August 15 - The Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven : Crown of Glory

The Assumption of the Blessed
Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of her earthly life is a defined dogma of
the Catholic Church. On November 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII, exercising papal infallibility, declared in "Munificentissimus
Deus" that it is a dogma of the Church "that the
Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of
her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory." As a
dogma, the Assumption is a required belief of all Catholics; anyone who
publicly dissents from the dogma, Pope Pius declared, "has fallen away
completely from the divine and Catholic Faith." The
"Magnificat," which we find in Luke's Gospel, indicates that the
praise of the Holy Virgin, the Mother of God, intimately united to Christ her
son, regards the Church of all times and places. The evangelist's report of
these words presupposes that the glorification of Mary was already present at
that time and that he saw it as a duty and task of the Christian community for
all generations. Mary's words tell us that it is a duty of the Church to recall
Our Lady's greatness in faith. This solemnity is, then, an invitation to praise
God and to look to Our Lady's greatness since we know who God is by gazing
about the faces of those who are His.

August 14 - Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time : Fire upon the Earth

First Reading  Jeremiah 38:4-6,8-10
Jeremiah is punished for criticizing the wealthy for their corruption and theirinjustice to the poor.
Responsorial Psalm  Psalm 40:2-4,18
A prayer for God's help
Second Reading  Hebrews 12:1-4
Let us persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyesfixed on Jesus.
Gospel Reading
Luke 12:49-53
Jesus makes an important statementin today's Gospel.
a. "I have come to bringfire on the earth." This is not the fire of destruction, the fire thatravages rain forests every year. It is the fire of heat and light. It is thefire that cleanses and purifies. It is the fire of God's presence as in theburning bush that Moses saw, as in the pillar of fire that accompanied theIsraelites in the desert, as in the tongues of fire at Pentecost where thebringing of fire was mandated to the disciples, to the Church, to all of us. Asa purifying fire it can also bring pain and purification but it ultimatelyleads to conversion and liberation.
c. "I have come not tobring peace but division." It is especially painful to hear the Gospelspeak of families being broken up because of Jesus. But this is less a prophecyor an expression of God's will than a description of the Church's very realexperience from the time the Gospels were being written down to our own day. In many countries, both Christianindividuals and Christian communities are seen as a threat to governments,various power groups and other religious groups. We saw this in practicallyevery Communist regime during this century: the Soviet Union, the East Europeansatellites, China and Vietnam. And these governments had reason to fear eventhough Stalin mockingly asked once how many divisions the Pope had. Yet it wasthe faith of Christians, who, without firing a shot (Stalin was right), wassignificantly instrumental in the collapse of Communism in Central and EasternEurope. Yet, in the long history of the Church, how many families have sufferedbecause members became Christians? Most of us – especially those who have livedin non-Christian or anti-Christian societies – probably have met someone whowas rejected by their family for becoming an active Christian. And, notinfrequently, persecution comes even from other Christians, from within theChurch itself. And how many people realize that there have been more martyrsfor the faith in the supposedly advanced and civilized 20th century than in allthe preceding centuries!

August 7 - Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Being Faithful & Being Prepared

 
First Reading  Wisdom 18:6-9
The Hebrew people awaited the salvation of the just.
 
Responsorial Psalm  Psalm 33:1,12,18-22
Happy the people the Lord has chosen to be his own.
 
Second Reading  Hebrews 11:1-2,8-19
We will look for the city designed and built by God.
 
Gospel Reading
Luke 12:32-48
 
 
Today the Gospel speaks to us -as the first theme- of the need to be prepared since our God is  a God who comes, a Godwho visits us. He can come to us in many ways. For example through theSacraments, through the Word of God, through the Priest, through the Communitygathered for worship, through the poor, the sick and the lowly, He could comeand speak to us through our live events and experiences etc etc. Are we readyto welcome him in all these modes of his coming? The second theme for todayspeaks to us the need to be faithful at all times. Thus Mother Theresa ofCalcutta would say : "God did not call us to be successful, but to befaithful." It is not what we do that matters at the end but how far wehave been faithful to Him and His Gospel. Let us ask God for the grace to beprepared all the time to welcome Him and that we be faithful we He callsus. 

July 31 - Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: The Fool’s Vanity

First
Reading  Genesis 18:20-32
Abraham pleads with God to save the innocent people of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Responsorial Psalm  Psalm
138:1-3,6-8
Lord, on the day I cried for help, you answered me.
Second Reading  Colossians
2:12-14
You were buried with Christ in Baptism and also raised with him.
Gospel Reading
Luke 11:1-13
 
Trust in God - as the
Rock of our salvation, as the Lord who made us His chosen people, as our
shepherd and guide. This should be the mark of our following of Jesus. We can
harden our hearts in ways more subtle but no less ruinous. We can put our trust
in possessions, squabble over earthly inheritances, kid ourselves that what we
have we deserve, store up treasures and think they’ll afford us security, rest.
All this is “vanity of vanities,” a false and deadly way of living, as this
week’s First Reading tells us. This is the greed that Jesus warns against in
this week’s Gospel. The rich man’s anxiety and toil expose his lack of faith in
God’s care and provision. That’s why Paul calls greed “idolatry” in the Epistle
this week. Mistaking having for being, possession for existence, we forget that
God is the giver of all that we have, we exalt the things we can make or buy
over our Maker (see Romans 1:25). Jesus calls the rich man a “fool” - a word
used in the Old Testament for someone who rebels against God or has forgotten
Him (see Psalm 14:1). We should treasure most the new life we have been given
in Christ and seek what is above, the promised inheritance of heaven. We have
to see all things in the light of eternity, mindful that He who gives us the
breath of life could at any moment - this night even - demand it back from us.

July 24 - Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Asked and Answered

First Reading  Genesis 18:20-32
Abraham pleads with God to save the innocent people of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Responsorial Psalm  Psalm 138:1-3,6-8
Lord, on the day I cried for help, you answered me.
Second Reading  Colossians 2:12-14
You were buried with Christ in Baptism and also raised with him.
Gospel Reading
Luke 11:1-13
Though we be “but dust andashes,” we can presume to draw near and speak boldly to our Lord, as Abrahamdares in this week’s First Reading. The mystery of prayer, as Jesus reveals to Hisdisciples in this week’s Gospel, is the living relationship of beloved sons anddaughters with their heavenly Father.  Our prayer is pure gift, madepossible by the “good gift” of the Father - the Holy Spirit of His Son. It isthe fruit of the New Covenant by which we are made children of God in ChristJesus (see Galatians 4:6-7; Romans 8:15-16). Jesus teaches His disciples topersist in their prayer, as Abraham persisted in begging God’s mercy for theinnocent of Sodom and Gomorrah. This intriguing story of Abraham interceding forSodom is not really about a numbers game but about the significance of salvationfor the righteous in a corrupt community. Authentic prayer opens us up tothe action of God's Spirit, bringing us in line with God's desires, and makingus into true disciples, obedient to Jesus and to the Father who has sent him.Prayer becomes one of the ways by which we follow Jesus in the Christian life.

July 17- Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Serving God and Serving Neighbour

 
First Reading 
Genesis 18:1-10a
Abraham entertains three strangers and is promised a son.
 
Responsorial Psalm  Psalm
15:2-5
Those who do justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
 
Second Reading  Colossians
1:24-28
The mystery hidden from ages past has now been revealed in Christ.
 
Gospel Reading
Luke 10:38-42
 
Last Sunday we were
shown through the Parable of the Good Samaritan how important it is to serve
our neighbour : "For
I desire mercy, not sacrifice". And in today's Gospel Jesus completes that by showing how
important it is to serve God and give Him our fullest attention by highlighting
Mary who was at His feet. Martha stands for the service to the Neighbour while
Mary stands for the service to God. Thus we need to be both Martha and Mary.

July 10 – Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: What We Must Do

 
 
First Reading  Deuteronomy 30:10-14
Moses reminds the people that God's commandments are not remote but are alreadyin their hearts.
 
Responsorial Psalm  Psalm 69:14,17,30-31,36-37
Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live.
 
Second Reading  Colossians 1:15-20
Jesus is the head of the body, the Church.
 
Gospel Reading
Luke 10:25-37
 
In today’s Gospel we are given the summary ofChristian belief: Love God & Love Neighbour. This command is nothing remoteor mysterious - it’s already written in our hearts, in the book of sacredScripture: “You have only to carry it out,” Moses says in this week’s FirstReading. Jesus tells His interrogator the same thing: “Do this and you willlive.” -The scholar, however, wants to know where he can draw the line.That’s the motive behind his question: “Who is my neighbor?”. In hiscompassion, the Samaritan in Jesus’parable reveals the boundless mercy ofGod - who came down to us when we were fallen in sin, close to dead, unableto pick ourselves up. Like the Samaritan, He pays the price for us, heals thewounds of sin, pours out on us the oil and wine of the sacraments, entrusts usto the care of His Church, until He comes back for us. Because His love hasknown no limits, ours cannot either. We are to love as we have been loved, todo for others what He has done for us - joining all things together in His Body,the Church. This is the love that leads to eternal life, the love Jesuscommands today of the scholar, and of each of us - “Go and do likewise.”

July 3 - Fourteenth Sunday in the Ordinary Time: I have a mission

 
First Reading   Isaiah 66:10-14c
I will spread prosperity over Jerusalem like a river.
 
Responsorial Psalm   Psalm 123:1-4
Our eyes are fixed on the Lord.
 
Second Reading   Galatians 6:14-18
May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Gospel Reading
Luke 10:1-12,17-20
 
St.Luke is unique in recording a mission of the 72 in addition to a mission of theTwelve. God has given us life and brought us to this world for a definitepurpose. We are given some definite service and a mission to fulfil."Somehow I am necessary for His purposes" says John Henry CardinalNewman. Have you realized the purpose for which God gave you life? Have youidentified the mission entrusted to you? Are you doing something to accomplishthat mission?

June 26 - Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time : Free to Follow

 
First Reading 1 Kings 19:16b,19-21
Elijah anoints Elisha as his successor.
 
Responsorial Psalm  Psalm16:1-2,5,7-11
I set the Lord ever before me.
 
Second Reading  Galatians5:1,13-18
Christ has set us free.
 
Gospel Reading
Luke 9:51-62
 
In todays Readings we are reminded that those who wish to JoinChrist must be ready to disengage themselves from any earthly home, ready todisengage from past responsibilities and ready to disengage from pastrelationships. This simply means singular detachment from earthly matters.Jesus asks his disciples to put Him first even before the most demanding familyties. Can we do that?

June 19 - Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time : Who is Jesus?

 
First Reading  Zechariah 12:10–11; 13:1
Zechariah prophesies a time of great mourning.
 
Responsorial Psalm  Psalm 63:2–6,8–9
A psalm of longing to return to a close relationship with God.
 
Second Reading  Galatians 3:26–29
For the baptized, union with Christ goes beyond all boundaries. 
 
Gospel Reading
Luke 9:18–24 
 
 
Today's Gospel invitesus to believe in Jesus who is the Christ and only in Him. A common misconception among the crowd wasthat the Christ would be a powerful political liberator who would set Israelfree from the Romans. This was far from the truth. The Son of Man isdestined to suffer grievously, to be rejected by the elders and the chiefpriests and scribes and to be put to death, and to be raised up on the thirdday. Thus we are reminded that we are to believe in Christ but that Christis different in the sense that He comes with the Cross and on the Cross.

June 12 - Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time: Many Sins, Great Love

 
First Reading 2 Samuel 12:7-10,13
God's judgment on David for taking another man's wife
Responsorial Psalm  Psalm32, 1-2,5,7,11
A prayer for forgiveness.
Second Reading  Galatians2:16,19-21
We are justified through faith in Jesus Christ.
Gospel Reading
Luke 7:36—8:3
In this Sunday’sreadings we are like the fallen king, David, and the woman who weeps at Jesus’feet. And like David, and like the woman in the Gospel, we fall into sin. Ourcrimes may not be as grave as David’s (see 2 Samuel 11:1–26) or as“many” asthat woman’s (see Luke 7:47). But we often squander the great gift of salvationwe’ve been given. Often we fail to live up to the great calling of being sonsand daughters of God. The good news of today’s readings, the good news of JesusChrist, is that we can return to God in the sacrament of confession. Each of uscan repeat Paul’s wondrous words in this week’s Epistle: “The Son of God hasloved me and given himself up for me.” The issue is not how much sin is in your life, but how muchrepentance there has been, giving way to forgiveness.
 

June 5 - Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time : Restored to Life

First Reading  1 Kings 17:17–24
A widow’s son is brought back to life by the prophet Elijah.
 
Responsorial Psalm   Psalm 30:2,4,5–6,11–12,13(2a)
The psalmist praises the Lord for deliverance from harm. 
 
Second Reading  Galatians 1:11–19
Paul defends his authority to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.
 
Gospel Reading
Luke 7:11–17
 
Jesus in today’s Gospel meets a funeral procession coming out of thegates of the town of Nain. Unlike when he raised Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5) orLazarus (John 11), no one requests his assistance. Moved by compassion for thewidow who had lost her only son, Jesus steps forward and, laying his hand onthe bier, commands him to arise. Like the physical healings that heperformed, Jesus’ raising people from the dead is a sign of the Messiah’sarrival (Luke 7:22). But it is more than that; these healings are visible signsof the awakening and liberating of men from the spiritual death caused by sin(see Mark 2:1-12).

May 29 - The Feast of Corpus Christi: the Living bread

 
First Reading Genesis 14:18-20
Melchizedek, king of Salem, blessed Abram.
 
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 110:1-4
You are a priest forever, in the line of Melchizedek.
 
Second Reading 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
As often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the death ofthe Lord until he comes.
 
Gospel Reading
Luke 9:11b-17
 
Today we celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi, orthe Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. The Eucharist is true food and drinkbut at the same time it is very different from every other food and drink. Thegreat difference lies in these words of Christ which St Augustine heard inprayer, “You will not change me into yourself as you would food of yourflesh; but you will be changed into me.” We transform ordinary food intoour own bodies but the food of the Eucharist transforms us into the body ofChrist. Ludwig Feuerbach's statement that we become what we eat is never moretrue that in the Eucharistic experience.

May 22 - Holy Trinity Sunday: One God in Three persons

First Reading  Proverbs 8:22-31
Wisdom was born before the earth was made.
 
Responsorial Psalm  Psalm 8:4-9
O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!
 
Second Reading  Romans 5:1-5
We boast of our afflictions.
 
Gospel Reading
John 16:12-15
 
Holy Trinity Sunday, iscelebrated a week after Pentecost Sunday in honour of the most fundamental ofChristian beliefs—belief in the Holy Trinity. We can never fully understand themystery of the Trinity, but we can sum it up in the following formula: God isthree Persons in one Nature. The three Persons of God —Father, Son, and HolySpirit— are all equally God, and They cannot be divided.

May 15 - Pentecost Sunday : Renewing and recreating

 
First Reading Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11
The Holy Spirit descends upon the Apostles gathered in Jerusalem.
 
Responsorial Psalm  Psalm104:1,24,29-31,34
God's Spirit renews the earth.
 
Second Reading  1Corinthians 12:3b-7,12-13 or Romans 8:8-17
We are all one in Christ Jesus.
 
Gospel Reading
John 20:19-23
 
 
Todayis the day when the Holy Spirit descended upon the infant Church. The church isbeing constantly renewed and recreated by the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirittakes us (1) from fear and confusion to courage and fortitude, (2) from deathand darkness to life and light, (3)from slavery to the flesh to the gloriousfreedom of the sons of God, (4) from dissension and disharmony to unity andpeace.

May 8 - Ascension of Our Lord : We are witnesses

 
First Reading Acts of the Apostles 1:1-11
Jesus is taken up to heaven in the presence of the Apostles.
 
Responsorial PsalmPsalm 47:2-3,6-9
Sing praise to God as he mounts his throne.
 
Second Reading Ephesians 1:17-23 orHebrews 9:24-28; 10:19-23
God raised Jesus from the dead and seated him at his right hand.
 
Gospel Reading
Luke 24:46-53
  
Today we celebrateJesus' return to the Father. We might compare the Feast of the Ascension to thepassing of a baton from one runner to another in a relay race. Jesus passed thebaton of his work to Peter, James and John. They in return passed it on to us.And now it is our turn to pass it on to others. This means living out Jesus'teaching in our own personal lives and to live Jesus in our own lives.
 

May 1 - Sixth Sunday of Easter: Our real home is in heaven

First Reading  Acts of theApostles 15:1-2,22-29
The early Church community determines, with the help of the Holy Spirit, not toimpose the requirement of circumcision on Gentile Christians
Responsorial Psalm  Psalm 67:2-3,5,6,8
A prayer that all the nations sing praise to God.
Second Reading  Revelation 21:10-14,22-23
The vision of the splendor of the heavenly Jerusalem is described.
Gospel Reading
John 14:23-29
Our real home is inheaven "gleaming with the splendour of God" (Rev 21:11). However Godhas made his abode in our hearts as well: "If anyone loves me and keeps myword, I and my Father will come to dwell in him" (Jn 14:23)

April 24 - Fifth Sunday of Easter : Newness, Glory, and Love

 
First Reading  Acts of theApostles 14:21-27
Paul and Barnabas proclaim the good news in many places.
Responsorial Psalm  Psalm145:8-9,10-11,12-13
A song of praise to God.
Second Reading  Revelation 21:1-5a
John describes his vision of a new heaven and a new earth.
Gospel Reading
John 13:31-33a,34-35
According to the Gospel of John, the actuation and the realization of all these 3realities took place on the Cross. Therefore we are invited to experience thesame in our moments of joy and in moments of Sorrow.

April 17 - Fourth Sunday of Easter: The Good Shepherd Sunday

First Reading  Acts of the
Apostles 5:27-32,40b-41 
The apostles are brought before the Sanhedrin and ordered to stop speaking in
Jesus' name.
Responsorial Psalm  Psalm
30:2,4,5-6,11-12,13
A song of praise to God who rescues us.
Second Reading  Revelation 5:11-14
John describes his vision of the praises that will be sung to the Lamb by every
creature on heaven and earth.
Gospel Reading
John 21:1-19 (short form:John 21:1-14)
In the gospel reading Jesus
identifies himself as the shepherd: “My sheep hear my voice. I know them,
and they follow me”(John 10:27). Remember, each week we take Jesus inside us in the Eucharist and our
greatest protection and shepherding comes from within. Take the time to listen
to Jesus. Spend some quality time this week with Jesus. Just a few minutes to
listen quietly or reflect on his words can change your day. That is how we are
nourished. And that is how we can be judged.

April 10 – Third Sunday of Easter: To love like Jesus

First Reading  Acts of the
Apostles 5:12-16 
Peter and the apostles perform many signs and wonders.
Responsorial Psalm  Psalm
118:2-4,13-15,22-24
A song of praise to the Lord.
Second Reading  Revelation
1:9-11a,12-13,17-19
John describes the instruction he received to write down his vision.
Gospel Reading
John 20:19-31
 
Todays
Gospel presents to us the scene of Peter's repentance as three times Jesus asks
him to make a profession of love. Jesus then explains just what Peter's love
and leadership will require, foretelling Peter’s death by crucifixion:
"you will stretch out your hands". This is agape love, that is
self-forgetting love. Mother Theresa of Calcutta speaks of 'loving till it
hurts'. That is Christian love. Can we love this way? Can we love the way Jesus
loved?