me to do. To be Holy and chaste of heart. But without free will how will I love Him unconditionally? How will I love Him with all my heart, mind, soul and strength?

Because of His great love for us, the Lord our God has given the freedom to choose to love and follow Him. But over the centuries and throughout history we had made very bad, terrible choices and had turned away from Him. Cursed to live in sin He came to turn our curses into blessings, to free us from all bondages. He laid down His life for us so that we may live. He alone has been faithful, merciful and loving. Traits we look for in a spouse, yet how faithful, merciful and loving are we ourselves? How then can we be faithful to God and declare we love Him when we cannot be faithful, merciful and loving to our own spouses; and by extension family and friends. How are we faithful to our sisters and brothers in Christ not in our presence?

Fidelity to our Lord Jesus Christ is fidelity to His one Body. What God has united, men must not divide! Let us choose always to be faithful to our calling through Christ our Lord. Amen

First reading

Joshua 24:1-13
I gave you a land where you never toiled, vineyards and olive-groves you never planted

Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel together at Shechem; then he called the elders, leaders, judges and scribes of Israel, and they presented themselves before God. Then Joshua said to all the people:
‘The Lord, the God of Israel says this, “In ancient days your ancestors lived beyond the River – such was Terah the father of Abraham and of Nahor – and they served other gods. Then I brought your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land of Canaan. I increased his descendants and gave him Isaac. To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. To Esau I gave the mountain country of Seir as his possession. Jacob and his sons went down into Egypt. Then I sent Moses and Aaron and plagued Egypt with the wonders that I worked there. So I brought you out of it. I brought your ancestors out of Egypt, and you came to the Sea; the Egyptians pursued your ancestors with chariots and horsemen as far as the Sea of Reeds. There they called to the Lord, and he spread a thick fog between you and the Egyptians, and made the sea go back on them and cover them. You saw with your own eyes the things I did in Egypt. Then for a long time you lived in the wilderness, until I brought you into the land of the Amorites who lived beyond the Jordan; they made war on you and I gave them into your hands; you took possession of their country because I destroyed them before you. Next, Balak son of Zippor the king of Moab arose to make war on Israel, and sent for Balaam son of Beor to come and curse you. But I would not listen to Balaam; instead, he had to bless you, and I saved you from his hand.
‘“When you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho, those who held Jericho fought against you, as did the Amorites and Perizzites, the Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites, but I put them all into your power. I sent out hornets in front of you, which drove the two Amorite kings before you; this was not the work of your sword or your bow. I gave you a land where you never toiled, you live in towns you never built; you eat now from vineyards and olive-groves you never planted.”’

Gospel

Matthew 19:3-12
Husband and wife are no longer two, but one body

Some Pharisees approached Jesus, and to test him they said, ‘Is it against the Law for a man to divorce his wife on any pretext whatever?’ He answered, ‘Have you not read that the creator from the beginning made them male and female and that he said: This is why a man must leave father and mother, and cling to his wife, and the two become one body? They are no longer two, therefore, but one body. So then, what God has united, man must not divide.’
They said to him, ‘Then why did Moses command that a writ of dismissal should be given in cases of divorce?’ ‘It was because you were so unteachable’ he said ‘that Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but it was not like this from the beginning. Now I say this to you: the man who divorces his wife – I am not speaking of fornication – and marries another, is guilty of adultery.’
The disciples said to him, ‘If that is how things are between husband and wife, it is not advisable to marry.’ But he replied, ‘It is not everyone who can accept what I have said, but only those to whom it is granted. There are eunuchs born that way from their mother’s womb, there are eunuchs made so by men and there are eunuchs who have made themselves that way for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.’

He Has Shown you..

Posted: August 15, 2019 by CatholicJules in Life's Journeys
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On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 15, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Why do so many around the globe have such a devotion to our Blessed Mother Mary? What is so special about this woman other than that she had given birth to our Lord Jesus Christ? What does it mean for us that she was assumed into heaven? Is it simply an assumption?

Well where do we begin? In the beginning I suppose, where a little girl was born without original sin! The immaculate conception through the almighty and powerful grace of God. A grace filled girl born after the heart of God our Father who devoted her life to living out her call to holiness. Then when an opportunity came for her to glorify God our Father with all her heart, mind and soul, she said Yes to His Will for her to be the mother of His only begotten Son. She surrendered herself fully to Him and allowed herself to be filled completely with the Holy Spirit. Love of God our Father was born into the world, the light for all nations. Dearest Mother, praised the Lord our God with all her grateful, grace filled heart! She praised and worshipped Him such that to this very day her canticle is sung every evening at vespers. Blessed Mother Mary dedicated her life to bringing Jesus up caring for him with every breath, every fibre of her being. Her firstborn and only son was consecrated to God our Father for His purpose alone. For her extraordinary role the deepest thoughts of many hearts are revealed to her such that a sword would pierce her soul. A reality as she stood at the cross of her beloved son our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and an on-going one throughout the ages. Then towards the end of His life we hear our Lord’s deep affectionate love for us in the words, ”mother behold your son, son behold your mother.” The shared maternal love of God through our Blessed Mother outpoured for the whole world!

Today we celebrate the Assumption of our Blessed Mother for we know that Our Blessed Mother through the almighty grace and love of the Lord our God was taken up wholly body and soul into heaven. By His resurrection, our Lord Jesus Christ had opened the gates of heaven for his mother and for us all. Amen

Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners. Now and at the hour of our death. Amen

First reading

Apocalypse 11:19,12:1-6,10 ·
A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman adorned with the sun

The sanctuary of God in heaven opened and the ark of the covenant could be seen inside it.
Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman, adorned with the sun, standing on the moon, and with the twelve stars on her head for a crown. She was pregnant, and in labour, crying aloud in the pangs of childbirth. Then a second sign appeared in the sky, a huge red dragon which had seven heads and ten horns, and each of the seven heads crowned with a coronet. Its tail dragged a third of the stars from the sky and dropped them to the earth, and the dragon stopped in front of the woman as she was having the child, so that he could eat it as soon as it was born from its mother. The woman brought a male child into the world, the son who was to rule all the nations with an iron sceptre, and the child was taken straight up to God and to his throne, while the woman escaped into the desert, where God had made a place of safety ready.
Then I heard a voice shout from heaven, ‘Victory and power and empire for ever have been won by our God, and all authority for his Christ.’

Second reading

1 Corinthians 15:20-26 ·
Christ will be brought to life as the first-fruits and then those who belong to him

Christ has been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of all who have fallen asleep. Death came through one man and in the same way the resurrection of the dead has come through one man. Just as all men die in Adam, so all men will be brought to life in Christ; but all of them in their proper order: Christ as the first-fruits and then, after the coming of Christ, those who belong to him. After that will come the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, having done away with every sovereignty, authority and power. For he must be king until he has put all his enemies under his feet and the last of the enemies to be destroyed is death, for everything is to be put under his feet.

Gospel

Luke 1:39-56
The Almighty has done great things for me

Mary set out and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah. She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, ‘Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.’
And Mary said:

‘My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord
and my spirit exults in God my saviour;
because he has looked upon his lowly handmaid.
Yes, from this day forward all generations will call me blessed,
for the Almighty has done great things for me.
Holy is his name,
and his mercy reaches from age to age for those who fear him.
He has shown the power of his arm,
he has routed the proud of heart.
He has pulled down princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly.
The hungry he has filled with good things, the rich sent empty away.
He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his mercy
– according to the promise he made to our ancestors –
of his mercy to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’

Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back home.

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 14, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Can there be no quarrel or disagreements within a community? If there are totally zero quarrels or disagreements then it is more than likely you belong to a pseudo community. For every community struggling to grow in holiness and faith know that each and every member is flawed in some way and therefore our community is made up of sinners striving to be more like our Lord and Saviour each and every day. Some members may exhibit stronger feelings and emotions about something while another may be more opinionated. The important thing is that all of us are open to fraternal correction, in the process of growing in faith and love we grow in mercy and love for one another. This can only come about when the community is a praying one and our Lord Jesus is present in the hearts and minds of all gathered together in His name. Without doubt He is truly present amongst us.

We must strive not only for personal holiness but to lead one another into greater holiness. And there must always be joy in our hearts when doing so. For the Holiness of our Lord must be reflected at all times on our faces, hearts and actions. Failing of which we will always fall short of arriving at our destination. In our lifetime we may never enter into the land of milk and honey but through our struggle and faithfulness we will one day walk with our Lord in His Kingdom.

Jesus remember me when you come into your Kingdom. Amen

St Maximilian Kolbe pray for us….

First reading

Deuteronomy 34:1-12 ·
Moses dies and is buried

Leaving the plains of Moab, Moses went up Mount Nebo, the peak of Pisgah opposite Jericho, and the Lord showed him the whole land; Gilead as far as Dan, all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, the Negeb, and the stretch of the Valley of Jericho, city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. The Lord said to him, ‘This is the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying: I will give it to your descendants. I have let you see it with your own eyes, but you shall not cross into it.’ There in the land of Moab, Moses the servant of the Lord died as the Lord decreed; he buried him in the valley, in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor; but to this day no one has ever found his grave. Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, his eye undimmed, his vigour unimpaired. The sons of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab for thirty days. The days of weeping for the mourning rites of Moses came to an end. Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. It was he that the sons of Israel obeyed, carrying out the order that the Lord had given to Moses.
Since then, never has there been such a prophet in Israel as Moses, the man the Lord knew face to face. What signs and wonders the Lord caused him to perform in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh and all his servants and his whole land! How mighty the hand and great the fear that Moses wielded in the sight of all Israel!

Gospel

Matthew 18:15-20
If your brother listens to you, you have won back your brother

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘If your brother does something wrong, go and have it out with him alone, between your two selves. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you: the evidence of two or three witnesses is required to sustain any charge. But if he refuses to listen to these, report it to the community; and if he refuses to listen to the community, treat him like a pagan or a tax collector.
‘I tell you solemnly, whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.
‘I tell you solemnly once again, if two of you on earth agree to ask anything at all, it will be granted to you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three meet in my name, I shall be there with them.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 13, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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What sort of legacy are we leaving behind for our children and their children? Will they have faith? Faith in the one loving God who will see them through it all? Faith that is alive through the living water that never runs dry? Or will that faith be lukewarm? Will it cease to exists after we are buried?

If we truly love our children will we not want them to live life to the full? And as you and I know, life to the full is and only to be found in a relationship with our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. At the very end will we not want our children to be reunited with us in heaven? What then are we doing for their souls? To prepare them for the challenges they will face ahead? While we are still able, it is our duty to lead them on the journey into the ‘promised land’ so that together with all the angels and the saints before us we will one day rejoice as we praise, worship and glorify the Lord our God in Heaven.

Likewise all of us are created in the likeness and image of God our Father. Hence all of us are His children and therefore we must love one another as He loves us. It is our duty to lead one another into greater Holiness thereby paving the way to our Heavenly inheritance. Let us not look upon our differences but the unity to be found through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

First reading

Deuteronomy 31:1-8 ·
Joshua shall cross the Jordan at your head

Moses proceeded to address these words to the whole of Israel, ‘I am one hundred and twenty years old now, and can no longer come and go as I will. The Lord has said to me, “You shall not cross this Jordan.” It is the Lord your God who will cross it at your head to destroy these nations facing you and dispossess them; and Joshua too shall cross at your head, as the Lord has said. The Lord will treat them as he treated Sihon and Og the Amorite kings and their land, destroying them. The Lord will hand them over to you, and you will deal with them in exact accordance with the commandments I have enjoined on you. Be strong, stand firm, have no fear of them, no terror, for the Lord your God is going with you; he will not fail you or desert you.’
Then Moses summoned Joshua and in the presence of all Israel said to him, ‘Be strong, stand firm; you are going with this people into the land the Lord swore to their fathers he would give them; you are to give it into their possession. The Lord himself will lead you; he will be with you; he will not fail you or desert you. Have no fear, do not be disheartened by anything.’

Gospel

Matthew 18:1-5,10,12-14
Anyone who welcomes a little child in my name welcomes me

The disciples came to Jesus and said, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ So he called a little child to him and set the child in front of them. Then he said, ‘I tell you solemnly, unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. And so, the one who makes himself as little as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
‘Anyone who welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.
‘See that you never despise any of these little ones, for I tell you that their angels in heaven are continually in the presence of my Father in heaven.
‘Tell me. Suppose a man has a hundred sheep and one of them strays; will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go in search of the stray? I tell you solemnly, if he finds it, it gives him more joy than do the ninety-nine that did not stray at all. Similarly, it is never the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 12, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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The Lord of Lords, King of Kings, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ laid down His life to pay for us a debt He did not owe, for He knew it was too hefty a debt for us to ever pay. So that we might have life to the full with and in Him.

Can you fathom the awesome, abundant love the Lord our God has for you and me? The intimate relationship He desires for us to have with Him. When it is we who should desire it more!? One full shekel paid fully for Peter and Himself at the temple. The full communion we have with Him at every Eucharistic Celebration through the one for all Holy sacrifice at the altar. Are we then living our fully redeemed lives for His glory?

Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world have mercy on us and grant us Your peace. Now and forever Amen.

First reading

Deuteronomy 10:12-22 ·
The Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords

Moses said to the people:
‘Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you? Only this: to fear the Lord your God, to follow all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul, to keep the commandments and laws of the Lord that for your good I lay down for you today.
‘To the Lord your God belong indeed heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth and all it contains; yet it was on your fathers that the Lord set his heart for love of them, and after them of all the nations chose their descendants, you yourselves, up to the present day. Circumcise your heart then and be obstinate no longer; for the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, triumphant and terrible, never partial, never to be bribed. It is he who sees justice done for the orphan and the widow, who loves the stranger and gives him food and clothing. Love the stranger then, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. It is the Lord your God you must fear and serve; you must cling to him; in his name take your oaths. He it is you must praise, he is your God: for you he has done these great and terrible things you have seen with your own eyes; and though your fathers numbered only seventy when they went down to Egypt, the Lord your God has made you as many as the stars of heaven.’

Gospel

Matthew 17:22-27
‘They will put the Son of Man to death’

One day when they were together in Galilee, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘The Son of Man is going to be handed over into the power of men; they will put him to death, and on the third day he will be raised to life again.’ And a great sadness came over them.
When they reached Capernaum, the collectors of the half-shekel came to Peter and said, ‘Does your master not pay the half-shekel?’ ‘Oh yes’ he replied, and went into the house. But before he could speak, Jesus said, ‘Simon, what is your opinion? From whom do the kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their sons or from foreigners?’ And when he replied, ‘From foreigners’, Jesus said, ‘Well then, the sons are exempt. However, so as not to offend these people, go to the lake and cast a hook; take the first fish that bites, open its mouth and there you will find a shekel; take it and give it to them for me and for you.’

Retreat…

Posted: August 11, 2019 by CatholicJules in Life's Journeys, Memory Book
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You attend a retreat and the Lord speaks to you, you take notes then after the retreat you shelve your notebook all is lost!

You share keypoints and takeaways with your members, will they understand what has to be done, will they be moved? The nuances and graces received from the retreat are all lost on them!

You attend and are moved to do more, pray more, be more but afterwards go back to your old comforts and ways of doing what you have been doing. All is lost!

You attempt to put into practice what you have learnt and at the first sign of resistance you wave the white flag. All is lost!

Having attended a spirit filled retreat perhaps one should modify an old motto, ‘No retreat, No surrender! I will move forwards with and in the Lord and will only surrender all to Him’ Amen

Helmet of Salvation

Posted: August 10, 2019 by CatholicJules in Life's Journeys, Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Can you imagine the Lord teaching you how to face very challenging situations that you will be facing ahead through His Shepherd and His Word then minutes later He tests to see if you had learnt it and know how to apply it?

This just happened to me on the 2nd day of the combined ministry retreat! Put the helmet of salvation on. Eph 6:17 know that you are redeemed. No one can say anything about you or demeaning to you because you know who you are before the Lord. And again 1 Peter 5:8-9 remain alert or rather sober. Do not allow yourself to be drunk with anger, irritation, despair etc.

Then guess what, Phil 2:14 began behind me and targeted at me! Well I quickly put on the helmet of salvation and refused to allow anger to consume me, slowly but surely I managed to let it go. Praise the Lord!

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted: August 10, 2019 by CatholicJules in Sunday Reflections
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Faith of Our Fathers: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings:

Wisdom 18:6–9
Psalm 33:1, 12, 18–22
Hebrews 11:1–2, 8–19
Luke 12:35–40

We are born of the faith of our fathers, descending from a great cloud of witnesses whose faith is attested to on every page of Scripture (see Hebrews 12:1). We have been made His people, chosen for His own inheritance, as we sing in this Sunday’s Psalm.

The Liturgy this week sings the praises of our fathers, recalling the defining moments in our “family history.” In the Epistle, we remember the calling of Abraham; in the First Reading we relive the night of the Exodus and the summons of the holy children of Israel.
Our fathers, we are told, trusted in the Word of God, put their faith in His oaths. They were convinced that what He promised, He would do.
None of them lived to see His promises made good. For it was not until Christ and His Church that Abraham’s descendants were made as countless as the stars and sands (see Galatians 3:16–17, 29). It was not until His Last Supper and the Eucharist that “the sacrifice . . . the divine institution” of that first Passover was truly fulfilled.
And now we too await the final fulfillment of what God has promised us in Christ. As Jesus tells us in this week’s Gospel, we should live with our loins girded—as the Israelites tightened their belts, cinched up their long robes and ate their Passover standing, vigilant and ready to do His will (see Exodus 12:11; 2 Kings 4:29).

The Lord will come at an hour we do not expect. He will knock on our door (see Revelation 3:20), inviting us to the wedding feast in the better homeland, the heavenly one that our fathers saw from afar, and which we begin to taste in each Eucharist.

As they did, we can wait with “sure knowledge,” His Word like a lamp lighting our path (see Psalm 119:105). Our God is faithful, and if we wait in faith, hope in His kindness, and love as we have been loved, we will receive His promised blessing and be delivered from death.

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 10, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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How much do you give for Holy Mother Church? How much do you offer to the Lord your God for His people? From your surpluses? Spare change? Spare time? Thin sowing means thin reaping!

For unless we die to the notion that all that we have, we got by our own means and efforts, we will trust only in ourselves. And hoard everything for ourselves. Even what gifts and talents we possess will be used for, our own ends. How much of all these if anything will we take with us when we die?!

Let us give till it hurts and then some more, for we know that all we will ever have comes from the Lord our God. We give all in love and for love. We give not to receive but receive from God our Father we will. For His graces and blessings flow abundantly unto His children who are obedient to His Son, our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. For having died in Him we will rise in and with Him. Amen

First reading

2 Corinthians 9:6-10 ·
God loves a cheerful giver

Do not forget: thin sowing means thin reaping; the more you sow, the more you reap. Each one should give what he has decided in his own mind, not grudgingly or because he is made to, for God loves a cheerful giver. And there is no limit to the blessings which God can send you – he will make sure that you will always have all you need for yourselves in every possible circumstance, and still have something to spare for all sorts of good works. As scripture says: He was free in almsgiving, and gave to the poor: his good deeds will never be forgotten.
The one who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide you with all the seed you want and make the harvest of your good deeds a larger one.

Gospel

John 12:24-26
If a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies, it yields a rich harvest

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘I tell you, most solemnly,
unless a wheat grain falls on the ground and dies,
it remains only a single grain;
but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest.
Anyone who loves his life loses it; anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it for the eternal life.
If a man serves me, he must follow me, wherever I am, my servant will be there too.
If anyone serves me, my Father will honour him.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 9, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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I will obey and follow Him!

Two simple words, obey and follow. Yet most find both too difficult to put into action. How do you obey the Lord your God if you do not hear His will for you? Or DO NOT want to hear His will for YOU? I will have to give up many things which I am not prepared to give up just yet. I treasure my autonomy! I want to do what I what, when I want to. One hour a week I set aside for God providing there is no long weekend otherwise a much needed holiday I will take and I’m sure he will understand.

How many i’s did you hear above? ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me.’says our Lord Jesus Christ. That is to trust the Lord Your God with all your plans and dreams. To know that He loves you ever so dearly and that He wills only the best for you.

For unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Therefore to die for our Lord, is to rise with and in Him. Many are the fruits we will bear for Him. You have not lived till you have lived in the Lord!

I will obey and follow You Lord. Amen

First reading

Deuteronomy 4:32-40 ·
‘Did ever a people before you hear the voice of the living God, and remain alive?’

Moses said to the people: ‘Put this question to the ages that are past, that went before you, from the time God created man on earth: Was there ever a word so majestic, from one end of heaven to the other? Was anything ever heard? Did ever a people hear the voice of the living God speaking from the heart of the fire, as you heard it, and remain alive? Has any god ventured to take to himself one nation from the midst of another by ordeals, signs, wonders, war with mighty hand and outstretched arm, by fearsome terrors – all this that the Lord your God did for you before your eyes in Egypt?
‘This he showed you so that you might know that the Lord is God indeed and that there is no other. He let you hear his voice out of heaven for your instruction; on earth he let you see his great fire, and from the heart of the fire you heard his word. Because he loved your fathers and chose their descendants after them, he brought you out from Egypt, openly showing his presence and his great power, driving out in front of you nations greater and more powerful than yourself, and brought you into their land to give it you for your heritage, as it is still today.
‘Understand this today, therefore, and take it to heart: the Lord is God indeed, in heaven above as on earth beneath, he and no other. Keep his laws and commandments as I give them to you today, so that you and your children may prosper and live long in the land that the Lord your God gives you for ever.’

Gospel

Matthew 16:24-28
Anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it. What, then, will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life? Or what has a man to offer in exchange for his life?
‘For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and, when he does, he will reward each one according to his behaviour. I tell you solemnly, there are some of these standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming with his kingdom.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 8, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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By our baptism we have been anointed priest, prophet and king. And our primary duty is to lead one another into greater Holiness. That is to be Holy as our Heavenly Father is Holy. We may wear many different hats but all with the same role, to take the lead towards Holiness. Whether you are a spouse, a father or mother, child, student, office manager, employer or employee it makes no difference. For our call is to reflect the Holiness of the Lord our God in all that we say and do.

How is this accomplished then if all that people see is impatience? Dismay on our faces? Sarcasm in speech and anger in our tone? Do we reflect the ingratitude of others by our very own ingratitude? Did we somehow forget that all that we have, gifts, talents and power if any were all given to us by the grace of our loving and merciful God? How are we showing the love and mercy of the Lord our God that we preach about?

Yes indeed our Christian call to take up our cross to follow Jesus is never going to be easy. The cross we bear for Him and on the narrow and winding path will be arduous indeed. But we can gladly bear it with joy in our hearts for we know He is with us and leading us home to Him. We know this when we are in communion with Him, for we share in His thoughts and in His ways. For He has told us that “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways.” Amen

First reading

Numbers 20:1-13 ·
Moses makes water flow from the rock at Meribah

The sons of Israel, the whole community, arrived in the first month at the desert of Zin. The people settled at Kadesh. It was there that Miriam died and was buried.
There was no water for the community, and they were all united against Moses and Aaron. The people challenged Moses: ‘We would rather have died,’ they said ‘as our brothers died before the Lord! Why did you bring the assembly of the Lord into this wilderness, only to let us die here, ourselves and our cattle? Why did you lead us out of Egypt, only to bring us to this wretched place? It is a place unfit for sowing, it has no figs, no vines, no pomegranates, and there is not even water to drink!’
Leaving the assembly, Moses and Aaron went to the door of the Tent of Meeting. They threw themselves face downward on the ground, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. The Lord spoke to Moses and said, ‘Take the branch and call the community together, you and your brother Aaron. Then, in full view of them, order this rock to give water. You will make water flow for them out of the rock, and provide drink for the community and their cattle.’
Moses took up the branch from before the Lord, as he had directed him. Then Moses and Aaron called the assembly together in front of the rock and addressed them, ‘Listen now, you rebels. Shall we make water gush from this rock for you?’ And Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the branch; water gushed in abundance, and the community drank and their cattle too.
Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not believe that I could proclaim my holiness in the eyes of the sons of Israel, you shall not lead this assembly into the land I am giving them.’
These are the waters of Meribah, where the sons of Israel challenged the Lord and he proclaimed his holiness.

Gospel

Matthew 16:13-23
You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But you,’ he said ‘who do you say I am?’ Then Simon Peter spoke up, ‘You are the Christ,’ he said, ‘the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.’ Then he gave the disciples strict orders not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
From that time Jesus began to make it clear to his disciples that he was destined to go to Jerusalem and suffer grievously at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, to be put to death and to be raised up on the third day. Then, taking him aside, Peter started to remonstrate with him. ‘Heaven preserve you, Lord;’ he said ‘this must not happen to you.’ But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path, because the way you think is not God’s way but man’s.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 7, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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When will we STOP doubting and believe wholly and wholeheartedly in the love the Lord our God has for us and that He is truly an indeed an almighty God; that nothing is impossible for Him!?

Why do we allow obstacles and challenges deter us from living out our faith with zeal and fervour? Such that we are unable to bear witness to Him? Can the Lord our God not change the hearts of the non-believers in our family? Can He not change the mind of the stubborn spouse? Can He not take away the pain and suffering of a loved one who is critically ill? Can He not forgive us the most heinous sin we have committed against man and Him? What or who are the ‘giants’ in our lives that prevents us from entering into the promised land? What other fears or doubts do you have? Turn to Jesus and lay them at His feet and He will cast them out. He truly is the Lord of Lords, king of Kings!

Let our prayers not be casual but fervent with zeal and love for Him. On our knees we shake and heaven and earth as He will surely say to us ”By your great faith your prayers are answered.” Let this be our faith now and forevermore. Amen Alleluia!

First reading

Numbers 13:1-2,25-14:1,26-29,34-35
The spies return from Canaan

The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Paran and said, ‘Send out men, one from each tribe, to make a reconnaissance of this land of Canaan which I am giving to the sons of Israel. Send the leader of each tribe.’
At the end of forty days, they came back from their reconnaissance of the land. They sought out Moses, Aaron and the whole community of Israel, in the wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh. They made their report to them, and to the whole community, and showed them the produce of the country.
They told them this story, ‘We went into the land to which you sent us. It does indeed flow with milk and honey; this is its produce. At the same time, its inhabitants are a powerful people; the towns are fortified and very big; yes, and we saw the descendants of Anak there. The Amalekite holds the Negeb area, the Hittite, Amorite and Jebusite the highlands, and the Canaanite the sea coast and the banks of the Jordan.’
Caleb harangued the people gathered about Moses: ‘We must march in,’ he said ‘and conquer this land: we are well able to do it.’ But the men who had gone up with him answered, ‘We are not able to march against this people; they are stronger than we are.’ And they began to disparage the country they had reconnoitred to the sons of Israel, ‘The country we went to reconnoitre is a country that devours its inhabitants. Every man we saw there was of enormous size. Yes, and we saw giants there (the sons of Anak, descendants of the Giants). We felt like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.’
At this, the whole community raised their voices and cried aloud, and the people wailed all that night.
The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said:
‘I have heard the complaints which the sons of Israel make against me. Say to them, “As I live – it is the Lord who speaks – I will deal with you according to the very words you have used in my hearing. In this wilderness your dead bodies will fall, all you men of the census, all you who were numbered from the age of twenty years and over, you who have complained against me. For forty days you reconnoitred the land. Each day shall count for a year: for forty years you shall bear the burden of your sins, and you shall learn what it means to reject me.” I, the Lord, have spoken: this is how I will deal with this perverse community that has conspired against me. Here in this wilderness, to the last man, they shall die.’

Gospel

Matthew 15:21-28
The Canaanite woman debates with Jesus and saves her son

Jesus left Gennesaret and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. Then out came a Canaanite woman from that district and started shouting, ‘Sir, Son of David, take pity on me. My daughter is tormented by a devil.’ But he answered her not a word. And his disciples went and pleaded with him. ‘Give her what she wants,’ they said ‘because she is shouting after us.’ He said in reply, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.’ But the woman had come up and was kneeling at his feet. ‘Lord,’ she said ‘help me.’ He replied, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the house-dogs.’ She retorted, ‘Ah yes, sir; but even house-dogs can eat the scraps that fall from their master’s table.’ Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, you have great faith. Let your wish be granted.’ And from that moment her daughter was well again.

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 6, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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How am I configured to my Lord and saviour Jesus Christ? Is the level of my faith and relationship with Him ever growing? Am I more loving than before? More patient then I once was? Am I able to testify to His love and mercy, with family, friends, even the stranger? Or am I still afraid to ‘offend’ others by my very own belief in Him? Do I still hold on to my addictions? Do I still give in readily to temptations?

The glory and power of our Lord Jesus Christ had been manifested to us, when His face shone brilliantly into the deep dark recesses of our lives. When He freed us from our sins, healed and restored us. How magnificently we had been changed from within such that we are able to bring forth His light into the darkness of our sisters and brothers. We know that we, children of God our Heavenly Father will one day stand in His presence to share in His Glory. Glory and praise indeed to our Lord Jesus Christ!

Heavenly Father almighty God, I hear Your voice telling me to listen to Your Son my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Your Will be done now and forever. Amen

First reading

Daniel 7:9-10,13-14 ·
His robe was white as snow

As I watched:

Thrones were set in place and one of great age took his seat.
His robe was white as snow, the hair of his head as pure as wool.
His throne was a blaze of flames, its wheels were a burning fire.
A stream of fire poured out, issuing from his presence.
A thousand thousand waited on him, ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
A court was held and the books were opened.

I gazed into the visions of the night.

And I saw, coming on the clouds of heaven,
one like a son of man.
He came to the one of great age and was led into his presence.
On him was conferred sovereignty, glory and kingship, and men of all peoples, nations and languages became his servants.
His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty
which shall never pass away,
nor will his empire ever be destroyed.

Gospel

Luke 9:28-36
Jesus is transfigured before them

Jesus took with him Peter and John and James and went up the mountain to pray. As he prayed, the aspect of his face was changed and his clothing became brilliant as lightning. Suddenly there were two men there talking to him; they were Moses and Elijah appearing in glory, and they were speaking of his passing which he was to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were heavy with sleep, but they kept awake and saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As these were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is wonderful for us to be here; so let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ – He did not know what he was saying. As he spoke, a cloud came and covered them with shadow; and when they went into the cloud the disciples were afraid. And a voice came from the cloud saying, ‘This is my Son, the Chosen One. Listen to him.’ And after the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. The disciples kept silence and, at that time, told no one what they had seen.

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 5, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Such is the unique love of the Lord our God that we experience both His paternal as well as His maternal love for us. ”Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” Isaiah 49:15

He tends tenderly to His children, instructing and guiding them. When they are hungry and thirsting after Him, He feeds and nourishes them, sending them off thereafter to share in His love. This is what happens at every Eucharistic Celebration! This is the great, immense abounding love of the Lord our God outpoured us.

Let us stop dwelling in sin, stop our complaints of our discomforts or how challenging our lives are. But turn instead to Jesus, with grateful hearts. For through Him alone have we been set free, restored and nourished to live freely in His love and for love of one another. Let us then pave the way for others who do not yet know of His love. Amen

First reading

Numbers 11:4-15
The sons of Israel complain in the desert

The sons of Israel began to wail, ‘Who will give us meat to eat?’ they said. ‘Think of the fish we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic! Here we are wasting away, stripped of everything; there is nothing but manna for us to look at!’

The manna was like coriander seed, and had the appearance of bdellium. The people went round gathering it, and ground it in a mill or crushed it with a pestle; it was then cooked in a pot and made into pancakes. It tasted like cake made with oil. When the dew fell on the camp at night-time, the manna fell with it.

Moses heard the people wailing, every family at the door of its tent. The anger of the Lord flared out, and Moses greatly worried over this. And he spoke to the Lord:

‘Why do you treat your servant so badly? Why have I not found favour with you, so that you load on me the weight of all this nation? Was it I who conceived all this people, was it I who gave them birth, that you should say to me, “Carry them in your bosom, like a nurse with a baby at the breast, to the land that I swore to give their fathers”? Where am I to find meat to give to all this people, when they come worrying me so tearfully and say, “Give us meat to eat”? I am not able to carry this nation by myself alone; the weight is too much for me. If this is how you want to deal with me, I would rather you killed me! If only I had found favour in your eyes, and not lived to see such misery as this!’

Gospel

Matthew 14:13-21
The feeding of the five thousand

When Jesus received the news of John the Baptist’s death he withdrew by boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. But the people heard of this and, leaving the towns, went after him on foot. So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them and healed their sick.

When evening came, the disciples went to him and said, ‘This is a lonely place, and the time has slipped by; so send the people away, and they can go to the villages to buy themselves some food.’ Jesus replied, ‘There is no need for them to go: give them something to eat yourselves.’ But they answered ‘All we have with us is five loaves and two fish.’ ‘Bring them here to me’ he said. He gave orders that the people were to sit down on the grass; then he took the five loaves and the two fish, raised his eyes to heaven and said the blessing. And breaking the loaves handed them to his disciples who gave them to the crowds. They all ate as much as they wanted, and they collected the scraps remaining; twelve baskets full. Those who ate numbered about five thousand men, to say nothing of women and children.

Sharing of a dear brother in Christ…❤️

Posted: August 4, 2019 by CatholicJules in Testimonies
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I was baptised on Mar 31 at Easter Vigil in 2018. My name is Meng and I’m now Jude-Maria too.

RCIA was an express train for me …

I had sought acceptance to the Catholic Church with a RCIA waiver.

My main justifications for this request ?

I had attended the Greek and Russian Orthodox Churches in Singapore previously and was nearly baptised in the Russian Church if not for work which took me to be based in Vietnam. My wife belongs to the Russian Orthodox denomination.

From 2016 to 2017, I had also started attending Holy Hours, Fatima processions, masses.

Even before I understood the Blessed Sacrament of the Most Holy Sacred Host, I must have holed up in adoration rooms in at least quite a few Catholic Churches countless times since 2010.

My (eventual) god-mother then arranged for me to meet some priests to justify my case of getting the RCIA waiver in October 2017.

I met Fr Michael ARRO first and he rightly insisted on the need for a “basic education” and introduction so that I can better understand the church, and especially since i was not illiterate.

I then met Fr Edward LIM the following week from meeting Fr Arro, and strangely in a session that didn’t take too long, I ended up asking Fr Ed if he was willing to admit me into his RCIA program even though it was nearly at half-way point …

RCIA : was my first taste of COMMUNITY
Of course, now in retrospect I can see how we Inquirers or Catechumens were bubbled wrapped and babied by brothers and sisters in the RCIA ministry and oftentimes also the active members of other ministries of Sts Peter & Paul (SPP). My catchup coach for RCIA was himself by then pursuing his Neocatechumenal Way with his wife. What rich diversity even at the beginning. And the workers for God’s work at RCIA speak volumes about how important such ministries and communities are.

After baptism, we were encouraged to join ministries. I am aware and still know these are wise and practical suggestions. To quote St Josemaria Escriva, “Conversion is the task of a moment; sanctification is the work of a lifetime.”

But journeying without companions must be the “Road to Emmaus when Jesus did not show up” (an episode that doesn’t exist) – for a neophyte, a returning Catholic, a born-again Catholic, a Catholic who graduated from CER, etc …

Some circumstances took me out of the post-baptism RCIA sessions at SPP and also ministering options which will work for me seem few …

God know better – I had been attending Catholic Prayer Society lunchtime masses since 2018 before baptism – the reflection session in the announcement after mass on 2018 May 2 finally activated me and called me to action. I contacted brother Julian whose face and name I recognised – he was an ex-colleague whom I didn’t know personally then and he invited me ‘to come and see’.

What happens at these Ephraim reflection sessions ?
It is primarily a get-together of people who work in the Changi Business Park area. Catholics, Christians, or folks open-minded to a session of up to 60-minute, where we read then reflected on sacred scripture and shared our thoughts (therefore reflections). ‘Where two or three gather in my name, I will be there among them.’

Usually we reflected on scriptures for the upcoming Sunday during Ordinary Time. At Lent, Easter, Advent, Christmas, we do use the materials provided by the Office of New Evangelism (ONE).

I attended my first reflection, then a second and a third and it went on throughout 2018 to the first 4 months of 2019. Those who attended who were just another Catholic to me initially, became members of a community who were supportive, humble, sincere – we all came together to share, our love of God, and sometimes our personal struggles, at work or at home or at church – the spirit of the community is communicated outside of our meetings in our WhatsApp group where we shared, requests for prayers, materials useful for formation and activities and events of the greater Catholic community in Singapore …

I soon attended my first reflection session for SCC (Small Christian Community) for Lecterns, Choir, etc led by Fr Terence PEREIRA. I began to sing at choir for CPS Changi and the “greeter party” to welcome our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Ephraim became a place of solace, a joyful 60-minute, away from the hectic demands at work or home – a piece of heaven here in my earthly pilgrimage – to meet members of the body of Christ – my first community of fellow-sinners and prayfully fellow-Saints-to-be.

With the experience of Ephraim – our community, this must have been one of the activation-moment for me, I proceeded to have less reservations with regards to Catholic programs – I will respond to calls to come and see, solicited or those I chance on…

Also, to be engaged with other “communities” in addition to Ephraim – journeying with brothers and sisters in our continued Catechism and formation. I was even able to volunteer to carry Our Lady of Carmel in the annual procession of 2018, attended my first silent retreat with Opus Dei, etc.

There are some personal constraints on what I can offer to God in ministries consistently at parish churches at the moment, I continue to pray and I thank God for the communities He was able to arrange bespoked for me.

For the love of God, we pray for you who are unable to participate in communities outside of your own household, social and work networks. We invite you to ‘come and see’, as a community that continues to grow by help from the Holy Spirit, the Word and examples Jesus left us in the Gospels, and God the loving Father who longs for the prodigal child’s return.

Come and see, or pray to God for you to find a community suitable for you today.

Holiness

Posted: August 4, 2019 by CatholicJules in Meditations, Memory Book
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Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted: August 3, 2019 by CatholicJules in Sunday Reflections
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The Fool’s Vanity: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings:

Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21–23
Psalm 90:3–4, 5–6, 12–13, 14, 17
Colossians 3:1–5, 9–11
Luke 12:13–21

Trust in God—as the Rock of our salvation, as the Lord who made us His chosen people, as our shepherd and guide. This should be the mark of our following of Jesus.

Like the Israelites we recall in this week’s Psalm, we have made an exodus, passing through the waters of Baptism, freeing us from our bondage to sin. We too are on a pilgrimage to a promised homeland, the Lord in our midst, feeding us heavenly bread, giving us living waters to drink (see 1 Corinthians 10:1–4).

We must take care to guard against the folly that befell the Israelites, that led them to quarrel and test God’s goodness at Meribah and Massah.

We can harden our hearts in ways more subtle but no less ruinous. We can put our trust in possessions, squabble over earthly inheritances, kid ourselves that what we have we deserve, store up treasures and think they’ll afford us security and rest.

All this is “vanity of vanities,” a false and deadly way of living, as this week’s First Reading tells us.

This is the greed that Jesus warns against in this week’s Gospel. The rich man’s anxiety and toil expose his lack of faith in God’s care and provision. That’s why Paul calls greed “idolatry” in the Epistle this week. Mistaking having for being, possession for existence, we forget that God is the giver of all that we have. We exalt the things we can make or buy over our Maker (see Romans 1:25).

Jesus calls the rich man a “fool”—a word used in the Old Testament for someone who rebels against God or has forgotten Him (see Psalm 14:1).

We should treasure most the new life we have been given in Christ and seek what is above, the promised inheritance of heaven. We have to see all things in the light of eternity, mindful that He who gives us the breath of life could at any moment—this night even—demand it back from us.

On Belonging To A Faith Community

Posted: August 3, 2019 by CatholicJules in Life's Journeys, Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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On belonging to a faith community.

Time and again you will hear it from the pulpit, formation talk, even in Scripture on the importance of belonging to a faith community. Yet most everyone turns deaf to this call. Some of these folks are more inclined to join a funfair, food and drink fellowship at most. Why?

Well they have varied reasons both spoken as well as unspoken. Here are some…

1. Too busy with work
2. Eats into family time
3. TV series, sports channel, movies to catch up on.
4. Too Holy moly for me
5. Uncomfortable with crowds.
6. Unfamiliar, I take longer to warm up to strangers.
7. Don’t like certain people in the group.
8. Don’t know enough about my faith to share.
9. No one invited me.
10. Some of the faith groups are exclusive
11. Value my privacy
12. More important things to do.
13. Prefer to go for Adoration
14. Time for the Lord is reserved only for one hour on Sundays the rest is me time!

All I can say to all the above is this, “You truly do not know what you’re missing.“ First and foremost the reality of our Lord’s Jesus’s amazing and unique presence in His community gathered before Him. So much so that if I had to choose between personal adoration or sharing in His presence at a prayer meeting at a specific given time, I’d choose the latter always.

Our Lord calls us all to come together with all our imperfections, in all our brokenness, of feelings of inadequacies and He will grant us the grace we need and fill all the voids in our lives. We are given an opportunity to grow and inspire one another to grow in faith; in His love. One Family, One Body In Him. With the blessings and anointings received we can better love the families we were born into as well as those yet to join us.

Here are some inspiring words from St Ignatius of Antioch…

Work together in harmony, struggle together, run together, suffer together, rest together, rise together, as stewards, advisors and servants of God. Seek to please him whose soldiers you are and from whom you draw your pay; let none of you prove a deserter. Let your baptism be your armor, your faith your helmet, your charity your spear, your patience your panoply. Let your good works be your deposits, so that you may draw out well-earned savings. So be patient and gentle with one another, as God is with you. May I have joy in you for ever!

May almighty God our Father bless us now and forever. Amen

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 3, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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What will it profit a man to gain the whole world but he loses His soul in the process? Indeed this question applies when we choose to give in to to our wanton desires, greed and insatiable wants. Then try to justify our actions through persuasive arguments as though we are merely victims of our own devices.

No! Turn back to the Lord with all your heart. Repent while You still can for He our merciful and loving Lord; wants to forgive you all your debts so that you may live freely in His love. To love your neighbour as you should.

To die for the glory of our Lord is to rise up in Him. Death in sin is simply death.

I choose Jesus! The way, the Truth and the Life. Amen

First reading

Leviticus 25:1,8-17
The law of the jubilee year

The Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai. He said:
‘You are to count seven weeks of years – seven times seven years, that is to say a period of seven weeks of years, forty-nine years. And on the tenth day of the seventh month you shall sound the trumpet; on the Day of Atonement you shall sound the trumpet throughout the land. You will declare this fiftieth year sacred and proclaim the liberation of all the inhabitants of the land. This is to be a jubilee for you; each of you will return to his ancestral home, each to his own clan. This fiftieth year is to be a jubilee year for you: you will not sow, you will not harvest the ungathered corn, you will not gather from the untrimmed vine. The jubilee is to be a holy thing to you, you will eat what comes from the fields.
‘In this year of jubilee each of you is to return to his ancestral home. If you buy or sell with your neighbour, let no one wrong his brother. If you buy from your neighbour, this must take into account the number of years since the jubilee: according to the number of productive years he will fix the price. The greater the number of years, the higher shall be the price demanded; the less the number of years, the greater the reduction; for what he is selling you is a certain number of harvests. Let none of you wrong his neighbour, but fear your God; I am the Lord your God.’

Gospel

Matthew 14:1-12
The beheading of John the Baptist

Herod the tetrarch heard about the reputation of Jesus, and said to his court, ‘This is John the Baptist himself; he has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.’
Now it was Herod who had arrested John, chained him up and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. For John had told him, ‘It is against the Law for you to have her.’ He had wanted to kill him but was afraid of the people, who regarded John as a prophet. Then, during the celebrations for Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and so delighted Herod that he promised on oath to give her anything she asked. Prompted by her mother she said, ‘Give me John the Baptist’s head, here, on a dish.’ The king was distressed but, thinking of the oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he ordered it to be given her, and sent and had John beheaded in the prison. The head was brought in on a dish and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. John’s disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went off to tell Jesus.

Humility

Posted: August 2, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections, Photos
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On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 2, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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How do you change the hearts of those closest around you? How do you lead them closer to God our Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit our One triune God? Yes you very well know that those closest to you are the toughest to reach out to. Even your own ministry members are unlikely to listen to anyone, when they have this idea that they have come to ‘serve’ the Lord on their own terms. They are simply volunteers and so choose how, what and when they want to serve. And so afraid of losing them you may say Oh well in God’s time they will have a change of heart, afterall everyone’s journey is different.

That may very well be true, but does that mean you do nothing to lead them into discipleship? Yes the keyword is LEAD, that is to lead by your very example. Your committment, your integrity, your own desire to grow, change, and most important of all; it is by your love of God and for them that all will know that you are the Lord’s disciple.

We do this by honouring the Lord our God above all. We repent continuously of our sins and offer the best we have to offer of our lives for Him. By His grace, strength and through our very own witness; hearts and minds can and will be changed. For we have become beacons of His love and light by the way we lead our lives in Him.

Yes Jesus Himself did not work many miracles where the people were obstinate because of their lack of faith. But what about those whom He managed to work miracles in? For our Lord did say there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. That one repentant sinner filled with joy can touch a hundredfold times a hundredfold by His/Her own testimony as we have seen in the lives of St Paul, St Peter and literally too many others to mention.

O Lord my God help me, not to allow the lack of faith of others discourage me, but increase in me my very own faith, love and zeal to bear my cross to follow You always. Amen

First reading

Leviticus 23:1,4-11,15-16,27,34-37
The law of the festivals of the Lord

The Lord spoke to Moses. He said:

‘These are the Lord’s solemn festivals, the sacred assemblies to which you are to summon the sons of Israel on the appointed day.

‘The fourteenth day of the first month, between the two evenings, is the Passover of the Lord; and the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of Unleavened Bread for the Lord. For seven days you shall eat bread without leaven. On the first day you are to hold a sacred assembly; you must do no heavy work. For seven days you shall offer a burnt offering to the Lord. The seventh day is to be a day of sacred assembly; you must do no work.’

The Lord spoke to Moses. He said:

‘Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them:

‘“When you enter the land that I give you, and gather in the harvest there, you must bring the first sheaf of your harvest to the priest, and he is to present it to the Lord with the gesture of offering, so that you may be acceptable. The priest shall make this offering on the day after the sabbath.

‘“From the day after the sabbath, the day on which you bring the sheaf of offering, you are to count seven full weeks. You are to count fifty days, to the day after the seventh sabbath, and then you are to offer the Lord a new oblation.

‘“The tenth day of the seventh month shall be the Day of Atonement. You are to hold a sacred assembly. You must fast, and you must offer a burnt offering to the Lord.

‘“The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of Tabernacles for the Lord, lasting seven days. The first day is a day of sacred assembly; you must do no heavy work. For seven days you must offer a burnt offering to the Lord. On the eighth day you are to hold a sacred assembly, you must offer a burnt offering to the Lord. It is a day of solemn meeting; you must do no heavy work.

‘“These are the solemn festivals of the Lord to which you are to summon the children of Israel, sacred assemblies for the purpose of offering burnt offerings, holocausts, oblations, sacrifices and libations to the Lord, according to the ritual of each day.”’

Gospel

Matthew 13:54-58

A prophet is only despised in his own country

Coming to his home town, Jesus taught the people in their synagogue in such a way that they were astonished and said, ‘Where did the man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? This is the carpenter’s son, surely? Is not his mother the woman called Mary, and his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Jude? His sisters, too, are they not all here with us? So where did the man get it all?’ And they would not accept him. But Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is only despised in his own country and in his own house’, and he did not work many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

Opus Dei Men’s Day of Recollection

Posted: August 1, 2019 by CatholicJules in Life's Journeys
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Just finished attending my first ever men’s day of recollection (held in the evening once a month) and I’m loving it! Loved that there is reconciliation throughout and the whole session ends with Adoration and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

It was intellectually heavy in parts but hey that’s the way to grow!

So all in all I highly recommend attending the sessions. Praise the Lord!

*Apparently there’s a women only session held separately.

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 1, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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God is dwelling in my heart, He and I are one. All His love he gives to me through Christ His Son! And with Jesus in my heart what have I to fear? For He is the Son of God In my heart He’s near. Wonderful, beautiful, encouraging hymn which brings us much joy and hope in just singing it aloud. But what if it was not merely a hymn. What if it were a reality? Such that we would even be able to bring the presence of the Lord our God everywhere we went.

Yes sisters and brothers in Christ this is truly a reality for us who believe, who hear His word, and act to do God our Father’s Will for us as we live out a sacramental life. We bring the presence of our Lord with us wherever we go as we share His love through and in the most precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We teach and share the promises of old brought to fulfillment in the new. How we were dead in our sins and brought to life again through the power of our Risen Lord. We recollect on where we were, where we are now and where we are going through Him who loves us dearly. Yes indeed this is our reality!

However the reality for most is not as promising because they want to be in control of every aspect of their lives. If they mix red and white, pink must be the result! Leaving it to the Lord their God is like a game of chance and they will have nothing of it. In fact praying to Him if at all is pretty much telling Him what to do and how to do it! They might mutter softly under their breath ‘thy will be done’ though the need is for their will to be done! Pity if they don’t snap out of this fantasy world they have built for themselves and deem it the reality of life. What is the treasure they are storing and for whom? When will they realise what it really means when we say we are all created in the image and likeness of God our Heavenly Father and are on a pilgrim journey back to Him. We are NOT of this world even though we live in it.

Lord Jesus remember me as I journey back to Your Kingdom. Amen

First reading

Exodus 40:16-21,34-38 ·
The tabernacle is set up

Moses did exactly as the Lord had directed him. The tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month in the second year. Moses erected the tabernacle. He fixed the sockets for it, put up its frames, put its crossbars in position, set up its posts. He spread the tent over the tabernacle and on top of this the covering for the tent, as the Lord had directed Moses. He took the Testimony and placed it inside the ark. He set the shafts to the ark and placed the throne of mercy on it. He brought the ark into the tabernacle and put the screening veil in place; thus he screened the ark of the Lord, as the Lord had directed Moses.
The cloud covered the Tent of Meeting and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because of the cloud that rested on it and because of the glory of the Lord that filled the tabernacle.
At every stage of their journey, whenever the cloud rose from the tabernacle the sons of Israel would resume their march. If the cloud did not rise, they waited and would not march until it did. For the cloud of the Lord rested on the tabernacle by day, and a fire shone within the cloud by night, for all the House of Israel to see. And so it was for every stage of their journey.

Gospel

Matthew 13:47-53
The fishermen collect the good fish and throw away those that are no use

Jesus said to the crowds: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea that brings in a haul of all kinds. When it is full, the fishermen haul it ashore; then, sitting down, they collect the good ones in a basket and throw away those that are no use. This is how it will be at the end of time: the angels will appear and separate the wicked from the just to throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.
‘Have you understood all this?’ They said, ‘Yes.’ And he said to them, ‘Well then, every scribe who becomes a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out from his storeroom things both new and old.’