Archive for September, 2020

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: September 30, 2020 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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How could God allow this to happen to me, my family, my best friend? How can He take the life of my loved one and leave me alone? We blame Him for all the wrong, injustices and evil in the world even natural disasters, pandemics! At the end of our cursing, swearing and blaming or for those who have chosen to bite their tongue; did we win for ourselves justice? Peace of mind? Joy?

The first reading at first glance may come across as someone who is resigned to his fate.   But it actually speaks to Job’s faith, love and reverence for the Lord our God. God our Heavenly Father is creator of things. He is all powerful and all justice begins and ends with Him. Through Job’s steadfast faith love and obedience He had already entered into a deep personal relationship with the Lord His God, such that He is able to endure all that happens for He knows without reservation that nothing can separate Him from the love of God for Him. We are greatly Blessed to have had this truth revealed to us through Jesus Christ our Lord. How then can we not cherish and love the Lord our God above all things in every situation?

Jesus You are the truth, the way and the life. Lead me Lord as I follow You with all my heart. Amen 

First reading
Job 9:1-13,14-16
How can man be in the right against God?

Job spoke to his friends:

Indeed, I know it is as you say: how can man be in the right against God?
If any were so rash as to challenge him for reasons, one in a thousand would be more than they could answer.
His heart is wise, and his strength is great:
who then can successfully defy him?
He moves the mountains, though they do not know it; he throws them down when he is angry.
He shakes the earth, and moves it from its place, making all its pillars tremble.
The sun, at his command, forbears to rise, and on the stars he sets a seal.
He and no other stretched out the skies, and trampled the Sea’s tall waves.
The Bear, Orion too, are of his making, the Pleiades and the Mansions of the South.
His works are great, beyond all reckoning, his marvels, past all counting.
Were he to pass me, I should not see him, nor detect his stealthy movement.
Were he to snatch a prize, who could prevent him, or dare to say, ‘What are you doing?’

How dare I plead my cause, then, or choose arguments against him?
Suppose I am in the right, what use is my defence?
    For he whom I must sue is judge as well.
If he deigned to answer my citation, could I be sure that he would listen to my voice?

Gospel
Luke 9:57-62
‘I will follow you wherever you go’

As Jesus and his disciples travelled along they met a man on the road who said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ Jesus answered, ‘Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’
    Another to whom he said, ‘Follow me’, replied, ‘Let me go and bury my father first.’ But he answered, ‘Leave the dead to bury their dead; your duty is to go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.’
    Another said, ‘I will follow you, sir, but first let me go and say goodbye to my people at home.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Once the hand is laid on the plough, no one who looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: September 29, 2020 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Eyes have not seen, ears have not heard.  How then should we believe in Angels?

Our faith is not one in which we are limited by the five senses of most all human beings. We are afterall God’s children created in His likeness and image. Through our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ we have been awakened to new life with Him. We carry His truth in our hearts. While at this present time we may not physically see or hear the other wonders of God’s creation, His angels; we His faithful who strive for Holiness can sense their presence in our lives just as we know our Lord Himself is present.

We praise and thank You Heavenly Father for Your Holy angels whom You have sent to guide and protect us on our pilgrim journey back Home to You. May we all be reunited in Heaven; as we stand together with the angels and saints to sing Your praises forever, Through Christ our Lord. Amen

Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, pray for us…..

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
John 1:47-51
You will see heaven laid open, and the Son of Man

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.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: September 28, 2020 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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In all things, in every situation I humble myself before the Lord my God. Giving Him thanks and praise for loving me with an everlasting love. I will love my brethren first just as He loved me first. Amen

First reading
Job 1:6-22 ·
The Lord gave, the Lord has taken back: blessed be the name of the Lord

One day the Sons of God came to attend on the Lord, and among them was Satan. So the Lord said to Satan, ‘Where have you been?’ ‘Round the earth,’ he answered ‘roaming about.’ So the Lord asked him, ‘Did you notice my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth: a sound and honest man who fears God and shuns evil.’ ‘Yes,’ Satan said ‘but Job is not God-fearing for nothing, is he? Have you not put a wall round him and his house and all his domain? You have blessed all he undertakes, and his flocks throng the countryside. But stretch out your hand and lay a finger on his possessions: I warrant you, he will curse you to your face.’ ‘Very well,’ the Lord said to Satan ‘all he has is in your power. But keep your hands off his person.’ So Satan left the presence of the Lord.
    On the day when Job’s sons and daughters were at their meal and drinking wine at their eldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job. ‘Your oxen’ he said ‘were at the plough, with the donkeys grazing at their side, when the Sabaeans swept down on them and carried them off. Your servants they put to the sword: I alone escaped to tell you.’ He had not finished speaking when another messenger arrived. ‘The fire of God’ he said ‘has fallen from the heavens and burnt up all your sheep, and your shepherds too: I alone escaped to tell you.’ He had not finished speaking when another messenger arrived. ‘The Chaldaeans,’ he said ‘three bands of them, have raided your camels and made off with them. Your servants they put to the sword: I alone escaped to tell you.’ He had not finished speaking when another messenger arrived. ‘Your sons and daughters’ he said ‘were at their meal and drinking wine at their eldest brother’s house, when suddenly from the wilderness a gale sprang up, and it battered all four corners of the house which fell in on the young people. They are dead: I alone escaped to tell you.’
    Job rose and tore his gown and shaved his head. Then falling to the ground he worshipped and said:

‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
naked I shall return.
The Lord gave, the Lord has taken back.
Blessed be the name of the Lord!’

In all this misfortune Job committed no sin nor offered any insult to God.

Gospel
Luke 9:46-50
The least among you all is the greatest

An argument started between the disciples about which of them was the greatest. Jesus knew what thoughts were going through their minds, and he took a little child and set him by his side and then said to them, ‘Anyone who welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For the least among you all, that is the one who is great.’
    John spoke up. ‘Master,’ he said ‘we saw a man casting out devils in your name, and because he is not with us we tried to stop him.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘You must not stop him: anyone who is not against you is for you.’

Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted: September 26, 2020 by CatholicJules in Sunday Reflections
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The Humble Path: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings:

Ezekiel 18:25–28
Psalm 25:4–9
Philippians 2:1–11
Matthew 21:28–32

Echoing the complaint heard in last week’s readings, today’s First Reading again presents protests that God isn’t fair. Why does He punish with death one who begins in virtue but falls into iniquity, while granting life to the wicked one who turns from sin?
This is the question that Jesus takes up in the parable in today’s Gospel.

The first son represents the most heinous sinners of Jesus’ day—tax collectors and prostitutes—who by their sin at first refused to serve in the Lord’s vineyard, the kingdom. At the preaching of John the Baptist, they repented and did what was right and just.

The second son represents Israel’s leaders—who said they would serve God in the vineyard, but refused to believe John when he told them they must produce good fruits as evidence of their repentance (see Matthew 3:8).

Once again, this week’s readings invite us to ponder the unfathomable ways of God’s justice and mercy. He teaches His ways only to the humble, as we sing in today’s Psalm. And in the Epistle today, Paul presents Jesus as the model of that humility by which we come to know life’s true path.

Paul sings a beautiful hymn to the Incarnation. Unlike Adam, the first man, who in his pride grasped at being God, the New Adam, Jesus, humbled himself to become a slave, obedient even unto death on the cross (see Romans 5:14). In this He has shown sinners—each one of us—the way back to the Father. We can only come to God to serve in His vineyard, the Church, by having that same attitude as Christ.

This is what Israel’s leaders lacked. In their vainglory, they presumed their superiority—that they had no further need to hear God’s Word or listen to God’s servants.

But this is the way to death, as God tells Ezekiel today. We are always to be emptying ourselves, seeking forgiveness for our sins and frailties, confessing on bended knee that He is Lord, to the glory of the Father.

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: September 26, 2020 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Regrets I have a few but the biggest one is having squandered my youth on pursuing my own ambitions and seeking worldly pleasures.

When I could have lived life to the fullest in my Lord and God from an early age. Where peace of mind is as constant as night turns into day. Joy and love of; And in the Lord is to be lived not something to be sought after. 

The struggle to love our neighbour at all times, in all situations is a necessary burden of carrying our cross for our Lord. By laying our life down for them as He did for us, is the means by which we are united most fully in Him.  It is through this union with Him that we have life, and have it to the full! Amen

First Reading

Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:8 Remember your creator in the days of your youth

Rejoice in your youth, you who are young;
let your heart give you joy in your young days. Follow the promptings of your heart
and the desires of your eyes.

But this you must know: for all these things God will bring you to judgement.

Cast worry from your heart, shield your flesh from pain.

Yet youth, the age of dark hair, is vanity. And remember your creator in the days of your youth, before evil days come and the years approach when you say, ‘These give me no pleasure’, before sun and light and moon and stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain;

the day when those who keep the house tremble and strong men are bowed;
when the women grind no longer at the mill, because day is darkening at the windows
and the street doors are shut; when the sound of the mill is faint,
when the voice of the bird is silenced, and song notes are stilled,
when to go uphill is an ordeal
and a walk is something to dread.

Yet the almond tree is in flower, the grasshopper is heavy with food and the caper bush bears its fruit,

while man goes to his everlasting home. And the mourners are already walking to and fro in the street

before the silver cord has snapped,
or the golden lamp been broken,
or the pitcher shattered at the spring,
or the pulley cracked at the well,

or before the dust returns to the earth as it once came from it, and the breath to God who gave it.
   
Vanity of vanities, the Preacher says. All is vanity.

Gospel Luke 9:43-45

They were afraid to ask him what he meant

At a time when everyone was full of admiration for all he did, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘For your part, you must have these words constantly in your mind: “The Son of Man is going to be handed over into the power of men.”’ But they did not understand him when he said this; it was hidden from them so that they should not see the meaning of it, and they were afraid to ask him about what he had just said.

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: September 25, 2020 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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All we need is Christ!

In good times and in bad,
In sickness and in health,
In moments of difficulty, trials and tribulations,
In our victories and successes,

In our infancy and in our old age,
In times of falling into temptations and sin,
In making life choices and tough decisions,
In our joys and in our sorrows.

All we need is Christ!

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of Your Son Jesus Christ, saviour of the world; who is with us, His faithful every moment of our lives. And so whether we live or die, we do so in Your time and prayerfully through Your Son’s grace. Amen

First reading
Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 ·
There is a time for every occupation under heaven

There is a season for everything, a time for every occupation under heaven:

A time for giving birth,
    a time for dying;
    a time for planting,
    a time for uprooting what has been planted.

A time for killing,
Q    a time for healing;
    a time for knocking down,
    a time for building.

A time for tears,
    a time for laughter;
    a time for mourning,
    a time for dancing.

A time for throwing stones away,
    a time for gathering them up;
    a time for embracing,
    a time to refrain from embracing.

A time for searching,
    a time for losing;
    a time for keeping,
    a time for throwing away.

A time for tearing,
    a time for sewing;
    a time for keeping silent,
    a time for speaking.

A time for loving,
    a time for hating;
    a time for war,
    a time for peace.

What does a man gain for the efforts that he makes? I contemplate the task that God gives mankind to labour at. All that he does is apt for its time; but though he has permitted man to consider time in its wholeness, man cannot comprehend the work of God from beginning to end.

Gospel
Luke 9:18-22
‘You are the Christ of God’

One day when Jesus was praying alone in the presence of his disciples he put this question to them, ‘Who do the crowds say I am?’ And they answered, ‘John the Baptist; others Elijah; and others say one of the ancient prophets come back to life.’ ‘But you,’ he said ‘who do you say I am?’ It was Peter who spoke up. ‘The Christ of God’ he said. But he gave them strict orders not to tell anyone anything about this.
    ‘The Son of Man’ he said ‘is destined to suffer grievously, to be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes and to be put to death, and to be raised up on the third day.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: September 24, 2020 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Did St John the Baptist perform some miracles if not any at all? What did he do so similar to what Jesus was doing that he was thought to have risen from the dead?

The real question for me to reflect on today is how can I bring the presence of the Lord to others? The people looked upon John the Baptist as a righteous man after God’s heart after all he brought many back to be reconciled with God our Father through their repentance. In essence it was he who gave direction to the Way, the Truth and the Life; the lamb of God, our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ! People as we know it, remember how we make them feel rather that what we do. So will folks feel the love of God and His presence through me?  If I am remembered at all let it not be for vanity in thinking that it was of my own doing but that I had glorified my Lord through my life lived in His love and grace serving my brethren. Amen

First reading
Ecclesiastes 1:2-11 ·
Nothing is new and all is vanity

Vanity of vanities, the Preacher says. Vanity of vanities. All is vanity! For all his toil, his toil under the sun, what does man gain by it?
    A generation goes, a generation comes, yet the earth stands firm for ever. The sun rises, the sun sets; then to its place it speeds and there it rises. Southward goes the wind, then turns to the north; it turns and turns again; back then to its circling goes the wind. Into the sea all the rivers go, and yet the sea is never filled, and still to their goal the rivers go. All things are wearisome. No man can say that eyes have not had enough of seeing, ears their fill of hearing. What was will be again; what has been done will be done again; and there is nothing new under the sun. Take anything of which it may be said, ‘Look now, this is new.’ Already, long before our time, it existed. Only no memory remains of earlier times, just as in times to come next year itself will not be remembered.

Gospel
Luke 9:7-9
‘John? I beheaded him; so who is this?’

Herod the tetrarch had heard about all that was being done by Jesus; and he was puzzled, because some people were saying that John had risen from the dead, others that Elijah had reappeared, still others that one of the ancient prophets had come back to life. But Herod said, ‘John? I beheaded him. So who is this I hear such reports about?’ And he was anxious to see Jesus.

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: September 23, 2020 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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As I journey onward Lord as Your disciple. May this day and everyday be Yours as I strive to glorify You through Your Word and Will for me. I surrender everything I have to You, even the baggage that I carry that weighs me down from living fully in Your light. Cleanse me of my sins and protect me from all evil seeking to ruin my soul. Let me sing praises of Your great love, such that all who do not yet know You, will want to learn more about You. By my actions in Your love, may it lead them into a personal relationship with you. Amen

St Pio pray for us…

First reading
Proverbs 30:5-9
Give me neither riches nor poverty, only my share

Every word of God is unalloyed, he is the shield of those who take refuge in him.
To his words make no addition, lest he reprove you and know you for a fraud.

Two things I beg of you, do not grudge me them before I die: keep falsehood and lies far from me, give me neither poverty nor riches, grant me only my share of bread to eat, for fear that surrounded by plenty, I should fall away and say, ‘the Lord – who is the Lord?’
or else, in destitution, take to stealing and profane the name of my God.


Gospel
Luke 9:1-6
‘Take nothing for the journey’

Jesus called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all devils and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. He said to them, ‘Take nothing for the journey: neither staff, nor haversack, nor bread, nor money; and let none of you take a spare tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there; and when you leave, let it be from there. As for those who do not welcome you, when you leave their town shake the dust from your feet as a sign to them.’ So they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the Good News and healing everywhere.

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: September 22, 2020 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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We will remain Sunday Catholics if we do not allow the Eucharistic Celebration to change us from within. For every Eucharistic Celebration, whether it on a weekday or weekend, is a gift from the Lord our God to draw us ever closer to Him. That is why it is a thanksgiving celebration of His great love for us. His ever living, life giving Word is proclaimed and as we listen intently our hearts, minds and souls fall into His loving embrace as we are nurtured. Then He feeds us of Himself, body, blood, soul and divinity. We are renewed, strengthened, fortified against all evil. Therefore every Eucharistic Celebration is an opportunity for us to change and to be more and more like Him, our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ!

If we are not changed in the least then it is due to our own stubborness, our hardness of heart. Having heard His Word we have refused to take concrete actions to live out His Word and Will for us in our lives. We are essentially turning our backs to Holy Communion with Him. How then can we claim that our worship of Him is not one of lip service?

Lord Jesus, may Your Word be on my mind, in my heart and in my actions always. Amen

First reading
Proverbs 21:1-6,10-13
On wickedness and virtue

Like flowing water is the heart of the king in the hand of the Lord, who turns it where he pleases.

A man’s conduct may strike him as upright, the Lord, however, weighs the heart.

To act virtuously and with justice is more pleasing to the Lord than sacrifice.

Haughty eye, proud heart, lamp of the wicked, nothing but sin.

The hardworking man is thoughtful, and all is gain;too much haste, and all that comes of it is want.

To make a fortune with the help of a lying tongue,such the idle fantasy of those who look for death.

The wicked man’s soul is intent on evil, he looks on his neighbour with dislike.

When a mocker is punished, the ignorant man grows wiser,when a wise man is instructed he acquires more knowledge.

The Just One watches the house of the wicked: he hurls the wicked to destruction.

He who shuts his ear to the poor man’s cry shall himself plead and not be heard.

Gospel
Luke 8:19-21
‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God’

The mother and the brothers of Jesus came looking for him, but they could not get to him because of the crowd. He was told, ‘Your mother and brothers are standing outside and want to see you.’ But he said in answer, ‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and put it into practice.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: September 21, 2020 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Why is it far easier to lose our temper and lash out? Instead of being patient and gentle? To be selfish instead of charitable? Why do we make some progress then fallback into old habits? Perhaps the answer lies in how immature we are in our faith and so what follows are our immature actions!

For many of us would have learnt by now, that if we want something badly enough then by working hard for it through determination and discipline we will achieve what we set our hearts upon. The virtues after the heart of Christ that we seek are no different. We need to work at growing in our faith through dwelling on our Lord’s Word, making time to be in His presence through prayer and striving hard to exercise love and mercy in all our interactions with others. And we can surely prevail because we do so Not with our own strengths. It is our loving Lord that seeks us sinners out and through our desire to follow Him, His redeeming grace is upon us. Through Him we are perfected and, made whole. One Body In Him.

Praise and glory be to our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

St Matthew pray for us…

First reading
Ephesians 4:1-7,11-13 ·
We are all to come to unity, fully mature in the knowledge of the Son of God

I, the prisoner in the Lord, implore you to lead a life worthy of your vocation. Bear with one another charitably, in selflessness, gentleness and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together. There is one Body, one Spirit, just as you were all called into one and the same hope when you were called. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God who is Father of all, over all, through all and within all.
    Each one of us, however, has been given his own share of grace, given as allotted it. To some, his gift was that they should be apostles; to some, prophets; to some, evangelists; to some, pastors and teachers; so that the saints together make a unity in the work of service, building up the body of Christ. In this way we are all to come to unity in our faith and in our knowledge of the Son of God, until we become the perfect Man, fully mature with the fullness of Christ himself.


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

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

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: September 19, 2020 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Following yesterday’s reflection on death and new life in Christ; St Paul through the grace of our Lord and the Holy Spirit gives us a wonderful, keen insight on how and what it will be like for us in our resurrected form. Just as how it is like for him and all the saints in Heaven. And by our faith we know this to be true for through our baptism the Holy Spirit has awakened in us the new birth of life in Him. We no longer see just with our eyes or hear just with our ears. And the peace, love and joy that we have comes not from this world but through our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.

So today the question for us is, are we then living in the Spirit that has been outpoured in us? How can we say that we are, if we do not spend time daily reflecting on His Word for us? If we do not cherish His Word by living it out daily in our lives? If we do not constantly struggle and fight to resist all evil and temptation? If the gifts we have been given are not used for the good of others?

For if we are living in the Spirit as we should then we will see the gifts we had been given bear fruit. For others will see and experience the joy of our Lord through the work of our hands. We will always discover new and wonderful gifts we can use for His glory. Our reward is simply the joy of living in the Spirit in His presence. Amen!

First reading
1 Corinthians 15:35-37,42-49 ·
The resurrected body is heavenly by nature

Someone may ask, ‘How are dead people raised, and what sort of body do they have when they come back?’ They are stupid questions. Whatever you sow in the ground has to die before it is given new life and the thing that you sow is not what is going to come; you sow a bare grain, say of wheat or something like that. It is the same with the resurrection of the dead: the thing that is sown is perishable but what is raised is imperishable; the thing that is sown is contemptible but what is raised is glorious; the thing that is sown is weak but what is raised is powerful; when it is sown it embodies the soul, when it is raised it embodies the spirit.
    If the soul has its own embodiment, so does the spirit have its own embodiment. The first man, Adam, as scripture says, became a living soul; but the last Adam has become a life-giving spirit. That is, first the one with the soul, not the spirit, and after that, the one with the spirit. The first man, being from the earth, is earthly by nature; the second man is from heaven. As this earthly man was, so are we on earth; and as the heavenly man is, so are we in heaven. And we, who have been modelled on the earthly man, will be modelled on the heavenly man.


Gospel
Luke 8:4-15
The parable of the sower

With a large crowd gathering and people from every town finding their way to him, Jesus used this parable:
    ‘A sower went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some fell on the edge of the path and was trampled on; and the birds of the air ate it up. Some seed fell on rock, and when it came up it withered away, having no moisture. Some seed fell amongst thorns and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some seed fell into rich soil and grew and produced its crop a hundredfold.’ Saying this he cried, ‘Listen, anyone who has ears to hear!’
    His disciples asked him what this parable might mean, and he said, ‘The mysteries of the kingdom of God are revealed to you; for the rest there are only parables, so that they may see but not perceive, listen but not understand.

‘This, then, is what the parable means: the seed is the word of God. Those on the edge of the path are people who have heard it, and then the devil comes and carries away the word from their hearts in case they should believe and be saved. Those on the rock are people who, when they first hear it, welcome the word with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of trial they give up. As for the part that fell into thorns, this is people who have heard, but as they go on their way they are choked by the worries and riches and pleasures of life and do not reach maturity. As for the part in the rich soil, this is people with a noble and generous heart who have heard the word and take it to themselves and yield a harvest through their perseverance.’

Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted: September 19, 2020 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections, Sunday Reflections
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First and Last: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings:
Isaiah 55:6–9
Psalm 145:2–3, 8–9, 17–18
Philippians 1:20–24, 27
Matthew 20:1–16
 

The house of Israel is the vine of God, who planted and watered it, preparing the Israelites to bear fruits of righteousness (see Isaiah 5:7; 27:2–5).

Israel failed to yield good fruits and the Lord allowed His vineyard, Israel’s kingdom, to be overrun by conquerors (see Psalm 80:9–20). But God promised that one day He would replant His vineyard and its shoots would blossom to the ends of the earth (see Amos 9:15; Hosea 14:5–10).

This is the biblical backdrop to Jesus’ parable of salvation history in today’s Gospel. The landowner is God. The vineyard is the kingdom. The workers hired at dawn are the Israelites, to whom He first offered His covenant. Those hired later in the day are the Gentiles, the non-Israelites, who, until the coming of Christ, were strangers to the covenants of promise (see Ephesians 2:11–13). In the Lord’s great generosity, the same wages, the same blessings promised to the first-called, the Israelites, will be paid to those called last, the rest of the nations.

This provokes grumbling in today’s parable. Doesn’t the complaint of those first laborers sound like that of the older brother in Jesus’ prodigal son parable (see Luke 15:29–30)? God’s ways, however, are far from our ways, as we hear in today’s First Reading. And today’s readings should caution us against the temptation to resent God’s lavish mercy.

Like the Gentiles, many will be allowed to enter the kingdom late—after having spent most of their days idling in sin.

But even these can call upon Him and find Him near, as we sing in today’s Psalm. We should rejoice that God has compassion on all whom He has created. This should console us, too, especially if we have loved ones who remain far from the vineyard.

Our task is to continue laboring in His vineyard. As Paul says in today’s Epistle, let us conduct ourselves worthily, struggling to bring all men and women to the praise of His name.

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: September 18, 2020 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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The idea of dying can send many into having panic attacks. Why? Because we have never experienced it for ourselves and so have many unanswered questions. Such as, is it really the end? Do we disappear into nothingness? All memories of our existence gone forever?  What will happen to our loved ones? Therefore the idea of death alone pains us.

We Christians have the answer and it lies in the truth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. For indeed by His resurrection Christ has redeemed the world from eternal death. Through our faith in our resurrected Lord we have hope for eternal life with Him. So together with St Paul and with conviction we declare “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” and like the Saints who have gone ahead we too can die with peace and joy in our hearts in knowing we will rise again with Him.

Today we pause, reflect and remember the many women who have walked and those who are still walking in the presence of our Lord. Whose dedication to follow in His footsteps by their own lives have inspired us to do likewise. I have been blessed to know such women in my life including my own mother.

Blessed Mother Queen of Heaven we consecrate all these women after your own heart through you, to Your Son Jesus our Lord. Amen

First reading
1 Corinthians 15:12-20 ·
If Christ has not been raised, your belief is useless

Now if Christ raised from the dead is what has been preached, how can some of you be saying that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, Christ himself cannot have been raised, and if Christ has not been raised then our preaching is useless and your believing it is useless; indeed, we are shown up as witnesses who have committed perjury before God, because we swore in evidence before God that he had raised Christ to life. For if the dead are not raised, Christ has not been raised, and if Christ has not been raised, you are still in your sins. And what is more serious, all who have died in Christ have perished. If our hope in Christ has been for this life only, we are the most unfortunate of all people.
    But Christ has in fact been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of all who have fallen asleep.


Gospel
Luke 8:1-3
The women who accompanied Jesus

Jesus made his way through towns and villages preaching, and proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom of God. With him went the Twelve, as well as certain women who had been cured of evil spirits and ailments: Mary surnamed the Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and several others who provided for them out of their own resources.

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: September 17, 2020 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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When others look upon us what will they see? Will they see us living in the joy of the Resurrected Lord whom we profess to believe in and follow? Will they be curious, even eager to find out secret for the hope that we carry within us? Or will they see us just like they see themselves, simply trying to get by each day. Some even bickering, criticising and finding fault with others just as they might do. Can others see our true self each and every time from up close or afar? Or does duality exist within us and they see only what we want them to see?

To be able to live in the joy of our Lord’s resurrection we must first have a heart of gratitude. That is to remember that we have been forgiven our many sins and it is only through the love and grace of Lord and saviour Jesus Christ we have been redeemed. Through Him we are able to live life fully in His love. We have joy because we carry the peace and love of our Lord within us.  And so are we humble before the presence of our Lord to get down on our knees to welcome Him, anoint and wash His feet; by our deeds of love and mercy for our brethren?

Guide me Lord to live in Your light always! Glory and praise be Yours now and forever. Amen

First reading
1 Corinthians 15:1-11 ·
I preached what the others preach, and you all believed

Brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, the gospel that you received and in which you are firmly established; because the gospel will save you only if you keep believing exactly what I preached to you – believing anything else will not lead to anything.
    Well then, in the first place, I taught you what I had been taught myself, namely that Christ died for our sins, in accordance with the scriptures; that he was buried; and that he was raised to life on the third day, in accordance with the scriptures; that he appeared first to Cephas and secondly to the Twelve. Next he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died; then he appeared to James, and then to all the apostles; and last of all he appeared to me too; it was as though I was born when no one expected it.
    I am the least of the apostles; in fact, since I persecuted the Church of God, I hardly deserve the name apostle; but by God’s grace that is what I am, and the grace that he gave me has not been fruitless. On the contrary, I, or rather the grace of God that is with me, have worked harder than any of the others; but what matters is that I preach what they preach, and this is what you all believed.


Gospel
Luke 7:36-50
Her many sins have been forgiven, or she would not have shown such great love

One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to a meal. When he arrived at the Pharisee’s house and took his place at table, a woman came in, who had a bad name in the town. She had heard he was dining with the Pharisee and had brought with her an alabaster jar of ointment. She waited behind him at his feet, weeping, and her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them away with her hair; then she covered his feet with kisses and anointed them with the ointment.
    When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would know who this woman is that is touching him and what a bad name she has.’ Then Jesus took him up and said, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’ ‘Speak, Master’ was the reply. ‘There was once a creditor who had two men in his debt; one owed him five hundred denarii, the other fifty. They were unable to pay, so he pardoned them both. Which of them will love him more?’ ‘The one who was pardoned more, I suppose’ answered Simon. Jesus said, ‘You are right.’
    Then he turned to the woman. ‘Simon,’ he said ‘you see this woman? I came into your house, and you poured no water over my feet, but she has poured out her tears over my feet and wiped them away with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but she has been covering my feet with kisses ever since I came in. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. For this reason I tell you that her sins, her many sins, must have been forgiven her, or she would not have shown such great love. It is the man who is forgiven little who shows little love.’ Then he said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ Those who were with him at table began to say to themselves, ‘Who is this man, that he even forgives sins?’ But he said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: September 16, 2020 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Once again it is time for us to reflect on our lives. Are we living our lives in the light of our resurrected Lord and saviour Jesus Christ? Have we matured in our faith? Is our hope in the life that awaits us strong? Have we grown deep in our love for brethren and for our Lord such that it is our inner most desire to glorify Him with all that we say and do?

We are all aging and sooner than we think, the window to do all that we plan in our minds and in our time closes. Even then we do not know if tomorrow will come for us. And so if we die today, are we more concerned about who will remember us in this world for all that we have done and how we have lived? Or is it more important that we are remembered in Heaven for being found worthy of the rewards of eternal life through the promises of Christ.

Lord Jesus forgive me my shortcomings and indiscretions. Purify my thoughts, words, actions and grant me an ardent desire to always do Your will. That I may one day be remembered as a witness to Your love. Amen

First reading

1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13

The supremacy of charityBe ambitious for the higher gifts. And I am going to show you a way that is better than any of them. If I have all the eloquence of men or of angels, but speak without love, I am simply a gong booming or a cymbal clashing. If I have the gift of prophecy, understanding all the mysteries there are, and knowing everything, and if I have faith in all its fullness, to move mountains, but without love, then I am nothing at all. If I give away all that I possess, piece by piece, and if I even let them take my body to burn it, but am without love, it will do me no good whatever. Love is always patient and kind; it is never jealous; love is never boastful or conceited; it is never rude or selfish; it does not take offence, and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people’s sins but delights in the truth; it is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes. Love does not come to an end. But if there are gifts of prophecy, the time will come when they must fail; or the gift of languages, it will not continue for ever; and knowledge – for this, too, the time will come when it must fail. For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophesying is imperfect; but once perfection comes, all imperfect things will disappear. When I was a child, I used to talk like a child, and think like a child, and argue like a child, but now I am a man, all childish ways are put behind me. Now we are seeing a dim reflection in a mirror; but then we shall be seeing face to face. The knowledge that I have now is imperfect; but then I shall know as fully as I am known. In short, there are three things that last: faith, hope and love; and the greatest of these is love.

Gospel

Luke 7:31-35

‘We played the pipes, and you wouldn’t dance’Jesus said to the people: ‘What description can I find for the men of this generation? What are they like? They are like children shouting to one another while they sit in the market-place:‘“We played the pipes for you, and you wouldn’t dance; we sang dirges, and you wouldn’t cry.”‘For John the Baptist comes, not eating bread, not drinking wine, and you say, “He is possessed.” The Son of Man comes, eating and drinking, and you say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” Yet Wisdom has been proved right by all her children.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: September 15, 2020 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Do we recognize the great blessing of the various spiritual gifts that has been outpoured on all of us baptised? Instead of being envious of one another do we praise and thank God by affirming one another’s gifts? That is being used for us all and to glorify the Lord our God. We should do well to respect the dignity of all our individual calling for every one of us was called by Him to serve Him and one another in His love. Moreover we cannot say we are lacking in anything, for He qualifies and equips all He has called. Eventually we begin to realise that in our desire to do His Will, more and more gifts have been bestowed upon for He has said, “Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance.”Today we remember as well, the great gift that was given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ, and that is the gift of His mother and now ours. Our Blessed mother who stood by Him to the very end will do likewise for us. Hail mary full of grace…… AmenOur Lady of Sorrows pray for us….

First reading

1 Corinthians 12:12-14,27-31 ·
You together are Christ’s body: each of you a different partJust as a human body, though it is made up of many parts, is a single unit because all these parts, though many, make one body, so it is with Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptised, Jews as well as Greeks, slaves as well as citizens, and one Spirit was given to us all to drink.
    Nor is the body to be identified with any one of its many parts. Now you together are Christ’s body; but each of you is a different part of it. In the Church, God has given the first place to apostles, the second to prophets, the third to teachers; after them, miracles, and after them the gift of healing; helpers, good leaders, those with many languages. Are all of them apostles, or all of them prophets, or all of them teachers? Do they all have the gift of miracles, or all have the gift of healing? Do all speak strange languages, and all interpret them? Be ambitious for the higher gifts.

Gospel

John 19:25-27
‘Woman, this is your son’Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. Seeing his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, ‘Woman, this is your son.’ Then to the disciple he said, ‘This is your mother.’ And from that moment the disciple made a place for her in his home.

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: September 14, 2020 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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What are the fiery serpents in our lives? Following yesterday’s first reading and Gospel, is unforgiveness not a fiery serpent which is a result of anger and resentment put together? Is giving in to sexual temptation and desires not a fiery serpent? Is gossiping not a fiery serpent? Is speaking ill of our priests not a fiery serpent? All these fiery serpents and more are what bites us and leads us to our death!

Let us look upon Jesus who was lifted high upon the cross to save us from death through our many sins. Far better that we look upon Him even before the fiery serpents come any closer. For by placing our faith and hope in our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ; we are redeemed, protected, sanctified and free to live in His great love and mercy. Amen

We adore You O Christ and we praise You. Because by Your Holy cross, You have redeemed the World. Amen

First reading

Numbers 21:4-9 ·If anyone was bitten by a serpent, he looked up at the bronze serpent and livedOn the way through the wilderness the people lost patience. They spoke against God and against Moses, ‘Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die in this wilderness? For there is neither bread nor water here; we are sick of this unsatisfying food.’ At this God sent fiery serpents among the people; their bite brought death to many in Israel. The people came and said to Moses, ‘We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you. Intercede for us with the Lord to save us from these serpents.’ Moses interceded for the people, and the Lord answered him, ‘Make a fiery serpent and put it on a standard. If anyone is bitten and looks at it, he shall live.’ So Moses fashioned a bronze serpent which he put on a standard, and if anyone was bitten by a serpent, he looked at the bronze serpent and lived.

Gospel

John 3:13-17God sent his Son so that through him the world might be savedJesus said to Nicodemus:‘No one has gone up to heavenexcept the one who came down from heaven, the Son of Man who is in heaven; and the Son of Man must be lifted up as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not be lostbut may have eternal life.For God sent his Son into the worldnot to condemn the world, but so that through him the world might be saved.’

Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted: September 12, 2020 by CatholicJules in Sunday Reflections
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The Debt We Owe: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings:

Sirach 27:30–28:7
Psalm 103:1–4, 9–12
Romans 14:7–9
Matthew 18:21–35

Mercy and forgiveness should be at the heart of the Christian life.

Yet, as today’s First Reading wisely reminds us, often we cherish our wrath, nourish our anger, refuse mercy to those who have done us wrong. Jesus, too, strikes close to home in today’s Gospel with His realistic portrayal of the wicked servant who won’t forgive a fellow servant’s debt, even though his own slate has just been wiped clean by their master.

It can’t be this way in the kingdom, the Church. In the Old Testament, seven is frequently a number associated with mercy and the forgiveness of sins. The just man sins seven times daily; there is a sevenfold sprinking of blood for atonement of sins (see Proverbs 24:6; Leviticus 16). But Jesus tells Peter today that we must forgive not seven times, but seventy times seven times. That means: every time.

We are to be merciful as our Father in heaven is merciful (see Luke 6:36; Matthew 5:48). But why? Why does Jesus repeatedly warn that we can’t expect forgiveness for our trespasses unless we’re willing to forgive others their trespasses against us?

Because, as Paul reminds us in today’s Epistle, we are the Lord’s. Each of us has been purchased by the blood of Christ shed for us on the Cross (see Revelation 5:9). As we sing in today’s Psalm, though we deserved to die for our sins, He doesn’t deal with us according to our crimes. The mercy and forgiveness we show to others should be the heartfelt expression of our gratitude for the mercy and forgiveness shown to us.

This is why we should remember our last days, set our enmities aside, and stop judging others. We know that one day we will stand before the judgment seat and give account for what we’ve done with the new life given to us by Christ (see Romans 14:10, 12).

So we forgive each other from the heart, overlook each other’s faults, and await the crown of His kindness and compassion.

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: September 12, 2020 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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We cannot appreciate the richness of today’s Gospel if we possess no genuine love for brethren let alone for our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. For many today love of brethren is shallow if not, then one of lip service. Yet do they not still call out Lord, Lord? Blood is thicker than water they declare! Really? Have they forgotten how it was through the waters of Baptism that they entered into sonship and daughterhood of God our Heavenly Father? That we are all His children and belong to Him. Through His Son our Lord Jesus Christ we enter into full communion with Him and with one another. So then, how can our love for our brethren be any less than our claim of love for the Lord our God?

The answer to loving our brethren the way we should is to be found upon the foundation of our very own personal relationship with Jesus our Lord. By choosing always to follow His Will for us even though we might encounter challenges and hardships; we have the blessed assurance of His presence. His peace, love and grace will never leave us as we continue to love and to serve Him; and our brethren with joy in our hearts. Amen

First reading

1 Corinthians 10:14-22 ·We are a single body because we all share the one breadMy dear brothers, you must keep clear of idolatry. I say to you as sensible people: judge for yourselves what I am saying. The blessing-cup that we bless is a communion with the blood of Christ, and the bread that we break is a communion with the body of Christ. The fact that there is only one loaf means that, though there are many of us, we form a single body because we all have a share in this one loaf. Look at the other Israel, the race, where those who eat the sacrifices are in communion with the altar. Does this mean that the food sacrificed to idols has a real value, or that the idol itself is real? Not at all. It simply means that the sacrifices that they offer they sacrifice to demons who are not God. I have no desire to see you in communion with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot take your share at the table of the Lord and at the table of demons. Do we want to make the Lord angry; are we stronger than he is?

Gospel

Luke 6:43-49Whoever hears me builds his house on a rockJesus said to his disciples: ‘There is no sound tree that produces rotten fruit, nor again a rotten tree that produces sound fruit. For every tree can be told by its own fruit: people do not pick figs from thorns, nor gather grapes from brambles. A good man draws what is good from the store of goodness in his heart; a bad man draws what is bad from the store of badness. For a man’s words flow out of what fills his heart. ‘Why do you call me, “Lord, Lord” and not do what I say? ‘Everyone who comes to me and listens to my words and acts on them – I will show you what he is like. He is like the man who when he built his house dug, and dug deep, and laid the foundations on rock; when the river was in flood it bore down on that house but could not shake it, it was so well built. But the one who listens and does nothing is like the man who built his house on soil, with no foundations: as soon as the river bore down on it, it collapsed; and what a ruin that house became!’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: September 11, 2020 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Once I used to attend formation talks, retreats and would often see a fellow parishioner attending the very same ones. I thought to myself how can he attend, listen intently and not change? How could he continue to act all ‘holy’ and yet be so critical of others? Did he think that all the stuff he picked up at the retreats and formation was to guide someone else lesser than him? I will pray that the Lord open his eyes to see!

How did I neglect to see that he my fellow parishioner was my brother in Christ? How blind was I? How prideful? How did I fail to recognise the PLANK in my very own eyes? Had I thought that deep down, the word of God I was reflecting on daily was meant to be shared for everyone else’s sake? Had I subconsciously rejected the hardships of living the word in my own life?

St Paul reminds me today that we are all in a race to the finish! That is to our Heavenly destination. If my brother or sister is humble then I must strive harder to be more humble, by laying down my pride more and carrying my cross for my Lord more. If they are loving I must strive to more loving and so on. NO it is not about being in competition; but rather about encouraging one another to do better, to be better by the way we live our very own lives through Christ our Lord. Amen

First reading

1 Corinthians 9:16-19,22-27We go into strict training, like fighters at the gamesI do not boast of preaching the gospel, since it is a duty which has been laid on me; I should be punished if I did not preach it! If I had chosen this work myself, I might have been paid for it, but as I have not, it is a responsibility which has been put into my hands. Do you know what my reward is? It is this: in my preaching, to be able to offer the Good News free, and not insist on the rights which the gospel gives me. So though I am not a slave of any man I have made myself the slave of everyone so as to win as many as I could. I made myself all things to all men in order to save some at any cost; and I still do this, for the sake of the gospel, to have a share in its blessings. All the runners at the stadium are trying to win, but only one of them gets the prize. You must run in the same way, meaning to win. All the fighters at the games go into strict training; they do this just to win a wreath that will wither away, but we do it for a wreath that will never wither. That is how I run, intent on winning; that is how I fight, not beating the air. I treat my body hard and make it obey me, for, having been an announcer myself, I should not want to be disqualified.

Gospel

Luke 6:39-42Can the blind lead the blind?Jesus told a parable to the disciples: ‘Can one blind man guide another? Surely both will fall into a pit? The disciple is not superior to his teacher; the fully trained disciple will always be like his teacher. Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the plank in your own? How can you say to your brother, “Brother, let me take out the splinter that is in your eye,” when you cannot see the plank in your own? Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take out the splinter that is in your brother’s eye.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: September 10, 2020 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Yes love the sinners not the sins indeed; but lead them with great patience, gradually back to the bosom of the Lord our God. Otherwise we risk losing their souls to greater sin unwittingly perhaps, by our very own unloving thoughts and actions.

Today we hear our call to love beyond human rationale, wisdom and understanding. To love one another with the love of God!

How then can we comprehend the love of the Lord our God for us? That our Lord Jesus Christ suffered injustice grievously for our sake. He was blameless, without sin yet took upon Himself the heavy burden of our sins in the World, so that we might walk blameless in His love. What pain or struggle do we have that can ever compare to His? Let us strive therefore ato repay the debt of His love for us through our debt of mutual love for one another. As we live out our call to love another with an extraordinary love that is to be found with and in Him. To be compassionate as our Heavenly Father is compassionate. Amen

First reading

1 Corinthians 8:1-7,11-13 ·Your brethren may be weaker than you: do not lead them astrayNow about food sacrificed to idols. ‘We all have knowledge’; yes, that is so, but knowledge gives self-importance – it is love that makes the building grow. A man may imagine he understands something, but still not understand anything in the way that he ought to. But any man who loves God is known by him. Well then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: we know that idols do not really exist in the world and that there is no god but the One. And even if there were things called gods, either in the sky or on earth – where there certainly seem to be ‘gods’ and ‘lords’ in plenty – still for us there is one God, the Father, from whom all things come and for whom we exist; and there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things come and through whom we exist. Some people, however, do not have this knowledge. There are some who have been so long used to idols that they eat this food as though it really had been sacrificed to the idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled by it. In this way your knowledge could become the ruin of someone weak, of a brother for whom Christ died. By sinning in this way against your brothers, and injuring their weak consciences, it would be Christ against whom you sinned. That is why, since food can be the occasion of my brother’s downfall, I shall never eat meat again in case I am the cause of a brother’s downfall.

Gospel

Luke 6:27-38Love your enemiesJesus said to his disciples: ‘I say this to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly. To the man who slaps you on one cheek, present the other cheek too; to the man who takes your cloak from you, do not refuse your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for your property back from the man who robs you. Treat others as you would like them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks can you expect? For even sinners do that much. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners lend to sinners to get back the same amount. Instead, love your enemies and do good, and lend without any hope of return. You will have a great reward, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. ‘Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned yourselves; grant pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: September 9, 2020 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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We have to work hard to make a living so that we can provide for ourselves and for our loved ones. On top of that, all of us Christians have a higher calling and that is to glorify the Lord our God by our lives. To live not just for ourselves but for love of one another. And so all of us have different gifts and talents, which when used together for the single purpose of glorifying the Lord our God we become more than the sum of ourselves through Him!

We understand more fully what was said, “And now something greater than Solomon is here, and now One greater than Jonah is here.” This happens when we live in His presence uniting ourselves with source of life itself, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! The world as we know it is passing away indeed, but His Word will never pass away. And so we journey on in our struggles, but in the hope that awaits us; by living in His love now and forever. Amen

First reading

1 Corinthians 7:25-31 ·The world as we know it is passing awayAbout remaining celibate, I have no directions from the Lord but give my own opinion as one who, by the Lord’s mercy, has stayed faithful. Well then, I believe that in these present times of stress this is right: that it is good for a man to stay as he is. If you are tied to a wife, do not look for freedom; if you are free of a wife, then do not look for one. But if you marry, it is no sin, and it is not a sin for a young girl to get married. They will have their troubles, though, in their married life, and I should like to spare you that. Brothers, this is what I mean: our time is growing short. Those who have wives should live as though they had none, and those who mourn should live as though they had nothing to mourn for; those who are enjoying life should live as though there were nothing to laugh about; those whose life is buying things should live as though they had nothing of their own; and those who have to deal with the world should not become engrossed in it. I say this because the world as we know it is passing away.

Gospel

Luke 6:20-26Happy are you who are poor, who are hungry, who weepFixing his eyes on his disciples Jesus said:‘How happy are you who are poor: yours is the kingdom of God.Happy you who are hungry now: you shall be satisfied.Happy you who weep now: you shall laugh.Happy are you when people hate you, drive you out, abuse you, denounce your name as criminal, on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice when that day comes and dance for joy, for then your reward will be great in heaven. This was the way their ancestors treated the prophets.‘But alas for you who are rich: you are having your consolation now.Alas for you who have your fill now: you shall go hungry.Alas for you who laugh now: you shall mourn and weep.‘Alas for you when the world speaks well of you! This was the way their ancestors treated the false prophets.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: September 8, 2020 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Dearest Blessed Mother,

As Holy mother Church celebrates your birthday, we call to mind that you were the Lord our God’s specially chosen one. To bring to fruition His great love for us His children, through the Incarnation of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.

You lived your life with grace, dignity and with such joy of the Lord in your heart; That we often forget that you too had to endure bitter struggles, pain and sorrow which you carried in your heart.

Today O dearest mother, through your loving intercession may our eyes be opened to see and live our lives through yours. To know deep in our hearts that we too are specially chosen and loved tenderly by our ever loving Father in Heaven. As we go forth glorifying Him by our lives, by uniting our will fully to His Will for us. This and everyday, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

First reading

Micah 5:1-4 ·He will stand and feed his flock with the power of the LordThe Lord says this:But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, the least of the clans of Judah, out of you will be born for me the one who is to rule over Israel; his origin goes back to the distant past, to the days of old.The Lord is therefore going to abandon them till the time when she who is to give birth gives birth.Then the remnant of his brothers will come back to the sons of Israel.He will stand and feed his flock with the power of the Lord, with the majesty of the name of his God.They will live secure, for from then on he will extend his power to the ends of the land. He himself will be peace.

Gospel

Matthew 1:1-16,18-23The ancestry and conception of Jesus ChristA genealogy of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham:Abraham was the father of Isaac,Isaac the father of Jacob,Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah, Tamar being their mother,Perez was the father of Hezron,Hezron the father of Ram,Ram was the father of Amminadab,Amminadab the father of Nahshon,Nahshon the father of Salmon,Salmon was the father of Boaz, Rahab being his mother,Boaz was the father of Obed, Ruth being his mother,Obed was the father of Jesse;and Jesse was the father of King David.David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,Solomon was the father of Rehoboam,Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa,Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat,Jehoshaphat the father of Joram,Joram the father of Azariah,Azariah was the father of Jotham,Jotham the father of Ahaz,Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh,Manasseh the father of Amon,Amon the father of Josiah;and Josiah was the father of Jechoniah and his brothers.Then the deportation to Babylon took place.After the deportation to Babylon:Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel,Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud,Abiud the father of Eliakim,Eliakim the father of Azor,Azor was the father of Zadok,Zadok the father of Achim,Achim the father of Eliud,Eliud was the father of Eleazar,Eleazar the father of Matthan,Matthan the father of Jacob;and Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary;of her was born Jesus who is called Christ.This is how Jesus Christ came to be born. His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph; being a man of honour and wanting to spare her publicity, decided to divorce her informally. He had made up his mind to do this when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins.’ Now all this took place to fulfil the words spoken by the Lord through the prophet:The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and they will call him Emmanuel, a name which means ‘God-is-with-us.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: September 7, 2020 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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We cannot be impartial to sin and sinfulness in all its forms. We are responsible for one another’s soul just as we are our very own. If we do not see and understand this, then we do not yet know what it means to be One in communion with Christ Jesus our Lord! For any one person’s tiny sin is like a little drop of black ink in a glass of water. It spreads and taints the whole of the water in the glass. When the community comes together to pray and intervene in Jesus’s name it is like tainted water passing through membrane; through this filtration process, the water becomes pure again.

There is no ‘right’ time and place to do good whether individually or collectively. We must strive at all times and at every opportunity to be merciful, loving, to save souls. This must be the good that we do in Jesus’s name. Amen

First reading

1 Corinthians 5:1-8 ·

Get rid of the old yeast of evil and wickedness

I have been told as an undoubted fact that one of you is living with his father’s wife. This is a case of sexual immorality among you that must be unparalleled even among pagans. How can you be so proud of yourselves? You should be in mourning. A man who does a thing like that ought to have been expelled from the community. Though I am far away in body, I am with you in spirit, and have already condemned the man who did this thing as if I were actually present. When you are assembled together in the name of the Lord Jesus, and I am spiritually present with you, then with the power of our Lord Jesus he is to be handed over to Satan so that his sensual body may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.

The pride that you take in yourselves is hardly to your credit. You must know how even a small amount of yeast is enough to leaven all the dough, so get rid of all the old yeast, and make yourselves into a completely new batch of bread, unleavened as you are meant to be. Christ, our passover, has been sacrificed; let us celebrate the feast, then, by getting rid of all the old yeast of evil and wickedness, having only the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Gospel

Luke 6:6-11

Is it against the law on the sabbath to save life?

On the sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees were watching him to see if he would cure a man on the sabbath, hoping to find something to use against him. But he knew their thoughts; and he said to the man with the withered hand, ‘Stand up! Come out into the middle.’ And he came out and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, ‘I put it to you: is it against the law on the sabbath to do good, or to do evil; to save life, or to destroy it?’ Then he looked round at them all and said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He did so, and his hand was better. But they were furious, and began to discuss the best way of dealing with Jesus.

Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted: September 5, 2020 by CatholicJules in Sunday Reflections
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To Win Them Back: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings:

Ezekiel 33:7–9
Psalm 95:1–2, 6–9
Romans 13:8–10
Matthew 18:15–20

As Ezekiel is appointed watchman over the house of Israel in today’s first Reading, so Jesus in the Gospel today establishes His disciples as guardians of the new Israel of God, the Church (see Galatians 6:16).

He also puts in place procedures for dealing with sin and breaches of the faith, building on rules of discipline prescribed by Moses for Israel (see Leviticus 19:17–20; Deuteronomy 19:13).

The heads of the new Israel, however, receive extraordinary powers—similar to those given to Peter (see Matthew 16:19). They have the power to bind and loose, to forgive sins and to reconcile sinners in His name (see John 20:21–23).

But the powers He gives the Apostles and their successors depends on their communion with Him. As Ezekiel is only to teach what he hears God saying, the disciples are to gather in His name and to pray and seek the will of our heavenly Father.

But today’s readings are more than a lesson in Church order. They also suggest how we’re to deal with those who trespass against us, a theme that we’ll hear in next week’s readings as well.

Notice that both the Gospel and the First Reading presume that believers have a duty to correct sinners in our midst. Ezekiel is even told that he will be held accountable for their souls if he fails to speak out and try to correct them.
This is the love that Paul in today’s Epistle says we owe to our neighbors. To love our neighbors as ourselves is to be vitally concerned for their salvation. We must make every effort, as Jesus says, to win our brothers and sisters back, to turn them from the false paths.
We should never correct out of anger or a desire to punish. Instead, our message must be that of today’s Psalm—urging the sinner to hear God’s voice, not to harden their hearts, and to remember that He is the one who made us, and the rock of our salvation.

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: September 5, 2020 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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‘When we are cursed, we answer with a blessing’

Wait what? Why? This might only be possible for those who are holy moly! Like if I were an Apostle or the Pope!If we have thoughts like this can we truly call ourselves Christian? Are we only Sunday Catholic Christians? Even then who is this Lord we claim to worship on Sundays? Did we forget that by our baptism we are called to be holy (saints) as our Heavenly Father is Holy? Did we also forget that by our confirmation we are sent (apostles) to share in the good news of the Lord our God? Do we even know what the Good News is and do we dwell in it? If you still don’t know what it is then you have not come to the deeper realisation that it is not an ‘it’ but ‘whom’!

Who can ever be more humble, merciful and loving then the Lord our Lord Jesus Christ; whom we claim to serve who is Lord of Lords, King of Kings? He whom humbled himself for love of us took on flesh, who was mocked, cursed, spat upon, tortured, stripped of everything and nailed on the cross. Yet He forgave us from the cross! When He turned His eyes to Heaven and said, “Father forgive them for they not what they do.”

Lord Jesus through Your death and the power of Your Resurrection let me turn all curses into Blessings in Your most precious name. Amen

First reading

1 Corinthians 4:6-15 ·What do you have that was not given to you?Take Apollos and myself as an example and remember the maxim: ‘Keep to what is written.’ It is not for you, so full of your own importance, to go taking sides for one man against another. In any case, brother, has anybody given you some special right? What do you have that was not given to you? And if it was given, how can you boast as though it were not? Is it that you have everything you want – that you are rich already, in possession of your kingdom, with us left outside? Indeed I wish you were really kings, and we could be kings with you! But instead, it seems to me, God has put us apostles at the end of his parade, with the men sentenced to death; it is true – we have been put on show in front of the whole universe, angels as well as men. Here we are, fools for the sake of Christ, while you are the learned men in Christ; we have no power, but you are influential; you are celebrities, we are nobodies. To this day, we go without food and drink and clothes; we are beaten and have no homes; we work for our living with our own hands. When we are cursed, we answer with a blessing; when we are hounded, we put up with it; we are insulted and we answer politely. We are treated as the offal of the world, still to this day, the scum of the earth. I am saying all this not just to make you ashamed but to bring you, as my dearest children, to your senses. You might have thousands of guardians in Christ, but not more than one father and it was I who begot you in Christ Jesus by preaching the Good News.

Gospel

Luke 6:1-5The Son of Man is master of the sabbathOne sabbath Jesus happened to be taking a walk through the cornfields, and his disciples were picking ears of corn, rubbing them in their hands and eating them. Some of the Pharisees said, ‘Why are you doing something that is forbidden on the sabbath day?’ Jesus answered them, ‘So you have not read what David did when he and his followers were hungry how he went into the house of God, took the loaves of offering and ate them and gave them to his followers, loaves which only the priests are allowed to eat?’ And he said to them, ‘The Son of Man is master of the sabbath.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: September 4, 2020 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Many of us baptized Christians fail to realise that having been baptized we have been inserted into the life, death and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hence we have become stewards of God’s kingdom and for one another. It is our call therefore to faithfully love, serve the Lord our God
God and one another in holiness. Will we be found worthy of our Lord’s trust? Have we dwelled in and shared in His mysteries that had been entrusted to us?Are we therefore faithful to His living Word, listening to His voice to teach and show us new ways in reaching out to others in His love? Do we keep faith and hold fast to the traditions of Holy mother Church who through the guidance of the Holy Spirit has kept our faith alive and active through the seasons, through the ages and through to the hope filled future that awaits us. We therefore fast when it is time to fast and feast when it is time to feast all in our Lord’s good time. For through Advent we rejoice at Christmas, through Lent with rejoice at Easter. All glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, One God forever and ever. Amen

First reading

1 Corinthians 4:1-5 ·The Lord alone is our judgePeople must think of us as Christ’s servants, stewards entrusted with the mysteries of God. What is expected of stewards is that each one should be found worthy of his trust. Not that it makes the slightest difference to me whether you, or indeed any human tribunal, find me worthy or not. I will not even pass judgement on myself. True, my conscience does not reproach me at all, but that does not prove that I am acquitted: the Lord alone is my judge. There must be no passing of premature judgement. Leave that until the Lord comes; he will light up all that is hidden in the dark and reveal the secret intentions of men’s hearts. Then will be the time for each one to have whatever praise he deserves, from God.

Gospel

Luke 5:33-39When the bridegroom is taken from them, then they will fastThe Pharisees and the scribes said to Jesus, ‘John’s disciples are always fasting and saying prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees too, but yours go on eating and drinking.’ Jesus replied, ‘Surely you cannot make the bridegroom’s attendants fast while the bridegroom is still with them? But the time will come, the time for the bridegroom to be taken away from them; that will be the time when they will fast.’ He also told them this parable, ‘No one tears a piece from a new cloak to put it on an old cloak; if he does, not only will he have torn the new one, but the piece taken from the new will not match the old. ‘And nobody puts new wine into old skins; if he does, the new wine will burst the skins and then run out, and the skins will be lost. No; new wine must be put into fresh skins. And nobody who has been drinking old wine wants new. “The old is good” he says.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: September 3, 2020 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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In all areas of our lives, have we finally accepted and embraced the fact that the Lord our God is the only one who knows, wants and will provide what is best for us. And not just for us but for all of God our Heavenly Father’s children. He gives and provides us with all that is necessary for us to help one another on the journey to eternal bliss with Him.

We are wiser, kinder, more merciful and loving in as much as we do for our brethren through the love, wisdom, kindness and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Lord guide me, that I may lead those finding their way and lost souls back to You. Amen

St Gregory the Great pray for us…

First reading

1 Corinthians 3:18-23 ·The wisdom of the world is foolishness to GodMake no mistake about it: if any one of you thinks of himself as wise, in the ordinary sense of the word, then he must learn to be a fool before he really can be wise. Why? Because the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As scripture says: The Lord knows wise men’s thoughts: he knows how useless they are; or again: God is not convinced by the arguments of the wise. So there is nothing to boast about in anything human: Paul, Apollos, Cephas, the world, life and death, the present and the future, are all your servants; but you belong to Christ and Christ belongs to God.

Gospel

Luke 5:1-11They left everything and followed himJesus was standing one day by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the crowd pressing round him listening to the word of God, when he caught sight of two boats close to the bank. The fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats – it was Simon’s – and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water and pay out your nets for a catch.’ ‘Master,’ Simon replied, ‘we worked hard all night long and caught nothing, but if you say so, I will pay out the nets.’ And when they had done this they netted such a huge number of fish that their nets began to tear, so they signalled to their companions in the other boat to come and help them; when these came, they filled the two boats to sinking point. When Simon Peter saw this he fell at the knees of Jesus saying, ‘Leave me, Lord; I am a sinful man.’ For he and all his companions were completely overcome by the catch they had made; so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were Simon’s partners. But Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on it is men you will catch.’ Then, bringing their boats back to land, they left everything and followed him.

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: September 2, 2020 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Do we compare priests one with another? Spiritual leaders? Church Ministry heads? Group leaders? Why do we do so if we know that the Lord our God is over all and above all in charge? So what if say a wonderful parish priest or Spiritual director is replaced with one who is less than perfect or not as good by our standards. Can the Lord our God not fill the gaps? Perhaps the gaps were created for us as a means to grow in our faith by filling them by our very own needed actions in cooperation with His grace. As St Paul mentions in today’s reading ‘We are fellow workers with God; you are God’s farm, God’s building.’ Therefore our focus must always be on the Lord our God, by growing in our spirituality through deepening our relationship with Him as we strive to build His Kingdom through His grace.

In coming together to build His Kingdom even though our Lord already knows what we need we can and should ask Him whether for ourselves or for others; and He will surely help us so that we can do so fully in His love, peace and joy.

Lord grant me the courage to proclaim the Good News of Your Kingdom to all. Amen

First reading

1 Corinthians 3:1-9 ·
Neither the planter nor the waterer matters, only God, who makes things growBrothers, I myself was unable to speak to you as people of the Spirit: I treated you as sensual men, still infants in Christ. What I fed you with was milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it; and indeed, you are still not ready for it since you are still unspiritual. Isn’t that obvious from all the jealousy and wrangling that there is among you, from the way that you go on behaving like ordinary people? What could be more unspiritual than your slogans, ‘I am for Paul’ and ‘I am for Apollos’?
After all, what is Apollos and what is Paul? They are servants who brought the faith to you. Even the different ways in which they brought it were assigned to them by the Lord. I did the planting, Apollos did the watering, but God made things grow. Neither the planter nor the waterer matters: only God, who makes things grow. It is all one who does the planting and who does the watering, and each will duly be paid according to his share in the work. We are fellow workers with God; you are God’s farm, God’s building.

Gospel

Luke 4:38-44
He would not allow them to speak because they knew he was the ChristLeaving the synagogue, Jesus went to Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever and they asked him to do something for her. Leaning over her he rebuked the fever and it left her. And she immediately got up and began to wait on them.
At sunset all those who had friends suffering from diseases of one kind or another brought them to him, and laying his hands on each he cured them. Devils too came out of many people, howling, ‘You are the Son of God.’ But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Christ.
When daylight came he left the house and made his way to a lonely place. The crowds went to look for him, and when they had caught up with him they wanted to prevent him leaving them, but he answered, ‘I must proclaim the Good News of the kingdom of God to the other towns too, because that is what I was sent to do.’ And he continued his preaching in the synagogues of Judaea.

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: September 1, 2020 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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How can we know the depths, heights, breadth of the love of God if we do not dwell in His Holy Spirit. Offered to us without cost at the price of His God our Father’s only Begotten Son who laid His life down for us so that we can be free to live in His Spirit and love.

How then can we be rid of the spirits that had rejected the Lord our God, who now seek the ruin of souls. Through mischief, lies, propaganda, temptations of the flesh and more. How can we remain steadfast in our resolve to be Holy as our Heavenly Father?

The answer has been and will always be our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Through Him everything is possible. In His great love and mercy He had given us the gifts of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and the supreme gift of Himself through the Holy Eucharist. And when it was time to take His seat at the right hand of God our Heavenly Father, He did not leave us orphans. Through Him and the Holy Spirit we have sonship and daughterhood.

Cleanse me Lord that I may be white as snow. Let my body be a temple, filled with the Holy Spirit. That I may bring You glory by the way I live my life. Amen

First Reading

1 Corinthians 2:10-16 ·
The Spirit reaches even the depths of GodThe Spirit reaches the depths of everything, even the depths of God. After all, the depths of a man can only be known by his own spirit, not by any other man, and in the same way the depths of God can only be known by the Spirit of God. Now instead of the spirit of the world, we have received the Spirit that comes from God, to teach us to understand the gifts that he has given us. Therefore we teach, not in the way in which philosophy is taught, but in the way that the Spirit teaches us: we teach spiritual things spiritually. An unspiritual person is one who does not accept anything of the Spirit of God: he sees it all as nonsense; it is beyond his understanding because it can only be understood by means of the Spirit. A spiritual man, on the other hand, is able to judge the value of everything, and his own value is not to be judged by other men. As scripture says: Who can know the mind of the Lord, so who can teach him? But we are those who have the mind of Christ.

Gospel

Luke 4:31-37
‘I know who you are: the Holy One of God’Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath. And his teaching made a deep impression on them because he spoke with authority.
In the synagogue there was a man who was possessed by the spirit of an unclean devil, and it shouted at the top of its voice, ‘Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus said sharply, ‘Be quiet! Come out of him!’ And the devil, throwing the man down in front of everyone, went out of him without hurting him at all. Astonishment seized them and they were all saying to one another, ‘What teaching! He gives orders to unclean spirits with authority and power and they come out.’ And reports of him went all through the surrounding countryside.