2 Feb – Feast of the Presentation of the Lord This feast celebrates an early episode in the life of Jesus. In the Roman Catholic Church, the Presentation is the fourth Joyful Mystery of the Rosary. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, it is one of the twelve Great Feasts. In many Western liturgical churches, Vespers... Continue Reading →
18 January, Thursday — Asking and Taking
Thursday of Week 2 in Ordinary Time 1 Sam 18:6-9,19:1-7Mk 3:7-12 He cured many and as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him. The scene of our gospel reading today is markedly different from yesterday. Today, we see Jesus mobbed by the crowd, pressed in from all sides, by... Continue Reading →
21 November, Tuesday — On Leadership
Nov 21 – Memorial for the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Today, we commemorate the presentation of the Blessed Virgin as a child in the Temple where, according to tradition, she was educated. The feast originated in the Orient probably about the seventh century, and is found in the constitution of Manuel Comnenus (1166)... Continue Reading →
20 November, Monday — Spiritual Blindness
Monday of Week 32 in Ordinary Time 1 Mac 1:10-15,41-43,54-57,62-64Lk 18:35-43 And instantly his sight returned and he followed him praising God… Living in California, I’ve found you need a pretty thick skin and a robust attitude to having your Christian faith questioned when you’re least expecting it. It’s happened to me often enough, each... Continue Reading →
12 October, Thursday — Ask, Seek, Knock
Thursday of Week 27 in Ordinary Time Mal 3:13-20Lk 11:5-13 “Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.” In the movie ‘The Shawshank Redemption’, Morgan Freeman has a searing line about hope – “Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive... Continue Reading →
6 August, Sunday — Transfigured
Aug 6 – Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord Today we celebrate the occasion on which Christ revealed Himself in shining splendour to Peter, James, and John. Moses and Elijah were present, and are taken to signify the Law and the Prophets. They testify to Jesus as the promised Messiah. God the Father also... Continue Reading →
17 July, Monday — Not in God’s House
Monday of Week 15 in Ordinary Time Exo 1:8-14,22Mt 10:34-11:1 “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Some time ago, I scurried into church and slid into a pew, just as Mass was about to begin. Traffic in Los Angeles is not to be... Continue Reading →
10 June, Saturday — On Prioritising
Saturday of Week 9 in Ordinary Time Tob 12:1,5-15,20Mk 12:38-44 “But she, from the little she had has put in everything she possessed…” When we think of the resources at our disposal, two come to mind most prominently – Time and Money. How we commit either speaks volumes about how we view our priorities. Time,... Continue Reading →
9 June, Friday — In His Time
Jun 9 – Memorial for St. Ephrem of Syria, deacon and Doctor of the Church St. Ephrem (306-373) was baptized at age 18. He helped to evangelize Nisibis, Mesopotamia. He may have attended the Council of Nicaea in 325. He was a deacon and preacher, and had a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.... Continue Reading →
8 June, Thursday — Tough Love
Thursday of Week 9 in Ordinary Time Tob 6:10-11,7:1,9-14,8:4-9Mk 12:28-34 “Be kind enough to have pity on her and me and bring us to old age together.” Brothers and sisters, today, we look at what God’s Word says about the more difficult relationships in our lives. We’ve all got one or two of those, people... Continue Reading →
OXYGEN 