Archive for August, 2024

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 31, 2024 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Let us not be content with how much we have grown in faith in the Lord. Or start taking for granted that where we are in our faith, was by our own doing and accomplishments. If we think thus, then we have not truly grown, especially in humility and love. Perhaps inwardly, we still think ourselves better than others? Even better off than the unbelivers? When everything we have comes from the Lord!

Let us also make haste to multiply the gifts and talents He has provided us, to minister to His flock. So that we shall bear much fruit for Him! Let us not bury that which was given freely to us in love, but use it by all means to glorify our Lord and God.

Let me serve You Lord, as an intimate friend of Yours. Amen

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First reading
1 Corinthians 1:26-31 ·


God chose what is foolish by human reckoning, to shame the wise

Take yourselves for instance, brothers, at the time when you were called: how many of you were wise in the ordinary sense of the word, how many were influential people, or came from noble families? No, it was to shame the wise that God chose what is foolish by human reckoning, and to shame what is strong that he chose what is weak by human reckoning; those whom the world thinks common and contemptible are the ones that God has chosen – those who are nothing at all to show up those who are everything. The human race has nothing to boast about to God, but you, God has made members of Christ Jesus and by God’s doing he has become our wisdom, and our virtue, and our holiness, and our freedom. As scripture says: if anyone wants to boast, let him boast about the Lord.



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Gospel
Matthew 25:14-30


You have been faithful in small things: come and join in your master’s happiness

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

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 30, 2024 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Why are you afraid to talk to unbelivers about Jesus? To talk about God who came to us as man, to die on the Cross for us to save us from eternal death. How will they ever understand? How will we ever hope of convincing them of this truth?

Yet in today’s first reading St Paul says this, ”We preach a crucified Christ, the power and wisdom of God.”  So then is it our power and wisdom that we share this truth? No! Whether it was then or now, people are the same! Some will believe only through miracles, while others smirk at God’s wisdom seeking only human truths. Hearts are only converted through an encounter of the Lord Himself. We carry His presence with us, by our testimonies, His word and most of all our love for those He sends our way. All these are the oil in our lamps that shine brightly for Him.

Give me oil in my lamp, joy and love in my heart, to lead all to You Lord. Amen

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First reading
1 Corinthians 1:17-25


We preach a crucified Christ, the power and wisdom of God

Christ did not send me to baptise, but to preach the Good News, and not to preach that in the terms of philosophy in which the crucifixion of Christ cannot be expressed. The language of the cross may be illogical to those who are not on the way to salvation, but those of us who are on the way see it as God’s power to save. As scripture says: I shall destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring to nothing all the learning of the learned. Where are the philosophers now? Where are the scribes? Where are any of our thinkers today? Do you see now how God has shown up the foolishness of human wisdom? If it was God’s wisdom that human wisdom should not know God, it was because God wanted to save those who have faith through the foolishness of the message that we preach. And so, while the Jews demand miracles and the Greeks look for wisdom, here are we preaching a crucified Christ; to the Jews an obstacle that they cannot get over, to the pagans madness, but to those who have been called, whether they are Jews or Greeks, a Christ who is the power and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.



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Gospel
Matthew 25:1-13


The wise and foolish virgins

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

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 29, 2024 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Are we known to be good and Holy men and women after the heart of God? Are we seen to speak to the truth with integrity just at St John the Baptist did on Today’s Gospel?

Are we then thriving in the gifts of the Holy Spirit in our communities, our ministries just like the folks at Corinth in the first reading? What are the fruits? Do we see Healing in body, mind and spirit taking place? Prophesying? Exponential growth in faith, worship and believers?

The sad truth is many have remained where they are over the years. They neither enrich others nor are they enriched themselves. Yet how can they not be if they are connected to the vine, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ?

Lord let me be fully connected to You always in body, mind and spirit. Amen

St John the Baptist pray for us…




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First reading
1 Corinthians 1:1-9 ·


You have been enriched in many ways in Christ

I, Paul, appointed by God to be an apostle, together with brother Sosthenes, send greetings to the church of God in Corinth, to the holy people of Jesus Christ, who are called to take their place among all the saints everywhere who pray to our Lord Jesus Christ; for he is their Lord no less than ours. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ send you grace and peace.
    I never stop thanking God for all the graces you have received through Jesus Christ. I thank him that you have been enriched in so many ways, especially in your teachers and preachers; the witness to Christ has indeed been strong among you so that you will not be without any of the gifts of the Spirit while you are waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed; and he will keep you steady and without blame until the last day, the day of our Lord Jesus Christ, because God by calling you has joined you to his Son, Jesus Christ; and God is faithful.


Gospel
Mark 6:17-29



The beheading of John the Baptist

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

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 28, 2024 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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You know the phrase,  “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop” perhaps it should be enhanced to read “An idle Catholic is the workshop of the devil. ” What do I mean? We are full time catholics are we not, and therefore must be filled 24×7 with the presence of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Filled with His word, obeying His will for us.

So that all that we say and do at all times glorify Him.

Can we be Holy in church or in community meetings but then be aggressive outside? Lose our tempers and utter vulgarities? Or be spiteful in our choice of words? Behave uncharitably in the sight of the world?

If we truly carry the presence of Christ within us then we shall reflect Him always. Amen

Saint Augustine, pray for us…

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First reading
2 Thessalonians 3:6-10,16-18 ·


We worked night and day not to be a burden on you

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we urge you, brothers, to keep away from any of the brothers who refuses to work or to live according to the tradition we passed on to you.
    You know how you are supposed to imitate us: now we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we ever have our meals at anyone’s table without paying for them; no, we worked night and day, slaving and straining, so as not to be a burden on any of you. This was not because we had no right to be, but in order to make ourselves an example for you to follow.
    We gave you a rule when we were with you: do not let anyone have any food if he refuses to do any work. May the Lord of peace himself give you peace all the time and in every way. The Lord be with you all.
    From me, PAUL, these greetings in my own handwriting, which is the mark of genuineness in every letter; this is my own writing. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.


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Gospel
Matthew 23:27-32


You are the sons of those who murdered the prophets

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

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 27, 2024 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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It is far too easy to look upon the faults of others! What they have done and what they have failed to do. We may even critize those serving in the Church, how many of them lack a prayer life, and are simply serving like community club members checking off items on a todolist. Bringing neither their own community, parishioners or anyone closer to the Lord’s kingdom.

Question is what are you doing? How well are you serving Him and your brethren? How many of those who have left the Church have you brought back to His fold? How intimate is your relationship with our Lord that are you walking everyday in His presence and listening to His Word and will for you?

For then you and I will be grace filled, with such inexhaustible comfort and such sure hope, that you and I are strengthened in everything good that we do or say. Amen

Saint Monica pray for us…

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First reading
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3,14-17 ·


Stand firm and keep the traditions we have taught you

To turn, brothers, to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we shall all be gathered round him: please do not get excited too soon or alarmed by any prediction or rumour or any letter claiming to come from us, implying that the Day of the Lord has already arrived. Never let anyone deceive you in this way.
    Through the Good News that we brought God called you to this so that you should share the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Stand firm, then, brothers, and keep the traditions that we taught you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father who has given us his love and, through his grace, such inexhaustible comfort and such sure hope, comfort you and strengthen you in everything good that you do or say.


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Gospel
Matthew 23:23-26


Clean the inside of the cup first, so that the outside may become clean

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

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 26, 2024 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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What a contrast between two sets of ‘Men of God’, the ones in today’s Gospel lead the flock of God our Father astray, by their human conventions, ideologies and beliefs! While the ones in today’s first reading are faithful, loving and are serving one another after the heart of their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

What about you and I? Will we be found worth of the kingdom of God? Is our faith growing? Is our love for brethren such that we are willing to endure suffering for their good? Are we giving freely of our time, talent? Our giving generously what we can with joy in our hearts?

Here I am Lord! I come to do Your Will. Amen

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First reading

2 Thessalonians 1:1-5,11-12 ·

We thank God for your faith and your love

From Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, to the Church in Thessalonika which is in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ; wishing you grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

    We feel we must be continually thanking God for you, brothers; quite rightly, because your faith is growing so wonderfully and the love that you have for one another never stops increasing; and among the churches of God we can take special pride in you for your constancy and faith under all the persecutions and troubles you have to bear. It all shows that God’s judgement is just, and the purpose of it is that you may be found worthy of the kingdom of God; it is for the sake of this that you are suffering now.

    Knowing this, we pray continually that our God will make you worthy of his call, and by his power fulfil all your desires for goodness and complete all that you have been doing through faith; because in this way the name of our Lord Jesus Christ will be glorified in you and you in him, by the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Gospel

Matthew 23:13-22

Alas for you, blind guides!

Jesus said: ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who shut up the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces, neither going in yourselves nor allowing others to go in who want to.

    ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who travel over sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when you have him you make him twice as fit for hell as you are.

    ‘Alas for you, blind guides! You who say, “If a man swears by the Temple, it has no force; but if a man swears by the gold of the Temple, he is bound.” Fools and blind! For which is of greater worth, the gold or the Temple that makes the gold sacred? Or else, “If a man swears by the altar it has no force; but if a man swears by the offering that is on the altar, he is bound.” You blind men! For which is of greater worth, the offering or the altar that makes the offering sacred? Therefore, when a man swears by the altar he is swearing by that and by everything on it. And when a man swears by the Temple he is swearing by that and by the One who dwells in it. And when a man swears by heaven he is swearing by the throne of God and by the One who is seated there.’

A Choice to Make: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted: August 24, 2024 by CatholicJules in Sunday Reflections
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A Choice to Make: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings:
Joshua 24:1-2, 15-18
Psalm 34:2-3, 16-23
Ephesians 5:21-32
John 6:60-69

This Sunday’s Mass readings conclude a four-week meditation on the Eucharist.

The Twelve Apostles in today’s Gospel are asked to make a choice—either to believe and accept the New Covenant He offers in His Body and Blood or return to their former ways of life.

Their choice is prefigured by the decision Joshua asks the Twelve Tribes to make in today’s First Reading.

Joshua gathers them at Shechem—where God first appeared to their father Abraham promising to make his descendants a great nation in a new land (see Genesis 12:1–9). And he issues a blunt challenge: either renew their covenant with God or serve the alien gods of the surrounding nations.

We too are being asked today to decide whom we will serve. For four weeks we have been presented in the liturgy with the mystery of the Eucharist—a daily miracle far greater than those performed by God in bringing the Israelites out of the land of Egypt.

He has promised us a new homeland and eternal life, offering us bread from heaven to strengthen us on our journey. He has told us that unless we eat His Flesh and drink His Blood we will have no life in us.

It is a hard saying, as many murmur in today’s Gospel. Yet He has given us the words of eternal life.

We must believe, as Peter says today, that He is the Holy One of God, who handed Himself over for us, who gave His flesh for the life of the world.

As we hear in today’s Epistle, Jesus did this that we might be sanctified, made holy, through the water and word of Baptism by which we enter into His new covenant. Through the Eucharist, He nourishes and cherishes us, making us His own flesh and blood, as husband and wife become one flesh.

Let us renew our covenant today, approaching the altar with confidence that, as we sing in today’s Psalm, the Lord will redeem the lives of His servants.

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 24, 2024 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Our Holy Catholic and Apostolic church is built upon our Rock, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. While all things will eventually pass away, the living Word, our Rock will never pass away.

Then one day soon, we His faithful will see Heaven laid open. And, above the Son of Man, the angels of God ascending and descending. Amen

Saint Bartholomew, pray for us…



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First reading
Apocalypse 21:9-14 ·


He showed me Jerusalem, the holy city, coming down from God out of heaven

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


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Gospel
John 1:45-51


You will see heaven laid open, and the Son of Man

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

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 23, 2024 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Jesus is the source of all life. It is He who can restore dry bones! It is He who takes aways sin that destroys life within us and restores us to live life in the full with and in Him. When we die in Him so too shall we rise in Him.

Let us therefore strive always to keep His commandments. For always and everwhere we give Him praise and glory for our love of Him. And by that love for Him shall we love one another. For we are One in Him. Amen

Saint Rose of Lima, pray for us..


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First reading
Ezekiel 37:1-14


A vision of Israel’s death and resurrection

The hand of the Lord was laid on me, and he carried me away by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley, a valley full of bones. He made me walk up and down among them. There were vast quantities of these bones on the ground the whole length of the valley; and they were quite dried up. He said to me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?’ I said, ‘You know, Lord.’ He said, ‘Prophesy over these bones. Say, “Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. The Lord says this to these bones: I am now going to make the breath enter you, and you will live. I shall put sinews on you, I shall make flesh grow on you, I shall cover you with skin and give you breath, and you will live; and you will learn that I am the Lord.”’ I prophesied as I had been ordered. While I was prophesying, there was a noise, a sound of clattering; and the bones joined together. I looked, and saw that they were covered with sinews; flesh was growing on them and skin was covering them, but there was no breath in them. He said to me, ‘Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man. Say to the breath, “The Lord says this: Come from the four winds, breath; breathe on these dead; let them live!”’ I prophesied as he had ordered me, and the breath entered them; they came to life again and stood up on their feet, a great, an immense army.
    Then he said, ‘Son of man, these bones are the whole House of Israel. They keep saying, “Our bones are dried up, our hope has gone; we are as good as dead.” So prophesy. Say to them, “The Lord says this: I am now going to open your graves; I mean to raise you from your graves, my people, and lead you back to the soil of Israel. And you will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and raise you from your graves, my people. And I shall put my spirit in you, and you will live, and I shall resettle you on your own soil; and you will know that I, the Lord, have said and done this – it is the Lord who speaks.”’




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Gospel
Matthew 22:34-40


The commandments of love

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

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 22, 2024 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Our gracious Lord invites us all to the Heavenly Banquet prepared for us to be nourished, to celebrate our Oneness with Him in peace and joyfullness. So great is His love for us that we can already partake of the Heavenly Banquet at every Holy Eucharistic Celebration.

To be made worthy to partake of His body, blood, soul and divinity, we are offered full reconciliation when we repent and turn to Him. He washes us clean and frees us from the captivity of sin. He fills us with His grace to be One with Him.

How then can we refuse this wonderful opportunity? How can we refuse to put on the wedding garment given freely to us?

Lord today I pray for all who have left the Church and all who do not yet know You. May they all be brought into Your kingdom into Your loving embrace. Amen

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First reading
Ezekiel 36:23-28 ·


I will remove the heart of stone from your bodies and give you a heart of flesh

The word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows: ‘I mean to display the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned among them. And the nations will learn that I am the Lord – it is the Lord who speaks – when I display my holiness for your sake before their eyes. Then I am going to take you from among the nations and gather you together from all the foreign countries, and bring you home to your own land. I shall pour clean water over you and you will be cleansed; I shall cleanse you of all your defilement and all your idols. I shall give you a new heart, and put a new spirit in you; I shall remove the heart of stone from your bodies and give you a heart of flesh instead. I shall put my spirit in you, and make you keep my laws and sincerely respect my observances. You will live in the land which I gave your ancestors. You shall be my people and I will be your God.’




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Gospel
Matthew 22:1-14


Invite everyone you can to the wedding

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

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 21, 2024 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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We are all called to be shepherds modelled after our One and truly Good Shepherd, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To care for, lead and love His many flocks into His kingdom.

Yes we may have been called early or later on in life such is the patience, mercy and love of our Lord. Some of us may have be faithful all our lives, some may have repented only at their deathbed. Instead of questioning, we should rejoice that He is generous and loving beyond compreshension! For we did not choose Him, it is He who chose us.

Glory to You O Lord our God now and forever. Amen

Saint Pius X, pray for us…


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First reading
Ezekiel 34:1-11


An oracle against bad and selfish shepherds

The word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows: ‘Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them:
    ‘“Shepherds, the Lord says this: Trouble for the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Shepherds ought to feed their flock, yet you have fed on milk, you have dressed yourselves in wool, you have sacrificed the fattest sheep, but failed to feed the flock. You have failed to make weak sheep strong, or to care for the sick ones, or bandage the wounded ones. You have failed to bring back strays or look for the lost. On the contrary, you have ruled them cruelly and violently. For lack of a shepherd they have scattered, to become the prey of any wild animal; they have scattered far. My flock is straying this way and that, on mountains and on high hills; my flock has been scattered all over the country; no one bothers about them and no one looks for them.
    ‘“Well then, shepherds, hear the word of the Lord. As I live, I swear it – it is the Lord who speaks – since my flock has been looted and for lack of a shepherd is now the prey of any wild animal, since my shepherds have stopped bothering about my flock, since my shepherds feed themselves rather than my flock, in view of all this, shepherds, hear the word of the Lord. The Lord says this: I am going to call the shepherds to account. I am going to take my flock back from them and I shall not allow them to feed my flock. In this way the shepherds will stop feeding themselves. I shall rescue my sheep from their mouths; they will not prey on them any more.”
    ‘For the Lord says this: “I am going to look after my flock myself and keep all of it in view.”’




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Gospel
Matthew 20:1-16


Why be envious because I am generous?

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

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 20, 2024 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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There is nothing wrong in taking charge of our lives and being responsible for those who cannot take good care of themselves. Afterall we are God’s people, empowered to be Priests, Prophets and Kings. But the keyword here is empowered!

All that we have comes from the Lord. It is only through His wisdom and grace that we are truly able to govern ourselves and those put under our charge; in the way He wants us to. Through our obedience to His Word and Will for us we prosper and bear much fruit for Him. Our lives and those under our care are Blessed a hundredfold.

In all that I do Lord, be Blessed and praised for Your Glory. Amen

Saint Bernard, pray for us…


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First reading
Ezekiel 28:1-10 ·


Against the arrogance of the king of Tyre

The word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows, ‘Son of man, tell the ruler of Tyre, “The Lord says this:

Being swollen with pride,
you have said: I am a god;
I am sitting on the throne of God,
surrounded by the seas.
Though you are a man and not a god, you consider yourself the equal of God.
You are wiser now than Danel;
there is no sage as wise as you.
By your wisdom and your intelligence you have amassed great wealth; you have piles of gold and silver inside your treasure-houses.
Such is your skill in trading,
your wealth has continued to increase, and with this your heart has grown more arrogant.
And so, the Lord says this:
Since you consider yourself the equal of God, very well, I am going to bring foreigners against you,
the most barbarous of the nations. They will draw sword against your fine wisdom, they will defile your glory; they will throw you down into the pit and you will die a violent death surrounded by the seas.
Are you still going to say: I am a god, when your murderers confront you?
No, you are a man and not a god
in the clutches of your murderers!
You will die like the uncircumcised at the hand of foreigners.
For I have spoken – it is the Lord who speaks.”’


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Gospel
Matthew 19:23-30


It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven

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

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 20, 2024 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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There is nothing wrong in taking charge of our lives and being responsible for those who cannot take good care of themselves. Afterall we are God’s people, empowered to be Priests, Prophets and Kings. But the keyword here is empowered!

All that we have comes from the Lord. It is only through His wisdom and grace that we are truly able to govern ourselves and those put under our charge; in the way He wants us to. Through our obedience to His Word and Will for us we prosper and bear much fruit for Him. Our lives and those under our care are Blessed a hundredfold.

In all that I do Lord, be Blessed and praised for Your Glory. Amen

Saint Bernard, pray for us…


________

First reading
Ezekiel 28:1-10 ·


Against the arrogance of the king of Tyre

The word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows, ‘Son of man, tell the ruler of Tyre, “The Lord says this:

Being swollen with pride,
you have said: I am a god;
I am sitting on the throne of God,
surrounded by the seas.
Though you are a man and not a god, you consider yourself the equal of God.
You are wiser now than Danel;
there is no sage as wise as you.
By your wisdom and your intelligence you have amassed great wealth; you have piles of gold and silver inside your treasure-houses.
Such is your skill in trading,
your wealth has continued to increase, and with this your heart has grown more arrogant.
And so, the Lord says this:
Since you consider yourself the equal of God, very well, I am going to bring foreigners against you,
the most barbarous of the nations. They will draw sword against your fine wisdom, they will defile your glory; they will throw you down into the pit and you will die a violent death surrounded by the seas.
Are you still going to say: I am a god, when your murderers confront you?
No, you are a man and not a god
in the clutches of your murderers!
You will die like the uncircumcised at the hand of foreigners.
For I have spoken – it is the Lord who speaks.”’


________

Gospel
Matthew 19:23-30


It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven

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

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 19, 2024 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Too many go through life thinking they will live forever. Many may still have good health but how are their spiritual health? How deep is their relationship with the Lord, the giver of our life? Why store and hold on to; riches, luxuries, wealth and material goods that will never last?

The only thing we should mourn for is our sins! And how we may not be fully living the fullness of life in Him as He so desires for us to have. The riches of heaven only to be had in Him. To rise up with and in Him when we renounce ourselves, take up our cross to follow after Him. Happy to lay down our lives for a brother or sister in need.

Lord Jesus I am Yours. Amen

Saint John Eudes, Pray for us…



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First reading
Ezekiel 24:15-24 ·


The Lord will profane his sanctuary

The word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows, ‘Son of man, I am about to deprive you suddenly of the delight of your eyes. But you are not to lament, not to weep, not to let your tears run down. Groan in silence, do not go into mourning for the dead, knot your turban round your head, put your sandals on your feet, do not cover your beard, do not eat common bread.’ I told this to the people in the morning, and my wife died in the evening, and the next morning I did as I had been ordered.
    The people then said to me, ‘Are you not going to explain what meaning these actions have for us?’
    I replied, ‘The word of the Lord has been addressed to me as follows, “Say to the House of Israel: The Lord says this. I am about to profane my sanctuary, the pride of your strength, the delight of your eyes, the passion of your souls. Those of your sons and daughters whom you have left behind will fall by the sword. And you are to do as I have done; you must not cover your beards or eat common bread; you must keep your turbans on your heads and your sandals on your feet; you must not lament or weep. You shall waste away owing to your sins and groan among yourselves. Ezekiel is to be a sign for you. You are to do just as he has done. And when this happens, you will learn that I am the Lord.”’


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Gospel
Matthew 19:16-22


If you wish to be perfect, go and sell what you own

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

Testimony

Posted: August 18, 2024 by CatholicJules in Testimonies
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What an amazing men’s retreat we had on Saturday
Topics that were covered…

Man and His spirituality
Man and his work
Man and his family

Inspiring talks, and we got to pray for one another in our small groups. In my group there was four of us. So with my brothers we each got to pray each three times!

But I was led to pray for more individuals. One a new member who could only stay for the morning session, but I felt he needed a greater awakening to the presence of the Lord as he was not attending mass regularly. So I got my brothers to gather round him to pray for him and his family before he left.

The 2nd was pointed out by a Columbian brother who gave us the first inspiring talk about our Spirit, Soul and Body. (Man’s Spirituality) He had noticed our senior coordinator limping and asked if I could pray for him. So I searched him out during the break and prayed over him for his swift healing.

Later in the day I learned that my American brother who gave us the second talk had also injured his ankle recently and was still recovering. So I went up to him and offered to pray as well.

Love that I did not attend the restreat to be refreshed or rejuvenated for myself only, but to be an instrument of His grace and healing. Thank You Lord that I could put to practise what I had learnt by encountering You most profoundly at Encounter School of Ministry, and for the support and encouragement of my fellow classmates. Amen

Wisdom’s Feast: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted: August 17, 2024 by CatholicJules in Sunday Reflections
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Wisdom’s Feast: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings:


Proverbs 9:1–6
Psalm 34:2–3, 10–15
Ephesians 5:15–20
John 6:51–58

The Wisdom of God has prepared a feast, we hear in today’s First Reading.

We must become like children (see Matthew 18:3–4) to hear and accept this invitation. For in every Eucharist, it is the folly of the Cross that is represented and renewed.

To the world, it is foolishness to believe that the crucified Jesus rose from the dead. And for many, as for the crowds in today’s Gospel, it is foolishness—maybe even madness—to believe that Jesus can give us His Flesh to eat.

Yet Jesus repeats himself with gathering intensity in the Gospel today. Notice the repetition of the words “eat” and “drink,” and “my Flesh” and “my Blood.” To heighten the unbelievable realism of what Jesus asks us to believe, John in these verses uses not the ordinary Greek word for eating but a cruder term, once reserved to describe the “munching” of feeding animals.

The foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom (see 1 Corinthians 1:18–25). In His foolish love, He chooses to save those who believe that His Flesh is true food, His Blood, true drink.

Fear of the Lord, the desire to live by His will, is the beginning of true wisdom, Paul says in today’s Epistle (see Proverbs 9:10). And as we sing in today’s Psalm, those who fear Him shall not want for any good thing.

Again today in the liturgy, we are called to renew our faith in the Eucharist, to forsake the foolishness of believing only what we can see with our eyes.

We approach, then, not only an altar prepared with bread and wine, but the feast of Wisdom, the banquet of heaven —in which God our Savior renews His everlasting covenant and promises to destroy death forever (see Isaiah 25:6–9).

Let us make the most of our days, as Paul says, always, in the Eucharist, giving thanks to God for everything in the name of Jesus, the bread come down from heaven.

Testimony…

Posted: August 17, 2024 by CatholicJules in Testimonies
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Two weeks ago, a brother in Christ who is attending the Choices series together with his wife had a dark heavy laden aura about him. He is in my discussion group and struck me as a soft spoken, gentle person but carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. So when we ended our discussion of the topic that evening, I asked my group to gather round him to pray. I placed my hands on his shoulder prayed over and prophesied. When I finished I saw his wife who was standing on the other side of him sobbing.

Then when we gathered for our fortnight session on Thursday, I saw the brother in Christ I had prayed over, radiant and beaming with a smile on his face. The wife later shared that they didn’t expect to be prayed over two weeks ago but was touched profoundly that day. I am in awe of our Lord! I thought I only prayed over the husband that evening, but the wife received the touch and grace of our loving Lord too! Alleluia!

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 17, 2024 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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This is what I hear the Lord saying to you and me in today’s readings.

”Come to me my Son, my daughter and I will give you rest.” “Sin no more, I set you free to live fully in my life.” ”Come my precious one, sit with me, listen to my gentle voice. Bask in my presence as I share my living word with you.” ” ”You my child are safe, for I embrace and hide you in the shadow of my wings. I love you.”

I love You Lord!


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First reading
Ezekiel 18:1-10,13,30-32 ·


You, not your children, will suffer for your sins: so repent, and live

The word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows:
    ‘Why do you keep repeating this proverb in the land of Israel: “The fathers have eaten unripe grapes; and the children’s teeth are set on edge”?
    ‘As I live – it is the Lord who speaks – there will no longer be any reason to repeat this proverb in Israel. See now: all life belongs to me; the father’s life and the son’s life, both alike belong to me. The man who has sinned, he is the one who shall die.
    ‘The upright man is law-abiding and honest; he does not eat on the mountains or raise his eyes to the idols of the House of Israel, does not seduce his neighbour’s wife or sleep with a woman during her periods. He oppresses no one, returns pledges, never steals, gives his own bread to the hungry, his clothes to the naked. He never charges usury on loans, takes no interest, abstains from evil, gives honest judgement between man and man, keeps my laws and sincerely respects my observances – such a man is truly upright. It is the Lord who speaks.
    ‘But if anyone has a son prone to violence and bloodshed, then this son shall certainly not live; having committed all these appalling crimes he will have to die, and his blood be on his own head.
    House of Israel, in future I mean to judge each of you by what he does – it is the Lord who speaks. Repent, renounce all your sins, avoid all occasions of sin! Shake off all the sins you have committed against me, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why are you so anxious to die, House of Israel? I take no pleasure in the death of anyone – it is the Lord who speaks. Repent and live!’





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Gospel
Matthew 19:13-15


Do not stop the little children coming to me

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

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 16, 2024 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Our loving Lord and God gives us His all in all for love of us. Our faithful bridegroom who seeks and desires intimacy with us.

Yet how many times have we strayed away from Him by our infidelity? By our idiols placed above Him! Our desires and lust for the ways of the world. The many distractions we indulge in, truly to satisfy insatiable wants and desires!

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies. Amen (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

St Stephen of Hungary pray for us…


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First reading
Ezekiel 16:59-63 ·


I will renew my covenant with you and you will learn that I am the Lord

The Lord says this: ‘Jerusalem, I will treat you as you deserve, you who have despised your oath even to the extent of breaking a covenant, but I will remember the covenant that I made with you when you were a girl, and I will conclude a covenant with you that shall last for ever. And you for your part will remember your past behaviour and be covered with shame when I take your elder and younger sisters and make them your daughters, although that was not included in this covenant. I am going to renew my covenant with you; and you will learn that I am the Lord, and so remember and be covered with shame, and in your confusion be reduced to silence, when I have pardoned you for all that you have done – it is the Lord who speaks.’




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Gospel
Matthew 19:3-12


Husband and wife are no longer two, but one body

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

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 15, 2024 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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On this beautiful Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus, and our mother. We remember her steadfast faith, holiness, willingness to always do God our Father’s will, but most of all how she magnified His glory by her lived example.

And so fittingly she was assumed into heaven, body and soul to be reunited with her son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Blessed Mother pray for us that we may all be reunited in Heaven through Your Son, our loving Lord. Amen

 
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First reading
Apocalypse 11:19,12:1-6,10 ·


A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman adorned with the sun

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

________

 

Second reading
1 Corinthians 15:20-26


Christ will be brought to life as the first-fruits and then those who belong to him

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



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Gospel
Luke 1:39-56


The Almighty has done great things for me

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

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

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

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 14, 2024 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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It is a sad reality that no matter how faithful we are or try to leave peacefully with one another there will be disagreements from time to time. Yes even among Christians!

How do we deal with one another amidst disagreements? All our efforts must be geared towards reconciliation. Love one another as I have loved you said the Lord. In His mercy He loved us to His death on the Cross! Should we then give up on love for sister and brother so easily? First we try to work things out between us, failing that we seek help from our fellow sisters and brothers, elders even the church.

For we have been baptised in Christ Jesus our Lord and are One with Him as we are One with our Heavenly Father, and with One another. We must always strive for unity, so that He will always remain in His Holy presence. Amen

Saint Maximilian Kolbe, pray for us…

________

First reading
Ezekiel 9:1-7,10:18-22


The cross marks the foreheads of all who are pure

As I, Ezekiel, listened, God shouted, ‘Come here, you scourges of the city, and bring your weapons of destruction.’ Immediately six men advanced from the upper north gate, each holding a deadly weapon. In the middle of them was a man in white, with a scribe’s ink horn in his belt. They came in and halted in front of the bronze altar. The glory of the God of Israel rose off the cherubs where it had been and went up to the threshold of the Temple. He called the man in white with a scribe’s ink horn in his belt and said, ‘Go all through the city, all through Jerusalem, and mark a cross on the foreheads of all who deplore and disapprove of all the filth practised in it.’ I heard him say to the others, ‘Follow him through the city, and strike. Show neither pity nor mercy; old men, young men, virgins, children, women, kill and exterminate them all. But do not touch anyone with a cross on his forehead. Begin at my sanctuary.’ So they began with the old men in front of the Temple. He said to them, ‘Defile the Temple; fill the courts with corpses, and go.’ They went out and hacked their way through the city.
    The glory of the Lord came out from the Temple threshold and paused over the cherubs. The cherubs spread their wings and rose from the ground to leave, and as I watched the wheels rose with them. They paused at the entrance to the east gate of the Temple of the Lord, and the glory of the God of Israel hovered over them. This was the creature that I had seen supporting the God of Israel beside the river Chebar, and I was now certain that these were cherubs. Each had four faces and four wings and what seemed to be human hands under their wings. Their faces were just as I had seen them beside the river Chebar. Each moved straight forward.

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Gospel
Matthew 18:15-20


If your brother listens to you, you have won back your brother

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

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 13, 2024 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Are you a child of God our Heavenly Father so loved by Him?

Well if the answer is yes then we must strive for Holiness. To be like a child, innocent and pure. Totally dependent on Him. His thoughts are our thoughts, His words are our words.

We seek His word for us daily, consuming it into our very being for it brings us joy, delight and it’s sweet. Together we proclaim with the psalmist, ”Your promise is sweet to my taste, O Lord.”

Thank You for loving me Father, let me love my sisters and brothers; Your children into Your kingdom. Amen

Saints Pontian, and St Hippolytus, pray for us…


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First reading
Ezekiel 2:8-3:4 ·


He gave me the scroll to eat and it was as sweet as honey

I, Ezekiel, heard a voice speaking. It said, ‘You, son of man, listen to the words I say; do not be a rebel like that rebellious set. Open your mouth and eat what I am about to give you.’ I looked. A hand was there, stretching out to me and holding a scroll. He unrolled it in front of me; it was written on back and front; on it was written ‘lamentations, wailings, moanings.’ He said, ‘Son of man, eat what is given to you; eat this scroll, then go and speak to the House of Israel.’ I opened my mouth; he gave me the scroll to eat and said, ‘Son of man, feed and be satisfied by the scroll I am giving you.’ I ate it, and it tasted sweet as honey.
    Then he said, ‘Son of man, go to the House of Israel and tell them what I have said.’



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Gospel
Matthew 18:1-5,10,12-14


Anyone who welcomes a little child in my name welcomes me

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

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 12, 2024 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Why do many not experience the glory of the Lord when they enter into the church hall! Where the Tabernacle of our Lord is present and His glory resides in the real presence.

If they were not so distracted by their phones, social media, messages, or even their social or business plans. They would not only genuflect but prostrate themselves before their Lord and God! They would teach their children’s too! To put away their phones and bask in the Holy presence of our Lord.

In today’s Gospel I marvel at the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ! He who was God did not consider
he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death. He taught His disciples to follow the laws of man in humility, but more so the laws of God written on their hearts.

Lord I want to be more like You in every way. Teach me Your ways. Amen

Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, pray for us…


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First reading
Ezekiel 1:2-5,24-28


Ezekiel’s vision of the glory of the Lord

On the fifth of the month – it was the fifth year of exile for King Jehoiachin – the word of the Lord was addressed to the priest Ezekiel son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldaeans, on the bank of the river Chebar.
    There the hand of the Lord came on me. I looked; a stormy wind blew from the north, a great cloud with light around it, a fire from which flashes of lightning darted, and in the centre a sheen like bronze at the heart of the fire. In the centre I saw what seemed four animals. They looked like this. They were of human form. I heard the noise of their wings as they moved; it sounded like rushing water, like the voice of Shaddai, a noise like a storm, like the noise of a camp; when they halted, they folded their wings, and there was a noise.
    Above the vault over their heads was something that looked like a sapphire; it was shaped like a throne and high up on this throne was a being that looked like a man. I saw him shine like bronze, and close to and all around him from what seemed his loins upwards was what looked like fire; and from what seemed his loins downwards I saw what looked like fire, and a light all round like a bow in the clouds on rainy days; that is how the surrounding light appeared. It was something that looked like the glory of the Lord. I looked, and prostrated myself.



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Gospel
Matthew 17:22-27


‘They will put the Son of Man to death’

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

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time with Dr Scott Hahn

Posted: August 10, 2024 by CatholicJules in Sunday Reflections
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19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

1 Kings 19:4-8
Psalm 34:2-9
Ephesians 4:30-5:2
John 6:41-51


Take and Eat

Sometimes we feel like Elijah in today’s First Reading. We want to lie down and die, keenly aware of our failures—that we seem to be getting no better at doing what God wants of us.

We can be tempted to despair, as the prophet was on his forty-day journey in the desert. We can be tempted to “murmur” against God, as the Israelites did during their forty years in the desert (see Exodus 16:2, 7, 8; 1 Corinthians 10:10).

The Gospel today uses the same word, “murmur,” to describe the crowds, who reenact Israel’s hardheartedness in the desert.

Jesus tells them that prophecies are being fulfilled in him, that they are being taught by God. But they can’t believe it. They can only see his flesh, that he is the “son” of Joseph and Mary.

Yet if we believe, if we seek him in our distress, he will deliver us from our fears, as we sing in today’s Psalm.

At the altar in every Eucharist, the angel of the Lord, the Lord himself (see Exodus 3:1–2), touches us. He commands us to take and eat his Flesh given for the life of the world (see Matthew 26:26).

This taste of the heavenly gift (see Hebrews 6:4–5) comes to us with a renewed command—to get up and continue on the journey we began in Baptism to the mountain of God, the kingdom of heaven. He will give us the bread of life, the strength and grace we need—as he fed our spiritual ancestors in the wilderness and Elijah in the desert.

So let us stop grieving the Spirit of God, as Paul says in today’s Epistle, in another reference to Israel in the desert (see Isaiah 63:10).

Let us say to God as Elijah did, “Take my life.” Not in the sense of wanting to die but in giving ourselves as a sacrificial offering—loving him as he has loved us, on the Cross and in the Eucharist.

Saturday morning testimony

Posted: August 10, 2024 by CatholicJules in Life's Journeys, Testimonies
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What a Blessed Saturday morning, while waiting for my daughter’s cathechism class to start, three ladies old friends came up one after the other to say Hi. Helen, Marilyn and Mary. Sharing the names lest I forget, remembering names is a little harder now. 😊

Small talk is not often easy but it seems easier with fellow sisters and brothers in Christ. All was good with Helen and Marilyn, except Marilyn did mention she was experiencing empty nest syndrome since her boys were all big now. Still she has kept busy with serving in church and attending mass. All this has eased her mind.

Mary has a very warm and bright smile, and she’s simply a joy to be around. She speaks with a gentle soothing voice. However I sensed something was troubling her behind that smile. Apparently she had volunteered to teach a Cat class since her Parish was really short on Cathechists. However she wondered if she was getting through to her students. After sharing that she wished me a blessed day and was about to go about her day. I jumped up and offered to pray for her. I placed my hand on her shoulders and prayed. Shared a prophesy with her and invited the Lord and our Blessed Mother to fill her with their presence. She was a little overwhelmed and began to tear. I wished her a Blessed weekend and left to have a drink and a nearby coffee shop.

Thank You Jesus for the opportunity to bring Your Holy presence. Amen

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 10, 2024 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Who needs to Sow? WE DO! What do we sow? Seeds of love, Gospel truths, the invitation of sonship and daughterhood with God our Heavenly Father; knowledge and relationship with His Son our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

Who needs to Reap? WE DO! We need to lead them home to the Lord, into community, into Church!

Thick sowing and thick reaping is our responsibility, if we are truly our Lord’s disciples. For we are also children of God our Heavenly Father. Co-heirs!

And so we give our all! Money, time, our gifts and talents. Freely and filled with joy in our hearts!

Jesus as I die in You let me rise in You. Amen

Saint Laurence pray for us…

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First reading

2 Corinthians 9:6-10 ·

God loves a cheerful giver

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

    The one who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide you with all the seed you want and make the harvest of your good deeds a larger one.

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Gospel

John 12:24-26

If a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies, it yields a rich harvest

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘I tell you, most solemnly,

unless a wheat grain falls on the ground and dies,

it remains only a single grain;

but if it dies,

it yields a rich harvest.

Anyone who loves his life loses it;

anyone who hates his life in this world

will keep it for the eternal life.

If a man serves me, he must follow me,

wherever I am, my servant will be there too.

If anyone serves me, my Father will honour him.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 9, 2024 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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It is our Lord who seeks to restore what was lost through sin and disobedience. It is He alone who gives life!

How many times have we ruined our lives by choosing worldly pleasures and sinful desires. Robbing us of peace of mind, and sabotaging our relationship with the Lord our God. Still He is patient with us, merciful and kind. He liberates us and restores us fully to live in His love when we turn back to Him.

Let us choose to always take up our cross and follow after Him. For it is only by doing so, do we truly live! Amen


Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross pray for us…


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First reading
Nahum 2:1,3,3:1-3,6-7


Israel restored; Nineveh ruined


See, over the mountains the messenger hurries!
‘Peace!’ he proclaims.
Judah, celebrate your feasts,
carry out your vows,
for Belial will never pass through you again;
he is utterly annihilated.
Yes, the Lord is restoring the vineyard of Jacob
and the vineyard of Israel.
For the plunderers had plundered them, they had broken off their branches.

Woe to the city soaked in blood,
full of lies,
stuffed with booty,
whose plunderings know no end!
The crack of the whip!
The rumble of wheels!
Galloping horse,
jolting chariot,
charging cavalry,
flash of swords,
gleam of spears…
a mass of wounded,
hosts of dead,
countless corpses;
they stumble over the dead.
I am going to pelt you with filth,
shame you, make you a public show.
And all who look on you will turn their backs on you and say,
‘Nineveh is a ruin.’
Could anyone pity her?
Where can I find anyone to comfort her?


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Gospel
Matthew 16:24-28


Anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it

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

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 8, 2024 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Do you have the deep intimate relationship with the Lord? That which He wants to have with you?

For being in such a wonderful and precious relationship means you know always His word and will for you. You are in His presence constantly and He speaks intimately with you all the time. His laws are not just written on your heart, they are treasured!

Such is the overflowing love between Him and you that you are bursting at the seams if you do not share Him with others.

Lord Jesus, let Your thoughts be my thoughts, Your words be my words now and forever. Amen

Saint Dominic, pray for us…


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 ·

First reading
Jeremiah 31:31-34


I will write my Law in their hearts

See, the days are coming – it is the Lord who speaks – when I will make a new covenant with the House of Israel (and the House of Judah), but not a covenant like the one I made with their ancestors on the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant of mine, so I had to show them who was master. It is the Lord who speaks. No, this is the covenant I will make with the House of Israel when those days arrive – it is the Lord who speaks. Deep within them I will plant my Law, writing it on their hearts. Then I will be their God and they shall be my people. There will be no further need for neighbour to try to teach neighbour, or brother to say to brother, ‘Learn to know the Lord!’ No, they will all know me, the least no less than the greatest – it is the Lord who speaks – since I will forgive their iniquity and never call their sin to mind.



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Gospel
Matthew 16:13-23


You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church

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

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 7, 2024 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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”I have loved you with an everlasting love, so I am constant in my affection for you.” The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards His flock. Promises then encourage us in today’s readings.

But how are we constant in our love and affection for Him? Or for one another for that matter? What if our love is put to the test like in today’s Gospel? How would we react? Would we stomp off at perceived disrespect? Or will we see the kindness and mercy in our Lord’s eyes? Would we then endeavour for the well being of our loved one and the faith we must have! Will we go on to be the living expression of God’s mercy and love to others?

Abba, heavenly Father, let me be known as Your child of great faith. Let me be an instrument of Your mercy and love. Amen

Saints Sixtus II, Pope, and his Companions, Saint Cajetan, pray for us…

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First reading
Jeremiah 31:1-7 ·


You shall be rebuilt, virgin of Israel

I will be the God of all the clans of Israel – it is the Lord who speaks – they shall be my people.

The Lord says this:
They have found pardon in the wilderness, those who have survived the sword.
Israel is marching to his rest.
The Lord has appeared to him from afar:
I have loved you with an everlasting love,
so I am constant in my affection for you.
I build you once more; you shall be rebuilt, virgin of Israel.
Adorned once more, and with your tambourine, you will go out dancing gaily.
You will plant vineyards once more on the mountains of Samaria (the planters have done their planting: they will gather the fruit).
Yes, a day will come when the watchmen shout on the mountains of Ephraim,
‘Up! Let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God!’

For the Lord says this:
Shout with joy for Jacob!
Hail the chief of nations!
Proclaim! Praise! Shout:
‘The Lord has saved his people,
the remnant of Israel!’


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Gospel
Matthew 15:21-28


The Canaanite woman debates with Jesus and saves her daughter

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

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 6, 2024 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Today as we celebrate the feast day of the Transfiguration of our Lord. We call to mind His great love for His disciples. That He would cause His face to shine upon them. Assuring them that even though they were going to face uncertainty and challenges. He the Lord their God will be with them. God our Father reassures us that through obedience to His Son we are One with Him.

Lord let my life be transfigured in and through You. Amen




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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.



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Gospel
Mark 9:2-10


This is my Son, the Beloved

Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone by themselves. There in their presence he was transfigured: his clothes became dazzlingly white, whiter than any earthly bleacher could make them. Elijah appeared to them with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus. Then Peter spoke to Jesus: ‘Rabbi,’ he said ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; so let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He did not know what to say; they were so frightened. And a cloud came, covering them in shadow; and there came a voice from the cloud, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.’ Then suddenly, when they looked round, they saw no one with them any more but only Jesus.
    As they came down from the mountain he warned them to tell no one what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. They observed the warning faithfully, though among themselves they discussed what ‘rising from the dead’ could mean.

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 5, 2024 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Woe indeed to those who speak untruths not coming from the Lord! For He alone is the the truth, the way and the life! He who speaks the lord’s truth shall lead His flock to Him. Those who lie simply lead them astray and will be punished.

For the Lord is good and He wants only the best for those who are faithful and obedient to His Word and will. For then they shall have life to the full in Him. In today’s Gospel we see how Jesus saw what His Father was doing and does likewise for His flock. Providing and nourishing all who had followed after Him.

Glory be to God the Father, the Son and to the Holy Spirit. One God God forever. Amen

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First reading
Jeremiah 28:1-17


Jeremiah and the lying prophet Hananiah

At the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah in the fifth month of the fourth year, the prophet Hananiah son of Azzur, a Gibeonite, spoke as follows to Jeremiah in the Temple of the Lord in the presence of the priests and of all the people. ‘The Lord, the God of Israel, says this, “I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. In two years’ time I will bring back all the vessels of the Temple of the Lord which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon carried off from this place and took to Babylon. And I will also bring back Jeconiah son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and all the exiles of Judah who have gone to Babylon – it is the Lord who speaks. Yes, I am going to break the yoke of the king of Babylon.”’
    The prophet Jeremiah then replied to the prophet Hananiah in front of the priests and all the people there in the Temple of the Lord. ‘I hope so’ the prophet Jeremiah said. ‘May the Lord do so. May he fulfil the words that you have prophesied and bring the vessels of the Temple of the Lord and all the exiles back to this place from Babylon. Listen carefully, however, to this word that I am now going to say for you and all the people to hear: From remote times, the prophets who preceded you and me prophesied war, famine and plague for many countries and for great kingdoms; but the prophet who prophesies peace can only be recognised as one truly sent by the Lord when his word comes true.’
    The prophet Hananiah then took the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah and broke it. In front of all the people Hananiah then said, ‘The Lord says this, “This is how, two years hence, I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and take it off the necks of all the nations.”’ At this, the prophet Jeremiah went away.
    After the prophet Hananiah had broken the yoke which he had taken off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah the word of the Lord was addressed to Jeremiah, ‘Go to Hananiah and tell him this, “The Lord says this: You can break wooden yokes? Right, I will make them iron yokes instead! For the Lord Sabaoth, the God of Israel, says this: An iron yoke is what I now lay on the necks of all these nations to subject them to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. They will be subject to him; I have even given him the wild animals.”’
    The prophet Jeremiah said to the prophet Hananiah, ‘Listen carefully, Hananiah: the Lord has not sent you; and thanks to you this people are now relying on what is false. Hence – the Lord says this, “I am going to throw you off the face of the earth: you are going to die this year since you have preached apostasy from the Lord.”’
    The prophet Hananiah died the same year, in the seventh month.


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Gospel
Matthew 14:13-21


The feeding of the five thousand

When Jesus received the news of John the Baptist’s death he withdrew by boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. But the people heard of this and, leaving the towns, went after him on foot. So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them and healed their sick.
    When evening came, the disciples went to him and said, ‘This is a lonely place, and the time has slipped by; so send the people away, and they can go to the villages to buy themselves some food.’ Jesus replied, ‘There is no need for them to go: give them something to eat yourselves.’ But they answered ‘All we have with us is five loaves and two fish.’ ‘Bring them here to me’ he said. He gave orders that the people were to sit down on the grass; then he took the five loaves and the two fish, raised his eyes to heaven and said the blessing. And breaking the loaves handed them to his disciples who gave them to the crowds. They all ate as much as they wanted, and they collected the scraps remaining; twelve baskets full. Those who ate numbered about five thousand men, to say nothing of women and children.

SUNDAY BIBLE REFLECTION — Dr Scott Hahn

Posted: August 3, 2024 by CatholicJules in Sunday Reflections
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SUNDAY BIBLE REFLECTION
Dr Scott Hahn

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Exodus 16:2–4, 12–15
Psalm 78:3–4, 23–25, 54
Ephesians 4:17, 20–24
John 6:24–35

Endurance Test

The journey of discipleship is a lifelong exodus from the slavery of sin and death to the holiness of truth on Mount Zion, the promised land of eternal life.

The road can get rough. And when it does, we can be tempted to complain like the Israelites in this week’s First Reading.

We have to see these times of hardship as a test of what is in our hearts, a call to trust God more and to purify the motives for our faith (Deuteronomy 8:2–3).

As Paul reminds us in this week’s Epistle, we must leave behind our old self-deceptions and desires and live according to the likeness of God in which we are made.

Jesus tells the crowd in this week’s Gospel that they are following him for the wrong reasons. They seek him because he filled their bellies. The Israelites, too, were content to follow God so long as there was plenty of food.

Food is the most obvious of signs—because it is the most basic of our human needs. We need our daily bread to live. But we cannot live by this bread alone. We need the bread of eternal life that preserves those who believe in him (Wisdom 16:20, 26).

The manna in the wilderness, like the bread Jesus multiplied for the crowd, was a sign of God’s Providence—that we should trust that he will provide.

These signs pointed to their fulfillment in the Eucharist, the abundant bread of angels we sing about in this week’s Psalm.

This is the food that God longs to give us. This is the bread we should be seeking. But too often we don’t ask for this bread. Instead we seek the perishable stuff of our everyday wants and anxieties. In our weakness we think these things are what we really need.

We have to trust God more. If we seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, all these things will be ours as well (Matthew 6:33).

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 3, 2024 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Evil is all around us! Do not give in to temptations! Lust, greed, envy, unrighteous anger, want of honour and power; resist anything that is not of the Lord! Renounce all the works of the evil one. For there is no greater pain then to lose our relationship with the Lord our God. If we should fall, be quick to turn back to Him and repent.

Herod is the one who lost his head! For by our faith, we know that Saint John the Baptist had risen in the Lord and is fully restored together with Him. Amen


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First reading
Jeremiah 26:11-16,24


‘This man has spoken to us in the name of the Lord’

The priests and prophets addressed the officials and all the people, ‘This man deserves to die, since he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears.’
    Jeremiah, however, replied to the people as follows:
    ‘The Lord himself sent me to say all the things you have heard against this Temple and this city. So now amend your behaviour and actions, listen to the voice of the Lord your God: if you do, he will relent and not bring down on you the disaster he has pronounced against you. For myself, I am as you see in your hands. Do whatever you please or think right with me. But be sure of this, that if you put me to death, you will be bringing innocent blood on yourselves, on this city and on its citizens, since the Lord has truly sent me to you to say all these words in your hearing.’
    The officials and all the people then said to the priests and prophets, ‘This man does not deserve to die: he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.’
    Jeremiah had a protector in Ahikam son of Shaphan, so he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.



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Gospel
Matthew 14:1-12


The beheading of John the Baptist

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

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 2, 2024 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Truth spoken to evoke a change of heart, to turn away from sin, sinful inclinations, and begin right living in the presence of the Lord our God will often fall on deaf ears. Especially on those whom are closest to us.

We may face rejection, hurtful words spoken against us even animosity. For more often than not it is due to their own lack of faith.

What do we do? Well what did Jesus do? He willingly laid down His life for us sinners so that we might have life with and in Him. So then let us continue to love all those who reject us into His Kingdom. Amen

Saint Eusebius of Vercelli, Saint Peter Julian Eymard, Pray for us…

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First reading
Jeremiah 26:1-9 ·


Jeremiah preaches in the Temple of the Lord and is threatened with death

At the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word was addressed to Jeremiah by the Lord, ‘The Lord says this: Stand in the court of the Temple of the Lord. To all the people of the towns of Judah who come to worship in the Temple of the Lord you must speak all the words I have commanded you to tell them; do not omit one syllable. Perhaps they will listen and each turn from his evil way: if so, I shall relent and not bring the disaster on them which I intended for their misdeeds. Say to them, “The Lord says this: If you will not listen to me by following my Law which I put before you, by paying attention to the words of my servants the prophets whom I send so persistently to you, without your ever listening to them, I will treat this Temple as I treated Shiloh, and make this city a curse for all the nations of the earth.”’
    The priests and prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah say these words in the Temple of the Lord. When Jeremiah had finished saying everything that the Lord had ordered him to say to all the people, the priests and prophets seized hold of him and said, ‘You shall die! Why have you made this prophecy in the name of the Lord, “This Temple will be like Shiloh, and this city will be desolate, and uninhabited”?’ And the people were all crowding round Jeremiah in the Temple of the Lord.


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Gospel
Matthew 13:54-58


A prophet is only despised in his own country

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

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: August 1, 2024 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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God our Father fashioned us in His likeness and image and each every one of us are a unique Masterpiece in His eyes, truly loved by Him.

If we should get distorted or spoilt by sin and our sinful ways, we are not discarded or abandoned. Through our repentance, we are moulded back into shape by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We must be mindful that this only lasts when we are still alive and are able to repent of our sins. What if tomorrow never comes for us? Are we ready to meet our Lord?

To be ready let us fill our days with His Word both the old and the new! For Heaven and earth will pass away, but His words will never pass away. Matt 24:35

Your Word and Will be done in my life Lord. Amen

Saint Alphonsus Mary de’ Liguori, pray for us…

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First reading
Jeremiah 18:1-6


When the clay goes wrong, the potter starts afresh

The word that was addressed to Jeremiah by the Lord, ‘Get up and make your way down to the potter’s house; there I shall let you hear what I have to say.’ So I went down to the potter’s house; and there he was, working at the wheel. And whenever the vessel he was making came out wrong, as happens with the clay handled by potters, he would start afresh and work it into another vessel, as potters do. Then this word of the Lord was addressed to me, ‘House of Israel, can not I do to you what this potter does? – it is the Lord who speaks. Yes, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so you are in mine, House of Israel.’


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Gospel
Matthew 13:47-53


The fishermen collect the good fish and throw away those that are no use

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