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Don’t make excuses or justify your actions for sinning. Claiming to be only human for committing sin robs us of our identity as child of God our Father so loved by Him.

For through His great and abundant love for us He bestows overflowing graces through our Lord Jesus Christ. So that we can withstand all trials and tribulations that come our way and rise stronger above them. Indeed as St Paul says in the first reading of today, we may be knocked down but never killed. For even if we die we have hope that we will rise in Jesus our Saviour.

So let us cut off all forms of sin in our lives so that we may be filled with the Lord’s graces and spirit to live fully in His love. We embrace the crosses we carry knowing that through them, we become fully alive in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen

First reading

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

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

Gospel

Matthew 5:27-32
If your right eye should cause you to sin, tear it out

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You have learnt how it was said: You must not commit adultery. But I say this to you: if a man looks at a woman lustfully, he has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye should cause you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; for it will do you less harm to lose one part of you than to have your whole body thrown into hell. And if your right hand should cause you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; for it will do you less harm to lose one part of you than to have your whole body go to hell.
‘It has also been said: Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a writ of dismissal. But I say this to you: everyone who divorces his wife, except for the case of fornication, makes her an adulteress; and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.’

When people look upon you, do they see the light of Christ shining through you? Do they see the deep virtues you posses after the master whom you serve? Do you bring the peace, comfort and mercy of our Lord with you? If the answer is yes then like our beloved Saint Anthony whose feast day we celebrate today; you have found and live in the realm of the Kingdom of God.

For all of us are called to share in the love and Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Not to engage in petty quarrels, unforgiveness, jealousy and so on, which is already rampant in the world. We are called to bring His light into the darkness of many who still live in sin, in unforgiveness, in sickness, in desolation. To bring hope, peace and comfort where there is none. Let us be remembered for carrying Christ just as our beloved St Anthony is for carrying the child Jesus whereever He went.

O Beloved Saint Anthony eloquent preacher of the Gospel, guide my tongue that I too may bring the love of our Lord Jesus Christ to many and lead them home to Him, who lives and reigns with our Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit, one God forever. Amen

First reading

2 Corinthians 3:15-4:1,3-6 †
The veil over their eyes will not be removed until they turn to the Lord

Even today, whenever Moses is read, the veil is over their minds. It will not be removed until they turn to the Lord. Now this Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, with our unveiled faces reflecting like mirrors the brightness of the Lord, all grow brighter and brighter as we are turned into the image that we reflect; this is the work of the Lord who is Spirit.
Since we have by an act of mercy been entrusted with this work of administration, there is no weakening on our part. If our gospel does not penetrate the veil, then the veil is on those who are not on the way to salvation; the unbelievers whose minds the god of this world has blinded, to stop them seeing the light shed by the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For it is not ourselves that we are preaching, but Christ Jesus as the Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. It is the same God that said, ‘Let there be light shining out of darkness’, who has shone in our minds to radiate the light of the knowledge of God’s glory, the glory on the face of Christ.

Gospel

Matthew 5:20-26
Anyone who is angry with his brother will answer for it

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘If your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.
‘You have learnt how it was said to our ancestors: You must not kill; and if anyone does kill he must answer for it before the court. But I say this to you: anyone who is angry with his brother will answer for it before the court; if a man calls his brother “Fool” he will answer for it before the Sanhedrin; and if a man calls him “Renegade” he will answer for it in hell fire. So then, if you are bringing your offering to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, go and be reconciled with your brother first, and then come back and present your offering. Come to terms with your opponent in good time while you are still on the way to the court with him, or he may hand you over to the judge and the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison. I tell you solemnly, you will not get out till you have paid the last penny.’

How can we teach and pass on the truth of our faith if we do not know or understand it ourselves? If we do not take the time to learn it. To live out the Word of God in our lives? To deepen our relationship with the Lord our God who sent us His advocate to guide us.

What will we pass on then to our children? To our family and friends interested to know more about our Lord Jesus Christ? A watered down faith with misconceptions passed on? How will we effectively communicate the fact that by keeping our Lord’s Word and commands we are simply living out our call as daughters and sons of God our Heavenly Father;if we only pick and choose what to follow and have not the discipline nor the fortitude to remain obedient and faithful!

Breathe Your spirit upon me Lord,that all who know me will say that Your laws Lord are written on my heart and Your spirit dwells within me. Glory and Praise to our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

First reading

2 Corinthians 3:4-11
The new covenant is a covenant of the Spirit

Before God, we are confident of this through Christ: not that we are qualified in ourselves to claim anything as our own work: all our qualifications come from God. He is the one who has given us the qualifications to be the administrators of this new covenant, which is not a covenant of written letters but of the Spirit: the written letters bring death, but the Spirit gives life. Now if the administering of death, in the written letters engraved on stones, was accompanied by such a brightness that the Israelites could not bear looking at the face of Moses, though it was a brightness that faded, then how much greater will be the brightness that surrounds the administering of the Spirit! For if there was any splendour in administering condemnation, there must be very much greater splendour in administering justification. In fact, compared with this greater splendour, the thing that used to have such splendour now seems to have none; and if what was so temporary had any splendour, there must be much more in what is going to last for ever.

Gospel

Matthew 5:17-19
I have not come to abolish the Law and the Prophets but to complete them

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

Can we not be counted as one amongst many of our dear sisters and brothers who are filled with the Holy Spirit and on fire for our Lord? To be recognised as a disciple with a zeal to share the love of our master with all whom we meet.

St Barnabas is indeed such a great role model who brought many into the faith and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. He even guided St Paul in such a way, not allowing the fact that St Paul was highly knowledgeable and well read to intimidate him in any way. He was a humble servant of our Lord Jesus Christ and truly a light for the world after Christ.

Jesus my Lord may your light shine through me such that all who see my deeds and hear my words will give praise to God my Heavenly Father. Amen

St Barnabas pray for us…

First reading

Acts 11:21-26,13:1-3

A great number believed and were converted to the Lord.
The church in Jerusalem heard about this and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. There he could see for himself that God had given grace, and this pleased him, and he urged them all to remain faithful to the Lord with heartfelt devotion; for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and with faith. And a large number of people were won over to the Lord.
Barnabas then left for Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him he brought him to Antioch. As things turned out they were to live together in that church a whole year, instructing a large number of people. It was at Antioch that the disciples were first called ‘Christians.’
In the church at Antioch the following were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. One day while they were offering worship to the Lord and keeping a fast, the Holy Spirit said, ‘I want Barnabas and Saul set apart for the work to which I have called them.’ So it was that after fasting and prayer they laid their hands on them and sent them off.

Gospel

Matthew 5:13-16
Your light must shine in the sight of men

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes tasteless, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out to be trampled underfoot by men.
‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they may give the praise to your Father in heaven.’

In John 14:18 Jesus told us that he will not leave us as orphans. He will come to us. And the most tangible way He has come to us is through the Holy Eucharist. He promised and sent us an Advocate the Holy Spirit to journey with us and still His love for us did not end with all these; He gave us another precious gift of His mother to be mother of us all. Just yesterday we celebrated the birth of our One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and today we celebrate the The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church and appropriately so. For she continues to intercede for all of us and her maternal love for us protects us from all evil as she leads us to an ever deeper relationship with her Son our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

She is the new Eve pure, and obedient to God our Father for love of Him. She is the model of holiness for all of us to emulate. She who is a creature just like each and everyone of us, formed by our loving creator shows us the way to His bosom. In her lifetime she endured hardships, sorrows, challenges and so is no stranger to our very own painful sufferings. And so we can be assured that loving mother that she is, she will be there to comfort and pray for us. She who is spouse will send the Holy Spirit to us as needed.

O loving Mother Mary, Mother of the Church an mother of mine be with and pray for me. Glory and Praise be to your Son Jesus Christ, now and forever. Amen

First reading

Genesis 3:9-15,20 †
‘The offspring of the woman will crush your head’

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

John 19:25-34
‘Behold your son. Behold your mother.’

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. Seeing his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, ‘Woman, this is your son.’ Then to the disciple he said, ‘This is your mother.’ And from that moment the disciple made a place for her in his home.
After this, Jesus knew that everything had now been completed, and to fulfil the scripture perfectly he said, ‘I am thirsty.’
A jar full of vinegar stood there, so putting a sponge soaked in the vinegar on a hyssop stick they held it up to his mouth. After Jesus had taken the vinegar he said, ‘It is accomplished’; and bowing his head he gave up his spirit.
It was Preparation Day, and to prevent the bodies remaining on the cross during the sabbath – since that sabbath was a day of special solemnity – the Jews asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken away. Consequently the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with him and then of the other. When they came to Jesus, they found he was already dead, and so instead of breaking his legs one of the soldiers pierced his side with a lance; and immediately there came out blood and water.

In our own faith journey we might look for a spiritual buddy to accompany us. This is indeed wonderful because there is someone to pray with, encourage us in moments of difficulty and even during spells of spiritual dryness. There is also the ‘ra ra’ effect in which we rally one another to attend formation talks and retreats. However as we progress, individually we might have different calls to mission by our Lord. And so we cannot stick to a motto of “I’ll go if you go with me.” We need to pray and discern and respond to His call for us. Which means we might have go our separate ways if necessary for as long as our mission requires us to.

We are then free to proclaim the love of God through Jesus Christ our Lord to anyone who will listen. The most effective way according to our gifts and talents. The Holy Spirit dwells within us who have emptied themselves to receive our Lord most fully so as to glorify Him by our lives. Hence even in solitude we are never alone.

Lord lead me and I will follow. Amen

First reading

Acts 28:16-20,30-31 †
In Rome, Paul proclaimed the kingdom of God without hindrance from anyone

On our arrival in Rome Paul was allowed to stay in lodgings of his own with the soldier who guarded him.
After three days he called together the leading Jews. When they had assembled, he said to them, ‘Brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. They examined me and would have set me free, since they found me guilty of nothing involving the death penalty; but the Jews lodged an objection, and I was forced to appeal to Caesar, not that I had any accusation to make against my own nation. That is why I have asked to see you and talk to you, for it is on account of the hope of Israel that I wear this chain.’
Paul spent the whole of the two years in his own rented lodging. He welcomed all who came to visit him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ with complete freedom and without hindrance from anyone.

Gospel

John 21:20-25
This disciple is the one who vouches for these things and we know that his testimony is true

Peter turned and saw the disciple Jesus loved following them – the one who had leaned on his breast at the supper and had said to him, ‘Lord, who is it that will betray you?’ Seeing him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘What about him, Lord?’ Jesus answered, ‘If I want him to stay behind till I come, what does it matter to you? You are to follow me.’ The rumour then went out among the brothers that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus had not said to Peter, ‘He will not die’, but, ‘If I want him to stay behind till I come.’
This disciple is the one who vouches for these things and has written them down, and we know that his testimony is true.
There were many other things that Jesus did; if all were written down, the world itself, I suppose, would not hold all the books that would have to be written.

Shortcuts are always way easier, many would even say practical. Why travel a more dangerous road when there is a safer alternate route? These may be true in general life situations but not so in the matters of faith.

When we surrender fully to the Lord our God and allow ourselves to be docile to the promptings of the Holy Spirit we find ourselves led to a deeper loving relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ such that we are willing to endure hardship and great personal challenges to bring Him glory and praise. For we know that come what may, He will always be with us and eventually when the time comes He will lead us home to Him.

Some real life examples are, at a prayer meeting we will not rush through it trying to keep to a timeline. We will not cutout a hymn to safe time or be annoyed when someone leading a prayer takes too long. We will not use battery operated candles unless it is a public function room we booked which has rules against the use of firelit candles. When asked to organise say a feast day celebration we will not stick to tried and tested methods but discern and pray how the Holy Spirit wants us to take it to the next level to lead the parishioners to a greater sense of Communion and by and large greater worship of the Lord our God. Then there are times we would rather be quiet and at peace rather than to speak up for truth or an injustice against someone who cannot defend themselves. This is the time we need to pray and allow the Holy Spirit to use us if He wills, to be an instrument of His grace.

O God Almighty Father let Your Will be done always not my own. May I be led always by the Holy Spirit. Amen

First reading

Acts 25:13-21 †
‘I ordered Paul to be remanded until I could send him to Caesar’

King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea and paid their respects to Festus. Their visit lasted several days, and Festus put Paul’s case before the king. ‘There is a man here’ he said ‘whom Felix left behind in custody, and while I was in Jerusalem the chief priests and elders of the Jews laid information against him, demanding his condemnation. But I told them that Romans are not in the habit of surrendering any man, until the accused confronts his accusers and is given an opportunity to defend himself against the charge. So they came here with me, and I wasted no time but took my seat on the tribunal the very next day and had the man brought in. When confronted with him, his accusers did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected; but they had some argument or other with him about their own religion and about a dead man called Jesus whom Paul alleged to be alive. Not feeling qualified to deal with questions of this sort, I asked him if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem to be tried there on this issue. But Paul put in an appeal for his case to be reserved for the judgement of the august emperor, so I ordered him to be remanded until I could send him to Caesar.’

Gospel

John 21:15-19
Feed my lambs, feed my sheep

Jesus showed himself to his disciples, and after they had eaten he said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?’ He answered, ‘Yes Lord, you know I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He replied, ‘Yes, Lord, you know I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Look after my sheep.’ Then he said to him a third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was upset that he asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and said, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.

‘I tell you most solemnly,
when you were young
you put on your own belt
and walked where you liked;
but when you grow old
you will stretch out your hands,
and somebody else will put a belt round you and take you where you would rather not go.’

In these words he indicated the kind of death by which Peter would give glory to God. After this he said, ‘Follow me.’

What does it mean to be completely one? Are we one when husband and wife do not come together to pray as one? Are we one when parents and children do not pray together as one? Are we one when ministry members do not come together to pray as one? Are we one when different church ministries or church members do not come together to pray as one outside of the Eucharist? Are we one when we don’t know each other by name or know anything about our individual famililes? How then are we completely one in our Lord Jesus Christ?

We see from the first reading and in our own personal experiences how fragile unity is? Oftentimes it only takes well positioned words to evoke strong feelings which can lead to disunity. Another is gossip which is the number one most poisonous instrument for the death of communities. But why is gossip even allowed to begin? How does it start? Does it not stem from one who is highly insecure about him or herself? It might even be a means to an end, a malicious intent. How will it perpetuate if no one listens? Or is not passed on?

All communities focused and centred on our Lord Jesus Christ, who come regularly together to be nourished by His Word, to pray and to adore Him are those built on rock. These are communities which are completely one for Christ is one with them.

Jesus our Lord and our God, may we truly be one in You as You are One with our Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen

First reading

Acts 22:30,23:6-11 †
‘You have borne witness in Jerusalem: now you must do the same in Rome’

Since the tribune wanted to know what precise charge the Jews were bringing, he freed Paul and gave orders for a meeting of the chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin; then he brought Paul down and stood him in front of them. Now Paul was well aware that one section was made up of Sadducees and the other of Pharisees, so he called out in the Sanhedrin, ‘Brothers, I am a Pharisee and the son of Pharisees. It is for our hope in the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.’ As soon as he said this a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the assembly was split between the two parties. For the Sadducees say there is neither resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, while the Pharisees accept all three. The shouting grew louder, and some of the scribes from the Pharisees’ party stood up and protested strongly, ‘We find nothing wrong with this man. Suppose a spirit has spoken to him, or an angel?’ Feeling was running high, and the tribune, afraid that they would tear Paul to pieces, ordered his troops to go down and haul him out and bring him into the fortress.
Next night, the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘Courage! You have borne witness for me in Jerusalem, now you must do the same in Rome.’

Gospel

John 17:20-26
Father, may they be completely one

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said:

‘Holy Father,
I pray not only for these, but for those also who through their words will believe in me.
May they all be one.
Father, may they be one in us, as you are in me and I am in you, so that the world may believe it was you who sent me.
I have given them the glory you gave to me, that they may be one as we are one.
With me in them and you in me, may they be so completely one that the world will realise that it was you who sent me
and that I have loved them as much as you loved me.
Father, I want those you have given me
to be with me where I am, so that they may always see the glory you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
Father, Righteous One, the world has not known you, but I have known you, and these have known that you have sent me.
I have made your name known to them and will continue to make it known, so that the love with which you loved me may be in them, and so that I may be in them.’

O Holy Spirit come! Open our hearts and minds so that we may know the sanctity of our faith in our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.

There is much evil in the world that seeks disunity amongst Christians, race and religion. And it wants to rob us of our human dignity and our heavenly inheritance as children of God our Father. There are so many varied ways that it tries to do so, by, lies, propaganda, pornography, promises of honour, riches and so on. That is why both Jesus and St Paul reminds us to be on guard that while we live in the world, we are not of the world. Through our baptism we have been made Holy, set apart for the glory of God. And while we will face many difficulties and challenges in holding on to the truth and sharing it with others, we will have the Holy Spirit with us to guide us through. Love of God in our hearts, coupled by our love for brethren put into action by our humble servitude; illuminates His sanctifying grace upon us.

Lord Jesus I consecrate myself to Your sacred heart. Amen

First reading

Acts 20:28-38 †
I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, and its power

Paul addressed these words to the elders of the church of Ephesus:
‘Be on your guard for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you the overseers, to feed the Church of God which he bought with his own blood. I know quite well that when I have gone fierce wolves will invade you and will have no mercy on the flock. Even from your own ranks there will be men coming forward with a travesty of the truth on their lips to induce the disciples to follow them. So be on your guard, remembering how night and day for three years I never failed to keep you right, shedding tears over each one of you. And now I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace that has power to build you up and to give you your inheritance among all the sanctified.
‘I have never asked anyone for money or clothes; you know for yourselves that the work I did earned enough to meet my needs and those of my companions. I did this to show you that this is how we must exert ourselves to support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, who himself said, “There is more happiness in giving than in receiving.”’
When he had finished speaking he knelt down with them all and prayed. By now they were all in tears; they put their arms round Paul’s neck and kissed him; what saddened them most was his saying they would never see his face again. Then they escorted him to the ship.

Gospel

John 17:11-19
Father, keep those you have given me true to your name

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said:

‘Holy Father, keep those you have given me true to your name, so that they may be one like us.
While I was with them,I kept those you had given me true to your name.
I have watched over them and not one is lost except the one who chose to be lost, and this was to fulfil the scriptures.
But now I am coming to you and while still in the world I say these things to share my joy with them to the full.
I passed your word on to them, and the world hated them, because they belong to the world no more than I belong to the world.
I am not asking you to remove them from the world, but to protect them from the evil one.
They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.
Consecrate them in the truth; your word is truth.
As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world, and for their sake I consecrate myself so that they too may be consecrated in truth.’

To know the Holy Trinity on a deep personal basis, is what convicts us to share the Glory of the one living God with others. That eternal life, through the gates of heaven has indeed been opened for all of us who believe in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And if we truly believe and live in the power and love of our resurrected Lord why then should we ever fear death?

For it is only through death that we can walk into the heavenly light of Christ. Through death we partake in the Heavenly Banquet with the Lamb of God at His table. We are one with Him as He is one with us for all eternity. We are once again reunited with all the Saints who have gone before us and we stand together in divine praise and worship of the Lord our God who rules both Heaven and earth. So as St Paul rightfully declared “O Death where is your victory, O where is you sting?” 1 Cor 1:55

If we fear death it is because we have not fully embraced the reality that we are created in the image and likeness of God our Father, and because He loves us with an everlasting love He sent His only Begotten to save us from all sin. And through Him we have eternal life. Christ has already conquered death once for all. He reigns victorious!

Lord Jesus Christ my Lord and my God, grant that I may always live in the light of Your resurrection now and forever. Amen

First reading

Acts 20:17-27 †
I have without faltering put before you the whole of God’s purpose

From Miletus Paul sent for the elders of the church of Ephesus. When they arrived he addressed these words to them:
‘You know what my way of life has been ever since the first day I set foot among you in Asia, how I have served the Lord in all humility, with all the sorrows and trials that came to me through the plots of the Jews. I have not hesitated to do anything that would be helpful to you; I have preached to you, and instructed you both in public and in your homes, urging both Jews and Greeks to turn to God and to believe in our Lord Jesus.
‘And now you see me a prisoner already in spirit; I am on my way to Jerusalem, but have no idea what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit, in town after town, has made it clear enough that imprisonment and persecution await me. But life to me is not a thing to waste words on, provided that when I finish my race I have carried out the mission the Lord Jesus gave me – and that was to bear witness to the Good News of God’s grace.
‘I now feel sure that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will ever see my face again. And so here and now I swear that my conscience is clear as far as all of you are concerned, for I have without faltering put before you the whole of God’s purpose.’

Gospel

John 17:1-11
Father, it is time for you to glorify me

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said:

‘Father, the hour has come: glorify your Son
so that your Son may glorify you; and, through the power over all mankind that you have given him, let him give eternal life to all those you have entrusted to him.
And eternal life is this:to know you,
the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
I have glorified you on earth and finished the work that you gave me to do.
Now, Father, it is time for you to glorify me with that glory I had with you
before ever the world was.
I have made your name known to the men you took from the world to give me.
They were yours and you gave them to me,
and they have kept your word.
Now at last they know that all you have given me comes indeed from you; for I have given them the teaching you gave to me,
and they have truly accepted this, that I came from you, and have believed that it was you who sent me.
I pray for them;
I am not praying for the world but for those you have given me, because they belong to you: all I have is yours and all you have is mine, and in them I am glorified.
I am not in the world any longer, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you.’

How different are we from the Apostles before Pentecost? We say we believe but when faced with a crisis we shut down. Become disillusioned even despondent. How have we held on to the promises of Christ? That is why it is important to live in the Spirit. To allow the Holy Spirit to guide us and to remind us in moments of great difficulty that our Lord Jesus Christ is with us through it all and He will never abandon us.

Sadly there are many who have not encountered the Holy Spirit in a real and tangible way. And even if they had, they do not have the faith and believe to hold on to that encounter. They allow their pessimistic skepticism to take over and convince themselves that it was all in their head to begin with. All of us had received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at our baptism and then again at confirmation unless of course both was done together at the same time. However unless we continue to live out our Baptismal promises and mission post confirmation all that we had received can be lost! Same applies to those who have had a renewal in the Spirit through LISS,CER or some other Spirit filled retreat. Hence it is important to continue to strive and live in the Spirit. To pray, fast, embrace the Word daily and live out grace filled Sacramental lives through the frequent reception of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist.

Lord Jesus You have indeed conquered the world and because of this reality I have nothing to fear. Bless me Lord so that I may live according to Your will and in the Spirit. Amen

First reading

Acts 19:1-8 †
The moment Paul laid hands on them the Holy Spirit came down on them

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul made his way overland as far as Ephesus, where he found a number of disciples. When he asked, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?’ they answered, ‘No, we were never even told there was such a thing as a Holy Spirit.’ ‘Then how were you baptised?’ he asked. ‘With John’s baptism’ they replied. ‘John’s baptism’ said Paul ‘was a baptism of repentance; but he insisted that the people should believe in the one who was to come after him – in other words, Jesus.’ When they heard this, they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus, and the moment Paul had laid hands on them the Holy Spirit came down on them, and they began to speak with tongues and to prophesy. There were about twelve of these men.
He began by going to the synagogue, where he spoke out boldly and argued persuasively about the kingdom of God. He did this for three months.

Gospel

John 16:29-33
Be brave, for I have conquered the world

His disciples said to Jesus, ‘Now you are speaking plainly and not using metaphors! Now we see that you know everything, and do not have to wait for questions to be put into words; because of this we believe that you came from God.’ Jesus answered them:

‘Do you believe at last?
Listen; the time will come – in fact it has come already – when you will be scattered, each going his own way and leaving me alone.
And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
I have told you all this so that you may find peace in me.
In the world you will have trouble,
but be brave: I have conquered the world.’

Instead of praying for personal wealth, health, position and so on. Why not instead pray to overcome the inertia of growing in faith and love? Pray for the heart of a disciple to follow after Christ. To be a powerful instrument of His grace for others. To live His Word and to share it with others. Pray to be given the opportunity to serve the poor and downtrodden. No one who have prayed these, have had their prayers gone unanswered!

Prayers such as these come from having entered into a deep personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ; through His Word by keeping it close to our hearts. And our response to His Word will be one of love shown by the depths of our very own words and actions. Having prayed in the presence of the Lord our God, will we ever have need of an answer? Something to ponder more deeply on…

Lord Jesus I am a child of God so loved by my Heavenly Father. Let your Will be done for me. Amen

First reading

Acts 18:23-28 †
Apollos demonstrated from the scriptures that Jesus was the Christ

Paul came down to Antioch, where he spent a short time before continuing his journey through the Galatian country and then through Phrygia, encouraging all the followers.
An Alexandrian Jew named Apollos now arrived in Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, with a sound knowledge of the scriptures, and yet, though he had been given instruction in the Way of the Lord and preached with great spiritual earnestness and was accurate in all the details he taught about Jesus, he had only experienced the baptism of John. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him speak boldly in the synagogue, they took an interest in him and gave him further instruction about the Way.
When Apollos thought of crossing over to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote asking the disciples to welcome him. When he arrived there he was able by God’s grace to help the believers considerably by the energetic way he refuted the Jews in public and demonstrated from the scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.

Gospel

John 16:23-28
The Father loves you for loving me and believing that I came from God

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘I tell you most solemnly, anything you ask for from the Father he will grant in my name.
Until now you have not asked for anything in my name.
Ask and you will receive, and so your joy will be complete.
I have been telling you all this in metaphors, the hour is coming when I shall no longer speak to you in metaphors; but tell you about the Father in plain words.
When that day comes you will ask in my name; and I do not say that I shall pray to the Father for you, because the Father himself loves you for loving me and believing that I came from God.
I came from the Father and have come into the world and now I leave the world to go to the Father.’

In my life I have had countless visits by our Blessed Mother Mary. She has always been with me through all my difficulties, trials and challenges. Comforting me and always giving me hope in moments of despair. At an early age I was taught by mum to say three Hail Mary’s to invoke her help, whenever I was faced with difficulty; however that did not really sink it till much later. It was only in my teens that I began to feel and know she was present, and painful moments was soothed away by her loving presence. She was there when I was bullied, when I got into fights, when my heart was broken by my first girlfriend and especially when I questioned by faith and beliefs as a young adult. Loving mother that she is, her greatest desire was for me to grow in love of her son our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I firmly believe that it is through the loving intercession of both my maternal mother and my blessed Mother in Heaven that I am where I am today. A man of God, constantly striving to grow in love and Holiness. So as to lead others to do likewise.

Sisters and brothers in Christ. Our Blessed Mother was given to us by our loving Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to accompany us on our arduous journey home to Him. We have been given the great gift of the Holy Rosary to help us grow in faith, love and to guard us against evil. So let us pray the Rosary often and fervently, so that together with our Blessed Mother we will magnify and glorify the Lord our God in all that we say and do. Amen

First reading

Zephaniah 3:14-18 †
The Lord, the king of Israel, is in your midst

Shout for joy, daughter of Zion,
Israel, shout aloud!
Rejoice, exult with all your heart,
daughter of Jerusalem!
The Lord has repealed your sentence;
he has driven your enemies away.
The Lord, the king of Israel, is in your midst;you have no more evil to fear.

When that day comes, word will come to Jerusalem:Zion, have no fear,do not let your hands fall limp.
The Lord your God is in your midst,
a victorious warrior.
He will exult with joy over you,
he will renew you by his love;
he will dance with shouts of joy for you
as on a day of festival.

Gospel

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

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

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

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

When my Spiritual director had left to go on his new ‘mission’ to be faithful and obedient to God our Father. I felt that it was too soon, so much I was not prepared for. The leadership team still in its infancy needed more guidance and someone very strong to hold them together. Then changes came fast and furious. Many were trying to find good in them whilst many others looked on in dismay, as we watched the foundations we had built collapse. I was among the latter and decided to serve in a different capacity, my beloved Parish would be entrusted to the former, the hopefuls.

In all that had taken place and in the chaos, I had somehow forgotten we had a powerful advocate, the Holy Spirit. Unless Jesus our Lord and Saviour left He would not come. I began to slowly understand this better and more clearly in my own reality. Instead of holding on tightly to my Spiritual director and the legacy he left behind, I should have allowed the Holy Spirit to come fully into my being and convict me in my service to the Lord my God. He is the one to continue to guide me and set my heart aflame. He will even send me the Spiritual directors I need when I need them. I have the great and powerful Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Holy Eucharist to renew, refresh, nourish and strengthen me.

Thank you Lord for the ‘earthquake’ that rocked my foundation. Otherwise it would not have fully been built on the rock of my faith in God my Father, His Son my Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Amen

First reading

Acts 16:22-34 †
Become a believer and you will be saved, and your household too

The crowd joined in and showed their hostility to Paul and Silas, so the magistrates had them stripped and ordered them to be flogged. They were given many lashes and then thrown into prison, and the gaoler was told to keep a close watch on them. So, following his instructions, he threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
Late that night Paul and Silas were praying and singing God’s praises, while the other prisoners listened. Suddenly there was an earthquake that shook the prison to its foundations. All the doors flew open and the chains fell from all the prisoners. When the gaoler woke and saw the doors wide open he drew his sword and was about to commit suicide, presuming that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted at the top of his voice, ‘Don’t do yourself any harm; we are all here.’ The gaoler called for lights, then rushed in, threw himself trembling at the feet of Paul and Silas, and escorted them out, saying, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ They told him, ‘Become a believer in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, and your household too.’ Then they preached the word of the Lord to him and to all his family. Late as it was, he took them to wash their wounds, and was baptised then and there with all his household. Afterwards he took them home and gave them a meal, and the whole family celebrated their conversion to belief in God.

Gospel

John 16:5-11
Unless I go, the Advocate will not come to you

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘Now I am going to the one who sent me.
Not one of you has asked, “Where are you going?”
Yet you are sad at heart because I have told you this.
Still, I must tell you the truth:
it is for your own good that I am going
because unless I go,the Advocate will not come to you;but if I do go,
I will send him to you.
And when he comes,he will show the world how wrong it was,about sin,and about who was in the right,and about judgement:about sin: proved by their refusal to believe in me;
about who was in the right: proved by my going to the Father and your seeing me no more; about judgement: proved by the prince of this world being already condemned.’

In a recent community sharing on the Gospel reading for Easter, we touched a little on being a more inclusive community. It dawned on us that we were actually a very inclusive community striving to be better disciples. However who if any in our community were being excluded? The real problem and this happens in many communities and ministries is that the folks who are excluded have in actual fact excluded themselves! They chose not to come and be in the presence of our Lord for prayer meetings, fellowship and formation. To be in communion with their fellow members so as to grow in faith, love even charity. How can they then expect to the Holy Spirit to touch their hearts? The way He did Lydia in today’s first reading who was sincere and had a desire to be open to our Lord’s promptings.

Our faith is never a private one just between ourselves individually and the Lord our God. Otherwise our being one Body in Christ has no meaning for us. How then can we be witnesses to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ as we are called to be?

Sisters and brothers it is time to wake up to the reality of our faith in Him who loves us ever so dearly. It is time to make straight our paths by seeking the Sacrament of Reconciliation, to receive the nourishment, the grace and divinity of our Lord Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. So that we can be better disciples who strive to come often together to be in His presence;to be witnesses of His love to one another and then go out to share the Gospel message of His love to one and all. Amen

First reading

Acts 16:11-15 †
The Lord opened Lydia’s heart to accept what Paul was saying

Sailing from Troas we made a straight run for Samothrace; the next day for Neapolis, and from there for Philippi, a Roman colony and the principal city of that particular district of Macedonia. After a few days in this city we went along the river outside the gates as it was the sabbath and this was a customary place for prayer. We sat down and preached to the women who had come to the meeting. One of these women was called Lydia, a devout woman from the town of Thyatira who was in the purple-dye trade. She listened to us, and the Lord opened her heart to accept what Paul was saying. After she and her household had been baptised she sent us an invitation: ‘If you really think me a true believer in the Lord,’ she said ‘come and stay with us’; and she would take no refusal.

Gospel

John 15:26-16:4
The Spirit of truth will be my witness

Jesus said to his disciples:
‘When the Advocate comes,
whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who issues from the Father, he will be my witness.
And you too will be witnesses, because you have been with me from the outset.
‘I have told you all this that your faith may not be shaken.
They will expel you from the synagogues, and indeed the hour is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is doing a holy duty for God.
They will do these things because they have never known either the Father or myself.
But I have told you all this, so that when the time for it comes you may remember that I told you.’

Enduring hardship, challengers and making sacrifices to share Jesus with as many as we can is rewarding. Especially when you are able to witness the inner transformation that takes place in the lives of others. Of them having peace and joy when there was none before. Of experiencing the love of our Lord Jesus Christ when love was otherwise absent. Even if and when, we have to move on without being able to witness the changes we are assured that the Lord our God will take over.

The lure of following the ways of the world is indeed strong. With its many promises and guarantees that accepting its way is better even inevitable with change. Do not buy into the empty promises and false hope! Never compromise on our virtues and values built upon Christ. For He alone is the truth, way and life. His promises are fulfilled and His love endures forever. Amen

First reading

Acts 16:1-10 †
‘Come across to Macedonia and help us’

From Cilicia Paul went to Derbe, and then on to Lystra. Here there was a disciple called Timothy, whose mother was a Jewess who had become a believer; but his father was a Greek. The brothers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of Timothy, and Paul, who wanted to have him as a travelling companion, had him circumcised. This was on account of the Jews in the locality where everyone knew his father was a Greek.
As they visited one town after another, they passed on the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem, with instructions to respect them.
So the churches grew strong in the faith, as well as growing daily in numbers.
They travelled through Phrygia and the Galatian country, having been told by the Holy Spirit not to preach the word in Asia. When they reached the frontier of Mysia they thought to cross it into Bithynia, but as the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them, they went through Mysia and came down to Troas.
One night Paul had a vision: a Macedonian appeared and appealed to him in these words, ‘Come across to Macedonia and help us.’ Once he had seen this vision we lost no time in arranging a passage to Macedonia, convinced that God had called us to bring them the Good News.

Gospel

John 15:18-21
The world hated me before it hated you

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘If the world hates you,
remember that it hated me before you.
If you belonged to the world,
the world would love you as its own; but because you do not belong to the world,
because my choice withdrew you from the world,
therefore the world hates you.
Remember the words I said to you: A servant is not greater than his master.
If they persecuted me, they will persecute you too;
if they kept my word, they will keep yours as well.
But it will be on my account that they will do all this,
because they do not know the one who sent me.’

Our Lord does not suggest or propose we love one another as He loved us. He commanded us in His love for us to do so even though we are given the absolute free will to choose to do so. The same applies to our fruit bearing and we must make a decision today whether or not we want to follow the Will of our Lord Jesus Christ, our Lord and God, our friend.

Is there any other God that you know of who seeks to have an such an intimate and loving relationship with mortals that could otherwise be seen as mere subjects even animated objects? Our one and only true God our Father,created us out of love and for us to share in His abounding love. And so does it not perfect sense that He wants us to love just as He loves us? A man has no greater love than to lay down His life for his friends; and so He our Lord Jesus Christ did so for us. Can we not likewise lay down our lives for our fellowmen, our brethren?

Let us then by the power of the Holy Spirit lead all our sister and brothers who now live free and continue to do so from all bondages of sin by, the Grace of the Lord our God; into greater worship, praise and thanksgiving of Him our Risen Lord. Let us bear fruit that will last! Amen

First reading

Acts 15:22-31 †
It has been decided by the Holy Spirit and by us not to burden you beyond these essentials

The apostles and elders decided to choose delegates to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; the whole church concurred with this. They chose Judas known as Barsabbas and Silas, both leading men in the brotherhood, and gave them this letter to take with them:
‘The apostles and elders, your brothers, send greetings to the brothers of pagan birth in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia. We hear that some of our members have disturbed you with their demands and have unsettled your minds. They acted without any authority from us; and so we have decided unanimously to elect delegates and to send them to you with Barnabas and Paul, men we highly respect who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accordingly we are sending you Judas and Silas, who will confirm by word of mouth what we have written in this letter. It has been decided by the Holy Spirit and by ourselves not to saddle you with any burden beyond these essentials: you are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols; from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from fornication. Avoid these, and you will do what is right. Farewell.’
The party left and went down to Antioch, where they summoned the whole community and delivered the letter. The community read it and were delighted with the encouragement it gave them.

Gospel

John 15:12-17
What I command you is to love one another

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘This is my commandment: love one another,
as I have loved you.
A man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends.
You are my friends, if you do what I command you.
I shall not call you servants any more,
because a servant does not know his master’s business; I call you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father.
You did not choose me: no, I chose you;
and I commissioned you to go out and to bear fruit, fruit that will last; and then the Father will give you anything you ask him in my name.
What I command you is to love one another.’

The Commandments of the Lord our God were given to us in love so that we can live more fully in the love of our Lord virtuously and orderly. Christ reminded us of how to when He said ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ And just as I have loved you, you must love one another. We must remain therefore in His love. So that the world may see that He reigns in our hearts and they might see Him as they look to us.

We will undoubtedly face many trials and challengers as disciples striving to remain in His love and following His Will for us. There will arise friction and disagreements amongst us. But if we remain prayerful, turn to Scripture and the Holy Spirit to guide us we will surely find a way. For the Word made flesh is the way, the Truth and the Life.

Lord come dwell in my heart today and everyday so that I may always remain in Your love. Amen

First reading

Acts 15:7-21 †
I rule that we do not make things more difficult for the pagans who turn to God

After the discussion had gone on a long time, Peter stood up and addressed the apostles and the elders.
‘My brothers,’ he said ‘you know perfectly well that in the early days God made his choice among you: the pagans were to learn the Good News from me and so become believers. In fact God, who can read everyone’s heart, showed his approval of them by giving the Holy Spirit to them just as he had to us. God made no distinction between them and us, since he purified their hearts by faith. It would only provoke God’s anger now, surely, if you imposed on the disciples the very burden that neither we nor our ancestors were strong enough to support? Remember, we believe that we are saved in the same way as they are: through the grace of the Lord Jesus.’
This silenced the entire assembly, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing the signs and wonders God had worked through them among the pagans.
When they had finished it was James who spoke. ‘My brothers,’ he said ‘listen to me. Simeon has described how God first arranged to enlist a people for his name out of the pagans. This is entirely in harmony with the words of the prophets, since the scriptures say:

After that I shall return
and rebuild the fallen House of David;
I shall rebuild it from its ruins
and restore it.
Then the rest of mankind,
all the pagans who are consecrated to my name,
will look for the Lord,
says the Lord who made this known so long ago.

‘I rule, then, that instead of making things more difficult for pagans who turn to God, we send them a letter telling them merely to abstain from anything polluted by idols, from fornication, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood. For Moses has always had his preachers in every town, and is read aloud in the synagogues every sabbath.’

Gospel

John 15:9-11
Remain in my love

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘As the Father has loved me,
so I have loved you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments
you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.
I have told you this
so that my own joy may be in you
and your joy be complete.’

Going for daily mass does not automatically connect with you Jesus! No I am by no means discouraging anyone from doing so, in fact it is highly commendable. What I am speaking about is ensuring the connection with Jesus through the Holy Eucharist is the right one. For we are connected both through His Word for us and the two way reception of Him. He receives us just as we receive Him in a most wonderful loving embrace. We are then ready to bear fruits because an inner transformation has taken place and we are driven to love. Our thoughts, words and deeds are One in communion with our Lord Jesus Christ! How can we not bear fruit? How can we not share His love with everyone we meet?

If we feel nothing and do nothing in love after each and every mass we attend then there is a disconnect somewhere. We need to reassess our situation, our state. When was last time we had done a proper examination of conscience? When was the last time we had gone for reconciliation fully prepared to bear our soul, so as to be cleansed and purified most fully to receive His graces. How much quiet time have we spent with our Lord in prayer, thanksgiving and adoration? Unless it is our heart’s desire to remain always in His presence, change cannot take place and we will bear no fruit. In fact we may find ourselves objecting and even rejecting spiritual matters and promptings of the Holy Spirit to build the Kingdom of the Lord our God.

Lord Jesus let me always be connected with You;that I may love as You love and bear fruit according to Your will. Amen

First reading

Acts 15:1-6
They were to go up to Jerusalem and discuss the problem with the apostles and elders

Some men came down from Judaea and taught the brothers, ‘Unless you have yourselves circumcised in the tradition of Moses you cannot be saved.’ This led to disagreement, and after Paul and Barnabas had had a long argument with these men it was arranged that Paul and Barnabas and others of the church should go up to Jerusalem and discuss the problem with the apostles and elders.
All the members of the church saw them off, and as they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria they told how the pagans had been converted, and this news was received with the greatest satisfaction by the brothers. When they arrived in Jerusalem they were welcomed by the church and by the apostles and elders, and gave an account of all that God had done with them.
But certain members of the Pharisees’ party who had become believers objected, insisting that the pagans should be circumcised and instructed to keep the Law of Moses. The apostles and elders met to look into the matter.

Gospel

John 15:1-8
I am the vine, you are the branches

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘I am the true vine,
and my Father is the vinedresser.
Every branch in me that bears no fruit
he cuts away,
and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes to make it bear even more.
You are pruned already, by means of the word that I have spoken to you.
Make your home in me, as I make mine in you.
As a branch cannot bear fruit all by itself,
but must remain part of the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me.
I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty; for cut off from me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me is like a branch that has been thrown away – he withers; these branches are collected and thrown on the fire, and they are burnt.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask what you will and you shall get it.
It is to the glory of my Father that you should bear much fruit, and then you will be my disciples.’

One of the most precious gifts our Lord Jesus Christ grants us is His peace. Peace that we often long for, but search in the wrong places and are never able to find. If we do find some form of reprieve, it never lasts. Where are you peace of my heart? Where are you peace of mind? We hear ourselves calling out instead of simply turning to our Lord.

Our Lord Jesus gave us a truth as well as a promise when He said, ‘Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you, a peace the world cannot give, this is my gift to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.’ Such is the Lord’s peace which St Paul carried in His heart for after being beaten and left for dead, he rose up to continue with His mission. He felt the loving embrace of God that filled his heart with His peace and joy. And this very Peace is offered to all of us, God our Father’s children.

Let nothing and no one rob us of this Peace. God our Father is greater than anyone! Therefore the prince of this world has no hold over us. Amen Alleluia!

First reading

Acts 14:19-28 †
They gave an account of how God had opened the door of faith to the pagans

Some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium, and turned the people against the apostles. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the town, thinking he was dead. The disciples came crowding round him but, as they did so, he stood up and went back to the town. The next day he and Barnabas went off to Derbe.
Having preached the Good News in that town and made a considerable number of disciples, they went back through Lystra and Iconium to Antioch. They put fresh heart into the disciples, encouraging them to persevere in the faith. ‘We all have to experience many hardships’ they said ‘before we enter the kingdom of God.’ In each of these churches they appointed elders, and with prayer and fasting they commended them to the Lord in whom they had come to believe.
They passed through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia. Then after proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia and from there sailed for Antioch, where they had originally been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now completed.
On their arrival they assembled the church and gave an account of all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith to the pagans. They stayed there with the disciples for some time.

Gospel

John 14:27-31
A peace the world cannot give is my gift to you

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you, a peace the world cannot give,
this is my gift to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
You heard me say: I am going away, and shall return.
If you loved me you would have been glad to know that I am going to the Father,
for the Father is greater than I.
I have told you this now before it happens,
so that when it does happen you may believe.
I shall not talk with you any longer,
because the prince of this world is on his way.
He has no power over me,
but the world must be brought to know
that I love the Father
and that I am doing exactly what the Father told me.’

God alone deserves all our praise and worship. For love of us His abundant love and mercy is outpoured. Even today He has sent us many powerful instruments of His Grace and mercy. And many will travel the distance to congregate round them for an opportunity to be touched and healed. Yes indeed we thank God for sending them to us but we must never forget that all praise and Glory belongs to the Lord our God alone! For it is through love, faith and obedience to Him that these chosen ones were conferred the power and grace to minister to His flock.

Can we not be such powerful instruments of His Grace? Of course we can! If we are willing to be diciplined, committed and convicted in growing in our relationship, love and faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Willing to be the first to sacrifice for love of Him and neighbour. To be docile to the promptings of the Holy Spirit sent to guide us. By our love we will then be seen as true disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. People around us will see Christ in us and they will hear His voice when we speak. Glory and praise to our Lord! Now and forever. Amen

First reading

Acts 14:5-18
We have come with good news to turn you to the living God

Eventually with the connivance of the authorities a move was made by pagans as well as Jews to make attacks on the apostles and to stone them. When the apostles came to hear of this, they went off for safety to Lycaonia where, in the towns of Lystra and Derbe and in the surrounding country, they preached the Good News.
A man sat there who had never walked in his life, because his feet were crippled from birth; and as he listened to Paul preaching, he managed to catch his eye. Seeing that the man had the faith to be cured, Paul said in a loud voice, ‘Get to your feet – stand up’, and the cripple jumped up and began to walk.
When the crowd saw what Paul had done they shouted in the language of Lycaonia, ‘These people are gods who have come down to us disguised as men.’ They addressed Barnabas as Zeus, and since Paul was the principal speaker they called him Hermes. The priests of Zeus-outside-the-Gate, proposing that all the people should offer sacrifice with them, brought garlanded oxen to the gates. When the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard what was happening they tore their clothes, and rushed into the crowd, shouting, ‘Friends, what do you think you are doing? We are only human beings like you. We have come with good news to make you turn from these empty idols to the living God who made heaven and earth and the sea and all that these hold. In the past he allowed each nation to go its own way; but even then he did not leave you without evidence of himself in the good things he does for you: he sends you rain from heaven, he makes your crops grow when they should, he gives you food and makes you happy.’ Even this speech, however, was scarcely enough to stop the crowd offering them sacrifice.

Gospel

John 14:21-26
The Advocate, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘Anybody who receives my commandments and keeps them will be one who loves me; and anybody who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I shall love him and show myself to him.’

Judas – this was not Judas Iscariot – said to him, ‘Lord, what is all this about? Do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?’ Jesus replied:

‘If anyone loves me he will keep my word,
and my Father will love him, and we shall come to him and make our home with him.
Those who do not love me do not keep my words.
And my word is not my own: it is the word of the one who sent me.
I have said these things to you while still with you;but the Advocate, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name,will teach you everything and remind you of all I have said to you.’

If God our Father is dwelling in our heart, then by and by we become one with Him. This is most profoundly experienced at Holy Eucharist, where through the body and blood of Lord Jesus Christ we are one in Holy Communion with our one triune God; God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Living a life of Holiness and in the Spirit we are endowed with special gifts to bring His light to all nations. We are empowered to face any obstacles and challenges unafraid for we know God is on our side. God our Father is greater than anyone! Through his Son our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ we will glorify Him through our deeds. We will bear much fruit, fruit that will last.

The weight of the world will not wear us down, for we live in the joy of our Risen Lord filled with the Holy Spirit. Amen

First reading

Acts 13:44-52 †
Since you have rejected the word of God, we must turn to the pagans

The next sabbath almost the whole town assembled to hear the word of God. When they saw the crowds, the Jews, prompted by jealousy, used blasphemies and contradicted everything Paul said. Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly. ‘We had to proclaim the word of God to you first, but since you have rejected it, since you do not think yourselves worthy of eternal life, we must turn to the pagans. For this is what the Lord commanded us to do when he said:

I have made you a light for the nations,
so that my salvation may reach the ends of the earth.’

It made the pagans very happy to hear this and they thanked the Lord for his message; all who were destined for eternal life became believers. Thus the word of the Lord spread through the whole countryside.
But the Jews worked upon some of the devout women of the upper classes and the leading men of the city and persuaded them to turn against Paul and Barnabas and expel them from their territory. So they shook the dust from their feet in defiance and went off to Iconium; but the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

Gospel

John 14:7-14
To have seen me is to have seen the father

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘If you know me, you know my Father too.
From this moment you know him and have seen him.’

Philip said, ‘Lord, let us see the Father and then we shall be satisfied.’
‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip,’ said Jesus to him, ‘and you still do not know me?

‘To have seen me is to have seen the Father, so how can you say, “Let us see the Father”?
Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?
The words I say to you I do not speak as from myself: it is the Father, living in me, who is doing this work.
You must believe me when I say
that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; believe it on the evidence of this work, if for no other reason.
I tell you most solemnly, whoever believes in me will perform the same works as I do myself, he will perform even greater works, because I am going to the Father.
Whatever you ask for in my name I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If you ask for anything in my name,
I will do it.’

The Gospel of texts of today is often used at Christian Funerals and it gives hope to those who have lost a dearly beloved one. But above all it holds a promise for all of us. That those of us who believe in our Lord Jesus Christ are assured of new life with Him. For He alone is the Way, the Truth and the Life! And He will come to lead us home.

Therefore we Catholics hold Christmas, Good Friday and Easter dear to our hearts because they remind us of the great and everlasting love of God that has been poured out upon us all;through the life, death and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So dear sisters and brothers in Christ, are we not living joyful lives after the fact? Or have we allowed the world to rob us of this joy with its many distractions and the lure of instant gratification of our bodily senses? Let us never forget we are children of an almighty and loving God our Father, who will never abandon us when we turn to Him. Let us therefore remain steadfast in His love for we know we will never lose our way if we but follow Him, our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ Jesus. Amen

First reading

Acts 13:26-33 †
God has fulfilled his promise by raising Jesus from the dead

Paul stood up in the synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia, held up a hand for silence and began to speak:
‘My brothers, sons of Abraham’s race, and all you who fear God, this message of salvation is meant for you. What the people of Jerusalem and their rulers did, though they did not realise it, was in fact to fulfil the prophecies read on every sabbath. Though they found nothing to justify his death, they condemned him and asked Pilate to have him executed. When they had carried out everything that scripture foretells about him they took him down from the tree and buried him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead, and for many days he appeared to those who had accompanied him from Galilee to Jerusalem: and it is these same companions of his who are now his witnesses before our people.
‘We have come here to tell you the Good News. It was to our ancestors that God made the promise but it is to us, their children, that he has fulfilled it, by raising Jesus from the dead. As scripture says in the second psalm: You are my son: today I have become your father.’

Gospel

John 14:1-6
I am the Way, the Truth and the Life

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Trust in God still, and trust in me.
There are many rooms in my Father’s house; if there were not, I should have told you.
I am going now to prepare a place for you, and after I have gone and prepared you a place,I shall return to take you with me; so that where I am you may be too. You know the way to the place where I am going.’

Thomas said, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’ Jesus said:

‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.
No one can come to the Father except through me.’

Let us dwell a little in the love of God our Father. Let us hear the words of St Paul as He speaks about our salvation history, yes not just the salvation of our elder brothers the Jews but us, for He our Lord came to be a light of all nations! At the very end of that eloquent address we are reminded of our very own baptism, of how we have entered into divine sonship and daughterhood of God our Father through His Son our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.

Through our Baptism our Lord has touched us and cleansed us from all sin. From the top of our head to our feet we are prepared by the outpouring of His love and grace to be likewise, a light for all nations. He shows us how by His example of washing the feet of His disciples. We too who have been made worthy of being called His disciples are to wash the feet of one another. Bending the knee if need be, for love and service of Him and brethren. Let us be dutiful and faithful servants whose love of our Lord leads us to greater Holiness; as we continue our pilgrim journey back home into eternal life with Him.

Praise and glory be to our Risen Lord. Amen Alleluia!

First reading

Acts 13:13-25
God has raised up one of David’s descendants, Jesus, as Saviour

Paul and his friends went by sea from Paphos to Perga in Pamphylia where John left them to go back to Jerusalem. The others carried on from Perga till they reached Antioch in Pisidia. Here they went to synagogue on the sabbath and took their seats. After the lessons from the Law and the Prophets had been read, the presidents of the synagogue sent them a message: ‘Brothers, if you would like to address some words of encouragement to the congregation, please do so.’ Paul stood up, held up a hand for silence and began to speak:
‘Men of Israel, and fearers of God, listen! The God of our nation Israel chose our ancestors, and made our people great when they were living as foreigners in Egypt; then by divine power he led them out, and for about forty years took care of them in the wilderness. When he had destroyed seven nations in Canaan, he put them in possession of their land for about four hundred and fifty years. After this he gave them judges, down to the prophet Samuel. Then they demanded a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin. After forty years, he deposed him and made David their king, of whom he approved in these words, “I have selected David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will carry out my whole purpose.” To keep his promise, God has raised up for Israel one of David’s descendants, Jesus, as Saviour, whose coming was heralded by John when he proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the whole people of Israel. Before John ended his career he said, “I am not the one you imagine me to be; that one is coming after me and I am not fit to undo his sandal.”’

Gospel

John 13:16-20
Whoever welcomes the one I send welcomes me

After he had washed the feet of his disciples, Jesus said to them:

‘I tell you most solemnly,no servant is greater than his master, no messenger is greater than the man who sent him.

‘Now that you know this, happiness will be yours if you behave accordingly. I am not speaking about all of you: I know the ones I have chosen; but what scripture says must be fulfilled: Someone who shares my table rebels against me.

‘I tell you this now, before it happens,
so that when it does happen you may believe that I am He.
I tell you most solemnly, whoever welcomes the one I send welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.’

God our Father could have condemned the world for its many heinous sins and all of us would have perished for all eternity. To have a glimpse into why He did not rightfully do so, we must enter into the depths of His heart. For it was love He created us and it is for love of us He saved us. The most visible sign of that love is His Son our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who hung on the cross and died so that we might live. Light entered into the world when He was born and by His Resurrection light brilliantly burst forth to cast all shadows of darkness into oblivion!

We then who live in the light of Christ have a duty to share the joy of His life, death and Resurrection;so that every man, woman and child can live in His peace, love and joy. To preach repentance of all sin, the mercy, love and embrace that Christ our Lord offers and union with Him for all eternity.

O Holy Spirit teach and guide me always to walk in the light of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, so that I may speak of His love this and everyday. Amen

First reading

Acts 12:24-13:5 †
‘I want Barnabas and Saul set apart’

The word of God continued to spread and to gain followers. Barnabas and Saul completed their task and came back from Jerusalem, bringing John Mark with them.
In the church at Antioch the following were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. One day while they were offering worship to the Lord and keeping a fast, the Holy Spirit said, ‘I want Barnabas and Saul set apart for the work to which I have called them.’ So it was that after fasting and prayer they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
So these two, sent on their mission by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and from there sailed to Cyprus. They landed at Salamis and proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews; John acted as their assistant.

Gospel

John 12:44-50
I, the light, have come into the world

Jesus declared publicly:

‘Whoever believes in me believes not in me
but in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me, sees the one who sent me.
I, the light, have come into the world,
so that whoever believes in me need not stay in the dark any more.
If anyone hears my words and does not keep them faithfully, it is not I who shall condemn him, since I have come not to condemn the world, but to save the world.
He who rejects me and refuses my words has his judge already: the word itself that I have spoken will be his judge on the last day.
For what I have spoken does not come from myself; no, what I was to say, what I had to speak, was commanded by the Father who sent me, and I know that his commands mean eternal life.
And therefore what the Father has told me
is what I speak.’

If we are too rigid we will lose our members then we will not have anyone to serve in our ministry. So let us be more compassionate after all we are all volunteers. So what happens thereafter? There is no growth in faith in the members, neither is there growth in love for one another. Folks are free to choose when or where they want to serve. Prayer meetings, formations are missed and often there is a problem filling the required numbers for service. Often the same members are doing double, sometimes even triple the amount of work and there is a risk of burnout if they are not grounded in Christ. Most folks do not realise that by having turn their backs to the needs of their fellow members and ministry they have made themselves betrayers of our Lord Jesus Christ, whose call is to love one another first above all. How do you love then if you are not present? Or have other more important interests?

First and foremost the problem is we forget the root or etymology of the word volunteer actually means to enter into service of others that is, of one’s own free will. It does not mean that we are free to pick, choose as and when. In ministry you may have started out as a ‘volunteer’ but there must always be the movement towards greater discipleship of Jesus Christ our Lord. Coming together often to pray and discern the Lord’s will for us is paramount. Docile to the promptings of the Holy Spirit we will be of greater service to one another and others through the love of our Lord Jesus Christ. Then we will bear much fruit, fruit that will last. Amen

St Matthias, all the Apostles and Saints pray for us……

First reading

Acts 1:15-17,20-26 †
‘Let someone else take his office’

One day Peter stood up to speak to the brothers – there were about a hundred and twenty persons in the congregation: ‘Brothers, the passage of scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit, speaking through David, foretells the fate of Judas, who offered himself as a guide to the men who arrested Jesus – after having been one of our number and actually sharing this ministry of ours. Now in the Book of Psalms it says:

Let his camp be reduced to ruin,
Let there be no one to live in it.

And again:

Let someone else take his office.

‘We must therefore choose someone who has been with us the whole time that the Lord Jesus was travelling round with us, someone who was with us right from the time when John was baptising until the day when he was taken up from us – and he can act with us as a witness to his resurrection.’
Having nominated two candidates, Joseph known as Barsabbas, whose surname was Justus, and Matthias, they prayed, ‘Lord, you can read everyone’s heart; show us therefore which of these two you have chosen to take over this ministry and apostolate, which Judas abandoned to go to his proper place.’ They then drew lots for them, and as the lot fell to Matthias, he was listed as one of the twelve apostles.

Gospel

John 15:9-17
You are my friends if you do what I command you

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘As the Father has loved me,
so I have loved you.
Remain in my love.
If you keep my commandments you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.
I have told you this so that my own joy may be in you and your joy be complete.
This is my commandment: love one another, as I have loved you.
A man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends.
You are my friends, if you do what I command you. I shall not call you servants any more,
because a servant does not know his master’s business;
I call you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father.
You did not choose me: no, I chose you; and I commissioned you to go out and to bear fruit, fruit that will last; and then the Father will give you anything you ask him in my name.
What I command you is to love one another.’

If we are open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, He will most certainly lead us to far greater growth in love and faith through Christ Jesus our Lord. And in ways we cannot even imagine. We will then not be so quick to insist on sticking to set prayers, formation, methods and so on. When someone in our community is moved to suggest something new, we will listen intently then bring it to prayer and discernment.

This is our how we grow together in love and greater discipleship. For it is the Lord’s voice we seek always and together as one flock, we recognise and follow Him. We reject the voices and promptings of those who seek to steal us away from Him. We welcome the stranger the Lord sends our way to love and to guide to His truth, way and life. For by His grace alone we have life to the full. Amen

First reading

Acts 11:1-18
God can grant even the pagans the repentance that leads to life

The apostles and the brothers in Judaea heard that the pagans too had accepted the word of God, and when Peter came up to Jerusalem the Jews criticised him and said, ‘So you have been visiting the uncircumcised and eating with them, have you?’ Peter in reply gave them the details point by point: ‘One day, when I was in the town of Jaffa,’ he began ‘I fell into a trance as I was praying and had a vision of something like a big sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners. This sheet reached the ground quite close to me. I watched it intently and saw all sorts of animals and wild beasts – everything possible that could walk, crawl or fly. Then I heard a voice that said to me, “Now, Peter; kill and eat!” But I answered: Certainly not, Lord; nothing profane or unclean has ever crossed my lips. And a second time the voice spoke from heaven, “What God has made clean, you have no right to call profane.” This was repeated three times, before the whole of it was drawn up to heaven again.
‘Just at that moment, three men stopped outside the house where we were staying; they had been sent from Caesarea to fetch me, and the Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going back with them. The six brothers here came with me as well, and we entered the man’s house. He told us he had seen an angel standing in his house who said, “Send to Jaffa and fetch Simon known as Peter; he has a message for you that will save you and your entire household.”
‘I had scarcely begun to speak when the Holy Spirit came down on them in the same way as it came on us at the beginning, and I remembered that the Lord had said, “John baptised with water, but you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.” I realised then that God was giving them the identical thing he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ; and who was I to stand in God’s way?’
This account satisfied them, and they gave glory to God. ‘God’ they said ‘can evidently grant even the pagans the repentance that leads to life.’

Gospel

John 10:1-10
I am the gate of the sheepfold

Jesus said:
‘I tell you most solemnly, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold through the gate, but gets in some other way is a thief and a brigand. The one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the flock; the gatekeeper lets him in, the sheep hear his voice, one by one he calls his own sheep and leads them out. When he has brought out his flock, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow because they know his voice. They never follow a stranger but run away from him: they do not recognise the voice of strangers.’
Jesus told them this parable but they failed to understand what he meant by telling it to them.
So Jesus spoke to them again:

‘I tell you most solemnly, I am the gate of the sheepfold.
All others who have come are thieves and brigands; but the sheep took no notice of them.
I am the gate.
Anyone who enters through me will be safe: he will go freely in and out
and be sure of finding pasture.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.
I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full.’

What we often lack is conviction in our faith. The commitment and the sacrifice it takes to deepen our relationship with Christ Jesus our Lord and our resolve to be a light in the lives of others. That is why many of the promises of Christ go unclaimed by us. For Jesus did say “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” St Peter claimed this promise and so today we hear of the wonders He performed in our Lord’s name.

Do you not think that if we are faithful and faith-filled we can do likewise? That is to do great things in Jesus’s name. To be powerful instruments of His Grace and more importantly to gather His flock unto Him. We can and we shall! Let us make a commitment this very day to enter into greater discipleship of our Lord Jesus Christ. To live in the Spirit and in the joy of our Risen Lord. Amen

First reading

Acts 9:31-42 †
The churches grew and were filled with the consolation of the Holy Spirit

The churches throughout Judaea, Galilee and Samaria were now left in peace, building themselves up, living in the fear of the Lord, and filled with the consolation of the Holy Spirit.
Peter visited one place after another and eventually came to the saints living down in Lydda. There he found a man called Aeneas, a paralytic who had been bedridden for eight years. Peter said to him, ‘Aeneas, Jesus Christ cures you: get up and fold up your sleeping mat.’ Aeneas got up immediately; everybody who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they were all converted to the Lord.
At Jaffa there was a woman disciple called Tabitha, or Dorcas in Greek, who never tired of doing good or giving in charity. But the time came when she got ill and died, and they washed her and laid her out in a room upstairs. Lydda is not far from Jaffa, so when the disciples heard that Peter was there, they sent two men with an urgent message for him, ‘Come and visit us as soon as possible.’
Peter went back with them straightaway, and on his arrival they took him to the upstairs room, where all the widows stood round him in tears, showing him tunics and other clothes Dorcas had made when she was with them. Peter sent them all out of the room and knelt down and prayed. Then he turned to the dead woman and said, ‘Tabitha, stand up.’ She opened her eyes, looked at Peter and sat up. Peter helped her to her feet, then he called in the saints and widows and showed them she was alive. The whole of Jaffa heard about it and many believed in the Lord.

Gospel

John 6:60-69
Who shall we go to? You are the Holy One of God

After hearing his doctrine many of the followers of Jesus said, ‘This is intolerable language. How could anyone accept it?’ Jesus was aware that his followers were complaining about it and said, ‘Does this upset you? What if you should see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before?

‘It is the spirit that gives life,
the flesh has nothing to offer.
The words I have spoken to you are spirit
and they are life.

‘But there are some of you who do not believe.’ For Jesus knew from the outset those who did not believe, and who it was that would betray him. He went on, ‘This is why I told you that no one could come to me unless the Father allows him.’ After this, many of his disciples left him and stopped going with him.
Then Jesus said to the Twelve, ‘What about you, do you want to go away too?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘Lord, who shall we go to? You have the message of eternal life, and we believe; we know that you are the Holy One of God.’

When we lose our temper with someone, scold them harshly, use abusive language, vulgarities, scream, shout, humiliate. Are we not persecuting our Lord? What if we then escalate it by being physical with them. Are we not scourging our Lord? Still don’t see the connection? Ask yourself then, who is a child of God? Only baptised Christians? If your eyes have now opened then you’ll be able to see many other ways and situations in which you have persecuted our Lord.

See then also that our Lord still loves you dearly, give the truth of your heart to Him and seek Him in the gift of the Sacrament of reconciliation. Then be filled with the Holy Spirit to proclaim that Jesus is the Son of God sent to save us from sin and lead us into eternal life with Him. He is our Eucharistic Lord and God!

Yes sisters and brothers in Christ, we have the Supreme gift of the Holy Eucharist! The source and summit of our faith. For the Word made flesh has spoken this truth and reality to all in today’s Gospel. Those who believe in this truth will live forever. Through Holy Communion we are united fully with Jesus our Lord and with one another in a very deep and profound way.

Thank You Jesus for this great and wonderful gift from Heaven, Your precious body and blood! Amen

First reading

Acts 9:1-20 †
This man is my chosen instrument to bring my name before the pagans

Saul was still breathing threats to slaughter the Lord’s disciples. He had gone to the high priest and asked for letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, that would authorise him to arrest and take to Jerusalem any followers of the Way, men or women, that he could find.
Suddenly, while he was travelling to Damascus and just before he reached the city, there came a light from heaven all round him. He fell to the ground, and then he heard a voice saying, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ ‘Who are you, Lord?’ he asked, and the voice answered, ‘I am Jesus, and you are persecuting me. Get up now and go into the city, and you will be told what you have to do.’ The men travelling with Saul stood there speechless, for though they heard the voice they could see no one. Saul got up from the ground, but even with his eyes wide open he could see nothing at all, and they had to lead him into Damascus by the hand. For three days he was without his sight, and took neither food nor drink.
A disciple called Ananias who lived in Damascus had a vision in which he heard the Lord say to him, ‘Ananias!’ When he replied, ‘Here I am, Lord’, the Lord said, ‘You must go to Straight Street and ask the house of Judas for someone called Saul, who comes from Tarsus. At this moment he is praying, having had a vision of a man called Ananias coming in and laying hands on him to give him back his sight.’
When he heard that, Ananias said, ‘Lord, several people have told me about this man and all the harm he has been doing to your saints in Jerusalem. He has only come here because he holds a warrant from the chief priests to arrest everybody who invokes your name.’ The Lord replied, ‘You must go all the same, because this man is my chosen instrument to bring my name before pagans and pagan kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he himself must suffer for my name.’ Then Ananias went. He entered the house, and at once laid his hands on Saul and said, ‘Brother Saul, I have been sent by the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on your way here so that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ Immediately it was as though scales fell away from Saul’s eyes and he could see again. So he was baptised there and then, and after taking some food he regained his strength.
He began preaching in the synagogues, ‘Jesus is the Son of God.’

Gospel

John 6:52-59
My flesh is real food and my blood is real drink

The Jews started arguing with one another: ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ they said. Jesus replied:

‘I tell you most solemnly,
if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you will not have life in you.
Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood has eternal life, and I shall raise him up on the last day.
For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.
He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood
lives in me and I live in him.
As I, who am sent by the living Father,
myself draw life from the Father,
so whoever eats me will draw life from me.
This is the bread come down from heaven;
not like the bread our ancestors ate:
they are dead, but anyone who eats this bread will live for ever.’

He taught this doctrine at Capernaum, in the synagogue.

Are you growing in your faith and knowledge of Christ your saviour, who alone gives life to the full? Oh no the catechism growing up was very basic and the priests in my parish are too busy to provide formation. Don’t know where to look even if I wanted to!? Scripture to be honest is ancient and boring to me.

The keyword to all the excuses we have is ‘want’ to. If we really wanted to, that is if it is our hearts desire, then do you not think the Holy Spirit will lead us or send someone to guide us? Besides by the grace of God, we managed to secure domains like catholic.com and formed.org with great wealth of information and are searchable even. Then there are also parish formation and programs that have been organized for us from time to time, our excuse for not signing up or registering? No time! Too busy!

If only you would receive the Word of God into Your hearts and allow Him to embrace You through a lived experience of Him. You will begin to feel something ‘old’, worn, familiar and comfortable yet New all at once. Every faith discovery is an exciting adventure in His love. Then truly you will be able to proclaim with joy in your heart, Jesus is the bread of life! He gives me life to the full! Amen, Amen, Amen, Alleluia!

First reading

Acts 8:26-40
Philip baptizes a eunuch

The angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, ‘Be ready to set out at noon along the road that goes from Jerusalem down to Gaza, the desert road.’ So he set off on his journey. Now it happened that an Ethiopian had been on pilgrimage to Jerusalem; he was a eunuch and an officer at the court of the kandake, or queen, of Ethiopia, and was in fact her chief treasurer. He was now on his way home; and as he sat in his chariot he was reading the prophet Isaiah. The Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go up and meet that chariot.’ When Philip ran up, he heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ ‘How can I’ he replied ‘unless I have someone to guide me?’ So he invited Philip to get in and sit by his side. Now the passage of scripture he was reading was this:

Like a sheep that is led to the slaughter-house, like a lamb that is dumb in front of its sharers, like these he never opens his mouth. He has been humiliated and has no one to defend him.
Who will ever talk about his descendants,
since his life on earth has been cut short!

The eunuch turned to Philip and said, ‘Tell me, is the prophet referring to himself or someone else?’ Starting, therefore, with this text of scripture Philip proceeded to explain the Good News of Jesus to him.
Further along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, ‘Look, there is some water here; is there anything to stop me being baptised?’ He ordered the chariot to stop, then Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water and Philip baptised him. But after they had come up out of the water again Philip was taken away by the Spirit of the Lord, and the eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing. Philip found that he had reached Azotus and continued his journey proclaiming the Good News in every town as far as Caesarea.

Gospel

John 6:44-51
I am the living bread which has come down from heaven

Jesus said to the crowd:

‘No one can come to me unless he is drawn by the Father who sent me, and I will raise him up at the last day.
It is written in the prophets:
They will all be taught by God, and to hear the teaching of the Father, and learn from it, is to come to me.
Not that anybody has seen the Father,
except the one who comes from God:
he has seen the Father.
I tell you most solemnly, everybody who believes has eternal life.

‘I am the bread of life.
Your fathers ate the manna in the desert
and they are dead; but this is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that a man may eat it and not die.
I am the living bread which has come down from heaven.
Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world.’

We have all been given, rather entrusted with a powerful message to share both with one another and all whom have not yet heard it. The message of God our Father’s love and mercy. For through His only Begotten Son our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ we have forgiveness of sin and hope of life everlasting with Him.

We do Not have to wallow in guilt and shame any longer or continue to seek worldly pleasures which cannot satisfy our insatiable appetites. All we need is Jesus our Lord who is indeed the bread of life! We will not hunger, thirst or have want of anything else. He frees us to live in the joy of His Resurrection. And when we cling to His promises we can become powerful instruments of His grace, mercy and love. He can and will turn all curses into blessings, tragedies into victories! Through death new life arises, through Him, with Him and in Him. Amen alleluia!

First reading

Acts 8:1-8
They went from place to place, preaching the Good News

That day a bitter persecution started against the church in Jerusalem, and everyone except the apostles fled to the country districts of Judaea and Samaria.
There were some devout people, however, who buried Stephen and made great mourning for him.
Saul then worked for the total destruction of the Church; he went from house to house arresting both men and women and sending them to prison.
Those who had escaped went from place to place preaching the Good News. One of them was Philip who went to a Samaritan town and proclaimed the Christ to them. The people united in welcoming the message Philip preached, either because they had heard of the miracles he worked or because they saw them for themselves. There were, for example, unclean spirits that came shrieking out of many who were possessed, and several paralytics and cripples were cured. As a result there was great rejoicing in that town.

Gospel

John 6:35-40
It is my Father’s will that whoever sees the Son should have eternal life

Jesus said to the crowd:

‘I am the bread of life.
He who comes to me will never be hungry;
he who believes in me will never thirst.
But, as I have told you, you can see me and still you do not believe.
All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I shall not turn him away; because I have come from heaven, not to do my own will, but to do the will of the one who sent me.
Now the will of him who sent me
is that I should lose nothing of all that he has given to me, and that I should raise it up on the last day.
Yes, it is my Father’s will
that whoever sees the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and that I shall raise him up on the last day.’

Come Lord Jesus come to my aid! Lord give me a sign that I may believe in You! Lord if You answer this prayer I promise to…..Why do I pray so hard when you don’t answer Lord?

What if I told you Jesus was always there by your side? That He is real and truly the Son of the living God whether you want to believe or not. God our Father loves you dearly and wills only the best for you, therefore the answer to your prayer is sometimes No. Think a little more deeply, can the Lord our God be the Lord of your life if He must bend to your will? For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways. (Isa 55:8-9)

Empty yourself completely, mind, heart, hands, will and surrender your whole life to Jesus. Just as surely as the sun rises in the morning, you will begin to experience the presence of the Risen Lord profoundly in your life. You will hear Him speak to your heart. Come what may, Your lived experience of Christ will carry you through it all.

Lord Jesus into Your hands I commit my spirit. Amen

First reading

Acts 7:51-8:1 †
‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit’

Stephen said to the people, the elders and the scribes: ‘You stubborn people, with your pagan hearts and pagan ears. You are always resisting the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. Can you name a single prophet your ancestors never persecuted? In the past they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, and now you have become his betrayers, his murderers. You who had the Law brought to you by angels are the very ones who have not kept it.’
They were infuriated when they heard this, and ground their teeth at him.
But Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God’s right hand. ‘I can see heaven thrown open’ he said ‘and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’ At this all the members of the council shouted out and stopped their ears with their hands; then they all rushed at him, sent him out of the city and stoned him. The witnesses put down their clothes at the feet of a young man called Saul. As they were stoning him, Stephen said in invocation, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and said aloud, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them’; and with these words he fell asleep. Saul entirely approved of the killing.

Gospel

John 6:30-35
It is my Father who gives you the bread from heaven

The people said to Jesus, ‘What sign will you give to show us that we should believe in you? What work will you do? Our fathers had manna to eat in the desert; as scripture says: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’
Jesus answered:

‘I tell you most solemnly,
it was not Moses who gave you bread from heaven, it is my Father who gives you the bread from heaven,the true bread;
for the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’

‘Sir,’ they said ‘give us that bread always.’ Jesus answered:

‘I am the bread of life.
He who comes to me will never be hungry;
he who believes in me will never thirst.’

To utter the words I believe in God the Father almighty, and in Jesus Christ His only Begotten Son in whom He sent to save us, the Holy Spirit, our one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, one baptism in which we are inserted into the life, death and Resurrection of Christ for the forgiveness of sins; is not enough! For if we truly believe then we must live out what we believe.

Can we then walk around with a grimace on our faces? Can we dishonour the absent by loose talk? Can we openly declare our unforgiveness of another? Can we scream or rebuke others and subject them to public humiliation? Can we ignore the pleas for mercy and help? Can we choose personal comfort over the discomfort of serving others in the community? Whose face do we represent when others look upon us? Whom is it by our actions that others see that we serve? Whose kingdom are we building?

Our work therefore should reflect our believe in our Risen Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. For then we truly honour, worship and glorify Him. Amen

First reading

Acts 6:8-15 †
They could not get the better of Stephen because the Spirit prompted what he said

Stephen was filled with grace and power and began to work miracles and great signs among the people. But then certain people came forward to debate with Stephen, some from Cyrene and Alexandria who were members of the synagogue called the Synagogue of Freedmen, and others from Cilicia and Asia. They found they could not get the better of him because of his wisdom, and because it was the Spirit that prompted what he said. So they procured some men to say, ‘We heard him using blasphemous language against Moses and against God.’ Having in this way turned the people against him as well as the elders and scribes, they took Stephen by surprise, and arrested him and brought him before the Sanhedrin. There they put up false witnesses to say, ‘This man is always making speeches against this Holy Place and the Law. We have heard him say that Jesus the Nazarene is going to destroy this Place and alter the traditions that Moses handed down to us.’ The members of the Sanhedrin all looked intently at Stephen, and his face appeared to them like the face of an angel.

Gospel

John 6:22-29
Do not work for food that cannot last, but for food that endures to eternal life

After Jesus had fed the five thousand, his disciples saw him walking on the water. Next day, the crowd that had stayed on the other side saw that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not got into the boat with his disciples, but that the disciples had set off by themselves. Other boats, however, had put in from Tiberias, near the place where the bread had been eaten. When the people saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into those boats and crossed to Capernaum to look for Jesus. When they found him on the other side, they said to him, ‘Rabbi, when did you come here?’
Jesus answered:

‘I tell you most solemnly,
you are not looking for me because you have seen the signs but because you had all the bread you wanted to eat.
Do not work for food that cannot last,
but work for food that endures to eternal life, the kind of food the Son of Man is offering you, for on him the Father, God himself, has set his seal.’

Then they said to him, ‘What must we do if we are to do the works that God wants?’ Jesus gave them this answer, ‘This is working for God: you must believe in the one he has sent.’