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

1st Reading       Ecclesiastes 1: 2; 2:21-23 Resp. Psalm      Psalm 94:1-2,6-9 2nd Reading     Colossians 3: 1-5. 9-11 Gospel                Luke 12: 13-21 APART FROM GOD, ALL IS VANITY Today is the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, and also the Last Sunday and last day in the month of July, 2022. We thank God for his Grace and Mercy in seeing us through to the end of the month, and we pray that we may be aided by him in the coming month. This Sunday we shall deliberate on vanities. Our first reading starts by mentioning ‘VANITY OF VANITIES’. Let us consider a few details from the first reading. We must bear in mind that we are reading from the book of Ecclesiastes, one of the Wisdom Books. Another name for this book is QOHELETH (קֹהֶלֶת) . QOHELETH is title for a public preacher, one who leads an assembly. The person in the first reading seem to be one who is aged and wise. Aside being a public preach...

1st Reading   Gen. 18: 20-32 Resp. Psalm  Ps. 137:1-3, 6-8 2nd Reading  Col. 2: 12-14 Gospel            Luke 11: 1-13 "LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY" Dear friends, today is the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time and we have to remind ourselves that we have Seventeen Sundays more to draw the curtain on the liturgical season of Ordinary Time and the Liturgical Year (Year C). This should be brought to focus so that we assess our journey so far.  Delving into the Gospel passage for this Sunday (Luke 11: 1-13), we can divide it into two. Luke vv. 1-4 which talks about the Lord's Prayer and vv. 5-13 which speaks about perseverance in prayer with the admonition to ASK (AITEO), SEEK (ZETEO), and KNOCK (KROUO).  Let us take a closer look at the first part, the Lord's Prayer. We can find a parallel in Matthew 6:9-15. We can observe few textual differences. Luke starts by telling us that Jesus' initiative to teach this Prayer stemmed from the discipl...

1st Reading    Gen. 18:1-10a Resp. Psalm   Ps. 15:2-3a.3bc-4ab.5 (R. 1a) 2nd Reading   Col. 1:24-28 Gospel             Luke 10: 38-42 A GOOD DISCIPLE IS HOSPITABLE From last Sunday, we have been focusing on Charity and hospitality, especially to strangers. This Sunday, in continuing this theme, the first reading brings to our reflection Abraham's generous hospitality towards the three men (Gen. 18:1-10a), while the Gospel (Lk. 10: 38-42) adds that hospitality with the possession of Christ is much to be desired. Possessing Christ makes a good disciple. We may then want to underline the issue of FAITH AND WORKS . We may be unable to act well if we do not learn to sit at the Lord's feet to listen. Let us use few highlights from the first reading to help us find ourselves within the theme of hospitality. Three details will occupy us.  The first detail is the TIME OF THE DAY . The author makes us aware of the fact that it ...

  1st Reading           Deut. 30:10-14 Resp. Psalm          Ps. 19:7.8.9.10 (R.8a) 2nd Reading         Col. 1:15-20 Gospel                    Luke 10: 25-37 A CHARITABLE HEART MAKES A LAW-ABIDING BEING Today is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, and the Word of God invites us to reflect on the question of the Law and our obedience to it. It further calls us to a practical identification of who a neighbour is. The Gospel, from Luke 10: 25-37, is an eye opener in this regard.  As we reflect on the LAW, we need to take few things into consideration. Let us, first of all, bear in mind that our first reading is from Deuteronomy (Deut. 30:10-14). This is significant because, the LAW which is our focus for this Sunday is also a central theme in Deuteronomy. This book is fashioned around the LAW. Infact, it is the 5th book of the Hebrew Torah (Book of the LA...

1st Reading    Isaiah 66: 10-14c Resp. Psalm   Ps. 66:1-3a.4-5.6-7a.16 and 20 (R.1) 2nd Reading   Gal. 6: 14-18 Gospel             Luke 10:1-12.17-20 THERE IS NO TIME TO SPARE Dear Friends, we are still within the thematic context of mission. Last Sunday we dealt with the issue of CALLING. The 14th Sunday turns to the side of SENDING. Additionally, the Gospel narrative for this Sunday is a continuation from last Sunday's Gospel narrative. This is LECTIO CONTINUA.  In the Gospel, we read that SEVENTY MEN were sent. By this statement, we have to underscore two important details. The first is the number SEVENTY (HEBDOMEKONTA) . Remember that after the flood in Genesis, we are told only about the generations of the sons of Noah and unto them were sons born after the flood (Gen. 10:1). These are supposed to be the nations in the world. The number SEVENTY has special significance in representing the nations in the world. Th...

1st Reading     Gen. 14:18-20 Resp. Psalm    Ps. 110:1.2.3,4 (R. 4cd) 2nd Reading    1 Cor. 11: 23-26 Gospel              Luke 9: 11b-17 FEED LIKE JESUS Dear Friends, today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi). We celebrate the "source and summit" of our Christian lives, the Holy Eucharist. Consequently, we celebrate the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist as he is present under the Eucharistic species (SC, 7) through the words of consecration spoken by the Priest. By extension, I believe we can also underscore the celebration of unity of the Church, the mystical body of Christ, brought to reality by the Eucharist. The readings of this Sunday are apt in reminding us and teaching us about the Eucharist and the issue of feeding. The first reading from Genesis 14:18-20 is the last event of Chapter 14,and narrates the return of Abram from his defeat of mighty Chedorlao...

  1st Reading    Proverbs 8:22-31 Resp. Psalm   Ps. 8 (R. 2a) 2nd Reading   Romans 5:1-5 Gospel             John 16:12-15 BE ONE Dear Friends, today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. We celebrate the mystery of three divine persons in one God. It is then important to underline the unity in God. God is One and the number one represents Him as such. The First Reading from Proverbs 8:22-31 draws our focus to an element which catches attention —  WISDOM . The first reading is located within the wider context of a poem on WISDOM in chapters 8 and 9 of the Book of Proverbs. We are reading from the end of Chapter 8 which gives us an imaginative, picturesque view of the origin, value and purpose of WISDOM from a poetic perspective.  A particular feature we must take into consideration is that WISDOM is personified, made like a person who speaks and gives credentials about herself. Indeed, WISDOM i...