"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?"....

  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...