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There are indeed illnesses and conditions that are caused as a result of sin though not all. That being said, it is not for us to start judging others as to whom committed what and as a result is paying the price for this and that sin. What we must all do individually, is to examine our very own conscience and to pray to the Holy Spirit to show us the truth of what we have done and what we have failed to do. Then we turn to Jesus with contrite hearts who is waiting to restore us. Who will ask us do we want to be well? To be free of the sin that plagues our wretched bodies? To be fully restored and guilt free? Our act of contrition is our Yes to Him.

Our merciful and loving Lord instituted His Holy Church by which His graces flow. He provided for us a means to be fully reconciled with the Lord our God through the Sacrament of reconciliation and to be nourished and strengthened through the Holy Eucharist so as to be fruitful. Let us then be grateful as we are joyful to receive the sacraments and glorify Him by the way we live out the Gospel in our lives. Amen

First reading

Ezekiel 47:1-9,12 †
Wherever the water flows, it will bring life and health

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

Gospel

John 5:1-3,5-16
The healing at the pool of Bethesda

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

The Lord our God loves us dearly and only wants the best for us. That is to live most fully in His love. And so if we say we truly love Him with all our heart then we must be obedient to Him in all things. There can be no other gods, no idols for there is only one true living God! For God Himself came to redeem us when no one could or would. Glory and Praise to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Yes indeed if we love God with all our heart, mind and strength we are not far from the kingdom of God. How much closer we are, is the distance of our love and hearts put into action for the least of our brethren. The sick, poor, hungry, widowed, thirsty, prisoner, orphans and those who cannot fend for themselves.

Lord let me walk in Your ways. Grant me the grace to remain steadfast and to grow in love for You and neighbour. Amen

First reading

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

The Lord says this:

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

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

Gospel

Mark 12:28-34
‘You are not far from the kingdom of God’

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

Forgive and remember you had forgiven.

Through His love and divine mercy our Lord Jesus Christ has forgiven us our sins, healed and restored us so as to live in His love. And to live in His love is to be merciful just as He is merciful. For to say we love Him is to extend His love and mercy to all. Not a selective few but to all!

Forgive and remember you had forgiven.

To withhold mercy and forgiveness is to have mercy and forgiveness withheld from us. For in our Lord’s prayer He taught us to pray, forgive us our trespassers as we forgive those who trespass against us. Therefore a life lived in the Lord, is one of mercy. Through the powerful grace of Jesus our Lord who died on the cross we can forgive all hurts, pains done to us. So when we forgive, we remember our Lord’s divine mercy and love for us, we remember His grace upon us and we forgive all.

Forgive and remember you had forgiven. Amen

First reading

Daniel 3:25,34-43
Let our sacrifice to you today be a contrite soul and humbled spirit

Azariah stood in the heart of the fire, and he began to pray:

Oh! Do not abandon us for ever for the sake of your name; do not repudiate your covenant, do not withdraw your favour from us,
for the sake of Abraham, your friend, of Isaac your servant, and of Israel your holy one, to whom you promised descendants as countless as the stars of heaven and as the grains of sand on the seashore. Lord, now we are the least of all the nations, now we are despised throughout the world, today, because of our sins.
We have at this time no leader, no prophet, no prince, no holocaust, no sacrifice, no oblation, no incense, no place where we can offer you the first-fruits
and win your favour.
But may the contrite soul, the humbled spirit be as acceptable to you as holocausts of rams and bullocks, as thousands of fattened lambs: such let our sacrifice be to you today,
and may it be your will that we follow you wholeheartedly, since those who put their trust in you will not be disappointed.
And now we put our whole heart into following you,
into fearing you and seeking your face once more.
Do not disappoint us; treat us gently, as you yourself are gentle and very merciful.
Grant us deliverance worthy of your wonderful deeds, let your name win glory, Lord.

Gospel

Matthew 18:21-35
To be forgiven, you must forgive

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

God our loving Father willed that His children be saved from the darkness of sin. And He chose a loving mother to bear His only Begotten Son, the Light of the world. So that through His Son our Lord and saviour Jesus, the ransom of sin will be paid in full. So that we can live freely in His love. Mary who said Yes to our loving Father in Heaven also acceded to her Son’s request to be our mother. She is our loving mother, Queen of Heaven.

Every Hail Mary we invoke, causes the seed of faith and love within us to grow and eventuality bear fruit. Both for love of brethren and of the love of the Lord our God. Through our Blessed mother’s intercession we are guarded against evil, our hearts, thoughts and actions made pure. Let us turn to her for guidance so that all we say and do may be pleasing to her Son our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

First reading

Isaiah 7:10-14,8:10 †
The maiden is with child

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

Listen now, House of David:
are you not satisfied with trying the patience of men
without trying the patience of my God, too?
The Lord himself, therefore,
will give you a sign.
It is this: the maiden is with child and will soon give birth to a son whom she will call Immanuel a name which means ‘God is with us.’

Second reading

Hebrews 10:4-10 †
God’s will was for us to be made holy by the offering of his body made once and for all by Jesus Christ.

Bulls’ blood and goats’ blood are useless for taking away sins, and this is what Christ said, on coming into the world:

You who wanted no sacrifice or oblation,
prepared a body for me.
You took no pleasure in holocausts or sacrifices for sin;then I said,just as I was commanded in the scroll of the book,‘God, here I am! I am coming to obey your will.’

Notice that he says first: You did not want what the Law lays down as the things to be offered, that is: the sacrifices, the oblations, the holocausts and the sacrifices for sin, and you took no pleasure in them; and then he says: Here I am! I am coming to obey your will. He is abolishing the first sort to replace it with the second. And this will was for us to be made holy by the offering of his body made once and for all by Jesus Christ.

Gospel

Luke 1:26-38
‘I am the handmaid of the Lord’

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

It is very good indeed to want to take up the leadership role. To be counted as one who led the flock of the Lord our God into His Heavenly fold. However how many truly have this goal in their hearts? How many are willing to suffer and die if need be for the sake of His sheep? To be fully obedient to the Lord our God and His Church and to accept the good counsel of the Holy Spirit which may lead us in an entirely different direction from what we planned?

The voices of the world grow louder each day and they demand to have leaders stand up for their causes. To legalise abortion, same sex marriages, to have female priests serve in the churches, to allow human cloning and so on. Even some ‘leaders’ in the church are enticed into gaining popularity by agreeing with them. When will they heed the word of God who says “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”declares the Lord “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

Lord Jesus if Your call is for me to be a leader then mould me and make me one after Your own heart. To serve and not to be served. To lay down my life if need be for You and my brethren, all for Your Glory alone. Amen

First reading

Jeremiah 18:18-20
My enemies are digging a pit for me

‘Come on,’ they said, ‘let us concoct a plot against Jeremiah; the priest will not run short of instruction without him, nor the sage of advice, nor the prophet of the word. Come on, let us hit at him with his own tongue; let us listen carefully to every word he says.’

Listen to me, O Lord,
hear what my adversaries are saying.
Should evil be returned for good?
For they are digging a pit for me.
Remember how I stood in your presence to plead on their behalf, to turn your wrath away from them.

Gospel

Matthew 20:17-28
They will condemn the Son of Man to death

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

Today is the Solemnity of Saint Joseph husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary our Mother, foster father of Jesus. I chose his name for my confirmation and his is the middle name for both my sons.

Why? Because although he appears silent in the Gospels he speaks volumes by his obedience, faith and most of all his love put into action for his family and by extension the family of God our Father. A humble carpenter by trade, a loving husband, a doting father who strived to keep his family safe. His faith in God was unwavering in spite of the challenges and hardship he had to face. Truly a model I want to follow! He bore his own cross silently just as his son would eventually do.

St Joseph pray for us… Amen

First reading

2 Samuel 7:4-5,12-14,16 †
The Lord will give him the throne of his ancestor David

The word of the Lord came to Nathan:
‘Go and tell my servant David, “Thus the Lord speaks: “When your days are ended and you are laid to rest with your ancestors, I will preserve the offspring of your body after you and make his sovereignty secure. (It is he who shall build a house for my name, and I will make his royal throne secure for ever.) I will be a father to him and he a son to me; if he does evil, I will punish him with the rod such as men use, with strokes such as mankind gives. Yet I will not withdraw my favour from him, as I withdrew it from your predecessor. Your House and your sovereignty will always stand secure before me and your throne be established for ever.”’

Second reading

Romans 4:13,16-18,22 †
Abraham hoped, and he believed

The promise of inheriting the world was not made to Abraham and his descendants on account of any law but on account of the righteousness which consists in faith. That is why what fulfils the promise depends on faith, so that it may be a free gift and be available to all of Abraham’s descendants, not only those who belong to the Law but also those who belong to the faith of Abraham who is the father of all of us. As scripture says: I have made you the ancestor of many nations – Abraham is our father in the eyes of God, in whom he put his faith, and who brings the dead to life and calls into being what does not exist.
Though it seemed Abraham’s hope could not be fulfilled, he hoped and he believed, and through doing so he did become the father of many nations exactly as he had been promised: Your descendants will be as many as the stars. This is the faith that was ‘considered as justifying him.’

Gospel

Matthew 1:16,18-21,24
How Jesus Christ came to be born

Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary; of her was born Jesus who is called Christ.
This is how Jesus Christ came to be born. His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph; being a man of honour and wanting to spare her publicity, decided to divorce her informally. He had made up his mind to do this when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins.’ When Joseph woke up he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do.

Blessed, anointed, set apart that is our call to faithfulness to and in the Lord our God. A call to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect.

Can we then love the stranger the same way we love our family? Can we choose to love those who hurt us? Can we welcome and embrace the outcast in society? Can we help those who cannot help themselves? If we call ourselves Christians, disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ them the answers must be Yes! For we indeed have a higher calling as children of God our Father.

To answer the call to Holiness is allow ourselves to be fully united with the Lord our God. For it is only through our Lord Jesus Christ that our love for Him and brethren is perfected. Only through Him can we love the way we should and put that love into action.

O Lord You are the Potter and I am the clay. Perfect what is lacking in me Lord that I may glorify You always in all I say and do. Amen

First reading

Deuteronomy 26:16-19 †
You will be a people consecrated to the Lord

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

Gospel

Matthew 5:43-48
Pray for those who persecute you

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

With the recent scandals and the word ‘Catholic’ linked to them, how can we not feel dismayed? How can we not feel for the victims? How can we not be a little outraged ourselves? But one thing we Must Not do is be ashamed of our Catholic faith. Our faith and love in our Lord Jesus Christ is what prevents us from falling into such sins and worse ones. We need to be steadfast in our prayers, always deepening our relationship with Jesus and living His Word. Awake and on guard, for evil lurks to trip us!

Our merciful Lord Jesus Christ forgave us all our sins from the cross in which He hung. Therefore turn to Him always, in our weaknesses, our hurts, our pains. Let His mercy and grace be upon us so that we can love as He loves, forgive as He forgives. I must carry my cross, you must carry yours. We must carry our crosses otherwise we will be crushed under the weight of it. Amen

First reading

Ezekiel 18:21-28 †
I prefer to see the wicked man renounce his wickedness and live

Thus says the Lord:
‘If the wicked man renounces all the sins he has committed, respects my laws and is law-abiding and honest, he will certainly live; he will not die. All the sins he committed will be forgotten from then on; he shall live because of the integrity he has practised. What! Am I likely to take pleasure in the death of a wicked man – it is the Lord who speaks – and not prefer to see him renounce his wickedness and live?
‘But if the upright man renounces his integrity, commits sin, copies the wicked man and practises every kind of filth, is he to live? All the integrity he has practised shall be forgotten from then on; but this is because he himself has broken faith and committed sin, and for this he shall die. But you object, “What the Lord does is unjust.” Listen, you House of Israel: is what I do unjust? Is it not what you do that is unjust? When the upright man renounces his integrity to commit sin and dies because of this, he dies because of the evil that he himself has committed. When the sinner renounces sin to become law-abiding and honest, he deserves to live. He has chosen to renounce all his previous sins; he shall certainly live; he shall not die.’

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.’

Prayer, fasting and alms giving. The three pillars of Lent. Fasting and alms giving the two wings of prayer. These have been communicated strongly and beautifully by our Catholic Church and for very good reason. It strengthens and deepens our relationship with God our Father as He is present to us when our hearts cry out to Him through these spiritual exercises.

When we do so, we empty and purge ourselves of all that is not of Him. We create space for the indwelling of our almighty and living God. We are more fully connected to Him thereby allowing us to greater fasting from anger, unforgiveness, pride, sexual temptations, ingratitude, self centredness and more. Jesus who becomes more fully the centre of our lives is thereby glorified through our words and deeds.

Lord Jesus as I fast this day for You, take away all that is not of You. Fill me Lord with your presence and Your love. Amen

First reading

Isaiah 58:1-9 †
The sort of fast that pleases me

Thus says the Lord:

Shout for all you are worth, raise your voice like a trumpet. Proclaim their faults to my people, their sins to the House of Jacob.

They seek me day after day, they long to know my ways,
like a nation that wants to act with integrity and not ignore the law of its God.

They ask me for laws that are just,they long for God to draw near:
‘Why should we fast if you never see it,why do penance if you never notice?’

Look, you do business on your fast-days,you oppress all your workmen; look, you quarrel and squabble when you fast and strike the poor man with your fist.

Fasting like yours today will never make your voice heard on high.
Is that the sort of fast that pleases me, a truly penitential day for men?

Hanging your head like a reed,lying down on sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call fasting,a day acceptable to the Lord?

Is not this the sort of fast that pleases me – it is the Lord who speaks – to break unjust fetters and undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke, to share your bread with the hungry, and shelter the homeless poor, to clothe the man you see to be naked and not turn from your own kin?
Then will your light shine like the dawn and your wound be quickly healed over.

Your integrity will go before you and the glory of the Lord behind you.
Cry, and the Lord will answer; call, and he will say, ‘I am here.’

Gospel

Matthew 9:14-15
When the bridegroom is taken from them, then they will fast

John’s disciples came to Jesus and said, ‘Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?’ Jesus replied, ‘Surely the bridegroom’s attendants would never think of mourning as long as the bridegroom is still with them? But the time will come for the bridegroom to be taken away from them, and then they will fast.’

Truly what is life without Christ Jesus? For anyone who has encountered Him will tell you that He is the truth, the way and the life! He is the fount of life, therefore choose life.

Life is empty without Him, a constant nagging of the heart searching for more, wanting more. Therefore choose life.

Sin is too heavy a burden to bear and which leads to death. Humble yourself, confess and repent. Therefore choose life.

Fact is, life is only fulfilled in the service of others. Willing the good in another. Therefore choose life.

When we die to ourselves, when we bear the cross for His sake, when we face the challenges, the pain we bear for the good of others, we know with unwavering faith that we will rise to new life with our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore choose life.

Lord Jesus I choose You above all, I choose life. Amen

First reading

Deuteronomy 30:15-20 †
I set before you today life or death, blessing or curse

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

Gospel

Luke 9:22-25
Whoever loses his life for my sake will save it

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

Today marks the beginning of our annual ‘retreat’ in which we are given yet another opportunity to return to the heart of the Lord our God, to grow deeper in our faith and in our relationship with Him.

Saints and sinners alike embark together on this Lenten journey of great spiritual renewal through prayer, fasting, alms giving but most of all through the dying of self. Always keeping in mind that we will rise most fully alive in the joy of our resurrected Lord and saviour Jesus Christ!

Lord Jesus as I begin this Lenten journey to grow more deeply in my love for You, grant me the grace to persevere and remain steadfast in Your love. Amen

First reading

Joel 2:12-18 †
Let your hearts be broken, not your garments torn

‘Now, now – it is the Lord who speaks – come back to me with all your heart,
fasting, weeping, mourning.’
Let your hearts be broken, not your garments torn,
turn to the Lord your God again, for he is all tenderness and compassion, slow to anger, rich in graciousness,
and ready to relent.
Who knows if he will not turn again, will not relent,
will not leave a blessing as he passes, oblation and libation
for the Lord your God?

Sound the trumpet in Zion!
Order a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly, call the people together, summon the community, assemble the elders, gather the children,
even the infants at the breast.
Let the bridegroom leave his bedroom and the bride her alcove.
Between vestibule and altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, lament.
Let them say, ‘Spare your people, Lord!
Do not make your heritage a thing of shame, a byword for the nations.
Why should it be said among the nations, “Where is their God?”’

Then the Lord, jealous on behalf of his land, took pity on his people.

Second reading
2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2
Be reconciled to God

We are ambassadors for Christ; it is as though God were appealing through us, and the appeal that we make in Christ’s name is: be reconciled to God. For our sake God made the sinless one into sin, so that in him we might become the goodness of God. As his fellow workers, we beg you once again not to neglect the grace of God that you have received. For he says: At the favourable time, I have listened to you; on the day of salvation I came to your help. Well, now is the favourable time; this is the day of salvation.

Gospel

Matthew 6:1-6,16-18
Your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Be careful not to parade your good deeds before men to attract their notice; by doing this you will lose all reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you; this is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win men’s admiration. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right is doing; your almsgiving must be secret, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.
‘And when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites: they love to say their prayers standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for people to see them; I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you pray, go to your private room and, when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.
‘When you fast do not put on a gloomy look as the hypocrites do: they pull long faces to let men know they are fasting. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that no one will know you are fasting except your Father who sees all that is done in secret; and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.’

Can anyone of us boldly declare, I am leaving everything behind to follow Jesus? Well perhaps a few more questions for deeper reflection will help us decide if we can, even though we should.

Can you give without grumbling? Especially when you are on a very tight and slim budget, can you still give cheerfully?

Can you let go of all unforgiveness, hurts and pain entrusting it all to the healing power of the Lord?

Can you Not count the cost of your sacrifice in servitude of the Lord Your God and brethren?

Are you still afraid to speak about Jesus and to share your faith in Him? When you will highly likely be ‘persecuted’ or rejected especially by those close to you, family, close friends?

Can you let go of all worldly attachments? Mobile devices, games, social media, television, shopping sprees, regular social drinking, clubbing and so on?

Can you serve the Lord your God without want of affirmation or recognition?

Are you willing to lay down your life for a friend as Christ did?

For many most if not all the above is impossible. But let us be reminded by what Christ spoke to us in yesterday’s Gospel ‘For men’ he said ‘it is impossible, but not for God: because everything is possible for God.’ We simply need to grow in our faith and love for our Lord Jesus Christ. In doing so it will only come naturally to leave everything behind to follow Him. Amen

First reading

Ecclesiasticus 35:2-15 †
Give to the Most High as he has given to you

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

Gospel

Mark 10:28-31
Whoever has left everything for the sake of the gospel will be repaid

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

Simply put, if you want to board the flight to heaven there are two kinds of baggage you cannot carry with you on board. These are prohibited, sin of every kind and accumulated wealth, riches. All your accolades and credentials will not gain you entry.

The only way is through a life lived in love, honour, praise and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. One of humble servitude of Him and our brethren. One of Holiness, constant repentance and rejection of sin. We are therefore called to be saints! Indeed difficult and challenging but not impossible, for everything is possible through the grace of the Lord our God.

Lord Jesus as You gaze upon us lovingly, grant us the fortitude to reject all temptation and sin. Let Your grace be upon us as we submit ourselves to Your Holy will. Amen

First reading

Ecclesiasticus 17:20-28 †
Return to the Lord and leave sin behind

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

Gospel

Mark 10:17-27
Give everything you own to the poor, and follow me

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

Bless You Father creator of Heaven and Earth. You have created me in Your likeness and image. You have given me life, wisdom and understanding. And I remain in awe of Your wondrous creations, the magnitude of the love that goes into Your designs. I praise You Father for all Good comes from You and all in Your love.

Most of all I thank You Father for the precious gift of Your Son, our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ of whom we are able to retain our childlike innocence. For He restores our sanctity, our image distorted by sin. And gathers and unites us to be One in Him.

Look with Favour on Your children, keep us free from sin and bring us to everlasting life with You. Amen

First reading

Ecclesiasticus 17:1-13 †
Their ways cannot be hidden from his sight

The Lord fashioned man from the earth, to consign him back to it.
He gave them so many days’ determined time, he gave them authority over everything on earth.
He clothed them with strength like his own, and made them in his own image.
He filled all living things with dread of man, making him master over beasts and birds.
He shaped for them a mouth and tongue, eyes and ears, and gave them a heart to think with.
He filled them with knowledge and understanding, and revealed to them good and evil.
He put his own light in their hearts to show them the magnificence of his works.
They will praise his holy name, as they tell of his magnificent works.
He set knowledge before them, he endowed them with the law of life.
Their eyes saw his glorious majesty, and their ears heard the glory of his voice.
He said to them, ‘Beware of all wrong-doing’; he gave each a commandment concerning his neighbour.
Their ways are always under his eye, they cannot be hidden from his sight.

Gospel

Mark 10:13-16
It is to such as these little children that the kingdom of God belongs

People were bringing little children to Jesus, for him to touch them. The disciples turned them away, but when Jesus saw this he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. I tell you solemnly, anyone who does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ Then he put his arms round them, laid his hands on them and gave them his blessing.

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Lord Jesus grant me Your wisdom so that I may speak and act always according to Your Holy will. Amen

Do we pray as such each and everytime before any meeting, encounter, decision to be made, advice to give or not to give and so on. For if it is the wisdom of the Lord we seek just as King Solomon, the Lord our God will be delighted and grant our prayer.

With and in His wisdom we will not turn into our own Spirituality as if we were somewhat exclusive. We will not be suspicious of those who in the name of Christ Jesus our Lord has done well in bringing others back to Him. Working miracles and wonders with the gifts bestowed upon invoking the precious, Holy name of our Lord Jesus Christ! We will embrace one another’s gifts as given to build His Kingdom NOT our very own. The more we give away the more we shall receive.

Lord Jesus, thy Will be done now and forever. Amen

First reading

Ecclesiasticus 4:12-22
Whoever loves wisdom loves life

Wisdom brings up her own sons, and cares for those who seek her.
Whoever loves her loves life,
those who wait on her early will be filled happiness.
Whoever holds her close will inherit honour, and wherever he walks the Lord will bless him.
Those who serve her minister to the Holy One,and the Lord loves those who love her.
Whoever obeys her judges aright, and whoever pays attention to her dwells secure.
If he trusts himself to her he will inherit her, and his descendants will remain in possession of her; for though she takes him at first through winding ways, bringing fear and faintness on him, plaguing him with her discipline until she can trust him, and testing him with her ordeals, in the end she will lead him back to the straight road and reveal her secrets to him.
If he wanders away she will abandon him, and hand him over to his fate.

Gospel

Mark 9:38-40
You must not stop anyone from working miracles in my name

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

Any true disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ must heed the Word of God (first reading) taken from Sirach also known as Ecclesiasticus. For without a doubt having served long enough you will be tested in fire and some chosen like I have been, in the furnace of humiliation. Be steadfast and cling to our Lord Jesus Christ who will never leave you.

Indeed these words are true. While I held steadfast in my faith and love for Him, I did not stay put in where I was. I needed time to heal and recollect. The Lord taught me patience and humility. That God my Father loved me dearly with all my faults and shortcomings. That I should love God our Father’s other children, naughty, prideful and however stubborn they may be; just as He loved me! We can be assured that our Lord Jesus Christ, will make crooked paths straight and He will always be by our side.

His grace is sufficient for us, we can love just as He loves us. Amen

First reading

Ecclesiasticus 2:1-11 †
The chosen are tested like gold in the fire

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

Gospel

Mark 9:30-37
Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me

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

Yesterday I attended the Eucharistic Celebration at St Mike’s because I had an appointment with Fr T. As I was rather early for the EC, I decided to read the bible while I waited.

Then a growing desire welled up in me to go for the Sacrament of reconciliation. I looked to the direction of the confessional and saw one guy already seated and waiting. I made my way there quickly, sat down beside him and continued reading while I waited. Five minutes had passed when all of a sudden the guy next to me turns and says, “You don’t recognise me do you? I am one of twin brothers which attended the same kindergarten at Hoe Ping Centre and we lived in the same neighbourhood. He introduced himself as Joseph and shared that we even attended the same Church of the Risen Christ back in the day.” I vaguely remembered him because he mentioned he was a twin. The mind blowing thing about it is that I am quite sure we were not very close otherwise I would have a clearer memory of him but he knew my name and that I had a sister with light coloured hair. Later in the short conversation (which was a little uncomfortable for me only because we were waiting for the Sacrament and should have been praying instead of catching up) we had, I found out that he was actually one year my junior.

Still it was a blessing to be reunited with some one who shared moments in time, forty plus years in the neighbourhood I grew up in Toa Payoh! I quickly shared with him the picture I had taken with Sister Rosa only 11 days ago.

https://m.facebook.com/groups/1001610776565042?view=permalink&id=2226886374037470

Then Father AJ showed up and Joseph went in first for the Sacrament. What a blessing to see the hand of God in that little meeting ‘again’ of brothers in Christ. During the Eucharistic Celebration I received consolations reminding me of His great love.

Later that evening, after my meeting with Fr T. I stayed on in St Mike’s as they were having a movie night and I had missed watching the movie Bohemian Rhapsody. It was more of a movie appreciation night because Fr T would stop the movie at certain sections, encouraged us to talk about it with one another; then he would share some spiritual and psychological inputs into the psyche of the characters in the movie.

Praise the Lord for a blessed night in the company of friends. 🙏🏼♥️