Episodes
Wednesday Jan 31, 2018
January 28 - Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time : Speaking with Authority
Wednesday Jan 31, 2018
Wednesday Jan 31, 2018
First Reading Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Moses tells the people that God will raise up for them a new prophet.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 95:1-2,6-7,7-9
A song of praise to the Lord.
Second Reading 1 Corinthians 7:32-35
Paul expresses his concern that those who are married are more likely to face the distractions of earthly life than those who are celibate.
Gospel Reading Mark 1:21-28
Jesus’ teaching always contrasted sharply with that of the scribes. What Jesus taught them that day, as well as the way he presented and demonstrated his message, simply amazed them. In one word, Jesus taught with authority, the scribes did not. “They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Mark 1:22). What does it mean to teach with authority? When we compare and contrast the teaching of Jesus with that of the scribes we notice three distinguishing qualities: The teaching of Jesus is (a) from the heart and not just from the head, (b) focuses on the spirit and not on the letter of the law, and (c) inspires a positive change of heart in the hearers. There was a transparency about what he was saying. And most important of all – he backed up his words with deeds. Can we say the same thing with regard to our words? Do deeds accompany our words? Today we have a glut of words but many of them are rendered worthless by insincerity or poisoned by falseness. Therefore what is needed is credibility because “example is better than precept”.
Wednesday Jan 31, 2018
January 21 - Third Sunday in ordinary Time :Seek that which lasts
Wednesday Jan 31, 2018
Wednesday Jan 31, 2018
First Reading Jonah 3:1-5,10
God spared the people of Nineveh because they heeded the message God sent through Jonah.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 25:4-5,6-7,8-9
The Lord teaches us his ways.
Second Reading 1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Paul warns the Corinthians that they must act differently because the world in its present form is passing away.
Gospel Reading Mark 1:14-20
It must be noticed that the disciples are about their everyday tasks as fishermen; they are casting their net into the sea, in their boat, mending their nets. But the summons of Jesus shatters all these external signs of their settled life as successful fishermen. They leave what their peer group would have seen as signs of their success: their nets, their boas, their hired servants and their father to follow Jesus as he journeys in response to the will of his Father. Thus the disciples were able to discern what is temporal and what is eternal. Because this world is temporary and the world to come is permanent, and our permanent inheritance depends on how we live now with God’s grace, we are wise to have a detachment from the things of this world. Detachment does not mean that we don’t love our spouses, that the things that hurt us do not really hurt, that the things that make us happy don’t really give us joy, that we don’t really need physical things, and that these things do not have their own value. Detachment does mean that we see all these persons and good things—and the hardships of life—in light of eternity. Marriage, sorrows, joys, material things, and work find their real meaning in the light of Christ. No earthly good—as truly good as these can be—is our final end. No earthly evil—as truly evil as these can be—is the last word either.
Wednesday Jan 31, 2018
January 14 - Second Sunday in the Ordinary Time : Introducing Jesus to others
Wednesday Jan 31, 2018
Wednesday Jan 31, 2018
First Reading 1 Samuel 3:3b–10,19
The Lord calls Samuel.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 40:2, 4, 7–8, 8–9, 10
A prayer of commitment to follow the will of the Lord.
Second Reading 1 Corinthians 6:13c–15a,17–20
Paul reminds the Corinthians that their bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit.
Gospel Reading John 1:35–42
The Gospel reading presents John the Baptizer sharing his faith with two disciples and with Andrew sharing his faith with his brother Peter. Significantly, John mentions Andrew three times in his Gospel. Each time Andrew is bringing someone to Jesus. Each time Andrew is sharing his faith. If we believe the Gospel is good news, why don’t we share it with others? Or if we believe Jesus is the greatest treasure the heart can possess, why don’t we share our faith with others? Like John and like Andrew let us never hesitant to share our in Jesus with others.
Wednesday Jan 31, 2018
January 7 - The Feast of the Epiphany: Follow the star
Wednesday Jan 31, 2018
Wednesday Jan 31, 2018
First Reading Isaiah 60:1-6
Jerusalem shall be a light to all nations.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 72:1-2,7-8,10-11,12-13
Every nation on earth shall worship the Lord.
Second Reading Ephesians 3:2-3a,5-6
Gentiles are coheirs in the promise of Christ.
Gospel Reading
Matthew 2:1-12
The Feast of the Epiphany could be understood by the three S. The first S is, to See. The wise men saw the star and they followed. God speaks to us through signs. Are we able to see and understand those sings? God tells us not to see with our physical eyes but to see with our hearts. The second S is Search. The wise men were searching for Christ. Once we have found the star we have to hvae a great desire to put our desire into action and seek after that sign. The last S is Submit or to obey. The wise men did this once they found Jesus and offered to Him the best of everything. All signs finally lead us to worship the Lord. Is there a star out there beckoning you? The star is the good out there to be sought, the truth to be embraced. Even our regrets about our weaknesses and sinfulness which can sometimes stir up our conscience could be that twinkling star. It may be a feeling of anger or guilt, or perhaps a sense of loss. Let that not frighten you. Let it not create clouds to hide it from you. Follow where that star leads and when it stops, go into the house, prostrate yourself and offer your gifts. The Eucharist that we celebrate today can be itself an epiphany, an encounter with that Star, a marvellous revelation of the love of Jesus in Word and Sacrament, for those who believe. May our celebration today be an epiphany that leads us to see God more clearly, love him more dearly, and follow him more nearly.
Wednesday Jan 31, 2018
January 1 - The Solemnity of Mary Mother of God: The Blessing
Wednesday Jan 31, 2018
Wednesday Jan 31, 2018
First Reading Numbers 6:22-27
God gives a blessing for the Israelites.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 67:2-3,5,6,8
All the people sing praises to God.
Second Reading Galatians 4:4-7
God sent his Son to make us children of God.
Gospel Reading
Luke 2:16-21
In the first reading we find the ancient prayer of blessing which God gave to Moses to hand on to Aaron and his sons: “The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace” (Num 6:24-25). There is no more meaningful time than the beginning of a new year to hear these words of blessing: they will accompany our journey through the year opening up before us. The Mother of God is the first of the blessed, and it is she who bears the blessing; she is the woman who received Jesus into herself and brought him forth for the whole human family. Thus we can say that the message of hope contained in this blessing was fully realized in Mary. This was the very experience that the shepherds of Bethlehem too had, who reappear in today’s Gospel. They had the experience of standing in God’s presence and seeing the Blessing. Let us ask the grace to behold this Blessing, to receive that blessing and to be a blessing to all whom we meet.