Lord, grant us the strength and perseverance to shake off all our sins 1st Week of Lent, Friday : 6th March 2020Ez. 18:21-28; Ps. 130(129):1-2,3-4,5-8; Mt. 5:20-26 (Ps Wk I) During this penitential season, we intentionally set aside time to reflect more deeply and prayerfully about our lives. Let us read the readings for Lent…
Having hearts that are a little restless is a precious gift from God1st Week of Lent, Thursday: 5th March 2020Est. 4:17; Ps. 138(137):1-3,7-8; Mt. 7:7-12 (Ps Wk I) What do we do when we are in trouble and have nowhere to turn? Many people panic, give up or do stupid things. Esther knew exactly what…
Lord, grant me a humble and contrite spirit1st Week of Lent, Wednesday: 4th March 2020Jona. 3:1-10; Ps. 51(50):3-4,12-13,18-19; Lk. 11:29-32 (Ps Wk I) Psalm 51(50) is one of seven Psalms known as the penitential psalms because they express in a striking manner the meaning and need for repentance. “My sacrifice, O Lord, is a contrite…
Lord, help me love You and my neighbour1st Week of Lent, Tuesday: 3rd March 2020Is. 55:10-11; Ps. 34(33):4-5,6-7,16-17,18-19; Mt. 6:7-15 (Ps Wk I) When Jesus warns us “In your prayers, do not rattle on like the pagans”, he is not condemning long prayers as such but only those that are marked by a sheer multiplication…
Lord, help me love You and my neighbour1st Week of Lent, Monday: 2nd March 2020Lev. 19:1-2,11-18; Ps. 19(18):8,9,10,15; Mt. 25:31-46 (Ps Wk I) The passage from the Book of Leviticus highlights two basic rules of conduct for a life of holiness. Both rules are related to the divine-human relationship, namely love for God and love…
Lord, help me to be faithful to you1st Sunday of Lent (A) : 1st March 2020Gen. 2:7-9; 3:1-7; Ps. 51(50):3-4,5-6,12-13,14,17; Rom. 5:12-19; Mt. 4:1-11 (Ps Wk I) When ancient people wanted to express a profound and essential truth, they told a story. The Garden of Eden is one of these stories, and it explains why…
Lord, lead me back Saturday after Ash Wednesday : 29th February 2020 Is. 58:9-14; Ps. 86(85):1-2,3-4,5-6; Lk. 5:27-32 (Ps Wk IV) We continue during these first few days after Ash Wednesday to deepen our understanding of what the Lenten season should mean to us. We begin a journey of repentance and conversion that will lead…
Lord, help me to find the true meaning of Lent and live it gracefully and steadilyFriday after Ash Wednesday : 28th February 2020Is. 58:1-9; Ps. 51(50):3-4,5-6,18-19; Mt. 9:14-15 (Ps Wk IV) There are differences in tone between the greatest passages in the Old Testament and the writings of the New Testament. Isaiah, in particular, wrote…
Happy is the person who hope in the LordThursday after Ash Wednesday : 27th February 2020Deut. 30:15-20; Ps. 1:1-2,3,4,6; Lk. 9:22-25 (Ps Wk IV) Whenever we hear about “mysticism” or “mystical experience”, we inevitably think of it as a rare grace, reserved to great saints and far beyond the expectations of us ordinary Catholics. Yet…
Lord, help me start my Lenten journey, walking closely with youASH WEDNESDAY : Wednesday 26th February 2020Joel. 2:12-18; Ps. 51(50):3-4,5-6,12-13,14,17; 2 Cor. 5:20-6:2; Mt. 6:1-6,16-18 (Ps Wk IV) Today we begin our Lenten journey. It is a time of preparation for the celebration of Holy Week and Easter. To prepare ourselves, we can increase our…