Archive for February 28, 2026

Testimony

Posted: February 28, 2026 by CatholicJules in Life's Journeys, Testimonies
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Our Lord is patient, merciful, loving and kind.

In the days of the week leading up to today, I was dismayed that once again I had fallen back into sin!

I was remorseful but yet felt very empty and void, so I made it to church this evening and sat first in line for the Sacrament of reconciliation, the priest who normally ministers the Sacrament of reconciliation is usually early, but today he must have forgotten and as a time drew closer for mass to begin, I was anxious, thinking that I would not have a chance to be fully reconciled.

But then he came, and once again the Lord received me with open arms.

Just before he arrived though, the Lord put it on my mind to pray for
a recently widowed auntie named Eva, even though she was not in church yet.

The husband Adrian who had just passed on was once a sacristan in our church and was also in charge of the bookshop before he Retired. He was a very hardworking man and always extended a helping hand as needed.

It was late last month or beginning of this month that I had prayed over him. I had asked him how he was doing and had shared that he wasn’t doing too great. He was thankful that I prayed for him.

So immediately after reconciliation, I looked in the direction that he and his wife would usually sit. And there she was. So I walked up to her and asked how she was doing, and she shared with me that Uncle Adrian had peacefully passed on and finally there was no more suffering for him as he had returned to the Lord.

And as she was speaking, I could see the love in her eyes that even though she missed her husband, she had the faith that the Lord has received her husband in His heavenly embrace.

So I prayed for her that our Lord would fill her with His presence and also a prayed to our dear Mother Mary to at her side.

Also earlier when as I was waiting for my turn for reconciliation. I saw a Chinese lady a regular at our church in her sixties limping pass me in pain. I didn’t think the Lord was highlighting her to me at the time.

After Mass had ended, I went to McDonald’s to buy dinner for my daughter.

It was across the road from the church and after my making my way back to the bus stop, which was across the road at the church end I happened to see that lady again, I could tell that she spoke little English from brief encounters from the past, but I reached out to her and asked her how she was and that I noticed that she had leg pains and was struggling.

She said, it was very painful and she was suffering for almost a year already. So I asked her name and she told me it was Agatha.

So I prayed for her healing there at the bus stop.

As I dwell a little this evening, I have come to realize that. That If I did not open my eyes, or if they were closed by sin, then I would not see the Lord’s highlights, and I would not be able to pray for them.

In the Sacrament of reconciliation, he had lifted the guilt of my sin so that I was free once again in His love. And my eyes were once again open to see my brethren through His eyes.

Thank you, Jesus.
Thank you, God my Father.
Thank you, Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Sunday Reflection with Dr Scott Hahn

Posted: February 28, 2026 by CatholicJules in Sunday Reflections
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Second Sunday of Lent

Genesis 12:1-4
Psalm 33:4-5,18-20, 22
2 Timothy 1:8-10
Matthew 17:1-9

Listen to Him

Today’s Gospel portrays Jesus as a new and greater Moses.

Moses also took three companions up a mountain and on the seventh day was overshadowed by the shining cloud of God’s presence. He too spoke with God, and his face and clothing were made radiant in the encounter (see Exodus 24, 34).

But in today’s Lenten Liturgy, the Church wants us to look back past Moses. Indeed, we are asked to contemplate what today’s Epistle calls God’s “design . . . from before time began.”

With His promises to Abram in today’s First Reading, God formed the people through whom He would reveal Himself and bestow His blessings on all humanity.

He later elevated these promises to eternal covenants and changed Abram’s name to Abraham, promising that he would be the father of a host of nations (see Genesis 17:5). In remembrance of His covenant with Abraham, He raised up Moses (see Exodus 2:24; 3:8) and later swore an everlasting kingdom to David’s sons (see Jeremiah 33:26).

In Jesus’ transfiguration today, He is revealed as the One through whom God fulfills His divine plan from of old.

Not only a new Moses, Jesus is also the “beloved son” promised to Abraham and again to David (see Genesis 22:15–18; Psalm 2:7; Matthew 1:1).

Moses foretold a prophet like him to whom Israel would listen (see Deuteronomy 18:15, 18), and Isaiah foretold an anointed servant in whom God would be well pleased (see Isaiah 42:1). Jesus is this prophet and this servant, as the Voice on the mountain tells us today.

By faith we have been made children of the covenant with Abraham (see Galatians 3:7–9; Acts 3:25). He calls us, too, to a holy life, to follow His Son to the heavenly homeland He has promised. We know, as we sing in today’s Psalm, that we who hope in Him will be delivered from death.

So like our father in faith, we go forth as the Lord directs us: “Listen to Him!”

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: February 28, 2026 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Today, we are reminded of our baptism, in which we were set apart, consecrated for a higher purpose, for a higher calling. In our Lenten journey, we strive to answer that calling, to be holy as our Heavenly Father is holy, to be perfect as He is perfect.

When we are one in holy communion with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, we can rise above the ashes. Through Him, we are perfected. Through Him, we are able to love our enemies, especially those who persecute us. Through Him, our eyes are open to the needs of our brethren who are suffering, and we will minister to them.

For all things are possible through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And we are happy who follow His law. Amen.


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First reading
Deuteronomy 26:16-19 ·
You will be a people consecrated to the Lord

Moses said to the people: ‘The Lord your God today commands you to observe these laws and customs; you must keep and observe them with all your heart and with all your soul.
    ‘You have today made this declaration about the Lord: that he will be your God, but only if you follow his ways, keep his statutes, his commandments, his ordinances, and listen to his voice. And the Lord has today made this declaration about you: that you will be his very own people as he promised you, but only if you keep all his commandments; then for praise and renown and honour he will set you high above all the nations he has made, and you will be a people consecrated to the Lord, as he promised.’




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Gospel
Matthew 5:43-48
Pray for those who persecute you

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You have learnt how it was said: You must love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I say this to you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you; in this way you will be sons of your Father in heaven, for he causes his sun to rise on bad men as well as good, and his rain to fall on honest and dishonest men alike. For if you love those who love you, what right have you to claim any credit? Even the tax collectors do as much, do they not? And if you save your greetings for your brothers, are you doing anything exceptional? Even the pagans do as much, do they not? You must therefore be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect.’