Tuesday of Week 34 in Ordinary Time Dan 2:31-45Lk 21:5-11 “...the time will come when not a single stone will be left on another: everything will be destroyed.” Today’s readings have a sombre consistency in their focus on how everything will eventually be destroyed. They remind me of a book I read earlier this year,... Continue Reading →
18 October, Wednesday — Being unprepared for the journey
Oct 18 – Feast of St. Luke the Evangelist St. Luke (d. 74) was born to pagan Greek parents, and possibly a slave. He was one of the earliest converts, and a physician studying in Antioch and Tarsus. He probably travelled as a ship’s doctor, and many charitable societies of physicians are named after him.... Continue Reading →
17 October, Tuesday — The need to rebuild
Oct 17 – Memorial for St. Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr St. Ignatius (c. 50–107) was a convert from paganism to Christianity. He succeeded Peter as bishop of Antioch, Syria. He served during persecution of Domitian. During the persecution of Trajan, he was ordered to be taken to Rome to be killed by wild animals.... Continue Reading →
15 October, Sunday — God is aware of our needs
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time Is 25:6-10Phil 4:12-14,19-20Mt 22:1-14 There is nothing I cannot master with the help of the One who gives me strength. All the same, it was good of you to share in my hardships. In return, my God will fulfil all your needs, in Christ Jesus, as lavishly as God only... Continue Reading →
3 September, Sunday — Constantly reforming our relationship with God
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Jer 20:7-9Rm 12:1-2Mt 16:21-27 Do not model yourselves on the behaviour of the world around you, but let your behaviour change, modelled by your new mind. This is the only way to discover the will of God, and know what is good, what it is that God wants, what is... Continue Reading →
21 June, Wednesday – The challenge of being counter-cultural
Jun 21 – Memorial for St. Aloysius Gonzaga, religious St. Aloysius (1568-1591) was an Italian noble who grew up in a castle as the son of a compulsive gambler. He suffered from kidney disease, but considered it a blessing as it left him bed-ridden with time for prayer. While still a boy himself, he taught... Continue Reading →
20 June, Tuesday — How do we approach the call to love others?
Tuesday of Week 11 in Ordinary Time 2 Cor 8:1-9Mt 5:43-48 “… in this way you will be sons of your Father in heaven, for he causes his sun to rise on bad men as well as good, and his rain to fall on honest and dishonest men alike.” I have always found today’s Gospel... Continue Reading →
19 June, Monday — Serving God in everything we do
Jun 19 – St Philip Minh, Priest and Companions, Martyrs St Philip Minh is a Vietnamese martyr. Born in Vietnam, he joined the Society for Foreign Missions of Paris and was ordained a priest with the purpose of working for the Church in Vietnam. Seized by anti-Catholic forces, he was beheaded. He was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1988. Vietnamese Martyrs, also... Continue Reading →
4 May, Thursday — Reflecting on the Acts of the Apostles
Acts 13:13-25Jn 13:16-20 Paul and his went by sea from Paphos to Perga in Pamphylia where John left them to go back to Jerusalem. The others carried on from Perga till they reached Antioch in Pisidia. Every Eastertide season, I appreciate the chance to read the Acts of the Apostles through the mass readings. The... Continue Reading →
3 May, Wednesday — Identifying with the Apostles
May 3 – Feast of Sts. Philip and James, Apostles St. Philip was a disciple of St. John the Baptist, and a convert. He was one of the Twelve Apostles, and brought St. Nathanael to Christ. He was a confidant of Jesus. Little is known about him, but scriptural episodes give the impression of a... Continue Reading →
OXYGEN 