Lord, give me a merciful heart24th Week in Ordinary Time: Sunday 15th September 2019Ex. 32:7-11,13-14; Ps. 51(50):3-4,12-13, 17,19; 1 Tim. 1:12-17; Lk. 15:1-32 (Ps Wk IV) Despite all the wonderful things that God did for the Israelites, they were unfaithful. They did not trust Moses or God, so they made a Golden Calf and worshipped…
St John Chrysostom, Bishop and doctorThe Exaltation of the Holy Cross: Saturday 14th September 2019Num. 21:4-9 or Phil. 2:6-11; Ps. 78 (77):1-2,34-35,36-37,38; Jn. 3:13-17 (Ps Wk III) Many of the early Christians did not have a positive image of the cross. It was a cruel and humiliating form of execution, and there was a great…
St John Chrysostom, Bishop and doctor23rd Week in Ordinary Time: Friday 13th September 20191 Tim. 1:1-2,12-14; Ps. 16(15):1-2,5,7-8,11; Lk. 6:39-42 (Ps Wk III) It is common for Paul to write a prayer of thanksgiving for the church that he is writing to at the beginning of his letter. But, in writing to Timothy, Paul thanks…
The Holy Name of Mary23rd Week in Ordinary Time: Thursday 12th September 2019Col. 3:12-17; Ps. 151(150):1-2,3-4,5-6; Lk. 6:27-38 (Ps Wk III) If we were asked what qualities and lifestyle, followers of Christ would possess, what would we say? We can safely quote Colossians 3:12-17. In this passage, St Paul lists for us the virtues we…
Lord, help me to set my mind on the things above23rd Week in Ordinary Time: Wednesday 11th September 2019Col. 3:1-11; Ps. 145(144):2-3,10-11,12-13ab; Lk. 6:20-26 (Ps Wk III) Jesus wants to transform and renew us. But we have to do our part, and this means changing how we think and what we value. Colossians asks us…
Give thanks for unknown blessings on the way23rd Week in Ordinary Time: Tuesday 10th September 2019Col. 2:6-15; Ps. 145(144):1-2,8-9,10-11; Lk. 6:12-19 (Ps Wk III) Part of St Paul’s purpose in writing his Letters to his early communities was to encourage them to live their Christian lives with that same fervour and commitment which animated them…
Lord, help me listen to Your voice and follow You.23rd Week in Ordinary Time: Monday 9th September 2019Col. 1:24-2:3; Ps. 62(61):6-7,9; Lk. 6:6-11 (Ps Wk III) When given a task by God what do we do? We can learn from St Paul what to do in the Colossians’ passage. He said, “I became the servant…
Lord, help me to offer my life to you as a blank cheque...23rd Week in Ordinary Time: Sunday 8th September 2019Wis. 9:13-18; Ps. 90(89):3-4,5-6,12-13,14,17; Phm. 9b-10,12-17; Lk. 14:25-33 (Ps Wk III) For all our supposed sophistication these days we apparently are not very good at estimating what things will cost. We are so accustomed to…
Be conscious of other's needs rather than keeping rules and laws22nd Week in Ordinary Time: Saturday 7th September 2019Col. 1:21-23; Ps. 54(53):3-4,6,8; Lk. 6:1-5 (Ps Wk II) In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus pointed out an important aspect of Christian living. For Jesus, the human person is more important than the observance of the law of…
Jesus, you are my all in all22nd Week in Ordinary Time: Friday 6th September 2019Col. 1:15-20; Ps. 100(99):2,3,4,5; Lk. 5:33-39 (Ps Wk II) Today’s Gospel reading involves the third conflict (1st on Forgiveness of sin Lk. 5:17-26 and 2nd on Call of Levi and fellowship with sinners Lk. 5:27-32). This 3rd conflict deals with the…