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While many of us work hard to feed ourselves and our family, it is equally if not more important to work hard at building God’s kingdom. For is it not our desire to finally rest in His kingdom?

It is by example of working tirelessly for the Lord our God’s glory that we lead others to do likewise. When we place little or no value of what we have in terms of possessions, titles but seek only to do His will and build His Kingdom then only may we be looked upon as good Holy men and women of God.

No evil act will go unpunished for evil begets evil. Seek only to do good for God is good. Amen

St John the Baptist pray for us…

First reading

2 Thessalonians 3:6-10,16-18
We worked night and day not to be a burden on you

In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we urge you, brothers, to keep away from any of the brothers who refuses to work or to live according to the tradition we passed on to you.
You know how you are supposed to imitate us: now we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we ever have our meals at anyone’s table without paying for them; no, we worked night and day, slaving and straining, so as not to be a burden on any of you. This was not because we had no right to be, but in order to make ourselves an example for you to follow.
We gave you a rule when we were with you: do not let anyone have any food if he refuses to do any work. May the Lord of peace himself give you peace all the time and in every way. The Lord be with you all.
From me, PAUL, these greetings in my own handwriting, which is the mark of genuineness in every letter; this is my own writing. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

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.

Do you look sweet and shiny on the outside? Do you exude holiness from the inner sanctum of your heart or is it just for display?

Many even if they belong to a community are broken inside. Some carry wounds that have not healed, some are struggling with finances, family challenges. Some live with guilt for their past sins and may have stopped going to mass. Others have chosen to believe what they want about the Church and the sacraments, instead of abiding in the word and traditions of Holy mother Church.

Holiness and the goodness that flows from God comes from deep within. It illumines body, mind and soul. It is a light that glows on the inside and shines through on the outside. Such that the beauty of the person of God is not only clearly seen but felt.

All this is possible with our Christ. So come now it is time to go to our Lord Jesus Christ with all your brokenness, sins, pride, pains, struggles and sorrows. He is waiting to embrace, heal and strengthen you. Receive the Holy sacraments for which His grace is outpoured. Be one with Him as you are one with His church. Amen

St Augustine pray for us…

First reading

2 Thessalonians 2:1-3,14-17
Stand firm and keep the traditions we have taught you

To turn, brothers, to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we shall all be gathered round him: please do not get excited too soon or alarmed by any prediction or rumour or any letter claiming to come from us, implying that the Day of the Lord has already arrived. Never let anyone deceive you in this way.
It cannot happen until the Great Revolt has taken place and the Rebel, the Lost One, has appeared. Through the Good News that we brought he called you to this so that you should share the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Stand firm, then, brothers, and keep the traditions that we taught you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father who has given us his love and, through his grace, such inexhaustible comfort and such sure hope, comfort you and strengthen you in everything good that you do or say.

Gospel

Matthew 23:23-26
Clean the inside of the cup first, so that the outside may become clean

Jesus said: ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who pay your tithe of mint and dill and cumin and have neglected the weightier matters of the Law – justice, mercy, good faith! These you should have practised, without neglecting the others. You blind guides! Straining out gnats and swallowing camels!
‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who clean the outside of cup and dish and leave the inside full of extortion and intemperance. Blind Pharisee! Clean the inside of cup and dish first so that the outside may become clean as well.’

What sort of a leader are you? One that makes your power felt? One that makes changes simply because you are in a position to do so? One that seeks the affirmation of others? Or are you a leader after the heart of Jesus? One that is led by the Holy Spirit?

A good leader is one who exercises stewardship in Christ. Jesus reigns first and foremost in the heart of this leader. And leads the flock just as the master would with great love, mercy and sacrifice. He or she will get down on their knees if needed to tend to love and serve the needs of His flock.

Lord Jesus let me be a humble servant of yours after your own heart. Teach me Your ways and let me serve your people according to your will. Amen

First reading

Ezekiel 43:1-7
The vision of the coming of the glory of the Lord to the Temple

The angel took me to the gate, the one facing east. I saw the glory of the God of Israel approaching from the east. A sound came with it, like the sound of the ocean, and the earth shone with his glory. This vision was like the one I had seen when I had come for the destruction of the city, and like the one I had seen on the bank of the river Chebar. Then I prostrated myself.
The glory of the Lord arrived at the Temple by the east gate. The spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; I saw the glory of the Lord fill the Temple. And I heard someone speaking to me from the Temple while the man stood beside me. The voice said, ‘Son of man, this is the dais of my throne, the step on which I rest my feet. I shall live here among the sons of Israel for ever.’

Gospel

Matthew 23:1-12
They do not practise what they preach

Addressing the people and his disciples Jesus said, ‘The scribes and the Pharisees occupy the chair of Moses. You must therefore do what they tell you and listen to what they say; but do not be guided by what they do: since they do not practise what they preach. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but will they lift a finger to move them? Not they! Everything they do is done to attract attention, like wearing broader phylacteries and longer tassels, like wanting to take the place of honour at banquets and the front seats in the synagogues, being greeted obsequiously in the market squares and having people call them Rabbi.
‘You, however, must not allow yourselves to be called Rabbi, since you have only one master, and you are all brothers. You must call no one on earth your father, since you have only one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor must you allow yourselves to be called teachers, for you have only one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be exalted.’

The Lord knows us all by name. He knows everything there is to know about us from our birth. He desires that each and everyone of us will be with Him in heaven.

“Come pick up your cross and follow me.” Jesus our Lord is calling out to you. His call is to all saints and sinners alike. For it is by His grace we are liberated from our sins. We can then enter into a deeper relationship with Him through discipleship. To lead all others to Him so that one day soon we will all be reunited in heaven. Amen

St Bartholomew pray for us…

First reading

Apocalypse 21:9-14
He showed me Jerusalem, the holy city, coming down from God out of heaven

The angel came to speak to me, and said, ‘Come here and I will show you the bride that the Lamb has married.’ In the spirit, he took me to the top of an enormous high mountain and showed me Jerusalem, the holy city, coming down from God out of heaven. It had all the radiant glory of God and glittered like some precious jewel of crystal-clear diamond. The walls of it were of a great height, and had twelve gates; at each of the twelve gates there was an angel, and over the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel; on the east there were three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. The city walls stood on twelve foundation stones, each one of which bore the name of one of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Gospel

John 1:45-51
You will see heaven laid open, and the Son of Man

Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, the one about whom the prophets wrote: he is Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.’ ‘From Nazareth?’ said Nathanael ‘Can anything good come from that place?’ ‘Come and see’ replied Philip. 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.’

Time and time again the Lord our God has called us to greater holiness. To deepen our relationship with Him. To be transformed by the outpouring of His grace so that we can live our life to the full in Him. And to be powerful instruments of His love and grace. How have we responded?

No time! More important things to do. Business/work to attend to, family or friends. Or have we instead killed the spirit of those loving souls who tried to lead us closer to Jesus? By our harsh rebukes even name calling.

Even today the Lord invites everyone, saints and sinners alike to the Eucharistic Celebration. So that He can replace the heart of stone within us with one of flesh. To share in His divine life. Have we put on the wedding garment?

Or have we instead come to spite Him? By our blatant disregard for our Lord and King in the way we dress, act and speak? Ears and mouth shut with hearts closed and aloof. Mobile phones in hand, having personal discussions while the wedding supper of the Lamb is going on. We have everything to lose and nothing to gain by our behaviour.

Thank you sweet saviour my lord, Jesus Christ. For giving me the opportunity to partake in the bread of life daily. For Your love and grace outpoured each time. Now and forever. Amen

First reading

Ezekiel 36:23-28
I will remove the heart of stone from your bodies and give you a heart of flesh

The word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows: ‘I mean to display the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned among them. And the nations will learn that I am the Lord – it is the Lord who speaks – when I display my holiness for your sake before their eyes. Then I am going to take you from among the nations and gather you together from all the foreign countries, and bring you home to your own land. I shall pour clean water over you and you will be cleansed; I shall cleanse you of all your defilement and all your idols. I shall give you a new heart, and put a new spirit in you; I shall remove the heart of stone from your bodies and give you a heart of flesh instead. I shall put my spirit in you, and make you keep my laws and sincerely respect my observances. You will live in the land which I gave your ancestors. You shall be my people and I will be your God.’

Gospel

Matthew 22:1-14
Invite everyone you can to the wedding

Jesus began to speak to the chief priests and elders of the people in parables: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a feast for his son’s wedding. He sent his servants to call those who had been invited, but they would not come. Next he sent some more servants. “Tell those who have been invited” he said “that I have my banquet all prepared, my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, everything is ready. Come to the wedding.” But they were not interested: one went off to his farm, another to his business, and the rest seized his servants, maltreated them and killed them. The king was furious. He despatched his troops, destroyed those murderers and burnt their town. Then he said to his servants, “The wedding is ready; but as those who were invited proved to be unworthy, go to the crossroads in the town and invite everyone you can find to the wedding.” So these servants went out on to the roads and collected together everyone they could find, bad and good alike; and the wedding hall was filled with guests. When the king came in to look at the guests he noticed one man who was not wearing a wedding garment, and said to him, “How did you get in here, my friend, without a wedding garment?” And the man was silent. Then the king said to the attendants, “Bind him hand and foot and throw him out into the dark, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.” For many are called, but few are chosen.’

Why do we serve the Lord our God and our brethren? If not for love of Him and neighbour.

Are we those who agree to serve for a fixed reward then grumble and complain when we work longer or harder than others?

Or are we those who are invited to serve for a fair reward and do so without complaint.

Better yet are we those who are just happy to be called to service without the promise of rewards.

All that we have comes from the Lord our God. Let us be good shepherds tending to the needs of His flock and leading them safely home to Him. Just as we are led by our good shepherd our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

First reading

Ezekiel 34:1-11
An oracle against bad and selfish shepherds

The word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows: ‘Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them:
‘“Shepherds, the Lord says this: Trouble for the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Shepherds ought to feed their flock, yet you have fed on milk, you have dressed yourselves in wool, you have sacrificed the fattest sheep, but failed to feed the flock. You have failed to make weak sheep strong, or to care for the sick ones, or bandage the wounded ones. You have failed to bring back strays or look for the lost. On the contrary, you have ruled them cruelly and violently. For lack of a shepherd they have scattered, to become the prey of any wild animal; they have scattered far. My flock is straying this way and that, on mountains and on high hills; my flock has been scattered all over the country; no one bothers about them and no one looks for them.
‘“Well then, shepherds, hear the word of the Lord. As I live, I swear it – it is the Lord who speaks – since my flock has been looted and for lack of a shepherd is now the prey of any wild animal, since my shepherds have stopped bothering about my flock, since my shepherds feed themselves rather than my flock, in view of all this, shepherds, hear the word of the Lord. The Lord says this: I am going to call the shepherds to account. I am going to take my flock back from them and I shall not allow them to feed my flock. In this way the shepherds will stop feeding themselves. I shall rescue my sheep from their mouths; they will not prey on them any more.”
‘For the Lord says this: “I am going to look after my flock myself and keep all of it in view.”’

Gospel

Matthew 20:1-16
Why be envious because I am generous?

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner going out at daybreak to hire workers for his vineyard. He made an agreement with the workers for one denarius a day, and sent them to his vineyard. Going out at about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the market place and said to them, “You go to my vineyard too and I will give you a fair wage.” So they went. At about the sixth hour and again at about the ninth hour, he went out and did the same. Then at about the eleventh hour he went out and found more men standing round, and he said to them, “Why have you been standing here idle all day?” “Because no one has hired us” they answered. He said to them, “You go into my vineyard too.” In the evening, the owner of the vineyard said to his bailiff, “Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with the last arrivals and ending with the first.” So those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came forward and received one denarius each. When the first came, they expected to get more, but they too received one denarius each. They took it, but grumbled at the landowner. “The men who came last” they said “have done only one hour, and you have treated them the same as us, though we have done a heavy day’s work in all the heat.” He answered one of them and said, “My friend, I am not being unjust to you; did we not agree on one denarius? Take your earnings and go. I choose to pay the last comer as much as I pay you. Have I no right to do what I like with my own? Why be envious because I am generous?” Thus the last will be first, and the first, last.’

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, ”declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Still many choose to cherry pick what they want to believe, act and do. They who are made little less than a God often behave as though greater than He who made them. When will they learn that their pride will be their downfall?

Be obedient unto our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ! Let go of everything, empty your hands and your heart so that you can be filled with His grace. For God our Father has great plans for you. Amen

First reading

Ezekiel 28:1-10
Against the arrogance of the king of Tyre

The word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows, ‘Son of man, tell the ruler of Tyre, “The Lord says this:

Being swollen with pride,
you have said: I am a god;
I am sitting on the throne of God, surrounded by the seas.
Though you are a man and not a god, you consider yourself the equal of God.
You are wiser now than Danel; there is no sage as wise as you.
By your wisdom and your intelligence you have amassed great wealth;
you have piles of gold and silver inside your treasure-houses.
Such is your skill in trading, your wealth has continued to increase,
and with this your heart has grown more arrogant.
And so, the Lord says this:
Since you consider yourself the equal of God,
very well, I am going to bring foreigners against you, the most barbarous of the nations.
They will draw sword against your fine wisdom,
they will defile your glory; they will throw you down into the pit
and you will die a violent death surrounded by the seas.
Are you still going to say: I am a god, when your murderers confront you?
No, you are a man and not a god in the clutches of your murderers!
You will die like the uncircumcised
at the hand of foreigners.
For I have spoken – it is the Lord who speaks.”’

Gospel

Matthew 19:23-30
It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven

Jesus said to his disciples, ‘I tell you solemnly, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Yes, I tell you again, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.’ When the disciples heard this they were astonished. ‘Who can be saved, then?’ they said. Jesus gazed at them. ‘For men’ he told them ‘this is impossible; for God everything is possible.’
Then Peter spoke. ‘What about us?’ he said to him ‘We have left everything and followed you. What are we to have, then?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I tell you solemnly, when all is made new and the Son of Man sits on his throne of glory, you will yourselves sit on twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or land for the sake of my name will be repaid a hundred times over, and also inherit eternal life.
‘Many who are first will be last, and the last, first.’

I know I am created in the image and likeness of God my Father. All that I am and all that I have comes from Him.

If one truly has faith and believes wholeheartedly in the above statements then why would it be difficult to let go of your possessions? Of your pride? Your titles of honour? To pick up your cross and follow Jesus?

Instead many choose to hold on to all of their possessions and even then, some desire to take hold the possessions of others! Will they only learn when everything is taken away?

The only desire we should have is to enter into loving embrace of the Lord our God and to be with Him in His kingdom. Let us then hold fast to His commands, to love Him and our neighbour with all our hearts. To follow His way, the truth and the life. Amen

First reading

Ezekiel 24:15-24
The Lord will profane his sanctuary

The word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows, ‘Son of man, I am about to deprive you suddenly of the delight of your eyes. But you are not to lament, not to weep, not to let your tears run down. Groan in silence, do not go into mourning for the dead, knot your turban round your head, put your sandals on your feet, do not cover your beard, do not eat common bread.’ I told this to the people in the morning, and my wife died in the evening, and the next morning I did as I had been ordered.
The people then said to me, ‘Are you not going to explain what meaning these actions have for us?’
I replied, ‘The word of the Lord has been addressed to me as follows, “Say to the House of Israel: The Lord says this. I am about to profane my sanctuary, the pride of your strength, the delight of your eyes, the passion of your souls. Those of your sons and daughters whom you have left behind will fall by the sword. And you are to do as I have done; you must not cover your beards or eat common bread; you must keep your turbans on your heads and your sandals on your feet; you must not lament or weep. You shall waste away owing to your sins and groan among yourselves. Ezekiel is to be a sign for you. You are to do just as he has done. And when this happens, you will learn that I am the Lord.”’

Gospel

Matthew 19:16-22
If you wish to be perfect, go and sell what you own

There was a man who came to Jesus and asked, ‘Master, what good deed must I do to possess eternal life?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you ask me about what is good? There is one alone who is good. But if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.’ He said, ‘Which?’ ‘These:’ Jesus replied ‘You must not kill. You must not commit adultery. You must not bring false witness. Honour your father and mother, and: you must love your neighbour as yourself.’ The young man said to him, ‘I have kept all these. What more do I need to do?’ Jesus said, ‘If you wish to be perfect, go and sell what you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ But when the young man heard these words he went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth.

A little child is trusting, loving, curious, innocent and in awe of God our Father’s creations. Thankful and grateful for all it has been given even though it may not always know how to express it. This is the heart of a child which belongs in the kingdom of heaven. Can we not possess such a childlike heart?

While it is true that the sins of the father or mother for that matter, can be passed on to the child; in that they either pickup the wrong thing learnt from the parent’s mistakes or they react badly to them. Still they can repent and be changed through the loving mercy and grace of the Lord our God. For the Lord looks at the heart of the individual child who is unique in His eyes.

I am a child of God unique in His eyes and so loved by Him. And so are you. Amen

First reading

Ezekiel 18:1-10,13,30-32
You, not your children, will suffer for your sins: so repent, and live

The word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows:
‘Why do you keep repeating this proverb in the land of Israel: “The fathers have eaten unripe grapes; and the children’s teeth are set on edge”?
‘As I live – it is the Lord who speaks – there will no longer be any reason to repeat this proverb in Israel. See now: all life belongs to me; the father’s life and the son’s life, both alike belong to me. The man who has sinned, he is the one who shall die.
‘The upright man is law-abiding and honest; he does not eat on the mountains or raise his eyes to the idols of the House of Israel, does not seduce his neighbour’s wife or sleep with a woman during her periods. He oppresses no one, returns pledges, never steals, gives his own bread to the hungry, his clothes to the naked. He never charges usury on loans, takes no interest, abstains from evil, gives honest judgement between man and man, keeps my laws and sincerely respects my observances – such a man is truly upright. It is the Lord who speaks.
‘But if anyone has a son prone to violence and bloodshed, then this son shall certainly not live; having committed all these appalling crimes he will have to die, and his blood be on his own head.
House of Israel, in future I mean to judge each of you by what he does – it is the Lord who speaks. Repent, renounce all your sins, avoid all occasions of sin! Shake off all the sins you have committed against me, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why are you so anxious to die, House of Israel? I take no pleasure in the death of anyone – it is the Lord who speaks. Repent and live!’

Gospel

Matthew 19:13-15
Do not stop the little children coming to me

People brought little children to Jesus, for him to lay his hands on them and say a prayer. The disciples turned them away, but Jesus said, ‘Let the little children alone, and do not stop them coming to me; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.’ Then he laid his hands on them and went on his way.

Sons and daughters of God our Father, born into holiness through the Holy Spirit by the waters of our baptism. Indeed we were created for Heaven, our final destination.

And so we must refrain from being tempted by the wiles of this world. To remain pure in thought, word and deed. So that He the Lord our God can dwell in us as we dwell in Him, in perfect Holy Communion. Then all who look upon us can see that we are Christians by our fidelity, integrity and love for one another as we; love, honour and worship the Lord our God.

Through Him, with Him and in Him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit. One God forever and ever. Amen

First reading

Ezekiel 16:1-15,60,63
I clothed you with my own splendour but you made yourself a prostitute

The word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows, ‘Son of man, confront Jerusalem with her filthy crimes. Say, “The Lord says this: By origin and birth you belong to the land of Canaan. Your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. At birth, the very day you were born, there was no one to cut your navel-string, or wash you in cleansing water, or rub you with salt, or wrap you in napkins. No one leaned kindly over you to do anything like that for you. You were exposed in the open fields; you were as unloved as that on the day you were born.
‘“I saw you struggling in your blood as I was passing, and I said to you as you lay in your blood: Live, and grow like the grass of the fields. You developed, you grew, you reached marriageable age. Your breasts and your hair both grew, but you were quite naked. Then I saw you as I was passing. Your time had come, the time for love. I spread part of my cloak over you and covered your nakedness; I bound myself by oath, I made a covenant with you – it is the Lord who speaks – and you became mine. I bathed you in water, I washed the blood off you, I anointed you with oil. I gave you embroidered dresses, fine leather shoes, a linen headband and a cloak of silk. I loaded you with jewels, gave you bracelets for your wrists and a necklace for your throat. I gave you nose-ring and earrings; I put a beautiful diadem on your head. You were loaded with gold and silver, and dressed in fine linen and embroidered silks. Your food was the finest flour, honey and oil. You grew more and more beautiful; and you rose to be queen. The fame of your beauty spread through the nations, since it was perfect, because I had clothed you with my own splendour – it is the Lord who speaks.
‘“You have become infatuated with your own beauty; you have used your fame to make yourself a prostitute; you have offered your services to all comers. But I will remember the covenant that I made with you when you were a girl, and I will conclude a covenant with you that shall last for ever. And so remember and be covered with shame, and in your confusion be reduced to silence, when I have pardoned you for all that you have done – it is the Lord who speaks.”’

Gospel

Matthew 19:3-12
Husband and wife are no longer two, but one body

Some Pharisees approached Jesus, and to test him they said, ‘Is it against the Law for a man to divorce his wife on any pretext whatever?’ He answered, ‘Have you not read that the creator from the beginning made them male and female and that he said: This is why a man must leave father and mother, and cling to his wife, and the two become one body? They are no longer two, therefore, but one body. So then, what God has united, man must not divide.’
They said to him, ‘Then why did Moses command that a writ of dismissal should be given in cases of divorce?’ ‘It was because you were so unteachable’ he said ‘that Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but it was not like this from the beginning. Now I say this to you: the man who divorces his wife – I am not speaking of fornication – and marries another, is guilty of adultery.’
The disciples said to him, ‘If that is how things are between husband and wife, it is not advisable to marry.’ But he replied, ‘It is not everyone who can accept what I have said, but only those to whom it is granted. There are eunuchs born that way from their mother’s womb, there are eunuchs made so by men and there are eunuchs who have made themselves that way for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.’

The painful reality of unforgiveness is that we remain bound by our anger, hurts and pain. Such that it drives a wedge between us and our merciful ever loving God. For when there is no mercy there is no love. And God our Father is love.

Because our hearts are not quite centred on the Lord our God by our unforgiveness;all else spins into disarray. Our sins get the better of us and we find ourselves exiled and alone.

Let us never forget that our Lord Jesus Christ suffered a terrible death for us and He forgave us from the cross in which He hung. No matter how great the pain anyone has caused us, let us turn to our Lord for His healing grace and forgive them their trespasses as we want to be forgiven for our many trespassers against the almighty ever loving God. Amen

First reading

Ezekiel 12:1-12
The oracle of exile against the whole House of Israel

The word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows, ‘Son of man, you are living with that set of rebels who have eyes and never see, ears and never hear, for they are a set of rebels. You, son of man, pack an exile’s bundle and emigrate by daylight when they can see you, emigrate from where you are to somewhere else while they watch. Perhaps they will admit then that they are a set of rebels. You will pack your baggage like an exile’s bundle, by daylight, for them to see, and leave like an exile in the evening, making sure that they are looking. As they watch, make a hole in the wall, and go out through it. As they watch, you will shoulder your pack and go out into the dark; you will cover your face so that you cannot see the country, since I have made you a symbol for the House of Israel.’
I did as I had been told. I packed my baggage like an exile’s bundle, by daylight; and in the evening I made a hole through the wall with my hand. I went out into the dark and shouldered my pack as they watched.
The next morning the word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows, ‘Son of man, did not the House of Israel, did not that set of rebels, ask you what you were doing? Say, “The Lord says this: This oracle is directed against Jerusalem and the whole House of Israel wherever they are living.” Say, “I am a symbol for you; the thing I have done will be done to them; they will go into exile, into banishment.” Their ruler will shoulder his pack in the dark and go out through the wall; a hole will be made to let him out; he will cover his face rather than see the country.’

Gospel

Matthew 18:21-19:1
‘How often must I forgive my brother?’

Peter went up to Jesus and said, ‘Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me? As often as seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘Not seven, I tell you, but seventy-seven times.
‘And so the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who decided to settle his accounts with his servants. When the reckoning began, they brought him a man who owed ten thousand talents; but he had no means of paying, so his master gave orders that he should be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, to meet the debt. At this, the servant threw himself down at his master’s feet. “Give me time” he said “and I will pay the whole sum.” And the servant’s master felt so sorry for him that he let him go and cancelled the debt. Now as this servant went out, he happened to meet a fellow servant who owed him one hundred denarii; and he seized him by the throat and began to throttle him. “Pay what you owe me” he said. His fellow servant fell at his feet and implored him, saying, “Give me time and I will pay you.” But the other would not agree; on the contrary, he had him thrown into prison till he should pay the debt. His fellow servants were deeply distressed when they saw what had happened, and they went to their master and reported the whole affair to him. Then the master sent for him. “You wicked servant,” he said “I cancelled all that debt of yours when you appealed to me. Were you not bound, then, to have pity on your fellow servant just as I had pity on you?” And in his anger the master handed him over to the torturers till he should pay all his debt. And that is how my heavenly Father will deal with you unless you each forgive your brother from your heart.’
Jesus had now finished what he wanted to say, and he left Galilee and came into the part of Judaea which is on the far side of the Jordan.

Is it not fitting that the mother of our Lord and God Jesus Christ, our mother was gently brought up into heaven when her life on earth had ended?

Where she now sits as queen of heaven interceding for all nations to come into full knowledge of her Son our Lord Jesus Christ. To turn away from sin and enter into a deep personal relationship with Him. She is Co-Redemptrix a humble role she assumes to save souls through and with Her beloved son our Lord.

Mother dear O pray for us, now and forever. Amen

First reading

Apocalypse 11:19,12:1-6,10

A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman adorned with the sun

The sanctuary of God in heaven opened and the ark of the covenant could be seen inside it. Then came flashes of lightning, peals of thunder and an earthquake, and violent hail.
Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman, adorned with the sun, standing on the moon, and with the twelve stars on her head for a crown. She was pregnant, and in labour, crying aloud in the pangs of childbirth. Then a second sign appeared in the sky, a huge red dragon which had seven heads and ten horns, and each of the seven heads crowned with a coronet. Its tail dragged a third of the stars from the sky and dropped them to the earth, and the dragon stopped in front of the woman as she was having the child, so that he could eat it as soon as it was born from its mother. The woman brought a male child into the world, the son who was to rule all the nations with an iron sceptre, and the child was taken straight up to God and to his throne, while the woman escaped into the desert, where God had made a place of safety ready, for her to be looked after in the twelve hundred and sixty days.
Then I heard a voice shout from heaven, ‘Victory and power and empire for ever have been won by our God, and all authority for his Christ, now that the persecutor, who accused our brothers day and night before our God, has been brought down.’

Second reading

1 Corinthians 15:20-26
Christ will be brought to life as the first-fruits and then those who belong to him

Christ has been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of all who have fallen asleep. Death came through one man and in the same way the resurrection of the dead has come through one man. Just as all men die in Adam, so all men will be brought to life in Christ; but all of them in their proper order: Christ as the first-fruits and then, after the coming of Christ, those who belong to him. After that will come the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, having done away with every sovereignty, authority and power. For he must be king until he has put all his enemies under his feet and the last of the enemies to be destroyed is death, for everything is to be put under his feet.

Gospel

Luke 1:39-56
The Almighty has done great things for me

Mary set out and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah. She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, ‘Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.’
And Mary said:

‘My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord
and my spirit exults in God my saviour;
because he has looked upon his lowly handmaid.
Yes, from this day forward all generations will call me blessed,
for the Almighty has done great things for me.
Holy is his name,
and his mercy reaches from age to age for those who fear him.
He has shown the power of his arm,
he has routed the proud of heart.
He has pulled down princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly.
The hungry he has filled with good things, the rich sent empty away.
He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his mercy
– according to the promise he made to our ancestors –
of his mercy to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’

Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then went back home.

How can anyone say God our Father does not love me? When He loves and cares for all His children. Ever patient and merciful even when we commit the most heinous sin and turn back to Him. For He Wills that we all be saved and fully alive with and in Him.

By His grace we are sanctified and made pure. And can retain all of our childlike innocence. Let us then be obedient and prayerful. As we serve Him and one another with joy.

The word made flesh, our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ has come to us. Are you not in awe that we can receive the living Word into our very being through Holy Communion? And then be given the opportunity to share His Word with the world.

Glory and Praise to our Lord Jesus Christ. Now and forever. Amen

First reading

Ezekiel 2:8-3:4
He gave me the scroll to eat and it was as sweet as honey

I, Ezekiel, heard a voice speaking. It said, ‘You, son of man, listen to the words I say; do not be a rebel like that rebellious set. Open your mouth and eat what I am about to give you.’ I looked. A hand was there, stretching out to me and holding a scroll. He unrolled it in front of me; it was written on back and front; on it was written ‘lamentations, wailings, moanings.’ He said, ‘Son of man, eat what is given to you; eat this scroll, then go and speak to the House of Israel.’ I opened my mouth; he gave me the scroll to eat and said, ‘Son of man, feed and be satisfied by the scroll I am giving you.’ I ate it, and it tasted sweet as honey.
Then he said, ‘Son of man, go to the House of Israel and tell them what I have said.’

Gospel

Matthew 18:1-5,10,12-14
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.
‘Tell me. Suppose a man has a hundred sheep and one of them strays; will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go in search of the stray? I tell you solemnly, if he finds it, it gives him more joy than do the ninety-nine that did not stray at all. Similarly, it is never the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.’

We the faithful shall all see the glory of God at our passing from this earth.

For now while we toil, let us give glory to God by our lives. In word and in deed. We will perform equally, our civic duties and spirit led duties diligently. For all that we do, we want to give glory to our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.

For in His great love and mercy, He has prepared rooms for us to remain in paradise with Him. Now and forever. Amen

First reading

Ezekiel 1:2-5,24-28
Ezekiel’s vision of the glory of the Lord

On the fifth of the month – it was the fifth year of exile for King Jehoiachin – the word of the Lord was addressed to the priest Ezekiel son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldaeans, on the bank of the river Chebar.
There the hand of the Lord came on me. I looked; a stormy wind blew from the north, a great cloud with light around it, a fire from which flashes of lightning darted, and in the centre a sheen like bronze at the heart of the fire. In the centre I saw what seemed four animals. I heard the noise of their wings as they moved; it sounded like rushing water, like the voice of Shaddai, a noise like a storm, like the noise of a camp; when they halted, they folded their wings, and there was a noise.
Above the vault over their heads was something that looked like a sapphire; it was shaped like a throne and high up on this throne was a being that looked like a man. I saw him shine like bronze, and close to and all around him from what seemed his loins upwards was what looked like fire; and from what seemed his loins downwards I saw what looked like fire, and a light all round like a bow in the clouds on rainy days; that is how the surrounding light appeared. It was something that looked like the glory of the Lord. I looked, and prostrated myself.

Gospel

Matthew 17:22-27
‘They will put the Son of Man to death’

One day when they were together in Galilee, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘The Son of Man is going to be handed over into the power of men; they will put him to death, and on the third day he will be raised to life again.’ And a great sadness came over them.
When they reached Capernaum, the collectors of the half-shekel came to Peter and said, ‘Does your master not pay the half-shekel?’ ‘Oh yes’ he replied, and went into the house. But before he could speak, Jesus said, ‘Simon, what is your opinion? From whom do the kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their sons or from foreigners?’ And when he replied, ‘From foreigners’, Jesus said, ‘Well then, the sons are exempt. However, so as not to offend these people, go to the lake and cast a hook; take the first fish that bites, open its mouth and there you will find a shekel; take it and give it to them for me and for you.’

Praying, fasting and almsgiving are the three pillars of our faith. These lead us into a deeper relationship with the Lord our God. We become effective instruments of His grace only when our hearts are sanctified. When we know that we are mere servants of His grace and it is through His great love and mercy that enables us to touch others according to His will.

Yes indeed if one had faith the size of a mustard seed that is to say, one who sees oneself as little in the eyes of God, who is humble, pure of heart, a servant of the Lord and to their brethren. Great things will be accomplished through such faith in Jesus name, for the Lord dwells in hearts such as these.

Lord Jesus grant me such faith as to humbly serve as an instrument of Your grace. Amen

First reading

Habakkuk 1:12-2:4
If the vision comes slowly, wait: it will come without fail

Are not you, from ancient times the Lord,. my God, my Holy One, who never dies? O Lord, you have made this people an instrument of justice,
set it firm as a rock in order to punish.

Your eyes are too pure to rest on wickedness, you cannot look on at tyranny. Why do you look on while men are treacherous, and stay silent while the evil man swallows a better man than he?

You treat mankind like fishes in the sea,like creeping, masterless things.

A people, these, who catch all on their hook,who draw them with their net,in their dragnet gather them,and so, triumphantly, rejoice.

At this, they offer a sacrifice to their net,
and burn incense to their dragnet,for providing them with luxury and lavish food.

Are they then to empty their net unceasingly,
slaughtering nations without pity?

I will stand on my watchtower,and take up my post on my battlements,
watching to see what he will say to me, what answer he will make to my complaints.

Then the Lord answered and said, ‘Write the vision down, inscribe it on tablets to be easily read,since this vision is for its own time only:
eager for its own fulfilment, it does not deceive;if it comes slowly, wait,for come it will, without fail.

‘See how he flags, he whose soul is not at rights,but the upright man will live by his faithfulness.’

Gospel

Matthew 17:14-20
If your faith were the size of a mustard seed, the mountain would move

A man came up to Jesus and went down on his knees before him. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘take pity on my son: he is a lunatic and in a wretched state; he is always falling into the fire or into the water. I took him to your disciples and they were unable to cure him.’ ‘Faithless and perverse generation!’ Jesus said in reply ‘How much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him here to me.’ And when Jesus rebuked it the devil came out of the boy who was cured from that moment.
Then the disciples came privately to Jesus. ‘Why were we unable to cast it out?’ they asked. He answered, ‘Because you have little faith. I tell you solemnly, if your faith were the size of a mustard seed you could say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it would move; nothing would be impossible for you.’

How do you receive the abundant graces the Lord our God wants to pour out on you when both your hands are full? Full of your material gain, pride, recognition, title of honour, fear of losing and more. Unless you empty your hands to receive Him, your heart is empty.

When we die in the Lord, that is to offer up our life in loving sacrifice, we rise again in Him! More fully alive then we have ever been. So that even when we give till it hurts, we can do so joyfully. Knowing full well our reward is not of this world.

Lord Jesus let me be Your servant through and through in Your truth. Amen

First reading

2 Corinthians 9:6-10
God loves a cheerful giver

Do not forget: thin sowing means thin reaping; the more you sow, the more you reap. Each one should give what he has decided in his own mind, not grudgingly or because he is made to, for God loves a cheerful giver. And there is no limit to the blessings which God can send you – he will make sure that you will always have all you need for yourselves in every possible circumstance, and still have something to spare for all sorts of good works. As scripture says: He was free in almsgiving, and gave to the poor: his good deeds will never be forgotten.
The one who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide you with all the seed you want and make the harvest of your good deeds a larger one.

Gospel

John 12:24-26
If a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies, it yields a rich harvest

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘I tell you, most solemnly,
unless a wheat grain falls on the ground and dies,
it remains only a single grain;
but if it dies,
it yields a rich harvest.
Anyone who loves his life loses it;
anyone who hates his life in this world
will keep it for the eternal life.
If a man serves me, he must follow me,
wherever I am, my servant will be there too.
If anyone serves me, my Father will honour him.’

Yes indeed we know right from wrong for we are all children of God our Father,created in His image and likeness. His law is written in our hearts. In His great love for us He also gave us free will; so that we can choose either to love and honour Him by our lives or not.

Then again in great abounding love for us, Jesus established His church. So that we have access to the sacraments to remain fully in union with Him;most importantly of all He is present to us. We are one body in Him.

Thereafter each and every Eucharistic Celebration we go out to share the good news of our Risen Lord even amidst trials and challenges. For we know He the Lord is with us always. Amen

First reading

Jeremiah 31:31-34
I will write my Law in their hearts

See, the days are coming – it is the Lord who speaks – when I will make a new covenant with the House of Israel (and the House of Judah), but not a covenant like the one I made with their ancestors on the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant of mine, so I had to show them who was master. It is the Lord who speaks. No, this is the covenant I will make with the House of Israel when those days arrive – it is the Lord who speaks. Deep within them I will plant my Law, writing it on their hearts. Then I will be their God and they shall be my people. There will be no further need for neighbour to try to teach neighbour, or brother to say to brother, ‘Learn to know the Lord!’ No, they will all know me, the least no less than the greatest – it is the Lord who speaks – since I will forgive their iniquity and never call their sin to mind.

Gospel

Matthew 16:13-23
You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But you,’ he said ‘who do you say I am?’ Then Simon Peter spoke up, ‘You are the Christ,’ he said, ‘the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.’ Then he gave the disciples strict orders not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.
From that time Jesus began to make it clear to his disciples that he was destined to go to Jerusalem and suffer grievously at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, to be put to death and to be raised up on the third day. Then, taking him aside, Peter started to remonstrate with him. ‘Heaven preserve you, Lord;’ he said ‘this must not happen to you.’ But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path, because the way you think is not God’s way but man’s.’

Who but the Lord our God alone can declare I love you with an everlasting love and truly mean it. Such is His love that even those who have little or no knowledge of Him, when they turn to Him for help in faith;He answers their prayers. This is our God! All merciful and loving, how then should we revere Him? If not by obedience, faithfulness and love.

How then can we place conditions on our brethren before loving them as we should? For the Lord our God Himself loved us first even though we were sinners. By His grace alone we are saved.

Lord Jesus grant me perseverance of faith in loving and serving You; and my brethren. Amen

First reading

Jeremiah 31:1-7
You shall be rebuilt, virgin of Israel

I will be the God of all the clans of Israel – it is the Lord who speaks – they shall be my people.

The Lord says this:
They have found pardon in the wilderness, those who have survived the sword. Israel is marching to his rest.
The Lord has appeared to him from afar: I have loved you with an everlasting love, so I am constant in my affection for you.
I build you once more; you shall be rebuilt, virgin of Israel.
Adorned once more, and with your tambourines,
you will go out dancing gaily.
You will plant vineyards once more on the mountains of Samaria the planters have done their planting: they will gather the fruit.
Yes, a day will come when the watchmen shout on the mountains of Ephraim, ‘Up! Let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God!’

For the Lord says this:
Shout with joy for Jacob!
Hail the chief of nations!
Proclaim! Praise! Shout:
‘The Lord has saved his people, the remnant of Israel!’

Gospel

Matthew 15:21-28
The Canaanite woman debates with Jesus and saves her son

Jesus left Gennesaret and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. Then out came a Canaanite woman from that district and started shouting, ‘Sir, Son of David, take pity on me. My daughter is tormented by a devil.’ But he answered her not a word. And his disciples went and pleaded with him. ‘Give her what she wants,’ they said ‘because she is shouting after us.’ He said in reply, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.’ But the woman had come up and was kneeling at his feet. ‘Lord,’ she said ‘help me.’ He replied, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the house-dogs.’ She retorted, ‘Ah yes, sir; but even house-dogs can eat the scraps that fall from their master’s table.’ Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, you have great faith. Let your wish be granted.’ And from that moment her daughter was well again.

When we choose to sin, we cast ourselves out into the wilderness which leads to pain, anguish and desolation. Our only hope is to respond to the Lord our God’s call to repentance. He will heal and restore us. Our faith in Him will save us.

The greatest thing is to put all our faith and trust in Jesus Christ our Lord. To His loving gaze upon us as we look upon Him in Adoration. He is our God and we are His people. In that perfect Union miracles can happen through Him who wills it so. However if we allow the cares of the world to overwhelm us, to be swept away by anxiety then we will surely sink into despair. Do not abandon hope but call out to Jesus who saves, for He is always ready to pick us up and carry us if need be. He never abandons His flock.

Lord Jesus I fix my gaze upon You this day and always. Amen

First reading

Jeremiah 30:1-2,12-15,18-22
Your wound is incurable but I will heal you

The word addressed to Jeremiah by the Lord: the Lord, the God of Israel says this: Write all the words I have spoken to you in a book.

Yes, the Lord says this:
Your wound is incurable,
your injury past healing.
There is no one to care for your sore, no medicine to make you well again.
All your lovers have forgotten you, they look for you no more.
Yes, I have struck you as an enemy strikes, with harsh punishment so great is your guilt, so many your sins.
Why bother to complain about your wound?
Your pain is incurable.
So great is your guilt, so many your sins, that I have done all this to you.

The Lord says this:
Now I will restore the tents of Jacob,
and take pity on his dwellings: the city shall be rebuilt on its ruins,
the citadel restored on its site.
From them will come thanksgiving and shouts of joy. I will make them increase, and not diminish them, make them honoured, and not disdained.
Their sons shall be as once they were, their community fixed firm in my presence, and I will punish all their oppressors.
Their prince will be one of their own, their ruler come from their own people.
I will let him come freely into my presence and he can come close to me;
who else, indeed, would risk his life by coming close to me? – it is the Lord who speaks.
And you shall be my people and I will be your God.

Gospel

Matthew 14:22-36
Jesus walks on the water

Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he would send the crowds away. After sending the crowds away he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, while the boat, by now far out on the lake, was battling with a heavy sea, for there was a head-wind. In the fourth watch of the night he went towards them, walking on the lake, and when the disciples saw him walking on the lake they were terrified. ‘It is a ghost’ they said, and cried out in fear. But at once Jesus called out to them, saying, ‘Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.’ It was Peter who answered. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘if it is you, tell me to come to you across the water.’ ‘Come’ said Jesus. Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus across the water, but as soon as he felt the force of the wind, he took fright and began to sink. ‘Lord! Save me!’ he cried. Jesus put out his hand at once and held him. ‘Man of little faith,’ he said ‘why did you doubt?’ And as they got into the boat the wind dropped. The men in the boat bowed down before him and said, ‘Truly, you are the Son of God.’
Having made the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret. When the local people recognised him they spread the news through the whole neighbourhood and took all that were sick to him, begging him just to let them touch the fringe of his cloak. And all those who touched it were completely cured.

The transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ is a mystery indeed. Why reveal His glory to just a few chosen disciples when He hid it so well, then warn them to tell no one till after His Resurrection of which they had no clue on what this could mean.

Let’s look at this through the lens of His love. And see ourselves as His chosen few. We would be distraught to learn of our Lord and master’s death. Where is the hope in an uncertain future? What will happen to us and our families? Then we see the Lord our God’s plan of our salvation unfold as we see that through His Resurrection we too have hope to rise with Him in His glory. His glory foretold, His glory revealed in part at the transfiguration and His glory revealed in full at His Resurrection. All sorrow and emptiness is turned to joy. Glory and Praise be to our Risen Lord in whom we have life. Amen

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.

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.

Gospel

Mark 9:2-10
This is my Son, the Beloved

Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone by themselves. There in their presence he was transfigured: his clothes became dazzlingly white, whiter than any earthly bleacher could make them. Elijah appeared to them with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus. Then Peter spoke to Jesus: ‘Rabbi,’ he said ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; so let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He did not know what to say; they were so frightened. And a cloud came, covering them in shadow; and there came a voice from the cloud, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.’ Then suddenly, when they looked round, they saw no one with them any more but only Jesus.
As they came down from the mountain he warned them to tell no one what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. They observed the warning faithfully, though among themselves they discussed what ‘rising from the dead’ could mean.

Speaking up for the truth is never easy. Yet it could make the difference of soul saved or lost. And there is nothing more precious then the saving of souls. We know this to be true because our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ spoke the truth always, urging us to repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand then sacrificed His life for us so that we might have hope of eternal life with Him.

Not all of us will be called to give up our lives for speaking the truth or for pointing the way to our Lord Jesus Christ. But even if we were to lay down our lives for His namesake, we have nothing to lose and everything to gain! For the world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. Amen

First reading

Jeremiah 26:11-16,24
‘This man has spoken to us in the name of the Lord’

The priests and prophets addressed the officials and all the people, ‘This man deserves to die, since he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears.’ Jeremiah, however, replied to the people as follows:
‘The Lord himself sent me to say all the things you have heard against this Temple and this city. So now amend your behaviour and actions, listen to the voice of the Lord your God: if you do, he will relent and not bring down on you the disaster he has pronounced against you. For myself, I am as you see in your hands. Do whatever you please or think right with me. But be sure of this, that if you put me to death, you will be bringing innocent blood on yourselves, on this city and on its citizens, since the Lord has truly sent me to you to say all these words in your hearing.’
The officials and all the people then said to the priests and prophets, ‘This man does not deserve to die: he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.’
Jeremiah had a protector in Ahikam son of Shaphan, so he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.

Gospel

Matthew 14:1-12
The beheading of John the Baptist

Herod the tetrarch heard about the reputation of Jesus, and said to his court, ‘This is John the Baptist himself; he has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.’
Now it was Herod who had arrested John, chained him up and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. For John had told him, ‘It is against the Law for you to have her.’ He had wanted to kill him but was afraid of the people, who regarded John as a prophet. Then, during the celebrations for Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and so delighted Herod that he promised on oath to give her anything she asked. Prompted by her mother she said, ‘Give me John the Baptist’s head, here, on a dish.’ The king was distressed but, thinking of the oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he ordered it to be given her, and sent and had John beheaded in the prison. The head was brought in on a dish and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. John’s disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went off to tell Jesus.

Is it not better to share the word of the Lord with people you know? Others say it is better to share with strangers who do not know you or where you are from. Most will say it is better to be silent then to face the prospect of rejection, ridicule or putting yourself in harm’s way. Why bother at all? Just pray and be faithful in your own.

For one the Lord our God commanded us all, to go make disciples of all nations. Baptising and teaching them His ways. And even if only one soul listens and its saved, there will be much rejoicing in heaven. Because someone cared and loved perhaps that is why your very own heart was changed?

In essence we are not called to be liked or loved, we are called instead to love everyone with the love of God;to share His word and truth with them.

Lord, let Your word be a lamp unto my feet. Amen

First reading

Jeremiah 26:1-9
Jeremiah preaches in the Temple of the Lord and is threatened with death

At the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word was addressed to Jeremiah by the Lord, ‘The Lord says this: Stand in the court of the Temple of the Lord. To all the people of the towns of Judah who come to worship in the Temple of the Lord you must speak all the words I have commanded you to tell them; do not omit one syllable. Perhaps they will listen and each turn from his evil way: if so, I shall relent and not bring the disaster on them which I intended for their misdeeds. Say to them, “The Lord says this: If you will not listen to me by following my Law which I put before you, by paying attention to the words of my servants the prophets whom I send so persistently to you, without your ever listening to them, I will treat this Temple as I treated Shiloh, and make this city a curse for all the nations of the earth.”’
The priests and prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah say these words in the Temple of the Lord. When Jeremiah had finished saying everything that the Lord had ordered him to say to all the people, the priests and prophets seized hold of him and said, ‘You shall die! Why have you made this prophecy in the name of the Lord, “This Temple will be like Shiloh, and this city will be desolate, and uninhabited”?’ And the people were all crowding round Jeremiah in the Temple of the Lord.

Gospel

Matthew 13:54-58
A prophet is only despised in his own country

Coming to his home town, Jesus taught the people in their synagogue in such a way that they were astonished and said, ‘Where did the man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? This is the carpenter’s son, surely? Is not his mother the woman called Mary, and his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Jude? His sisters, too, are they not all here with us? So where did the man get it all?’ And they would not accept him. But Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is only despised in his own country and in his own house’, and he did not work many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

There is no doubt there one day soon our time on earth will come to an end. The reality is that while we hope that all of us will be in heaven with God our Father, those who choose to do evil and separate themselves from the Lord their God will be cast out by their choices.

Before the clay is set allow the Lord your God to mould you into who you are meant to be and more! Accept trials and challenges that come your way for they can purify and strengthen you. Soon you will find that you’ve become a powerful instrument of His grace. Your obedience and faithfulness will lead you and those who follow, into the heavenly Kingdom. Praise be to God! Amen

First reading

Jeremiah 18:1-6
When the clay goes wrong, the potter starts afresh

The word that was addressed to Jeremiah by the Lord, ‘Get up and make your way down to the potter’s house; there I shall let you hear what I have to say.’ So I went down to the potter’s house; and there he was, working at the wheel. And whenever the vessel he was making came out wrong, as happens with the clay handled by potters, he would start afresh and work it into another vessel, as potters do. Then this word of the Lord was addressed to me, ‘House of Israel, can not I do to you what this potter does? – it is the Lord who speaks. Yes, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so you are in mine, House of Israel.’

Gospel

Matthew 13:47-53
The fishermen collect the good fish and throw away those that are no use

Jesus said to the crowds: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea that brings in a haul of all kinds. When it is full, the fishermen haul it ashore; then, sitting down, they collect the good ones in a basket and throw away those that are no use. This is how it will be at the end of time: the angels will appear and separate the wicked from the just to throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.
‘Have you understood all this?’ They said, ‘Yes.’ And he said to them, ‘Well then, every scribe who becomes a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out from his storeroom things both new and old.’

Living out our Christian faith is far from easy. You might say it is the most challenging thing to do in anyone’s life. Add the multiplier if you’re Catholic. For then even your fellow Christians who do not yet understand, look upon you with suspicion even disdain. Why then even bother? How do we not complain or rebel?

Simply because we have found the treasure of the Kingdom of God through Jesus Christ our Lord and His Church of which He founded upon His rock. By living in His truth we live in the comfort of knowing He is with us always come what may. And so even amidst trials and sufferings we have peace, love and joy in our hearts.

Lord Jesus, let me be a beacon for Your Kingdom. Amen

First reading

Jeremiah 15:10,16-21
They will not overcome you, because I am with you

‘Woe is me, my mother, for you have borne me to be a man of strife and of dissension for all the land. I neither lend nor borrow, yet all of them curse me.

‘When your words came, I devoured them: your word was my delight
and the joy of my heart;
for I was called by your name, the Lord, God of Hosts.
I never took pleasure in sitting in scoffers’ company; with your hand on me I held myself aloof, since you had filled me with indignation.
Why is my suffering continual, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Do you mean to be for me a deceptive stream with inconstant waters?’

To which the Lord replied, ‘If you come back,I will take you back into my service; and if you utter noble, not despicable, thoughts,
you shall be as my own mouth.
They will come back to you, but you must not go back to them.
I will make you a bronze wall fortified against this people.
They will fight against you but they will not overcome you, because I am with you to save you and to deliver you – it is the Lord who speaks.
I mean to deliver you from the hands of the wicked and redeem you from the clutches of the violent.’

Gospel

Matthew 13:44-46
He sells everything he owns and buys the field

Jesus said to the crowds: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which someone has found; he hides it again, goes off happy, sells everything he owns and buys the field.
‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls; when he finds one of great value he goes and sells everything he owns and buys it.’

We may at one point of our life perhaps for lack of better judgement fallen into sin. And sowed as darnel by the evil one to provoke others into sin. It does not mean our fate of impending death is cast in stone. For so long as we breathe we have hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, for new life in Him.

So turn to Him always! Listen to Jesus calling out to you, come to Him with contrite hearts and He will purify and sanctify you. For He alone can turn all curses into blessings. And we will take our places with the virtuous glorifying the Lord our God now and forever. Amen

First reading

Jeremiah 14:17-22
We confess our wickedness; you, God, are our hope

The Lord said to me:

Say this word to the people:
‘Tears flood my eyes
night and day, unceasingly, since a crushing blow falls on the daughter of my people, a most grievous injury.
If I go into the countryside, there lie men killed by the sword; if I go into the city,
I see people sick with hunger; even prophets and priests plough the land: they are at their wit’s end.’

‘Have you rejected Judah altogether?
Does your very soul revolt at Zion?
Why have you struck us down without hope of cure?
We were hoping for peace – no good came of it!
For the moment of cure – nothing but terror!
the Lord, we do confess our wickedness and our fathers’ guilt: we have indeed sinned against you.
For your name’s sake do not reject us, do not dishonour the throne of your glory.
Remember us; do not break your covenant with us.
Can any of the pagan Nothings make it rain?
Can the heavens produce showers?
No, it is you, the Lord.
O our God, you are our hope,since it is you who do all this.’

Gospel

Matthew 13:36-43
As the darnel is gathered up and burnt, so it will be at the end of time

Leaving the crowds, Jesus went to the house; and his disciples came to him and said, ‘Explain the parable about the darnel in the field to us.’ He said in reply, ‘The sower of the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world; the good seed is the subjects of the kingdom; the darnel, the subjects of the evil one; the enemy who sowed them, the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; the reapers are the angels. Well then, just as the darnel is gathered up and burnt in the fire, so it will be at the end of time. The Son of Man will send his angels and they will gather out of his kingdom all things that provoke offences and all who do evil, and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. Then the virtuous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Listen, anyone who has ears!’

How much have you grown in your relationship with the Lord our God? Are you living a spirit filled life ever growing in His love? Striving to be faithful and growing in holiness. Does your family and friends see the wonderful changes in you? Are you part of a community growing and journeying together on the living word of God? Welcoming and reaching out to those in need?

Then for you the kingdom of God is close at hand. Amen

First reading

Jeremiah 13:1-11
Let this evil people become good for nothing

The Lord said this to me, ‘Go and buy a linen loincloth and put it round your waist. But do not dip it in water.’ And so, as the Lord had ordered, I bought a loincloth and put it round my waist. A second time the word of the Lord was spoken to me, ‘Take the loincloth that you have bought and are wearing round your waist; up! Go to the Euphrates and hide it in a hole in the rock.’ So I went and hid it near the Euphrates as the Lord had ordered me. Many days afterwards the Lord said to me, ‘Get up and go to the Euphrates and fetch the loincloth I ordered you to hide there.’ So I went to the Euphrates, and I searched, and I took the loincloth from the place where I had hidden it. The loincloth was spoilt, good for nothing. Then the word of the Lord was addressed to me, Thus says the Lord: In the same way I will spoil the arrogance of Judah and Jerusalem. This evil people who refuse to listen to my words, who follow the dictates of their own hard hearts, who have followed alien gods, and served them and worshipped them, let them become like this loincloth, good for nothing. For just as a loincloth clings to a man’s waist, so I had intended the whole House of Judah to cling to me – it is the Lord who speaks – to be my people, my glory, my honour and my boast. But they have not listened.’

Gospel

Matthew 13:31-35
The smallest of all seeds grows into the biggest shrub of all

Jesus put a parable before the crowds: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the biggest shrub of all and becomes a tree so that the birds of the air come and shelter in its branches.’
He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like the yeast a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour till it was leavened all through.’
In all this Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables; indeed, he would never speak to them except in parables. This was to fulfil the prophecy:

I will speak to you in parables
and expound things hidden since the foundation of the world.

We cannot lead lives of duplicity! Holy, good and proper when we are on church grounds. Then a free for all on the outside. Where is our integrity? Honour? Most of all love?

Yet the Lord is ever patient and merciful. He waits for us to come to Him with proper contrite hearts. And He will sanctify us. And so at every Eucharistic Celebration then must be a communion of hearts, for having received His body, we before one in Him and with one another. We are sent at the end to bear witness to Him by sharing His love with all we meet, through all that we say and do in His name.

The time for conversion is now… Amen

First reading

Jeremiah 7:1-11
Reform your behaviour and I will stay here with you, says the Lord

The word that was addressed to Jeremiah by the Lord, ‘Go and stand at the gate of the Temple of the Lord and there proclaim this message. Say, “Listen to the word of the Lord, all you men of Judah who come in by athese gates to worship the Lord. The Lord Sabaoth, the God of Israel, says this: Amend your behaviour and your actions and I will stay with you here in this place. Put no trust in delusive words like these: This is the sanctuary of the Lord, the sanctuary of the Lord, the sanctuary of the Lord! But if you do amend your behaviour and your actions, if you treat each other fairly, if you do not exploit the stranger, the orphan and the widow (if you do not shed innocent blood in this place), and if you do not follow alien gods, to your own ruin, then here in this place I will stay with you, in the land that long ago I gave to your fathers for ever. Yet here you are, trusting in delusive words, to no purpose! Steal, would you, murder, commit adultery, perjure yourselves, burn incense to Baal, follow alien gods that you do not know? – and then come presenting yourselves in this Temple that bears my name, saying: Now we are safe – safe to go on committing all these abominations! Do you take this Temple that bears my name for a robbers’ den? I, at any rate, am not blind – it is the Lord who speaks.”’

Gospel

Matthew 13:24-30
Let them both grow till the harvest

Jesus put another parable before the crowds: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everybody was asleep his enemy came, sowed darnel all among the wheat, and made off. When the new wheat sprouted and ripened, the darnel appeared as well. The owner’s servants went to him and said, “Sir, was it not good seed that you sowed in your field? If so, where does the darnel come from?” “Some enemy has done this” he answered. And the servants said, “Do you want us to go and weed it out?” But he said, “No, because when you weed out the darnel you might pull up the wheat with it. Let them both grow till the harvest; and at harvest time I shall say to the reapers: First collect the darnel and tie it in bundles to be burnt, then gather the wheat into my barn.”’

What state are we in when receiving the living word of the Lord our God? Has the stubbornness of our heart filled with pride and sin closed our ears? Or have we allowed the worries and cares of the world to overcome all our senses?

Pray that we are grace filled, faithful and upon listening to His Word plant it deep within and without. By planting we, understand, live, share and teach the Word. This is how we internalise His precious Word and is thereby planted in rich soil which bear fruit.

Oh the Word of my Lord, deep within my being. Oh the Word of my Lord, You have filled my mind. Amen

First reading

Jeremiah 3:14-17
Come back, my disloyal children

Come back, disloyal children – it is the Lord who speaks – for I alone am your Master. I will take one from a town, two from a clan, and bring you to Zion. I will give you shepherds after my own heart, and these shall feed you on knowledge and discretion. And when you have increased and become many in the land, then – it is the Lord who speaks – no one will ever say again: Where is the ark of the covenant of the Lord? There will be no thought of it, no memory of it, no regret for it, no making of another. When that time comes, Jerusalem shall be called: The Throne of the Lord; all the nations will gather there in the name of the Lord and will no longer follow the dictates of their own stubborn hearts.

Gospel

Matthew 13:18-23
The man who hears the word and understands it yields a rich harvest

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You are to hear the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom without understanding, the evil one comes and carries off what was sown in his heart: this is the man who received the seed on the edge of the path. The one who received it on patches of rock is the man who hears the word and welcomes it at once with joy. But he has no root in him, he does not last; let some trial come, or some persecution on account of the word, and he falls away at once. The one who received the seed in thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this world and the lure of riches choke the word and so he produces nothing. And the one who received the seed in rich soil is the man who hears the word and understands it; he is the one who yields a harvest and produces now a hundredfold, now sixty, now thirty.’

How do expect to hear the loving word of God spoken to you if you refuse to be obedient and faithful to Him? When you allow your sinful ways and inclinations to shut your ears to His call for repentance. When your heart, mind and soul is closed to the living water outpoured for you so that you might have life to the full?

Indeed those who strive for Holiness can hear Him clearly and they rejoice for His peace and joy reign in their hearts. Do not be discouraged for those reading this message there is still time. To turn your hearts back to Him. Come to Jesus and He will heal you. He will open your ears, mind and hearts. And your lips will once again be opened to praise and glorify Him. Then you can and will be blessing to all those around you. Amen

First reading

Jeremiah 2:1-3,7-8,12-13
I brought you to a fertile country and you defiled it

The word of the Lord was addressed to me, saying, ‘Go and shout this in the hearing of Jerusalem:

‘“The Lord says this:
I remember the affection of your youth, the love of your bridal days: you followed me through the wilderness, through a land unsown.
Israel was sacred to the Lord, the first-fruits of his harvest; anyone who ate of this had to pay for it, misfortune came to them –it is the Lord who speaks.”

‘I brought you to a fertile country to enjoy its produce and good things; but no sooner had you entered than you defiled my land, and made my heritage detestable.
The priests have never asked, “Where is the Lord?”
Those who administer the Law have no knowledge of me. The shepherds have rebelled against me; the prophets have prophesied in the name of Baal, following things with no power in them.

‘You heavens, stand aghast at this,stand stupefied, stand utterly appalled
– it is the Lord who speaks.
Since my people have committed a double crime:
they have abandoned me,
the fountain of living water,only to dig cisterns for themselves,leaky cisterns that hold no water.’

Gospel

Matthew 13:10-17
Prophets and holy men longed to hear what you hear

The disciples went up to Jesus and asked, ‘Why do you talk to them in parables?’ ‘Because’ he replied, ‘the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven are revealed to you, but they are not revealed to them. For anyone who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough; but from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. The reason I talk to them in parables is that they look without seeing and listen without hearing or understanding. So in their case this prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled:

You will listen and listen again, but not understand, see and see again, but not perceive.
For the heart of this nation has grown coarse,
their ears are dull of hearing, and they have shut their eyes, for fear they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears,understand with their heart, and be converted
and be healed by me.

‘But happy are your eyes because they see, your ears because they hear! I tell you solemnly, many prophets and holy men longed to see what you see, and never saw it; to hear what you hear, and never heard it.’

`I serve the Lord my God.’ Really do you? When you are not concerned with the well being of your fellow men? Especially the widow, the hungry, poor and sick? When you care little about your community, by not showing up for the sharing of the word, prayer meetings or not contributing in the general meeting. By not welcoming the parishioners but meeting them with a sense of irritability or resentment or would rather engage in your own personal conversations. When you seek the approval, recognition and praise of others, your peers, the priests instead of the Lord Your God. Whom do you actually serve if not Yourself?

For our Lord Jesus Christ clearly showed us the way to serve the Lord our God and to do His will. And that is to love one another as He loved us. By laying down our life for another though not all are called to endure a physical death. For just as He came to serve and not be served so by His example we too shall serve. With love and joy in our hearts no matter what may come our way. For He our Lord is with us every step of the way.

St James the Apostle pray for us. Amen

First reading

2 Corinthians 4:7-15
Such an overwhelming power comes from God and not from us

We are only the earthenware jars that hold this treasure, to make it clear that such an overwhelming power comes from God and not from us. We are in difficulties on all sides, but never cornered; we see no answer to our problems, but never despair; we have been persecuted, but never deserted; knocked down, but never killed; always, wherever we may be, we carry with us in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus, too, may always be seen in our body. Indeed, while we are still alive, we are consigned to our death every day, for the sake of Jesus, so that in our mortal flesh the life of Jesus, too, may be openly shown. So death is at work in us, but life in you.
But as we have the same spirit of faith that is mentioned in scripture – I believed, and therefore I spoke – we too believe and therefore we too speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus to life will raise us with Jesus in our turn, and put us by his side and you with us. You see, all this is for your benefit, so that the more grace is multiplied among people, the more thanksgiving there will be, to the glory of God.

Gospel

Matthew 20:20-28
‘Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?’

The mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons to make a request of him, and bowed low; and he said to her, ‘What is it you want?’ She said to him, ‘Promise that these two sons of mine may sit one at your right hand and the other at your left in your kingdom.’ ‘You do not know what you are asking’ Jesus answered. ‘Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?’ They replied, ‘We can.’ ‘Very well,’ he said ‘you shall drink my cup, but as for seats at my right hand and my left, these are not mine to grant; they belong to those to whom they have been allotted by my Father.’
When the other ten heard this they were indignant with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, ‘You know that among the pagans the rulers lord it over them, and their great men make their authority felt. This is not to happen among you. No; anyone who wants to be great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’

I know no other merciful and loving God. One who truly loves and cares for His people. One who hopes and prays for their conversion, their turning away from sin to return to Him. So that they might have life to the full and eternally with Him. A loving Father that sent His son to bridge the great divide, so that we can become sons and daughters;brothers and sisters to one another.

All that He asks of us is to do His Will. His will that only brings forth life, love, peace and joy. Amen

First reading

Micah 7:14-15,18-20
Have pity on us one more time

With shepherd’s crook, O Lord, lead your people to pasture,the flock that is your heritage,living confined in a forest
with meadow land all around.
Let them pasture in Bashan and Gilead as in the days of old.
As in the days when you came out of Egypt grant us to see wonders.

What god can compare with you: taking fault away,
pardoning crime, not cherishing anger for ever
but delighting in showing mercy?
Once more have pity on us, tread down our faults,
to the bottom of the sea
throw all our sins.
Grant Jacob your faithfulness, and Abraham your mercy, as you swore to our fathers from the days of long ago.

Gospel

Matthew 12:46-50
My mother and my brothers are anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven

Jesus was speaking to the crowds when his mother and his brothers appeared; they were standing outside and were anxious to have a word with him. But to the man who told him this Jesus replied, ‘Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?’ And stretching out his hand towards his disciples he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother.

Are you waiting for the Lord’s second coming before you start believing? Before you get your life ordered towards Him? In the meantime going for mass, if you go at all, out of obligation in case it might be true that the Lord is God. How is your heart changed?

He is already here and has in a sense never left. The faithful can feel His presence. When they gather in His name. They see Him at every Eucharistic Celebration and while in Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. And with every encounter they strive to grow in love and holiness. To act justly, walk humbly and love their neighbour tenderly.

Jesus my Lord, help me to love others as You do. Amen

First reading

Micah 6:1-4,6-8
The Lord asks only this: to act justly, to love tenderly, to walk humbly

Listen to what the Lord is saying:

Stand up and let the case begin in the hearing of the mountains and let the hills hear what you say.
Listen, you mountains, to the Lord’s accusation, give ear, you foundations of the earth,for the Lord is accusing his people, pleading against Israel:
My people, what have I done to you,how have I been a burden to you? Answer me.
I brought you out of the land of Egypt,I rescued you from the house of slavery;I sent Moses to lead you,with Aaron and Miriam.

– ‘With what gift shall I come into the Lord’s presence and bow down before God on high?
Shall I come with holocausts, with calves one year old?
Will he be pleased with rams by the thousand,with libations of oil in torrents?
Must I give my first-born for what I have done wrong,the fruit of my body for my own sin?’

– What is good has been explained to you, man;this is what the Lord asks of you:only this, to act justly, to love tenderly
and to walk humbly with your God.

Gospel

Matthew 12:38-42
There is something greater than Solomon here

Some of the scribes and Pharisees spoke up. ‘Master,’ they said ‘we should like to see a sign from you.’ He replied, ‘It is an evil and unfaithful generation that asks for a sign! The only sign it will be given is the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was in the belly of the sea-monster for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. On Judgement day the men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation and condemn it, because when Jonah preached they repented; and there is something greater than Jonah here. On Judgement day the Queen of the South will rise up with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here.’

Be holy as you are called to be. Not some of the time but all the time. Do not allow for vengeful thoughts that lead to the planning and execution of evil. For the Lord our God knows all that goes on in minds and hearts. Turn to Him instead with your troubles and He will grant you His peace.

Jesus has not come to crush sinners, but to embrace and offer them life. A life of peace and joy with love in their hearts. So let always turn to Him with repentant hearts, so that through His mercy and love we will be set free to live fully in His love. Amen

First reading

Micah 2:1-5
The plotters of evil will not escape

Woe to those who plot evil,who lie in bed planning mischief!
No sooner is it dawn than they do it – their hands have the strength for it.
Seizing the fields that they covet,they take over houses as well, owner and house they confiscate together,taking both man and inheritance.
So the Lord says this:
Now it is I who plot
such mischief against this breed as your necks will not escape; nor will you be able to walk proudly, so evil will the time be.
On that day they will make a satire on you, sing a dirge and say,
‘We are stripped of everything; my people’s portion is measured out and shared, no one will give it back to them, our fields are awarded to our despoiler.’

Therefore you will have no one to measure out a share in the community of the Lord.

Gospel

Matthew 12:14-21
He cured them all but warned them not to make him known

The Pharisees went out and began to plot against Jesus, discussing how to destroy him.
Jesus knew this and withdrew from the district. Many followed him and he cured them all, but warned them not to make him known. This was to fulfil the prophecy of Isaiah:

Here is my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved, the favourite of my soul.
I will endow him with my spirit, and he will proclaim the true faith to the nations.
He will not brawl or shout, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.
He will not break the crushed reed, nor put out the smouldering wick till he has led the truth to victory: in his name the nations will put their hope.

Indeed we have a compassionate and merciful God who listens and answers the prayers of His faithful. Who gave us laws and commandments in love. So that we might be lead faithful lives ordered towards right worship of Him who provides all that we need in His love.

No law is above love! Hence in leading others closer towards the Lord our God, our stewardship must be rooted in His love and mercy. While there are times for hard work so too there must be times of rest, prayer and being in Lord’s presence. For He is the Lord of the sabbath, the bread of life! Through Him and Him alone we will have eternal life. Amen

First reading

Isaiah 38:1-6,21-22,7-8
The Lord hears Hezekiah’s prayer and heals him

Hezekiah fell ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came and said to him, ‘The Lord says this, “Put your affairs in order, for you are going to die, you will not live.”’ Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and addressed this prayer to the Lord, ‘Ah, Lord, remember, I beg you, how I have behaved faithfully and with sincerity of heart in your presence and done what is right in your eyes.’ And Hezekiah shed many tears.
Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah, ‘Go and say to Hezekiah, “The Lord, the God of David your ancestor, says this: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will cure you: in three days’ time you shall go up to the Temple of the Lord.” I will add fifteen years to your life. I will save you from the hands of the king of Assyria, I will protect this city.”’
‘Bring a fig poultice,’ Isaiah said, ‘apply it to the ulcer and he will recover.’ Hezekiah said, ‘What is the sign to tell me that I shall be going up to the Temple of the Lord?’ ‘Here’ Isaiah replied’’ ‘is the sign from the Lord that he will do what he has said. Look, I shall make the shadow cast by the declining sun go back ten steps on the steps of Ahaz.’ And the sun went back the ten steps by which it had declined.

Gospel

Matthew 12:1-8
The Son of Man is master of the sabbath

Jesus took a walk one sabbath day through the cornfields. His disciples were hungry and began to pick ears of corn and eat them. The Pharisees noticed it and said to him, ‘Look, your disciples are doing something that is forbidden on the sabbath.’ But he said to them, ‘Have you not read what David did when he and his followers were hungry – how he went into the house of God and how they ate the loaves of offering which neither he nor his followers were allowed to eat, but which were for the priests alone? Or again, have you not read in the Law that on the sabbath day the Temple priests break the sabbath without being blamed for it? Now here, I tell you, is something greater than the Temple. And if you had understood the meaning of the words: What I want is mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the blameless. For the Son of Man is master of the sabbath.’

Have we not carried the burden of our sins enough? Are we not tired of the guilt? Or having failed to examine our conscience have fallen into greater sin? Have we also carried the burden of supporting our family alone or had other more ‘important’ focuses that resulted in neglect of prayer and worship of Him who created us in His image?

Come dear sisters and brothers, come to Jesus who loves you and is waiting for you to come to Him. He is standing with open arms to embrace you. To free you of the burden of sin, to set you free to love and be loved. To live more fully in His love.

Jesus it is in You alone that we have peace and joy. May Your Peace and love reign in our hearts, mind and soul always. Amen

First reading

Isaiah 26:7-9,12,16-19
‘Awake and exult, all you who lie in the dust’

The path of the upright man is straight, you smooth the way of the upright. Following the path of your judgements, we hoped in you, O Lord, your name, your memory are all my soul desires.

At night my soul longs for you and my spirit in me seeks for you; when your judgements appear on earth the inhabitants of the world learn the meaning of integrity.

O Lord, you are giving us peace, since you treat us
as our deeds deserve.

Distressed, we search for you, O Lord; the misery of oppression was your punishment for us.
As a woman with child near her time writhes and cries out in her pangs, so are we, O Lord, in your presence: we have conceived, we writhe as if we were giving birth; we have not given the spirit of salvation to the earth, no more inhabitants of the world are born.

Your dead will come to life, their corpses will rise; awake, exult, all you who lie in the dust,
for your dew is a radiant dew and the land of ghosts will give birth.

Gospel

Matthew 11:28-30
My yoke is easy and my burden light

Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.’

Instead of complaining for what we lack or being driven solely for the purpose of gaining wealth, are we grateful to the Lord our God for all that we have? Have we praised Him and offered thanksgiving? Have we ordered our lives to proper worship of Him so as to properly love our families and neighbour?

We go on thinking we have accomplished all that we have on our own. By our own strengths and wisdom. Hence even those who are illustrious in their studies of God end up knowing more about Him but not knowing Him personally in a relationship for they do not live their faith of any.

Today and everyday, let us invite Jesus personally into our lives. In everything we say and do, let the praise of God be on our lips. And in gratitude offer thanksgiving by living our lives according to His will for us. Amen

First reading

Isaiah 10:5-7,13-16
Assyria’s arrogance and coming ruin

The Lord of hosts says this:

Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger, the club brandished by me in my fury!
I sent him against a godless nation; I gave him commission against a people that provokes me, to pillage and to plunder freely and to stamp down like the mud in the streets.
But he did not intend this, his heart did not plan it so. No, in his heart was to destroy, to go on cutting nations to pieces without limit.

For he has said:

‘By the strength of my own arm I have done this and by my own intelligence, for understanding is mine; I have pushed back the frontiers of peoples
and plundered their treasures.
I have brought their inhabitants down to the dust. As if they were a bird’s nest, my hand has seized the riches of the peoples.
As people pick up deserted eggs I have picked up the whole earth, with not a wing fluttering, not a beak opening, not a chirp.’

Does the axe claim more credit than the man who wields it, or the saw more strength than the man who handles it?
It would be like the cudgel controlling the man who raises it, or the club moving what is not made of wood!
And so the Lord of Hosts is going to send a wasting sickness on his stout warriors; beneath his plenty, a burning will burn like a consuming fire.

Gospel

Matthew 11:25-27
You have hidden these things from the wise and revealed them to little children

Jesus exclaimed, ‘I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children. Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased you to do. Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, just as no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.’

It is only when someone cares enough that they will tell, even nag at you to change your ways for the better. Otherwise most will just give up and stop caring whether you lived or died. The love of our Lord Jesus Christ is such that He never stops loving and caring for you. Urging you to repent of your sins and come to Him. For He does not want you die in your sins.

There is no greater love for us then that of our loving Father in heaven. Let us choose then to be faithful and strive each day for greater holiness. With the grace He outpours on us each each day and our ardent desire to live in His love, we will surely be holy as He our heavenly Father is Holy. Amen

First reading

Isaiah 7:1-9
Isaiah tells the king not to fear

In the reign of Ahaz son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Razon the king of Aram went up against Jerusalem with Pekah son of Remaliah, king of Israel, to lay siege to it; but he was unable to capture it.
The news was brought to the House of David. ‘Aram’ they said ‘has reached Ephraim.’ Then the heart of the king and the hearts of the people shuddered as the trees of the forest shudder in front of the wind. The Lord said to Isaiah, ‘Go with your son Shear-jashub, and meet Ahaz at the end of the conduit of the upper pool on the Fuller’s Field road, and say to him:

‘“Pay attention, keep calm, have no fear,
do not let your heart sink because of these two smouldering stumps of firebrands, or because Aram, Ephraim and the son of Remaliah have plotted to ruin you, and have said:
Let us invade Judah and terrorise it and seize it for ourselves, and set up a king there, the son of Tabeel.
The Lord says this: It shall not come true; it shall not be.
The capital of Aram is Damascus,the head of Damascus, Razon;the capital of Ephraim, Samaria,the head of Samaria, the son of Remaliah.
Six or five years more
and a shattered Ephraim shall no longer be a people. But if you do not stand by me,you will not stand at all.”’

Gospel

Matthew 11:20-24
It will not go as hard with Sodom on Judgement Day as with you

Jesus began to reproach the towns in which most of his miracles had been worked, because they refused to repent.
‘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 in sackcloth and ashes. And still, I tell you that it will not go as hard on Judgement day with Tyre and Sidon as with you. And as for you, Capernaum, did you want to be exalted as high as heaven? You shall be thrown down to hell. For if the miracles done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have been standing yet. And still, I tell you that it will not go as hard with the land of Sodom on Judgement day as with you.’

We cannot buy our way of the evil committed against our sisters and brothers. And no amount of donations can make up for the proper worship of the Lord our God either. It is only through a sincere contrite heart seeking to love and be loved that we are redeemed.

In order to truly love our family and our brethren the way they ought to be loved, we must put the Lord our God first before all else. Only then can we love as He loves. With a love that is willing to be laid down for another.

Sweet heart of Jesus, let mine be moulded after Yours. Amen

First reading

Isaiah 1:10-17
Take your wrongdoing out of my sight

Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom;listen to the command of our God,you people of Gomorrah.

‘What are your endless sacrifices to me? says the Lord. I am sick of holocausts of rams and the fat of calves. The blood of bulls and of goats revolts me. When you come to present yourselves before me, who asked you to trample over my courts?
Bring me your worthless offerings no more, the smoke of them fills me with disgust.
New Moons, sabbaths, assemblies – I cannot endure festival and solemnity.
Your New Moons and your pilgrimages I hate with all my soul. They lie heavy on me, I am tired of bearing them.
When you stretch out your hands I turn my eyes away. You may multiply your prayers, I shall not listen. Your hands are covered with blood,
wash, make yourselves clean.

‘Take your wrong-doing out of my sight. Cease to do evil.
Learn to do good, search for justice, help the oppressed, be just to the orphan, plead for the widow.’

Gospel

Matthew 10:34-11:1
It is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword

Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth: it is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies will be those of his own household.
‘Anyone who prefers father or mother to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who prefers son or daughter to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who does not take his cross and follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it; anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it.
‘Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me; and those who welcome me welcome the one who sent me.
‘Anyone who welcomes a prophet will have a prophet’s reward; and anyone who welcomes a holy man will have a holy man’s reward.
‘If anyone gives so much as a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward.’
When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples he moved on from there to teach and preach in their towns.

We should never feel inadequate or unworthy of speaking to others of God’s immense love for us and for others. Who better to touch the heart of a sinner then one who had sinned greatly in the past and was made whole again by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. For it through Jesus that our sin is purged and it is He alone then sanctifies us so that we can live In his love and be powerful instruments of His grace. All we need is to be obedient to His call.

Indeed when we acknowledge that He is the Lord of Lords, King of kings in our lives, He dwells in us. What then have we to fear? Or have need for? For He is with us in all situations at all times. So let us strive to be faithful as He the Lord our God is faithful and stand ready always to be sent as He wills. Amen

Glory and Praise to You O Lord Jesus Christ, now and forever. Amen

First reading

Isaiah 6:1-8
Isaiah’s lips cleansed with a burning coal

In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord of Hosts seated on a high throne; his train filled the sanctuary; above him stood seraphs, each one with six wings: two to cover its face, two to cover its feet, and two for flying.
And they cried out to one another in this way,

‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Hosts.
His glory fills the whole earth.’

The foundations of the threshold shook with the voice of the one who cried out, and the Temple was filled with smoke. I said:

‘What a wretched state I am in! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have looked at the King, the Lord of Hosts.’

Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding in his hand a live coal which he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. With this he touched my mouth and said:

‘See now, this has touched your lips,your sin is taken away,your iniquity is purged.’

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying:

‘Whom shall I send? Who will be our messenger?’

I answered, ‘Here I am, send me.’

Gospel

Matthew 10:24-33
Everything now hidden will be made clear

Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘The disciple is not superior to his teacher, nor the slave to his master. It is enough for the disciple that he should grow to be like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, what will they not say of his household?
‘Do not be afraid of them therefore. For everything that is now covered will be uncovered, and everything now hidden will be made clear. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the daylight; what you hear in whispers, proclaim from the housetops.
‘Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; fear him rather who can destroy both body and soul in hell. Can you not buy two sparrows for a penny? And yet not one falls to the ground without your Father knowing. Why, every hair on your head has been counted. So there is no need to be afraid; you are worth more than hundreds of sparrows.
‘So if anyone declares himself for me in the presence of men, I will declare myself for him in the presence of my Father in heaven. But the one who disowns me in the presence of men, I will disown in the presence of my Father in heaven.’

Have you ever wondered why the Lord is so patient in calling us over and over again to repentance? Apart from His genuine love for us, He knows we are a stubborn, headstrong lot. Some need more time and coaxing to realise just how empty their lives are without Him. Others are so entrenched in their sinful lives they rather bring others down with them for company then listen. Yet a few will eventually have a change of heart through the grace of the Lord our God.

We who strive for faithfulness and turn often to our beloved Lord and saviour Jesus Christ for the necessary graces to do so, are called to love. Love put into action through loving and humble servitude of brethren. To share the Gospel message of God’s love to all who will listen even those who refuse. Yes no doubt we will have many challenges, obstacles and much resistance but the Holy Spirit will be with us all the way. We will be guided on what to say and when. And we will often be astounded on greater reflection of how the word of God flowed through our lips to touch someone all because we were faithful.

Strengthen our faith and guard us against evil Lord, as we go forth to share Your Word according to Your will. Amen

First reading

Hosea 14:2-10
A call to conversion and promise of safety

The Lord says this:

Israel, come back to the Lord your God; your iniquity was the cause of your downfall.
Provide yourself with words and come back to the Lord.
Say to him, ‘Take all iniquity away so that we may have happiness again and offer you our words of praise.
Assyria cannot save us,
we will not ride horses any more, or say, “Our God!” to what our own hands have made, for you are the one in whom orphans find compassion.’
– I will heal their disloyalty, I will love them with all my heart,
for my anger has turned from them.
I will fall like dew on Israel. He shall bloom like the lily, and thrust out roots like the poplar, his shoots will spread far;he will have the beauty of the olive and the fragrance of Lebanon.
They will come back to live in my shade; they will grow corn that flourishes, they will cultivate vines as renowned as the wine of Helbon.
What has Ephraim to do with idols any more when it is I who hear his prayer and care for him?
I am like a cypress ever green, all your fruitfulness comes from me.

Let the wise man understand these words.
Let the intelligent man grasp their meaning.
For the ways of the Lord are straight, and virtuous men walk in them, but sinners stumble.

Gospel

Matthew 10:16-23
The Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you

Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘Remember, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be cunning as serpents and yet as harmless as doves.
‘Beware of men: they will hand you over to sanhedrins and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the pagans. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to speak or what to say; what you are to say will be given to you when the time comes; because it is not you who will be speaking; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you. ‘Brother will betray brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all men on account of my name; but the man who stands firm to the end will be saved. If they persecute you in one town, take refuge in the next; and if they persecute you in that, take refuge in another. I tell you solemnly, you will not have gone the round of the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.’

God our loving Father never abandons His children. Even though He is gentle and patient with us, we should never take Him for granted. For left to our own devices we are doomed. And He will leave us alone if we so choose.

Therefore He sends His faithful children out into the world, that by the power and grace of His son our Lord Jesus Christ; all His lost and downtrodden children may be gathered unto Him. For it is His will that all His children be saved. To share eternal life with Him.

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

First reading

Hosea 11:1-4,8-9
I am the Holy One in your midst and have no wish to destroy

Thus says the Lord:

When Israel was a child I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt.
But the more I called to them, the further they went from me; they have offered sacrifice to the Baals and set their offerings smoking before the idols.
I myself taught Ephraim to walk, I took them in my arms; yet they have not understood that I was the one looking after them.
I led them with reins of kindness, with leading-strings of love. I was like someone who lifts an infant close against his cheek;stooping down to him I gave him his food.

Ephraim, how could I part with you? Israel, how could I give you up?
How could I treat you like Admah, or deal with you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils from it, my whole being trembles at the thought.
I will not give rein to my fierce anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again, for I am God, not man: I am the Holy One in your midst and have no wish to destroy.

Gospel

Matthew 10:7-15
You received without charge: give without charge

Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘As you go, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils. You received without charge, give without charge. Provide yourselves with no gold or silver, not even with a few coppers for your purses, with no haversack for the journey or spare tunic or footwear or a staff, for the workman deserves his keep.
‘Whatever town or village you go into, ask for someone trustworthy and stay with him until you leave. As you enter his house, salute it, and if the house deserves it, let your peace descend upon it; if it does not, let your peace come back to you. And if anyone does not welcome you or listen to what you have to say, as you walk out of the house or town shake the dust from your feet. I tell you solemnly, on the day of Judgement it will not go as hard with the land of Sodom and Gomorrah as with that town.’

The kingdom of God is indeed at hand. Do you not think so? Some say there is still time, we are still young we will repent later. Fools! Do you know that today may be your last! Even so how have you lived your life? Do you have peace and joy in your heart? Do you have love in your heart for others and are loved by others? Or are you still searching for love? If so then you have not truly lived. For a child of God lives life to the full in His love.

You and I have been called by name, to seek our Lord’s lost sheep. And to lead them home to Him.
By proclaiming His love for them and His desire to raise them to new life in Him. This is our call, this is our mission. Amen

First reading

Hosea 10:1-3,7-8,12
Seek integrity and reap a harvest of kindness

Israel was a luxuriant vine yielding plenty of fruit. The more his fruit increased,the more altars he built;the richer his land became, the richer he made the sacred stones.
Their heart is a divided heart;very well, they must pay for it:the Lord is going to break their altars down and destroy their sacred stones. Then they will say,‘We have no king because we have not feared the Lord.’

But what can a king do for us? Samaria has had her day. Her king is like a straw drifting on the water. The idolatrous high places shall be destroyed –that sin of Israel;thorn and thistle will grow on their altars.Then they will say to the mountains, ‘Cover us!’
and to the hills, ‘Fall on us!’

Sow integrity for yourselves,reap a harvest of kindness,break up your fallow ground: it is time to go seeking the Lord until he comes to rain salvation on you.

Gospel

Matthew 10:1-7
‘Go to the lost sheep of the House of Israel’

Jesus summoned his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits with power to cast them out and to cure all kinds of diseases and sickness.
These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, the one who was to betray him. These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them as follows:
‘Do not turn your steps to pagan territory, and do not enter any Samaritan town; go rather to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. And as you go, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.’

Many are so caught up with the ways of the world that they are blinded. They do not see the toll it is taking on them and the lives of their families. Anxiety and depression are the norm. Some will eventually cry out,”Where is God?”

Yes indeed there are many searching for the Lord our God and yet few are responding to the call to lead them to Him. We all need to be obedient and respond in love to our calling. For He will pour out on us the graces we need to carry out our mission of love.

Here I am Lord, a labourer of Your love. Use me according to Your will. Amen

First reading

Hosea 8:4-7,11-13
They have sown the wind; they will reap the whirlwind

Thus says the Lord:

They have set up kings, but not with my consent,
and appointed princes, but without my knowledge.
Out of their own silver and gold they have made idols, which are doomed to destruction.
I spurn your calf, Samaria, my anger blazes against it.
(How long will it be before they purge themselves of this,
the sons of Israel?)
A workman made the thing, this cannot be God!
Yes, the calf of Samaria shall go up in flames.
They sow the wind, they will reap the whirlwind;
their wheat will yield no ear, the ear will yield no flour, or, if it does, foreigners will swallow it.

Ephraim has built altar after altar, they have only served him as occasion for sin.
Were I to write out the thousand precepts of my Law for him, they would be paid no more attention than those of a stranger.
They love sacrificing; right, let them sacrifice!
They love meat; right, let them eat it!
The Lord takes no pleasure in these. He is now going to remember their iniquity and punish their sins; they will have to go back to Egypt.

Gospel

Matthew 9:32-37
The harvest is rich but the labourers are few

A man was brought to Jesus, a dumb demoniac. And when the devil was cast out, the dumb man spoke and the people were amazed. ‘Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel’ they said. But the Pharisees said, ‘It is through the prince of devils that he casts out devils.’
Jesus made a tour through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom and curing all kinds of diseases and sickness.
And when he saw the crowds he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.’

No one can love us more than the Lord our God. For even when we led adulterous lives of sin and turned to idols for comfort; He called out to us through His prophets. To turn back to Him so as to save us from our own destruction.

Great is His love for us that just by turning to Him in faith He restores us completely. He takes away our guilt and shame. He breathes life into our once dead bodies. And beckons us to rise with Him into new life. This is our God! The one true and living God will love us to the end. Apart from Him there is no life, for He is the source of all life.

Thank You Jesus, praise You Jesus. You are the way, the truth and the life. Amen

First reading

Hosea 2:16,17-18,21-22
I will betroth you to myself and you will come to know the name of the Lord

It is the Lord who speaks:

I am going to lure her
and lead her out into the wilderness and speak to her heart.
I am going to give her back her vineyards, and make the Valley of Achor a gateway of hope.
There she will respond to me as she did when she was young, as she did when she came out of the land of Egypt.

When that day comes – it is the Lord who speaks –
she will call me, ‘My husband’,no longer will she call me, ‘My Baal.’
I will betroth you to myself for ever, betroth you with integrity and justice, with tenderness and love;I will betroth you to myself with faithfulness, and you will come to know the Lord.

Gospel

Matthew 9:18-26
‘Your faith has restored you to health’

While Jesus was speaking, up came one of the officials, who bowed low in front of him and said, ‘My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her and her life will be saved.’ Jesus rose and, with his disciples, followed him. Then from behind him came a woman, who had suffered from a haemorrhage for twelve years, and she touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to herself, ‘If I can only touch his cloak I shall be well again.’ Jesus turned round and saw her; and he said to her, ‘Courage, my daughter, your faith has restored you to health.’ And from that moment the woman was well again.
When Jesus reached the official’s house and saw the flute-players, with the crowd making a commotion he said, ‘Get out of here; the little girl is not dead, she is asleep.’ And they laughed at him. But when the people had been turned out he went inside and took the little girl by the hand; and she stood up. And the news spread all round the countryside.

Homes without love are empty shells for dwelling. Dryness and thirst, unfulfilled needs. Disunity in the family. All these are the consequences of disobedience to the Lord our God. When sin is allowed to rule our hearts and mind everything we built is soon destroyed.

Only through Jesus can everything be restored. Can there be peace, love and joy. Let all hearts then be turned to Him. So that by dying to our sins, we can be transformed into new Wine. So that the life giving blood of Jesus can course through our veins.
His living word a lamp unto our feet.

Lord Jesus have mercy on me a sinner, break all the bonds of sin in me. That I may life a new life in You. Amen

O Blessed Mother intecede for us. Amen

First reading

Amos 9:11-15
I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel

It is the Lord who speaks:

‘That day I will re-erect the tottering hut of David, make good the gaps in it, restore its ruins and rebuild it as it was in the days of old, so that they can conquer the remnant of Edom
and all the nations that belonged to me.’

It is the Lord who speaks, and he will carry this out.

‘The days are coming now – it is the Lord who speaks – when harvest will follow directly after ploughing, the treading of grapes soon after sowing, when the mountains will run with new wine and the hills all flow with it.
I mean to restore the fortunes of my people Israel; they will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them, plant vineyards and drink their wine, dig gardens and eat their produce.
I will plant them in their own country, never to be rooted up again out of the land I have given them, says the Lord, your God.’

Gospel

Matthew 9:14-17
When the bridegroom is taken from them, then they will fast

John’s disciples came to him and said, ‘Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?’ Jesus replied, ‘Surely the bridegroom’s attendants would never think of mourning as long as the bridegroom is still with them? But the time will come for the bridegroom to be taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one puts a piece of unshrunken cloth on to an old cloak, because the patch pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse. Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins; if they do, the skins burst, the wine runs out, and the skins are lost. No; they put new wine into fresh skins and both are preserved.’

Those who oppress or cheat others through their greed and selfishness can never hear the life giving word of God. For they distant themselves from the love of the Lord their God through their sin and despicable acts.

Still God our Father sees hope in His creation and sent His son our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ to turn the hearts of sinners back to Him. This act of love and mercy is given through no merit of our own but by the divine love of God our Father who wills that all may be saved.

So then sisters and brothers in Christ, let us pray for one another especially for the conversion of all sinners. And do all we can to lead all lost souls back to Jesus. Amen

First reading

Amos 8:4-6,9-12
A famine not of bread, but of hearing the word of the Lord

Listen to this, you who trample on the needy and try to suppress the poor people of the country, you who say, ‘When will New Moon be over so that we can sell our corn, and sabbath, so that we can market our wheat?
Then by lowering the bushel, raising the shekel, by swindling and tampering with the scales, we can buy up the poor for money, and the needy for a pair of sandals, and get a price even for the sweepings of the wheat.’
That day – it is the Lord who speaks – I will make the sun go down at noon,
and darken the earth in broad daylight.
I am going to turn your feasts into funerals,
all your singing into lamentation; I will have your loins all in sackcloth, your heads all shaved.
I will make it a mourning like the mourning for an only son, as long as it lasts it will be like a day of bitterness.
See what days are coming – it is the Lord who speaks – days when I will bring famine on the country, a famine not of bread, a drought not of water, but of hearing the word of the Lord.
They will stagger from sea to sea, wander from north to east, seeking the word of the Lord and failing to find it.

Gospel

Matthew 9:9-13
It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick

As Jesus was walking on, he saw a man named Matthew sitting by the customs house, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him.
While he was at dinner in the house it happened that a number of tax collectors and sinners came to sit at the table with Jesus and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your master eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ When he heard this he replied, ‘It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick. Go and learn the meaning of the words: What I want is mercy, not sacrifice. And indeed I did not come to call the virtuous, but sinners.’