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

  1st Reading              Deuteronomy 18: 15-20 Psalm                         95: 1-2. 6-7 abc. 7d-9 (R. 7d.8a) 2nd Reading            1 Corinthians 7: 32-35 Gospel                       Mark 1: 21b-28 OBEYING THE VOICE OF GOD IN CREDIBLE LEADERS Dear friends, this Sunday ends the month of January, and we must render thanks to God for his grace and entrust the ensuing month to his Providence. The Word of God directs our attention to the issue of leadership and obedience to the voice of God. We shall take 3 cues from the 1st Reading (Deut. 18: 15-20) to help us reflect.  From Deut. 17: 14, Moses gives instructions about the 3 groups of people considered as shepherds (if you like, leaders) among the Israelites. He gave instructions concerning the King (Deut. 17: 14-20), the Priests (18: 1-13) and then...

  1st Reading       Jonah 3: 1-5. 10 Psalm                 25: 4-5ab. 6 & 7bc. 8-9 (R. 4a) 2nd Reading     1 Corinthians 7: 29-31 Gospel                Mark 1: 14-20 "IN OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD OF THE LORD" Today, the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B), has been designated as the Sunday of the Word of God by Pope Francis on 30th September 2019 (Memorial of St. Jerome), with the publication of the Motu Proprio "Aperuit Illis" (He opened to them), words taken from Luke 24: 45. This Sunday of the Word of God was instituted to enable all in the Church "to grow in religious and intimate familiarity with the Sacred Scriptures" (no. 15) and "appreciate the inexhaustible riches contained in the constant dialogue between the Lord and his people" (no. 2). In the final analysis, we can agree with St. Jerome, that "Ignorance of Scripture is Ignorance of Christ" Familiarit...

1st Reading       1 Samuel 3: 3b-10.19 Psalm                  40: 2 & 4ab. 7-8a. 8b-9. 10 (R. cf. 8a & 9a) 2nd Reading     1 Corinthians 6:13c-15a.17-20 Gospel                 John 1: 35-42. WHAT DOES THE GOSPEL REQUIRE OF MY BODY? We have been brought to the infant stages of Ordinary Time, Year B, with our first reading from 1 Samuel, and today, we are presented with the passage about the call of Samuel (1 Sam. 3:3b-10.19). The setting is the TEMPLE, and this setting holds much meaning for our reflection on this 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time.  I believe that the setting of the Temple in the first reading forms the basis for bringing together Paul's teaching about the BODY (2nd Reading, 1 Corinthians 6: 13c-15a. 17-20) and Jesus' response to the question, "Where are you staying?", a question seeking location. Paul makes this linkage conspicuous in asking, "Do you not...

1st Reading           Isaiah 60:1-6 Psalm                      72:1-2,7-8,10-13 2nd Reading        Ephesians 3:2-3,5-6 Gospel                   Matthew 2:1-12 THE LIGHT THAT TRIUMPHS AND SEPARATES At the tail end of the season of Christmas, before the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, we have the Solemnity of the EPIPHANY OF THE LORD . This Solemnity celebrates the appearance or manifestation of Christ to the world. Basically, we celebrate the shining forth of Christ. Consequently, the Word of God for this Sunday is filled with the theme of light.  It is interesting enough that for the first time since 25th December, we are now reading the infamous passage in Matthew 2:1-12 , the passage about the visit by the Magi (the wise men) from the East. They came to see Christ in the manger and presented their gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh....

1st Reading            2 Samuel 7: 1-5. 8b-12. 14a. 16 Psalm                       89:2. 2-3. 4-5. 27 and 29 (R. 2a) 2nd Reading          Romans 16: 25-27 Gospel                     Luke 1: 26-38 THINK ABOUT THE LORD AND HE WILL, ALL THE MORE, THINK ABOUT YOU We have come to the end of the season of Advent with the 4th Sunday of Advent. The next season, which Advent prepares us for, is Christmas. What it means is that our focus should start turning towards the events of Christmas. The 4th Sunday leads us through a fundamental transition from Advent to Christmas. The Word of God for the 4th Sunday of Advent, as we consider a transition into Christmas, zooms in on the HOUSE OF DAVID . This is clear in the First Reading and the Gospel. The House of David holds a significant place in the readings for this Sunday that we cannot simply...

1st Reading      61: 1-2a. 10-11 Psalm                 Lk. 1: 46-48. 49-50 (R. Is. 61: 10b) 2nd Reading   1 Thes. 5: 16-24 Gospel               Jn. 1: 6-8. 19-28 REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS Dear friends, we have arrived at a very significant part of our journey through the season of Advent. Having journeyed more than half of the road in Advent, we come to the 3rd Sunday of Advent, otherwise called GAUDETE SUNDAY . Gaudete in Domino Semper (Rejoice in the Lord always); these are the beginning words of the entrance antiphon taken from Philippians 4:4-5. We are called to rejoice because Christmas is approaching; what we are preparing for and anticipating is near. The Rose colour for this Sunday communicates the joy that ought to be seen in us. Rose is no colour than violet (or purple) with a little addition of white. This white points to the fullness of the joy of Christmas. On Gau...

"IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SCATTERED SHEEP" (Ezekiel 34:12) This Sunday is very significant in the Church's life because we are not only ending the liturgical year, but it comes with the celebration of the Solemnity of Christ the King. Thus, a two-fold celebration. This will affirm the fact that at the end of time, Christ will reign as King and his Kingdom will prevail forever.   One striking detail I would like to share with you is from Ezekiel 34: 12 . Of course, this text is dated around 600 BCE. What comes to mind is the Babylonian Exile in 597-586 BCE. The text attacks leadership. The three groups of leaders in Ancient Israel at the time were PRIESTS, PROPHETS and KINGS. Surprisingly, these people are chosen by God to work and oversee the daily life of the Israelites. Losing sight of their divine mandate to cater for the socio-economic and religious life of the people, they failed in their duties — they failed woefully. Agriculture was the main occupation in Ancient Israe...