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

1st Reading       Isaiah 2:1-5 Psalm                  Ps.122:1-9 (R. cf. 1) 2nd Reading     Romans 13: 11-14a Gospel                Matthew 24:37-44 BE THE CARETAKER OF YOUR SPIRITUAL HOME Today is the last Sunday of November, the 1st Sunday in the Liturgical year (Year A), and 1st Sunday of Advent. What comes to light is newness, a fresh start; for this reason, we take time to thank God for how far he has brought us. We also entrust our faith journey into his care in this new liturgical year.  Dear Friends, the recent past Sundays have delved into the theme of being watchful because of the imminent end of things. Now, the end of the Liturgical year has come, and we usher in another one. What is even special about this Liturgical Year is that we shall occupy ourselves with the Gospel according to Matthew. In the order as presented in the Bible, the Gospel accordin...

1st Reading      Isaiah 66:18-21 Resp. Psalm     Ps. 117:1.2 (R. Mk. 16:15) 2nd Reading     Heb. 12:5-7.11-13 Gospel               Luke 13: 22-30 MADE PRIESTS, PROPHETS AND KINGS This 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, the first reading is from Isaiah 66:18-21. It is found in Third Isaiah (Isaiah 56-66), i.e. Trito-Isaiah. We are reading from the last sections of this Trito-Isaiah, and there is divine initiative to "gather all nations and tongues" (v. 18). Trito-Isaiah is believed to have been written by a disciple of the author of Deutero-Isaiah (Isaiah 40-55). The author of Trito-Isaiah sets his writing after the Babylonian exile, and hence, focuses on the post-exilic times. The passage in view, I believe, is set within an Old Testament missionary framework. God takes the initiative to gather all nations and tongues as a result of the dispersion brought by the Babylonian exile (c.598 BC - c.538 BC).  ...

  1st Reading          Jer. 38:4-6.8-10 Resp. Psalm         Ps. 40:2.3.4.18 (R.14b) 2nd Reading       Heb. 12: 1-4 Gospel                  Luke 12:49-53 WHO IS THE TRUE AND CREDIBLE WITNESS? Today is the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, and the Gospel passage from Luke 12:49-53 is one of the often disturbing utterances of Jesus which should not be taken literally. We shall attempt to decipher and unpack the meaning of those words. Before we delve into it, we need to be aware that the passage has a parallel in Matthew 10:34-36, with few textual differences.  The context within which Luke presents the narrative is the readiness of the servant. The preceding narrative (Lk. 12:35-48) and the succeeding narrative (Lk. 12: 54-59) set the tone for today's passage to be located within the context of the call to be ready. For Jesus to say that he has come to establish divisio...

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...