"STAY WITH US, LORD" (Luke 24:29)

  1st Reading          Gen. 22: 1-2. 9a. 10-13. 15-18. Psalm                     116: 10 and 15. 16-17. 18-19 (R. 9). 2nd Reading        Romans 8:31b-34 Gospel                   Mark 9: 2-10 CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN AND OFFER THE BURNT SACRIFICE We continue to reflect on our lives in this penitential season of Lent. Today, we focus on one of the key elements in this season — PRAYER.  The first reading has the infamous story of Abraham being tested by God (Gen. 22: 1) to offer Isaac as a burnt offering to him. The passage is quite challenging because this is the first time in Scripture that God is demanding human life as a sacrifice. The question is, "How can God who created man in his image and after his likeness" (Gen. 1: 26-27) and even raised him to a dignity that mankind is considered the highest of all God's creation, making him a litt...

1st Reading      Genesis 9:8-15 Psalm                 25: 4-5ab. 6 and 7bc. 8-9 (R. cf. 10) 2nd Reading    1 Peter 3: 18-22 Gospel               Mark 1: 12-15 SHOOTING THE RIGHT ARROW THROUGH THE RIGHT BOW Dear friends, today is the 1st Sunday of Lent (Year B). The Season of Lent reminds us of our humanness and thus tells us that "we are dust, and unto dust, we shall return". In reflecting on our lives, we are given the words of the prophet Joel (2:13): "Rend your heart and not your garments". In this season, we put ourselves in a kind of introspection to put things right with God and our neighbours.  I think we should look at the first reading for this Sunday. It comes from GENESIS 9:8-15 . This is a very famous passage in the Bible. Let us go a little backwards to uncover the whole situation.  From Genesis 6, we start hearing the whole story about a man called NOAH and th...

1st Reading          Leviticus 13: 1-2, 44-46 Psalm                    32: 1-2. 5. 11 (R. 7) 2nd Reading       1 Corinthians 10: 31-11: 1 Gospel                  Mark 1: 40-45 GOD'S COMPASSION IS TIMES OF HOPELESSNESS Dear friends, today, the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time brings the first part of the Season of Ordinary Time to a close as we prepare to enter the penitential seaon of Lent starting with Ash Wednesday. In the first part of Ordinary Time, we have been dealing with problems of life for which we can, among the many readings, recall Job's issue. This Sunday comes with yet another challenge in life — neglect.  The first reading from Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46 speaks to us about the case of leprosy. We must understand that this is a very important issue in the Old Testament and forms part of the Legal Purity Code (Lev. 11- 16), laws regarding puri...

  1st Reading           Job 7: 1-4, 6-7 Psalm                     147: 1-2. 3-4. 5-6 (R. 3a) 2nd Reading         1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23 Gospel                   Mark 1: 29-39 WHERE IS GOD IN THIS SITUATION? Today, the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) is also the first Sunday of February. What we can draw, first of all, from this beautiful placement is newness and recreation. It tells us that we always have the opportunity to start again. God strengthens us and journeys with us in all situations for which he allows us to start again. A question that lingers in the minds of many in reflecting on life's changing scenes is "Where is God?". The same sentiment is shared by victims and sympathisers in moments of pain, grief, and sorrow. The first reading from Job 7: 1-4, 6-7 revolves around this question: "Where is God?"....