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Are we reliable witnesses to our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ? Are our eyes turned Heavenward when faced with temptations from the evil one? Do we conduct ourselves with the utmost of integrity, and faithfulness to the teachings of our Lord?

Only with renewed minds can we truly lead everyone to the knowledge and love of Christ Jesus our Lord whom we love and serve.  We are effective witnesses to His great love for them, by demonstrating the joy of the Gospel of our living God; when we  prophesy, heal, deliver from evil, as we minister and bring about restoration and reconciliation.

We are beacons of His light in the World. Amen

Saint John Baptist de la Salle, Pray for us…

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First reading
Daniel 13:1-9,15-17,19-30,33-62

Susanna and the elders

In Babylon there lived a man named Joakim. He had married Susanna daughter of Hilkiah, a woman of great beauty; and she was God-fearing, because her parents were worthy people and had instructed their daughter in the Law of Moses. Joakim was a very rich man, and had a garden attached to his house; the Jews would often visit him since he was held in greater respect than any other man. Two elderly men had been selected from the people that year to act as judges. Of such the Lord said, ‘Wickedness has come to Babylon through the elders and judges posing as guides to the people.’ These men were often at Joakim’s house, and all who were engaged in litigation used to come to them. At midday, when everyone had gone, Susanna used to take a walk in her husband’s garden. The two elders, who used to watch her every day as she came in to take her walk, gradually began to desire her. They threw reason aside, making no effort to turn their eyes to heaven, and forgetting its demands of virtue. So they waited for a favourable moment; and one day Susanna came as usual, accompanied only by two young maidservants. The day was hot and she wanted to bathe in the garden. There was no one about except the two elders, spying on her from their hiding place. She said to the servants, ‘Bring me some oil and balsam and shut the garden door while I bathe.’
    Hardly were the servants gone than the two elders were there after her. ‘Look,’ they said ‘the garden door is shut, no one can see us. We want to have you, so give in and let us! Refuse, and we will both give evidence that a young man was with you and that was why you sent your maids away.’ Susanna sighed. ‘I am trapped,’ she said ‘whatever I do. If I agree, that means my death; if I resist, I cannot get away from you. But I prefer to fall innocent into your power than to sin in the eyes of the Lord.’ Then she cried out as loud as she could. The two elders began shouting too, putting the blame on her, and one of them ran to open the garden door. The household, hearing the shouting in the garden, rushed out by the side entrance to see what was happening; once the elders had told their story the servants were thoroughly taken aback, since nothing of this sort had ever been said of Susanna.
    Next day a meeting was held at the house of her husband Joakim. The two elders arrived, in their vindictiveness determined to have her put to death. They addressed the company: ‘Summon Susanna daughter of Hilkiah and wife of Joakim.’ She was sent for, and came accompanied by her parents, her children and all her relations. All her own people were weeping, and so were all the others who saw her. The two elders stood up, with all the people round them, and laid their hands on the woman’s head. Tearfully she turned her eyes to heaven, her heart confident in God. The elders then spoke. ‘While we were walking by ourselves in the garden, this woman arrived with two servants. She shut the garden door and then dismissed the servants. A young man who had been hiding went over to her and they lay down together. From the end of the garden where we were, we saw this crime taking place and hurried towards them. Though we saw them together we were unable to catch the man: he was too strong for us; he opened the door and took to his heels. We did, however, catch this woman and ask her who the young man was. She refused to tell us. That is our evidence.’
    Since they were elders of the people, and judges, the assembly took their word: Susanna was condemned to death. She cried out as loud as she could, ‘Eternal God, you know all secrets and everything before it happens; you know that they have given false evidence against me. And now have I to die, innocent as I am of everything their malice has invented against me?’
    The Lord heard her cry and, as she was being led away to die, he roused the holy spirit residing in a young boy named Daniel who began to shout, ‘I am innocent of this woman’s death!’ At which all the people turned to him and asked, ‘What do you mean by these words?’ Standing in the middle of the crowd he replied, ‘Are you so stupid, sons of Israel, as to condemn a daughter of Israel unheard, and without troubling to find out the truth? Go back to the scene of the trial: these men have given false evidence against her.’
    All the people hurried back, and the elders said to Daniel, ‘Come and sit with us and tell us what you mean, since God has given you the gifts that elders have.’ Daniel said, ‘Keep the men well apart from each other for I want to question them.’ When the men had been separated, Daniel had one of them brought to him. ‘You have grown old in wickedness,’ he said ‘and now the sins of your earlier days have overtaken you, you with your unjust judgements, your condemnation of the innocent, your acquittal of guilty men, when the Lord has said, “You must not put the innocent and the just to death.” Now then, since you saw her so clearly, tell me what tree you saw them lying under?’ He replied, ‘Under a mastic tree.’ Daniel said, ‘True enough! Your lie recoils on your own head: the angel of God has already received your sentence from him and will slash you in half.’ He dismissed the man, ordered the other to be brought and said to him, ‘Spawn of Canaan, not of Judah, beauty has seduced you, lust has led your heart astray! This is how you have been behaving with the daughters of Israel and they were too frightened to resist; but here is a daughter of Judah who could not stomach your wickedness! Now then, tell me what tree you surprised them under?’ He replied, ‘Under a holm oak.’ Daniel said, ‘True enough! Your lie recoils on your own head: the angel of God is waiting, with a sword to drive home and split you, and destroy the pair of you.’
    Then the whole assembly shouted, blessing God, the saviour of those who trust in him. And they turned on the two elders whom Daniel had convicted of false evidence out of their own mouths. As prescribed in the Law of Moses, they sentenced them to the same punishment as they had intended to inflict on their neighbour. They put them to death; the life of an innocent woman was spared that day.


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Gospel
John 8:12-20

‘I am the light of the world’

Jesus said to the Pharisees:

‘I am the light of the world;
anyone who follows me will not be walking in the dark;
he will have the light of life.’

At this the Pharisees said to him, ‘You are testifying on your own behalf; your testimony is not valid.’
    Jesus replied:

‘It is true that I am testifying on my own behalf,
but my testimony is still valid,
because I know
where I came from and where I am going;
but you do not know
where I come from or where I am going.
You judge by human standards;
I judge no one,
but if I judge, my judgement will be sound,
because I am not alone:
the one who sent me is with me;
and in your Law it is written
that the testimony of two witnesses is valid.
I may be testifying on my own behalf,
but the Father who sent me is my witness too.’

They asked him, ‘Where is your Father?’ Jesus answered:

‘You do not know me,
nor do you know my Father;
if you did know me,
you would know my Father as well.’

He spoke these words in the Treasury, while teaching in the Temple. No one arrested him, because his time had not yet come.

In today’s readings we see how the people are blind and deaf to the Lord our God and His prophets who are sent for love of them.

Today how many of us are deaf and blind to those He still sends us for love of us? We are blind and deaf by our prejudices, biases, our very own world view! We will not listen to their promptings, their new ideas and ways. We do not like change for we are comfortable with who we are and with things as they are. We have forgotten how the Lord made all things new in us when He transformed us from within. We were His new creation and now we have gone back to embrace the old!

Lord Jesus You who probe the loins and heart, see the good in me and remove anything that is not of You. So that I may truly glorify You by my life. Amen

Saint Vincent Ferrer, Pray for us…


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First reading
Jeremiah 11:18-20

‘Let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name may be quickly forgotten’

The Lord revealed it to me; I was warned. O Lord, that was when you opened my eyes to their scheming. I for my part was like a trustful lamb being led to the slaughter-house, not knowing the schemes they were plotting against me, ‘Let us destroy the tree in its strength, let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name may be quickly forgotten!’

But you, the Lord of Hosts, who pronounce a just sentence, who probe the loins and heart,
let me see the vengeance you will take on them,
for I have committed my cause to you.




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Gospel
John 7:40-52

The Law does not allow us to pass judgement on a man without hearing him

Several people who had been listening to Jesus said, ‘Surely he must be the prophet’, and some said, ‘He is the Christ’, but others said, ‘Would the Christ be from Galilee? Does not scripture say that the Christ must be descended from David and come from the town of Bethlehem?’ So the people could not agree about him. Some would have liked to arrest him, but no one actually laid hands on him.
    The police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees who said to them, ‘Why haven’t you brought him?’ The police replied, ‘There has never been anybody who has spoken like him.’ ‘So’ the Pharisees answered ‘you have been led astray as well? Have any of the authorities believed in him? Any of the Pharisees? This rabble knows nothing about the Law – they are damned.’ One of them, Nicodemus – the same man who had come to Jesus earlier – said to them, ‘But surely the Law does not allow us to pass judgement on a man without giving him a hearing and discovering what he is about?’ To this they answered, ‘Are you a Galilean too? Go into the matter, and see for yourself: prophets do not come out of Galilee.’

Unless our body, mind and spirit is One with it Lord and savior Jesus Christ, we are easily led astray by the evil one due to our fallen nature.

We may think to ourselves we would never betray our Lord the way they did in today’s first reading and the Gospel! Yet how many have plotted or were conniving towards those who either hurt us, spoke up against us or of whom we simply have a deep disliking for. How many times have we talked about them behind their backs coining our action as simply ‘sharing’ not gossiping!

Let us remain focused, our hearts centred and fixed on Jesus. Who is always close to us just as He is close to the broken hearted. For through Him we shall be vindicated!

Save us saviour of the world, for by your cross and resurrection, you have set us free. Amen

Saint Isidore, pray for us…


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First reading
Wisdom 2:1,12-22

Let us lie in wait for the virtuous man and condemn him to a shameful death

The godless say to themselves, with their misguided reasoning:

‘Our life is short and dreary, nor is there any relief when man’s end comes, nor is anyone known who can give release from Hades.
Let us lie in wait for the virtuous man, since he annoys us and opposes our way of life, reproaches us for our breaches of the law and accuses us of playing false to our upbringing.
He claims to have knowledge of God, and calls himself a son of the Lord.
Before us he stands, a reproof to our way of thinking, the very sight of him weighs our spirits down; his way of life is not like other men’s, the paths he treads are unfamiliar.
In his opinion we are counterfeit; he holds aloof from our doings as though from filth; he proclaims the final end of the virtuous as happy
and boasts of having God for his father.
Let us see if what he says is true, let us observe what kind of end he himself will have.
If the virtuous man is God’s son, God will take his part and rescue him from the clutches of his enemies.
Let us test him with cruelty and with torture, and thus explore this gentleness of his and put his endurance to the proof.
Let us condemn him to a shameful death since he will be looked after – we have his word for it.’

This is the way they reason, but they are misled,
their malice makes them blind.
They do not know the hidden things of God, they have no hope that holiness will be rewarded,
they can see no reward for blameless souls.





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Gospel
John 7:1-2,10,25-30

They would have arrested him, but his time had not yet come

Jesus stayed in Galilee; he could not stay in Judaea, because the Jews were out to kill him.
    As the Jewish feast of Tabernacles drew near, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went up as well, but quite privately, without drawing attention to himself. Meanwhile some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, ‘Isn’t this the man they want to kill? And here he is, speaking freely, and they have nothing to say to him! Can it be true the authorities have made up their minds that he is the Christ? Yet we all know where he comes from, but when the Christ appears no one will know where he comes from.’
    Then, as Jesus taught in the Temple, he cried out:

‘Yes, you know me
and you know where I came from.
Yet I have not come of myself:
no, there is one who sent me
and I really come from him,
and you do not know him,
but I know him because I have come from him
and it was he who sent me.’

They would have arrested him then, but because his time had not yet come no one laid a hand on him.

How great our Father’s Love for us His children, He will neither abandon us nor forget us. He has given us His only begotten son our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ to reconcile us unto Himself. He remembers not our sins when we repent and turn back to Him. We are renewed, cleansed, made pure by His precious blood.

So that we too can share in the intimate relationship that Jesus has with God our Heavenly Father. Just as Jesus saw what His Father was doing so too will we be able to see what God our Father and Jesus is doing in our lives and that our our brethren. We will minister to one another according to His will. As we grow in our intimate relationship with the Lord our God, we will do greater things in His name and  for His greater glory. Amen


Saint Francis of Paola, pray for us…



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First reading
Isaiah 49:8-15

On the day of salvation I will help you

Thus says the Lord:

At the favourable time I will answer you,
on the day of salvation I will help you.
(I have formed you and have appointed you
as covenant of the people.)
I will restore the land and assign you the estates that lie waste.
I will say to the prisoners, ‘Come out’,
to those who are in darkness, ‘Show yourselves.’

On every roadway they will graze, and each bare height shall be their pasture.
They will never hunger or thirst, scorching wind and sun shall never plague them; for he who pities them will lead them and guide them to springs of water.
I will make a highway of all the mountains,
and the high roads shall be banked up.

Some are on their way from afar, others from the north and the west, others from the land of Sinim.
Shout for joy, you heavens; exult, you earth!
You mountains, break into happy cries!
For the Lord consoles his people and takes pity on those who are afflicted.

For Zion was saying, ‘The Lord has abandoned me, the Lord has forgotten me.’
Does a woman forget her baby at the breast, or fail to cherish the son of her womb?
Yet even if these forget, I will never forget you.





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Gospel
John 5:17-30

The dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and all who hear it will live

Jesus said to the Jews, ‘My Father goes on working, and so do I.’ But that only made them even more intent on killing him, because, not content with breaking the sabbath, he spoke of God as his own Father, and so made himself God’s equal.
    To this accusation Jesus replied:

‘I tell you most solemnly, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees the Father doing:
and whatever the Father does the Son does too.
For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he does himself, and he will show him even greater things than these, works that will astonish you.
Thus, as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son gives life to anyone he chooses; for the Father judges no one; he has entrusted all judgement to the Son, so that all may honour the Son as they honour the Father.
Whoever refuses honour to the Son refuses honour to the Father who sent him.
I tell you most solemnly,
whoever listens to my words,
and believes in the one who sent me,
has eternal life;
without being brought to judgement
he has passed from death to life.
I tell you most solemnly, the hour will come – in fact it is here already – when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and all who hear it will live.
For the Father, who is the source of life,
has made the Son the source of life;
and, because he is the Son of Man,
has appointed him supreme judge.
Do not be surprised at this,
for the hour is coming when the dead will leave their graves
at the sound of his voice:
those who did good will rise again to life;
and those who did evil, to condemnation.
I can do nothing by myself;
I can only judge as I am told to judge,
and my judging is just, because my aim is to do not my own will, but the will of him who sent me.’

Is there a proper place and time to minister to the broken, sick, or those in need of deliverance? Perhaps the question should be when will Jesus Christ our Lord choose to Love us? To be merciful? To heal and redeem us?

If we ask Him, when is a good time to Love my neighbor Lord? Will He not answer,”Now!” For the outpoured love of our Lord, flows like living water and it must through flow through us unhampered, unrestrained! Bringing new life and health. For we are instruments of His Grace. Amen


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First reading
Ezekiel 47:1-9,12

Wherever the water flows, it will bring life and health

The angel brought me to the entrance of the Temple, where a stream came out from under the Temple threshold and flowed eastwards, since the Temple faced east. The water flowed from under the right side of the Temple, south of the altar. He took me out by the north gate and led me right round outside as far as the outer east gate where the water flowed out on the right-hand side. The man went to the east holding his measuring line and measured off a thousand cubits; he then made me wade across the stream; the water reached my ankles. He measured off another thousand and made me wade across the stream again; the water reached my knees. He measured off another thousand and made me wade across again; the water reached my waist. He measured off another thousand; it was now a river which I could not cross; the stream had swollen and was now deep water, a river impossible to cross. He then said, ‘Do you see, son of man?’ He took me further, then brought me back to the bank of the river. When I got back, there were many trees on each bank of the river. He said, ‘This water flows east down to the Arabah and to the sea; and flowing into the sea it makes its waters wholesome. Wherever the river flows, all living creatures teeming in it will live. Fish will be very plentiful, for wherever the water goes it brings health, and life teems wherever the river flows. Along the river, on either bank, will grow every kind of fruit tree with leaves that never wither and fruit that never fails; they will bear new fruit every month, because this water comes from the sanctuary. And their fruit will be good to eat and the leaves medicinal.’






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Gospel
John 5:1-3,5-16

The healing at the pool of Bethesda

There was a Jewish festival, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now at the Sheep Pool in Jerusalem there is a building, called Bethzatha in Hebrew, consisting of five porticos; and under these were crowds of sick people – blind, lame, paralysed – waiting for the water to move. One man there had an illness which had lasted thirty-eight years, and when Jesus saw him lying there and knew he had been in this condition for a long time, he said, ‘Do you want to be well again?’ ‘Sir,’ replied the sick man ‘I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is disturbed; and while I am still on the way, someone else gets there before me.’ Jesus said, ‘Get up, pick up your sleeping-mat and walk.’ The man was cured at once, and he picked up his mat and walked away.
    Now that day happened to be the sabbath, so the Jews said to the man who had been cured, ‘It is the sabbath; you are not allowed to carry your sleeping-mat.’ He replied, ‘But the man who cured me told me, “Pick up your mat and walk.”’ They asked, ‘Who is the man who said to you, “Pick up your mat and walk”?’ The man had no idea who it was, since Jesus had disappeared into the crowd that filled the place. After a while Jesus met him in the Temple and said, ‘Now you are well again, be sure not to sin any more, or something worse may happen to you.’ The man went back and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had cured him. It was because he did things like this on the sabbath that the Jews began to persecute Jesus.

By His life death and resurrection our Lord Jesus Christ our Lord has redeemed us. He has created a new Heavens and a new earth for us. We are given new life in Him in the hour we had cried out to Him for mercy. Are we then living grateful lives filled with His joy and gladness?

Our sign of new life in Him is a renewed mind, in what we see Him doing in our lives and those of others. Prophesying and bringing His healing are the signs of us living His presence. We bring the joy of the Gospel to those around us by demonstrating His living presence by ministering to His flock.

Glory and praise be to our living God! Amen

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First reading
Isaiah 65:17-21

Be glad and rejoice for ever at what I am creating

Thus says the Lord: Now I create new heavens and a new earth, and the past will not be remembered, and will come no more to men’s minds. Be glad and rejoice for ever and ever for what I am creating, because I now create Jerusalem ‘Joy’ and her people ‘Gladness.’ I shall rejoice over Jerusalem and exult in my people. No more will the sound of weeping or the sound of cries be heard in her; in her, no more will be found the infant living a few days only, or the old man not living to the end of his days. To die at the age of a hundred will be dying young; not to live to be a hundred will be the sign of a curse. They will build houses and inhabit them, plant vineyards and eat their fruit.


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Gospel
John 4:43-54

Go home: your son will live

Jesus left Samaria for Galilee. He himself had declared that there is no respect for a prophet in his own country, but on his arrival the Galileans received him well, having seen all that he had done at Jerusalem during the festival which they too had attended.
    He went again to Cana in Galilee, where he had changed the water into wine. Now there was a court official there whose son was ill at Capernaum and, hearing that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judaea, he went and asked him to come and cure his son as he was at the point of death. Jesus said, ‘So you will not believe unless you see signs and portents!’ ‘Sir,’ answered the official ‘come down before my child dies.’ ‘Go home,’ said Jesus ‘your son will live.’ The man believed what Jesus had said and started on his way; and while he was still on the journey back his servants met him with the news that his boy was alive. He asked them when the boy had begun to recover. ‘The fever left him yesterday’ they said ‘at the seventh hour.’ The father realised that this was exactly the time when Jesus had said, ‘Your son will live’; and he and all his household believed.
    This was the second sign given by Jesus, on his return from Judaea to Galilee.

Shall we take the Lord’s mercy and love for granted? Nay! We must be penitent and desire to not only turn our hearts back to Him but to consecrate ourselves unto Him. For it is through Him alone that we can become holy as He is Holy.

We must always remember His great love and mercy for us, and offer up our bodies  as a living sacrifice of love for Him and for the least of our brethren. For He / She who is forgiven much, loves much! We will not see or point out the faults of our neighbour, but look upon them with merciful eyes of Jesus and love them as He does.

Lord I am humbled by Your love, let me love my brethren with Your endearing love. Amen

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First reading

Hosea 5:15-6:6 ·

What I want is love, not sacrifice and holocausts

The Lord says this:

They will search for me in their misery.

‘Come, let us return to the Lord.

He has torn us to pieces, but he will heal us;

he has struck us down, but he will bandage our wounds;

after a day or two he will bring us back to life,

on the third day he will raise us

and we shall live in his presence.

Let us set ourselves to know the Lord;

that he will come is as certain as the dawn

his judgement will rise like the light,

he will come to us as showers come,

like spring rains watering the earth.’

What am I to do with you, Ephraim?

What am I to do with you, Judah?

This love of yours is like a morning cloud,

like the dew that quickly disappears.

This is why I have torn them to pieces by the prophets,

why I slaughtered them with the words from my mouth,

since what I want is love, not sacrifice;

knowledge of God, not holocausts.

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Gospel

Luke 18:9-14

The tax collector, not the Pharisee, went home justified.

Jesus spoke the following parable to some people who prided themselves on being virtuous and despised everyone else: ‘Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood there and said this prayer to himself, “I thank you, God, that I am not grasping, unjust, adulterous like the rest of mankind, and particularly that I am not like this tax collector here. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes on all I get.” The tax collector stood some distance away, not daring even to raise his eyes to heaven; but he beat his breast and said, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” This man, I tell you, went home again at rights with God; the other did not. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the man who humbles himself will be exalted.’

Would we not love for the Lord our God to say to us, “You my son, my daughter are not far from the kingdom of God”

Then we must truly repent of our sins, turn away from all temptations, renounce the works of the enemy; love the Lord God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. Then put that same love into action by loving our neighbour.

Then we shall live securely in the shadow of His wings, for we live in His presence. Amen


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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.




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Gospel
Mark 12:28-34

‘You are not far from the kingdom of God’

One of the scribes came up to Jesus and put a question to him, ‘Which is the first of all the commandments?’ Jesus replied, ‘This is the first: Listen, Israel, the Lord our God is the one Lord, and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: You must love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.’ The scribe said to him, ‘Well spoken, Master; what you have said is true: that he is one and there is no other. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself, this is far more important than any holocaust or sacrifice.’ Jesus, seeing how wisely he had spoken, said, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ And after that no one dared to question him any more.

Does criticizing someone give life? Perhaps too often we sugar coat our action by saying we are only giving constructive feedback. But really do we consider how constructive we really are? Were we not seeking to put them down just like the people in today’s Gospel when they spoke up against Jesus? Did we murder the spirit of the victim of our vicious tongue?

If our hearts and minds were on the Lord our God, listening intently to His word and will for us. Will we then be critically inclined to judge and persecute another? Having received mercy from Him who loves us, will we not be merciful and loving instead?

Lord Jesus let my heart be soft and malleable to Your touch as I listen to Your voice each day. Amen



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First reading
Jeremiah 7:23-28

Here is the nation that will not listen to the voice of the Lord its God

These were my orders: Listen to my voice, then I will be your God and you shall be my people. Feedback Follow right to the end the way that I mark out for you, and you will prosper. But they did not listen, they did not pay attention; they followed saying the dictates of their own evil hearts, refused to face me, and turned their backs on me. From the day your ancestors came out of the land of Egypt until today, day after day I have persistently sent you all my servants the prophets.
    But they have not listened to me, have not paid attention; they have grown stubborn and behaved worse than their ancestors. You may say all these words to them: they will not listen to you; you may call them: they will not answer. So tell them this, “Here is the nation that will not listen to the voice of the Lord its God nor take correction. Sincerity is no more, it has vanished from their mouths.”



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Gospel
Luke 11:14-23

Know that the kingdom of God has overtaken you

Jesus was casting out a devil and it was dumb; but when the devil had gone out the dumb man spoke, and the people were amazed. But some of them said, ‘It is through Beelzebul, the prince of devils, that he casts out devils.’ Others asked him, as a test, for a sign from heaven; but, knowing what they were thinking, he said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is heading for ruin, and a household divided against itself collapses. So too with Satan: if he is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? – since you assert that it is through Beelzebul that I cast out devils. Now if it is through Beelzebul that I cast out devils, through whom do your own experts cast them out? Let them be your judges then. But if it is through the finger of God that I cast out devils, then know that the kingdom of God has overtaken you. So long as a strong man fully armed guards his own palace, his goods are undisturbed; but when someone stronger than he is attacks and defeats him, the stronger man takes away all the weapons he relied on and shares out his spoil.
    ‘He who is not with me is against me; and he who does not gather with me scatters.’

The commandments were given to us by the Lord our God for great love of us. To live peaceful ordered lives to the full, according to His will for us. Our rightful response of love, is to be obedient unto Him; through our acts of love for Him and brethren.

By and through our ever deepening relationship with Him, we discover the depth of what it means that His laws are written on our hearts. Just as we cling on to His love so too it is our desire to cling tightly to His laws.

Let me live my life Lord, according to Your will. Amen

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First reading
Deuteronomy 4:1,5-9

Keep these laws and observe them

Moses said to the people:
    ‘Now, Israel, take notice of the laws and customs that I teach you today, and observe them, that you may have life and may enter and take possession of the land that the Lord the God of your fathers is giving you.
    ‘See, as the Lord my God has commanded me, I teach you the laws and customs that you are to observe in the land you are to enter and make your own. Keep them, observe them, and they will demonstrate to the peoples your wisdom and understanding. When they come to know of all these laws they will exclaim, “No other people is as wise and prudent as this great nation.” And indeed, what great nation is there that has its gods so near as the Lord our God is to us whenever we call to him? And what great nation is there that has laws and customs to match this whole Law that I put before you today?
    ‘But take care what you do and be on your guard. Do not forget the things your eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your heart all the days of your life; rather, tell them to your children and to your children’s children.’



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Gospel
Matthew 5:17-19

I have not come to abolish the Law and the Prophets but to complete them

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete them. I tell you solemnly, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, not one little stroke, shall disappear from the Law until its purpose is achieved. Therefore, the man who infringes even one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in the kingdom of heaven; but the man who keeps them and teaches them will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven.’
     

Throughout the ages and so long as sin exists due to our fallen nature, there will always be jealousy, self centeredness, self righteousness and so on. If we allow it to manifest it’s ugliness in us then we too will end up plotting, scheming the downfall of others including our own families. Perhaps not murder, but by killing their reputation or placing them in disrepute.

Let our gaze remain steadfast on our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. Our hearts affixed on following our Lord’s commandment to love one another.

If we should fall victim to the scheming and  plotting of others against us. We can take comfort that the Lord our God can turn all curses into blessings, for we know the outcome of both Joseph in the first reading; and what Jesus did for us by taking on the curse of  sin in the world. He did so by dying on the cross for us, and through His Resurrection had won for us eternal life.

Lord Jesus into Your hands commend my spirit. Amen



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First reading
Genesis 37:3-4,12-13,17-28

Let us kill him: then we shall see what becomes of his dreams

Israel loved Joseph more than all his other sons, for he was the son of his old age, and he had a coat with long sleeves made for him. But his brothers, seeing how his father loved him more than all his other sons, came to hate him so much that they could not say a civil word to him.
    His brothers went to pasture their father’s flock at Shechem. Then Israel said to Joseph, ‘Are not your brothers with the flock at Shechem? Come, I am going to send you to them.’ So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.
    They saw him in the distance, and before he reached them they made a plot among themselves to put him to death. ‘Here comes the man of dreams’ they said to one another. ‘Come on, let us kill him and throw him into some well; we can say that a wild beast devoured him. Then we shall see what becomes of his dreams.’
    But Reuben heard, and he saved him from their violence. ‘We must not take his life’ he said. ‘Shed no blood,’ said Reuben to them ‘throw him into this well in the wilderness, but do not lay violent hands on him’ – intending to save him from them and to restore him to his father. So, when Joseph reached his brothers, they pulled off his coat, the coat with long sleeves that he was wearing, and catching hold of him they threw him into the well, an empty well with no water in it. They then sat down to eat.
    Looking up they saw a group of Ishmaelites who were coming from Gilead, their camels laden with gum, tragacanth, balsam and resin, which they were taking down into Egypt. Then Judah said to his brothers, ‘What do we gain by killing our brother and covering up his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, but let us not do any harm to him. After all, he is our brother, and our own flesh.’ His brothers agreed.
    Now some Midianite merchants were passing, and they drew Joseph up out of the well. They sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty silver pieces, and these men took Joseph to Egypt.




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Gospel
Matthew 21:33-43,45-46

This is the landlord’s heir: come, let us kill him

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people, ‘Listen to another parable. There was a man, a landowner, who planted a vineyard; he fenced it round, dug a winepress in it and built a tower; then he leased it to tenants and went abroad. When vintage time drew near he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his servants, thrashed one, killed another and stoned a third. Next he sent some more servants, this time a larger number, and they dealt with them in the same way. Finally he sent his son to them. “They will respect my son” he said. But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, “This is the heir. Come on, let us kill him and take over his inheritance.” So they seized him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?’ They answered, ‘He will bring those wretches to a wretched end and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will deliver the produce to him when the season arrives.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the scriptures:

It was the stone rejected by the builders
that became the keystone.
This was the Lord’s doing
and it is wonderful to see?

‘I tell you, then, that the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.’
    When they heard his parables, the chief priests and the scribes realised he was speaking about them, but though they would have liked to arrest him they were afraid of the crowds, who looked on him as a prophet.

Happy indeed the man or woman who puts their trust in the Lord! For no one is more faithful than He is. And He calls us by name, for Her desires an intimate relationship with us. In our response to His call by our obedience, faithfulness and our love for one another, we are grafted on to Him our vine, our life source. Hence we shall bear abundant fruit for Him through our labour of Love in His vineyard.

Notice then in today’s Gospel that the rich man has no name! For he ignored the call of our Lord and lived only for himself, his own way and by his own standards. Perhaps if he did care, he cared only for his immediate family. He did not consider for a moment his actions nor his inactions to do some good for someone else. There was no love for God our his fellowmen. He was destined to die by the choices he made.

Lord Jesus open my eyes to see You, always. And to see You in the face of others whom I shall serve according to Your will. Amen




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First reading
Jeremiah 17:5-10

A curse on the man who puts his trust in man and turns from the Lord

The Lord says this:

‘A curse on the man who puts his trust in man,
who relies on things of flesh,
whose heart turns from the Lord.
He is like dry scrub in the wastelands:
if good comes, he has no eyes for it,
he settles in the parched places of the wilderness,
a salt land, uninhabited.

‘A blessing on the man who puts his trust in the Lord,
with the Lord for his hope.
He is like a tree by the waterside
that thrusts its roots to the stream:
when the heat comes it feels no alarm,
its foliage stays green;
it has no worries in a year of drought,
and never ceases to bear fruit.

‘The heart is more devious than any other thing,
perverse too: who can pierce its secrets?
I, the Lord, search to the heart,
I probe the loins,
to give each man what his conduct
and his actions deserve.’





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Gospel
Luke 16:19-3

Dives and Lazarus

Jesus said to the Pharisees: ‘There was a rich man who used to dress in purple and fine linen and feast magnificently every day. And at his gate there lay a poor man called Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to fill himself with the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even came and licked his sores. Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried.
    ‘In his torment in Hades he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off with Lazarus in his bosom. So he cried out, “Father Abraham, pity me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames.” “My son,” Abraham replied “remember that during your life good things came your way, just as bad things came the way of Lazarus. Now he is being comforted here while you are in agony. But that is not all: between us and you a great gulf has been fixed, to stop anyone, if he wanted to, crossing from our side to yours, and to stop any crossing from your side to ours.”
    ‘The rich man replied, “Father, I beg you then to send Lazarus to my father’s house, since I have five brothers, to give them warning so that they do not come to this place of torment too.” “They have Moses and the prophets,” said Abraham “let them listen to them.” “Ah no, father Abraham,” said the rich man “but if someone comes to them from the dead, they will repent.” Then Abraham said to him, “If they will not listen either to Moses or to the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone should rise from the dead.”’

‘Come now, let us talk this over,
says the Lord.’ Where else can we find a patient loving God willing to teach and guide us to mend the error of our ways? To become His disciples so we to lead His flock after His own heart with integrity!

Is our leadership steeped in hypocrisy? Do we come late for meetings? Are we truly present? Listening and attentive, or are we distant in our own thoughts, busy with personal work matters. Do we walk the talk? Do we draw attention to ourselves instead of pointing everyone too Christ Jesus our Lord? Are we heading His flock closer to Him by our love and actions. Are we striving for purity beyond reproach?

Walk with me Lord, guide my every thought, word and action. Amen

Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, pray for us…


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First reading

Isaiah 1:10,16-20

Cease to do evil; learn to do good


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

‘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.

‘Come now, let us talk this over,
says the Lord.
Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.

‘If you are willing to obey,
you shall eat the good things of the earth.
But if you persist in rebellion,
the sword shall eat you instead.’



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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.’

They are happy who follows God’s law! In both yesterday’s and today’s readings how can anyone believe in once saved always saved?! Are we not taking the Lord our God’s mercy and love for granted?

Yes He loves us dearly and wants the best for us, to live life to the full in Him and even though we are imperfect we have hope to be perfected through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We must therefore keep all the Lord our God’s commandments and strive to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect.

Lord I consecrate myself to You. Amen

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First reading

Deuteronomy 26:16-19 ·

You will be a people consecrated to the Lord

Moses said to the people: ‘The Lord your God today commands you to observe these laws and customs; you must keep and observe them with all your heart and with all your soul.

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

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Gospel

Matthew 5:43-48

Pray for those who persecute you

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

The Lord has willed and commanded us to love one another. Not just in good times but all the time! How can we truly love one another if we hold on to unforgiveness. How can we withhold mercy when the Lord our God has not withheld mercy from us. Otherwise we would be dead in our sins. For the Lord has been patient, merciful and kind to us.

He has given us ample opportunity and time for us to repent and be fully reconciled with Him. He sought us out while we were sinners, can we not likewise; go out and seek the offending brother or sister so as to be reconciled with them in Christ? For we who are children of God our Heavenly Father, must strive for unity in Christ Jesus our Lord. For we are One Body in Him.

Forgive me my trespasses Lord as I forgive everyone who have trespass against me. Amen

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First reading

Ezekiel 18:21-28 ·

I prefer to see the wicked man renounce his wickedness and live

Thus says the Lord:

    ‘If the wicked man renounces all the sins he has committed, respects my laws and is law-abiding and honest, he will certainly live; he will not die. All the sins he committed will be forgotten from then on; he shall live because of the integrity he has practised. What! Am I likely to take pleasure in the death of a wicked man – it is the Lord who speaks – and not prefer to see him renounce his wickedness and live?

    ‘But if the upright man renounces his integrity, commits sin, copies the wicked man and practises every kind of filth, is he to live? All the integrity he has practised shall be forgotten from then on; but this is because he himself has broken faith and committed sin, and for this he shall die. But you object, “What the Lord does is unjust.” Listen, you House of Israel: is what I do unjust? Is it not what you do that is unjust? When the upright man renounces his integrity to commit sin and dies because of this, he dies because of the evil that he himself has committed. When the sinner renounces sin to become law-abiding and honest, he deserves to live. He has chosen to renounce all his previous sins; he shall certainly live; he shall not die.’

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Gospel

Matthew 5:20-26

Anyone who is angry with his brother will answer for it

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘If your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.

    ‘You have learnt how it was said to our ancestors: You must not kill; and if anyone does kill he must answer for it before the court. But I say this to you: anyone who is angry with his brother will answer for it before the court; if a man calls his brother “Fool” he will answer for it before the Sanhedrin; and if a man calls him “Renegade” he will answer for it in hell fire. So then, if you are bringing your offering to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, go and be reconciled with your brother first, and then come back and present your offering. Come to terms with your opponent in good time while you are still on the way to the court with him, or he may hand you over to the judge and the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison. I tell you solemnly, you will not get out till you have paid the last penny.’

It now baffles me as to why many wait for a penitential service or go for the Sacrament of Reconciliation only once or twice a year! How can this be?

How can a Christian live Him or herself when Christ whom they claim to serve is far from them through their sin. How can they live life to the full without His presence, wisdom and grace? Are they OK if a family member is distant as a result of ‘unreconcilable’ differences! Are they waiting for a sign?

The greatest sign of God’s love for us, Jesus! He died for our sins and rose so that we might have life eternal with Him. Fully reconciled, One with and in Him we shall be the sign of the living God in the world. We will minister to our brethren with signs and wonders. Amen


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First reading
Jonah 3:1-10

The Ninevites repent, and God spares them

The word of the Lord was addressed to Jonah: ‘Up!’ he said ‘Go to Nineveh, the great city, and preach to them as I told you to.’ Jonah set out and went to Nineveh in obedience to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was a city great beyond compare: it took three days to cross it. Jonah went on into the city, making a day’s journey. He preached in these words, ‘Only forty days more and Nineveh is going to be destroyed.’ And the people of Nineveh believed in God; they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least. The news reached the king of Nineveh, who rose from his throne, took off his robe, put on sackcloth and sat down in ashes. A proclamation was then promulgated throughout Nineveh, by decree of the king and his ministers, as follows: ‘Men and beasts, herds and flocks, are to taste nothing; they must not eat, they must not drink water. All are to put on sackcloth and call on God with all their might; and let everyone renounce his evil behaviour and the wicked things he has done. Who knows if God will not change his mind and relent, if he will not renounce his burning wrath, so that we do not perish?’ God saw their efforts to renounce their evil behaviour, and God relented: he did not inflict on them the disaster which he had threatened.



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Gospel
Luke 11:29-32

As Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be a sign

The crowds got even bigger, and Jesus addressed them:
    ‘This is a wicked generation; it is asking for a sign. The only sign it will be given is the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. On Judgement day the Queen of the South will rise up with the men of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here. 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.’

How Blessed are we to have the life giving, living word of God speak to our hearts. Transforming those who are attentive from within, filling them to the full.

Filled with His divine grace, we are merciful as He is, loving as He is, holy as He is Holy. The prayer Jesus taught us is not one we simply recite daily but we live it for His glory. Amen


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First reading
Isaiah 55:10-11

The word that goes out from my mouth does not return to me empty

Thus says the Lord: ‘As the rain and the snow come down from the heavens and do not return without watering the earth, making it yield and giving growth to provide seed for the sower and bread for the eating, so the word that goes from my mouth does not return to me empty, without carrying out my will and succeeding in what it was sent to do.’


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Gospel
Matthew 6:7-15

How to pray

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘In your prayers do not babble as the pagans do, for they think that by using many words they will make themselves heard. Do not be like them; your Father knows what you need before you ask him. So you should pray like this:

‘Our Father in heaven,
may your name be held holy,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven those who are in debt to us.
And do not put us to the test,
but save us from the evil one.

‘Yes, if you forgive others their failings, your heavenly Father will forgive you yours; but if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive your failings either.’

Listen to the promises of our Lord when we repent and turn back to Him. When our hearts are filled with His love and mercy. Then we too shall be loving and merciful.

For He first loved us while we were sinners, He sought us out and beckoned to us to follow Him. Opening the door to our hearts to Him, He enters and dines with us as we dine with Him.

Just as You sought me out Lord, let me seek out those whom You lead me to, so that I may draw them close to Your bosom. Amen

Saint John of God, pray for us…


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First reading
Isaiah 58:9-14

You will be like a spring whose waters never run dry

The Lord says this:

If you do away with the yoke,
the clenched fist, the wicked word, if you give your bread to the hungry, and relief to the oppressed, your light will rise in the darkness, and your shadows become like noon.
The Lord will always guide you,
giving you relief in desert places.

He will give strength to your bones and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water
whose waters never run dry.

You will rebuild the ancient ruins, build up on the old foundations.
You will be called ‘Breach-mender’,
‘Restorer of ruined houses.’

If you refrain from trampling the Sabbath, and doing business on the holy day, if you call the Sabbath ‘Delightful’, and the day sacred to the Lord ‘Honourable’,
if you honour it by abstaining from travel, from doing business and from gossip, then shall you find your happiness in the Lord
and I will lead you triumphant over the heights of the land.
I will feed you on the heritage of Jacob your father.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

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Gospel
Luke 5:27-32

Jesus comes not to call the virtuous, but sinners to repentance

Jesus noticed a tax collector, Levi by name, sitting by the customs house, and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And leaving everything he got up and followed him.
    In his honour Levi held a great reception in his house, and with them at table was a large gathering of tax collectors and others. The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples and said, ‘Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?’ Jesus said to them in reply, ‘It is not those who are well who need the doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the virtuous, but sinners to repentance.’

Today we must make a choice. The Lord our God, or sin. Life and light or death and darkness. Simple enough to choose all that is good? Nay! For the wiles of the world backed by the prince of darkness has set its sights and clutches upon us.

For that is what it means to take up our cross everyday and follow Him. There will be challenges, temptations to give up. But we will be victorious! For yoked to Christ Jesus our Lord who can be against us.


Lord always I choose You just as You have chosen me. Amen

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First reading
Deuteronomy 30:15-20 ·

I set before you today life or death, blessing or curse

Moses said to the people: ‘See, today I set before you life and prosperity, death and disaster. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I enjoin on you today, if you love the Lord your God and follow his ways, if you keep his commandments, his laws, his customs, you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you are entering to make your own. But if your heart strays, if you refuse to listen, if you let yourself be drawn into worshipping other gods and serving them, I tell you today, you will most certainly perish; you will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today: I set before you life or death, blessing or curse. Choose life, then, so that you and your descendants may live, in the love of the Lord your God, obeying his voice, clinging to him; for in this your life consists, and on this depends your long stay in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob he would give them.’




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Gospel
Luke 9:22-25

Whoever loses his life for my sake will save it

Jesus said to his disciples:
    ‘The Son of Man is destined to suffer grievously, to be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes and to be put to death, and to be raised up on the third day.’
    Then to all he said:
    ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross every day and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake, that man will save it. What gain, then, is it for a man to have won the whole world and to have lost or ruined his very self?’

What good is our sacrifices for our Lord if we do not follow His commands to love? If we turn a blind eye to those in need. If we hurl vulgarites or use harsh abrasive words when angered by others, even our own family members. If there is no mercy in our hearts. If we not reflect His patience and kindness.

How is what we do for His sake or for the sake of the Gospel? Finally who’s disciple are we?

Lord I am Yours. Amen

Saint Casimir pray for us…


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First reading
Ecclesiasticus 35:2-15

Give to the Most High as he has given to you


A man multiplies offerings by keeping the Law;
    he offers communion sacrifices by following the commandments.
By showing gratitude he makes an offering of fine flour,
    by giving alms he offers a sacrifice of praise.
Withdraw from wickedness and the Lord will be pleased,
    withdraw from injustice and you make atonement.
Do not appear empty-handed in the Lord’s presence;
    for all these things are due under the commandment.
A virtuous man’s offering graces the altar,
    and its savour rises before the Most High.
A virtuous man’s sacrifice is acceptable,
    its memorial will not be forgotten.
Honour the Lord with generosity,
    do not stint the first-fruits you bring.
Add a smiling face to all your gifts,
    and be cheerful as you dedicate your tithes.
Give to the Most High as he has given to you,
    generously as your means can afford;
for the Lord is a good rewarder,
    he will reward you seven times over.
Offer him no bribe, he will not accept it,
    do not put your faith in an unvirtuous sacrifice;
since the Lord is a judge
    who is no respecter of personages.


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Gospel
Mark 10:28-31

Whoever has left everything for the sake of the gospel will be repaid

At that time Peter began to tell Jesus, ‘What about us? We have left everything and followed you.’ Jesus said, ‘I tell you solemnly, there is no one who has left house, brothers, sisters, father, children or land for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not be repaid a hundred times over, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and land – not without persecutions – now in this present time and, in the world to come, eternal life.
    ‘Many who are first will be last, and the last first.’

It is generally true that those who have experienced hardship in their lives are more generous with others especially the poor, the stranger. They know what it is like to have nothing, and so are more willing to give something to those who have not.  Hence what Jesus said holds true, “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?”

This also holds true when we indulge in sinful desires, the ‘riches’ of the world. Wanton sex, want of honour, all that goes against the commandments!

How then can we hope to enter the kingdom of God? Repent! Return to full union with the Lord our God, and He will make it possible for us to be with Him for all eternity. Amen


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First reading
Ecclesiasticus 17:20-28

Return to the Lord and leave sin behind


To those who repent, God permits return, and he encourages those who were losing hope.
Return to the Lord and leave sin behind, plead before his face and lessen your offence.
Come back to the Most High and turn away from iniquity, and hold in abhorrence all that is foul.
Who will praise the Most High in Sheol, if the living do not do so by giving glory to him?
To the dead, as to those who do not exist, praise is unknown, only those with life and health can praise the Lord.
How great is the mercy of the Lord, his pardon on all those who turn towards him!


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Gospel
Mark 10:17-27

Give everything you own to the poor, and follow me

Jesus was setting out on a journey when a man ran up, knelt before him and put this question to him, ‘Good master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: You must not kill; You must not commit adultery; You must not steal; You must not bring false witness; You must not defraud; Honour your father and mother.’ And he said to him, ‘Master, I have kept all these from my earliest days.’ Jesus looked steadily at him and loved him, and he said, ‘There is one thing you lack. Go and sell everything you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ But his face fell at these words and he went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth.
    Jesus looked round and said to his disciples, ‘How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!’ The disciples were astounded by these words, but Jesus insisted, ‘My children,’ he said to them ‘how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.’ They were more astonished than ever. ‘In that case’ they said to one another ‘who can be saved?’ Jesus gazed at them. ‘For men’ he said ‘it is impossible, but not for God: because everything is possible for God.’

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

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

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

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First reading
Ecclesiasticus 6:5-17

A faithful friend is a sure shelter


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





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Gospel
Mark 10:1-12

What God has united, man must not divide

Jesus came to the district of Judaea and the far side of the Jordan. And again crowds gathered round him, and again he taught them, as his custom was. Some Pharisees approached him and asked, ‘Is it against the law for a man to divorce his wife?’ They were testing him. He answered them, ‘What did Moses command you?’ ‘Moses allowed us’ they said ‘to draw up a writ of dismissal and so to divorce.’ Then Jesus said to them, ‘It was because you were so unteachable that he wrote this commandment for you. But from the beginning of creation God made them male and female. This is why a man must leave father and mother, and the two become one body. They are no longer two, therefore, but one body. So then, what God has united, man must not divide.’ Back in the house the disciples questioned him again about this, and he said to them, ‘The man who divorces his wife and marries another is guilty of adultery against her. And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another she is guilty of adultery too.’

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

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

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

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



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First reading
Ecclesiasticus 5:1-10

Do not delay your return to the Lord


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



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Gospel
Mark 9:41-50

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

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

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

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

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First reading

Ecclesiasticus 4:12-22

Whoever loves wisdom loves life

Wisdom brings up her own sons,

    and cares for those who seek her.

Whoever loves her loves life,

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

Whoever holds her close will inherit honour,

    and wherever he walks the Lord will bless him.

Those who serve her minister to the Holy One,

    and the Lord loves those who love her.

Whoever obeys her judges aright,

    and whoever pays attention to her dwells secure.

If he trusts himself to her he will inherit her,

    and his descendants will remain in possession of her;

for though she takes him at first through winding ways,

    bringing fear and faintness on him,

plaguing him with her discipline until she can trust him,

    and testing him with her ordeals,

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

    and reveal her secrets to him.

If he wanders away she will abandon him,

    and hand him over to his fate.

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Gospel

Mark 9:38-40

You must not stop anyone from working miracles in my name

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

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

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

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


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FFirst reading
Ecclesiasticus 2:1-11

The chosen are tested like gold in the fire


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

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Gospel
Mark 9:30-37

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here I am Lord send me. Amen

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First reading

Ecclesiasticus 1:1-10 ·

Before all other things, wisdom was created

All wisdom is from the Lord,

    and it is his own for ever.

The sand of the sea and the raindrops,

    and the days of eternity, who can assess them?

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

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

Before all other things wisdom was created,

    shrewd understanding is everlasting.

For whom has the root of wisdom ever been uncovered?

    Her resourceful ways, who knows them?

One only is wise, terrible indeed,

    seated on his throne, the Lord.

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

    and poured her out on all his works

to be with all mankind as his gift,

    and he conveyed her to those who love him.

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Gospel

Mark 9:14-29

Help the little faith I have!

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

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

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

Lord I surrender my all to You! Use me…

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First reading
1 Peter 5:1-4 ·

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

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



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Gospel
Matthew 16:13-19

You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But you,’ he said ‘who do you say I am?’ Then Simon Peter spoke up, ‘You are the Christ,’ he said ‘the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.’

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

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

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

Jesus remember me when You come into Your kingdom. Amen

Saint Peter Damian, pray for us…

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First reading

Genesis 11:1-9 ·

The tower of Babel

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

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

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Gospel

Mark 8:34-9:1

Anyone who loses his life for my sake will save it

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

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

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

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

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



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First reading
Genesis 9:1-13

The sign of the Covenant


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

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

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




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Gospel
Mark 8:27-33

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

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

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

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

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



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First reading
Genesis 9:1-13

The sign of the Covenant


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

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

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




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Gospel
Mark 8:27-33

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

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

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

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

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


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First reading
Genesis 4:1-15,25

The mark of Cain

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



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Gospel
Mark 8:11-13

No sign shall be given to this generation

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

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

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


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First reading
Genesis 2:18-25

Man and wife become one body

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

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

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



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Gospel
Mark 7:24-30

The astuteness of the Syro-Phoenician woman

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