March 27 - Easter Sunday: We are an Easter people

First Reading Genesis 1:1—2:2 (shorter form, Genesis 1:1,26-31a)
God creates the heavens and the earth.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm104:1-2,5-6,10,12-14,24,35 or Psalm 33:4-7,12-13,20-22
A song of praise to God, the Creator.
Second Reading Genesis 22:1-18 (shorter form, Genesis 22:1-2,9a, 10-13, 15-18)
God puts Abraham to the test.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 16:5,8-11
The Lord shows us the path of life.
Third Reading Exodus 14:15—15:1
The Israelites pass through the Red Sea.
Responsorial Psalm Exodus 15:1-6,17-18
The song of praise that the Israelites sang after crossing the Red Sea.
Fourth Reading Isaiah 54:5-14
The Lord promises to redeem Israel.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm30:2,4-6,11-13
A prayer of thanksgiving for God's redemption.
Fifth Reading Isaiah 55:1-11
A call to return to the Lord who is merciful.
Responsorial Psalm Isaiah 12:2-6
The Lord sends his salvation.
Sixth Reading Baruch 3:9-15,32—4:4
Israel is told to follow the way of God's commandments.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 19:8-11
A prayer of praise for God's commandments.
Seventh Reading Ezekiel 36:16-17a,18-28
The Lord will cleanse Israel for the sake of his holy name.
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 42:3,5; 53:3,4 orIsaiah 12:2-3,4bcd,5-6
A prayer of praise for God who saves us.
Epistle  Romans 6:3-11
Those who have been baptized have died with Christ.
Responsorial Psalm  Psalm 118:1-2,16-17,22-23
God's mercy endures forever.
Gospel Reading
Luke 24:1-12
 Easter means experiencing thepower of Jesus changing a great tragedy in our lives into a glorious newbeginning. Therefore let us experience Easter in our lives each time we falland fail, each time we want to give up, each time we want to cry and give intofrustration. Jesus Can change us, he can bring us new life again. Therefore canwe dare to start afresh from Christ? That's the challenge of Easter.

March 25 - Good Friday: In the Cross is our Salvation.

First Reading  Isaiah 52:13—53:12
Because of hisaffliction he shall see the light in fullness of days
Responsorial  Psalm 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25
Father, into your hands I commend my spirit. 
Second Reading Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9
he became the source ofeternal salvation for all who obey him.
Gospel Reading
John  18:1—19:42
As we look up to thecross today and contemplate Jesus dying to make the full payment for our sins,let us thank him, and let us promise him that our whole lives will be oneunbroken song of thanksgiving to him who gave his life to make full payment forthe immeasurable debt we owe to God. This will give us strength to carry ourlittle crosses with love and faith

March 24 - Maunday Thursday: Jesus Our Bread

First Reading  Exodus 12:1-8,11-14
This day shall be a memorial feast for you, which all your generations shall celebrate
with pilgrimage to the LORD
Responsorial Psalm  Psalm116:12-13,15-18
Our blessing-cup is a communion with the Blood of Chris.
Second Reading  Corinthians11:23-26
For as often as you eat this bread and drinkthe cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.
Gospel Reading
John  13:1—15 
Today is the day of the"Maundy," the mandatum, "the new commandment" of love. Itis the special day of friendship, and the traditional ceremonies of the day -the washing of feet, the blessing of oils for the sick, and so on - allreinforce that thought. Above all, it is the day of the banquet, thecelebration of friends, in which our divine friend gives himself in theEucharist, that we may dwell in him, and he in us. It is the moment of friendsrejoicing together before the pain of tomorrow. Today is also the day whereJesus established the priesthood. Let us thank God for all these gifts for HisChurch.

March 20 - Passion Sunday : Marching with Jesus

Gospel at the Procession with Palms Luke 19:28-40
Jesus sends his disciples for a colt and then rides into Jerusalem.
First Reading  Isaiah 50:4-7
The Lord's Servant will stand firm, even when persecuted.
Responsorial Psalm  Psalm22:8-9,17-20,23-24
A cry for help to the Lord in the face of evildoers.
Second Reading  Philippians 2:6-11
Christ was obedient even to death, but God has exalted him.
Gospel Reading
Luke 22:14—23:56 (shorter form: Luke 23:1-49) 
Indeed,we have reached the climax of the liturgical year, the highest peak ofsalvation history, when all that has been anticipated and promised is to befulfilled. By the close of today’s long Gospel, the work of our redemption willhave been accomplished, the new covenant will be written in the blood of Hisbroken body hanging on the cross at the place called the Skull. The palms thatwe use today should be sings that we are willing to follow and march with Jesusnot only in moments of glory but also in times of fall and agony.

March 13 - Fifth Sunday of Lent: Start afresh from Christ

First Reading  Isaiah 43:16-21
The Lord is doing something new for his people.
Responsorial Psalm  Psalm 126:1-6
A song in praise of the Lord's marvelous deeds
Second Reading  Philippians 3:8-14
Paul says that he counts all things as lot and focuses on one goal, Christ.
Gospel Reading
John 8:1-11
Jesusshows a God who is rich in mercy (dives in misericordia). The completeness ofhis forgiveness is most incredible in the words:“neither I condemn you”. Jesusforgives the sinner without condoning the sin. Jesus takes away the weepingfrom this woman’s heart and fills her with hope and new life which God alone canbring. Isaiah’s new deal is confirmed by Jesus. He takes a wasted soul to urnit fruitful in grace. We can catch her sentiments in the words of Isaiah aspresented in the 1st Reading: it must have been like water beenfound suddenly in the desert and rivers started flowing suddenly in thewasteland. Jesus gave a second chance to the sinful woman. He knew that shehad made a mess of her life, but life was not all over for her. She couldrebuild her life back again. We are called upon to lay aside our past (sinfulpast), our brokenness, our failures, the mistakes we have done at the feet ofJesus and to start a fresh from him and so to experience the difference.

March 6 - Fourth Sunday of Lent – Reconciliation

 
First Reading  Joshua 5:9a,10-12
The Israelites celebrate the Passover in the promised land.
Responsorial Psalm  Psalm 34:2-7
A prayer of praise to God.
Second Reading  2 Corinthians5:17-21
Paul preaches our reconciliation with Christ.
Gospel Reading
Luke 15:1-3,11-32
In Baptism, we’re given a divinebirthright, made “a new creation,” as Paul puts it in today’s Epistle. But whenwe sin, we’re like the prodigal, quitting our Father’s house, squandering ourinheritance in trying to live without Him.
Lost in sin, we cutourselves off from the grace of sonship lavished upon us in Baptism. It isstill possible for us to come to our senses, make our way back to the Father,as the prodigal does. And Lent is the acceptable time to do just that.
 

February 28 - 3rd Sunday of Lent : Repentance

First Reading  Exodus 3:1-8a,13-15
God speaks to Moses from the burning bush and sends him to the Israelites.
Responsorial Psalm  Psalm
103:1-4,6-7,8,11
A prayer in praise of God's mercy
Second Reading  1 Corinthians
10:1-6,10-12
Paul teaches that the Scriptures were written to set an example for us.
Gospel ReadingLuke 13:1-9 
The patience of God
super abounds the Judgement of God. The longer a barren tree is left to grow,
the greater the mischief it would perpetuate. Therefore it needs to be cut off.
But God is so generous to give us a second chance so that we might not only
bear fruits of good works but also rend our hearts and come back to God with
repentance.

February 21 - Second Sunday of Lent: Transfiguration

First Reading  Genesis
15:5-12,17-18
God makes a covenant with Abraham, promising him many descendants.Responsorial Psalm  Psalm
27:1,7-8,8-9,13-14
A prayer to God who is our salvationSecond Reading  Philippians
3:17-4:1 (or shorter form, Philippians 3:20-4:1)
Paul encourages the Philippians to remain firm in their faith that Christ will
subject all things to himself.Gospel ReadingLuke 9:28b-36 For the apostles the
transfiguration was an awe-inspiring experience. They had never seen their
master like this before. Peter, filled with consolation says,“Lord, it is good
for us to be here. Let us erect three booths here, one for you, one for Moses, and
one for Elijah.” On Mount Tabor they didn't want to leave. In the Garden of
Gethsemane they didn't want to stay. When Jesus was arrested they all fled. But
it is not to be. The transfiguration is only a preparation for things to
come. With Jesus they must descend the mountain to the valley below
and on to the garden of Gethsemane and Calvary.

February 14 - First Sunday of Lent : Temptation

First
Reading  Deuteronomy 26:4-10
Moses describes the offering of praise for God's deliverance of Israel.
Responsorial
Psalm  Psalm 91:1-2,10-11,12-13,14-15
A prayer for God's protection
Second
Reading  Romans 10:8-13
Paul teaches that we are saved by faith.
Gospel
ReadingLuke 4:1-13
In today’s epic Gospel scene, Jesus relives in His
flesh the history of Israel. We’ve already seen that like Israel, Jesus has
passed through water, been called God’s beloved Son (see Luke 3:22; Exodus
4:22). Now, as Israel was tested for forty years in the wilderness, Jesus is
led into the desert to be tested for forty days and nights (see Exodus 15:25).
He faces the temptations put to Israel: Hungry, He’s tempted to grumble
against God for food (see Exodus 16:1-13), When the Devil asks His homage, He’s
tempted to do what Israel did in creating the golden calf (see Exodus
32) and as Israel quarrelled at Messiah, He’s tempted to doubt God’s care
(see Exodus 17:1-6). Jesus undergoes these same temptations. in the first He
was tempted with power over nature (“turn these stones into bread”), in the
second temptation Jesus was tempted with power over people (“worship me and I
will give you dominion over all nations”) and in the third he was tempted with
power over God (jump and God will send angels to protect you.”). Aren’t these
the same temptations that we face day in and day out?

February 10 - Lent 2016

Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. Lent comes from the Anglo Saxon word lencten, which means "spring." The forty days represents the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, enduring the temptation of Satan and preparing to begin his ministry. Lent is a time of repentance, fasting and preparation for the coming of Easter. It is a time of self-examination and reflection. In the early church, Lent was a time to prepare new converts for baptism. Today, Christians focus on their relationship with God, often choosing to give up something or to volunteer and give of themselves for others. Sundays in Lent are not counted in the forty days because each Sunday represents a "mini-Easter" and the reverent spirit of Lent is tempered with joyful anticipation of the Resurrection.

February 7 – Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time : Disciple's Call

First Reading  Isaiah 6:1-2a,3-8
Isaiah describes his vision and call from the Lord. Responsorial Psalm  Psalm 138:1-5,7-8
A song of thanks to God who saves us  Second Reading  1 Corinthians
15:1-11 (shorter form, 1 Corinthians 15:3-8,11)
Paul reminds the Corinthians of the gospel that he announced to them. Gospel ReadingLuke 5:1-11   In today’s Gospel Peter
trusts and obeys God's word: "at Thy Word I will lay my nets". In
doing so he experiences God's power in the great catch of fish. Because Peter
accepts his own inadequacy and sinfulness God is able to change him. The
scratches in our lives could become beautiful opportunities for God to turn a
negative into a positive, a minus into a plus.
 

January 31 - Fourth Sunday of the Ordinary Time (Year C): Rejection

 First Reading 
Jeremiah 1:4-5,17-19
The Lord assures Jeremiah that he will deliver him from all who fight against
him. Responsorial Psalm  Psalm
71:1-2,3-4,5-6,15,17
A song in praise of God's salvation Second Reading  1
Corinthians 12:31—13:13  
Paul describes love as the greatest of virtues. Gospel Reading
Luke 4:21-30 Today in the Gospel we
see Jesus' own people rejecting Him. They were too familiar with Him to listen
to Him: "familiarity begets contempt". Jesus can only repeat the
proverb, that a prophet is not accepted in his own country. Are we ready to undergo
different hardships for the sake of Jesus and for the sake of His Gospel?
 

January 24 - Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C :The Word of God

First Reading 
Nehemiah 8:2-4a,5-6,8-10
Ezra reads from the book of the Law and interprets it for all to understand.Responsorial Psalm 
Psalm 19:8,9,10,15
A song in praise of the Law of the Lord
Second Reading 
1 Corinthians 12:12-30
Paul explains that all were baptized into the one body of Christ.
Gospel ReadingLuke 1:1-4; 4:14-21
As Jesus stands in the synagogue, he reads from the
scroll handed to him; it contains the words of the prophet Isaiah. At this
early moment in his ministry, Jesus announces his mission in continuity with
Israel's prophetic tradition. This reading from Isaiah defines Jesus' ministry.
We will find more evidence of this as we continue to read from Luke's Gospel
throughout the year. Jesus' ministry will include bringing glad tidings to the
poor, liberty to captives, healing to the sick, freedom to the oppressed, and
proclaiming a year acceptable to the Lord.
Through
this text from Isaiah, Jesus announces God's salvation. The “year acceptable to
the Lord” is a reference to the Jewish tradition of Sabbath years and jubilee.
The Sabbath year was observed every seventh year.

January 17 - Second Sunday of the Ordinary Time (Year C):When Jesus enters into our lives it is like 'water changed into wine'

First Reading  Isaiah 62:1-5
God delights in Israel and will rejoice as a bridegroom rejoices over his
bride.
Responsorial Psalm  Psalm
96:1-2,2-3,7-8,9-10
A song in praise of God's marvelous deeds
Second Reading  1 Corinthians
12:4-11
All spiritual gifts originate from the same Spirit.
Gospel ReadingJohn 2:1-11
Today is the 2nd Sunday of the Ordinary Time. The Gospel present a
'theophany' where Jesus manifests himself as the one who brings a new taste, a
new colour and a new fragrance in to our lives. Wherever Jesus is - there is
new life, where ever Jesus is - there is an abundance, wherever Jesus is -
there is richness, and with whom Jesus is - their future is insured.

January 10 - The Baptism of the Lord : Being the Beloved

First Reading 
Isaiah
40:1-5,9-11  
Isaiah tells the people to prepare a way for the Lord.Responsorial Psalm 
Psalm 104:1b-4,24-25,27-30
  
A prayer praising God's greatness
Second Reading 
Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7
 
Jesus Christ saved us and renewed us with his Holy Spirit.
Gospel ReadingLuke 3:15-16,21-22
Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Baptism of
Our Lord. This brings to an end the season of Christmas. The Church recalls Our
Lord's second manifestation or epiphany which occurred on the occasion of His
baptism in the Jordan. Jesus descended into the River to sanctify its waters
and to give them the power to beget sons of God. The event takes on the
importance of a second creation in which the entire Trinity intervenes. At His
baptism Christ was proclaimed the "Beloved Son" of the Father; at our
Baptism we become the adopted sons of God. At Christ's baptism the heavens were
opened; at our Baptism heaven was opened to us. At His baptism Jesus prayed;
after our Baptism we must pray to avoid actual sin.

January 3 - The Epiphany of the Lord: Worship

First Reading  Isaiah 60:1-6
Jerusalem shall be a light to all nations.Responsorial Psalm  Ps
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
Today is the feast of the three kings or the
magi or the wise men who were led to Jesus by a star. A star is a sign or a
symbol. God speaks to us through various Stars/signs. What is the star through
which God is trying to speak his word to me? That star should finally lead me
to pay homage to Him. Let my whole being worship Him.

January 1 - Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Mother of God

First Reading  Nm 6:22-27The Priestly Blessing of MosesResponsorial Psalm  Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8May the nations be glad
and exult
Second Reading  Galatians 4:4-7
God sent his Son when the fullness of time comes.
Gospel ReadingLuke 2:16-21
 
Today as we begin a New
Year, the Church honours Mary with a sublime title: Mother of God. The
greatness of her motherhood is not primarily built on blood relationship. There
is a spiritual meaning for her motherhood. St. Augustine rightly says “Prium
concepit in mente quam corpore” which means “Mary conceived Jesus first in
her mind and later in her body”. This means that Mary was filled with Jesus
even spiritually. And as we begin this New Year let us ask God to help us to do
the same: to conceive Jesus in our minds, to be filled with Jesus.

December 27 - The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Cycle C

 First Reading  1 Samuel 1:20-22,24-Hannah dedicates her
son, Samuel, to the Lord. Responsorial Psalm  Psalm 84:2-3,5-6,9-10
Those who dwell in the Lord's house are happy. Second Reading  1 John 3:1-2,21-24
We are God's children now. Gospel Reading
Luke 2:41-52 Today we celebrate the feast of
the Holy Family. This feast is part of the Christmas season, and we should
place today's Gospel in the context of what Luke's Gospel tells us about the
birth of Jesus. Luke has been answering the question “Who is Jesus?” through
his stories of the births of John the Baptist and Jesus. Today's Gospel reading
continues this theme. It has no parallel in the other Gospels and is the
conclusion of Luke's Infancy Narrative. Mary,
Joseph, and Jesus are presented in this Gospel as a faithful Jewish family.
They are participating in the annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the feast of
Passover, an event shared each year with family and friends. When Jesus is
found, Luke describes him as seated in the Temple in the midst of the Jewish
teachers. Although he is young, Jesus seems not to need teaching about his
Jewish tradition. In his dialogue with these learned teachers, Jesus astounds
them with his insight and understanding. Jesus is a child of Israel. His Father
is God.

December 25 - The Nativity of the Lord

First Reading 
Isaiah 9:1-6
To those in darkness, a child will be born who will have dominion over the
earthResponsorial Psalm  Psalm 96:1-2,2-3,11-12,13
Sing a new song to the Lord.Second Reading 
Titus 2:11-14
God has appeared, bringing salvation to all.Gospel ReadingLuke 2:1-14
On this day, the Feast of Christmas, we are given the details of
Christ's birth as found in the Gospel of Luke. Here we learn about the census
that brings Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem, where Jesus is born. We
also hear about the angel's announcement of this good news to the shepherds. In
these details, we find two of Luke's particular concerns: (1) to locate the coming
of Christ in the wider framework of salvation history as good news for all
people, Gentiles and Jews, and (2) to show the Lord's favor upon the poor and
lowly.
In Luke's Gospel, Jesus is
born as one of the poor. Laid in a manger in a stable, because there was no
room at the inn, he comes into the world through obscure and surprising means.
Yet, as the angel proclaims this good news to the shepherds, this infant is
announced as the Messiah and Lord. In the song of the angels, all are invited
to give glory to God for this miraculous birth, in which God comes to share our
humanity

December 20 - Fourth Sunday of Advent, Cycle C

First Reading 
Micah 5:1-4
The ruler of Israel is promised to come from Bethlehem.Responsorial Psalm 
Psalm 80:2-3,15-16,18-19
A prayer for God's salvation
Second Reading 
Hebrews 10:5-10
Through his obedience to God's will, Christ consecrated all.
Gospel ReadingLuke 1:39-45
Our
Gospel reading recalls Mary's actions after the announcement of Jesus' birth by
the angel Gabriel. Mary goes to visit Elizabeth, her cousin, who is also with
child. Elizabeth greets Mary with full recognition of the roles that they and
their unborn children will play in God's plan for salvation. If we were to
continue to read the verses that follow in Luke's Gospel, we would hear Mary
respond to Elizabeth's greeting with her song of praise, the Magnificat. Both
women recall and echo God's history of showing favor upon the people of Israel.