"Our hearts are restless, O God, until they rest in you"St Augustine, Bishop & Doctor: Wednesday 28th August 20191 Thess. 2:9-13; Ps. 139(138):7-8,9-10,11-12; Mt. 23:27-32 (Ps Wk I) Saint Augustine is rightly regarded as one of the greatest Doctors or teachers of the Western Church. His mother, Saint Monica, whose feast we celebrated yesterday was…
Mary, the perfect disciple of Christ21st Week in Ordinary Time: Tuesday 27th August 20191 Thess. 2:1-8; Ps. 139(138):1-3,4-6; Mt. 23:23-26 (Ps Wk I) Pronouncing a ‘woe’ on someone or some group is an expression of grief at their sorry state and warning of the bad consequences that will follow. In today’s gospel passage, Jesus’ continues…
Lord, deepen my faith in You21st Week in Ordinary Time: Monday 26th August 20191 Th. 1:1-5,8-10; Ps. 150(149):1-2,3-4,5-6,9; Mt. 23:13-22 (Ps Wk I) The opening words of this first letter of St. Paul are almost a summary of what it means to grow in faith and spirituality. They point to the ways to achieve that…
Lord, deepen my relationship with You21st Week in Ordinary Time: Sunday 25th August 2019Is. 66:18-21; Ps. 117(116):1,2,; Heb. 12:5-7,11-13; Lk. 13:22-30 (Ps Wk I) Jerusalem was in ruins after the Babylonian captivity. Some Jews had remained, but many had been taken to Babylon. The returning captives were like refugees. The Jews were devastated as there…
One cannot give what one does not possessFeast of St Bartholomew, Apostle: Saturday 24th August 2019Rev. 21:9-14; Ps. 145(144):10-11,12-13,17-18; Jn. 1:45-51 (Ps Wk IV) The Entrance Antiphon today sums up the life and work of an Apostle. An Apostle must “day after day proclaim the salvation of the Lord” and “proclaim his glory to all…
Lord, help me to love you and others as you love20th Week in Ordinary Time: Friday 23rd August 2019St Rose of Lima, virgin Ruth. 1:1,3-6,14-16,22; Ps. 146(145):5-7,8-10; Mt. 22:34-40 (Ps Wk IV) Due to famine, Elimelech, Naomi and their sons left Bethlehem and went to Moab. Elimelech died, the sons married Moabite women and then…
Mary, Queen of Heaven, pray for usThe Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Thursday 22nd August 2019Is. 9:1-6; Ps. 113(112):1-2,3-4,5-6,7-8; Lk. 1:26-38 (Ps Wk IV) The Annunciation account carries a powerful message. It is about Jesus’ identity and God’s plan of salvation for the world. It is about Jesus being fully human and fully divine.…
St Pius X, Pope20th Week in Ordinary Time: Wednesday 21st August 2019Jdg. 9:6-15; Ps. 21(20):2-3,4-5,6-7; Mt. 20:1-16 (Ps Wk IV) The fable, in the first reading, by Jotham reflects a strong rejection of the institution of the monarchy. While the olive, fig and vibe are common but are considered prized trees in Palestine, the buckthorn,…
St Bernard, Abbot and doctor20th Week in Ordinary Time: Tuesday 20th August 2019Jdg. 6:11-24; Ps. 85(84):9,11-12,13-14; Mt. 19:23-30 “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Some people have felt that Jesus is talking nonsense. There is no…
Lord, help us increase our sacrificial giving to the poor20th Week in Ordinary Time: Monday 19th August 2019St John Eudes, Priest Jdg. 2:11-19; Ps. 106(105):34-35,36-37, 39-40,43,44; Mt. 19:16-22 (Ps Wk IV) When asked how to achieve everlasting life, Jesus lists those commandments which deal with our relations to other people; he does not mention the…