Thursday of Week 5 in Ordinary Time Gen 2:18-25Mk 7:24-30 "It is not good that the man should be alone." If you’re ‘doing’ Catechism in a Year with Fr. Mike Schmitz and me (and 142 million others!), then on Day 23 you heard “NO ONE BUILDS A CHAIR ON THEIR OWN”. That line really resonated... Continue Reading →
7 February, Tuesday — Honour Thy Father
Tuesday of Week 5 in Ordinary Time Gen 1:20-2:4 Mk 7:1-13 “How ingeniously you get round the commandment of God in order to preserve your own tradition!” During this season of Chinese New Year, I am usually reminded (by my parents at least) of all the traditions that come with the festivities. For instance, having... Continue Reading →
5 February, Sunday — Of use
5th Sunday in Ordinary Time Isa 58:7-101 Cor 2:1-5Mt 5:13-16 “It is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out to be trampled underfoot by men.” Sometime after my wife’s baptism, her sister, who had not yet met Jesus, remarked to me that her sister is different. She said “She isn’t as hot tempered... Continue Reading →
4 February, Saturday — Is God truly your shepherd?
Saturday of Week 4 in Ordinary Time Heb 13:1-8Mk 6:14-29 …to become the Great Shepherd of the sheep by the blood that sealed an eternal covenant… Today, we read one of the church’s favourite Psalms – Psalm 23, The Lord is Our Shepherd. But when worries and troubles and doubts arise, do we treat God... Continue Reading →
1 February, Wednesday — “Give Thanks. Always.”
Wednesday of Week 4 in Ordinary Time Heb 12:4-7,11-15Mk 6:1-6 “My soul, give thanks to the Lord all my being, bless his holy name.My soul, give thanks to the Lord and never forget all his blessings.” Almost everyone that has attended the Conversion Experience Retreat (CER) would know and love this song: “Bless the Lord,... Continue Reading →
30 January, Monday — “I am with you always…”
Monday of Week 4 in Ordinary Time Heb 11:32-40 Mk 5:1-20 “Go home to your people and tell them all that the Lord in his mercy has done for you.” As we approach the end of the first month of the year, have we made any resolutions? And have we taken steps to keep them?... Continue Reading →
29 January, Sunday — Fools for Christ
4th Sunday in Ordinary Time Zep 2:3,3:12-131 Cor 1:26-31Mt 5:1-12a ...it was to shame the wise that God chose what is foolish by human reckoning... I once heard a homily where it was shared that the 12 apostles will unlikely qualify for any job in today's age. Each of them had characteristics which would embarrass... Continue Reading →
23 January, Monday – Caught Up In The Moment
Monday of Week 3 in Ordinary Time Heb 9:15,24-28Mk 3:22-30 ...but let anyone blaspheme against the Holy Spirit and he will never have forgiveness Football is the purest expression of gladiatorial sport in our age. Brute force is pit against battle wits to move a football down to the opponent’s end zone. It is violent.... Continue Reading →
22 January, Sunday — Guided by faith
3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Isa 8:23-9:31 Cor 1:10-13,17Mt 4:12-23 At once…they followed him. I was extremely blessed to spend 5 days in Medjugorje just after the New Year. We had travelled there via Istanbul and Dubrovnik and I had been craving some peace and quiet, having gone through a tough, challenging year. Having a... Continue Reading →
19 January, Thursday – Asking and Taking
Thursday of Week 2 in Ordinary Time Heb 7:25-8:6Mk 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 people... Continue Reading →
OXYGEN 