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Sunday 5th week of Lent
Gospel: Jn 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45
“I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
Gospel: Jn 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45
“I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
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Saturday 4th of Lent
“Dear brothers and sisters, from this place that tells of Peter’s rock-solid faith, I would like this evening to entrust all of you to the Lord, through the intercession of Mary, Health of the People and Star of the stormy Sea. From this colonnade that embraces Rome and the whole world, may God’s blessing come down upon you as a consoling embrace. Lord, may you bless the world, give health to our bodies and comfort our hearts. You ask us not to be afraid. Yet our faith is weak and we are fearful. But you, Lord, will not leave us at the mercy of the storm. Tell us again: ‘Do not be afraid’ (Mt 28:5). And we, together with Peter, ‘cast all our anxieties onto you, for you care about us’ (cf. 1Pet 5:7).” ‐ Pope Francis, Urbi et Orbi blessing to see nd coronavirus on Friday 27th March 2020.
Let us respond with a resounding "Amen".
Peace.
“Dear brothers and sisters, from this place that tells of Peter’s rock-solid faith, I would like this evening to entrust all of you to the Lord, through the intercession of Mary, Health of the People and Star of the stormy Sea. From this colonnade that embraces Rome and the whole world, may God’s blessing come down upon you as a consoling embrace. Lord, may you bless the world, give health to our bodies and comfort our hearts. You ask us not to be afraid. Yet our faith is weak and we are fearful. But you, Lord, will not leave us at the mercy of the storm. Tell us again: ‘Do not be afraid’ (Mt 28:5). And we, together with Peter, ‘cast all our anxieties onto you, for you care about us’ (cf. 1Pet 5:7).” ‐ Pope Francis, Urbi et Orbi blessing to see nd coronavirus on Friday 27th March 2020.
Let us respond with a resounding "Amen".
Peace.
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Friday 3rd week of Lent
Gospel
The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, He is One and there is no other than he. And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.”
Reflection:
How far are we from the Kingdom of God, are we even going in the right direction?
Peace.
Gospel
The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, He is One and there is no other than he. And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.”
Reflection:
How far are we from the Kingdom of God, are we even going in the right direction?
Peace.
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Saturday 2nd week of Lent
Reflection:
I believe the least church going person knows the gospel of the Prodigal Son. It is one of the most human and emotionally touching parables told.
It is the message of Lent. We can go home from anywhere, any state, any condition. No sin need keep us separated from our Father in heaven. All we need is to repent. Our God is waiting.
Peace.
Reflection:
I believe the least church going person knows the gospel of the Prodigal Son. It is one of the most human and emotionally touching parables told.
It is the message of Lent. We can go home from anywhere, any state, any condition. No sin need keep us separated from our Father in heaven. All we need is to repent. Our God is waiting.
Peace.
- Published on
Thursday 3rd week of Lent
“Where does our mercy come from?” asked the Pope. Mercy is not one of many realities, “There is no Christianity without mercy. If all our Christianity does not lead us to mercy, we are on the wrong path, because mercy is the only true goal of every spiritual journey. It is one of the most beautiful fruits of charity.”
Pope Francis reminded the faithful following his catechesis that “God's mercy is our liberation and our happiness”, emphasising, “it is the air that we must breathe”.
Reflection:
We are always prone to judgements in our human nature, easily seeing and proclaiming the faults of others, but not so much our own. Quick to anger and slow in mercy is the human way not God's way.
Perhaps we can use our isolation to make a Lenten reflection on Psalm 103:8, one of many verses that show us the right way, God's way:
'Merciful and gracious is the LORD, slow to anger, abounding in mercy.'
Peace
“Where does our mercy come from?” asked the Pope. Mercy is not one of many realities, “There is no Christianity without mercy. If all our Christianity does not lead us to mercy, we are on the wrong path, because mercy is the only true goal of every spiritual journey. It is one of the most beautiful fruits of charity.”
Pope Francis reminded the faithful following his catechesis that “God's mercy is our liberation and our happiness”, emphasising, “it is the air that we must breathe”.
Reflection:
We are always prone to judgements in our human nature, easily seeing and proclaiming the faults of others, but not so much our own. Quick to anger and slow in mercy is the human way not God's way.
Perhaps we can use our isolation to make a Lenten reflection on Psalm 103:8, one of many verses that show us the right way, God's way:
'Merciful and gracious is the LORD, slow to anger, abounding in mercy.'
Peace
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Wednesday 3rd week of Lent
Adversity reveals character. I've seen the worse of human nature in response to covid-19: hoarding, fighting, price gouging: symptoms of our selfishness. I've also seen the best of human nature. Quarantined communities rising in songs of hope, providing for the needy, a glimpse of agape love.
Masses have been suspended but Jesus is ever present. Let us show the world Christ's is with us.
“See how they love one another”—this is what the pagans observed, to their own amazement, about the early Christians. Let our light shine!
Peace.
Adversity reveals character. I've seen the worse of human nature in response to covid-19: hoarding, fighting, price gouging: symptoms of our selfishness. I've also seen the best of human nature. Quarantined communities rising in songs of hope, providing for the needy, a glimpse of agape love.
Masses have been suspended but Jesus is ever present. Let us show the world Christ's is with us.
“See how they love one another”—this is what the pagans observed, to their own amazement, about the early Christians. Let our light shine!
Peace.
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Sunday 3rd week of Lent
Today's gospel recounted the encounter with Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. It broke all social conventions of the day. Consider who Jesus was speaking to: a person of questionable morals (adultery/fornication) who belonged to an underclass group (women) in a despised society (Samaritan).
Theirs was a deep discussion on her sin, on true thirst, on worship, on the Spirit: Jesus and this marginalized woman. At the end of it, she became an evangelist "come and see". She was no longer outcast as her people listened and came. The life giving water that Jesus offered her renewed and restored her life. Her thirst fully satisfied.
In our thirst we look to quench it with the wrong things. Wealth, power, sex, drugs etc fail to satisfy because it's like drinking from a stagnant pool. Only Jesus offers living water.
This Lent Jesus still waits at the well.
Peace.
Today's gospel recounted the encounter with Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. It broke all social conventions of the day. Consider who Jesus was speaking to: a person of questionable morals (adultery/fornication) who belonged to an underclass group (women) in a despised society (Samaritan).
Theirs was a deep discussion on her sin, on true thirst, on worship, on the Spirit: Jesus and this marginalized woman. At the end of it, she became an evangelist "come and see". She was no longer outcast as her people listened and came. The life giving water that Jesus offered her renewed and restored her life. Her thirst fully satisfied.
In our thirst we look to quench it with the wrong things. Wealth, power, sex, drugs etc fail to satisfy because it's like drinking from a stagnant pool. Only Jesus offers living water.
This Lent Jesus still waits at the well.
Peace.
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Friday 2nd week of Lent
One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus replied, “The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Reflection:
How far are we from the kingdom of heaven? Are we confident in our devotions, bible verses, devotions and such (these are all good things after all) or are we confident in the power of our love?
Look at the discourse between the scribe and Jesus. It may seem that Jesus gave two answers to one question. He didn't. They are two sides of the same coin really. To love my neighbor is to love God and to love God is to love my neighbor. Neither can be mutually exclusive.
How far are we from the kingdom of God? We can use this Lenten season to find out.
Peace
One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus replied, “The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Reflection:
How far are we from the kingdom of heaven? Are we confident in our devotions, bible verses, devotions and such (these are all good things after all) or are we confident in the power of our love?
Look at the discourse between the scribe and Jesus. It may seem that Jesus gave two answers to one question. He didn't. They are two sides of the same coin really. To love my neighbor is to love God and to love God is to love my neighbor. Neither can be mutually exclusive.
How far are we from the kingdom of God? We can use this Lenten season to find out.
Peace
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Tuesday 3rd week of Lent
Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. Mt 18:21
Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. Mt 18:21
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Monday 3rd week of Lent
A new week has begun with new anxiety. Everything is closed or closing as we make the effort to encourage 'social distancing' to contain the spread of covid-19. Today is already difficult and who knows what tomorrow will bring?
So I go to the Word for comfort and head straight to Hebrews 13:8
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever"
My friends Jesus loved you yesterday, loves you today and will love you forever! And his love is all we really need.
Peace.
A new week has begun with new anxiety. Everything is closed or closing as we make the effort to encourage 'social distancing' to contain the spread of covid-19. Today is already difficult and who knows what tomorrow will bring?
So I go to the Word for comfort and head straight to Hebrews 13:8
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever"
My friends Jesus loved you yesterday, loves you today and will love you forever! And his love is all we really need.
Peace.