CatholicJules.net

What is your end goal in life?
To lead a barren life? Living for yourself, enjoying everything the world has to offer for as long as you can then slowly whither and die?

  Or is it to live a life giving, fruitful life? One centred on the Word of Jesus which transforms the lives of others. For Jesus is with God our Father and the Holy Spirit, one God. From whom we have the promise of eternal life with Him.

Jesus I choose to live my life with and in You. Grant me the grace to carry my cross with the dignity of sharing in Your passion. So that I may one day live in the power of Your resurrection. Amen

First reading
Genesis 17:3-9

Abram bowed to the ground and God said this to him, ‘Here now is my covenant with you: you shall become the father of a multitude of nations. You shall no longer be called Abram; your name shall be Abraham, for I make you father of a multitude of nations. I will make you most fruitful. I will make you into nations, and your issue shall be kings. I will establish my Covenant between myself and you, and your descendants after you, generation after generation, a Covenant in perpetuity, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. I will give to you and to your descendants after you the land you are living in, the whole land of Canaan, to own in perpetuity, and I will be your God.’

Gospel
John 8:51-59

Jesus said to the Jews:
‘I tell you most solemnly, whoever keeps my word will never see death.’

The Jews said, ‘Now we know for certain that you are possessed. Abraham is dead, and the prophets are dead, and yet you say, “Whoever keeps my word will never know the taste of death.” Are you greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? The prophets are dead too. Who are you claiming to be?’ Jesus answered:

‘If I were to seek my own glory
that would be no glory at all; my glory is conferred by the Father, by the one of whom you say, “He is our God” although you do not know him.

But I know him, and if I were to say: I do not know him, I should be a liar, as you are liars yourselves.

But I do know him, and I faithfully keep his word.

Your father Abraham rejoiced
to think that he would see my Day; he saw it and was glad.’

The Jews then said, ‘You are not fifty yet, and you have seen Abraham!’ Jesus replied:

‘I tell you most solemnly, before Abraham ever was,
I Am.’

At this they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid himself and left the Temple.

Whom do you worship? Who has your mind and heart? It is easy to say God, but is He first and foremost in your life? Is it the Lord who guides you in your daily affairs?

Sin blinds and deafens us. We can no longer see or hear the truth. We begin to argue with the ways of the Lord. We hide behind lip service of our devotion to God. Some stop participating in the Eucharistic Celebration even though they are physically there. Some stop coming altogether. Why? For the love of Christ? Which or what ‘christ’?

Jesus reminds us today;

‘If you make my word your home you will indeed be my disciples, you will learn the truth and the truth will make you free.’

Jesus my Lord be with me in whatever challenges I may face. Guide me always in Your truth. Amen

First reading
Daniel 3:14-20,24-25,28

King Nebuchadnezzar said, ‘Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, is it true that you do not serve my gods, and that you refuse to worship the golden statue I have erected? When you hear the sound of horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, or any other instrument, are you prepared to prostrate yourselves and worship the statue I have made? If you refuse to worship it, you must be thrown straight away into the burning fiery furnace; and where is the god who could save you from my power?’ Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to King Nebuchadnezzar, ‘Your question hardly requires an answer: if our God, the one we serve, is able to save us from the burning fiery furnace and from your power, O king, he will save us; and even if he does not, then you must know, O king, that we will not serve your god or worship the statue you have erected.’ These words infuriated King Nebuchadnezzar; his expression was very different now as he looked at Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. He gave orders for the furnace to be made seven times hotter than usual, and commanded certain stalwarts from his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the burning fiery furnace.

  Then King Nebuchadnezzar sprang to his feet in amazement. He said to his advisers, ‘Did we not have these three men thrown bound into the fire?’ They replied, ‘Certainly, O king.’ ‘But,’ he went on ‘I can see four men walking about freely in the heart of the fire without coming to any harm. And the fourth looks like a son of the gods.’

  Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, ‘Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego: he has sent his angel to rescue the servants who, putting their trust in him, defied the order of the king, and preferred to forfeit their bodies rather than serve or worship any god but their own.’

Gospel
John 8:31-42

To the Jews who believed in him Jesus said:

‘If you make my word your home you will indeed be my disciples, you will learn the truth and the truth will make you free.’

They answered, ‘We are descended from Abraham and we have never been the slaves of anyone; what do you mean, “You will be made free”?’ Jesus replied:

‘I tell you most solemnly, everyone who commits sin is a slave.

Now the slave’s place in the house is not assured, but the son’s place is assured. So if the Son makes you free,
you will be free indeed.

I know that you are descended from Abraham; but in spite of that you want to kill me because nothing I say has penetrated into you.

What I, for my part, speak of
is what I have seen with my Father; but you, you put into action the lessons learnt from your father.’

They repeated, ‘Our father is Abraham.’ Jesus said to them:

‘If you were Abraham’s children, you would do as Abraham did.

As it is, you want to kill me when I tell you the truth as I have learnt it from God; that is not what Abraham did. What you are doing is what your father does.’

‘We were not born of prostitution,’ they went on ‘we have one father: God.’ Jesus answered:

‘If God were your father, you would love me, since I have come here from God; yes, I have come from him; not that I came because I chose, no, I was sent, and by him.’

Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who died on the cross for us is now and forever the sign of our redemption. By His death and resurrection we have new life in Him.

Sin and Death has no hold over those who believe in Him. And for those who truly believe in Jesus and live His Word have peace, joy and love in abundance.

Lord Jesus I proudly wear the crucifix around my neck as a reminder of Your great love for me. And the only true sign for the redemption of the world.  I pray for the conversion of sinners that they come to the believe and faith in You. Amen

First reading
Numbers 21:4-9

The Israelites left Mount Hor by the road to the Sea of Suph, to skirt the land of Edom. On the way the people lost patience. They spoke against God and against Moses, ‘Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die in this wilderness? For there is neither bread nor water here; we are sick of this unsatisfying food.’

  At this God sent fiery serpents among the people; their bite brought death to many in Israel. The people came and said to Moses, ‘We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you. Intercede for us with the Lord to save us from these serpents.’ Moses interceded for the people, and the Lord answered him, ‘Make a fiery serpent and put it on a standard. If anyone is bitten and looks at it, he shall live.’ So Moses fashioned a bronze serpent which he put on a standard, and if anyone was bitten by a serpent, he looked at the bronze serpent and lived.

Gospel
John 8:21-30

Again Jesus said to the Pharisees:

‘I am going away; you will look for me and you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.’

The Jews said to one another, ‘Will he kill himself? Is that what he means by saying, “Where I am going, you cannot come”?’ Jesus went on:

‘You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.

I have told you already: You will die in your sins.

Yes, if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.’

So they said to him, ‘Who are you?’ Jesus answered:

‘What I have told you from the outset. About you I have much to say and much to condemn;
but the one who sent me is truthful, and what I have learnt from him I declare to the world.’

They failed to understand that he was talking to them about the Father. So Jesus said

‘When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He and that I do nothing of myself:

what the Father has taught me is what I preach; he who sent me is with me, and has not left me to myself, for I always do what pleases him.’

As he was saying this, many came to believe in him.

Never allow sinful thoughts, words, deeds or sensual temptations invade your heart. For you allow the devil’s spawn to breed within you. Soon you’ll find yourself hidden in darkness and deceit. Lies are all you are able to utter for your role as a minion is to scatter.

Turn away from sin always and look towards heaven in prayer.  Carry the light of Christ in your hearts. For our Father in heaven sees and knows all, there is nothing hidden from Him. God our Father alone is the one true judge and His righteousness will prevail.

Sweet Jesus let your light fill my heart, mind and soul. Let me always speak Your truth. Guide me in Your ways of mercy and love. Amen

First reading
Daniel 13:1-9,15-17,19-30,33-62

In Babylon there lived a man named Joakim. He had married Susanna daughter of Hilkiah, a woman of great beauty; and she was God-fearing, because her parents were worthy people and had instructed their daughter in the Law of Moses. Joakim was a very rich man, and had a garden attached to his house; the Jews would often visit him since he was held in greater respect than any other man. Two elderly men had been selected from the people that year to act as judges. Of such the Lord said, ‘Wickedness has come to Babylon through the elders and judges posing as guides to the people.’ These men were often at Joakim’s house, and all who were engaged in litigation used to come to them. At midday, when everyone had gone, Susanna used to take a walk in her husband’s garden. The two elders, who used to watch her every day as she came in to take her walk, gradually began to desire her. They threw reason aside, making no effort to turn their eyes to heaven, and forgetting its demands of virtue. So they waited for a favourable moment; and one day Susanna came as usual, accompanied only by two young maidservants. The day was hot and she wanted to bathe in the garden. There was no one about except the two elders, spying on her from their hiding place. She said to the servants, ‘Bring me some oil and balsam and shut the garden door while I bathe.’

  Hardly were the servants gone than the two elders were there after her. ‘Look,’ they said ‘the garden door is shut, no one can see us. We want to have you, so give in and let us! Refuse, and we will both give evidence that a young man was with you and that was why you sent your maids away.’ Susanna sighed. ‘I am trapped,’ she said ‘whatever I do. If I agree, that means my death; if I resist, I cannot get away from you. But I prefer to fall innocent into your power than to sin in the eyes of the Lord.’ Then she cried out as loud as she could. The two elders began shouting too, putting the blame on her, and one of them ran to open the garden door. The household, hearing the shouting in the garden, rushed out by the side entrance to see what was happening; once the elders had told their story the servants were thoroughly taken aback, since nothing of this sort had ever been said of Susanna.

  Next day a meeting was held at the house of her husband Joakim. The two elders arrived, in their vindictiveness determined to have her put to death. They addressed the company: ‘Summon Susanna daughter of Hilkiah and wife of Joakim.’ She was sent for, and came accompanied by her parents, her children and all her relations. All her own people were weeping, and so were all the others who saw her. The two elders stood up, with all the people round them, and laid their hands on the woman’s head. Tearfully she turned her eyes to heaven, her heart confident in God. The elders then spoke. ‘While we were walking by ourselves in the garden, this woman arrived with two servants. She shut the garden door and then dismissed the servants. A young man who had been hiding went over to her and they lay down together. From the end of the garden where we were, we saw this crime taking place and hurried towards them. Though we saw them together we were unable to catch the man: he was too strong for us; he opened the door and took to his heels. We did, however, catch this woman and ask her who the young man was. She refused to tell us. That is our evidence.’

  Since they were elders of the people, and judges, the assembly took their word: Susanna was condemned to death. She cried out as loud as she could, ‘Eternal God, you know all secrets and everything before it happens; you know that they have given false evidence against me. And now have I to die, innocent as I am of everything their malice has invented against me?’

  The Lord heard her cry and, as she was being led away to die, he roused the holy spirit residing in a young boy named Daniel who began to shout, ‘I am innocent of this woman’s death!’ At which all the people turned to him and asked, ‘What do you mean by these words?’ Standing in the middle of the crowd he replied, ‘Are you so stupid, sons of Israel, as to condemn a daughter of Israel unheard, and without troubling to find out the truth? Go back to the scene of the trial: these men have given false evidence against her.’

  All the people hurried back, and the elders said to Daniel, ‘Come and sit with us and tell us what you mean, since God has given you the gifts that elders have.’ Daniel said, ‘Keep the men well apart from each other for I want to question them.’ When the men had been separated, Daniel had one of them brought to him. ‘You have grown old in wickedness,’ he said ‘and now the sins of your earlier days have overtaken you, you with your unjust judgements, your condemnation of the innocent, your acquittal of guilty men, when the Lord has said, “You must not put the innocent and the just to death.” Now then, since you saw her so clearly, tell me what tree you saw them lying under?’ He replied, ‘Under a mastic tree.’ Daniel said, ‘True enough! Your lie recoils on your own head: the angel of God has already received your sentence from him and will slash you in half.’ He dismissed the man, ordered the other to be brought and said to him, ‘Spawn of Canaan, not of Judah, beauty has seduced you, lust has led your heart astray! This is how you have been behaving with the daughters of Israel and they were too frightened to resist; but here is a daughter of Judah who could not stomach your wickedness! Now then, tell me what tree you surprised them under?’ He replied, ‘Under a holm oak.’ Daniel said, ‘True enough! Your lie recoils on your own head: the angel of God is waiting, with a sword to drive home and split you, and destroy the pair of you.’

  Then the whole assembly shouted, blessing God, the saviour of those who trust in him. And they turned on the two elders whom Daniel had convicted of false evidence out of their own mouths. As prescribed in the Law of Moses, they sentenced them to the same punishment as they had intended to inflict on their neighbour. They put them to death; the life of an innocent woman was spared that day.

Gospel
John 8:12-20

Jesus said to the people:
‘I am the light of the world;
anyone who follows me will not be walking in the dark; he will have the light of life.’

At this the Pharisees said to him, ‘You are testifying on your own behalf; your testimony is not valid.’
Jesus replied:

‘It is true that I am testifying on my own behalf, but my testimony is still valid, because I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from or where I am going.

You judge by human standards; I judge no one,
but if I judge, my judgement will be sound, because I am not alone: the one who sent me is with me; and in your Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is valid.

I may be testifying on my own behalf, but the Father who sent me is my witness too.’

They asked him, ‘Where is your Father?’ Jesus answered:

‘You do not know me, nor do you know my Father; if you did know me, you would know my Father as well.’

He spoke these words in the Treasury, while teaching in the Temple. No one arrested him, because his time had not yet come.

Casting Stones
++++++++++++

John 8:7 As they persisted with their question he looked up at them and said, “If there is one of you who has not sinned, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”

How quick are we to cast stones of various shapes, colour and sizes at others. He/she said this about someone else when he /she should be looking at himself /herself! The Church is full of hypocrites that is why I either don’t go or I keep to myself! He thinks and acts so holy now but wait to I tell you about his past! She committed adultery and had an abortion, she still dares to show herself in church?! I have come a long way in my journey but he who has journeyed with me is still so far behind! Stones, stones and more stones!

Consider the sinner, for we are all the adulterous woman! When we allow the desires and temptations of the world to overcome us. And we become unfaithful to God. Place yourself in the story, what is going through your mind?

+ Your heinous sins are brought to light and you are shamed in front of everyone.

+ You are all alone and frightened, soon to face certain death. Where is the man who was just as culpable as you and deserved to be stoned alongside you? Why do you have to face the mob alone?

+ Even though you are contrite of heart and spirit you see no way out of this situation. This is truly condemnation…

+ Then you witness the wisdom of God who finds a way when there is no way for man

+ He alone who could cast the stone at you chooses instead to restore his adulteress bride to holiness. He chose to lay down his life for her so that she may live and be spotless.

Lord Jesus may the only stones I cast be Holy ones of faith against evil and sin. Amen

What crime did Jesus commit? Why was he condemned? For speaking the truth? For healing at the wrong time? Wrong place? For claiming to be the Son of God? He was innocent and yet brutally murdered for his ‘crimes’!

Are we any less vindictive when someone speaks the truth? To us or about us? How do we react when someone who cares speaks to us about Jesus? Or about the need for us to reconciled with God? Do we tell them to mind their own business?! Do we murder the spirit of those sent to us?

What do we do if we are at the receiving end?

Trust in God alone, trust in His wisdom and love for you. In the shadow of His wings He will keep you safe.

Jesus I trust in You! Amen

First reading
Jeremiah 11:18-20

The Lord revealed it to me; I was warned. O Lord, that was when you opened my eyes to their scheming. I for my part was like a trustful lamb being led to the slaughter-house, not knowing the schemes they were plotting against me, ‘Let us destroy the tree in its strength, let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name may be quickly forgotten!’

But you, the Lord of Hosts, who pronounce a just sentence, who probe the loins and heart, let me see the vengeance you will take on them, for I have committed my cause to you.

Gospel
John 7:40-52

Several people who had been listening to Jesus said, ‘Surely he must be the prophet’, and some said, ‘He is the Christ’, but others said, ‘Would the Christ be from Galilee? Does not scripture say that the Christ must be descended from David and come from the town of Bethlehem?’ So the people could not agree about him. Some would have liked to arrest him, but no one actually laid hands on him.

  The police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees who said to them, ‘Why haven’t you brought him?’ The police replied, ‘There has never been anybody who has spoken like him.’ ‘So’ the Pharisees answered ‘you have been led astray as well? Have any of the authorities believed in him? Any of the Pharisees? This rabble knows nothing about the Law – they are damned.’ One of them, Nicodemus – the same man who had come to Jesus earlier – said to them, ‘But surely the Law does not allow us to pass judgement on a man without giving him a hearing and discovering what he is about?’ To this they answered, ‘Are you a Galilean too? Go into the matter, and see for yourself: prophets do not come out of Galilee.’

If we go about our daily lives without joy in our hearts, see only gloom and despair. We find our selves plotting against someone whom we either dislike or have hurt us in someway. Then these are sure signs we have either drifted from our Lord or have no real knowledge and relationship with Him.

For to know Jesus is to love Him.  Our relationship with Him is what brings us peace and joy.  For it is through Him we experience the great mercy and love of our Heavenly Father.

So let us turn to Him for forgiveness. Let us use the wonderful gifts of love, the Sacrament of reconciliation and Holy Eucharist to draw ever closer to Him.  And to hear His Word and Will for us through scripture and an open heart desiring to love and serve Him.

Jesus my Lord, draw me closer to You this day and everyday. Amen

First reading
Wisdom 2:1,12-22

The godless say to themselves, with their misguided reasoning:

‘Our life is short and dreary,
nor is there any relief when man’s end comes, nor is anyone known who can give release from Hades.

Let us lie in wait for the virtuous man, since he annoys us and opposes our way of life, reproaches us for our breaches of the law and accuses us of playing false to our upbringing.

He claims to have knowledge of God, and calls himself a son of the Lord.

Before us he stands, a reproof to our way of thinking, the very sight of him weighs our spirits down; his way of life is not like other men’s, the paths he treads are unfamiliar.

In his opinion we are counterfeit; he holds aloof from our doings as though from filth; he proclaims the final end of the virtuous as happy and boasts of having God for his father.

Let us see if what he says is true, let us observe what kind of end he himself will have.

If the virtuous man is God’s son, God will take his part and rescue him from the clutches of his enemies.

Let us test him with cruelty and with torture, and thus explore this gentleness of his and put his endurance to the proof.

Let us condemn him to a shameful death since he will be looked after – we have his word for it.’

This is the way they reason, but they are misled, their malice makes them blind.

They do not know the hidden things of God, they have no hope that holiness will be rewarded, they can see no reward for blameless souls.

Gospel
John 7:1-2,10,25-30

Jesus stayed in Galilee; he could not stay in Judaea, because the Jews were out to kill him.

  As the Jewish feast of Tabernacles drew near, However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went up as well, but quite privately, without drawing attention to himself. Meanwhile some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, ‘Isn’t this the man they want to kill? And here he is, speaking freely, and they have nothing to say to him! Can it be true the authorities have made up their minds that he is the Christ? Yet we all know where he comes from, but when the Christ appears no one will know where he comes from.

  Then, as Jesus taught in the Temple, he cried out:

‘Yes, you know me and you know where I came from.

Yet I have not come of myself:
no, there is one who sent me
and I really come from him,
and you do not know him,
but I know him because I have come from him and it was he who sent me.’

They would have arrested him then, but because his time had not yet come no one laid a hand on him.

Do not rationalise with sin or be tempted to use personal wisdom and logic to dissuade you from following the truth.

Neither should you be content to put your faith in men or trophies to bring you happiness. Do not break the heart of the Lord Your God, who wills not that you should perish into nothingness by your heinous choices to sin.

Put all your faith and trust in the Lord Your God whom has sent the greatest sign of His love for us; Jesus His only begotten Son our Lord and Saviour.  For to believe in Him and His Word is to have eternal life. 

Lord Jesus, You truly are the bread of life who nourishes me. I place all my faith and trust in You. Glory to You O Lord. Amen

First reading
Exodus 32:7-14

The Lord spoke to Moses, ‘Go down now, because your people whom you brought out of Egypt have apostatised. They have been quick to leave the way I marked out for them; they have made themselves a calf of molten metal and have worshipped it and offered it sacrifice. “Here is your God, Israel,” they have cried “who brought you up from the land of Egypt!”’ the Lord said to Moses, ‘I can see how headstrong these people are! Leave me, now, my wrath shall blaze out against them and devour them; of you, however, I will make a great nation.’

  But Moses pleaded with the Lord his God. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘why should your wrath blaze out against this people of yours whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with arm outstretched and mighty hand? Why let the Egyptians say, “Ah, it was in treachery that he brought them out, to do them to death in the mountains and wipe them off the face of the earth”? Leave your burning wrath; relent and do not bring this disaster on your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, your servants to whom by your own self you swore and made this promise: I will make your offspring as many as the stars of heaven, and all this land which I promised I will give to your descendants, and it shall be their heritage for ever.’

  So the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.

Gospel
John 5:31-47

Jesus said to the Jews:

‘Were I to testify on my own behalf, my testimony would not be valid; but there is another witness who can speak on my behalf, and I know that his testimony is valid.

You sent messengers to John,
and he gave his testimony to the truth: not that I depend on human testimony; no, it is for your salvation that I speak of this.

John was a lamp alight and shining and for a time you were content to enjoy the light that he gave.

But my testimony is greater than John’s: the works my Father has given me to carry out, these same works of mine testify that the Father has sent me.

Besides, the Father who sent me bears witness to me himself.

You have never heard his voice, you have never seen his shape, and his word finds no home in you because you do not believe in the one he has sent.

‘You study the scriptures,
believing that in them you have eternal life; now these same scriptures testify to me,
and yet you refuse to come to me for life!

As for human approval, this means nothing to me.

Besides, I know you too well: you have no love of God in you.

I have come in the name of my Father and you refuse to accept me; if someone else comes in his own name you will accept him.

How can you believe, since you look to one another for approval and are not concerned with the approval that comes from the one God?

Do not imagine that I am going to accuse you before the Father: you place your hopes on Moses, and Moses will be your accuser.

If you really believed him you would believe me too, since it was I that he was writing about; but if you refuse to believe what he wrote, how can you believe what I say?’

What else can be said of the mercy and love of God our Father that will convince you? Who’s love goes beyond the sacred bond between a mother and a child. That even if in the rare event that she should forget you; her child, God our Father will never ever forget you!

What else can be said of God our Father’s ultimate gift of love, His Son our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ? That will move your heart? Who came not to judge us sinners lest we are damned, but to lead us home to His Father. Who would pay the price of his life to purchase our salvation. Jesus pleads with us to turn away from our sins, to be faithful to the Gospels. For He seeks to reconcile us with His loving and merciful Father. So that we might live life to the full and be fruitful.

Lord Jesus I honour, praise and worship You as my Lord and God! Have mercy on me a sinner. Lead me Lord, lead me.  Amen

First reading
Isaiah 49:8-15

Thus says the Lord:

At the favourable time I will answer you, on the day of salvation I will help you.
(I have formed you and have appointed you as covenant of the people.)

I will restore the land and assign you the estates that lie waste.I will say to the prisoners, ‘Come out’, to those who are in darkness, ‘Show yourselves.’

On every roadway they will graze, and each bare height shall be their pasture.

They will never hunger or thirst, scorching wind and sun shall never plague them; for he who pities them will lead them and guide them to springs of water.

I will make a highway of all the mountains, and the high roads shall be banked up.
Some are on their way from afar, others from the north and the west, others from the land of Sinim.

Shout for joy, you heavens; exult, you earth! You mountains, break into happy cries!

For the Lord consoles his people and takes pity on those who are afflicted.

For Zion was saying, ‘The Lord has abandoned me, the Lord has forgotten me.’

Does a woman forget her baby at the breast, or fail to cherish the son of her womb?

Yet even if these forget,
I will never forget you.

Gospel
John 5:17-30

Jesus said to the Jews, ‘My Father goes on working, and so do I.’ But that only made them even more intent on killing him, because, not content with breaking the sabbath, he spoke of God as his own Father, and so made himself God’s equal.

  To this accusation Jesus replied: ‘I tell you most solemnly, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees the Father doing: and whatever the Father does the Son does too.

For the Father loves the Son
and shows him everything he does himself, and he will show him even greater things than these, works that will astonish you.

Thus, as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son gives life to anyone he chooses; for the Father judges no one; he has entrusted all judgement to the Son, so that all may honour the Son as they honour the Father.

Whoever refuses honour to the Son refuses honour to the Father who sent him.

I tell you most solemnly,
whoever listens to my words,
and believes in the one who sent me, has eternal life; without being brought to judgement he has passed from death to life.

I tell you most solemnly, the hour will come – in fact it is here already – when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and all who hear it will live.

For the Father, who is the source of life, has made the Son the source of life; and, because he is the Son of Man,
has appointed him supreme judge.

Do not be surprised at this,
for the hour is coming when the dead will leave their grave at the sound of his voice: those who did good will rise again to life; and those who did evil, to condemnation.

I can do nothing by myself;
I can only judge as I am told to judge, and my judging is just, because my aim is to do not my own will, but the will of him who sent me.’

Do you want to be restored? Do you want to be made whole again? The Lord is asking? Surely Lord you may say, why the need to ask Lord?

For there are some who do not yet have knowledge of Him. And it is an invitation to faith and love which is never compelled. It requires an affirmation to continue to strive for holiness and free from sin.  There are those however who rather remain in their sin. For they have grown accustomed to it. There are also a sad lot who readily sees sin in others even finding fault when there is none but are blind to their own sins. The invitation of our Lord falls on their dear ears.

Jesus walks amongst us sinners holding out His hand wanting to heal and restore us. The blood and water outpoured from His side for the redemption of all who turn to and desire the mercy of the Lord our God. And whomever believes in Him will live their lives to the full with and in Him.

Thank You Jesus for being this day with us. Through Your Church we have teeming life and fruitful abundance. Thank You for Your Holy Sacraments which continually restore and nourish us. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Now and forever. Amen

First reading
Ezekiel 47:1-9,12

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

Gospel
John 5:1-3,5-16

There was a Jewish festival, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now at the Sheep Pool in Jerusalem there is a building, called Bethzatha in Hebrew, consisting of five porticos; and under these were crowds of sick people – blind, lame, paralysed – waiting for the water to move; One man there had an illness which had lasted thirty-eight years, and when Jesus saw him lying there and knew he had been in this condition for a long time, he said, ‘Do you want to be well again?’ ‘Sir,’ replied the sick man ‘I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is disturbed; and while I am still on the way, someone else gets there before me.’ Jesus said, ‘Get up, pick up your sleeping-mat and walk.’ The man was cured at once, and he picked up his mat and walked away.

  Now that day happened to be the sabbath, so the Jews said to the man who had been cured, ‘It is the sabbath; you are not allowed to carry your sleeping-mat.’ He replied, ‘But the man who cured me told me, “Pick up your mat and walk.”’ They asked, ‘Who is the man who said to you, “Pick up your mat and walk”?’ The man had no idea who it was, since Jesus had disappeared into the crowd that filled the place. After a while Jesus met him in the Temple and said, ‘Now you are well again, be sure not to sin any more, or something worse may happen to you.’ The man went back and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had cured him. It was because he did things like this on the sabbath that the Jews began to persecute Jesus.

Everyone knows the story about the prodigal son. But what about his prouder still son? The elder one? What was wrong with him?

+ Based on Jewish law and traditions the eldest son would get 2/3 of everything upon his father’s passing while 1/3 would be shared among the rest of the family members. Which in this instance would be everything for this elder son.

+ He was disrespectful to his Father when he said “your son” instead of addressing his younger brother as such. And refusing to come in at the request of his father.

+ He accuses his brother of whom he obviously does not care for, of having fraternized with harlots though there was no mention of it. So perhaps he himself fantasized about doing so.

+ He whines about not been given anything by his father but who then fed, clothed and sheltered him? And provided for whatever else he needed?

+ he obviously does not see himself as part of the family, as his father’s son but as someone who deserves more for doing more.

This part of the lesson was targeted at the Pharisees and scribes who’s theology was that if all sinners would just be obedient and follow the laws for just half an hour. The Messiah would come or rather show himself as promised. And so they detested all sinners whom they saw as the ones preventing the coming of the Messiah.

In their hardness of hearts how could they see that the Messiah had come? It was Jesus who sat and dined with sinners.

In this story the merciful Father who represents our merciful Father in heaven is inviting the sinner to come and partake of the heavenly feast. To be reconciled with both his brother and Father. And what does the elder son do? He refuses to go in! Just like the Pharisees and scribes who rejected Jesus. Are we then any different? Are we merciful towards our brethren? Especially those who have sinned against us?

Do not let impatience, pride and unforgiveness rob you of the joy the Lord has given you.  Think of trials that may come as opportunities to draw closer to Him. 

Invite the Lord with gladness to come deeply into our hearts, into our lives. And He will restore all that is lost. Fill the void and bring healing to all who needs it.

Jesus heal my brokenness, restore what is lost in me. That I may ever sing Your praises with a gladden heart. Amen

First reading
Isaiah 65:17-21

Thus says the Lord: Now I create new heavens and a new earth, and the past will not be remembered, and will come no more to men’s minds. Be glad and rejoice for ever and ever for what I am creating, because I now create Jerusalem ‘Joy’ and her people ‘Gladness.’ I shall rejoice over Jerusalem and exult in my people. No more will the sound of weeping or the sound of cries be heard in her; in her, no more will be found the infant living a few days only, or the old man not living to the end of his days. To die at the age of a hundred will be dying young; not to live to be a hundred will be the sign of a curse. They will build houses and inhabit them, plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

Gospel
John 4:43-54

Jesus left Samaria for Galilee. He himself had declared that there is no respect for a prophet in his own country, but on his arrival the Galileans received him well, having seen all that he had done at Jerusalem during the festival which they too had attended.

  He went again to Cana in Galilee, where he had changed the water into wine. Now there was a court official there whose son was ill at Capernaum and, hearing that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judaea, he went and asked him to come and cure his son as he was at the point of death. Jesus said, ‘So you will not believe unless you see signs and portents!’ ‘Sir,’ answered the official ‘come down before my child dies.’ ‘Go home,’ said Jesus ‘your son will live.’ The man believed what Jesus had said and started on his way; and while he was still on the journey back his servants met him with the news that his boy was alive. He asked them when the boy had begun to recover. ‘The fever left him yesterday’ they said ‘at the seventh hour.’ The father realised that this was exactly the time when Jesus had said, ‘Your son will live’; and he and all his household believed.

  This was the second sign given by Jesus, on his return from Judaea to Galilee.

We all need the mercy of God in our lives. For without His mercy and grace we are lost. It is neither owed to us nor can it be purchased with lip service. Even the upright and righteous are doomed if they have not love in their hearts.

The face of God shines upon the man who humbles himself before the Lord. And with that same loving humility, serves the least of his brethren with a joyful heart.

O merciful and loving Lord, take away from me what is not worthy of You. Have mercy on me a sinner. And guide always my mouth my hands and feet, that I may serve You in humility and love. All the days of my life. Amen

First reading
Hosea 5:15-6:6

The Lord says this:

They will search for me in their misery.

‘Come, let us return to the Lord.

He has torn us to pieces, but he will heal us; he has struck us down, but he will bandage our wounds; after a day or two he will bring us back to life,
on the third day he will raise us and we shall live in his presence.

Let us set ourselves to know the Lord; that he will come is as certain as the dawn his judgement will rise like the light, he will come to us as showers come, like spring rains watering the earth.’

What am I to do with you, Ephraim?

What am I to do with you, Judah?

This love of yours is like a morning cloud, like the dew that quickly disappears.

This is why I have torn them to pieces by the prophets, why I slaughtered them with the words from my mouth, since what I want is love, not sacrifice; knowledge of God, not holocausts.

Gospel
Luke 18:9-14

Jesus spoke the following parable to some people who prided themselves on being virtuous and despised everyone else: ‘Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood there and said this prayer to himself, “I thank you, God, that I am not grasping, unjust, adulterous like the rest of mankind, and particularly that I am not like this tax collector here. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes on all I get.” The tax collector stood some distance away, not daring even to raise his eyes to heaven; but he beat his breast and said, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” This man, I tell you, went home again at rights with God; the other did not. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the man who humbles himself will be exalted.’

Nobody appreciates what I do for them. How much time and effort I’ve put into the work for the home,, office and Church. People are so free either with their criticism or excuses not to assist.

The question really is whom are you trying to please? Whom does the work belong? Why seek to please men instead of God alone? Let not sin blind you to His infinite love for you. Seek first His Kingdom and  righteousness. And all these things will be added unto you. Matt 6:33

To love God with your all is to love the source of life itself. The creator of all things visible and invisible. What greater love is there than between man and God?

Lord Jesus You are the vine that I attach myself to.  Keep me firmly rooted in Your love. Amen

First reading
Hosea 14:2-10

The Lord says this:
Israel, come back to the Lord your God; your iniquity was the cause of your downfall.

Provide yourself with words and come back to the Lord.

Say to him, ‘Take all iniquity away so that we may have happiness again and offer you our words of praise.

Assyria cannot save us, we will not ride horses any more, or say, “Our God!” to what our own hands have made, for you are the one in whom orphans find compassion.’
– I will heal their disloyalty,
I will love them with all my heart, for my anger has turned from them.

I will fall like dew on Israel.

He shall bloom like the lily,
and thrust out roots like the poplar, his shoots will spread far; he will have the beauty of the olive and the fragrance of Lebanon.

They will come back to live in my shade; they will grow corn that flourishes, they will cultivate vines as renowned as the wine of Helbon.

What has Ephraim to do with idols any more when it is I who hear his prayer and care for him?

I am like a cypress ever green,
all your fruitfulness comes from me.

Let the wise man understand these words.

Let the intelligent man grasp their meaning.

For the ways of the Lord are straight, and virtuous men walk in them, but sinners stumble.

Gospel
Mark 12:28-34

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

As we pass halfway through our Lenten journey let us soldier onward. Let us march forward together my fellow Christian brothers and sisters helping one another. Picking one another up as we fall. For evil then will have no hold over us. It that seeks to scatter us will fail. For we have Christ with us.

No more shall we allow the devil to silence us. To be it’s puppet. No more shall we be divided, moving aimlessly in every direction. No more tyranny, hate and unforgiveness!

Jesus our Lord reigns in our hearts. And we are One in Him as we are One with one another. The love and Grace of God our Father is upon us.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Now and forever. Amen

First reading
Jeremiah 7:23-28

These were my orders: Listen to my voice, then I will be your God and you shall be my people. Follow right to the end the way that I mark out for you, and you will prosper. But they did not listen, they did not pay attention; they followed the dictates of their own evil hearts, refused to face me, and turned their backs on me. From the day your ancestors came out of the land of Egypt until today, day after day I have persistently sent you all my servants the prophets.

  But they have not listened to me, have not paid attention; they have grown stubborn and behaved worse than their ancestors. You may say all these words to them: they will not listen to you; you may call them: they will not answer. So tell them this, “Here is the nation that will not listen to the voice of the Lord its God nor take correction. Sincerity is no more, it has vanished from their mouths.”

Gospel
Luke 11:14-23

Jesus was casting out a devil and it was dumb; but when the devil had gone out the dumb man spoke, and the people were amazed. But some of them said, ‘It is through Beelzebul, the prince of devils, that he casts out devils.’ Others asked him, as a test, for a sign from heaven; but, knowing what they were thinking, he said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is heading for ruin, and a household divided against itself collapses. So too with Satan: if he is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? – Since you assert that it is through Beelzebul that I cast out devils. Now if it is through Beelzebul that I cast out devils, through whom do your own experts cast them out? Let them be your judges then. But if it is through the finger of God that I cast out devils, then know that the kingdom of God has overtaken you. So long as a strong man fully armed guards his own palace, his goods are undisturbed; but when someone stronger than he is attacks and defeats him, the stronger man takes away all the weapons he relied on and shares out his spoil.

  ‘He who is not with me is against me; and he who does not gather with me scatters.’

The laws of our loving Father in Heaven are signposts that keeps us on the right path back to Him. They enable us to live as one united in and with Him.

Through our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ the laws are in our minds and written on our hearts. So that we might know them through our conscience. Jesus has established the new and everlasting covenant so that we, who are God our Father’s children can live with Him eternally.

We are given a choice and it is ours alone to make. Let us choose to live faithfully, with and in Him; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

First reading
Deuteronomy 4:1,5-9

Moses said to the people:

  ‘Now, Israel, take notice of the laws and customs that I teach you today, and observe them, that you may have life and may enter and take possession of the land that the Lord the God of your fathers is giving you.

  ‘See, as the Lord my God has commanded me, I teach you the laws and customs that you are to observe in the land you are to enter and make your own. Keep them, observe them, and they will demonstrate to the peoples your wisdom and understanding. When they come to know of all these laws they will exclaim, “No other people is as wise and prudent as this great nation.” And indeed, what great nation is there that has its gods so near as the Lord our God is to us whenever we call to him? And what great nation is there that has laws and customs to match this whole Law that I put before you today?

  ‘But take care what you do and be on your guard. Do not forget the things your eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your heart all the days of your life; rather, tell them to your children and to your children’s children.’

Gospel
Matthew 5:17-19

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

The panic that grips you when you’ve lost something very important such as your wallet.  Or the fear of losing someone important in your life. Well that should be magnified when you lose your relationship with the Lord your God. For nothing or no one is more important.

In His great mercy and love, a humble contrite spirit He will not spurn. There is nothing so heinous He will not forgive; so long as we return to Him and walk in His ways. O how our heart sings with joy! when the heavy burdens of our sins are lifted.

How then can we withhold forgiveness when our Lord so readily forgives us? How can we not seek to mend broken relationships and let the burdens be lifted? To allow the love of Christ to reign in our hearts.

Lord Jesus just as You readily forgive me seventy seven times. Let me do likewise for my brethren. Amen

First reading
Daniel 3:25,34-43

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

Oh! Do not abandon us for ever, for the sake of your name;

do not repudiate your covenant, do not withdraw your favour from us,

for the sake of Abraham, your friend, of Isaac your servant,
and of Israel your holy one,

to whom you promised descendants as countless as the stars of heaven and as the grains of sand on the seashore.

Lord, now we are the least of all the nations, now we are despised throughout the world, today, because of our sins.

We have at this time no leader, no prophet, no prince,
no holocaust, no sacrifice, no oblation, no incense, no place where we can offer you the firstfruits and win your favour.

But may the contrite soul, the humbled spirit be as acceptable to you as holocausts of rams and bullocks, as thousands of fattened lambs:

such let our sacrifice be to you today, and may it be your will that we follow you wholeheartedly, since those who put their trust in you will not be disappointed.

And now we put our whole heart into following you, into fearing you and seeking your face once more.

Do not disappoint us; treat us gently, as you yourself are gentleand very merciful.

Grant us deliverance worthy of your wonderful deeds,
let your name win glory, Lord

Gospel
Matthew 18:21-35

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.’

Who are the prophets sent to us in our own lives? Do we even recognise them as messengers of our Lord? What is their message? Do we think we know better? Do we ignore the message especially if it is hard to hear?

The Lord our God wants to heal us of our afflictions. To restore us. To take away the sins that will consume us. If we but listen to His call to have a change of heart. God our Father sent us the greatest prophet that ever lived, our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. Are we listening to Him yet? Are we listening to His call through His disciples, sent to lead us home to Him?

Are we ourselves living out our Baptismal call to be prophets for one another? So that many might be saved. Amen

First reading
2 Kings 5:1-15

Naaman, army commander to the king of Aram, was a man who enjoyed his master’s respect and favour, since through him the Lord had granted victory to the Aramaeans. But the man was a leper. Now on one of their raids, the Aramaeans had carried off from the land of Israel a little girl who had become a servant of Naaman’s wife. ‘She said to her mistress, ‘If only my master would approach the prophet of Samaria. He would cure him of his leprosy.’ Naaman went and told his master. ‘This and this’ he reported ‘is what the girl from the land of Israel said.’ ‘Go by all means,’ said the king of Aram ‘I will send a letter to the king of Israel.’ So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten festal robes. He presented the letter to the king of Israel. It read: ‘With this letter, I am sending my servant Naaman to you for you to cure him of his leprosy.’ When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his garments. ‘Am I a god to give death and life,’ he said ‘that he sends a man to me and asks me to cure him of his leprosy? Listen to this, and take note of it and see how he intends to pick a quarrel with me.’

  When Elisha heard that the king of Israel had torn his garments, he sent word to the king, ‘Why did you tear your garments? Let him come to me, and he will find there is a prophet in Israel.’ So Naaman came with his team and chariot and drew up at the door of Elisha’s house. And Elisha sent him a messenger to say, ‘Go and bathe seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will become clean once more.’ But Naaman was indignant and went off, saying, ‘Here was I thinking he would be sure to come out to me, and stand there, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the spot and cure the leprous part. Surely Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, are better than any water in Israel? Could I not bathe in them and become clean?’ And he turned round and went off in a rage. But his servants approached him and said, ‘My father, if the prophet had asked you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? All the more reason, then, when he says to you, “Bathe, and you will become clean.”’ So he went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, as Elisha had told him to do. And his flesh became clean once more like the flesh of a little child.

  Returning to Elisha with his whole escort, he went in and stood before him. ‘Now I know’ he said ‘that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel.’

Gospel
Luke 4:24-30

Jesus came to Nazara and spoke to the people in the synagogue: ‘I tell you solemnly, no prophet is ever accepted in his own country.

  ‘There were many widows in Israel, I can assure you, in Elijah’s day, when heaven remained shut for three years and six months and a great famine raged throughout the land, but Elijah was not sent to any one of these: he was sent to a widow at Zarephath, a Sidonian town. And in the prophet Elisha’s time there were many lepers in Israel, but none of these was cured, except the Syrian, Naaman.’

  When they heard this everyone in the synagogue was enraged. They sprang to their feet and hustled him out of the town; and they took him up to the brow of the hill their town was built on, intending to throw him down the cliff, but he slipped through the crowd and walked away.

Anyone who has had the experience of losing a toddler son or daughter in a crowded place will know the trauma it wreaks upon the parent. Why did she/he let go of my hand? Why wander off far from me? Please let him/her be okay. Please let me find…
Please bring back my….
And when we see them from a distance will we not run to them? Will we not embrace them with hearts of joy?

This is one way I envision our Heavenly Father’s love for us. It breaks His heart when we sin and wander far from Him. He loves us so much individually as each one of us is unique. And yet He loves us collectively. We will never be able to fathom His immense love and mercy for us. All we can do is be grateful, honour Him by turning away from our sins and walk faithfully in His love.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Now and forever. 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 fathers
from the days of long ago.

Gospel
Luke 15:1-3,11-32

The tax collectors and the sinners were all seeking the company of Jesus to hear what he had to say, and the Pharisees and the scribes complained. ‘This man’ they said ‘welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ So he spoke this parable to them:

  ‘A man had two sons. The younger said to his father, “Father, let me have the share of the estate that would come to me.” So the father divided the property between them. A few days later, the younger son got together everything he had and left for a distant country where he squandered his money on a life of debauchery.

  ‘When he had spent it all, that country experienced a severe famine, and now he began to feel the pinch, so he hired himself out to one of the local inhabitants who put him on his farm to feed the pigs. And he would willingly have filled his belly with the husks the pigs were eating but no one offered him anything. Then he came to his senses and said, “How many of my father’s paid servants have more food than they want, and here am I dying of hunger! I will leave this place and go to my father and say: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as one of your paid servants.” So he left the place and went back to his father.

  ‘While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran to the boy, clasped him in his arms and kissed him tenderly. Then his son said, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son.” But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the calf we have been fattening, and kill it; we are going to have a feast, a celebration, because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and is found.” And they began to celebrate.

  ‘Now the elder son was out in the fields, and on his way back, as he drew near the house, he could hear music and dancing. Calling one of the servants he asked what it was all about. “Your brother has come” replied the servant “and your father has killed the calf we had fattened because he has got him back safe and sound.” He was angry then and refused to go in, and his father came out to plead with him; but he answered his father, “Look, all these years I have slaved for you and never once disobeyed your orders, yet you never offered me so much as a kid for me to celebrate with my friends. But, for this son of yours, when he comes back after swallowing up your property – he and his women – you kill the calf we had been fattening.”

  ‘The father said, “My son, you are with me always and all I have is yours. But it was only right we should celebrate and rejoice, because your brother here was dead and has come to life; he was lost and is found.”’

Let us not let selfishness, jealousy and greed consume our hearts. Let it not rob us of our heavenly inheritance. Otherwise we will end up like parched weary land.

The Lord our God loves each and everyone of His children. He has no favourites. He wants us all to sow His seeds of mercy, peace, love and His Word. For only then can we hope to lead fruitful lives. Lives that brings forth life in Him. Amen

First reading
Genesis 37:3-4,12-13,17-28

Israel loved Joseph more than all his other sons, for he was the son of his old age, and he had a coat with long sleeves made for him. But his brothers, seeing how his father loved him more than all his other sons, came to hate him so much that they could not say a civil word to him.

  His brothers went to pasture their father’s flock at Shechem. Then Israel said to Joseph, ‘Are not your brothers with the flock at Shechem? Come, I am going to send you to them.’ So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.

  They saw him in the distance, and before he reached them they made a plot among themselves to put him to death. ‘Here comes the man of dreams’ they said to one another. ‘Come on, let us kill him and throw him into some well; we can say that a wild beast devoured him. Then we shall see what becomes of his dreams.’

  But Reuben heard, and he saved him from their violence. ‘We must not take his life’ he said. ‘Shed no blood,’ said Reuben to them ‘throw him into this well in the wilderness, but do not lay violent hands on him’ – intending to save him from them and to restore him to his father. So, when Joseph reached his brothers, they pulled off his coat, the coat with long sleeves that he was wearing, and catching hold of him they threw him into the well, an empty well with no water in it. They then sat down to eat.

  Looking up they saw a group of Ishmaelites who were coming from Gilead, their camels laden with gum, tragacanth, balsam and resin, which they were taking down into Egypt. Then Judah said to his brothers, ‘What do we gain by killing our brother and covering up his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, but let us not do any harm to him. After all, he is our brother, and our own flesh.’ His brothers agreed.

  Now some Midianite merchants were passing, and they drew Joseph up out of the well. They sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty silver pieces, and these men took Joseph to Egypt.

Gospel
Matthew 21:33-43,45-46

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people, ‘Listen to another parable. There was a man, a landowner, who planted a vineyard; he fenced it round, dug a winepress in it and built a tower; then he leased it to tenants and went abroad. When vintage time drew near he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his servants, thrashed one, killed another and stoned a third. Next he sent some more servants, this time a larger number, and they dealt with them in the same way. Finally he sent his son to them. “They will respect my son” he said. But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, “This is the heir. Come on, let us kill him and take over his inheritance.” So they seized him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?’ They answered, ‘He will bring those wretches to a wretched end and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will deliver the produce to him when the season arrives.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the scriptures:

It was the stone rejected by the builders that became the keystone.

This was the Lord’s doing and it is wonderful to see?

‘I tell you, then, that the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.’

  When they heard his parables, the chief priests and the scribes realised he was speaking about them, but though they would have liked to arrest him they were afraid of the crowds, who looked on him as a prophet.

I am where I am today because of my own hard work and did what is necessary. I know I’m not going to live forever so I’ll enjoy and live life to the fullest with the fruits of my labour. Let someone else worry about the bum on the street, he chose to be lazy and waste his life away. How many in our society think this way? How rich are their lives really when they live only for themselves? How different are we from the rich man? Where is God in our own lives?

God knows everything that goes on in our hearts and in our minds. There is nothing we can hide from Him. And yet He in His great love He does not impose His Will on us.  He wants for us true life with and in Him not just here on earth but in Heaven. We must make that choice on our own.

To live in the presence of our Lord is to be faithful to His Word. To desire always to deepen our relationship with Him by taking time to be in prayer and silence.  For our eyes to be opened to see that we are all His children one body in Christ; and so we live not for ourselves but for one another.

Open my heart to be generous as You O Lord, who are generous with Your mercy and love. Amen

First reading
Jeremiah 17:5-10

The Lord says this:
‘A curse on the man who puts his trust in man, who relies on things of flesh, whose heart turns from the Lord.

He is like dry scrub in the wastelands: if good comes, he has no eyes for it, he settles in the parched places of the wilderness, a salt land, uninhabited.

‘A blessing on the man who puts his trust in the Lord, with the Lord for his hope.

He is like a tree by the waterside that thrusts its roots to the stream: when the heat comes it feels no alarm,  its foliage stays green; it has no worries in a year of drought, and never ceases to bear fruit.

‘The heart is more devious than any other thing, perverse too: who can pierce its secrets?

I, the Lord, search to the heart,
I probe the loins, to give each man what his conduct and his actions deserve.’

Gospel
Luke 16:19-31

Jesus said to the Pharisees, ‘There was a rich man who used to dress in purple and fine linen and feast magnificently every day. And at his gate there lay a poor man called Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to fill himself with the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even came and licked his sores. Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried.

  ‘In his torment in Hades he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off with Lazarus in his bosom. So he cried out, “Father Abraham, pity me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames.” “My son,” Abraham replied “remember that during your life good things came your way, just as bad things came the way of Lazarus. Now he is being comforted here while you are in agony. But that is not all: between us and you a great gulf has been fixed, to stop anyone, if he wanted to, crossing from our side to yours, and to stop any crossing from your side to ours.”

  ‘The rich man replied, “Father, I beg you then to send Lazarus to my father’s house, since I have five brothers, to give them warning so that they do not come to this place of torment too.” “They have Moses and the prophets,” said Abraham “let them listen to them..” “Ah no, father Abraham,” said the rich man “but if someone comes to them from the dead, they will repent.” Then Abraham said to him, “If they will not listen either to Moses or to the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone should rise from the dead.”’

Evil seeks to hide the truth and will do anything to prevent those under their wing from listening. It will devise, twist, cover and eventually create their version of the ‘truth’ a lie.

So what is the truth?

All Truth lies with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Who came to die for us so that we may live. To gather us together as One with and in Him. We are His people the sheep of His flock. 

And so when disciples of our Lord Jesus are called to lead His flock. They are called to do so as He did. With such love as to be prepared to lay their life down in doing so. That is the way of the cross.

That is the way, the truth and life in Jesus Christ. Amen

First reading
Jeremiah 18:18-20

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

Listen to me, O Lord, hear what my adversaries are saying.

Should evil be returned for good?

For they are digging a pit for me. Remember how I stood in your presence to plead on their behalf, to turn your wrath away from them.

Gospel
Matthew 20:17-28

Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, and on the way he took the Twelve to one side and said to them, ‘Now we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man is about to be handed over to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the pagans to be mocked and scourged and crucified; and on the third day he will rise again.’

  Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came with her sons to make a request of him, and bowed low; and he said to her, ‘What is it you want?’ She said to him, ‘Promise that these two sons of mine may sit one at your right hand and the other at your left in your kingdom.’ ‘You do not know what you are asking’ Jesus answered. ‘Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?’ They replied, ‘We can.’ ‘Very well,’ he said ‘you shall drink my cup, but as for seats at my right hand and my left, these are not mine to grant; they belong to those to whom they have been allotted by my Father.’

  When the other ten heard this they were indignant with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, ‘You know that among the pagans the rulers lord it over them, and their great men make their authority felt. This is not to happen among you. No; anyone who wants to be great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’

A humble contrite heart you will not spurn O Lord. Let my heart not be hardened with the cares of the world. I want not honour or recognition for what I do. I seek only that You look upon Your child with approval.

Guide me in my thoughts, words and actions so that I may only do what is pleasing to You. Help me not allow stubbornness or fear to creep up over me, instead let me always be open to Your Will for me.

Thank You Jesus for Your gentle whisper into my heart. Let Your servant now and forever be attentive to Your call. Amen

First reading
Isaiah 1:10,16-20

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

‘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.

‘Come now, let us talk this over, says the Lord.

Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

‘If you are willing to obey,
you shall eat the good things of the earth.

But if you persist in rebellion,
the sword shall eat you instead.’

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.’

How blessed are we indeed that in this day and age we have Holy and faithful shepherds safeguarding the promise of our Lord Jesus Christ. That the Church built upon Him will endure forever.

How blessed are we to have the mercy of God conferred upon us and His voice of absolution spoken through His chosen, Holy, anointed priests.

If we are truly disciples of Christ Jesus then whether, priests, clergy or laity, we have a joyful duty to share the Good news of salvation. To call for repentance and to extend His mercy and peace to all. We must lead one another on our journey home to Him.  Amen

First reading
1 Peter 5:1-4

Now I have something to tell your elders: I am an elder myself, and a witness to the sufferings of Christ, and with you I have a share in the glory that is to be revealed. Be the shepherds of the flock of God that is entrusted to you: watch over it, not simply as a duty but gladly, because God wants it; not for sordid money, but because you are eager to do it. Never be a dictator over any group that is put in your charge, but be an example that the whole flock can follow. When the chief shepherd appears, you will be given the crown of unfading glory.

Gospel
Matthew 16:13-19

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.’

Gen 15:1-6

You O Lord indeed are my shield and my reward. I thank You Lord for Your countless blessings. I thank You Lord for my family for whom I am able to share the blessings. I thank You Lord for the many opportunities to share my blessings with the community and everyone I encounter through Your Grace.

You took Father Abraham out into broad daylight and challenged him to look up to heaven and count the stars. Such would be his descendants. O dearest Father in heaven like Father Abraham I put my faith in You. I may not be able to see the stars in heaven in broad daylight let alone count them. But that doesn’t mean they are not there.

Such was the unwavering faith Father Abraham had in You. Let me share always in that faith and that it may count as making me justified.

All my faith I place in You my Lord Jesus Christ. Now and forever, Amen.

My reflection on….

1 Samuel 17:23, 26, 28-30, 32-51

How deep is my love for my God? Can I tolerate to hear his Holy name blasphemed? Will I stand up for God like David did?

He did not allow harsh words spoken against him to deter his zeal for the Lord. Instead he posed a question about not being allowed to speak up and moved on to speak up yet again.

How do we heed the Lord’s call to comfort His people if we are not convicted ourselves in our faith? The first thing David said to Saul when summoned was, “Let no one lose heart.” ‘I will go…. ”

“If God is with us, who can stand against us?” Are we truly convinced of this? Have there not been times in your life that challenges came which seemed impossible to overcome and yet the Lord made a way? Often like Saul you see the huge problem before you and cannot look past it to recognise that God had sent a simple solution even though it may appear small in stature.

The Lord our God will lead you to victory. All you need for the battle is your faith in Him. You move forward in the comfort of being yourself, a Child of God our Father.

David’s choice of weapons were five smooth stones and a sling. And yet he only needed one. Likewise I should never be complacent or take things for granted. How prepared am I? What are my five smooth stones?

Perhaps one is to receive daily Eucharist. Two going regularly for the Sacrament of reconciliation. Three, observe a regular fast so as to draw closer to the Lord. Four, quiet time with Lord, prayer and Adoration. Five, dwelling on the Word of God daily.

Finally in the battle against evil. It is not enough to overcome the threat and stand victorious. I must cut it off from my life completely. Only then can I claim victory.

Glory to God on High! Amen

In the battlefield, when a soldier or an Officer disobeys a direct order he places himself and his fellow troopers in possible grave danger.

Similarly in the battle against evil, we need to be obedient to  God our Father’s commands and His law written on our hearts.  He the Lord our God is perfect in every way and so must we strive for perfection.

He does not see imperfections in us and is always lovingly at hand to help us with the challenges we face. We have been consecrated unto Him by our Baptism and Confirmation. And so likewise we should not see imperfections in our brethren but be on hand to lovingly help them through the challenges they face.

Lord Jesus You are perfect in every way! Guide me on my journey to perfection in You. Amen

First reading
Deuteronomy 26:16-19

Moses said to the people: ‘The Lord your God today commands you to observe these laws and customs; you must keep and observe them with all your heart and with all your soul.

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

Gospel
Matthew 5:43-48

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

In the battlefield, when a soldier or an Officer disobeys a direct order he places himself and his fellow troopers in possible grave danger.

Similarly in the battle against evil, we need to be obedient to  God our Father’s commands and His law written on our hearts.  He the Lord our God is perfect in every way and so must we strive for perfection.

He does not see imperfections in us and is always lovingly at hand to help us with the challenges we face. We have been consecrated unto Him by our Baptism and Confirmation. And so likewise we should not see imperfections in our brethren but be on hand to lovingly help them through the challenges they face.

Lord Jesus You are perfect in every way! Guide me on my journey to perfection in You. Amen

First reading
Deuteronomy 26:16-19

Moses said to the people: ‘The Lord your God today commands you to observe these laws and customs; you must keep and observe them with all your heart and with all your soul.

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

Gospel
Matthew 5:43-48

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

In the battlefield, when a soldier or an Officer disobeys a direct order he places himself and his fellow troopers in possible grave danger.

Similarly in the battle against evil, we need to be obedient to  God our Father’s commands and His law written on our hearts.  He the Lord our God is perfect in every way and so must we strive for perfection.

He does not see imperfections in us and is always lovingly at hand to help us with the challenges we face. We have been consecrated unto Him by our Baptism and Confirmation. And so likewise we should not see imperfections in our brethren but be on hand to lovingly help them through the challenges they face.

Lord Jesus You are perfect in every way! Guide me on my journey to perfection in You. Amen

First reading
Deuteronomy 26:16-19

Moses said to the people: ‘The Lord your God today commands you to observe these laws and customs; you must keep and observe them with all your heart and with all your soul.

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

Gospel
Matthew 5:43-48

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

Choose life says the Lord….

He is waiting to receive you in His open arms. He wants to restore you, cleanse away the filth that you have collected over the years. To free you from the burdens of your sins. To fill your hearts with His joy and peace. All you need to do is turn away from sin and choose the path to Him.

For you who have chosen Him. To be His disciple, then you must hold fast to the faith in Your Lord Jesus Christ. For He stands with you in the daily struggle of battling evil and temptations. Continue to remain steadfast for you are a beacon for your brethren. Forgive always. Build upon the Word and strive to go deeper in faith and your relationship with the Lord Your God.

You who think yourself Holy and worthy, think again.  Do not let your hearts be hardened.  True knowledge of the Lord Your God comes first from Faith in Him, an ever growing relationship with Him and all His children. If you are not humble to see yourself as a child still young, still learning, still growing; and recognise the same in your brethren. Then you have lost your way. The mercy you hold back will be held back from you.

Jesus, my Lord I want to walk Your path.  Your truth and Your light. Lead me Lord, now and always. Amen

First reading
Ezekiel 18:21-28

Thus says the Lord:

  ‘If the wicked man renounces all the sins he has committed, respects my laws and is law-abiding and honest, he will certainly live; he will not die. All the sins he committed will be forgotten from then on; he shall live because of the integrity he has practised. What! Am I likely to take pleasure in the death of a wicked man – it is the Lord who speaks – and not prefer to see him renounce his wickedness and live?

  ‘But if the upright man renounces his integrity, commits sin, copies the wicked man and practises every kind of filth, is he to live? All the integrity he has practised shall be forgotten from then on; but this is because he himself has broken faith and committed sin, and for this he shall die. But you object, “What the Lord does is unjust.” Listen, you House of Israel: is what I do unjust? Is it not what you do that is unjust? When the upright man renounces his integrity to commit sin and dies because of this, he dies because of the evil that he himself has committed. When the sinner renounces sin to become law-abiding and honest, he deserves to live. He has chosen to renounce all his previous sins; he shall certainly live; he shall not die.’

Gospel
Matthew 5:20-26

Jesus said to his disciples, If your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.

  ‘You have learnt how it was said to our ancestors: You must not kill; and if anyone does kill he must answer for it before the court. But I say this to you: anyone who is angry with his brother will answer for it before the court; if a man calls his brother “Fool” he will answer for it before the Sanhedrin; and if a man calls him “Renegade” he will answer for it in hell fire. So then, if you are bringing your offering to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, go and be reconciled with your brother first, and then come back and present your offering. Come to terms with your opponent in good time while you are still on the way to the court with him, or he may hand you over to the judge and the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison. I tell you solemnly, you will not get out till you have paid the last penny.’

There is no other God other than God our loving Father, Jesus His Son and the Holy Spirit who seeks an intimate relationship with us.  So great is His love for us that in order to save us, God became man to die for us so that we may live.  Jesus the living Word gives us of Himself in Holy Eucharist so that we may be in communion with Him.

Can we ever then say that we are alone?

When we are of one mind with the Lord our God. Our prayers unites us with His Will. He is with us as we are with Him.  We would never need to ask if our prayers are heard or answered.

Amen

First reading
Esther 4:17

Queen Esther took refuge with the Lord in the mortal peril which had overtaken her. She besought the Lord God of Israel in these words:

‘My Lord, our King, the only one, come to my help, for I am alone and have no helper but you and am about to take my life in my hands.

‘I have been taught from my earliest years, in the bosom of my family, that you, Lord, chose Israel out of all the nations and our ancestors out of all the people of old times to be your heritage for ever;
and that you have treated them as you promised.

‘Remember, Lord; reveal yourself in the time of our distress.

‘As for me, give me courage,
King of gods and master of all power.

Put persuasive words into my mouth when I face the lion;
change his feeling into hatred for our enemy, that the latter and all like him may be brought to their end.

‘As for ourselves, save us by your hand, and come to my help, for I am alone and have no one but you, Lord.’

Gospel
Matthew 7:7-12

Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For the one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him. Is there a man among you who would hand his son a stone when he asked for bread? Or would hand him a snake when he asked for a fish? If you, then, who are evil, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

  ‘So always treat others as you would like them to treat you; that is the meaning of the Law and the Prophets.’

We don’t hear what other words if any that Jonah preached; other than the ultimatum that Nineveh would be destroyed in forty days if they did not repent.

Did they question who this prophet was? Who was this Jew to come into their great pagan city and to shout out destruction if they did not repent? Yet they listened in faith not requiring further signs. Perhaps they knew in their hearts they were leading very sinful lives. And obeyed God our Father’s call at once to repent. No guarantees whether or not by doing so they would be saved.

Are we still a wicked generation that needs more signs?

We have the promise of God our Father fulfilled in Jesus. We have billions of testimonies of how Jesus touched each and everyone’s lives. We who have sought after Him have experienced our merciful God and His love for us. We have the Sacraments which are all signs of the presence of God.

Let us instead ask our Lord, to allow us to signs of His love and mercy. To be witnesses for Him. Amen

God our loving Father does not want us His children harmed nor does He wish us to die.  And so He constantly calls us through many ways and persons to turn away from our sinful choices that would lead us to our own destruction.

Are we obedient then to His Word? His life giving, transforming Word which leads us to life. Are we obedient to His loving call to do His Will? That is to call our sisters and brothers, His children whether near or far to repentance; and the hope of new life.

Jesus is the sign of the great love God our Father has for us. Let us be obedient unto Him as He leads us on to new life in Him. Amen

First reading
Jonah 3:1-10

The word of the Lord was addressed a second time to Jonah: ‘Up!’ he said ‘Go to Nineveh, the great city, and preach to them as I told you to.’ Jonah set out and went to Nineveh in obedience to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was a city great beyond compare: it took three days to cross it. Jonah went on into the city, making a day’s journey. He preached in these words, ‘Only forty days more and Nineveh is going to be destroyed.’ And the people of Nineveh believed in God; they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least. The news reached the king of Nineveh, who rose from his throne, took off his robe, put on sackcloth and sat down in ashes. A proclamation was then promulgated throughout Nineveh, by decree of the king and his ministers, as follows: ‘Men and beasts, herds and flocks, are to taste nothing; they must not eat, they must not drink water. All are to put on sackcloth and call on God with all their might; and let everyone renounce his evil behaviour and the wicked things he has done. Who knows if God will not change his mind and relent, if he will not renounce his burning wrath, so that we do not perish?’ God saw their efforts to renounce their evil behaviour, and God relented: he did not inflict on them the disaster which he had threatened.

Gospel
Luke 11:29-32

The crowds got even bigger and Jesus addressed them, ‘This is a wicked generation; it is asking for a sign. The only sign it will be given is the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. On Judgement day the Queen of the South will rise up with the men of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here. 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.’

How comforting it is to know that the Word of God flows freely from His heart. Nourishes as it stimulates growth, heals and does the divine good before drawing us back closer to Him.

How sad it is that some still choose to reject, close up their ears or fail to embrace the Word in all its glory.

Prayer is a gift for which we unite ourselves with the heart and mind of our loving and merciful Father in Heaven. The beauty of it, is that there are many ways to pray but all must come from an deep inner desire to connect with our creator the source of life.

Jesus my Lord You teach us that our main focus in prayer should be our Heavenly Father and to do His Will. In loving humility to ask Him for what we need and never take for granted what He readily provides. To always seek first to be merciful with one another so as to be reconciled with Him in His mercy. To be aware that evil lurks and to be steadfast in prayer so as to receive the grace to be victorious over it. Thank You Lord Jesus. Amen

First reading
Isaiah 55:10-11

Thus says the Lord: ‘As the rain and the snow come down from the heavens and do not return without watering the earth, making it yield and giving growth to provide seed for the sower and bread for the eating, so the word that goes from my mouth does not return to me empty, without carrying out my will and succeeding in what it was sent to do.’

Gospel
Matthew 6:7-15

Jesus said to his disciples, ‘In your prayers do not babble as the pagans do, for they think that by using many words they will make themselves heard. Do not be like them; your Father knows what you need before you ask him. So you should pray like this:

‘Our Father in heaven,
may your name be held holy,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven those who are in debt to us.
And do not put us to the test,
but save us from the evil one.

‘Yes, if you forgive others their failings, your heavenly Father will forgive you yours; but if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive your failings either.’

How easy it is for the poor to be far more generous than those of us who have never been in dire need of anything. Are we not ashamed for not doing more? Not giving more?

The call for Holiness is not a call for some sort of individual spirituality. But a call to union with the Holiness of God our Father. To unite ourselves to His heart and mind.  He loves us so much that He Wills that we love one another the way He loves us.

And so how do you think He feels when one of His children is suffering and another who has much does nothing to help? Or one is ill treating another? Or one choosing to remain silent while his brother or sister is living in sin and falling further away from the relationship our Heavenly Father wants for him/her ?

Help open our eyes Lord Jesus, especially during this season of Lent to the needs of others. So that we may bring comfort to them. And share Your peace and love. So that we may all draw closer to You in Holiness. Amen

First reading
Leviticus 19:1-2,11-18

The Lord spoke to Moses. He said: ‘Speak to the whole community of the sons of Israel and say to them:

  ‘“Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy.

  ‘“You must not steal nor deal deceitfully or fraudulently with your neighbour. You must not swear falsely by my name, profaning the name of your God. I am the Lord. You must not exploit or rob your neighbour. You must not keep back the labourer’s wage until next morning. You must not curse the dumb, nor put an obstacle in the blind man’s way, but you must fear your God. I am the Lord.

  ‘“You must not be guilty of unjust verdicts. You must neither be partial to the little man nor overawed by the great; you must pass judgement on your neighbour according to justice. You must not slander your own people, and you must not jeopardise your neighbour’s life. I am the Lord. You must not bear hatred for your brother in your heart. You must openly tell him, your neighbour, of his offence; this way you will not take a sin upon yourself. You must not exact vengeance, nor must you bear a grudge against the children of your people. You must love your neighbour as yourself. I am the Lord.”’

Gospel
Matthew 25:31-46

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, escorted by all the angels, then he will take his seat on his throne of glory. All the nations will be assembled before him and he will separate men one from another as the shepherd separates sheep from goats. He will place the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left.

  ‘Then the King will say to those on his right hand, “Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take for your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you made me welcome; naked and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me.” Then the virtuous will say to him in reply, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you; or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome; naked and clothe you; sick or in prison and go to see you?” And the King will answer, “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.”

  ‘Next he will say to those on his left hand, “Go away from me, with your curse upon you, to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you never gave me food; I was thirsty and you never gave me anything to drink; I was a stranger and you never made me welcome, naked and you never clothed me, sick and in prison and you never visited me.” Then it will be their turn to ask, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, a stranger or naked, sick or in prison, and did not come to your help?” Then he will answer, “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you neglected to do this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me.”

  ‘And they will go away to eternal punishment, and the virtuous to eternal life.’

O Lord my God You see the error of my ways.  You have seen my wicked streaks. You have heard the curses muttered under my breath. You know I have been selfish, self centred. And at times lazy. And yet I hear You calling me to follow You.

How can I continue to wallow in my sins? How can I ignore the sweet voice of my Lord and God? How can I not want new life and hope?

Yes Lord see me running towards You! Thank You sweet Jesus for seeking me out. For embracing me when no one would. Thank You Lord for Your great mercy and love. I strive to follow Your ways, to be loving and merciful to all I meet. 

Glory and Praise to my Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

First reading
Isaiah 58:9-14

The Lord says this:

If you do away with the yoke,
the clenched fist, the wicked word, if you give your bread to the hungry, and relief to the oppressed, your light will rise in the darkness, and your shadows become like noon.

The Lord will always guide you, giving you relief in desert places.

He will give strength to your bones and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water whose waters never run dry.

You will rebuild the ancient ruins, build up on the old foundations.

You will be called ‘Breach-mender’, ‘Restorer of ruined houses.’

If you refrain from trampling the sabbath, and doing business on the holy day, if you call the Sabbath ‘Delightful’, and the day sacred to the Lord ‘Honourable’, if you honour it by abstaining from travel, from doing business and from gossip, then shall you find your happiness in the Lord and I will lead you triumphant over the heights of the land.

I will feed you on the heritage of Jacob your father. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Gospel
Luke 5:27-32

Jesus noticed a tax collector, Levi by name, sitting by the customs house, and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And leaving everything he got up and followed him.

  In his honour Levi held a great reception in his house, and with them at table was a large gathering of tax collectors and others. The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples and said, ‘Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?’ Jesus said to them in reply, ‘It is not those who are well who need the doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the virtuous, but sinners to repentance.’

Many do not take fasting seriously. Even those who can fast will have some excuse not to. Why torture yourself? Does God really want that of us? There are many other far better ways and things to abstain from? While it is true for those few who cannot fast but in their heart they really want to, theirs is a righteous ‘fast’. For their choices are truly to draw closer to God.

The depths of observing a fast is far reaching. When we do so with the mind and heart for God. For the promptings of the Holy Spirit is amplified. When we deny the flesh, we deny evil an entry point however small. Our prayers, songs of praise and exaltations like incense billows up to God our Father.

Jesus my Lord I long for You. Let my Lenten observance be grace filled so as to draw ever closer to You. Amen

First reading
Isaiah 58:1-9

Thus says the Lord:
Shout for all you are worth, raise your voice like a trumpet.

Proclaim their faults to my people, their sins to the House of Jacob.

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

They ask me for laws that are just, they long for God to draw near:

‘Why should we fast if you never see it, why do penance if you never notice?’

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

Fasting like yours today will never make your voice heard on high.

Is that the sort of fast that pleases me, a truly penitential day for men?

Hanging your head like a reed,
lying down on sackcloth and ashes?

Is that what you call fasting,
a day acceptable to the Lord?

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

Then will your light shine like the dawn and your wound be quickly healed over.

Your integrity will go before you and the glory of the Lord behind you.

Cry, and the Lord will answer;
call, and he will say, ‘I am here.’

Gospel
Matthew 9:14-15

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

We have a choice to make between loving God our Father and doing His Will for us or choosing to live life devoid of Him. Those who think that sitting on the fence is an acceptable response are sorely mistaken. It is still a choice they have made and on the latter.

Our life here on earth is passing from dust we came, to the dust we shall return. We who choose the Lord our God have hope of new life and in resurrected bodies. For it is a truth, promise from our Lord Jesus Christ. That whosoever loses his life for His sake, will have eternal life. By our baptism we the branches have been attached to the true vine.  We are nourished by the source of all life itself. Needless to say what will happen to those who choose not to be attached or have chosen to detach themselves.

Lord Jesus You have the message of eternal life. I choose to take up my cross and follow You. Amen

First reading
Deuteronomy 30:15-20

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

Gospel
Luke 9:22-25

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘The Son of Man is destined to suffer grievously, to be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes and to be put to death, and to be raised up on the third day.’

  Then to all he said, ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross every day and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake, that man will save it. What gain, then, is it for a man to have won the whole world and to have lost or ruined his very self?’

When I applied leave for ash Wednesday a few weeks ago. I wondered if I had made a sound decision. Being the third day of the Lunar New Year, the children would be in school. My spouse would be at work starting her new job. And I would be missing out on serving at the lunchtime mass in the business district. Ash Wednesday is not a day of obligation and so I asked myself if I was wasting a precious day of leave?

But deep in my heart I knew I wanted to spend this day with the Lord. The Lunar New Year festivities over the last few days with lots of good food and wine, was a little over indulgent. And so it was important to me to spend some time with the Lord in the Adoration room. To realign my focus on Him and to place my many sins at His feet. To be in His presence so He could minister to me.

Undeserving as I am my Lord opens His heart to me. And I feel His love envelop me. Needless to say I am in tears. Then it hits me once again that this overwhelming sense of gratitude should be shared. Not simply by sharing this personal moment, but by extending the same mercy and love I received with others; especially those who have hurt me in one way or another.

Three hours have gone by as I now sit here writing this reflection while basking in His love. I cherish every single minute of this wonderful Ash Wednesday. What a great start to my Lenten journey.

Glory to You O Lord!

Today we hear the call to start anew. Put the past behind us and start afresh. It does not matter if we had sinned terribly or what we had done or failed to do. The Lord is inviting us to turn back towards Him. For even as we have strayed and have wandered from Him. He is calling us back to His loving embrace.

And so we fast not in shame or gloom but in joyful expectation. For when we empty ourselves we are inviting our Lord to come fill up the empty spaces in our hearts, bodies and minds. And we invite all of whom we love and hate alike. To have a change of heart as we move together closer towards God our Father this Lenten journey.

We pray fervently, fast reverently, give alms generously always for the Glory of God alone!

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God. Have mercy on me a sinner. Amen

First reading
Joel 2:12-18

‘Now, now – it is the Lord who speaks –come back to me with all your heart, fasting, weeping, mourning.’

Let your hearts be broken, not your garments torn, turn to the Lord your God again, for he is all tenderness and compassion, slow to anger, rich in graciousness, and ready to relent.

Who knows if he will not turn again, will not relent, will not leave a blessing as he passes,
oblation and libation for the Lord your God?

Sound the trumpet in Zion!
Order a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly, call the people together, summon the community, assemble the elders, gather the children,
even the infants at the breast.

Let the bridegroom leave his bedroom and the bride her alcove.

Between vestibule and altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, lament.

Let them say,‘Spare your people, Lord!   Do not make your heritage a thing of shame, a byword for the nations.

Why should it be said among the nations, “Where is their God?”’

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

Second reading
2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2

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

Gospel
Matthew 6:1-6,16-18

Jesus said to his disciples:

  ‘Be careful not to parade your good deeds before men to attract their notice; by doing this you will lose all reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you; this is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win men’s admiration. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right is doing; your almsgiving must be secret, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.

  ‘And when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites: they love to say their prayers standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for people to see them; I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you pray, go to your private room and, when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.

  ‘When you fast do not put on a gloomy look as the hypocrites do: they pull long faces to let men know they are fasting. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that no one will know you are fasting except your Father who sees all that is done in secret; and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.’