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One of the most beautiful hymns is “What a friend we have in Jesus” there is indeed no one more loyal, faithful, patient, kind, affirming and loving. He takes all that is said about friendship and elevates it to a whole different level.

What a blessing it is that we should have friends who takes us their cross and follows after Him just as we do.  It is in this community of friends, fellow disciples in Christ that we can truly grow. We shall lead one another and all others who will listen into His Kingdom.

Most importantly, those of us who are married must make it out mission to not only lead but love our spouse into our Lord’s kingdom. Amen

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First reading
Ecclesiasticus 6:5-17

A faithful friend is a sure shelter


A kindly turn of speech multiplies a man’s friends,
    and a courteous way of speaking invites many a friendly reply.
Let your acquaintances be many,
    but your advisers one in a thousand.
If you want to make a friend, take him on trial,
    and be in no hurry to trust him;
for one kind of friend is only so when it suits him
    but will not stand by you in your day of trouble.
Another kind of friend will fall out with you
    and to your dismay make the quarrel public,
and a third kind of friend will share your table,
    but not stand by you in your day of trouble:
when you are doing well he will be your second self,
    ordering your servants about;
but if ever you are brought low he will turn against you
    and will hide himself from you.
Keep well clear of your enemies,
    and be wary of your friends.
A faithful friend is a sure shelter,
    whoever finds one has found a rare treasure.
A faithful friend is something beyond price,
    there is no measuring his worth.
A faithful friend is the elixir of life,
    and those who fear the Lord will find one.
Whoever fears the Lord makes true friends,
    for as a man is, so is his friend.





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Gospel
Mark 10:1-12

What God has united, man must not divide

Jesus came to the district of Judaea and the far side of the Jordan. And again crowds gathered round him, and again he taught them, as his custom was. Some Pharisees approached him and asked, ‘Is it against the law for a man to divorce his wife?’ They were testing him. He answered them, ‘What did Moses command you?’ ‘Moses allowed us’ they said ‘to draw up a writ of dismissal and so to divorce.’ Then Jesus said to them, ‘It was because you were so unteachable that he wrote this commandment for you. But from the beginning of creation God made them male and female. This is why a man must leave father and mother, 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.’ Back in the house the disciples questioned him again about this, and he said to them, ‘The man who divorces his wife and marries another is guilty of adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another she is guilty of adultery too.’

The Lord our knows everything and sees into our hearts. There is nothing we can hide from Him. And why should we, if we truly love Him and are following after Him.

If we truly love Him then how can we do or say things that we know will offend Him? How can we allow a second go by without turning back to Him after we’ve sinned! Or allow ourselves to our time as though we have enough time or to be foolish enough to think we can accumulate our sins so as to not go so often for reconciliation?

Our souls already start dying the second we sin! Why allow ourselves to be separated from His presence, love, peace and joy?

Truly sisters and brothers in Christ, if we love our Lord then we must resist sin to the point of shedding our blood. And rush quickly back into His divine embrace having sinned, so that we can be healed, fully restored in His love. So as to minister to our brethren even with little acts of mercy and kindness. Amen



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First reading
Ecclesiasticus 5:1-10

Do not delay your return to the Lord


Do not give your heart to your money,
    or say, ‘With this I am self-sufficient.’
Do not be led by your appetites and energy
    to follow the passions of your heart.
And do not say, ‘Who has authority over me?’
    for the Lord will certainly be avenged on you.
Do not say, ‘I sinned, and what happened to me?’
    for the Lord’s forbearance is long.
Do not be so sure of forgiveness
    that you add sin to sin.
And do not say, ‘His compassion is great,
    he will forgive me my many sins’;
for with him are both mercy and wrath,
    and his rage bears heavy on sinners.
Do not delay your return to the Lord,
    do not put it off day after day;
for suddenly the Lord’s wrath will blaze out,
    and at the time of vengeance you will be utterly destroyed.
Do not set your heart on ill-gotten gains,
    they will be of no use to you on the day of disaster.



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Gospel
Mark 9:41-50

If your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off

Jesus said to his disciples:
    ‘If anyone gives you a cup of water to drink just because you belong to Christ, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward.
    ‘But anyone who is an obstacle to bring down one of these little ones who have faith, would be better thrown into the sea with a great millstone round his neck. And if your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life crippled, than to have two hands and go to hell, into the fire that cannot be put out. And if your foot should cause you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life lame, than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye should cause you to sin, tear it out; it is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell where their worm does not die nor their fire go out. For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is a good thing, but if salt has become insipid, how can you season it again? Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another.’

Are we merely the sum of our existence and experience? Lord knows the mistakes we have made in our lives! Still in our seeking of Him to draw closer, He gives us the grace of His wisdom so that we can learn His ways and become better versions of ourselves. The more we become like Him the closer we are in union with the divinity of Christ Jesus our Lord. Through our trials and challenges, deep draws on deep and we grow exponentially in His wisdom by trusting and remaining faithful.

We will look upon sisters and brothers in Christ from other denominations through the eyes of Jesus, and love them into His kingdom! Just as we will love all of His children who do not yet know Him into His Kingdom. Amen

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First reading

Ecclesiasticus 4:12-22

Whoever loves wisdom loves life

Wisdom brings up her own sons,

    and cares for those who seek her.

Whoever loves her loves life,

    those who wait on her early will be filled with happiness.

Whoever holds her close will inherit honour,

    and wherever he walks the Lord will bless him.

Those who serve her minister to the Holy One,

    and the Lord loves those who love her.

Whoever obeys her judges aright,

    and whoever pays attention to her dwells secure.

If he trusts himself to her he will inherit her,

    and his descendants will remain in possession of her;

for though she takes him at first through winding ways,

    bringing fear and faintness on him,

plaguing him with her discipline until she can trust him,

    and testing him with her ordeals,

in the end she will lead him back to the straight road

    and reveal her secrets to him.

If he wanders away she will abandon him,

    and hand him over to his fate.

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Gospel

Mark 9:38-40

You must not stop anyone from working miracles in my name

John said to Jesus, ‘Master, we saw a man who is not one of us casting out devils in your name; and because he was not one of us we tried to stop him.’ But Jesus said, ‘You must not stop him: no one who works a miracle in my name is likely to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us.’

Today’s love message from the Lord is commit yourself to the Lord, trust in Him and He will act.

The first reading is an instruction manual of sorts on authentic discipleship. I cling to the Lord with this passage which I love; for He spoke this to me in a very difficult time.  And I will attest that unless we are tested like gold in fire we cannot fully embrace His cross.

In today’s Gospel we hear what servant leadership is about through the eyes of Jesus. About not being first, but about loving everyone first in servitude. About recognising everyone as fellow sisters and brothers in Christ, God our Heavenly Father’s precious ones. As we welcome them, we not only welcome Jesus but our Heavenly Father. Amen


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FFirst reading
Ecclesiasticus 2:1-11

The chosen are tested like gold in the fire


My son, if you aspire to serve the Lord,  prepare yourself for an ordeal.
Be sincere of heart, be steadfast, and do not be alarmed when disaster comes.
Cling to him and do not leave him, so that you may be honoured at the end of your days.
Whatever happens to you, accept it, and in the uncertainties of your humble state, be patient, since gold is tested in the fire, and chosen men in the furnace of humiliation.
Trust him and he will uphold you, follow a straight path and hope in him.
You who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy; do not turn aside in case you fall.
You who fear the Lord, trust him, and you will not be baulked of your reward.
You who fear the Lord hope for good things,  for everlasting happiness and mercy.
Look at the generations of old and see: who ever trusted in the Lord and was put to shame?
Or who ever feared him steadfastly and was left forsaken? Or who ever called out to him, and was ignored?
For the Lord is compassionate and merciful, he forgives sins, and saves in days of distress.

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Gospel
Mark 9:30-37

Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me

Jesus and his disciples made their way through Galilee; and he did not want anyone to know, because he was instructing his disciples; he was telling them, ‘The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men; they will put him to death; and three days after he has been put to death he will rise again.’ But they did not understand what he said and were afraid to ask him.
    They came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, ‘What were you arguing about on the road?’ They said nothing because they had been arguing which of them was the greatest. So he sat down, called the Twelve to him and said, ‘If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all.’ He then took a little child, set him in front of them, put his arms round him, and said to them, ‘Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name, welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.’

Shall we rely on our own wisdom? Or seek first His wisdom and His Kingdom!

Hear His word for us in today’s Gospel, “How much longer must I put up with you?”

Because He has already empowered us to minister to His flock with His wisdom, power and grace.

To cast our evil, to heal and lead His flock into His kingdom. Yet many are relying on their own strength, calling out to Him for help when He has already equipped them.

The Lord our God is the God of the impossible! With the Lord our God everything is possible!

Will He find faith in us to minister the impossible for His Glory?

Here I am Lord send me. Amen

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First reading

Ecclesiasticus 1:1-10 ·

Before all other things, wisdom was created

All wisdom is from the Lord,

    and it is his own for ever.

The sand of the sea and the raindrops,

    and the days of eternity, who can assess them?

The height of the sky and the breadth of the earth,

    and the depth of the abyss, who can probe them?

Before all other things wisdom was created,

    shrewd understanding is everlasting.

For whom has the root of wisdom ever been uncovered?

    Her resourceful ways, who knows them?

One only is wise, terrible indeed,

    seated on his throne, the Lord.

He himself has created her, looked on her and assessed her,

    and poured her out on all his works

to be with all mankind as his gift,

    and he conveyed her to those who love him.

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Gospel

Mark 9:14-29

Help the little faith I have!

When Jesus, with Peter, James and John came down from the mountain and rejoined the disciples, they saw a large crowd round them and some scribes arguing with them. The moment they saw him the whole crowd were struck with amazement and ran to greet him. ‘What are you arguing about with them?’ he asked. A man answered him from the crowd, ‘Master, I have brought my son to you; there is a spirit of dumbness in him, and when it takes hold of him it throws him to the ground, and he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and goes rigid. And I asked your disciples to cast it out and they were unable to.’ ‘You faithless generation’ he said to them in reply. ‘How much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him to me.’ They brought the boy to him, and as soon as the spirit saw Jesus it threw the boy into convulsions, and he fell to the ground and lay writhing there, foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the father, ‘How long has this been happening to him?’ ‘From childhood,’ he replied ‘and it has often thrown him into the fire and into the water, in order to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have pity on us and help us.’ ‘If you can?’ retorted Jesus. ‘Everything is possible for anyone who has faith.’ Immediately the father of the boy cried out, ‘I do have faith. Help the little faith I have!’ And when Jesus saw how many people were pressing round him, he rebuked the unclean spirit. ‘Deaf and dumb spirit,’ he said ‘I command you: come out of him and never enter him again.’ Then throwing the boy into violent convulsions it came out shouting, and the boy lay there so like a corpse that most of them said, ‘He is dead.’ But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him up, and he was able to stand. When he had gone indoors his disciples asked him privately, ‘Why were we unable to cast it out?’ ‘This is the kind’ he answered ‘that can only be driven out by prayer.’

There are still many leaders in the Church who love to be in the inner circle of the hierarchy. They must be in the know, as knowledge is power! Some will micromanage everything. Their spirituality consists of formulated prayers and recycled templates because their hearts are far from the Lord. That is why they often use social media to declare that Lord is Christ! Using phrases like – “let go and let God!” But they themselves cannot let go of their insecurities.

Christian leadership is about gladly laying one’s life down for the good of another. We must be prepared to die for Him! Die to our sins, wanton desires, want of honour, pride, gluttony, laziness. Only when we empty ourselves off the world can He fill us with the graces necessary to minister to His flock. We face hardship and challenges unafraid, because our Lord walks with us.

Lord I surrender my all to You! Use me…

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First reading
1 Peter 5:1-4 ·

Watch over the flock, not simply as a duty but gladly

Now I have something to tell your elders: I am an elder myself, and a witness to the sufferings of Christ, and with you I have a share in the glory that is to be revealed. Be the shepherds of the flock of God that is entrusted to you: watch over it, not simply as a duty but gladly, because God wants it; not for sordid money, but because you are eager to do it. Never be a dictator over any group that is put in your charge, but be an example that the whole flock can follow. When the chief shepherd appears, you will be given the crown of unfading glory.



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Gospel
Matthew 16:13-19

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.’

Today’s first reading may look as though the people who built the tower of Babel were harmless and were just ambitious to build something together as a united people. Unfortunately they were not united for the Lord our God but in a sense against Him for what would have happened if gone unchecked. They were disobedient, self- serving and would eventually alienate everyone outside their circle. The widow, the poor, the weak would be trampled upon. Throughout the centuries we see this behaviour, with leaders such as Hitler, Mussolini!

But when a people are united as One in God the Holy Spirit they become One in the Lord our God. At Pentecost we see how everyone understood the language of the Lord our God spoken through His disciples.

Let us renounce all the works of the enemies and stand united as One in Christ. By carrying our cross and following after Him we are assured that come what may, we will be reunited with Him in paradise.

Jesus remember me when You come into Your kingdom. Amen

Saint Peter Damian, pray for us…

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First reading

Genesis 11:1-9 ·

The tower of Babel

Throughout the earth men spoke the same language, with the same vocabulary. Now as they moved eastwards they found a plain in the land of Shinar where they settled. They said to one another, ‘Come, let us make bricks and bake them in the fire.’ (For stone they used bricks, and for mortar they used bitumen). ‘Come,’ they said ‘let us build ourselves a town and a tower with its top reaching heaven. Let us make a name for ourselves, so that we may not be scattered about the whole earth.’

    Now the Lord came down to see the town and the tower that the sons of man had built. ‘So they are all a single people with a single language!’ said the Lord. ‘This is but the start of their undertakings! There will be nothing too hard for them to do. Come, let us go down and confuse their language on the spot so that they can no longer understand one another.’ The Lord scattered them thence over the whole face of the earth, and they stopped building the town. It was named Babel therefore, because there the Lord confused the language of the whole earth. It was from there that the Lord scattered them over the whole face of the earth.

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Gospel

Mark 8:34-9:1

Anyone who loses his life for my sake will save it

Jesus called the people and his disciples to him and said:

    ‘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, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. What gain, then, is it for a man to win the whole world and ruin his life? And indeed what can a man offer in exchange for his life? For if anyone in this adulterous and sinful generation is ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’ And he said to them, ‘I tell you solemnly, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.’

Life is in the blood! Through the previous blood of Jesus we have life, life to the full! The Lord our willingly chose to lay down His life for us so that we might be saved. Can you now see the travesty of human thinking? “No Lord! God forbid that you suffer and die.” St Peter might have said to Jesus.

We might declare through divine grace, “You O Lord are the Christ!” But are our hearts in sync? This same Lord our ‘Christ’ commanded that we should take up our cross and follow after Him. Have we learned yet? That in suffering for the greater good we have fulfilment in and through Him.

Let Your thoughts be my thoughts Lord. Your words my words. Amen



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First reading
Genesis 9:1-13

The sign of the Covenant


God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, ‘Be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth. Be the terror and the dread of all the wild beasts and all the birds of heaven, of everything that crawls on the ground and all the fish of the sea; they are handed over to you. Every living and crawling thing shall provide food for you, no less than the foliage of plants. I give you everything, with this exception: you must not eat flesh with life, that is to say blood, in it. I will demand an account of your life-blood. I will demand an account from every beast and from man. I will demand an account of every man’s life from his fellow men.

‘He who sheds man’s blood
shall have his blood shed by man,
for in the image of God
man was made.

‘As for you, be fruitful, multiply, teem over the earth and be lord of it.’
    God spoke to Noah and his sons, ‘See, I establish my Covenant with you, and with your descendants after you; also with every living creature to be found with you, birds, cattle and every wild beast with you: everything that came out of the ark, everything that lives on the earth. I establish my Covenant with you: no thing of flesh shall be swept away again by the waters of the flood. There shall be no flood to destroy the earth again.’
    God said, ‘Here is the sign of the Covenant I make between myself and you and every living creature with you for all generations: I set my bow in the clouds and it shall be a sign of the Covenant between me and the earth.’




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Gospel
Mark 8:27-33

The way you think is not God’s way, but man’s

Jesus and his disciples left for the villages round Caesarea Philippi. On the way he put this question to his disciples, ‘Who do people say I am?’ And they told him. ‘John the Baptist,’ they said ‘others Elijah; others again, one of the prophets.’ ‘But you,’ he asked ‘who do you say I am?’ Peter spoke up and said to him, ‘You are the Christ.’ And he gave them strict orders not to tell anyone about him.
    And he began to teach them that the Son of Man was destined to suffer grievously, to be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and to be put to death, and after three days to rise again; and he said all this quite openly. Then, taking him aside, Peter started to remonstrate with him. But, turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said to him, ‘Get behind me, Satan! Because the way you think is not God’s way but man’s.’

Life is in the blood! Through the previous blood of Jesus we have life, life to the full! The Lord our willingly chose to lay down His life for us so that we might be saved. Can you now see the travesty of human thinking? “No Lord! God forbid that you suffer and die.” St Peter might have said to Jesus.

We might declare through divine grace, “You O Lord are the Christ!” But are our hearts in sync? This same Lord our ‘Christ’ commanded that we should take up our cross and follow after Him. Have we learned yet? That in suffering for the greater good we have fulfilment in and through Him.

Let Your thoughts be my thoughts Lord. Your words my words. Amen



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First reading
Genesis 9:1-13

The sign of the Covenant


God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, ‘Be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth. Be the terror and the dread of all the wild beasts and all the birds of heaven, of everything that crawls on the ground and all the fish of the sea; they are handed over to you. Every living and crawling thing shall provide food for you, no less than the foliage of plants. I give you everything, with this exception: you must not eat flesh with life, that is to say blood, in it. I will demand an account of your life-blood. I will demand an account from every beast and from man. I will demand an account of every man’s life from his fellow men.

‘He who sheds man’s blood
shall have his blood shed by man,
for in the image of God
man was made.

‘As for you, be fruitful, multiply, teem over the earth and be lord of it.’
    God spoke to Noah and his sons, ‘See, I establish my Covenant with you, and with your descendants after you; also with every living creature to be found with you, birds, cattle and every wild beast with you: everything that came out of the ark, everything that lives on the earth. I establish my Covenant with you: no thing of flesh shall be swept away again by the waters of the flood. There shall be no flood to destroy the earth again.’
    God said, ‘Here is the sign of the Covenant I make between myself and you and every living creature with you for all generations: I set my bow in the clouds and it shall be a sign of the Covenant between me and the earth.’




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Gospel
Mark 8:27-33

The way you think is not God’s way, but man’s

Jesus and his disciples left for the villages round Caesarea Philippi. On the way he put this question to his disciples, ‘Who do people say I am?’ And they told him. ‘John the Baptist,’ they said ‘others Elijah; others again, one of the prophets.’ ‘But you,’ he asked ‘who do you say I am?’ Peter spoke up and said to him, ‘You are the Christ.’ And he gave them strict orders not to tell anyone about him.
    And he began to teach them that the Son of Man was destined to suffer grievously, to be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and to be put to death, and after three days to rise again; and he said all this quite openly. Then, taking him aside, Peter started to remonstrate with him. But, turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said to him, ‘Get behind me, Satan! Because the way you think is not God’s way but man’s.’

Whether in church, family or at the workplace; are we jealous of one another? Are we starved for attention, affirmation and honour? Who are we jealous of? Have we failed to see that we are all children of God so loved by Him? And that He has no favourites? Are we then jealous of our own sister and brother? Are we upset that another is praised for their good deeds? We should be rejoicing with them! How we react or love reflects our own relationship with our Lord and Saviour Jesus.

Are we seen by our brethren as humble and loving? Are we the sign of God’s love for them?

Lord Jesus come dwell in me, let me be a sign of Your love. Amen


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First reading
Genesis 4:1-15,25

The mark of Cain

The man had intercourse with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. ‘I have acquired a man with the help of the Lord’ she said. She gave birth to a second child, Abel, the brother of Cain. Now Abel became a shepherd and kept flocks, while Cain tilled the soil. Time passed and Cain brought some of the produce of the soil as an offering for the Lord, while Abel for his part brought the first-born of his flock and some of their fat as well. The Lord looked with favour on Abel and his offering. But he did not look with favour on Cain and his offering, and Cain was very angry and downcast. The Lord asked Cain, ‘Why are you angry and downcast? If you are well disposed, ought you not to lift up your head? But if you are ill disposed, is not sin at the door like a crouching beast hungering for you, which you must master?’ Cain said to his brother Abel, ‘Let us go out’; and while they were in the open country, Cain set on his brother Abel and killed him.
    The Lord asked Cain, ‘Where is your brother Abel?’ ‘I do not know’ he replied. ‘Am I my brother’s guardian?’ ‘What have you done?’ the Lord asked. ‘Listen to the sound of your brother’s blood, crying out to me from the ground. Now be accursed and driven from the ground that has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood at your hands. When you till the ground it shall no longer yield you any of its produce. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer over the earth.’ Then Cain said to the Lord, ‘My punishment is greater than I can bear. See! Today you drive me from this ground. I must hide from you, and be a fugitive and a wanderer over the earth. Why, whoever comes across me will kill me!’ ‘Very well, then,’ the Lord replied ‘if anyone kills Cain, sevenfold vengeance shall be taken for him.’ So the Lord put a mark on Cain, to prevent whoever might come across him from striking him down.
    Adam had intercourse with his wife, and she gave birth to a son whom she named Seth, ‘because God has granted me other offspring’ she said ‘in place of Abel, since Cain has killed him.’



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Gospel
Mark 8:11-13

No sign shall be given to this generation

The Pharisees came up and started a discussion with Jesus; they demanded of him a sign from heaven, to test him. And with a sigh that came straight from the heart he said, ‘Why does this generation demand a sign? I tell you solemnly, no sign shall be given to this generation.’ And leaving them again and re-embarking, he went away to the opposite shore.

Our loving Father in Heaven never intended us to be alone or lonely.  He wills good in and for us. In today’s reading we learn that for many of us who follow His will  to be married according to His design, then we are further graced to procreate and be thus fruitful. For others who are chosen to lead a single life, are likewise blessed and graced with beautiful companions on their pilgrim journey.

He loves us His children equally and unconditionally. Even those from another flock! Although not clearly seen based on our cultural differences, the exchange between Jesus and the woman was playful. Yes it must have been extremely difficult for the woman to even muster all the courage and strength to approach a Jew for help, still apart from desperation for her daughter’s well being; she could sense that Jesus was no ordinary Jew. She experienced first hand, being in His presence; the mercy and love of our ever loving God. She approached the throne of grace and received the divine grace of God upon her and her loved one. Amen


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First reading
Genesis 2:18-25

Man and wife become one body

The Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone. I will make him a helpmate.’ So from the soil the Lord God fashioned all the wild beasts and all the birds of heaven. These he brought to the man to see what he would call them; each one was to bear the name the man would give it. The man gave names to all the cattle, all the birds of heaven and all the wild beasts. But no helpmate suitable for man was found for him. So the Lord God made the man fall into a deep sleep. And while he slept, he took one of his ribs and enclosed it in flesh. The Lord God built the rib he had taken from the man into a woman, and brought her to the man. The man exclaimed:

‘This at last is bone from my bones,
and flesh from my flesh!
This is to be called woman,
for this was taken from man.’

This is why a man leaves his father and mother and joins himself to his wife, and they become one body.
    Now both of them were naked, the man and his wife, but they felt no shame in front of each other.



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Gospel
Mark 7:24-30

The astuteness of the Syro-Phoenician woman

Jesus left Gennesaret and set out for the territory of Tyre. There he went into a house and did not want anyone to know he was there, but he could not pass unrecognised. A woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him straightaway and came and fell at his feet. Now the woman was a pagan, by birth a Syrophoenician, and she begged him to cast the devil out of her daughter. And he said to her, ‘The children should be fed first, because it is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the house-dogs.’ But she spoke up: ‘Ah yes, sir,’ she replied ‘but the house-dogs under the table can eat the children’s scraps.’ And he said to her, ‘For saying this, you may go home happy: the devil has gone out of your daughter.’ So she went off to her home and found the child lying on the bed and the devil gone.

What is man or woman that You O Lord deigned we should be made in Your image and likeness. Only love! Fashioned in Your love how can we not love one another who are all likewise made in Your image and likeness. Be it Father, mother, sister, brother, friend or stranger! And love one another we must above all laws all traditions. Above all hurts and pains. Only then can we declare our love for the Lord our God.

We shall go forth loving our neighbour into His Kingdom by our works. And we shall rest in Him, so as to continue our pilgrim journey back to Him. Amen

Our Lady of Lourdes  pray for us…

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First reading
Genesis 1:20-2:4

‘Let us make man in our own image’

God said, ‘Let the waters teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth within the vault of heaven.’ And so it was. God created great sea-serpents and every kind of living creature with which the waters teem, and every kind of winged creature. God saw that it was good. God blessed them, saying, ‘Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the waters of the seas; and let the birds multiply upon the earth.’ Evening came and morning came: the fifth day.
    God said, ‘Let the earth produce every kind of living creature: cattle, reptiles, and every kind of wild beast.’ And so it was. God made every kind of wild beast, every kind of cattle, and every kind of land reptile. God saw that it was good.
    God said, ‘Let us make man in our own image, in the likeness of ourselves, and let them be masters of the fish of the sea, the birds of heaven, the cattle, all the wild beasts and all the reptiles that crawl upon the earth.’

God created man in the image of himself,
in the image of God he created him,
male and female he created them.

God blessed them, saying to them, ‘Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and conquer it. Be masters of the fish of the sea, the birds of heaven and all living animals on the earth.’ God said, ‘See, I give you all the seed-bearing plants that are upon the whole earth, and all the trees with seed-bearing fruit; this shall be your food. To all wild beasts, all birds of heaven and all living reptiles on the earth I give all the foliage of plants for food.’ And so it was. God saw all he had made, and indeed it was very good. Evening came and morning came: the sixth day.
    Thus heaven and earth were completed with all their array. On the seventh day God completed the work he had been doing. He rested on the seventh day after all the work he had been doing. God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on that day he had rested after all his work of creating.
    Such were the origins of heaven and earth when they were created.



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Gospel
Mark 7:1-13

You get round the commandment of God to preserve your own tradition

The Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered round Jesus, and they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with unclean hands, that is, without washing them. For the Pharisees, and the Jews in general, follow the tradition of the elders and never eat without washing their arms as far as the elbow; and on returning from the market place they never eat without first sprinkling themselves. There are also many other observances which have been handed down to them concerning the washing of cups and pots and bronze dishes. So these Pharisees and scribes asked him, ‘Why do your disciples not respect the tradition of the elders but eat their food with unclean hands?’ He answered, ‘It was of you hypocrites that Isaiah so rightly prophesied in this passage of scripture:

This people honours me only with lip-service,
while their hearts are far from me.
The worship they offer me is worthless,
the doctrines they teach are only human regulations.

You put aside the commandment of God to cling to human traditions.’ And he said to them, ‘How ingeniously you get round the commandment of God in order to preserve your own tradition! For Moses said: Do your duty to your father and your mother, and, Anyone who curses father or mother must be put to death. But you say, “If a man says to his father or mother: Anything I have that I might have used to help you is Corban (that is, dedicated to God), then he is forbidden from that moment to do anything for his father or mother.” In this way you make God’s word null and void for the sake of your tradition which you have handed down. And you do many other things like this.’

Pray and Praise even when you do not feel like praying or praising; for His great love for us in our lives never ceases! So then it is only fitting that we praise and pray unceasingly. A sacrifice on our part worthy of Him.

St Paul reminds us in today’s first reading that we must obey our leaders. Whether we feel they are right or wrong, whether they are likable or not does not matter. So long as they do not lead us against our faith and morals we must obey them. For they are accountable to the Lord for us.

And in all our going and comings we must always come back to Jesus our Shepherd, for in and through Him we have peace and rest. (Prayer is coming to Jesus) Through His word and Holy Eucharist we are renewed, refreshed and ready to go on ministering to His flock.

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

Saint Jerome Emilian, Saint Josephine Bakhita, pray for us…

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First reading

Hebrews 13:15-17,20-21 ·

May God turn us all into whatever is acceptable to himself through Jesus Christ

Through Christ, let us offer God an unending sacrifice of praise, a verbal sacrifice that is offered every time we acknowledge his name. Keep doing good works and sharing your resources, for these are sacrifices that please God.

    Obey your leaders and do as they tell you, because they must give an account of the way they look after your souls; make this a joy for them to do, and not a grief – you yourselves would be the losers. I pray that the God of peace, who brought our Lord Jesus back from the dead to become the great Shepherd of the sheep by the blood that sealed an eternal covenant, may make you ready to do his will in any kind of good action; and turn us all into whatever is acceptable to himself through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever, Amen.

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Gospel

Mark 6:30-34

They were like sheep without a shepherd

The apostles rejoined Jesus and told him all they had done and taught. Then he said to them, ‘You must come away to some lonely place all by yourselves and rest for a while’; for there were so many coming and going that the apostles had no time even to eat. So they went off in a boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. But people saw them going, and many could guess where; and from every town they all hurried to the place on foot and reached it before them. So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he set himself to teach them at some length.

We have joy in our hearts because we have been saved and no doom or gloom has reign over our hearts. Jesus our saviour has set us free!

And He has empowered us to be His priest, prophet and king! So that we go forth carrying only His grace with us. Bringing His peace, love and healing. Those who listen to the Gospel we share shall rejoice with us. Amen

Saints Paul Miki and his Companions, pray for us…


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First reading
Hebrews 12:18-19,21-24 ·

You have come to Mount Zion and the city of the living God

What you have come to is nothing known to the senses: not a blazing fire, or a gloom turning to total darkness, or a storm; or trumpeting thunder or the great voice speaking which made everyone that heard it beg that no more should be said to them. The whole scene was so terrible that Moses said: I am afraid, and was trembling with fright. But what you have come to is Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem where the millions of angels have gathered for the festival, with the whole Church in which everyone is a ‘first-born son’ and a citizen of heaven. You have come to God himself, the supreme Judge, and been placed with spirits of the saints who have been made perfect; and to Jesus, the mediator who brings a new covenant and a blood for purification which pleads more insistently than Abel’s.




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Gospel
Mark 6:7-13

‘Take nothing with you’

Jesus made a tour round the villages, teaching. Then he summoned the Twelve and began to send them out in pairs giving them authority over the unclean spirits. And he instructed them to take nothing for the journey except a staff – no bread, no haversack, no coppers for their purses. They were to wear sandals but, he added, ‘Do not take a spare tunic.’ And he said to them, ‘If you enter a house anywhere, stay there until you leave the district. And if any place does not welcome you and people refuse to listen to you, as you walk away shake off the dust from under your feet as a sign to them.’ So they set off to preach repentance; and they cast out many devils, and anointed many sick people with oil and cured them.

We must carry the holiness of Christ in us at all times. Especially in the face of adversity, challenges and when facing insults or dishonour. Only then we walk in the grace of God as His sons and continue to bring the light of Christ to all.

For with Christ’s wisdom and grace we shall lay hands to cure the sick and bring His peace where there is none. We shall not be found with any lack of faith! Amen


Saint Agatha, pray for us…



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First reading
Hebrews 12:4-7,11-15

God is training you as his sons

In the fight against sin, you have not yet had to keep fighting to the point of death.
    Have you forgotten that encouraging text in which you are addressed as sons? My son, when the Lord corrects you, do not treat it lightly; but do not get discouraged when he reprimands you. For the Lord trains the ones that he loves and he punishes all those that he acknowledges as his sons. Suffering is part of your training; God is treating you as his sons. Has there ever been any son whose father did not train him? Of course, any punishment is most painful at the time, and far from pleasant; but later, in those on whom it has been used, it bears fruit in peace and goodness. So hold up your limp arms and steady your trembling knees and smooth out the path you tread; then the injured limb will not be wrenched, it will grow strong again.
    Always be wanting peace with all people, and the holiness without which no one can ever see the Lord. Be careful that no one is deprived of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness should begin to grow and make trouble; this can poison a whole community.





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Gospel
Mark 6:1-6

‘A prophet is only despised in his own country’

Jesus went to his home town and his disciples accompanied him. With the coming of the sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue and most of them were astonished when they heard him. They said, ‘Where did the man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been granted him, and these miracles that are worked through him? This is the carpenter, surely, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joset and Jude and Simon? His sisters, too, are they not here with us?’ And they would not accept him. And Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is only despised in his own country, among his own relations and in his own house’; and he could work no miracle there, though he cured a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.

Till we all receive our Heavenly inheritance we have the blessed assurance that through the life death and resurrection of Christ Jesus our Lord, even the old testament saints are reunited with Him in Heaven! They together with all the saints and angels in Heaven are praying for us.

Let us remain steadfast with One mind, body and spirit in Christ Jesus our Lord. Waking each day resisting all evil and sin without fear! For we have on our side, the King of the Universe and all are subject to Him. No evil shall we fear.

Jesus my Lord and God I adore thee. Amen

Saint Ansgar (Oscar), Saint Blaise, pray for us… 

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First reading

Hebrews 11:32-40

The example of the Old Testament saints

Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets – these were men who through faith conquered kingdoms, did what is right and earned the promises. They could keep a lion’s mouth shut, put out blazing fires and emerge unscathed from battle. They were weak people who were given strength, to be brave in war and drive back foreign invaders. Some came back to their wives from the dead, by resurrection; and others submitted to torture, refusing release so that they would rise again to a better life. Some had to bear being pilloried and flogged, or even chained up in prison. They were stoned, or sawn in half, or beheaded; they were homeless, and dressed in the skins of sheep and goats; they were penniless and were given nothing but ill-treatment. They were too good for the world and they went out to live in deserts and mountains and in caves and ravines. These are all heroes of faith, but they did not receive what was promised, since God had made provision for us to have something better, and they were not to reach perfection except with us.

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Gospel

Mark 5:1-20

The Gadarene swine

Jesus and his disciples reached the country of the Gerasenes on the other side of the lake, and no sooner had Jesus left the boat than a man with an unclean spirit came out from the tombs towards him. The man lived in the tombs and no one could secure him any more, even with a chain; because he had often been secured with fetters and chains but had snapped the chains and broken the fetters, and no one had the strength to control him. All night and all day, among the tombs and in the mountains, he would howl and gash himself with stones. Catching sight of Jesus from a distance, he ran up and fell at his feet and shouted at the top of his voice, ‘What do you want with me, Jesus, son of the Most High God? Swear by God you will not torture me!’ – for Jesus had been saying to him, ‘Come out of the man, unclean spirit.’ ‘What is your name?’ Jesus asked. ‘My name is legion,’ he answered ‘for there are many of us.’ And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the district.

    Now there was there on the mountainside a great herd of pigs feeding, and the unclean spirits begged him, ‘Send us to the pigs, let us go into them.’ So he gave them leave. With that, the unclean spirits came out and went into the pigs, and the herd of about two thousand pigs charged down the cliff into the lake, and there they were drowned. The swineherds ran off and told their story in the town and in the country round about; and the people came to see what had really happened. They came to Jesus and saw the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his full senses – the very man who had had the legion in him before – and they were afraid. And those who had witnessed it reported what had happened to the demoniac and what had become of the pigs. Then they began to implore Jesus to leave the neighbourhood. As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed begged to be allowed to stay with him. Jesus would not let him but said to him, ‘Go home to your people and tell them all that the Lord in his mercy has done for you.’ So the man went off and proceeded to spread throughout the Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him. And everyone was amazed.