Will I ever dare utter such words let alone mean them? When I say that I would willingly be condemned and separated from Christ if it would help bring back the lost souls who have turned away from God?

Can you even begin to comprehend the love St Paul had for his brothers of Israel that he saw them as his own flesh and blood? Can anyone of us say at this point of our lives, that we possess that same kind of love for our fellow sisters and brothers in Christ? At the very least in our own parishes?

How then can we love one another as Christ commanded us to when we cannot place others before self? To love beyond legalistic conventions? To love first before being loved!

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

test me and know my concerns.

See if there is any offensive way in me;

lead me in the way everlasting. Amen (Ps 139:22-24)

First reading

Romans 9:1-5 ·

I would willingly be condemned if it could help my brothers

What I want to say now is no pretence; I say it in union with Christ – it is the truth – my conscience in union with the Holy Spirit assures me of it too. What I want to say is this: my sorrow is so great, my mental anguish so endless, I would willingly be condemned and be cut off from Christ if it could help my brothers of Israel, my own flesh and blood. They were adopted as sons, they were given the glory and the covenants; the Law and the ritual were drawn up for them, and the promises were made to them. They are descended from the patriarchs and from their flesh and blood came Christ who is above all, God for ever blessed! Amen.

Gospel

Luke 14:1-6

‘Is it against the law to cure a man on the sabbath?’

Now on a sabbath day Jesus had gone for a meal to the house of one of the leading Pharisees; and they watched him closely. There in front of him was a man with dropsy, and Jesus addressed the lawyers and Pharisees. ‘Is it against the law’ he asked ‘to cure a man on the sabbath, or not?’ But they remained silent, so he took the man and cured him and sent him away. Then he said to them, ‘Which of you here, if his son falls into a well, or his ox, will not pull him out on a sabbath day without hesitation?’ And to this they could find no answer.

In today’s Gospel dear Jesus I imagine you calling me unto You. To be Your light in the world. To bring hope to those who have none. To bring about Your healing as I lay my hands over those who want to be healed physically as well as spiritually. Most importantly to share the joy of the Gospel which brings life to all who will listen.

For I am one with You as You O Lord are one with me. I stand with Your saints to praise, honour and worship You all the days of my life.

Lord I need not imagine for You have called me and set me apart through my baptism to be your light in the world and to be a saint, that is to be Holy as You are Holy. Amen alleluia!

Saints Simon and Jude pray for us…

First reading

Ephesians 2:19-22 ·

In Christ you are no longer aliens, but citizens like us

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

Gospel

Luke 6:12-16

Jesus chooses his twelve apostles

Jesus went out into the hills to pray; and he spent the whole night in prayer to God. When day came he summoned his disciples and picked out twelve of them; he called them ‘apostles’: Simon whom he called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot who became a traitor.

If we do not groan at least a little each day then we are not struggling hard enough to live according to the Will of God. We are not sacrificing enough to bring the joy of our Lord in the lives of others. For true disciples of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ know that by carrying our cross each day and following after Him, we will bring forth the fruits of our labour. We bring glory to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit through our three measures of flour leavened all through.

The abandoned, poor, lost, lonely, Christian and non Christian alike can find and take shelter in our branches of love for we remain always connected to the Vine; As we bring His light, love and joy to all who are gathered.

Be with us Lord Jesus, as we strive each day to live our lives in the Spirit. Amen

First reading

Romans 8:18-25 ·

The whole creation is eagerly waiting for God to reveal his sons

I think that what we suffer in this life can never be compared to the glory, as yet unrevealed, which is waiting for us. The whole creation is eagerly waiting for God to reveal his sons. It was not for any fault on the part of creation that it was made unable to attain its purpose, it was made so by God; but creation still retains the hope of being freed, like us, from its slavery to decadence, to enjoy the same freedom and glory as the children of God. From the beginning till now the entire creation, as we know, has been groaning in one great act of giving birth; and not only creation, but all of us who possess the first-fruits of the Spirit, we too groan inwardly as we wait for our bodies to be set free. For we must be content to hope that we shall be saved – our salvation is not in sight, we should not have to be hoping for it if it were – but, as I say, we must hope to be saved since we are not saved yet – it is something we must wait for with patience.

Gospel

Luke 13:18-21

The kingdom of God is like the yeast that leavened three measures of flour

Jesus said, ‘What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it with? It is like a mustard seed which a man took and threw into his garden: it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air sheltered in its branches.’

    Another thing he said, ‘What shall I compare the kingdom of God with? It is like the yeast a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour till it was leavened all through.’

Most if not all of us suffer from concupiscence as a result of original sin. Still it does not excuse us from giving in into temptation and sin. For we must never forget our Baptism, our call to Holiness as children of God our Heavenly Father. We must strive each and everyday to grow in Holiness through prayer, the Word of God and to exercise acts of mercy in all that we say and do for others. We are therefore outward looking in glorifying the Lord by our lives.

With today’s technology, we have far too easy access to information, graphics, pictures, advertisements and much more from all around the world. And whether we intended to see/look or not we might easily chance upon pornography, sexual images, even manuals and ‘cookbooks’ to do evil. We must resist with all our might! That is to close it off immediately and turn to our Lord for His grace to overcome any lingering thoughts from these. We should ask ourselves this fundamental question, whom or what do we love more? The sin before us or the Lord our God?

Once again we are reminded to stand ready for we truly do not know the hour of our Lord’s return. He who died for love of us and to save us from our sins, wills that each and everyone of us should be with Him in paradise. Amen

First reading

Romans 6:12-18 ·

Make every part of your body a weapon fighting on the side of God

You must not let sin reign in your mortal bodies or command your obedience to bodily passions, you must not let any part of your body turn into an unholy weapon fighting on the side of sin; you should, instead, offer yourselves to God, and consider yourselves dead men brought back to life; you should make every part of your body into a weapon fighting on the side of God; and then sin will no longer dominate your life, since you are living by grace and not by law.

    Does the fact that we are living by grace and not by law mean that we are free to sin? Of course not. You know that if you agree to serve and obey a master you become his slaves. You cannot be slaves of sin that leads to death and at the same time slaves of obedience that leads to righteousness. You were once slaves of sin, but thank God you submitted without reservation to the creed you were taught. You may have been freed from the slavery of sin, but only to become ‘slaves’ of righteousness.

Gospel

Luke 12:39-48

The Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect

Jesus said to his disciples:

    ‘You may be quite sure of this, that if the householder had known at what hour the burglar would come, he would not have let anyone break through the wall of his house. You too must stand ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’

    Peter said, ‘Lord, do you mean this parable for us, or for everyone?’ The Lord replied, ‘What sort of steward, then, is faithful and wise enough for the master to place him over his household to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? Happy that servant if his master’s arrival finds him at this employment. I tell you truly, he will place him over everything he owns. But as for the servant who says to himself, “My master is taking his time coming,” and sets about beating the menservants and the maids, and eating and drinking and getting drunk, his master will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not know. The master will cut him off and send him to the same fate as the unfaithful.

    The servant who knows what his master wants, but has not even started to carry out those wishes, will receive very many strokes of the lash. The one who did not know, but deserves to be beaten for what he has done, will receive fewer strokes. When a man has had a great deal given him, a great deal will be demanded of him; when a man has had a great deal given him on trust, even more will be expected of him.’

In the twinkling of an eye the year is soon coming to a close. How sad it is if we have taken the love of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for granted. How sad indeed if we had fallen to sin but chose instead to remain oblivious, instead of seeking reconciliation with Him who patiently waits to set us free. For we were made to live life to full in His love, not to whither and die in our sins.

Wake up! All you who have fallen asleep! Advent is fast approaching and it is time to stay awake! Let us be penitent for our shortcomings and turn our hearts back to Jesus. For we truly do not know the hour when He will come again. But if we stand ready to greet Him when He comes, surely we will partake in our Master’s joy whose mercy, peace and love abounds!

Lord Jesus I stand ready to serve You and my brethren, come into my life Lord Jesus Come. Amen

First reading

Romans 5:12,15,17-21

Divine grace, coming through Jesus Christ, came as an abundant free gift

Sin entered the world through one man, and through sin death, and thus death has spread through the whole human race because everyone has sinned; but the gift itself considerably outweighed the fall. If it is certain that through one man’s fall so many died, it is even more certain that divine grace, coming through the one man, Jesus Christ, came to so many as an abundant free gift. If it is certain that death reigned over everyone as the consequence of one man’s fall, it is even more certain that one man, Jesus Christ, will cause everyone to reign in life who receives the free gift that he does not deserve, of being made righteous. Again, as one man’s fall brought condemnation on everyone, so the good act of one man brings everyone life and makes them justified. As by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man’s obedience many will be made righteous. When law came, it was to multiply the opportunities of failing, but however great the number of sins committed, grace was even greater; and so, just as sin reigned wherever there was death, so grace will reign to bring eternal life thanks to the righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Gospel

Luke 12:35-38

Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit

Jesus said to his disciples:

    ‘See that you are dressed for action and have your lamps lit. Be like men waiting for their master to return from the wedding feast, ready to open the door as soon as he comes and knocks. Happy those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. I tell you solemnly, he will put on an apron, sit them down at table and wait on them. It may be in the second watch he comes, or in the third, but happy those servants if he finds them ready.’

Can we go a day reserving our judgement of others? Can we stop criticising them in our thoughts, in our minds or in our words? Yet we want to be above criticism, beyond reproach! Heaven forbid if we are judged poorly! We would never allow ourselves to be the brunt of gossip but gossiping about anyone else is harmless banter for us. In today’s readings, we hear the repercussions that will take place if we do not repent of our ways.

If we engage in any of the actions above then our hearts are far from the Lord our God. For if we are dwelling each day in His love, Word and Will for us then our hearts will be at peace. We will love without judgement and freely without reservation. For it is our hearts desire that for each and everyday, we love mercy, act justly as we walk humbly with Lord our God.

Lord Jesus come dwell in my heart, let me be One with You always. Amen

First reading

Romans 2:1-11 ·

Do you think you will escape God’s judgement?

No matter who you are, if you pass judgement you have no excuse. In judging others you condemn yourself, since you behave no differently from those you judge. We know that God condemns that sort of behaviour impartially: and when you judge those who behave like this while you are doing exactly the same, do you think you will escape God’s judgement? Or are you abusing his abundant goodness, patience and toleration, not realising that this goodness of God is meant to lead you to repentance? Your stubborn refusal to repent is only adding to the anger God will have towards you on that day of anger when his just judgements will be made known. He will repay each one as his works deserve. For those who sought renown and honour and immortality by always doing good there will be eternal life; for the unsubmissive who refused to take truth for their guide and took depravity instead, there will be anger and fury. Pain and suffering will come to every human being who employs himself in evil – Jews first, but Greeks as well; renown, honour and peace will come to everyone who does good – Jews first, but Greeks as well. God has no favourites.

Gospel

Luke 11:42-46

You overlook justice and the love of God

The Lord said to the Pharisees: ‘Alas for you Pharisees! You who pay your tithe of mint and rue and all sorts of garden herbs and overlook justice and the love of God! These you should have practised, without leaving the others undone. Alas for you Pharisees who like taking the seats of honour in the synagogues and being greeted obsequiously in the market squares! Alas for you, because you are like the unmarked tombs that men walk on without knowing it!

    A lawyer then spoke up. ‘Master,’ he said ‘when you speak like this you insult us too.’

    ‘Alas for you lawyers also,’ he replied ‘because you load on men burdens that are unendurable, burdens that you yourselves do not move a finger to lift.’

Yes all of us, not one of us will be spared from judgement by the Lord our God of Heaven and on earth. When we do not know! Yesterday at my community prayer meeting a member shared that she had just returned from a wake of  fifteen year old girl who was faithful and full of life before she mysteriously fell sick and returned to our Lord.  Then I recalled a visit to the columbarium where I chanced upon the inscriptions of babies, toddlers and youths! Death does not distinguish between the ages. Should we then wait in fear?

No! We turn with all our hearts to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. He who makes all things new will renew the face of the earth when He comes again. We turn to Him now so that we will be transfigured by His merciful grace to live in the light of His resurrection. And if we die, we know without an inkling of doubt that we will rise again in Him. Let us cherish the Word of God made flesh and keep His Word and will of us, just as Mary our Blessed Mother did. For it is written that she ‘treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart’ (Luke 2.19) Let then rejoice for we are the just in the Lord! Amen

First reading

Joel 4:12-21 ·

The day of the Lord is near; sun and moon grow dark

The Lord says this:

‘Let the nations rouse themselves, let them march

to the Valley of Jehoshaphat,

for I am going to sit in judgement there

on all the nations round.

Put the sickle in:

the harvest is ripe;

come and tread:

the winepress is full,

the vats are overflowing,

so great is their wickedness!’

Host on host

in the Valley of Decision!

For the day of the Lord is near

in the Valley of Decision!

Sun and moon grow dark,

the stars lose their brilliance.

The Lord roars from Zion,

makes his voice heard from Jerusalem;

heaven and earth tremble.

But the Lord will be a shelter for his people,

a stronghold for the sons of Israel.

‘You will learn then that I am the Lord your God,

dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain.

Jerusalem will be a holy place,

no alien will ever pass through it again.’

When that day comes,

the mountains will run with new wine

and the hills flow with milk,

and all the river beds of Judah

will run with water.

A fountain will spring from the house of the Lord

to water the wadi of Acacias.

Egypt will become a desolation,

Edom a desert waste

on account of the violence done to the sons of Judah

whose innocent blood they shed in their country.

But Judah will be inhabited for ever,

Jerusalem from age to age.

‘I will avenge their blood and let none go unpunished’,

and the Lord shall make his home in Zion.

Gospel

Luke 11:27-28

‘Happy the womb that bore you and the breasts you sucked!’

As Jesus was speaking, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, ‘Happy the womb that bore you and the breasts you sucked!’ But he replied, ‘Still happier those who hear the word of God and keep it!’