Mass Reading: Sunday - 22nd March 2026

First reading
Ezekiel 37:12-14
I shall put my spirit in you, and you will live

    The Lord says this: I am now going to open your graves; I mean to raise you from your graves, my people, and lead you back to the soil of Israel. And you will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and raise you from your graves, my people. And I shall put my spirit in you, and you will live, and I shall resettle you on your own soil; and you will know that I, the Lord, have said and done this – it is the Lord who speaks.

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 129(130)

With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord,
    Lord, hear my voice!
O let your ears be attentive
    to the voice of my pleading.

With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.

If you, O Lord, should mark our guilt,
    Lord, who would survive?
But with you is found forgiveness:
    for this we revere you.

With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.

My soul is waiting for the Lord.
    I count on his word.
My soul is longing for the Lord
    more than watchman for daybreak.
(Let the watchman count on daybreak
    and Israel on the Lord.)

With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.

Because with the Lord there is mercy
    and fullness of redemption,
Israel indeed he will redeem
    from all its iniquity.

With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.

________

Second reading
Romans 8:8-11
The Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you

    People who are interested only in unspiritual things can never be pleasing to God. Your interests, however, are not in the unspiritual, but in the spiritual, since the Spirit of God has made his home in you. In fact, unless you possessed the Spirit of Christ you would not belong to him. Though your body may be dead it is because of sin, but if Christ is in you then your spirit is life itself because you have been justified; and if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, then he who raised Jesus from the dead will give life to your own mortal bodies through his Spirit living in you.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
Jn11:25, 26

Glory and praise to you, O Christ!

I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord;
whoever believes in me will never die.

Glory and praise to you, O Christ!

________

Gospel
John 11:1-45
I am the resurrection and the life

    There was a man named Lazarus who lived in the village of Bethany with the two sisters, Mary and Martha, and he was ill. It was the same Mary, the sister of the sick man Lazarus, who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair. The sisters sent this message to Jesus, ‘Lord, the man you love is ill.’ On receiving the message, Jesus said, ‘This sickness will end not in death but in God’s glory, and through it the Son of God will be glorified.’

    Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, yet when he heard that Lazarus was ill he stayed where he was for two more days before saying to the disciples, ‘Let us go to Judaea.’ The disciples said, ‘Rabbi, it is not long since the Jews wanted to stone you; are you going back again?’ Jesus replied:

‘Are there not twelve hours in the day?

A man can walk in the daytime without stumbling

because he has the light of this world to see by;

but if he walks at night he stumbles,

because there is no light to guide him.’

    He said that and then added, ‘Our friend Lazarus is resting, I am going to wake him.’ The disciples said to him, ‘Lord, if he is able to rest he is sure to get better.’ The phrase Jesus used referred to the death of Lazarus, but they thought that by ‘rest’ he meant ‘sleep’, so Jesus put it plainly, ‘Lazarus is dead; and for your sake I am glad I was not there because now you will believe. But let us go to him.’ Then Thomas – known as the Twin – said to the other disciples, ‘Let us go too, and die with him.’

    On arriving, Jesus found that Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days already. Bethany is only about two miles from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to sympathise with them over their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus had come she went to meet him. Mary remained sitting in the house. Martha said to Jesus, ‘If you had been here, my brother would not have died, but I know that, even now, whatever you ask of God, he will grant you.’ ‘Your brother’ said Jesus to her ‘will rise again.’ Martha said, ‘I know he will rise again at the resurrection on the last day.’ Jesus said:

‘I am the resurrection and the life.

If anyone believes in me, even though he dies he will live,

and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.

Do you believe this?’

    ‘Yes, Lord,’ she said ‘I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who was to come into this world.’

    When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in a low voice, ‘The Master is here and wants to see you.’ Hearing this, Mary got up quickly and went to him. Jesus had not yet come into the village; he was still at the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who were in the house sympathising with Mary saw her get up so quickly and go out, they followed her, thinking that she was going to the tomb to weep there.

    Mary went to Jesus, and as soon as she saw him she threw herself at his feet, saying, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’ At the sight of her tears, and those of the Jews who followed her, Jesus said in great distress, with a sigh that came straight from the heart, ‘Where have you put him?’ They said, ‘Lord, come and see.’ Jesus wept; and the Jews said, ‘See how much he loved him!’ But there were some who remarked, ‘He opened the eyes of the blind man, could he not have prevented this man’s death?’ Still sighing, Jesus reached the tomb: it was a cave with a stone to close the opening. Jesus said, ‘Take the stone away.’ Martha said to him, ‘Lord, by now he will smell; this is the fourth day.’ Jesus replied, ‘Have I not told you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?’ So they took away the stone. Then Jesus lifted up his eyes and said:

‘Father, I thank you for hearing my prayer.

I knew indeed that you always hear me,

but I speak for the sake of all these who stand round me,

so that they may believe it was you who sent me.’

    When he had said this, he cried in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, here! Come out!’ The dead man came out, his feet and hands bound with bands of stuff and a cloth round his face. Jesus said to them, ‘Unbind him, let him go free.’

    Many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary and had seen what he did believed in him.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 22nd March 2026

 

EZ 37:12-14; PS 130:1-8; ROM 8:8-11; JN 11:1-45 or JN 11:3-7, 20-27, 33b-45

At this point in our Lenten journey, it is tempting to grow weary of the spiritual disciplines we have taken on. Today’s readings inspire us to remain faithful, in grateful response to a God who loves us so much. What’s more, these readings give us wonderful guidance on just how to make this grateful response.

In our first reading, from Ezekiel, the prophet speaks God’s own words to us. “I will put my spirit in you that you may live… I have promised, and I will do it, says the Lord.” Our God wants only good for us. He wants to be so closely united to us that we are one with Him. And He has promised He will do it.

But only if we allow Him. He will not force His way into our lives. That would not be loving, and God is Love itself. We must invite Him in. We must make room for Him by making Him THE priority of our lives. Putting God first is a grateful response that is very pleasing to Him.

How can we please God by putting Him first? Our second reading, from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, gives us good instruction. “Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh… you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you.” To be “in the flesh” means that we allow our own selves — our whims, our pleasure, our comfort-seeking — to determine our daily decisions. To be "in the flesh" is to spend our time, talent, and material gifts primarily on ourselves. When we are in the flesh, we leave no room for the Spirit of God to fill our thoughts, our hearts, and our souls.

The disciplines of Lent and the disciplines of a stewardship way of life are wonderful gifts that free us from too great an attachment to “the flesh.” The sacrifices we make in a particular way during this holy season, and every day when we truly embrace a stewardship way of life, are not meant to restrict our freedom and joy. Quite the contrary — they are tools to help us find the real freedom and joy that only come when we make room in our lives for God. In fact, the more we allow God to take over every aspect of our lives, the freer and more joyful we become.

And our loving God is always ready to renew His Spirit within us whenever we find ourselves led astray by the temptation to selfishness. Today’s Gospel passage from John recounts Jesus’ raising of His friend, Lazarus, from the dead. In Jesus’ poignant reaction to the death of Lazarus and the grief of his sisters, we see once again how closely our God identifies with us and all of our sufferings and burdens. His tenderness and compassion teach us that we can safely surrender our lives to Him, knowing that He will care for us. His raising of Lazarus from the dead demonstrates His power over all things, even death itself, reminding us that it would be foolish not to surrender to such an awesome God!

As we journey ever closer to the powerful days of Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and the Passion and Resurrection of our Lord, let us intensify our Lenten resolutions and our stewardship way of life. Let us invite the Holy Spirit to take over more and more of our lives. By Easter, we will be freer to rejoice in Him and truly pleasing to God.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 15th March 2026

First reading
1 Samuel 16:1,6-7,10-13
David is anointed by Samuel

    The Lord said to Samuel, ‘Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have chosen myself a king among his sons.’ When Samuel arrived, he caught sight of Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed stands there before him,’ but the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Take no notice of his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him: God does not see as man sees: man looks at appearances but the Lord looks at the heart.’ Jesse presented his seven sons to Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse, ‘The Lord has not chosen these.’ He then asked Jesse, ‘Are these all the sons you have?’ He answered, ‘There is still one left, the youngest; he is out looking after the sheep.’ Then Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Send for him; we will not sit down to eat until he comes.’ Jesse had him sent for, a boy of fresh complexion, with fine eyes and pleasant bearing. The Lord said, ‘Come, anoint him, for this is the one.’ At this, Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him where he stood with his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord seized on David and stayed with him from that day on.

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 22(23)

The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.

The Lord is my shepherd;
    there is nothing I shall want.
Fresh and green are the pastures
    where he gives me repose.
Near restful waters he leads me,
    to revive my drooping spirit.

The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.

He guides me along the right path;
    he is true to his name.
If I should walk in the valley of darkness
    no evil would I fear.
You are there with your crook and your staff;
    with these you give me comfort.

The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.

You have prepared a banquet for me
    in the sight of my foes.
My head you have anointed with oil;
    my cup is overflowing.

The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.

Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me
    all the days of my life.
In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell
    for ever and ever.

The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.

________

Second reading
Ephesians 5:8-14
Anything exposed by the light will turn into light

    You were darkness once, but now you are light in the Lord; be like children of light, for the effects of the light are seen in complete goodness and right living and truth. Try to discover what the Lord wants of you, having nothing to do with the futile works of darkness but exposing them by contrast. The things which are done in secret are things that people are ashamed even to speak of; but anything exposed by the light will be illuminated and anything illuminated turns into light. That is why it is said:

Wake up from your sleep,

rise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
Jn8:12

Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!

I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
whoever follows me will have the light of life.

Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!

________

Gospel
John 9:1-41
The blind man went off and washed himself, and came away with his sight restored

    As Jesus went along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, for him to have been born blind?’ ‘Neither he nor his parents sinned,’ Jesus answered ‘he was born blind so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

‘As long as the day lasts

I must carry out the work of the one who sent me;

the night will soon be here when no one can work.

As long as I am in the world

I am the light of the world.’

    Having said this, he spat on the ground, made a paste with the spittle, put this over the eyes of the blind man, and said to him, ‘Go and wash in the Pool of Siloam’ (a name that means ‘sent’). So the blind man went off and washed himself, and came away with his sight restored.

    His neighbours and people who earlier had seen him begging said, ‘Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?’ Some said, ‘Yes, it is the same one.’ Others said, ‘No, he only looks like him.’ The man himself said, ‘I am the man.’ So they said to him, ‘Then how do your eyes come to be open?’ ‘The man called Jesus’ he answered ‘made a paste, daubed my eyes with it and said to me, “Go and wash at Siloam”; so I went, and when I washed I could see.’ They asked, ‘Where is he?’ ‘I don’t know’ he answered.

    They brought the man who had been blind to the Pharisees. It had been a sabbath day when Jesus made the paste and opened the man’s eyes, so when the Pharisees asked him how he had come to see, he said, ‘He put a paste on my eyes, and I washed, and I can see.’ Then some of the Pharisees said, ‘This man cannot be from God: he does not keep the sabbath.’ Others said, ‘How could a sinner produce signs like this?’ And there was disagreement among them. So they spoke to the blind man again, ‘What have you to say about him yourself, now that he has opened your eyes?’ ‘He is a prophet’ replied the man. However, the Jews would not believe that the man had been blind and had gained his sight, without first sending for his parents and asking them, ‘Is this man really your son who you say was born blind? If so, how is it that he is now able to see?’ His parents answered, ‘We know he is our son and we know he was born blind, but we do not know how it is that he can see now, or who opened his eyes. He is old enough: let him speak for himself.’ His parents spoke like this out of fear of the Jews, who had already agreed to expel from the synagogue anyone who should acknowledge Jesus as the Christ. This was why his parents said, ‘He is old enough; ask him.’

    So the Jews again sent for the man and said to him, ‘Give glory to God! For our part, we know that this man is a sinner.’ The man answered, ‘I don’t know if he is a sinner; I only know that I was blind and now I can see.’ They said to him, ‘What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?’ He replied, ‘I have told you once and you wouldn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it all again? Do you want to become his disciples too?’ At this they hurled abuse at him: ‘You can be his disciple,’ they said ‘we are disciples of Moses: we know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.’ The man replied, ‘Now here is an astonishing thing! He has opened my eyes, and you don’t know where he comes from! We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but God does listen to men who are devout and do his will. Ever since the world began it is unheard of for anyone to open the eyes of a man who was born blind; if this man were not from God, he couldn’t do a thing.’ ‘Are you trying to teach us,’ they replied ‘and you a sinner through and through, since you were born!’ And they drove him away.

    Jesus heard they had driven him away, and when he found him he said to him, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ ‘Sir,’ the man replied ‘tell me who he is so that I may believe in him.’ Jesus said, ‘You are looking at him; he is speaking to you.’ The man said, ‘Lord, I believe’, and worshipped him.

    Jesus said:

‘It is for judgement

that I have come into this world,

so that those without sight may see

and those with sight turn blind.’

Hearing this, some Pharisees who were present said to him, ‘We are not blind, surely?’ Jesus replied:

‘Blind? If you were,

you would not be guilty,

but since you say, “We see,”

your guilt remains.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

 

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 15th March 2026

 

1 SM 16:1B, 6-7, 10-13A; PS 23:1-6; EPH 5:8-14; JN 9:1-41 or JN 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38


Today’s readings for this Fourth Sunday of Lent present a series of striking contrasts — God’s vision versus human vision, the light of Christ versus the darkness of sin, and spiritual blindness versus spiritual sight. Together, they invite us to examine how we see our lives and remind us that a stewardship way of life helps us see as God sees and reflect Christ’s light to others.

In the First Book of Samuel, the prophet is sent to anoint a new king from among the sons of Jesse. One by one, the older, stronger brothers are presented, yet none is chosen. Instead, God selects David, the youngest and least likely by human standards. The Lord explains why: “Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the Lord looks into the heart.”

This passage challenges us to reconsider how we measure success and worth. The world often values status, influence, and outward achievement. God, however, looks at the heart. He sees how we love, how we serve, and how we use the gifts entrusted to us. A stewardship way of life shifts our focus away from appearances and toward faithful use of the time, talents, and resources God has given us for the good of others.

St. Paul echoes this identity in the Letter to the Ephesians: “You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.” Because of Baptism, the light of Christ dwells within us. Yet in the routine struggles of daily life, we can forget who we truly are. We may settle into habits that dull that light or drift into patterns that place comfort or convenience ahead of discipleship.

The stewardship way of life offers a practical path forward. By intentionally examining how we use our time, talents, and treasure, we gain clarity about whether our lives truly reflect Christ’s light. Stewardship invites us to choose prayer over distraction, service over self-interest, generosity over hoarding, and trust over fear. In doing so, Christ’s light becomes visible not only in church, but in our homes, workplaces, and communities.

In the Gospel, Jesus declares, “I am the light of the world,” and then restores sight to a man born blind. The miracle causes controversy, yet the healed man simply speaks the truth: Jesus “opened my eyes.” His physical healing becomes a sign of the deeper spiritual sight Christ offers to all who believe.

Lent is an ideal time for us to ask the same grace. Where might we still be spiritually blind? Where do we fail to see God at work? Where do we overlook opportunities to serve or share our gifts?

Are we reflecting Christ’s light in the way we use our time — giving priority to prayer, Mass, Confession, and attentive care for our families and neighbors?

Are we reflecting His light in the sharing of our talents — volunteering in parish life, helping those in need, and offering encouragement and compassion to those around us?

Are we reflecting His light in the sharing of our material blessings — giving generously and intentionally in gratitude to the God who has entrusted everything to us?

The journey of stewardship is really a journey of vision — learning to see our lives as gifts and to recognize that everything we have is meant to be shared for God’s glory.

As we continue through Lent, let us ask Christ to open our eyes wherever our vision has grown dim. By renewing our commitment to live as grateful and generous stewards, we prepare to celebrate Easter as people who truly walk as children of the light.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 08th March 2026

 

EX 17:3-7; PS 95:1-2, 6-9; ROM 5:1-2, 5-8; JN 4:5-42 OR JN 4:5-15, 19B-26, 39A, 40-42

The readings for this Third Sunday of Lent center on the theme of thirst, revealing both our deep human longing for God and Christ’s own thirst for souls. They remind us that a stewardship way of life both satisfies our spiritual thirst and invites us to participate in God’s saving work in the lives of others.

In our first reading from Exodus, the Israelites find themselves in the desert without water. Their fear quickly turns to complaint, and they grumble against Moses despite all God has done to free them from slavery. It is easy to judge them, yet their response mirrors our own at times. When we face uncertainty, discomfort, or unanswered prayers, we too can forget how faithfully God has provided for us in the past.

Still, when Moses cries out to the Lord, God responds with generosity, instructing him to strike the rock so water flows for the people. God’s care did not end in the desert. He continues to provide for His people today, meeting both our material and spiritual needs. Every breath we take, every blessing we enjoy, every opportunity placed before us is evidence of His ongoing generosity. A stewardship way of life begins when we recognize this truth and respond not with complaint or fear, but with gratitude and trust.

St. Paul deepens this understanding in his Letter to the Romans, reminding us that God’s generosity is not limited to material provision. Rather, He pours His very love into our hearts: “The love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.” This gift is not given because we have earned it. In fact, Paul tells us, “God proves His love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.”

This is the heart of stewardship. Everything we have — our time, abilities, and resources — is first a gift. We are loved and blessed even in our weakness. When we truly grasp this, gratitude naturally leads us to generosity. We begin to see our lives not as possessions to guard, but as gifts to share. Such generosity becomes a powerful witness that can lead others to Christ and help satisfy His thirst for souls.

This movement from receiving to sharing is beautifully illustrated in today’s Gospel encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. Jesus begins with a humble request: “Give me a drink.” She is surprised that He would even speak to her, yet this simple exchange opens the door to a life-changing conversation.

Jesus tells her that He can offer living water — water that truly satisfies: “Whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” At first, she thinks only in practical terms, but gradually she comes to recognize that Christ is speaking about a deeper thirst — the longing of the human heart for God.

These words are spoken to us as well. Christ asks something of us — our trust, our time, our generosity — yet He first desires to fill us with His grace. Stewardship is not simply about giving things away; it is about allowing Christ to fill our lives so completely that His grace overflows into the lives of others.

The Gospel also reminds us that God calls ordinary, imperfect people to share His message. The Samaritan woman had a complicated past and was an unlikely evangelist. Yet after encountering Christ, she leaves her water jar behind and runs to tell others about Him. Her testimony leads many in her village to believe.

The same pattern holds true today. Christ does not wait for perfect people; He calls each of us as we are. Through simple acts of generosity, service, hospitality, and witness, we help others encounter Him. Often, we do not even realize the impact our small acts of stewardship can have in drawing someone closer to Christ.

Lent offers us a privileged time to examine where we still thirst and where we hesitate to trust God’s provision. It is also an opportunity to renew our commitment to live as stewards — people who gratefully receive God’s gifts and generously share them for the good of others.

Christ continues to say to each of us, “Give me a drink.” He invites us to share what we have so that others may encounter Him. As we allow His living water to fill our hearts, we become instruments through which His grace flows to a thirsty world.

This Lent, may we respond to His invitation with renewed faith and commitment. By living as grateful and generous stewards, we help quench Christ’s thirst for the salvation of souls and lead many more to the living water that alone satisfies.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 08th March 2026

 

First reading
Exodus 17:3-7
Strike the rock, and water will flow from it

    Tormented by thirst, the people complained against Moses. ‘Why did you bring us out of Egypt?’ they said. ‘Was it so that I should die of thirst, my children too, and my cattle?’

    Moses appealed to the Lord. ‘How am I to deal with this people?” he said. ‘A little more and they will stone me!’ the Lord said to Moses, ‘Take with you some of the elders of Israel and move on to the forefront of the people; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the river, and go. I shall be standing before you there on the rock, at Horeb. You must strike the rock, and water will flow from it for the people to drink.’ This is what Moses did, in the sight of the elders of Israel. The place was named Massah and Meribah because of the grumbling of the sons of Israel and because they put the Lord to the test by saying, ‘Is the Lord with us, or not?’

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 94(95):1-2,6-9

O that today you would listen to his voice! ‘Harden not your hearts.’

Come, ring out our joy to the Lord;
    hail the rock who saves us.
Let us come before him, giving thanks,
    with songs let us hail the Lord.

O that today you would listen to his voice! ‘Harden not your hearts.’

Come in; let us bow and bend low;
    let us kneel before the God who made us:
for he is our God and we
    the people who belong to his pasture,
    the flock that is led by his hand.

O that today you would listen to his voice! ‘Harden not your hearts.’

O that today you would listen to his voice!
    ‘Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
    as on that day at Massah in the desert
when your fathers put me to the test;
    when they tried me, though they saw my work.’

O that today you would listen to his voice! ‘Harden not your hearts.’

________

Second reading
Romans 5:1-2,5-8
The love of God has been poured into our hearts

    

    Through our Lord Jesus Christ, by faith we are judged righteous and at peace with God, since it is by faith and through Jesus that we have entered this state of grace in which we can boast about looking forward to God’s glory. And this hope is not deceptive, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given us. We were still helpless when at his appointed moment Christ died for sinful men. It is not easy to die even for a good man – though of course for someone really worthy, a man might be prepared to die – but what proves that God loves us is that Christ died for us while we were still sinners.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
Jn4:42,15

Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!

Lord, you are really the saviour of the world:
give me the living water, so that I may never get thirsty.

Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!

________

Gospel
John 4:5-42
A spring of water welling up to eternal life

    Jesus came to the Samaritan town called Sychar, near the land that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well is there and Jesus, tired by the journey, sat straight down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink.’ His disciples had gone into the town to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, ‘What? You are a Jew and you ask me, a Samaritan, for a drink?’ – Jews, in fact, do not associate with Samaritans. Jesus replied:

‘If you only knew what God is offering

and who it is that is saying to you:

Give me a drink, you would have been the one to ask,

and he would have given you living water.’

    ‘You have no bucket, sir,’ she answered ‘and the well is deep: how could you get this living water? Are you a greater man than our father Jacob who gave us this well and drank from it himself with his sons and his cattle?’ Jesus replied:

‘Whoever drinks this water

will get thirsty again;

but anyone who drinks the water that I shall give

will never be thirsty again:

the water that I shall give

will turn into a spring inside him,

welling up to eternal life.’

    ‘Sir,’ said the woman ‘give me some of that water, so that I may never get thirsty and never have to come here again to draw water.’ ‘Go and call your husband’ said Jesus to her ‘and come back here.’ The woman answered, ‘I have no husband.’ He said to her, ‘You are right to say, “I have no husband”; for although you have had five, the one you have now is not your husband. You spoke the truth there.’ ‘I see you are a prophet, sir’ said the woman. ‘Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, while you say that Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.’ Jesus said:

‘Believe me, woman,

the hour is coming

when you will worship the Father

neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.

You worship what you do not know;

we worship what we do know:

for salvation comes from the Jews.

But the hour will come

– in fact it is here already –

when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth:

that is the kind of worshipper the Father wants.

God is spirit,

and those who worship

must worship in spirit and truth.’

    The woman said to him, ‘I know that Messiah – that is, Christ – is coming; and when he comes he will tell us everything.’ ‘I who am speaking to you,’ said Jesus ‘I am he.’

    At this point his disciples returned, and were surprised to find him speaking to a woman, though none of them asked, ‘What do you want from her?’ or, ‘Why are you talking to her?’ The woman put down her water jar and hurried back to the town to tell the people. ‘Come and see a man who has told me everything I ever did; I wonder if he is the Christ?’ This brought people out of the town and they started walking towards him.

    Meanwhile, the disciples were urging him, ‘Rabbi, do have something to eat; but he said, ‘I have food to eat that you do not know about.’ So the disciples asked one another, ‘Has someone been bringing him food?’ But Jesus said:

‘My food is to do the will of the one who sent me,

and to complete his work.

Have you not got a saying:

Four months and then the harvest?

Well, I tell you:

Look around you, look at the fields;

already they are white, ready for harvest!

Already the reaper is being paid his wages,

already he is bringing in the grain for eternal life,

and thus sower and reaper rejoice together.

For here the proverb holds good:

one sows, another reaps;

I sent you to reap a harvest you had not worked for.

Others worked for it;

and you have come into the rewards of their trouble.’

    Many Samaritans of that town had believed in him on the strength of the woman’s testimony when she said, ‘He told me all I have ever done’, so, when the Samaritans came up to him, they begged him to stay with them. He stayed for two days, and when he spoke to them many more came to believe; and they said to the woman, ‘Now we no longer believe because of what you told us; we have heard him ourselves and we know that he really is the saviour of the world.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 1st March 2026

First reading
Genesis 12:1-4
All the tribes of the earth shall bless themselves by you

The Lord said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your family and your father’s house, for the land I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name so famous that it will be used as a blessing.

‘I will bless those who bless you:
I will curse those who slight you.
All the tribes of the earth
shall bless themselves by you.’

So Abram went as the Lord told him.

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 32(33):4-5,18-20,22

May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.

The word of the Lord is faithful
    and all his works to be trusted.
The Lord loves justice and right
    and fills the earth with his love.

May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.

The Lord looks on those who revere him,
    on those who hope in his love,
to rescue their souls from death,
    to keep them alive in famine.

May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.

Our soul is waiting for the Lord.
    The Lord is our help and our shield.
May your love be upon us, O Lord,
    as we place all our hope in you.

May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.

________

Second reading
2 Timothy 1:8-10
God calls and enlightens us

With me, bear the hardships for the sake of the Good News, relying on the power of God who has saved us and called us to be holy – not because of anything we ourselves have done but for his own purpose and by his own grace. This grace had already been granted to us, in Christ Jesus, before the beginning of time, but it has only been revealed by the Appearing of our saviour Christ Jesus. He abolished death, and he has proclaimed life and immortality through the Good News.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
Mt17:5

Glory and praise to you, O Christ!

From the bright cloud the Father’s voice was heard:
‘This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.’

Glory and praise to you, O Christ!

________

Gospel
Matthew 17:1-9
His face shone like the sun

    Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone. There in their presence he was transfigured: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as the light. Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them; they were talking with him. Then Peter spoke to Jesus. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He was still speaking when suddenly a bright cloud covered them with shadow, and from the cloud there came a voice which said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour. Listen to him.’ When they heard this the disciples fell on their faces overcome with fear. But Jesus came up and touched them. ‘Stand up,’ he said ‘do not be afraid.’ And when they raised their eyes they saw no one but only Jesus.

    As they came down from the mountain Jesus gave them this order, ‘Tell no one about the vision until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 1st March 2026

 

GN 12:1-4A; PS 33:4-5, 18-20, 22; 2 TIM 1:8B-10; MT 17:1-9

Our readings for this second Sunday of Lent offer us, as Christian stewards, the motivation to continue our 40-day journey toward deeper holiness.

The first reading from the book of Genesis describes God’s call to Abram (who would later be called Abraham). God instructs Abram to leave his home and set out to a land that God had chosen for him. Abram’s response is an ancient example of good stewardship. Instead of clinging to his comfortable way of life, to the only home he has ever known, he recognizes that all he has is a gift from God, puts his trust in God, and obeys. And God rewards him, saying, “I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.”

To “be a blessing” is the true aim of a stewardship way of life. It is also an excellent way to live out the season of Lent. The sacrifices we take on, the spiritual disciplines we practice, and the extra acts of service we perform during this season — all give glory to God and transform our lives into a blessing for others.

St. Paul encourages us on this path in our second reading taken from his letter to Timothy. “Bear your share of hardship for the gospel…” adding this critical phrase, “with the strength that comes from God.” On our own, we are weak and inclined towards selfishness and comfort seeking. Relying on God’s strength, however, we can persevere in the fight to attain holiness. Paul reminds us that we were made for this! “[God] saved us and called us to a holy life.”

To be “holy” means to be set apart for God. This means that our lives as Christian stewards will look different from those around us who do not know the Lord — but different in a way that is attractive, that draws them to the Lord as well. It is a way of life that is counter-cultural in our individualistic, “me first” day and age. The generous offering to God of our time, talent, and treasure at times can feel like the “hardship” Paul mentions in our second reading. But this way of life is a path to holiness.

Lest we grow weary on this path, our Gospel passage today, from Matthew, offers us a powerful image of the great God we serve. It is the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus when our Lord takes His key apostles up to a high mountain and reveals Himself in His true glory. “He was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light.” And not only that, but the voice of the Father was revealed to them with the words, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” This revelation of the glory of God was so overwhelming to the apostles that they fell to the ground in fear when they saw Him this way. But our loving Savior is quick to reassure them to “Rise, and do not be afraid.”

As we continue our Lenten journey, let us take these two verses, “Listen to Him,” “Rise, and do not be afraid” to heart. Let us rely on God’s strength to aid us in our spiritual disciplines as we move through Lent. We will arrive at Easter with deeper holiness, as a blessing to God and others — and as better stewards of all God’s gifts to us.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 22nd February 2026

 

GN 2:7-9; 3:1-7; PS 51:3-6,12-13,17; ROM 5:12-19 or 5:12, 17-19; MT 4:1-11

As we enter the season of Lent, the Church invites us into 40 days of intentional reflection, repentance, and renewal. These readings remind us that Lent is not simply about giving something up, but about making room for God. For Christian stewards, this season calls us to look honestly at how we are using the time entrusted to us and whether our daily choices reflect trust in the Lord.

Our first reading from Genesis takes us back to the beginning and reveals the goodness of God’s original design. Out of love, God formed humanity, breathed life into us, and placed Adam and Eve in a garden rich with beauty and abundance. Their life with God was marked by trust, gratitude, and attentiveness to His presence. Time itself was a gift — ordered around relationship with the Creator.

That harmony was disrupted when doubt entered their hearts. Tempted by the serpent, Adam and Eve questioned God’s goodness and turned their attention away from Him. In that moment, they chose their own judgment over God’s word. This same temptation remains familiar to us. When our time becomes filled with distractions, busyness, or self-reliance, it becomes easier to lose sight of God’s presence and purposes in our lives.

In our second reading, St. Paul reminds us that God did not abandon humanity to this broken pattern. While disobedience led to sin and separation, obedience leads to restoration. Through Jesus Christ — the new Adam — God offers mercy, healing, and new life. Conversion is possible because grace is given. Lent invites us to slow down long enough to receive that grace and allow it to reshape how we live.

The Gospel then shows us what faithful stewardship looks like in practice. Jesus enters the desert, fasts for 40 days, and confronts temptation directly. He does not rush past this time of testing or seek to escape it. Instead, He remains rooted in Scripture and attentive to the Father’s will. By giving time to prayer, silence, and trust, Jesus reveals that spiritual strength grows where time is intentionally placed in God’s hands.

Lent invites us to follow this same path. It is a season to examine whether our schedules leave room for prayer, Scripture, and quiet attentiveness to God. This may require setting aside certain distractions or habits so that time can be reclaimed for what matters most. When we intentionally place God at the center of our days, gratitude deepens, trust grows, and stewardship becomes a way of life.

By embracing these 40 days with purpose, we prepare our hearts to celebrate Easter renewed, restored, and ready to live more fully as disciples of Christ.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 22nd February 2026

First reading

Genesis 2:7-9,3:1-7

The Creation, and the sin of our first parents

    The Lord God fashioned man of dust from the soil. Then he breathed into his nostrils a breath of life, and thus man became a living being.

    The Lord God planted a garden in Eden which is in the east, and there he put the man he had fashioned. The Lord God caused to spring up from the soil every kind of tree, enticing to look at and good to eat, with the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the middle of the garden.

    Now the serpent was the most subtle of all the wild beasts that the Lord God had made. It asked the woman, ‘Did God really say you were not to eat from any of the trees in the garden?’ The woman answered the serpent, ‘We may eat the fruit of the trees in the garden. But of the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden God said, “You must not eat it, nor touch it, under pain of death.”’ Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘No! You will not die! God knows in fact that on the day you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods, knowing good and evil.’ The woman saw that the tree was good to eat and pleasing to the eye, and that it was desirable for the knowledge that it could give. So she took some of its fruit and ate it. She gave some also to her husband who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened and they realised that they were naked. So they sewed fig-leaves together to make themselves loin-cloths.

The Word of The Lord

________

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 50(51):3-6,12-14,17

Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness.

    In your compassion blot out my offence.

O wash me more and more from my guilt

    and cleanse me from my sin.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.

My offences truly I know them;

    my sin is always before me

Against you, you alone, have I sinned;

    what is evil in your sight I have done.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.

A pure heart create for me, O God,

    put a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from your presence,

    nor deprive me of your holy spirit.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Give me again the joy of your help;

    with a spirit of fervour sustain me,

O Lord, open my lips

    and my mouth shall declare your praise.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.

________

Second reading

Romans 5:12,17-19 ·

However great the number of sins committed, grace was even greater

Sin entered the world through one man, and through sin death, and thus death has spread through the whole human race because everyone has sinned. If it is certain that death reigned over everyone as the consequence of one man’s fall, it is even more certain that one man, Jesus Christ, will cause everyone to reign in life who receives the free gift that he does not deserve, of being made righteous. Again, as one man’s fall brought condemnation on everyone, so the good act of one man brings everyone life and makes them justified. As by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

The Word of The Lord 

________

Gospel Acclamation

Mt4:4

Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!

Man does not live on bread alone,

but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!

________

Gospel

Matthew 4:1-11

The temptation in the wilderness

Jesus was led by the Spirit out into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, after which he was very hungry, and the tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to turn into loaves.’ But he replied, ‘Scripture says:

Man does not live on bread alone

but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’

The devil then took him to the holy city and made him stand on the parapet of the Temple. ‘If you are the Son of God’ he said ‘throw yourself down; for scripture says:

He will put you in his angels’ charge,

and they will support you on their hands

in case you hurt your foot against a stone.’

Jesus said to him, ‘Scripture also says:

You must not put the Lord your God to the test.’

Next, taking him to a very high mountain, the devil showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. ‘I will give you all these’ he said, ‘if you fall at my feet and worship me.’ Then Jesus replied, ‘Be off, Satan! For scripture says:

You must worship the Lord your God,

and serve him alone.’

Then the devil left him, and angels appeared and looked after him.

The Gospel of The Lord 

Mass Reading : Wednesday - 18th February 2026

First reading
Joel 2:12-18
Let your hearts be broken, not your garments torn

‘Now, now – it is the Lord who speaks –
come back to me with all your heart,
fasting, weeping, mourning.’
Let your hearts be broken, not your garments torn,
turn to the Lord your God again,
for he is all tenderness and compassion,
slow to anger, rich in graciousness,
and ready to relent.
Who knows if he will not turn again, will not relent,
will not leave a blessing as he passes,
oblation and libation
for the Lord your God?

Sound the trumpet in Zion!
Order a fast,
proclaim a solemn assembly,
call the people together,
summon the community,
assemble the elders,
gather the children,
even the infants at the breast.
Let the bridegroom leave his bedroom
and the bride her alcove.
Between vestibule and altar let the priests,
the ministers of the Lord, lament.
Let them say,
‘Spare your people, Lord!
Do not make your heritage a thing of shame,
a byword for the nations.
Why should it be said among the nations,
“Where is their God?”’

Then the Lord, jealous on behalf of his land,
took pity on his people.

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 50(51):3-6,12-14,17

Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness.
    In your compassion blot out my offence.
O wash me more and more from my guilt
    and cleanse me from my sin.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.

My offences truly I know them;
    my sin is always before me
Against you, you alone, have I sinned;
    what is evil in your sight I have done.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.

A pure heart create for me, O God,
    put a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence,
    nor deprive me of your holy spirit.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Give me again the joy of your help;
    with a spirit of fervour sustain me,
O Lord, open my lips
    and my mouth shall declare your praise.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.

________

Second reading
2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2
Be reconciled to God

    We are ambassadors for Christ; it is as though God were appealing through us, and the appeal that we make in Christ’s name is: be reconciled to God. For our sake God made the sinless one into sin, so that in him we might become the goodness of God. As his fellow workers, we beg you once again not to neglect the grace of God that you have received. For he says: At the favourable time, I have listened to you; on the day of salvation I came to your help. Well, now is the favourable time; this is the day of salvation.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
Ps50:12,14

Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!

A pure heart create for me, O God,
and give me again the joy of your help.

Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!

Or:
cf.Ps94:8

Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!

Harden not your hearts today,
but listen to the voice of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!

________

Gospel
Matthew 6:1-6,16-18
Your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you

    Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Be careful not to parade your good deeds before men to attract their notice; by doing this you will lose all reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you; this is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win men’s admiration. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right is doing; your almsgiving must be secret, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.

    ‘And when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites: they love to say their prayers standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for people to see them; I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you pray, go to your private room and, when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.

    ‘When you fast do not put on a gloomy look as the hypocrites do: they pull long faces to let men know they are fasting. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that no one will know you are fasting except your Father who sees all that is done in secret; and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 15th February 2026

 

SIR 15:15-20; PS 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34; 1 COR 2:6-10; MT 5:17-37 OR 5:20-22A, 27-28, 33-34A, 37


Today’s readings challenge us to reflect on the true state of our hearts as it relates to stewardship. Do we think of stewardship as something we take care of once a year, simply a matter of ticking off boxes on a commitment card — or do we choose to embrace it as a spirituality and a way of life that allows us to grow in conformity to Christ every day?

Our first reading, from the Book of Sirach, teaches that our good God has given us freedom to make this choice: “If you choose you can keep the commandments.” “Before man are life and death, good and evil, whichever he chooses shall be given him.” What great dignity the Father bestows on us. He does not force us to commit to Him — rather, He allows us the freedom to choose Him, even though He emphatically does not want us to reject Him through selfishness and sin. We read at the end of this passage, “No one does he command to act unjustly, to none does he give license to sin.”

Our second reading, from Corinthians, reminds us of the great joy that will be ours if we do choose to commit to God by the way we live our lives. “Eye has not seen, and ear has not heard … what God has prepared for those who love him.” Our Heavenly Father is more eager than we can comprehend to fill us with His grace and blessings. But we must choose Him. How do we do this? By keeping His commandments as our first reading instructs — by putting the teachings of our Lord and the Church into practice every day.

The concept of stewardship helps us live out the fundamental choice to put God first. Stewardship is not meant to be a mere external exercise in which we participate on an occasional basis. It is meant to be embraced as a way of life — a life that involves a continuous conversion of heart.

In our Gospel passage from Matthew, Jesus illustrates the difference between an external observance of the law and a true conversion of heart. He says to His disciples, “Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” The scribes and Pharisees were the spiritual heavyweights of their day. They checked all the boxes when it came to the proper exercise of the religious practices required of them. Yet our Lord says it wasn’t enough.

Why? They did not allow those practices to penetrate their hearts and change them internally. Jesus explains with a further illustration, saying, “You have heard that it was said … you shall not kill … But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.” Our Lord is asking us not only for exterior acts, but for a true change of heart. In stewardship terms, that means seeing everything as a gift from Him, to be used for His glory and the good of others.

In the week ahead, let us examine the state of our hearts and ask ourselves whether stewardship has truly become a way of life for us. Only then will we experience its true depth and heart-changing possibilities. The choice is ours.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 15th February 2026

First reading
Ecclesiasticus 15:16-21
God predestined wisdom to be for our glory before the ages began

If you wish, you can keep the commandments,
    to behave faithfully is within your power.
He has set fire and water before you;
    put out your hand to whichever you prefer.
Man has life and death before him;
    whichever a man likes better will be given him.
For vast is the wisdom of the Lord;
    he is almighty and all-seeing.
His eyes are on those who fear him,
    he notes every action of man.
He never commanded anyone to be godless,
    he has given no one permission to sin.

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 118(119):1-2,4-5,17-18,33-34

They are happy who follow God’s law!

They are happy whose life is blameless,
    who follow God’s law!
They are happy who do his will,
    seeking him with all their hearts.

They are happy who follow God’s law!

You have laid down your precepts
    to be obeyed with care.
May my footsteps be firm
    to obey your statutes.

They are happy who follow God’s law!

Bless your servant and I shall live
    and obey your word.
Open my eyes that I may see
    the wonders of your law.

They are happy who follow God’s law!

Teach me the demands of your statutes
    and I will keep them to the end.
Train me to observe your law,
    to keep it with my heart.

They are happy who follow God’s law!

________

Second reading
1 Corinthians 2:6-10
God predestined wisdom to be for our glory before the ages began

    We have a wisdom to offer those who have reached maturity: not a philosophy of our age, it is true, still less of the masters of our age, which are coming to their end. The hidden wisdom of God which we teach in our mysteries is the wisdom that God predestined to be for our glory before the ages began. It is a wisdom that none of the masters of this age have ever known, or they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory; we teach what scripture calls: the things that no eye has seen and no ear has heard, things beyond the mind of man, all that God has prepared for those who love him.

    These are the very things that God has revealed to us through the Spirit, for the Spirit reaches the depths of everything, even the depths of God.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
1S3:9,Jn6:68

Alleluia, alleluia!

Speak, Lord, your servant is listening:
you have the message of eternal life.

Alleluia!

Or:
Mt11:25

Alleluia, alleluia!

Blessed are you, Father, 
Lord of heaven and earth,
for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom
to mere children.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Matthew 5:17-37
You have learnt how it was said to our ancestors; but I say this to you

    Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete them. I tell you solemnly, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, not one little stroke, shall disappear from the Law until its purpose is achieved. Therefore, the man who infringes even one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in the kingdom of heaven; but the man who keeps them and teaches them will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven.

    ‘For I tell you, if your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.

    ‘You have learnt how it was said to our ancestors: You must not kill; and if anyone does kill he must answer for it before the court. But I say this to you: anyone who is angry with his brother will answer for it before the court; if a man calls his brother “Fool” he will answer for it before the Sanhedrin; and if a man calls him “Renegade” he will answer for it in hell fire. So then, if you are bringing your offering to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, go and be reconciled with your brother first, and then come back and present your offering. Come to terms with your opponent in good time while you are still on the way to the court with him, or he may hand you over to the judge and the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison. I tell you solemnly, you will not get out till you have paid the last penny.

    ‘You have learnt how it was said: You must not commit adultery. But I say this to you: if a man looks at a woman lustfully, he has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye should cause you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; for it will do you less harm to lose one part of you than to have your whole body thrown into hell. And if your right hand should cause you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; for it will do you less harm to lose one part of you than to have your whole body go to hell.

    ‘It has also been said: Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a writ of dismissal. But I say this to you: everyone who divorces his wife, except for the case of fornication, makes her an adulteress; and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

    ‘Again, you have learnt how it was said to our ancestors: You must not break your oath, but must fulfil your oaths to the Lord. But I say this to you: do not swear at all, either by heaven, since that is God’s throne; or by the earth, since that is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, since that is the city of the great king. Do not swear by your own head either, since you cannot turn a single hair white or black. All you need say is “Yes” if you mean yes, “No” if you mean no; anything more than this comes from the evil one.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 08th February 2026

 

IS 58: 7-10; PS 112:4-9; 1 COR 2:1-5; MT 5:13-16

Today’s readings serve as both encouragement and clear direction for us as Christian stewards. They leave little doubt about what matters most to God and how He intends for us to use the gifts He has placed in our care.

In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah delivers unmistakable instruction: “Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless; clothe the naked when you see them, and do not turn your back on your own.”

There is no room for hesitation here. Care for our brothers and sisters in need is not optional — it is a core responsibility of the Christian steward. These commands also require action — to share, to shelter, to clothe, and to remain faithful even within the challenges of family life.

At the same time, Isaiah reminds us of God’s generosity when we live this way. “Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed… Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer… Then light shall rise for you in the darkness.” God calls us to serve others because He created us for this very purpose. When we give ourselves away, we discover who we are meant to be. God’s grace increases within us, and His joy and peace take deeper root in our hearts. This is the beauty of a stewardship way of life.

In the second reading, St. Paul reassures us that we need not rely on our own abilities to answer this call. It is the Lord who works through us when we step forward in faith. Paul admits, “I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom… I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling… so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.”

Our weaknesses are no obstacle to God. In fact, He often uses them to reveal His glory when we are willing to cooperate with His grace. This should encourage us when we feel unqualified or unsure.

The Gospel then sends us out with a clear mission. Jesus calls His disciples — and us — the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world.” But salt loses its purpose if it grows stale, and light cannot shine if it is hidden. Our faith must be lived openly. We are called to act so that others may see how we serve, how we care for the vulnerable, how we prioritize our families, and above all, how we love God — and through our witness, give glory to Him.

This is the stewardship way of life. Let us live it with conviction.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 08th February 2026

First reading
Isaiah 58:7-10
Then will your light shine like the dawn

Thus says the Lord:

Share your bread with the hungry,
and shelter the homeless poor,
clothe the man you see to be naked
and do not turn from your own kin.
Then will your light shine like the dawn
and your wound be quickly healed over.

Your integrity will go before you
and the glory of the Lord behind you.
Cry, and the Lord will answer;
call, and he will say, ‘I am here.’

If you do away with the yoke,
the clenched fist, the wicked word,
if you give your bread to the hungry,
and relief to the oppressed,
your light will rise in the darkness,
and your shadows become like noon.

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 111(112):4-9

The good man is a light in the darkness for the upright.

He is a light in the darkness for the upright:
    he is generous, merciful and just.
The good man takes pity and lends,
    he conducts his affairs with honour.

The good man is a light in the darkness for the upright.

The just man will never waver:
    he will be remembered for ever.
He has no fear of evil news;
    with a firm heart he trusts in the Lord.

The good man is a light in the darkness for the upright.

With a steadfast heart he will not fear;
open-handed, he gives to the poor;
    his justice stands firm for ever.
    His head will be raised in glory.

The good man is a light in the darkness for the upright.

________

Second reading
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
The only knowledge I claimed was of the crucified Christ

    When I came to you, brothers, it was not with any show of oratory or philosophy, but simply to tell you what God had guaranteed. During my stay with you, the only knowledge I claimed to have was about Jesus, and only about him as the crucified Christ. Far from relying on any power of my own, I came among you in great ‘fear and trembling’ and in my speeches and the sermons that I gave, there were none of the arguments that belong to philosophy; only a demonstration of the power of the Spirit. And I did this so that your faith should not depend on human philosophy but on the power of God.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
Jn8:12

Alleluia, alleluia!

I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
anyone who follows me will have the light of life.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Matthew 5:13-16
Your light must shine in the sight of men

    Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes tasteless, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out to be trampled underfoot by men.

    ‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they may give the praise to your Father in heaven.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 01st February 2026

 

ZEP 2:3 – 3: 12-13; PS 146: 6-10; 1 COR 1: 26-31; MT 5: 1-12A

Today’s Gospel Reading from Matthew recounts what we know as Christ’s Sermon on the Mount. This entire reflection could be devoted to that, of course, but as always, there are also messages that are important in the other readings. The Sermon on the Mount is the first of five teachings Jesus gives us in the Gospel of Matthew. The Lord gives this relatively early in His Ministry, not long after He has been baptized. In the entire New Testament this is the longest continuous section of Jesus speaking, and it is perhaps the most widely quoted of part of the four Canonical Gospels. It contains, after all, the central rules of discipleship.

In the Catechism of the Catholic Church (# 1716) this idea is supported in the following passage that states, “The Beatitudes are at the heart of Jesus' preaching. They take up the promises made to the chosen people since Abraham. The Beatitudes fulfill the promises by ordering them no longer merely to the possession of a territory, but to the Kingdom of heaven.”

Probably every Catholic theologian and cleric has addressed the Beatitudes. On a Sunday with this same reading in his homily Pope Francis said in 2014, “These are our new commandments. However, if we do not have a heart open to the Holy Spirit, they will seem silly. The thought of being poor, being meek, being merciful does not seem to lead to what we consider to be modern success. But if we do not have an open heart and if we have not experienced the consolation of the Holy Spirit, which is salvation, we cannot understand this. This is the law of the free, with the freedom of the Holy Spirit.”

The First Reading is drawn from the Old Testament Book of Zephaniah. It was written at about the same time as Isaiah. We do not often hear readings from Zephaniah as it only contains about 1,400 words (compare that to our other two readings sources, 1 Corinthians with almost 7,000 words, and Matthew with more than 18,000 words.). The First Reading touches on traits on which we will be judged. It emphasizes the importance of humility, justice, and being lowly. Just as Pope Francis indicated in his homily on the Beatitudes, these are not traits many people in our world seek. Yet, these are exactly the kinds of attributes that follow lives of stewardship. That is why it is not easy.

In Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians (our Second Reading) the Apostle Paul also describes what it means to be a Christian and a steward, paralleling the First Reading and the Gospel. He reminds the Corinthians that they, too, need to be humble. It is possible that they, like many who felt they were “chosen,” had an inflated opinion of themselves, thinking that God favored them. In this reading Paul gently reminds them that God does not work that way. We need to keep that in mind ourselves; it is very easy when we feel that we have completely captured the secret of living, which may be true; however, we must take caution not to be self-righteous. Paul tells the Corinthians that they are not chosen because they are great, but because God is great.

Paul knows this firsthand; he was an educated man, but he also understood that the Lord selected fishermen and farmers first, and people like him second; the shepherds came first, then the wise men. Paul uses three words to emphasize his meaning — righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Righteousness on our part is trying to live as Jesus told us; sanctification implies how we live, how we recognize that it is only through Christ that we are sanctified; and redemption reminds us of the sacrifice the Lord made in our behalf so we could be free, and God would forgive our sins.

As indicated in the opening of this reflection, today’s Gospel provides us with instructions from Jesus as to what kind of people His disciples should be. There are more than enough key words on which to reflect and pray: poor, mourn, meek, hunger, mercy, peacemakers, clean, and persecuted to name a few. We could concentrate on each one, but it is worth pointing out that these are traits the Lord calls us to, and what He may mean by them.

For example, when Jesus says that to be blessed, we need to “hunger and thirst for righteousness,” He is reminding us of what our focus in life should be. In our world people hunger for many things that may not be that important — things like power and success and wealth and possessions and comfort. The idea of being righteous in His eyes is more important than any of those. When He calls us to be peacemakers, He probably does not mean that we do not just live in peace, but that we need to bring peace to others.

Finally, He reminds us that the reward for living in these ways may well be persecution. Why? Quite simply because the world has a differing view of these character traits and values. The question we are called to answer through our lives is, “Are these Beatitudes reflective of our lives?” They need to be.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 01st February 2026

First reading
Zephaniah 2:3,3:12-13
In your midst I will leave a humble and lowly people

Seek the Lord,
all you, the humble of the earth,
who obey his commands.
Seek integrity,
seek humility:
you may perhaps find shelter
on the day of the anger of the Lord.

In your midst I will leave
a humble and lowly people,
and those who are left in Israel will seek refuge in the name of the Lord.
They will do no wrong,
will tell no lies;
and the perjured tongue will no longer
be found in their mouths.
But they will be able to graze and rest
with no one to disturb them.

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 145(146):6-10(Lord6)

How happy are the poor in spirit: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

It is the Lord who keeps faith for ever,
    who is just to those who are oppressed.
It is he who gives bread to the hungry,
    the Lord, who sets prisoners free.

How happy are the poor in spirit: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

It is the Lord who gives sight to the blind,
    who raises up those who are bowed down,
the Lord, who protects the stranger
    and upholds the widow and orphan.

How happy are the poor in spirit: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

It is the Lord who loves the just
    but thwarts the path of the wicked.
The Lord will reign for ever,
    Zion’s God, from age to age.

How happy are the poor in spirit: theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

________

Second reading
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
God chose what is foolish by human reckoning, to shame the wise

Take yourselves for instance, brothers, at the time when you were called: how many of you were wise in the ordinary sense of the word, how many were influential people, or came from noble families? No, it was to shame the wise that God chose what is foolish by human reckoning, and to shame what is strong that he chose what is weak by human reckoning; those whom the world thinks common and contemptible are the ones that God has chosen – those who are nothing at all to show up those who are everything. The human race has nothing to boast about to God, but you, God has made members of Christ Jesus and by God’s doing he has become our wisdom, and our virtue, and our holiness, and our freedom. As scripture says: if anyone wants to boast, let him boast about the Lord.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
Mt11:25

Alleluia, alleluia!

Blessed are you, Father, 
Lord of heaven and earth,
for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom
to mere children.

Alleluia!

Or:
Mt5:12a

Alleluia, alleluia!

Rejoice and be glad:
your reward will be great in heaven.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Matthew 5:1-12a
How happy are the poor in spirit

Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the hill. There he sat down and was joined by his disciples. Then he began to speak. This is what he taught them:

‘How happy are the poor in spirit;
    theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Happy the gentle:
    they shall have the earth for their heritage.
Happy those who mourn:
    they shall be comforted.
Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right:
    they shall be satisfied.
Happy the merciful:
    they shall have mercy shown them.
Happy the pure in heart:
    they shall see God.
Happy the peacemakers:
    they shall be called sons of God.
Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right:
    theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

‘Happy are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.’

The Gospel of the Lord.