CHURCH OF ST JOSEPH, PLENTONG 避 兰 圣 若 瑟 天 主 堂 LOT 2139, Jalan Bunga Raya, 81750 Plentong, Johor, Malaysia Tel/Fax: 07-386 3062 Email: stjoseph@ymail.com
Saturday, 23 February 2019
Mass Readings - Sunday, 24th February 2019
FIRST READING 1 Samuel 26:2,7-9,11-13,22-23
Do not lift your hand against the Lord's anointed
Saul set off and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, accompanied by
three thousand men chosen from Israel to search for David in the
wilderness of Ziph.
In the dark David and Abishai made their way towards the force,
where they found Saul lying asleep inside the camp, his spear stuck in
the ground beside his head, with Abner and the troops lying round
him.
Then Abishai said to David, ‘Today God has put your enemy in
your power; so now let me pin him to the ground with his own spear.
Just one stroke! I will not need to strike him twice.’ David answered
Abishai, ‘Do not kill him, for who can lift his hand against the Lord’s
anointed and be without guilt? The Lord forbid that I should raise my
hand against the Lord’s anointed! But now take the spear beside his
head and the pitcher of water and let us go away.’ David took the
spear and the pitcher of water from beside Saul’s head, and they made
off. No one saw, no one knew, no one woke up; they were all asleep,
for a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen on them.
David crossed to the other side and halted on the top of the
mountain a long way off; there was a wide space between them. He
called out, ‘Here is the king’s spear. Let one of the soldiers come
across and take it. The Lord repays everyone for his uprightness and
loyalty. Today the Lord put you in my power, but I would not raise
my hand against the Lord’s anointed.’
The word of the Lord
RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Psalm 102
Response: The Lord is compassion and love.
1. My soul, give thanks to the Lord,
all my being, bless his holy name.
My soul, give thanks to the Lord
and never forget all his blessings. Response
2. It is he who forgives all your guilt,
who heals every one of your ills,
who redeems your life from the grave,
who crowns you with love and compassion. Response
3. The Lord is compassion and love,
Slow to anger and rich in mercy.
He does not treat us according to our sins
nor repay us according to our faults. Response
4. As far as the east is from the west
so far does he remove our sins.
As a father has compassion on his sons,
the Lord has pity on those who fear him. Response
SECOND READING 1 Corinthians (15:45-49)
The first Adam became a living soul; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit.
The first man, Adam, as scripture says, became a living soul; but the
last Adam has become a life-giving spirit. That is, first the one with
the soul, not the spirit, and after that, the one with the spirit. The first
man, being from the earth, is earthly by nature; the second man is
from heaven. As this earthly man was, so are we on earth; and as the
heavenly man is, so are we in heaven. And we, who have been
modelled on the earthly man, will be modelled on the heavenly man.
The word of the Lord.
Gospel Acclamation John 13:34
Alleluia, alleluia!
I give you a new commandment:
love one another just as I have loved you,
says the Lord.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL Luke 6:27-38
Love your enemies
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I say this to you who are listening: Love
your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse
you, pray for those who treat you badly. To the man who slaps you on
one cheek, present the other cheek too; to the man who takes your
cloak from you, do not refuse your tunic. Give to everyone who asks
you, and do not ask for your property back from the man who robs
you. Treat others as you would like them to treat you. If you love
those who love you, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners love
those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to
you, what thanks can you expect? For even sinners do that much. And
if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what thanks can
you expect? Even sinners lend to sinners to get back the same amount.
Instead, love your enemies and do good, and lend without any hope of
return. You will have a great reward, and you will be sons of the Most
High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
‘Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge,
and you will not be judged yourselves; do not condemn, and you will
not be condemned yourselves; grant pardon, and you will be pardoned.
Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down,
shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap;
because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given
back.’
The Gospel of the Lord
Do not lift your hand against the Lord's anointed
Saul set off and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, accompanied by
three thousand men chosen from Israel to search for David in the
wilderness of Ziph.
In the dark David and Abishai made their way towards the force,
where they found Saul lying asleep inside the camp, his spear stuck in
the ground beside his head, with Abner and the troops lying round
him.
Then Abishai said to David, ‘Today God has put your enemy in
your power; so now let me pin him to the ground with his own spear.
Just one stroke! I will not need to strike him twice.’ David answered
Abishai, ‘Do not kill him, for who can lift his hand against the Lord’s
anointed and be without guilt? The Lord forbid that I should raise my
hand against the Lord’s anointed! But now take the spear beside his
head and the pitcher of water and let us go away.’ David took the
spear and the pitcher of water from beside Saul’s head, and they made
off. No one saw, no one knew, no one woke up; they were all asleep,
for a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen on them.
David crossed to the other side and halted on the top of the
mountain a long way off; there was a wide space between them. He
called out, ‘Here is the king’s spear. Let one of the soldiers come
across and take it. The Lord repays everyone for his uprightness and
loyalty. Today the Lord put you in my power, but I would not raise
my hand against the Lord’s anointed.’
The word of the Lord
RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Psalm 102
Response: The Lord is compassion and love.
1. My soul, give thanks to the Lord,
all my being, bless his holy name.
My soul, give thanks to the Lord
and never forget all his blessings. Response
2. It is he who forgives all your guilt,
who heals every one of your ills,
who redeems your life from the grave,
who crowns you with love and compassion. Response
3. The Lord is compassion and love,
Slow to anger and rich in mercy.
He does not treat us according to our sins
nor repay us according to our faults. Response
4. As far as the east is from the west
so far does he remove our sins.
As a father has compassion on his sons,
the Lord has pity on those who fear him. Response
SECOND READING 1 Corinthians (15:45-49)
The first Adam became a living soul; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit.
The first man, Adam, as scripture says, became a living soul; but the
last Adam has become a life-giving spirit. That is, first the one with
the soul, not the spirit, and after that, the one with the spirit. The first
man, being from the earth, is earthly by nature; the second man is
from heaven. As this earthly man was, so are we on earth; and as the
heavenly man is, so are we in heaven. And we, who have been
modelled on the earthly man, will be modelled on the heavenly man.
The word of the Lord.
Gospel Acclamation John 13:34
Alleluia, alleluia!
I give you a new commandment:
love one another just as I have loved you,
says the Lord.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL Luke 6:27-38
Love your enemies
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I say this to you who are listening: Love
your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse
you, pray for those who treat you badly. To the man who slaps you on
one cheek, present the other cheek too; to the man who takes your
cloak from you, do not refuse your tunic. Give to everyone who asks
you, and do not ask for your property back from the man who robs
you. Treat others as you would like them to treat you. If you love
those who love you, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners love
those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to
you, what thanks can you expect? For even sinners do that much. And
if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what thanks can
you expect? Even sinners lend to sinners to get back the same amount.
Instead, love your enemies and do good, and lend without any hope of
return. You will have a great reward, and you will be sons of the Most
High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
‘Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge,
and you will not be judged yourselves; do not condemn, and you will
not be condemned yourselves; grant pardon, and you will be pardoned.
Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down,
shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap;
because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given
back.’
The Gospel of the Lord
Saturday, 16 February 2019
Mass Readings - Sunday, 17th February, 2019
Liturgical Readings for : Sunday, 17th February, 2019
6th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today's Readings
Léachtaí Gaeilge
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Jeremiah 17: 5-8
A curse on the man who puts his trust in man, a blessing on the man who puts
his trust in the Lord.
‘The Lord says this:
‘A curse on the man who puts his trust in man,
who relies on things of flesh,
whose heart turns from the Lord.
He is like dry scrub in the wastelands:
if good comes, he has no eyes for it,
he settles in the parched places of the wilderness,
a salt land, uninhabited.
‘A blessing on the man who puts his trust in the Lord,
with the Lord for his hope.
He is like a tree by the waterside
that thrusts its roots to the stream:
when the heat comes it feels no alarm,
its foliage stays green;
it has no worries in a year of drought,
and never ceases to bear fruit.
The Word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 1
Response : Happy the man who has placed his trust in the Lord.
1. Happy indeed is the man
who follows not the counsel of the wicked;
nor lingers in the way of sinners
nor sits in the company of scorners,
but whose delight is the law of the Lord
and who ponders his law day and night. Response
2. He is like a tree that is planted
beside the flowing waters,
that yields its fruit in due season
and whose leaves shall never fade;
and all that he does shall prosper. Response
3. Not so are the wicked, not so!
For they like winnowed chaff
shall be driven away by the wind.
For the Lord guards the way of the just
but the way of the wicked leads to doom. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Corintians 15: 12. 16-20
If Christ has not been raised, you are still in your sins.
If Christ raised from the dead is what has been preached, how can some of you
be saying that there is no resurrection of the dead? For if the dead are not raised,
Christ has not been raised, and if Christ has not been raised, you are still in your
sins. And what is more serious, all who have died in Christ have perished. If our
hope in Christ has been for this life only, we are the most unfortunate of all
people.
But Christ has in fact been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of all who have
fallen asleep.
The Word of the Lord
Gospel Acclamation Lk 6: 23
Alleluia, alleluia!
Rejoice and be glad:
your reward will be great in heaven
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 6: 17. 20-26
How happy are you who are poor but alas for you who are rich.
Jesus came down with the twelve and stopped at a piece of level ground where
there was a large gathering of his disciples with a great crowd of people from all
parts of Judaea and from Jerusalem and from the coastal region of Tyre and
Sidon who had come to hear him and to be cured of their diseases.
Then fixing his eyes on his disciples he said:
‘How happy are you who are poor: yours is the kingdom of God.
Happy you who are hungry now: you shall be satisfied.
Happy you who weep now: you shall laugh.
Happy are you when people hate you, drive you out, abuse you, denounce your
name as criminal, on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice when that day comes
and dance for joy, for then your reward will be great in heaven. This was the
way their ancestors treated the prophets.
‘But alas for you who are rich: you are having your consolation now.
Alas for you who have your fill now: you shall go hungry.
Alas for you who laugh now: you shall mourn and weep.
Alas for you when the world speaks well of you! This was the way their
ancestors treated the false prophets.’
The Gospel of the Lord
Reflection:
SOME QUESTIONS
to help us in our personal reflection.
a) Which is the point that you liked best or that struck you the most? Why?
b) Who constituted the great crowd around Jesus? From where did they come and what were they seeking?
c) What are the social categories of the people who are declared happy (Lk 6:20-23)? What is the promise that each one of them receives from Jesus? How are these promises to be understood?
d) When saying “Blessed are the poor”, would Jesus be trying to say that the poor should continue to live in their poverty?
e) What are the social categories of the people who are threatened by unhappiness? (Lk 6:24-26)?
What are the threats for each one of them? How is this threat to be understood?
f) Do I look at life and at people as Jesus does?
+++++++++++++++++++
When you encounter misfortune, grief, or tragic loss, how do you respond? With fear or faith? With passive resignation or with patient hope and trust in God? We know from experience that no one can escape all of the inevitable trials of life - pain, suffering, sickness, and death. When Jesus began to teach his disciples he gave them a "way of happiness" that transcends every difficulty and trouble that can weigh us down with grief and despair. Jesus began his sermon on the mount by addressing the issue of where true happiness can be found. The word beatitude literally means happiness or blessedness. Jesus' way of happiness, however, demands a transformation from within - a conversion of heart and mind which can only come about through the gift and working of the Holy Spirit.
True happiness can only be fulfilled in God
How can one possibly find happiness in poverty, hunger, mourning, and persecution? If we want to be filled with the joy and happiness of heaven, then we must empty ourselves of all that would shut God out of our hearts. Poverty of spirit finds ample room and joy in possessing God alone as the greatest treasure possible. Hunger of the spirit seeks nourishment and strength in God's word and Spirit. Sorrow and mourning over wasted life and sin leads to joyful freedom from the burden of guilt and oppression.
The beatitudes strengthen us in virtue and excellence
Ambrose (339-397 A.D), an early church father and bishop of Milan, links the beatitudes with the four cardinal virtues which strengthen us in living a life of moral excellence. He writes: "Let us see how St. Luke encompassed the eight blessings in the four. We know that there are four cardinal virtues: temperance, justice, prudence and fortitude. One who is poor in spirit is not greedy. One who weeps is not proud but is submissive and tranquil. One who mourns is humble. One who is just does not deny what he knows is given jointly to all for us. One who is merciful gives away his own goods. One who bestows his own goods does not seek another's, nor does he contrive a trap for his neighbor. These virtues are interwoven and interlinked, so that one who has one may be seen to have several, and a single virtue befits the saints. Where virtue abounds, the reward too abounds... Thus temperance has purity of heart and spirit, justice has compassion, patience has peace, and endurance has gentleness." (EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 5.62�63, 68).
No one can live without joy
God reveals to the humble of heart the true source of abundant life and happiness. Jesus promises his disciples that the joys of heaven will more than compensate for the troubles and hardships they can expect in this world. Thomas Aquinas said: "No person can live without joy. That is why someone deprived of spiritual joy goes after carnal pleasures." Do you know the joy and happiness of hungering and thirsting for God alone?
"Lord Jesus, increase my hunger for you and show me the way that leads to everlasting happiness and peace. May I desire you above all else and find perfect joy in doing your will."
Reflection by
Don Schwager
***************
6th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today's Readings
Léachtaí Gaeilge
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Jeremiah 17: 5-8
A curse on the man who puts his trust in man, a blessing on the man who puts
his trust in the Lord.
‘The Lord says this:
‘A curse on the man who puts his trust in man,
who relies on things of flesh,
whose heart turns from the Lord.
He is like dry scrub in the wastelands:
if good comes, he has no eyes for it,
he settles in the parched places of the wilderness,
a salt land, uninhabited.
‘A blessing on the man who puts his trust in the Lord,
with the Lord for his hope.
He is like a tree by the waterside
that thrusts its roots to the stream:
when the heat comes it feels no alarm,
its foliage stays green;
it has no worries in a year of drought,
and never ceases to bear fruit.
The Word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 1
Response : Happy the man who has placed his trust in the Lord.
1. Happy indeed is the man
who follows not the counsel of the wicked;
nor lingers in the way of sinners
nor sits in the company of scorners,
but whose delight is the law of the Lord
and who ponders his law day and night. Response
2. He is like a tree that is planted
beside the flowing waters,
that yields its fruit in due season
and whose leaves shall never fade;
and all that he does shall prosper. Response
3. Not so are the wicked, not so!
For they like winnowed chaff
shall be driven away by the wind.
For the Lord guards the way of the just
but the way of the wicked leads to doom. Response
SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Corintians 15: 12. 16-20
If Christ has not been raised, you are still in your sins.
If Christ raised from the dead is what has been preached, how can some of you
be saying that there is no resurrection of the dead? For if the dead are not raised,
Christ has not been raised, and if Christ has not been raised, you are still in your
sins. And what is more serious, all who have died in Christ have perished. If our
hope in Christ has been for this life only, we are the most unfortunate of all
people.
But Christ has in fact been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of all who have
fallen asleep.
The Word of the Lord
Gospel Acclamation Lk 6: 23
Alleluia, alleluia!
Rejoice and be glad:
your reward will be great in heaven
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 6: 17. 20-26
How happy are you who are poor but alas for you who are rich.
Jesus came down with the twelve and stopped at a piece of level ground where
there was a large gathering of his disciples with a great crowd of people from all
parts of Judaea and from Jerusalem and from the coastal region of Tyre and
Sidon who had come to hear him and to be cured of their diseases.
Then fixing his eyes on his disciples he said:
‘How happy are you who are poor: yours is the kingdom of God.
Happy you who are hungry now: you shall be satisfied.
Happy you who weep now: you shall laugh.
Happy are you when people hate you, drive you out, abuse you, denounce your
name as criminal, on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice when that day comes
and dance for joy, for then your reward will be great in heaven. This was the
way their ancestors treated the prophets.
‘But alas for you who are rich: you are having your consolation now.
Alas for you who have your fill now: you shall go hungry.
Alas for you who laugh now: you shall mourn and weep.
Alas for you when the world speaks well of you! This was the way their
ancestors treated the false prophets.’
The Gospel of the Lord
Reflection:
SOME QUESTIONS
to help us in our personal reflection.
a) Which is the point that you liked best or that struck you the most? Why?
b) Who constituted the great crowd around Jesus? From where did they come and what were they seeking?
c) What are the social categories of the people who are declared happy (Lk 6:20-23)? What is the promise that each one of them receives from Jesus? How are these promises to be understood?
d) When saying “Blessed are the poor”, would Jesus be trying to say that the poor should continue to live in their poverty?
e) What are the social categories of the people who are threatened by unhappiness? (Lk 6:24-26)?
What are the threats for each one of them? How is this threat to be understood?
f) Do I look at life and at people as Jesus does?
+++++++++++++++++++
When you encounter misfortune, grief, or tragic loss, how do you respond? With fear or faith? With passive resignation or with patient hope and trust in God? We know from experience that no one can escape all of the inevitable trials of life - pain, suffering, sickness, and death. When Jesus began to teach his disciples he gave them a "way of happiness" that transcends every difficulty and trouble that can weigh us down with grief and despair. Jesus began his sermon on the mount by addressing the issue of where true happiness can be found. The word beatitude literally means happiness or blessedness. Jesus' way of happiness, however, demands a transformation from within - a conversion of heart and mind which can only come about through the gift and working of the Holy Spirit.
True happiness can only be fulfilled in God
How can one possibly find happiness in poverty, hunger, mourning, and persecution? If we want to be filled with the joy and happiness of heaven, then we must empty ourselves of all that would shut God out of our hearts. Poverty of spirit finds ample room and joy in possessing God alone as the greatest treasure possible. Hunger of the spirit seeks nourishment and strength in God's word and Spirit. Sorrow and mourning over wasted life and sin leads to joyful freedom from the burden of guilt and oppression.
The beatitudes strengthen us in virtue and excellence
Ambrose (339-397 A.D), an early church father and bishop of Milan, links the beatitudes with the four cardinal virtues which strengthen us in living a life of moral excellence. He writes: "Let us see how St. Luke encompassed the eight blessings in the four. We know that there are four cardinal virtues: temperance, justice, prudence and fortitude. One who is poor in spirit is not greedy. One who weeps is not proud but is submissive and tranquil. One who mourns is humble. One who is just does not deny what he knows is given jointly to all for us. One who is merciful gives away his own goods. One who bestows his own goods does not seek another's, nor does he contrive a trap for his neighbor. These virtues are interwoven and interlinked, so that one who has one may be seen to have several, and a single virtue befits the saints. Where virtue abounds, the reward too abounds... Thus temperance has purity of heart and spirit, justice has compassion, patience has peace, and endurance has gentleness." (EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 5.62�63, 68).
No one can live without joy
God reveals to the humble of heart the true source of abundant life and happiness. Jesus promises his disciples that the joys of heaven will more than compensate for the troubles and hardships they can expect in this world. Thomas Aquinas said: "No person can live without joy. That is why someone deprived of spiritual joy goes after carnal pleasures." Do you know the joy and happiness of hungering and thirsting for God alone?
"Lord Jesus, increase my hunger for you and show me the way that leads to everlasting happiness and peace. May I desire you above all else and find perfect joy in doing your will."
Reflection by
Don Schwager
***************
Saturday, 9 February 2019
Liturgical Readings for :
Sunday, 10th February, 2019
Today's Readings:
Léachtaí Gaeilge Scripture.
Theme Today we look at the vocations of Isaiah, Sts Paul and Peter. They are called in strange circumstances. They each recognise their unworthiness, but have the assurance that God will be with them. Through our Baptism we also are called to build God’s kingdom. We should fear no evil for the Lord is with us.
FIRST READING:
A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah
Here I am, send me. 6:1-8
In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord seated on a high throne; his train filled the sanctuary; above him stood seraphs, each one with six wings. And they cried out one to another in this way, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. His glory fills the whole earth.’ The foundations of the threshold shook with the voice of the one who cried out and the Temple was filled with smoke. I said: ‘What a wretched state I am in! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have looked at the King, the Lord of hosts.’ Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding in his hand a live coal which he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. With this he touched my mouth and said: ‘See now, this has touched your lips, your sin is taken away, your iniquity is purged. Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: ‘Whom shall I send? Who will be our messenger?’ I answered, ‘Here I am, send me.
The Word of the Lord
******************************************
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 137
Response:
Before the angels I will bless you, O Lord.
1. I thank you, Lord, with all my heart, you have heard the words of my mouth. Before the angels I will bless you. I will adore before your holy temple. Response
2. I thank you for your faithfulness and love which excel all we ever knew of you. On the day I called, you answered; you increased the strength of my soul. Response
3. All earth’s kings shall thank you when they hear the words of your mouth. They shall sing of the Lord’s ways: ‘How great is the glory of the Lord!’
Response
4. You stretch out your hand and save me, your hand will do all things for me. Your love, O Lord, is eternal, discard not the work of your hand.
Response
******************************************
SECOND READING :
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians
I preach what they preach, and this is what you all believed. 15: 3-8. 11
Brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, the gospel that you received and in which you are firmly established because the gospel will save you only if you keep believing exactly what I preached to you – believing anything else will not lead to anything. Well then, in the first place, I taught you what I had been taught myself, namely that Christ died for our sins, in accordance with the scriptures; that he was buried; and that he was raised to life on the third day, in accordance with the scriptures; that he appeared first to Cephas and secondly to the Twelve. Next he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died; then he appeared to James, and then to all the apostles; and last of all he appeared to me too; it was as though I was born when no one expected it. but what matters is that I preach what they preach, and this is what you all believed.
The Word of the Lord
******************************************
GOSPEL:
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke
They left everything and followed him. 5: 1-11
Jesus was standing one day by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the crowd pressing round him listening to the word of God, when he caught sight of two boats close to the bank. The fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats-it was Simon’s-and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water and pay out your nets for a catch’. ‘Master,’ Simon replied ‘we worked hard all night long and caught nothing, but if you say so, I will pay out the nets for a catch.’ And when they had done this they netted such a huge number of fish that their nets began to tear, so they
signalled to their companions in the other boat to come and help them; when these came, they filled the two boats to sinking point. When Simon Peter saw this he fell at the knees of Jesus saying, ‘Leave me, Lord; I am a sinful man.’ For he and all his companions were completely overcome by the catch they had made; so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were Simon’s partners. But Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on it is men you will catch’. Then, bringing their boats back to land, they left everything and followed him.
The Gospel of the Lord
******************************************
Sunday, 10th February, 2019
Today's Readings:
Léachtaí Gaeilge Scripture.
Theme Today we look at the vocations of Isaiah, Sts Paul and Peter. They are called in strange circumstances. They each recognise their unworthiness, but have the assurance that God will be with them. Through our Baptism we also are called to build God’s kingdom. We should fear no evil for the Lord is with us.
FIRST READING:
A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah
Here I am, send me. 6:1-8
In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord seated on a high throne; his train filled the sanctuary; above him stood seraphs, each one with six wings. And they cried out one to another in this way, ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. His glory fills the whole earth.’ The foundations of the threshold shook with the voice of the one who cried out and the Temple was filled with smoke. I said: ‘What a wretched state I am in! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have looked at the King, the Lord of hosts.’ Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding in his hand a live coal which he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. With this he touched my mouth and said: ‘See now, this has touched your lips, your sin is taken away, your iniquity is purged. Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: ‘Whom shall I send? Who will be our messenger?’ I answered, ‘Here I am, send me.
The Word of the Lord
******************************************
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 137
Response:
Before the angels I will bless you, O Lord.
1. I thank you, Lord, with all my heart, you have heard the words of my mouth. Before the angels I will bless you. I will adore before your holy temple. Response
2. I thank you for your faithfulness and love which excel all we ever knew of you. On the day I called, you answered; you increased the strength of my soul. Response
3. All earth’s kings shall thank you when they hear the words of your mouth. They shall sing of the Lord’s ways: ‘How great is the glory of the Lord!’
Response
4. You stretch out your hand and save me, your hand will do all things for me. Your love, O Lord, is eternal, discard not the work of your hand.
Response
******************************************
SECOND READING :
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Corinthians
I preach what they preach, and this is what you all believed. 15: 3-8. 11
Brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, the gospel that you received and in which you are firmly established because the gospel will save you only if you keep believing exactly what I preached to you – believing anything else will not lead to anything. Well then, in the first place, I taught you what I had been taught myself, namely that Christ died for our sins, in accordance with the scriptures; that he was buried; and that he was raised to life on the third day, in accordance with the scriptures; that he appeared first to Cephas and secondly to the Twelve. Next he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died; then he appeared to James, and then to all the apostles; and last of all he appeared to me too; it was as though I was born when no one expected it. but what matters is that I preach what they preach, and this is what you all believed.
The Word of the Lord
******************************************
GOSPEL:
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke
They left everything and followed him. 5: 1-11
Jesus was standing one day by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the crowd pressing round him listening to the word of God, when he caught sight of two boats close to the bank. The fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats-it was Simon’s-and asked him to put out a little from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking he said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water and pay out your nets for a catch’. ‘Master,’ Simon replied ‘we worked hard all night long and caught nothing, but if you say so, I will pay out the nets for a catch.’ And when they had done this they netted such a huge number of fish that their nets began to tear, so they
signalled to their companions in the other boat to come and help them; when these came, they filled the two boats to sinking point. When Simon Peter saw this he fell at the knees of Jesus saying, ‘Leave me, Lord; I am a sinful man.’ For he and all his companions were completely overcome by the catch they had made; so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were Simon’s partners. But Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on it is men you will catch’. Then, bringing their boats back to land, they left everything and followed him.
The Gospel of the Lord
******************************************
Saturday, 2 February 2019
https://www.catholic.sg
02-February-2019-Saturday
Presentation-of-the-Lord
*The feast of the Presentation of the Lord calls to mind our own consecration to the Lord when we were baptized. On the day of our baptism, we too were presented to the Lord in His Temple, offering our lives to Him, thereby sharing in His kingly, prophetic and priestly office. In a special way, today’s feast is also celebrated as the day for those in Consecrated life. For in consecrated life, religious brothers and sisters commit themselves more radically in living out their baptismal vows to the Lord.*
*The primary role of religious is indeed a prophetic role, both in their lifestyle and by the services they provide to the People of God. This is the theme of today’s scripture readings. All the scripture readings speak of the prophetic role of the People of God in general, and more specifically it applies to consecrated persons and religious brothers and sisters. Religious are called to be the apex of the Church’s holiness. If the Church were to point to the holiness of the Church, she would refer to the religious because these are brothers and sisters who have committed themselves to live their baptismal commitments to the highest and deepest degree, more so than anyone else. Indeed, without the religious, the Church would have lacked a powerful sign of the holiness of the Church. They are called to prepare the People of God and lead them to a life of purification and holiness.*
*How could those in consecrated life be a sign? Firstly, they are called to be signs of contradiction to the world, just as Jesus was. Accordingly, the prophetic sign of consecrated people lies first in their lifestyle, even before exercising their charisms for the service of the People of God. Secondly, the prophetic life of consecrated persons is to give others hope and an experience of God’s love as a foretaste in their lives.*
*But above all, if we desire to be true prophets of our Lord, then we must make time to contemplate on our Lord daily in the Eucharist and in the Word of God. Jesus, as the gospel says, is the sign “for the fall and for the rising of many.” If we live the evangelical counsels, it is because they are based on the words and examples of our Lord Himself. If we are able to assume the sufferings of humanity and reach out to them, it is because of Jesus’ example of always being with the people. His office was on the streets, in houses, on the boat and shore, and in open fields and deserts. The Lord wants to be with His people and inspire us all to live His life of total detachment from the worldly values and pursuits of life. In the final analysis, no religious or consecrated persons can live a consecrated life unless he or she contemplates deeply on the face of our Lord daily.*
A Blessed, Joyful and Peaceful Saturday morning to all of you.
02-February-2019-Saturday
Presentation-of-the-Lord
*The feast of the Presentation of the Lord calls to mind our own consecration to the Lord when we were baptized. On the day of our baptism, we too were presented to the Lord in His Temple, offering our lives to Him, thereby sharing in His kingly, prophetic and priestly office. In a special way, today’s feast is also celebrated as the day for those in Consecrated life. For in consecrated life, religious brothers and sisters commit themselves more radically in living out their baptismal vows to the Lord.*
*The primary role of religious is indeed a prophetic role, both in their lifestyle and by the services they provide to the People of God. This is the theme of today’s scripture readings. All the scripture readings speak of the prophetic role of the People of God in general, and more specifically it applies to consecrated persons and religious brothers and sisters. Religious are called to be the apex of the Church’s holiness. If the Church were to point to the holiness of the Church, she would refer to the religious because these are brothers and sisters who have committed themselves to live their baptismal commitments to the highest and deepest degree, more so than anyone else. Indeed, without the religious, the Church would have lacked a powerful sign of the holiness of the Church. They are called to prepare the People of God and lead them to a life of purification and holiness.*
*How could those in consecrated life be a sign? Firstly, they are called to be signs of contradiction to the world, just as Jesus was. Accordingly, the prophetic sign of consecrated people lies first in their lifestyle, even before exercising their charisms for the service of the People of God. Secondly, the prophetic life of consecrated persons is to give others hope and an experience of God’s love as a foretaste in their lives.*
*But above all, if we desire to be true prophets of our Lord, then we must make time to contemplate on our Lord daily in the Eucharist and in the Word of God. Jesus, as the gospel says, is the sign “for the fall and for the rising of many.” If we live the evangelical counsels, it is because they are based on the words and examples of our Lord Himself. If we are able to assume the sufferings of humanity and reach out to them, it is because of Jesus’ example of always being with the people. His office was on the streets, in houses, on the boat and shore, and in open fields and deserts. The Lord wants to be with His people and inspire us all to live His life of total detachment from the worldly values and pursuits of life. In the final analysis, no religious or consecrated persons can live a consecrated life unless he or she contemplates deeply on the face of our Lord daily.*
A Blessed, Joyful and Peaceful Saturday morning to all of you.
Friday, 1 February 2019
https://www.catholic.sg
01-February-2019
Friday-3rd-week-ordinary-time
*ARE YOU STILL PROUD TO BE A CATHOLIC?*
*With the recurrent negative publicity surrounding the Church and scandals involving its hierarchy, it is difficult to stand erect, hold our heads high and say that we are proud to be Catholic. Indeed, many Catholics are ashamed of their faith. Even those Catholics with supposedly strong faith are shaken at hearing such reports. For those who have weak or little faith, what more can we expect from them? Some have left the Church and given up that little sliver of faith that is left in them. Those who have been sexually abused are angry with the Church and some are seeking justice to redress their pain.*
*Indeed, it is difficult to stay firm and strong in our faith. As it is, our Faith is being attacked from all fronts. Above all, with life being more comfortable today, and pleasures, convenience and comforts so easily accessible, unlike in the old days when life was harsh, difficult and austere, people do not think about the next life. In fact, because we are so comfortable in this world, we do not desire to leave it to go to heaven. We want to live on this earth for as long as possible so that we can enjoy the pleasures of life. That is why people go for makeover and freeze their embryos and stems cells, etc because they want to continue to live forever. Only those who live in poverty, in meaninglessness, are sick and lonely desire to die so that they can be relieved from the pain of this life. Otherwise, the thought of dying would be far from their minds.*
*This is true even for Catholics. How we live our lives is not much different from those without faith in God. Faith for many Catholics is more like taking a Panadol for relief or a stop-gap to explain the mysteries of life events. Their faith is more a supplement, a safety net, an insurance. In case everything else fails in life, they still have something to rely on. They use their faith to help them to go through life, especially in times of suffering, trials, bereavement or helplessness. Only then, will they turn to God for help or assistance. However, we need to truly ask ourselves, do we live this life on earth as a preparation and purification for life eternal?*
*In contrast, we look at the early Christians. It is hard to imitate their faith in Christ. They were persecuted, insulted, suffered violence and even put in prison. What was their secret? It is their faith in the greater things to come. For the sake of the greater future, we can sacrifice the present. This has always been the case, even in daily life. For the sake of the future of our children, parents sacrifice their comforts and work hard to give their children a good education. What more if we are speaking of not just being successful in the world but for the joy of eternal life, as a foretaste on this earth and in its fullness after death. St Paul himself wrote, “Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one.”*
*That is why, the key to firmness in our faith is to live by faith, not by sight. What does faith entail? It means to live an honourable life and trust in God who does all things well. Secondly, it means to believe that He is working even when we cannot see Him at work in our lives. Of course, like the farmer, we must cooperate with His grace. We must sow the seed and water the plants. We must cooperate with His grace at work in our lives. Indeed, we must not be too concerned with the visible workings of grace. We must be patient and start cooperating with God’s grace. We need to work from somewhere and begin somewhere. For as the Lord said, the Kingdom of God is “like a mustard seed which at the time of its sowing in the soil is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet once it is sown it grows into the biggest shrub of them all and puts out big branches so that the birds of the air can shelter in its shade.” If we want to see change in the Church, renewal, conversion, growth, and be truly a tree that all can find rest under its shade, then we must take steps, each in his or her own ways, to build up their faith and the faith of their brothers and sisters. Together in the same mission, we will establish God’s kingdom eventually in the hearts of men and women.*
A Blessed, Joyful and Peaceful Friday afternoon to all of you.
01-February-2019
Friday-3rd-week-ordinary-time
*ARE YOU STILL PROUD TO BE A CATHOLIC?*
*With the recurrent negative publicity surrounding the Church and scandals involving its hierarchy, it is difficult to stand erect, hold our heads high and say that we are proud to be Catholic. Indeed, many Catholics are ashamed of their faith. Even those Catholics with supposedly strong faith are shaken at hearing such reports. For those who have weak or little faith, what more can we expect from them? Some have left the Church and given up that little sliver of faith that is left in them. Those who have been sexually abused are angry with the Church and some are seeking justice to redress their pain.*
*Indeed, it is difficult to stay firm and strong in our faith. As it is, our Faith is being attacked from all fronts. Above all, with life being more comfortable today, and pleasures, convenience and comforts so easily accessible, unlike in the old days when life was harsh, difficult and austere, people do not think about the next life. In fact, because we are so comfortable in this world, we do not desire to leave it to go to heaven. We want to live on this earth for as long as possible so that we can enjoy the pleasures of life. That is why people go for makeover and freeze their embryos and stems cells, etc because they want to continue to live forever. Only those who live in poverty, in meaninglessness, are sick and lonely desire to die so that they can be relieved from the pain of this life. Otherwise, the thought of dying would be far from their minds.*
*This is true even for Catholics. How we live our lives is not much different from those without faith in God. Faith for many Catholics is more like taking a Panadol for relief or a stop-gap to explain the mysteries of life events. Their faith is more a supplement, a safety net, an insurance. In case everything else fails in life, they still have something to rely on. They use their faith to help them to go through life, especially in times of suffering, trials, bereavement or helplessness. Only then, will they turn to God for help or assistance. However, we need to truly ask ourselves, do we live this life on earth as a preparation and purification for life eternal?*
*In contrast, we look at the early Christians. It is hard to imitate their faith in Christ. They were persecuted, insulted, suffered violence and even put in prison. What was their secret? It is their faith in the greater things to come. For the sake of the greater future, we can sacrifice the present. This has always been the case, even in daily life. For the sake of the future of our children, parents sacrifice their comforts and work hard to give their children a good education. What more if we are speaking of not just being successful in the world but for the joy of eternal life, as a foretaste on this earth and in its fullness after death. St Paul himself wrote, “Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one.”*
*That is why, the key to firmness in our faith is to live by faith, not by sight. What does faith entail? It means to live an honourable life and trust in God who does all things well. Secondly, it means to believe that He is working even when we cannot see Him at work in our lives. Of course, like the farmer, we must cooperate with His grace. We must sow the seed and water the plants. We must cooperate with His grace at work in our lives. Indeed, we must not be too concerned with the visible workings of grace. We must be patient and start cooperating with God’s grace. We need to work from somewhere and begin somewhere. For as the Lord said, the Kingdom of God is “like a mustard seed which at the time of its sowing in the soil is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet once it is sown it grows into the biggest shrub of them all and puts out big branches so that the birds of the air can shelter in its shade.” If we want to see change in the Church, renewal, conversion, growth, and be truly a tree that all can find rest under its shade, then we must take steps, each in his or her own ways, to build up their faith and the faith of their brothers and sisters. Together in the same mission, we will establish God’s kingdom eventually in the hearts of men and women.*
A Blessed, Joyful and Peaceful Friday afternoon to all of you.
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