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Let us not behave though we have all the time in the world to make amends, to forgive or ask forgiveness. To honour, which is to love and care for our parents. To reflect God our Father’s love and patience for our children. To give our best for the glory of God in our daily work and handling of our affairs.

Yes indeed we must choose the narrow door, the way, the truth and the life! In spite of all it’s challenges and hardships we know it is the way of Christ. So with joy in our hearts and humility we shall serve the Lord and our brethren.

Lord I humbly take up my cross to follow after You. Lead me into Your kingdom. Amen


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First reading
Ephesians 6:1-9

Duties in domestic life

Children, be obedient to your parents in the Lord – that is your duty. The commandment that has a promise attached to it is: Honour your father and mother, and the promise is: and you will prosper and have a long life in the land. And parents, never drive your children to resentment but in bringing them up correct them and guide them as the Lord does.
    Slaves, be obedient to the men who are called your masters in this world, with deep respect and sincere loyalty, as you are obedient to Christ: not only when you are under their eye, as if you had only to please men, but because you are slaves of Christ and wholeheartedly do the will of God. Work hard and willingly, but do it for the sake of the Lord and not for the sake of men. You can be sure that everyone, whether a slave or a free man, will be properly rewarded by the Lord for whatever work he has done well. And those of you who are employers, treat your slaves in the same spirit; do without threats, remembering that they and you have the same Master in heaven and he is not impressed by one person more than by another.





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Gospel
Luke 13:22-30

The last shall be first and the first last

Through towns and villages Jesus went teaching, making his way to Jerusalem. Someone said to him, ‘Sir, will there be only a few saved?’ He said to them, ‘Try your best to enter by the narrow door, because, I tell you, many will try to enter and will not succeed.
    ‘Once the master of the house has got up and locked the door, you may find yourself knocking on the door, saying, “Lord, open to us” but he will answer, “I do not know where you come from.” Then you will find yourself saying, “We once ate and drank in your company; you taught in our streets” but he will reply, “I do not know where you come from. Away from me, all you wicked men!”
    ‘Then there will be weeping and grinding of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves turned outside. And men from east and west, from north and south, will come to take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.
    ‘Yes, there are those now last who will be first, and those now first who will be last.’

Today’s first reading teaches us how husbands and wives must love and respect one another in sacred marriage but also more importantly how we must care and love His Church whom He, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ cherishes and loves.  Afterall we share a sacred union with Him and One another. For we are One Body in Him.

Therefore we, as Church that is One Body in Him must grow! We must go out into the peripheries bringing shade, comfort, healing, warming the hearts of the faithful.
We must bring the joy of the Gospel far and wide!

The kingdom of God is at hand and all are welcome through Jesus Christ our Lord, so let us then embrace all our brethren into His Kingdom. Amen

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First reading
Ephesians 5:25-33 ·

Give way to one another in obedience to Christ

Husbands should love their wives just as Christ loved the Church and sacrificed himself for her to make her holy. He made her clean by washing her in water with a form of words, so that when he took her to himself she would be glorious, with no speck or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and faultless. In the same way, husbands must love their wives as they love their own bodies; for a man to love his wife is for him to love himself. A man never hates his own body, but he feeds it and looks after it; and that is the way Christ treats the Church, because it is his body – and we are its living parts. For this reason, a man must leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one body. This mystery has many implications; but I am saying it applies to Christ and the Church. To sum up; you too, each one of you, must love his wife as he loves himself; and let every wife respect her husband.



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Gospel
Luke 13:18-21

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

Jesus said, ‘What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it with? It is like a mustard seed which a man took and threw into his garden: it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air sheltered in its branches.’
    Another thing he said, ‘What shall I compare the kingdom of God with? It is like the yeast a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour till it was leavened all through.’

On this feast day of Saints Simon and Jude we are reminded that we are One with them and all the angels and Saints in Heaven. We are destined for our Heavenly Inheritance as we have been grafted unto Christ Jesus our Lord through our baptism. He is our Rock our foundation!

Likewise, we have been sent into the world to proclaim the Good News! That the fullness of life is to be had through the salvific grace of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. If we truly love then we shall lead all to Him so that they too can experience true peace, love and joy to be found in Jesus.

Lord, You have commissioned me and I go where You lead. Amen

Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles pray for us…

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First reading

Ephesians 2:19-22 ·

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

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

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Gospel

Luke 6:12-16

Jesus chooses his twelve apostles

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

Disunity happens for those who do not seek the face of the Lord. How then can we be called Christian if we are divided? Surely we will have differences, challenges even disagreements! But we must never give up on finding common ground through the Holy Spirit. Seeking always to see the face of Christ in one another.

For by our baptism we have become One Body in Him, One spirit in our One Lord, children of God our Heavenly Father. And the world shall know we are Christians by our united love for, with, through and in Him. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

So let us walk with each other, let us walk hand in hand; And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land. Amen

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First reading
Ephesians 4:1-6 ·

One Body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God

I, the prisoner in the Lord, implore you to lead a life worthy of your vocation. Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together. There is one Body, one Spirit, just as you were all called into one and the same hope when you were called. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God who is Father of all, over all, through all and within all.



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Gospel
Luke 12:54-59

Do you not know how to interpret these times?

Jesus said to the crowds: ‘When you see a cloud looming up in the west you say at once that rain is coming, and so it does. And when the wind is from the south you say it will be hot, and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the face of the earth and the sky. How is it you do not know how to interpret these times?
    ‘Why not judge for yourselves what is right? For example: when you go to court with your opponent, try to settle with him on the way, or he may drag you before the judge and the judge hand you over to the bailiff and the bailiff have you thrown into prison. I tell you, you will not get out till you have paid the very last penny.’

Does God our Father care? If the answer is other than a resounding YES! Then we are not living virtuous lives in His presence. We are not seeking His word and will for us daily. We have instead distant ourselves from Him by perhaps living life by our own strength and wisdom. Seeking cheap comforts through sinful pleasures.

For if we were living in His presence then our hearts will be aflamed with the fire of His love. For our Lord truly fills the earth with His love. It is our deep personal, intimate relationship with treasure most above all others. For only through it can we love our family as we should. And the power of His love and grace flows out through us for our brethren and all God our Father’s children.

Set my heart ablaze Jesus for You and my brethren. Amen

Saint Antony Mary Claret, pray 



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First reading
Ephesians 3:14-21

A prayer that faithful may know the love of Christ

This is what I pray, kneeling before the Father, from whom every family, whether spiritual or natural, takes its name:
    Out of his infinite glory, may he give you the power through his Spirit for your hidden self to grow strong, so that Christ may live in your hearts through faith, and then, planted in love and built on love, you will with all the saints have strength to grasp the breadth and the length, the height and the depth; until, knowing the love of Christ, which is beyond all knowledge, you are filled with the utter fullness of God.
    Glory be to him whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine; glory be to him from generation to generation in the Church and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen.




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Gospel
Luke 12:49-53

How I wish it were blazing already!

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I have come to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were blazing already! There is a baptism I must still receive, and how great is my distress till it is over!
    ‘Do you suppose that I am here to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on a household of five will be divided: three against two and two against three; the father divided against the son, son against father, mother against daughter, daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law, daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’

Jesus is for all! Even for those who have yet to believe in Him. As for those of us baptised Christians, we can be bold to approach the throne of grace, for we are children of God our Father so loved by Him.  With joy we will draw water from the wells of salvation. And it shall overflow unto those who seek Him

For love of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ we shall stand ready to greet Him. We don’t know when but, but we have chosen to remain faithful caring and ministering to those He has sent our way. Joyful that we are worthy to be His servants yet He calls us His friends. Amen


Saint John of Capistrano, Pray for us…


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First reading
Ephesians 3:2-12 ·

The pagans now share the same inheritance

You have probably heard how I have been entrusted by God with the grace he meant for you, and that it was by a revelation that I was given the knowledge of the mystery, as I have just described it very shortly. If you read my word you will have some idea of the depths that I see in the mystery of Christ. This that has now been revealed through the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets was unknown to any men in past generations; it means that pagans now share the same inheritance, that they are parts of the same body, and that the same promise has been made to them, in Jesus Christ, through the gospel. I have been made the servant of that gospel by a gift of grace from God who gave it to me by his own power. I, who am less than the least of all the saints have been entrusted with this special grace, not only of proclaiming to the pagans the infinite treasure of Christ but also of explaining how the mystery is to be dispensed. Through all the ages, this has been kept hidden in God, the creator of everything. Why? So that the Sovereignties and Powers should learn only now, through the Church, how comprehensive God’s wisdom really is, exactly according to the plan which he had had from all eternity in Christ Jesus our Lord. This is why we are bold enough to approach God in complete confidence, through our faith in him.




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Gospel
Luke 12:39-48

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

Jesus said to his disciples:
    ‘You may be quite sure of this, that if the householder had known at what hour the burglar would come, he would not have let anyone break through the wall of his house. You too must stand ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’
    Peter said, ‘Lord, do you mean this parable for us, or for everyone?’ The Lord replied, ‘What sort of steward, then, is faithful and wise enough for the master to place him over his household to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? Happy that servant if his master’s arrival finds him at this employment. I tell you truly, he will place him over everything he owns. But as for the servant who says to himself, “My master is taking his time coming,” and sets about beating the menservants and the maids, and eating and drinking and getting drunk, his master will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not know. The master will cut him off and send him to the same fate as the unfaithful.
    The servant who knows what his master wants, but has not even started to carry out those wishes, will receive very many strokes of the lash. The one who did not know, but deserves to be beaten for what he has done, will receive fewer strokes. When a man has had a great deal given him, a great deal will be demanded of him; when a man has had a great deal given him on trust, even more will be expected of him.’

Unmerited favour and love! God our Father loved us while we were still sinners. Divine grace was bestowed upon us, through the blood of Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour. Through Him we were washed clean and made whole.

All of us at one point or another were self centred, ruled as St Paul mentions by our own desires. Inward looking and perhaps striving for a comfortable life only for ourselves and if feeling a little generous perhaps our immediate family. We were well on our way to a meaningless lonely life, even death!

That all changed when we encountered Jesus and had entered into a deep personal relationship with Him. We no longer live for ourselves but for Him and one another. Our servitude in love and mercy for Him and for others gives us fullness of life. Even in strife, we carry joy in our hearts.

Thank You Father for great love for me and Your grace upon me. Amen

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First reading
Ephesians 2:1-10 ·

Sinners are saved in Christ Jesus

You were dead through the crimes and the sins in which you used to live when you were following the way of this world, obeying the ruler who governs the air, the spirit who is at work in the rebellious. We all were among them too in the past, living sensual lives, ruled entirely by our own physical desires and our own ideas; so that by nature we were as much under God’s anger as the rest of the world. But God loved us with so much love that he was generous with his mercy: when we were dead through our sins, he brought us to life with Christ – it is through grace that you have been saved – and raised us up with him and gave us a place with him in heaven, in Christ Jesus.
    This was to show for all ages to come, through his goodness towards us in Christ Jesus, how infinitely rich he is in grace. Because it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith; not by anything of your own, but by a gift from God; not by anything that you have done, so that nobody can claim the credit. We are God’s work of art, created in Christ Jesus to live the good life as from the beginning he had meant us to live it.



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Gospel
Luke 12:13-21

Fool! This very night your soul will be demanded of you

A man in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘Master, tell my brother to give me a share of our inheritance.’ ‘My friend,’ he replied, ‘who appointed me your judge, or the arbitrator of your claims?’ Then he said to them, ‘Watch, and be on your guard against avarice of any kind, for a man’s life is not made secure by what he owns, even when he has more than he needs.’
    Then he told them a parable: ‘There was once a rich man who, having had a good harvest from his land, thought to himself, “What am I to do? I have not enough room to store my crops.” Then he said, “This is what I will do: I will pull down my barns and build bigger ones, and store all my grain and my goods in them, and I will say to my soul: My soul, you have plenty of good things laid by for many years to come; take things easy, eat, drink, have a good time.” But God said to him, “Fool! This very night the demand will be made for your soul; and this hoard of yours, whose will it be then?” So it is when a man stores up treasure for himself in place of making himself rich in the sight of God.’

The Author of life where all living things draws life, came to to save us once for all time from death through sin. In obedience to God our Heavenly Father and love for us, the Word was made flesh and dwelled amongst us. He became one of us, a we are One in Him.

He took upon Himself the sins of the world, suffered and died on the Cross so that we are forgiven. God our Father raised Him from the dead, by the power of His Resurrection, we who believe in Him, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ shall have eternal life.

Every Christian who lives, breathes and walks in the presence of our Lord can attest that we have life to the full in Him. We have love, peace and joy in our hearts. We revere and adore Him not simply by our lips but by our lives.

Jesus is our Lord! And we want to share Him with the world. Amen

Saints John de Brébeuf, St Isaac Jogues, and their Companions, pray for us..


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First reading
Ephesians 1:15-23

Paul’s prayer for the enlightenment of the faithful

I, having once heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus, and the love that you show towards all the saints, have never failed to remember you in my prayers and to thank God for you. May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a spirit of wisdom and perception of what is revealed, to bring you to full knowledge of him. May he enlighten the eyes of your mind so that you can see what hope his call holds for you, what rich glories he has promised the saints will inherit and how infinitely great is the power that he has exercised for us believers. This you can tell from the strength of his power at work in Christ, when he used it to raise him from the dead and to make him sit at his right hand, in heaven, far above every Sovereignty, Authority, Power, or Domination, or any other name that can be named not only in this age but also in the age to come. He has put all things under his feet and made him, as the ruler of everything, the head of the Church; which is his body, the fullness of him who fills the whole creation.

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Gospel
Luke 12:8-12

If you declare yourselves for me, I will declare myself for you

Jesus said to his disciples:
    ‘I tell you, if anyone openly declares himself for me in the presence of men, the Son of Man will declare himself for him in the presence of the angels. But the man who disowns me in the presence of men will be disowned in the presence of God’s angels.
    ‘Everyone who says a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
    ‘When they take you before synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say, because when the time comes, the Holy Spirit will teach you what you must say.’

Today as we celebrate the feast day of St Luke, let us ask ourselves what does it mean to be an evangelist as we are called to be.

Many think that it is a title that belong to an elite few worthy enough to earn it. Guess what they are not entirely wrong. We are the elite few, for we are Christians!

For me the answer to what an evangelist is, can be found at the last line of today’s Gospel. “The kingdom of God is very near to you.”’ That is we are called to bring healing, to bring Heaven down on earth. To demonstrate that the Gospel is alive! Our living Lord and God is amongst us and it is through Him that we have life to the full! Is that not the Good News? The best news ever! Praise the Lord that we have every opportunity to share it.

Here I am Lord, Your evangelist! Amen

Saint Luke, pray for us…


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First reading
2 Timothy 4:10-17 ·

Only Luke is with me

Demas has deserted me for love of this life and gone to Thessalonika, Crescens has gone to Galatia and Titus to Dalmatia; only Luke is with me. Get Mark to come and bring him with you; I find him a useful helper in my work. I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak I left with Carpus in Troas, and the scrolls, especially the parchment ones. Alexander the coppersmith has done me a lot of harm; the Lord will repay him for what he has done. Be on your guard against him yourself, because he has been bitterly contesting everything that we say.
    The first time I had to present my defence, there was not a single witness to support me. Every one of them deserted me – may they not be held accountable for it. But the Lord stood by me and gave me power, so that through me the whole message might be proclaimed for all the pagans to hear.



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Gospel
Luke 10:1-9

Your peace will rest on that man

The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them out ahead of him, in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself was to visit. He said to them, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest. Start off now, but remember, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Carry no purse, no haversack, no sandals. Salute no one on the road. Whatever house you go into, let your first words be, “Peace to this house!” And if a man of peace lives there, your peace will go and rest on him; if not, it will come back to you. Stay in the same house, taking what food and drink they have to offer, for the labourer deserves his wages; do not move from house to house. Whenever you go into a town where they make you welcome, eat what is set before you. Cure those in it who are sick, and say, “The kingdom of God is very near to you.”’

Are we living the promise of our salvation fulfilled through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ encapsulated so beautifully in today’s first reading? Read it again, and again and dwell in the presence of our Lord as you do!

Because of God our Father’s plan fulfilled in His Son, we can live as free men and women, sons and daughters; empowered as modern day priests, prophets and kings to build His kingdom.

We live as children of the light not in the shadowy darkness of guilt ridden, sin laden lives.

Thank You Jesus! I am free for love of, through and in You. Amen

Saint Ignatius of Antioch, pray for us…

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First reading
Ephesians 1:1-10 ·

Before the world was made, God chose us in Christ

From Paul, appointed by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, to the saints who are faithful to Christ Jesus. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all the spiritual blessings of heaven in Christ.
Before the world was made, he chose us, chose us in Christ,
to be holy and spotless, and to live through love in his presence,
determining that we should become his adopted sons, through Jesus Christ for his own kind purposes, to make us praise the glory of his grace, his free gift to us in the Beloved, in whom, through his blood, we gain our freedom, the forgiveness of our sins.
Such is the richness of the grace
which he has showered on us
in all wisdom and insight.
He has let us know the mystery of his purpose, the hidden plan he so kindly made in Christ from the beginning to act upon when the times had run their course to the end: that he would bring everything together under Christ, as head, everything in the heavens and everything on earth.


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Gospel
Luke 11:47-54

You have not gone in yourselves and have prevented others who wanted to

Jesus said: ‘Alas for you who build the tombs of the prophets, the men your ancestors killed! In this way you both witness what your ancestors did and approve it; they did the killing, you do the building.
    ‘And that is why the Wisdom of God said, “I will send them prophets and apostles; some they will slaughter and persecute, so that this generation will have to answer for every prophet’s blood that has been shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was murdered between the altar and the sanctuary.” Yes, I tell you, this generation will have to answer for it all.
    ‘Alas for you lawyers who have taken away the key of knowledge! You have not gone in yourselves, and have prevented others going in who wanted to.’
    When he left the house, the scribes and the Pharisees began a furious attack on him and tried to force answers from him on innumerable questions, setting traps to catch him out in something he might say.

We know our flesh is weak, therefore we must put on the armour of God! For no man can resist temptation on his own. We need to receive His Word daily in our lives and place the helmet of salvation over our heads, that is to dwell in the presence of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Even in our weakest moments we can cry out to the Holy Spirit and He will come to save and direct us.

Even with our dealings with others we must always act with utmost integrity. Mercy, justice and the love of God must be our priority. Then others shall look upon us and say, “Anyone who follows you, O Lord, will have the light of life.”

Saint Hedwig, and Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque pray for us… 

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First reading

Galatians 5:18-25 ·

To belong to Christ, crucify all self-indulgence

If you are led by the Spirit, no law can touch you. When self-indulgence is at work the results are obvious: fornication, gross indecency and sexual irresponsibility; idolatry and sorcery; feuds and wrangling, jealousy, bad temper and quarrels; disagreements, factions, envy; drunkenness, orgies and similar things. I warn you now, as I warned you before: those who behave like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. What the Spirit brings is very different: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control. There can be no law against things like that, of course. You cannot belong to Christ Jesus unless you crucify all self-indulgent passions and desires.

    Since the Spirit is our life, let us be directed by the Spirit.

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Gospel

Luke 11:42-46

You overlook justice and the love of God

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

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

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

The light of Christ must shine through us. For our salvation  comes from Him alone. Nothing we can do on our own to earn it.

Christians are not Christians from outward appearances, but from love of Jesus within, which serves as the wellspring that flows out in our service of our brethren. For it is our faith that makes its power felt through our love.

Jesus let Your light and love flow through me. Amen

Saint Teresa of Ávila, pray for us…

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First reading
Galatians 5:1-6 ·

It is faith, not the Law, that justifies us

When Christ freed us, he meant us to remain free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery. It is I, Paul, who tell you this: if you allow yourselves to be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you at all. With all solemnity I repeat my warning: Everyone who accepts circumcision is obliged to keep the whole Law. But if you do look to the Law to make you justified, then you have separated yourselves from Christ, and have fallen from grace. Christians are told by the Spirit to look to faith for those rewards that righteousness hopes for, since in Christ Jesus whether you are circumcised or not makes no difference – what matters is faith that makes its power felt through love.



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Gospel
Luke 11:37-41

Give thanks for what you have and it will all be clean

Jesus had just finished speaking when a Pharisee invited him to dine at his house. He went in and sat down at the table. The Pharisee saw this and was surprised that he had not first washed before the meal. But the Lord said to him, ‘Oh, you Pharisees! You clean the outside of cup and plate, while inside yourselves you are filled with extortion and wickedness. Fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside too? Instead, give alms from what you have and then indeed everything will be clean for you.’

Many do not realise or even appreciate their baptism! How great and wonderful it is to be born again into a covenantal relationship with our loving Lord and God. How we inserted into the life, death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! And because of this there are no more distinctions, we are all ONE in Christ Jesus. We now have familial bonds with Him, God our Father, the Holy Spirit and with one another.

If we are still envious of one another, compare what we have or have not, then we have adopted an orphan mentality! Not one centred on Christ, not one centred on being a son or daughter so loved by our Heavenly Father. Most of all not one centred on the Word and Will of God. We are not keeping faith to the Word, neither have we embraced fully the Word made flesh; Jesus they Way, the Truth and the life!

I am Your child Father, anoint me afresh for my identity and destiny. Amen

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First reading

Galatians 3:22-29 ·

There are no more distinctions: all are one in Christ Jesus

Scripture makes no exceptions when it says that sin is master everywhere. In this way the promise can only be given through faith in Jesus Christ and can only be given to those who have this faith.

    Before faith came, we were allowed no freedom by the Law; we were being looked after till faith was revealed. The Law was to be our guardian until the Christ came and we could be justified by faith. Now that that time has come we are no longer under that guardian, and you are, all of you, sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. All baptised in Christ, you have all clothed yourselves in Christ, and there are no more distinctions between Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female, but all of you are one in Christ Jesus. Merely by belonging to Christ you are the posterity of Abraham, the heirs he was promised.

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Gospel

Luke 11:27-28

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

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

Are we so rigid as to follow only time tests methods or templates to lead His flock into a greater relationship with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who freed us to live life in the Spirit!

Why then are we not docile to the promptings of the Holy Spirit who opens hearts to all things new in Him. It is indeed sad when churches and their leaders have only devotionals planned for the growth of their parish. Why have they not yet realised there is little to no growth!

Give us faith Lord to overcome the mountains we face, to grow and bear much fruit for Your kingdom. Amen

Saint John XXIII, pray for us…


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First reading
Galatians 3:7-14 ·

The sons of Abraham are those who rely on faith

Don’t you see that it is those who rely on faith who are the sons of Abraham? Scripture foresaw that God was going to use faith to justify the pagans, and proclaimed the Good News long ago when Abraham was told: In you all the pagans will be blessed. Those therefore who rely on faith receive the same blessing as Abraham, the man of faith.
    On the other hand, those who rely on the keeping of the Law are under a curse, since scripture says: Cursed be everyone who does not persevere in observing everything prescribed in the book of the Law. The Law will not justify anyone in the sight of God, because we are told: the righteous man finds life through faith. The Law is not even based on faith, since we are told: The man who practises these precepts finds life through practising them. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by being cursed for our sake, since scripture says: Cursed be everyone who is hanged on a tree. This was done so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might include the pagans, and so that through faith we might receive the promised Spirit.




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Gospel
Luke 11:15-26

The finger of God has overtaken you

When Jesus had cast out a devil, some of the people said, ‘It is through Beelzebul, the prince of devils, that he casts out devils.’ Others asked him, as a test, for a sign from heaven; but, knowing what they were thinking, he said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is heading for ruin, and a household divided against itself collapses. So too with Satan: if he is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? – since you assert that it is through Beelzebul that I cast out devils. Now if it is through Beelzebul that I cast out devils, through whom do your own experts cast them out? Let them be your judges then. But if it is through the finger of God that I cast out devils, then know that the kingdom of God has overtaken you. So long as a strong man fully armed guards his own palace, his goods are undisturbed; but when someone stronger than he is attacks and defeats him, the stronger man takes away all the weapons he relied on and shares out his spoil.
    ‘He who is not with me is against me; and he who does not gather with me scatters.
    ‘When an unclean spirit goes out of a man it wanders through waterless country looking for a place to rest, and not finding one it says, “I will go back to the home I came from.” But on arrival, finding it swept and tidied, it then goes off and brings seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and set up house there, so that the man ends up by being worse than he was before.’

There is only One way, truth and life, that is in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Therefore we shall not waver in this regard but hold to the truth with integrity. It may be challenging to present the Good news to unbelivers but we should never dumb down or adulterate our faith and beliefs at any time. The truth in all its glory will set them free!

For in all our endeavours, we shall strive to keep our Lord’s name Holy as we strive to be Holy as our Heavenly Father is Holy. Loving mercy, as we go about extending mercy to all, and bringing with us our Lord’s presence as we walk in and with Him. Amen


Saints Denis, Bishop, and his Companions, Martyrs, Saint John Leonardi, pray for us…


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First reading
Galatians 2:1-2,7-14

They recognised the grace that God had given me

It was not till fourteen years had passed that I went up to Jerusalem again. I went with Barnabas and took Titus with me. I went there as the result of a revelation, and privately I laid before the leading men the Good News as I proclaim it among the pagans; I did so for fear the course I was adopting or had already adopted would not be allowed. On the contrary, they recognised that I had been commissioned to preach the Good News to the uncircumcised just as Peter had been commissioned to preach it to the circumcised. The same person whose action had made Peter the apostle of the circumcised had given me a similar mission to the pagans. So, James, Cephas and John, these leaders, these pillars, shook hands with Barnabas and me as a sign of partnership: we were to go to the pagans and they to the circumcised. The only thing they insisted on was that we should remember to help the poor, as indeed I was anxious to do.
    When Cephas came to Antioch, however, I opposed him to his face, since he was manifestly in the wrong. His custom had been to eat with the pagans, but after certain friends of James arrived he stopped doing this and kept away from them altogether for fear of the group that insisted on circumcision. The other Jews joined him in this pretence, and even Barnabas felt himself obliged to copy their behaviour.
    When I saw they were not respecting the true meaning of the Good News, I said to Cephas in front of everyone, ‘In spite of being a Jew, you live like the pagans and not like the Jews, so you have no right to make the pagans copy Jewish ways.’



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Gospel
Luke 11:1-4

How to pray

Once Jesus was in a certain place praying, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’
    He said to them, ‘Say this when you pray:

‘“Father, may your name be held holy,
your kingdom come;
give us each day our daily bread,
and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive each one who is in debt to us.
And do not put us to the test.”’

There is only One Good News! That our Lord and God who so loved us came to die for our sins so that we have may have eternal life with Him. For if God our Father did not pity us, we would have been doomed with eternal death for our sins against Him. His pity for us however, stems from a deep rooted Love for us.

What about us? From having experienced His great love for us are we not likewise moved to compassion to pity the least of our brethren who cannot save themselves? Who are in great need of healing, love? Of deliverance? Of comfort from sorrow, pain and anguish? Are we swift enough in performing corporal and spiritual acts of mercy?

Lord Jesus just as merciful You are with me, let me be merciful to my sisters and brothers. Amen

Our Lady of the Rosary pray for us…

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First reading
Galatians 1:6-12 ·

The Good News I preached is not a human message but from Jesus Christ

I am astonished at the promptness with which you have turned away from the one who called you and have decided to follow a different version of the Good News. Not that there can be more than one Good News; it is merely that some troublemakers among you want to change the Good News of Christ; and let me warn you that if anyone preaches a version of the Good News different from the one we have already preached to you, whether it be ourselves or an angel from heaven, he is to be condemned. I am only repeating what we told you before: if anyone preaches a version of the Good News different from the one you have already heard, he is to be condemned. So now whom am I trying to please – man, or God? Would you say it is men’s approval I am looking for? If I still wanted that, I should not be what I am – a servant of Christ.
    The fact is, brothers, and I want you to realise this, the Good News I preached is not a human message that I was given by men, it is something I learnt only through a revelation of Jesus Christ.



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Gospel
Luke 10:25-37

The good Samaritan

There was a lawyer who, to disconcert Jesus, stood up and said to him, ‘Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the Law? What do you read there?’ He replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself.’ ‘You have answered right,’ said Jesus ‘do this and life is yours.’
    But the man was anxious to justify himself and said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbour?’ Jesus replied, ‘A man was once on his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of brigands; they took all he had, beat him and then made off, leaving him half dead. Now a priest happened to be travelling down the same road, but when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. In the same way a Levite who came to the place saw him, and passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan traveller who came upon him was moved with compassion when he saw him. He went up and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. He then lifted him on to his own mount, carried him to the inn and looked after him. Next day, he took out two denarii and handed them to the innkeeper. “Look after him,” he said “and on my way back I will make good any extra expense you have.” Which of these three, do you think, proved himself a neighbour to the man who fell into the brigands‘ hands?’ ‘The one who took pity on him’ he replied. Jesus said to him, ‘Go, and do the same yourself.’

We cannot outgive the giver of life, in whom all things were created. He lavishly bestows His Blessings, grace, and gifts upon us His faithful. With repentant hearts turned to Him, Jesus restores us fully to become once again children of light, so loved by God our Heavenly Father.

The greatest gift is to see our loving Lord face to face and to walk in His presence. For when we do, we can do as He did. Ministering to all He sends our way. Healing, casting out evil and leading all to the bosom of His heart. For our names are written in Heaven.

Draw me closer to Your Sacred Heart Lord Jesus. Amen

Saint Faustina Kowalska, pray for us…


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First reading
Job 42:1-3,5-6,12-17

In dust and in ashes I repent

This was the answer Job gave to the Lord:

I know that you are all-powerful: what you conceive, you can perform.
I am the man who obscured your designs with my empty-headed words.
I have been holding forth on matters I cannot understand, on marvels beyond me and my knowledge.
I knew you then only by hearsay; but now, having seen you with my own eyes, I retract all I have said,
and in dust and ashes I repent.

The Lord blessed Job’s new fortune even more than his first one. He came to own fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand she-donkeys. He had seven sons and three daughters; his first daughter he called ‘Turtledove’, the second ‘Cassia’ and the third ‘Mascara.’ Throughout the land there were no women as beautiful as the daughters of Job. And their father gave them inheritance rights like their brothers.
    After his trials, Job lived on until he was a hundred and forty years old, and saw his children and his children’s children up to the fourth generation. Then Job died, an old man and full of days.



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Gospel
Luke 10:17-24

Rejoice that your names are written in heaven

The seventy-two came back rejoicing. ‘Lord,’ they said ‘even the devils submit to us when we use your name.’ He said to them, ‘I watched Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Yes, I have given you power to tread underfoot serpents and scorpions and the whole strength of the enemy; nothing shall ever hurt you. Yet do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you; rejoice rather that your names are written in heaven.’
    It was then that, filled with joy by the Holy Spirit, he said:
    ‘I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children. Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased you to do. Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.’
    Then turning to his disciples he spoke to them in private, ‘Happy the eyes that see what you see, for I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see, and never saw it; to hear what you hear, and never heard it.’

Think about it, does it make any sense to question the Lord our God? Even in our greatest sorrows and pain can we blame it on Him? Can we say then, that we really know Him? That we have an intimate relationship with Him?

If we truly have a deep personal relationship with Him then we know that He is all powerful, all loving, all merciful, all patient and kind. Our hearts are truly restless till we rest in Him. His peace reigns in our hearts. And He empowers us whom He loves to lead others into the same relationship we have with Him.   ‘Anyone who listens to you listens to me. ‘

Lead me, O Lord, in the path of life eternal. Amen

Saint Francis of Assisi pray for us…


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First reading
Job 38:1,12-21,40:3-5 ·

The immeasurable greatness of God

From the heart of the tempest the Lord gave Job his answer. He said:

Have you ever in your life given orders to the morning or sent the dawn to its post, telling it to grasp the earth by its edges and shake the wicked out of it, when it changes the earth to sealing clay and dyes it as a man dyes clothes;
stealing the light from wicked men and breaking the arm raised to strike?
Have you journeyed all the way to the sources of the sea, or walked where the Abyss is deepest?
Have you been shown the gates of Death or met the janitors of Shadowland?
Have you an inkling of the extent of the earth?
    Tell me all about it if you have!
Which is the way to the home of the light, and where does darkness live?
You could then show them the way to their proper places, or put them on the path to where they live!
If you know all this, you must have been born with them, you must be very old by now!

Job replied to the Lord:

My words have been frivolous: what can I reply? I had better lay my finger on my lips.
I have spoken once… I will not speak again;  more than once… I will add nothing.



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Gospel
Luke 10:13-16

Anyone who rejects me rejects the one who sent me

Jesus said to his disciples:
    ‘Alas for you, Chorazin! Alas for you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. And still, it will not go as hard with Tyre and Sidon at the Judgement as with you. And as for you, Capernaum, did you want to be exalted high as heaven? You shall be thrown down to hell.
    ‘Anyone who listens to you listens to me; anyone who rejects you rejects me, and those who reject me reject the one who sent me.’

‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few.” Why are the labourers few? If each and everyone of us goes out into the harvest will we not be plenty? Would we not be enough? How come we do not see in today’s Gospel that we are the seventy two sent? To share with the world that we know our Redeemer lives! And He will set us close Him when we awake.

I used to have a silly concern. Where do I lead the unbelivers when reaching out to them and they are touched by the Lord? What if RCIA only starts in a few months? What do they do till then? Can I possibly journey all the way with them when I have so many things to do?

I had totally forgotten that it was not I who touched them, it was He our Redeemer! It is His eyes they shall affix their gaze. Will the Holy Spirit cease working after I’ve done my part? Will His peace, mercy and love depart from them? Nay! For He is our Rock, and a firm foundation.

Lord into Your hands I commend my spirit. Amen



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First reading
Job 19:21-27 ·

My Avenger lives and will set me close to him when I awake

Job said:

Pity me, pity me, you, my friends,
for the hand of God has struck me.
Why do you hound me down like God, will you never have enough of my flesh?

Ah, would that these words of mine were written down, inscribed on some monument
with iron chisel and engraving tool, cut into the rock for ever.
This I know: that my Avenger lives, and he, the Last, will take his stand on earth.
After my awaking, he will set me close to him, and from my flesh I shall look on God.
He whom I shall see will take my part: these eyes will gaze on him and find him not aloof.



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Gospel
Luke 10:1-12

Your peace will rest on that man

The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them out ahead of him, in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself was to visit. He said to them, , so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest. Start off now, but remember, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Carry no purse, no haversack, no sandals. Salute no one on the road. Whatever house you go into, let your first words be, “Peace to this house!” And if a man of peace lives there, your peace will go and rest on him; if not, it will come back to you. Stay in the same house, taking what food and drink they have to offer, for the labourer deserves his wages; do not move from house to house. Whenever you go into a town where they make you welcome, eat what is set before you. Cure those in it who are sick, and say, “The kingdom of God is very near to you.” But whenever you enter a town and they do not make you welcome, go out into its streets and say, “We wipe off the very dust of your town that clings to our feet, and leave it with you. Yet be sure of this: the kingdom of God is very near.” I tell you, on that day it will not go as hard with Sodom as with that town.’

Job in today’s first reading is eloquent in describing the awesome and magnificent power and justice of the Lord our God. What is man before God? So unless we humbly walk in His presence we will not fully embrace the magnitude of His benelovence, mercy and love He has for us His children.

Do we still think we know more than He does? Do we act or behave as though we are better than others? We cannot hide behind faux humility for He sees into our hearts. Worse for us if we treat the least of our brethren with disdain!

If we are truly God our Father’s children so loved by Him then we will not have an orphan’s mentality. We will see all His children especially those who are treated as outcasts, as our fellow sisters and brothers; equally loved by Him.

Thank You Father for loving me. Amen

The Holy Guardian Angels pray for us…

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First reading
Job 9:1-13,14-16

How can man be in the right against God?

Job spoke to his friends:

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

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

Gospel
Matthew 18:1-5,10

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.’

Understandably Job is distraught and in anguish of the ‘injustice’ that He has to bear. Yet He utters not one curse against the Lord His God whom He worships with all His heart. Otherwise how can He recognise the light our Lord gives inspite of the overwhelming darkness that has befallen him.

We must therefore carry the light of Christ always in our heart. Who shines bright even amidst the dark night of our souls. Even when we are not received in a positive light or even persecuted. Our hearts must be set on forgiveness and love. Only then we shall remain in the joy of our Lord who loves us dearly. Amen

Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, pray for us…


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First reading
Job 3:1-3,11-17,20-23 ·

Why did I not perish on the day I was born?

Job broke the silence and cursed the day of his birth. This is what he said:

May the day perish when I was born, and the night that told of a boy conceived.
Why did I not die new-born, not perish as I left the womb?
Why were there two knees to receive me, two breasts for me to suck?
Had there not been, I should now be lying in peace, wrapped in a restful slumber, with the kings and high viziers of earth who build themselves vast vaults, or with princes who have gold and to spare  and houses crammed with silver.
Or put away like a still-born child that never came to be, like unborn babes that never see the light.
Down there, bad men bustle no more, there the weary rest.

Why give light to a man of grief? Why give life to those bitter of heart, who long for a death that never comes, and hunt for it more than for a buried treasure?
They would be glad to see the grave-mound and shout with joy if they reached the tomb.
Why make this gift of light to a man who does not see his way, whom God baulks on every side?


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Gospel
Luke 9:51-56

Jesus sets out for Jerusalem

As the time drew near for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely took the road for Jerusalem and sent messengers ahead of him. These set out, and they went into a Samaritan village to make preparations for him, but the people would not receive him because he was making for Jerusalem. Seeing this, the disciples James and John said, ‘Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to burn them up?’ But he turned and rebuked them, and they went off to another village.