Saint Justin martyr9th Week in Ordinary Time : Tuesday 1st June 2021Tob. 2:9-14; Ps. 111:1-2,7-8,9; Mk. 12:13-17 (Ps Wk I) People were always trying to trap Jesus with tricky questions. Some asked him if it were permissible to pay taxes to Caesar, the Roman emperor. If he said yes, he was a traitor to his…
Lord, grant us the same spirit of service and concern for the needy which filled Your lifeVisitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary : Monday 31st May 2021Zeph. 3:14-18 or Rom. 12:9-16; (R. Ps.) Is. 12:2-3,4,5-6; Lk. 1:39-56 (Ps Wk I) Today we celebrate the loving occasion when the Mother of Jesus visited the mother of…
Lord, help me to be your good discipleThe Most Holy Trinity Sunday : 30th May 2021Deut. 4:32-34,39-40; Ps. 32:4-5,6,9, 18-19,20,22; Rom. 8:14-17; Mt. 28:16-20 (Psalter proper) When we reflect on all the great and beautiful things God has done for the world and for what God has done for each of us, there can be…
Father, let us seek the wisdom that comes from You alone8th Week in Ordinary Time : Saturday 29th May 2021Sir. 51:12-20; Ps. 18:8,9,10,11; Mk. 11:27-33 (Ps Wk IV) The authority that comes from worldly wisdom accumulates immense knowledge yet lacks insight into one's own ignorance is problematic. The problem of unrecognised ignorance is the need…
Our faith is about loving and serving God and other people8th Week in Ordinary Time : Friday 28th May 2021Sir. 44:1.9-13; Ps. 149:1-2,3-4,5-6,9; Mk. 11:11-26 (Ps Wk IV) We will probably never be famous — perhaps our lives will pass in quiet and hidden ordinary living. But Sirach assures us that our lives are no…
St Augustine of Canterbury, bishop 8th Week in Ordinary Time : Thursday 27th May 2021Sir. 42:15-26; Ps. 32:2-3,4-5,6-7,8-9; Mk. 10:46-52 (Ps Wk IV) This Gospel story about the blind beggar Bartimaeus is a fine example of how one type of story may contain other essential levels of meaning. The story is a miracle story: Jesus…
Saint Philip Neri, Priest8th Week in Ordinary Time : Wednesday 26th May 2021Sir. 36:1,4-5,10-17; Ps. 78:8-9,11,13; Mk. 10:32-45 (Ps Wk IV) ‘To love and to serve.’ This is a teaching of Jesus that we may learn from today’s Gospel reading. On their way going up to Jerusalem, when everybody is preoccupied with their own thoughts…
Lord, help me to be a generous and cheerful giver8th Week in Ordinary Time : Tuesday 25th May 2021Sir. 35:1-15; Ps. 49:5-6,7-8,14,23; Mk. 10:28-31 (Ps Wk IV) Today’s readings describe the attitude a Christian must have with regards to money and possessions. In the first reading, the relationship between offering sacrifices and keeping the commandments…
The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church 8th Week in Ordinary Time : Monday 24th May 2021Gen. 3:9-15,20; or Acts 1:12-14; Ps. 86:1-2,3,5,6-7; Jn. 19:25-34 (Ps Wk IV) The story of the Garden of Eden is similar to the teaching stories used throughout the ancient world. Their purpose was to explain pain, suffering, and…
St Rita of Cascia, religiousPENTECOST SUNDAY (B) : 23rd May 2021Acts 2:1-11; Ps. 103:1ab,24ac,29-30,3,34; 1 Cor. 12:3-7,12-13; or Gal 5:16-25; (Psalter proper) It was a cosmopolitan crowd of people from many different nations and languages. On this day of the Jewish Pentecost (the 50th day after the Jewish Sabbath of the Passover week), the disciples…