Posts Tagged ‘Catholicjules.net’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: July 20, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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For most of us, we will never experience or quite understand an Exodus. A massive one at that! The closest thing, would be perhaps a desparture from a cruse ship to go home. It is certainly a logistical nightmare when done for the very first time. So now perhaps we can begin to appreciate a little how it was truly the mighty hand of God which led His people out of slavery into the promised land. How He the Lord kept Vigil over His flock who were in pursuit by the Egyptian army that very night. Such is His love for us all.

Today many of us behave the same way as the folks who fled the yoke of slavery into new life. Perhaps our hearts are stubborn from years and years of captivity knowing only a certain way of life. We are accustomed and find it difficult to be free completely. These are the habitual sins in our lives! Jesus had come and is patiently waiting for us to turn back to Him completely. So He can touch us with His ever so gentle touch of grace and lead us into new life with Him free from all sin. This is the love of our God who is the hope of all nations.

Lead me Lord my Shepherd into Your Heavenly fold. Amen

First reading

Exodus 12:37-42 ·
The sons of Israel leave Egypt hurriedly by night

The sons of Israel left Rameses for Succoth, about six hundred thousand on the march – all men – not counting their families. People of various sorts joined them in great numbers; there were flocks, too, and herds in immense droves. They baked cakes with the dough which they had brought from Egypt, unleavened because the dough was not leavened; they had been driven out of Egypt, with no time for dallying, and had not provided themselves with food for the journey. The time that the sons of Israel had spent in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. And on the very day the four hundred and thirty years ended, all the array of the Lord left the land of Egypt. The night, when the Lord kept vigil to bring them out of the land of Egypt, must be kept as a vigil in honour of the Lord for all their generations.

Gospel

Matthew 12:14-21
He cured them all but warned them not to make him known

The Pharisees went out and began to plot against Jesus, discussing how to destroy him.
Jesus knew this and withdrew from the district. Many followed him and he cured them all, but warned them not to make him known. This was to fulfil the prophecy of Isaiah:

Here is my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved, the favourite of my soul.
I will endow him with my spirit, and he will proclaim the true faith to the nations.
He will not brawl or shout,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.
He will not break the crushed reed, nor put out the smouldering wick till he has led the truth to victory:in his name the nations will put their hope.

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: July 19, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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To allow ourselves to experience and to be fully embraced by the mercy of the Lord our God is what changes us from within and transforms us more fully in His image. This only happens when we give ALL of ourselves to Him. We are given new names as we will one day be received in Heaven. So then our transformation becomes apparent when our hearts looks upon and sees our brethren who are in need of God’s mercy and love. We are able to become the wonderful instruments as we are called for, of His grace. We are tireless in this pursuit as we journey on in His strength, peace and love. In a sense we share in His mercy without sacrifice.

The new Passover from death into life, from sinfulness into Holiness has been given to us through the precious blood of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. This Supreme gift of life, the source and summit of our faith in the Holy Eucharist. In which we experience Heaven on Earth through the divine presence of the Lord our God and partake in the Heavenly Banquet in which we receive His divinity into our very being. How great indeed is Our God! To nourish and sustain us as we make our pilgrim journey back to Him. Yet many are still blind to this, God’s very own revelation. That is why there is no proper preparation of body, mind and spirit before attending the Eucharistic Celebration, no ‘dressing up’ as to put on the wedding garment. Many will mutter under their breath, “O the Lord is loving and understanding, He knows and sees my heart and He will understand.” Really? Are you not taking the Lord Your God for granted? Why do you think there were explicit details and preparation for the first passover? Who was it that gave those details for the preparation?

Jesus my saviour You want mercy not sacrifice. Let your will be done through me. Amen

St Philip Minh and companions pray for us….

First reading

Exodus 11:10-12:14
The institution of the Passover

Moses and Aaron worked many wonders in the presence of Pharaoh. But the Lord made Pharaoh’s heart stubborn, and he did not let the sons of Israel leave his country.
The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt:
‘This month is to be the first of all the others for you, the first month of your year. Speak to the whole community of Israel and say, “On the tenth day of this month each man must take an animal from the flock, one for each family: one animal for each household. If the household is too small to eat the animal, a man must join with his neighbour, the nearest to his house, as the number of persons requires. You must take into account what each can eat in deciding the number for the animal. It must be an animal without blemish, a male one year old; you may take it from either sheep or goats. You must keep it till the fourteenth day of the month when the whole assembly of the community of Israel shall slaughter it between the two evenings. Some of the blood must then be taken and put on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses where it is eaten. That night, the flesh is to be eaten, roasted over the fire; it must be eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled, but roasted over the fire, head, feet and entrails. You must not leave any over till the morning: whatever is left till morning you are to burn. You shall eat it like this: with a girdle round your waist, sandals on your feet, a staff in your hand. You shall eat it hastily: it is a passover in honour of the Lord. That night, I will go through the land of Egypt and strike down all the first-born in the land of Egypt, man and beast alike, and I shall deal out punishment to all the gods of Egypt, I am the Lord! The blood shall serve to mark the houses that you live in. When I see the blood I will pass over you and you shall escape the destroying plague when I strike the land of Egypt. This day is to be a day of remembrance for you, and you must celebrate it as a feast in the Lord’s honour. For all generations you are to declare it a day of festival, for ever.”’

Gospel

Matthew 12:1-8
The Son of Man is master of the sabbath

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

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: July 18, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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The name of God was withheld from Jacob even when he pleaded, instead his very own name was changed to Israel. God claimed him as His own just as He proclaimed the Lord God as His. Steadfast was his faith in the Lord our God that it changed him from within. Are we deserving then to know the Holy name of God? For to know His name is to have entered into a very intimate relationship with Him. And through this wonderful relationship with Him we have an all powerful ally who leads us through difficulties, challenges , obstacles and into the promised land of milk and honey.

Yet what do many of us do with the almighty name of the Lord of God? We often abuse it, misuse and justify misusing it! We cheapen the most precious relationship we might and could have. Jesus! Oh God! God d*mn! etc. There is no excuse for this! Some even have the audacity to tell little children who point out that it is wrong, saying it’s okay let us agree to disagree; you will have a different view when you grow up. At least the little child with that child-like faith in the Lord our God is assured a place in heaven, where will you be? Perhaps at the other end of the divide mocking His Holy name with the rest of your unholy friends! Turn away from your sinfulness now! For your sins will be too great for you to bear and it will devour you into the abyss. Yes we all face difficulties and trials in life in varied degrees, but through the suffering and with the grace of God we will overcome them. There is no reason or excuse to give in to sin and temptation hoping for a moment of relief or reprieve of the burdens you carry.

Turn to Jesus instead who waits for you, all you who are burdened and heavy laden. He the Lord our God will set you free and give you the much needed rest. Truly learn from Him, and be humble of heart. Peace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ be upon you my dear sisters and brothers in Christ. Now and forever. Amen

First reading

Exodus 3:13-20 ·
God reveals his name to Moses

Moses, hearing the voice of God coming from the middle of the bush, said to him, ‘I am to go, then, to the sons of Israel and say to them, “The God of your fathers has sent me to you.” But if they ask me what his name is, what am I to tell them?’ And God said to Moses, ‘I Am who I Am. This’ he added ‘is what you must say to the sons of Israel: “I Am has sent me to you.”’ And God also said to Moses, ‘You are to say to the sons of Israel: “The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.” This is my name for all time; by this name I shall be invoked for all generations to come.
‘Go and gather the elders of Israel together and tell them, “The Lord, the God of your fathers, has appeared to me, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob; and he has said to me: I have visited you and seen all that the Egyptians are doing to you. And so I have resolved to bring you up out of Egypt where you are oppressed, into the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, to a land where milk and honey flow.” They will listen to your words, and with the elders of Israel you are to go to the king of Egypt and say to him, “The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has come to meet us. Give us leave, then, to make a three days’ journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifice to the Lord our God.” For myself, knowing that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless he is forced by a mighty hand, I shall show my power and strike Egypt with all the wonders I am going to work there. After this he will let you go.’

Gospel

Matthew 11:28-30
My yoke is easy and my burden light

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

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: July 17, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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The mystery of God our Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit is not something to be learnt through study of books or attending lectures. It is not knowledge we acquire to wield for personal glory. It is revealed to us through an encounter with our living God. Through the Incarnation the great abounding love of the Lord of God for us is unveiled in the burning heart of Jesus. An all encompassing fire which envelops us in a gentle embrace that does no harm but instead fills our heart with heavenly peace, love and joy.

When we remain in awe of this wonderful magnificent power of God through this loving encounter, we know that come what may as a personal mission for Him, He will be by our side to lead the way. For if we rely on our own human strength little if anything can be accomplished. But with the divine strength of the Lord our God nothing is impossible.

O Glorious God and Saviour we praise You and Thank You for the precious gift of Yourself to us. To this very day we encounter You in a loving exchange through the Holy Eucharist. And when we sit at Your feet before the Blessed Sacrament! Alleluia Alleluia Amen.

First reading

Exodus 3:1-6,9-12 ·
The burning bush

Moses was looking after the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, priest of Midian. He led his flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in the shape of a flame of fire, coming from the middle of a bush. Moses looked; there was the bush blazing but it was not being burnt up. ‘I must go and look at this strange sight,’ Moses said, ‘and see why the bush is not burnt.’
Now the Lord saw him go forward to look, and God called to him from the middle of the bush. ‘Moses, Moses!’ he said. ‘Here I am,’ Moses answered. ‘Come no nearer,’ he said. ‘Take off your shoes, for the place on which you stand is holy ground. I am the God of your fathers,’ he said, ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.’ At this Moses covered his face, afraid to look at God.
And the Lord said, ‘The cry of the sons of Israel has come to me, and I have witnessed the way in which the Egyptians oppress them, so come, I send you to Pharaoh to bring the sons of Israel, my people, out of Egypt.’
Moses said to God, ‘Who am I to go to Pharaoh and bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?’ ‘I shall be with you,’ was the answer ‘and this is the sign by which you shall know that it is I who have sent you… After you have led the people out of Egypt, you are to offer worship to God on this mountain.’

Gospel

Matthew 11:25-27
You have hidden these things from the wise and revealed them to little children

Jesus exclaimed, ‘I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children. Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased you to do. Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, just as no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: July 16, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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We see in today’s reading and many places in scripture of what happens when we let go of what we hold dearly, even our sorrows, pain and surrender it into the Hands of God. He can turn all curses into blessings! He received into His hands the child Moses and returned him to his mother to be suckled. Life thought to be lost, is restored and to the fullest. We also learn what happens when we take matters into our hands and mete out justice according to our own will. For nothing is hidden from the Lord our God, and His justice will prevail. So too will His mercy on the repentant sinner.

What use are our lofty ideas and thoughts of Holiness to gain entry into Heaven? When our hearts, minds and actions do not change. We have no inner conversion, retreat after retreat, formation after formation, mass after mass! No discipline to put into practice what we have learnt. The Lord may have touched us in a deep profound way, but then we choose to lose that new connection through inertia! Simply refusing to carry our cross to follow Him. This will lead eventually to a greater tragedy of falling back into old habits and sins. Will we have time tomorrow to repent and turn back? What if tomorrow never comes for us?

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God have mercy on me a sinner. Help me make the change today Lord, that I may grow in Holiness to love and serve you as I should. Amen

Our Lady of Mount Carmel pray for me….

First reading

Exodus 2:1-15 ·
Pharaoh’s daughter finds Moses among the bulrushes

There was a man of the tribe of Levi who had taken a woman of Levi as his wife. She conceived and gave birth to a son and, seeing what a fine child he was, she kept him hidden for three months. When she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him; coating it with bitumen and pitch, she put the child inside and laid it among the reeds at the river’s edge. His sister stood some distance away to see what would happen to him.
Now Pharaoh’s daughter went down to bathe in the river, and the girls attending her were walking along by the riverside. Among the reeds she noticed the basket, and she sent her maid to fetch it. She opened it and looked, and saw a baby boy, crying; and she was sorry for him. ‘This is a child of one of the Hebrews’ she said. Then the child’s sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, ‘Shall I go and find you a nurse among the Hebrew women to suckle the child for you?’ ‘Yes, go’ Pharaoh’s daughter said to her; and the girl went off to find the baby’s own mother. To her the daughter of Pharaoh said, ‘Take this child away and suckle it for me. I will see you are paid.’ So the woman took the child and suckled it. When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter who treated him like a son; she named him Moses because, she said, ‘I drew him out of the water.’
Moses, a man by now, set out at this time to visit his countrymen, and he saw what a hard life they were having; and he saw an Egyptian strike a Hebrew, one of his countrymen. Looking round he could see no one in sight, so he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. On the following day he came back, and there were two Hebrews, fighting. He said to the man who was in the wrong, ‘What do you mean by hitting your fellow countryman?’ ‘And who appointed you’ the man retorted, ‘to be prince over us, and judge? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?’ Moses was frightened. ‘Clearly that business has come to light’ he thought. When Pharaoh heard of the matter he would have killed Moses, but Moses fled from Pharaoh and made for the land of Midian.

Gospel

Matthew 11:20-24
It will not go as hard with Sodom on Judgement Day as with you

Jesus began to reproach the towns in which most of his miracles had been worked, because they refused to repent.
‘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 in sackcloth and ashes. And still, I tell you that it will not go as hard on Judgement day with Tyre and Sidon as with you. And as for you, Capernaum, did you want to be exalted as high as heaven? You shall be thrown down to hell. For if the miracles done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have been standing yet. And still, I tell you that it will not go as hard with the land of Sodom on Judgement day as with you.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: July 15, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Power not tempered with love will often lead to its own destruction. Better if there is recognition that our power if having any at all is given, by the Lord our God from above. And tempered with His love will bring only peace, comfort, mercy and love.

Still many choose to exact power over others insisting that they should bend their wills towards their very own. My way or the highway! Where is Christ Jesus in all their bravado? Where is the mercy, love and compassion? That is why if a family is not centred on the values of Christian living placing Christ first above all things and all persons then that family will eventually fall apart. Likewise for community and church. If we do not welcome the prophets amongst us, how will we hear the message of the Lord our God meant for our ears? How will hearts of stone ever be changed into flesh? How will we see the wonders of His hand in the beauty that surround us? How will we feels His great love for us?

Our mission begins with carrying our Cross to follow our Master, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Only true humble servitude can we effect change in the lives of many who do not yet know Him. Amen

First reading

Exodus 1:8-14,22 ·
The Egyptians force the sons of Israel into slavery

There came to power in Egypt a new king who knew nothing of Joseph. ‘Look,’ he said to his subjects ‘these people, the sons of Israel, have become so numerous and strong that they are a threat to us. We must be prudent and take steps against their increasing any further, or if war should break out, they might add to the number of our enemies. They might take arms against us and so escape out of the country.’ Accordingly they put slave-drivers over the Israelites to wear them down under heavy loads. In this way they built the store-cities of Pithom and Rameses for Pharaoh. But the more they were crushed, the more they increased and spread, and men came to dread the sons of Israel. The Egyptians forced the sons of Israel into slavery, and made their lives unbearable with hard labour, work with clay and with brick, all kinds of work in the fields; they forced on them every kind of labour.
Pharaoh then gave his subjects this command: ‘Throw all the boys born to the Hebrews into the river, but let all the girls live.’

Gospel

Matthew 10:34-11:1
It is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword

Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth: it is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies will be those of his own household.
‘Anyone who prefers father or mother to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who prefers son or daughter to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who does not take his cross and follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it; anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it.
‘Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me; and those who welcome me welcome the one who sent me.
‘Anyone who welcomes a prophet will have a prophet’s reward; and anyone who welcomes a holy man will have a holy man’s reward.
‘If anyone gives so much as a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward.’
When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples he moved on from there to teach and preach in their towns.

A real life ‘Good’ Samaritan story without the same nice ending…

Posted: July 14, 2019 by CatholicJules in Life's Journeys, Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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On Today’s Gospel

Posted: July 13, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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God our Father has a plan for each and everyone of us. Though we may not understand what it is or see the good in the hardships and sufferings we may face. We can trust in His abounding love for us that He will never abandon us in our of need. He loves dearly and wants only the best for us and He wills that we be with Him in Heaven.

Jesus is the love of God our Father personified. He came down from Heaven to free us from our sins. So that by His death and Resurrection with might have eternal life with Him. If we say we love Him that our love for Him must convict us to share in that very love we have received. To stand up for our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ and to proclaim His message of love, mercy and repentance. So that all who come to know Him will have a share of eternal life with Him. Amen

First reading

Genesis 49:29-33,50:15-26
‘God has turned the evil you planned into good’

Jacob gave his sons these instructions, ‘I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me near my fathers, in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, in the cave in the field at Machpelah, opposite Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought from Ephron the Hittite as a burial-plot. There Abraham was buried and his wife Sarah. There Isaac was buried and his wife Rebekah. There I buried Leah. I mean the field and the cave in it that were bought from the sons of Heth.’
When Jacob had finished giving his instructions to his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed, and breathing his last was gathered to his people.
Seeing that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers said, ‘What if Joseph intends to treat us as enemies and repay us in full for all the wrong we did him?’ So they sent this message to Joseph: ‘Before your father died he gave us this order: “You must say to Joseph: Oh forgive your brothers their crime and their sin and all the wrong they did you.” Now therefore, we beg you, forgive the crime of the servants of your father’s God.’ Joseph wept at the message they sent to him.
His brothers came themselves and fell down before him. ‘We present ourselves before you’ they said ‘as your slaves.’ But Joseph answered them, ‘Do not be afraid; is it for me to put myself in God’s place? The evil you planned to do me has by God’s design been turned to good, that he might bring about, as indeed he has, the deliverance of a numerous people. So you need not be afraid; I myself will provide for you and your dependants.’ In this way he reassured them with words that touched their hearts.
So Joseph stayed in Egypt with his father’s family; and Joseph lived a hundred and ten years. Joseph saw the third generation of Ephraim’s children, as also the children of Machir, Manasseh’s son, who were born on Joseph’s lap. At length Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am about to die; but God will be sure to remember you kindly and take you back from this country to the land that he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.’ And Joseph made Israel’s sons swear an oath, ‘When God remembers you with kindness be sure to take my bones from here.’
Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten; they embalmed him and laid him in his coffin in Egypt.

Gospel

Matthew 10:24-33
Everything now hidden will be made clear

Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘The disciple is not superior to his teacher, nor the slave to his master. It is enough for the disciple that he should grow to be like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, what will they not say of his household?
‘Do not be afraid of them therefore. For everything that is now covered will be uncovered, and everything now hidden will be made clear. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the daylight; what you hear in whispers, proclaim from the housetops.
‘Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; fear him rather who can destroy both body and soul in hell. Can you not buy two sparrows for a penny? And yet not one falls to the ground without your Father knowing. Why, every hair on your head has been counted. So there is no need to be afraid; you are worth more than hundreds of sparrows.
‘So if anyone declares himself for me in the presence of men, I will declare myself for him in the presence of my Father in heaven. But the one who disowns me in the presence of men, I will disown in the presence of my Father in heaven.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: July 12, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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What are you complaining about? How everyone seems to be judging you? How tired and miserable you are with plodding through many work commitments ? How much you are sacrificing for your family to feed your lifestyle and theirs? How much if any of it, is in bringing the message of Christ Jesus to anyone or every one? Are you struggling to bring your child or children up in the faith? How much of the sufferings you endure is for building His Kingdom through the community? How generous and charitable are you with your time, actions and not your purse? Can you even identify with the hunger and thirst of those genuinely suffering because they have nothing to eat or drink? No one to care or comfort them? Again what are you complaining about?

Let us stay awake sisters and brothers! We have a mission and that is to share the love of the Lord our God with everyone. So that in coming to know our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ they might have life to the full in Him now and forevermore. No hardships and sufferings should ever deter us from sharing the joy of the Gospel because God’s Spirit is within us. We may not have all the answers at hand but we will have it as needed through the power and working of the Holy Spirit. God our loving Father will provide for all that we need, let us only stay focused on Jesus our Lord and strive to live life in the Spirit. Amen

First reading

Genesis 46:1-7,28-30
‘I can die, now that I have seen you alive’

Israel left Canaan with his possessions, and reached Beersheba. There he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. God spoke to Israel in a vision at night, ‘Jacob, Jacob’, he said. ‘I am here’, he replied. ‘I am God, the God of your father’, he continued. ‘Do not be afraid of going down to Egypt, for I will make you a great nation there. I myself will go down to Egypt with you. I myself will bring you back again, and Joseph’s hand shall close your eyes.’ Then Jacob left Beersheba. Israel’s sons conveyed their father Jacob, their little children and their wives in the waggons Pharaoh had sent to fetch him.
Taking their livestock and all that they had acquired in the land of Canaan, they went to Egypt, Jacob and all his family with him: his sons and his grandsons, his daughters and his grand-daughters, in a word, all his children he took with him to Egypt.
Israel sent Judah ahead to Joseph, so that the latter might present himself to him in Goshen. When they arrived in the land of Goshen, Joseph had his chariot made ready and went up to meet his father Israel in Goshen. As soon as he appeared he threw his arms round his neck and for a long time wept on his shoulder. Israel said to Joseph, ‘Now I can die, now that I have seen you again, and seen you still alive.’

Gospel

Matthew 10:16-23
The Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you

Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘Remember, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be cunning as serpents and yet as harmless as doves.
‘Beware of men: they will hand you over to sanhedrins and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the pagans. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to speak or what to say; what you are to say will be given to you when the time comes; because it is not you who will be speaking; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you. ‘Brother will betray brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all men on account of my name; but the man who stands firm to the end will be saved. If they persecute you in one town, take refuge in the next; and if they persecute you in that, take refuge in another. I tell you solemnly, you will not have gone the round of the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: July 11, 2019 by CatholicJules in Life's Journeys
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I have on numerous occasions through my on personal journey of faith been led, asked or tasked to take either the lead, consulted on or simply to run with what I would term spiritual matters of faith. From helping out in the Eucharistic Celebration in a variety of ways wearing different hats, to giving a formation talk at a RCIA session, a youth event, parish event, to being part of a prayer team to pray over others, to planning for a retreat or faith event, leading a prayer session or prayer meeting and so on. Was I qualified or experienced enough when I was first called upon? My answer would be NO! I simply said Yes to the call then would quietly panic as I asked for the Lord’s guidance on how to proceed. Often times just going with the flow, that is the flow of the Holy Spirit. Learning from making mistakes, allowing Him to teach and guide me so that I might grow a little more each day in wisdom and knowledge.

Trusting the Lord fully and surrendering our Will to Him so that He can lead us deeper in our faith journey is very difficult for almost everyone. Because whether we want to admit or not, most of us are control freaks and need to be familiar with a subject, topic before we will attempt to take the leapt to take charge or move with it. Hence if we were going for a retreat we want to know what to be prepared for, what to bring, the schedule, what are the topics covered before we will consider going. How then are we ever going to learn to trust the Lord to take the lead? How then are we going to proclaim to anyone that the Kingdom of the Lord our God is at hand, or simply to tell a stranger that Jesus loves him or her when we are too busy counting the cost of doing anything for Him!

We have received abundant blessings and graces freely from the Lord our God, how can we not serve Him and our brethren freely without counting the cost of doing so. In fact the best graces to be received through servitude of our Lord Jesus Christ and our brethren are purchased through sacrifice and suffering. Amen

First reading

Genesis 44:18-21,23-29,45:1-5
Joseph reveals himself to his brothers

Judah went up to Joseph and said, ‘May it please my lord, let your servant have a word privately with my lord. Do not be angry with your servant, for you are like Pharaoh himself. My lord questioned his servants, “Have you father or brother?” And we said to my lord, “We have an old father, and a younger brother born of his old age. His brother is dead, so he is the only one left of his mother, and his father loves him.” Then you said to your servants, “Bring him down to me that my eyes may look on him.” But you said to your servants, “If your youngest brother does not come down with you, you will not be admitted to my presence again.” When we went back to your servant my father, we repeated to him what my lord had said. So when our father said, “Go back and buy us a little food,” we said, “We cannot go down. If our youngest brother is with us, we will go down, for we cannot be admitted to the man’s presence unless our youngest brother is with us.” So your servant our father said to us, “You know that my wife bore me two children. When one left me, I said that he must have been torn to pieces. And I have not seen him to this day. If you take this one from me too and any harm comes to him, you will send me down to Sheol with my white head bowed in misery.” If I go to your servant my father now, and we have not the boy with us, he will die as soon as he sees the boy is not with us, for his heart is bound up with him. Then your servants will have sent your servant our father down to Sheol with his white head bowed in grief.’
Then Joseph could not control his feelings in front of all his retainers, and he exclaimed, ‘Let everyone leave me.’ No one therefore was present with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers, but he wept so loudly that all the Egyptians heard, and the news reached Pharaoh’s palace.
Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am Joseph. Is my father really still alive?’ His brothers could not answer him, they were so dismayed at the sight of him. Then Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Come closer to me.’ When they had come closer to him he said, ‘I am your brother Joseph whom you sold into Egypt. But now, do not grieve, do not reproach yourselves for having sold me here, since God sent me before you to preserve your lives.’

Gospel

Matthew 10:7-15
You received without charge: give without charge

Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘As you go, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils. You received without charge, give without charge. Provide yourselves with no gold or silver, not even with a few coppers for your purses, with no haversack for the journey or spare tunic or footwear or a staff, for the workman deserves his keep.
‘Whatever town or village you go into, ask for someone trustworthy and stay with him until you leave. As you enter his house, salute it, and if the house deserves it, let your peace descend upon it; if it does not, let your peace come back to you. And if anyone does not welcome you or listen to what you have to say, as you walk out of the house or town shake the dust from your feet. I tell you solemnly, on the day of Judgement it will not go as hard with the land of Sodom and Gomorrah as with that town.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: July 10, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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What do we do with power given to us from on high? Especially when others are placed at our mercy? Do we toy with them? Do we treat them with disdain? Do we exact revenge for past hurts? or Do we instead care for them? Guide, teach and lead them to the truth? Do we love them as we love ourselves and our families? As disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ the only question which we should really ask is what would our Master do and then do it!

We can have many aspirations to be a vibrant, evangelistic and missionary church. But how will we achieve this if we do not first form ourselves through the Word of God, through prayer personal as well as communal. To strive for unity and communion with one another. We therefore must be evangelised ourselves whether as ministry or community! Only then can we go out to the whole world to share God’s love with everyone.

Lord Jesus my shepherd and my guide, teach and show me how I should tend to Your flock and I will do so according to Your will. Amen

First reading

Genesis 41:55-57,42:5-7,17-24
Joseph’s brothers in his power

When the whole country of Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried out to Pharaoh for bread. But Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, ‘Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.’ There was famine all over the world. Then Joseph opened all the granaries and sold grain to the Egyptians. The famine grew worse in the land of Egypt. People came to Egypt from all over the world to buy grain from Joseph, for the famine had grown severe throughout the world.
Israel’s sons with others making the same journey went to buy grain, for there was famine in the land of Canaan. It was Joseph, as the man in authority over the country, who sold the grain to all comers. So Joseph’s brothers went and bowed down before him, their faces touching the ground. When Joseph saw his brothers he recognised them. But he did not make himself known to them, and he spoke harshly to them. Then he kept them all in custody for three days.
On the third day Joseph said to them, ‘Do this and you shall keep your lives, for I am a man who fears God. If you are honest men let one of your brothers be kept in the place of your detention; as for you, go and take grain to relieve the famine of your families. You shall bring me your youngest brother; this way your words will be proved true, and you will not have to die!’ This they did. They said to one another, ‘Truly we are being called to account for our brother. We saw his misery of soul when he begged our mercy, but we did not listen to him and now this misery has come home to us.’ Reuben answered them, ‘Did I not tell you not to wrong the boy? But you did not listen, and now we are brought to account for his blood.’ They did not know that Joseph understood, because there was an interpreter between them. He left them and wept.

Gospel

Matthew 10:1-7
‘Go to the lost sheep of the House of Israel’

Jesus summoned his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits with power to cast them out and to cure all kinds of diseases and sickness.
These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, the one who was to betray him. These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them as follows:
‘Do not turn your steps to pagan territory, and do not enter any Samaritan town; go rather to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. And as you go, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: July 9, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Today many, if not all of our churches are using this Gospel text to pray for vocations ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.’ and we have faith that our Lord will indeed send labourers to His harvest.

Many however think that this prayer is for vocations to the priesthood or religious life alone. Not so my dear sisters and brothers in Christ, our Lord is calling you too to serve in His vineyard. Yes that’s right, you who are reading this reflection and I are called to bring His light to all we meet. Many are hungry and thirsting for the Lord our God and are sorely in need of His love, mercy, peace and comfort. They are depressed and desolate because they have not been made aware that there is a great, powerful and all loving God who loves them all very dearly and does not want them to wallow in their misery. He wants each and everyone of them to live life to the full. Many of these still do not know and have not heard of our Lord Jesus Christ and it is our duty as His disciples to gather them all (harvest) into His fold.

So let us all wrestle with this seed planted into our hearts, God wants you and I to be powerful instruments of His Grace. And if we are single minded in our love for Him: come what may, difficulties, challenges we will overcome them all. For He will Bless us and we carry His presence with us every where we go. Amen

First reading

Genesis 32:23-33
Jacob wrestles with God

Jacnerveob rose, and taking his two wives and his two slave-girls and his eleven children he crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream and sent all his possessions over too. And Jacob was left alone.
And there was one that wrestled with him until daybreak who, seeing that he could not master him, struck him in the socket of his hip, and Jacob’s hip was dislocated as he wrestled with him. He said, ‘Let me go, for day is breaking.’ But Jacob answered, ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me.’ He then asked, ‘What is your name?’ ‘Jacob’, he replied. He said, ‘Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have been strong against God, you shall prevail against men.’ Jacob then made this request, ‘I beg you, tell me your name’, but he replied, ‘Why do you ask my name?’ And he blessed him there.
Jacob named the place Peniel, ‘Because I have seen God face to face,’ he said ‘and I have survived.’ The sun rose as he left Peniel, limping because of his hip. That is the reason why to this day the Israelites do not eat the sciatic nerve which is in the socket of the hip; because he had struck Jacob in the socket of the hip on the sciatic nerve.

Gospel

Matthew 9:32-37
The harvest is rich but the labourers are few

A man was brought to Jesus, a dumb demoniac. And when the devil was cast out, the dumb man spoke and the people were amazed. ‘Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel’ they said. But the Pharisees said, ‘It is through the prince of devils that he casts out devils.’
Jesus made a tour through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom and curing all kinds of diseases and sickness.
And when he saw the crowds he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: July 6, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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I am the first born in my family and my siblings should rightfully respect me as the eldest and do what I say especially in matters of faith. I am far more eloquent and well read therefore I should be the one to lead and give formation talks. She is new to our ministry why should we listen to her suggestions on building our spiritual life?

We often think ourselves deserving and qualified, but do we seek to know our Lord’s will for us? Do we discern deeply to know and fulfil our true calling. If it is in our hearts desire to seek His Blessings and His grace that we might secure our heavenly inheritance by building His Kingdom; then He will surely Bless us, equip and qualify us. It does not matter if we are young, inexperienced, weak or even impaired in anyway for He will lead and guide us. It is our constant renewal of faith and love in our Lord Jesus Christ that invigorates and drives us. And while we learn from our past mistakes, we look only to the future by living our new lives in and for Him. Amen

First reading

Genesis 27:1-5,15-29 ·
Jacob obtains Isaac’s blessing by fraud

Isaac had grown old, and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see. He summoned his elder son Esau, ‘My son!’ he said to him, and the latter answered, ‘I am here.’ Then he said, ‘See, I am old and do not know when I may die. Now take your weapons, your quiver and bow; go out into the country and hunt me some game. Make me the kind of savoury I like and bring it to me, so that I may eat, and give you my blessing before I die.’

Rebekah happened to be listening while Isaac was talking to his son Esau. So when Esau went into the country to hunt game for his father, Rebekah took her elder son Esau’s best clothes, which she had in the house, and dressed her younger son Jacob in them, covering his arms and the smooth part of his neck with the skins of the kids. Then she handed the savoury and the bread she had made to her son Jacob.

He presented himself before his father and said, ‘Father.’ ‘I am here;’ was the reply ‘who are you, my son?’ Jacob said to his father, ‘I am Esau your first-born; I have done as you told me. Please get up and take your place and eat the game I have brought and then give me your blessing.’ Isaac said to his son, ‘How quickly you found it, my son!’ ‘It was the Lord your God’ he answered ‘who put it in my path.’ Isaac said to Jacob, ‘Come here, then, and let me touch you, my son, to know if you are my son Esau or not.’ Jacob came close to his father Isaac, who touched him and said, ‘The voice is Jacob’s voice but the arms are the arms of Esau!’ He did not recognise him, for his arms were hairy like his brother Esau’s, and so he blessed him. He said, ‘Are you really my son Esau?’ And he replied, ‘I am.’ Isaac said, ‘Bring it here that I may eat the game my son has brought, and so may give you my blessing.’ He brought it to him and he ate; he offered him wine, and he drank. His father Isaac said to him, ‘Come closer, and kiss me, my son.’ He went closer and kissed his father, who smelled the smell of his clothes.

He blessed him, saying:
‘Yes, the smell of my son is like the smell of a fertile field blessed by the Lord.

May God give you dew from heaven, and the richness of the earth, abundance of grain and wine!

May nations serve you and peoples bow down before you!

Be master of your brothers;
may the sons of your mother bow down before you!

Cursed be he who curses you;
blessed be he who blesses you!’

Gospel

Matthew 9:14-17
When the bridegroom is taken from them, then they will fast

John’s disciples came to him and said, ‘Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?’ Jesus replied, ‘Surely the bridegroom’s attendants would never think of mourning as long as the bridegroom is still with them? But the time will come for the bridegroom to be taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one puts a piece of unshrunken cloth on to an old cloak, because the patch pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse. Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins; if they do, the skins burst, the wine runs out, and the skins are lost. No; they put new wine into fresh skins and both are preserved.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: July 5, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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What if you, your child or someone closest to you, made bad choices and landed up in prison. No second chances whatsoever and sooner or later would be facing the death penalty! Yes only the penalty accepted for so heinous a crime.

Then someone came bringing hope that he will fight for you to the death if need be, to secure your freedom. ( Pause and reflect on this for a moment)

Sin is what imprisons us all! It is merciless in its pursuit to see to our destruction. Yet one man came to save us all from the clutches of sin and death, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Not only to set us free but to offer us new life in Him. Such is His mercy and love that He gave us a 2nd chance and for most of us many, many chances! How then can we not offer the same mercy and love to those who have offended and hurt us? Have we in our own sins not offended and hurt our Lord? If we can change, so can our enemies by the grace of the Lord our God. For He indeed came for us sinners and not the virtuous, for those who are truly virtuous are already with Him.

Those are who are merciful, faithful and obedient unto to the Lord our God, will see His loving hand in everything and every aspect of our lives. Father Abraham was promised land and countless descendants and so we see how his lineage was kept pure subtly through the hand of God by the introduction of Rebekah to Issac his son. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Now and forever. Amen

First reading

Genesis 23:1-4,19,24:1-8,62-67
‘Choose a wife for my son Isaac’

The length of Sarah’s life was a hundred and twenty-seven years. She died at Kiriath-arba, or Hebron, in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went in to mourn and grieve for her.
Then leaving his dead, Abraham spoke to the sons of Heth: ‘I am a stranger and a settler among you,’ he said. ‘Let me own a burial-plot among you, so that I may take my dead wife and bury her.’
After this, Abraham buried his wife Sarah in the cave of the field of Machpelah opposite Mamre, in the country of Canaan.
By now Abraham was an old man well on in years, and the Lord had blessed him in every way. Abraham said to the eldest servant of his household, the steward of all his property, ‘Place your hand under my thigh, I would have you swear by the Lord, God of heaven and God of earth, that you will not choose a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites among whom I live. Instead, go to my own land and my own kinsfolk to choose a wife for my son Isaac.’ The servant asked him, ‘What if the woman does not want to come with me to this country? Must I take your son back to the country from which you came?’ Abraham answered, ‘On no account take my son back there. The Lord, God of heaven and God of earth, took me from my father’s home, and from the land of my kinsfolk, and he swore to me that he would give this country to my descendants. He will now send his angel ahead of you, so that you may choose a wife for my son there. And if the woman does not want to come with you, you will be free from this oath of mine. Only do not take my son back there.’
Isaac, who lived in the Negeb, had meanwhile come into the wilderness of the well of Lahai Roi. Now Isaac went walking in the fields as evening fell, and looking up saw camels approaching. And Rebekah looked up and saw Isaac. She jumped down from her camel, and asked the servant, ‘Who is that man walking through the fields to meet us?’ The servant replied, ‘That is my master’; then she took her veil and hid her face. The servant told Isaac the whole story, and Isaac led Rebekah into his tent and made her his wife; and he loved her. And so Isaac was consoled for the loss of his mother.

Gospel

Matthew 9:9-13
It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick

As Jesus was walking on, he saw a man named Matthew sitting by the customs house, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him.
While he was at dinner in the house it happened that a number of tax collectors and sinners came to sit at the table with Jesus and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your master eat with tax collectors and sinners? When he heard this he replied, ‘It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick. Go and learn the meaning of the words: What I want is mercy, not sacrifice. And indeed I did not come to call the virtuous, but sinners.’

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: July 4, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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What would be the ultimate sacrifice you would offer up for love of the Lord Your God? Would it be your only son to the priesthood? Your high paying job to go and do missionary work? Perhaps some precious time to form a community in the faith? What about service in your own parish? Or to facilitate the sharing of the Word in order for encounters with our Risen Lord to take place?

No matter how generous we think we are with our time, money and efforts we can never outdo or out-give our loving Heavenly Father. So loved He the world that He gave us His only Begotten Son to take away the sins of the world. It was by our sins that we nailed Him to the cross. For nothing we could offer on our own or give would pay the debt of the grave sin which marked us for ultimate death. Jesus pay the debt He did not owe for love of us; for we could never repay it on our own. He therefore takes no delight in sacrifice of burnt offerings but a humble contrite spirit He will not despise. He is ready with open arms to embrace us even in our sins. Through His mercy and love we will be washed clean to walk in His light.

Sisters and brothers let our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ be one of a loving exchange; of giving and receiving in His love and always for His glory. The same exchange which takes place at every Holy Eucharist. When we offer up to Him all our sacrifices of love and then receive Him fully as He receives us fully! Amen

First reading

Genesis 22:1-19
The sacrifice of Isaac

God put Abraham to the test. ‘Abraham, Abraham’ he called. ‘Here I am’ he replied. ‘Take your son,’ God said ‘your only child Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. There you shall offer him as a burnt offering, on a mountain I will point out to you.’
Rising early next morning Abraham saddled his ass and took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. He chopped wood for the burnt offering and started on his journey to the place God had pointed out to him. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. Then Abraham said to his servants, ‘Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there; we will worship and come back to you.’
Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering, loaded it on Isaac, and carried in his own hands the fire and the knife. Then the two of them set out together. Isaac spoke to his father Abraham, ‘Father’ he said. ‘Yes, my son’ he replied. ‘Look,’ he said ‘here are the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?’ Abraham answered, ‘My son, God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering.’ Then the two of them went on together.
When they arrived at the place God had pointed out to him, Abraham built an altar there, and arranged the wood. Then he bound his son Isaac and put him on the altar on top of the wood. Abraham stretched out his hand and seized the knife to kill his son.
But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven. ‘Abraham, Abraham’ he said. ‘I am here’ he replied. ‘Do not raise your hand against the boy’ the angel said. ‘Do not harm him, for now I know you fear God. You have not refused me your son, your only son.’ Then looking up, Abraham saw a ram caught by its horns in a bush. Abraham took the ram and offered it as a burnt-offering in place of his son. Abraham called this place ‘The Lord Provides’, and hence the saying today: On the mountain the Lord provides.
The angel of the Lord called Abraham a second time from heaven. ‘I swear by my own self – it is the Lord who speaks – because you have done this, because you have not refused me your son, your only son, I will shower blessings on you, I will make your descendants as many as the stars of heaven and the grains of sand on the seashore. Your descendants shall gain possession of the gates of their enemies. All the nations of the earth shall bless themselves by your descendants, as a reward for your obedience.’
Abraham went back to his servants, and together they set out for Beersheba, and he settled in Beersheba.

Gospel

Matthew 9:1-8
‘Your sins are forgiven; get up and walk’

Jesus got in the boat, crossed the water and came to his own town. Then some people appeared, bringing him a paralytic stretched out on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, ‘Courage, my child, your sins are forgiven.’ And at this some scribes said to themselves, ‘This man is blaspheming.’ Knowing what was in their minds Jesus said, ‘Why do you have such wicked thoughts in your hearts? Now, which of these is easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up and walk”? But to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,’ – he said to the paralytic – ‘get up, and pick up your bed and go off home.’ And the man got up and went home. A feeling of awe came over the crowd when they saw this, and they praised God for giving such power to men.

On Today’s Gospel

Posted: July 3, 2019 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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He thinks he is so Holy and she thinks she is so pious. Just wait and see, it’s all for show and surely their true colours will be unveiled. For the Lord sees into the heart and He will be the judge!

Where are these thoughts and criticism coming from? Jealousy? Insecurity? Surely you cannot think these are from the Lord our God? The only truth in the whole utterance is that the Lord indeed sees into our heart and He alone will be our judge. All of us are truly loved dearly and uniquely by God our Father and if there are any doubts or insecurities it comes from our own lack of understanding of just how much He loves us. We should strive to deepen our relationship with Him through our Lord Jesus Christ. For Christ alone dispels all our fears and doubts. He will surely come in all His glory to lift us up.

By His cross Jesus has broken all barriers, all divisions and united us all of God’s children unto Himself. By His resurrection there is no doubt whatsoever that we have a powerful and loving God. Who conquered death and has brought new life for all, that we might all live and live it to the full! Look and see the example of dearest St Thomas who touched our Lord Jesus Christ and yet himself was touched profoundly by our Lord that he could not contain within himself the words of life, “My Lord, My and my God!” St Thomas then went out courageously into the world to proclaim this for all who would listen . Amen

St Thomas the Apostle 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

John 20:24-29
‘My Lord and my God!’

Thomas, called the Twin, who was one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. When the disciples said, ‘We have seen the Lord’, he answered, ‘Unless I see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe.’ Eight days later the disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. The doors were closed, but Jesus came in and stood among them. ‘Peace be with you’ he said. Then he spoke to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Doubt no longer but believe.’ Thomas replied, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him:

‘You believe because you can see me.
Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.’

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