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We must prioritize the Lord our God above everything and everyone, including family and friends. He is the singular Lord and God who has rescued us from death and destruction. He has transformed our decaying bodies, minds, and spirits into sources of life.

Therefore, we should dedicate our lives to righteousness and serving Him and our brethren. This dedication will ignite our hearts with passion for Him and for our loved ones. Through Christ, we not only improve but strive to become the best versions of ourselves—better spouses, better children, better colleagues.

Let us then extend the flame of His love to everyone we encounter. Amen.

Saint John of Capistrano, Priest pray for us..



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First reading
Romans 6:19-23

Now you are set free from sin, and slaves to God

If I may use human terms to help your natural weakness: as once you put your bodies at the service of vice and immorality, so now you must put them at the service of righteousness for your sanctification.
    When you were slaves of sin, you felt no obligation to righteousness, and what did you get from this? Nothing but experiences that now make you blush, since that sort of behaviour ends in death. Now, however, you have been set free from sin, you have been made slaves of God, and you get a reward leading to your sanctification and ending in eternal life. For the wage paid by sin is death; the present given by God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.



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Gospel
Luke 12:49-53

How I wish it were blazing already!

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

We often overlook the significance of our baptism. It is through baptism that we are integrated into the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Through baptism, we become children of light and truly belong to God, our Heavenly Father, who loves us deeply.

As children of light, we are transformed into slaves of righteousness rather than slaves of sin. Being a slave of righteousness means we possess the grace of the Lord our God and experience life fully in Him.

Therefore, we must remain steadfast as children of light by daily battling sin, resisting the temptations of the flesh, and the wanton desires of the body. We must shun all that is unholy. It is crucial that we control our speech and refrain from speaking evil.

Let us always glorify the Lord by our life. Amen.

  Saint John Paul II, Pope pray for us…


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First reading
Romans 6:12-18

Make every part of your body a weapon fighting on the side of God

You must not let sin reign in your mortal bodies or command your obedience to bodily passions, you must not let any part of your body turn into an unholy weapon fighting on the side of sin; you should, instead, offer yourselves to God, and consider yourselves dead men brought back to life; you should make every part of your body into a weapon fighting on the side of God; and then sin will no longer dominate your life, since you are living by grace and not by law.
    Does the fact that we are living by grace and not by law mean that we are free to sin? Of course not. You know that if you agree to serve and obey a master you become his slaves. You cannot be slaves of sin that leads to death and at the same time slaves of obedience that leads to righteousness. You were once slaves of sin, but thank God you submitted without reservation to the creed you were taught. You may have been freed from the slavery of sin, but only to become ‘slaves’ of righteousness.


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Gospel
Luke 12:39-48

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

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

As I’ve aged, I find my body slowing down, and I’m not as alert or as fully awake as I ought to be. However, over the years, I’ve discovered that I feel truly alive only when I am serving the Lord and my brethren. I’m reinvigorated, and the fire of the Holy Spirit burns bright within me.

As we approach Advent, today’s Gospel reminds us to stand alert and awake with our lamps lit, ready to greet the Lord when He comes. Our Lord who through His righteousness alone had redeemed us by life, death and Resurrection. What better greeting can there be than to say, “Here I am, Lord, I’ve come to do Your will.” Amen.

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First reading
Romans 5:12,15,17-21 ·

Divine grace, coming through Jesus Christ, came as an abundant free gift

Sin entered the world through one man, and through sin death, and thus death has spread through the whole human race because everyone has sinned; but the gift itself considerably outweighed the fall. If it is certain that through one man’s fall so many died, it is even more certain that divine grace, coming through the one man, Jesus Christ, came to so many as an abundant free gift. If it is certain that death reigned over everyone as the consequence of one man’s fall, it is even more certain that one man, Jesus Christ, will cause everyone to reign in life who receives the free gift that he does not deserve, of being made righteous. Again, as one man’s fall brought condemnation on everyone, so the good act of one man brings everyone life and makes them justified. As by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man’s obedience many will be made righteous. When law came, it was to multiply the opportunities of failing, but however great the number of sins committed, grace was even greater; and so, just as sin reigned wherever there was death, so grace will reign to bring eternal life thanks to the righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ our Lord.


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Gospel
Luke 12:35-38

Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit

Jesus said to his disciples:
    ‘See that you are dressed for action and have your lamps lit. Be like men waiting for their master to return from the wedding feast, ready to open the door as soon as he comes and knocks. Happy those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. I tell you solemnly, he will put on an apron, sit them down at table and wait on them. It may be in the second watch he comes, or in the third, but happy those servants if he finds them ready.’

In our mission to share the joy of the Gospel, we will undoubtedly face opposition. Even when we find ourselves alone, with no one to support us, St. Paul encourages us in today’s first reading to persevere. Our Lord will stand by us and empower us so that our proclamation can reach the ends of the earth.

We must go forth in faith, trusting that the Lord our God will provide for all our needs. He has empowered us to bring His peace to everyone we meet. Therefore, we offer the Lord’s peace, which we carry with us. Freely we had received from our Lord, so too shall we give freely. Though we will accept gratefully the hospitality offered to us.

In our Lord’s empowerment, we are called to heal the sick and proclaim that the Lord’s kingdom is near. Let us go forth with joy in our hearts doing so, for the Lord’s will be done, now and forever. Amen.

Saint Luke, Evangelist – pray for us…

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First reading
2 Timothy 4:10-17

Only Luke is with me

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


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Gospel
Luke 10:1-9

Your peace will rest on that man

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

We are invited today to delve deeper into the love of God, our Father, has for us. In today’s Gospel, we learn just how deeply He loves us. We are told that we are worth more than a hundred sparrows. Every single hair on our head is counted for. His love for us is profound.

He invites us to remain steadfast in His love and not be distracted by the ways of the world. We are encouraged to walk boldly with integrity and faith in Him, just like our father Abraham, who was made righteous through his faith.

Our loving Father has forgiven our sins through His son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. By His precious life, death, and resurrection, He has cleansed our sins with His blood. This gives us hope to live eternally with Him.

Currently, we live life fully, rejoicing in the joy of our Lord. We love you, Father. We praise you, Father. We glorify you. Amen.

Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop, Martyr pray for us…


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First reading
Romans 4:1-8

Abraham was justified not by his actions but by faith

What shall we say about Abraham, the ancestor from whom we are all descended? If Abraham was justified as a reward for doing something, he would really have had something to boast about, though not in God’s sight because scripture says: Abraham put his faith in God, and this faith was considered as justifying him. If a man has work to show, his wages are not considered as a favour but as his due; but when a man has nothing to show except faith in the one who justifies sinners, then his faith is considered as justifying him. And David says the same: a man is happy if God considers him righteous, irrespective of good deeds:

Happy those whose crimes are forgiven, whose sins are blotted out; happy the man whom the Lord considers sinless.



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Gospel
Luke 12:1-7

Not one sparrow is forgotten in God’s sight

The people had gathered in their thousands so that they were treading on one another. And Jesus began to speak, first of all to his disciples. ‘Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees – that is, their hypocrisy. Everything that is now covered will be uncovered, and everything now hidden will be made clear. For this reason, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in hidden places will be proclaimed on the housetops.
    ‘To you my friends I say: Do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. I will tell you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has the power to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Can you not buy five sparrows for two pennies? And yet not one is forgotten in God’s sight. Why, every hair on your head has been counted. There is no need to be afraid: you are worth more than hundreds of sparrows.’

Here are some fundamental truths. There is only one God. All life, whether believer or unbeliever, was created through Him alone our one God. And He has given all of us free will to choose whether to accept these truths.

He has also sent His prophets into the world. Prophets like you and me, who are followers of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and our call is to share the good news of the gospel with everyone. So that, believing in Jesus themselves, they too shall have eternal life. Because of free will, they have a choice of whether to believe in faith and to accept the grace that will be given from their belief in Jesus.

All believers and unbelievers alike are subject to the commands and statutes that is the Word and Will of God, our Heavenly Father. We, who call ourselves Christians, have a higher calling. We must live upright lives with integrity and faithfulness, so as to lead others to Him. So that all glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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


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First reading
Romans 3:21-30

It is the same justice of God that comes to Jew and pagan alike

God’s justice that was made known through the Law and the Prophets has now been revealed outside the Law, since it is the same justice of God that comes through faith to everyone, Jew and pagan alike, who believes in Jesus Christ. Both Jew and pagan sinned and forfeited God’s glory, and both are justified through the free gift of his grace by being redeemed in Christ Jesus who was appointed by God to sacrifice his life so as to win reconciliation through faith. In this way God makes his justice known; first, for the past, when sins went unpunished because he held his hand, then, for the present age, by showing positively that he is just, and that he justifies everyone who believes in Jesus.
    So what becomes of our boasts? There is no room for them. What sort of law excludes them? The sort of law that tells us what to do? On the contrary, it is the law of faith, since, as we see it, a man is justified by faith and not by doing something the Law tells him to do. Is God the God of Jews alone and not of the pagans too? Of the pagans too, most certainly, since there is only one God.




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Gospel
Luke 11:47-54

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

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

Judge not, lest you be judged. We often see the faults in our brothers’ and sisters’ eyes, but do not see the fault in our very own. Jesus is reminding us not to be hypocrites, but to act with integrity, if we have the faith and love in following after Him.

We must constantly dwell on our own actions as well inactions. That is why we pray at the beginning of Mass to be forgiven for our failings; for all that we have done, and all that we have failed to do. It is not about following the law to the letter, or imposing hardships on others for following after Jesus. But rather that we lead them through love, to the very source of life to be found behind and ordered life in Him.

Therefore, all of us must constantly seek to repent of our own sins, be filled with the grace from full reconciliation with Him, so that we can truly live out the Gospel in our lives, leading others to the joy of life with Him. Amen.

The Lord wants us to be transformed from within. Outward appearances of piety and faithfulness will not cut it. He sees into the depths of our heart, how filial we are and how we strive to be sanctified by Him.

Through His Word and His grace, we are transformed to be His light in the world. We will not allow the wisdom of the world to cloud our minds or affect our decisions in following after the Lord. For He is the way, the truth, and the life.

When we will follow after Him, we will demonstrate His love in all that we say and do. That is how we spread the joy of the Gospel. Amen.

Saint Callistus, Pope, Martyr pray for us…


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First reading
Romans 1:16-25

These people knew God and failed to honour him

I am not ashamed of the Good News: it is the power of God saving all who have faith – Jews first, but Greeks as well – since this is what reveals the justice of God to us: it shows how faith leads to faith, or as scripture says: The upright man finds life through faith.
    The anger of God is being revealed from heaven against all the impiety and depravity of men who keep truth imprisoned in their wickedness. For what can be known about God is perfectly plain to them since God himself has made it plain. Ever since God created the world his everlasting power and deity – however invisible – have been there for the mind to see in the things he has made. That is why such people are without excuse: they knew God and yet refused to honour him as God or to thank him; instead, they made nonsense out of logic and their empty minds were darkened. The more they called themselves philosophers, the more stupid they grew, until they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for a worthless imitation, for the image of mortal man, of birds, of quadrupeds and reptiles. That is why God left them to their filthy enjoyments and the practices with which they dishonour their own bodies, since they have given up divine truth for a lie and have worshipped and served creatures instead of the creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen!




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Gospel
Luke 11:37-41

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

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

In the infancy of our faith, we often ask the Lord for signs if He hears us, or if He wants us to move in a certain direction. But how long are we going to ask Him for signs? For if and when we are truly growing in our faith and love in Him then we will hear His word and will for us.

We know that we, as disciples of the Lord, are called to be the sign for all nations. We are likewise called and commanded to go out into the world baptizing in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and to teach them all that we have learned from the Lord. That is our destiny, that is the will of God for us.

And when we are truly one with and in Him, it will be our joy to spread the good news of our salvation so that all who come to know Him might have eternal life and might be free from all their sins. Amen

It is in our fallen nature to complain and to compare ourselves with others. There are even times we wonder why the sinful seem to go unpunished. How are they flourishing? But can you imagine if the Lord our God was not Himself patient with us? Would we not be doomed, since there would be no time for us to repent and turn back to Him? We should instead be focused on remaining steadfast in His love.

We should also do well to heed the Lord’s Word in today’s Gospel, that we should be constantly praying and to be persistent in our prayer. For if our prayers are to do His will, to build His Kingdom, then it is only a matter of time that our prayers will be answered. That is, all in God’s good time. For He assures us, seek and you will find, ask and it will be given, knock and the doors will be opened. All glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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


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First reading
Malachi 3:13-20 

The day that is coming will burn up the wicked

You say harsh things about me, says the Lord. You ask, ‘What have we said against you?’ You say, ‘It is useless to serve God; what is the good of keeping his commands or of walking mournfully before the Lord of Hosts? Now we have reached the point when we call the arrogant blessed; yes, they prosper, these evil-doers; they try God’s patience and yet go free.’ This is what those who fear the Lord used to say to one another. But the Lord took note and heard them: a book of remembrance was written in his presence recording those who fear him and take refuge in his name. On the day which I am preparing, says the Lord of Hosts, they are going to be my own special possession. I will make allowances for them as a man makes allowances for the son who obeys him. Then once again you will see the difference between an upright man and a wicked one, between the one who serves God and the one who does not serve him. For the day is coming now, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and the evil-doers will be like stubble. The day that is coming is going to burn them up, says the Lord of Hosts, leaving them neither root nor stalk. But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will shine out with healing in its rays.


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Gospel
Luke 11:5-13

Ask, and it will be given to you

Jesus said to his disciples:
    ‘Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him in the middle of the night to say, “My friend, lend me three loaves, because a friend of mine on his travels has just arrived at my house and I have nothing to offer him”; and the man answers from inside the house, “Do not bother me. The door is bolted now, and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up to give it you.” I tell you, if the man does not get up and give it him for friendship’s sake, persistence will be enough to make him get up and give his friend all he wants.
    ‘So I say to you: Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For the one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him. What father among you would hand his son a stone when he asked for bread? Or hand him a snake instead of a fish? Or hand him a scorpion if he asked for an egg? If you then, who are evil, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’

If the Lord our God had the heart and temperament of Jonah, we would all surely be doomed. In today’s first reading, Jonah was upset that God forgave the Ninevites. He did not care that they had repented. It just goes to show how fortunate we are that our Lord is patient and merciful.

And because He is such, we must emulate Him. So, let us always put God our Father above all things. His kingdom come, His will be done, just as Jesus our Lord has taught us to pray, not forgetting that just as we want to be forgiven, we too must forgive. And He our Lord will surely deliver us from all evil. Amen

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First reading
Jonah 4:1-11

Jonah is angry at God’s mercy

Jonah was very indignant; he fell into a rage. He prayed to the Lord and said, ‘Ah, Lord, is not this just as I said would happen when I was still at home? That was why I went and fled to Tarshish: I knew that you were a God of tenderness and compassion, slow to anger, rich in graciousness, relenting from evil. So now, Lord, please take away my life, for I might as well be dead as go on living.’ The Lord replied, ‘Are you right to be angry?’
    Jonah then went out of the city and sat down to the east of the city. There he made himself a shelter and sat under it in the shade, to see what would happen to the city. Then the Lord God arranged that a castor-oil plant should grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head and soothe his ill-humour; Jonah was delighted with the castor-oil plant. But at dawn the next day, God arranged that a worm should attack the castor-oil plant – and it withered.
    Next, when the sun rose, God arranged that there should be a scorching east wind; the sun beat down so hard on Jonah’s head that he was overcome and begged for death, saying, ‘I might as well be dead as go on living.’ God said to Jonah, ‘Are you right to be angry about the castor-oil plant?’ He replied, ‘I have every right to be angry, to the point of death.’ The Lord replied, ‘You are only upset about a castor-oil plant which cost you no labour, which you did not make grow, which sprouted in a night and has perished in a night. And am I not to feel sorry for Nineveh, the great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, to say nothing of all the animals?’



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Gospel
Luke 11:1-4
How to pray

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

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

So many of us can relate to the story of Jonah in today’s First Reading. How the Lord has put us on mission, perhaps to share the truth with many who need to be reconciled to Him, to repent of their sins, and their sinful way of life. But we rationalize that it’s all in our head, that the Lord did not call us, or we try to run away from the task at hand. But because we know in our hearts that the calling came from the Lord, the Lord whom we worship and love, our hearts remain restless. Even our surroundings become restless to us, until such time that we die to ourselves so as to rise with Him.

Just as Jesus had to die and remain three days before rising to His resurrection glory, so, too, when we die to ourselves and in the Lord, so, too, shall we rise with Him and in Him. We will not need to question, who is my neighbour? For through that loving relationship with the Lord our God, we know who our neighbour is. The neighbour in question is always our Lord, the person whom we see the face of Christ in, whom we see is in need. ‘Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

So it does not matter what faith, religious background, race, or language. The fellow human being is a child of God. And we will do everything in our power to help and restore, like in today’s Gospel. For then we are truly living lives in and through Him. Amen.

Saint Bruno, Priest pray for us…


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First reading
Jonah 1:1-2:1,11

Jonah flees from his call

The word of the Lord was addressed to Jonah son of Amittai:
    ‘Up!’ he said ‘Go to Nineveh, the great city, and inform them that their wickedness has become known to me.’ Jonah decided to run away from the Lord, and to go to Tarshish. He went down to Joppa and found a ship bound for Tarshish; he paid his fare and went aboard, to go with them to Tarshish, to get away from the Lord. But the Lord unleashed a violent wind on the sea, and there was such a great storm at sea that the ship threatened to break up. The sailors took fright, and each of them called on his own god, and to lighten the ship they threw the cargo overboard. Jonah, however, had gone below and lain down in the hold and fallen fast asleep. The boatswain came upon him and said, ‘What do you mean by sleeping? Get up! Call on your god! Perhaps he will spare us a thought, and not leave us to die.’ Then they said to each other, ‘Come on, let us draw lots to find out who is responsible for bringing this evil on us.’ So they cast lots, and the lot fell to Jonah. Then they said to him, ‘Tell us, what is your business? Where do you come from? What is your country? What is your nationality?’ He replied, ‘I am a Hebrew, and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land.’ The sailors were seized with terror at this and said, ‘What have you done?’ They knew that he was trying to escape from the Lord, because he had told them so. They then said, ‘What are we to do with you, to make the sea grow calm for us?’ For the sea was growing rougher and rougher. He replied, ‘Take me and throw me into the sea, and then it will grow calm for you. For I can see it is my fault this violent storm has happened to you.’ The sailors rowed hard in an effort to reach the shore, but in vain, since the sea grew still rougher for them. They then called on the Lord and said, ‘O Lord, do not let us perish for taking this man’s life; do not hold us guilty of innocent blood; for you, the Lord, have acted as you have thought right.’ And taking hold of Jonah they threw him into the sea; and the sea grew *calm again. At this the men were seized with dread of the Lord; they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.
    The Lord had arranged that a great fish should be there to swallow Jonah; and Jonah remained in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights. The Lord spoke to the fish, which then vomited Jonah on to the shore.


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Gospel
Luke 10:25-37

The good Samaritan

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

When will we realize that the Lord our God only wants us to live life to the full in Him? While sin,  giving into temptations, thereby falling into greater sin separates us from Him and His love. How are we going to withstand the evil that comes as a result of our sinful ways?

In today’s first reading, the people realize how sinful they had become and how they had refused to listen to the Word of God. They saw the effects of their sinful life take a toll on them. But they repented, and as always, the Lord our God welcomed them back, ready with open arms.

In today’s Gospel, although a bit harsh, we hear Jesus shouting out the woes of how the cities refused to listen to Him, and the the call of God their Father. It was with great sadness He saw how the people suffered for their sins.

Let us always choose to be faithful and obedient to the Lord our God. Asking Him for the grace to overcome all sin and temptation, so that we may be free to love and live life to the full. Amen


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First reading
Baruch 1:15-22 ·

We have been disobedient to the Lord our God

Integrity belongs to the Lord our God; to us the look of shame we wear today, to us, the people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem, to our kings and princes, our priests, our prophets, as to our ancestors, because we have sinned in the sight of the Lord, have disobeyed him, and have not listened to the voice of the Lord our God telling us to follow the commandments which the Lord had ordained for us. From the day when the Lord brought our ancestors out of the land of Egypt until today we have been disobedient to the Lord our God, we have been disloyal, refusing to listen to his voice. And so the disasters, and the curse which the Lord pronounced through his servant Moses the day he brought our fathers out of Egypt to give us a land where milk and honey flow, have seized on us, disasters we experience today. Despite all the words of those prophets whom he sent us, we have not listened to the voice of the Lord our God, but, each following the dictates of his evil heart, we have taken to serving alien gods, and doing what is displeasing to the Lord our God.



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Gospel
Luke 10:13-16

Anyone who rejects me rejects the one who sent me

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

In today’s first reading, we see that it is, in a sense, a prefiguring of the liturgy of the Word that we have today. What impressed me about the first reading was how the people were reverent and attentive to the Word of God. They let the Word transform them completely, acknowledging their sinfulness and repentance.

They listened attentively to the teachings, and while they may not have understood fully, the priests were on hand to teach, guide, and give instruction. Are we then reverent and attentive during the Holy Eucharist, from the beginning to the end? Do we sit there with minds and hearts open to His Word, like children sitting at His feet?

Afterall we are children of God, our Heavenly Father, so loved by Him are we not? And His love changes us, so that we not only love one another as fellow children of His, but we will go out of our way to seek His other children who are lost and bring them home. This is what it means to be a child of God, of our Heavenly Father, His child of light. Amen.

O Holy Guardian Angels pray for us…


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First reading
Nehemiah 8:1-12

All the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law

When the seventh month came, all the people gathered as one man on the square before the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses which the Lord had prescribed for Israel. Accordingly Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, consisting of men, women, and children old enough to understand. This was the first day of the seventh month. On the square before the Water Gate, in the presence of the men and women, and children old enough to understand, he read from the book from early morning till noon; all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.
    Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden dais erected for the purpose. In full view of all the people – since he stood higher than all the people – Ezra opened the book; and when he opened it all the people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people raised their hands and answered, ‘Amen! Amen!’ Then they bowed down and, face to the ground, prostrated themselves before the Lord. And Ezra read from the Law of God, translating and giving the sense, so that the people understood what was read.
    Then Nehemiah – His Excellency – and Ezra, priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people, said to all the people, ‘This day is sacred to the Lord your God. Do not be mournful, do not weep.’ For the people were all in tears as they listened to the words of the Law.
    He then said, ‘Go, eat the fat, drink the sweet wine, and send a portion to the man who has nothing prepared ready. For this day is sacred to our Lord. Do not be sad: the joy of the Lord is your stronghold.’ And the Levites calmed all the people, saying, ‘Be at ease; this is a sacred day. Do not be sad.’ And all the people went off to eat and drink and give shares away and begin to enjoy themselves since they had understood the meaning of what had been proclaimed to them.

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Gospel
Matthew 18:1-5,10

Anyone who welcomes a little child in my name welcomes me

The disciples came to Jesus and said, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ So he called a little child to him and set the child in front of them. Then he said, ‘I tell you solemnly, unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. And so, the one who makes himself as little as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
    ‘Anyone who welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. See that you never despise any of these little ones, for I tell you that their angels in heaven are continually in the presence of my Father in heaven.’

I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back. No turning back.

This must be the resolve of every Christian, every disciple of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As we go forth to build His kingdom and to spread the joy of His gospel, whatever leadership we come under, they will give us leave to do as we must for the favor, grace, mercy and love of our Lord is upon us.

He will empower us and provide for all that we need, so that whatever we say and do, we shall glorify the Lord. Amen.

Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin, Doctor pray for us…

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First reading
Nehemiah 2:1-8

‘Give me leave to go to the city of my ancestors and rebuild it’

In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, the wine being my concern, I took up the wine and offered it to the king. Now I had never been downcast before. So the king said, ‘Why is your face so sad? You are not sick, surely? This must be a sadness of the heart.’ A great fear came over me and I said to the king, ‘May the king live for ever! How could my face be other than sad when the city where the tombs of my ancestors are lies in ruins, and its gates have been burnt down?’ ‘What’ the king asked ‘is your request?’ I called on the God of heaven and made this reply to the king, ‘If it pleases the king, and if you are satisfied with your servant, give me leave to go to Judah, to the city of my ancestors’ tombs, and rebuild it.’ The king, with the queen sitting there beside him, said, ‘How long will your journey take, and when will you return?’ So I named a date that seemed acceptable to the king and he gave me leave to go. I spoke to the king once more, ‘If it please the king, could letters be given me for the governors of Transeuphrates to allow me to pass through to Judah? And also a letter for Asaph, keeper of the king’s park, to supply me with timber for the gates of the citadel of the Temple, for the city walls and for the house I am to occupy?’ This the king granted me, for the kindly favour of my God was with me.



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Gospel
Luke 9:57-62

‘I will follow you wherever you go’

As Jesus and his disciples travelled along they met a man on the road who said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ Jesus answered, ‘Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’
    Another to whom he said, ‘Follow me’, replied, ‘Let me go and bury my father first.’ But he answered, ‘Leave the dead to bury their dead; your duty is to go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.’
    Another said, ‘I will follow you, sir, but first let me go and say goodbye to my people at home.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Once the hand is laid on the plough, no one who looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’

Today we celebrate the feast day of the Archangels, St Michael, St Gabriel and St Raphael. Let us dwell a little bit on the named Archangels. Gabriel, a man of God, “God is my strength”. He is a messenger of God . Raphael, God heals or “He who heals” He is a guardian. St Michael “who is like God” is a warrior.  These His angels are here to bring the awareness of the Lord’s presence, His peace, healing, love and joy. They have been with us from the beginning of time.

In today’s first reading, we hear how the heavens were emptied of all the evil that was brought about by Satan, his minions, his fellow ‘dark’ angels. They were cast out from heaven. And today we have an opportunity to experience heaven here on earth. In today’s Gospel the Lord promises Nathanael that he will be able to see the angels from heaven descending and ascending. This promise too has been opened for all of us who are one with the Lord, who are following after Him.

For by His life, death, and resurrection, the heavens have been opened for all of us. Our Lord Jesus Christ has conquered death and has empowered us to do great things as He has done: to bring about His healing, messages of His love, to fight and cast out all evil. So in essence, we are called to be like the Archangels, to bring about His justice here on earth.

And so as we embark on this mission, we ask for the Holy intercession of the Archangels, St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and Raphael. Amen.

Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels – Pray for us…


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First reading
Daniel 7:9-10,13-14

His robe was white as snow

As I watched:

Thrones were set in place
and one of great age took his seat.
His robe was white as snow,
the hair of his head as pure as wool.
His throne was a blaze of flames,
its wheels were a burning fire.
A stream of fire poured out,
issuing from his presence.
A thousand thousand waited on him,
ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
A court was held
and the books were opened.

I gazed into the visions of the night.

And I saw, coming on the clouds of heaven,
one like a son of man.
He came to the one of great age
and was led into his presence.
On him was conferred sovereignty,
glory and kingship,
and men of all peoples, nations and languages became his servants.
His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty
which shall never pass away,
nor will his empire ever be destroyed.


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Gospel
John 1:47-51

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

When Jesus saw Nathanael coming he said of him, ‘There is an Israelite who deserves the name, incapable of deceit.’ ‘How do you know me?’ said Nathanael. ‘Before Philip came to call you,’ said Jesus ‘I saw you under the fig tree.’ Nathanael answered, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the King of Israel.’ Jesus replied, ‘You believe that just because I said: I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.’ And then he added ‘I tell you most solemnly, you will see heaven laid open and, above the Son of Man, the angels of God ascending and descending.’


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We who belong to our Lord Jesus Christ are meant to be unwalled, meaning to be free to live fully in His love. The fire of His love will surround us and protect us like a shepherd guards his flock.

This is the hope we have. This is the glory of our Lord who came to lay His life down for us so that by His life, death, and resurrection, we are set free. Amen.

Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest 
Pray for us…

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First reading
Zechariah 2:5-9,14-15

‘I will be the glory of Jerusalem’

Raising my eyes, I saw a vision. It was this: there was a man with a measuring line in his hand. I asked him, ‘Where are you going?’ He said, ‘To measure Jerusalem, to find out her breadth and her length.’ And then, while the angel who was talking to me stood still, another angel came forward to meet him. He said to him, ‘Run, and tell that young man this, “Jerusalem is to remain unwalled, because of the great number of men and cattle there will be in her. But I – it is the Lord who speaks – I will be a wall of fire for her all round her, and I will be her glory in the midst of her.”’

Sing, rejoice,
daughter of Zion;
for I am coming
to dwell in the middle of you
– it is the Lord who speaks.

Many nations will join the Lord,
on that day;
they will become his people.



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Gospel
Luke 9:43-45

They were afraid to ask him what he meant

At a time when everyone was full of admiration for all he did, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘For your part, you must have these words constantly in your mind: “The Son of Man is going to be handed over into the power of men.”’ But they did not understand him when he said this; it was hidden from them so that they should not see the meaning of it, and they were afraid to ask him about what he had just said.

Today, the glory of the Lord is in every tabernacle, every church, and at every Holy Eucharist. How fortunate are we to have the Lord so present to us. And yet, we easily take this for granted.

We seldom make the effort to adore Him in the Blessed Sacrament, or even make the effort to attend Holy mass to receive Him in Holy Eucharist!

Are our declarations then that He is Lord of lords, king of kings, the Christ of God most High only lip service? Should we not carry our cross and follow after Him, to make Him known to all nations, so that everyone who might come to know Him and believe will have eternal life. How are we demonstrating His love for all by our words and deeds?

Let us all put our faith into action, for the love of Him. Amen

Saints Cosmas and Damian, Martyrs pray for us…


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First reading
Haggai 1:15-2:9 

‘The new glory of this Temple is to surpass the old’

In the second year of King Darius, on the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the Lord was addressed through the prophet Haggai, as follows, ‘You are to speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, the high commissioner of Judah, to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to all the remnant of the people. Say this, “Who is there left among you that saw this Temple in its former glory? And how does it look to you now? Does it seem nothing to you? But take courage now, Zerubbabel – it is the Lord who speaks. Courage, High Priest Joshua son of Jehozadak! Courage, all you people of the country! – it is the Lord who speaks. To work! I am with you – it is the Lord of Hosts who speaks – and my spirit remains among you. Do not be afraid! For the Lord of Hosts says this: A little while now, and I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all the nations and the treasures of all the nations shall flow in, and I will fill this Temple with glory, says the Lord of Hosts. Mine is the silver, mine the gold! – it is the Lord of Hosts who speaks. The new glory of this Temple is going to surpass the old, says the Lord of Hosts, and in this place I will give peace – it is the Lord of Hosts who speaks.”’



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Gospel
Luke 9:18-22

‘You are the Christ of God’

One day when Jesus was praying alone in the presence of his disciples he put this question to them, ‘Who do the crowds say I am?’ And they answered, ‘John the Baptist; others Elijah; and others say one of the ancient prophets come back to life.’ ‘But you,’ he said ‘who do you say I am?’ It was Peter who spoke up. ‘The Christ of God’ he said. But he gave them strict orders not to tell anyone anything about this.
    ‘The Son of Man’ he said ‘is destined to suffer grievously, to be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes and to be put to death, and to be raised up on the third day.’

Throughout the centuries and even today, the Lord our God still speaks to us through His Prophets. He speaks to us in current times, not always about the future, but for current times where we need to change or fix, to come back fully to the Lord and do what He wills us to do. He sends us Prophets to tell us and to show us the way so that we might thrive in living life to the full in Him.

Jesus our Lord and the only Son of God our Heavenly Father was also a Prophet among Prophets. He spoke the will of God our Heavenly Father to us. Are we then, His disciples, also so in tune with His heart that we prophesy to our fellow sisters and brothers. And all those He asks us to reach out to, so that they too may know His heart, His word and His will for them?

Let us not look elsewhere but know in our own very hearts, that we have been empowered by our Lord Jesus to prophesy and light the way for others. Amen.

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First reading
Haggai 1:1-8 ·

‘Rebuild the House’

In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord was addressed through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, high commissioner of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, as follows, ‘The Lord of Hosts says this, “This people says: The time has not yet come to rebuild the Temple of the Lord. (And the word of the Lord was addressed through the prophet Haggai, as follows:) Is this a time for you to live in your panelled houses, when this House lies in ruins? So now, the Lord of Hosts says this: Reflect carefully how things have gone for you. You have sown much and harvested little; you eat but never have enough, drink but never have your fill, put on clothes but do not feel warm. The wage earner gets his wages only to put them in a purse riddled with holes. So go to the hill country, fetch wood, and rebuild the House: I shall then take pleasure in it, and be glorified there, says the Lord.”’



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Gospel
Luke 9:7-9

‘John? I beheaded him; so who is this?’

Herod the tetrarch had heard about all that was being done by Jesus; and he was puzzled, because some people were saying that John had risen from the dead, others that Elijah had reappeared, still others that one of the ancient prophets had come back to life. But Herod said, ‘John? I beheaded him. So who is this I hear such reports about?’ And he was anxious to see Jesus.

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Let us never take the Lord our God for granted, even though His mercy and love will endure forever. We must constantly dwell on the goodness of the Lord and what He has done in our lives.

Yes, sinners, we were living in darkness. But the Lord has shone His light upon us and has set us free. And so, we who are His disciples must go out into the world to testify to His mercy and love and to bring about healing.

In today’s Gospel, we see how the disciples were chosen, not just to preach the good news, but to demonstrate the goodness and healing grace of our Lord, which is the good news in itself. Let us be confident that the Lord has empowered us to bring about His healing and the joy of the Gospel to all that we meet. Amen.


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First reading
Ezra 9:5-9

‘God has not forgotten us in our slavery’

At the evening sacrifice I, Ezra, came out of my stupor and falling on my knees, with my garment and cloak torn, I stretched out my hands to the Lord my God, and said:
    ‘My God, I am ashamed, I blush to lift my face to you, my God. For our crimes have increased, until they are higher than our heads, and our sin has piled up to heaven. From the days of our ancestors until now our guilt has been great; on account of our crimes we, our kings and our priests, were given into the power of the kings of other countries, given to the sword, to captivity, to pillage and to shame, as is the case today. But now, suddenly, the Lord our God by his favour has left us a remnant and granted us a refuge in his holy place; this is how our God has cheered our eyes and given us a little respite in our slavery. For we are slaves; but God has not forgotten us in our slavery; he has shown us kindness in the eyes of the kings of Persia, obtaining permission for us to rebuild the Temple of our God and restore its ruins, and he has found us safety and shelter in Judah and in Jerusalem.’



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Gospel
Luke 9:1-6

‘Take nothing for the journey’

Jesus called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all devils and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. He said to them, ‘Take nothing for the journey: neither staff, nor haversack, nor bread, nor money; and let none of you take a spare tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there; and when you leave, let it be from there. As for those who do not welcome you, when you leave their town shake the dust from your feet as a sign to them.’ So they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the Good News and healing everywhere.


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I am awestruck that it is the Persian king who pays for the rebuilding of the temple and declares by his own lips the Lord God Almighty, King of Kings, Lord of Lords.

Do we have that form of reverence for the Lord our God, such that at every Eucharist we rejoice, as we say, we are going to the Lord’s house to worship Him, to adore Him? And sanctified my Him, we shall glorify Him by the way we live our lives. Only then shall we be truly one in Holy Communion with Him.

We acknowledge that God our Heavenly Father is Father to us all. And through His Son and the Holy Spirit, we are one body in Him. We are His family, because we are obedient to His Word and Will for us, and it is evident in our words and deeds for His Glory. Amen.

Saint Pius of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio), Priest 
Pray for us…



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First reading
Ezra 6:7-8,12,14-20

Darius king of Persia pays for the rebuilding of the Temple of God

King Darius wrote to the satrap of Transeuphrates and his colleagues: ‘Leave the high commissioner of Judah and the elders of the Jews to work on this Temple of God; they are to rebuild this Temple of God on its ancient site. This, I decree, is how you must assist the elders of the Jews in the reconstruction of this Temple of God: the expenses of these people are to be paid, promptly and without fail, from the royal revenue – that is, from the tribute of Transeuphrates. May the God who causes his name to live there overthrow any king or people who dares to defy this and destroy the Temple of God in Jerusalem! I, Darius, have issued this decree. Let it be obeyed to the letter!’
    The elders of the Jews prospered with their building, inspired by Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo. They finished the building in accordance with the order of the God of Israel and the order of Cyrus and of Darius. This Temple was finished on the twenty-third day of the month of Adar; it was the sixth year of the reign of King Darius. The Israelites – the priests, the Levites and the remainder of the exiles – joyfully dedicated this Temple of God; for the dedication of this Temple of God they offered one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs and, as a sacrifice for sin for the whole of Israel, twelve he-goats, corresponding to the number of the tribes of Israel. Then they installed the priests according to their orders in the service of the Temple of God in Jerusalem, as is written in the Book of Moses.
    The exiles celebrated the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. The Levites, as one man, had purified themselves; all were pure, so they sacrificed the passover for all the exiles, for their brothers the priests and for themselves.

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Gospel
Luke 8:19-21

‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God’

The mother and the brothers of Jesus came looking for him, but they could not get to him because of the crowd. He was told, ‘Your mother and brothers are standing outside and want to see you.’ But he said in answer, ‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and put it into practice.’

In Today’s responsorial Psalm we declare with all our hearts, “What marvels the Lord worked for us!” Indeed, if we reflect on our very own lives, we will see the Lord’s hand in everything. How He has brought us out from slavery to idols in the world, and how He has freed us through His grace to live a life to the full in Him. Indeed, the Lord has worked marvels in our lives.

It is a wonder to see in today’s First Reading how a pagan king was moved by the word and will of our Lord, who commanded that he should help build the temple that has been destroyed. To allow the people who were scattered during the Babylonian exile to return home to have a place of worship once again; since they have turned their hearts back to the Lord and were now loving righteous lives following after the heart of the Lord their God.

Therefore, in our own lives, we should be a light for the world to see, how Christ our Lord and King has freed us from all anxiety, from all sin, from the temptation and wiles of the world. He has given us gifts and talents to be fruitful and to build His Kingdom. And the more we surrenderd and sacrificed to build His Kingdom, the more we shall receive. All for His Glory. Amen.

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First reading
Ezra 1:1-6

Cyrus king of Persia frees the Jews to return to Jerusalem

In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, to fulfil the word of the Lord that was spoken through Jeremiah, the Lord roused the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to issue a proclamation and to have it publicly displayed throughout his kingdom: ‘Thus speaks Cyrus king of Persia, “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth; he has ordered me to build him a Temple in Jerusalem, in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all his people, may his God be with him! Let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah to build the Temple of the Lord, the God of Israel – he is the God who is in Jerusalem. And let each survivor, wherever he lives, be helped by the people of that place with silver and gold, with goods and cattle, as well as voluntary offerings for the Temple of God which is in Jerusalem.”’
    Then the heads of families of Judah and of Benjamin, the priests and the Levites, in fact all whose spirit had been roused by God, prepared to go and rebuild the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem; and all their neighbours gave them every assistance with silver, gold, goods, cattle, quantities of costly gifts and with voluntary offerings of every kind.



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Gospel
Luke 8:16-18

Anyone who has will be given more

Jesus said to the crowds:
    ‘No one lights a lamp to cover it with a bowl or to put it under a bed. No, he puts it on a lamp-stand so that people may see the light when they come in. For nothing is hidden but it will be made clear, nothing secret but it will be known and brought to light. So take care how you hear; for anyone who has will be given more; from anyone who has not, even what he thinks he has will be taken away.’

We have come into this world with nothing, and so we shall return with nothing. The only difference is that we believers will return to our Lord. We who have been steadfast and obedient, listening to His word and will for us.

The first reading encourages us to remain focused on our Lord, and not to hold on to the attachments of the world, to bicker and fight with one another, either for personal glory, wealth, honor, or status. Our call is to always be steadfast to the Holy Spirit and be faithful to the Gospel.

Today in the Gospel of day, we learn how godly women of that time had been faithful in following after the Lord, to serve Him and to serve the community. It is encouraging because the women of those days were confined with only domestic concerns. Today, we live in a world where both men and women are equally fruitful and contribute greatly as one body in Christ. Amen.

Saint Januarius, Bishop, Martyr pray for us…

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First reading
1 Timothy 6:2-12

We brought nothing into the world and can take nothing out of it

This is what you are to teach the brothers to believe and persuade them to do. Anyone who teaches anything different, and does not keep to the sound teaching which is that of our Lord Jesus Christ, the doctrine which is in accordance with true religion, is simply ignorant and must be full of self-conceit – with a craze for questioning everything and arguing about words. All that can come of this is jealousy, contention, abuse and wicked mistrust of one another; and unending disputes by people who are neither rational nor informed and imagine that religion is a way of making a profit. Religion, of course, does bring large profits, but only to those who are content with what they have. We brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it; but as long as we have food and clothing, let us be content with that. People who long to be rich are a prey to temptation; they get trapped into all sorts of foolish and dangerous ambitions which eventually plunge them into ruin and destruction. ‘The love of money is the root of all evils’ and there are some who, pursuing it, have wandered away from the faith, and so given their souls any number of fatal wounds.
    But, as a man dedicated to God, you must avoid all that. You must aim to be saintly and religious, filled with faith and love, patient and gentle. Fight the good fight of the faith and win for yourself the eternal life to which you were called when you made your profession and spoke up for the truth in front of many witnesses.



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Gospel
Luke 8:1-3

The women who accompanied Jesus

Jesus made his way through towns and villages preaching, and proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom of God. With him went the Twelve, as well as certain women who had been cured of evil spirits and ailments: Mary surnamed the Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and several others who provided for them out of their own resources.

When we remember just how loving the Lord has been in our lives, we will embrace today’s gospel more deeply and profoundly, for we can relate to how we once got down on our knees and cried our hearts out to the Lord for forgiveness, because we realize how much or how far we have strayed from Him.

In His mercy and love, He had forgiven us, and we decided to go forth by our penance to perfume the air where He walks , to be living testimonies of His love by our love and our actions for Him. Just as today’s first reading suggests, we will go in the Holy Spirit and walk with integrity in the new life found in the Lord, so that all who look upon us will be amazed to see that His light is within us as we carry His love to all that we meet.

And so let us glorify the Lord by our lives in all that we say and do. Amen.

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First reading
1 Timothy 4:12-16 ·

Be an example to all the believers

Do not let people disregard you because you are young, but be an example to the believers in the way you speak and behave, and in your love, your faith and your purity. Make use of the time until I arrive by reading to the people, preaching and teaching. You have in you a spiritual gift which was given to you when the prophets spoke and the body of elders laid their hands on you; do not let it lie unused. Think hard about all this, and put it into practice, and everyone will be able to see how you are advancing. Take great care about what you do and what you teach; always do this, and in this way you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.



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Gospel
Luke 7:36-50

Her many sins have been forgiven, or she would not have shown such great love

One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to a meal. When he arrived at the Pharisee’s house and took his place at table, a woman came in, who had a bad name in the town. She had heard he was dining with the Pharisee and had brought with her an alabaster jar of ointment. She waited behind him at his feet, weeping, and her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them away with her hair; then she covered his feet with kisses and anointed them with the ointment.
    When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would know who this woman is that is touching him and what a bad name she has.’ Then Jesus took him up and said, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’ ‘Speak, Master’ was the reply. ‘There was once a creditor who had two men in his debt; one owed him five hundred denarii, the other fifty. They were unable to pay, so he pardoned them both. Which of them will love him more?’ ‘The one who was pardoned more, I suppose’ answered Simon. Jesus said, ‘You are right.’
    Then he turned to the woman. ‘Simon,’ he said ‘you see this woman? I came into your house, and you poured no water over my feet, but she has poured out her tears over my feet and wiped them away with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but she has been covering my feet with kisses ever since I came in. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. For this reason I tell you that her sins, her many sins, must have been forgiven her, or she would not have shown such great love. It is the man who is forgiven little who shows little love.’ Then he said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ Those who were with him at table began to say to themselves, ‘Who is this man, that he even forgives sins?’ But he said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’

In His mercy and love, He had forgiven us, and we decided to go forth by our penance to perfume the air where He walks , to be living testimonies of His love by our love and our actions for Him. Just as today’s first reading suggests, we will go in the Holy Spirit and walk with integrity in the new life found in the Lord, so that all who look upon us will be amazed to see that His light is within us as we carry His love to all that we meet.

And so let us glorify the Lord by our lives in all that we say and do. Amen.

Jesus is for everyone. He is the Lord, our Lord, king of kings. And the joy of the Gospel is that He has come to free us from our sin, for us to be fully alive in Him. He is the Word made flesh who dwelled amongst us. Seen by angels, proclaimed to pagans alike . And through His life, death, and resurrection, He has conquered death and brought us all hope of life eternal with God our Heavenly Father.

But this message of good news, while preached to everybody, is not received in the same light. Some refuse to listen, have no joy in their heart, for they do not have the joy of the Lord upon them. Others refuse to mourn for their sins, repent, and make their way back to the Lord our God.

But does that mean we tire and give up hope of sharing this Good News? Nay. For all of us who live in the joy of the Lord must continue to bring the good news to everyone who would listen. So that joy of the Lord can rest upon them too. Amen.

Saint Robert Bellarmine, Bishop, Doctor , Saint Hildegard of Bingen, Virgin, Doctor pray for us…


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First reading
1 Timothy 3:14-16 ·

The mystery of our religion is very deep

At the moment of writing to you, I am hoping that I may be with you soon; but in case I should be delayed, I wanted you to know how people ought to behave in God’s family – that is, in the Church of the living God, which upholds the truth and keeps it safe. Without any doubt, the mystery of our religion is very deep indeed:

He was made visible in the flesh,
attested by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed to the pagans,
believed in by the world, taken up in glory.


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Gospel
Luke 7:31-35

‘We played the pipes, and you wouldn’t dance’

Jesus said to the people:
    ‘What description can I find for the men of this generation? What are they like? They are like children shouting to one another while they sit in the market-place:

‘“We played the pipes for you,
and you wouldn’t dance;
we sang dirges,
and you wouldn’t cry.”

‘For John the Baptist comes, not eating bread, not drinking wine, and you say, “He is possessed.” The Son of Man comes, eating and drinking, and you say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” Yet Wisdom has been proved right by all her children.’

In today’s first reading, we are reminded that church leaders must be of noble moral standing. After all, they must be Godly men and women after the heart of Christ. I would go so far as to say they should be sanctified, holy, and full of integrity. For they represent Christ, body, mind, and spirit. Believers and unbelievers alike will see them as the light of Christ.

How would it be then if, by their immoral behaviors or hidden agendas, they lead people astray? The scandal of it all! That’s why Saint Paul emphasizes the need for church leaders who must rise above it all to be true men and women after the heart of Christ.

In today’s Gospel, we not only see the compassion of Christ Jesus, our Lord, but perhaps a prefiguring of his own death and resurrection. For by His death, Mother Church was left in pain and sorrow. But God, our Father, raises Him from the dead to new life, reconciling Mother Church with the Son of the living God

For me, the greatest takeaway is that, in all things, through Christ our Lord, we must be life-giving. Amen.

Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Pray for us…

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First reading
1 Timothy 3:1-13

The president must be of impeccable character

Here is a saying that you can rely on: To want to be a presiding elder is to want to do a noble work. That is why the president must have an impeccable character. He must not have been married more than once, and he must be temperate, discreet and courteous, hospitable and a good teacher; not a heavy drinker, nor hot-tempered, but kind and peaceable. He must not be a lover of money. He must be a man who manages his own family well and brings his children up to obey him and be well-behaved: how can any man who does not understand how to manage his own family have responsibility for the church of God? He should not be a new convert, in case pride might turn his head and then he might be condemned as the devil was condemned. It is also necessary that people outside the Church should speak well of him, so that he never gets a bad reputation and falls into the devil’s trap.
    In the same way, deacons must be respectable men whose word can be trusted, moderate in the amount of wine they drink and with no squalid greed for money. They must be conscientious believers in the mystery of the faith. They are to be examined first, and only admitted to serve as deacons if there is nothing against them. In the same way, the women must be respectable, not gossips but sober and quite reliable. Deacons must not have been married more than once, and must be men who manage their children and families well. Those of them who carry out their duties well as deacons will earn a high standing for themselves and be rewarded with great assurance in their work for the faith in Christ Jesus.


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Gospel
Luke 7:11-17

The only son of his mother, and she a widow

Jesus went to a town called Nain, accompanied by his disciples and a great number of people. When he was near the gate of the town it happened that a dead man was being carried out for burial, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a considerable number of the townspeople were with her. When the Lord saw her he felt sorry for her. ‘Do not cry’ he said. Then he went up and put his hand on the bier and the bearers stood still, and he said, ‘Young man, I tell you to get up.’ And the dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Everyone was filled with awe and praised God saying, ‘A great prophet has appeared among us; God has visited his people.’ And this opinion of him spread throughout Judaea and all over the countryside.

As disciples of Jesus Christ, our Lord, we are called to pray for one another. We should pray for everyone in the world to our one mediator, who came to die for us so that we might live fully in Him for all eternity. We are particularly called to pray for our leaders, so they may make wise decisions for their people and be empowered by the Holy Spirit.

In the Gospel, we witness Jesus’ final and loving act: ensuring His mother would be cared for by entrusting her to His beloved disciple. This act has many layers for us to process, embrace, and move forward with. Mary, our mother, was entrusted with the care of the church when He placed her in the care of His beloved disciple. Symbolizing that all of us are equally loved by Jesus and entrusted to the care of our Blessed mother. Interestingly, the disciple Jesus loved is not named in this gospel, signifying that we are all Jesus’ beloved disciples.

It is out of love for Him that we follow after Hs heart and minister to our brethren. Amen.



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First reading
1 Timothy 2:1-8

Pray for everyone to God, who wants everyone to be saved

My advice is that, first of all, there should be prayers offered for everyone – petitions, intercessions and thanksgiving – and especially for kings and others in authority, so that we may be able to live religious and reverent lives in peace and quiet. To do this is right, and will please God our saviour: he wants everyone to be saved and reach full knowledge of the truth. For there is only one God, and there is only one mediator between God and mankind, himself a man, Christ Jesus, who sacrificed himself as a ransom for them all. He is the evidence of this, sent at the appointed time, and I have been named a herald and apostle of it and – I am telling the truth and no lie – a teacher of the faith and the truth to the pagans.
    In every place, then, I want the men to lift their hands up reverently in prayer, with no anger or argument.

Gospel
John 19:25-27

‘Woman, this is your son’

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. Seeing his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, ‘Woman, this is your son.’ Then to the disciple he said, ‘This is your mother.’ And from that moment the disciple made a place for her in his home.

Our own personal testimonies are powerful witnesses to the love of Christ. After all, many of us have led very sinful lives. But after knowing Christ, we realize how much He loved us, and that He was patiently waiting for us. And when we had chosen to surrender ourselves to Him, we were transformed from within by Him. We were no longer the same. We became a new creation in Him. That is why we bear powerful witness to the love of Christ by our own personal testimonies.

Then as we move forward to glorify the Lord by our lives, we must remain steadfast and build our faith upon our rock, Christ Jesus our Lord. Only then can we bear much fruit for Him, and people can see from our demeanor, our actions, whether or not we reflect the face of Christ in all that we say and do. While nothing is hidden from the Lord God. Yet we want others to see Him in us, for who we are.  We are all children of God, our Heavenly Father, so loved by Him bearing His likeness and image. Amen.

Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop, Doctor pray for us…


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First reading
1 Timothy 1:15-17 ·

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners

Here is a saying that you can rely on and nobody should doubt: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. I myself am the greatest of them; and if mercy has been shown to me, it is because Jesus Christ meant to make me the greatest evidence of his inexhaustible patience for all the other people who would later have to trust in him to come to eternal life. To the eternal King, the undying, invisible and only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.






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Gospel
Luke 6:43-49

Whoever hears me builds his house on a rock

Jesus said to his disciples:
    ‘There is no sound tree that produces rotten fruit, nor again a rotten tree that produces sound fruit. For every tree can be told by its own fruit: people do not pick figs from thorns, nor gather grapes from brambles. A good man draws what is good from the store of goodness in his heart; a bad man draws what is bad from the store of badness. For a man’s words flow out of what fills his heart.
    ‘Why do you call me, “Lord, Lord” and not do what I say?
    ‘Everyone who comes to me and listens to my words and acts on them – I will show you what he is like. He is like the man who when he built his house dug, and dug deep, and laid the foundations on rock; when the river was in flood it bore down on that house but could not shake it, it was so well built. But the one who listens and does nothing is like the man who built his house on soil, with no foundations: as soon as the river bore down on it, it collapsed; and what a ruin that house became!’

It takes humility to see that Christ alone is the one that makes us blameless in His sight. For through sin, we were all blind. We were all blasphemers. We did not know the right path to tread upon. And so in our blindness, how could we lead anyone else anywhere except down the path of destruction?

But in His mercy and love, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has opened our eyes to see him, to experience His love, and His grace is upon us. And so when we look at others, we see past their sins. We look at others with the same eyes that Jesus has looked upon us. We look to see the hope, to see the child of God that is meant to live fully in His love.

And so, as we continue this journey home to Him, let us not lose focus. Let’s not be blinded once again through temptation and sin. Let us remain steadfast so as to lead everyone to him.

I thank you, Jesus, for your mercy. I thank you for your love. Help me to always see you in others. Amen.



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First reading
1 Timothy 1:1-2,12-14 ·

I used to be a blasphemer, but the mercy of God was shown me

From Paul, apostle of Christ Jesus appointed by the command of God our saviour and of Christ Jesus our hope, to Timothy, true child of mine in the faith; wishing you grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Lord.
    I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, and who judged me faithful enough to call me into his service even though I used to be a blasphemer and did all I could to injure and discredit the faith. Mercy, however, was shown me, because until I became a believer I had been acting in ignorance; and the grace of our Lord filled me with faith and with the love that is in Christ Jesus.



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Gospel
Luke 6:39-42

Can the blind lead the blind?

Jesus told a parable to the disciples: ‘Can one blind man guide another? Surely both will fall into a pit? The disciple is not superior to his teacher; the fully trained disciple will always be like his teacher. Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the plank in your own? How can you say to your brother, “Brother, let me take out the splinter that is in your eye,” when you cannot see the plank in your own? Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take out the splinter that is in your brother’s eye.’

In today’s readings, I’m reminded of the parable that Jesus gave us where the king invited His guests to a wedding banquet. At the very end, a man was found without wearing a wedding garment and was thrown out. For God himself has clothed us with righteousness, He had chosen us and anointed us. We are his chosen race, his saints. He loves us. And through Jesus Christ, our Lord, we have been clothed in sincere compassion, kindness, humility, goodness, and patience. We are advised to quickly forgive, just as we have been forgiven.

Let us always bear this message of Christ within our hearts, so that we can teach each other, affirm, and help one another. Then we shall grow and become more and more compassionate, just as our heavenly Father is compassionate, quick to seek out those who are wounded, to heal them, to restore them through the love of Christ.

Then we shall all, with gratitude in our hearts, sing psalms and hymns and praise to God. Amen.


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First reading
Colossians 3:12-17

Be clothed in love

You are God’s chosen race, his saints; he loves you, and you should be clothed in sincere compassion, in kindness and humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another; forgive each other as soon as a quarrel begins. The Lord has forgiven you; now you must do the same. Over all these clothes, to keep them together and complete them, put on love. And may the peace of Christ reign in your hearts, because it is for this that you were called together as parts of one body. Always be thankful.
    Let the message of Christ, in all its richness, find a home with you. Teach each other, and advise each other, in all wisdom. With gratitude in your hearts sing psalms and hymns and inspired songs to God; and never say or do anything except in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.


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Gospel
Luke 6:27-38

Love your enemies

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I say this to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly. To the man who slaps you on one cheek, present the other cheek too; to the man who takes your cloak from you, do not refuse your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for your property back from the man who robs you. Treat others as you would like them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks can you expect? For even sinners do that much. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners lend to sinners to get back the same amount. Instead, love your enemies and do good, and lend without any hope of return. You will have a great reward, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
    ‘Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned yourselves; grant pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back.’

Today, we are reminded that we must all look to heaven. We are, after all, a new creation in Christ by our baptism and have been changed from within. No more shall we hold on to our old way of living, turning to guilty pleasures, things that will corrupt our minds and bodies. No more shall we be impatient, unloving. Instead, we should focus on Christ Jesus our Lord

Being a new creation in Christ, we seek out those who cannot fend for themselves. We seek out to minister to those who are lonely, who live on the peripheries, who are without means of caring or providing for themselves. In other words, we look out for the needs of the least of our brethren.

To reinforce what the Lord wants us to do, we are reminded of the beatitudes found in today’s Gospel, And we should also follow the beatitudes to be found in Matthew. For regardless of race, we are all Christians and we are one in him. Let us remain steadfast in our love for him. Amen.



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First reading
Colossians 3:1-11

You must look for the things that are in heaven

Since you have been brought back to true life with Christ, you must look for the things that are in heaven, where Christ is, sitting at God’s right hand. Let your thoughts be on heavenly things, not on the things that are on the earth, because you have died, and now the life you have is hidden with Christ in God. But when Christ is revealed – and he is your life – you too will be revealed in all your glory with him.
    That is why you must kill everything in you that belongs only to earthly life: fornication, impurity, guilty passion, evil desires and especially greed, which is the same thing as worshipping a false god; all this is the sort of behaviour that makes God angry. And it is the way in which you used to live when you were surrounded by people doing the same thing, but now you, of all people, must give all these things up: getting angry, being bad-tempered, spitefulness, abusive language and dirty talk; and never tell each other lies. You have stripped off your old behaviour with your old self, and you have put on a new self which will progress towards true knowledge the more it is renewed in the image of its creator; and in that image there is no room for distinction between Greek and Jew, between the circumcised or the uncircumcised, or between barbarian and Scythian, slave and free man. There is only Christ: he is everything and he is in everything.




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Gospel
Luke 6:20-26

Happy are you who are poor, who are hungry, who weep

Fixing his eyes on his disciples Jesus said:

‘How happy are you who are poor: yours is the kingdom of God.
Happy you who are hungry now: you shall be satisfied.
Happy you who weep now: you shall laugh.

Happy are you when people hate you, drive you out, abuse you, denounce your name as criminal, on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice when that day comes and dance for joy, for then your reward will be great in heaven. This was the way their ancestors treated the prophets.

‘But alas for you who are rich: you are having your consolation now.
Alas for you who have your fill now: you shall go hungry.
Alas for you who laugh now: you shall mourn and weep.

‘Alas for you when the world speaks well of you! This was the way their ancestors treated the false prophets.’

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I wonder why it is we do not dwell on the risen Lord as often as we should, not just at Easter, but throughout the year. After all, do we not celebrate His resurrection at every Sunday Eucharist?

St. Paul reminds us that by our baptism, we have been inserted into the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. And He now dwells in us to dispel all sin and darkness. We have been saved and are sanctified through Him.

It is important that we dwell on the risen Lord, and live our lives fully committed in Him. Because by the power of His resurrection, the Lord himself dwells within us, so that we can likewise go out into the world to bring His light, and His resurrection power by healing, dispelling darkness, casting out demons.

Jesus, I live for you as I live in you. Amen.

Saint Peter Claver Pray for us…


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First reading
Colossians 2:6-15

The Lord has brought you to life with him

You must live your whole life according to the Christ you have received – Jesus the Lord; you must be rooted in him and built on him and held firm by the faith you have been taught, and full of thanksgiving.
    Make sure that no one traps you and deprives you of your freedom by some second-hand, empty, rational philosophy based on the principles of this world instead of on Christ.
    In his body lives the fullness of divinity, and in him you too find your own fulfilment, in the one who is the head of every Sovereignty and Power.
    In him you have been circumcised, with a circumcision not performed by human hand, but by the complete stripping of your body of flesh. This is circumcision according to Christ. You have been buried with him, when you were baptised; and by baptism, too, you have been raised up with him through your belief in the power of God who raised him from the dead. You were dead, because you were sinners and had not been circumcised: he has brought you to life with him, he has forgiven us all our sins.
    He has overridden the Law, and cancelled every record of the debt that we had to pay; he has done away with it by nailing it to the cross; and so he got rid of the Sovereignties and the Powers, and paraded them in public, behind him in his triumphal procession.


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Gospel
Luke 6:12-19

Jesus chooses his twelve apostles

Jesus went out into the hills to pray; and he spent the whole night in prayer to God. When day came he summoned his disciples and picked out twelve of them; he called them ‘apostles’: Simon whom he called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot who became a traitor.
    He then came down with them and stopped at a piece of level ground where there was a large gathering of his disciples with a great crowd of people from all parts of Judaea and from Jerusalem and from the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon who had come to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. People tormented by unclean spirits were also cured, and everyone in the crowd was trying to touch him because power came out of him that cured them all.

Everyone who desires to follow after the Lord knows that it is all too easy to drift away, to lose our focus, instead of remaining steadfast and rooted to our faith in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who has already redeemed us. He has washed us clean so that we are blameless, holy, and pure.

And yet, oftentimes, we fall back into sin, into the old deluge and murkiness. But does that mean we give up all hope? Do we fall back to our old ways, finding comfort in things that do not satisfy? Instead, let us turn back to the Lord, who is the Lord of the sabbath, the Lord of lords, and King of kings. He is the only one, the Almighty, who can give us the grace to overcome our weaknesses and overcome the sins that we have committed against Him. It is through His grace alone that we are restored.

Let us then not be fearful and approach the throne of grace so that we may be once again sanctified to be one in holy communion with Him. Amen.


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First reading
Colossians 1:21-23

God has reconciled you by Christ’s death in his mortal body

Not long ago, you were foreigners and enemies, in the way that you used to think and the evil things that you did; but now he has reconciled you, by his death and in that mortal body. Now you are able to appear before him holy, pure and blameless – as long as you persevere and stand firm on the solid base of the faith, never letting yourselves drift away from the hope promised by the Good News, which you have heard, which has been preached to the whole human race, and of which I, Paul, have become the servant.

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Gospel
Luke 6:1-5

The Son of Man is master of the sabbath

One sabbath Jesus happened to be taking a walk through the cornfields, and his disciples were picking ears of corn, rubbing them in their hands and eating them. Some of the Pharisees said, ‘Why are you doing something that is forbidden on the sabbath day?’ Jesus answered them, ‘So you have not read what David did when he and his followers were hungry – how he went into the house of God, took the loaves of offering and ate them and gave them to his followers, loaves which only the priests are allowed to eat?’ And he said to them, ‘The Son of Man is master of the sabbath.’

Today’s first reading is a beautiful hymn, which in summary states that all things were created through Christ and for Christ. He is the firstborn of all creation. He is the firstborn from the dead. He is the Son of God, our Heavenly Father, our Lord of Lords, King of Kings, Master of the Universe.

And through him, we have life, and life to the full in him. For in Revelation, he has said, “I make all things new.” And while we remember and honor our past, for it has led us to this new life in Christ. We must never go back to our Old way of life without Him. We must remain in this new and everlasting life with him. And we must lead everyone to Him, for we are all one body in Christ. Amen.

Saint Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa) Pray for us…



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First reading
Colossians 1:15-20

All things were created through Christ and for Christ


Christ Jesus is the image of the unseen God and the first-born of all creation,
for in him were created all things in heaven and on earth:
everything visible and everything invisible,
Thrones, Dominations, Sovereignties, Powers –
all things were created through him and for him.
Before anything was created, he existed,
and he holds all things in unity.
Now the Church is his body,
he is its head.

As he is the Beginning,
he was first to be born from the dead,
so that he should be first in every way;
because God wanted all perfection to be found in him and all things to be reconciled through him and for him,
everything in heaven and everything on earth,
when he made peace
by his death on the cross.



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Gospel
Luke 5:33-39

When the bridegroom is taken from them, then they will fast

The Pharisees and the scribes said to Jesus, ‘John’s disciples are always fasting and saying prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees too, but yours go on eating and drinking.’ Jesus replied, ‘Surely you cannot make the bridegroom’s attendants fast while the bridegroom is still with them? But the time will come, the time for the bridegroom to be taken away from them; that will be the time when they will fast.’
    He also told them this parable, ‘No one tears a piece from a new cloak to put it on an old cloak; if he does, not only will he have torn the new one, but the piece taken from the new will not match the old.
    ‘And nobody puts new wine into old skins; if he does, the new wine will burst the skins and then run out, and the skins will be lost. No; new wine must be put into fresh skins. And nobody who has been drinking old wine wants new. “The old is good” he says.’

There is no greater love than to love one another in the Spirit of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. For when we love in the Spirit, the living Gospel is spread, not just by words, but in actions. We too are then empowered by Christ Jesus, as he says, to do greater things than He.

In today’s Gospel, we see examples of what great things He has done so that we can emulate Him my our lives. He rebukes fevers, heals, and casts out demons. Nothing and no one is above our Lord, our Lord, King of Kings, Jesus, the Son of God. No profane lips shall utter His Holy name.

Let us always move forward in Holiness as we journey to care for the needs of our brethren and to bring His light into the world. Amen.

Saint Gregory the Great, Pope, Doctor Pray for us…



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First reading
Colossians 1:1-8

The message of the truth has reached you and is spreading all over the world

From Paul, appointed by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy to the saints in Colossae, our faithful brothers in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.
    We have never failed to remember you in our prayers and to give thanks for you to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ever since we heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you show towards all the saints because of the hope which is stored up for you in heaven. It is only recently that you heard of this, when it was announced in the message of the truth. The Good News which has reached you is spreading all over the world and producing the same results as it has among you ever since the day when you heard about God’s grace and understood what this really is. Epaphras, who taught you, is one of our closest fellow workers and a faithful deputy for us as Christ’s servant, and it was he who told us all about your love in the Spirit.


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Gospel
Luke 4:38-44

He would not allow them to speak because they knew he was the Christ

Leaving the synagogue, Jesus went to Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever and they asked him to do something for her. Leaning over her he rebuked the fever and it left her. And she immediately got up and began to wait on them.
    At sunset all those who had friends suffering from diseases of one kind or another brought them to him, and laying his hands on each he cured them. Devils too came out of many people, howling, ‘You are the Son of God.’ But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Christ.
    When daylight came he left the house and made his way to a lonely place. The crowds went to look for him, and when they had caught up with him they wanted to prevent him leaving them, but he answered, ‘I must proclaim the Good News of the kingdom of God to the other towns too, because that is what I was sent to do.’ And he continued his preaching in the synagogues of Judaea.

We live in a world of constant trials and tribulations, and many challenges. But we are reminded today that we are sons of light. The Son of God lives within us to bring His light into the world.

If we have that deep and personal relationship with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, then we know that He is the Anointed One of God. He will cast out all evil from within us. He will guide us and lead us every step of the way. Nothing will befall us. Nothing will overcome us.

We carry Jesus within us to bring His light into the world, to bring His healing touch, so that all men and women can live in His light. And together we shall declare, “I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.” Amen.

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First reading
1 Thessalonians 5:1-6,9-11

Keep strengthening one another

You will not be expecting us to write anything to you, brothers, about ‘times and seasons’, since you know very well that the Day of the Lord is going to come like a thief in the night. It is when people are saying, ‘How quiet and peaceful it is’ that the worst suddenly happens, as suddenly as labour pains come on a pregnant woman; and there will be no way for anybody to evade it.
    But it is not as if you live in the dark, my brothers, for that Day to overtake you like a thief. No, you are all sons of light and sons of the day: we do not belong to the night or to darkness, so we should not go on sleeping, as everyone else does, but stay wide awake and sober. God never meant us to experience the Retribution, but to win salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that, alive or dead, we should still live united to him. So give encouragement to each other, and keep strengthening one another, as you do already.



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Gospel
Luke 4:31-37

‘I know who you are: the Holy One of God’

Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath. And his teaching made a deep impression on them because he spoke with authority.
    In the synagogue there was a man who was possessed by the spirit of an unclean devil, and it shouted at the top of its voice, ‘Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus said sharply, ‘Be quiet! Come out of him!’ And the devil, throwing the man down in front of everyone, went out of him without hurting him at all. Astonishment seized them and they were all saying to one another, ‘What teaching! He gives orders to unclean spirits with authority and power and they come out.’ And reports of him went all through the surrounding countryside.

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Death is terrifying for those who do not have faith in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. He has conquered death, and it is hope for all those who die, they will be raised by Him to new life. Is there better news than to know that we have hope for eternal life in Him?

But this is only true for those who truly believe, who want to follow after Him. Who is merciful to others, who walks humbly, and who gives life to the needs of the least of our brethren. When Jesus spoke up in the temple and said, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, and He has anointed me to proclaim the good news to the poor. He goes on to talk about healing, liberty, signs and wonders.

The thing is, if we have faith, as little as a mustard seed, we can do greater things than He. For He has promised and has empowered us to do so. Yet are we living lives of little faith, doing nothing to help our brethren? Perhaps it is time for us to wake up from our slumber, and to demonstrate that our God is alive. Bringing hope by healing, signs and wonders demonstrating the joy of the Gospel to be found in Jesus our Lord. Amen
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First reading
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Do not grieve about those who have died in Jesus

We want you to be quite certain, brothers, about those who have died, to make sure that you do not grieve about them, like the other people who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and that it will be the same for those who have died in Jesus: God will bring them with him. We can tell you this from the Lord’s own teaching, that any of us who are left alive until the Lord’s coming will not have any advantage over those who have died. At the trumpet of God, the voice of the archangel will call out the command and the Lord himself will come down from heaven; those who have died in Christ will be the first to rise, and then those of us who are still alive will be taken up in the clouds, together with them; to meet the Lord in the air. So we shall stay with the Lord for ever. With such thoughts as these you should comfort one another.





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Gospel
Luke 4:16-30

‘This text is being fulfilled today, even as you listen’

Jesus came to Nazara, where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day as he usually did. He stood up to read and they handed him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll he found the place where it is written:

The spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for he has anointed me.
He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives
and to the blind new sight, to set the downtrodden free, to proclaim the Lord’s year of favour.

He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the assistant and sat down. And all eyes in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to speak to them, ‘This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen.’ And he won the approval of all, and they were astonished by the gracious words that came from his lips. They said, ‘This is Joseph’s son, surely?’
    But he replied, ‘No doubt you will quote me the saying, “Physician, heal yourself” and tell me, “We have heard all that happened in Capernaum, do the same here in your own countryside.”’
    And he went on, ‘I tell you solemnly, no prophet is ever accepted in his own country.
    ‘There were many widows in Israel, I can assure you, in Elijah’s day, when heaven remained shut for three years and six months and a great famine raged throughout the land, but Elijah was not sent to any one of these: he was sent to a widow at Zarephath, a Sidonian town. And in the prophet Elisha’s time there were many lepers in Israel, but none of these was cured, except the Syrian, Naaman.’
    When they heard this everyone in the synagogue was enraged. They sprang to their feet and hustled him out of the town; and they took him up to the brow of the hill their town was built on, intending to throw him down the cliff, but he slipped through the crowd and walked away.

We have been baptized into the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and have become children of God, our Heavenly Father. His laws are written in our hearts and His love dwells within us. This is what it means to be Christian. We cannot be Christians if we do not love, if we do not know how to love, because the source of love and life itself dwells within us and we are children of light, His light into the world.

While we are not of this world, we live in this world to make a difference. All of us have been given unique gifts and talents to further the Lord our God’s kingdom. Because of our deep relationship we have with Him, we carry that service and joy in our hearts to build His kingdom and to lead His other children in the world back andr to be with Him.

It is also our joy and pride to share the joy of the Gospel, that all who do not yet know Him will come to know the Living God, and we bear witness and testimony to Him. So that one day we will hear Him say to us, My good and faithful servant, you have been faithful in little things and I have more to entrust you with. Come share in your Master’s joy. Amen.


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First reading
1 Thessalonians 4:9-11

You have learnt from God how to love one another

As for loving our brothers, there is no need for anyone to write to you about that, since you have learnt from God yourselves to love one another, and in fact this is what you are doing with all the brothers throughout the whole of Macedonia. However, we do urge you, brothers, to go on making even greater progress and to make a point of living quietly, attending to your own business and earning your living, just as we told you to.



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Gospel
Matthew 25:14-30

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

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

Today, our Lord is reminding us to be holy as our Heavenly Father is holy, to lead sanctified lives, to avoid immoral behaviour, so as to enter deeper into His love, love for Him and love for one another.

It ties in very well with today’s Gospel, where we find Herod is living an immoral life. He has chosen to be with his brother’s wife. And because of the darkness that has filled his life, he is blindsided into beheading St John the Baptist at the behest of his wife.

Let us, therefore, remain steadfast, not to lose our head as Herod had done, but to lead lives of purity, steadfast in virtues that pleases the Lord. Amen



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First reading
1Thessalonians 4:1-8 ·

What God wants is for you all to be holy

Brothers, we urge you and appeal to you in the Lord Jesus to make more and more progress in the kind of life that you are meant to live: the life that God wants, as you learnt from us, and as you are already living it. You have not forgotten the instructions we gave you on the authority of the Lord Jesus.
    What God wants is for you all to be holy. He wants you to keep away from fornication, and each one of you to know how to use the body that belongs to him in a way that is holy and honourable, not giving way to selfish lust like the pagans who do not know God. He wants nobody at all ever to sin by taking advantage of a brother in these matters; the Lord always punishes sins of that sort, as we told you before and assured you. We have been called by God to be holy, not to be immoral; in other words, anyone who objects is not objecting to a human authority, but to God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.



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Gospel
Mark 6:17-29

The beheading of John the Baptist

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

The psalmist says, fill us with your love, Lord, that we may rejoice. In today’s first reading, we see how St. Paul and his fellow brothers in Christ rejoice in the love of God our Heavenly Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Such affirming words can only be uttered with an overflowing love coming from the heart. We can breathe again knowing that you all are holding firm in the Lord.

This tender loving care can only come from a father’s heart, for his children, from the fraternal bonds lived as brothers and sisters in Christ, and simply from walking in the ways of the Lord, so that love prevails, love rules over all.

What happens when we are not walking in the love of the Lord? We hear Jesus’ warning that we must stand firm and stay alert, for we do not know when the Master is coming. The terrible examples of those in leadership who are supposed to care for those under them, are abusing their power, getting drunk. In essence, they have lost their focus on the Lord. They have lost sight of their relationship with the Lord, and the darkness of the world has prevailed.

It is a reminder that it can happen to any one of us, and so we must strive for holiness. Strive to walk in the ways of the Lord, always being alert; for the lion is prowling, seeking to destroy. We need to remain steadfast, so that the love of the Lord can rule in our hearts always, so that we may rejoice in Him. Amen.

Saint Augustine, Bishop, Doctor for Pray for us…



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First reading
1 Thessalonians 3:7-13

Now we can breathe again, as you are still holding firm in the Lord

Brothers, your faith has been a great comfort to us in the middle of our own troubles and sorrows; now we can breathe again, as you are still holding firm in the Lord. How can we thank God enough for you, for all the joy we feel before our God on your account? We are earnestly praying night and day to be able to see you face to face again and make up any shortcomings in your faith.
    May God our Father himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, make it easy for us to come to you. May the Lord be generous in increasing your love and make you love one another and the whole human race as much as we love you. And may he so confirm your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless in the sight of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus Christ comes with all his saints.



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Gospel
Matthew 24:42-51

He is coming at an hour you do not expect

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Stay awake, because you do not know the day when your master is coming. You may be quite sure of this, that if the householder had known at what time of the night the burglar would come, he would have stayed awake and would not have allowed anyone to break through the wall of his house. Therefore, you too must stand ready because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
    ‘What sort of servant, then, is faithful and wise enough for the master to place him over his household to give them their food at the proper time? Happy that servant if his master’s arrival finds him at this employment. I tell you solemnly, he will place him over everything he owns. But as for the dishonest servant who says to himself, “My master is taking his time,” and sets about beating his fellow servants and eating and drinking with drunkards, his master will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not know. The master will cut him off and send him to the same fate as the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.’

In today’s Gospel, Jesus completes the last two woes according to St. Matthew,  rebuking harshly the Pharisees and the scribes for their hypocrisy, they who wanted to be honoured, but had no virtues within them to contain the treasures of heaven. Even though they were the Chosen Ones, they did not behave as they should that is as children of God our Heavenly Father.

St. Paul, on the other hand, lives out his calling as an Apostle and a disciple of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who did not come to be served, but to serve. St. Paul leads by example to earn his own keep, so as not to be obligated to anyone, but with purity of body, mind and soul, serve the Lord our God and our brethren wholeheartedly, completely, glorifying the Lord whom he loved and served.

And he is a shining example of how we all should aspire to be, as we care for those whom the Lord has put us in charge to lead, like fathers and mothers who care for their children, just as God our Heavenly Father cares for us all.

Lord, you search me and you know me. Let all that I say and do always bring you glory. Amen.

Saint Monica pray for us…
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First reading
1 Thessalonians 2:9-13

We slaved night and day so as not to be a burden on any one of you

Let me remind you, brothers, how hard we used to work, slaving night and day so as not to be a burden on any one of you while we were proclaiming God’s Good News to you. You are witnesses, and so is God, that our treatment of you, since you became believers, has been impeccably right and fair. You can remember how we treated every one of you as a father treats his children, teaching you what was right, encouraging you and appealing to you to live a life worthy of God, who is calling you to share the glory of his kingdom. Another reason why we constantly thank God for you is that as soon as you heard the message that we brought you as God’s message, you accepted it for what it really is, God’s message and not some human thinking; and it is still a living power among you who believe it.




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Gospel
Matthew 23:27-32

You are the sons of those who murdered the prophets

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