Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, ApostlesFeast of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles: Saturday 29th June 2019Acts 12:1-11; Ps. 34(33):2-3,4-5,6-7,8-9; 2 Tim. 4:6-8,17-18; Mt. 16:13-19 (Psalter proper) This was a time of great persecution of the church. James was killed and then Peter was arrested during the Passover season — just like Jesus. Peter was…
The Most Sacred Heart of JesusSolemnity of The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus: Friday 28th June 2019Ez. 34:11-16; Ps. 23(22):1-4,5,6; Rom. 5:5-11; Lk.15:3-7 (Psalter proper) The Opening Prayer for the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is “…we rejoice in the gift of love we have received from the Heart of Jesus, Your Son.”…
12th Week in Ordinary Time12th Week in Ordinary Time: Thursday 27th June 2019Gen. 16:1-12,15-16; Ps. 105:1-2,3-5; Mt. 7:21-29 (Ps Wk IV) It is a pity that the verses of Gen. 16:13-14 were omitted from today’s first reading. They would have provided a comforting hint that, even in the harshest of events, the God who loves…
12th Week in Ordinary Time12th Week in Ordinary Time: Wednesday 26th June 2019Gen. 15:1-12,17-18; Ps. 105(104):1-2,3-4, 6-7,8-9; Mt. 7:15-20 (Ps Wk IV ) Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel can easily apply to the Church in our present age, beset as it is with the appalling sexual abuse scandal throughout the world. It will have come…
12th Week in Ordinary Time12th Week in Ordinary Time: Tuesday 25th June 2019Gen. 13:2,5-18; Ps. 15(14):2-4,5; Mt. 7:6,12-14 (Ps Wk IV ) Abram and Lot went their separate ways, for they both had great possessions and there wasn’t room on the land to support all their livestock. Abram gave Lot the choice of land and…
The Nativity of St John the BaptistThe Nativity of St John the Baptist: Monday 24th June 2019Is. 49:1-6; Ps. 139(138):1-3,13-15; Acts 13:22-26; Lk. 1:57-66,80 John the Baptist was born under strange circumstances. Now the time had come for his parents to name the child. The relatives and neighbours who had gathered for the ceremony expected…
The Most Holy Body and Blood of the Lord (C)Corpus Christi Sunday: 23rd June 2019Gen. 14:18-20; Ps. 110(109):1,2,3,4; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; Lk. 9:11-17 (Psalter proper) So often throughout the Bible God’s loving care for his people is expressed in terms of food and drink. Melchizedek blessed Abraham with gifts of bread and wine, for they…
11th Week in Ordinary Time11th Week in Ordinary Time: Saturday 22nd June 20192 Cor. 12:1-10; Ps. 34(33):8-9,10-11,12-13; Mt. 6:24-34 (Ps Wk II) Today’s Gospel reading focuses on Jesus’ teaching about cares & anxieties of life. Jesus did not mean to forbid our concerns on our daily necessities but the anxiety and preoccupation with such needs…
11th Week in Ordinary Time11th Week in Ordinary Time: Friday 21st June 20192 Cor. `11:19,21-30; Ps. 34(33):2-3,4-5,6-7; Mt. 6:19-23 (Ps Wk II) In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul contrasts the criteria used by the Corinthians and by himself on what makes an apostle. For Paul, since the Corinthians were taken by those who boasts…
11th Week in Ordinary Time11th Week in Ordinary Time: Thursday 20th June 20192 Cor. 11:1-11; Ps. 111(110):1-2,3-4,7-8; Mt. 6:7-15 (Ps Wk II) “I may be unskilled in speech.” With these words, Paul may simply be comparing himself with other speakers who were better educated in Greek eloquence, or indicating that he could not quite live…