Lord Jesus, help us prepare for the celebration of Your birth amongst us1st Week of Advent (A) : Monday 2nd December 2019Is. 4:2-6; Ps. 122(121): 1-2,3-4,8-9; Mt. 8:5-11 (Ps Wk I) At the entrance to the modern city of Jerusalem in Israel there is an arch with the welcoming greeting in Hebrew: “Blessed is your…
Feast of St Andrew, Apostle34th Week in Ordinary Time : Saturday 30th November 2019Rom. 10:9-18; Ps. 19(18):2-3,4-5; Mt. 4:18-22 (Ps Wk II) Andrew had been a follower of St John the Baptist. When he and Peter were called by Jesus to be His followers, the fishers of men, they left all things to follow Him.…
Lord, help me to be faithful to your teachings34th Week in Ordinary Time : Friday 29th November 2019Dan. 7:2-14; (R. Ps.) Dan. 3:75,76,77,78,79,80,81; Lk. 21:29-33 (Ps Wk II) Did God actually order such violence against the dwellers in the land? We would hope not! This is not how we look at God today, but the…
Enter into your own place to pray in secret and your Father who sees in secret will reward you (Mt 6:6).34th Week in Ordinary Time : Thursday 28th November 2019Dan. 6:12-28; (R. Ps) Dan:3:68,69,70,71,72,73,74; Lk. 21:20-28 (Ps Wk II) The Book of Daniel is rather puzzling and difficult to understand. Hence it is quite difficult…
The Lord’s presence is always within us34th Week in Ordinary Time : Wednesday 27th November 2019Dan. 5:1-6,13-14,16-17,23-28; (R. Ps.) Dan. 3:62,63,64,65,66,67; Lk. 21:12-19 (Ps Wk II) The apocalyptic literature from which our readings are drawn at the end of the Church’s year — whether from the Hebrew Scriptures or from the New Testament itself —…
The Lord’s presence is always within us 34th Week in Ordinary Time : Tuesday 26th November 2019Dan. 2:31-45; (R. Ps.) Dan. 3:57,58,59,60,61; Lk. 21:5-11 (Ps Wk II) Earthly power in all its forms can seem overwhelming and impossible to resist. Who are we to stand against economic, political, and religious forces? We can feel helpless…
St Catharine of Alexandria, virgin & martyr34th Week in Ordinary Time : Monday 25th November 2019Dan. 1:1-6,8-20; (R. Ps.) Dan. 3:52,53,54,55,56; Lk. 21:1-4 (Ps Wk II) Apart from the doctrine inherent in today's story and especially in Jesus' comment, this passage can act as a test of our knowledge of the incarnate Jesus. Many people…
Christ Our King 34th Week in Ordinary Time, Christ the King :Sunday 24th November 20192 Sam. 5:1-3; Ps. 122(121):1-2,4-5; Col. 1:12-20; L. 23:35-43 (Ps Wk II) There is a saying that absolute power corrupts absolutely. We find many examples in our world of the abuse of power, oppression, injustice, and cruelty. Christ is a different…
St Clement I, pope & martyr33rd Week in Ordinary Time :Saturday 23rd November 20191 Mac. 6:1-13; Ps. 9:2-3,4,6,16,19; Lk. 20:27-40 (Ps Wk I) The Jews were so upset with the desecration of the Temple that they gained the strength to retake Jerusalem and to tear down what King Antiochus had erected on the altar. They…
Do we show reverence in the Church where we gather for the Eucharistic celebrations and other prayer services? 33rd Week in Ordinary Time : Friday 22nd November 20191 Mac 4:36-37,52-59; (R. Ps.) 1 Chr. 29:10,11,12; Lk. 19:45-48 (Ps Wk I) In the Gospel account on the Cleansing of the Temple, it is meant to re-iterate…