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

1st Reading            Isaiah 55: 1-3 Psalm                       145: 8-9, 15-16, 17-18 (R. see 16) R:// "You open your hand, Lord, and you satisfy us" 2nd Reading          Romans 8: 35, 37-39 Gospel                     Matthew 14: 13-21 STOP BUYING EMPTY. COME AND BE FED Friends, Pax et Bonum! We begin a new month, August with today being the 1st Sunday of the month. We also enter the second half of the liturgical year with today being the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A). Our first reading is from Isaiah 55: 1-3, and the Gospel is from Matthew 14: 13-21, the famous miracle of the feeding of the five thousand.   Let us start detailing a few words about the first reading from Isaiah 55: 1-3. We have already encountered this chapter on the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A), where we read verses 10-11 on the wor...

1st Reading                        1 Kings 3: 5, 7-12 Psalm                                   119: 57 & 72, 76-77, 127-128, 129-                                               130  (R. 97a). R:// "O Lord, how I love your law" 2nd Reading                      Romans 8: 28-30 Gospel                                 Matthew 13: 44-52 LORD, GRANT ME A LISTENING HEART Friends, Peace and Goodness! With the realisation that we have arrived at the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) also informs us that this is the last Sunday of July. We should be preparing to enter the month of August. While it i...

1st Reading                 Wisdom 12: 13, 16-19 Psalm                             86: 5-6, 9-10, 15-16a (R. 5a) R:// "O Lord, you are good and forgiving" 2nd Reading               Romans 8: 26-27 Gospel                          Matthew 13: 24-43 JUST GIVE TIME SOME TIME Friends, Peace and Goodness! We arrive at the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) with our first reading from Wisdom 12: 13, 16-19 and the Gospel passage from Matthew 13:24-43, a _lectio continua_, at least from the liturgical shelving of readings in these times.  Let us say a few words about the two readings, especially. The first reading is from Wisdom and that sends us into a new era. The book of Wisdom was written close to the end of the first century BC. It was written in the Greek language probably in...

1st Reading              Isaiah 55: 10-11 Psalm                        65: 9abcd, 9e-10, 11-12, 13 (R. Lk. 8:8a) R:// "The seed that fell into good soil yielded a hundredfold" 2nd Reading           Romans 8: 18-23 Gospel                      Matthew 13: 1-23 THE SOWER BELIEVES IN THE SOIL Dear Friends, Peace and Goodness! Today is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) and the Second Sunday of the month. Our first reading is from Isaiah 55: 10-11 and the Gospel passage is from Matthew 13: 1-23. I suggest we focus on the Gospel passage which is the popular parable of the sower.  I think, in focusing on the Gospel passage from Matthew 13:1-23, we shall revisit and refresh our minds about the Parable of the Sower, not counting familiarity, because familiarity can blind us. Let us do so looking at how the sower...

1st Reading                     Zechariah 9:9-10 Psalm                                145: 1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13cd-14 (R. 1) R:// "I will bless your name forever, my king and my God" 2nd Reading                   Romans 8: 9, 11-13 Gospel                              Matthew 11: 25-30 DISMOUNT THE HORSE Friends, Peace and Goodness! Today, we have a triadic celebration. Today is the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A), the first Sunday of July, and, since July is traditionally dedicated to the Devotion to the Precious Blood of Jesus, this Sunday properly launches us into such the Devotion. May the Precious Blood of Jesus save us. Let's launch into the readings of the day, focusing particularly on the 1st Reading and the Gospel. The First Read...

1st Reading             2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16a Psalm                        89: 2-3, 16-17, 18-19 (R. cf. 2a) R:// "I will sing forever of your mercies, O Lord" 2nd Reading           Romans 6: 3-4, 8-11 Gospel                      Matthew 10: 37-42 HONOUR AND SAFEGUARD DIGNITY Friends, Peace and Goodness! Today is the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) and the last Sunday of June. We thank God for bringing us thus far. On this 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A), our first reading is from 2 Kings 4: 8-11, 14-16a. It is the story of the encounter between the Prophet Elisha and the Shunammite woman. Let us hold three details to heart from that narrative encounter. These details will be the identity of the woman, what she offered the prophet Elisha, and what the prophet Elisha gave to her as a reward. The first detail...

1st Reading               Jeremiah 20: 10-13 Psalm                          69: 7-9, 13 & 16, 32-34 (R. 13c) R:// "In your great mercy, answer me, O Lord" 2nd Reading             Romans 5: 12-15 Gospel                        Matthew 10: 26-33 DO NOT BE AFRAID Friends, Pax et Bonum! Today is the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A). Globally and on a secular front, today is Fathers' Day. We take this opportunity to wish and pray for all Fathers. In this light, I suggest we digest today's readings with fathers in mind. The first reading is from Jeremiah 20: 10-13, the Second reading is from Romans 5: 12-15 and the Gospel is from Matthew 10: 26-33. Notice that the Second Reading and the Gospel are continuations from where they ended last Sunday. Let us quickly note a few points for understanding an...