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In all things and in all difficulties, we should always place our trust in our Lord. Even in the darkest and most bleak moments, His light will shine through. He is the Lord of the impossible and He will ensure justice for His children.

Therefore, we must always hold onto the hope given to us through Jesus Christ, our Lord. The Lord will always answer our prayers, so we must continue to be persistent. Whether our prayers are for the good of another or for ourselves to become better men and women, He will surely answer them. Sometimes not immediately, because the timing may not be right, but we should continue to trust in Him.

No one can love us as much as the Lord, our God. Jesus, I trust in You, now and forever. Amen.

Saint Albert the Great, Bishop, Doctor pray for us…

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First reading
Wisdom 18:14-16,19:6-9

The Red Sea became an unimpeded way


When peaceful silence lay over all, and night had run the half of her swift course, down from the heavens, from the royal throne, leapt your all-powerful Word;
into the heart of a doomed land the stern warrior leapt.
Carrying your unambiguous command like a sharp sword,
he stood, and filled the universe with death; he touched the sky, yet trod the earth.

For, to keep your children from all harm, the whole creation, obedient to your commands,
was once more, and newly, fashioned in its nature.
Overshadowing the camp there was the cloud, where water had been, dry land was seen to rise,
the Red Sea became an unimpeded way, the tempestuous flood a green plain; sheltered by your hand, the whole nation passed across, gazing at these amazing miracles.
They were like horses at pasture,
they skipped like lambs, singing your praises, Lord, their deliverer.




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Gospel
Luke 18:1-8

The parable of the unjust judge

Jesus told his disciples a parable about the need to pray continually and never lose heart. ‘There was a judge in a certain town’ he said ‘who had neither fear of God nor respect for man. In the same town there was a widow who kept on coming to him and saying, “I want justice from you against my enemy!” For a long time he refused, but at last he said to himself, “Maybe I have neither fear of God nor respect for man, but since she keeps pestering me I must give this widow her just rights, or she will persist in coming and worry me to death.”’
    And the Lord said ‘You notice what the unjust judge has to say? Now will not God see justice done to his chosen who cry to him day and night even when he delays to help them? I promise you, he will see justice done to them, and done speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find any faith on earth?’

When we observe all of creation, we witness the beauty and the masterpiece of the Lord, our God, who made everything good according to His word and His rule. Many people can experience the wonders the world has to offer, from the brightly star-lit nights to the flowers that brighten the day with their beauty. However, so much is lost to those who cannot see or experience God.

That is why we must bring the presence of the Lord, our God, to all those who have not yet experienced Him. We want them to revel in His glory and be filled with His love to live life to the fullest.

As disciples, with the advent season approaching and the start of a new year, we must stay alert and be on our guard to resist all evil. We do not know the date and time when the Lord will come again. Let us be prepared to welcome Him with joy as we remain steadfast in His love. Amen.


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First reading
Wisdom 13:1-9

How have those who investigated the world been so slow to find its Master?


Naturally stupid are all men who have not known God and who, from the good things that are seen, have not been able to discover Him-who-is, or, by studying the works, have failed to recognise the Artificer.
Fire however, or wind, or the swift air, the sphere of the stars, impetuous water, heaven’s lamps, are what they have held to be the gods who govern the world.

If, charmed by their beauty, they have taken things for Gods, let them know how much the Lord of these excels them, since the very Author of beauty has created them.
And if they have been impressed by their power and energy, let them deduce from these how much mightier is he that has formed them, since through the grandeur and beauty of the creatures we may, by analogy, contemplate their Author.

Small blame, however, attaches to these men,for perhaps they only go astray in their search for God and their eagerness to find him;
living among his works, they strive to comprehend them
and fall victim to appearances, seeing so much beauty.
Even so, they are not to be excused: if they are capable of acquiring enough knowledge
to be able to investigate the world, how have they been so slow to find its Master?



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Gospel
Luke 17:26-37

When the day comes for the Son of Man to be revealed

Jesus said to the disciples:
    ‘As it was in Noah’s day, so will it also be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating and drinking, marrying wives and husbands, right up to the day Noah went into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. It will be the same as it was in Lot’s day: people were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but the day Lot left Sodom, God rained fire and brimstone from heaven and it destroyed them all. It will be the same when the day comes for the Son of Man to be revealed.
    ‘When that day comes, anyone on the housetop, with his possessions in the house, must not come down to collect them, nor must anyone in the fields turn back either. Remember Lot’s wife. Anyone who tries to preserve his life will lose it; and anyone who loses it will keep it safe. I tell you, on that night two will be in one bed: one will be taken, the other left; two women will be grinding corn together: one will be taken, the other left.’ The disciples interrupted. ‘Where, Lord?’ they asked. He said, ‘Where the body is, there too will the vultures gather.’

Today, the many wonderful attributes of wisdom are revealed to us. This is not human wisdom, but God’s resolute wisdom. It serves as the untarnished mirror of God’s effective powers. This splendid wisdom has chosen to enter the holy soul of a humble man. It is there to guide him, move him, and enable him to do great things for his brethren.

This shows just how much God, the Father, loves us. Through the Son of God our Heavenly Father, our Lord Jesus Christ who is within us, we see that in God’s wisdom, all is good. Having come this far, we shall be visible in our efforts to minister to His children.

We will never question when God’s kingdom will come, because we already know the Lord our God’s kingdom is at hand. We are living in His presence. Amen.

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First reading
Wisdom 7:22-8:1

Wisdom is a breath of the power of God


Within Wisdom is a spirit intelligent, holy, unique, manifold, subtle, active, incisive, unsullied,
lucid, invulnerable, benevolent, sharp, irresistible, beneficent, loving to man, steadfast, dependable, unperturbed,
almighty, all-surveying,
penetrating all intelligent, pure
and most subtle spirits; for Wisdom is quicker to move than any motion; she is so pure, she pervades and permeates all things. She is a breath of the power of God, pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; hence nothing impure can find a way into her.
She is a reflection of the eternal light, untarnished mirror of God’s active power, image of his goodness.
Although alone, she can do all;
herself unchanging, she makes all things new.
In each generation she passes into holy souls, she makes them friends of God and prophets; for God loves only the man who lives with Wisdom.
She is indeed more splendid than the sun, she outshines all the constellations; compared with light, she takes first place, for light must yield to night, but over Wisdom evil can never triumph.
She deploys her strength from one end of the earth to the other, ordering all things for good.



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Gospel
Luke 17:20-25

The kingdom of God is among you

Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was to come, Jesus gave them this answer, ‘The coming of the kingdom of God does not admit of observation and there will be no one to say, “Look here! Look there!” For, you must know, the kingdom of God is among you.’
    He said to the disciples, ‘A time will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man and will not see it. They will say to you, “Look there!” or, “Look here!” Make no move; do not set off in pursuit; for as the lightning flashing from one part of heaven lights up the other, so will be the Son of Man when his day comes. But first he must suffer grievously and be rejected by this generation.’

We know that as disciples of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, we are His prophets, priests, and kings. Today, we delve deeper into what it means to be a king for the Lord. We aim to lead others closer to Him through justice, integrity, and humility.

The Lord sees all and knows our hearts and intentions. If we follow Him by carrying our cross, we will act humbly, love mercy, and act justly for His people. Jesus is for everyone. He loves even those who have yet to believe. Through His healing grace that works through us, we can bring the joy of the Gospel to them.

Everyone who has encountered Him will praise the Lord as One Body in Him. Amen.

Saint Josaphat, Bishop, Martyr 
Pray for us…

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First reading
Wisdom 6:1-11

Kings, your power is a gift to you from the Lord


Listen, kings, and understand;
rulers of remotest lands, take warning; hear this, you who have thousands under your rule,
who boast of your hordes of subjects.
For power is a gift to you from the Lord, sovereignty is from the Most High; he himself will probe your acts and scrutinise your intentions.

If, as administrators of his kingdom, you have not governed justly nor observed the law,
Qwertynor behaved as God would have you behave, he will fall on you swiftly and terribly.
Ruthless judgement is reserved for the high and mighty; the lowly will be compassionately pardoned, the mighty will be mightily punished.
For the Lord of All does not cower before a personage, he does not stand in awe of greatness, since he himself has made small and great
and provides for all alike; but strict scrutiny awaits those in power.

Yes, despots, my words are for you, that you may learn what wisdom is and not transgress;
for they who observe holy things holily will be adjudged holy, and, accepting instruction from them, will find their defence in them.
Look forward, therefore, to my words; yearn for them, and they will instruct you.




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Gospel
Luke 17:11-19

No-one has come back to praise God, only this foreigner

On the way to Jerusalem Jesus travelled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered one of the villages, ten lepers came to meet him. They stood some way off and called to him, ‘Jesus! Master! Take pity on us.’ When he saw them he said, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ Now as they were going away they were cleansed. Finding himself cured, one of them turned back praising God at the top of his voice and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. The man was a Samaritan. This made Jesus say, ‘Were not all ten made clean? The other nine, where are they? It seems that no one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.’ And he said to the man, ‘Stand up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.’

We should be encouraged by today’s first reading that death is not the final word. Many of us have experienced the loss of very close or immediate family members. We often find ourselves wondering why they had to suffer so much.

For those who are ill, whether battling cancer or simply facing the challenges of old age, this provides answers to questions that have weighed on our minds. We are reassured that there is hope for new life in our Lord through his resurrection.

We are called to be obedient, steadfast in our faith, and to follow our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Why seek any other outcome or rewards when we have the fullness of life in and with him? In the end, we have hope of life eternal with him. Amen

Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop 
Pray for us…


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First reading
Wisdom 2:23-3:9

The souls of the virtuous are in the hands of God


God made man imperishable,
he made him in the image of his own nature; it was the devil’s envy that brought death into the world, as those who are his partners will discover.

But the souls of the virtuous are in the hands of God, no torment shall ever touch them.
In the eyes of the unwise, they did appear to die, their going looked like a disaster, their leaving us, like annihilation; but they are in peace.
If they experienced punishment as men see it, their hope was rich with immortality; slight was their affliction, great will their blessings be.
God has put them to the test and proved them worthy to be with him; he has tested them like gold in a furnace, and accepted them as a holocaust.
When the time comes for his visitation they will shine out; as sparks run through the stubble, so will they.
They shall judge nations, rule over people’s, and the Lord will be their king for ever.
They who trust in him will understand the truth, those who are faithful will live with him in love; for grace and mercy await those he has chosen.



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Gospel
Luke 17:7-10

You are merely servants

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Which of you, with a servant ploughing or minding sheep, would say to him when he returned from the fields, “Come and have your meal immediately”? Would he not be more likely to say, “Get my supper laid; make yourself tidy and wait on me while I eat and drink. You can eat and drink yourself afterwards”? Must he be grateful to the servant for doing what he was told? So with you: when you have done all you have been told to do, say, “We are merely servants: we have done no more than our duty.”’

Monday 10 November 2025

When we seek the Lord with a humble heart and simplicity, we will surely find Him. Let every word that comes from our mouth bring life, healing, and love. We are called to always forgive, just as we are forgiven. If a brother or sister wrongs us seven times, we must forgive them seven times.

God reminds us that we can perform miracles, signs, and wonders through Him, if we have faith even as small as a mustard seed. We often forget the saying that we could tell a mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea.’ It’s easy to overlook that trees planted in the sea will not survive. However, God is reminding us that with Him, everything is possible. Even a mulberry tree planted in the sea can thrive and live, just as we hope to live with Him forever.
Saint Leo the Great, Pope, Doctor 
Pray for us…


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First reading
Wisdom 1:1-7 ·

Seek the Lord in simplicity of heart


Love virtue, you who are judges on earth, let honesty prompt your thinking about the Lord, seek him in simplicity of heart; since he is to be found by those who do not put him to the test, he shows himself to those who do not distrust him.
But selfish intentions divorce from God; and Omnipotence, put to the test, confounds the foolish.
No, Wisdom will never make its way into a crafty soul nor stay in a body that is in debt to sin; the holy spirit of instruction shuns deceit,
it stands aloof from reckless purposes, is taken aback when iniquity appears.

Wisdom is a spirit, a friend to man, though she will not pardon the words of a blasphemer, since God sees into the innermost parts of him, truly observes his heart,
and listens to his tongue.
The spirit of the Lord, indeed, fills the whole world, and that which holds all things together knows every word that is said.




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Gospel
Luke 17:1-6

If your brother does wrong, reprove him

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Obstacles are sure to come, but alas for the one who provides them! It would be better for him to be thrown into the Sea with a millstone put round his neck than that he should lead astray a single one of these little ones. Watch yourselves!
    If your brother does something wrong, reprove him and, if he is sorry, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times a day and seven times comes back to you and says, “I am sorry,” you must forgive him.’
    The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.’ The Lord replied, ‘Were your faith the size of a mustard seed you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea,” and it would obey you.’

It is important to recognize the work that each and every one of us is doing. We should constantly affirm one another and encourage each other to deepen our faith and love for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Recognizing and affirming each other helps us remain steadfast.

By sharing our testimonies, we embolden our communities and fellow disciples. This encourages them to constantly share the good news with everyone we meet, especially those who do not yet know Jesus.

We must use whatever gifts and talents we have, including money, to glorify the Lord, our God. This is part of our stewardship and discipleship. Everything we say and do should glorify Him.

Amen.


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First reading
Romans 16:3-9,16,22-27

The mystery kept secret for endless ages must be broadcast everywhere

My greetings to Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked death to save my life: I am not the only one to owe them a debt of gratitude, all the churches among the pagans do as well. My greetings also to the church that meets at their house.
    Greetings to my friend Epaenetus, the first of Asia’s gifts to Christ; greetings to Mary who worked so hard for you; to those outstanding apostles Andronicus and Junias, my compatriots and fellow prisoners who became Christians before me; to Ampliatus, my friend in the Lord; to Urban, my fellow worker in Christ; to my friend Stachys. Greet each other with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.
    I, Tertius, who wrote out this letter, greet you in the Lord. Greetings from Gaius, who is entertaining me and from the whole church that meets in his house. Erastus, the city treasurer, sends his greetings; so does our brother Quartus.
    Glory to him who is able to give you the strength to live according to the Good News I preach, and in which I proclaim Jesus Christ, the revelation of a mystery kept secret for endless ages, but now so clear that it must be broadcast to pagans everywhere to bring them to the obedience of faith. This is only what scripture has predicted, and it is all part of the way the eternal God wants things to be. He alone is wisdom; give glory therefore to him through Jesus Christ for ever and ever. Amen.




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Gospel
Luke 16:9-15

Use money, tainted as it is, to win you friends

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I tell you this: use money, tainted as it is, to win you friends, and thus make sure that when it fails you, they will welcome you into the tents of eternity. The man who can be trusted in little things can be trusted in great; the man who is dishonest in little things will be dishonest in great. If then you cannot be trusted with money, that tainted thing, who will trust you with genuine riches? And if you cannot be trusted with what is not yours, who will give you what is your very own?
    ‘No servant can be the slave of two masters: he will either hate the first and love the second, or treat the first with respect and the second with scorn. You cannot be the slave both of God and of money.’
    The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and laughed at him. He said to them, ‘You are the very ones who pass yourselves off as virtuous in people’s sight, but God knows your hearts. For what is thought highly of by men is loathsome in the sight of God.’

You and I, my dear sisters and brothers in Christ, share one mission. Our mission is to spread the good news of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to everyone. This is especially important for those who have not heard of Him or do not yet know Him. A good starting point is to affirm one another in the faith. We should share the good news among believers as a practice ground. This helps us build upon our faith, as iron sharpens iron.

We can carry out this mission in various forms within our community settings, during our praise and worship, and by sharing the Word. We should also testify to the Lord’s goodness with one another. This will help us gather the boldness and courage needed to go out into the world. We aim to share what we have seen and experienced so that others, who do not yet know Him, will come to believe.

Like Saint Paul, we are empowered to demonstrate the good news of the gospel. We do this by bringing healing, deliverance, peace, love, and joy. The world is skilled in wheeling and dealing, but we, as children of the light, must remain focused and Christ-centered. We must believe that by the Lord’s grace and strength, we will accomplish more for Him as He desires us to. Amen.


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First reading
Romans 15:14-21

My duty is to bring the Good News from God to the pagans

My brothers, I am quite certain that you are full of good intentions, perfectly well instructed and able to advise each other. The reason why I have written to you, and put some things rather strongly, is to refresh your memories, since God has given me this special position. He has appointed me as a priest of Jesus Christ, and I am to carry out my priestly duty by bringing the Good News from God to the pagans, and so make them acceptable as an offering, made holy by the Holy Spirit.
    I think I have some reason to be proud of what I, in union with Christ Jesus, have been able to do for God. What I am presuming to speak of, of course, is only what Christ himself has done to win the allegiance of the pagans, using what I have said and done by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Thus all the way along, from Jerusalem to Illyricum, I have preached Christ’s Good News to the utmost of my capacity. I have always, however, made it an unbroken rule never to preach where Christ’s name has already been heard. The reason for that was that I had no wish to build on other men’s foundations; on the contrary, my chief concern has been to fulfil the text: Those who have never been told about him will see him, and those who have never heard about him will understand.



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Gospel
Luke 16:1-8

The master praised the dishonest servant

Jesus said to his disciples:
    ‘There was a rich man and he had a steward denounced to him for being wasteful with his property. He called for the man and said, “What is this I hear about you? Draw me up an account of your stewardship because you are not to be my steward any longer.” Then the steward said to himself, “Now that my master is taking the stewardship from me, what am I to do? Dig? I am not strong enough. Go begging? I should be too ashamed. Ah, I know what I will do to make sure that when I am dismissed from office there will be some to welcome me into their homes.”
    Then he called his master’s debtors one by one. To the first he said, “How much do you owe my master?” “One hundred measures of oil” was the reply. The steward said, “Here, take your bond; sit down straight away and write fifty.” To another he said, “And you, sir, how much do you owe?” “One hundred measures of wheat” was the reply. The steward said, “Here, take your bond and write eighty.”
    ‘The master praised the dishonest steward for his astuteness. For the children of this world are more astute in dealing with their own kind than are the children of light.’

In today’s first reading, there is an important message that we often overlook because we sometimes fail to put it into context. The life and death of each of us influences others. Whether alive or dead, we indeed belong to the Lord.

However, the crucial message is that we should not judge or treat our brothers and sisters in Christ with contempt. Often, we may not even realize we are doing it. For instance, when we judge someone for being late to mass, consistently late, or not dressed appropriately for the Holy Eucharist. Or when we look down on parents who struggle to control their noisy toddlers during the Eucharistic celebration.

Instead, we should be loving and, if possible, offer fraternal correction in the most charitable way we can. Our Lord and Savior loves us all and reminds us that the heavens rejoice over a repentant sinner. So, how can we bring these repentant sinners back into the fold if we are harsh and judgmental?

Lord, have mercy on me as I endeavour to treat others with the same mercy you have shown me. Amen.


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First reading
Romans 14:7-12

Each of us must give an account of himself to God

The life and death of each of us has its influence on others; if we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord, so that alive or dead we belong to the Lord. This explains why Christ both died and came to life: it was so that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. This is also why you should never pass judgement on a brother or treat him with contempt, as some of you have done. We shall all have to stand before the judgement seat of God; as scripture says: By my life – it is the Lord who speaks – every knee shall bend before me, and every tongue shall praise God. It is to God, therefore, that each of us must give an account of himself.


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Gospel
Luke 15:1-10

There will be rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner

The tax collectors and the sinners were all seeking the company of Jesus to hear what he had to say, and the Pharisees and the scribes complained. ‘This man’ they said ‘welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ So he spoke this parable to them:
    ‘What man among you with a hundred sheep, losing one, would not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the missing one till he found it? And when he found it, would he not joyfully take it on his shoulders and then, when he got home, call together his friends and neighbours? “Rejoice with me,” he would say “I have found my sheep that was lost.” In the same way, I tell you, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine virtuous men who have no need of repentance.
    ‘Or again, what woman with ten drachmas would not, if she lost one, light a lamp and sweep out the house and search thoroughly till she found it? And then, when she had found it, call together her friends and neighbours? “Rejoice with me,” she would say “I have found the drachma I lost.” In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing among the angels of God over one repentant sinner.’

We owe it to each other to love one another as we love ourselves. This is the kind of love that wills the good in another. It’s the same love that the Lord demonstrated by sacrificing His life for us.

So, how should we love the Lord, our God? We might quickly answer, “With all our mind, heart, and soul.” But what does that really involve?

Today, we are reminded that loving God cannot be done by halves. We must give our very all. This means being prepared to sacrifice, even to the point of laying down our lives if necessary. This is the essence of carrying our cross and following Him.

We are capable of this because we know our eternal reward lies with Him. Amen.
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First reading
Romans 13:8-10

Your only debt should be the debt of mutual love

Avoid getting into debt, except the debt of mutual love. If you love your fellow men you have carried out your obligations. All the commandments: You shall not commit adultery, you shall not kill, you shall not steal, you shall not covet, and so on, are summed up in this single command: You must love your neighbour as yourself. Love is the one thing that cannot hurt your neighbour; that is why it is the answer to every one of the commandments.






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Gospel
Luke 14:25-33

Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple

Great crowds accompanied Jesus on his way and he turned and spoke to them. ‘If any man comes to me without hating his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes and his own life too, he cannot be my disciple. Anyone who does not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
    ‘And indeed, which of you here, intending to build a tower, would not first sit down and work out the cost to see if he had enough to complete it? Otherwise, if he laid the foundation and then found himself unable to finish the work, the onlookers would all start making fun of him and saying, “Here is a man who started to build and was unable to finish.” Or again, what king marching to war against another king would not first sit down and consider whether with ten thousand men he could stand up to the other who advanced against him with twenty thousand? If not, then while the other king was still a long way off, he would send envoys to sue for peace. So in the same way, none of you can be my disciple unless he gives up all his possessions.’

We have all been given many varied gifts from the Lord, our God, to build His church. Many have already put these gifts into action. However, the most precious and greatest gift from God, our Heavenly Father, is His son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Through Him alone, we receive mercy, love, and salvation.

Today, with all our blessings and the graces we have received, we look out into our mission field, to all those He has sent our way. We have received freely, and so we shall give freely. Our goal is to always glorify the Lord by our lives, now and forever more. Amen.

Saint Martin de Porres, pray for us…


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First reading
Romans 11:29-36

God never takes back his gifts

God never takes back his gifts or revokes his choice.
    Just as you changed from being disobedient to God, and now enjoy mercy because of their disobedience, so those who are disobedient now – and only because of the mercy shown to you – will also enjoy mercy eventually. God has imprisoned all men in their own disobedience only to show mercy to all mankind.
    How rich are the depths of God – how deep his wisdom and knowledge – and how impossible to penetrate his motives or understand his methods! Who could ever know the mind of the Lord? Who could ever be his counsellor? Who could ever give him anything or lend him anything?
    All that exists comes from him; all is by him and for him. To him be glory for ever! Amen.




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Gospel
Luke 14:12-14

Do not invite those who might be able to invite you back

Jesus said to his host, one of the leading Pharisees, ‘When you give a lunch or a dinner, do not ask your friends, brothers, relations or rich neighbours, for fear they repay your courtesy by inviting you in return. No; when you have a party, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; that they cannot pay you back means that you are fortunate, because repayment will be made to you when the virtuous rise again.’

We have been set apart and made holy through our baptism. This sacred act has not only allowed us to share in the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ but also to become children of God our Father—children of light tasked with bringing hope and light into the world.

Our faith in Jesus is rooted in hope. We look forward to being reunited with Him after our earthly journey ends, to join the saints in heaven. There, we will praise and worship the Lord in His divine presence. While we get a glimpse of this during the Eucharistic celebration, the full experience of worshiping alongside all the saints in heaven, including Mary our Mother, is beyond our current comprehension.

In joyful anticipation of our heavenly inheritance, let us strive to be pure and holy. Let us follow Christ by taking up our cross and living out the beatitudes according to His word and will for us.

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

All you Saints in Heaven pray for us m..


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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.’


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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.


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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.’

We are all called to love extraordinarily. Yet, how many of us can truly love others with the deep and profound love that we have for Christ? St. Paul exemplifies this extraordinary love in the first reading. It’s difficult to comprehend the depth of his love for Christ. He expressed willingness to be condemned and separated from Christ if it would save his fellow brothers.

You can sense the pain in his testimony. This pain stems from his inability to convince his fellow Jews to believe in Christ Jesus, his Lord.

Riding on this extraordinary love, remember there is no wrong time to do good. We should seize every opportunity to do good, whether it’s to heal, show love, or comfort someone in need. It is our Christian duty to always love, just as Jesus loves us. Amen.

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First reading
Romans 9:1-5

I would willingly be condemned if it could help my brothers

What I want to say now is no pretence; I say it in union with Christ – it is the truth – my conscience in union with the Holy Spirit assures me of it too. What I want to say is this: my sorrow is so great, my mental anguish so endless, I would willingly be condemned and be cut off from Christ if it could help my brothers of Israel, my own flesh and blood. They were adopted as sons, they were given the glory and the covenants; the Law and the ritual were drawn up for them, and the promises were made to them. They are descended from the patriarchs and from their flesh and blood came Christ who is above all, God for ever blessed! Amen.



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Gospel
Luke 14:1-6

‘Is it against the law to cure a man on the sabbath?’

Now on a sabbath day Jesus had gone for a meal to the house of one of the leading Pharisees; and they watched him closely. There in front of him was a man with dropsy, and Jesus addressed the lawyers and Pharisees. ‘Is it against the law’ he asked ‘to cure a man on the sabbath, or not?’ But they remained silent, so he took the man and cured him and sent him away. Then he said to them, ‘Which of you here, if his son falls into a well, or his ox, will not pull him out on a sabbath day without hesitation?’ And to this they could find no answer.

By God’s grace, and through our baptism we are reborn through the life, death and resurrection of Christ Jesus our Lord. We are now children of God, deeply loved by our Heavenly Father. Nothing can separate us from His love, except our own choice to sin and live in sin. However, if are repentant and remorseful, He is ready to embrace us with open arms.

Woe to those who do not believe, who refuse to accept the Son of God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Everyone is given the chance to lead a full live in Him. And we hold onto the hope of eternal life with Him. Amen.

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First reading
Romans 8:31-39 ·

God did not spare his own Son

With God on our side who can be against us? Since God did not spare his own Son, but gave him up to benefit us all, we may be certain, after such a gift, that he will not refuse anything he can give. Could anyone accuse those that God has chosen? When God acquits, could anyone condemn? Could Christ Jesus? No! He not only died for us – he rose from the dead, and there at God’s right hand he stands and pleads for us.
    Nothing therefore can come between us and the love of Christ, even if we are troubled or worried, or being persecuted, or lacking food or clothes, or being threatened or even attacked. As scripture promised: For your sake we are being massacred daily, and reckoned as sheep for the slaughter. These are the trials through which we triumph, by the power of him who loved us.
    For I am certain of this: neither death nor life, no angel, no prince, nothing that exists, nothing still to come, not any power, or height or depth, nor any created thing, can ever come between us and the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord.



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Gospel
Luke 13:31-35

It would not be right for a prophet to die outside Jerusalem

Some Pharisees came up to Jesus. ‘Go away’ they said. ‘Leave this place, because Herod means to kill you.’ He replied, ‘You may go and give that fox this message: Learn that today and tomorrow I cast out devils and on the third day attain my end. But for today and tomorrow and the next day I must go on, since it would not be right for a prophet to die outside Jerusalem.
    ‘Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you that kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often have I longed to gather your children, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you refused! So be it! Your house will be left to you. Yes, I promise you, you shall not see me till the time comes when you say:

‘Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord!’

Indeed, we who are walking humbly in righteousness and in the presence of the Lord, who love mercy, then the Spirit of Christ lives within us. His Holy Spirit helps us in every aspect of our lives. Even when we do not know how to pray or how to go about prayer, the Spirit of Christ within us prays for us, according to His will.

When we decide to follow after Him, to listen and do His Word and will for us, then truly, we are His disciples. We are children of God, our Heavenly Father. We do not have to worry when we call out to Him, Lord, Lord. The door will already be open for us, because we have chosen the narrow way.

We know that even amidst difficulties and challenges of walking the path of the narrow way, we are following after the way, the truth and the life. Amen.




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First reading
Romans 8:26-30 ·

The Spirit himself expresses our plea in a way that could never be put into words

The Spirit comes to help us in our weakness. For when we cannot choose words in order to pray properly, the Spirit himself expresses our plea in a way that could never be put into words, and God who knows everything in our hearts knows perfectly well what he means, and that the pleas of the saints expressed by the Spirit are according to the mind of God.
    We know that by turning everything to their good God co-operates with all those who love him, with all those that he has called according to his purpose. They are the ones he chose specially long ago and intended to become true images of his Son, so that his Son might be the eldest of many brothers. He called those he intended for this; those he called he justified, and with those he justified he shared his glory.



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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.’

We are citizens of heaven, children of God our Heavenly Father. All of us form one holy and apostolic Church, because we are built upon the foundation of the rock of Christ our Lord. And since we are one body in Him, we must exercise our gifts and charisms for the building up of His Church.

We have been empowered to lay hands, to heal, and to cast out demons. Yet many of us do not have the faith of a mustard seed to even try. If we are truly one in Him, and if all of us are bold and courageous enough to go out and minister to those He has sent our way, then we shall see the grandeur of our Lord’s glory upon the earth.

We would have opened the heavens so that His grace will be poured out abundantly on all of us and to the many He has sent our way. Amen.

Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles – pray for us…


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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.



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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.

Do we love our pets, animals more than people? Do we value worldly attachments more than human dignity? As true sons and daughters of God, our Heavenly Father, we should love everything that is spiritual and Holy. We should strive to be righteous and Holy, just as He is.

Today’s message remains about love. Love that transcends all words, love of God put into action for Him and brethren. Love as we are loved by him who died for us. Amen


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First reading
Romans 8:12-17 ·

The Spirit himself and our spirit bear united witness that we are children of God

My brothers, there is no necessity for us to obey our unspiritual selves or to live unspiritual lives. If you do live in that way, you are doomed to die; but if by the Spirit you put an end to the misdeeds of the body you will live.
    Everyone moved by the Spirit is a son of God. The spirit you received is not the spirit of slaves bringing fear into your lives again; it is the spirit of sons, and it makes us cry out, ‘Abba, Father!’ The Spirit himself and our spirit bear united witness that we are children of God. And if we are children we are heirs as well: heirs of God and coheirs with Christ, sharing his sufferings so as to share his glory.



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Gospel
Luke 13:10-17

Was it not right to untie this woman’s bonds on the sabbath day?

One sabbath day Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who for eighteen years had been possessed by a spirit that left her enfeebled; she was bent double and quite unable to stand upright. When Jesus saw her he called her over and said, ‘Woman, you are rid of your infirmity’ and he laid his hands on her. And at once she straightened up, and she glorified God.
    But the synagogue official was indignant because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, and he addressed the people present. ‘There are six days’ he said ‘when work is to be done. Come and be healed on one of those days and not on the sabbath.’ But the Lord answered him. ‘Hypocrites!’ he said ‘Is there one of you who does not untie his ox or his donkey from the manger on the sabbath and take it out for watering? And this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan has held bound these eighteen years – was it not right to untie her bonds on the sabbath day?’ When he said this, all his adversaries were covered with confusion, and all the people were overjoyed at all the wonders he worked.

We should never focus on the sins of others. Instead, with a remorseful and repentant heart, we must examine ourselves and look to Christ. He has taken upon Himself the sins of the world to free us, so that we might have eternal life with Him.

Therefore with grateful hearts we strive for holiness. This means living spiritual lives, renouncing the work of the enemies, and all that is unspiritual. For our Lord is patient and waits for us. Our goal is to always bring glory to Him and lead others to the full life that can be found in Him.

Amen.



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First reading
Romans 8:1-11

The Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you

The reason why those who are in Christ Jesus are not condemned is that the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. God has done what the Law, because of our unspiritual nature, was unable to do. God dealt with sin by sending his own Son in a body as physical as any sinful body, and in that body God condemned sin. He did this in order that the Law’s just demands might be satisfied in us, who behave not as our unspiritual nature but as the spirit dictates.
    The unspiritual are interested only in what is unspiritual, but the spiritual are interested in spiritual things. It is death to limit oneself to what is unspiritual; life and peace can only come with concern for the spiritual. That is because to limit oneself to what is unspiritual is to be at enmity with God: such a limitation never could and never does submit to God’s law. People who are interested only in unspiritual things can never be pleasing to God. Your interests, however, are not in the unspiritual, but in the spiritual, since the Spirit of God has made his home in you. In fact, unless you possessed the Spirit of Christ you would not belong to him. Though your body may be dead it is because of sin, but if Christ is in you then your spirit is life itself because you have been justified; and if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, then he who raised Jesus from the dead will give life to your own mortal bodies through his Spirit living in you.



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Gospel
Luke 13:1-9

‘Leave the fig tree one more year’

Some people arrived and told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with that of their sacrifices. At this he said to them, ‘Do you suppose these Galileans who suffered like that were greater sinners than any other Galileans? They were not, I tell you. No; but unless you repent you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen on whom the tower at Siloam fell and killed them? Do you suppose that they were more guilty than all the other people living in Jerusalem? They were not, I tell you. No; but unless you repent you will all perish as they did.’
    He told this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it but found none. He said to the man who looked after the vineyard, “Look here, for three years now I have been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and finding none. Cut it down: why should it be taking up the ground?” “Sir,” the man replied “leave it one more year and give me time to dig round it and manure it: it may bear fruit next year; if not, then you can cut it down.”’

We must prioritize the Lord our God above everything and everyone, including family and friends. He is the singular Lord and God who has rescued us from death and destruction. He has transformed our decaying bodies, minds, and spirits into sources of life.

Therefore, we should dedicate our lives to righteousness and serving Him and our brethren. This dedication will ignite our hearts with passion for Him and for our loved ones. Through Christ, we not only improve but strive to become the best versions of ourselves—better spouses, better children, better colleagues.

Let us then extend the flame of His love to everyone we encounter. Amen.

Saint John of Capistrano, Priest pray for us..



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First reading
Romans 6:19-23

Now you are set free from sin, and slaves to God

If I may use human terms to help your natural weakness: as once you put your bodies at the service of vice and immorality, so now you must put them at the service of righteousness for your sanctification.
    When you were slaves of sin, you felt no obligation to righteousness, and what did you get from this? Nothing but experiences that now make you blush, since that sort of behaviour ends in death. Now, however, you have been set free from sin, you have been made slaves of God, and you get a reward leading to your sanctification and ending in eternal life. For the wage paid by sin is death; the present given by God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.



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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.’

We often overlook the significance of our baptism. It is through baptism that we are integrated into the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Through baptism, we become children of light and truly belong to God, our Heavenly Father, who loves us deeply.

As children of light, we are transformed into slaves of righteousness rather than slaves of sin. Being a slave of righteousness means we possess the grace of the Lord our God and experience life fully in Him.

Therefore, we must remain steadfast as children of light by daily battling sin, resisting the temptations of the flesh, and the wanton desires of the body. We must shun all that is unholy. It is crucial that we control our speech and refrain from speaking evil.

Let us always glorify the Lord by our life. Amen.

  Saint John Paul II, Pope pray for us…


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First reading
Romans 6:12-18

Make every part of your body a weapon fighting on the side of God

You must not let sin reign in your mortal bodies or command your obedience to bodily passions, you must not let any part of your body turn into an unholy weapon fighting on the side of sin; you should, instead, offer yourselves to God, and consider yourselves dead men brought back to life; you should make every part of your body into a weapon fighting on the side of God; and then sin will no longer dominate your life, since you are living by grace and not by law.
    Does the fact that we are living by grace and not by law mean that we are free to sin? Of course not. You know that if you agree to serve and obey a master you become his slaves. You cannot be slaves of sin that leads to death and at the same time slaves of obedience that leads to righteousness. You were once slaves of sin, but thank God you submitted without reservation to the creed you were taught. You may have been freed from the slavery of sin, but only to become ‘slaves’ of righteousness.


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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.’

As I’ve aged, I find my body slowing down, and I’m not as alert or as fully awake as I ought to be. However, over the years, I’ve discovered that I feel truly alive only when I am serving the Lord and my brethren. I’m reinvigorated, and the fire of the Holy Spirit burns bright within me.

As we approach Advent, today’s Gospel reminds us to stand alert and awake with our lamps lit, ready to greet the Lord when He comes. Our Lord who through His righteousness alone had redeemed us by life, death and Resurrection. What better greeting can there be than to say, “Here I am, Lord, I’ve come to do Your will.” Amen.

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First reading
Romans 5:12,15,17-21 ·

Divine grace, coming through Jesus Christ, came as an abundant free gift

Sin entered the world through one man, and through sin death, and thus death has spread through the whole human race because everyone has sinned; but the gift itself considerably outweighed the fall. If it is certain that through one man’s fall so many died, it is even more certain that divine grace, coming through the one man, Jesus Christ, came to so many as an abundant free gift. If it is certain that death reigned over everyone as the consequence of one man’s fall, it is even more certain that one man, Jesus Christ, will cause everyone to reign in life who receives the free gift that he does not deserve, of being made righteous. Again, as one man’s fall brought condemnation on everyone, so the good act of one man brings everyone life and makes them justified. As by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man’s obedience many will be made righteous. When law came, it was to multiply the opportunities of failing, but however great the number of sins committed, grace was even greater; and so, just as sin reigned wherever there was death, so grace will reign to bring eternal life thanks to the righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ our Lord.


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Gospel
Luke 12:35-38

Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit

Jesus said to his disciples:
    ‘See that you are dressed for action and have your lamps lit. Be like men waiting for their master to return from the wedding feast, ready to open the door as soon as he comes and knocks. Happy those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. I tell you solemnly, he will put on an apron, sit them down at table and wait on them. It may be in the second watch he comes, or in the third, but happy those servants if he finds them ready.’

In our mission to share the joy of the Gospel, we will undoubtedly face opposition. Even when we find ourselves alone, with no one to support us, St. Paul encourages us in today’s first reading to persevere. Our Lord will stand by us and empower us so that our proclamation can reach the ends of the earth.

We must go forth in faith, trusting that the Lord our God will provide for all our needs. He has empowered us to bring His peace to everyone we meet. Therefore, we offer the Lord’s peace, which we carry with us. Freely we had received from our Lord, so too shall we give freely. Though we will accept gratefully the hospitality offered to us.

In our Lord’s empowerment, we are called to heal the sick and proclaim that the Lord’s kingdom is near. Let us go forth with joy in our hearts doing so, for the Lord’s will be done, now and forever. Amen.

Saint Luke, Evangelist – pray for us…

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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.


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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.”’

We are invited today to delve deeper into the love of God, our Father, has for us. In today’s Gospel, we learn just how deeply He loves us. We are told that we are worth more than a hundred sparrows. Every single hair on our head is counted for. His love for us is profound.

He invites us to remain steadfast in His love and not be distracted by the ways of the world. We are encouraged to walk boldly with integrity and faith in Him, just like our father Abraham, who was made righteous through his faith.

Our loving Father has forgiven our sins through His son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. By His precious life, death, and resurrection, He has cleansed our sins with His blood. This gives us hope to live eternally with Him.

Currently, we live life fully, rejoicing in the joy of our Lord. We love you, Father. We praise you, Father. We glorify you. Amen.

Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop, Martyr pray for us…


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First reading
Romans 4:1-8

Abraham was justified not by his actions but by faith

What shall we say about Abraham, the ancestor from whom we are all descended? If Abraham was justified as a reward for doing something, he would really have had something to boast about, though not in God’s sight because scripture says: Abraham put his faith in God, and this faith was considered as justifying him. If a man has work to show, his wages are not considered as a favour but as his due; but when a man has nothing to show except faith in the one who justifies sinners, then his faith is considered as justifying him. And David says the same: a man is happy if God considers him righteous, irrespective of good deeds:

Happy those whose crimes are forgiven, whose sins are blotted out; happy the man whom the Lord considers sinless.



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Gospel
Luke 12:1-7

Not one sparrow is forgotten in God’s sight

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

Here are some fundamental truths. There is only one God. All life, whether believer or unbeliever, was created through Him alone our one God. And He has given all of us free will to choose whether to accept these truths.

He has also sent His prophets into the world. Prophets like you and me, who are followers of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and our call is to share the good news of the gospel with everyone. So that, believing in Jesus themselves, they too shall have eternal life. Because of free will, they have a choice of whether to believe in faith and to accept the grace that will be given from their belief in Jesus.

All believers and unbelievers alike are subject to the commands and statutes that is the Word and Will of God, our Heavenly Father. We, who call ourselves Christians, have a higher calling. We must live upright lives with integrity and faithfulness, so as to lead others to Him. So that all glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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


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First reading
Romans 3:21-30

It is the same justice of God that comes to Jew and pagan alike

God’s justice that was made known through the Law and the Prophets has now been revealed outside the Law, since it is the same justice of God that comes through faith to everyone, Jew and pagan alike, who believes in Jesus Christ. Both Jew and pagan sinned and forfeited God’s glory, and both are justified through the free gift of his grace by being redeemed in Christ Jesus who was appointed by God to sacrifice his life so as to win reconciliation through faith. In this way God makes his justice known; first, for the past, when sins went unpunished because he held his hand, then, for the present age, by showing positively that he is just, and that he justifies everyone who believes in Jesus.
    So what becomes of our boasts? There is no room for them. What sort of law excludes them? The sort of law that tells us what to do? On the contrary, it is the law of faith, since, as we see it, a man is justified by faith and not by doing something the Law tells him to do. Is God the God of Jews alone and not of the pagans too? Of the pagans too, most certainly, since there is only one God.




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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.

Judge not, lest you be judged. We often see the faults in our brothers’ and sisters’ eyes, but do not see the fault in our very own. Jesus is reminding us not to be hypocrites, but to act with integrity, if we have the faith and love in following after Him.

We must constantly dwell on our own actions as well inactions. That is why we pray at the beginning of Mass to be forgiven for our failings; for all that we have done, and all that we have failed to do. It is not about following the law to the letter, or imposing hardships on others for following after Jesus. But rather that we lead them through love, to the very source of life to be found behind and ordered life in Him.

Therefore, all of us must constantly seek to repent of our own sins, be filled with the grace from full reconciliation with Him, so that we can truly live out the Gospel in our lives, leading others to the joy of life with Him. Amen.

The Lord wants us to be transformed from within. Outward appearances of piety and faithfulness will not cut it. He sees into the depths of our heart, how filial we are and how we strive to be sanctified by Him.

Through His Word and His grace, we are transformed to be His light in the world. We will not allow the wisdom of the world to cloud our minds or affect our decisions in following after the Lord. For He is the way, the truth, and the life.

When we will follow after Him, we will demonstrate His love in all that we say and do. That is how we spread the joy of the Gospel. Amen.

Saint Callistus, Pope, Martyr pray for us…


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First reading
Romans 1:16-25

These people knew God and failed to honour him

I am not ashamed of the Good News: it is the power of God saving all who have faith – Jews first, but Greeks as well – since this is what reveals the justice of God to us: it shows how faith leads to faith, or as scripture says: The upright man finds life through faith.
    The anger of God is being revealed from heaven against all the impiety and depravity of men who keep truth imprisoned in their wickedness. For what can be known about God is perfectly plain to them since God himself has made it plain. Ever since God created the world his everlasting power and deity – however invisible – have been there for the mind to see in the things he has made. That is why such people are without excuse: they knew God and yet refused to honour him as God or to thank him; instead, they made nonsense out of logic and their empty minds were darkened. The more they called themselves philosophers, the more stupid they grew, until they exchanged the glory of the immortal God for a worthless imitation, for the image of mortal man, of birds, of quadrupeds and reptiles. That is why God left them to their filthy enjoyments and the practices with which they dishonour their own bodies, since they have given up divine truth for a lie and have worshipped and served creatures instead of the creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen!




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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.’

In the infancy of our faith, we often ask the Lord for signs if He hears us, or if He wants us to move in a certain direction. But how long are we going to ask Him for signs? For if and when we are truly growing in our faith and love in Him then we will hear His word and will for us.

We know that we, as disciples of the Lord, are called to be the sign for all nations. We are likewise called and commanded to go out into the world baptizing in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and to teach them all that we have learned from the Lord. That is our destiny, that is the will of God for us.

And when we are truly one with and in Him, it will be our joy to spread the good news of our salvation so that all who come to know Him might have eternal life and might be free from all their sins. Amen

It is in our fallen nature to complain and to compare ourselves with others. There are even times we wonder why the sinful seem to go unpunished. How are they flourishing? But can you imagine if the Lord our God was not Himself patient with us? Would we not be doomed, since there would be no time for us to repent and turn back to Him? We should instead be focused on remaining steadfast in His love.

We should also do well to heed the Lord’s Word in today’s Gospel, that we should be constantly praying and to be persistent in our prayer. For if our prayers are to do His will, to build His Kingdom, then it is only a matter of time that our prayers will be answered. That is, all in God’s good time. For He assures us, seek and you will find, ask and it will be given, knock and the doors will be opened. All glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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


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First reading
Malachi 3:13-20 

The day that is coming will burn up the wicked

You say harsh things about me, says the Lord. You ask, ‘What have we said against you?’ You say, ‘It is useless to serve God; what is the good of keeping his commands or of walking mournfully before the Lord of Hosts? Now we have reached the point when we call the arrogant blessed; yes, they prosper, these evil-doers; they try God’s patience and yet go free.’ This is what those who fear the Lord used to say to one another. But the Lord took note and heard them: a book of remembrance was written in his presence recording those who fear him and take refuge in his name. On the day which I am preparing, says the Lord of Hosts, they are going to be my own special possession. I will make allowances for them as a man makes allowances for the son who obeys him. Then once again you will see the difference between an upright man and a wicked one, between the one who serves God and the one who does not serve him. For the day is coming now, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and the evil-doers will be like stubble. The day that is coming is going to burn them up, says the Lord of Hosts, leaving them neither root nor stalk. But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will shine out with healing in its rays.


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Gospel
Luke 11:5-13

Ask, and it will be given to you

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

If the Lord our God had the heart and temperament of Jonah, we would all surely be doomed. In today’s first reading, Jonah was upset that God forgave the Ninevites. He did not care that they had repented. It just goes to show how fortunate we are that our Lord is patient and merciful.

And because He is such, we must emulate Him. So, let us always put God our Father above all things. His kingdom come, His will be done, just as Jesus our Lord has taught us to pray, not forgetting that just as we want to be forgiven, we too must forgive. And He our Lord will surely deliver us from all evil. Amen

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First reading
Jonah 4:1-11

Jonah is angry at God’s mercy

Jonah was very indignant; he fell into a rage. He prayed to the Lord and said, ‘Ah, Lord, is not this just as I said would happen when I was still at home? That was why I went and fled to Tarshish: I knew that you were a God of tenderness and compassion, slow to anger, rich in graciousness, relenting from evil. So now, Lord, please take away my life, for I might as well be dead as go on living.’ The Lord replied, ‘Are you right to be angry?’
    Jonah then went out of the city and sat down to the east of the city. There he made himself a shelter and sat under it in the shade, to see what would happen to the city. Then the Lord God arranged that a castor-oil plant should grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head and soothe his ill-humour; Jonah was delighted with the castor-oil plant. But at dawn the next day, God arranged that a worm should attack the castor-oil plant – and it withered.
    Next, when the sun rose, God arranged that there should be a scorching east wind; the sun beat down so hard on Jonah’s head that he was overcome and begged for death, saying, ‘I might as well be dead as go on living.’ God said to Jonah, ‘Are you right to be angry about the castor-oil plant?’ He replied, ‘I have every right to be angry, to the point of death.’ The Lord replied, ‘You are only upset about a castor-oil plant which cost you no labour, which you did not make grow, which sprouted in a night and has perished in a night. And am I not to feel sorry for Nineveh, the great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, to say nothing of all the animals?’



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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.”’

So many of us can relate to the story of Jonah in today’s First Reading. How the Lord has put us on mission, perhaps to share the truth with many who need to be reconciled to Him, to repent of their sins, and their sinful way of life. But we rationalize that it’s all in our head, that the Lord did not call us, or we try to run away from the task at hand. But because we know in our hearts that the calling came from the Lord, the Lord whom we worship and love, our hearts remain restless. Even our surroundings become restless to us, until such time that we die to ourselves so as to rise with Him.

Just as Jesus had to die and remain three days before rising to His resurrection glory, so, too, when we die to ourselves and in the Lord, so, too, shall we rise with Him and in Him. We will not need to question, who is my neighbour? For through that loving relationship with the Lord our God, we know who our neighbour is. The neighbour in question is always our Lord, the person whom we see the face of Christ in, whom we see is in need. ‘Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

So it does not matter what faith, religious background, race, or language. The fellow human being is a child of God. And we will do everything in our power to help and restore, like in today’s Gospel. For then we are truly living lives in and through Him. Amen.

Saint Bruno, Priest pray for us…


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First reading
Jonah 1:1-2:1,11

Jonah flees from his call

The word of the Lord was addressed to Jonah son of Amittai:
    ‘Up!’ he said ‘Go to Nineveh, the great city, and inform them that their wickedness has become known to me.’ Jonah decided to run away from the Lord, and to go to Tarshish. He went down to Joppa and found a ship bound for Tarshish; he paid his fare and went aboard, to go with them to Tarshish, to get away from the Lord. But the Lord unleashed a violent wind on the sea, and there was such a great storm at sea that the ship threatened to break up. The sailors took fright, and each of them called on his own god, and to lighten the ship they threw the cargo overboard. Jonah, however, had gone below and lain down in the hold and fallen fast asleep. The boatswain came upon him and said, ‘What do you mean by sleeping? Get up! Call on your god! Perhaps he will spare us a thought, and not leave us to die.’ Then they said to each other, ‘Come on, let us draw lots to find out who is responsible for bringing this evil on us.’ So they cast lots, and the lot fell to Jonah. Then they said to him, ‘Tell us, what is your business? Where do you come from? What is your country? What is your nationality?’ He replied, ‘I am a Hebrew, and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land.’ The sailors were seized with terror at this and said, ‘What have you done?’ They knew that he was trying to escape from the Lord, because he had told them so. They then said, ‘What are we to do with you, to make the sea grow calm for us?’ For the sea was growing rougher and rougher. He replied, ‘Take me and throw me into the sea, and then it will grow calm for you. For I can see it is my fault this violent storm has happened to you.’ The sailors rowed hard in an effort to reach the shore, but in vain, since the sea grew still rougher for them. They then called on the Lord and said, ‘O Lord, do not let us perish for taking this man’s life; do not hold us guilty of innocent blood; for you, the Lord, have acted as you have thought right.’ And taking hold of Jonah they threw him into the sea; and the sea grew *calm again. At this the men were seized with dread of the Lord; they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.
    The Lord had arranged that a great fish should be there to swallow Jonah; and Jonah remained in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights. The Lord spoke to the fish, which then vomited Jonah on to the shore.


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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.’

When will we realize that the Lord our God only wants us to live life to the full in Him? While sin,  giving into temptations, thereby falling into greater sin separates us from Him and His love. How are we going to withstand the evil that comes as a result of our sinful ways?

In today’s first reading, the people realize how sinful they had become and how they had refused to listen to the Word of God. They saw the effects of their sinful life take a toll on them. But they repented, and as always, the Lord our God welcomed them back, ready with open arms.

In today’s Gospel, although a bit harsh, we hear Jesus shouting out the woes of how the cities refused to listen to Him, and the the call of God their Father. It was with great sadness He saw how the people suffered for their sins.

Let us always choose to be faithful and obedient to the Lord our God. Asking Him for the grace to overcome all sin and temptation, so that we may be free to love and live life to the full. Amen


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First reading
Baruch 1:15-22 ·

We have been disobedient to the Lord our God

Integrity belongs to the Lord our God; to us the look of shame we wear today, to us, the people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem, to our kings and princes, our priests, our prophets, as to our ancestors, because we have sinned in the sight of the Lord, have disobeyed him, and have not listened to the voice of the Lord our God telling us to follow the commandments which the Lord had ordained for us. From the day when the Lord brought our ancestors out of the land of Egypt until today we have been disobedient to the Lord our God, we have been disloyal, refusing to listen to his voice. And so the disasters, and the curse which the Lord pronounced through his servant Moses the day he brought our fathers out of Egypt to give us a land where milk and honey flow, have seized on us, disasters we experience today. Despite all the words of those prophets whom he sent us, we have not listened to the voice of the Lord our God, but, each following the dictates of his evil heart, we have taken to serving alien gods, and doing what is displeasing to the Lord our God.



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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.’

In today’s first reading, we see that it is, in a sense, a prefiguring of the liturgy of the Word that we have today. What impressed me about the first reading was how the people were reverent and attentive to the Word of God. They let the Word transform them completely, acknowledging their sinfulness and repentance.

They listened attentively to the teachings, and while they may not have understood fully, the priests were on hand to teach, guide, and give instruction. Are we then reverent and attentive during the Holy Eucharist, from the beginning to the end? Do we sit there with minds and hearts open to His Word, like children sitting at His feet?

Afterall we are children of God, our Heavenly Father, so loved by Him are we not? And His love changes us, so that we not only love one another as fellow children of His, but we will go out of our way to seek His other children who are lost and bring them home. This is what it means to be a child of God, of our Heavenly Father, His child of light. Amen.

O Holy Guardian Angels pray for us…


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First reading
Nehemiah 8:1-12

All the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law

When the seventh month came, all the people gathered as one man on the square before the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses which the Lord had prescribed for Israel. Accordingly Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, consisting of men, women, and children old enough to understand. This was the first day of the seventh month. On the square before the Water Gate, in the presence of the men and women, and children old enough to understand, he read from the book from early morning till noon; all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.
    Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden dais erected for the purpose. In full view of all the people – since he stood higher than all the people – Ezra opened the book; and when he opened it all the people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people raised their hands and answered, ‘Amen! Amen!’ Then they bowed down and, face to the ground, prostrated themselves before the Lord. And Ezra read from the Law of God, translating and giving the sense, so that the people understood what was read.
    Then Nehemiah – His Excellency – and Ezra, priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people, said to all the people, ‘This day is sacred to the Lord your God. Do not be mournful, do not weep.’ For the people were all in tears as they listened to the words of the Law.
    He then said, ‘Go, eat the fat, drink the sweet wine, and send a portion to the man who has nothing prepared ready. For this day is sacred to our Lord. Do not be sad: the joy of the Lord is your stronghold.’ And the Levites calmed all the people, saying, ‘Be at ease; this is a sacred day. Do not be sad.’ And all the people went off to eat and drink and give shares away and begin to enjoy themselves since they had understood the meaning of what had been proclaimed to them.

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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.’

I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back. No turning back.

This must be the resolve of every Christian, every disciple of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As we go forth to build His kingdom and to spread the joy of His gospel, whatever leadership we come under, they will give us leave to do as we must for the favor, grace, mercy and love of our Lord is upon us.

He will empower us and provide for all that we need, so that whatever we say and do, we shall glorify the Lord. Amen.

Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin, Doctor pray for us…

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First reading
Nehemiah 2:1-8

‘Give me leave to go to the city of my ancestors and rebuild it’

In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, the wine being my concern, I took up the wine and offered it to the king. Now I had never been downcast before. So the king said, ‘Why is your face so sad? You are not sick, surely? This must be a sadness of the heart.’ A great fear came over me and I said to the king, ‘May the king live for ever! How could my face be other than sad when the city where the tombs of my ancestors are lies in ruins, and its gates have been burnt down?’ ‘What’ the king asked ‘is your request?’ I called on the God of heaven and made this reply to the king, ‘If it pleases the king, and if you are satisfied with your servant, give me leave to go to Judah, to the city of my ancestors’ tombs, and rebuild it.’ The king, with the queen sitting there beside him, said, ‘How long will your journey take, and when will you return?’ So I named a date that seemed acceptable to the king and he gave me leave to go. I spoke to the king once more, ‘If it please the king, could letters be given me for the governors of Transeuphrates to allow me to pass through to Judah? And also a letter for Asaph, keeper of the king’s park, to supply me with timber for the gates of the citadel of the Temple, for the city walls and for the house I am to occupy?’ This the king granted me, for the kindly favour of my God was with me.



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Gospel
Luke 9:57-62

‘I will follow you wherever you go’

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

Today we celebrate the feast day of the Archangels, St Michael, St Gabriel and St Raphael. Let us dwell a little bit on the named Archangels. Gabriel, a man of God, “God is my strength”. He is a messenger of God . Raphael, God heals or “He who heals” He is a guardian. St Michael “who is like God” is a warrior.  These His angels are here to bring the awareness of the Lord’s presence, His peace, healing, love and joy. They have been with us from the beginning of time.

In today’s first reading, we hear how the heavens were emptied of all the evil that was brought about by Satan, his minions, his fellow ‘dark’ angels. They were cast out from heaven. And today we have an opportunity to experience heaven here on earth. In today’s Gospel the Lord promises Nathanael that he will be able to see the angels from heaven descending and ascending. This promise too has been opened for all of us who are one with the Lord, who are following after Him.

For by His life, death, and resurrection, the heavens have been opened for all of us. Our Lord Jesus Christ has conquered death and has empowered us to do great things as He has done: to bring about His healing, messages of His love, to fight and cast out all evil. So in essence, we are called to be like the Archangels, to bring about His justice here on earth.

And so as we embark on this mission, we ask for the Holy intercession of the Archangels, St. Michael, St. Gabriel, and Raphael. Amen.

Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels – Pray for us…


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

His robe was white as snow

As I watched:

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

I gazed into the visions of the night.

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


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Gospel
John 1:47-51

You will see heaven laid open, and the Son of Man

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


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We who belong to our Lord Jesus Christ are meant to be unwalled, meaning to be free to live fully in His love. The fire of His love will surround us and protect us like a shepherd guards his flock.

This is the hope we have. This is the glory of our Lord who came to lay His life down for us so that by His life, death, and resurrection, we are set free. Amen.

Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest 
Pray for us…

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First reading
Zechariah 2:5-9,14-15

‘I will be the glory of Jerusalem’

Raising my eyes, I saw a vision. It was this: there was a man with a measuring line in his hand. I asked him, ‘Where are you going?’ He said, ‘To measure Jerusalem, to find out her breadth and her length.’ And then, while the angel who was talking to me stood still, another angel came forward to meet him. He said to him, ‘Run, and tell that young man this, “Jerusalem is to remain unwalled, because of the great number of men and cattle there will be in her. But I – it is the Lord who speaks – I will be a wall of fire for her all round her, and I will be her glory in the midst of her.”’

Sing, rejoice,
daughter of Zion;
for I am coming
to dwell in the middle of you
– it is the Lord who speaks.

Many nations will join the Lord,
on that day;
they will become his people.



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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.

Today, the glory of the Lord is in every tabernacle, every church, and at every Holy Eucharist. How fortunate are we to have the Lord so present to us. And yet, we easily take this for granted.

We seldom make the effort to adore Him in the Blessed Sacrament, or even make the effort to attend Holy mass to receive Him in Holy Eucharist!

Are our declarations then that He is Lord of lords, king of kings, the Christ of God most High only lip service? Should we not carry our cross and follow after Him, to make Him known to all nations, so that everyone who might come to know Him and believe will have eternal life. How are we demonstrating His love for all by our words and deeds?

Let us all put our faith into action, for the love of Him. Amen

Saints Cosmas and Damian, Martyrs pray for us…


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First reading
Haggai 1:15-2:9 

‘The new glory of this Temple is to surpass the old’

In the second year of King Darius, on the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the Lord was addressed through the prophet Haggai, as follows, ‘You are to speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, the high commissioner of Judah, to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to all the remnant of the people. Say this, “Who is there left among you that saw this Temple in its former glory? And how does it look to you now? Does it seem nothing to you? But take courage now, Zerubbabel – it is the Lord who speaks. Courage, High Priest Joshua son of Jehozadak! Courage, all you people of the country! – it is the Lord who speaks. To work! I am with you – it is the Lord of Hosts who speaks – and my spirit remains among you. Do not be afraid! For the Lord of Hosts says this: A little while now, and I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all the nations and the treasures of all the nations shall flow in, and I will fill this Temple with glory, says the Lord of Hosts. Mine is the silver, mine the gold! – it is the Lord of Hosts who speaks. The new glory of this Temple is going to surpass the old, says the Lord of Hosts, and in this place I will give peace – it is the Lord of Hosts who speaks.”’



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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.’

Throughout the centuries and even today, the Lord our God still speaks to us through His Prophets. He speaks to us in current times, not always about the future, but for current times where we need to change or fix, to come back fully to the Lord and do what He wills us to do. He sends us Prophets to tell us and to show us the way so that we might thrive in living life to the full in Him.

Jesus our Lord and the only Son of God our Heavenly Father was also a Prophet among Prophets. He spoke the will of God our Heavenly Father to us. Are we then, His disciples, also so in tune with His heart that we prophesy to our fellow sisters and brothers. And all those He asks us to reach out to, so that they too may know His heart, His word and His will for them?

Let us not look elsewhere but know in our own very hearts, that we have been empowered by our Lord Jesus to prophesy and light the way for others. Amen.

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First reading
Haggai 1:1-8 ·

‘Rebuild the House’

In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord was addressed through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, high commissioner of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, as follows, ‘The Lord of Hosts says this, “This people says: The time has not yet come to rebuild the Temple of the Lord. (And the word of the Lord was addressed through the prophet Haggai, as follows:) Is this a time for you to live in your panelled houses, when this House lies in ruins? So now, the Lord of Hosts says this: Reflect carefully how things have gone for you. You have sown much and harvested little; you eat but never have enough, drink but never have your fill, put on clothes but do not feel warm. The wage earner gets his wages only to put them in a purse riddled with holes. So go to the hill country, fetch wood, and rebuild the House: I shall then take pleasure in it, and be glorified there, says the Lord.”’



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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.

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Let us never take the Lord our God for granted, even though His mercy and love will endure forever. We must constantly dwell on the goodness of the Lord and what He has done in our lives.

Yes, sinners, we were living in darkness. But the Lord has shone His light upon us and has set us free. And so, we who are His disciples must go out into the world to testify to His mercy and love and to bring about healing.

In today’s Gospel, we see how the disciples were chosen, not just to preach the good news, but to demonstrate the goodness and healing grace of our Lord, which is the good news in itself. Let us be confident that the Lord has empowered us to bring about His healing and the joy of the Gospel to all that we meet. Amen.


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First reading
Ezra 9:5-9

‘God has not forgotten us in our slavery’

At the evening sacrifice I, Ezra, came out of my stupor and falling on my knees, with my garment and cloak torn, I stretched out my hands to the Lord my God, and said:
    ‘My God, I am ashamed, I blush to lift my face to you, my God. For our crimes have increased, until they are higher than our heads, and our sin has piled up to heaven. From the days of our ancestors until now our guilt has been great; on account of our crimes we, our kings and our priests, were given into the power of the kings of other countries, given to the sword, to captivity, to pillage and to shame, as is the case today. But now, suddenly, the Lord our God by his favour has left us a remnant and granted us a refuge in his holy place; this is how our God has cheered our eyes and given us a little respite in our slavery. For we are slaves; but God has not forgotten us in our slavery; he has shown us kindness in the eyes of the kings of Persia, obtaining permission for us to rebuild the Temple of our God and restore its ruins, and he has found us safety and shelter in Judah and in Jerusalem.’



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Gospel
Luke 9:1-6

‘Take nothing for the journey’

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


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I am awestruck that it is the Persian king who pays for the rebuilding of the temple and declares by his own lips the Lord God Almighty, King of Kings, Lord of Lords.

Do we have that form of reverence for the Lord our God, such that at every Eucharist we rejoice, as we say, we are going to the Lord’s house to worship Him, to adore Him? And sanctified my Him, we shall glorify Him by the way we live our lives. Only then shall we be truly one in Holy Communion with Him.

We acknowledge that God our Heavenly Father is Father to us all. And through His Son and the Holy Spirit, we are one body in Him. We are His family, because we are obedient to His Word and Will for us, and it is evident in our words and deeds for His Glory. Amen.

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



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First reading
Ezra 6:7-8,12,14-20

Darius king of Persia pays for the rebuilding of the Temple of God

King Darius wrote to the satrap of Transeuphrates and his colleagues: ‘Leave the high commissioner of Judah and the elders of the Jews to work on this Temple of God; they are to rebuild this Temple of God on its ancient site. This, I decree, is how you must assist the elders of the Jews in the reconstruction of this Temple of God: the expenses of these people are to be paid, promptly and without fail, from the royal revenue – that is, from the tribute of Transeuphrates. May the God who causes his name to live there overthrow any king or people who dares to defy this and destroy the Temple of God in Jerusalem! I, Darius, have issued this decree. Let it be obeyed to the letter!’
    The elders of the Jews prospered with their building, inspired by Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo. They finished the building in accordance with the order of the God of Israel and the order of Cyrus and of Darius. This Temple was finished on the twenty-third day of the month of Adar; it was the sixth year of the reign of King Darius. The Israelites – the priests, the Levites and the remainder of the exiles – joyfully dedicated this Temple of God; for the dedication of this Temple of God they offered one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs and, as a sacrifice for sin for the whole of Israel, twelve he-goats, corresponding to the number of the tribes of Israel. Then they installed the priests according to their orders in the service of the Temple of God in Jerusalem, as is written in the Book of Moses.
    The exiles celebrated the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. The Levites, as one man, had purified themselves; all were pure, so they sacrificed the passover for all the exiles, for their brothers the priests and for themselves.

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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.’

In Today’s responsorial Psalm we declare with all our hearts, “What marvels the Lord worked for us!” Indeed, if we reflect on our very own lives, we will see the Lord’s hand in everything. How He has brought us out from slavery to idols in the world, and how He has freed us through His grace to live a life to the full in Him. Indeed, the Lord has worked marvels in our lives.

It is a wonder to see in today’s First Reading how a pagan king was moved by the word and will of our Lord, who commanded that he should help build the temple that has been destroyed. To allow the people who were scattered during the Babylonian exile to return home to have a place of worship once again; since they have turned their hearts back to the Lord and were now loving righteous lives following after the heart of the Lord their God.

Therefore, in our own lives, we should be a light for the world to see, how Christ our Lord and King has freed us from all anxiety, from all sin, from the temptation and wiles of the world. He has given us gifts and talents to be fruitful and to build His Kingdom. And the more we surrenderd and sacrificed to build His Kingdom, the more we shall receive. All for His Glory. Amen.

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First reading
Ezra 1:1-6

Cyrus king of Persia frees the Jews to return to Jerusalem

In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, to fulfil the word of the Lord that was spoken through Jeremiah, the Lord roused the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to issue a proclamation and to have it publicly displayed throughout his kingdom: ‘Thus speaks Cyrus king of Persia, “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth; he has ordered me to build him a Temple in Jerusalem, in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all his people, may his God be with him! Let him go up to Jerusalem in Judah to build the Temple of the Lord, the God of Israel – he is the God who is in Jerusalem. And let each survivor, wherever he lives, be helped by the people of that place with silver and gold, with goods and cattle, as well as voluntary offerings for the Temple of God which is in Jerusalem.”’
    Then the heads of families of Judah and of Benjamin, the priests and the Levites, in fact all whose spirit had been roused by God, prepared to go and rebuild the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem; and all their neighbours gave them every assistance with silver, gold, goods, cattle, quantities of costly gifts and with voluntary offerings of every kind.



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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 have come into this world with nothing, and so we shall return with nothing. The only difference is that we believers will return to our Lord. We who have been steadfast and obedient, listening to His word and will for us.

The first reading encourages us to remain focused on our Lord, and not to hold on to the attachments of the world, to bicker and fight with one another, either for personal glory, wealth, honor, or status. Our call is to always be steadfast to the Holy Spirit and be faithful to the Gospel.

Today in the Gospel of day, we learn how godly women of that time had been faithful in following after the Lord, to serve Him and to serve the community. It is encouraging because the women of those days were confined with only domestic concerns. Today, we live in a world where both men and women are equally fruitful and contribute greatly as one body in Christ. Amen.

Saint Januarius, Bishop, Martyr pray for us…

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First reading
1 Timothy 6:2-12

We brought nothing into the world and can take nothing out of it

This is what you are to teach the brothers to believe and persuade them to do. Anyone who teaches anything different, and does not keep to the sound teaching which is that of our Lord Jesus Christ, the doctrine which is in accordance with true religion, is simply ignorant and must be full of self-conceit – with a craze for questioning everything and arguing about words. All that can come of this is jealousy, contention, abuse and wicked mistrust of one another; and unending disputes by people who are neither rational nor informed and imagine that religion is a way of making a profit. Religion, of course, does bring large profits, but only to those who are content with what they have. We brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it; but as long as we have food and clothing, let us be content with that. People who long to be rich are a prey to temptation; they get trapped into all sorts of foolish and dangerous ambitions which eventually plunge them into ruin and destruction. ‘The love of money is the root of all evils’ and there are some who, pursuing it, have wandered away from the faith, and so given their souls any number of fatal wounds.
    But, as a man dedicated to God, you must avoid all that. You must aim to be saintly and religious, filled with faith and love, patient and gentle. Fight the good fight of the faith and win for yourself the eternal life to which you were called when you made your profession and spoke up for the truth in front of many witnesses.



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Gospel
Luke 8:1-3

The women who accompanied Jesus

Jesus made his way through towns and villages preaching, and proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom of God. With him went the Twelve, as well as certain women who had been cured of evil spirits and ailments: Mary surnamed the Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and several others who provided for them out of their own resources.