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 →
1 March, Wednesday — Learning from Jonah and the Ninevites
Wednesday of the 1st Week of Lent Jon 3:1-10Lk 11:29–32 Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. Today’s first reading is from the book of Jonah, which I find an almost tragicomic story in its description of Jonah’s futile attempts to avoid God’s... Continue Reading →
17 December, Saturday — Learning from Jesus’s Genealogy
17 December Gn 49:2, 8-10Mt 1:1-17 The sum of generations is therefore: fourteen from Abraham to David; fourteen from David to the Babylonian deportation; and fourteen from the Babylonian deportation to Christ. During Lent this year, I impulsively made a decision to embark on the Bible in a Year podcast by Ascension Press, which required... Continue Reading →
16 December, Friday — Persevering in taking up John’s call
Friday of the 3rd Week of Advent Isa 56:1-3,6-8Jn 5:33-36 "John was a lamp alight and shining, and for a time you were content to enjoy the light that he gave." For the past few years (and particularly during the pandemic), I have tried to read and reflect more about the Advent season. One of the... Continue Reading →
21 October, Friday — The Spiritual After-Action Review
Friday of Week 29 in Ordinary Time Eph 4: 1-6Lk 12: 54-59 I, the prisoner in the Lord, implore you to to lead a life worthy of your vocation. Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the spirit by the peace that... Continue Reading →
18 October, Tuesday — 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 →
3 September, Saturday — Strengthening our relationship with Jesus
Sep 3 – Memorial for St. Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor St. Gregory (540-590) collected the melodies and plain chants so associated with him, that they are now known as Gregorian Chants. He was elected by unanimous acclamation for pope. Incidentally, he was also the first monk to be pope. Before his papacy, he... Continue Reading →
16 June, Thursday – Figuring out how to pray
Thursday of Week 11 in Ordinary Time Ecc 48:1-15Mt 6:7-15 "In your prayers, do not babble as the pagans do, for they think that by using many words they will make themselves heard." I have a constant struggle with prayer, because I have always found it difficult to maintain the balance between praying in a... Continue Reading →
15 June, Wednesday — Fasting throughout the year
2 Kgs 2:1,6-14Mt 6:1-6,16-18 "...and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you." Today’s Gospel passage makes me recall Lent, since it is commonly read on Ash Wednesday. It also led me to recall my friend’s sharing about he had managed to fast from TikTok for this year’s Lent, and... Continue Reading →
OXYGEN 