Saturday of Week 16 in Ordinary Time Jer 7:1-11Mt 13:24-30 “While everybody was asleep his enemy came…” We may be sowing good seed in the field, doing what we think is helping to build God’s kingdom. But if we don’t stay alert or close to the Lord, the ‘enemy’ will come in secret, quietly sowing... Continue Reading →
7 July, Sunday — Not Weak But Strong
14th Sunday in Ordinary Time Eze 2:2-52 Cor 12:7-10Mk 6:1-6 For it is when I am weak that I am strong. This sounds like an oxymoron – a figure of speech with opposing meaning. So how can one be weak yet strong at the same time? It is only possible through God, of course. In... Continue Reading →
10 May, Friday — Forever joy
May 10 – John of Ávila (not to be confused with John Avila or St John of the Cross) was a Spanish priest, preacher, scholastic author, and religious mystic, who has been declared a saint and Doctor of the Church by the Catholic Church. He is called the ‘Apostle of Andalusia’, for his extensive ministry in that region. From early 1551 Ávila was in constant ill-health. He spent the last years... Continue Reading →
2 April, Thursday — Gift of faith
Easter Tuesday Acts 2:36-41Jn 20:11-18 “…you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise that was made is for you and your children, and for all those who are far away, for all those whom the Lord our God will call to himself.”…they accepted what he said and were baptized. For the believers,... Continue Reading →
1 February, Thursday — The law of love
Thursday of Week 4 in Ordinary Time 1 Kgs 2:1-4,10-12Mk 6:7-13 “Observe the injunctions of the Lord your God, following his laws, his commandments, his customs and his decrees… so you may be successful in all you do and undertake, so that the Lord may fulfil the promise he made me…” The verse above is... Continue Reading →
31 January, Wednesday — What’s in a name?
31 Jan – Memorial for St. John Bosco, priest St. John Bosco (1815-1888) was the son of Venerable Margaret Bosco. His father died when he was just two years old, and as soon as he was old enough to do odd jobs, he did so for extra money for his family. Bosco would go to... Continue Reading →
2 January, Tuesday — A voice cries out in the wilderness
2 Jan – Memorial for Sts. Basil the Great & Gregory Nazianzen, bishops St. Basil the Great (329-379) was a noble by birth. His parents and four of his nine siblings were canonized, including St. Gregory of Nyssa. He was the grandson of St. Marcina the Elder. As a youth, he was noted for organizing... Continue Reading →
1 January, Monday — Keep on pondering
1 Jan – Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God is celebrated on Jan 1, the Octave Day of Christmas (i.e. 8th day after Christmas). It is a celebration of Mary’s motherhood of Jesus. The title ‘Mother of God’ is a western derivation from the Greek... Continue Reading →
7 December, Thursday — Faith like a mustard seed
Dec 7 – Memorial for St. Ambrose, bishop and doctor of the Church St. Ambrose (c.340–397) was born to the Roman nobility. He was the brother of St. Marcellina and St. Satyrus. He was educated in the classics, Greek, and philosophy at Rome, Italy. He was a poet and a noted orator. He was a... Continue Reading →
6 December, Wednesday — The Lord is my shepherd
Dec 6 – Memorial for St. Nicholas, bishop St. Nicholas (d. 346) was a priest and abbot, and the bishop of Myra, Lycia (modern Turkey). He was generous to the poor, and a special protector of the innocent and wrong. Many stories grew up around him prior to his becoming Santa Claus. One story is... Continue Reading →
OXYGEN 