Only true faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ can save us! Sacramentals we carry or use are meaningless, useless without faith. Can we wear a cross or a crucifix around our necks but curse and swear at others? Criticise and belittle? Whom is it that we represent when do these things? The Rosary is indeed a powerful weapon against Satan but what good is it if we carry it around without praying it in faith?

Jesus our Lord is merciful, loving and kind and He will surely heal us of our afflictions when we call out to Him in faith.

Jesus have mercy me on me for my unfaithfulness, heal my soul from the bondages of sin. Help me grow deeper in my faith and love for You. Amen

First reading

1 Samuel 4:1-11 ·

Israel is defeated and the ark of God is captured

It happened at that time that the Philistines mustered to fight Israel and Israel went out to meet them in battle, encamping near Ebenezer while the Philistines were encamped at Aphek. The Philistines drew up their battle line against Israel, the battle was hotly engaged, and Israel was defeated by the Philistines and about four thousand of their army were killed on the field. The troops returned to the camp and the elders of Israel said, ‘Why has the Lord allowed us to be defeated today by the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of our God from Shiloh so that it may come among us and rescue us from the power of our enemies.’’ So the troops sent to Shiloh and brought away the ark of the Lord of Hosts, he who is seated on the cherubs; the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, came with the ark. When the ark of the Lord arrived in the camp, all Israel gave a great shout so that the earth resounded. When the Philistines heard the noise of the shouting, they said, ‘What can this great shouting in the Hebrew camp mean?’ And they realised that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp. At this the Philistines were afraid; and they said, ‘God has come to the camp.’ ‘Alas!’ they cried ‘This has never happened before. Alas! Who will save us from the power of this mighty God? It was he who struck down Egypt with every kind of plague! But take courage and be men, Philistines, or you will become slaves to the Hebrews as they have been slaves to you. Be men and fight.’ So the Philistines joined battle and Israel was defeated, each man fleeing to his tent. The slaughter was great indeed, and there fell of the Israelites thirty thousand foot soldiers. The ark of God was captured too, and the two sons of Eli died, Hophni and Phinehas.

Gospel

Mark 1:40-45

The leprosy left the man at once, and he was cured

A leper came to Jesus and pleaded on his knees: ‘If you want to’ he said ‘you can cure me.’ Feeling sorry for him, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him. ‘Of course I want to!’ he said. ‘Be cured!’ And the leprosy left him at once and he was cured. Jesus immediately sent him away and sternly ordered him, ‘Mind you say nothing to anyone, but go and show yourself to the priest, and make the offering for your healing prescribed by Moses as evidence of your recovery.’ The man went away, but then started talking about it freely and telling the story everywhere, so that Jesus could no longer go openly into any town, but had to stay outside in places where nobody lived. Even so, people from all around would come to him.

There are so many and varied ways in which the Lord calls and speaks to us. In nature, dreams, scripture, visions, signs, smell, family, friends even through a stranger and more. We must desire and strive to grow in our relationship with Him in order to hear Him clearly. We do so through the reading  and dwelling of His Word in scripture, spending quiet time with Him in prayer, resting in His presence in the Blessed Sacrament and serving Him by serving His flock.  

Over time we will be more and more docile to His promptings and recognise His voice most clearly, for we know Him and we follow Him. He will surely hear and answer our prayers for our families and loved ones as we ourselves are sent to hear and answer the prayers of those of those whom have cried out to Him for help. For we have been called to love one another as He has loved us. Amen

First reading

1 Samuel 3:1-10,19-20 ·

‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening’

The boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli; it was rare for the Lord to speak in those days; visions were uncommon. One day, it happened that Eli was lying down in his room. His eyes were beginning to grow dim; he could no longer see. The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying in the sanctuary of the Lord where the ark of God was, when the Lord called, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ He answered, ‘Here I am.’ Then he ran to Eli and said, ‘Here I am, since you called me.’ Eli said, ‘I did not call. Go back and lie down.’ So he went and lay down. Once again the Lord called, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, ‘Here I am, since you called me.’ He replied, ‘I did not call you, my son; go back and lie down.’ Samuel had as yet no knowledge of the Lord and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. Once again the Lord called, the third time. He got up and went to Eli and said, ‘Here I am, since you called me.’ Eli then understood that it was the Lord who was calling the boy, and he said to Samuel, ‘Go and lie down, and if someone calls say, “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.”’ So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

    The Lord then came and stood by, calling as he had done before, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ Samuel answered, ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.’

    Samuel grew up and the Lord was with him and let no word of his fall to the ground. All Israel from Dan to Beersheba came to know that Samuel was accredited as a prophet of the Lord.

Gospel

Mark 1:29-39

He cast out devils and cured many who were suffering from disease

On leaving the synagogue, Jesus went with James and John straight to the house of Simon and Andrew. Now Simon’s mother-in-law had gone to bed with fever, and they told him about her straightaway. He went to her, took her by the hand and helped her up. And the fever left her and she began to wait on them.

    That evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and those who were possessed by devils. The whole town came crowding round the door, and he cured many who were suffering from diseases of one kind or another; he also cast out many devils, but he would not allow them to speak, because they knew who he was.

    In the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house, and went off to a lonely place and prayed there. Simon and his companions set out in search of him, and when they found him they said, ‘Everybody is looking for you.’ He answered, ‘Let us go elsewhere, to the neighbouring country towns, so that I can preach there too, because that is why I came.’ And he went all through Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out devils.

Lord Jesus I submit myself under Your Authority. Have mercy on me Lord and cast out from me all that does not belong to You. Purify my heart, mind and soul that I may be worthy of Your promises.

I consecrate myself to Your sacred heart, do with me Lord as You Will. For I know You have plans for me, plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me hope and a future.

Teach me Your ways Lord that I may lead transgressors back to You and teach them Your ways. Let me be a disciple after Your own heart, so that I may glorify You with all that I say and do. Amen

First reading

1 Samuel 1:9-20

The Lord is mindful of Hannah and she gives birth to Samuel

After they had eaten in the hall, Hannah rose and took her stand before the Lord, while Eli the priest was sitting on his seat by the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. In the bitterness of her soul she prayed to the Lord with many tears and made a vow, saying, ‘O Lord of Hosts! If you will take notice of the distress of your servant, and bear me in mind and not forget your servant and give her a man-child, I will give him to the Lord for the whole of his life and no razor shall ever touch his head.’

    While she prayed before the Lord which she did for some time, Eli was watching her mouth, for she was speaking under her breath; her lips were moving but her voice could not be heard. He therefore supposed that she was drunk and said to her, ‘How long are you going to be in this drunken state? Rid yourself of your wine.’ ‘No, my lord,’ Hannah replied ‘I am a woman in great trouble; I have taken neither wine nor strong drink – I was pouring out my soul before the Lord. Do not take your maidservant for a worthless woman; all this time I have been speaking from the depth of my grief and my resentment.’ Then Eli answered her: ‘Go in peace,’ he said ‘and may the God of Israel grant what you have asked of him.’ And she said, ‘May your maidservant find favour in your sight’; and with that the woman went away; she returned to the hall and ate and was dejected no longer.

    They rose early in the morning and worshipped before the Lord and then set out and returned to their home in Ramah. Elkanah had intercourse with Hannah his wife and the Lord was mindful of her. She conceived and gave birth to a son, and called him Samuel ‘since’ she said ‘I asked the Lord for him.’

Gospel

Mark 1:21-28

Unlike the scribes, he taught them with authority

Jesus and his disciples went as far as Capernaum, and as soon as the sabbath came he went to the synagogue and began to teach. And his teaching made a deep impression on them because, unlike the scribes, he taught them with authority.

    In their synagogue just then there was a man possessed by an unclean spirit and it shouted, ‘What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus said sharply, ‘Be quiet! Come out of him!’ And the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and with a loud cry went out of him. The people were so astonished that they started asking each other what it all meant. ‘Here is a teaching that is new’ they said ‘and with authority behind it: he gives orders even to unclean spirits and they obey him.’ And his reputation rapidly spread everywhere, through all the surrounding Galilean countryside.

Our hope, peace and joy comes from the Lord, let us not mope, cry or fall into depression when we feel distressed, dejected, alone. For Jesus is and will always be with us till the end of time. Let us instead pray to Him as we should, pick ourselves up and move forward in His name.

For He has called us all by name, young or old for we all have a part to play in building His Kingdom. Let us leave all our ‘nets’ behind as we rise to follow Him!

I hear You calling Lord, I have come to do Your Will. Amen

First reading

1 Samuel 1:1-8 ·

Hannah’s rival taunts her for being barren

There was a man of Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the highlands of Ephraim whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. He had two wives, one called Hannah, the other Peninnah; Peninnah had children but Hannah had none. Every year this man used to go up from his town to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of Hosts in Shiloh. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there as priests of the Lord.

    One day Elkanah offered sacrifice. He used to give portions to Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters; to Hannah, however, he would give only one portion, although he loved her more, since the Lord had made her barren. Her rival would taunt her to annoy her, because the Lord had made her barren. And this went on year after year; every time they went up to the temple of the Lord she used to taunt her. And so Hannah wept and would not eat. Then Elkanah her husband said to her, ‘Hannah, why are you crying and why are you not eating? Why so sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?’

Gospel

Mark 1:14-20

I will make you into fishers of men

After John had been arrested, Jesus went into Galilee. There he proclaimed the Good News from God. ‘The time has come’ he said ‘and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News.’

    As he was walking along by the Sea of Galilee he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in the lake – for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you into fishers of men.’ And at once they left their nets and followed him.

    Going on a little further, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John; they too were in their boat, mending their nets. He called them at once and, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the men he employed, they went after him.

Am I the bridegroom’s friend?

Am I His Best man? Do I live out the anointing I have received to prepare the way for Him?

Am I the bridegroom’s friend?

Have I strived for holiness so as to lead His bride (the Church) to holiness?

Am I the bridegroom’s friend?

Have I walked humbly with Him, acting justly, showing great mercy and love for my brethren?

Am I the bridegroom’s friend?

Have I prayed for the conversion of sinners and led them to repentance and reconciliation with the Lord my God by my example, patience and love?

Jesus my Lord You are my bridegroom and my friend, let me grow deeper in my relationship with You. Bless me sweet Jesus and grant me all that I need to do Your Will. Amen

First reading

1 John 5:14-21 ·

If we ask for anything, he will hear us

We are quite confident that if we ask the Son of God for anything,

and it is in accordance with his will,

he will hear us;

and, knowing that whatever we may ask, he hears us,

we know that we have already been granted what we asked of him.

If anybody sees his brother commit a sin

that is not a deadly sin,

he has only to pray, and God will give life to the sinner

– not those who commit a deadly sin;

for there is a sin that is death,

and I will not say that you must pray about that.

Every kind of wrong-doing is sin,

but not all sin is deadly.

We know that anyone who has been begotten by God

does not sin,

because the begotten Son of God protects him,

and the Evil One does not touch him.

We know that we belong to God,

but the whole world lies in the power of the Evil One.

We know, too, that the Son of God has come,

and has given us the power

to know the true God.

We are in the true God,

as we are in his Son, Jesus Christ.

This is the true God,

this is eternal life.

Children, be on your guard against false gods.

Gospel

John 3:22-30

‘He must grow greater and I must grow smaller: my joy is complete’

Jesus went with his disciples into the Judaean countryside and stayed with them there and baptised. At the same time John was baptising at Aenon near Salim, where there was plenty of water, and people were going there to be baptised. This was before John had been put in prison.

    Now some of John’s disciples had opened a discussion with a Jew about purification, so they went to John and said, ‘Rabbi, the man who was with you on the far side of the Jordan, the man to whom you bore witness, is baptising now; and everyone is going to him.’

    John replied:

‘A man can lay claim

only to what is given him from heaven.

‘You yourselves can bear me out: I said: I myself am not the Christ; I am the one who has been sent in front of him.

‘The bride is only for the bridegroom;

and yet the bridegroom’s friend,

who stands there and listens,

is glad when he hears the bridegroom’s voice.

This same joy I feel, and now it is complete.

He must grow greater, I must grow smaller.’

Jesus is our healer and redeemer! For this very reason the veil was lifted and we were able to see, touch and feel the Lord our God. To embrace Him and to be embraced. This wonderful revelation is made to each and everyone of us at Holy Baptism where we were inserted into the life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Again we are fully united with Him in Holy Eucharist, one Body in Him as He is with one with us.

Can we then not bear witness to the water, blood and spirit that flows through us? Are we not epiphanies of Christ living in us when we bring hope, faith, peace and love to all who do not yet know Him?

Thank You Jesus for loving me, You are my saviour, my redeemer, me healer, my all in all. Let Your light shine through me for all. Amen

First reading

1 John 5:5-13

There are three witnesses: the Spirit and the water and the blood

Who can overcome the world?

Only the man who believes that Jesus is the Son of God:

Jesus Christ who came by water and blood,

not with water only,

but with water and blood;

with the Spirit as another witness –

since the Spirit is the truth –

so that there are three witnesses,

the Spirit, the water and the blood,

and all three of them agree.

We accept the testimony of human witnesses,

but God’s testimony is much greater,

and this is God’s testimony,

given as evidence for his Son.

Everybody who believes in the Son of God

has this testimony inside him;

and anyone who will not believe God

is making God out to be a liar,

because he has not trusted

the testimony God has given about his Son.

This is the testimony:

God has given us eternal life

and this life is in his Son;

anyone who has the Son has life,

anyone who does not have the Son does not have life.

I have written all this to you

so that you who believe in the name of the Son of God

may be sure that you have eternal life.

Gospel

Luke 5:12-16

‘If you want to, you can cure me’

Jesus was in one of the towns when a man appeared, covered with leprosy. Seeing Jesus he fell on his face and implored him. ‘Sir,’ he said ‘if you want to, you can cure me.’ Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him and said, ‘Of course I want to! Be cured!’ And the leprosy left him at once. He ordered him to tell no one, ‘But go and show yourself to the priest and make the offering for your healing as Moses prescribed it, as evidence for them.’

    His reputation continued to grow, and large crowds would gather to hear him and to have their sickness cured, but he would always go off to some place where he could be alone and pray.

Jesus in His great love for us had laid down His life for the expiation of our sins. We who have been forgiven much, must love as much and forgive likewise our brethren. For to love the Lord our God is to love our brethren.

To be sure loving and forgiving the sister and brother who hurt us in one way or another will be far from easy. It does not mean we remain as doormats or be subject to abuse in those kind of relationships, but we must forgive them in our hearts and move on as we should. We must forgive always and can do so through the love, peace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. For when we abide in Him, He will abide in us.  Amen

First reading

1 John 4:19-5:4

Anyone who loves God must also love his brother

We are to love,

because God loved us first.

Anyone who says, ‘I love God’,

and hates his brother,

is a liar,

since a man who does not love the brother that he can see

cannot love God, whom he has never seen.

So this is the commandment that he has given us,

that anyone who loves God must also love his brother.

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ

has been begotten by God;

and whoever loves the Father that begot him

loves the child whom he begets.

We can be sure that we love God’s children

if we love God himself and do what he has commanded us;

this is what loving God is –

keeping his commandments;

and his commandments are not difficult,

because anyone who has been begotten by God

has already overcome the world;

this is the victory over the world –

our faith.

Gospel

Luke 4:14-22

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

Jesus, with the power of the Spirit in him, returned to Galilee; and his reputation spread throughout the countryside. He taught in their synagogues and everyone praised him.

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

The spirit of the Lord has been given to me,

for he has anointed me.

He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor,

to proclaim liberty to captives

and to the blind new sight,

to set the downtrodden free,

to proclaim the Lord’s year of favour.

He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the assistant and sat down. And all eyes in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to speak to them, ‘This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen.’ And he won the approval of all, and they were astonished by the gracious words that came from his lips.

The great light which illumines the whole earth has already come and through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour we have hope of eternal glory with God our Heavenly Father. The Spirit of God has revealed this truth in us and as we live in the Spirit, we hear clearly His docile promptings as He leads us on our pilgrim journey home to Him. Let us remain steadfast as we open our hearts to listen daily and do the Will of the Lord our God for us.

Yes indeed we must be wary for there are even many false prophets amongst us and even unbelievers will spin convincing notions that strive to lead us away from our beliefs in Christ Jesus our Lord. We can only be led astray if we continue to live in the ways and the thinking of the world. Those who do not live in the Spirit, will likely have warped interpretations of scripture and hence a warped understanding of the Lord our God, of His mercy and His love. They might say things like God at the beginning was God for the Jews alone and even if the Gentiles wanted to know Him or receive graces from Him they could not until Jesus Christ was born. Do they not know that Father Abraham was a gentile? God’s mercy and love has always and will forever be constant for all His creation! We need to repent of our sins, our human thinking, our pride and to humbly take up our cross and follow Jesus.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Amen (Heb 13:8)

First reading

1 John 3:22-4:6

The Son of God has come and given us the power to know the true God

Whatever we ask God,

we shall receive,

because we keep his commandments

and live the kind of life that he wants.

His commandments are these:

that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ

and that we love one another

as he told us to.

Whoever keeps his commandments

lives in God and God lives in him.

We know that he lives in us

by the Spirit that he has given us.

It is not every spirit, my dear people, that you can trust;

test them, to see if they come from God,

there are many false prophets, now, in the world.

You can tell the spirits that come from God by this:

every spirit which acknowledges that Jesus the Christ has come in the flesh

is from God;

but any spirit which will not say this of Jesus

is not from God,

but is the spirit of Antichrist,

whose coming you were warned about.

Well, now he is here, in the world.

Children,

you have already overcome these false prophets,

because you are from God and you have in you

one who is greater than anyone in this world;

as for them, they are of the world,

and so they speak the language of the world

and the world listens to them.

But we are children of God,

and those who know God listen to us;

those who are not of God refuse to listen to us.

This is how we can tell

the spirit of truth from the spirit of falsehood.

Gospel

Matthew 4:12-17,23-25

The people that lived in darkness have seen a great light

Hearing that John had been arrested, Jesus went back to Galilee, and leaving Nazareth he went and settled in Capernaum, a lakeside town on the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali. In this way the prophecy of Isaiah was to be fulfilled:

‘Land of Zebulun! Land of Naphtali!

Way of the sea on the far side of Jordan,

Galilee of the nations!

The people that lived in darkness has seen a great light;

on those who dwell in the land and shadow of death

a light has dawned.’

From that moment Jesus began his preaching with the message, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.’

    He went round the whole of Galilee teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom and curing all kinds of diseases and sickness among the people. His fame spread throughout Syria, and those who were suffering from diseases and painful complaints of one kind or another, the possessed, epileptics, the paralysed, were all brought to him, and he cured them. Large crowds followed him, coming from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judaea and Transjordania.

The whole knowledge of God revealed to us, our hope and salvation can be found in today’s Gospel. And in this truth is our lived experience as disciples of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Yes we were anointed by the Lord our God at Baptism and again at Confirmation. But how many of are living as disciples of the Lord?

If you are still giving the excuse that everyone are of different faith levels and have remained where you are as infant in the faith, then you are not! If you identify yourself as a volunteer in church, then you are not! If you have given up serving in any capacity whether in church or in community then you are not! If you do proclaim or share the joy of the Gospel both in Word and in actions then you are not!

Lord, it is your desire for everyone to know you. Help me to be a part of that. Help me to be a good disciple for your kingdom and give me the grace to disciple others. Help me to advance your kingdom every day. Lord, reveal to me my weaknesses and give me the strength to grow in these areas so that I am a better example to those that I disciple. Send me out into my community, my country, and all over the world to disciple others and show them how to grow near to you. Help me to remember that I am your tool for accomplishing your plan. You are the one who is working in their lives and drawing them to yourself.  Help me to prepare them to go out and make disciples themselves so that your church can be grown around the globe. Lord Jesus, prepare the hearts of those who will become your disciples to have ears to hear and understand, and that they would become strong followers of you. I love you Lord, help me to show others how to love to too. Amen.

First reading

1 John 2:18-21 ·

You have been anointed by the Holy One

Children, these are the last days;

you were told that an Antichrist must come,

and now several antichrists have already appeared;

we know from this that these are the last days.

Those rivals of Christ came out of our own number, but they had never really belonged;

if they had belonged, they would have stayed with us;

but they left us, to prove that not one of them

ever belonged to us.

But you have been anointed by the Holy One,

and have all received the knowledge.

It is not because you do not know the truth that I am writing to you

but rather because you know it already

and know that no lie can come from the truth.

Gospel

John 1:1-18

The Word was made flesh, and lived among us

In the beginning was the Word:

and the Word was with God

and the Word was God.

He was with God in the beginning.

Through him all things came to be,

not one thing had its being but through him.

All that came to be had life in him

and that life was the light of men,

a light that shines in the dark,

a light that darkness could not overpower.

A man came, sent by God.

His name was John.

He came as a witness,

as a witness to speak for the light,

so that everyone might believe through him.

He was not the light,

only a witness to speak for the light.

The Word was the true light

that enlightens all men;

and he was coming into the world.

He was in the world

that had its being through him,

and the world did not know him.

He came to his own domain

and his own people did not accept him.

But to all who did accept him

he gave power to become children of God,

to all who believe in the name of him

who was born not out of human stock

or urge of the flesh

or will of man

but of God himself.

The Word was made flesh,

he lived among us,

and we saw his glory,

the glory that is his as the only Son of the Father,

full of grace and truth.

John appears as his witness. He proclaims:

‘This is the one of whom I said:

He who comes after me ranks before me

because he existed before me.’

Indeed, from his fullness we have, all of us, received –

yes, grace in return for grace,

since, though the Law was given through Moses,

grace and truth have come through Jesus Christ.

No one has ever seen God;

it is the only Son, who is nearest to the Father’s heart,

who has made him known.

Advent had passed and we find ourselves in the 5th day of the Octave trying our best to remain steadfast in the light of Christ. Indeed it is a struggle, for to love the Lord our God is to keep His Commandments. And we do so not with our lips but our actions of love and mercy for our brethren.

It is likely by now we have already fallen into sin, one way or another. Perhaps our impatience has gotten the better of us. We might have said something hurt others but are to proud to admit our mistake thinking they deserved it or perhaps someone close to us has said something to hurt us and we allow it to fester and decide not to forgive. Some may loosely say I forgive but will not forget! How is this forgiveness? We need to forgive and remember that we have forgiven. We may have longed for intimacy but instead have given in to lustful temptations. There are many other sins that might have led us away from God our Heavenly Father but it is time that we Stop, reflect and turn our hearts back to Him.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. And so by turning to Jesus our Lord and Saviour we can once again live free in His light.

“Here I am God, I give myself to You.  Unto You, O Lord, do I lay down my entire life. I lay it before You on Your altar.  Do as You please with me.  Speak through me today.  Touch people through me today.  Place me in a position to meet all

divine appointments today.  Make a difference in my world through me today.  You have everything about me available to You for You to utilize according to Your plans and purposes.” Amen

First reading

1 John 2:3-11 ·

Anyone who loves his brother is living in the light

We can be sure that we know God

only by keeping his commandments.

Anyone who says, ‘I know him’,

and does not keep his commandments,

is a liar,

refusing to admit the truth.

But when anyone does obey what he has said,

God’s love comes to perfection in him.

We can be sure that we are in God

only when the one who claims to be living in him

is living the same kind of life as Christ lived.

My dear people,

this is not a new commandment that I am writing to tell you,

but an old commandment

that you were given from the beginning,

the original commandment which was the message brought to you.

Yet in another way, what I am writing to you,

and what is being carried out in your lives as it was in his,

is a new commandment;

because the night is over

and the real light is already shining.

Anyone who claims to be in the light

but hates his brother

is still in the dark.

But anyone who loves his brother is living in the light

and need not be afraid of stumbling;

unlike the man who hates his brother and is in the darkness,

not knowing where he is going,

because it is too dark to see.

Gospel

Luke 2:22-35

‘You have prepared a light to enlighten the pagans’

When the day came for them to be purified as laid down by the Law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord – observing what stands written in the Law of the Lord: Every first-born male must be consecrated to the Lord – and also to offer in sacrifice, in accordance with what is said in the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. Now in Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon. He was an upright and devout man; he looked forward to Israel’s comforting and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had set eyes on the Christ of the Lord. Prompted by the Spirit he came to the Temple and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the Law required, he took him into his arms and blessed God; and he said:

‘Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace,

just as you promised;

because my eyes have seen the salvation

which you have prepared for all the nations to see,

a light to enlighten the pagans

and the glory of your people Israel.’

As the child’s father and mother stood there wondering at the things that were being said about him, Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘You see this child: he is destined for the fall and for the rising of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is rejected – and a sword will pierce your own soul too – so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare.’

How do we make sense of it all? Babies barely able to dream, pure hearted and vulnerable. Ripped from their cradles, others from their parents arms and massacred! They died in place of their Saviour who would later lay His life down for all of us! But still how do we make sense of it all? Innocent and pure of heart the little ones had to die? Again innocent and pure of heart our Saviour had to die for us?

This is the nature of sin and darkness and we see it Herod’s miserable life. He lived in fear of losing his power.  And gave in to grave sin by his allowing his wounded pride of being outwitted and his fury to take over. He sought to diminish the light of one life but instead brought darkness upon many lives when he extinguished the light of the Holy Innocents or so he thought! For their light shines brightly with the light of Christ Jesus our Saviour even to this day and forevermore. For Christ died to save us from sin and darkness!

Have we ourselves not sought to diminish the light of innocents? With our snide remarks, gossip, impatience, rage, pride and unforgiveness. How many spirits have we murdered by our loose wicked tongues! How about when we objectify another by our impure thoughts and actions? Can we say then we are holy and pure? That we have not sinned?!

Let us turn our hearts to Jesus as we pray….Save us Saviour of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection You have set us free! Amen

First reading

1 John 1:5-2:2 ·

The blood of Jesus Christ purifies us all from sin

This is what we have heard from Jesus Christ,

and the message that we are announcing to you:

God is light; there is no darkness in him at all.

If we say that we are in union with God

while we are living in darkness,

we are lying because we are not living the truth.

But if we live our lives in the light,

as he is in the light,

we are in union with one another,

and the blood of Jesus, his Son,

purifies us from all sin.

If we say we have no sin in us,

we are deceiving ourselves

and refusing to admit the truth;

but if we acknowledge our sins,

then God who is faithful and just

will forgive our sins and purify us

from everything that is wrong.

To say that we have never sinned

is to call God a liar

and to show that his word is not in us.

I am writing this, my children,

to stop you sinning;

but if anyone should sin,

we have our advocate with the Father,

Jesus Christ, who is just;

he is the sacrifice that takes our sins away,

and not only ours,

but the whole world’s.

Gospel

Matthew 2:13-18

The massacre of the innocents

After the wise men had left, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother with you, and escape into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, because Herod intends to search for the child and do away with him.’ So Joseph got up and, taking the child and his mother with him, left that night for Egypt, where he stayed until Herod was dead. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken through the prophet:

I called my son out of Egypt.

Herod was furious when he realised that he had been outwitted by the wise men, and in Bethlehem and its surrounding district he had all the male children killed who were two years old or under, reckoning by the date he had been careful to ask the wise men. It was then that the words spoken through the prophet Jeremiah were fulfilled:

A voice was heard in Ramah,

sobbing and loudly lamenting:

it was Rachel weeping for her children,

refusing to be comforted because they were no more.

Our salvation began with the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and brought to completion by His life, death and Resurrection.

The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. The Lord our God was not only made visible to us but we could touch Him and embrace life to the full through Him. The culmination of this intimate relationship with Him and in Him is when we receive our Eucharistic Lord at Holy Communion! Amen

Saint John, (Apostle, Evangelist) Pray for us….

First reading

1 John 1:1-4 ·

The Word, who is life – this is our subject

Something which has existed since the beginning,

that we have heard,

and we have seen with our own eyes;

that we have watched

and touched with our hands:

the Word, who is life –

this is our subject.

That life was made visible:

we saw it and we are giving our testimony,

telling you of the eternal life

which was with the Father and has been made visible to us.

What we have seen and heard

we are telling you

so that you too may be in union with us,

as we are in union

with the Father

and with his Son Jesus Christ.

We are writing this to you to make our own joy complete.

Gospel

John 20:2-8

The other disciple saw, and he believed

On the first day of the week Mary of Magdala came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved. ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb’ she said ‘and we don’t know where they have put him.’

    So Peter set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb. They ran together, but the other disciple, running faster than Peter, reached the tomb first; he bent down and saw the linen cloths lying on the ground, but did not go in. Simon Peter who was following now came up, went right into the tomb, saw the linen cloths on the ground, and also the cloth that had been over his head; this was not with the linen cloths but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in; he saw and he believed.

Let us serve Him in Holiness and Virtue in His presence, all our days!

We must therefore fortify our bodies, mind and spirit and sanctify our hearts to prepare room for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to dwell in.

Let us serve Him in Holiness and Virtue in His presence, all our days!

Blessed indeed is the Lord our God! In His tender mercy He has lifted the veil of darkness and sin, He has freed us and caused His light to shine upon us. And guided us into the way of His peace, love and joy.

Let us serve Him in Holiness and Virtue in His presence, all our days! Amen

First reading

2 Samuel 7:1-5,8-12,14,16 ·

Your House and your sovereignty will always stand secure before me

Once David had settled into his house and the Lord had given him rest from all the enemies surrounding him, the king said to the prophet Nathan, ‘Look, I am living in a house of cedar while the ark of God dwells in a tent.’ Nathan said to the king, ‘Go and do all that is in your mind, for the Lord is with you.’

    But that very night the word of the Lord came to Nathan:

    ‘Go and tell my servant David, “Thus the Lord speaks: Are you the man to build me a house to dwell in? I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, to be leader of my people Israel; I have been with you on all your expeditions; I have cut off all your enemies before you. I will give you fame as great as the fame of the greatest on earth. I will provide a place for my people Israel; I will plant them there and they shall dwell in that place and never be disturbed again; nor shall the wicked continue to oppress them as they did, in the days when I appointed judges over my people Israel; I will give them rest from all their enemies. The Lord will make you great; the Lord will make you a House. And when your days are ended and you are laid to rest with your ancestors, I will preserve the offspring of your body after you and make his sovereignty secure. I will be a father to him and he a son to me; if he does evil, I will punish him with the rod such as men use, with strokes such as mankind gives. Your House and your sovereignty will always stand secure before me and your throne be established for ever.”’

Gospel

Luke 1:67-79

‘You, little child, shall be the prophet of the Most High’

John’s father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy:

‘Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel

for he has visited his people, he has come to their rescue

and he has raised up for us a power for salvation

in the House of his servant David,

even as he proclaimed,

by the mouth of his holy prophets from ancient times,

that he would save us from our enemies

and from the hands of all who hate us.

Thus he shows mercy to our ancestors,

thus he remembers his holy covenant

the oath he swore

to our father Abraham

that he would grant us, free from fear,

to be delivered from the hands of our enemies,

to serve him in holiness and virtue

in his presence, all our days.

And you, little child,

you shall be called Prophet of the Most High,

for you will go before the Lord

to prepare the way for him,

to give his people knowledge of salvation

through the forgiveness of their sins;

this by the tender mercy of our God

who from on high will bring the rising Sun to visit us,

to give light to those who live

in darkness and the shadow of death

and to guide our feet

into the way of peace.’

Staying on course, the path laid out by the Lord for His Will be done!

Wonder and awe of His goodness will follow all the days of our lives as we remain faithful in following His Will for us.

Is this path that we take for our Lord easy? Far from it!

For apart from facing external forces in the world, we have to face our own well intentioned family and friends who may try to convince us to take another path. An often tempting easier one, which leads us nowhere or to one that bears no fruit. In today’s Gospel we hear how family and friends were planning to name St John, ‘Zechariah’ after his father and even tried to convince John’s mother otherwise when she spoke up that he was to be named John.

“But no one in your family has that name” sounds subtle enough but is in actual fact a loud outcry! In this day and age the same voices and outcries are not so subtle but piercing and some even derogatory. Staying the course as we see in today’s Gospel, led everyone to astonishment and wonder of the Lord’s hand in the lives of His faithful.

St John the Baptist was chosen to prepare the way of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and was filled with the Holy Spirit even before he was born! (Luke 1:15) He went on to turn the hearts of fathers towards their children and the hearts of children towards their fathers. He led many to the water baptism of repentance thus leading on their way to reconciliation with God our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ His only begotten Son. Who will fully reconcile them through the forgiveness of their sins.

See how wonderful it is when we stay the course our Lord has set for us! We become powerful instruments of His grace for others. Amen

First reading

Malachi 3:1-4,23-24 ·

Before my day comes, I will send you Elijah my prophet

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

    Know that I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before my day comes, that great and terrible day. He shall turn the hearts of fathers towards their children and the hearts of children towards their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a curse.

Gospel

Luke 1:57-66

‘His name is John’

The time came for Elizabeth to have her child, and she gave birth to a son; and when her neighbours and relations heard that the Lord had shown her so great a kindness, they shared her joy.

    Now on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother spoke up. ‘No,’ she said ‘he is to be called John.’ They said to her, ‘But no one in your family has that name’, and made signs to his father to find out what he wanted him called. The father asked for a writing-tablet and wrote, ‘His name is John.’ And they were all astonished. At that instant his power of speech returned and he spoke and praised God. All their neighbours were filled with awe and the whole affair was talked about throughout the hill country of Judaea. All those who heard of it treasured it in their hearts. ‘What will this child turn out to be?’ they wondered. And indeed the hand of the Lord was with him.

First Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament?

Mary carries with her, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in the tabernacle of her womb. Elisabeth honour and praises Him while little baby John leaps for joy at the presence of God His saviour!

Has your Advent journey brought you to this point where you are eagerly awaiting the birth of a new intimate relationship with the Lord our God who so deeply loves you! To celebrate with joy in your heart His presence this and every day.  Our Beloved had come and He will come again! Are you standing ready to greet Him?

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. Amen

(Ps 51:10-13)

First reading

Song of Songs 2:8-14 ·

See how my Beloved comes, leaping on the mountains

I hear my Beloved.

See how he comes

leaping on the mountains,

bounding over the hills.

My Beloved is like a gazelle,

like a young stag.

See where he stands

behind our wall.

He looks in at the window,

he peers through the lattice.

My Beloved lifts up his voice,

he says to me,

‘Come then, my love,

my lovely one, come.

For see, winter is past,

the rains are over and gone.

The flowers appear on the earth.

The season of glad songs has come,

the cooing of the turtledove

is heard in our land.

The fig tree is forming its first figs

and the blossoming vines give out their fragrance.

Come then, my love,

my lovely one, come.

My dove, hiding in the clefts of the rock,

in the coverts of the cliff,

show me your face,

let me hear your voice;

for your voice is sweet

and your face is beautiful.’

Gospel

Luke 1:39-45

Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord?

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

The Lord says this to us this very day, “How can I convince you of my love for you?” “That you would be faithful and take up your cross to follow me?”

Will our answer be “Oh I will not put the Lord to the test.” Or will we just remain silent and pretend that we did not hear His call? For this is how we behave when we are called to do more, whether at a meeting in person or a call in placed in the group chat. We simply choose not to respond at all!  Is it not strange that we say pray the ‘Our Father’ as One and declare at each Eucharistic Celebration that we are One Body in Him, One family under God our Heavenly Father. Yet will we fail to respond at all in our family group chats? If we say No we will always respond, after all family comes first! Then how is it we treat God’s family of whom we profess to belong to, very differently? How it is it that we can choose not to respond at all? Are we ashamed to give yet another excuse of not making any effort to attend to the call?  Or is it simply that we do not care?! We do what we can, when we can period!

Is God with me? If God is with me then my response would always be, let it be done unto me Lord according to Your Word and Will for me. Amen

First reading

Isaiah 7:10-14 ·

The maiden is with child

The Lord spoke to Ahaz and said, ‘Ask the Lord your God for a sign for yourself coming either from the depths of Sheol or from the heights above.’ ‘No,’ Ahaz answered ‘I will not put the Lord to the test.’

Then Isaiah said:

‘Listen now, House of David:

are you not satisfied with trying the patience of men

without trying the patience of my God, too?

The Lord himself, therefore,

will give you a sign.

It is this: the maiden is with child

and will soon give birth to a son

whom she will call Immanuel,

a name which means “God-is-with-us.”’

Gospel

Luke 1:26-38

‘I am the handmaid of the Lord’

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.

While still in Advent the readings today points us towards Christmas. God’s intricate plan for salvation foretold long before and the Promised Word fulfilled, was made flesh. Very soon now we will rejoice and celebrate the beginning of our salvation; through the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

As we prepare for Christmas, let us look back at our very own salvation history. Being born into our family how were we led to our Baptism that is the beginning of our salvation when we were inserted into the life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Were we baptised shortly after our birth? Or did we journey on in life before coming to know our Lord and were baptised? Did we have for ourselves role models of our faith in our family tree?

From our birth till now, have we ourselves been instruments of His grace to bring our Lord’s salvation to those who had not known Him? How many of His lost sheep have we brought home to Him by our love and sacrifice? Are we living as beacons of His light that shines out in darkness that still covers the world?

Abba Father You so loved us that You sent Your only Begotten Son to save us from the bondages of sin. May we live free and Holy lives by the newness His long-awaited Nativity. Amen

First reading

Genesis 49:2,8-10 ·

Until he comes, the sceptre will not pass from Judah

Jacob called his sons and said:

‘Gather round, sons of Jacob, and listen;

listen to Israel your father.

Judah, your brothers shall praise you:

you grip your enemies by the neck,

your father’s sons shall do you homage,

Judah is a lion cub,

you climb back, my son, from your kill;

like a lion he crouches and lies down,

or a lioness: who dare rouse him?

The sceptre shall not pass from Judah,

nor the mace from between his feet,

until he come to whom it belongs,

to whom the peoples shall render obedience.’

Gospel

Matthew 1:1-17

The ancestry of Jesus Christ, the son of David

A genealogy of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham:

Abraham was the father of Isaac,

Isaac the father of Jacob,

Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,

Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah, Tamar being their mother,

Perez was the father of Hezron,

Hezron the father of Ram,

Ram was the father of Amminadab,

Amminadab the father of Nahshon,

Nahshon the father of Salmon,

Salmon was the father of Boaz, Rahab being his mother,

Boaz was the father of Obed, Ruth being his mother,

Obed was the father of Jesse;

and Jesse was the father of King David.

David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,

Solomon was the father of Rehoboam,

Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa,

Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat,

Jehoshaphat the father of Joram,

Joram the father of Azariah,

Azariah was the father of Jotham,

Jotham the father of Ahaz,

Ahaz the father of Hezekiah,

Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh,

Manasseh the father of Amon,

Amon the father of Josiah;

and Josiah was the father of Jechoniah and his brothers.

Then the deportation to Babylon took place.

After the deportation to Babylon:

Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel,

Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,

Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud,

Abiud the father of Eliakim,

Eliakim the father of Azor,

Azor was the father of Zadok,

Zadok the father of Achim,

Achim the father of Eliud,

Eliud was the father of Eleazar,

Eleazar the father of Matthan,

Matthan the father of Jacob;

and Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary;

of her was born Jesus who is called Christ.

The sum of generations is therefore: fourteen from Abraham to David; fourteen from David to the Babylonian deportation; and fourteen from the Babylonian deportation to Christ.

Happy the man/woman who does not lose faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

Are you one then to give in to sin and temptation easily? Or knowing that every day we must stand ready to engage in Spiritual warfare with the forces of evil, you start the day with prayer, the Word of God and put on the armour of God.

For we must fight to live in the light of the Lord our God so that we can be beacons of that very light. So that we bring hope to the blind, the lame, the deaf, those who suffer the leprosy of sin, and those who are spiritually dead. We shine forth the way to Him so that all may come to know and experience His peace, love and joy.

You alone Lord Jesus are unrivalled, there is no God but You. Teach me Your integrity, that I may serve You with honour. Let victory and glory be mine through You O Lord, against the enemies of darkness. Amen

First reading

Isaiah 45:6-8,18,21-25

I, the Lord, shall create deliverance

Apart from me, all is nothing.

I am the Lord, unrivalled,

I form the light and create the dark.

I make good fortune and create calamity,

it is I, the Lord, who do all this.

Send victory like a dew, you heavens,

and let the clouds rain it down.

Let the earth open

for salvation to spring up.

Let deliverance, too, bud forth

which I, the Lord, shall create.

Yes, thus says the Lord,

creator of the heavens,

who is God,

who formed the earth and made it,

who set it firm,

created it no chaos,

but a place to be lived in:

    ‘I am the Lord, unrivalled:

    there is no other god besides me.

    A God of integrity and a saviour:

    there is none apart from me.

    Turn to me and be saved,

    all the ends of the earth,

    for I am God unrivalled.

    ‘By my own self I swear it;

    what comes from my mouth is truth,

    a word irrevocable:

    before me every knee shall bend,

    by me every tongue shall swear,

    saying, “From the Lord alone

    come victory and strength.”

    To him shall come, ashamed,

    all who raged against him.

    Victorious and glorious through the Lord shall be

    all the descendants of Israel.’

Gospel

Luke 7:19-23

‘Are you the one who is to come?’

John, summoning two of his disciples, sent them to the Lord to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or must we wait for someone else?’ When the men reached Jesus they said, ‘John the Baptist has sent us to you, to ask, “Are you the one who is to come or have we to wait for someone else?”’ It was just then that he cured many people of diseases and afflictions and of evil spirits, and gave the gift of sight to many who were blind. Then he gave the messengers their answer, ‘Go back and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind see again, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, the Good News is proclaimed to the poor and happy is the man who does not lose faith in me.’

We are drawing close to Christmas how ready are you? If your answer is by way of the question what so special about Christmas any way? Or Oh I have not done anything different this Advent so it’s too late right? Or anything other than I stand ready to greet my Lord when He comes again then you my dear sister and brother are NOT READY! We think Christmas is just one ordinary day in the year, well then what if this Christmas is the day that you die? Are you ready then to meet the Lord your God? What excuses will you give? How different are you from those that Jesus refers was describing as that generation in today’s Gospel? Quick to criticise and find fault but refusing to grow in their faith so as to live according to the will of God our Heavenly Father.

Today’s first reading describes what that generation and all generations following are missing when they refuse to be obedient to the Lord our God.

• Happiness which flows like a river
• Integrity like the waves of the sea
• Generation upon generation, children like olive shoots
• Always and forevermore in His presence

Therefore sisters and brothers it is never too late while there is still life in you to repent and be faithful to the Gospel. Make an appointment today and go for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. May the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ reign in your hearts. Amen

First reading

Isaiah 48:17-19 ·

If you had been alert to my commandments, your happiness would have been like a river

Thus says the Lord, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:

I, the Lord, your God, teach you what is good for you,

I lead you in the way that you must go.

If only you had been alert to my commandments,

your happiness would have been like a river,

your integrity like the waves of the sea.

Your children would have been numbered like the sand,

your descendants as many as its grains.

Never would your name have been cut off or blotted out before me.

Gospel

Matthew 11:16-19

They heed neither John nor the Son of Man

Jesus spoke to the crowds: ‘What description can I find for this generation? It is like children shouting to each other as they sit in the market place:

“We played the pipes for you,

and you wouldn’t dance;

we sang dirges,

and you wouldn’t be mourners.”

‘For John came, neither eating nor drinking, and they say, “He is possessed.” The Son of Man came, eating and drinking, and they say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” Yet wisdom has been proved right by her actions.’

Sin can paralyze us from doing the will of God our Heavenly Father. It therefore also robs us of a life filled with grace, love and peace of Him who loves us like no other. Many lay helpless in their misery and shame!

Are we so Blessed then to have men and women by our side to carry us to the only One who can heal and restore us through their prayers, intercessions. To lead and place us in His presence. So that with contrite heart and spirit we can hear Him say to us, ‘My friend, your sins are forgiven you.’

Then with joy and gladness we shall go forth to glorify the Lord by our lives!

Sisters and brothers in Christ I am praying for you! Turn your hearts to the Lord and be saved. Amen

First reading

Isaiah 35:1-10 ·

The return of the redeemed through the desert

Let the wilderness and the dry-lands exult,

let the wasteland rejoice and bloom,

let it bring forth flowers like the jonquil,

let it rejoice and sing for joy.

The glory of Lebanon is bestowed on it,

the splendour of Carmel and Sharon;

they shall see the glory of the Lord,

the splendour of our God.

Strengthen all weary hands,

steady all trembling knees

and say to all faint hearts,

‘Courage! Do not be afraid.

‘Look, your God is coming,

vengeance is coming,

the retribution of God;

he is coming to save you.’

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,

the ears of the deaf unsealed,

then the lame shall leap like a deer

and the tongues of the dumb sing for joy;

for water gushes in the desert,

streams in the wasteland,

the scorched earth becomes a lake,

the parched land springs of water.

The lairs where the jackals used to live

become thickets of reed and papyrus…

And through it will run a highway undefiled

which shall be called the Sacred Way;

the unclean may not travel by it,

nor fools stray along it.

No lion will be there

nor any fierce beast roam about it,

but the redeemed will walk there,

for those the Lord has ransomed shall return.

They will come to Zion shouting for joy,

everlasting joy on their faces;

joy and gladness will go with them

and sorrow and lament be ended.

Gospel

Luke 5:17-26

‘Your sins are forgiven you: get up and walk’

Jesus was teaching one day, and among the audience there were Pharisees and doctors of the Law who had come from every village in Galilee, from Judaea and from Jerusalem. And the Power of the Lord was behind his works of healing. Then some men appeared, carrying on a bed a paralysed man whom they were trying to bring in and lay down in front of him. But as the crowd made it impossible to find a way of getting him in, they went up on to the flat roof and lowered him and his stretcher down through the tiles into the middle of the gathering, in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith he said, ‘My friend, your sins are forgiven you.’ The scribes and the Pharisees began to think this over. ‘Who is this man talking blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?’ But Jesus, aware of their thoughts, made them this reply, ‘What are these thoughts you have in your hearts? Which of these is easier: to say, “Your sins are forgiven you” or to say, “Get up and walk”? But to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,’ – he said to the paralysed man – ‘I order you: get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home.’ And immediately before their very eyes he got up, picked up what he had been lying on and went home praising God.

    They were all astounded and praised God, and were filled with awe, saying, ‘We have seen strange things today.’

The Road Home: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Second Sunday of Advent

Readings:

Baruch 5:1–9

Psalm 126:1–6

Philippians 1:4–6, 8–11

Luke 3:1–6

Today’s Psalm paints a dreamlike scene—a road filled with liberated captives heading home to Zion (Jerusalem), mouths filled with laughter, tongues rejoicing.

It’s a glorious picture from Israel’s past, a “new exodus,” the deliverance from exile in Babylon. It’s being recalled in a moment of obvious uncertainty and anxiety. But the psalmist isn’t waxing nostalgic.

Remembering “the Lord has done great things” in the past, he is making an act of faith and hope—that God will come to Israel in its present need, that He’ll do even greater things in the future.

This is what the Advent readings are all about: We recall God’s saving deeds—in the history of Israel and in the coming of Jesus. Our remembrance is meant to stir our faith, to fill us with confidence that, as today’s Epistle puts it, “the one who began a good work in [us] will continue to complete it” until He comes again in glory.

Each of us, the Liturgy teaches, is like Israel in her exile—led into captivity by our sinfulness, in need of restoration and conversion by the Word of the Holy One (see Baruch 5:5). The lessons of salvation history should teach us that, as God again and again delivered Israel, in His mercy He will free us from our attachments to sin if we turn to Him in repentance.

That’s the message of John, introduced in today’s Gospel as the last of the great prophets (compare Jeremiah 1:1–4, 11). But John is greater than the prophets (see Luke 7:27). He’s preparing the way not only for a new redemption of Israel but for the salvation of “all flesh” (see also Acts 28:28).

John quotes Isaiah (40:3) to tell us he’s come to build a road home for us, a way out of the wilderness of sin and alienation from God. It’s a road we’ll follow Jesus down, a journey we’ll make, as today’s First Reading puts it, “rejoicing that [we’re] remembered by God.”

Jesus is a loving God who saves! He will restore all that is lost so that we might live to the full in Him. All that is required of us is to have faith and trust in Him.

But what faith will He find in us?

If we say we have placed all our trust and faith in Him and have decided to carry our cross to follow Him. Will He find us grumbling, complaining or even speaking ill of another in any given situation? Will He find us withholding mercy and love for someone who has offended us? Will we remain bystanders in the face of injustices committed in front of us?

Lord Jesus Son of the most High God, have mercy on me! Open my eyes to see Your Glory in everything! And the courage to take up my cross to follow after You always. Amen

Saint Francis Xavier Pray for us….

First reading

Isaiah 29:17-24 ·

In a very short time, the deaf will hear and the eyes of the blind will see

The Lord says this:

In a short time, a very short time,

shall not Lebanon become fertile land

and fertile land turn into forest?

The deaf, that day,

will hear the words of a book

and, after shadow and darkness,

the eyes of the blind will see.

But the lowly will rejoice in the Lord even more

and the poorest exult in the Holy One of Israel;

for tyrants shall be no more, and scoffers vanish,

and all be destroyed who are disposed to do evil:

those who gossip to incriminate others,

those who try at the gate to trip the arbitrator

and get the upright man’s case dismissed for groundless reasons.

Therefore the Lord speaks,

the God of the House of Jacob,

Abraham’s redeemer:

No longer shall Jacob be ashamed,

no more shall his face grow pale,

for he shall see what my hands have done in his midst,

he shall hold my name holy.

They will hallow the Holy One of Jacob,

stand in awe of the God of Israel.

Erring spirits will learn wisdom

and murmurers accept instruction.

Gospel

Matthew 9:27-31

‘Take care that no-one learns about this’

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

You know what is sad? Most of us have built our houses on sand and we don’t even realise it! That is why we continue to cry our Lord, Lord but nothing seems to change or happen and we quietly blame all that has happened or is happening on the Lord our God. We think our prayers are being ignored and rightfully so!

For time after time we have taken shortcuts and taken our faith for granted. We have not fully reconciled with the Lord and our God and surrendered ourselves to His Holy Will for us. And so the Lord says this to us…..

“Rather, your iniquities have been barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.” Is 59:2

Proverbs 15:8 “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is his delight”. Psalm 24:3-4: “Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully.”

So then in order for us to build our houses on our everlasting Rock, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; we must set our hearts and minds to be right with Him. To turn to Him with contrite hearts and to allow Him to heal us through the mercy of His grace so that we can once again hear His voice and unite our wills with His. Only then can we always know what the Will of God our Father is and we will eagerly seek to accomplish His Will for us with joy in our hearts. For we have built our houses on Rock! Amen

First reading

Isaiah 26:1-6 ·

Open the gates; let the upright nation come in

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

The wise man built his house on a rock

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!’

Many indeed are suffering in the world and suffering with this on-going pandemic has been elevated to a whole new level. While many of us are blessed to remain safe and healthy we cannot say it is the same for everyone that we know. Too many have died and are still dying whether it is from COVID or other known ‘killers’ like Cancer and so on. What about those so stricken by poverty that they are dying of hunger, thirst even common curable diseases, because they have means of seeking medical attention. What hope do they have?

God our Father never intended for His Children to suffer to begin with. But as a result of sin our we now live in a fallen world with all its challenges and misery. Even then He did not leave us to suffer and die, for He sent His only begotten Son to bring forth His salvation. So that whosoever comes to believe in His Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will have eternal life! For He our way, truth and life!

He will heal and restore this broken world and breathe forth new life. This is our God! Amen Alleluia

Go, tell it on the mountain

Over the hills and everywhere

Go, tell it on the mountain

That Jesus Christ is Lord! (Go Tell it)

First reading

Isaiah 25:6-10 ·

The Lord will prepare a banquet for every nation

On this mountain,

the Lord of hosts will prepare for all peoples

a banquet of rich food, a banquet of fine wines,

of food rich and juicy, of fine strained wines.

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;

for the hand of the Lord

rests on this mountain.

Gospel

Matthew 15:29-37

The crowds praised the God of Israel

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.