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In times of great despair where hope is all lost and it seems that all we see is darkness. How sweet, how wonderful it is to hear a voice calling out to us, “I will help you.” Then His mighty Hand pulls us out of darkness, cold, despair and brings into the warm bright light. It is our Messiah come to save us. Jesus our Lord who was, who is and who is to come.

In His mercy we become once again children of the light. Our heavenly inheritance is restored. Peace, love and joy is ours to share with those who have none.

My Lord, my God thank You for loving us. Amen

First reading
Isaiah 41:13-20

I, the Lord, your God,
I am holding you by the right hand;
I tell you, ‘Do not be afraid,
I will help you.’
Do not be afraid, Jacob, poor worm,
Israel, puny mite.’
I will help you – it is the Lord who speaks –
the Holy One of Israel is your redeemer.
See, I turn you into a threshing-sled,
new, with doubled teeth;
you shall thresh and crush the mountains,
and turn the hills to chaff.
You shall winnow them and the wind will blow them away,
the gale will scatter them.
But you yourself will rejoice in the Lord,
and glory in the Holy One of Israel.
The poor and needy ask for water, and there is none,
their tongue is parched with thirst.
I, the Lord, will answer them,
I, the God of Israel, will not abandon them.
I will make rivers well up on barren heights,
and fountains in the midst of valleys;
turn the wilderness into a lake,
and dry ground into waterspring.
In the wilderness I will put cedar trees,
acacias, myrtles, olives.
In the desert I will plant juniper,
plane tree and cypress side by side;
so that men may see and know,
may all observe and understand
that the hand of the Lord has done this,
that the Holy One of Israel has created it.

Gospel
Matthew 11:11-15

Jesus spoke to the crowds: ‘I tell you solemnly, of all the children born of women, a greater than John the Baptist has never been seen; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is. Since John the Baptist came, up to this present time, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence and the violent are taking it by storm. Because it was towards John that all the prophecies of the prophets and of the Law were leading; and he, if you will believe me, is the Elijah who was to return. If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen!’

All that is good comes from our Heavenly Father. All powerful and mighty is He that all things are possible in Him. Yet He is gentle, loving merciful and kind.

Why do we run away from Him instead of running towards Him?
And even then when we run away He invites us back, seeking to give us rest and drink from living water.

Come, come and be filled and run tired no more. Let us run towards the Heavenly Kingdom back into our Father’s arms. Amen

First reading
Isaiah 40:25-31

‘To whom could you liken me
and who could be my equal?’ says the Holy One.
Lift your eyes and look.
Who made these stars
if not he who drills them like an army,
calling each one by name?
So mighty is his power, so great his strength,
that not one fails to answer.
How can you say, Jacob,
how can you insist, Israel,
‘My destiny is hidden from the Lord,
my rights are ignored by my God’?
Did you not know?
Had you not heard?
The Lord is an everlasting God,
he created the boundaries of the earth.
He does not grow tired or weary,
his understanding is beyond fathoming.
He gives strength to the wearied,
he strengthens the powerless.
Young men may grow tired and weary,
youths may stumble,
but those who hope in the Lord renew their strength,
they put out wings like eagles.
They run and do not grow weary,
walk and never tire.

Gospel
Matthew 11:28-30

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

Our loving Father invites us to return to the fold. Our separation from Him has taken its toll. Some are lost in despair, some live in fear and anxiety. Others try to live with insatiable appetites and yet others long in vain for peace and joy sought after in the world.

Heed the voice of our shepherd, our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ calling out to us. He wants to liberate us, to embrace us in His loving arms. Call upon the Holy Spirit to soften or hearts so that we may see the error of our ways. And through the gift of the Sacrament of reconciliation let us be reunited with Jesus.

Loving and forgiving are You O Lord my God. Amen

First reading
Isaiah 40:1-11

‘Console my people, console them’
says your God.
‘Speak to the heart of Jerusalem
and call to her
that her time of service is ended,
that her sin is atoned for,
that she has received from the hand of the Lord
double punishment for all her crimes.’
A voice cries, ‘Prepare in the wilderness
a way for the Lord.
Make a straight highway for our God
across the desert.
Let every valley be filled in,
every mountain and hill be laid low.
Let every cliff become a plain,
and the ridges a valley;
then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed
and all mankind shall see it;
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’
A voice commands, ‘Cry!’
and I answered, ‘What shall I cry?’”
– ‘All flesh is grass
and its beauty like the wild flower’s.
The grass withers, the flower fades
when the breath of the Lord blows on them.
(The grass is without doubt the people.)
The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God remains for ever.’
Go up on a high mountain,
joyful messenger to Zion.
Shout with a loud voice,
joyful messenger to Jerusalem.
Shout without fear,
say to the towns of Judah,
‘Here is your God.’
Here is the Lord coming with power,
his arm subduing all things to him.
The prize of his victory is with him,
his trophies all go before him.
He is like a shepherd feeding his flock,
gathering lambs in his arms,
holding them against his breast
and leading to their rest the mother ewes.

Gospel
Matthew 18:12-14

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

O purest of creatures Blessed Mother of mine! I love and honour you with all my heart. You are truly a model of Holiness and love.

Teach me dearest mother, how to pray. Show me how to be humble and obedient unto my Lord. Let me understand with your understanding, prudent with your prudence. Let me be patient with your patience.

Intercede for me dear mother that I may be granted your faith and the Holy Spirit to counsel me all the days of my life. As I heed your call to be obedient unto your Son our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Solemnity

First reading
Genesis 3:9-15,20

After Adam had eaten of the tree the Lord God called to him. ‘Where are you?’ he asked. ‘I heard the sound of you in the garden;’ he replied ‘I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.’ ‘Who told you that you were naked?’ he asked ‘Have you been eating of the tree I forbade you to eat?’ The man replied, ‘It was the woman you put with me; she gave me the fruit, and I ate it.’ Then the Lord God asked the woman, ‘What is this you have done?’ The woman replied, ‘The serpent tempted me and I ate.’
Then the Lord God said to the serpent, ‘Because you have done this,
‘Be accursed beyond all cattle,
all wild beasts.
You shall crawl on your belly and eat dust
every day of your life.
I will make you enemies of each other:
you and the woman,
your offspring and her offspring.
It will crush your head
and you will strike its heel.’
The man named his wife ‘Eve’ because she was the mother of all those who live.

Gospel
Luke 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. He went in and said to her, ‘Rejoice, so highly favoured! The Lord is with you.’ She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, but the angel said to her, ‘Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God’s favour. Listen! You are to conceive and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘But how can this come about, since I am a virgin?’ ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you’ the angel answered ‘and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. Know this too: your kinswoman Elizabeth has, in her old age, herself conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God’ ‘I am the handmaid of the Lord,’ said Mary ‘let what you have said be done to me.’ And the angel left her.

Brokenness is an invitation for divine intervention. While suffering is the hidden path to which God reveals Himself to us. Through it all servant leaders are born to bring hope where there is none, peace, joy and love. To bring healing, comfort and liberation from sin and evil through Jesus Christ our Lord. To announce the good news that the Kingdom of God is at hand.

Use me Lord for Your glory. Amen

First reading
Isaiah 30:19-21,23-26

Thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:
People of Zion, you will live in Jerusalem and weep no more. He will be gracious to you when he hears your cry; when he hears he will answer. When the Lord has given you the bread of suffering and the water of distress, he who is your teacher will hide no longer, and you will see your teacher with your own eyes. Whether you turn to right or left, your ears will hear these words behind you, ‘This is the way, follow it.’ He will send rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the bread that the ground provides will be rich and nourishing. Your cattle will graze, that day, in wide pastures. Oxen and donkeys that till the ground will eat a salted fodder, winnowed with shovel and fork. On every lofty mountain, on every high hill there will be streams and watercourses, on the day of the great slaughter when the strongholds fall. Then moonlight will be bright as sunlight and sunlight itself be seven times brighter – like the light of seven days in one – on the day the Lord dresses the wound of his people and heals the bruises his blows have left.

Gospel
Matthew
9:35-10:1,5,6-8

Jesus made a tour through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom and curing all kinds of diseases and sickness.
And when he saw the crowds he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.’
He summoned his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits with power to cast them out and to cure all kinds of diseases and sickness. These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them as follows: ‘Go rather to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. And as you go, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils. You received without charge, give without charge.’

Overwhelmed with work, while it seems we are fighting one crisis to the next. Worry, stress and anxiety starts to build up as our tempers are short and ready to burn. Then we might start looking for quick fixes falling easily into the temptations of the world which promises short termed happiness. Do we then only cry out in desperation, Lord, Lord help us? Sand! Sand! And more sand all around.

What we need in our lives is not a thing but a person. Our living God and saviour Jesus Christ. The rock that we build upon is our relationship with Him. Through prayer, listening to and living His Word; doing the Will of our Heavenly Father. Then we will find that there are no storms in our lives that we cannot weather. Peace joy and love is ours to have and share.

O Lord my God, I’ve come to do Your Will, now and forever more. Amen

First reading
Isaiah 26:1-6

That day, this song will be sung in the land of Judah:
We have a strong city;
to guard us he has set
wall and rampart about us.
Open the gates! Let the upright nation come in,
she, the faithful one
whose mind is steadfast, who keeps the peace,
because she trusts in you.
Trust in the Lord for ever,
for the Lord is the everlasting Rock;
he has brought low those who lived high up
in the steep citadel;
he brings it down, brings it down to the ground,
flings it down in the dust:
the feet of the lowly, the footsteps of the poor
trample on it.

Gospel
Matthew 7:21,24-27

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘It is not those who say to me, “Lord, Lord,” who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven. ‘Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against that house, and it did not fall: it was founded on rock. But everyone who listens to these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a stupid man who built his house on sand. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and struck that house, and it fell; and what a fall it had!’

Great is the love of our God that He wants to heal us physically and spiritually. He seeks to nourish us and make us whole to live full lives in Him. How can He if we will it not? For His love gives us a choice. And in choosing Him above all, we come before Him as we are. Placing everything, laying them before His feet and He will breathe new life into us.

Great is the love of our God, that we can experience heaven here on earth through the Eucharistic celebration. Yet are we blind to it? Are we crippled that we cannot go? Are we dumb that we cannot participate in the prayers, singing and worship of our God together with the Angels in heaven? Have we come with hearts full of the world that we cannot be filled anymore with the bread of life?

Lord Jesus You desire to feed the hunger of our hearts for You. And I desire to be fed. Amen

First reading
Isaiah 25:6-10

On this mountain,
the Lord of hosts will prepare for all peoples
a banquet of rich food.
On this mountain he will remove
the mourning veil covering all peoples,
and the shroud enwrapping all nations,
he will destroy Death for ever.
The Lord will wipe away
the tears from every cheek;
he will take away his people’s shame
everywhere on earth,
for the Lord has said so.
That day, it will be said: See, this is our God
in whom we hoped for salvation;
the Lord is the one in whom we hoped.
We exult and we rejoice
that he has saved us.

Gospel
Matthew 15:29-37

Jesus reached the shores of the Sea of Galilee, and he went up into the hills. He sat there, and large crowds came to him bringing the lame, the crippled, the blind, the dumb and many others; these they put down at his feet, and he cured them. The crowds were astonished to see the dumb speaking, the cripples whole again, the lame walking and the blind with their sight, and they praised the God of Israel.
But Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ‘I feel sorry for all these people; they have been with me for three days now and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them off hungry, they might collapse on the way.’ The disciples said to him, ‘Where could we get enough bread in this deserted place to feed such a crowd?’ Jesus said to them, ‘How many loaves have you?’ ‘Seven’ they said ‘and a few small fish.’ Then he instructed the crowd to sit down on the ground, and he took the seven loaves and the fish, and he gave thanks and broke them and handed them to the disciples who gave them to the crowds. They all ate as much as they wanted, and they collected what was left of the scraps, seven baskets full.

Many still lie in darkness by their own refusal of accepting the knowledge of Jesus into their lives. They rationalise away opportunity after opportunity. Some are gifted thinkers and scholars mind you and yet it would be easier for a seven year old to experience the peace and joy of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.

Then there are still many who still lie in darkness waiting for us who have seen and experienced the light to bring it into their lives. Those who share it with only a selected few will have a dim light to share. Those who decide not to share for whatever reasons will lose it.

Thank You Lord for liberating us from the bondages and darkness of sin. Thank You for the abundant love and peace You give us. Thank You for revealing our Heavenly Father to us. Thank You for the hope we share in one day living our lives eternally with You. Amen

First reading
Isaiah 11:1-10

A shoot springs from the stock of Jesse,
a scion thrusts from his roots:
on him the spirit of the Lord rests,
a spirit of wisdom and insight,
a spirit of counsel and power,
a spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
(The fear of the Lord is his breath.)
He does not judge by appearances,
he gives no verdict on hearsay,
but judges the wretched with integrity,
and with equity gives a verdict for the poor of the land.
His word is a rod that strikes the ruthless,
his sentences bring death to the wicked.
Integrity is the loincloth round his waist,
faithfulness the belt about his hips.
The wolf lives with the lamb,
the panther lies down with the kid,
calf and lion feed together,
with a little boy to lead them.
The cow and the bear make friends,
their young lie down together.
The lion eats straw like the ox.
The infant plays over the cobra’s hole;
into the viper’s lair
the young child puts his hand.
They do no hurt, no harm,
on all my holy mountain,
for the country is filled with the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters swell the sea.
That day, the root of Jesse
shall stand as a signal to the peoples.
It will be sought out by the nations
and its home will be glorious.

Gospel
Luke 10:21-24

Filled with joy by the Holy Spirit, Jesus said, ‘I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children. Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased you to do. Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.’
  Then turning to his disciples he spoke to them in private, ‘Happy the eyes that see what you see, for I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see, and never saw it; to hear what you hear, and never heard it.’

The promise of salvation had been fulfilled in our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. As He left to return to His Heavenly Kingdom, He promised and sent the Holy Spirit to guide, teach and show us the way. And He promised to prepare our rooms as He returned to His Father.

O Faithfull and loving Lord I to emulate You. Help me to remain steadfast in prayer and holiness so that I may one day be in paradise with You. Amen

First reading
Apocalypse 22:1-7

The angel showed me, John, the river of life, rising from the throne of God and of the Lamb and flowing crystal-clear down the middle of the city street. On either side of the river were the trees of life, which bear twelve crops of fruit in a year, one in each month, and the leaves of which are the cure for the pagans.
  The ban will be lifted. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in its place in the city; his servants will worship him, they will see him face to face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. It will never be night again and they will not need lamplight or sunlight, because the Lord God will be shining on them. They will reign for ever and ever.
The angel said to me, ‘All that you have written is sure and will come true: the Lord God who gives the spirit to the prophets has sent his angel to reveal to his servants what is soon to take place. Very soon now, I shall be with you again.’ Happy are those who treasure the prophetic message of this book.

Gospel
Luke 21:34-36

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Watch yourselves, or your hearts will be coarsened with debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life, and that day will be sprung on you suddenly, like a trap. For it will come down on every living man on the face of the earth. Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to stand with confidence before the Son of Man.’

Are we spiritually asleep? Or are we discerning the Will of our Heavenly Father through prayer for us? Are we performing tasks we are called to do as disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ? Do we bring life and love into the lives of others or death and destruction by our words and deeds? Do we partake of the living Word of God daily so that we may be nourished, awake and alert when He comes?

In Your great love Lord have mercy on me a sinner. Teach me Your ways that I may live my life according to Your Will. So that I will find my name written in the book of Life; life with You O Lord. Amen

First reading
Apocalypse 20:1-4,11-21:2

I, John, saw an angel come down from heaven with the key of the Abyss in his hand and an enormous chain. He overpowered the dragon, that primeval serpent which is the devil and Satan, and chained him up for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and shut the entrance and sealed it over him, to make sure he would not deceive the nations again until the thousand years had passed. At the end of that time he must be released, but only for a short while.
Then I saw some thrones, and I saw those who are given the power to be judges take their seats on them. I saw the souls of all who had been beheaded for having witnessed for Jesus and for having preached God’s word, and those who refused to worship the beast or his statue and would not have the brand-mark on their foreheads or hands; they came to life, and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. Then I saw a great white throne and the One who was sitting on it. In his presence, earth and sky vanished, leaving no trace. I saw the dead, both great and small, standing in front of his throne, while the book of life was opened, and other books opened which were the record of what they had done in their lives, by which the dead were judged.
The sea gave up all the dead who were in it; Death and Hades were emptied of the dead that were in them; and every one was judged according to the way in which he had lived. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the burning lake. This burning lake is the second death; and anybody whose name could not be found written in the book of life was thrown into the burning lake.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; the first heaven and the first earth had disappeared now, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the holy city, and the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, as beautiful as a bride all dressed for her husband.

Gospel
Luke 21:29-33

Jesus told his disciples a parable: ‘Think of the fig tree and indeed every tree. As soon as you see them bud, you know that summer is now near. So with you when you see these things happening: know that the kingdom of God is near. I tell you solemnly, before this generation has passed away all will have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.’

There is a price to pay when we choose evil over good. For in doing so we are rejecting the love of our Heavenly Father. In His absence so is hope, peace, joy and love. Plunged into darkness there is only chaos, unfettered rage, pain and fear.

Let us turn to the light before it is too late and leave our sinful past behind.

Lord Jesus You are the light of the world, we come before You sinful and sorrowful. In Your great mercy and love free us from the bondages of sin. Heal us Lord and transform us, that we may become beacons for others. Amen

First reading
Apocalypse 18:1-2,21-23,19:1-3,9

I, John, saw an angel come down from heaven, with great authority given to him; the earth was lit up with his glory. At the top of his voice he shouted, ‘Babylon has fallen, Babylon the Great has fallen, and has become the haunt of devils and a lodging for every foul spirit and dirty, loathsome bird. Then a powerful angel picked up a boulder like a great millstone, and as he hurled it into the sea, he said, ‘That is how the great city of Babylon is going to be hurled down, never to be seen again.
Never again in you, Babylon,
will be heard the song of harpists and minstrels,
the music of flute and trumpet;
never again will craftsmen of every skill be found
or the sound of the mill be heard;
never again will shine the light of the lamp,
never again will be heard
the voices of bridegroom and bride.
Your traders were the princes of the earth,
all the nations were under your spell.
After this I seemed to hear the great sound of a huge crowd in heaven, singing, ‘Alleluia! Victory and glory and power to our God! He judges fairly, he punishes justly, and he has condemned the famous prostitute who corrupted the earth with her fornication; he has avenged his servants that she killed.’ They sang again, ‘Alleluia! The smoke of her will go up for ever and ever.’ The angel said, ‘Write this: Happy are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb’, and he added, ‘All the things you have written are true messages from God.’

Gospel
Luke 21:20-28

Jesus said to his disciples, ‘When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you must realise that she will soon be laid desolate. Then those in Judaea must escape to the mountains, those inside the city must leave it, and those in country districts must not take refuge in it. For this is the time of vengeance when all that scripture says must be fulfilled. Alas for those with child, or with babies at the breast, when those days come!
They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive to every pagan country; and Jerusalem will be trampled down by the pagans until the age of the pagans is completely over.
‘There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; on earth nations in agony, bewildered by the clamour of the ocean and its waves; men dying of fear as they await what menaces the world, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand.’

Are we ready this day to fight the good fight? To lay our lives down for our Lord? To battle evil and overcome sin? To accept the suffering and hardship of carrying the cross even unto death?

Not everyone are called to a joyful martyrs death, but anyone who has stood up for the faith can share the pain of dying to oneself and accepting the suffering for Christ. What are some of these sufferings? Well enduring shooting taunts and mockery. Facing murderous words which seek to kill the spirit. Spiteful rejection of the message of Christ coupled with hurtful gestures. Indifference with sometimes rejection from close family members and friends.

Lord Jesus I accept death as a rite of passage into new life with You. And I look forward to the day where I can revere, praise and worship You in Your Kingdom. Amen

First reading
Apocalypse 15:1-4

What I, John, saw in heaven was a great and wonderful sign: seven angels were bringing the seven plagues that are the last of all, because they exhaust the anger of God. I seemed to see a glass lake suffused with fire, and standing by the lake of glass, those who had fought against the beast and won, and against his statue and the number which is his name. They all had harps from God, and they were singing the hymn of Moses, the servant of God, and of the Lamb:
‘How great and wonderful are all your works,
Lord God Almighty;
just and true are all your ways,
King of nations.
Who would not revere and praise your name, O Lord?
You alone are holy,
and all the pagans will come and adore you
for the many acts of justice you have shown.’

Gospel
Luke 21:12-19

Jesus said: Men will seize you and persecute you; they will hand you over to the synagogues and to imprisonment, and bring you before kings and governors because of my name – and that will be your opportunity to bear witness. Keep this carefully in mind: you are not to prepare your defence, because I myself shall give you an eloquence and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relations and friends; and some of you will be put to death. You will be hated by all men on account of my name, but not a hair of your head will be lost. Your endurance will win you your lives.’

There are some things people don’t like to think or talk about. The major ones are about death, that is our own impending death and the end times. Some will say, “why think about it at all when you have no control over it?” Others, “Just live and be merry, life is too short to be worrying about such things.” Are we then called to live fearful lives?

We, my dear sisters and brothers are called to live loving lives in Christ. To think about our death and the end times from time to time in a sense, gives us an opportunity to humbly keep score. Have we loved enough? Have we strived for holiness? Have we done what our Heavenly Father has willed for us? Or have we instead chosen and grown in our sins, bloated to the degree that we are ripe to be crushed? If we choose love and live according to the Will of God our Father then the only fear we will and should have is the fear out of love in offending Him in any way.

Lord Jesus I desire to live not in this world but in the world to come with You. Help me to remain faithful and steadfast on my pilgrim journey back to You. In Your most precious name, I pray. Amen

First reading
Apocalypse 14:14-19

In my vision I, John, saw a white cloud and, sitting on it, one like a son of man with a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. Then another angel came out of the sanctuary, and shouted aloud to the one sitting on the cloud, ‘Put your sickle in and reap: harvest time has come and the harvest of the earth is ripe.’ Then the one sitting on the cloud set his sickle to work on the earth, and the earth’s harvest was reaped.
  Another angel, who also carried a sharp sickle, came out of the temple in heaven, and the angel in charge of the fire left the altar and shouted aloud to the one with the sharp sickle, ‘Put your sickle in and cut all the bunches off the vine of the earth; all its grapes are ripe.’ So the angel set his sickle to work on the earth and harvested the whole vintage of the earth and put it into a huge winepress, the winepress of God’s anger.

Gospel
Luke 21:5-11

When some were talking about the Temple, remarking how it was adorned with fine stonework and votive offerings, Jesus said, ‘All these things you are staring at now – the time will come when not a single stone will be left on another: everything will be destroyed.’ And they put to him this question: ‘Master,’ they said ‘when will this happen, then, and what sign will there be that this is about to take place?’
‘Take care not to be deceived,’ he said ‘because many will come using my name and saying, “I am he” and, “The time is near at hand.” Refuse to join them. And when you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened, for this is something that must happen but the end is not so soon.’ Then he said to them, ‘Nation will fight against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes and plagues and famines here and there; there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.’

Some of us will say we are followers of Christ but pick and choose what we want to follow and believe. Then there are some of us who think ourselves leaders of men but have great difficulty in following the directions of other gifted leaders;let alone Christ Himself. Many of us have different ideas of what it means to be a follower of Jesus our Lord.

In order to have some idea of just how much of a follower of Christ we truly are, we need to ask ourselves. Have we truly emptied ourselves so as to be filled with His grace? Have we truly died to ourselves? Have we placed all our heart and trust in Him? Have we placed our hands on the plough and are only looking forwards? Are we carrying our cross and following Him?

O Lord my God, I want to give You my everything. Not just in word but in deed. Help me to overcome all that prevents me in doing so. Let me be holy as You my God are Holy. Amen

First reading
Apocalypse 14:1-5

In my vision I, John, saw Mount Zion, and standing on it a Lamb who had with him a hundred and forty-four thousand people, all with his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. I heard a sound coming out of the sky like the sound of the ocean or the roar of thunder; it seemed to be the sound of harpists playing their harps. There in front of the throne they were singing a new hymn in the presence of the four animals and the elders, a hymn that could only be learnt by the hundred and forty-four thousand who had been redeemed from the world; they follow the Lamb wherever he goes; they have been redeemed from amongst men to be the first-fruits for God and for the Lamb. They never allowed a lie to pass their lips and no fault can be found in them.

Gospel
Luke 21:1-4

As Jesus looked up, he saw rich people putting their offerings into the treasury; then he happened to notice a poverty-stricken widow putting in two small coins, and he said, ‘I tell you truly, this poor widow has put in more than any of them; for these have all contributed money they had over, but she from the little she had has put in all she had to live on.’

Why do we hold on so tightly to this world? Why can we not see the plan of our Heavenly Father for us? Eternal life with Him together with the saints, our brethren who had returned to Him before us? His great love for us manifested through the life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. So that through Him with can share eternal life with Him.

While we are on our pilgrim journey, we have been empowered by the Holy Spirit. We have various gifts on hand to bring the love of God into the hearts of unbelievers. So that they too might have a share of our heavenly inheritance. As they strive to turn away from sin and lead lives worthy of their calling to be children of God our Father.

Lord Jesus Christ Son of the living God, You have given me new life. And I want to always live it out with and in You. Amen

First reading
Apocalypse 11:4-12

I, John, heard a voice saying: ‘These, my two witnesses, are the two olive trees and the two lamps that stand before the Lord of the world. Fire can come from their mouths and consume their enemies if anyone tries to harm them; and if anybody does try to harm them he will certainly be killed in this way. They are able to lock up the sky so that it does not rain as long as they are prophesying; they are able to turn water into blood and strike the whole world with any plague as often as they like. When they have completed their witnessing, the beast that comes out of the Abyss is going to make war on them and overcome them and kill them. Their corpses will lie in the main street of the Great City known by the symbolic names Sodom and Egypt, in which their Lord was crucified. Men out of every people, race, language and nation will stare at their corpses, for three-and-a-half days, not letting them be buried, and the people of the world will be glad about it and celebrate the event by giving presents to each other, because these two prophets have been a plague to the people of the world.’
  After the three-and-a-half days, God breathed life into them and they stood up, and everybody who saw it happen was terrified; then they heard a loud voice from heaven say to them, ‘Come up here’, and while their enemies were watching, they went up to heaven in a cloud.

Gospel
Luke 20:27-40

Some Sadducees – those who say that there is no resurrection – approached him and they put this question to him, ‘Master, we have it from Moses in writing, that if a man’s married brother dies childless, the man must marry the widow to raise up children for his brother. Well then, there were seven brothers. The first, having married a wife, died childless. The second and then the third married the widow. And the same with all seven, they died leaving no children. Finally the woman herself died Now, at the resurrection, to which of them will she be wife since she had been married to all seven?’
  Jesus replied, ‘The children of this world take wives and husbands, but those who are judged worthy of a place in the other world and in the resurrection from the dead do not marry because they can no longer die, for they are the same as the angels, and being children of the resurrection they are sons of God. And Moses himself implies that the dead rise again, in the passage about the bush where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Now he is God, not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all men are in fact alive.’
  Some scribes then spoke up. ‘Well put, Master’ they said – because they would not dare to ask him any more questions.

There can be no compromise in our worship of our Heavenly Father. No trading on empty promises, no concessions to be made for leading sinful lives without repentance. Nor can we ever disregard reverence for our Heavenly Father, whether in dress, body and mind. Let us always prepare ourselves so that when we receive His Word. We will receive Him with joy into our very beings and be transformed each and every time.

Thank You Lord for sharing Your body, blood, soul and divinity with us, may we always stand ready and worthy to receive You each and everyday. Amen

First reading
Apocalypse 10:8-11

I, John, heard the voice I had heard from heaven speaking to me again. ‘Go,’ it said ‘and take that open scroll out of the hand of the angel standing on sea and land.’ I went to the angel and asked him to give me the small scroll, and he said, ‘Take it and eat it; it will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will taste as sweet as honey.’ So I took it out of the angel’s hand, and swallowed it; it was as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach turned sour. Then I was told, ‘You are to prophesy again, this time about many different nations and countries and languages and emperors.’

Gospel
Luke 19:45-48

Jesus went into the Temple and began driving out those who were selling. ‘According to scripture,’ he said ‘my house will be a house of prayer. But you have turned it into a robbers’ den.’
He taught in the Temple every day. The chief priests and the scribes, with the support of the leading citizens, tried to do away with him, but they did not see how they could carry this out because the people as a whole hung on his words.

How does one find peace in the chaos of the world? A world seeking to defy the commands and statues of their loving creator. A world of tyranny, greed, lust and hate. Are the ones who keep God at arms length safe from the influence of the world? In the comfort of their homes they have built for themselves? Free from fear and anxiety?

Jesus the King of peace, the Lord of Lords, the lamb of God had come to redeem us. To liberate us from the bondage of the world of sin. To lead us out of darkness. To live as children of the light in love, peace and joy. Do we still want to live a life separated from our heavenly Father?

O Lord my God as I am created in Your image; I seek to live out my birthright of being priest, prophet and king for others. So that I may honour and serve You all the days of my life. Amen

First reading
Apocalypse 5:1-10

I, John, saw that in the right hand of the One sitting on the throne there was a scroll that had writing on back and front and was sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a powerful angel who called with a loud voice, ‘Is there anyone worthy to open the scroll and break the seals of it?’ But there was no one, in heaven or on the earth or under the earth, who was able to open the scroll and read it. I wept bitterly because there was nobody fit to open the scroll and read it, but one of the elders said to me, ‘There is no need to cry: the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed, and he will open the scroll and the seven seals of it.’
  Then I saw, standing between the throne with its four animals and the circle of the elders, a Lamb that seemed to have been sacrificed; it had seven horns, and it had seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits God has sent out all over the world. The Lamb came forward to take the scroll from the right hand of the One sitting on the throne, and when he took it, the four animals prostrated themselves before him and with them the twenty-four elders; each one of them was holding a harp and had a golden bowl full of incense made of the prayers of the saints. They sang a new hymn:
‘You are worthy to take the scroll
and break the seals of it,
because you were sacrificed, and with your blood
you bought men for God
of every race, language, people and nation
and made them a line of kings and priests,
to serve our God and to rule the world.’

Gospel
Luke 19:41-44

As Jesus drew near Jerusalem and came in sight of the city he shed tears over it and said, ‘If you in your turn had only understood on this day the message of peace! But, alas, it is hidden from your eyes! Yes, a time is coming when your enemies will raise fortifications all round you, when they will encircle you and hem you in on every side; they will dash you and the children inside your walls to the ground; they will leave not one stone standing on another within you – and all because you did not recognise your opportunity when God offered it!’

Many are still lukewarm in the faith because they have yet to accept that Jesus is our Lord and King. Perhaps some look to Him as some sort of imaginary friend which brings them comfort in times of difficulty. While others perhaps see Him as a senior elder of sorts or even an equal they can reason and bargain with. Today let us ponder and reflect deeply on who is Jesus for us individually?

For if Jesus is our sovereign Lord and King, then our lives will surely change. When we prostrate ourselves before Him, His mere presence liberates us from sin. We are filled with His grace, peace and love flows abundantly. We are given all that we need to lead others to Him. So that they too can have their lives transformed as we have. Woe to us if we keep His peace and joy for ourselves for then we cannot be called children of the light.

O Heavenly Father, I long to one day worship and praise You with all the Saints in Your heavenly Kingdom. Help me in my endeavour to be Holy as You are Holy. Amen

First reading
Apocalypse 4:1-11

In my vision, I, John, saw a door open in heaven and heard the same voice speaking to me, the voice like a trumpet, saying, ‘Come up here: I will show you what is to come in the future.’ With that, the Spirit possessed me and I saw a throne standing in heaven, and the One who was sitting on the throne, and the Person sitting there looked like a diamond and a ruby. There was a rainbow encircling the throne, and this looked like an emerald. Round the throne in a circle were twenty-four thrones, and on them I saw twenty-four elders sitting, dressed in white robes with golden crowns on their heads. Flashes of lightning were coming from the throne, and the sound of peals of thunder, and in front of the throne there were seven flaming lamps burning, the seven Spirits of God. Between the throne and myself was a sea that seemed to be made of glass, like crystal. In the centre, grouped round the throne itself, were four animals with many eyes, in front and behind. The first animal was like a lion, the second like a bull, the third animal had a human face, and the fourth animal was like a flying eagle. Each of the four animals had six wings and had eyes all the way round as well as inside; and day and night they never stopped singing:
‘Holy, Holy, Holy
is the Lord God, the Almighty;
he was, he is and he is to come.’
Every time the animals glorified and honoured and gave thanks to the One sitting on the throne, who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders prostrated themselves before him to worship the One who lives for ever and ever, and threw down their crowns in front of the throne, saying, ‘You are our Lord and our God, you are worthy of glory and honour and power, because you made all the universe and it was only by your will that everything was made and exists.’

Gospel
Luke 19:11-28

While the people were listening, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and they imagined that the kingdom of God was going to show itself then and there. Accordingly he said, ‘A man of noble birth went to a distant country to be appointed king and afterwards return. He summoned ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds. “Do business with these” he told them “until I get back.” But his compatriots detested him and sent a delegation to follow him with this message, “We do not want this man to be our king.”
Now on his return, having received his appointment as king, he sent for those servants to whom he had given the money, to find out what profit each had made. The first came in and said, “Sir, your one pound has brought in ten.” “Well done, my good servant!” he replied “Since you have proved yourself faithful in a very small thing, you shall have the government of ten cities..” Then came the second and said, “Sir, your one pound has made five.” To this one also he said, “And you shall be in charge of five cities.” Next came the other and said, “Sir, here is your pound. I put it away safely in a piece of linen because I was afraid of you; for you are an exacting man: you pick up what you have not put down and reap what you have not sown.” “You wicked servant!” he said “Out of your own mouth I condemn you. So you knew I was an exacting man, picking up what I have not put down and reaping what I have not sown? Then why did you not put my money in the bank? On my return I could have drawn it out with interest.” And he said to those standing by, “Take the pound from him and give it to the man who has ten pounds.” And they said to him, “But, sir, he has ten pounds . . .” “I tell you, to everyone who has will be given more; but from the man who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
“But as for my enemies who did not want me for their king, bring them here and execute them in my presence.”’
When he had said this he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

How can I receive Jesus into my heart if I am indifferent? How can I respond to His call to follow Him if I’m holding on to my sinful past? How can I receive His loving mercy if I refuse to be merciful and withhold forgiveness myself?

Let me not be obstinate any longer. I cast aside my soiled, stained robes and have put on the pure white one my Lord has prepared for me. He has sought me out, forgiven me and given me a heart of flesh in place of stone. With His abundant love poured out on me, I forgive all as I love all.

Thank You Jesus for loving me as no one else can. And so I begin my journey to seek out those who feel that no one else can or would love them. So that I may bring them Your love and peace; In Your most precious name. Amen

First reading
Apocalypse 3:1-6,14-22

I, John, heard the Lord saying to me: ‘Write to the angel of the church in Sardis and say, “Here is the message of the one who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: I know all about you: how you are reputed to be alive and yet are dead. Wake up; revive what little you have left: it is dying fast. So far I have failed to notice anything in the way you live that my God could possibly call perfect, and yet do you remember how eager you were. when you first heard the message? Hold on to that. Repent. If you do not wake up, I shall come to you like a thief, without telling you at what hour to expect me. There are a few in Sardis, it is true, who have kept their robes from being dirtied, and they are fit to come with me, dressed in white. Those who prove victorious will be dressed, like these, in white robes; I shall not blot their names out of the book of life, but acknowledge their names in the presence of my Father and his angels. If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.”
  ‘Write to the angel of the church in Laodicea and say, “Here is the message of the Amen, the faithful, the true witness, the ultimate source of God’s creation: I know all about you: how you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were one or the other, but since you are neither, but only lukewarm, I will spit you out of my mouth. You say to yourself, ‘I am rich, I have made a fortune, and have everything I want’, never realising that you are wretchedly and pitiably poor, and blind and naked too. I warn you, buy from me the gold that has been tested in the fire to make you really rich, and white robes to clothe you and cover your shameful nakedness, and eye ointment to put on your eyes so that you are able to see. I am the one who reproves and disciplines all those he loves: so repent in real earnest. Look, I am standing at the door, knocking. If one of you hears me calling and opens the door, I will come in to share his meal, side by side with him. Those who prove victorious I will allow to share my throne, just as I was victorious myself and took my place with my Father on his throne. If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.”’

Gospel
Luke 19:1-10

Jesus entered Jericho and was going through the town when a man whose name was Zacchaeus made his appearance: he was one of the senior tax collectors and a wealthy man. He was anxious to see what kind of man Jesus was, but he was too short and could not see him for the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus who was to pass that way. When Jesus reached the spot he looked up and spoke to him: ‘Zacchaeus, come down. Hurry, because I must stay at your house today.’ And he hurried down and welcomed him joyfully. They all complained when they saw what was happening. ‘He has gone to stay at a sinner’s house’ they said. But Zacchaeus stood his ground and said to the Lord, ‘Look, sir, I am going to give half my property to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody I will pay him back four times the amount.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek out and save what was lost.’

Being a light for the world is hard, it requires great patience, greater love and humility. While we may fight tirelessly against evil, we may become a little jaded. The love and mercy of Christ which once filled our hearts, can slowly dissipate as we become more concerned about discipline and order. The light which once shone brightly in love will eventually die out.

Jesus my Lord, I want to shine brightly for You always. Have mercy on me for my shortcomings. Fill me with Your love and guide me in Your ways, so that I may always respond quickly to cries for mercy or help. Bringing Your great love and light so that all may witness Your glory. Amen

First reading
Apocalypse 1:1-4,2:1-5

This is the revelation given by God to Jesus Christ so that he could tell his servants about the things which are now to take place very soon; he sent his angel to make it known to his servant John, and John has written down everything he saw and swears it is the word of God guaranteed by Jesus Christ. Happy the man who reads this prophecy, and happy those who listen to him, if they treasure all that it says, because the Time is close.
From John, to the seven churches of Asia: grace and peace to you from him who is, who was, and who is to come, from the seven spirits in his presence before his throne.
Write to the angel of the church in Ephesus and say, “Here is the message of the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and who lives surrounded by the seven golden lamp-stands: I know all about you: how hard you work and how much you put up with. I know you cannot stand wicked men, and how you tested the impostors who called themselves apostles and proved they were liars. Know, too, that you have patience, and have suffered for my name without growing tired. Nevertheless, I have this complaint to make; you have less love now than you used to. Think where you were before you fell; repent, and do as you used to at first, or else, if you will not repent, I shall come to you and take your lamp-stand from its place.”

Gospel
Luke 18:35-43

As Jesus drew near to Jericho there was a blind man sitting at the side of the road begging. When he heard the crowd going past he asked what it was all about, and they told him that Jesus the Nazarene was passing by. So he called out, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me.’ The people in front scolded him and told him to keep quiet, but he shouted all the louder, ‘Son of David, have pity on me.’ Jesus stopped and ordered them to bring the man to him, and when he came up, asked him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ ‘Sir,’ he replied ‘let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Receive your sight. Your faith has saved you.’ And instantly his sight returned and he followed him praising God, and all the people who saw it gave praise to God for what had happened.

If not through prayer how else do I grow in my relationship with my Heavenly Father? How will I hear Him speaking to me? How do I share my heart with Him? How do I utter my adoration, praise, admiration and grateful thanks? How will I ask Him for help in my life? If not through prayer how will I stand in the presence of my Lord, to receive the outpouring of His love, peace, grace and strength?

Lord Jesus I thank You for teaching me how to pray. I am grateful for the ever growing relationship I have with You. You are my rock and my strength. I want to share the love and peace You have given me with everyone. Let me always remain humble and faithful to You and my brethren. Amen

First reading
3 John 1:5-8

My friend, you have done faithful work in looking after these brothers, even though they were complete strangers to you. They are a proof to the whole Church of your charity and it would be a very good thing if you could help them on their journey in a way that God would approve. It was entirely for the sake of the name that they set out, without depending on the pagans for anything; it is our duty to welcome men of this sort and contribute our share to their work for the truth.

Gospel
Luke 18:1-8

Jesus told his disciples a parable about the need to pray continually and never lose heart. ‘There was a judge in a certain town’ he said ‘who had neither fear of God nor respect for man. In the same town there was a widow who kept on coming to him and saying, “I want justice from you against my enemy!” For a long time he refused, but at last he said to himself, “Maybe I have neither fear of God nor respect for man, but since she keeps pestering me I must give this widow her just rights, or she will persist in coming and worry me to death.”’
And the Lord said ‘You notice what the unjust judge has to say? Now will not God see justice done to his chosen who cry to him day and night even when he delays to help them? I promise you, he will see justice done to them, and done speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?’

It is far easier to throw tantrums, to be angry with everything and everyone. It is easier to fallback into the habit of using vulgarities when enraged. To wallow in pity thereby allowing for sinful indulgences to ‘take away’ the pain and sorrows. But what good can come of it? Do we seek relieve but not true comfort? Who or what stands to gain by our fall?

Let us choose instead to remain in the light, to turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospels. For through the toil comes tribulation, through the pain and suffering of a life lived in Christ comes great love, peace and joy. And when we reach the end of this life; our Lord will come to lead us into new life with and in Him. Amen

First reading
2 John 1:4-9

It has given me great joy to find that your children have been living the life of truth as we were commanded by the Father. I am writing now, dear lady, not to give you any new commandment, but the one which we were given at the beginning, and to plead: let us love one another.
  To love is to live according to his commandments: this is the commandment which you have heard since the beginning, to live a life of love.
  There are many deceivers about in the world, refusing to admit that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. They are the Deceiver; they are the Antichrist. Watch yourselves, or all our work will be lost and not get the reward it deserves. If anybody does not keep within the teaching of Christ but goes beyond it, he cannot have God with him: only those who keep to what he taught can have the Father and the Son with them.

Gospel
Luke 17:26-37

Jesus said to the disciples:
‘As it was in Noah’s day, so will it also be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating and drinking, marrying wives and husbands, right up to the day Noah went into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. It will be the same as it was in Lot’s day: people were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but the day Lot left Sodom, God rained fire and brimstone from heaven and it destroyed them all. It will be the same when the day comes for the Son of Man to be revealed.
‘When that day comes, anyone on the housetop, with his possessions in the house, must not come down to collect them, nor must anyone in the fields turn back either. Remember Lot’s wife. Anyone who tries to preserve his life will lose it; and anyone who loses it will keep it safe. I tell you, on that night two will be in one bed: one will be taken, the other left; two women will be grinding corn together: one will be taken, the other left.’ The disciples interrupted. ‘Where, Lord?’ they asked. He said, ‘Where the body is, there too will the vultures gather.’

I had always thought that the Kingdom of God was in Heaven alone and while it is, I often overlooked the fact that God’s Kingdom is here on earth as well. For if I bore that fact in mind, my behaviour and actions will not be so much as striving to arrive at a far reaching destination. But one of a journey in holiness striving to remain in the realm of Grace.

This key unlocks many doors in the understanding of what St Paul spoke rather plainly. A true servant leader but always at heart first a man of God.

O heavenly Father, thy Kingdom come they Will be done. Amen

First reading
Philemon 1:7-20

I am so delighted, and comforted, to know of your love; they tell me, brother, how you have put new heart into the saints.
  Now, although in Christ I can have no diffidence about telling you to do whatever is your duty, I am appealing to your love instead, reminding you that this is Paul writing, an old man now and, what is more, still a prisoner of Christ Jesus. I am appealing to you for a child of mine, whose father I became while wearing these chains: I mean Onesimus. He was of no use to you before, but he will be useful to you now, as he has been to me. I am sending him back to you, and with him – I could say – a part of my own self. I should have liked to keep him with me; he could have been a substitute for you, to help me while I am in the chains that the Good News has brought me. However, I did not want to do anything without your consent; it would have been forcing your act of kindness, which should be spontaneous. I know you have been deprived of Onesimus for a time, but it was only so that you could have him back for ever, not as a slave any more, but something much better than a slave, a dear brother; especially dear to me, but how much more to you, as a blood-brother as well as a brother in the Lord. So if all that we have in common means anything to you, welcome him as you would me; but if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, then let me pay for it. I am writing this in my own handwriting: I, Paul, shall pay it back – I will not add any mention of your own debt to me, which is yourself. Well then, brother, I am counting on you, in the Lord; put new heart into me, in Christ.

Gospel
Luke 17:20-25

Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was to come, Jesus gave them this answer, ‘The coming of the kingdom of God does not admit of observation and there will be no one to say, “Look here! Look there!” For, you must know, the kingdom of God is among you.’
  He said to the disciples, ‘A time will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man and will not see it. They will say to you, “Look there!” or, “Look here!” Make no move; do not set off in pursuit; for as the lightning flashing from one part of heaven lights up the other, so will be the Son of Man when his day comes. But first he must suffer grievously and be rejected by this generation.’

Religion and Politics, two taboo topics you should avoid if you want peace. It can sometimes get you killed, sound advice given to me when I was young; though at that time I never truly understood why? I have a strong believe that the devil makes use of them on the unlearned to sow dissension, discord thereby creating anarchy.

For unless I have the peace of Christ in my heart, passions can run wild. Wanting always to prove that I am right about a topic and that the others are wrong. Seeking first to be understood rather than to understand. Neither being constructive nor positive in any way. Unless I have the love of Christ in me, I cannot give glory, praise and thanks to God by my actions or my words.

Lord Jesus You are the source of life, with a grateful heart let me give You praise and thanks by the way I live my life in You. Amen

First reading
Titus 3:1-7

Remind your people that it is their duty to be obedient to the officials and representatives of the government; to be ready to do good at every opportunity; not to go slandering other people or picking quarrels, but to be courteous and always polite to all kinds of people. Remember, there was a time when we too were ignorant, disobedient and misled and enslaved by different passions and luxuries; we lived then in wickedness and ill-will, hating each other and hateful ourselves.
  But when the kindness and love of God our saviour for mankind were revealed, it was not because he was concerned with any righteous actions we might have done ourselves; it was for no reason except his own compassion that he saved us, by means of the cleansing water of rebirth and by renewing us with the Holy Spirit which he has so generously poured over us through Jesus Christ our saviour. He did this so that we should be justified by his grace, to become heirs looking forward to inheriting eternal life.

Gospel
Luke 17:11-19

On the way to Jerusalem Jesus travelled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered one of the villages, ten lepers came to meet him. They stood some way off and called to him, ‘Jesus! Master! Take pity on us.’ When he saw them he said, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ Now as they were going away they were cleansed. Finding himself cured, one of them turned back praising God at the top of his voice and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. The man was a Samaritan. This made Jesus say, ‘Were not all ten made clean? The other nine, where are they? It seems that no one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.’ And he said to the man, ‘Stand up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.’

I use to grumble when there was an increase in church activities, saying to myself where do I have so much time? My day job is already more than I can bear. What about family time? But my dear Lord lengthened my days and nights when it was needed. And all was accomplished according to His Will.

Then I thought to myself do those, whom I serve for my Lord appreciate all that I do? I rarely receive thanks, but instead criticisms are aplenty. But then my Lord You reminded me that it is You I ultimately serve and that in itself is my reward. And sweet indeed is my reward O Lord, for it is in You I have true joy and peace.

Lord let me be holy as You are Holy. Let me always remain humble in Your service. Amen

First reading
Titus 2:1-8,11-14

It is for you to preach the behaviour which goes with healthy doctrine. The older men should be reserved, dignified, moderate, sound in faith and love and constancy. Similarly, the older women should behave as though they were religious, with no scandal-mongering and no habitual wine-drinking – they are to be the teachers of the right behaviour and show the younger women how they should love their husbands and love their children, how they are to be sensible and chaste, and how to work in their homes, and be gentle, and do as their husbands tell them, so that the message of God is never disgraced. In the same way, you have got to persuade the younger men to be moderate and in everything you do make yourself an example to them of working for good: when you are teaching, be an example to them in your sincerity and earnestness and in keeping all that you say so wholesome that nobody can make objections to it; and then any opponent will be at a loss, with no accusation to make against us. You see, God’s grace has been revealed, and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race and taught us that what we have to do is to give up everything that does not lead to God, and all our worldly ambitions; we must be self-restrained and live good and religious lives here in this present world, while we are waiting in hope for the blessing which will come with the Appearing of the glory of our great God and saviour Christ Jesus. He sacrificed himself for us in order to set us free from all wickedness and to purify a people so that it could be his very own and would have no ambition except to do good.

Gospel
Luke 17:7-10

Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Which of you, with a servant ploughing or minding sheep, would say to him when he returned from the fields, “Come and have your meal immediately”? Would he not be more likely to say, “Get my supper laid; make yourself tidy and wait on me while I eat and drink. You can eat and drink yourself afterwards”? Must he be grateful to the servant for doing what he was told? So with you: when you have done all you have been told to do, say, “We are merely servants: we have done no more than our duty.”’

Children of the light must behave as such. How else can we lead others to that same light for which we hold dear?

We must be prayerful, labouring each day to build our heavenly Father’s Kingdom. Ready to forgive always just as we want to be readily be forgiven. Striving to remain faithful and steadfast in His love. Else we may cast a shadow on the hearts of our sisters and brothers and lead them astray.

Lord Jesus, everything we will ever need comes from You. Your grace is sufficient and I place all my trust and faith in You. Let me be an instrument of Your love, faith, charity and hope in You. Amen

First reading
Titus 1:1-9

From Paul, servant of God, an apostle of Jesus Christ to bring those whom God has chosen to faith and to the knowledge of the truth that leads to true religion; and to give them the hope of the eternal life that was promised so long ago by God. He does not lie and so, at the appointed time, he revealed his decision, and, by the command of God our saviour, I have been commissioned to proclaim it. To Titus, true child of mine in the faith that we share, wishing you grace and peace from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our saviour.
  The reason I left you behind in Crete was for you to get everything organised there and appoint elders in every town, in the way that I told you: that is, each of them must be a man of irreproachable character; he must not have been married more than once, and his children must be believers and not uncontrollable or liable to be charged with disorderly conduct. Since, as president, he will be God’s representative, he must be irreproachable: never an arrogant or hot-tempered man, nor a heavy drinker or violent, nor out to make money; but a man who is hospitable and a friend of all that is good; sensible, moral, devout and self-controlled; and he must have a firm grasp of the unchanging message of the tradition, so that he can be counted on for both expounding the sound doctrine and refuting those who argue against it.

Gospel
Luke 17:1-6

Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Obstacles are sure to come, but alas for the one who provides them! It would be better for him to be thrown into the Sea with a millstone put round his neck than that he should lead astray a single one of these little ones. Watch yourselves!
If your brother does something wrong, reprove him and, if he is sorry, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times a day and seven times comes back to you and says, “I am sorry,” you must forgive him.’
The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.’ The Lord replied, ‘Were your faith the size of a mustard seed you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea,” and it would obey you.’

Growing up I never understood why my mum was so generous with strangers. We were a middle income family and so had just enough. But it didn’t matter if they were foreign workers, waiters and waitresses, bus drivers, bell hops etc. She would often buy them food, snacks, drinks, or treats. Sometimes a few dollars here and there or after befriending them she may even offer them our old clothing. She was like that, not because she saw herself a Saint for she was quick and hot tempered, but I believe she never forgot her beginnings in which poverty was a way of life. She knew how little things can make big differences in others lives. And another valuable lesson, she learnt was that joy and peace is to be had not so much in the receiving but in the giving.

Lord Jesus I thank you for people in my life like my mother. Give me a generous heart like them and wisdom to manage the resources You give me; so that I may use them for Your glory. Amen

First reading
Philippians 4:10-19

It is a great joy to me, in the Lord, that at last you have shown some concern for me again; though of course you were concerned before, and only lacked an opportunity. I am not talking about shortage of money: I have learnt to manage on whatever I have, I know how to be poor and I know how to be rich too. I have been through my initiation and now I am ready for anything anywhere: full stomach or empty stomach, poverty or plenty. There is nothing I cannot master with the help of the One who gives me strength. All the same, it was good of you to share with me in my hardships. In the early days of the Good News, as you people of Philippi well know, when I left Macedonia, no other church helped me with gifts of money. You were the only ones; and twice since my stay in Thessalonika you have sent me what I needed. It is not your gift that I value; what is valuable to me is the interest that is mounting up in your account. Now for the time being I have everything that I need and more: I am fully provided now that I have received from Epaphroditus the offering that you sent, a sweet fragrance – the sacrifice that God accepts and finds pleasing. In return my God will fulfil all your needs, in Christ Jesus, as lavishly as only God can.

Gospel
Luke 16:9-15

Jesus said to his disciples, ‘I tell you this: use money, tainted as it is, to win you friends, and thus make sure that when it fails you, they will welcome you into the tents of eternity. The man who can be trusted in little things can be trusted in great; the man who is dishonest in little things will be dishonest in great. If then you cannot be trusted with money, that tainted thing, who will trust you with genuine riches? And if you cannot be trusted with what is not yours, who will give you what is your very own?
‘No servant can be the slave of two masters: he will either hate the first and love the second, or treat the first with respect and the second with scorn. You cannot be the slave both of God and of money.’
The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and laughed at him. He said to them, ‘You are the very ones who pass yourselves off as virtuous in people’s sight, but God knows your hearts. For what is thought highly of by men is loathsome in the sight of God.’

Let us remain in the Spirit in which we were transfigured. Our Lord Jesus has liberated us from our sins and changed our hearts into flesh. And now in thanksgiving and praise let us remain steadfast in His service as shepherds and stewards. For we own nothing and everything we have comes from our loving Father.

Let us remain pure of heart in our dealings with one another forgiving those who wronged us not because of some benefit or return but because we remember and cherish the fact that our Lord has forgiven a debt we could never pay on our own. And with that great love shown to us we now show to others.

We love You Lord with all our hearts and want to serve You faithfully always. Amen

First reading
Philippians 3:17-4:1

My brothers, be united in following my rule of life. Take as your models everybody who is already doing this and study them as you used to study us. I have told you often, and I repeat it today with tears, there are many who are behaving as the enemies of the cross of Christ. They are destined to be lost. They make foods into their god and they are proudest of something they ought to think shameful; the things they think important are earthly things. For us, our homeland is in heaven, and from heaven comes the saviour we are waiting for, the Lord Jesus Christ, and he will transfigure these wretched bodies of ours into copies of his glorious body. He will do that by the same power with which he can subdue the whole universe.
So then, my brothers and dear friends, do not give way but remain faithful in the Lord. I miss you very much, dear friends; you are my joy and my crown.

Gospel
Luke 16:1-8

Jesus said to his disciples, ‘There was a rich man and he had a steward denounced to him for being wasteful with his property. He called for the man and said, “What is this I hear about you? Draw me up an account of your stewardship because you are not to be my steward any longer.” Then the steward said to himself, “Now that my master is taking the stewardship from me, what am I to do? Dig? I am not strong enough. Go begging? I should be too ashamed. Ah, I know what I will do to make sure that when I am dismissed from office there will be some to welcome me into their homes.”
Then he called his master’s debtors one by one. To the first he said, “How much do you owe my master?” “One hundred measures of oil” was the reply. The steward said, “Here, take your bond; sit down straight away and write fifty.” To another he said, “And you, sir, how much do you owe?” “One hundred measures of wheat” was the reply. The steward said, “Here, take your bond and write eighty.”
‘The master praised the dishonest steward for his astuteness. For the children of this world are more astute in dealing with their own kind than are the children of light.’

I cannot go on living my life without Christ now, but I do remember a time when I did. It was a somewhat dreary existence with momentary flashes of happiness and excitement. All there really was to look forward to was sinful pleasures which slowly ate away one’s morality draining away life itself. And every time I mustered the strength and courage to climb out of the pit, I was pulled back it. It was a dark, bleak world where fear and anxiety ruled the day. Only the strong survive or do they really?

That all changed when I entered into a relationship with my Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. For just knowing about him is not enough, it is to enter into deep personal relationship with Him. And all I needed to do was to come to Him with a yearning desire to know Him. He embraced me in my brokenness. Nothing I did in the past mattered to Him. He loved me into a new existence, I was cleansed and set free. Constant joy and peace are the fruits of my relationship with my saviour.

Dear Lord Jesus, let Your abundant love for me overflow from my heart to all who know You not. Let me lead them first into the knowledge of You and thereafter into the same loving relationship with You. Amen

First reading
Philippians 3:3-8

We are the real people of the circumcision, we who worship in accordance with the Spirit of God; we have our own glory from Christ Jesus without having to rely on a physical operation. If it came to relying on physical evidence, I should be fully qualified myself. Take any man who thinks he can rely on what is physical: I am even better qualified. I was born of the race of Israel and of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrew parents, and I was circumcised when I was eight days old. As for the Law, I was a Pharisee; as for working for religion, I was a persecutor of the Church; as far as the Law can make you perfect, I was faultless. But because of Christ, I have come to consider all these advantages that I had as disadvantages. Not only that, but I believe nothing can happen that will outweigh the supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.

Gospel
Luke 15:1-10

The tax collectors and the sinners were all seeking the company of Jesus to hear what he had to say, and the Pharisees and the scribes complained. ‘This man’ they said ‘welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ So he spoke this parable to them:
  ‘What man among you with a hundred sheep, losing one, would not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the missing one till he found it? And when he found it, would he not joyfully take it on his shoulders and then, when he got home, call together his friends and neighbours? “Rejoice with me,” he would say “I have found my sheep that was lost.” In the same way, I tell you, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine virtuous men who have no need of repentance.
  ‘Or again, what woman with ten drachmas would not, if she lost one, light a lamp and sweep out the house and search thoroughly till she found it? And then, when she had found it, call together her friends and neighbours? “Rejoice with me,” she would say “I have found the drachma I lost.” In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing among the angels of God over one repentant sinner.’

How foolish was I Lord, that I thought I could serve You on my own terms. You the maker of Heaven and of earth, You who made me and gave me all that I have. Everything good I have fashioned was with the tools and materials You provided. And with Your guiding Spirit. It was You who blessed me with my family Lord. I can create nothing on my own and therefore I own nothing.

All my possessions are from You O Lord my God. Why then do I behave the way I do? Why do I give excuses for the selfish choices I make?

Heavenly Father You have been patient and merciful with me. Never once had You forced Your Will upon me but would gently lead me on when I placed my tiny hand in Yours. There is no greater joy than in serving You O Lord. There is no greater power than when my will is in union with Yours.

Lord Jesus I gladly bear my cross to follow You. Help me in the moments it gets too heavy and a little overwhelming. I know You will never abandon me. For great is Your love for me! Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen

First reading
Philippians 2:12-18

My dear friends, continue to do as I tell you, as you always have; not only as you did when I was there with you, but even more now that I am no longer there; and work for your salvation ‘in fear and trembling.’ It is God, for his own loving purpose, who puts both the will and the action into you. Do all that has to be done without complaining or arguing and then you will be innocent and genuine, perfect children of God among a deceitful and underhand brood, and you will shine in the world like bright stars because you are offering it the word of life. This would give me something to be proud of for the Day of Christ, and would mean that I had not run in the race and exhausted myself for nothing. And then, if my blood has to be shed as part of your own sacrifice and offering-which is your faith I shall still be happy and rejoice with all of you, and you must be just as happy and rejoice with me.

Gospel
Luke 14:25-33

Great crowds accompanied Jesus on his way and he turned and spoke to them. ‘If any man comes to me without hating his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes and his own life too, he cannot be my disciple. Anyone who does not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
‘And indeed, which of you here, intending to build a tower, would not first sit down and work out the cost to see if he had enough to complete it? Otherwise, if he laid the foundation and then found himself unable to finish the work, the onlookers would all start making fun of him and saying, “Here is a man who started to build and was unable to finish.” Or again, what king marching to war against another king would not first sit down and consider whether with ten thousand men he could stand up to the other who advanced against him with twenty thousand? If not, then while the other king was still a long way off, he would send envoys to sue for peace. So in the same way, none of you can be my disciple unless he gives up all his possessions.’

One of our greatest enemies is procrastination. Perhaps some due to a lack of prioritisation, while others due to sheer laziness. Yet we are able to overcome it when our livelihood depends on it. But why not when our eternal salvation depends on it?

Can anything or anyone be more important than God our Father? If not then how come can we not say yes with all our hearts to His invitation to the feast honouring His Son at the Heavenly Banquet? How can we turn our backs to the grace, love and nourishment He wants to give us?

On my knees I come before You sweet Jesus. To worship and honour You. Through You everything is illuminated and clear and so my path is laid out for me. I will follow it for faithfully back to You. Amen

First reading
Philippians 2:5-11

In your minds you must be the same as Christ Jesus:
His state was divine,
yet he did not cling
to his equality with God
but emptied himself
to assume the condition of a slave,
and became as men are;
and being as all men are,
he was humbler yet,
even to accepting death,
death on a cross.
But God raised him high
and gave him the name
which is above all other names
so that all beings in the heavens,
on earth and in the underworld,
should bend the knee at the name of Jesus
and that every tongue should acclaim
Jesus Christ as Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Gospel
Luke 14:15-24

One of those gathered round the table said to him, ‘Happy the man who will be at the feast in the kingdom of God!’ But he said to him, ‘There was a man who gave a great banquet, and he invited a large number of people. When the time for the banquet came, he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, “Come along: everything is ready now.” But all alike started to make excuses. The first said, “I have bought a piece of land and must go and see it. Please accept my apologies.” Another said, “I have bought five yoke of oxen and am on my way to try them out. Please accept my apologies.” Yet another said, “I have just got married and so am unable to come.”
The servant returned and reported this to his master. Then the householder, in a rage, said to his servant, “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in here the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.” “Sir” said the servant “your orders have been carried out and there is still room.” Then the master said to his servant, “Go to the open roads and the hedgerows and force people to come in to make sure my house is full; because, I tell you, not one of those who were invited shall have a taste of my banquet.”’

I could have done so much more for You my Lord if I did not think myself better than anyone else. If I could see the child of God in everyone else recognising the same weaknesses and helplessness that I sometimes face and feel. If I keep in mind the amazement and wonder; of how loving mothers take on sacrifices each day to care and look after their children. Am I ready to take on such sacrifices for the children of God?

My sweet Jesus, I want to love as You love. Teach me Your ways so that I through Your love, may serve my sisters and brothers especially the least; in humble adoration and love for You, my Lord and God. Amen

First reading
Philippians 2:1-4

Gospel
Luke 14:12-14

Jesus said to his host, one of the leading Pharisees, ‘When you give a lunch or a dinner, do not ask your friends, brothers, relations or rich neighbours, for fear they repay your courtesy by inviting you in return. No; when you have a party, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; that they cannot pay you back means that you are fortunate, because repayment will be made to you when the virtuous rise again.’

All our sisters and brothers in Christ now the Holy ones of our Heavenly Father once struggled as we do. They strived daily to avoid sin and to overcome temptations because they loved God more than anything and anyone.

They prayed fervently as they did so frequently. With the Word of God in their hearts they carried their crosses joyfully. They are fully aware and understand the daily trials we go through each day. And now as they are in full communion with our one triune God, why do we rarely if at all; ask them to intercede for us? Why do we not try to learn and emulate their lives?

Lord Jesus we love you and look forward to one day reunite ourselves with You and our brethren now in heaven. Help us remain steadfast in Your Love. Amen

Blessed mother Mary pray for us.

First reading
Apocalypse 7:2-4,9-14

Second reading
1 John 3:1-3

Gospel
Matthew 5:1-12

Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the hill. There he sat down and was joined by his disciples. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them:
‘How happy are the poor in spirit;
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Happy the gentle:
they shall have the earth for their heritage.
Happy those who mourn:
they shall be comforted.
Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right: they shall be satisfied.
Happy the merciful:
they shall have mercy shown them.
Happy the pure in heart:
they shall see God.
Happy the peacemakers:
they shall be called sons of God.
Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right:
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
‘Happy are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.’

How can we not be afraid when we live in a wicked world? If it is better to be safe then sorry, why should I stir up trouble by speaking about my faith when it might get me killed or beaten if I were in the wrong place at the wrong time? Is it not better to speak only to a select small group who would listen? Why choose to be frowned upon or ostracised by a larger group who might not even listen?

It did not occur to me then as it does now, that the fear I had was the same one; from the Evil one which kept me bound and gagged. You Dear Lord saved and set me free. Free from sin and safe from all distress to love and serve You and my brethren. To boldly share the message of salvation with vigour, power, love and self control.

For we live not of this world but for the Kingdom of our heavenly Father to come. Amen

First reading
Ephesians 6:10-20

Gospel
Luke 13:31-35

Some Pharisees came up. ‘Go away’ they said. ‘Leave this place, because Herod means to kill you.’ He replied, ‘You may go and give that fox this message: Learn that today and tomorrow I cast out devils and on the third day attain my end. But for today and tomorrow and the next day I must go on, since it would not be right for a prophet to die outside Jerusalem.
‘Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you that kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often have I longed to gather your children, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you refused! So be it! Your house will be left to you. Yes, I promise you, you shall not see me till the time comes when you say:
‘Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord!’

In faith as in life we wear many hats, that is we take on many different roles. We are teammates, managers, supervisors, workers, parents, children, church leaders, lay people and so on. However in all our different roles do we exude one persona of a Christ centred disciple? Does the love of Christ shine through us and touch the lives of all those arround us especially those whom we serve? Or have we cast a shadow of doubt by our words or actions? Perhaps inadvertently even resentment?

O Lord my God, I seek to enter by the narrow door. Guide me in Your ways that I may humbly serve You and my brethren according to Your Will. Amen

First reading
Ephesians 6:1-9

Gospel
Luke 13:22-30

Through towns and villages Jesus went teaching, making his way to Jerusalem. Someone said to him, ‘Sir, will there be only a few saved?’ He said to them, ‘Try your best to enter by the narrow door, because, I tell you, many will try to enter and will not succeed.
‘Once the master of the house has got up and locked the door, you may find yourself knocking on the door, saying, “Lord, open to us” but he will answer, “I do not know where you come from.” Then you will find yourself saying, “We once ate and drank in your company; you taught in our streets” but he will reply, “I do not know where you come from. Away from me, all you wicked men!”
Then there will be weeping and grinding of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves turned outside. And men from east and west, from north and south, will come to take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.
‘Yes, there are those now last who will be first, and those now first who will be last.’

How wonderful it is to belong to God’s family! But do we embrace the depths of this reality? That we on earth are ‘works in progress’ in becoming Saints. That we are in communion with our sisters and brothers who have become Saints. That they are fully alive in Christ In heaven praying for us, interceding for us. That we the faithful will one day be reunited in heaven.

O Heavenly Father You shower us with Your love daily. And we praise and thank You for the beauty that surrounds us. We look forward each day to meet up with You in prayer. Your Word comforts as Your grace rejuvenates us. How wonderful it is to seek Your counsel. We worship and love You. Amen

St Simon and St Jude pray for us.

(Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles – Feast)

First reading
Ephesians 2:19-22

Gospel
Luke 6:12-16

Jesus went out into the hills to pray; and he spent the whole night in prayer to God. When day came he summoned his disciples and picked out twelve of them; he called them ‘apostles’: Simon whom he called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot who became a traitor.

Why is it so difficult to remain in the light Lord? Why do I partake in banter which is against the spirit? Why does my loins tingle at the thought of unbridled passion? What must I do to subdue the want of fortune and fame? How do I remain pure and not fall back into the darkness You had carried me out of?

Everything else in my life is fleeting Lord! The only thing that was ever constant is Your peace and love upon me. And so my sweet saviour, I choose to love You more than anything or anyone else in my life. I choose to give You the truth of my heart. And as I battle with the temptations that come my way and the struggles that I must face. I know I have You on my side to liberate me from all that seek to hold me back and to destroy me.

Lord help me remain steadfast in Your love. Amen

First reading
Ephesians 4:32-5:8

Gospel
Luke 13:10-17

One sabbath day Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who for eighteen years had been possessed by a spirit that left her enfeebled; she was bent double and quite unable to stand upright. When Jesus saw her he called her over and said, ‘Woman, you are rid of your infirmity’ and he laid his hands on her. And at once she straightened up, and she glorified God.
But the synagogue official was indignant because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, and he addressed the people present. ‘There are six days’ he said ‘when work is to be done. Come and be healed on one of those days and not on the sabbath.’ But the Lord answered him. ‘Hypocrites!’ he said ‘Is there one of you who does not untie his ox or his donkey from the manger on the sabbath and take it out for watering? And this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan has held bound these eighteen years – was it not right to untie her bonds on the sabbath day?’ When he said this, all his adversaries were covered with confusion, and all the people were overjoyed at all the wonders he worked.

It is far easier to point out the sins of others, to judge and condemn them. But have we first examined our own lives first? Are we ourselves sinful? Or have we rationalised and then justified all that we had done wrong? Unless we come clean and are truly sorry for our sins, we will never grow in faith, love and charity. We will never grow in our relationship with our heavenly Father. We deprive ourselves of our heavenly inheritance.

Sweet Jesus help me overcome my prideful ways. I come before You with a repentant heart, have mercy on me Lord. Let me excel in the vocation our heavenly Father has chosen for me. So that in union with my brethren, we as one body humbly work together to build His Kingdom now and forever. Amen

First reading
Ephesians 4:7-16

Gospel
Luke 13:1-9

Some people arrived and told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with that of their sacrifices. At this he said to them, ‘Do you suppose these Galileans who suffered like that were greater sinners than any other Galileans? They were not, I tell you. No; but unless you repent you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen on whom the tower at Siloam fell and killed them? Do you suppose that they were more guilty than all the other people living in Jerusalem? They were not, I tell you. No; but unless you repent you will all perish as they did.’
He told this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it but found none. He said to the man who looked after the vineyard, “Look here, for three years now I have been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and finding none. Cut it down: why should it be taking up the ground?” “Sir,” the man replied “leave it one more year and give me time to dig round it and manure it: it may bear fruit next year; if not, then you can cut it down.”’

We see the signs of our time, the many voices calling for change. Let us be more merciful, loving, kind and tolerant. Virtues indeed of living a Christian life. But we have to be wary and on our guard when a similar call for mercy, kindness and tolerance are for those who want to continue living out a sinful lifestyle and in sin. Yes we love the sinner but we must despise the sin! For it is not a matter of ‘live and let live’ but ‘live and let die.’ If we truly love them then we will want to save their souls.

Lord Jesus help us lead a life centred on You. Your call to Holiness is for all of us to be united as one in communion with You. And to do so is to constantly examine our conscience through the working of the Holy Spirit. In Your mercy let us always be reconciled to You. Be our voice of truth and reason as we go forth into the world to share the message of God our Father’s love in the Gospels. Amen

First reading
Ephesians 4:1-6

Gospel
Luke 12:54-59

Jesus said to the crowds, ‘When you see a cloud looming up in the west you say at once that rain is coming, and so it does. And when the wind is from the south you say it will be hot, and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the face of the earth and the sky. How is it you do not know how to interpret these times?
‘Why not judge for yourselves what is right? For example: when you go to court with your opponent, try to settle with him on the way, or he may drag you before the judge and the judge hand you over to the bailiff and the bailiff have you thrown into prison. I tell you, you will not get out till you have paid the very last penny.’

Lord Jesus purify my heart, my thoughts and words; my soul. And that of my family dear to me. However if they refuse You and Your all encompassing love. Let me be first an instrument of Your faith, love and mercy to bring them back to You. And if by their own stubborn waywardness still refuse to listen Your call to conversion. Give me the strength to leave them behind so as to move forward in loving and serving You.

Lord Jesus, let me dive into the the depths of Your love. So that my whole life will be planted with Your love and built on Your love. And in union with You, I may bring others to the same faith and encounter of Your love. Amen

First reading
Ephesians 3:14-21

Gospel
Luke 12:49-53

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

Everyday Lord I struggle to remain faithful and true to Your Word. There are so many distractions and just as many temptations. I am somewhat impatient and easily fall sometimes in allowing anger to take control. Still I will embrace the struggle to persevere in holiness for my love of You.

I am not fearful of punishment for sinning against You so much as I am fearful of hurting and letting You down.

Today Lord I am reminded of my responsibility and by Your example that true love is born of sacrifice. A love that wills the good for and in others. Let me also share with all whom I meet, the greatest love story ever to be told. The love story of God our Father’s love for us His children. His great love for us manifested through His loving Son, our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.

I want to stand ready to greet You, and hear You say to me “Come my good and faithful servant. Come share in your Master’s joy.” Amen

First reading
Ephesians 3:2-12

Gospel
Luke 12:39-48

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

Today O Lord my God, while I rejoice at being Your child, I am saddened that are many who still do not know You. They live in darkness and many are lost; some are still searching while others have abandoned hope altogether. I am ashamed that I have done so little to bring Your message of love to them. I’ve let my fear of rejection and weakness overshadow me.

Jesus I place all my faith and trust in You. Guide me and lead me to do Your Will. Let Your light shine through me so that I may lead Your flock home to You. I stand ready and eager to serve You. May You never find me wanting or asleep. All my strength comes from You. Amen

First reading
Ephesians 2:12-22

Gospel
Luke 12:36-38

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

Unless one is born in hardship and strive, it is far more difficult to share or to be content with enough. We want more than we need and frequently with the accompanying excuse of saving it for a rainy day. It never seems enough, money, food, clothing, shoes, bags, gadgets, cars, even houses. Often with greed there is selfishness and a whole lot of self centredness. What then becomes of us?

God our Father made us for Himself, we are created for more to be more in His heavenly Kingdom. Where material wealth has no currency. And while we brought sin into the world, which robbed us of our heavenly inheritance, Christ our Lord came to liberate and save us. So that through Him our heavenly inheritance is restored. Let us work tirelessly for treasures not of this world, for which can neither be bought nor earned. Our Father bestows them on us freely in His love. Amen

First reading
Ephesians 2:1-10

Gospel
Luke 12:13-21

A man in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘Master, tell my brother to give me a share of our inheritance.’ ‘My friend,’ he replied, ‘who appointed me your judge, or the arbitrator of your claims?’ Then he said to them, ‘Watch, and be on your guard against avarice of any kind, for a man’s life is not made secure by what he owns, even when he has more than he needs.’
Then he told them a parable: ‘There was once a rich man who, having had a good harvest from his land, thought to himself, “What am I to do? I have not enough room to store my crops.” Then he said, “This is what I will do: I will pull down my barns and build bigger ones, and store all my grain and my goods in them, and I will say to my soul: My soul, you have plenty of good things laid by for many years to come; take things easy, eat, drink, have a good time.” But God said to him, “Fool! This very night the demand will be made for your soul; and this hoard of yours, whose will it be then?.” So it is when a man stores up treasure for himself in place of making himself rich in the sight of God.’

Lord have mercy on me for the many times You called on me to serve and I refused. Thinking only of my priorities, my way of life. For fear of hardship and rejection of others, I believed myself unworthy to share Your Word. I thank You for being patient with me and allowing me to return to You, welcoming me back with open arms. I stand ready now to serve You always.

Lord You chose us, men and women to share Your message of salvation to all. Entrusted us with Your Word so that we can be living testimonies of Your love by the way lead our lives and by songs we sing in praise of the many wonders You have worked in our sight. So that the seed of Your love may be planted in the hearts of many; even those who might not listen with attentive hearts initially. And Your healing touch may come upon them through us.

Lord Jesus, I’ve come to do Your Will, use me Lord. Amen

First reading
2 Timothy 4:10-17

Gospel
Luke 10:1-9

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

We often live in fear of the uncertain for it is the nature of the world in which we live in. Who can we trust these days? Hordes of voices are calling out for change and seem to be heard, threatening to change truths on faith and morals of which we hold dear. Whispers and secrets are rampant under the guise of allowing the flow of unfettered discussions. How then can our faith not be shaken?

It will never be shaken if we have built it up on the foundation of our Lord Jesus Christ. The voice of God speaks to our hearts and His tender arms embraces us in our weakest moments. Let us remain steadfast in His love for nothing can separate us from Him. And if we die for the truth and love of Him, it is only the flesh that dies for we will surely be alive in and with Him; in His Kingdom. Amen

First reading
Ephesians 1:11-14

Gospel
Luke 12:1-7

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

Do I live for myself? Do I want to experience only all that is good and positive? Do I think it best to avoid people who are broken lest they infect me with their negativity? Do I only listen to preaching and teachings that is uplifting for my soul but shut my ears to those which admonish for correction? Do I criticise and kill the spirit of those trying to speak God’s truth or prevent others from listening? Have I helped sinners to be reconciled with God our loving Father or have I shunned them thinking they were not worthy or ready to hear the truth?

Lord Jesus have mercy on me, You who went through unimaginable sufferings for us. You who bore the cross on Your back for a sinner like me. While hanging and dying from the cross You sought forgiveness for us sinners. You who gave up Your life so that we may live. Lord have mercy on me.

By Your example Lord I want to be more compassionate and loving. Help me to overcome my weaknesses so that I may take up my cross and follow You. Amen

First reading
Ephesians 1:1-10

Gospel
Luke 11:47-54

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

Lord Your great love for me is not always warm and fuzzy. It sometimes calls for painful correction so that I may live according to Your Will for me which is ultimately the best in every way. Have patience with me for the many times I have be stubborn in shutting my ears to Your truth. Jesus You have come to set me free from every sin, of every form. Have mercy on me.

Your call to holiness is special in every way, it is a call to communion with You and with one another. To live a loving life filled with Your grace. Help me to abandon all that is not of You, so that I may take up my cross anyways and follow You. Amen

First reading
Ephesians 1:1-10

Gospel
Luke 11:47-54

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

How can I plead ignorance of sin? When time and again I experience the ugly fruits of it? It’s foul stench permeating the air, lingering on everything. Apart from the normal signs of rage, insatiable sexual desires, jealousy. There is selfishness, fear, anxiety, constant bickering, shouting, loathing of self and others.

One of the more dangerous sin whose fruits are subtly hidden even perfumed over, of which a few remains dormant till it rears it’s ugly head. Is none other than hypocrisy!

Sweet Jesus, You have washed me clean, I am white as snow! To live a life of Holiness filled with grace. Your great love and peace is upon me. With a grateful heart I want to share Your love with others so that they too can experience Your mercy. Be with me always! Amen

First reading
Galatians 5:18-25

Gospel
Luke 11:42-46

The Lord said to the Pharisees:
‘Alas for you Pharisees! You who pay your tithe of mint and rue and all sorts of garden herbs and overlook justice and the love of God! These you should have practised, without leaving the others undone. Alas for you Pharisees who like taking the seats of honour in the synagogues and being greeted obsequiously in the market squares! Alas for you, because you are like the unmarked tombs that men walk on without knowing it!
A lawyer then spoke up. ‘Master,’ he said ‘when you speak like this you insult us too.’
‘Alas for you lawyers also,’ he replied ‘because you load on men burdens that are unendurable, burdens that you yourselves do not move a finger to lift.’

Lord Jesus thank You loving me. Your love outpoured for me from Your dying on the cross. Your love which seeks to embrace me when I am weak. Your love which admonishes when there is need, so that I may walk straight on the path to Holiness.

Lord Jesus thank You for loving me. Teach and guide me in Your mercy. Let me reach out to others with Your same love and mercy. Let the power of my great faith in You be felt in my love for others. Amen

First reading
Galatians 5:1-6

Gospel
Luke 11:37-41

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

If I say I love You sweet Jesus and follow You, would I allow lust to rule my mind? Would I entertain thoughts of sinful temptations? Would I allow anything to separate myself from You?

You dear Jesus who love me so much that You have set me free; do I instead place the shackles of sin back on?

Jesus, Your dying on the cross is the only sign I we will need to remind me of Your great love for me. How by Your resurrection You have conquered death and freed me.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God; have mercy on me a sinner. Amen

First reading
Galatians 4:22-24,26-27,31-5:1

Gospel
Luke 11:29-32

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.’