Episodes
Friday Oct 27, 2017
October 29 - Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time : To love as Jesus loves
Friday Oct 27, 2017
Friday Oct 27, 2017
First Reading : Exodus 22:20-26
The Lord teaches that compassion ought to be shown to the alien and to the poor.
Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 18:2-4,47,51
The Lord is our strength.
Second Reading : 1 Thessalonians 1:5c-10
Paul tells the Thessalonians that their conversion to the Lord has been an example to all believers.
Gospel Reading : Matthew 22:34-40
In this Sunday's Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples to love God and the neighbour alike. Loving God and loving neighbour are two aspects of the same commandment to love. Our foremost duty is to love God with our entire selves. This love of God should be expressed in the way we love our neighbours. We need to love others with as much concern as we have for ourselves. We see what true love is in the life of Jesus: the sacrificial love. That's why he once said: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another." (John 13:34). All of us want to love like Jesus. We want to be generous, forgiving, and compassionate enough to love people unconditionally. But no matter how hard we try, it just doesn't work. Our humanness gets in the way. Therefore let us ask Jesus to help us to love the way he loved.
Wednesday Oct 18, 2017
October 22 – Twenty Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time : Caesar Vs. God
Wednesday Oct 18, 2017
Wednesday Oct 18, 2017
First Reading : Isaiah 45:1,4-6
The Lord chooses Cyrus to subdue the nations for the sake of Israel.
Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 96:1,3-10
Sing praise to the Lord.
Second Reading : 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5b
Paul greets the Thessalonians, recalling the Gospel they received.
Gospel Reading : Matthew 22:15-21
Every Christian holds dual citizenship, each one of which has its own benefits and duties. Our birth made us citizens of an earthly nation; our baptism made us citizens of a heavenly Kingdom. Obedience to the spiritual Law, obedience to the temporal law! This is the summary of today's gospel. As far as possible, we need to live out both of these citizenships responsibly. We can be good citizens of earth, giving to Caesar what belongs to him, as well as good citizens in Christ's Kingdom, giving to God what belongs to him. But through the centuries, the many Christian saints and martyrs have taught us that if we are ever forced to choose between the two, if ever Caesar tries to take what belongs to God, we must be faithful to our true, everlasting homeland, even if it means suffering painful consequences here on earth.
Thursday Oct 12, 2017
Thursday Oct 12, 2017
First Reading : Isaiah 25:6-10aÂ
The Lord will provide richly for his people.
Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 23:1-6
The Lord is our shepherd.
Second Reading : Philippians 4:12-14,19-20
Paul tells the Philippians that God provides whatever he needs.
Gospel Reading Matthew 22:1-14 (shorter form Matthew 22:1-10)
Often in the rich symbolism of a wedding feast, with its abundance of wine, food and a union of love, is used to speak of God’s taking final possession of his people. Today in the Gospel we see how the ones invited to the banquet gives excuses for not attending the wedding feast. They had other interest: a farmer a business. Indeed, these other attractions were so powerful than the wedding feast of the king. This same thing can happen to some of us. God is waiting to meet us and give us his blessings though the Sacraments (specially the Holy Mass and the Sacrament of Confession) but at times we will not realize this and go after mundane things. E.g. our business becomes important than the Sunday Mass. Can we learn something from this parable?
Thursday Oct 05, 2017
Thursday Oct 05, 2017
First Reading : Isaiah 5:1-7
The Lord compares the house of Israel to a vineyard.
Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 80:9,12-16,19-20
The Lord protects his vineyard, the house of Israel.
Second Reading : Philippians 4:6-9
Paul encourages the Philippians to stay faithful to the teaching they received from him.
Gospel Reading : Matthew 21:33-43
Today’s parable teaches us about the need to produce fruit in our lives. God gave us his vineyard so that we would produce a bountiful harvest for Him and not remain lazy and selfish. The parable teaches also about God’s patience with us and our accountability to God. The vineyard owner made three efforts to get the tenant farmers to change their ways. When he saw more patience was futile, he passed judgement on the tenants. He held them accountable for their actions. It is the same way with God and us. Our heavenly Father is infinitely patient. But the time will come when God’s patience will give way to judgement. We, too, will be held accountable for our actions.