Posts Tagged ‘Catholicjules.net’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: November 25, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Are we prepared to offer our all to the Lord our God? To exercise obedience, fidelity and to trust Him wholeheartedly? In knowing that our living God of wisdom, power and might will provide for all that we need. How much then is our all? ‘Our two small coins’ representing our thinning means for our existence?

In choosing to forgo certain luxuries but more importantly in our desire to sacrifice for our Lord and for our brethren do we count the cost in doing so? Or do we have faith that our Heavenly Father who loves us ever so dearly will fill in all the gaps. He will give all that we need and more!

O Jesus living fountain of mercy and love, I trust in You. Amen

First reading

Daniel 1:1-6,8-20 ·

Daniel and his companions are trained to be the king’s servants in Babylon

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched on Jerusalem and besieged it. The Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hands, with some of the furnishings of the Temple of God. He took them away to the land of Shinar, and stored the sacred vessels in the treasury of his own gods.

The king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to select from the Israelites a certain number of boys of either royal or noble descent; they had to be without any physical defect, of good appearance, trained in every kind of wisdom, well-informed, quick at learning, suitable for service in the palace of the king. Ashpenaz himself was to teach them the language and literature of the Chaldaeans. The king assigned them a daily allowance of food and wine from his own royal table. They were to receive an education lasting for three years, after which they were expected to be fit for the king’s society. Among them were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, who were Judaeans. Daniel, who was most anxious not to defile himself with the food and wine from the royal table, begged the chief eunuch to spare him this defilement; and by the grace of God Daniel met goodwill and sympathy on the part of the chief eunuch. But he warned Daniel, ‘I am afraid of my lord the king: he has assigned you food and drink, and if he sees you looking thinner in the face than the other boys of your age, my head will be in danger with the king because of you.’ At this Daniel turned to the guard whom the chief eunuch had assigned to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. He said, ‘Please allow your servants a ten days’ trial, during which we are given only vegetables to eat and water to drink. You can then compare our looks with those of the boys who eat the king’s food; go by what you see, and treat your servants accordingly.’ The man agreed to do what they asked and put them on ten days’ trial. When the ten days were over they looked and were in better health than any of the boys who had eaten their allowance from the royal table; so the guard withdrew their allowance of food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. And God favoured these four boys with knowledge and intelligence in everything connected with literature, and in wisdom; while Daniel had the gift of interpreting every kind of vision and dream. When the period stipulated by the king for the boys’ training was over, the chief eunuch presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. The king conversed with them, and among all the boys found none to equal Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. So they became members of the king’s court, and on whatever point of wisdom or information he might question them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom.

Gospel

Luke 21:1-4

The widow’s mite

As Jesus looked up, he saw rich people putting their offerings into the treasury; then he happened to notice a poverty-stricken widow putting in two small coins, and he said, ‘I tell you truly, this poor widow has put in more than any of them; for these have all contributed money they had over, but she from the little she had has put in all she had to live on.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: November 23, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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As we draw closer to the end of the liturgical calendar for the year and begin preparations for Advent, let us take a moment to reflect on how have we lived out the year? And what if tomorrow never came for us? Are we ready to meet our Lord this very day?

Some very clear signs of whether we are living in the light of our Risen Lord is that we have peace, love and joy in our hearts. We look forward to each day with all its trials and challenges knowing that our Lord is present with us through it all. If and when we fall we turn swiftly back to His loving embrace and are reconciled. For we cherish our union with Him above all. We live out our lives in the service of our Lord and of our brethren.

If the above is not our experience then what is? Are we living with regret? With guilt and shame? With anxiety? Dread and fear of facing tomorrow’s emptiness? Discontent with our lives, always searching and hoping for more. Unable to sit still always on the move. Inward looking only striving to be more, achieve more for yourself in the guise that you are doing so for your immediate family. Church and community is an afterthought if there is any at all.

Sisters and brothers, if we do not strive to love our Lord and our brethren in all our imperfections then how can we have hope to love Him and our brethren perfectly in Heaven? For if we are true believers of Christ Jesus our Lord, then our only goal is to be with Him in paradise. Holiness through Christ is what we must seek always.

Jesus, Son of the living God have mercy on me a sinner. Amen

First reading

1 Maccabees 6:1-13 ·
‘I remember the wrong I did in Jerusalem’

King Antiochus was making his way across the upper provinces; he had heard that in Persia there was a city called Elymais, renowned for its riches, its silver and gold, and its very wealthy temple containing golden armour, breastplates and weapons, left there by Alexander son of Philip, the king of Macedon, the first to reign over the Greeks. He therefore went and attempted to take the city and pillage it, but without success, since the citizens learnt of his intention, and offered him a stiff resistance, whereupon he turned about and retreated, disconsolate, in the direction of Babylon. But while he was still in Persia news reached him that the armies that had invaded the land of Judah had been defeated, and that Lysias in particular had advanced in massive strength, only to be forced to turn and flee before the Jews; these had been strengthened by the acquisition of arms, supplies and abundant spoils from the armies they had cut to pieces; they had overthrown the abomination he had erected over the altar in Jerusalem, and had encircled the sanctuary with high walls as in the past, and had fortified Bethzur, one of his cities. When the king heard this news he was amazed and profoundly shaken; he threw himself on his bed and fell into a lethargy from acute disappointment, because things had not turned out for him as he had planned. And there he remained for many days, subject to deep and recurrent fits of melancholy, until he understood that he was dying. Then summoning all his Friends, he said to them, ‘Sleep evades my eyes, and my heart is cowed by anxiety. I have been asking myself how I could have come to such a pitch of distress, so great a flood as that which now engulfs me – I who was so generous and well-loved in my heyday. But now I remember the wrong I did in Jerusalem when I seized all the vessels of silver and gold there, and ordered the extermination of the inhabitants of Judah for no reason at all. This, I am convinced, is why these misfortunes have overtaken me, and why I am dying of melancholy in a foreign land.’

Gospel

Luke 20:27-40
In God all men are alive

Some Sadducees – those who say that there is no resurrection – approached Jesus and they put this question to him, ‘Master, we have it from Moses in writing, that if a man’s married brother dies childless, the man must marry the widow to raise up children for his brother. Well then, there were seven brothers. The first, having married a wife, died childless. The second and then the third married the widow. And the same with all seven, they died leaving no children. Finally the woman herself died. Now, at the resurrection, to which of them will she be wife since she had been married to all seven?’
Jesus replied, ‘The children of this world take wives and husbands, but those who are judged worthy of a place in the other world and in the resurrection from the dead do not marry because they can no longer die, for they are the same as the angels, and being children of the resurrection they are sons of God. And Moses himself implies that the dead rise again, in the passage about the bush where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Now he is God, not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all men are in fact alive.’
Some scribes then spoke up. ‘Well put, Master’ they said – because they would not dare to ask him any more questions.

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: November 22, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Is your sanctuary purified and dedicated to the Lord our God? Do you seek our Lord regularly in the sacrament of reconciliation? Have you made worthy sacrifices to honour, worship and glorify the Lord Your God? Or is your life disordered, in disarray, constantly bartering for more, wheeling and dealing, hedonistic in nature.

Let us prepare our bodies, minds and spirit to receive Christ our King! So that we might hang on His every Word as He dwells within our Holy temples. And so we will rejoice with such resounding joy that all will be drawn to our risen Lord and saviour Jesus Christ by our celebration of life with and in Him. Amen

First reading

1 Maccabees 4:36-37,52-59 ·
Judas and his brothers purify the sanctuary and dedicate it

Judas and his brothers said, ‘Now that our enemies have been defeated, let us go up to purify the sanctuary and dedicate it.’ So they marshalled the whole army, and went up to Mount Zion.
On the twenty-fifth of the ninth month, Chislev, in the year one hundred and forty-eight, they rose at dawn and offered a lawful sacrifice on the new altar of holocausts which they had made. The altar was dedicated, to the sound of zithers, harps and cymbals, at the same time of year and on the same day on which the pagans had originally profaned it. The whole message fell prostrate in adoration, praising to the skies him who had made them so successful. For eight days they celebrated the dedication of the altar, joyfully offering holocausts, communion sacrifices and thanksgivings. They ornamented the front of the Temple with crowns and bosses of gold, repaired the gates and the storerooms and fitted them with doors. There was no end to the rejoicing among the people, and the reproach of the pagans was lifted from them. Judas, with his brothers and the whole assembly of Israel, made it a law that the days of the dedication of the altar should be celebrated yearly at the proper season, for eight days beginning on the twenty-fifth of the month Chislev, with rejoicing and gladness.

Gospel

Luke 19:45-48
You have turned God’s house into a robbers’ den

Jesus went into the Temple and began driving out those who were selling. ‘According to scripture,’ he said ‘my house will be a house of prayer. But you have turned it into a robbers’ den.’
He taught in the Temple every day. The chief priests and the scribes, with the support of the leading citizens, tried to do away with him, but they did not see how they could carry this out because the people as a whole hung on his words.

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: November 21, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Has all the fighting, squabbling, arguing for what you or what they think is right in the ministry or community brought anyone closer to God? Do you achieve democracy by inciting violent protests thereby creating fear and paranoia? In your stand and fight for justice, are the fruits peace, love and joy? The fundamental question we must ask ourselves is the fight we choose, is it for God and His people or with God and His people? If we say it is for God, then does He reign in our hearts, minds and soul? What are the fruits we see?

The prince of peace, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ had come to share the message of God our Father’s endearing love for us. He wills that all His children be with Him for all eternity, living the fullness of life in Him; with His peace, love and joy in our hearts. Are we still not listening? Let us be clear on what our mission is and that is to always do the will of our Heavenly Father, to grow in Holiness as we lead one another to become Holy as He our Heavenly Father is Holy, to love one another as Christ loved us and to lead everyone into His Kingdom. Amen

Pray for us O Holy mother Of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

First reading

1 Maccabees 2:15-29
‘Heaven preserve us from forsaking the Law and its ordinances’

The commissioners of King Antiochus who were enforcing the apostasy came to the town of Modein to make them sacrifice. Many Israelites gathered round them, but Mattathias and his sons drew apart. The king’s commissioners then addressed Mattathias as follows, ‘You are a respected leader, a great man in this town; you have sons and brothers to support you. Be the first to step forward and conform to the king’s decree, as all the nations have done, and the leaders of Judah and the survivors in Jerusalem; you and your sons shall be reckoned among the Friends of the King, you and your sons shall be honoured with gold and silver and many presents.’ Raising his voice, Mattathias retorted, ‘Even if every nation living in the king’s dominions obeys him, each forsaking its ancestral religion to conform to his decrees, I, my sons and my brothers will still follow the covenant of our ancestors. Heaven preserve us from forsaking the Law and its observances. As for the king’s orders, we will not follow them: we will not swerve from our own religion either to right or to left.’ As he finished speaking, a Jew came forward in the sight of all to offer sacrifice on the altar in Modein as the royal edict required. When Mattathias saw this, he was fired with zeal; stirred to the depth of his being, he gave vent to his legitimate anger, threw himself on the man and slaughtered him on the altar. At the same time he killed the king’s commissioner who was there to enforce the sacrifice, and tore down the altar. In his zeal for the Law he acted as Phinehas did against Zimri son of Salu. Then Mattathias went through the town, shouting at the top of his voice, ‘Let everyone who has a fervour for the Law and takes his stand on the covenant come out and follow me.’ Then he fled with his sons into the hills, leaving all their possessions behind in the town.
At this, many who were concerned for virtue and justice went down to the desert and stayed there.

Gospel

Luke 19:41-44
Jesus sheds tears over the coming fate of Jerusalem

As Jesus drew near Jerusalem and came in sight of the city he shed tears over it and said, ‘If you in your turn had only understood on this day the message of peace! But, alas, it is hidden from your eyes! Yes, a time is coming when your enemies will raise fortifications all round you, when they will encircle you and hem you in on every side; they will dash you and the children inside your walls to the ground; they will leave not one stone standing on another within you – and all because you did not recognise your opportunity when God offered it!’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: November 20, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Do you think the story in Maccabees is highly exaggerated? Perhaps… What mother in her right mind would allow all her precious sons to perish just like that? How then would you account for the Holy martyrs over the centuries? Most of them had a choice, yet they chose the Lord our God over all else? The theological truth contained in the Scripture texts of today is that the Lord our God is Faithful to all who are faithful to Him. And death has no power over us, who live in the presence of our living God. For when it is time for us to die, we know it is only a momentary passing into new life with Him. Will our Lord Jesus Christ find such faith in us today?

From the treasury of His heart, our Lord has given us tenfold gifts and talents that we should build His kingdom. Do we instead bury them in linen cloth refusing to care and use them for His greater glory? Who then have we made the Lord of our lives? Will the Lord we choose to serve faithfully, lead us to everlasting life?

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, You alone are the Lord of my life! Here I am to do Your Will. Amen

First reading

2 Maccabees 7:1,20-31 ·
The creator of the world will give you back both breath and life

There were seven brothers who were arrested with their mother. The king tried to force them to taste pig’s flesh, which the Law forbids, by torturing them with whips and scourges. But the mother was especially admirable and worthy of honourable remembrance, for she watched the death of seven sons in the course of a single day, and endured it resolutely because of her hopes in the Lord. Indeed she encouraged each of them in the language of their ancestors; filled with noble conviction, she reinforced her womanly argument with manly courage, saying to them, ‘I do not know how you appeared in my womb; it was not I who endowed you with breath and life, I had not the shaping of your every part. It is the creator of the world, ordaining the process of man’s birth and presiding over the origin of all things, who in his mercy will most surely give you back both breath and life, seeing that you now despise your own existence for the sake of his laws.’
Antiochus thought he was being ridiculed, suspecting insult in the tone of her voice; and as the youngest was still alive he appealed to him not with mere words but with promises on oath to make him both rich and happy if he would abandon the traditions of his ancestors; he would make him his Friend and entrust him with public office. The young man took no notice at all, and so the king then appealed to the mother, urging her to advise the youth to save his life. After a great deal of urging on his part she agreed to try persuasion on her son. Bending over him, she fooled the cruel tyrant with these words, uttered in the language of their ancestors, ‘My son, have pity on me; I carried you nine months in my womb and suckled you three years, fed you and reared you to the age you are now (and cherished you). I implore you, my child, observe heaven and earth, consider all that is in them, and acknowledge that God made them out of what did not exist, and that mankind comes into being in the same way. Do not fear this executioner, but prove yourself worthy of your brothers, and make death welcome, so that in the day of mercy I may receive you back in your brothers’ company.’
She had scarcely ended when the young man said, ‘What are you all waiting for? I will not comply with the king’s ordinance; I obey the ordinance of the Law given to our ancestors through Moses. As for you, sir, who have contrived every kind of evil against the Hebrews, you will certainly not escape the hands of God.’

Gospel

Luke 19:11-28
The parable of the talents

While the people were listening, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and they imagined that the kingdom of God was going to show itself then and there. Accordingly he said, ‘A man of noble birth went to a distant country to be appointed king and afterwards return. He summoned ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds. “Do business with these” he told them “until I get back.” But his compatriots detested him and sent a delegation to follow him with this message, “We do not want this man to be our king.”
‘Now on his return, having received his appointment as king, he sent for those servants to whom he had given the money, to find out what profit each had made. The first came in and said, “Sir, your one pound has brought in ten.” “Well done, my good servant!” he replied “Since you have proved yourself faithful in a very small thing, you shall have the government of ten cities.” Then came the second and said, “Sir, your one pound has made five.” To this one also he said, “And you shall be in charge of five cities.” Next came the other and said, “Sir, here is your pound. I put it away safely in a piece of linen because I was afraid of you; for you are an exacting man: you pick up what you have not put down and reap what you have not sown.” “You wicked servant!” he said “Out of your own mouth I condemn you. So you knew I was an exacting man, picking up what I have not put down and reaping what I have not sown? Then why did you not put my money in the bank? On my return I could have drawn it out with interest.” And he said to those standing by, “Take the pound from him and give it to the man who has ten pounds.” And they said to him, “But, sir, he has ten pounds…”. “I tell you, to everyone who has will be given more; but from the man who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
‘“But as for my enemies who did not want me for their king, bring them here and execute them in my presence.”’
When he had said this he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: November 19, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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If I were chosen this day to die for my Faith, would I be remembered by my family and friends to have had such dignity, piety dedication, faithfulness, integrity, humility and conviction of faith as did Eleazar! It is one thing to die refusing to profane against the Lord my God, but another to lay down my life lived worthily of Him, such that I might honour and glorify my Lord fully by my death. Will they say, “Ah here was a man who encountered and lived in the presence of our Lord!”

Zacchaeus will always be remembered as a man small in size but great in stature. What might have begun as sheer curiosity, he was then moved by a growing desire to witness the Lord such that he humbled himself to climb a tree. Jesus called out to him, sinner as he was and granted his heart’s desire to be in His presence, for then He welcomed the Lord joyfully into His home. Such was His transformation that He vowed to make good for his past mistakes fourfold and to give half of what He owned to the poor. He thus brought salvation to his home! I can only imagine how his face shone after his Master. And everyone around him would have cried out, “Ah here is a man who encountered and lived in the presence of our Lord!”

Lord Jesus Christ let me always live in Your presence. Amen

First reading

2 Maccabees 6:18-31 ·
‘I will make a good death, eagerly and generously, for the holy laws’

Eleazar, one of the foremost teachers of the Law, a man already advanced in years and of most noble appearance, was being forced to open his mouth wide to swallow pig’s flesh. But he, resolving to die with honour rather than to live disgraced, went to the block of his own accord, spitting the stuff out, the plain duty of anyone with the courage to reject what it is not lawful to taste, even from a natural tenderness for his own life. Those in charge of the impious banquet, because of their long-standing friendship with him, took him aside and privately urged him to have meat brought of a kind he could properly use, prepared by himself, and only pretend to eat the portions of sacrificial meat as prescribed by the king; this action would enable him to escape death, by availing himself of an act of kindness prompted by their long friendship. But having taken a noble decision worthy of his years and the dignity of his great age and the well earned distinction of his grey hairs, worthy too of his impeccable conduct from boyhood, and above all of the holy legislation established by God himself, he publicly stated his convictions, telling them to send him at once to Hades. ‘Such pretence’ he said ‘does not square with our time of life; many young people would suppose that Eleazar at the age of ninety had conformed to the foreigners’ way of life, and because I had played this part for the sake of a paltry brief spell of life might themselves be led astray on my account; I should only bring defilement and disgrace on my old age. Even though for the moment I avoid execution by man, I can never, living or dead, elude the grasp of the Almighty. Therefore if I am man enough to quit this life here and now I shall prove myself worthy of my old age, and I shall have left the young a noble example of how to make a good death, eagerly and generously, for the venerable and holy laws.’
With these words he went straight to the block. His escorts, so recently well disposed towards him, turned against him after this declaration, which they regarded as sheer madness. Just before he died under the blows, he groaned aloud and said, ‘The Lord whose knowledge is holy sees clearly that, though I might have escaped death, whatever agonies of body I now endure under this bludgeoning, in my soul I am glad to suffer, because of the awe which he inspires in me.’
This was how he died, leaving his death as an example of nobility and a record of virtue not only for the young but for the great majority of the nation.

Gospel

Luke 19:1-10
Salvation comes to the house of Zacchaeus

Jesus entered Jericho and was going through the town when a man whose name was Zacchaeus made his appearance: he was one of the senior tax collectors and a wealthy man. He was anxious to see what kind of man Jesus was, but he was too short and could not see him for the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to catch a glimpse of Jesus who was to pass that way. When Jesus reached the spot he looked up and spoke to him: ‘Zacchaeus, come down. Hurry, because I must stay at your house today.’ And he hurried down and welcomed him joyfully. They all complained when they saw what was happening. ‘He has gone to stay at a sinner’s house’ they said. But Zacchaeus stood his ground and said to the Lord, ‘Look, sir, I am going to give half my property to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody I will pay him back four times the amount.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek out and save what was lost.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: November 18, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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How grounded are we in our faith and in our relationship with the Lord our God that nothing or no one can come between us?

Many of us however are content just to follow and observe the rituals of our faith without understanding the depth, the richness and the sacred realities behind them. So then, when challenged as to why we do what we do? Or the legitimacy of being faithful to our God whom we are often blind to, we cave in to the lures of the world! Typically what often follows is a mob mentality. We convince others to follow suit, or when in doubt on whether we ourselves are living as we should, we choose to listen to the loud voices of those cheering us on to live as they do! Never mind that there never is peace of mind or true joy in our hearts. That we are constantly searching for and wanting more. Never mind that we seem discontent with everything and everyone.

Come now, why continue to live in darkness? To be blind to the wonders of God’s great love that surrounds us. To continue to live out shallow meaningless lives. Let us cry out to Him with contrite hearts and spirit, “Jesus Son of the living God, have pity on us!” for surely the doors of heaven will be opened to us as He grants us His mercy and love.

Open our hearts and minds to see You Lord, now and forever. Amen

First reading

1 Maccabees 1:10-15,41-43,54-57,62-64
The persecution of Antiochus Epiphanes

There grew a sinful offshoot, Antiochus Epiphanes, son of King Antiochus; once a hostage in Rome, he became king in the one hundred and thirty-seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks. It was then that there emerged from Israel a set of renegades who led many people astray. ‘Come,’ they said ‘let us reach an understanding with the pagans surrounding us, for since we separated ourselves from them many misfortunes have overtaken us.’ This proposal proved acceptable, and a number of the people eagerly approached the king, who authorised them to practise the pagan observances. So they built a gymnasium in Jerusalem, such as the pagans have, disguised their circumcision, and abandoned the holy covenant, submitting to the heathen rule as willing slaves of impiety.
Then the king issued a proclamation to his whole kingdom that all were to become a single people, each renouncing his particular customs. All the pagans conformed to the king’s decree, and many Israelites chose to accept his religion, sacrificing to idols and profaning the sabbath. The king erected the abomination of desolation above the altar; and altars were built in the surrounding towns of Judah and incense offered at the doors of houses and in the streets. Any books of the Law that came to light were torn up and burned. Whenever anyone was discovered possessing a copy of the covenant or practising the Law, the king’s decree sentenced him to death.
Yet there were many in Israel who stood firm and found the courage to refuse unclean food. They chose death rather than contamination by such fare or profanation of the holy covenant, and they were executed. It was a dreadful wrath that visited Israel.

Gospel

Luke 18:35-43
‘Son of David, have pity on me’

As Jesus drew near to Jericho there was a blind man sitting at the side of the road begging. When he heard the crowd going past he asked what it was all about, and they told him that Jesus the Nazarene was passing by. So he called out, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me.’ The people in front scolded him and told him to keep quiet, but he shouted all the louder, ‘Son of David, have pity on me.’ Jesus stopped and ordered them to bring the man to him, and when he came up, asked him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ ‘Sir,’ he replied ‘let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Receive your sight. Your faith has saved you.’ And instantly his sight returned and he followed him praising God, and all the people who saw it gave praise to God for what had happened.

Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted: November 16, 2019 by CatholicJules in Sunday Reflections
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“Today” is the Day: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings:

Malachi 3:19–20
Psalm 98:5–9
2 Thessalonians 3:7–12
Luke 21:5–19

It is the age between our Lord’s first coming and His last. We live in the new world begun by His life, death, Resurrection, and Ascension, by the sending of His Spirit upon the Church. But we await the day when He will come again in glory.
“Lo, the day is coming,” Malachi warns in today’s First Reading. The prophets taught Israel to look for the Day of the Lord, when He would gather the nations for judgment (see Zephaniah 3:8; Isaiah 3:9; 2 Peter 3:7).
Jesus anticipates this day in today’s Gospel. He cautions us not to be deceived by those claiming “the time has come.” Such deception is the background also for today’s Epistle (see 2 Thessalonians 2:1–3).

The signs Jesus gives His Apostles seem to already have come to pass in the New Testament. In Acts, the Epistles, and Revelation, we read of famines and earthquakes, the Temple’s desolation. We read of persecutions—believers imprisoned and put to death, testifying to their faith with wisdom in the Spirit.

These “signs,” then, show us the pattern for the Church’s life—both in the New Testament and today.
We too live in a world of nations and kingdoms at war. And we should take the Apostles as our “models,” as today’s Epistle counsels. Like them we must persevere in the face of unbelieving relatives and friends, and forces and authorities hostile to God.

As we do in today’s Psalm, we should sing His praises, joyfully proclaim His coming as Lord and King. The Day of the Lord is always a day that has already come and a day still yet to come. It is the “today” of our Liturgy.

The Apostles prayed marana tha—“O Lord come!” (see 1 Corinthians 16:22; Revelation 22:20). In the Eucharist He answers, coming again as the Lord of hosts and the Sun of Justice with its healing rays. It is a mighty sign—and a pledge of that Day to come.

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: November 16, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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The great difficulty in praying with the word of God in our hearts is only ‘great’ by the number of obstacles we place before ourselves. Too tired, no or not enough time in a day, too great a sinner, don’t know how, boring, useless, more pressing things to attend to, unimportant. Which one of these is from the Lord our God?

Jesus tells us to have faith, pray continually and never lose heart. He is saying to us to come to Him sinners that we are and He will transform us from within. Speak to Him, heart to heart and He will listen, then listen with your heart. The Word of God will surely come in the silence and make all things new. For, as the rain and the snow come down from the sky and do not return before having watered the earth, fertilising it and making it germinate to provide seed for the sower and food to eat, so it is with the word that goes from my mouth says our Lord: it will not return to me unfulfilled or before having carried out my good pleasure and having achieved what it was sent to do. Isaiah 55:10–11 The Lord our God indeed will answer all the prayers of His faithful, it may take more time in some instances and the answer to some of our prayers may even be No! Still we will rejoice and sing His praises for He only wants what is best for us. His justice and Will be done always. This is the faith we must have in Him who is always faithful.

Prayer unites us with Him who loves us ever so dearly. Amen

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 thereu 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.

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?’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: November 15, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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As we draw closer to Advent, we will hear more and more of end times and the impending death of Christ Jesus our Lord who will fulfill God our Father’s plan for the salvation of the world. And so what does it all mean for us or to us for that matter? We can choose to start our merry making ahead of time by taking Christ out of Christmas! To focus only on His birth saying Emmanuel had come! And forgetting that the completion of our salvation came through His death and Resurrection! Or we could unite ourselves as one Body In Christ and observe through the wisdom of our Church the season of Advent as preparation to meet our Lord when He comes again. Thereafter at the appropriate time, we will rejoice together and celebrate as one Body In Him.

We are not called to remain in darkness or gloom and that would never happen for us who live in the light of our Lord Jesus Christ’s Resurrection. For He truly lives in us today, tomorrow and forevermore. We who are baptised must live fully in His love, in the peace He bestowed upon us; with such joy in our hearts that all who do not yet know Jesus our Lord will want to. For they want what we have, of which the world cannot give.

Sisters and brothers let us unite ourselves in prayer and continue to stay awake, standing ready to meet our Lord when He returns. Amen

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?

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.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: November 14, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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We often foolishly think we are much wiser than others. Either we verbally communicate this ‘fact’ by talking down to them or we gloat silently with an air of contempt. If it be true wisdom that we possess why would there be a need to compare? How does wisdom compare with itself? All wisdom as we know it, comes from the Lord our God and the deeper our relationship with Him the wiser we become. Not necessarily by human standards. As we understand it through scripture, the haughty shall never see God, however the humble have seen and are glad. Let your courage revive, you who seek God. (Psalm 69:32) Adam and Eve wanted to know and be like God, yet how could they hope to contain, or hold on to His infinite wisdom within their miniscule bodies or apply it without His timeless experience?

True wisdom as I see it comes from an encounter with our Lord Jesus Christ. Of relooking and rethinking all that we have seen and think we know through and with Him. Of coming into and remaining in His presence. For through His life, death and Resurrection, the Kingdom of God has already come. So in all humility let us seek to deepen our relationship with Him above all else, and through His wisdom and grace may we glorify Him through our loving service of our brethren and of Him. Amen

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.

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.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: November 13, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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How do we glorify, praise and thank the Lord our God for His great mercy and love outpoured unto us through our Lord Jesus Christ? By taking our very own lives? By robbing the life of others? Are lives ours to take to begin with?

By letting our sinfulness and sins consume us, are we not essentially taking our own lives? By allowing it to spread through our minds and bodies like leprosy! Instead of turning to our Lord and running straight into His loving, healing embrace. When we deal harshly with others through our words and deeds, are we not killing their spirit? Are we not robbing them of theirs lives?

Through God our Father’s great love for us we have been inserted into the life, death and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ through our very own baptism. We, His children following after His Son our Lord Jesus Christ; become priests, prophets and kings to lead one another into greater holiness. How then do we govern those placed under our care? Are we life taking or are we life giving?

Lord Jesus Christ Son of the living God; Source of all life! Through You, with You and in You, grant that I may live and lead others to the fullness of life to be found in You alone. Amen

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, nor 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.

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.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: November 12, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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“If the human heart can so thrill me, what must be the heart of God; if the spark is so bright, what must be the flame?” – Fulton J. Sheen

Yes God our Heavenly Father loves all His children dearly. Our faithful and loving Father will never abandon us. He created us all in His likeness and image and He wills that we be with Him for all eternity.

Now which father who loves his children dearly will allow them to end up as spoilt brats with no regard for anyone but themselves? What kind of father will leave their children to their own device? Hoping one day they might turn out to be virtuous, kind and loving to everyone. How then can we think that our Heavenly Father who loves us so much, much more than anyone ever can in this world; would allow us to simply do as we please? Will He not rather mould us like clay in a Master potter’s hands? Then place us in a kiln to toughen us up? Yes indeed the souls of the virtuous are in the hands of God. Amen

The humble, simple souls, who are little enough to see the bigness of God in the littleness of a babe, are therefore the only ones who will ever understand the reason of His visitation. He came to this poor earth of ours to carry on an exchange, to say to us, as only the Good God could say: “You give me your humanity, and I will give you my Divinity; you give me your time, and I will give you my eternity; you give me your weary body, and I will give you Redemption; you give me your broken heart, and will give you Love; you give me your nothingness, and I will give you My All.” …(extract* the infinity of littleness by Fulton J Sheen)

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 peoples, 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.

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.”’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: November 11, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Only when there is purity of heart and mind can our spirit be united fully; to the mind and heart of the Lord our God. His spirit is within us and we shall see our fellow men not as fellow sinners that we are, but as God our Father’s children in much need of His love and mercy. And so we love and forgive as many as the innumerable times He has loved and forgiven us.

We must take every care to guard our souls against every form of deceit, avarice, waywardness, but most of all conceit. For pride is one of our greatest downfalls! When we think we are better than another and start comparing gifts and graces. All the more if it is true, for are we not called to love and serve the least of our brethren? We must therefore go down on our knees if we have to, love and serve them as we should; affirm and elevate their virtues and gifts over ours. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled,and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Matthew 23:12

Sisters and brothers in Christ, let us remain steadfast above all, for fidelity to the Lord our God alone brings us true joy, peace and love to the full. For God is faithful and desires only the best for us. Therefore in all things let us glorify Him. Glory to God in the highest! Amen

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 blaspheme, 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.

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.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: November 9, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church through Christ Jesus our Lord beginning with St Peter and now today succeeded by Holy father Pope Francis. We praise and thank the Lord our God for His Church fully alive today as it will be for all time.

Our fruitfulness flows from our rich traditions and brings to birth life to the full, as it does in this age and in the ages to come. How vibrantly alive with activities of service in the love of Christ, our parishes are depends solely on us His One body. How deeply connected each and every one of us are to the vine our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. For we are the church, the temple of the Holy Spirit! Are we not filled with zeal to enrich the lives of others? To be messengers of the good news? To be ambassadors of our Lord’s great mercy and love for all mankind.

Blessed be God through us His Church now and forever. Amen

First reading
Ezekiel 47:1-2,8-9,12 ·
Wherever the water flows, it will bring life and health

The angel brought me to the entrance of the Temple, where a stream came out from under the Temple threshold and flowed eastwards, since the Temple faced east. The water flowed from under the right side of the Temple, south of the altar. He took me out by the north gate and led me right round outside as far as the outer east gate where the water flowed out on the right-hand side. He said, ‘This water flows east down to the Arabah and to the sea; and flowing into the sea it makes its waters wholesome. Wherever the river flows, all living creatures teeming in it will live. Fish will be very plentiful, for wherever the water goes it brings health, and life teems wherever the river flows. Along the river, on either bank, will grow every kind of fruit tree with leaves that never wither and fruit that never fails; they will bear new fruit every month, because this water comes from the sanctuary. And their fruit will be good to eat and the leaves medicinal.’

Gospel
John 2:13-22
Destroy this sanctuary and in three days I will raise it up

Just before the Jewish Passover Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and in the Temple he found people selling cattle and sheep and pigeons, and the money changers sitting at their counters there. Making a whip out of some cord, he drove them all out of the Temple, cattle and sheep as well, scattered the money changers’ coins, knocked their tables over and said to the pigeon-sellers, ‘Take all this out of here and stop turning my Father’s house into a market.’ Then his disciples remembered the words of scripture: Zeal for your house will devour me. The Jews intervened and said, ‘What sign can you show us to justify what you have done?’ Jesus answered, ‘Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews replied, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this sanctuary: are you going to raise it up in three days?’ But he was speaking of the sanctuary that was his body, and when Jesus rose from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the scripture and the words he had said.

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: November 8, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Generally we are all very good at what we do for a living, for how can we not be when it is the bread and butter that our lives depend on. If fact in our daily dealings with others we have to be shrewd and often have to pick and choose our battles carefully. How did we get so good at it? Years of experience we might proudly declare!

How is it then that we do not seem to be equally if not more concern about the ‘bread and butter’ even milk and honey that our eternal lives depend on? Does not our all loving Lord and God who gave us all that we have deserve our commitment? Our faithfulness? To build upon our relationship with Him as to experience Him more profoundly? And through our deep encounter with Him, share our wonderful experience of His love with all that we meet. Not quite there yet? Well what are you doing different today to make it happen? After it is not everyone who says to Him, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of our Father who is in heaven. And the will of our Heavenly Father is that we should all be saved. Therefore our mission is make disciples of all nations.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done. Amen

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.

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.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: November 7, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Whom do you live for? Generally most, if they are absolutely honest would say, ”I live for myself of course who else is going to take care of me?” Many who are a little more altruistic would say, ”I live for family!” What about you? What would you say?

There is nothing wrong with saying any of all that has been mentioned above, for it only means the Lord our God has not found you yet! Not to say He has not been searching for you day and night yearning and hoping that you would been found. He is patiently waiting for you, to WANT to be found! To call out to Him so that He can come running to you, to tend and heal you; to hold you close to His bosom as He carries you home. And even when you literally cannot call out to Him, still He comes swiftly to your aid. Such is our loving and merciful God.

When we open our hearts completely to Him, He transforms us from within. Our hearts filled with His love expands to quadruple its size. We begin to see others through His eyes and love them with His love. And indeed our lives become such that if we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. Our mission becomes clear that we are to lead our errant and lost brothers and sisters back to Him with patience and great love. For He wills that we all be saved from death to live life with Him eternally.

Anyone who has ever lost a child under their care knows the anguish and pain it brings. The panicky feeling and the dread that something terrible might befall the child. The empty void in our heart that pines for and yearns to be filled by the finding of the child. Can you even fathom how much more it must be for the Lord our God who loves us all completely? How great the pain if it be a hundrefold?! Now recall the utter and sheer joy when you found the child! The rejoicing and the need to celebrate! We can therefore embrace more fully what Jesus means when He says, ”In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing among the angels of God over one repentant sinner.’’ Amen

Glory and praise to You Lord Jesus Christ!

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.

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.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: November 6, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Have you counted the cost of loving the Lord Your God and loving your neighbour thereafter? The cost of discipleship that demands we love God and others more than we love ourselves. The cost of loving without benefits only than to love. To carry our cross to follow after Jesus is to love as He does to the very end. So let us reflect on this a little more…

Do I truly love my spouse such that I would never look at anyone else lustfully let alone entertain the thought of adultery? Do I love my children with an endearing love that I should punish them when they do wrong with my Lord in mind and without starving them of my love? Do I love my aged parents tenderly even though I might struggle with the demands of my own life and family? Do I love my sisters and brothers in Christ inspite of their many faults and shortcomings, striving to be patient with them as my Lord was patient with me? Do I love the stranger that comes before me hoping only to see the face of Christ? Do I love such that my eyes are opened to see those who are poor, sick and in need, and do what I must to help them? Our only debt indeed as St Paul says, is the debt of mutual love. If we remember nothing else today, let us remember this… Love is the one thing that cannot hurt your neighbour; that is why it is the answer to every one of the commandments. (Rm 13:10)

Lord Jesus I embrace my cross for love of You. Lead me to where You want me to go. Amen

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.

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.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: November 5, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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There are many out there who are very set in their ways and refuse to embrace any sort of change. They are very settled in their comfort zones and will not budge from them. Some of them serve in ministry or a church community and are quite willing to do what they can to help out in the work but still think their relationship with the Lord our God is entirely between them and Him directly. And so they will never fully understand or grasp what it means to be One Body in Christ. What it truly means to come together to pray, adore and worship as One. The liturgy of the Word and the Eucharist are viewed as separate and a process we simply have to go through from one point to another. How can they ever hope to see that Heaven and Earth unites in this one Heavenly Banquet?

Unless we begin to recognise that all of us are different and though individually gifted we are still One Body in Christ we will not grow in our faith neither in our love for one another. We need to have a profund respect for each other as St Paul reminds us. That also means we must be humble to accept that others are stronger in certain gifts and talents just as we are stronger in our own. And just as we are weak in certain areas so are they likewise weak in others. But together we complement one another by our strengths as well as our weaknesses. And it is only through Christ that we are perfected in all that we say and do. We must never compare, complain or question (EPH 2:14) but strive for unity in Him. Therefore as it is important to work for the Lord with untiring effort and earnestness in Spirit. We must also make every effort to Pray for and Pray with one another just as often as we meet to work for Him. With this in our heart and minds we are then truly in communion with Him our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who unites us with His Body and His Blood in the Holy Eucharist. Amen

First reading

Romans 12:5-16 ·
Use the gifts you have been given

All of us, in union with Christ, form one body, and as parts of it we belong to each other. Our gifts differ according to the grace given us. If your gift is prophecy, then use it as your faith suggests; if administration, then use it for administration; if teaching, then use it for teaching. Let the preachers deliver sermons, the almsgivers give freely, the officials be diligent, and those who do works of mercy do them cheerfully.
Do not let your love be a pretence, but sincerely prefer good to evil. Love each other as much as brothers should, and have a profound respect for each other. Work for the Lord with untiring effort and with great earnestness of spirit. If you have hope, this will make you cheerful. Do not give up if trials come; and keep on praying. If any of the saints are in need you must share with them; and you should make hospitality your special care.
Bless those who persecute you: never curse them, bless them. Rejoice with those who rejoice and be sad with those in sorrow. Treat everyone with equal kindness; never be condescending but make real friends with the poor. Do not allow yourself to become self-satisfied.

Gospel

Luke 14:15-24
‘Not one of those who were invited shall have a taste of my banquet’

One of those gathered round the table said to Jesus, ‘Happy the man who will be at the feast in the kingdom of God!’ But he said to him, ‘There was a man who gave a great banquet, and he invited a large number of people. When the time for the banquet came, he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, “Come along: everything is ready now.” But all alike started to make excuses. The first said, “I have bought a piece of land and must go and see it. Please accept my apologies.” Another said, “I have bought five yoke of oxen and am on my way to try them out. Please accept my apologies.” Yet another said, “I have just got married and so am unable to come.”
‘The servant returned and reported this to his master. Then the householder, in a rage, said to his servant, “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in here the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.” “Sir” said the servant “your orders have been carried out and there is still room.” Then the master said to his servant, “Go to the open roads and the hedgerows and force people to come in to make sure my house is full; because, I tell you, not one of those who were invited shall have a taste of my banquet.”’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: November 4, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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How do we give thanks and praise to an awesome God who loves us unconditionally? Who lavishes us with His graces and gifts freely and without merit. Who is ever patient and merciful to those who turn back from sin against brethren and Him. Who frees us from the trappings of our very own Sins that keep us is darkness so that we are free to live in His light!

Well we can start to strive to be more and more like Him each day. To extend mercy and love to everyone especially those who offend us. Whether or not we feel they do not merit our forgiveness, we forgive anyway! We give freely of our time, our talents and what we can afford especially to those who cannot repay us. For if we follow after the heart of God we will seek out and tend to poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind. The more we offer up in His name the more we shall receive.

And so we will never want for anything, for the Lord is our Shepherd who carries His sheep close to His bosom. Amen

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.

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.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: November 2, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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All us who love the Lord our God and know how much He truly loves us will strive for holiness, to be holy as our Heavenly Father is Holy. And through Christ we have hope of perfection to be one with the Saints in Heaven.

But what if we missed the mark? What if we were not as obedient or loving as we were called to be? In His great compassion, mercy and love God our Father sent His son to save us from the clutches of death through Sin. He will not abandon us and as St Paul reminds us today Hope is not deceptive, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given us. We know that for a time we will be purged of all impurities, the fire of God’s love for us will test us like gold in a furnace. We will washed in the blood of the Lamb and will be white as snow.

Jesus is the source of all life, all who believe in Him will rise to new life with Him. Emmanuel! Now and for all eternity! Amen

First reading
Wisdom 3:1-9 ·
The souls of the virtuous are in the hands of God

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 peoples, 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.

Second reading
Romans 5:5-11 ·
Now we have been reconciled by the death of his Son, surely we may count on being saved by the life of his Son

Hope is not deceptive, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given us. We were still helpless when at his appointed moment Christ died for sinful men. It is not easy to die even for a good man – though of course for someone really worthy, a man might be prepared to die – but what proves that God loves us is that Christ died for us while we were still sinners. Having died to make us righteous, is it likely that he would now fail to save us from God’s anger? When we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, we were still enemies; now that we have been reconciled, surely we may count on being saved by the life of his Son? Not merely because we have been reconciled but because we are filled with joyful trust in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have already gained our reconciliation.

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

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

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: November 1, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Today we rejoice with the Saints and angels in heaven; giving praise, glory and thanksgiving to our almighty and ever living God. We honour our sisters and brothers the living saints who have gone ahead, who now stand worthy in the presence of our loving and merciful God; as they pray ceaselessly for us, awaiting our heavenly reunion. Truly we are blessed.

Let us remember and emulate the virtuous lives they led. How they struggled to live out the beautitudes in their lives, yet persevered amidst great hardship, trials and persecution. For they knew through their great faith and love for the Lord our God that He, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ would always stand with them through it all. And when it was time, He would be there to welcome them with open arms. They were ordinary children of God our Father, just like you and me. But they grew in their faith, love and holiness such that they reflected the likeness and image of God our Father through their acts of mercy, charity and love. They show us that it is not only possible but our call through the grace of God to be one with Him and them in God’s eternal Kingdom. Amen

All you Holy wonderful Saints in heaven pray for us..

First reading

Apocalypse 7:2-4,9-14 ·
I saw a huge number, impossible to count, of people from every nation, race, tribe and language

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

Second reading

1 John 3:1-3 ·
We shall be like God because we shall see him as he really is

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

Gospel

Matthew 5:1-12a
How happy are the poor in spirit

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

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

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: October 31, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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How deeply connected are you to our one triune God? More often than not we are either disconnected or the connection is rather weak throughout the week and so we seek to renew it every Sunday at best! Why is this so? Let me propose that the problem lies in that we have not dwelled deeply enough on just how much we are truly loved by our all loving and merciful God. We spend all our time in matters and affairs of the world we live in. What ever time we have left is for leisure and what we deem as relaxation. We do not set aside time to bask in His love for us, through prayer, scripture, daily Eucharist or even just sitting at His feet in Adoration.

God our Father loved us so much He sacrificed His only Son our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to save us from our impending and permanent death for our sins. Our Lord stood His ground and faced the harsh penalties of choosing to die for our sake. He was without sin yet He bore the burden and weight of the sins of the world upon Himself, His beaten frail body hung on the cross for us as He breathed His last. Back into His Father’s hands he commended His Spirit. On the third day He rose from dead and the gates to Heaven was opened for us! We have hope for eternal life with Him. Death was conquered! God with us who indeed can be against us?

Still we are given a choice. We can stubbornly refuse God’s love for us and go our own way. Or we can choose to run into His loving embrace and live fully in His love….

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

First reading

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.

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!’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: October 30, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Choosing to enter by the wide open door leads you to wide and clear pavements, with huge signposts leading to many places of pleasure and relaxation. There are exciting games and wide variety of food. Somehow it is never seems enough as there is always more to be gotten.

Choosing to enter by the narrow door on the other hand, through Christ is indeed one with many challenges. Our Lord never once said the journey through it would be easy. Imagine as you go through it there are brambles and thistles yet the narrow path leads you clear of their prickly reach. Then you find yourself going through a thick jungle in which you have to cut your way through. There is yet another winding rocky road ahead and you wonder how far more you have to go? While tired and weather beaten you have joy and peace in your heart. You know the Lord is with you every step of the way and you are in awe of your surroundings which the Lord our God had created. Eventually as if time suddenly stopped there is a clearing ahead, you walk through it and therein lies a hidden oasis, a garden paradise with breath taking beauty! You have arrived! All the pain and struggle seems too tiny a price to pay for this reality. You have entered into the bosom of the Lord our God and that is the only place you want to be.

Yes indeed the Lord is all merciful and loving. To all who love Him and follow His commandments. Even to those who have sinned greatly but has heard His call for repentance and turned to Him for help, His mercy and grace is upon them. However there is no plain easier way of stating this truth then to say Woe to you who take His love and mercy for granted! For thinking there is always time to have a change of heart. What if tomorrow never comes for you? For saying we want to enjoy life to the full for now! Woe to you for the life you are leading is not even close to what living life to the full is, For the fullness of life can only be found in Christ Jesus our Lord. And sooner than you know or think, you will find yourself outside the locked narrow door having missed the opportunity that was offered to You.

Holy Spirit Lord, I pray for my sanctification, wash me and purify me that I may be white as snow. Pray with me in my moments of difficulty and dryness. Most of all guide my every thought, word and deed so that all I say or do might be pleasing to God my Heavenly Father. Through Christ my Lord. Amen

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.

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.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: October 28, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Yesterday we heard in Sunday’s Gospel how the Lord our God favours the humble of heart. And the humble of heart goes home right with God. Humility which is derived from the root word humus which means soil or ground. So then how grounded are we in Christ? In knowing that we are all God our Father’s children and are one Body in Christ. Why then should we compare ourselves with one another? Does God our Father love one of us more than the other? From dust we came from dust we shall return, be it as it may we were all created in the likeness and image of God and it is His Will that we all be with Him eternally. We were born saints and through Christ we will return Home as Saints!

Born saints can we then say we are not good enough or know enough to lead others to the knowledge of and into a deep meaningful relationship with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ whom we love? If we are truly grounded in Christ, we know that He has called the ordinary to become extraordinary through Him. We are sent by His grace, power and authority to make disciples of all nations. Baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that He had commanded us; and He had said to us, “I am with you always, to the close of the age.” (Matthew 28:18–20) Amen.

Saints Simon and Jude pray for us….

First reading

Ephesians 2:19-22 ·
In Christ you are no longer aliens, but citizens like us

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

Gospel

Luke 6:12-16
Jesus chooses his twelve apostles

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

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: October 26, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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From dust we came, from dust we shall return. A stark reminder of our mortality as we call to mind our many sins that prevent us from living Christ centred lives to the full.
For not just what we did wrong, but for what we failed to do was right in the eyes of our Lord. While there is still time we should repent, turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospels. Only then can we start bearing fruit as we are called to do.

Yes Jesus our Lord and Saviour has indeed come to set us free from all sin and to grant us eternal life with Him. We must therefore respond with a resounding yes Lord! Come into me and change me from within. I desire greatly that You dwell in me as I dwell in in You. Come Holy spirit come, come into my life. Show me the way into the heart of the Lord my God. That I may always do what is pleasing to Him. Now and forever. Amen

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 to Newquay 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.

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.”’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: October 25, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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As children of God our Father we were given free will to choose whether to love and obey Him or not. Born into holiness our will is orientated towards good. However our minds, rather our intellect must remain schooled, conditioned, focused in directing our will towards our goal of greater holiness. Things go awry when we allow our bodies, emotions and passions to take control. If driven by emotions and desires alone we will surely spiral out of control. We will make irrational judgements and decisions that often lead to broken relationships. The doorway to sin is hence opened.

How deep and personal our relationship with the Lord our God mirrors how well our relationships thrives within our family, friends, co-workers and community. By being rooted in prayer and the word of God, we remain alert to the promptings of the Holy Spirit to build His Kingdom. We therefore unite our wills with the Lord our God. His justice and mercy reigns in our hearts.

Let us strive then this day to deepen our relationship with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and to encourage one another to continue to do likewise. Amen

First reading

Romans 7:18-25 ·

Every time I want to do good it is something evil that comes to hand

I know of nothing good living in me – living, that is, in my unspiritual self – for though the will to do what is good is in me, the performance is not, with the result that instead of doing the good things I want to do, I carry out the sinful things I do not want. When I act against my will, then, it is not must be remaitrue self doing it, but sin which lives in me.

In fact, this seems to be the rule, that every single time I want to do good it is something evil that comes to hand. In my inmost self I dearly love God’s Law, but I can see that my body follows a different law that battles against the law which my reason dictates. This is what makes me a prisoner of that law of sin which lives inside my body.

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body doomed to death?

Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Gospel

Luke 12:54-59

Do you not know how to interpret these times?

Jesus said to the crowds: ‘When you see a cloud looming up in the west you say at once that rain is coming, and so it does. And when the wind is from the south you say it will be hot, and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the face of the earth and the sky. How is it you do not know how to interpret these times?

‘Why not judge for yourselves what is right? For example: when you go to court with your opponent, try to settle with him on the way, or he may drag you before the judge and the judge hand you over to the bailiff and the bailiff have you thrown into prison. I tell you, you will not get out till you have paid the very last penny.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: October 24, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Jesus above all else! This is a choice we have to make.

We know that all sin eventually leads to death for we have experienced this in our very own lives. The emptiness, the decay of the soul, the restlessness. Why then do we continue to choose sin? Sinful pleasures that never last yet brings with it lasting guilt till our light is extinguished then we become blind. When we choose sin over life in Christ we are essentially saying that we love the sin more than we love Him!

Jesus above all else! This is a choice we have to make.

Yes indeed putting Jesus first in our lives above everything and everyone does not mean we love our beloved ones any less, in fact we will love them more through Him. Therefore we should start falling more deeply in love with our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ through His word, prayer and doing His will for us. Our hearts will burn within us with an ever growing desire to know Him more and to be more for Him.

Jesus above all else! This is a choice we have to make.

Then we can truly love our families and the least of our brethren as we are called to. We see trials and tribulations as necessary for our sanctification. Carrying cross to follow Him leads us to the fullness of life with and in Him. We experience love, peace and joy in our hearts all at once.

Jesus above all else! This is a choice we have to make. Amen

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.

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.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: October 23, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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The devil made me do it! It is the boys that drove me up the wall! She kept pestering and annoying me when I told her to stop! And so I reacted the way I did because of her! I warned her! I needed to an outlet to relive myself from the build up of stress just a small sin as it may be to prevent a bigger catastrophe! I am only human! I will sin from time to time but God will forgive me. If we choose to, we will always be able to justify our words or our actions. But let us let us look deeper into our hearts and ask ourselves are our words and actions truly justified before our Lord? Did we not allow ourselves to be distracted? To allow ourselves to lose focus and had taken our eyes off heavenly things and pursuits? Had we not taken the mercy and love our Lord for granted?

We have a higher calling as Christians! Yes we may be human, yet must always remember that we are created in the likeness and image of the Lord our God. Therefore we are called to Holiness, to be Holy as our Heavenly Father is Holy. And we can only remain so and strive for greater holiness if we remain connected to the vine our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We do so by dwelling on and living His word. Through persevering in prayer and living in the service of the least of our brethren. We are thus filled with His grace and strength to endure all things. Blessed are we indeed when our Lord returns for He will find us fully engaged in doing what He has entrusted us to do.

My Saviour and my Lord, I open my heart to You. Come dwell in me this day and everyday. Amen

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.

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.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: October 22, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Imagine if you can start over with no tainted past to haunt and shame you. To be made holy and pure just as if you had never sinned before. Innocent as a child bursting forth from its mother’s womb into the world. We have no need to imagine, for this reality is offered by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who laid down His life for us so that we may live freely in His love! A gift we did not merit given freely by God our Father through His only begotten Son.

How can we repay such kindness? By standing ready with our lamps lit ready to greet our Master when He returns. What does this mean for us? Well for one is to to be attentive to the soft promptings of the Holy Spirit through prayer and dwelling in the Word of God. To have our lamps lit is to be aware of the darkness that surrounds us, to live in the light and not succumb to the darkness of our old lives riddled with temptations and wanton desires. To light the way for others and to guide them as they enter into the dwelling place of our Master. This may take longer than we expect but through our patience, perserverance we will rejoice as One when our Master returns! His will be done always, not ours and thus our Master will recognise us as His very own.

My Saviour, my Lord it is far too easy to take shortcuts, to rationalise my lack of commitment and my inertia towards your call to greater Holiness by saying that you will qualify me in all the little that I do. Tear down all walls that prevent me from living fully in Your love Lord for my brethren. Amen

Dearest St John Paul II pray for us…

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.

Gospel

Luke 12:36-38
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.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: October 21, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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The whole of our Catholic faith centres around our Risen Lord! Had He not risen from the dead our faith would not exist. And though we were obviously not present at His Resurrection we know it to be true! Why? Because many thousands upon thousands were martyred refusing to renounce a single truth that Jesus son of the living God was born into the world, died for our sins and rose from the dead so that we might have new life in Him. We know it to be true and can bear witness to this in our very own lives. How we were very much dead in sin waking only to face the drudgery of life. And how that all changed when we encountered our risen Lord. We are now living life to the full in Him! We still face challenges and often times hardships but we have our Lord beside us every step of the way.

Many however have still not encountered Him the way we have. Perhaps the comforts some live and pursue have blinded them to the reality that life on earth is only temporary, and such material comforts are shortlived and insatiable. While others simply refuse to believe in an all loving and merciful creator, who loves them dearly and they would rather believe in their own abilities hardwork and determination. Failing to dwell in the miracle of their birth and the awesome hand of the Lord their God in all things visible and invisible. Will whether they believe it or not the fact remains, that Jesus Christ is the Lord of Lords, King of kings and His peace alone reigns in our hearts.

Jesus my Lord and my God. I adore You. By Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world. Amen

First reading

Romans 4:20-25 ·
We must believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead

Since God had made him a promise, Abraham refused either to deny it or even to doubt it, but drew strength from faith and gave glory to God, convinced that God had power to do what he had promised. This is the faith that was ‘considered as justifying him.’ Scripture however does not refer only to him but to us as well when it says that his faith was thus ‘considered’; our faith too will be ‘considered’ if we believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, Jesus who was put to death for our sins and raised to life to justify us.

Gospel

Luke 12:13-21
Fool! This very night your soul will be demanded of you

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

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: October 19, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Rejoice for our faith in our Lord Jesus has brought us new life in Him! Just as the first reading reminds us that father Abraham was father of many nations not by bloodline but as seen by the Lord our God whom he worshipped, loved and served. That very faith of Abraham in the one God unites us from all nations.

Today in our present age and for all eternity it is our Lord God and saviour Jesus Christ which gathers us all to Himself. We are one Body In Him not by blood but through water! The water of our baptism.

So then how are we living as one Body In Him? Do we love one another as He loved us? As we are called to do? Are we praying together as one? Are we sharing His mercy and His love with the rest of God’s children? All who have yet to know Jesus? Are we ourselves growing in our faith and deepening our relationship with our Lord through the promptings and power of the Holy Spirit? For if we are then we will be on fire for Lord! We will face rejection, trials and tribulations head on, as we know it is in the furnace of humility that purifies us. We also know that by our faith and love in Jesus Christ, He stands together with us now and forever more. Amen

First reading

Romans 4:13,16-18 ·
Abraham hoped and believed and became the father of many nations

The promise of inheriting the world was not made to Abraham and his descendants on account of any law but on account of the righteousness which consists in faith. That is why what fulfils the promise depends on faith, so that it may be a free gift and be available to all of Abraham’s descendants, not only those who belong to the Law but also those who belong to the faith of Abraham who is the father of all of us. As scripture says: I have made you the ancestor of many nations – Abraham is our father in the eyes of God, in whom he put his faith, and who brings the dead to life and calls into being what does not exist.
Though it seemed Abraham’s hope could not be fulfilled, he hoped and he believed, and through doing so he did become the father of many nations exactly as he had been promised: Your descendants will be as many as the stars.

Gospel

Luke 12:8-12
If you declare yourselves for me, I will declare myself for you

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

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: October 18, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Do we offer the peace of Christ with one another? If we do not then how are we going to offer it to others outside of the faith? A simple ”peace be with you” would suffice when uttered by man or woman of God. For they carry within them the peace, joy and love of our Lord Jesus Christ within them. Will it always be received the way it is intended? Well obviously not, some will even challenge this little gesture or read more than there is into it. These will only be a few. Others may be a little uncomfortable hearing such a greeting for the first time and may not even know how to respond? But after a while you will see the remarkable changes it makes in people’s lives? How offering the peace of Christ unites us all His one Body.

We cannot offer what we do not have. Therefore we must strive to be faithful followers of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ. We must dwell on and live His word through the divine Scriptures. Frequent reception of the Sacraments of which Christ Himself provides, by His great love and mercy confers the graces we need to share His love and mercy with all of whom we meet. A simple ”Peace be with you” is the doorway in which we can enter to bring the fullness of His love through the Gospel message of the Kindom of God which awaits us. Amen

St Luke Pray for Us…

First reading

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

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

Gospel

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

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

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: October 17, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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What does it matter if we observe a fast or not when our hearts are not changed by our act? Whether we are veiled or unveiled? If we are generous with our money but uncharitable with our words putting others down? If we welcome our brethren with open arms but do nothing to lead them closer to Christ? If we embrace sinners but do nothing to help them overcome their sin and guide them towards reconciliation with the Lord our God? If we love the Lord our God with all our hearts, mind and strength but do nothing to share His love with those who do not yet know Him?

How heavy is the cross we are willing to bear for our Lord Jesus Christ? Are we living the beautitudes in our lives? Have we strived to perform corporal and spiritual acts of mercy? By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” says our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Jn 13:35

Teach me to love Lord as You love, to be merciful as You are merciful. Guide my every step so that I may live out my Christian vocation according to Your will. Amen

St Ignatius Pray for us….

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.

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.

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: October 16, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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The number one enemy for those striving for Holiness is pride. Especially those who pride themselves in thinking they know more and are constantly comparing themselves with others. Some lay claim to know the will of God and instruct others using His name to push their very own agendas. Some will appoint leaders of others without proper and strenuous discernment stating that it is God who qualifies those He has chosen; yes indeed it is the Lord our God who will qualify those He has chosen to do His Will, and are prepared to sacrifice all for His flock.

Let us look within our hearts to see then if we are humble before the Lord our God and before our fellow servants of the Lord. I for want struggle daily with whether my words, thoughts and deeds are for building His Kingdom or my very own? Do I have the interest of His flock in mind or my own? I pray that I may never be pridefully blind to my own failings and shortcomings.

Lord grant Your servant a listening ear to always hear Your soft promptings guiding and showing me the way to Your Kingdom. Amen

First reading

Romans 2:1-11 ·
Do you think you will escape God’s judgement?

No matter who you are, if you pass judgement you have no excuse. In judging others you condemn yourself, since you behave no differently from those you judge. We know that God condemns that sort of behaviour impartially: and when you judge those who behave like this while you are doing exactly the same, do you think you will escape God’s judgement? Or are you abusing his abundant goodness, patience and toleration, not realising that this goodness of God is meant to lead you to repentance? Your stubborn refusal to repent is only adding to the anger God will have towards you on that day of anger when his just judgements will be made known. He will repay each one as his works deserve. For those who sought renown and honour and immortality by always doing good there will be eternal life; for the unsubmissive who refused to take truth for their guide and took depravity instead, there will be anger and fury. Pain and suffering will come to every human being who employs himself in evil – Jews first, but Greeks as well; renown, honour and peace will come to everyone who does good – Jews first, but Greeks as well. God has no favourites.

Gospel

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

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

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: October 15, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Purity of heart, mind and spirit through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the mark of a Catholic fully alive in faith and in love of our Risen Lord. A holiness that permeates from within and shines forth on our faces and in our actions. And possessing an increasing zeal to share the good news of our Risen Lord who desires the salvation of all of God our Father’s children.

When the Lord our God is absent in the minds and hearts of men; and women alike, then all is vanity. For they chase for themselves superiority in knowledge, honour, power driven by greed and have insatiable desires for self gratification. By this token they worship themselves or their fellow men by their accomplishments and carve for themselves images of false gods. All in vainglory! For all shall crumble into dust and blown away.

Let us therefore look, not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Cor 4:18) Amen

St Theresa of Avilla pray for us..

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 salvation 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!

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.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: October 14, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Today this wonderful start of the week we give thanks to the Lord our God for His loving embrace of us His children. Through our baptism we have been inserted into the life, death and Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Through Him we have life to the full and hope for eternal life with Him. The hold of sin has been broken and death has been conquered! So while we grief the loss of loved ones dear to us we must stop mourning and rejoice for they have returned to our Lord and are praying for us. We must move forwards with our call to holiness so that we can one day soon be reunited with the Saints who are now in heaven.

On our pilgrim journey as saints on earth, we are called to be the light of Christ. Signs of His everlasting love and mercy. So our job is to point and lead others to Him. This is our mission to preach and teach the Good news of our Risen Lord! Through repentance of sin and the reception of His divine mercy and grace of new life in Him through baptism; the Prince of Peace will reign in our hearts, minds and all of our land!

Jesus my Lord, just as You are the greatest sign of God our Father’s love for His children. Let me be a sign of Your love. Amen

First reading

Romans 1:1-7 ·
Our apostolic mission is to preach the obedience of faith to all pagan nations

From Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus who has been called to be an apostle, and specially chosen to preach the Good News that God promised long ago through his prophets in the scriptures.
This news is about the Son of God who, according to the human nature he took was a descendant of David: it is about Jesus Christ our Lord who, in the order of the spirit, the spirit of holiness that was in him, was proclaimed Son of God in all his power through his resurrection from the dead. Through him we received grace and our apostolic mission to preach the obedience of faith to all pagan nations in honour of his name. You are one of these nations, and by his call belong to Jesus Christ. To you all, then, who are God’s beloved in Rome, called to be saints, may God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ send grace and peace.

Gospel

Luke 11:29-32
As Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be a sign

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

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: October 12, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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I had in the past seen today’s Gospel text as a reminder of sorts not to entertain lofty ideas on how blessed we are to bring forth blessings upon on others through the grace of God, but to embrace more deeply the source of all life, the Word of God through faithful obedience. In a milder sense it is a lesson in humility.

But today I see it as Jesus elevating Mary His mother’s Blessedness as a model for all of us to follow. For all her life she heard the word of God and kept it ever so close to her immaculate heart. (Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. Lk 2:19) Yes Mary our Blessed mother is blessed indeed among all women for the Word made flesh was born into world through her. And yet more deeply she is Blessed for her total obedience and submission to her Creator who was there from the beginning of time, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. She is truly a wonderful model for us, her humility, faithfulness, gentleness, most of all her great devotion to the Word and love for the Lord our God.

You O Lord are our shelter, our stronghold, our salvation! May we always be true to Your Word as You reign in our hearts. Amen

First reading

Joel 4:12-21 ·
The day of the Lord is near; sun and moon grow dark

The Lord says this:

‘Let the nations rouse themselves, let them march to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for I am going to sit in judgement there on all the nations round.
Put the sickle in: the harvest is ripe; come and tread: the winepress is full, the vats are overflowing, so great is their wickedness!’

Host on host in the Valley of Decision!
For the day of the Lord is near in the Valley of Decision!

Sun and moon grow dark, the stars lose their brilliance. The Lord roars from Zion, makes his voice heard from Jerusalem; heaven and earth tremble.

But the Lord will be a shelter for his people,
a stronghold for the sons of Israel.

‘You will learn then that I am the Lord your God, dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain.
Jerusalem will be a holy place, no alien will ever pass through it again.’

When that day comes, the mountains will run with new wine and the hills flow with milk, and all the river beds of Judah
will run with water.
A fountain will spring from the house of the Lord to water the wadi of Acacias. Egypt will become a desolation, Edom a desert waste
on account of the violence done to the sons of Judah whose innocent blood they shed in their country.
But Judah will be inhabited for ever,
Jerusalem from age to age. ‘I will avenge their blood and let none go unpunished’,
and the Lord shall make his home in Zion.

Gospel

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

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

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: October 11, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Time does not stand still for us. Day by day we awake to a new day, and in that new day we have grown older. Once young and carefree we now carry the world on our shoulders with new aches and pains. Will it be today or tomorrow? That we are called back to our Lord. Whether we want to accept it or not the reality remains that the Kingdom of God is indeed at hand.

We have a choice to make on how we are responding to the call to live in the Lord our God’s Kingdom. We can live fully alive in the Lord our God by living in the Spirit according to His Will and striving day by day to grow in holiness. To dwell in the shadow of His wings. Or we can live shallow empty lives where unclean spirits are ‘welcomed’. We cannot afford to remain lukewarm or choose to live partially in Him, for that is like choosing to leave the doors unlocked in a neighbourhood constantly targeted by robbers!

Lord I choose to gather with You. Be thou my light and my guide. Amen

First reading

Joel 1:13-15,2:1-2 ·
Let all tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming

Priests, put on sackcloth and lament.
Ministers of the altar, wail.
Come, pass the night in sackcloth, you ministers of my God.
For the house of our God has been deprived
of oblation and libation.
Order a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly;
elders, call together all the inhabitants of the country to the house of the Lord your God.
Cry out to the Lord, ‘Oh, what a day! For the day of the Lord is near, it comes as a devastation from Shaddai.’

Sound the trumpet in Zion, give the alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the country tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming, yes, it is near.

Day of darkness and gloom, day of cloud and blackness. Like the dawn there spreads across the mountains a vast and mighty host, such as has never been before, such as will never be again to the remotest ages.

Gospel

Luke 11:15-26
The finger of God has overtaken you

When Jesus had cast out a devil, some of the people said, ‘It is through Beelzebul, the prince of devils, that he casts out devils.’ Others asked him, as a test, for a sign from heaven; but, knowing what they were thinking, he said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is heading for ruin, and a household divided against itself collapses. So too with Satan: if he is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? – since you assert that it is through Beelzebul that I cast out devils. Now if it is through Beelzebul that I cast out devils, through whom do your own experts cast them out? Let them be your judges then. But if it is through the finger of God that I cast out devils, then know that the kingdom of God has overtaken you. So long as a strong man fully armed guards his own palace, his goods are undisturbed; but when someone stronger than he is attacks and defeats him, the stronger man takes away all the weapons he relied on and shares out his spoil.
‘He who is not with me is against me; and he who does not gather with me scatters.
‘When an unclean spirit goes out of a man it wanders through waterless country looking for a place to rest, and not finding one it says, “I will go back to the home I came from.” But on arrival, finding it swept and tidied, it then goes off and brings seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and set up house there, so that the man ends up by being worse than he was before.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: October 10, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Be persistent, persevere and endure in other words remain steadfast in your love for the Lord our God. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. (1 Cor 13:7) For His love for us is steadfast and everlasting and by His love we can love the same way.

So too must our prayer and desire to grow in Holiness be steadfast. For through our faithfulness we shall become powerful instruments of His grace. We need only ask and He will give us what we need to build His Kingdom. And we have been granted a powerful ally, the Holy Spirit to guide and counsel us.

May all that we say and do be for the glory of God our Father who loves us dearly. Amen

First reading

Malachi 3:13-20 ·
The day that is coming will burn up the wicked
steadfast
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? everlasting. 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.

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!’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: October 9, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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We can just as easily lose the light received in obedience of the Lord our God when our mission is completed out of obligation rather than love. That is love without condition.

Let’s see Today’s first reading in a different way, perhaps you alone witnessed an accident in which a bus drove off road and flipped. You rushed to the crash site to offer assistance. As you draw near you see the passengers are convicts who were being transported to the correction facility. Few you recognise from reading the news papers of their heinous crimes. You want to quickly get back into your car and drive off but your Christian sensibilities and the voice in your head tells you that it is your responsibility to help. So you do everything you can to save them. You learn later on that everyone on that bus survived! Instead of rejoicing or giving thanks to God for His love and mercy you are dismayed. In your mind and heart they deserved to die. How different are you from Jonah?

There are many other forms of prejudices some often subtley hidden even within the hearts of those in Church. There are folks treated as social outcasts egs. Foreign workers, domestic helpers, divorcees, those with same sex attraction to name a few. Are all of these not God’s children? Does God our Father love you any less if the same love and mercy is given to them?

So let us reflect more deeply on the prayer our Lord taught us as we pray…..

Our Father, Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy Will be done,
on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.

[‘The Lord’s Prayer ‘is truly the summary of the whole gospel.’ ‘Since the Lord… after handling over the practice of prayer, said elsewhere, ‘Ask and you will receive, ‘ and since everyone has petitions which are peculiar to his circumstances, the regular and appropriate prayer (the Lord’s Prayer) is said first, as the foundation of further desires.’ – Tertullian, De orat. from the Catechism of the Catholic Church; 2761.]

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?’

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.”’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: October 8, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Why did the ninevites have an almost instantaneous change of heart? Why would they listen to a stranger shouting out to them to repent of their ways when they were living comfortably?

Many of us like Jonah often choose to run in the opposite direction when called to serve the Lord our God and His people. Especially when chosen to speak up for Lord and to be His mouthpiece. No I cannot, I am not good enough, oh the people are more learned than me they will not listen, why embarrass myself? Besides they are neither family nor friends let their own kind speak to them!

The powerful word of God transforms us from within such that a light shines out and is seen on our faces. I believe this same transformation took place in Jonah. He knew he was being sent by an almighty, merciful and loving God and so proclaimed with conviction to the ninevites what was going to take place if they did not listen. And they saw the face of God as he spoke to them and so they listened and obeyed!

Therefore we must always spend time at the feet of our Lord and be attentive to His Word. His life giving Word will minister to us and transform us from within. We will experience His perfect love for us, grace filled we can go out to minister to others. For we ourselves have experienced the ‘better part’. Amen

First reading

Jonah 3:1-10 ·

The Ninevites repent, and God spares them

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

Gospel

Luke 10:38-42

Martha works; Mary listens

Jesus came to a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. She had a sister called Mary, who sat down at the Lord’s feet and listened to him speaking. Now Martha who was distracted with all the serving said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me.’ But the Lord answered: ‘Martha, Martha,’ he said ‘you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part; it is not to be taken from her.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: October 7, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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We are called first and foremost to Love. Love the Lord your God with all, your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and one another; that is God’s children our fellow sisters and brothers. Loving them with great mercy and compassion as well as undertaking the difficult task of fraternal correction, that it leading them back to the Lord our God by their turning away from sin and steering them towards Holiness.

In today’s Gospel it says a man falls into the hands of brigands and left him half dead. We then see how the priest and Levite had failed to respond to the call to love. I am quite sure they would have responded differently if the man who lay half dead were their own kin, a father, brother even cousin. Here therein lies the real test! Are we able to look at one another through the eyes of God our Father and see one another as truly sisters and brothers? The ‘good’ samaritan is good because He shares in the goodness of the Lord our God who is all loving, merciful and compassionate. He ministers to the man whom he is looks upon as brother. Can we not do likewise? Can the fallen brother look upon us and see Christ who ministers to him?

What about the ‘fallen’ brother who is living a life of sin and who is in darkness? Do we mind our own business and allow him to continue, thinking that he will eventually learn on his own and turn back? If He is someone whom we truly love as a brother will we not want to save his soul?

Jesus my Lord, give me the courage, strength and fortitude to love as you love. May I look upon all You send my way through Your loving eyes. Amen

Our Lady of the Rosary pray for us…

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.

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.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: October 5, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Yes we have all sinned but after turning back to our Lord we should rejoice for He had liberated us to fully live in His love! No more mourning and groaning and worrying about falling into the next sin. Instead we must make every effort to remain steadfast by frequent reception of the sacraments and growing in love; and our relationship with Jesus through His Word.

Instead of seeking constantly to avoid sin, we should be outward looking; living not for ourselves but to glorify the Lord our God in the service of others. We would then have no time to sin for we will be too busy building His Kingdom. Indeed we have much to rejoice and be glad. For our Saviour has given us much power and strength to conquer evil, to heal, comfort and lead others back to Him.

My fellow children of God our loving Father, let us live according to His Word and Will for us. Amen.

First reading

Baruch 4:5-12,27-29 ·
Take courage, my children, call on God

Take courage, my people, constant reminder of Israel. You were sold to the nations, but not for extermination.
You provoked God; and so were delivered to your enemies, since you had angered your creator by offering sacrifices to demons, not to God.
You had forgotten the eternal God who reared you. You had also grieved Jerusalem who nursed you, for when she saw the anger fall on you from God, she said:

Listen, you neighbours of Zion:
God has sent me great sorrow.
I have seen my sons and daughters taken into captivity, to which they have been sentenced by the Eternal.
I had reared them joyfully; in tears, in sorrow, I watched them go away.
Do not, any of you, exult over me, a widow, deserted by so many; I suffer loneliness because of the sins of my own children, who turned away from the Law of God.

Take courage, my children, call on God:
he who brought disaster on you will remember you.
As by your will you first strayed away from God, so now turn back and search for him ten times as hard; for as he brought down those disasters on you, so will he rescue you and give you eternal joy.

Gospel

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

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

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: October 4, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Hear the cries of our Lord Jesus Christ calling out to you, to return to His fold. It does not matter what you have done or failed to do. He loves you dearly and wills that you live in the fullness of His love. Do not let obstinacy lead you to your doom for you do not know the time and day you will be called to judgement.

You have wandered too far away from Him if you cannot hear His voice, one that speaks to your heart daily. Now He has come in search of you and is calling out to you to come home to Him. He knows the heavy burdens you carry with you. Give Him the truth of your heart even though He already knows it all. For it is your response in lifting your heart to Him that His healing grace is outpoured. Fully reconciled you will be truly free to love as He loves, living as one with and in Him!

You O Lord are generously merciful, let me never take Your mercy and love for granted. Amen

St Francis of Assisi pray for us….

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.

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.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: October 3, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Is the word of God alive and active in your life? Are you dwelling on His Word for you? Are you sharing His Word with others?

The deep spirit-filled relationship and connection with our Lord through His Word must come from our very own lived experience. It is not good enough to read the reflections of others and share them; we must experience our Lord Jesus Christ first hand through His Word. So that the joy and the fire of His love will be enkindled within us coupled with a strong desire to share His love with all that we encounter on our pilgrim journey.

Our mission is the salvation of souls through the preparation of hearts to receive our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a mission of sharing in the Love of our Lord and God and so it makes no difference to us if we are met with rejection. For love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Cor 13:7) There will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. (Luke 15:7)

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Amen

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.

Gospel

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

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

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: October 2, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Like many if not most of you, I have too often neglected to acknowledge the presence of my guardian angel. Even when I would recite the ‘Angel of God’ prayer it would be simply something to do and get over with. That being said I have always known my GA has always been by my side, even when I was committing a sin though at that point for me it was ‘out of sight out of mind’. So while my GA was surely leading me away from it, I however was too stubborn to care! Still my faithful GA would intercede on my behalf and light my way back into the arms of my Lord and God. My GA has helped me in many ways and through many situations too numerous to list. From preventing a fall to helping me listen to God’s call. From my sheer pettiness to virtues towards Holiness.

Yes indeed all of us children of God our Father, have a powerful ally by our side. All of them have been entrusted to guard our purity of heart and soul. And to gently remind us that we have a great and loving Father we can always depend on as we should. He will give us anything we ask for, to build His Kingdom. And one day soon we will enter it into the glory of God our Father.

So on this day as we remember and honour our Holy Guardian Angels, let us pray that through their tireless guidance and intercessions we strive to become perfect as our Heavenly is perfect. Amen

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.

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.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: October 1, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Our mission is to grow in holiness on our pilgrim journey to the new ‘Jerusalem’ and to beckon others to journey on with us. The cross which we carry for our mission is the key to the gateway.

The rejection we will surely face is an opportunity to extend the love and mercy of Lord Jesus Christ whom we serve. And in time when such hearts are touched and changed by our Lord, the victory won for Him is that much sweeter. Therefore wherever we go, mercy and love must follow.

Praise and glory be to You or Lord Jesus Christ! Amen

First reading

Zechariah 8:20-23 ·
Many peoples and great nations will come to seek the Lord of Hosts

The Lord of Hosts says this:
‘There will be other peoples yet, and citizens of great cities. And the inhabitants of one city will go to the next and say, “Come, let us go and entreat the favour of the Lord, and seek the Lord of Hosts; I am going myself.” And many peoples and great nations will come to seek the Lord of Hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favour of the Lord.’
The Lord of Hosts says this:
‘In those days, ten men of nations of every language will take a Jew by the sleeve and say, “We want to go with you, since we have learnt that God is with you.”’

Gospel

Luke 9:51-56
Jesus sets out for Jerusalem

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

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: September 30, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Perhaps for some it goes deeper then this, but for most the squabbles about who is greater, who is Holier, who is more capable, who is wiser, who is more accurate in matters of faith and morals, who is more diligent in following laws to the letter; comes from the absence of the reign of God in their lives.

For if the God of love reigned in their hearts then they will not only know, but they would feel His loving embrace. One that fills the heart with peace and security of knowing that He loves us all perfectly as His children regardless of race, language or culture. Any gift and talents I receive from the Lord my God, He can give the same and more to any other He wills. He does not love me more than any other child neither does He love any other child more than me. So then why should I feel jealous of anyone else?

The real challenge for all of us is how much can we love someone else more than we love ourselves? (and we must love ourselves, for the Lord our God created us in His love and image and loves us dearly) How much are we willing to sacrifice for love of the least of our brethren?

Lord Jesus Christ, teach me to love perfectly as You have loved me. Amen

First reading

Zechariah 8:1-8 ·
The Lord will return to Zion

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

‘The Lord of Hosts says this.
I am burning with jealousy for Zion,
with great anger for her sake.

‘The Lord of Hosts says this.
I am coming back to Zion and shall dwell in the middle of Jerusalem.
Jerusalem will be called Faithful City
and the mountain of the Lord of Hosts, the Holy Mountain.

‘The Lord of Hosts says this.
Old men and old women will again sit down
in the squares of Jerusalem; every one of them staff in hand because of their great age.
And the squares of the city will be full
of boys and girls playing in the squares.

‘The Lord of Hosts says this.
If this seems a miracle to the remnant of this people (in those days), will it seem one to me?
It is the Lord of Hosts who speaks.

‘The Lord of Hosts says this.
Now I am going to save my people from the countries of the East and from the countries of the West.
I will bring them back to live inside Jerusalem. They shall be my people
and I will be their God in faithfulness and integrity.’

Gospel

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

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

Servants of the Lord prayer meeting..

Posted: September 28, 2019 by CatholicJules in Life's Journeys, Memory Book
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So I was warmly invited to attend a Servants of The Lord prayer meeting in the home of the brother who first introduced me to the group which I had never heard of till about a month ago. Even he was not aware I was coming because another fellow brother in the group wanted it to be a surprise. I attended with no expectations except to experience the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Being an Ecumenical group I already knew that many of our Catholic prayer traditions would not take place. However it was refreshing to experience a Christian adaption of the Jewish custom to celebrate the Sabbath aka The Lord’s day. Traditionally this took place beginning Sunset on Saturday. (the sabbath ended sunset on Sunday) There was even the adaptation of the ‘Berakah’ prayer which was beautiful, because while it was led, the community responded Blessing the Lord our God and acknowledging all that He has done and continues to do for us. There was breaking of bread and drinking of wine symbolising the community fellowship of old. Praise and worship was also refreshingly Charismatic in nature. And almost everyone participated in vocalising prayers of worship, thanksgiving and not forgetting intercessory prayers. Then we got our food and sat down to watch a short formation talk. We later broke off in groups to reflect and share. Men, Women and youths. After the sharing we proceeded home and on our way to glorify and praise the Lord by our lives.
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