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God of Love the author of life created us in His image, and gave us dominion over all the creatures, trees and plants of the earth. Have we truly pondered over what it means to be created in His image?

Is it not first and foremost an image of love? To love and be loved? Our loving Father Wills that we be the best version of our unique selves and that we live a life fully alive in Him. And so should we want the best for one another. Not to Lord over one another or to objectify. Not to place unnecessary burdens on one another or to lead selfish, self centred lives. But to love another not an emotion but a will to want the best for another, and to sacrifice of ourselves if need be to accomplish it.

And so Jesus the Son of God did that very thing for us. He sacrificed Himself for love of us. So that we may be free to be live Holy lives fully alive in Him. For ourselves, for one another and for Him. Amen

First reading
Genesis 1:20-2:4

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.

Gospel Mark 7:1-13

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.’

This morning at approximately 0550hrs l was standing at the bus stop doing my reflections on the Word, while waiting for the bus to arrive. Then I noticed a young man in army fatigues, who was seated suddenly slump forward and grab the large pole next to him. His spectacles had fallen to the ground at the same time. I continued to do my reflections thinking he was simply balancing and reaching down for his glasses which had fallen.

It was only when a lady screamed for us to help him that I rushed to try and help him up. He was having some sort of seizure and because he was heavy set, we struggled to take off his backpack, lift him up and set him down flat on the seat. Thankfully there were two nurses at the bus stop who tended to him. As he was slowly gaining consciousness I left to take my bus which had arrived.

While on the bus I chided myself for not reacting faster perhaps when I first noticed him slumped forward I could have at least checked. Then for forgetting to pray while attending to him. Perhaps I should have stayed to ensure he was totally ok and taken the next bus? The message of the first week of Advent came to mind…. Stay awake and be ready.

I take consolation in knowing he was in good hands. Lord please watch over him. Amen

Jesus consecrates us to God our Heavenly Father. It is only through Him we are made worthy. He offered Himself a once for all sacrifice so that we may have life in Him. Praise and Glory be to You O Lord!

And You O Lord have given us models of how we should live out our calling, our vocation. And though there are many, today we reflect on four. For those called to be married you’ve given us Saint Joseph and Mary our mother. For those called to single life You’ve given us St Simeon and St Anna. Faithful and loving devout men and women truly worthy to be called Your children.

Heavenly Father grant that I may always be worthy to be called Your child. In Jesus name I pray. Amen

First reading
Malachi 3:1-4

The Lord God says this: Look, I am going to send my messenger to prepare a way before me. And the Lord you are seeking will suddenly enter his Temple; and the angel of the covenant whom you are longing for, yes, he is coming, says the Lord of Hosts. Who will be able to resist the day of his coming? Who will remain standing when he appears? For he is like the refiner’s fire and the fullers’ alkali. He will take his seat as refiner and purifier; he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and then they will make the offering to the Lord as it should be made. The offering of Judah and Jerusalem will then be welcomed by the Lord as in former days, as in the years of old.

Second reading
Hebrews 2:14-18

Since all the children share the same blood and flesh, Christ too shared equally in it, so that by his death he could take away all the power of the devil, who had power over death, and set free all those who had been held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death. For it was not the angels that he took to himself; he took to himself descent from Abraham. It was essential that he should in this way become completely like his brothers so that he could be a compassionate and trustworthy high priest of God’s religion, able to atone for human sins. That is, because he has himself been through temptation he is able to help others who are tempted.

Gospel
Luke 2:22-40

When the day came for them to be purified as laid down by the Law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, – observing what stands written in the Law of the Lord: Every first-born male must be consecrated to the Lord – and also to offer in sacrifice, in accordance with what is said in the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.
Now in Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon. He was an upright and devout man; he looked forward to Israel’s comforting and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had set eyes on the Christ of the Lord. Prompted by the Spirit he came to the Temple and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the Law required, he took him into his arms and blessed God; and he said:
‘Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace,
just as you promised;
because my eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared for all the nations to see,
a light to enlighten the pagans
and the glory of your people Israel.’
As the child’s father and mother stood there wondering at the things that were being said about him, Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘You see this child: he is destined for the fall and for the rising of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is rejected – and a sword will pierce your own soul too – so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare.’
There was a prophetess also, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well on in years. Her days of girlhood over, she had been married for seven years before becoming a widow. She was now eighty-four years old and never left the Temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayer. She came by just at that moment and began to praise God; and she spoke of the child to all who looked forward to the deliverance of Jerusalem.
When they had done everything the Law of the Lord required, they went back to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. Meanwhile the child grew to maturity, and he was filled with wisdom; and God’s favour was with him.

Sunday Reflection With Dr Scott Hahn

Newborn King

Readings:
Isaiah 60:1-6
Psalm 72:1-2,7-8, 10-13
Ephesians 3:2-3,5-6
Matthew 2:1-12

An “epiphany” is an appearance. In today’s readings, with their rising stars, splendorous lights and mysteries revealed, the face of the child born on Christmas day appears.

Herod, in today’s Gospel, asks the chief priests and scribes where the Messiah is to be born. The answer Matthew puts on their lips says much more, combining two strands of Old Testament promise – one revealing the Messiah to be from the line of David (see 2 Samuel 2:5), the other predicting “a ruler of Israel” who will “shepherd his flock” and whose “greatness shall reach to the ends of the earth” (see Micah 5:1-3).

Those promises of Israel’s king ruling the nations resound also in today’s Psalm. The psalm celebrates David’s son, Solomon. His kingdom, we sing, will stretch “to the ends of the earth,” and the world’s kings will pay Him homage. That’s the scene too in today’s First Reading, as nations stream from the East, bearing “gold and frankincense” for Israel’s king.

The Magi’s pilgrimage in today’s Gospel marks the fulfillment of God’s promises. The Magi, probably Persian astrologers, are following the star that Balaam predicted would rise along with the ruler’s staff over the house of Jacob (see Numbers 24:17).

Laden with gold and spices, their journey evokes those made to Solomon by the Queen of Sheba and the “kings of the earth” (see 1 Kings 10:2,25; 2 Chronicles 9:24). Interestingly, the only other places where frankincense and myrrh are mentioned together are in songs about Solomon (see Song of Songs 3:6, 4:6,14).

One greater than Solomon is here (see Luke 11:31). He has come to reveal that all peoples are “co-heirs” of the royal family of Israel, as today’s Epistle teaches.

His manifestation forces us to choose: Will we follow the signs that lead to Him as the wise Magi did? Or will we be like those priests and the scribes who let God’s words of promise become dead letters on an ancient page?

Sunday Reflections with Dr Scott Hahn

Readings:
Sirach 3:2-6,12-14
Psalm 128:1-5
Colossians 3:12-21
Luke 2:41-52

Why did Jesus choose to become a baby born of a mother and father and to spend all but His last years living in an ordinary human family? In part, to reveal God’s plan to make all people live as one “holy family” in His Church (see 2 Corinthians 6:16-18).
In the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, God reveals our true home. We’re to live as His children, “chosen ones, holy and beloved,” as the First Reading puts it.
The family advice we hear in today’s readings – for mothers, fathers and children – is all solid and practical. Happy homes are the fruit of our faithfulness to the Lord, we sing in today’s Psalm. But the Liturgy is inviting us to see more, to see how, through our family obligations and relationships, our families become heralds of the family of God that He wants to create on earth.
Jesus shows us this in today’s Gospel. His obedience to His earthly parents flows directly from His obedience to the will of His heavenly Father. Joseph and Mary aren’t identified by name, but three times are called “his parents” and are referred to separately as his “mother” and “father.” The emphasis is all on their “familial” ties to Jesus. But these ties are emphasized only so that Jesus, in the first words He speaks in Luke’s Gospel, can point us beyond that earthly relationship to the Fatherhood of God.
In what Jesus calls “My Father’s house,” every family finds its true meaning and purpose (see Ephesians 3:15). The Temple we read about in the Gospel today is God’s house, His dwelling (see Luke 19:46). But it’s also an image of the family of God, the Church (see Ephesians 2:19-22; Hebrews 3:3-6; 10:21).
In our families we’re to build up this household, this family, this living temple of God. Until He reveals His new dwelling among us, and says of every person: “I shall be his God and he will be My son” (see Revelation 21:3,7).

How vast the difference when a family is gathered for a celebration without the Lord present. Are family bonds strengthened?

Perhaps for tradition have brought them together and they are given a chance to take off from when they last met. But how the noise and merry making are empty.

The celebration this evening is suppose to be about the birth of our Lord, our God who for the love of us came down to live with us and restore our heavenly inheritance lost to sin.

Yet no one seems to care! It has become all about the food, wine, sweets and presents.

Lord have mercy, help us to reach out to these families. So that they will experience Your love so as to encounter the true meaning of Christmas.

Do we long to hear but do not hear? Do we long to see but still do not? Then we must ask ourselves, have we gone before Jesus with repentant hearts; if we have gone before Him at all. Do we still think we can summon all the power of our intellect alone to understand God, His ways and His Word? Have we blessed ourselves with poverty of heart and spirit that He our Lord may fill us?

Open the eyes of our heart Lord, we long to see You. Amen

First reading
Isaiah 29:17-24

The Lord says this:
In a short time, a very short time,
shall not Lebanon become fertile land
and fertile land turn into forest?
The deaf, that day,
will hear the words of a book
and, after shadow and darkness,
the eyes of the blind will see.
But the lowly will rejoice in the Lord even more
and the poorest exult in the Holy One of Israel;
for tyrants shall be no more, and scoffers vanish,
and all be destroyed who are disposed to do evil:
those who gossip to incriminate others,
those who try at the gate to trip the arbitrator
and get the upright man’s case dismissed for groundless reasons.
Therefore the Lord speaks,
the God of the House of Jacob,
Abraham’s redeemer:
No longer shall Jacob be ashamed,
no more shall his face grow pale,
for he shall see what my hands have done in his midst,
he shall hold my name holy.
They will hallow the Holy One of Jacob,
stand in awe of the God of Israel.
Erring spirits will learn wisdom
and murmurers accept instruction.

Gospel
Matthew 9:27-31

As Jesus went on his way two blind men followed him shouting, ‘Take pity on us, Son of David.’ And when Jesus reached the house the blind men came up with him and he said to them, ‘Do you believe I can do this?’ They said, ‘Sir, we do.’ Then he touched their eyes saying, ‘Your faith deserves it, so let this be done for you.’ And their sight returned. Then Jesus sternly warned them, ‘Take care that no one learns about this.’ But when they had gone, they talked about him all over the countryside.

What did the centurion do and have that many ‘Christians’ still have not? He recognised Jesus as Lord of Lords and King of kings. He bowed down with his heart and worshipped Him. He laid His intercession for another before the feet of Jesus and had faith that it will be answered. Ah such faith! Do we not want it? Do we yet have it?

If that is truly our desire then we must pray with all our hearts, we must seek the Lord in worship. He will see our desire to walk in His paths. And He will write His laws in our hearts. And in that intimate union with Him, we will know His ways and shall lead others too on the right path. Amen

First reading
Isaiah 2:1-5

The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
In the days to come
the mountain of the Temple of the Lord
shall tower above the mountains
and be lifted higher than the hills.
All the nations will stream to it,
peoples without number will come to it; and they will say:
‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the Temple of the God of Jacob
that he may teach us his ways
so that we may walk in his paths;
since the Law will go out from Zion,
and the oracle of the Lord from Jerusalem.’
He will wield authority over the nations
and adjudicate between many peoples;
these will hammer their swords into ploughshares,
their spears into sickles.
Nation will not lift sword against nation,
there will be no more training for war.
O House of Jacob, come,
let us walk in the light of the Lord.

Gospel
Matthew 8:5-11

When Jesus went into Capernaum a centurion came up and pleaded with him. ‘Sir,’ he said ‘my servant is lying at home paralysed, and in great pain.’ ‘I will come myself and cure him’ said Jesus. The centurion replied, ‘Sir, I am not worthy to have you under my roof; just give the word and my servant will be cured. For I am under authority myself, and have soldiers under me; and I say to one man: Go, and he goes; to another: Come here, and he comes; to my servant: Do this, and he does it.’ When Jesus heard this he was astonished and said to those following him, ‘I tell you solemnly, nowhere in Israel have I found faith like this. And I tell you that many will come from east and west to take their places with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob at the feast in the kingdom of heaven.’

From a homily written in the second century
Let us return to God who has called us

With regard to self-control, I believe I have given you good advice. No one who follows it will have reason for regret but will save his own soul and mine as well, since I have been his counselor. Indeed there is no small reward for converting an erring soul and saving it from perishing. Moreover, whether it is our duty to speak or to listen, we have it in our power to make some recompense to the God who created us, by speaking or listening with faith and love.

We must remain firm in our faith, therefore, and live upright and holy lives, for we shall then feel at ease and confident when we present our petitions to God, who says: While you are still speaking I will say: “See, I am here!” In these words the Lord makes a wonderful promise, and shows us that he is more ready to give than we are to ask. We all have a share in this extraordinary goodness, so the great blessings we receive should never make us envy one another. In fact, the degree of pleasure these words bring to those who live by them is equaled only by the condemnation they will bring on those who disregard them.

So you see, my brothers, that we have been given every inducement to amend our lives. We have been called by God, and now it is up to us to return to him while we still have time and one who is ready to receive us. For if we renounce sinful pleasures and practice self control by refusing to yield to our evil desires, we shall share in the mercy of Jesus.

You must know, however, that the day of judgment, like a flaming furnace, is already approaching. Sun, moon and stars will be consumed, and the whole earth will become like lead melting in the fire. All that each man has done, whether openly or in secret, will then be brought to light. Therefore, a very good way of atoning for our sins is by being generous to the poor. Fasting is better than prayer, but almsgiving surpasses both, for love covers a multitude of sins. Nevertheless, prayer delivers the soul from death if it proceeds from a good conscience. Happy the man who is found rich in these virtues; by relieving the poor, he himself will be relieved of his sins.

To make sure that none of us is lost, we must repent from the bottom of our hearts. Since we have been commanded to go out and rescue idolaters and to instruct them, is it not even more important to save souls who already know God? If we are all to be saved, we shall have to help one another and support the weak in their struggle to live a good life. When one of us does wrong, it is for the others to warn him and persuade him of his error.

Sunday Reflections with Dr Scott Hahn

Body Building

Readings
Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9,12 

Psalm 46:2-3,5-6,8-9

1 Corinthians 3:9-11, 16-17 

John 2:13-22 



Why commemorate a church dedication that happened in fourth-century Rome? First, because St. John Lateran is no ordinary church—it’s the cathedral church of the Pope and still known as “the mother of all the world’s churches.”

But more than that, because God has from all time intended the church building to be a symbol of His Church and our bodies. This is what the readings for today’s feast invite us to consider. God’s prototype for the church is the Jerusalem Temple, described in this week’s First Reading and Psalm. It’s God’s “holy dwelling,” site of His presence in our midst, source of “living waters”—of all life and blessing. But God intended the Temple to give way to the Body of Christ.

That’s what our Lord’s words and actions in Sunday’s Gospel are intended to dramatize. Christ’s Body is now the dwelling of God’s “glory” among us (see John 1:14). It’s the new source of living waters (John 4:10,14; 7:37-39; 19:34), the living bread (John 6:51), the new sanctuary where people will worship in Spirit and truth (John 4:21,23). By Baptism, we are joined to His Body in the Church (see 1 Corinthians 12:13).

Sunday’s Epistle says the Spirit of God comes to dwell in us and makes us “God’s building…the temple of God” (see also 1 Corinthians 6:9). Jesus drove out the sellers of oxen, sheep and doves, signaling an end to the animal sacrifices that formed the worship of the old Temple. In the spiritual worship of the new Temple, we offer our bodies—our whole beings—as a living sacrifice (see Romans 12:1). Like living stones (see 1 Peter 2:5) built on the cornerstone of Christ (see Mark 12:10; Acts 4:11), together we are called to build up the new Temple of God, the Church.

As the Jerusalem Temple was, so the Church will always be under construction—until at last it is perfected in the new Jerusalem, our mother Church, come down from heaven (see Revelation 21:3,10,22; 22:1; Galatians 4:26).

God’s laws have been written in our hearts as such it is in and for love of us. And through the love of Christ our hearts swells with, beyond human boundaries. With that same love, so too will our knowledge, perception and depth grow. We see and recognise the good in others no matter how little and seek lovingly to bring about greater conversion and transformation through the knowledge and faith in Christ our Lord.

Let us continue to strive each day to grow deeper in love with our Lord. Remaining steadfast in His love, pure and blameless. Loving one another as He loves us. Amen

First reading
Philippians 1:1-11

Gospel
Luke 14:1-6

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

What a power packed day with and in Christ. It all began with a wonderful morning EC in which a few of my favourite hymns were sung then off to breakfast with some sisters and brothers from Church. Then it was time for a homebound visit to the home of a male stroke victim, a request given to John by our parish priest.  We went in faith all the while thinking it was the home of an indian family.  Just after coming out of the lift we said a prayer and knocked on the door.  To our great surprise the door was eventually opened by an elderly chinese man whom we thought was the caregiver.  Turns out he was the stroke victim himself, we greeted him and introduced ourselves informing him that we were from St Anthony’s Parish intending to spend some time getting to know him and perhaps share the gospel with him. So we chatted and exchanged life stories before sharing the Gospel and the message.  While still quite set in his thinking and ways, the gentleman showed signs of being quite receptive and engaged.  He also mentioned he felt a call of Jesus to come back into the fold.  Anyhow filled with confidence and the strong presence of the Lord, we are prayerful that after a few more sessions his relationship with Christ will grow. 

Everything was seemingly well when we drove back to church to return the hymn books we had borrowed, till I realised I didn’t have my tab2 aka my phone with me.  I likely must have left it at the homebound’s home but cannot be sure, in any case we could not reach him by phone to check.  All other searches turned up an empty, and so feeling rather crippled I went to singel after lunch to report the phone lost and get a micro sim for my note 8.0 which I got a year++ earlier for renewing my cable contract with Starhub.  I am still hoping to get my tab2 back for the pictures and some files but have lifted the soreness of losing it up to the Lord.  Besides the performance of the Note is way better than the tab2 by leaps and bounds.  The whole afternoon thereafter was spent setting up the phone; all my important catholic apps had to be redownloaded and setup. So too the other important apps for daily use had to be reinstalled.

Then it was time to head back to church for the couples night we had registered for, soft music, candlelight, three course meal with wine awaited us.  It was great to have this chance away from the kids to just spend some time together talking and laughing. Will not share any more details other than that it was great.  Thanks to the youths pf St Anthony’s for organising it and the great chefs Leo Chan Dominick and his team of brothers.

Praise the Lord for a wonderful day spent with Him and His body the Catholic community! Amen

Yesterday during the 11:15am Eucharistic Celebration, as I was distributing the Host during communion. I saw the image of Jesus in the tiny host! It was an exhilarating moment and I thought to myself how did they do it? How did they manage to capture such a crisp image of my Lord and have it shown only when lifted up to eye level? And so I looked intensely at every host thereafter as I lifted them up one by one from the ciborium hoping to see once again my Lord and my God. It was only then that it dawned on me that I had been granted the grace to see Him. Perhaps a once in a lifetime, but all the same praise be to God!

I was struggling with this morning’s reflection even though I have done one in the past. And my struggle with it began the night before. I could not see clearly the link between the first reading from Ezekiel nor could I clearly relate how the Gospel could be applied today. I only had a nagging feeling that there was so much more depth to it. Once again praise the Lord! for when I stopped wrestling with it and just started writing that the puzzle all begin to fit nicely.

Glory be to the Father and the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Amen

At last year’s parish retreat I met with a couple who attended only about two hours before they had to leave for another engagement.  After one of the sharings the gentleman thanked me because he was undecided about joining RCIA as he had a few answered questions initially but then felt a renewed vigour to attend after the sharing.

About a month later I met him as he entered the church, so I shook his hand and asked if he gone for RCIA to which he replied not yet. About two months later the same answer to the same question.

This morning I met him and asked him the same thing and was overjoyed to learn he had been Baptised late November! Praise the Lord!

I met him again after EC and this time I asked him when he was joining a ministry?… *grins* Will keep you all posted…..

Dearest Blessed mother thank you for your undying love, care, fervent prayers and your presence in our lives.  Together with my brethren we wish you a Blessed and happy Mothers day!

Sweet mother we pray with you for all Mothers that they continue to be blessings to and for their children. Amen

Sunday Bible Reflections with Dr. Scott Hahn

Light Breaking Forth

Isaiah 58:7-10
Psalm 112:4-9
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
Matthew 5:13-16

Jesus came among us as light to scatter the darkness of a fallen world.

As his disciples, we too are called to be “the light of the world,” he tells us in the Gospel this Sunday (see John 1:4–4, 9; 8:12; 9:5).

All three images that Jesus uses to describe the Church are associated with the identity and vocation of Israel.

God forever aligned his Kingdom with the Kingdom of David and his sons by a “covenant of salt,” salt being a sign of permanence and purity (see 2 Chron. 13:5, 8; Lev. 2:13; Ezek. 43:24).

Jerusalem was to be a city set on a hill, high above all others, drawing all nations towards the glorious light streaming from her Temple (see Isa. 2:2; 60:1–3).

And Israel was given the mission of being a light to the nations, that God’s salvation would reach to the ends of the earth (see Isa. 42:6; 49:6).

The liturgy shows us this week that the Church, and every Christian, is called to fulfill Israel’s mission.

By our faith and good works we are to make the light of God’s life break forth in the darkness, as we sing in this week’s Psalm.

This week’s readings remind us that our faith can never be a private affair, something we can hide as if under a basket.

We are to pour ourselves out for the afflicted, as Isaiah tells us in the First Reading. Our light must shine as a ray of God’s mercy for all who are poor, hungry, naked, and enslaved.

There must be a transparent quality to our lives. Our friends and family, our neighbors and fellow citizens, should see reflected in us the light of Christ and through us be attracted to the saving truths of the Gospel.

So let us pray that we, like St. Paul in the Epistle, might proclaim with our whole lives, “Christ and him crucified.”

Sunday Bible Reflections with Dr. Scott Hahn

January 26th 2014 – Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
History Redeemed
Readings:
Isaiah 8:23-9:3
Psalm 27:1,4,13-14
1 Corinthians 1:10-13,17
Matthew 4:12-23
________________________________________

Today’s Liturgy gives us a lesson in ancient Israelite geography and history.

Isaiah’s prophecy in today’s First Reading is quoted by Matthew in today’s Gospel. Both intend to recall the apparent fall of the everlasting kingdom promised to David (see 2 Samuel 7:12-13; Psalm 89; Psalm 132:11-12).

Eight centuries before Christ, that part of the kingdom where the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali lived was attacked by the Assyrians and the tribes were hauled off into captivity (see 2 Kings 15:29; 1 Chronicles 5:26).

It marked the beginning of the kingdom’s end. It finally crumbled in the sixth century B.C., when Jerusalem was seized by Babylon and the remaining tribes were driven into exile (see 2 Kings 24:14).

Isaiah prophesied that Zebulun and Naphtali, the lands first to be degraded, would be the first to see the light of God’s salvation. Jesus today fulfills that prophecy – announcing the restoration of David’s kingdom at precisely the spot where the kingdom began to fall.
His gospel of the Kingdom includes not only the twelve tribes of Israel but all the nations – symbolized by the “Galilee of the Nations.” Calling His first disciples, two fishermen on the Sea of Galilee, He appoints them to be “fishers of men” – gathering people from the ends of the earth.

They are to preach the gospel, Paul says in today’s Epistle, to unite all peoples in the same mind and in the same purpose – in a worldwide kingdom of God.

By their preaching, Isaiah’s promise has been delivered. A world in darkness has seen the light. The yoke of slavery and sin, borne by humanity since time began, has been smashed.

And we are able now, as we sing in today’s Psalm, to dwell in the house of the Lord, to worship Him in the land of the living.

Sunday Bible Reflections with Dr. Scott Hahn

January 19th 2014 – Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Perfect Offering
Readings:
Isaiah 49:3,5-6
Psalm 40:2,4,7-10
1 Corinthians 1:1-3
John 1:29-34
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Jesus speaks through the prophet Isaiah in today’s First Reading.
He tells us of the mission given to Him by the Father from the womb: “‘You are My servant,’ He said to Me.” Servant and Son, our Lord was sent to lead a new exodus – to raise up the exiled tribes of Israel, to gather and restore them to God. More than that, He was to be a light to the nations, that God’s salvation may reach to the ends of the earth (see Acts 13:46-47).

Before the first exodus, a lamb was offered in sacrifice and its blood painted on the Israelites’ door posts. The blood of the lamb identified their homes and the Lord “passed over” these in executing judgment on the Egyptians (see Exodus 12:1-23,27).

In the new exodus, Jesus is the “Lamb of God,” as John beholds Him in the Gospel today (see 1 Corinthians 5:7; 1 Peter 1:18-19). Our Lord sings of this in today’s Psalm. He has come, He says, to offer His body to do the will of God (see Hebrews 10:3-13).

The sacrifices, oblations, holocausts, and sin-offerings given after the first exodus had no power to take away sins (see Hebrews 10:4). They were meant not to save but to teach (see Galatians 3:24). In offering these sacrifices, the people were to learn self-sacrifice – that they were made for worship, to offer themselves freely to God and to delight in His will.

Only Jesus could make that perfect offering of himself. And through His sacrifice, He has given us ears open to obedience, made it possible for us to hear the Father’s call to holiness, as Paul says in today’s Epistle.

He has made us children of God, baptized in the blood of the Lamb (see Revelation 7:14). And we are to join our sacrifice to His, to offer our bodies – our lives – as living sacrifices in the spiritual worship of the Mass (see Romans 12:1).

Dearest sisters and brothers in Christ.

Have yourselves a merry Blessed Christmas! May our Lord Jesus fill your lives and the lives of your family with His joy, peace and love.

And may we share His promise of salvation fulfilled in Him to all that we meet.

Love in Christ,
Julian
Catholicjules

St John The Baptist By Artist Titian

How deep is Your love for us O God, that You would comfort us by Your Word and mighty deeds.  You have come to fulfill all Your promises to us in a very special and personal way.  Not just God responding to man and woman, but as Father to His children.  And Your most precious gift to us, Your Son our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Lord Jesus, You make it clear to us that there are no favourites among men or women in Your Heavenly Kingdom; for we all come into our heavenly inheritance when we do our Father’s Will for us.  By the example of the great John the baptist and our Blessed Mother Mary may we lead fruitful lives preparing way for our Lord in our brethren’s lives. And may we strive to walk in holiness all the days of our lives. In Your most precious name we pray. Amen.

FIRST READING
Isaiah 41:13–20

GOSPEL
Matthew 11:11–15

11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and men of violence take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John; 14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

It’s been quite a few months now that every Sunday morning after we’ve woken up, I’d remind my family that it’s the Lord’s day.  It’s special day so let’s try our very best to remain prayerful and avoid temptation to squabble and bicker amongst ourselves. This morning was exceptionally good.

About half an hour after breakfast as we were still very early, we made our way up into the main church hall to prepare ourselves for the Eucharistic celebration.  Although I never got round to teaching her, my 22mth old daughter genuflected when I did. Praise the Lord!  Then as I started praying, she began to fuss a little so my wife brought her out of the Church to calm her down.  I somehow did not feel totally present before the Lord and so I prayed a little harder asking for our blessed mother’s intercession.

A beautiful prayer started to take form in my mind and it went something like this… “Lord let me not see only the faults in others but instead let me see them as opportunities to pray for them…”  then came my wife who interrupted the prayer by calling me outside.  In a rage of sorts, she told be that I had better speak to ‘that’ lady warden before she made her cry.  She then related that my daughter had given her the slip and was running back into the church hall. However my wife managed to get hold of her in time, and so my daughter yelped a little.

The warden glared at both my wife and daughter, shook her head an uttered tsk! Tsk! Tsk! Then instructed my wife to manage her better. My wife told her she was doing the best that she could to which the warden replied a sarcastic “thanks!”  I tried to calm my wife down but she was too angry.  So I made my way instead to welcome parishioners and at the same time thinking what I was to do next, afterall my own peace inside was disturbed too.

It was the beginning of that prayer which started in mind earlier, that helped bring the inner peace back, and soon enough I felt the peace and love of our Lord once again.

I will share the full prayer with you in a few hours time after I’ve made my way to work…..prayerfully my wife will be more receptive then…. Praise the Lord. Amen

It takes love to teach; for teaching and instructing in faith, morals and the application of the Gospels in daily life, requires patience, discipline, knowledge, skill, a deep relationship with God and most of all His love and Graces which He readily showers, Anyone who has ever taught may agree that a student is good only as his/her teacher. Still the student must possess the desire to learn, to grow and to apply all that he/she has learnt in order to grow yet some more.

The Word of God is Love. It teaches, admonishes, if heals, it strengthens, it builds up, it nourishes, it embraces, it liberates, it is all gentle, yet powerful and more. How can we turn our backs or not make time for this greatest gift from God our loving Father? The Word made flesh sacrificed Himself that we may live. To feed and Nourish us of Himself. Sweet sacrament we thee adore, oh help us love thee more and more. Amen

GOSPEL
Luke 4:31–37

Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee. He taught them on the sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority. In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out in a loud voice, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet! Come out of hi!” Then the demon threw the man down in front of them and came out of him without doing him any harm. They were all amazed and said to one another, “What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.

I slept but my heart was awake. (SONG 5:2a)

So long as we remain in Christ Jesus what have we to fear? His heart is awake to us always. Like a lost child is overjoyed and comforted at the sight of his/her parents, we can rejoice knowing by our faith that Jesus never even, leaves our side. He is the constant rock in our lives. Through the ups and downs, through it all.

Let this be our cry, our prayer….

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Never will I doubt His love for me. As I remain in Him, He remains in me. Thank you my Lord my God, for my faith, for my hope and my love in You. Amen

GOSPEL Matthew 8:23–27

As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him. Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by waves; but he was asleep. They came and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?” Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm. The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?”