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We are all chosen children of God. Given many graces and talents to build His Kingdom. Not to use our gifts to Lord it over another. Or to flatter ourselves into thinking we are better than anyone else.

It is in humble service of our Lord Jesus and our brethren; that we realise by giving our all we receive much more than we could ever hope for.

But many still are not willing to use the gifts and talents they have received. Some are too lazy, self absorbed while others do not think they have any gifts or talents to begin with. If only they would say yes in faith and try they would see their gifts multiplied by our Lord!

Jesus guide my heart, my mind, my soul and in everything I do. So that one day I may hear You say to me, “Come my dear and faithful servant, come share in Your Lord’s happiness.” Amen

First reading
1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Take yourselves for instance, brothers, at the time when you were called: how many of you were wise in the ordinary sense of the word, how many were influential people, or came from noble families? No, it was to shame the wise that God chose what is foolish by human reckoning, and to shame what is strong that he chose what is weak by human reckoning; those whom the world thinks common and contemptible are the ones that God has chosen;– those who are nothing at all to show up those who are everything. The human race has nothing to boast about to God, but you, God has made members of Christ Jesus and by God’s doing he has become our wisdom, and our virtue, and our holiness, and our freedom. As scripture says:if anyone wants to boast, let him boast about the Lord.

Gospel
Matthew 25:14-30

Jesus spoke this parable to his disciples: ‘The kingdom of Heaven is like a man on his way abroad who summoned his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to a third one; each in proportion to his ability. Then he set out.

‘The man who had received the five talents promptly went and traded with them and made five more. The man who had received two made two more in the same way. But the man who had received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

‘Now a long time after, the master of those servants came back and went through his accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents came forward bringing five more. “Sir,” he said “you entrusted me with five talents; here are five more that I have made.”

‘His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have shown you can be faithful in small things, I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master’s happiness.”

‘Next the man with the two talents came forward. “Sir,” he said “you entrusted me with two talents; here are two more that I have made.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have shown you can be faithful in small things, I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master’s happiness.”

‘Last came forward the man who had the one talent. “Sir,” said he “I had heard you were a hard man, reaping where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered; so I was afraid, and I went off and hid your talent in the ground. Here it is; it was yours, you have it back.” But his master answered him, “You wicked and lazy servant! So you knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered? Well then, you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have recovered my capital with interest. So now, take the talent from him and give it to the man who has the five talents. For to everyone who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough; but from the man who has not, even what he has will be taken away. As for this good-for-nothing servant, throw him out into the dark, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.”’

A Day passes so quickly by and each day is very important. For it is precious as it is limited, and our individual days are numbered. How did we spend our day? Did we give glory to God our Father? Did we praise and thank Him for His graces and blessings each day? Did we care for His sheep and His lambs? Did we protect the innocent? Did we tend to the sick and hungry? Did we fortify our dwelling place? Did we perform an honest day’s work? Did we pray?

Or did we do just as we pleased? Take shortcuts and perform our paid duties without honesty or integrity. Play mindless games all day long or choose to be entertained as much as we can through online media, television or cinema through the day? Only seeking personal satisfaction and gratification.

Jesus my Christ my Lord, fortify my very being by Your grace. So that through You and with You I will be found each day doing all that is pleasing to God our Heavenly Father. Help me to remain steadfast in faith and in Your love. Amen

First reading
1 Corinthians 1:1-9

I, Paul, appointed by God to be an apostle, together with brother Sosthenes, send greetings to the church of God in Corinth, to the holy people of Jesus Christ, who are called to take their place among all the saints everywhere who pray to our Lord Jesus Christ; for he is their Lord no less than ours. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ send you grace and peace.

I never stop thanking God for all the graces you have received through Jesus Christ. I thank him that you have been enriched in so many ways, especially in your teachers and preachers; the witness to Christ has indeed been strong among you so that you will not be without any of the gifts of the Spirit while you are waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed; and he will keep you steady and without blame until the last day, the day of our Lord Jesus Christ, because God by calling you has joined you to his Son, Jesus Christ; and God is faithful.

Gospel
Matthew 24:42-51

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘Stay awake, because you do not know the day when your master is coming. You may be quite sure of this that if the householder had known at what time of the night the burglar would come, he would have stayed awake and would not have allowed anyone to break through the wall of his house. Therefore, you too must stand ready because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

‘What sort of servant, then, is faithful and wise enough for the master to place him over his household to give them their food at the proper time? ‘Happy that servant if his master’s arrival finds him at this employment. I tell you solemnly, he will place him over everything he owns. But as for the dishonest servant who says to himself, “My master is taking his time,” and sets about beating his fellow servants and eating and drinking with drunkards, his master will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not know. The master will cut him off and send him to the same fate as the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.’

Too busy, too preoccupied, too many things to worry about. Cannot change my schedule for even a day. How can I be expected to make time when I have very little ones to care for? The Lord understands, He is asking us, can you not spare me an hour of your time?

Many still don’t get it, the hour He asks for has never been for Him. It is for the love of us that He makes this request. To experience His love, peace and grace upon us. Those of us who do, can vouch for the rest, on all we receive through and in Him.  How we are rejuvenated and eager to going back to serving Him, our family. 
There are many still searching for God, for peace for meaning in their lives. We are called to invite them to “Come and see..” Come and experience what we have. Come and be filled with the joy of having a relationship with Him. Come and witness the Glory of God in our lives.

Lord Jesus I am Your disciple, let me be a witness to and for Your glory. Amen

First reading
Apocalypse 21:9-14

The angel came to speak to me, and said, ‘Come here and I will show you the bride that the Lamb has married.’ In the spirit, he took me to the top of an enormous high mountain and showed me Jerusalem, the holy city, coming down from God out of heaven. It had all the radiant glory of God and glittered like some precious jewel of crystal-clear diamond. The walls of it were of a great height, and had twelve gates; at each of the twelve gates there was an angel, and over the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel; on the east there were three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. The city walls stood on twelve foundation stones, each one of which bore the name of one of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

Gospel
John 1:45-51

Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, the one about whom the prophets wrote: he is Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.’ ‘From Nazareth?’ said Nathanael ‘Can anything good come from that place?’ ‘Come and see’ replied Philip. 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.’

We reap what we sow. If we sow seeds of virtues, love of God, love of neighbour then we will bear fruit pleasing to God our Father. Whatever is inside our hearts will be shown outwardly. No manner of hiding can conceal the truth. If it is the light of Christ within us so will it shine through our face, our thoughts, words and actions. And if it is darkness that grows within us, so too will that be brought to light.

Let us stand firm in our faith that has been given to us by our loving God, our Heavenly Father. Let us guide one another in truth and righteousness. Let us lead one another in humble adoration of our Lord Jesus Christ. And let pray confidently that one day soon we will be reunited with Him in His Heavenly Kingdom. Amen

First reading
2 Thessalonians 2:1-3,14-17

To turn, brothers, to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we shall all be gathered round him: please do not get excited too soon or alarmed by any prediction or rumour or any letter claiming to come from us, implying that the Day of the Lord has already arrived. Never let anyone deceive you in this way.

It cannot happen until the Great Revolt has taken place and the Rebel, the Lost One, has appeared. Through the Good News that we brought he called you to this so that you should share the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Stand firm, then, brothers, and keep the traditions that we taught you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father who has given us his love and, through his grace, such inexhaustible comfort and such sure hope, comfort you and strengthen you in everything good that you do or say.

Gospel
Matthew 23:23-26

Jesus said, ‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who pay your tithe of mint and dill and cumin and have neglected the weightier matters of the Law;– justice, mercy, good faith! These you should have practised, without neglecting the others. You blind guides! Straining out gnats and swallowing camels!

‘Alas for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You who clean the outside of cup and dish and leave the inside full of extortion and intemperance. Blind Pharisee! Clean the inside of cup and dish first so that the outside may become clean as well.’

Unassuming, humble, loving, gentle and kind. Qualities of many you possess O dearest mother and we strive for. Many your virtues sweet mother, of them your obedience to God our Heavenly Father. You are truly Blessed and through you with have been Blessed with the Prince of peace; our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.

O Queen of Heaven, our dearest Mother obtain for us the gifts of the Holy Spirit that we may be wise with your wisdom, understand with your understanding, know with your knowledge, prudent with your prudence, patient with your patience, courageous with your fortitude and desire justice ardently for everyone with the all consuming desire of the Sacred Heart of Jesus your son. Now and forever. Amen

First reading
Isaiah 9:1-6

The people that walked in darkness
has seen a great light; on those who live in a land of deep shadow
a light has shone.

You have made their gladness greater, you have made their joy increase; they rejoice in your presence as men rejoice at harvest time, as men are happy when they are dividing the spoils.

For the yoke that was weighing on him, the barb across his shoulders,
the rod of his oppressor, these you break as on the day of Midian.

For all the footgear of battle, every cloak rolled in blood, is burnt, and consumed by fire.

For there is a child born for us, a son given to us and dominion is laid on his shoulders; and this is the name they give him:

Wonder-Counsellor, Mighty-God,
Eternal-Father, Prince-of-Peace.

Gospel
Luke 1:26-38

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

We have an all powerful, almighty living God. Who is loving and merciful. Whose glory can be seen from age to age everywhere and in all creation. Jesus came to lift the burden of sin from us so that we may live in His love and joy. Who taught and led by example on how to be a servant leader. One which brings glory to God our Heavenly Father by our love and actions; for Him and our brethren.

Let us not serve for personal glory, want of power and honour. Let us will the good of our brothers and sisters and not lay burdens on them. Let our focus only be on building the Heavenly Kingdom for the glory of God our Father. And we shall be lifted up to be with Him forever as He promised. Amen

First reading
Ezekiel 43:1-7

The angel took me to the gate, the one facing east. I saw the glory of the God of Israel approaching from the east. A sound came with it, like the sound of the ocean, and the earth shone with his glory. This vision was like the one I had seen when I had come for the destruction of the city, and like the one I had seen on the bank of the river Chebar. Then I prostrated myself.

The glory of the Lord arrived at the Temple by the east gate. The spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; I saw the glory of the Lord fill the Temple. And I heard someone speaking to me from the Temple while the man stood beside me. The voice said, ‘Son of man, this is the dais of my throne, the step on which I rest my feet. I shall live here among the sons of Israel for ever.’

Gospel
Matthew 23:1-12

Addressing the people and his disciples Jesus said, ‘The scribes and the Pharisees occupy the chair of Moses. You must therefore do what they tell you and listen to what they say; but do not be guided by what they do: since they do not practise what they preach. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but will they lift a finger to move them? Not they! Everything they do is done to attract attention, like wearing broader phylacteries and longer tassels, like wanting to take the place of honour at banquets and the front seats in the synagogues, being greeted obsequiously in the market squares and having people call them Rabbi.

‘You, however, must not allow yourselves to be called Rabbi, since you have only one master, and you are all brothers. You must call no one on earth your father, since you have only one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor must you allow yourselves to be called teachers, for you have only one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be exalted.’

Praise the Lord God Almighty! For through His living Word we have life.

O breathe on me breath of God, let my soul cry out to You in joy. My drooping spirit rests and is revived in You.

You O Lord loved me first, and by Your love I have been transformed. Through Your divine grace I am able to love beyond my human capacity. Thank You Lord.

I love You Lord Jesus , with all my heart, all my strength and all my soul. Let me be consecrated to You this day and every day. Amen

My First reading
Ezekiel 37:1-14

The hand of the Lord was laid on me, and he carried me away by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley, a valley full of bones. He made me walk up and down among them. There were vast quantities of these bones on the ground the whole length of the valley; and they were quite dried up. He said to me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?’ I said, ‘You know, Lord.’ He said, ‘Prophesy over these bones. Say, “Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. The Lord says this to these bones: I am now going to make the breath enter you, and you will live. I shall put sinews on you, I shall make flesh grow on you, I shall cover you with skin and give you breath, and you will live; and you will learn that I am the Lord.”’ I prophesied as I had been ordered. While I was prophesying, there was a noise, a sound of clattering; and the bones joined together. I looked, and saw that they were covered with sinews; flesh was growing on them and skin was covering them, but there was no breath in them. He said to me, ‘Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man. Say to the breath, “The Lord says this: Come from the four winds, breath; breathe on these dead; let them live!”’ I prophesied as he had ordered me, and the breath entered them; they came to life again and stood up on their feet, a great, an immense army.

Then he said, ‘Son of man, these bones are the whole House of Israel. They keep saying, “Our bones are dried up, our hope has gone; we are as good as dead.” So prophesy. Say to them, “The Lord says this: I am now going to open your graves; I mean to raise you from your graves, my people, and lead you back to the soil of Israel. And you will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and raise you from your graves, my people. And I shall put my spirit in you, and you will live, and I shall resettle you on your own soil; and you will know that I, the Lord, have said and done this– it is the Lord who speaks.”’

Gospel
Matthew 22:34-40

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees they got together and, to disconcert him, one of them put a question, ‘Master, which is the greatest commandment of the Law?’ Jesus said, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second resembles it: You must love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang the whole Law, and the Prophets also.’

By our baptism we were cleansed, purified, made Holy. We became sanctified children of God our Heavenly Father.  Called to live out our baptismal promises. And we were given the necessary graces to do so. 

Are we doing so? Or have we turned our backs on them? Too busy with earning a living? Too busy with raising a family? Too busy socialising and trying to climb up the corporate ladder? Attending Sunday Eucharist as an obligation? Receiving the Holy Eucharist unworthily?  Refusing to go for the Sacrament of reconciliation? 

O Lord our God, be merciful to us whose hearts cry out to You for forgiveness. Help us to remain steadfast in faith and in Your love in this challenging times that we live in. Be with us Jesus. You who live and reign with our Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen  

First reading
Ezekiel 36:23-28

The word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows: ‘I mean to display the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned among them. And the nations will learn that I am the Lord–it is the Lord who speaks– when I display my holiness for your sake before their eyes. Then I am going to take you from among the nations and gather you together from all the foreign countries, and bring you home to your own land. I shall pour clean water over you and you will be cleansed; I shall cleanse you of all your defilement and all your idols. I shall give you a new heart, and put a new spirit in you; I shall remove the heart of stone from your bodies and give you a heart of flesh instead. I shall put my spirit in you, and make you keep my laws and sincerely respect my observances. You will live in the land which I gave your ancestors. You shall be my people and I will be your God.’

Gospel
Matthew 22:1-14

Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people, ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a feast for his son’s wedding. He sent his servants to call those who had been invited, but they would not come. Next he sent some more servants. “Tell those who have been invited” he said “that I have my banquet all prepared, my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, everything is ready. Come to the wedding.” But they were not interested: one went off to his farm, another to his business, and the rest seized his servants, maltreated them and killed them. The king was furious. He despatched his troops, destroyed those murderers and burnt their town. Then he said to his servants, “The wedding is ready; but as those who were invited proved to be unworthy, go to the crossroads in the town and invite everyone you can find to the wedding.” So these servants went out on to the roads and collected together everyone they could find, bad and good alike; and the wedding hall was filled with guests. When the king came in to look at the guests he noticed one man who was not wearing a wedding garment, and said to him, “How did you get in here, my friend, without a wedding garment?” And the man was silent. Then the king said to the attendants, “Bind him hand and foot and throw him out into the dark, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.” For many are called, but few are chosen.’

Many of us want to be ahead in life and there is nothing wrong with striving to be the best we can be. A little competition challenges us to do better. The problem lies when we put ourselves above everyone else. We care little about the interests and well being of anyone else that is if we care at all. It becomes all about our personal glory, health and wealth.

Our merciful and loving Heavenly Father cares for all His children. And He expects that all His children care for one another. All have been given different gifts, talents and we use them to build up His Kingdom. To care for and lead one another home to Him.

Show me my purpose Lord, guide me so that I may always give glory to my Heavenly Father in all that I do for him

First reading
Ezekiel 34:1-11

The word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows: ‘Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them:

‘“Shepherds, the Lord says this: Trouble for the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Shepherds ought to feed their flock, yet you have fed on milk, you have dressed yourselves in wool, you have sacrificed the fattest sheep, but failed to feed the flock. You have failed to make weak sheep strong, or to care for the sick ones, or bandage the wounded ones. You have failed to bring back strays or look for the lost. On the contrary, you have ruled them cruelly and violently. For lack of a shepherd they have scattered, to become the prey of any wild animal; they have scattered far. My flock is straying this way and that, on mountains and on high hills; my flock has been scattered all over the country; no one bothers about them and no one looks for them.

‘“Well then, shepherds, hear the word of the Lord. As I live, I swear – it is the Lord who speaks;– since my flock has been looted and for lack of a shepherd is now the prey of any wild animal, since my shepherds have stopped bothering about my flock, since my shepherds feed themselves rather than my flock, in view of all this, shepherds, hear the word of the Lord. The Lord says this: I am going to call the shepherds to account. I am going to take my flock back from them and I shall not allow them to feed my flock. In this way the shepherds will stop feeding themselves. I shall rescue my sheep from their mouths; they will not prey on them any more.”

‘For the Lord says this: “I am going to look after my flock myself and keep all of it in view.”’

Gospel
Matthew 20:1-16

Jesus told this parable to his disciples: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner going out at daybreak to hire workers for his vineyard. He made an agreement with the workers for one denarius a day, and sent them to his vineyard. Going out at about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the market place and said to them, “You go to my vineyard too and I will give you a fair wage.” So they went. At about the sixth hour and again at about the ninth hour, he went out and did the same. Then at about the eleventh hour he went out and found more men standing round, and he said to them, “Why have you been standing here idle all day?” “Because no one has hired us” they answered. He said to them, “You go into my vineyard too.” In the evening, the owner of the vineyard said to his bailiff, “Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with the last arrivals and ending with the first.” So those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came forward and received one denarius each. When the first came, they expected to get more, but they too received one denarius each. They took it, but grumbled at the landowner. “The men who came last” they said “have done only one hour, and you have treated them the same as us, though we have done a heavy day’s work in all the heat.” He answered one of them and said, “My friend, I am not being unjust to you; did we not agree on one denarius? Take your earnings and go. I choose to pay the last comer as much as I pay you. Have I no right to do what I like with my own? Why be envious because I am generous?” Thus the last will be first, and the first, last.’

As we age how do we turn back the clock? How do we restore our diminishing strength and sight? Did we do enough to deepen our relationship with Jesus for ourselves and for our families? Are our relationships centred on Christ? Do we have hope for life eternal with God our Heavenly Father?

What good then is our wisdom and our wealth? Can we take them to our grave? What good is our name if our legacy does nothing to save souls in Jesus name? How truly ignorant and poor are we?

Lord Jesus whatever time I have left, let it all be for You and my brethren. Provide whatever is necessary for me to bring the many that are lost back to You. Amen

First reading
Ezekiel 28:1-10

The word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows, ‘Son of man, tell the ruler of Tyre, “The Lord says this:

Being swollen with pride, you have said: I am a god; I am sitting on the throne of God, surrounded by the seas.

Though you are a man and not a god, you consider yourself the equal of God.

You are wiser now than Danel; there is no sage as wise as you.
By your wisdom and your intelligence you have amassed great wealth; you have piles of gold and silver inside your treasure-houses.

Such is your skill in trading, your wealth has continued to increase,
and with this your heart has grown more arrogant.

And so, the Lord says this:

Since you consider yourself the equal of God, very well, I am going to bring foreigners against you, the most barbarous of the nations.

They will draw sword against your fine wisdom, they will defile your glory; they will throw you down into the pit and you will die a violent death surrounded by the seas.

Are you still going to say: I am a god, when your murderers confront you?

No, you are a man and not a god in the clutches of your murderers!

You will die like the uncircumcised
at the hand of foreigners.

For I have spoken–it is the Lord who speaks.”’

Gospel
Matthew 19:23-30

Jesus said to his disciples, ‘I tell you solemnly, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Yes, I tell you again, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.’ When the disciples heard this they were astonished. ‘Who can be saved, then?’ they said. Jesus gazed at them. ‘For men’ he told them ‘this is impossible; for God everything is possible.’

Then Peter spoke. ‘What about us?’ he said to him ‘We have left everything and followed you. What are we to have, then?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I tell you solemnly, when all is made new and the Son of Man sits on his throne of glory, you will yourselves sit on twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or land for the sake of my name will be repaid a hundred times over, and also inherit eternal life.

‘Many who are first will be last, and the last, first.’

Just like a loving parent who sometimes nags a child into action to change or to do good. So does our loving heavenly Father who sends His prophets to us. But soon enough as we continue to shut our ears, the loving call to repentance will stop. We will answer for our continued sins against Him and our brethren.

Hoarding the wealth of the world for ourselves brings us neither peace nor joy. What good is shortlived happiness if it robs us of our Heavenly inheritance?

The more we let go of from our hands, give of ourselves to the Lord and our brethren; the more we receive from Him. That which is invaluable and the wealth of the world cannot purchase.

Lord Jesus in You I have everything. Amen

First Reading
Ezekiel 24:15-24

The word of Yahweh was addressed to me as follows, ‘Son of man, at a blow I am about to deprive you of the delight of your eyes. But you are not to lament, not to weep, not to let your tears run down. Groan in silence, do not go into mourning for the dead, knot your turban round your head, put your sandals on your feet, do not cover your beard, do not eat the usual food.’ I told this to the people in the morning, and my wife died in the evening, and the next morning I did as I had been ordered. The people then said to me, ‘Will you not explain what meaning these actions have for us?’ I replied, ‘The word of Yahweh has been addressed to me as follows, “Say to the House of Israel, the Lord Yahweh says this: I am about to profane my sanctuary, the pride of your strength, the delight of your eyes, the joy of your hearts. Your sons and daughters whom you have left behind will fall by the sword. Then you will do as I have done: you will not cover your beards or eat the usual food; you will keep your turbans on your heads and your sandals on your feet; you will not lament or weep but will waste away for your crimes, groaning among yourselves. Thus Ezekiel is a sign for you. You will do exactly what he has done. And when this happens, you will know that I am Lord Yahweh!”

Gospel
Matthew 19;16-22

And now a man came to him and asked, ‘Master, what good deed must I do to possess eternal life?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you ask me about what is good? There is one alone who is good. But if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.’ He said, ‘Which ones?’ Jesus replied, ‘These: You shall not kill. You shall not commit adultery You shall not steal. You shall not give false witness. Honour your father and your mother. You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ The young man said to him, ‘I have kept all these. What more do I need to do?’ Jesus said, ‘If you wish to be perfect, go and sell your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ But when the young man heard these words he went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth.

O loving and Blessed Mother of us all, you truly are an inspiration for all of us. You who were chosen from the very beginning, humbly accepted all that would come by your Yes. With open eyes and heart without reservation. Many great sacrifices you willingly made with your heart pierced on many occasions. Still you continued to serve the Lord your God with joy in heart and rightfully so. For He is a merciful loving Father whose love for us abounds. Where Your Son went, You followed to the very end. Only to begin Your new life with Him.

Mary our Mother, be with us as You continue to intercede for us. May our lives magnify the Lord who lives and reigns in our hearts. Now and forever. Amen

First reading
Apocalypse 11:19,12:1-6,10

The sanctuary of God in heaven opened and the ark of the covenant could be seen inside it. Then came flashes of lightning, peals of thunder and an earthquake, and violent hail.

Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman, adorned with the sun, standing on the moon, and with the twelve stars on her head for a crown. She was pregnant, and in labour, crying aloud in the pangs of childbirth. Then a second sign appeared in the sky, a huge red dragon which had seven heads and ten horns, and each of the seven heads crowned with a coronet. Its tail dragged a third of the stars from the sky and dropped them to the earth, and the dragon stopped in front of the woman as she was having the child, so that he could eat it as soon as it was born from its mother. The woman brought a male child into the world, the son who was to rule all the nations with an iron sceptre, and the child was taken straight up to God and to his throne, while the woman escaped into the desert, where God had made a place of safety ready, for her to be looked after in the twelve hundred and sixty days.

Then I heard a voice shout from heaven, ‘Victory and power and empire for ever have been won by our God, and all authority for his Christ, now that the persecutor, who accused our brothers day and night before our God, has been brought down.’

Second reading
1 Corinthians 15:20-26

Christ has been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of all who have fallen asleep. Death came through one man and in the same way the resurrection of the dead has come through one man. Just as all men die in Adam, so all men will be brought to life in Christ; but all of them in their proper order: Christ as the first-fruits and then, after the coming of Christ, those who belong to him. After that will come the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, having done away with every sovereignty, authority and power. For he must be king until he has put all his enemies under his feet and the last of the enemies to be destroyed is death, for everything is to be put under his feet.

Gospel
Luke 1:39-56

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

And Mary said:

‘My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit exults in God my saviour; because he has looked upon his lowly handmaid.

Yes, from this day forward all generations will call me blessed, for the Almighty has done great things for me.

Holy is his name, and his mercy reaches from age to age for those who fear him.

He has shown the power of his arm, he has routed the proud of heart.

He has pulled down princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly.

The hungry he has filled with good things, the rich sent empty away.

He has come to the help of Israel his servant, mindful of his mercy – according to the promise he made to our ancestors– of his mercy to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’

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

Don’t give excuses, blame the generations before us or justify sinful actions. For each and every one of us are accountable for our own sins. We are all individually unique and created in God’s our Father’s Love and image. Let us recognise the child of God in one another.

We must strive to be faithful children, turning away from sin and returning to our Lord Jesus for His grace when we falter. Separated from the Lord our God we have no life.

Ever loving and merciful Lord, look favourably on your servants. Grant us the graces necessary to live faithfully in Your love. That we may all be reunited in Heaven. Amen

First reading
Ezekiel 18:1-10,13,30-32

The word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows:

‘Why do you keep repeating this proverb in the land of Israel: “The fathers have eaten unripe grapes; and the children’s teeth are set on edge”?

‘As I live– it is the Lord who speaks– there will no longer be any reason to repeat this proverb in Israel. See now: all life belongs to me; the father’s life and the son’s life, both alike belong to me. The man who has sinned, he is the one who shall die.

The upright man is law-abiding and honest; he does not eat on the mountains or raise his eyes to the idols of the House of Israel, does not seduce his neighbour’s wife or sleep with a woman during her periods. He oppresses no one, returns pledges, never steals, gives his own bread to the hungry, his clothes to the naked. He never charges usury on loans, takes no interest, abstains from evil, gives honest judgement between man and man, keeps my laws and sincerely respects my observances–such a man is truly upright. It is the Lord who speaks.

‘But if anyone has a son prone to violence and bloodshed, then this son shall certainly not live; having committed all these appalling crimes he will have to die, and his blood be on his own head.

House of Israel, in future I mean to judge each of you by what he does–it is the Lord who speaks. Repent, renounce all your sins, avoid all occasions of sin! Shake off all the sins you have committed against me, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why are you so anxious to die, House of Israel? I take no pleasure in the death of anyone–it is the Lord who speaks. Repent and live!’

Gospel
Matthew 19:13-15

People brought little children to Jesus, for him to lay his hands on them and say a prayer. The disciples turned them away, but Jesus said, ‘Let the little children alone, and do not stop them coming to me; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.’ Then he laid his hands on them and went on his way.

The most cherished union is that with our living Lord and God! For no one will ever love us more than He. And if we truly cherish our union with Him then we must remain faithful.

If it is His Will that we should marry then we must cherish our spouse and no other. We must cherish our union with and in Him.

Those who remain single for whatever reasons are never alone or ever lonely; for He is faithfully present to His faithful.

Only the unfaithful entertain thoughts of separation. Whose will be done?

Lord keep me faithful, now and forever. Amen

First reading
Ezekiel 16:1-15,60,63

The word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows, ‘Son of man, confront Jerusalem with her filthy crimes. Say, “The Lord says this: By origin and birth you belong to the land of Canaan. Your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. At birth, the very day you were born, there was no one to cut your navel-string, or wash you in cleansing water, or rub you with salt, or wrap you in napkins. No one leaned kindly over you to do anything like that for you. You were exposed in the open fields; you were as unloved as that on the day you were born.

‘“I saw you struggling in your blood as I was passing, and I said to you as you lay in your blood: Live, and grow like the grass of the fields. You developed, you grew, you reached marriageable age. Your breasts and your hair both grew, but you were quite naked. Then I saw you as I was passing. Your time had come, the time for love. I spread part of my cloak over you and covered your nakedness; I bound myself by oath, I made a covenant with you– it is the Lord who speaks– and you became mine. I bathed you in water, I washed the blood off you, I anointed you with oil. I gave you embroidered dresses, fine leather shoes, a linen headband and a cloak of silk. I loaded you with jewels, gave you bracelets for your wrists and a necklace for your throat. I gave you nose-ring and earrings; I put a beautiful diadem on your head. You were loaded with gold and silver, and dressed in fine linen and embroidered silks. Your food was the finest flour, honey and oil. You grew more and more beautiful; and you rose to be queen. The fame of your beauty spread through the nations, since it was perfect, because I had clothed you with my own splendour– it is the Lord who speaks.

‘“You have become infatuated with your own beauty; you have used your fame to make yourself a prostitute; you have offered your services to all comers. But I will remember the covenant that I made with you when you were a girl, and I will conclude a covenant with you that shall last for ever. And so remember and be covered with shame, and in your confusion be reduced to silence, when I have pardoned you for all that you have done– it is the Lord who speaks.”’

Gospel
Matthew 19:3-12

Some Pharisees approached Jesus, and to test him they said, ‘Is it against the Law for a man to divorce his wife on any pretext whatever?’ He answered, ‘Have you not read that the creator from the beginning made them male and female and that he said: This is why a man must leave father and mother, and cling to his wife, and the two become one body? They are no longer two, therefore, but one body. So then, what God has united, man must not divide.’

They said to him, ‘Then why did Moses command that a writ of dismissal should be given in cases of divorce?’ ‘It was because you were so unteachable’ he said ‘that Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but it was not like this from the beginning. Now I say this to you: the man who divorces his wife– I am not speaking of fornication– and marries another, is guilty of adultery.’

The disciples said to him, ‘If that is how things are between husband and wife, it is not advisable to marry.’ But he replied, ‘It is not everyone who can accept what I have said, but only those to whom it is granted. There are eunuchs born that way from their mother’s womb, there are eunuchs made so by men and there are eunuchs who have made themselves that way for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can.’

It is by far easier to withhold forgiveness then to forgive without reservation. And yet our merciful Lord has shown us His mercy and forgiveness on countless occasions during the course of our very own lives. He died for us and forgave us from the cross upon which we hung Him by our sins. Who are we to withhold our forgiveness of another?

To forgive from the heart is to be set free to love our neighbour as we should. It does not mean we subject ourselves to more abuse, it only means we forgive the abuser and move on with loving and serving the Lord our God.

If we withhold our forgiveness of others then we withhold forgiveness for ourselves. Our stubbornness of heart only exiles us from our loving Father in Heaven. Darkness over shadows our ability to see the light of the truth.

Lord Jesus let my heart be of flesh and not of stone. And let Your mercy flow through it. Amen

First reading
Ezekiel 12:1-12

The word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows, ‘Son of man, you are living with that set of rebels who have eyes and never see, ears and never hear, for they are a set of rebels. You, son of man, pack an exile’s bundle and emigrate by daylight when they can see you, emigrate from where you are to somewhere else while they watch. Perhaps they will admit then that they are a set of rebels. You will pack your baggage like an exile’s bundle, by daylight, for them to see, and leave like an exile in the evening, making sure that they are looking. As they watch, make a hole in the wall, and go out through it. As they watch, you will shoulder your pack and go out into the dark; you will cover your face so that you cannot see the country, since I have made you a symbol for the House of Israel.’

I did as I had been told. I packed my baggage like an exile’s bundle, by daylight; and in the evening I made a hole through the wall with my hand. I went out into the dark and shouldered my pack as they watched.

The next morning the word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows, ‘Son of man, did not the House of Israel, did not that set of rebels, ask you what you were doing? Say, “The Lord says this: This oracle is directed against Jerusalem and the whole House of Israel wherever they are living.” Say, “I am a symbol for you; the thing I have done will be done to them; they will go into exile, into banishment.” Their ruler will shoulder his pack in the dark and go out through the wall; a hole will be made to let him out; he will cover his face rather than see the country.’

Gospel
Matthew 18:21-19:1

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.’

Jesus had now finished what he wanted to say, and he left Galilee and came into the part of Judaea which is on the far side of the Jordan.

Why do many still say no to the call of the Lord to do more? Not good enough? Not knowledgeable enough? Who decided so?

It is the Lord alone who truly knows what we are each capable of and He gives us more than we have to complete His mission. All we need do is trust in Him and let go. Dying to ourself means rising in Him. Rich indeed is His harvest!

Thank You Jesus for looking upon the best in me and always nurturing me to do better and be better. Amen

First reading
2 Corinthians 9:6-10

Do not forget: thin sowing means thin reaping; the more you sow, the more you reap. Each one should give what he has decided in his own mind, not grudgingly or because he is made to, for God loves a cheerful giver. And there is no limit to the blessings which God can send you– he will make sure that you will always have all you need for yourselves in every possible circumstance, and still have something to spare for all sorts of good works. As scripture says: He was free in almsgiving, and gave to the poor: his good deeds will never be forgotten.

The one who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide you with all the seed you want and make the harvest of your good deeds a larger one.

Gospel
John 12:24-26

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘I tell you, most solemnly, unless a wheat grain falls on the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain;
but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest.

Anyone who loves his life loses it;
anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it for the eternal life.

If a man serves me, he must follow me, wherever I am, my servant will be there too.

If anyone serves me, my Father will honour him.’

The living word of God was sent to gather us His children unto Him. To tell us that the Kingdom of God was at hand and that we should repent so as to be saved. Every child of His possesses the key which is purity of heart, innocence and the knowledge that our Heavenly Father’s will provide for all that we need.

Nothing or no one can ever separate us from the love of God, and every lost sheep is never so lost that cannot be found. Great is the mercy and love of our Lord.

Only those who choose to turn their backs to the Lord our God are truly lost.

O guardian angel guide my steps that I may never stray. Amen

First reading
Ezekiel 2:8-3:4

I, Ezekiel, heard a voice speaking. It said, ‘You, son of man, listen to the words I say; do not be a rebel like that rebellious set. Open your mouth and eat what I am about to give you.’ I looked. A hand was there, stretching out to me and holding a scroll. He unrolled it in front of me; it was written on back and front; on it was written ‘lamentations, wailings, meanings.’ He said, ‘Son of man, eat what is given to you; eat this scroll, then go and speak to the House of Israel.’ I opened my mouth; he gave me the scroll to eat and said, ‘Son of man, feed and be satisfied by the scroll I am giving you.’ I ate it, and it tasted sweet as honey.

Then he said, ‘Son of man, go to the House of Israel and tell them what I have said.’

Gospel
Matthew 18:1-5,10,12-14

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.

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

Lord God of all creation, You are truly almighty; omnipotent! Yet You came and walked amongst us. Embraced us with Your healing touch and invite us all into a loving relationship with You. Love lifted on a cross for us; died so that we may live.

You taught us by example how to serve in humility our brethren and our Heavenly Father. So long as it does not go against the Will of our Heavenly Father then we should respect and follow all the laws of the land. Living in harmony with those who have yet to know and worship You.

Lord guide me with Your infinite wisdom. Amen

First reading
Ezekiel 1:2-5,24-28

On the fifth of the month – it was the fifth year of exile for King Jehoiachin– the word of the Lord was addressed to the priest Ezekiel son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldaeans, on the bank of the river Chebar.

There the hand of the Lord came on me. I looked; a stormy wind blew from the north, a great cloud with light around it, a fire from which flashes of lightning darted, and in the centre a sheen like bronze at the heart of the fire. In the centre I saw what seemed four animals. I heard the noise of their wings as they moved; it sounded like rushing water, like the voice of Shaddai, a noise like a storm, like the noise of a camp; when they halted, they folded their wings, and there was a noise.

Above the vault over their heads was something that looked like a sapphire; it was shaped like a throne and high up on this throne was a being that looked like a man. I saw him shine like bronze, and close to and all around him from what seemed his loins upwards was what looked like fire; and from what seemed his loins downwards I saw what looked like fire, and a light all round like a bow in the clouds on rainy days; that is how the surrounding light appeared. It was something that looked like the glory of the Lord. I looked, and prostrated myself.

Gospel
Matthew 17:22-27

One day when they were together in Galilee, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘The Son of Man is going to be handed over into the power of men; they will put him to death, and on the third day he will be raised to life again.’ And a great sadness came over them.

When they reached Capernaum, the collectors of the half-shekel came to Peter and said, ‘Does your master not pay the half-shekel?’ ‘Oh yes’ he replied, and went into the house. But before he could speak, Jesus said, ‘Simon, what is your opinion? From whom do the kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their sons or from foreigners?’ And when he replied, ‘From foreigners’, Jesus said, ‘Well then, the sons are exempt. However, so as not to offend these people, go to the lake and cast a hook; take the first fish that bites, open its mouth and there you will find a shekel; take it and give it to them for me and for you.’

The transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ was not just a great sign of the sovereign Lord and our God among us. Nor was it just a revelation of a reality to come.

It is what happens when we ourselves are transfigured in and through our Lord Jesus Christ. When we live in His light and leave the darkness of our sinful past behind us. For only then are our hearts and minds illumined. We live and love in the glory of our Risen Lord.

Glory and Praise to our Lord Jesus Christ! Who was, who is and who will come again. Amen

First reading
Daniel 7:9-10,13-14

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. 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.

Second reading
2 Peter 1:16-19

It was not any cleverly invented myths that we were repeating when we brought you the knowledge of the power and the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; we had seen his majesty for ourselves. He was honoured and glorified by God the Father, when the Sublime Glory itself spoke to him and said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour.’ We heard this ourselves, spoken from heaven, when we were with him on the holy mountain.

So we have confirmation of what was said in prophecies; and you will be right to depend on prophecy and take it as a lamp for lighting a way through the dark until the dawn comes and the morning star rises in your minds

Gospel
Luke 9:28-36

Jesus took with him Peter and John and James and went up the mountain to pray. As he prayed, the aspect of his face was changed and his clothing became brilliant as lightning. Suddenly there were two men there talking to him; they were Moses and Elijah appearing in glory, and they were speaking of his passing which he was to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were heavy with sleep, but they kept awake and saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As these were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is wonderful for us to be here; so let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’;– He did not know what he was saying. As he spoke, a cloud came and covered them with shadow; and when they went into the cloud the disciples were afraid. And a voice came from the cloud saying, ‘This is my Son, the Chosen One. Listen to him.’ And after the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. The disciples kept silence and, at that time, told no one what they had seen.

What are some of the reasons people give for misdeeds? I’m doing it for my family, so they will have a better life. If I don’t do it someone else will. Technically it’s not breaking the law, rules, it’s bending them a ‘little’. No one will get hurt. It’s a golden opportunity which will never come again. So we become rich for a while, what then? We are satisfied for a while, what then? We want more! And so we must do more!

What better life can there be other than to lead holy lives? To remain faithful in the service of God our Father and our brethren. To live the fullness of life only to be found in our relationship with Jesus Christ our Lord. And all this is possible by refusing to give in to the ways of the world, to face challenges head on. To do only what is pleasing to God our Heavenly Father according to His Will for us. This is what it means to take up the cross and follow Jesus.

Jesus my Lord, lead the way. I am here to follow You. Amen

First reading
Nahum 2:1,3,3:1-3,6-7

See, over the mountains the messenger hurries!

‘Peace!’ he proclaims. Judah, celebrate your feasts, carry out your vows, for Belial will never pass through you again; he is utterly annihilated.

Yes, the Lord is restoring the vineyard of Jacob and the vineyard of Israel.

For the plunderers had plundered them, they had broken off their branches. Woe to the city soaked in blood, full of lies, stuffed with booty, whose plunderings know no end!

The crack of the whip! The rumble of wheels! Galloping horse, jolting chariot, charging cavalry, flash of swords, gleam of spears…a mass of wounded, hosts of dead, countless corpses; they stumble over the dead.

I am going to pelt you with filth, shame you, make you a public show. And all who look on you will turn their backs on you and say,

‘Nineveh is a ruin.’ Could anyone pity her? Where can I find anyone to comfort her?

Gospel
Matthew 16:24-28

Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it. What, then, will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life? Or what has a man to offer in exchange for his life?

‘For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and, when he does, he will reward each one according to his behaviour. I tell you solemnly, there are some of these standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming with his kingdom.’

There are no shortcuts neither are there easy pathways, that will lead us; unto the narrow and straight way to the Lord. By our baptism we have entered into the convenatal promise of the Lord our God. We have been given a ‘map’ a built in ‘GPS system’ in which we know the way home to Him. And through it we see the challenges ahead. As we embark on our journey we often find unseen challenges and trials along the way. However from the very start of our decision to journey on the right path home to Him; He was and is with us every step of the way.

Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. He is the promise fulfilled. Through Him we have the laws written on our hearts. Through Him we are Sons and Daughters of God our heavenly Father. Through Him we are one Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church!

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Amen

First reading
Jeremiah 31:31-34

See, the days are coming– it is the Lord who speaks– when I will make a new covenant with the House of Israel (and the House of Judah), but not a covenant like the one I made with their ancestors on the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant of mine, so I had to show them who was master. It is the Lord who speaks. No, this is the covenant I will make with the House of Israel when those days arrive– it is the Lord who speaks. Deep within them I will plant my Law, writing it on their hearts. Then I will be their God and they shall be my people. There will be no further need for neighbour to try to teach neighbour, or brother to say to brother, ‘Learn to know the Lord!’ No, they will all know me, the least no less than the greatest– it is the Lord who speaks– since I will forgive their iniquity and never call their sin to mind.

Gospel
Matthew 16:13-23

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But you,’ he said ‘who do you say I am?’ Then Simon Peter spoke up, ‘You are the Christ,’ he said, ‘the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.’ Then he gave the disciples strict orders not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.

From that time Jesus began to make it clear to his disciples that he was destined to go to Jerusalem and suffer grievously at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, to be put to death and to be raised up on the third day. Then, taking him aside, Peter started to remonstrate with him. ‘Heaven preserve you, Lord;’ he said ‘this must not happen to you.’ But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path, because the way you think is not God’s way but man’s.’

We are His children, the sheep of His flock. And He seeks to bring back those who have wandered far from Him. Those who are lost.

There are many paths that lead to Him. And so even those who do not yet understand but in faith call out to our Lord Jesus, they too shall be heard. Their prayers answered. For it is not knowledge that saves is but faith and our response to His call to enter into a deep wonderful relationship with Him.

Jesus with an unwavering faith I declare my love for You. My Lord and my God. Amen

First reading
Jeremiah 31:1-7

I will be the God of all the clans of Israel– it is the Lord who speaks– they shall be my people.

The Lord says this:

They have found pardon in the wilderness, those who have survived the sword.

Israel is marching to his rest.

The Lord has appeared to him from afar: I have loved you with an everlasting love, so I am constant in my affection for you.

I build you once more; you shall be rebuilt, virgin of Israel.

Adorned once more, and with your tambourines, you will go out dancing gaily.

You will plant vineyards once more on the mountains of Samaria the planters have done their planting: they will gather the fruit.

Yes, a day will come when the watchmen shout on the mountains of Ephraim, ‘Up! Let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God!’

For the Lord says this:

Shout with joy for Jacob!
Hail the chief of nations!
Proclaim! Praise! Shout:

‘The Lord has saved his people, the remnant of Israel!’

Gospel
Matthew 15:21-28

Jesus left Gennesaret and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. Then out came a Canaanite woman from that district and started shouting, ‘Sir, Son of David, take pity on me. My daughter is tormented by a devil.’ But he answered her not a word. And his disciples went and pleaded with him. ‘Give her what she wants,’ they said ‘because she is shouting after us.’ He said in reply, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.’ But the woman had come up and was kneeling at his feet. ‘Lord,’ she said ‘help me.’ He replied, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the house-dogs.’ She retorted, ‘Ah yes, sir; but even house-dogs can eat the scraps that fall from their master’s table.’ Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, you have great faith. Let your wish be granted.’ And from that moment her daughter was well again.

Do not wait till it too late and do not refuse to listen to the merciful call of the Lord to repent. For in His love for you, He wants a full life in Him. Separated from Him, You will surely die. Pray that you still have time, for it can run out on you. Turn to Him and be healed!

From the moment we opened our eyes till the time we close them again; everything changes. The only thing constant that does not change is the Lord our God. With this truth in mind and with a steadfast faith how can we not sail smoothly even amidst choppy seas? The problem arises when we lose focus of our Lord Jesus Christ. When the problems and situations become the main focus, we begin to sink. In order for us to remain focused we need to be prayerful then we will find Him always with us.

Jesus my Lord, help me stay focused on You and You alone. Amen

First reading
Jeremiah 30:1-2,12-15,18-22

The word addressed to Jeremiah by the Lord: the Lord, the God of Israel says this: Write all the words I have spoken to you in a book.

Yes, the Lord says this: Your wound is incurable, your injury past healing.

There is no one to care for your sore, no medicine to make you well again.

All your lovers have forgotten you,
they look for you no more.

Yes, I have struck you as an enemy strikes, with harsh punishment so great is your guilt, so many your sins.

Why bother to complain about your wound?

Your pain is incurable.

So great is your guilt, so many your sins, that I have done all this to you.

The Lord says this:

Now I will restore the tents of Jacob, and take pity on his dwellings: the city shall be rebuilt on its ruins, the citadel restored on its site.

From them will come thanksgiving
and shouts of joy.

I will make them increase, and not diminish them, make them honoured, and not disdained.

Their sons shall be as once they were, their community fixed firm in my presence, and I will punish all their oppressors.

Their prince will be one of their own, their ruler come from their own people.

I will let him come freely into my presence and he can come close to me; who else, indeed, would risk his life by coming close to me?– it is the Lord who speaks.

And you shall be my people and I will be your God.

Gospel
Matthew 14:22-36

When Jesus received the news of John the Baptist’s death, he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he would send the crowds away. After sending the crowds away he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, while the boat, by now far out on the lake, was battling with a heavy sea, for there was a head-wind. In the fourth watch of the night he went towards them, walking on the lake, and when the disciples saw him walking on the lake they were terrified. ‘It is a ghost’ they said, and cried out in fear. But at once Jesus called out to them, saying, ‘Courage! It is I! Do not be afraid.’ It was Peter who answered. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘if it is you, tell me to come to you across the water.’ ‘Come’ said Jesus. Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus across the water, but as soon as he felt the force of the wind, he took fright and began to sink. ‘Lord! Save me!’ he cried. Jesus put out his hand at once and held him. ‘Man of little faith,’ he said ‘why did you doubt?’ And as they got into the boat the wind dropped. The men in the boat bowed down before him and said, ‘Truly, you are the Son of God.’

Having made the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret. When the local people recognised him they spread the news through the whole neighbourhood and took all that were sick to him, begging him just to let them touch the fringe of his cloak. And all those who touched it were completely cured.

‘Live and let live”, “Better to remain silent and hold the peace.” This is what most will choose to do. However the Lord says that we are to speak His truth always. Only then can we build on the foundation of the Lord, so that His peace and joy can reign in our hearts. Never should we prophesy with words of men and only what men want to hear. For we will be held responsible for leading His flock astray.

The Lord in His mercy and compassion will administer to His people who come to Him. Who desire to be healed and transformed. Who seek the truth and want to live in His peace. He the Lord our God nourishes His people.

All praise and Glory be to our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

First reading
Jeremiah 28:1-17

At the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah in the fifth month of the fourth year, the prophet Hananiah son of Azzur, a Gibeonite, spoke as follows to Jeremiah in the Temple of the Lord in the presence of the priests and of all the people. ‘The Lord, the God of Israel, says this, “I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. In two years’ time I will bring back all the vessels of the Temple of the Lord which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon carried off from this place and took to Babylon. And I will also bring back Jeconiah son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and all the exiles of Judah who have gone to Babylon– it is the Lord who speaks. Yes, I am going to break the yoke of the king of Babylon.”’

The prophet Jeremiah then replied to the prophet Hananiah in front of the priests and all the people there in the Temple of the Lord. ‘I hope so’ the prophet Jeremiah said. ‘May the Lord do so. May he fulfil the words that you have prophesied and bring the vessels of the Temple of the Lord and all the exiles back to this place from Babylon. Listen carefully, however, to this word that I am now going to say for you and all the people to hear: From remote times, the prophets who preceded you and me prophesied war, famine and plague for many countries and for great kingdoms; but the prophet who prophesies peace can only be recognised as one truly sent by the Lord when his word comes true.’

The prophet Hananiah then took the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah and broke it. In front of all the people Hananiah then said, ‘The Lord says this, “This is how, two years hence, I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and take it off the necks of all the nations.”’ At this, the prophet Jeremiah went away.

After the prophet Hananiah had broken the yoke which he had taken off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah the word of the Lord was addressed to Jeremiah, ‘Go to Hananiah and tell him this, “The Lord says this: You can break wooden yokes? Right, I will make them iron yokes instead! For the Lord Sabaoth, the God of Israel, says this: An iron yoke is what I now lay on the necks of all these nations to subject them to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. They will be subject to him; I have even given him the wild animals.”’

The prophet Jeremiah said to the prophet Hananiah, ‘Listen carefully, Hananiah: the Lord has not sent you; and thanks to you this people are now relying on what is false. Hence– the Lord says this, “I am going to throw you off the face of the earth: you are going to die this year since you have preached apostasy from the Lord.”’

The prophet Hananiah died the same year, in the seventh month.

Gospel
Matthew 14:13-21

When Jesus received the news of John the Baptist’s death he withdrew by boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. But the people heard of this and, leaving the towns, went after him on foot. So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them and healed their sick.

When evening came, the disciples went to him and said, ‘This is a lonely place, and the time has slipped by; so send the people away, and they can go to the villages to buy themselves some food.’ Jesus replied, ‘There is no need for them to go: give them something to eat yourselves.’ But they answered ‘All we have with us is five loaves and two fish.’ ‘Bring them here to me’ he said. He gave orders that the people were to sit down on the grass; then he took the five loaves and the two fish, raised his eyes to heaven and said the blessing. And breaking the loaves handed them to his disciples who gave them to the crowds. They all ate as much as they wanted, and they collected the scraps remaining; twelve baskets full. Those who ate numbered about five thousand men, to say nothing of women and children.

Let us face the truth in our lives. We have been giving excuses for our sinful choices. And sin encompasses not just what we have done but what we have failed to do. Let us not add to our sin by condemning those who speak the truth to us. For it takes great courage to speak up for the truth, and all these can only come from the Lord.

Lord harden not my heart to the truth. Be patient and merciful Lord as I do choose to live in Your light and love. Give me the courage and strength to always speak up for the Truth. Amen

First reading
Jeremiah 26:11-16,24

The priests and prophets addressed the officials and all the people, ‘This man deserves to die, since he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears.’ Jeremiah, however, replied to the people as follows:

‘The Lord himself sent me to say all the things you have heard against this Temple and this city. So now amend your behaviour and actions, listen to the voice of the Lord your God: if you do, he will relent and not bring down on you the disaster he has pronounced against you. For myself, I am as you see in your hands. Do whatever you please or think right with me. But be sure of this, that if you put me to death, you will be bringing innocent blood on yourselves, on this city and on its citizens, since the Lord has truly sent me to you to say all these words in your hearing.’

The officials and all the people then said to the priests and prophets, ‘This man does not deserve to die: he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.’

Jeremiah had a protector in Ahikam son of Shaphan, so he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.

Gospel
Matthew 14:1-12

Herod the tetrarch heard about the reputation of Jesus, and said to his court, ‘This is John the Baptist himself; he has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.’

Now it was Herod who had arrested John, chained him up and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. For John had told him, ‘It is against the Law for you to have her.’ He had wanted to kill him but was afraid of the people, who regarded John as a prophet. Then, during the celebrations for Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and so delighted Herod that he promised on oath to give her anything she asked. Prompted by her mother she said, ‘Give me John the Baptist’s head, here, on a dish.’ The king was distressed but, thinking of the oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he ordered it to be given her, and sent and had John beheaded in the prison. The head was brought in on a dish and given to the girl who took it to her mother. John’s disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went off to tell Jesus.

The nature of sin is such that it seeks to blind and deafen us so that we do not see the wonders of our Lord and hear His Word. The life we choose through the tempter would in all appearance seem good. Even our senses of sight, taste, smell etc. might savour the ‘good’ in them. And yet its path surely leads us to death.

Only the living Word of God, our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ gives life! Let us receive Him in steadfast faith as St Martha did. For through Him alone can we experience the joy of His Resurrection and live life to the full. Together with St Martha let us proclaim Christ, the Son of God who was, who is and who will come again. Amen

St Martha pray for us….

First reading
Jeremiah 26:1-9

At the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word was addressed to Jeremiah by the Lord, ‘The Lord says this: Stand in the court of the Temple of the Lord. To all the people of the towns of Judah who come to worship in the Temple of the Lord you must speak all the words I have commanded you to tell them; do not omit one syllable. Perhaps they will listen and each turn from his evil way: if so, I shall relent and not bring the disaster on them which I intended for their misdeeds. Say to them, “The Lord says this: If you will not listen to me by following my Law which I put before you, by paying attention to the words of my servants the prophets whom I send so persistently to you, without your ever listening to them, I will treat this Temple as I treated Shiloh, and make this city a curse for all the nations of the earth.”’

The priests and prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah say these words in the Temple of the Lord. When Jeremiah had finished saying everything that the Lord had ordered him to say to all the people, the priests and prophets seized hold of him and said, ‘You shall die! Why have you made this prophecy in the name of the Lord, “This Temple will be like Shiloh, and this city will be desolate, and uninhabited”?’ And the people were all crowding round Jeremiah in the Temple of the Lord.

Gospel
John 11:19-27

Many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to sympathise with them over their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus had come she went to meet him. Mary remained sitting in the house. Martha said to Jesus, ‘If you had been here, my brother would not have died, but I know that, even now, whatever you ask of God, he will grant you.’ ‘Your brother’ said Jesus to her ‘will rise again.’ Martha said, ‘I know he will rise again at the resurrection on the last day.’ Jesus said:

‘I am the resurrection and the life.

If anyone believes in me, even though he dies he will live, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.

Do you believe this?’

‘Yes, Lord,’ she said ‘I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who was to come into this world.’

Mould me Lord, mould me into Your masterpiece. Be patient with me Lord and know that I am slowly but surely trusting and letting go of myself into Your loving hands. Have mercy on me for the times I am stubborn and go my own way. You are my Potter Lord and I am Your clay.

And now Lord as You say that I am ready. I will go Lord and share Your love with others. The promise and fulfillment of our Salvation through Your only Begotten Son Jesus. The intricately woven tapestry of the old and the new which brings new life. I will proclaim the glory of the living God among us. Now and forever. Amen

First reading
Jeremiah 18:1-6

The word that was addressed to Jeremiah by the Lord, ‘Get up and make your way down to the potter’s house; there I shall let you hear what I have to say.’ So I went down to the potter’s house; and there he was, working at the wheel. And whenever the vessel he was making came out wrong, as happens with the clay handled by potters, he would start afresh and work it into another vessel, as potters do. Then this word of the Lord was addressed to me, ‘House of Israel, can not I do to you what this potter does?– it is the Lord who speaks. Yes, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so you are in mine, House of Israel.’

Gospel
Matthew 13:47-53

Jesus said to the crowds, ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea that brings in a haul of all kinds. When it is full, the fishermen haul it ashore; then, sitting down, they collect the good ones in a basket and throw away those that are no use. This is how it will be at the end of time: the angels will appear and separate the wicked from the just to throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.

‘Have you understood all this?’ They said, ‘Yes.’ And he said to them, ‘Well then, every scribe who becomes a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out from his storeroom things both new and old.’

There is no greater treasure than the living Word of God revealed through our encounter with the living Lord our God. And we should do well to hold on to it and hide it; not from others but from the evil one that seeks to rob it from us.

The small price to pay for this wonderful treasure is to give everything, our all to the author of life, our Heavenly Father. Who wants not to do us harm but to prosper us. We are given life to the full and as we journey on and remain steadfast; we become Holy as our Heavenly Father is Holy. We are given the opportunity to share His Word with everyone.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be world without end. Amen

First reading
Jeremiah 15:10,16-21

‘Woe is me, my mother, for you have borne me to be a man of strife and of dissension for all the land.

I neither lend nor borrow, yet all of them curse me.

‘When your words came, I devoured them: your word was my delight and the joy of my heart; for I was called by your name, the Lord, God of Hosts.

I never took pleasure in sitting in scoffers’ company; with your hand on me I held myself aloof, since you had filled me with indignation.

Why is my suffering continual, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed?

Do you mean to be for me a deceptive stream with inconstant waters?’

To which the Lord replied, ‘If you come back, I will take you back into my service; and if you utter noble, not despicable, thoughts, you shall be as my own mouth.

They will come back to you, but you must not go back to them.

I will make you a bronze wall fortified against this people. They will fight against you but they will not overcome you, because I am with you to save you and to deliver you – it is the Lord who speaks.

I mean to deliver you from the hands of the wicked and redeem you from the clutches of the violent.’

Gospel
Matthew 13:44-46

Jesus said to the crowds, ‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which someone has found; he hides it again, goes off happy, sells everything he owns and buys the field.

‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls; when he finds one of great value he goes and sells everything he owns and buys it.’

Mercy is for those who desire it, who live it and are merciful themselves.

Do not allow sin to enter into your hearts. Do not allow your ‘friends’ sway you into committing sinful acts or to be a conspirator by saying and doing nothing. Neither be led astray by family who have no relationship with the Lord your God. And most of all, do not allow unforgiveness to rob you of your Heavenly inheritance.

St Joachim, St Anne dutiful loving parents of our dearest Blessed Mother. Pray for us. Amen

First reading
Jeremiah 14:17-22

The Lord said to me:

Say this word to the people:

‘Tears flood my eyes night and day, unceasingly, since a crushing blow falls on the daughter of my people,
a most grievous injury.

If I go into the countryside, there lie men killed by the sword; if I go into the city, I see people sick with hunger; even prophets and priests
plough the land: they are at their wit’s end.’

‘Have you rejected Judah altogether? Does your very soul revolt at Zion? Why have you struck us down without hope of cure?

We were hoping for peace– no good came of it!

For the moment of cure– nothing but terror! the Lord, we do confess our wickedness and our fathers’ guilt: we have indeed sinned against you.

For your name’s sake do not reject us, do not dishonour the throne of your glory. Remember us; do not break your covenant with us.

Can any of the pagan Nothings make it rain? Can the heavens produce showers?

No, it is you, the Lord. O our God, you are our hope, since it is you who do all this.’

Gospel
Matthew 13:36-43

Leaving the crowds, Jesus went to the house; and his disciples came to him and said, ‘Explain the parable about the darnel in the field to us.’ He said in reply, ‘The sower of the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world; the good seed is the subjects of the kingdom; the darnel, the subjects of the evil one; the enemy who sowed them, the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; the reapers are the angels. Well then, just as the darnel is gathered up and burnt in the fire, so it will be at the end of time. The Son of Man will send his angels and they will gather out of his kingdom all things that provoke offences and all who do evil, and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. Then the virtuous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Listen, anyone who has ears!’

The highest form of service is to serve without want or need of reward. To serve simply out of love for whom we serve and the desire to do God our Father’s will. This can only come about when we too are dead and buried with Jesus. Only then can we be raised and experience the life that comes from our Lord.

Till then we might serve only with our lips. With partiality or at other times with half hearted vigour. We want to be seen and heard. Mercy and compassion are available only for those who accepts or embraces our way, our thoughts. When the focus should be on our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus my Lord, raise me up as I die in You so that I may serve You and my brethren in Your love. Amen

St James pray for us. Amen

First reading
2 Corinthians 4:7-15

We are only the earthenware jars that hold this treasure, to make it clear that such an overwhelming power comes from God and not from us. We are in difficulties on all sides, but never cornered; we see no answer to our problems, but never despair; we have been persecuted, but never deserted; knocked down, but never killed; always, wherever we may be, we carry with us in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus, too, may always be seen in our body. Indeed, while we are still alive, we are consigned to our death every day, for the sake of Jesus, so that in our mortal flesh the life of Jesus, too, may be openly shown. So death is at work in us, but life in you.

But as we have the same spirit of faith that is mentioned in scripture–I believed, and therefore I spoke– we too believe and therefore we too speak, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus to life will raise us with Jesus in our turn, and put us by his side and you with us. You see, all this is for your benefit, so that the more grace is multiplied among people, the more thanksgiving there will be, to the glory of God.

Gospel
Matthew 20:20-28

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.’

Attending daily mass and, or the Sunday Eucharist Celebration does not make us Christian. It does nothing for us if we do not open our hearts to receive Him. To be transformed by Him so as to love the least of our brethren.

While we congregate as sinners before the Lord, not all of us do so with a heart of thanksgiving, praise and worship. Not all come with reverance or repentant hearts. Instead they come to fulfil their ‘obligation’ then go on to lead empty lives. Some even leading others away by gossip and unforgiveness.

Jesus open our hearts and minds to You. Lead us to right worship of our Heavenly Father. So that we might lead one another, our families, brethren through and by Your grace closer to the Heavenly Kingdom. Amen

First reading
Jeremiah 7:1-11

The word that was addressed to Jeremiah by the Lord, ‘Go and stand at the gate of the Temple of the Lord and there proclaim this message. Say, “Listen to the word of the Lord, all you men of Judah who come in by these gates to worship the Lord. The Lord Sabaoth, the God of Israel, says this: Amend your behaviour and your actions and I will stay with you here in this place. Put no trust in delusive words like these:This is the sanctuary of the Lord, the sanctuary of the Lord, the sanctuary of the Lord!But if you do amend your behaviour and your actions, if you treat each other fairly, if you do not exploit the stranger, the orphan and the widow (if you do not shed innocent blood in this place), and if you do not follow alien gods, to your own ruin, then here in this place I will stay with you, in the land that long ago I gave to your fathers for ever. Yet here you are, trusting in delusive words, to no purpose! Steal, would you, murder, commit adultery, perjure yourselves, burn incense to Baal, follow alien gods that you do not know?– and then come presenting yourselves in this Temple that bears my name, saying: Now we are safe – safe to go on committing all these abominations! Do you take this Temple that bears my name for a robbers’ den? I, at any rate, am not blind– it is the Lord who speaks.”’

Gospel
Matthew 13:24-30

Jesus put another parable before the crowds, ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everybody was asleep his enemy came, sowed darnel all among the wheat, and made off. When the new wheat sprouted and ripened, the darnel appeared as well. The owner’s servants went to him and said, “Sir, was it not good seed that you sowed in your field? If so, where does the darnel come from?” “Some enemy has done this” he answered. And the servants said, “Do you want us to go and weed it out?” But he said, “No, because when you weed out the darnel you might pull up the wheat with it. Let them both grow till the harvest; and at harvest time I shall say to the reapers: First collect the darnel and tie it in bundles to be burnt, then gather the wheat into my barn.”’

It does not matter what we have done for we are precious in His eyes. And so He the Lord our God seeks us sinners out so that we might be liberated. So do not fear, come as you are, come in your weakness, come in your pain and do not despair for Jesus is waiting to embrace you. He will fill you with His grace and His peace.

Those who now live in the light will always seek the light. In the day or in the dark of night. Made holy we are called to be beacons for others. Made worthy we too are entrusted to proclaim the resurrection to the eldest and to the youngest, to all.

We no longer have to seek Jesus out, for He walks with us. Glory hallelujah! Amen

First reading
Jeremiah 3:14-17

Come back, disloyal children– it is the Lord who speaks – for I alone am your Master. I will take one from a town, two from a clan, and bring you to Zion. I will give you shepherds after my own heart, and these shall feed you on knowledge and discretion. And when you have increased and become many in the land, then– it is the Lord who speaks– no one will ever say again: Where is the ark of the covenant of the Lord? There will be no thought of it, no memory of it, no regret for it, no making of another. When that time comes, Jerusalem shall be called: The Throne of the Lord; all the nations will gather there in the name of the Lord and will no longer follow the dictates of their own stubborn hearts.

Gospel
John 20:1-2,11-18

It was very early on the first day of O the week and still dark, when Mary of Magdala came to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been moved away from the tomb and came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved. ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb’ she said ‘and we don’t know where they have put him.’

Meanwhile Mary stayed outside near the tomb, weeping. Then, still weeping, she stooped to look inside, and saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head, the other at the feet. They said, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ ‘They have taken my Lord away’ she replied ‘and I don’t know where they have put him.’ As she said this she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, though she did not recognise him. Jesus said, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said, ‘Sir, if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and remove him.’ Jesus said, ‘Mary!’ She knew him then and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbuni!’– which means Master. Jesus said to her, ‘Do not cling to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go and find the brothers, and tell them: I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ So Mary of Magdala went and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and that he had said these things to her.

What is a relationship when there is no communication? No intimacy? No pouring out of the heart, to give or to receive? If one only wants to be listened to and ‘has’ all the answers. Who sees not others lest there is something to be gained? Whose idols are lust, power, honour, money and any forms of addiction? Is that the kind of relationship you want with anyone? Would God?

There is no relationship with the Lord our God if there is no prayer life. And there can be no growth in depth without listening to His Word. The more we submit in sweet intimate surrender to the Lord, the more we receive. Our minds are illumined, our hearts set on fire. We see the wonders of His hand, hear the beauty of His words and we understand.

So come now, let us no longer live in the pettiness the world has to offer. But in the fullness of life through our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us worship our Lord through praise and thanksgiving. And give Him glory by all we say and do in His name. Amen

First reading
Jeremiah 2:1-3,7-8,12-13

The word of the Lord was addressed to me, saying, ‘Go and shout this in the hearing of Jerusalem:

‘“The Lord says this: I remember the affection of your youth, the love of your bridal days: you followed me through the wilderness, through a land unsown.

Israel was sacred to the Lord, the first-fruits of his harvest; anyone who ate of this had to pay for it,
misfortune came to them– it is the Lord who speaks.”

‘I brought you to a fertile country to enjoy its produce and good things;
but no sooner had you entered than you defiled my land, and made my heritage detestable.

The priests have never asked, “Where is the Lord?”

Those who administer the Law have no knowledge of me.

The shepherds have rebelled against me; the prophets have prophesied in the name of Baal,
following things with no power in them.

‘You heavens, stand aghast at this,
stand stupefied, stand utterly appalled – it is the Lord who speaks.

Since my people have committed a double crime: they have abandoned me, the fountain of living water, only to dig cisterns for themselves, leaky cisterns that hold no water.’

Gospel
Matthew 13:10-17

The disciples went up to Jesus and asked, ‘Why do you talk to them in parables?’ ‘Because’ he replied, ‘the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven are revealed to you, but they are not revealed to them. For anyone who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough; but from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. The reason I talk to them in parables is that they look without seeing and listen without hearing or understanding. So in their case this prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled:

You will listen and listen again, but not understand, see and see again, but not perceive.

For the heart of this nation has grown coarse, their ears are dull of hearing, and they have shut their eyes, for fear they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and be converted and be healed by me.

‘But happy are your eyes because they see, your ears because they hear! I tell you solemnly, many prophets and holy men longed to see what you see, and never saw it; to hear what you hear, and never heard it.’

At the end of every Eucharistic Celebration we are sent on mission to announce the Gospel to all nations. At least two thirds are saying to themselves surely not I? What do I know? I am not gifted for this? Besides I have no time. Out of the remaining one third only a handful will carry out the mission while the rest will do nothing.

By virtue of our baptism we are all anointed to be priest, prophet and King. The Holy Spirit is upon us and have gifted us with the graces needed to share the good news of the Gospels.

The Lord is with us what do we have to fear? We are not called to convert anyone, only to plant the seed. The Lord will take care of the rest. If they will not listen, it is the Lord they reject. Our job is to share the good news of our salvation so that the many who will listen have the truth and hope of eternal life with our Heavenly Father.

Lord Jesus grant us the courage and steadfastness of faith to carry out Your Will. Amen

First reading
Jeremiah 1:1,4-10

The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, of a priestly family living at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin.

The word of the Lord was addressed to me, saying,

‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you came to birth I consecrated you; I have appointed you as prophet to the nations.’

I said, ‘Ah, Lord; look, I do not know how to speak: I am a child!’

But the Lord replied,

‘Do not say, “I am a child.” Go now to those to whom I send you and, say whatever I command you.

Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to protect you – it is the Lord who speaks!’

Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me:

‘There! I am putting my words into your mouth.

Look, today I am setting you over nations and over kingdoms, to tear up and to knock down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.’

Gospel
Matthew 13:1-9

Jesus left the house and sat by the lakeside, but such large crowds gathered round him that he got into a boat and sat there. The people all stood on the beach, and he told them many things in parables.

He said, ‘Imagine a sower going out to sow. As he sowed, some seeds fell on the edge of the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on patches of rock where they found little soil and sprang up straight away, because there was no depth of earth; but as soon as the sun came up they were scorched and, not having any roots, they withered away. Others fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Others fell on rich soil and produced their crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Listen, anyone who has ears!’

Ever faithful is the Lord our God, merciful and kind. He looks upon us His children with tender loving care. To remain steadfast in His love is to do His will. And His will is to prosper us not to do us harm. Why then should we be afraid to do His will?

It is in our relationship with Jesus Christ His Son that we bear fruit for our wills are in communion with Him. This is what it means to be one body in Him. Our love is never a selfish one but one that wills the good in another.

Sweet heart of Jesus embrace me, let me always be one with You. Amen

First reading
Micah 7:14-15,18-20

With shepherd’s crook, O Lord, lead your people to pasture, the flock that is your heritage, living confined in a forest with meadow land all around.

Let them pasture in Bashan and Gilead as in the days of old.

As in the days when you came out of Egypt grant us to see wonders.

What god can compare with you: taking fault away, pardoning crime,
not cherishing anger for ever but delighting in showing mercy?

Once more have pity on us, tread down our faults, to the bottom of the sea throw all our sins.

Grant Jacob your faithfulness, and Abraham your mercy, as you swore to our Father’s from the days of long ago.

Gospel
Matthew 12:46-50

Jesus was speaking to the crowds when his mother and his brothers appeared; they were standing outside and were anxious to have a word with him. But to the man who told him this Jesus replied, ‘Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?’ And stretching out his hand towards his disciples he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother.’

Do not wait for the earth to shake, a thunderous roar, a loud unseen voice or fiery skies! Do not say I will return to the Lord when I stop sinning first.

Our Lord Jesus Christ had spoken, “Come to me all you who are burdened and weary and I will give you rest.” Do not wait to change, come to Him and He will transform you. His grace and peace will be upon you.

And then, you will see the signs! Peace, love and joy in your hearts. An illumination from within which will show on your faces. And everyone will know that you walk humbly with God.

Grant me Your pardon and mercy Lord. Purify me that I may be white as snow. This day and every day, so that I may sing your praise and bring You glory through my living of Your Word. Amen

First reading
Micah 6:1-4,6-8

Listen to what the Lord is saying:

Stand up and let the case begin in the hearing of the mountains and let the hills hear what you say.

Listen, you mountains, to the Lord’s accusation, give ear, you foundations of the earth, for the Lord is accusing his people, pleading against Israel:

My people, what have I done to you, how have I been a burden to you? Answer me.

I brought you out of the land of Egypt, I rescued you from the house of slavery; I sent Moses to lead you, with Aaron and Miriam.

– ‘With what gift shall I come into the Lord’s presence and bow down before God on high?

Shall I come with holocausts, with calves one year old? Will he be pleased with rams by the thousand, with libations of oil in torrents?

Must I give my first-born for what I have done wrong, the fruit of my body for my own sin?’

– What is good has been explained to you, man; this is what the Lord asks of you only this, to act justly, to love and to walk humbly with your God.

Gospel
Matthew 12:38-42

Some of the scribes and Pharisees spoke up. ‘Master,’ they said ‘we should like to see a sign from you.’ He replied, ‘It is an evil and unfaithful generation that asks for a sign! The only sign it will be given is the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was in the belly of the sea-monster for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. On Judgement day the men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation and condemn it, because when Jonah preached they repented; and there is something greater than Jonah here. On Judgement day the Queen of the South will rise up with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here.’

No humbler servant of God our Heavenly Father is there, other than Jesus Christ our Lord. By His example we are all called to proclaim the truth of our faith for which we were gifted. By His Spirit we too are to bring about healing and mercy to whom we meet. We thus build the Kingdom of God by the communities we form centred on Him.

Gossip, a loose tongue, ill will towards others have no place in a community of the Lord. Those who engage in it are fools for their folly will weigh heavily upon them. They strip themselves of the peace and joy only to be found in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Lord Jesus, let Your peace and mercy reign in our hearts. Amen

First reading
Micah 2:1-5

Woe to those who plot evil, who lie in bed planning mischief!

No sooner is it dawn than they do it
– their hands have the strength for it.

Seizing the fields that they covet, they take over houses as well,
owner and house they confiscate together, taking both man and inheritance.

So the Lord says this:

Now it is I who plot such mischief against this breed as your necks will not escape; nor will you be able to walk proudly, so evil will the time be.

On that day they will make a satire on you, sing a dirge and say,

‘We are stripped of everything; my people’s portion is measured out and shared, no one will give it back to them, our fields are awarded to our despoiler.’

Therefore you will have no one to measure out a share in the community of the Lord.

Gospel
Matthew 12:14-21

The Pharisees went out and began to plot against him, discussing how to destroy him.

Jesus knew this and withdrew from the district. Many followed him and he cured them all, but warned them not to make him known. This was to fulfil the prophecy of Isaiah:

Here is my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved, the favourite of my soul.

I will endow him with my spirit, and he will proclaim the true faith to the nations.

He will not brawl or shout, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.

He will not break the crushed reed,
nor put out the smouldering wick
till he has led the truth to victory: in his name the nations will put their hope.

Nothing we do on our own in this world will add to number of years to our life. Our very bodies are gifts from God our heavenly Father and should be regarded as holy temples. We should care for them and keep them sanctified. So that our living God can dwell in them. Now then what greater communion is there? Then the Lord our God dwelling within us. He alone will decide the time we return to Him.

Jesus is the way of our salvation and He bids us to be merciful. To share the mercy we receive from Him with our brethren and all who will listen. To feed the hungry and care for the sick. And to reconcile all to God our Heavenly Father who loves us all so dearly.

Jesus let me dwell in Your temple as You dwell in mine. Amen

First reading
Isaiah 38:1-6,21-22,7-8

Hezekiah fell ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came and said to him, ‘The Lord says this, “Put your affairs in order, for you are going to die, you will not live.”’ Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and addressed this prayer to the Lord, ‘Ah, Lord, remember, I beg you, how I have behaved faithfully and with sincerity of heart in your presence and done what is right in your eyes.’ And Hezekiah shed many tears.

Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah, ‘Go and say to Hezekiah, “The Lord, the God of David your ancestor, says this: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will cure you: in three days’ time you shall go up to the Temple of the Lord.” I will add fifteen years to your life. I will save you from the hands of the king of Assyria, I will protect this city.”’

‘Bring a fig poultice,’ Isaiah said, ‘apply it to the ulcer and he will recover.’ Hezekiah said, ‘What is the sign to tell me that I shall be going up to the Temple of the Lord?’ ‘Here’ Isaiah replied’’ ‘is the sign from the Lord that he will do what he has said. Look, I shall make the shadow cast by the declining sun go back ten steps on the steps of Ahaz.’ And the sun went back the ten steps by which it had declined.

Gospel
Matthew 12:1-8

Jesus took a walk one sabbath day through the cornfields. His disciples were hungry and began to pick ears of corn and eat them. The Pharisees noticed it and said to him, ‘Look, your disciples are doing something that is forbidden on the sabbath.’ But he said to them, ‘Have you not read what David did when he and his followers were hungry – how he went into the house of God and how they ate the loaves of offering which neither he nor his followers were allowed to eat, but which were for the priests alone? Or again, have you not read in the Law that on the sabbath day the Temple priests break the sabbath without being blamed for it? Now here, I tell you, is something greater than the Temple. And if you had understood the meaning of the words: What I want is mercy, not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the blameless. For the Son of Man is master of the sabbath.’

Those who have turned their backs on sin need mourn no longer. Those who carry the heavy burden of the world may take comfort. Those who feel the weight of the cross of Christ bearing down on them, be at ease.

For Jesus our Saviour gives us new life in Him. By His Resurrection we live in freedom and in His love. He invites us to always go to Him in our moments of distress. He alone can give us the rest we need in His Spirit, the peace and joy. He will heal, rejuvenate the drooping spirit and give us the strength we need to carry on with our mission. He is with us every step of the way. Carrying the yoke along side us.

Glory to You O Lord Jesus Christ! Amen

First reading
Isaiah 26:7-9,12,16-19

The path of the upright man is straight, you smooth the way of the upright.

Following the path of your judgements, we hoped in you, O Lord, your name, your memory are all my soul desires.

At night my soul longs for you and my spirit in me seeks for you; when your judgements appear on earth the inhabitants of the world learn the meaning of integrity.

O Lord, you are giving us peace, since you treat us as our deeds deserve.

Distressed, we search for you, O Lord; the misery of oppression was your punishment for us.

As a woman with child near her time writhes and cries out in her pangs, so are we, O Lord, in your presence: we have conceived, we writhe as if we were giving birth; we have not given the spirit of salvation to the earth, no more inhabitants of the world are born.

Your dead will come to life, their corpses will rise; awake, exult, all you who lie in the dust, for your dew is a radiant dew and the land of ghosts will give birth.

Gospel
Matthew 11:28-30

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

Do you possess wisdom far greater than all your peers? Do you have superior strength to them? Are you more courageous, effluent and intelligent? Are you all these and more? Are you then greater than God Your Heavenly Father?

If indeed your answer is no then why do you think yourself far better than your brethren? For is it not our Heavenly Father who blessed us with our gifts so that it be used to help others and to build His Kingdom? Why then must we have the last word or think we know it best? Whom are we glorifying by our words and deeds?

To know and love our Heavenly Father is to know and love Him through the relationship we have with our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. It is in loving humility when we first embrace Him as Master before all else that more is revealed to us.

My Lord, my God I submit myself wholly to You. Amen

First reading
Isaiah 10:5-7,13-16

The Lord of hosts says this:

Woe to Assyria, the rod of my anger, the club brandished by me in my fury!

I sent him against a godless nation;
I gave him commission against a people that provokes me, to pillage and to plunder freely and to stamp down like the mud in the streets.

But he did not intend this, his heart did not plan it so.

No, in his heart was to destroy, to go on cutting nations to pieces without limit.

For he has said:

‘By the strength of my own arm I have done this and by my own intelligence, for understanding is mine; I have pushed back the frontiers of peoples and plundered their treasures.

I have brought their inhabitants down to the dust.

As if they were a bird’s nest, my hand has seized the riches of the peoples.

As people pick up deserted eggs I have picked up the whole earth, with not a wing fluttering, not a beak opening, not a chirp.’

Does the axe claim more credit than the man who wields it, or the saw more strength than the man who handles it?

It would be like the cudgel controlling the man who raises it, or the club moving what is not made of wood!

And so the Lord of Hosts is going to send a wasting sickness on his stout warriors; beneath his plenty, a burning will burn like a consuming fire.

Gospel
Matthew 11:25-27

Jesus exclaimed, ‘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 the Son except the Father, just as no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.’

Why do many always attend the Eucharist Celebration late? Why do many not participate in the prayers or singing? Why do some attend daily Eucharist but adjourn at the coffee shops to gossip about others? Why do many still think that their faith in the Lord our God is a private one and so has no regard for anyone other themselves or their family? Church bells have rung to gather the faithful? How many have come who are truly faithful? How many have come to truly worship?

Every Eucharistic Celebration should change our hearts, transform us so that we can grow in Holiness. It does for those who heed the call of our Saviour; whose hearts, minds and souls are opened to receive. They shall be nourished. They are in communion with Him. The fire of the Holy Spirit burns bright within them as they leave to seek out the lost, the oppressed, the poor, the lonely so as to administer to them. To always speak up for the truth even if the cost is great. This is what it means to take up the cross to follow our Lord Jesus Christ. To live not for ourselves but for Him and our brethren.

Holy Mary, Mother of God pray for us. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ your Son. Amen

First reading
Isaiah 1:10-17

Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the command of our God, you people of Gomorrah.

‘What are your endless sacrifices to me? says the Lord.

I am sick of holocausts of rams
and the fat of calves.

The blood of bulls and of goats revolts me.

When you come to present yourselves before me, who asked you to trample over my courts?

Bring me your worthless offerings no more, the smoke of them fills me with disgust.

New Moons, sabbaths, assemblies;– I cannot endure festival and solemnity.

Your New Moons and your pilgrimages I hate with all my soul.

They lie heavy on me, I am tired of bearing them.

When you stretch out your hands I turn my eyes away.

You may multiply your prayers, I shall not listen.

Your hands are covered with blood, wash, make yourselves clean.

‘Take your wrong-doing out of my sight.

Cease to do evil. Learn to do good, search for justice, help the oppressed, be just to the orphan, plead for the widow.’

Gospel
Matthew 10:34-11:1

Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth: it is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies will be those of his own household.

‘Anyone who prefers father or mother to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who prefers son or daughter to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who does not take his cross and follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it; anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it.

‘Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me; and those who welcome me welcome the one who sent me.

‘Anyone who welcomes a prophet will have a prophet’s reward; and anyone who welcomes a holy man will have a holy man’s reward.

‘If anyone gives so much as a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward.’

When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples he moved on from there to teach and preach in their towns.