It is comforting to know we are not alone in the world. We are all together on our pilgrim journey as saints, that is made holy by our baptism and striving always to be Holy as our Heavenly Father is Holy. We have the Saints in heaven interceding for us so that one day soon we will all be reunited in Heaven.

So let us ponder this day how well are we living the beatitudes our roadmap to our Heavenly inheritance.

Are we gentle, merciful, and pure in heart? Are we known to be peacemakers? Do we hunger and thirst for what is right? Are we humble in all things? Do we fight for Christ Jesus our Lord, especially in those who cannot fight for themselves. The poor, the sick, old and young.

Help me Lord on my journey to sainthood, that I may be made worthy of Your promises. Amen

All Saints in Heaven pray for us…

________

First reading
Apocalypse 7:2-4,9-14 ·

I saw a huge number, impossible to count, of people from every nation, race, tribe and language

I, John, saw another angel rising where the sun rises, carrying the seal of the living God; he called in a powerful voice to the four angels whose duty was to devastate land and sea, ‘Wait before you do any damage on land or at sea or to the trees, until we have put the seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.’ Then I heard how many were sealed: a hundred and forty-four thousand, out of all the tribes of Israel.
    After that I saw a huge number, impossible to count, of people from every nation, race, tribe and language; they were standing in front of the throne and in front of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palms in their hands. They shouted aloud, ‘Victory to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’ And all the angels who were standing in a circle round the throne, surrounding the elders and the four animals, prostrated themselves before the throne, and touched the ground with their foreheads, worshipping God with these words, ‘Amen. Praise and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and strength to our God for ever and ever. Amen.’
    One of the elders then spoke, and asked me, ‘Do you know who these people are, dressed in white robes, and where they have come from?’ I answered him, ‘You can tell me, my lord.’ Then he said, ‘These are the people who have been through the great persecution, and they have washed their robes white again in the blood of the Lamb.’



________

Second reading
1 John 3:1-3 ·

We shall be like God because we shall see him as he really is


Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us,
    by letting us be called God’s children;
    and that is what we are.
Because the world refused to acknowledge him,
    therefore it does not acknowledge us.
My dear people, we are already the children of God
    but what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed;
all we know is, that when it is revealed we shall be like him
because we shall see him as he really is.
Surely everyone who entertains this hope must purify himself, must try to be as pure as Christ.


________

Gospel
Matthew 5:1-12a

How happy are the poor in spirit

Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the hill. There he sat down and was joined by his disciples. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them:

‘How happy are the poor in spirit; theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Happy the gentle: they shall have the earth for their heritage.
Happy those who mourn: they shall be comforted.
Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right: they shall be satisfied.
Happy the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them.
Happy the pure in heart: they shall see God.
Happy the peacemakers:
they shall be called sons of God.
Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

‘Happy are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.’

Let us not behave though we have all the time in the world to make amends, to forgive or ask forgiveness. To honour, which is to love and care for our parents. To reflect God our Father’s love and patience for our children. To give our best for the glory of God in our daily work and handling of our affairs.

Yes indeed we must choose the narrow door, the way, the truth and the life! In spite of all it’s challenges and hardships we know it is the way of Christ. So with joy in our hearts and humility we shall serve the Lord and our brethren.

Lord I humbly take up my cross to follow after You. Lead me into Your kingdom. Amen


________

First reading
Ephesians 6:1-9

Duties in domestic life

Children, be obedient to your parents in the Lord – that is your duty. The commandment that has a promise attached to it is: Honour your father and mother, and the promise is: and you will prosper and have a long life in the land. And parents, never drive your children to resentment but in bringing them up correct them and guide them as the Lord does.
    Slaves, be obedient to the men who are called your masters in this world, with deep respect and sincere loyalty, as you are obedient to Christ: not only when you are under their eye, as if you had only to please men, but because you are slaves of Christ and wholeheartedly do the will of God. Work hard and willingly, but do it for the sake of the Lord and not for the sake of men. You can be sure that everyone, whether a slave or a free man, will be properly rewarded by the Lord for whatever work he has done well. And those of you who are employers, treat your slaves in the same spirit; do without threats, remembering that they and you have the same Master in heaven and he is not impressed by one person more than by another.





________

Gospel
Luke 13:22-30

The last shall be first and the first last

Through towns and villages Jesus went teaching, making his way to Jerusalem. Someone said to him, ‘Sir, will there be only a few saved?’ He said to them, ‘Try your best to enter by the narrow door, because, I tell you, many will try to enter and will not succeed.
    ‘Once the master of the house has got up and locked the door, you may find yourself knocking on the door, saying, “Lord, open to us” but he will answer, “I do not know where you come from.” Then you will find yourself saying, “We once ate and drank in your company; you taught in our streets” but he will reply, “I do not know where you come from. Away from me, all you wicked men!”
    ‘Then there will be weeping and grinding of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves turned outside. And men from east and west, from north and south, will come to take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.
    ‘Yes, there are those now last who will be first, and those now first who will be last.’

Today’s first reading teaches us how husbands and wives must love and respect one another in sacred marriage but also more importantly how we must care and love His Church whom He, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ cherishes and loves.  Afterall we share a sacred union with Him and One another. For we are One Body in Him.

Therefore we, as Church that is One Body in Him must grow! We must go out into the peripheries bringing shade, comfort, healing, warming the hearts of the faithful.
We must bring the joy of the Gospel far and wide!

The kingdom of God is at hand and all are welcome through Jesus Christ our Lord, so let us then embrace all our brethren into His Kingdom. Amen

________

First reading
Ephesians 5:25-33 ·

Give way to one another in obedience to Christ

Husbands should love their wives just as Christ loved the Church and sacrificed himself for her to make her holy. He made her clean by washing her in water with a form of words, so that when he took her to himself she would be glorious, with no speck or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and faultless. In the same way, husbands must love their wives as they love their own bodies; for a man to love his wife is for him to love himself. A man never hates his own body, but he feeds it and looks after it; and that is the way Christ treats the Church, because it is his body – and we are its living parts. For this reason, a man must leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one body. This mystery has many implications; but I am saying it applies to Christ and the Church. To sum up; you too, each one of you, must love his wife as he loves himself; and let every wife respect her husband.



________

Gospel
Luke 13:18-21

The kingdom of God is like the yeast that leavened three measures of flour

Jesus said, ‘What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it with? It is like a mustard seed which a man took and threw into his garden: it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air sheltered in its branches.’
    Another thing he said, ‘What shall I compare the kingdom of God with? It is like the yeast a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour till it was leavened all through.’

On this feast day of Saints Simon and Jude we are reminded that we are One with them and all the angels and Saints in Heaven. We are destined for our Heavenly Inheritance as we have been grafted unto Christ Jesus our Lord through our baptism. He is our Rock our foundation!

Likewise, we have been sent into the world to proclaim the Good News! That the fullness of life is to be had through the salvific grace of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. If we truly love then we shall lead all to Him so that they too can experience true peace, love and joy to be found in Jesus.

Lord, You have commissioned me and I go where You lead. Amen

Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles pray for us…

________

First reading

Ephesians 2:19-22 ·

In Christ you are no longer aliens, but citizens like us

You are no longer aliens or foreign visitors: you are citizens like all the saints, and part of God’s household. You are part of a building that has the apostles and prophets for its foundations, and Christ Jesus himself for its main cornerstone. As every structure is aligned on him, all grow into one holy temple in the Lord; and you too, in him, are being built into a house where God lives, in the Spirit.

________

Gospel

Luke 6:12-16

Jesus chooses his twelve apostles

Jesus went out into the hills to pray; and he spent the whole night in prayer to God. When day came he summoned his disciples and picked out twelve of them; he called them ‘apostles’: Simon whom he called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot who became a traitor.

Disunity happens for those who do not seek the face of the Lord. How then can we be called Christian if we are divided? Surely we will have differences, challenges even disagreements! But we must never give up on finding common ground through the Holy Spirit. Seeking always to see the face of Christ in one another.

For by our baptism we have become One Body in Him, One spirit in our One Lord, children of God our Heavenly Father. And the world shall know we are Christians by our united love for, with, through and in Him. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

So let us walk with each other, let us walk hand in hand; And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land. Amen

________

First reading
Ephesians 4:1-6 ·

One Body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God

I, the prisoner in the Lord, implore you to lead a life worthy of your vocation. Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together. There is one Body, one Spirit, just as you were all called into one and the same hope when you were called. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God who is Father of all, over all, through all and within all.



________

Gospel
Luke 12:54-59

Do you not know how to interpret these times?

Jesus said to the crowds: ‘When you see a cloud looming up in the west you say at once that rain is coming, and so it does. And when the wind is from the south you say it will be hot, and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the face of the earth and the sky. How is it you do not know how to interpret these times?
    ‘Why not judge for yourselves what is right? For example: when you go to court with your opponent, try to settle with him on the way, or he may drag you before the judge and the judge hand you over to the bailiff and the bailiff have you thrown into prison. I tell you, you will not get out till you have paid the very last penny.’

Does God our Father care? If the answer is other than a resounding YES! Then we are not living virtuous lives in His presence. We are not seeking His word and will for us daily. We have instead distant ourselves from Him by perhaps living life by our own strength and wisdom. Seeking cheap comforts through sinful pleasures.

For if we were living in His presence then our hearts will be aflamed with the fire of His love. For our Lord truly fills the earth with His love. It is our deep personal, intimate relationship with treasure most above all others. For only through it can we love our family as we should. And the power of His love and grace flows out through us for our brethren and all God our Father’s children.

Set my heart ablaze Jesus for You and my brethren. Amen

Saint Antony Mary Claret, pray 



________

First reading
Ephesians 3:14-21

A prayer that faithful may know the love of Christ

This is what I pray, kneeling before the Father, from whom every family, whether spiritual or natural, takes its name:
    Out of his infinite glory, may he give you the power through his Spirit for your hidden self to grow strong, so that Christ may live in your hearts through faith, and then, planted in love and built on love, you will with all the saints have strength to grasp the breadth and the length, the height and the depth; until, knowing the love of Christ, which is beyond all knowledge, you are filled with the utter fullness of God.
    Glory be to him whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine; glory be to him from generation to generation in the Church and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen.




________

Gospel
Luke 12:49-53

How I wish it were blazing already!

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I have come to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were blazing already! There is a baptism I must still receive, and how great is my distress till it is over!
    ‘Do you suppose that I am here to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on a household of five will be divided: three against two and two against three; the father divided against the son, son against father, mother against daughter, daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law, daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.’

Jesus is for all! Even for those who have yet to believe in Him. As for those of us baptised Christians, we can be bold to approach the throne of grace, for we are children of God our Father so loved by Him.  With joy we will draw water from the wells of salvation. And it shall overflow unto those who seek Him

For love of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ we shall stand ready to greet Him. We don’t know when but, but we have chosen to remain faithful caring and ministering to those He has sent our way. Joyful that we are worthy to be His servants yet He calls us His friends. Amen


Saint John of Capistrano, Pray for us…


________

First reading
Ephesians 3:2-12 ·

The pagans now share the same inheritance

You have probably heard how I have been entrusted by God with the grace he meant for you, and that it was by a revelation that I was given the knowledge of the mystery, as I have just described it very shortly. If you read my word you will have some idea of the depths that I see in the mystery of Christ. This that has now been revealed through the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets was unknown to any men in past generations; it means that pagans now share the same inheritance, that they are parts of the same body, and that the same promise has been made to them, in Jesus Christ, through the gospel. I have been made the servant of that gospel by a gift of grace from God who gave it to me by his own power. I, who am less than the least of all the saints have been entrusted with this special grace, not only of proclaiming to the pagans the infinite treasure of Christ but also of explaining how the mystery is to be dispensed. Through all the ages, this has been kept hidden in God, the creator of everything. Why? So that the Sovereignties and Powers should learn only now, through the Church, how comprehensive God’s wisdom really is, exactly according to the plan which he had had from all eternity in Christ Jesus our Lord. This is why we are bold enough to approach God in complete confidence, through our faith in him.




________

Gospel
Luke 12:39-48

The Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect

Jesus said to his disciples:
    ‘You may be quite sure of this, that if the householder had known at what hour the burglar would come, he would not have let anyone break through the wall of his house. You too must stand ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’
    Peter said, ‘Lord, do you mean this parable for us, or for everyone?’ The Lord replied, ‘What sort of steward, then, is faithful and wise enough for the master to place him over his household to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? Happy that servant if his master’s arrival finds him at this employment. I tell you truly, he will place him over everything he owns. But as for the servant who says to himself, “My master is taking his time coming,” and sets about beating the menservants and the maids, and eating and drinking and getting drunk, his master will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not know. The master will cut him off and send him to the same fate as the unfaithful.
    The servant who knows what his master wants, but has not even started to carry out those wishes, will receive very many strokes of the lash. The one who did not know, but deserves to be beaten for what he has done, will receive fewer strokes. When a man has had a great deal given him, a great deal will be demanded of him; when a man has had a great deal given him on trust, even more will be expected of him.’

Unmerited favour and love! God our Father loved us while we were still sinners. Divine grace was bestowed upon us, through the blood of Christ Jesus our Lord and Saviour. Through Him we were washed clean and made whole.

All of us at one point or another were self centred, ruled as St Paul mentions by our own desires. Inward looking and perhaps striving for a comfortable life only for ourselves and if feeling a little generous perhaps our immediate family. We were well on our way to a meaningless lonely life, even death!

That all changed when we encountered Jesus and had entered into a deep personal relationship with Him. We no longer live for ourselves but for Him and one another. Our servitude in love and mercy for Him and for others gives us fullness of life. Even in strife, we carry joy in our hearts.

Thank You Father for great love for me and Your grace upon me. Amen

________

First reading
Ephesians 2:1-10 ·

Sinners are saved in Christ Jesus

You were dead through the crimes and the sins in which you used to live when you were following the way of this world, obeying the ruler who governs the air, the spirit who is at work in the rebellious. We all were among them too in the past, living sensual lives, ruled entirely by our own physical desires and our own ideas; so that by nature we were as much under God’s anger as the rest of the world. But God loved us with so much love that he was generous with his mercy: when we were dead through our sins, he brought us to life with Christ – it is through grace that you have been saved – and raised us up with him and gave us a place with him in heaven, in Christ Jesus.
    This was to show for all ages to come, through his goodness towards us in Christ Jesus, how infinitely rich he is in grace. Because it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith; not by anything of your own, but by a gift from God; not by anything that you have done, so that nobody can claim the credit. We are God’s work of art, created in Christ Jesus to live the good life as from the beginning he had meant us to live it.



________

Gospel
Luke 12:13-21

Fool! This very night your soul will be demanded of you

A man in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘Master, tell my brother to give me a share of our inheritance.’ ‘My friend,’ he replied, ‘who appointed me your judge, or the arbitrator of your claims?’ Then he said to them, ‘Watch, and be on your guard against avarice of any kind, for a man’s life is not made secure by what he owns, even when he has more than he needs.’
    Then he told them a parable: ‘There was once a rich man who, having had a good harvest from his land, thought to himself, “What am I to do? I have not enough room to store my crops.” Then he said, “This is what I will do: I will pull down my barns and build bigger ones, and store all my grain and my goods in them, and I will say to my soul: My soul, you have plenty of good things laid by for many years to come; take things easy, eat, drink, have a good time.” But God said to him, “Fool! This very night the demand will be made for your soul; and this hoard of yours, whose will it be then?” So it is when a man stores up treasure for himself in place of making himself rich in the sight of God.’

The Author of life where all living things draws life, came to to save us once for all time from death through sin. In obedience to God our Heavenly Father and love for us, the Word was made flesh and dwelled amongst us. He became one of us, a we are One in Him.

He took upon Himself the sins of the world, suffered and died on the Cross so that we are forgiven. God our Father raised Him from the dead, by the power of His Resurrection, we who believe in Him, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ shall have eternal life.

Every Christian who lives, breathes and walks in the presence of our Lord can attest that we have life to the full in Him. We have love, peace and joy in our hearts. We revere and adore Him not simply by our lips but by our lives.

Jesus is our Lord! And we want to share Him with the world. Amen

Saints John de Brébeuf, St Isaac Jogues, and their Companions, pray for us..


________

First reading
Ephesians 1:15-23

Paul’s prayer for the enlightenment of the faithful

I, having once heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus, and the love that you show towards all the saints, have never failed to remember you in my prayers and to thank God for you. May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a spirit of wisdom and perception of what is revealed, to bring you to full knowledge of him. May he enlighten the eyes of your mind so that you can see what hope his call holds for you, what rich glories he has promised the saints will inherit and how infinitely great is the power that he has exercised for us believers. This you can tell from the strength of his power at work in Christ, when he used it to raise him from the dead and to make him sit at his right hand, in heaven, far above every Sovereignty, Authority, Power, or Domination, or any other name that can be named not only in this age but also in the age to come. He has put all things under his feet and made him, as the ruler of everything, the head of the Church; which is his body, the fullness of him who fills the whole creation.

________

Gospel
Luke 12:8-12

If you declare yourselves for me, I will declare myself for you

Jesus said to his disciples:
    ‘I tell you, if anyone openly declares himself for me in the presence of men, the Son of Man will declare himself for him in the presence of the angels. But the man who disowns me in the presence of men will be disowned in the presence of God’s angels.
    ‘Everyone who says a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
    ‘When they take you before synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say, because when the time comes, the Holy Spirit will teach you what you must say.’

Today as we celebrate the feast day of St Luke, let us ask ourselves what does it mean to be an evangelist as we are called to be.

Many think that it is a title that belong to an elite few worthy enough to earn it. Guess what they are not entirely wrong. We are the elite few, for we are Christians!

For me the answer to what an evangelist is, can be found at the last line of today’s Gospel. “The kingdom of God is very near to you.”’ That is we are called to bring healing, to bring Heaven down on earth. To demonstrate that the Gospel is alive! Our living Lord and God is amongst us and it is through Him that we have life to the full! Is that not the Good News? The best news ever! Praise the Lord that we have every opportunity to share it.

Here I am Lord, Your evangelist! Amen

Saint Luke, pray for us…


________

First reading
2 Timothy 4:10-17 ·

Only Luke is with me

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



________

Gospel
Luke 10:1-9

Your peace will rest on that man

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

Are we living the promise of our salvation fulfilled through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ encapsulated so beautifully in today’s first reading? Read it again, and again and dwell in the presence of our Lord as you do!

Because of God our Father’s plan fulfilled in His Son, we can live as free men and women, sons and daughters; empowered as modern day priests, prophets and kings to build His kingdom.

We live as children of the light not in the shadowy darkness of guilt ridden, sin laden lives.

Thank You Jesus! I am free for love of, through and in You. Amen

Saint Ignatius of Antioch, pray for us…

________

First reading
Ephesians 1:1-10 ·

Before the world was made, God chose us in Christ

From Paul, appointed by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, to the saints who are faithful to Christ Jesus. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all the spiritual blessings of heaven in Christ.
Before the world was made, he chose us, chose us in Christ,
to be holy and spotless, and to live through love in his presence,
determining that we should become his adopted sons, through Jesus Christ for his own kind purposes, to make us praise the glory of his grace, his free gift to us in the Beloved, in whom, through his blood, we gain our freedom, the forgiveness of our sins.
Such is the richness of the grace
which he has showered on us
in all wisdom and insight.
He has let us know the mystery of his purpose, the hidden plan he so kindly made in Christ from the beginning to act upon when the times had run their course to the end: that he would bring everything together under Christ, as head, everything in the heavens and everything on earth.


________

Gospel
Luke 11:47-54

You have not gone in yourselves and have prevented others who wanted to

Jesus said: ‘Alas for you who build the tombs of the prophets, the men your ancestors killed! In this way you both witness what your ancestors did and approve it; they did the killing, you do the building.
    ‘And that is why the Wisdom of God said, “I will send them prophets and apostles; some they will slaughter and persecute, so that this generation will have to answer for every prophet’s blood that has been shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was murdered between the altar and the sanctuary.” Yes, I tell you, this generation will have to answer for it all.
    ‘Alas for you lawyers who have taken away the key of knowledge! You have not gone in yourselves, and have prevented others going in who wanted to.’
    When he left the house, the scribes and the Pharisees began a furious attack on him and tried to force answers from him on innumerable questions, setting traps to catch him out in something he might say.

We know our flesh is weak, therefore we must put on the armour of God! For no man can resist temptation on his own. We need to receive His Word daily in our lives and place the helmet of salvation over our heads, that is to dwell in the presence of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Even in our weakest moments we can cry out to the Holy Spirit and He will come to save and direct us.

Even with our dealings with others we must always act with utmost integrity. Mercy, justice and the love of God must be our priority. Then others shall look upon us and say, “Anyone who follows you, O Lord, will have the light of life.”

Saint Hedwig, and Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque pray for us… 

________

First reading

Galatians 5:18-25 ·

To belong to Christ, crucify all self-indulgence

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

    Since the Spirit is our life, let us be directed by the Spirit.

________

Gospel

Luke 11:42-46

You overlook justice and the love of God

The Lord said to the Pharisees: ‘Alas for you Pharisees! You who pay your tithe of mint and rue and all sorts of garden herbs and overlook justice and the love of God! These you should have practised, without leaving the others undone. Alas for you Pharisees who like taking the seats of honour in the synagogues and being greeted obsequiously in the market squares! Alas for you, because you are like the unmarked tombs that men walk on without knowing it!

    A lawyer then spoke up. ‘Master,’ he said ‘when you speak like this you insult us too.’

    ‘Alas for you lawyers also,’ he replied ‘because you load on men burdens that are unendurable, burdens that you yourselves do not move a finger to lift.’

The light of Christ must shine through us. For our salvation  comes from Him alone. Nothing we can do on our own to earn it.

Christians are not Christians from outward appearances, but from love of Jesus within, which serves as the wellspring that flows out in our service of our brethren. For it is our faith that makes its power felt through our love.

Jesus let Your light and love flow through me. Amen

Saint Teresa of Ávila, pray for us…

________

First reading
Galatians 5:1-6 ·

It is faith, not the Law, that justifies us

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



________

Gospel
Luke 11:37-41

Give thanks for what you have and it will all be clean

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

Many do not realise or even appreciate their baptism! How great and wonderful it is to be born again into a covenantal relationship with our loving Lord and God. How we inserted into the life, death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! And because of this there are no more distinctions, we are all ONE in Christ Jesus. We now have familial bonds with Him, God our Father, the Holy Spirit and with one another.

If we are still envious of one another, compare what we have or have not, then we have adopted an orphan mentality! Not one centred on Christ, not one centred on being a son or daughter so loved by our Heavenly Father. Most of all not one centred on the Word and Will of God. We are not keeping faith to the Word, neither have we embraced fully the Word made flesh; Jesus they Way, the Truth and the life!

I am Your child Father, anoint me afresh for my identity and destiny. Amen

________

First reading

Galatians 3:22-29 ·

There are no more distinctions: all are one in Christ Jesus

Scripture makes no exceptions when it says that sin is master everywhere. In this way the promise can only be given through faith in Jesus Christ and can only be given to those who have this faith.

    Before faith came, we were allowed no freedom by the Law; we were being looked after till faith was revealed. The Law was to be our guardian until the Christ came and we could be justified by faith. Now that that time has come we are no longer under that guardian, and you are, all of you, sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. All baptised in Christ, you have all clothed yourselves in Christ, and there are no more distinctions between Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female, but all of you are one in Christ Jesus. Merely by belonging to Christ you are the posterity of Abraham, the heirs he was promised.

________

Gospel

Luke 11:27-28

‘Happy the womb that bore you and the breasts you sucked!’

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

Are we so rigid as to follow only time tests methods or templates to lead His flock into a greater relationship with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who freed us to live life in the Spirit!

Why then are we not docile to the promptings of the Holy Spirit who opens hearts to all things new in Him. It is indeed sad when churches and their leaders have only devotionals planned for the growth of their parish. Why have they not yet realised there is little to no growth!

Give us faith Lord to overcome the mountains we face, to grow and bear much fruit for Your kingdom. Amen

Saint John XXIII, pray for us…


________

First reading
Galatians 3:7-14 ·

The sons of Abraham are those who rely on faith

Don’t you see that it is those who rely on faith who are the sons of Abraham? Scripture foresaw that God was going to use faith to justify the pagans, and proclaimed the Good News long ago when Abraham was told: In you all the pagans will be blessed. Those therefore who rely on faith receive the same blessing as Abraham, the man of faith.
    On the other hand, those who rely on the keeping of the Law are under a curse, since scripture says: Cursed be everyone who does not persevere in observing everything prescribed in the book of the Law. The Law will not justify anyone in the sight of God, because we are told: the righteous man finds life through faith. The Law is not even based on faith, since we are told: The man who practises these precepts finds life through practising them. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law by being cursed for our sake, since scripture says: Cursed be everyone who is hanged on a tree. This was done so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might include the pagans, and so that through faith we might receive the promised Spirit.




________

Gospel
Luke 11:15-26

The finger of God has overtaken you

When Jesus had cast out a devil, some of the people 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.
    ‘When an unclean spirit goes out of a man it wanders through waterless country looking for a place to rest, and not finding one it says, “I will go back to the home I came from.” But on arrival, finding it swept and tidied, it then goes off and brings seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and set up house there, so that the man ends up by being worse than he was before.’

There is only One way, truth and life, that is in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Therefore we shall not waver in this regard but hold to the truth with integrity. It may be challenging to present the Good news to unbelivers but we should never dumb down or adulterate our faith and beliefs at any time. The truth in all its glory will set them free!

For in all our endeavours, we shall strive to keep our Lord’s name Holy as we strive to be Holy as our Heavenly Father is Holy. Loving mercy, as we go about extending mercy to all, and bringing with us our Lord’s presence as we walk in and with Him. Amen


Saints Denis, Bishop, and his Companions, Martyrs, Saint John Leonardi, pray for us…


________

First reading
Galatians 2:1-2,7-14

They recognised the grace that God had given me

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



________

Gospel
Luke 11:1-4

How to pray

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

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

There is only One Good News! That our Lord and God who so loved us came to die for our sins so that we have may have eternal life with Him. For if God our Father did not pity us, we would have been doomed with eternal death for our sins against Him. His pity for us however, stems from a deep rooted Love for us.

What about us? From having experienced His great love for us are we not likewise moved to compassion to pity the least of our brethren who cannot save themselves? Who are in great need of healing, love? Of deliverance? Of comfort from sorrow, pain and anguish? Are we swift enough in performing corporal and spiritual acts of mercy?

Lord Jesus just as merciful You are with me, let me be merciful to my sisters and brothers. Amen

Our Lady of the Rosary pray for us…

________

First reading
Galatians 1:6-12 ·

The Good News I preached is not a human message but from Jesus Christ

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



________

Gospel
Luke 10:25-37

The good Samaritan

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

We cannot outgive the giver of life, in whom all things were created. He lavishly bestows His Blessings, grace, and gifts upon us His faithful. With repentant hearts turned to Him, Jesus restores us fully to become once again children of light, so loved by God our Heavenly Father.

The greatest gift is to see our loving Lord face to face and to walk in His presence. For when we do, we can do as He did. Ministering to all He sends our way. Healing, casting out evil and leading all to the bosom of His heart. For our names are written in Heaven.

Draw me closer to Your Sacred Heart Lord Jesus. Amen

Saint Faustina Kowalska, pray for us…


________

First reading
Job 42:1-3,5-6,12-17

In dust and in ashes I repent

This was the answer Job gave to the Lord:

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

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



________

Gospel
Luke 10:17-24

Rejoice that your names are written in heaven

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

Think about it, does it make any sense to question the Lord our God? Even in our greatest sorrows and pain can we blame it on Him? Can we say then, that we really know Him? That we have an intimate relationship with Him?

If we truly have a deep personal relationship with Him then we know that He is all powerful, all loving, all merciful, all patient and kind. Our hearts are truly restless till we rest in Him. His peace reigns in our hearts. And He empowers us whom He loves to lead others into the same relationship we have with Him.   ‘Anyone who listens to you listens to me. ‘

Lead me, O Lord, in the path of life eternal. Amen

Saint Francis of Assisi pray for us…


________

First reading
Job 38:1,12-21,40:3-5 ·

The immeasurable greatness of God

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

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

Job replied to the Lord:

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



________

Gospel
Luke 10:13-16

Anyone who rejects me rejects the one who sent me

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

‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few.” Why are the labourers few? If each and everyone of us goes out into the harvest will we not be plenty? Would we not be enough? How come we do not see in today’s Gospel that we are the seventy two sent? To share with the world that we know our Redeemer lives! And He will set us close Him when we awake.

I used to have a silly concern. Where do I lead the unbelivers when reaching out to them and they are touched by the Lord? What if RCIA only starts in a few months? What do they do till then? Can I possibly journey all the way with them when I have so many things to do?

I had totally forgotten that it was not I who touched them, it was He our Redeemer! It is His eyes they shall affix their gaze. Will the Holy Spirit cease working after I’ve done my part? Will His peace, mercy and love depart from them? Nay! For He is our Rock, and a firm foundation.

Lord into Your hands I commend my spirit. Amen



________

First reading
Job 19:21-27 ·

My Avenger lives and will set me close to him when I awake

Job said:

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

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



________

Gospel
Luke 10:1-12

Your peace will rest on that man

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

Job in today’s first reading is eloquent in describing the awesome and magnificent power and justice of the Lord our God. What is man before God? So unless we humbly walk in His presence we will not fully embrace the magnitude of His benelovence, mercy and love He has for us His children.

Do we still think we know more than He does? Do we act or behave as though we are better than others? We cannot hide behind faux humility for He sees into our hearts. Worse for us if we treat the least of our brethren with disdain!

If we are truly God our Father’s children so loved by Him then we will not have an orphan’s mentality. We will see all His children especially those who are treated as outcasts, as our fellow sisters and brothers; equally loved by Him.

Thank You Father for loving me. Amen

The Holy Guardian Angels pray for us…

________

First reading
Job 9:1-13,14-16

How can man be in the right against God?

Job spoke to his friends:

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

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

Gospel
Matthew 18:1-5,10

Anyone who welcomes a little child in my name welcomes me

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

Understandably Job is distraught and in anguish of the ‘injustice’ that He has to bear. Yet He utters not one curse against the Lord His God whom He worships with all His heart. Otherwise how can He recognise the light our Lord gives inspite of the overwhelming darkness that has befallen him.

We must therefore carry the light of Christ always in our heart. Who shines bright even amidst the dark night of our souls. Even when we are not received in a positive light or even persecuted. Our hearts must be set on forgiveness and love. Only then we shall remain in the joy of our Lord who loves us dearly. Amen

Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, pray for us…


________

First reading
Job 3:1-3,11-17,20-23 ·

Why did I not perish on the day I was born?

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

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

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


________

Gospel
Luke 9:51-56

Jesus sets out for Jerusalem

As the time drew near for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely took the road for Jerusalem and sent messengers ahead of him. These set out, and they went into a Samaritan village to make preparations for him, but the people would not receive him because he was making for Jerusalem. Seeing this, the disciples James and John said, ‘Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to burn them up?’ But he turned and rebuked them, and they went off to another village.

All that we have comes from the Lord! Do we truly believe this? For in life we will have many struggles, some painful to bear. Still shall we not exalt the Lord in great faith, ”‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, naked I shall return. The Lord gave, the Lord has taken back. Blessed be the name of the Lord!’

For God so loved the world He gave us His only Begotten Son, to lay down His life to save us from our sins. And whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or we die, we belong to the Lord.

For we are all children of God so loved by God our Heavenly Father, catholic or protestant we are belong to Christ. Through Him alone shall we minister to all especially the least of our brethren. We are CHRISTIAN! We are One in Him. Amen

Saint Jerome, pray for us…


________

First reading
Job 1:6-22 ·

The Lord gave, the Lord has taken back: blessed be the name of the Lord

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

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

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

________

Gospel
Luke 9:46-50

The least among you all is the greatest

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

Can you imagine how perplexed and anxious the disciples must have been in hearing the words of Jesus preparing them for what was to come in today’s Gospel? What do You mean Lord? How is it possible? What will happen to us if anything happens to You? How can we go back to what life was before You Lord?

Does that anxiety not exist in us as we are aging? Our youth has come and gone? We are young at heart but old in body and mind! Our eyes were bright but now are dim!

Remember Your creator! This is the hope our Lord reminds us to cling to. For just as the Lord kept His promise to His disciples by rising from the dead, and that they would be with Him when returned to the Father; we too have hope when pass on from this earth.

Let us then remain in the light of our Resurrected Lord as we bring hope to all who have none! Amen

Saints Wenceslaus, Saints Laurence Ruiz and his Companions, pray for us…

________

First reading

Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:8 ·

Remember your creator in the days of your youth

Rejoice in your youth, you who are young;

let your heart give you joy in your young days.

Follow the promptings of your heart

and the desires of your eyes.

But this you must know: for all these things God will bring you to judgement.

Cast worry from your heart,

shield your flesh from pain.

Yet youth, the age of dark hair, is vanity. And remember your creator in the days of your youth, before evil days come and the years approach when you say, ‘These give me no pleasure’, before sun and light and moon and stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain;

the day when those who keep the house tremble

and strong men are bowed;

when the women grind no longer at the mill,

because day is darkening at the windows

and the street doors are shut;

when the sound of the mill is faint,

when the voice of the bird is silenced,

and song notes are stilled,

when to go uphill is an ordeal

and a walk is something to dread.

Yet the almond tree is in flower,

the grasshopper is heavy with food

and the caper bush bears its fruit,

while man goes to his everlasting home. And the mourners are already walking to and fro in the street

before the silver cord has snapped,

or the golden lamp been broken,

or the pitcher shattered at the spring,

or the pulley cracked at the well,

or before the dust returns to the earth as it once came from it, and the breath to God who gave it.

    Vanity of vanities, the Preacher says. All is vanity.

________

Gospel

Luke 9:43-45

They were afraid to ask him what he meant

At a time when everyone was full of admiration for all he did, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘For your part, you must have these words constantly in your mind: “The Son of Man is going to be handed over into the power of men.”’ But they did not understand him when he said this; it was hidden from them so that they should not see the meaning of it, and they were afraid to ask him about what he had just said.

If we surrender everything to God, and embrace that He will provide for all that we need in His time. The what will we ever have to worry about? Better off are we, when we spend time discerning His Word and Will for us and putting into them into action for His glory!

Lord Jesus Christ my love, You alone are my Rock, my salvation. I put all my trust in You. Amen

Saint Vincent de Paul, pray for us…

________

First reading
Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 ·

There is a time for every occupation under heaven

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



________

Gospel
Luke 9:18-22

‘You are the Christ of God’

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

Our lives are fleeting no matter for hard we try to hold on. In our aging bodies our souls are often young, alive, yet mournful for we may not have the energy we had in our youth. What about our spirit? Is it fully alive and are our minds renewed in Christ?

Are we living in the promise of new life in Christ knowing that even if we should pass on from this life will be with Him? Do we then walk with joy in our hearts as we walk in His presence? If so then everyone should be eager, even anxious to know Jesus as we do intimately.

I am Yours Lord, as You are my one and only. Amen

Saints Cosmas and Damian, pray for us..


________

First reading
Ecclesiastes 1:2-11 ·

Nothing is new and all is vanity

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




________

Gospel
Luke 9:7-9

‘John? I beheaded him; so who is this?’

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

Yesterday and today we are reminded that the Lord our God sees and weighs our hearts!

Are we then virtuous, walking with integrity; filled with mercy and love in our hearts? This can only be true if we hear His Word for us and act according to His will for us.

Then we shall be children of light pleasing to God our Heavenly Father. As we walk on in the presence of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

I pray with the psalmist today, “Guide me Lord in the path of Your commands.” Amen

________

First reading
Proverbs 21:1-6,10-13

On wickedness and virtue


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


________

Gospel
Luke 8:19-21

‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God’

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

We may fool others with our pious, religious acts or be seen as Holy in the sight of men. But the Lord sees into our hearts. We will be judged by the fruits we bear.

What cannot be hidden is the radiance, of the presence of the Lord who walks with His faithful. The virtuos, who love mercy and walks humbly with Him. They who seek out the least of their brethren to love and minister to them.

Lord Bless me that I may be Your light in the world. Amen

Saint Pius of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio), pray for us…



________

First reading
Proverbs 3:27-34

The Lord blesses the home of the virtuous


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



________

Gospel
Luke 8:16-18

Anyone who has will be given more

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

We are His people the sheep of His flock! We belong to Him.

And though we are many parts, we form One Body in Him. All of us have an important part to play as we have all different giftings and strengths to build up the community of saints. As St Paul encourages let us be ambitious for the higher gifts! In His great compassion and love will He not grant us the grace to resurrect in His name? Least we can do is to be bold, and in faith pray for gift of healing so that we can minister to the sick, broken spirited, marginalised and all He sends our way.

Here I am Lord, I come to do Your will. Amen

Saint Robert Bellarmine, Saint Hildegard of Bingen, pray for us…


________

First reading
1 Corinthians 12:12-14,27-31 ·

You together are Christ’s body: each of you a different part

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


________

Gospel
Luke 7:11-17

The only son of his mother, and she a widow

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

While we may not have the same problems as the corinthians in the first reading of partaking of the sacred feast as One, many are not of one body, mind and spirit too when gathered for the Holy Eucharist.

Some are on their mobile phones throughout, others are talking amongst themselves, some are dressed for the beach, some are not participating at all with the prayers or singing, some insists they must only receive communion from a priest, some leave immediately after receiving communion. Where is the reverence? Aren’t we simply reciting with hearts disconnected when we say “Lord I am not worthy to receive under my roof, but only say the word and my should shall be healed.” Where is the faith behind the prayer?

Lord help me to lead my sisters and brothers to a better understanding, and reverence of You at the Eucharistic Celebration so that all our souls will truly be healed through Your grace. Amen

Saints Cornelius, and Cyprian, pray for us…


________

First reading
1 Corinthians 11:17-26,33 ·

If each one hurries to be first, it is not the Lord’s Supper you are eating

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



________

Gospel
Luke 7:1-10

Give the word, and my servant will be healed

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

We need to stand together and fight! Fight to win! Like all good fighters we need to train our bodies, minds and spirit. Holding fast to our Lord’s word and will for us. Always docile to the promptings of the Holy Spirit who empowers us. To share the Good News of the Gospel.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ep 6:12

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Amen Ps 139:23-24

Saint John Chrysostom, pray for us…


________

First reading
1 Corinthians 9:16-19,22-27

We go into strict training, like fighters at the games

I do not boast of preaching the gospel, since it is a duty which has been laid on me; I should be punished if I did not preach it! If I had chosen this work myself, I might have been paid for it, but as I have not, it is a responsibility which has been put into my hands. Do you know what my reward is? It is this: in my preaching, to be able to offer the Good News free, and not insist on the rights which the gospel gives me.
    So though I am not a slave of any man I have made myself the slave of everyone so as to win as many as I could. I made myself all things to all men in order to save some at any cost; and I still do this, for the sake of the gospel, to have a share in its blessings.
    All the runners at the stadium are trying to win, but only one of them gets the prize. You must run in the same way, meaning to win. All the fighters at the games go into strict training; they do this just to win a wreath that will wither away, but we do it for a wreath that will never wither. That is how I run, intent on winning; that is how I fight, not beating the air. I treat my body hard and make it obey me, for, having been an announcer myself, I should not want to be disqualified.


________

Gospel
Luke 6:39-42

Can the blind lead the blind?

Jesus told a parable to the disciples: ‘Can one blind man guide another? Surely both will fall into a pit? The disciple is not superior to his teacher; the fully trained disciple will always be like his teacher. Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the plank in your own? How can you say to your brother, “Brother, let me take out the splinter that is in your eye,” when you cannot see the plank in your own? Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take out the splinter that is in your brother’s eye.’

Today’s readings are a reminder by the Lord our God, that we Christians have a higher calling. We are called to extraordinary love and mercy for our brethren. We must love as Christ Jesus our Lord loved us, we must be compassionate as our Heavenly Father is compassionate. Therefore we must always be examples for one another. Disciplined, exercising restraint holding dearly with charity in our hearts.

It is our duty as well to lead one another to right worship of our One true and triune God! The Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We shall therefore exercise all the Heavenly gifts we have been given and we shall love everyone into His Kingdom. Amen


________

First reading
1 Corinthians 8:1-7,11-13 ·

Your brethren may be weaker than you: do not lead them astray

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


________

Gospel
Luke 6:27-38

Love your enemies

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

Whatever your state in life or vocation, today we reflect on whether we are faithful and obedient to the Lord our God. For in each state or vocation, we will have our fair share of troubles and challenges. How focused are we then on our Lord? Are we Christ Centred in all that we say and do?

Are we rich in kindness? Do we love mercy and are just? Do we walk humbly with the Lord our God? If so then we are Blessed! And gladly share our Blessings with one another especially the least of our brethren.

Lord Jesus we hear Your voice and delight in following after You. Bless all our endeavours for You. Amen


________

First reading
1 Corinthians 7:25-31 ·

The world as we know it is passing away

About remaining celibate, I have no directions from the Lord but give my own opinion as one who, by the Lord’s mercy, has stayed faithful. Well then, I believe that in these present times of stress this is right: that it is good for a man to stay as he is. If you are tied to a wife, do not look for freedom; if you are free of a wife, then do not look for one. But if you marry, it is no sin, and it is not a sin for a young girl to get married. They will have their troubles, though, in their married life, and I should like to spare you that.
    Brothers, this is what I mean: our time is growing short. Those who have wives should live as though they had none, and those who mourn should live as though they had nothing to mourn for; those who are enjoying life should live as though there were nothing to laugh about; those whose life is buying things should live as though they had nothing of their own; and those who have to deal with the world should not become engrossed in it. I say this because the world as we know it is passing away.





________

Gospel
Luke 6:20-26

Happy are you who are poor, who are hungry, who weep

Fixing his eyes on his disciples Jesus said:

‘How happy are you who are poor: yours is the kingdom of God.
Happy you who are hungry now: you shall be satisfied.
Happy you who weep now: you shall laugh.

Happy are you when people hate you, drive you out, abuse you, denounce your name as criminal, on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice when that day comes and dance for joy, for then your reward will be great in heaven. This was the way their ancestors treated the prophets.

‘But alas for you who are rich: you are having your consolation now.
Alas for you who have your fill now: you shall go hungry.
Alas for you who laugh now: you shall mourn and weep.

‘Alas for you when the world speaks well of you! This was the way their ancestors treated the false prophets.’

The first reading reminds us that we, who are Christians have a higher calling then unbelivers!

Can we have disputes with one another? Surely we do not want to but disputes will definitely arise from time to time. It is how we resolve the disputes amongst ourselves that is important especially when unbelivers are watching from a distance. So do we resolve them with Christian charity in our hearts? Are we willing to take a loss rather than lose the relationship? Are we OK to agree to disagree? Can we accept the judgement of our leaders in the Church?

We are all called by name and sent into the world to be light of the world. We may not be ‘Apostles’ in the official sense, but we are apostles none the less! For we must carry the light of Christ Jesus our Lord within us into the world. We must shine brightly for Him in an that we say and do. Amen


________

First reading
1 Corinthians 6:1-11

Do not drag your brother to a pagan for judgement

How dare one of your members take up a complaint against another in the law courts of the unjust instead of before the saints? As you know, it is the saints who are to ‘judge the world’; and if the world is to be judged by you, how can you be unfit to judge trifling cases? Since we are also to judge angels, it follows that we can judge matters of everyday life; but when you have had cases of that kind, the people you appointed to try them were not even respected in the Church. You should be ashamed: is there really not one reliable man among you to settle differences between brothers and so one brother brings a court case against another in front of unbelievers? It is bad enough for you to have lawsuits at all against one another: oughtn’t you to let yourselves be wronged, and let yourselves be cheated? But you are doing the wronging and the cheating, and to your own brothers.
    You know perfectly well that people who do wrong will not inherit the kingdom of God: people of immoral lives, idolaters, adulterers, catamites, sodomites, thieves, usurers, drunkards, slanderers and swindlers will never inherit the kingdom of God. These are the sort of people some of you were once, but now you have been washed clean, and sanctified, and justified through the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and through the Spirit of our God.



________

Gospel
Luke 6:12-19

Jesus chooses his twelve apostles

Jesus went out into the hills to pray; and he spent the whole night in prayer to God. When day came he summoned his disciples and picked out twelve of them; he called them ‘apostles’: Simon whom he called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot who became a traitor.
    He then came down with them and stopped at a piece of level ground where there was a large gathering of his disciples with a great crowd of people from all parts of Judaea and from Jerusalem and from the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon who had come to hear him and to be cured of their diseases. People tormented by unclean spirits were also cured, and everyone in the crowd was trying to touch him because power came out of him that cured them all.

Let us never rationalise away the sin we commit, even sin of omission! For there is no sin too tiny that it is acceptable to Lord our God who is infinitely Holy and spotless. And we are called to be Holy as our Heavenly Father is Holy. Jesus came so that we might be purified through Him, Holy unto Him. Let us cry out to Him, ‘Lord lead us in Your justice.”

For then our eyes will be opened to see our brethren in need. The time to love them into the Lord’s kingdom is now! Amen

Saint Peter Claver pray for us…


________

First reading
1 Corinthians 5:1-8 ·

Get rid of the old yeast of evil and wickedness

I have been told as an undoubted fact that one of you is living with his father’s wife. This is a case of sexual immorality among you that must be unparalleled even among pagans. How can you be so proud of yourselves? You should be in mourning. A man who does a thing like that ought to have been expelled from the community. Though I am far away in body, I am with you in spirit, and have already condemned the man who did this thing as if I were actually present. When you are assembled together in the name of the Lord Jesus, and I am spiritually present with you, then with the power of our Lord Jesus he is to be handed over to Satan so that his sensual body may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.
    The pride that you take in yourselves is hardly to your credit. You must know how even a small amount of yeast is enough to leaven all the dough, so get rid of all the old yeast, and make yourselves into a completely new batch of bread, unleavened as you are meant to be. Christ, our passover, has been sacrificed; let us celebrate the feast, then, by getting rid of all the old yeast of evil and wickedness, having only the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.


________

Gospel
Luke 6:6-11

Is it against the law on the sabbath to save life?

On the sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees were watching him to see if he would cure a man on the sabbath, hoping to find something to use against him. But he knew their thoughts; and he said to the man with the withered hand, ‘Stand up! Come out into the middle.’ And he came out and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, ‘I put it to you: is it against the law on the sabbath to do good, or to do evil; to save life, or to destroy it?’ Then he looked round at them all and said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He did so, and his hand was better. But they were furious, and began to discuss the best way of dealing with Jesus.

Everyone who knows or comes to know us, must simply see us at servants of Christ Jesus our Lord. For our Lord sees into our hearts and He decides if are just, for salvation comes from Him alone. Let us therefore glorify Him by our service of brethren, humility and love.

Let us be docile to the promptings of the Holy Spirit who makes all things new. Yes indeed there are everlasting truths, but allowing Him to lead us will bring us and everyone we lead closer and deeper. Let us not rely simply on our own wisdom or continue to hold on only to tried and tested ways. For the Holy Spirit can lead us to new horizons and greater peaks.

Come Holy Spirit have Your way. Amen

________

First reading
1 Corinthians 4:1-5 ·

The Lord alone is our judge

People must think of us as Christ’s servants, stewards entrusted with the mysteries of God. What is expected of stewards is that each one should be found worthy of his trust. Not that it makes the slightest difference to me whether you, or indeed any human tribunal, find me worthy or not. I will not even pass judgement on myself. True, my conscience does not reproach me at all, but that does not prove that I am acquitted: the Lord alone is my judge. There must be no passing of premature judgement. Leave that until the Lord comes; he will light up all that is hidden in the dark and reveal the secret intentions of men’s hearts. Then will be the time for each one to have whatever praise he deserves, from God.



________

Gospel
Luke 5:33-39

When the bridegroom is taken from them, then they will fast

The Pharisees and the scribes said to Jesus, ‘John’s disciples are always fasting and saying prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees too, but yours go on eating and drinking.’ Jesus replied, ‘Surely you cannot make the bridegroom’s attendants fast while the bridegroom is still with them? But the time will come, the time for the bridegroom to be taken away from them; that will be the time when they will fast.’
    He also told them this parable, ‘No one tears a piece from a new cloak to put it on an old cloak; if he does, not only will he have torn the new one, but the piece taken from the new will not match the old.
    ‘And nobody puts new wine into old skins; if he does, the new wine will burst the skins and then run out, and the skins will be lost. No; new wine must be put into fresh skins. And nobody who has been drinking old wine wants new. “The old is good” he says.’

We are obedient to our leaders in church, ministry, and communities not so much for their wisdom but the discerned wisdom of the Lord our God who had appointed them to listen and to follow Him. We are all servants but all belong to Christ Jesus our Lord. Who is Lord of the earth and all it’s fullness. We must therefore strive for Oneness in and through Him.

In order to become fruitful fishermen and women for Him, we must follow after the heart of St Peter in Today’s Gospel, by acknowledging our sinfulness before our Lord, repenting, remouncing ourselves and following after Him just as all His disciples did.

Lord I renounce all fear and resolve to follow You. Amen

Saint Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa) pray for us…


________

First reading
1 Corinthians 3:18-23 ·

The wisdom of the world is foolishness to God

Make no mistake about it: if any one of you thinks of himself as wise, in the ordinary sense of the word, then he must learn to be a fool before he really can be wise. Why? Because the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As scripture says: The Lord knows wise men’s thoughts: he knows how useless they are; or again: God is not convinced by the arguments of the wise. So there is nothing to boast about in anything human: Paul, Apollos, Cephas, the world, life and death, the present and the future, are all your servants; but you belong to Christ and Christ belongs to God.



________

Gospel
Luke 5:1-11

They left everything and followed him

Jesus was standing one day by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the crowd pressing round him listening to the word of God, when he caught sight of two boats close to the bank. The fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats – it was Simon’s – and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.
    When he had finished speaking he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water and pay out your nets for a catch.’ ‘Master,’ Simon replied, ‘we worked hard all night long and caught nothing, but if you say so, I will pay out the nets.’ And when they had done this they netted such a huge number of fish that their nets began to tear, so they signalled to their companions in the other boat to come and help them; when these came, they filled the two boats to sinking point.
    When Simon Peter saw this he fell at the knees of Jesus saying, ‘Leave me, Lord; I am a sinful man.’ For he and all his companions were completely overcome by the catch they had made; so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were Simon’s partners. But Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on it is men you will catch.’ Then, bringing their boats back to land, they left everything and followed him.

What has helped me, grow in my faith and how I work better with others to build God’s kingdom is this verse from Phil 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. With this, Today’s first reading is clearer! Neither the planter nor the waterer matters: only God, who makes things grow. It is all one who does the planting and who does the watering, and each will duly be paid according to his share in the work.

Are we then living full spiritual lives? Such that we minister to all after the heart of Jesus our Lord. Healing, casting out evil, rebuking sickness and calamity. But must of all sharing the joy of the Gospel as we go about day.

Come Holy Spirit teach and move me according to Your Will. Amen

________

First reading
1 Corinthians 3:1-9 ·

Neither the planter nor the waterer matters, only God, who makes things grow

Brothers, I myself was unable to speak to you as people of the Spirit: I treated you as sensual men, still infants in Christ. What I fed you with was milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it; and indeed, you are still not ready for it since you are still unspiritual. Isn’t that obvious from all the jealousy and wrangling that there is among you, from the way that you go on behaving like ordinary people? What could be more unspiritual than your slogans, ‘I am for Paul’ and ‘I am for Apollos’?
    After all, what is Apollos and what is Paul? They are servants who brought the faith to you. Even the different ways in which they brought it were assigned to them by the Lord. I did the planting, Apollos did the watering, but God made things grow. Neither the planter nor the waterer matters: only God, who makes things grow. It is all one who does the planting and who does the watering, and each will duly be paid according to his share in the work. We are fellow workers with God; you are God’s farm, God’s building.



________

Gospel
Luke 4:38-44

He would not allow them to speak because they knew he was the Christ

Leaving the synagogue, Jesus went to Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever and they asked him to do something for her. Leaning over her he rebuked the fever and it left her. And she immediately got up and began to wait on them.
    At sunset all those who had friends suffering from diseases of one kind or another brought them to him, and laying his hands on each he cured them. Devils too came out of many people, howling, ‘You are the Son of God.’ But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Christ.
    When daylight came he left the house and made his way to a lonely place. The crowds went to look for him, and when they had caught up with him they wanted to prevent him leaving them, but he answered, ‘I must proclaim the Good News of the kingdom of God to the other towns too, because that is what I was sent to do.’ And he continued his preaching in the synagogues of Judaea.

Every Holy Eucharist we receive the body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ Jesus our Lord. The Spirit of the Lord our God is nourished within us, and we can go on to fight the good fight! For He counsels, guides and empowers us to minister to those in need.

We must fight and resist the evil one that lurks to rob us of our peace, our joy, most of all to pollute our minds, body and spirit. We must resist to the point of shedding blood if we have to, commanding the evil spirits to be quiet! Stay away!

For we want to glorify the Lord at all times. Amen

Saint Gregory the Great, pray for us…



________

First reading
1 Corinthians 2:10-16 ·

The Spirit reaches even the depths of God

The Spirit reaches the depths of everything, even the depths of God. After all, the depths of a man can only be known by his own spirit, not by any other man, and in the same way the depths of God can only be known by the Spirit of God. Now instead of the spirit of the world, we have received the Spirit that comes from God, to teach us to understand the gifts that he has given us. Therefore we teach, not in the way in which philosophy is taught, but in the way that the Spirit teaches us: we teach spiritual things spiritually. An unspiritual person is one who does not accept anything of the Spirit of God: he sees it all as nonsense; it is beyond his understanding because it can only be understood by means of the Spirit. A spiritual man, on the other hand, is able to judge the value of everything, and his own value is not to be judged by other men. As scripture says: Who can know the mind of the Lord, so who can teach him? But we are those who have the mind of Christ.


________

Gospel
Luke 4:31-37

‘I know who you are: the Holy One of God’

Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath. And his teaching made a deep impression on them because he spoke with authority.
    In the synagogue there was a man who was possessed by the spirit of an unclean devil, and it shouted at the top of its voice, ‘Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus said sharply, ‘Be quiet! Come out of him!’ And the devil, throwing the man down in front of everyone, went out of him without hurting him at all. Astonishment seized them and they were all saying to one another, ‘What teaching! He gives orders to unclean spirits with authority and power and they come out.’ And reports of him went all through the surrounding countryside.