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How wonderful it is to know that we are all very precious and so loved by God our Father. Not it any abstract sense but in a very tangible way through His beloved Son our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.

Yet there are many who seek to rob us of our heavenly inheritance. By poisoning our minds against God, His church and even one another. Some not realising that they themselves have been robbed by giving up their free will to choose to mock Him and His church. Then there are those who in the guise of a holy exterior lead others astray by their sullied thoughts, words and actions. They spread the modern day yeast of the Pharisees! Then there is the world at large who sells happiness for all, live and let live, never mind that it goes against moral laws or values. ‘Survival is for the fittest’ in this ‘dog eat dog world’ we live in. All these threats are real and if we do not ground ourselves in the Word and love of our Lord then, well there will be hell to pay.

We the faithful, have nothing to fear. For the promises of God our Father has been fulfilled through Jesus. And He is calling and gathering all who have been scattered back unto Him. To embrace us all with His love and to set us free from the bonds of sin. So that we no longer live as victims but as victors in Him our Risen Lord. Amen

First reading

Ephesians 1:11-14
You have been stamped with the seal of the Holy Spirit

It is in Christ that we were claimed as God’s own,
chosen from the beginning,
under the predetermined plan of the one who guides all things
as he decides by his own will;
chosen to be,
for his greater glory,
the people who would put their hopes in Christ before he came.
Now you too, in him,
have heard the message of the truth and the good news of your salvation,
and have believed it;
and you too have been stamped with the seal of the Holy Spirit of the Promise,
the pledge of our inheritance
which brings freedom for those whom God has taken for his own, to make his glory praised.

Gospel

Luke 12:1-7
Not one sparrow is forgotten in God’s sight

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

You may be surprised to learn that when you simply say “Peace be with you” to a fellow Catholic you may get varied responses even at times negative ones. Yes while the norm would be to give the same greeting back, some are not sure how to respond. Others even question your intention, or who are you to offer peace and why you think they need it. Do you then stop offering the Lord’s peace to them? Should you stop sharing the Gospel message of His love when met with resistance? Do you feel alone in the endeavour?

We are never alone nor do we have anything to fear. For we have been given a powerful ally, the Holy Spirit to accompany us on our journey. He will send companions our way when needed. All we need to do, is to be faithful and obedient to the Lord our God who loves us dearly. Who desires that all be with Him in His kingdom. Hence we are sent to share in the message of His love through His Son our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

First reading

2 Timothy 4:10-17
Only Luke is with me

Demas has deserted me for love of this life and gone to Thessalonika, Crescens has gone to Galatia and Titus to Dalmatia; only Luke is with me. Get Mark to come and bring him with you; I find him a useful helper in my work. I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak I left with Carpus in Troas, and the scrolls, especially the parchment ones. Alexander the coppersmith has done me a lot of harm; the Lord will repay him for what he has done. Be on your guard against him yourself, because he has been bitterly contesting everything that we say.
The first time I had to present my defence, there was not a single witness to support me. Every one of them deserted me – may they not be held accountable for it. But the Lord stood by me and gave me power, so that through me the whole message might be proclaimed for all the pagans to hear; and so I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.

Gospel

Luke 10:1-9
Your peace will rest on that man

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

Giving in to our passions and desires often lead us away from the love of Christ. Who wills that we live freely in His love. For it allows sin to invade our souls and hold us captive. Captive by our desire for honour and recognition. Our insatiable sexual desire. Our want of wealth and prestige. For power and glory. Where is our love for God and neighbour in all this?

We are all made in the likeness and image of God. We therefore share the same spirit, the same ‘DNA’ if you will. Therefore can you not see then there we are made to love and care for one another? Not to use and abuse one another! Or to lead one another into sin!

We can love because He our Lord Jesus Christ first loved us. By His love we are set free. To live in the Spirit, life in its fullness. Amen

First reading
Galatians 5:18-25
To belong to Christ, crucify all self-indulgence

If you are led by the Spirit, no law can touch you. When self-indulgence is at work the results are obvious: fornication, gross indecency and sexual irresponsibility; idolatry and sorcery; feuds and wrangling, jealousy, bad temper and quarrels; disagreements, factions, envy; drunkenness, orgies and similar things. I warn you now, as I warned you before: those who behave like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. What the Spirit brings is very different: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control. There can be no law against things like that, of course. You cannot belong to Christ Jesus unless you crucify all self-indulgent passions and desires.
Since the Spirit is our life, let us be directed by the Spirit.

Gospel
Luke 11:42-46
You overlook justice and the love of God

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

God’s law is written in our hearts. From our birth into life with Jesus we have been made new for Holiness. Therefore we must strive always to remain steadfast in His truth and love.

What good is it to portray a holy exterior but within us we are filled with envy, malice, sexual wantonness, deceit, greed, selfishness, pridefulness, unforgiveness and so on. Our Lord sees and knows all. There is nothing we can hide from Him. That which we think we can hide from Him, will only suffocate us. Slowly but surely we will meet with permanent death.

Turn back to Him while there is still time. For Jesus our Lord does not look upon the grievous sins you have committed but on your heart’s desire to repent and to be reconciled with Him. For nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen

First reading

Galatians 5:1-6
It is faith, not the Law, that justifies us

When Christ freed us, he meant us to remain free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery. It is I, Paul, who tell you this: if you allow yourselves to be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you at all. With all solemnity I repeat my warning: Everyone who accepts circumcision is obliged to keep the whole Law. But if you do look to the Law to make you justified, then you have separated yourselves from Christ, and have fallen from grace. Christians are told by the Spirit to look to faith for those rewards that righteousness hopes for, since in Christ Jesus whether you are circumcised or not makes no difference – what matters is faith that makes its power felt through love.

Gospel

Luke 11:37-41
Give thanks for what you have and it will all be clean

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

Jesus came for everyone. Yet many in their minds have made distinctions and have divided all accordingly. Catholic, protestant, Muslim, Jew, Atheist, free thinkers and so on. Who then is not a child of God our Father? Are they any not created in His likeness and image? Who then do you see in them?

There in only one loving and merciful God who desires that we all be saved, That is why He gave us His only begotten Son. The Word made flesh who came to dwell among us. Indeed happy are those who hear Word of God and keep it.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord, may we all be united and One in Him. Amen

First reading

Galatians 3:22-29

Scripture makes no exceptions when it says that sin is master everywhere. In this way the promise can only be given through faith in Jesus Christ and can only be given to those who have this faith.
Before faith came, we were allowed no freedom by the Law; we were being looked after till faith was revealed. The Law was to be our guardian until the Christ came and we could be justified by faith. Now that that time has come we are no longer under that guardian, and you are, all of you, sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. All baptised in Christ, you have all clothed yourselves in Christ, and there are no more distinctions between Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female, but all of you are one in Christ Jesus. Merely by belonging to Christ you are the posterity of Abraham, the heirs he was promised.

Gospel

Luke 11:27-28
‘Happy the womb that bore you and the breasts you sucked!’

As Jesus was speaking, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, ‘Happy the womb that bore you and the breasts you sucked!’ But he replied, ‘Still happier those who hear the word of God and keep it!’

How do you know the Holy Spirit real? If you believe in God the Father, God the Son then You must know God the Holy Spirit. For the Word of God had revealed the mystery of the Holy Trinity to us. And it is through the workings of the Holy Spirit that our lives began to change. We found, we could attend prayer meetings or formation in church fully awake and alive even after a long hard day at the office. We are able to read and understand scripture once too difficult for us. We are more patient and loving towards people who use to once irk us. Salacious talk and gossip are now abhorrent to us.

We must then push forward in our new life in the Spirit and never go back to our old way of thought and living. Know that He is always with us, ready to help us in our pilgrim journey home. So then sisters and brothers let us not grieve the Holy Spirit but pray earnestly and fervently to Him. That we may be docile to His promptings so as to be made worthy of the promises of Christ our Saviour. Who lives and reigns with God our Father and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen

First reading

Galatians 3:1-5
You received the Spirit because you believed what was preached

Are you people in Galatia mad? Has someone put a spell on you, in spite of the plain explanation you have had of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ? Let me ask you one question: was it because you practised the Law that you received the Spirit, or because you believed what was preached to you? Are you foolish enough to end in outward observances what you began in the Spirit? Have all the favours you received been wasted? And if this were so, they would most certainly have been wasted. Does God give you the Spirit so freely and work miracles among you because you practise Law, or because you believed what was preached to you?

Gospel

Luke 11:5-13
Ask, and it will be given to you

Jesus said to his disciples:
‘Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him in the middle of the night to say, “My friend, lend me three loaves, because a friend of mine on his travels has just arrived at my house and I have nothing to offer him”; and the man answers from inside the house, “Do not bother me. The door is bolted now, and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up to give it you.” I tell you, if the man does not get up and give it him for friendship’s sake, persistence will be enough to make him get up and give his friend all he wants.
‘So I say to you: Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For the one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him. What father among you would hand his son a stone when he asked for bread? Or hand him a snake instead of a fish? Or hand him a scorpion if he asked for an egg? If you then, who are evil, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’

It is the Lord our God’s approval that we should seek and not that of men or women. We must live in His truth always. It is our duty to obey the laws of the land but not conform to the cultural practices that might put our faith of following Christ our Saviour in question. That being said, in all our daily decisions, words and actions we must place love of God first in all things followed by love of neighbour. This is evidently found in the Lord’s prayer.

The short and most precious prayer our Lord taught, the ‘Our Father’ has much depth for us to contemplate and immerse ourselves daily in His love. We find the keys to heaven, love, mercy and forgiveness. Sadly many rattle it off ritually without honouring the sacredness of this God given prayer.

Let us faithfully pray the Lord’s prayer as it should be prayed, slowly contemplating on every word….

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy willbe done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever.
Amen.

First reading

Galatians 2:1-2,7-14
They recognised the grace that God had given me

It was not till fourteen years had passed that I went up to Jerusalem again. I went with Barnabas and took Titus with me. I went there as the result of a revelation, and privately I laid before the leading men the Good News as I proclaim it among the pagans; I did so for fear the course I was adopting or had already adopted would not be allowed. On the contrary, they recognised that I had been commissioned to preach the Good News to the uncircumcised just as Peter had been commissioned to preach it to the circumcised. The same person whose action had made Peter the apostle of the circumcised had given me a similar mission to the pagans. So, James, Cephas and John, these leaders, these pillars, shook hands with Barnabas and me as a sign of partnership: we were to go to the pagans and they to the circumcised. The only thing they insisted on was that we should remember to help the poor, as indeed I was anxious to do.
When Cephas came to Antioch, however, I opposed him to his face, since he was manifestly in the wrong. His custom had been to eat with the pagans, but after certain friends of James arrived he stopped doing this and kept away from them altogether for fear of the group that insisted on circumcision. The other Jews joined him in this pretence, and even Barnabas felt himself obliged to copy their behaviour.
When I saw they were not respecting the true meaning of the Good News, I said to Cephas in front of everyone, ‘In spite of being a Jew, you live like the pagans and not like the Jews, so you have no right to make the pagans copy Jewish ways.’

Gospel

Luke 11:1-4
How to pray

Once Jesus was in a certain place praying, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’
He said to them, ‘Say this when you pray:

‘“Father, may your name be held holy, your kingdom come;
give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive each one who is in debt to us.
And do not put us to the test.”’

Following the way, the truth and the life; our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ is hard. But does it mean we are allowed to pick and choose what we want to believe? What we want to follow? Over the centuries there have been many who have led the flock astray by convincing them of another way, an easier truth. Take heed dear sisters and brothers, there is only One way, One truth to be found in Jesus Christ that leads to everlasting life.

Living His Word in our lives means we are able to see and quickly attend to the needs of others who cannot help themselves. We are able and willing to preform corporal and spiritual acts of mercy. For we see Jesus in the least of our brethren.

Guide and help Lord as I walk the narrow path to follow You. Amen

First reading

Galatians 1:6-12
The Good News I preached is not a human message but from Jesus Christ

I am astonished at the promptness with which you have turned away from the one who called you and have decided to follow a different version of the Good News. Not that there can be more than one Good News; it is merely that some troublemakers among you want to change the Good News of Christ; and let me warn you that if anyone preaches a version of the Good News different from the one we have already preached to you, whether it be ourselves or an angel from heaven, he is to be condemned. I am only repeating what we told you before: if anyone preaches a version of the Good News different from the one you have already heard, he is to be condemned. So now whom am I trying to please – man, or God? Would you say it is men’s approval I am looking for? If I still wanted that, I should not be what I am – a servant of Christ.
The fact is, brothers, and I want you to realise this, the Good News I preached is not a human message that I was given by men, it is something I learnt only through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

Gospel

Luke 10:25-37
The good Samaritan

There was a lawyer who, to disconcert Jesus, stood up and said to him, ‘Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the Law? What do you read there?’ He replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself.’ ‘You have answered right,’ said Jesus ‘do this and life is yours.’
But the man was anxious to justify himself and said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbour?’ Jesus replied, ‘A man was once on his way down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of brigands; they took all he had, beat him and then made off, leaving him half dead. Now a priest happened to be travelling down the same road, but when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. In the same way a Levite who came to the place saw him, and passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan traveller who came upon him was moved with compassion when he saw him. He went up and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. He then lifted him on to his own mount, carried him to the inn and looked after him. Next day, he took out two denarii and handed them to the innkeeper. “Look after him,” he said “and on my way back I will make good any extra expense you have.” Which of these three, do you think, proved himself a neighbour to the man who fell into the brigands‘ hands?’ ‘The one who took pity on him’ he replied. Jesus said to him, ‘Go, and do the same yourself.’

We are Blessed abundantly and in so many ways. If we do possess grateful hearts then we might very well miss just how blessed we all are by virtue of our baptism.

Through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit we have been gifted and can grow in faith, knowledge and love of the Holy Trinity. We have been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus and have been set free to live joyfully in His peace and love.

But how many still do not know Him? Are oppressed, depressed and lost. Who are in need of care and love. Who lead aimless dreary lives. And are heavy laden with their burdens, worries and sin. We have been given the power and grace to set them free,through our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ! Do we exercise our faith? Do we put our gifts to use for the glory of His name?

Thank You Jesus, thank You Heavenly Father, thank You Holy Spirit for your love, mercy and grace. I will share my blessings with others by being an instrument of Your love. Through Your loving mercy and grace, I will lead souls back to You where they belong. Amen

First reading

Job 42:1-3,5-6,12-17
In dust and in ashes I repent

This was the answer Job gave to the Lord:

I know that you are all-powerful: what you conceive, you can perform.
I am the man who obscured your designs with my empty-headed words.
I have been holding forth on matters I cannot understand,
on marvels beyond me and my knowledge.
I knew you then only by hearsay; but now, having seen you with my own eyes,
I retract all I have said, and in dust and ashes I repent.

The Lord blessed Job’s new fortune even more than his first one. He came to own fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand she-donkeys. He had seven sons and three daughters; his first daughter he called ‘Turtledove’, the second ‘Cassia’ and the third ‘Mascara.’ Throughout the land there were no women as beautiful as the daughters of Job. And their father gave them inheritance rights like their brothers.
After his trials, Job lived on until he was a hundred and forty years old, and saw his children and his children’s children up to the fourth generation. Then Job died, an old man and full of days.

Gospel

Luke 10:17-24
Rejoice that your names are written in heaven

The seventy-two came back rejoicing. ‘Lord,’ they said ‘even the devils submit to us when we use your name.’ He said to them, ‘I watched Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Yes, I have given you power to tread underfoot serpents and scorpions and the whole strength of the enemy; nothing shall ever hurt you. Yet do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you; rejoice rather that your names are written in heaven.’
It was then that, filled with joy by the Holy Spirit, he said:
‘I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children. Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased you to do. Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.’
Then turning to his disciples he spoke to them in private, ‘Happy the eyes that see what you see, for I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see, and never saw it; to hear what you hear, and never heard it.’

Who are we to question or argue with the Lord our God? Whose wisdom and power is infinite. Let us in loving humility accept and embrace His will for us which is always the best.

Let us be attentive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, the prophets and shepherds He sends us. To the call for renewal and repentance. So that our hearts will always be ready to receive our Lord Jesus Christ when He comes. And while He will come again in glory, He comes to us even now in Holy Eucharist.

Glory to God in the highest! Now and forever. Amen

First reading

Job 38:1,12-21,40:3-5
The immeasurable greatness of God

From the heart of the tempest the Lord gave Job his answer. He said:

Have you ever in your life given orders to the morning or sent the dawn to its post, telling it to grasp the earth by its edges and shake the wicked out of it, when it changes the earth to sealing clay and dyes it as a man dyes clothes; stealing the light from wicked men and breaking the arm raised to strike?
Have you journeyed all the way to the sources of the sea, or walked where the Abyss is deepest?
Have you been shown the gates of Death or met the janitors of Shadowland?
Have you an inkling of the extent of the earth?
Tell me all about it if you have! Which is the way to the home of the light, and where does darkness live?
You could then show them the way to their proper places, or put them on the path to where they live!
If you know all this, you must have been born with them, you must be very old by now!

Job replied to the Lord:

My words have been frivolous: what can I reply? I had better lay my finger on my lips.
I have spoken once… I will not speak again; more than once… I will add nothing.

Gospel

Luke 10:13-16
Anyone who rejects me rejects the one who sent me

Jesus said to his disciples:
‘Alas for you, Chorazin! Alas for you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. And still, it will not go as hard with Tyre and Sidon at the Judgement as with you. And as for you, Capernaum, did you want to be exalted high as heaven? You shall be thrown down to hell.
‘Anyone who listens to you listens to me; anyone who rejects you rejects me, and those who reject me reject the one who sent me.’

Blessed are those who carry the love of God our Father in their hearts come what may. For His praise is always on their lips. Their words chosen carefully and spoken as to give glory to God. Such tender care given as if every word were to be cast in stone.

Are your eyes not yet opened to see? Are your ears not opened to hear? Have you not tasted the goodness of our Lord? For if you have you will not see any difficulty or obstacle in preventing you from sharing that heaven is opened for all who will receive our Lord Jesus Christ into their hearts.

Yes indeed it is a joy to be chosen as we are, to carry and share the precious word of God. To bring the peace and joy of our Lord Jesus Christ into the homes of families. So that His peace and love can dwell in their hearts forever. Amen

First reading

Job 19:21-27
My Avenger lives and will set me close to him when I awake

Job said:

Pity me, pity me, you, my friends, for the hand of God has struck me.
Why do you hound me down like God, will you never have enough of my flesh?

Ah, would that these words of mine were written down, inscribed on some monument
with iron chisel and engraving tool, cut into the rock for ever.
This I know: that my Avenger lives, and he, the Last, will take his stand on earth.
After my awaking, he will set me close to him, and from my flesh I shall look on God.
He whom I shall see will take my part:these eyes will gaze on him and find him not aloof.

Gospel

Luke 10:1-12
Your peace will rest on that man

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

Is it not simply bravado when some utter, “I will follow the Lord wherever He calls me to?” For are they truly prepared to face hardship, difficulties and challenges? Well If they truly are, then their accompanying response will be “let it be done according to your will, Lord.”

What If it were you and the Lord should call upon you at an ‘improper’ time. What will your answer be? “Lord let me settle my affairs first?” Is our Lord not truly the Lord of your life? Who is it that gives time? Who is it that gave you life? Who is it that created the universe? Who is it that wills the best for you? Is there then such a thing as an improper time for the Lord your God?

Do you choose then to be held back by the spiritually dead or to remain Spiritually dead yourself? If not then choose the new life our Lord Jesus Christ offers you in Him. Choose to be His disciple! No more excuses, no more reasonings. Yes your family the domestic church is important but what or whom should come first if not the Lord! For if we get the order right then all else will follow perfectly.

Let us never look back ever, but stay focus on our Lord who walks ahead. Let us carry our cross and follow Him home. Amen

First reading

Job 9:1-13,14-16
How can man be in the right against God?

Job spoke to his friends:

Indeed, I know it is as you say: how can man be in the right against God?
If any were so rash as to challenge him for reasons, one in a thousand would be more than they could answer.
His heart is wise, and his strength is great: who then can successfully defy him?
He moves the mountains, though they do not know it; he throws them down when he is angry. He shakes the earth, and moves it from its place, making all its pillars tremble.
The sun, at his command, forbears to rise, and on the stars he sets a seal. He and no other stretched the skies, and trampled the Sea’s tall waves.
The Bear, Orion too, are of his making, the Pleiades and the Mansions of the South.
His works are great, beyond all reckoning, his marvels, past all counting. Were he to pass me, I should not see him, nor detect his stealthy movement.
Were he to snatch a prize, who could prevent him, or dare to say, ‘What are you doing?’

How dare I plead my cause, then, or choose arguments against him? Suppose I am in the right, what use is my defence?
For he whom I must sue is judge as well. If he deigned to answer my citation, could I be sure that he would listen to my voice?

Gospel

Luke 9:57-62
‘I will follow you wherever you go’

As Jesus and his disciples travelled along they met a man on the road who said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ Jesus answered, ‘Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’
Another to whom he said, ‘Follow me’, replied, ‘Let me go and bury my father first.’ But he answered, ‘Leave the dead to bury their dead; your duty is to go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.’
Another said, ‘I will follow you, sir, but first let me go and say goodbye to my people at home.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Once the hand is laid on the plough, no one who looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.’

Yes there are times we become bitter and weary of our lives. But always remember that disappointment is an appointment with Christ. Tribulation a means for sanctification. Jesus is never far away from us. We have our guardian Angel watching over us, to rule and guard, to light and guide us.

For we are all beloved children of God our Father. If we fight to retain our purity of heart and of mind. Our childlike wonder of the awesomeness of the Lord our God. Knowing and trusting that He will provide for all that we need. Then we can truly be instruments of His grace. It will not matter how tall or how high up we are, for the Lord alone towers over us in all things. Glory to God in high! Amen

Holy Guardian Angels of God, pray for us.

First reading

Job 3:1-3,11-17,20-23
Why did I not perish on the day I was born?

Job broke the silence and cursed the day of his birth. This is what he said:

May the day perish when I was born, and the night that told of a boy conceived.
Why did I not die new-born, not perish as I left the womb? Why were there two knees to receive me, two breasts for me to suck?
Had there not been, I should now be lying in peace, wrapped in a restful slumber, with the kings and high viziers of earth who build themselves vast vaults, or with princes who have gold and to spare and houses crammed with silver. Or put away like a still-born child that never came to be, like unborn babes that never see the light. Down there, bad men bustle no more, there the weary rest.

Why give light to a man of grief? Why give life to those bitter of heart, who long for a death that never comes, and hunt for it more than for a buried treasure?
They would be glad to see the grave-mound and shout with joy if they reached the tomb.
Why make this gift of light to a man who does not see his way, whom God baulks on every side?

Gospel

Matthew 18:1-5,10
Anyone who welcomes a little child in my name welcomes me

The disciples came to Jesus and said, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ So he called a little child to him and set the child in front of them. Then he said, ‘I tell you solemnly, unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. And so, the one who makes himself as little as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
‘Anyone who welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. See that you never despise any of these little ones, for I tell you that their angels in heaven are continually in the presence of my Father in heaven.’

Whose voice is it that speaks up against a Holy person? There goes the Holy man or woman uttered in scorn? Take away all they have and see if they will still praise and worship God? Who is it that wants desperately to prevent another from driving evil away either from a person or a place in Jesus’s name? Saying he is not qualified, he has not been certified, not from our ministry, not one of us! Whose voice is it that tells you that you need to feared rather then to be loved and that you must exercise dominion over others? While the voice belongs to Satan it speaks through his instruments he gathers for himself. Only to scatter when he is done.

Listen instead to the voice of the Lord your God. Who will be at your side always even in times of trials and adversity. He alone can and will turn all your curses into blessings. Be the child of God that listens, obeys and trust that He will always be there to embrace you in His loving care. Be humble and serve as you see Jesus in the least of your brethren. Heaven is your reward. Amen

St Thérèse pray for us.

First reading

Job 1:6-22
The Lord gave, the Lord has taken back: blessed be the name of the Lord

One day the Sons of God came to attend on the Lord, and among them was Satan. So the Lord said to Satan, ‘Where have you been?’ ‘Round the earth,’ he answered ‘roaming about.’ So the Lord asked him, ‘Did you notice my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth: a sound and honest man who fears God and shuns evil.’ ‘Yes,’ Satan said ‘but Job is not God-fearing for nothing, is he? Have you not put a wall round him and his house and all his domain? You have blessed all he undertakes, and his flocks throng the countryside. But stretch out your hand and lay a finger on his possessions: I warrant you, he will curse you to your face.’ ‘Very well,’ the Lord said to Satan ‘all he has is in your power. But keep your hands off his person.’ So Satan left the presence of the Lord.
On the day when Job’s sons and daughters were at their meal and drinking wine at their eldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job. ‘Your oxen’ he said ‘were at the plough, with the donkeys grazing at their side, when the Sabaeans swept down on them and carried them off. Your servants they put to the sword: I alone escaped to tell you.’ He had not finished speaking when another messenger arrived. ‘The fire of God’ he said ‘has fallen from the heavens and burnt up all your sheep, and your shepherds too: I alone escaped to tell you.’ He had not finished speaking when another messenger arrived. ‘The Chaldaeans,’ he said ‘three bands of them, have raided your camels and made off with them. Your servants they put to the sword: I alone escaped to tell you.’ He had not finished speaking when another messenger arrived. ‘Your sons and daughters’ he said ‘were at their meal and drinking wine at their eldest brother’s house, when suddenly from the wilderness a gale sprang up, and it battered all four corners of the house which fell in on the young people. They are dead: I alone escaped to tell you.’
Job rose and tore his gown and shaved his head. Then falling to the ground he worshipped and said:

‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
naked I shall return.
The Lord gave, the Lord has taken back.
Blessed be the name of the Lord!’

In all this misfortune Job committed no sin nor offered any insult to God.

Gospel

Luke 9:46-50
The least among you all is the greatest

An argument started between the disciples about which of them was the greatest. Jesus knew what thoughts were going through their minds, and he took a little child and set him by his side and then said to them, ‘Anyone who welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For the least among you all, that is the one who is great.’
John spoke up. ‘Master,’ he said ‘we saw a man casting out devils in your name, and because he is not with us we tried to stop him.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘You must not stop him: anyone who is not against you is for you.’

Is it not comforting that God our Father sends his angels to help and guide us on our pilgrim journey home? They work tirelessly for His glory. To illumine our path and defend us in the battle against evil.

Let us also be grateful then when our Lord Jesus Christ sends His angels to us to help us in our challenges and difficulties. Through His mercy and love He wills that we are all reunited with Him in heaven which He laid open for us.

Glory to You O Lord our God, now and forever. Amen

St Gabriel, St Raphael, St Michael the Holy Archangels of God pray for us.

First reading

Daniel 7:9-10,13-14
His robe was white as snow

As I watched:

Thrones were set in place
and one of great age took his seat.
His robe was white as snow,
the hair of his head as pure as wool.
His throne was a blaze of flames,its wheels were a burning fire.
A stream of fire poured out,
issuing from his presence.
A thousand thousand waited on him, ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
A court was held and the books were opened.

I gazed into the visions of the night.

And I saw, coming on the clouds of heaven, one like a son of man. He came to the one of great age and was led into his presence.
On him was conferred sovereignty, glory and kingship, and men of all peoples, nations and languages became his servants.
His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty which shall never pass away, nor will his empire ever be destroyed.

Gospel

John 1:47-51
You will see heaven laid open, and the Son of Man

When Jesus saw Nathanael coming he said of him, ‘There is an Israelite who deserves the name, incapable of deceit.’ ‘How do you know me?’ said Nathanael. ‘Before Philip came to call you,’ said Jesus ‘I saw you under the fig tree.’ Nathanael answered, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the King of Israel.’ Jesus replied, ‘You believe that just because I said: I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.’ And then he added ‘I tell you most solemnly, you will see heaven laid open and, above the Son of Man, the angels of God ascending and descending.’

Of time and relationships we are impatient in both! We want what we want when we want it. We place our expectations on others and they must live up to them. In some if not most relationships, we don’t spare time to nurture it or wait for it to grow. And we question why our prayer life leads us no where and begin to think it is a waste of time. All the above speaks to where our relationship is with the Lord our God.

In our short time here on earth the Only thing that should matter is how much do we love the Lord our God, how much have we nurtured and grown in that love and faih. And have put that love and faith into service of others. For we know that time belongs to God. He is outside of time and so He sees all beginnings and end at the same time. His Will for us is all that matters for it is love in its purest form. God our Father’s love personified in Jesus Christ, died so that we may rise and live with Him forever.

It is not in the uttering but in the knowing that Jesus Christ is the Lord our God and He is the Lord of our lives. Amen

First reading

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11
There is a time for every occupation under heaven

There is a season for everything, a time for every occupation under heaven:

A time for giving birth,
a time for dying;
a time for planting,
a time for uprooting what has been planted.

A time for killing,
a time for healing;
a time for knocking down,
a time for building.

A time for tears,
a time for laughter;
a time for mourning,
a time for dancing.

A time for throwing stones away,
a time for gathering them up;
a time for embracing,
a time to refrain from embracing.

A time for searching,
a time for losing;
a time for keeping,
a time for throwing away.

A time for tearing,
a time for sewing;
a time for keeping silent,
a time for speaking.

A time for loving,
a time for hating;
a time for war,
a time for peace.

What does a man gain for the efforts that he makes? I contemplate the task that God gives mankind to labour at. All that he does is apt for its time; but though he has permitted man to consider time in its wholeness, man cannot comprehend the work of God from beginning to end.

Gospel

Luke 9:18-22
‘You are the Christ of God’

One day when Jesus was praying alone in the presence of his disciples he put this question to them, ‘Who do the crowds say I am?’ And they answered, ‘John the Baptist; others Elijah; and others say one of the ancient prophets come back to life.’ ‘But you,’ he said ‘who do you say I am?’ It was Peter who spoke up. ‘The Christ of God’ he said. But he gave them strict orders not to tell anyone anything about this.
‘The Son of Man’ he said ‘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.’

What is the state of our lives? Are we meant to work ourselves into the ground? To keep superficial relationships alive for some semblance of sanity? To want and desire something new and yet, that something new becomes old in an instance. Living in paranoia and fear that our sins is catching up to us and soon we will pay the price much sooner than later. Ask yourself is this the life our loving Father in heaven means for you to have? Have you not boxed yourself into it by the choices you have made? Where was the Lord your God in all these choices?

Jesus came for you and me, so that we might have life to the full in Him. What good is it to know about Jesus but not enter into a deep personal relationship with the Savior of the world? Start this very day by surrendering your life to Him. Know that He will change all your curses into blessings. He will heal you of your sins and make you whole. You will have new and everlasting life with and in Him.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Now and forever. Amen

First reading

Ecclesiastes 1:2-11
Nothing is new and all is vanity

Vanity of vanities, the Preacher says. Vanity of vanities. Vanity of vanities. All is vanity! For all his toil, his toil under the sun, what does man gain by it?
A generation goes, a generation comes, yet the earth stands firm for ever. The sun rises, the sun sets; then to its place it speeds and there it rises. Southward goes the wind, then turns to the north; it turns and turns again; back then to its circling goes the wind. Into the sea all the rivers go, and yet the sea is never filled, and still to their goal the rivers go. All things are wearisome. No man can say that eyes have not had enough of seeing, ears their fill of hearing. What was will be again; what has been done will be done again; and there is nothing new under the sun. Take anything of which it may be said, ‘Look now, this is new.’ Already, long before our time, it existed. Only no memory remains of earlier times, just as in times to come next year itself will not be remembered.

Gospel

Luke 9:7-9
‘John? I beheaded him; so who is this?’

Herod the tetrarch had heard about all that was being done by Jesus; and he was puzzled, because some people were saying that John had risen from the dead, others that Elijah had reappeared, still others that one of the ancient prophets had come back to life. But Herod said, ‘John? I beheaded him. So who is this I hear such reports about?’ And he was anxious to see Jesus.

Be content in the Lord and you will have all that you need. For yourself, family and in the service of your brethren.

For it is unfettered desires, wants that burns like a wild fire. That leads us to sin and misery.

As we go out into the world to proclaim and share the joy of the Gospel. Let us carry only what we need… Jesus!

Jesus my Lord, You alone are my strength, my salvation, my everything. Be the Lord of my life now and forever. Amen

First reading

Proverbs 30:5-9
Give me neither riches nor poverty, only my share

Every word of God is unalloyed, he is the shield of those who take refuge in him.
To his words make no addition, lest he reprove you and know you for a fraud.

Two things I beg of you,do not grudge me them before I die:keep falsehood and lies far from me,give me neither poverty nor riches, grant me only my share of bread to eat, for fear that surrounded by plenty, I should fall away and say, ‘the Lord – who is the Lord?’ or else, in destitution, take to stealing and profane the name of my God.

Gospel

Luke 9:1-6
‘Take nothing for the journey’

Jesus called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all devils and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. He said to them, ‘Take nothing for the journey: neither staff, nor haversack, nor bread, nor money; and let none of you take a spare tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there; and when you leave, let it be from there. As for those who do not welcome you, when you leave their town shake the dust from your feet as a sign to them.’ So they set out and went from village to village proclaiming the Good News and healing everywhere.

If we want to compare ourselves with others which we should not, lest we see them as a benchmark to see how we are progressing; then let us compare ourselves with the saints now in heaven. Have we grown in holiness? Are we leading virtuous lives? Are we more loving and merciful? Are we attentive to the needs of others? Do others see the light of Christ within us?

The Word of God was always near and dear to the hearts of our beloved Saints who exemplified His Word through their loving works of mercy. They cared tenderly for the least of their brethren whom they saw as Jesus Himself.

Sisters and brothers, we may still be very far off on our journey towards sainthood, but let us encouraged one another. As we take little steps in the right direction on the narrow path. Let our Lord’s Word be a lamp unto our feet. Amen

First reading

Proverbs 21:1-6,10-13
On wickedness and virtue

Like flowing water is the heart of the king in the hand of the Lord,who turns it where he pleases.

A man’s conduct may strike him as upright,the Lord, however, weighs the heart.

To act virtuously and with justice is more pleasing to the Lord than sacrifice.

Haughty eye, proud heart, lamp of the wicked, nothing but sin.

The hardworking man is thoughtful, and all is gain;too much haste, and all that comes of it is want.

To make a fortune with the help of a lying tongue, such the idle fantasy of those who look for death.

The wicked man’s soul is intent on evil,he looks on his neighbour with dislike.

When a mocker is punished, the ignorant man grows wiser,when a wise man is instructed he acquires more knowledge.

The Just One watches the house of the wicked:he hurls the wicked to destruction.

He who shuts his ear to the poor man’s cry shall himself plead and not be heard.

Gospel

Luke 8:19-21
‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God’

The mother and the brothers of Jesus came looking for him, but they could not get to him because of the crowd. He was told, ‘Your mother and brothers are standing outside and want to see you.’ But he said in answer, ‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and put it into practice.’

Most live their lives as though the Lord our God is absent. They become impatient with their children, spouses, family members, community. They delay to tend to their needs as inertia sets in. And unchecked may lead to violent tendencies when their own wants and needs are not met. How then can we expect love of neighbour? Where is the love in anything they say and do? Absent while the Lord is ‘absent’?

The Lord our God is present all the time. Those who know this will not tarry. Even though they themselves may be tired, they will move for love of Him and neighbour. They do not live lives of duplicity and strive for Holiness. The light of Christ shines within them and so they become beacons of His love and grace.

Lord Jesus let me always live in Your presence, now and forever. Amen

First reading

Proverbs 3:27-34
The Lord blesses the home of the virtuous

My son, do not refuse a kindness to anyone who begs it, if it is in your power to perform it.

Do not say to your neighbour, ‘Go away! Come another time! I will give it you tomorrow’, if you can do it now.
Do not plot harm against your neighbour as he lives unsuspecting next door.
Do not pick a groundless quarrel with a man who has done you no harm.
Do not emulate the man of violence, never model your conduct on his; for the wilful wrong-doer is abhorrent to the Lord, who confides only in honest men.
The Lord’s curse lies on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the virtuous.
He mocks those who mock, but accords his favour to the humble.

Gospel

Luke 8:16-18
Anyone who has will be given more

Jesus said to the crowds:
‘No one lights a lamp to cover it with a bowl or to put it under a bed. No, he puts it on a lamp-stand so that people may see the light when they come in. For nothing is hidden but it will be made clear, nothing secret but it will be known and brought to light. So take care how you hear; for anyone who has will be given more; from anyone who has not, even what he thinks he has will be taken away.’

We reap what we sow. What it boils down to is our choice. Do we choose to put the Lord our God first in our lives or allow the world to rule it? Some examples of the latter would be to watch television, play games over family prayer and reflection. Skip community prayer meetings for leisurely activitues. So again we reap what we sow.

The Word of God gives life, loving and living the word in our lives bears fruit for us, our family, our community, our church and all who share in it. We become more and more like our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ in our words and actions. And so choosing to die in Him we will rise in Him.

Plant your word deep into my being Lord, so that I may always bear fruit for You. Amen

First reading

1 Corinthians 15:35-37,42-49
The resurrected body is heavenly by nature

Someone may ask, ‘How are dead people raised, and what sort of body do they have when they come back?’ They are stupid questions. Whatever you sow in the ground has to die before it is given new life and the thing that you sow is not what is going to come; you sow a bare grain, say of wheat or something like that, It is the same with the resurrection of the dead: the thing that is sown is perishable but what is raised is imperishable; the thing that is sown is contemptible but what is raised is glorious; the thing that is sown is weak but what is raised is powerful; when it is sown it embodies the soul, when it is raised it embodies the spirit.
If the soul has its own embodiment, so does the spirit have its own embodiment. The first man, Adam, as scripture says, became a living soul; but the last Adam has become a life-giving spirit. That is, first the one with the soul, not the spirit, and after that, the one with the spirit. The first man, being from the earth, is earthly by nature; the second man is from heaven. As this earthly man was, so are we on earth; and as the heavenly man is, so are we in heaven. And we, who have been modelled on the earthly man, will be modelled on the heavenly man.

Gospel

Luke 8:4-15
The parable of the sower

With a large crowd gathering and people from every town finding their way to him, Jesus used this parable:
‘A sower went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some fell on the edge of the path and was trampled on; and the birds of the air ate it up. Some seed fell on rock, and when it came up it withered away, having no moisture. Some seed fell amongst thorns and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some seed fell into rich soil and grew and produced its crop a hundredfold.’ Saying this he cried, ‘Listen, anyone who has ears to hear!’
His disciples asked him what this parable might mean, and he said, ‘The mysteries of the kingdom of God are revealed to you; for the rest there are only parables, so that they may see but not perceive, listen but not understand.

‘This, then, is what the parable means: the seed is the word of God. Those on the edge of the path are people who have heard it, and then the devil comes and carries away the word from their hearts in case they should believe and be saved. Those on the rock are people who, when they first hear it, welcome the word with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of trial they give up. As for the part that fell into thorns, this is people who have heard, but as they go on their way they are choked by the worries and riches and pleasures of life and do not reach maturity. As for the part in the rich soil, this is people with a noble and generous heart who have heard the word and take it to themselves and yield a harvest through their perseverance.’

We will all come to the realisation that we have to rely on one another’s gifts and talents in order to accomplish targets and goals with finesse. This is especially so if we are to give glory to God in building His kingdom. The key as St Paul shares with us is to do so in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. Bearing with one another. For me as for many, selflessness is the greatest obstacle. What is in it for me? Why must I sacrifice my time? Why must I do more than the others? Why must I suffer? Why should I do so for strangers?

Maturity in Christ is in embracing the knowledge that He gave Himself totally and completely for the love of us by dying on the cross. So that we might be liberated from our sins and certain death. By His example we are called to love one another especially the stranger and least of our brethren amongst us. We can do so by growing and deepening our relationship with Him through His Word. Living according to His will for us and striving for Holiness.

Then together with our master, we will rejoice with every soul we have touched through His grace and led to His kingdom. We will bear fruit as we are called to do. Amen

St Matthew pray for us..

First reading

Ephesians 4:1-7,11-13
We are all to come to unity, fully mature in the knowledge of the Son of God

I, the prisoner in the Lord, implore you to lead a life worthy of your vocation. Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. Do all you can tol preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together. There is one Body, one Spirit, just as you were all called into one and the same hope when you were called. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God who is Father of all, over all, through all and within all.
Each one of us, however, has been given his own share of grace, given as Christ allotted it. To some, his gift was that they should be apostles; to some, prophets; to some, evangelists; to some, pastors and teachers; so that the saints together make a unity in the work of service, building up the body of Christ. In this way we are all to come to unity in our faith and in our knowledge of the Son of God, until we become the perfect Man, fully mature with the fullness of Christ himself.

Gospel

Matthew 9:9-13
It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick

As Jesus was walking on, he saw a man named Matthew sitting by the customs house, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him.
While he was at dinner in the house it happened that a number of tax collectors and sinners came to sit at the table with Jesus and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your master eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ When he heard this he replied, ‘It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick. Go and learn the meaning of the words: What I want is mercy, not sacrifice. And indeed I did not come to call the virtuous, but sinners.’

Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, I will give you rest. This is the call of our loving Saviour who wants to set you free from all the sins you carry. What is your response? Continue to wallow in your misery? Try to break free by your own strength and efforts? Why continue to walk in circles? Seek out our Lord on your knees, weeping for your sins. He will heal, restore and sanctify you.

For Jesus knows your capability and capacity to love. He will transform you to become powerful instruments of His grace. Who better to spread the Gospel of God’s love then the sinner who once was lost but now is found. Who was without hope or love but now is filled with joy and Peace.

Lord Jesus I know without a doubt that you truly love me a sinner with all your heart. Let me be the disciple you want me to be. So that I may teach transgressors your ways and lead them to your abounding love. Amen

First reading

1 Corinthians 15:1-11
I preached what the others preach, and you all believed

Brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, the gospel that you received and in which you are firmly established; because the gospel will save you only if you keep believing exactly what I preached to you – believing anything else will not lead to anything.
Well then, in the first place, I taught you what I had been taught myself, namely that Christ died for our sins, in accordance with the scriptures; that he was buried; and that he was raised to life on the third day, in accordance with the scriptures; that he appeared first to Cephas and secondly to the Twelve. Next he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died; then he appeared to James, and then to all the apostles; and last of all he appeared to me too; it was as though I was born when no one expected it.
I am the least of the apostles; in fact, since I persecuted the Church of God, I hardly deserve the name apostle; but by God’s grace that is what I am, and the grace that he gave me has not been fruitless. On the contrary, I, or rather the grace of God that is with me, have worked harder than any of the others; but what matters is that I preach what they preach, and this is what you all believed.

Gospel

Luke 7:36-50
Her many sins have been forgiven, or she would not have shown such great love

One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to a meal. When he arrived at the Pharisee’s house and took his place at table, a woman came in, who had a bad name in the town. She had heard he was dining with the Pharisee and had brought with her an alabaster jar of ointment. She waited behind him at his feet, weeping, and her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them away with her hair; then she covered his feet with kisses and anointed them with the ointment.
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would know who this woman is that is touching him and what a bad name she has.’ Then Jesus took him up and said, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’ ‘Speak, Master’ was the reply. ‘There was once a creditor who had two men in his debt; one owed him five hundred denarii, the other fifty. They were unable to pay, so he pardoned them both. Which of them will love him more?’ ‘The one who was pardoned more, I suppose’ answered Simon. Jesus said, ‘You are right.’
Then he turned to the woman. ‘Simon,’ he said ‘you see this woman? I came into your house, and you poured no water over my feet, but she has poured out her tears over my feet and wiped them away with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but she has been covering my feet with kisses ever since I came in. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. For this reason I tell you that her sins, her many sins, must have been forgiven her, or she would not have shown such great love. It is the man who is forgiven little who shows little love.’ Then he said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ Those who were with him at table began to say to themselves, ‘Who is this man, that he even forgives sins?’ But he said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’

Have you encountered a stubborn, opinionated, disobedient child in your lifetime? Refusing to listen to reason or to be embraced by loving, nurturing hands? Take a good look in the mirror for if you do not have a loving relationship with the Lord your God then you are that very child!

Then there are children who have responded to the call to service because they had encountered the Lord. Some however have not grounded themselves on His Word but have relied on their own limited knowledge, gifts and talents to serve. Others do the bare minimum for their faith. How can you share hope, faith and love in and for the Lord, when you have little or none of these present in your own lives?

Lord Jesus to know you is to love you. To love you fills me with hope and peace. Let my faith grow in your love. Nourish me with your Word, that filled with your love I may serve you and my brethren faithfully. Amen

First reading

1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13
The supremacy of charity

Be ambitious for the higher gifts. And I am going to show you a way that is better than any of them.
If I have all the eloquence of men or of angels, but speak without love, I am simply a gong booming or a cymbal clashing. If I have the gift of prophecy, understanding all the mysteries there are, and knowing everything, and if I have faith in all its fullness, to move mountains, but without love, then I am nothing at all. If I give away all that I possess, piece by piece, and if I even let them take my body to burn it, but am without love, it will do me no good whatever.
Love is always patient and kind; it is never jealous; love is never boastful or conceited; it is never rude or selfish; it does not take offence, and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people’s sins but delights in the truth; it is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes.
Love does not come to an end. But if there are gifts of prophecy, the time will come when they must fail; or the gift of languages, it will not continue for ever; and knowledge – for this, too, the time will come when it must fail. For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophesying is imperfect; but once perfection comes, all imperfect things will disappear. When I was a child, I used to talk like a child, and think like a child, and argue like a child, but now I am a man, all childish ways are put behind me. Now we are seeing a dim reflection in a mirror; but then we shall be seeing face to face. The knowledge that I have now is imperfect; but then I shall know as fully as I am known.
In short, there are three things that last: faith, hope and love; and the greatest of these is love.

Gospel

Luke 7:31-35
‘We played the pipes, and you wouldn’t dance’

Jesus said to the people:
‘What description can I find for the men of this generation? What are they like? They are like children shouting to one another while they sit in the market-place:

‘“We played the pipes for you,
and you wouldn’t dance;
we sang dirges,
and you wouldn’t cry.”

‘For John the Baptist comes, not eating bread, not drinking wine, and you say, “He is possessed.” The Son of Man comes, eating and drinking, and you say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” Yet Wisdom has been proved right by all her children.’

Yes indeed we can marvel at just how vibrant our church is, with the many varied gifts and talents the Lord our God has poured on us all. Take for instance a charismatic healing session, we have an enigmatic priest, an eloquent dynamic prayer leader, we have angelic singers, highly skilled musicians, knowledgeable AV team, and a meticulous logistics team. All working as one to build God’s Kingdom.

Why then in some instances there is still jealousy, bickering and division? Ask ourselves then is Christ Jesus the centre of everything we say and do? Have we prayed regularly together? Is the word of God dear and near to each and everyone of us? Do we affirm one another’s gifts and talents? Are we single minded in our love and service of our Lord and our brethren? Are we as St Paul says, ambitious for higher gifts?

All that we strive for amounts to nothing if our Lord Jesus Christ does not dwell first in our hearts. So that all that we do for Him and especially our brethren will be filled with love, mercy and compassion. Our words and actions are life giving for we ourselves are connected to the source of life;our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

First reading

1 Corinthians 12:12-14,27-31
You together are Christ’s body: each of you a different part

Just as a human body, though it is made up of many parts, is a single unit because all these parts, though many, make one body, so it is with Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptised, Jews as well as Greeks, slaves as well as citizens, and one Spirit was given to us all to drink.
Nor is the body to be identified with any one of its many parts. Now you together are Christ’s body; but each of you is a different part of it. In the Church, God has given the first place to apostles, the second to prophets, the third to teachers; after them, miracles, and after them the gift of healing; helpers, good leaders, those with many languages. Are all of them apostles, or all of them prophets, or all of them teachers? Do they all have the gift of miracles, or all have the gift of healing? Do all speak strange languages, and all interpret them? Be ambitious for the higher gifts.

Gospel

Luke 7:11-17
The only son of his mother, and she a widow

Jesus went to a town called Nain, accompanied by his disciples and a great number of people. When he was near the gate of the town it happened that a dead man was being carried out for burial, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a considerable number of the townspeople were with her. When the Lord saw her he felt sorry for her. ‘Do not cry’ he said. Then he went up and put his hand on the bier and the bearers stood still, and he said, ‘Young man, I tell you to get up.’ And the dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Everyone was filled with awe and praised God saying, ‘A great prophet has appeared among us; God has visited his people.’ And this opinion of him spread throughout Judaea and all over the countryside.

Are we one in the Lord at every Eucharistic Celebration? Or are have we come individually to worship Him? Do we come to welcome Him singing with one voice or do we come on our own schedule? Where is the communion?

And so if we had received the Lord in Holy Communion then we must carry that communion with Him throughout the week. At every meeting, every gathering, one with and in Him. Otherwise our ministry, communities, family will be pulled in every direction. How then can we expect growth in faith, love even charity?

Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ is knowing that whether He is physically present or not, it is through our faith in Him that His grace abounds.

Lord I am not worthy to receive You, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed. Amen

First reading

1 Corinthians 11:17-26,33
If each one hurries to be first, it is not the Lord’s Supper you are eating

On the subject of instructions, I cannot say that you have done well in holding meetings that do you more harm than good. In the first place, I hear that when you all come together as a community, there are separate factions among you, and I half believe it – since there must no doubt be separate groups among you, to distinguish those who are to be trusted. The point is, when you hold these meetings, it is not the Lord’s Supper that you are eating, since when the time comes to eat, everyone is in such a hurry to start his own supper that one person goes hungry while another is getting drunk. Surely you have homes for eating and drinking in? Surely you have enough respect for the community of God not to make poor people embarrassed? What am I to say to you? Congratulate you? I cannot congratulate you on this.
For this is what I received from the Lord, and in turn passed on to you: that on the same night that he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread, and thanked God for it and broke it, and he said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this as a memorial of me.’ In the same way he took the cup after supper, and said, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Whenever you drink it, do this as a memorial of me.’ Until the Lord comes, therefore, every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are proclaiming his death, So to sum up, my dear brothers, when you meet for the Meal, wait for one another.

Gospel

Luke 7:1-10
Give the word, and my servant will be healed

When Jesus had come to the end of all he wanted the people to hear, he went into Capernaum. A centurion there had a servant, a favourite of his, who was sick and near death. Having heard about Jesus he sent some Jewish elders to him to ask him to come and heal his servant. When they came to Jesus they pleaded earnestly with him. ‘He deserves this of you’ they said ‘because he is friendly towards our people; in fact, he is the one who built the synagogue.’ So Jesus went with them, and was not very far from the house when the centurion sent word to him by some friends: ‘Sir,’ he said ‘do not put yourself to trouble; because I am not worthy to have you under my roof; and for this same reason I did not presume to come to you myself; but give the word and let my servant be cured. For I am under authority myself, and have soldiers under me; and I say to one man: Go, and he goes; to another: Come here, and he comes; to my servant: Do this, and he does it.’ When Jesus heard these words he was astonished at him and, turning round, said to the crowd following him, ‘I tell you, not even in Israel have I found faith like this.’ And when the messengers got back to the house they found the servant in perfect health.

Is it not fitting that a day after the exaltation of the Holy Cross we remember our lady of sorrows, our dearest mother whom our beloved Lord and saviour Jesus Christ gave us to be our very own.

She lovingly weeps for us her children, urging and guiding us towards holiness. To turn away from all evils of sin. She is present and stands with us in our trials and challenges interceding for us. How can we not be inspired then by her love? To live according to the will of her son our Lord.

Let us be single minded in all that we say and all that do in loving and serving the Lord our God. For then the world will see that we are truly one body in our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

Our Lady of sorrows pray for us….

First reading

1 Corinthians 10:14-22
We are a single body because we all share the one bread

My dear brothers, you must keep clear of idolatry. I say to you as sensible people: judge for yourselves what I am saying. The blessing-cup that we bless is a communion with the blood of Christ, and the bread that we break is a communion with the body of Christ. The fact that there is only one loaf means that, though there are many of us, we form a single body because we all have a share in this one loaf. Look at the other Israel, the race, where those who eat the sacrifices are in communion with the altar. Does this mean that the food sacrificed to idols has a real value, or that the idol itself is real? Not at all. It simply means that the sacrifices that they offer they sacrifice to demons who are not God. I have no desire to see you in communion with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot take your share at the table of the Lord and at the table of demons. Do we want to make the Lord angry; are we stronger than he is?

Gospel

John 19:25-27
‘Woman, this is your son’

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.

Love lifted on the cross for me: my Lord, my God, my salvation. Love lifted high to set me free: my Lord, my God, my salvation. Lyrics from this beautiful song of the cross which provides great depth for reflection on God our Father’s love for us all.

Many times in our life we had chosen to turn out backs on our Lord, placing everything else above Him. We had spoken or unspoken words of anger against God in our hearts. We had chosen to sin, sometimes out of spite, other times as an escape while other times simply our own base desires. Having succumbed to the poison of sin, death would surely come.

Yet our Lord Jesus Christ continues to invite us to turn to Him. With open arms He waits to embrace us. For to gaze upon Him on the cross is to witness God’s immense love for us. He died to set us free from the heavy bonds of sin. To live new, fruitful lives in Him. Everyone who believes may have eternal life in him. Amen

First reading

Numbers 21:4-9

If anyone was bitten by a serpent, he looked up at the bronze serpent and lived

On the way through the wilderness the people lost patience. They spoke against God and against Moses, ‘Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die in this wilderness? For there is neither bread nor water here; we are sick of this unsatisfying food.’
At this God sent fiery serpents among the people; their bite brought death to many in Israel. The people came and said to Moses, ‘We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you. Intercede for us with the Lord to save us from these serpents.’ Moses interceded for the people, and the Lord answered him, ‘Make a fiery serpent and put it on a standard. If anyone is bitten and looks at it, he shall live.’ So Moses fashioned a bronze serpent which he put on a standard, and if anyone was bitten by a serpent, he looked at the bronze serpent and lived.

Gospel

John 3:13-17
God sent his Son so that through him the world might be saved

Jesus said to Nicodemus:

‘No one has gone up to heaven except the one who came down from heaven, the Son of Man who is in heaven; and the Son of Man must be lifted up as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.
Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost but may have eternal life.
For God sent his Son into the world not to condemn the world, but so that through him the world might be saved.’

Song of the cross

We have a duty as God our Father’s children to lead everyone to a greater knowledge of Him through our Lord Jesus Christ so that they might enter into that same deep and meaningful, personal relationship we have with Him. We do so most of all by our holiness in Him.

That is to say we must avoid sin and sinfulness at all cost. There must be no hint of scandal in all we say or do. We cannot say that we sit with sinners and do what they do so as to gradually lead them into the light. No! Be holy as your heavenly Father is Holy.

Christians are called to a higher standard. The bar so to speak has been set by our Lord Jesus Christ who has shown us the way by His very own example. It is through Him alone that we can love as we ought, be merciful and kind as we ought. And much, much more. For His love and mercy abounds in us His faithful. And so the measure that we give, is the measure that we receive. Amen

First reading

1 Corinthians 8:1-7,11-13
Your brethren may be weaker than you: do not lead them astray

Now about food sacrificed to idols. ‘We all have knowledge’; yes, that is so, but knowledge gives self-importance – it is love that makes the building grow. A man may imagine he understands something, but still not understand anything in the way that he ought to. But any man who loves God is known by him. Well then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: we know that idols do not really exist in the world and that there is no god but the One. And even if there were things called gods, either in the sky or on earth – where there certainly seem to be ‘gods’ and ‘lords’ in plenty – still for us there is one God, the Father, from whom all things come and for whom we exist; and there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things come and through whom we exist.
Some people, however, do not have this knowledge. There are some who have been so long used to idols that they eat this food as though it really had been sacrificed to the idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled by it. In this way your knowledge could become the ruin of someone weak, of a brother for whom Christ died. By sinning in this way against your brothers, and injuring their weak consciences, it would be Christ against whom you sinned. That is why, since food can be the occasion of my brother’s downfall, I shall never eat meat again in case I am the cause of a brother’s downfall.

Gospel

Luke 6:27-38
Love your enemies

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I say this to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly. To the man who slaps you on one cheek, present the other cheek too; to the man who takes your cloak from you, do not refuse your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for your property back from the man who robs you. Treat others as you would like them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks can you expect? For even sinners do that much. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners lend to sinners to get back the same amount. Instead, love your enemies and do good, and lend without any hope of return. You will have a great reward, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
‘Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned yourselves; grant pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back.’