St Monica 21st Week in Ordinary Time : Thursday 27th August 20201 Cor. 1:1-9; Ps. 144:2-3,4-5,6-7; Mt. 24:42-51 (Ps Wk I) Paul wrote his letters to instruct the new communities and to correct their faults, often serious moral or doctrinal faults, which had arisen. But apart from the Letter to the Galatians, he does not…
Increase my faith, Lord Jesus, so that I can face the crises and threats that I am not prepared for21st Week in Ordinary Time : Wednesday 26th August 20202 Thess. 3:6-10,16-18; Ps. 127:1-2,3,4-5; Mt. 23:27-32 (Ps Wk I) ‘Teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!’ How could Jesus call such people who are well…
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will be called the children of God!21st Week in Ordinary Time : Tuesday 25th August 20202 Thess. 2:1-3,14-17; Ps. 95:1-,11-13; Mt. 23:23-26 (Ps Wk I) Jesus continues his attacks on the Pharisees and Scribes. We should see this as a criticism of the legalistic mind. Not all…
Lord, open my heart and mind to Your presenceFeast of St Bartholomew, Apostle : Monday 24th August 2020Rev. 21:9-14; Ps. 144:10-11,12-13,17-18; Jn. 1:45-51 (Ps Wk I) The beautiful image of the heavenly Jerusalem is not a place. It is meant to describe that time when we will be in God’s presence forever. The beauty of…
Lord, help me to be silent... to listen. Lord, teach me Your ways21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (A) : 23rd August 2020Is. 22:19-23; Ps. 137:1-3,6,8; Rom. 11:33-36; Mt. 16:13-20 (Ps Wk I) It is easy to be discouraged or cynical in the face of corruption and abuse of power. Isaiah insisted that God was about…
Queen of Heaven, teach us to follow the way of humility, service and loveThe Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary : Saturday 22nd August 2020Is. 9:1-6; Ps. 113(112):1-2,3-4,5-6,7-8; Lk. 1:26-38 (Ps Wk IV) In the history of humanity, there have been many kings, queens and rulers who were in power and made an impact in…
St Pius X, Pope20th Week in Ordinary Time : Friday 21st August 2020Ez. 37:1-14; Ps. 106:2-3,4-5,6-7,8-9; Mt. 22:34-40 (Ps Wk IV) In the Gospel today, Jesus teaches us that the greatest commandment is love. But the Scribes and Pharisees forgetting the real spirit behind the Ten Commandments were laying heavy emphasis on the letter of…
St Bernard, Abbot and doctor20th Week in Ordinary Time : Thursday 20th August 2020Ez. 36:23-28; Ps. 50:12-13,14-15,18-19; Mt. 22:1-14 (Ps Wk IV) Ezekiel told the Israelites that God would sanctify his name, which the people had profaned. God would gather the Israelites into their own land and purify them — they would be set apart.…
St John Eudes, Priest20th Week in Ordinary Time : Wednesday 19th August 2020Ez. 34:1-11; Ps. 22:1-4,5,6; Mt. 20:1-16 (Ps Wk IV) The God of Israel is to become the true shepherd of His people. This prophecy, dated after the fall of Jerusalem is one of hope and consolation. Israel’s shepherds (her kings, princes and priests)…
Lord, help me become a true disciple20th Week in Ordinary Time : Tuesday 18th August 2020Ez. 28:1-10; (R. Ps.) Deut. 32:26-28,30,35-36; Mt. 19:23-30 (Ps Wk IV) The first reading describes the judgement of God, as expressed through the prophet Ezekiel on the famed commercial city of Tyre, which was also the chief city of Phoenicia.…