Mass Reading: Sunday - 14th June 2026

First reading

Exodus 19:2-6
I will count you a kingdom of priests, a consecrated nation


From Rephidim the sons of Israel set out again; and when they reached the wilderness of Sinai, there in the wilderness they pitched their camp; there facing the mountain Israel pitched camp.

Moses then went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, ‘Say this to the House of Jacob, declare this to the sons of Israel, “You yourselves have seen what I did with the Egyptians, how I carried you on eagle’s wings and brought you to myself. From this you know that now, if you obey my voice and hold fast to my covenant, you of all the nations shall be my very own for all the earth is mine. I will count you a kingdom of priests, a consecrated nation.”’


The word of the Lord.




________




Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 99(100):2-3,5


We are his people, the sheep of his flock.

Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing for joy.

We are his people, the sheep of his flock.


Know that he, the Lord, is God.
He made us, we belong to him,
we are his people, the sheep of his flock.

We are his people, the sheep of his flock.

Indeed, how good is the Lord,
eternal his merciful love.
He is faithful from age to age.

We are his people, the sheep of his flock.


________



Second reading
Romans 5:6-11
Now we have been reconciled by the death of his Son, surely we may count on being saved by the life of his Son


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. Having died to make us righteous, is it likely that he would now fail to save us from God’s anger? When we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, we were still enemies; now that we have been reconciled, surely we may count on being saved by the life of his Son? Not merely because we have been reconciled but because we are filled with joyful trust in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have already gained our reconciliation.


The word of the Lord.



________




Gospel Acclamation
Jn10:27


Alleluia, alleluia!

The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice,
says the Lord,
I know them and they follow me.

Alleluia!



Or:
Mk1:15


Alleluia, alleluia!

The kingdom of God is close at hand:
repent, and believe the Good News.

Alleluia!



________




Gospel
Matthew 9:36-10:8
The harvest is rich but the labourers are few



When Jesus saw the crowds he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.’

He summoned his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits with power to cast them out and to cure all kinds of diseases and sickness.

These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, the one who was to betray him. These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them as follows:

‘Do not turn your steps to pagan territory, and do not enter any Samaritan town; go rather to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. And as you go, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils. You received without charge, give without charge.’


The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 14th June 2026

 

Ex 19:2-6a; Ps 100:1-2, 3, 5; Rom 5:6-11; Mk 1:15; Mt 9:36-10:8

As Catholics, we are called to live lives of stewardship and discipleship, recognizing that our faith is not just a set of beliefs, but a way of life. The readings for the 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time provide us with profound insights into these essential aspects of our Christian journey. Let us reflect on the messages contained within these readings and consider how they relate to our role as stewards and disciples.

In the first reading from Exodus, we witness the encounter between God and His chosen people at Mount Sinai. The Lord, through Moses, reminds the Israelites of His faithfulness and the covenant He has established with them. This covenant is not merely a contract, but a sacred relationship built on love and trust. This reminds us of our vocation as stewards and disciples. They invite us to embrace the call to stewardship by recognizing our responsibility to care for God's creation and to generously share our gifts with others. Furthermore, they inspire us to deepen our commitment to discipleship, seeking to live in accordance with God's will and growing in our relationship with Him.

In practicing stewardship, we recognize that our resources are not ours alone, but gifts entrusted to us by God. We are called to use these resources wisely, responsibly, and selflessly, considering the needs of others and promoting the common good. Our discipleship, on the other hand, challenges us to continually seek the transformative power of God's love in our lives, as we strive to imitate Christ and spread His message of hope and salvation.

In our second reading from Romans, St. Paul beautifully articulates the depths of God's love for humanity. He reminds us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us, reconciling us with God and offering us the gift of salvation. These verses reveal the heart of the Gospel message and provide us with a foundation for understanding stewardship and discipleship.

We are reminded of the transformative power of God's love and the essential role stewardship and discipleship play in our Christian journey. As stewards, we are called to gratefully recognize God's abundant love and respond by using our gifts and resources to build His kingdom. We are invited to be active participants in sharing the Good News, embracing reconciliation, and extending God's love to others. Through discipleship, we become vessels of God's love, imitating Christ's self-sacrificial nature. Our lives bear witness to the transformative power of God's grace, drawing others closer to Him. In our stewardship and discipleship, we discover the joy of participating in God's redemptive work, bringing hope and healing to a broken world.

The Gospel reading from Matthew recounts how Jesus is moved with compassion as He sees the crowds who are like sheep without a shepherd. He commissions His disciples, empowering them to continue His mission of healing and preaching the Kingdom of God. These verses reveal important insights into stewardship and discipleship within the context of our Catholic faith.

Stewardship calls us to imitate the compassion of Christ towards others. Like the Good Shepherd, we are called to have hearts filled with empathy and concern for those who are lost, suffering, or in need. Stewardship challenges us to extend a helping hand, offer comfort, and meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Stewardship and discipleship are intimately connected in our Catholic faith. Stewardship is not limited to the responsible use of material possessions but extends to the care and love we show towards all of God's creation. As disciples, we are called to embrace the responsibility of being stewards of God's gifts, utilizing them for the benefit of others and the greater glory of God.

Today’s gospel invites us to reflect on the inseparable relationship between stewardship and discipleship. As stewards, we are called to cultivate a heart of compassion, recognize the needs of others, and respond with selfless acts of love and service. We are entrusted with the responsibility of caring for one another, especially the most vulnerable in society.

As disciples, we are called to actively participate in Christ's mission, sharing the Good News and bringing the light of the Kingdom of God into the world. Our discipleship demands that we live in accordance with Christ's teachings, serving as His ambassadors of love, mercy, and reconciliation.

By living a life of stewardship and discipleship, we are challenged to move beyond our comfort zones, embracing the call to serve and witness to the transformative power of Christ's love. This requires a willingness to step out in faith, be empowered by the Holy Spirit, and to be instruments of God's grace and healing.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 07th June 2026

First reading

Deuteronomy 8:2-3,14-16

He fed you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known

Moses said to the people: ‘Remember how the Lord your God led you for forty years in the wilderness, to humble you, to test you and know your inmost heart – whether you would keep his commandments or not. He humbled you, he made you feel hunger, he fed you with manna which neither you nor your fathers had known, to make you understand that man does not live on bread alone but that man lives on everything that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

    ‘Do not become proud of heart. Do not forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery: who guided you through this vast and dreadful wilderness, a land of fiery serpents, scorpions, thirst; who in this waterless place brought you water from the hardest rock; who in this wilderness fed you with manna that your fathers had not known.’

The word of the Lord

_____________

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 147:12-15,19-20

O praise the Lord, Jerusalem!

O praise the Lord, Jerusalem!

    Zion, praise your God!

He has strengthened the bars of your gates

    he has blessed the children within you.

O praise the Lord, Jerusalem!

He established peace on your borders,

    he feeds you with finest wheat.

He sends out his word to the earth

    and swiftly runs his command.

O praise the Lord, Jerusalem!

He makes his word known to Jacob,

    to Israel his laws and decrees.

He has not dealt thus with other nations;

    he has not taught them his decrees.

O praise the Lord, Jerusalem!

________________

Second reading

1 Corinthians 10:16-17 ·

That there is only one loaf means that, though we are many, we form one body

The blessing-cup that we bless is a communion with the blood of Christ, and the bread that we break is a communion with the body of Christ. The fact that there is only one loaf means that, though there are many of us, we form a single body because we all have a share in this one loaf.

The word of the Lord 

_________________

Sequence

Lauda, Sion

Sing forth, O Zion, sweetly sing

The praises of thy Shepherd-King,

    In hymns and canticles divine;

Dare all thou canst, thou hast no song

Worthy his praises to prolong,

    So far surpassing powers like thine.

Today no theme of common praise

Forms the sweet burden of thy lays –

    The living, life-dispensing food –

That food which at the sacred board

Unto the brethren twelve our Lord

    His parting legacy bestowed.

Then be the anthem clear and strong,

Thy fullest note, thy sweetest song,

    The very music of the breast:

For now shines forth the day sublime

That brings remembrance of the time

    When Jesus first his table blessed.

Within our new King’s banquet-hall

They meet to keep the festival

    That closed the ancient paschal rite:

The old is by the new replaced;

The substance hath the shadow chased;

    And rising day dispels the night.

Christ willed what he himself had done

Should be renewed while time should run,

    In memory of his parting hour:

Thus, tutored in his school divine,

We consecrate the bread and wine;

    And lo – a Host of saving power.

This faith to Christian men is given –

Bread is made flesh by words from heaven:

    Into his blood the wine is turned:

What though it baffles nature’s powers

Of sense and sight? This faith of ours

    Proves more than nature e’er discerned.

Concealed beneath the two-fold sign,

Meet symbols of the gifts divine,

    There lie the mysteries adored:

The living body is our food;

Our drink the ever-precious blood;

    In each, one undivided Lord.

Not he that eateth it divides

The sacred food, which whole abides

    Unbroken still, nor knows decay;

Be one, or be a thousand fed,

They eat alike that living bread

    Which, still received, ne’er wastes away.

The good, the guilty share therein,

With sure increase of grace or sin,

    The ghostly life, or ghostly death:

Death to the guilty; to the good

Immortal life. See how one food

    Man’s joy or woe accomplisheth.

We break the Sacrament, but bold

And firm thy faith shall keep its hold,

Deem not the whole doth more enfold

    Than in the fractured part resides

Deem not that Christ doth broken lie,

’Tis but the sign that meets the eye,

The hidden deep reality

    In all its fullness still abides.

_______________

Gospel Acclamation

Jn6:51

Alleluia, alleluia!

I am the living bread which has come down from heaven, 

says the Lord.

Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever.

Alleluia!

_______________

Gospel

John 6:51-58

My flesh is real food and my blood is real drink

Jesus said to the crowd:

‘I am the living bread which has come down from heaven.

Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever;

and the bread that I shall give is my flesh,

for the life of the world.’

Then the Jews started arguing with one another: ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ they said. Jesus replied:

‘I tell you most solemnly,

if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood,

you will not have life in you.

Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood

has eternal life,

and I shall raise him up on the last day.

For my flesh is real food

and my blood is real drink.

He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood

lives in me

and I live in him.

As I, who am sent by the living Father,

myself draw life from the Father,

so whoever eats me will draw life from me.

This is the bread come down from heaven;

not like the bread our ancestors ate:

they are dead,

but anyone who eats this bread will live for ever.’

The Gospel of the Lord 

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 07th June 2026

GN 14:18-20; PS 110:1, 2, 3, 4; 1 COR 11:23-26; LK 9:11b-17

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ — a feast centered on one of the greatest gifts we have received, the Eucharist.

As Christian stewards, we recognize that all we are and all we have come from God. Among His greatest gifts is His own Son, given to us in the Eucharist as true spiritual nourishment.

In our Gospel, we hear the account of the multiplication of the loaves. Jesus takes what is offered — a small and seemingly insufficient gift — blesses it, and transforms it into more than enough to feed thousands.

This is not only a miracle of provision, but a powerful image of the stewardship way of life. When we offer our gifts to the Lord, no matter how small they may seem, He receives them, blesses them, and uses them to accomplish far more than we could ever imagine.

In the second reading, St. Paul reminds us of the institution of the Eucharist. Christ gives Himself completely — His Body and Blood — for our salvation. The Eucharist is not merely symbolic. It is the real presence of Christ, given to sustain us.

This gift strengthens us for mission. We are nourished so that we can go forth and live as His disciples. The Eucharist forms us into what we receive — the Body of Christ — sent out to serve others.

The stewardship way of life flows directly from the Eucharist. We receive the total self-gift of Christ, and we are called to respond with a total gift of ourselves.

Let us approach the Eucharist with gratitude and reverence. And let us allow this great gift to transform how we live — so that everything we do becomes an offering back to God.

Mass Reading: Sunday 31st May 2026

First reading
Exodus 34:4-6,8-9
'Lord, Lord, a God of tenderness and compassion'

    With the two tablets of stone in his hands, Moses went up the mountain of Sinai in the early morning as the Lord had commanded him. And the Lord descended in the form of a cloud, and Moses stood with him there.

    He called on the name of the Lord. The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, ‘Lord, Lord, a God of tenderness and compassion, slow to anger, rich in kindness and faithfulness.’ And Moses bowed down to the ground at once and worshipped. ‘If I have indeed won your favour, Lord,’ he said ‘let my Lord come with us, I beg. True, they are a headstrong people, but forgive us our faults and our sins, and adopt us as your heritage.’

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Daniel 3:52-56

To you glory and praise for evermore.

You are blest, Lord God of our fathers.
To you glory and praise for evermore.
Blest your glorious holy name.

To you glory and praise for evermore.

You are blest in the temple of your glory.
To you glory and praise for evermore.
You are blest on the throne of your kingdom.

To you glory and praise for evermore.

You are blest who gaze into the depths.
To you glory and praise for evermore.
You are blest in the firmament of heaven.

To you glory and praise for evermore.

________

Second reading
2 Corinthians 13:11-13
The grace of Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit

    Brothers, we wish you happiness; try to grow perfect; help one another. Be united; live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.

    Greet one another with the holy kiss. All the saints send you greetings.

    The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
cf.Rv1:8

Alleluia, alleluia!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
the God who is, who was, and who is to come.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
John 3:16-18
God sent his Son so that through him the world might be saved

Jesus said to Nicodemus:

‘God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost
but may have eternal life.
For God sent his Son into the world
not to condemn the world,
but so that through him the world might be saved.
No one who believes in him will be condemned;
but whoever refuses to believe is condemned already,
because he has refused to believe in the name of God’s only Son.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday 31st May 2026

 

EX 34:4b-6, 8-9; DN 3:52-56; 2 COR 13:11-13; JN 3:16-18

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity — the central mystery of our Christian faith.

While the Trinity is beyond our full understanding, it reveals something essential for us as Christian stewards. The Trinity is a communion of Persons — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — who give themselves completely to one another in perfect love. This self-giving love is at the heart of the stewardship way of life.

In our first reading, God reveals Himself to Moses as “a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity.” The God of the universe desires to be known and to share His life with His people. This is not a distant God, but a personal and loving God.

St. Paul echoes this in the second reading, reminding us that we are invited into this divine life — “the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.” Through our Baptism, this divine communion already dwells within us.

In our Gospel, we hear the heart of it all: “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son.” God gives Himself to us completely. This is the model for our lives.

As Christian stewards, we are called to respond in the same way — by giving ourselves back to God and to others. Stewardship is not simply about managing resources. It is about self-gift. It is about living a life that reflects the love of the Trinity.

This means offering our time in service, our talents in ministry, and our treasure in support of the Church’s mission. It means living in relationship — with God and with one another — in a spirit of generosity and love.

The more we live this way, the more we grow in intimacy with God. The more we give ourselves, the more we experience “the grace of the Lord, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit” in our lives.

Today, let us reflect on the love of this Triune God. And let us respond by striving to live lives of self-giving love through the stewardship way of life.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 24th May 2026

First reading
Acts 2:1-11
They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak

    When Pentecost day came round, they had all met in one room, when suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech.

    Now there were devout men living in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven, and at this sound they all assembled, each one bewildered to hear these men speaking his own language. They were amazed and astonished. ‘Surely’ they said ‘all these men speaking are Galileans? How does it happen that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; people from Mesopotamia, Judaea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya round Cyrene; as well as visitors from Rome – Jews and proselytes alike – Cretans and Arabs; we hear them preaching in our own language about the marvels of God.’

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 103(104):1,24,29-31,34

Send forth your spirit, O Lord, and renew the face of the earth.

Bless the Lord, my soul!
    Lord God, how great you are,
How many are your works, O Lord!
    The earth is full of your riches.

Send forth your spirit, O Lord, and renew the face of the earth.

You take back your spirit, they die,
    returning to the dust from which they came.
You send forth your spirit, they are created;
    and you renew the face of the earth.

Send forth your spirit, O Lord, and renew the face of the earth.

May the glory of the Lord last for ever!
    May the Lord rejoice in his works!
May my thoughts be pleasing to him.
    I find my joy in the Lord.

Send forth your spirit, O Lord, and renew the face of the earth.

________

Second reading
1 Corinthians 12:3-7,12-13
In the one Spirit we were all baptised

    No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord’ unless he is under the influence of the Holy Spirit.

    There is a variety of gifts but always the same Spirit; there are all sorts of service to be done, but always to the same Lord; working in all sorts of different ways in different people, it is the same God who is working in all of them. The particular way in which the Spirit is given to each person is for a good purpose. 

    Just as a human body, though it is made up of many parts, is a single unit because all these parts, though many, make one body, so it is with Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptised, Jews as well as Greeks, slaves as well as citizens, and one Spirit was given to us all to drink.

The word of the Lord.

________

Sequence
Veni, sancte Spiritus

Holy Spirit, Lord of Light,
From the clear celestial height
Thy pure beaming radiance give.

Come, thou Father of the poor,
Come with treasures which endure
Come, thou light of all that live!

Thou, of all consolers best,
Thou, the soul’s delightful guest,
Dost refreshing peace bestow

Thou in toil art comfort sweet
Pleasant coolness in the heat
Solace in the midst of woe.

Light immortal, light divine,
Visit thou these hearts of thine,
And our inmost being fill:

If thou take thy grace away,
Nothing pure in man will stay
All his good is turned to ill.

Heal our wounds, our strength renew
On our dryness pour thy dew
Wash the stains of guilt away:

Bend the stubborn heart and will
Melt the frozen, warm the chill
Guide the steps that go astray.

Thou, on us who evermore
Thee confess and thee adore,
With thy sevenfold gifts descend:

Give us comfort when we die
Give us life with thee on high
Give us joys that never end.

________

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia!

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
John 20:19-23
As the Father sent me, so am I sending you: receive the Holy Spirit

    In the evening of the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, ‘Peace be with you’, and showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord, and he said to them again, ‘Peace be with you.

    ‘As the Father sent me,
so am I sending you.’

    After saying this he breathed on them and said:

    ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.
For those whose sins you forgive,
they are forgiven;
for those whose sins you retain,
they are retained.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 24th May 2026

 

ACTS 2:1-11; PS 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34; 1 COR 12:3b-7, 12-13; JN 20:19-23

Our Easter celebration reaches its fulfillment today as we celebrate the great feast of Pentecost. Today, we focus on the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church and in our individual lives.

In our first reading from Acts, we hear of the dramatic outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles. A strong driving wind filled the house, and tongues of fire came to rest on each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues.

Notice how both communal and deeply personal this moment is. The Spirit filled the entire house, yet also came to rest on each individual. Each apostle was uniquely equipped to proclaim the Gospel. This is not just a moment in history — it is a model for how the Holy Spirit continues to work today.

The same Spirit has been given to us. Through Baptism and Confirmation, we have received the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Each of us has been entrusted with a unique combination of gifts, talents, and opportunities — all meant for a purpose. As St. Paul reminds us, “To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.”

This is where the stewardship way of life comes in. Stewardship is the grateful response to what God has given us. It is the commitment to use our gifts — our time, our talent, and our treasure — for the building up of the Body of Christ.

In the Gospel, Jesus makes our mission clear: “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” We are called to continue His work. This can feel overwhelming, but Jesus immediately offers reassurance: “Peace be with you.”

We are not sent out alone. The Holy Spirit is our guide, our strength, and our source of wisdom.

As this Easter season comes to a close, let us reflect on the gifts we have been given. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to help us recognize those gifts and to use them generously. And let us commit ourselves to living the stewardship way of life — relying on the Spirit to lead us each day.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 17th May 2026

First reading
Acts 1:1-11
Jesus was lifted up while they looked on

    In my earlier work, Theophilus, I dealt with everything Jesus had done and taught from the beginning until the day he gave his instructions to the apostles he had chosen through the Holy Spirit, and was taken up to heaven. He had shown himself alive to them after his Passion by many demonstrations: for forty days he had continued to appear to them and tell them about the kingdom of God. When he had been at table with them, he had told them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for what the Father had promised. ‘It is’ he had said ‘what you have heard me speak about: John baptised with water but you, not many days from now, will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.’

    Now having met together, they asked him, ‘Lord, has the time come? Are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He replied, ‘It is not for you to know times or dates that the Father has decided by his own authority, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and then you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judaea and Samaria, and indeed to the ends of the earth.’

    As he said this he was lifted up while they looked on, and a cloud took him from their sight. They were still staring into the sky when suddenly two men in white were standing near them and they said, ‘Why are you men from Galilee standing here looking into the sky? Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven, this same Jesus will come back in the same way as you have seen him go there.’

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 46(47):2-3,6-9

God goes up with shouts of joy; the Lord goes up with trumpet blast.

All peoples, clap your hands,
    cry to God with shouts of joy!
For the Lord, the Most High, we must fear,
    great king over all the earth.

God goes up with shouts of joy; the Lord goes up with trumpet blast.

God goes up with shouts of joy;
    the Lord goes up with trumpet blast.
Sing praise for God, sing praise,
    sing praise to our king, sing praise.

God goes up with shouts of joy; the Lord goes up with trumpet blast.

God is king of all the earth,
    sing praise with all your skill.
God is king over the nations;
    God reigns on his holy throne.

God goes up with shouts of joy; the Lord goes up with trumpet blast.

________

Second reading
Ephesians 1:17-23
God made him sit at his right hand in heaven

    May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a spirit of wisdom and perception of what is revealed, to bring you to full knowledge of him. May he enlighten the eyes of your mind so that you can see what hope his call holds for you, what rich glories he has promised the saints will inherit and how infinitely great is the power that he has exercised for us believers. This you can tell from the strength of his power at work in Christ, when he used it to raise him from the dead and to make him sit at his right hand, in heaven, far above every Sovereignty, Authority, Power, or Domination, or any other name that can be named not only in this age but also in the age to come. He has put all things under his feet and made him, as the ruler of everything, the head of the Church; which is his body, the fullness of him who fills the whole creation.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
Mt28:19,20

Alleluia, alleluia!

Go, make disciples of all the nations.
I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Matthew 28:16-20
Go and make disciples of all nations

    The eleven disciples set out for Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had arranged to meet them. When they saw him they fell down before him, though some hesitated. Jesus came up and spoke to them. He said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, make disciples of all the nations; baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 17th May 2026

 

ACTS 1:1-11; PS 47:2-3, 6-9; EPH 1:17-23; MT 28:16-20

Today we celebrate the great feast of the Ascension of our Lord — that moment when Jesus, 40 days after His Resurrection, was lifted up into heaven as the apostles looked on.

It must have been an extraordinary sight. But the first reading tells us they were not meant to stand there for long. “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky?”

In other words — don’t just stand there. Do something.

This is a message for us as Christian stewards. We have been given every grace and blessing — through the Mass and the sacraments, through the Word of God, and through the gifts of our time, talent, and treasure.

We are not meant to simply receive these gifts. We are meant to use them — in gratitude to the One who gave them.

Like the apostles, we are called “to be [His] witnesses… to the ends of the earth.” And we do this not by our own strength, but through the power of the Holy Spirit at work within us.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 10th May 2026

First reading
Acts 8:5-8,14-17
They laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit

    Philip went to a Samaritan town and proclaimed the Christ to them. The people united in welcoming the message Philip preached, either because they had heard of the miracles he worked or because they saw them for themselves. There were, for example, unclean spirits that came shrieking out of many who were possessed, and several paralytics and cripples were cured. As a result there was great rejoicing in that town.

    When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, and they went down there, and prayed for the Samaritans to receive the Holy Spirit, for as yet he had not come down on any of them: they had only been baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 65(66):1-7,16,20

Cry out with joy to God, all the earth.

Cry out with joy to God all the earth,
    O sing to the glory of his name.
O render him glorious praise.
    Say to God: ‘How tremendous your deeds!

Cry out with joy to God, all the earth.

‘Before you all the earth shall bow;
    shall sing to you, sing to your name!’
Come and see the works of God,
    tremendous his deeds among men.

Cry out with joy to God, all the earth.

He turned the sea into dry land,
    they passed through the river dry-shod.
Let our joy then be in him;
    he rules for ever by his might.

Cry out with joy to God, all the earth.

Come and hear, all who fear God.
    I will tell what he did for my soul:
Blessed be God who did not reject my prayer
    nor withhold his love from me.

Cry out with joy to God, all the earth.

________

Second reading
1 Peter 3:15-18
In the body he was put to death, in the spirit he was raised to life

    Reverence the Lord Christ in your hearts, and always have your answer ready for people who ask you the reason for the hope that you all have. But give it with courtesy and respect and with a clear conscience, so that those who slander you when you are living a good life in Christ may be proved wrong in the accusations that they bring. And if it is the will of God that you should suffer, it is better to suffer for doing right than for doing wrong.

    Why, Christ himself, innocent though he was, had died once for sins, died for the guilty, to lead us to God. In the body he was put to death, in the spirit he was raised to life.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
Jn14:23

Alleluia, alleluia!

Jesus said: ‘If anyone loves me he will keep my word,
and my Father will love him, 
and we shall come to him.’

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
John 14:15-21
I shall ask the Father and he will give you another Advocate

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘If you love me you will keep my commandments.
I shall ask the Father,
and he will give you another Advocate
to be with you for ever,
that Spirit of truth
whom the world can never receive
since it neither sees nor knows him;
but you know him,
because he is with you, he is in you.
I will not leave you orphans;
I will come back to you.
In a short time the world will no longer see me;
but you will see me,
because I live and you will live.
On that day you will understand that I am in my Father
and you in me and I in you.
Anybody who receives my commandments and keeps them
will be one who loves me;
and anybody who loves me will be loved by my Father,
and I shall love him and show myself to him.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 10th May 2026

 

ACTS 8:5-8, 14-17; PS 66:1-7, 16, 20; 1 PT 3:15-18; JN 14:15-21

On this sixth Sunday of Easter, our readings remind us of both the importance of the Holy Spirit in our lives and the truth that love of God is shown through concrete actions — this is precisely why the stewardship way of life is so necessary.

In our first reading from Acts, we hear that the Samaritans had accepted the word of God, yet something was still missing. Peter and John came to them and prayed that they might receive the Holy Spirit, “for it had not yet fallen upon any of them.” Only after they laid hands on them did they receive the fullness of what God desired to give.

We, too, have received the Holy Spirit — first at Baptism and more fully at Confirmation. The gifts and guidance of the Holy Spirit are essential for living the stewardship way of life. As we draw closer to Pentecost, this is a fitting time to examine our relationship with the Holy Spirit. Do we rely on Him? Do we turn to Him for strength, wisdom, and direction in our daily lives?

Our second reading reinforces this call. “Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts.” Christ must be more than a part of our lives — He must be at the center of them. As His disciples, we are called to surrender every aspect of our lives to Him — our time, our talent, and our treasure.

The stewardship way of life gives us a concrete way to live this out. It allows us to “prove” our love, in a sense, because love is not merely sentiment. “Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me,” Jesus tells us.

True love requires courage, humility, and trust. It requires that we lean on the Holy Spirit to help us make Christ the Lord of our lives each day.

But the reward is beyond anything this world can offer. “Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.”

Let us ask the Holy Spirit to help us fully embrace the stewardship way of life, so that we may truly sanctify Christ as Lord in our hearts.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 03rd May 2026

First reading
Acts 6:1-7
They elected seven men full of the Holy Spirit

    About this time, when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenists made a complaint against the Hebrews: in the daily distribution their own widows were being overlooked. So the Twelve called a full meeting of the disciples and addressed them, ‘It would not be right for us to neglect the word of God so as to give out food; you, brothers, must select from among yourselves seven men of good reputation, filled with the Spirit and with wisdom; we will hand over this duty to them, and continue to devote ourselves to prayer and to the service of the word.’ The whole assembly approved of this proposal and elected Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

    The word of the Lord continued to spread: the number of disciples in Jerusalem was greatly increased, and a large group of priests made their submission to the faith.

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 32(33):1-2,4-5,18-19

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

Ring out your joy to the Lord, O you just;
    for praise is fitting for loyal hearts.
Give thanks to the Lord upon the harp,
    with a ten-stringed lute sing him songs.

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

For 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.

________

Second reading
1 Peter 2:4-9
Christ is the living stone, chosen by God and precious to him

    The Lord is the living stone, rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him; set yourselves close to him so that you too, the holy priesthood that offers the spiritual sacrifices which Jesus Christ has made acceptable to God, may be living stones making a spiritual house. As scripture says: See how I lay in Zion a precious cornerstone that I have chosen and the man who rests his trust on it will not be disappointed. That means that for you who are believers, it is precious; but for unbelievers, the stone rejected by the builders has proved to be the keystone, a stone to stumble over, a rock to bring men down. They stumble over it because they do not believe in the word; it was the fate in store for them.

    But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a people set apart to sing the praises of God who called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
Jn14:6

Alleluia, alleluia!

Jesus said: ‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.
No one can come to the Father except through me.’

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
John 14:1-12
I am the Way, the Truth and the Life

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Trust in God still, and trust in me.
There are many rooms in my Father’s house;
if there were not, I should have told you.
I am going now to prepare a place for you,
and after I have gone and prepared you a place,
I shall return to take you with me;
so that where I am
you may be too.
You know the way to the place where I am going.’

Thomas said, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’ Jesus said:

‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.
No one can come to the Father except through me.
If you know me, you know my Father too.
From this moment you know him and have seen him.’

Philip said, ‘Lord, let us see the Father and then we shall be satisfied.’ ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip,’ said Jesus to him ‘and you still do not know me?

‘To have seen me is to have seen the Father,
so how can you say, “Let us see the Father”?
Do you not believe
that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?
The words I say to you I do not speak as from myself:
it is the Father, living in me, who is doing this work.
You must believe me when I say
that I am in the Father and the Father is in me;
believe it on the evidence of this work, if for no other reason.
I tell you most solemnly,
whoever believes in me
will perform the same works as I do myself,
he will perform even greater works,
because I am going to the Father.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: 03rd May 2026

 

ACTS 6:1-7; PS 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19; 1 PT 2:4-9; JN 14:1-12


The readings on this fifth Sunday of Easter present us with themes of dwelling places and home. As Christian stewards, we recognize that this world is not our permanent home. We are pilgrims here, making our way through the stewardship way of life toward our true home — heaven.

Yet, as we journey toward heaven, we are called to make our dwelling here — whether we live alone or in a full and busy household — a true “domestic church.” In other words, the stewardship way of life begins long before we set foot on parish grounds. Stewardship starts at home.
We see this lived out in the earliest days of the Church in our first reading from Acts. The community faced a real concern when “their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.” When needs are not met within the community — especially basic needs — or when a spirit of service is lacking in our homes and relationships, we are not living as the stewards Christ calls us to be.

Stewardship is not simply about attending Mass once a week, serving in ministries, or giving financially to the parish. These are essential expressions of stewardship. But stewardship begins well before we arrive at church. It begins in our families — our domestic churches. The home plays a vital role in our sanctification because it is the primary place where we learn and practice self-giving love.

Ultimately, stewardship is not something we do — it is who we are. It is a way of living out our baptismal call to follow Christ as His disciples — in our parish life, our work, our relationships, and certainly in our homes.

In our second reading, St. Peter reminds us, “Let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” He is speaking not only to clergy, but to all the baptized. Each of us is called to participate in this spiritual priesthood through the offering of our daily lives.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, “It is here that… all members of the family exercise the priesthood of the baptized in a privileged way ‘by the reception of the sacraments, prayer and thanksgiving, the witness of a holy life, and self-denial and active charity.’ Thus the home is the first school of Christian life and a ‘school of human enrichment’” (1657).

In our Gospel passage from John, Jesus speaks of heaven as a home filled with dwelling places. “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?” This is a beautiful image of the glory that awaits us and the personal love our Lord has for us — preparing a place for each one of us who remains faithful to Him.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 26th April 2026

First reading
Acts 2:14,36-41
'God has made him both Lord and Christ'

    On the day of Pentecost Peter stood up with the Eleven and addressed the crowd in a loud voice: ‘The whole House of Israel can be certain that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ.’

    Hearing this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the apostles, ‘What must we do, brothers?’ ‘You must repent,’ Peter answered ‘and every one of you must be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise that was made is for you and your children, and for all those who are far away, for all those whom the Lord our God will call to himself.’ He spoke to them for a long time using many arguments, and he urged them, ‘Save yourselves from this perverse generation.’ They were convinced by his arguments, and they accepted what he said and were baptised. That very day about three thousand were added to their number.

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
1 Peter 2:20-25
You have come back to the shepherd of your souls

    The merit, in the sight of God, is in bearing punishment patiently when you are punished after doing your duty.

    This, in fact, is what you were called to do, because Christ suffered for you and left an example for you to follow the way he took. He had not done anything wrong, and there had been no perjury in his mouth. He was insulted and did not retaliate with insults; when he was tortured he made no threats but he put his trust in the righteous judge. He was bearing our faults in his own body on the cross, so that we might die to our faults and live for holiness; through his wounds you have been healed. You had gone astray like sheep but now you have come back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
Jn10:14

Alleluia, alleluia!

I am the good shepherd, says the Lord;
I know my own sheep and my own know me.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
John 10:1-10
I am the gate of the sheepfold

Jesus said:

    ‘I tell you most solemnly, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold through the gate, but gets in some other way is a thief and a brigand. The one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the flock; the gatekeeper lets him in, the sheep hear his voice, one by one he calls his own sheep and leads them out. When he has brought out his flock, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow because they know his voice. They never follow a stranger but run away from him: they do not recognise the voice of strangers.’

    Jesus told them this parable but they failed to understand what he meant by telling it to them.
    So Jesus spoke to them again:

‘I tell you most solemnly,
I am the gate of the sheepfold.
All others who have come
are thieves and brigands;
but the sheep took no notice of them.
I am the gate.
Anyone who enters through me will be safe:
he will go freely in and out
and be sure of finding pasture.
The thief comes
only to steal and kill and destroy.
I have come
so that they may have life and have it to the full.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 26th April 2026

 

ACTS 2:14A, 36-41; PS 23:1-3A, 3B4-6; 1 PT 2:20B-25; JN 10:1-10

Today’s readings on this fourth Sunday of Easter offer us a glimpse into the heart of our loving Savior. He is the Good Shepherd and we can confidently place our trust in Him as we live the stewardship way of life.

In both the first and second readings, we find Peter embracing his role as leader of the newborn Church. In our first reading from Acts, he exhorts the crowd, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” We then read that the ones who accepted his message were baptized that day. Peter simply proposed the Good News to them and then left them free to accept or reject the call to repentance and belief in Christ, which is ultimately a call from God.

We can find many parallels in this passage to the call to a stewardship way of life. We, too, are free to accept or reject God’s call to discipleship. We can keep our time, talents, and treasure for ourselves, purely to serve our own interests. We are free to make that choice.

Or, we can embrace the call to discipleship through the stewardship way of life. If we do so, we will find a path to freedom from “this corrupt generation” just as those first disciples found in the early days of the Church.

Our second reading, again featuring St. Peter, offers further motivation for embracing this way of life. Peter reminds us that Christ, “bore our sins in his body upon the cross.” And that, “by his wounds you have been healed. For [we] had gone astray like sheep but… have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of [our] souls.” Such an incredibly poignant description of the love our Savior has for us and the kind of relationship He desires to have with us — as shepherd and guardian of our souls.

This endearing image of Jesus as shepherd, and His personal love for each one of us, is expanded in our Gospel passage from John, through the words of Jesus Himself. Here we read Jesus’ description of Himself as the “Good Shepherd.” He says of Himself, “The sheep hear his voice, as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice.”

This aspect of our Lord’s tender and personal love for each one of us is yet another reason to embrace the stewardship way of life — in the offering of our time, talent, and treasure to Him, we can express our gratitude to Him for the incomprehensible love He has for us.

Embracing the stewardship way of life certainly requires trust on our part. But Christ has proven Himself worthy of our trust. He “bore our sins in His body.” He calls Himself our shepherd and He offers Himself as the guardian of our souls. He has withheld nothing of Himself and His goodness from us. He would never ask anything of us that would bring us harm.

On the contrary. Our Lord did not come to take from us, but to give to us. Again, we read His own words from the Gospel passage, “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”

This Easter season, let us resolve to freely give all of ourselves and our lives gratefully to Him.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 19th April 2026

First reading
Acts 2:14,22-33
God raised this man Jesus to life, and all of us are witnesses to this

    On the day of Pentecost Peter stood up with the Eleven and addressed the crowd in a loud voice: ‘Men of Israel, listen to what I am going to say: Jesus the Nazarene was a man commended to you by God by the miracles and portents and signs that God worked through him when he was among you, as you all know. This man, who was put into your power by the deliberate intention and foreknowledge of God, you took and had crucified by men outside the Law. You killed him, but God raised him to life, freeing him from the pangs of Hades; for it was impossible for him to be held in its power since, as David says of him:

I saw the Lord before me always,
for with him at my right hand nothing can shake me.

So my heart was glad
and my tongue cried out with joy;

my body, too, will rest in the hope
that you will not abandon my soul to Hades
nor allow your holy one to experience corruption.

You have made known the way of life to me,
you will fill me with gladness through your presence.

‘Brothers, no one can deny that the patriarch David himself is dead and buried: his tomb is still with us. But since he was a prophet, and knew that God had sworn him an oath to make one of his descendants succeed him on the throne, what he foresaw and spoke about was the resurrection of the Christ: he is the one who was not abandoned to Hades, and whose body did not experience corruption. God raised this man Jesus to life, and all of us are witnesses to that. Now raised to the heights by God’s right hand, he has received from the Father the Holy Spirit, who was promised, and what you see and hear is the outpouring of that Spirit.’

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 15(16):1-2,5,7-11

Show us, Lord, the path of life.

Preserve me, God, I take refuge in you.
    I say to the Lord: ‘You are my God.
O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup;
    it is you yourself who are my prize.’

Show us, Lord, the path of life.

I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel,
    who even at night directs my heart.
I keep the Lord ever in my sight:
    since he is at my right hand, I shall stand firm.

Show us, Lord, the path of life.

And so my heart rejoices, my soul is glad;
    even my body shall rest in safety.
For you will not leave my soul among the dead,
    nor let your beloved know decay.

Show us, Lord, the path of life.

You will show me the path of life,
    the fullness of joy in your presence,
    at your right hand happiness for ever.

Show us, Lord, the path of life.

________

Second reading
1 Peter 1:17-21
Your ransom was paid in the precious blood of Christ

    If you are acknowledging as your Father one who has no favourites and judges everyone according to what he has done, you must be scrupulously careful as long as you are living away from your home. Remember, the ransom that was paid to free you from the useless way of life your ancestors handed down was not paid in anything corruptible, neither in silver nor gold, but in the precious blood of a lamb without spot or stain, namely Christ; who, though known since before the world was made, has been revealed only in our time, the end of the ages, for your sake. Through him you now have faith in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory for that very reason – so that you would have faith and hope in God.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
cf.Lk24:32

Alleluia, alleluia!

Lord Jesus, explain the Scriptures to us.
Make our hearts burn within us as you talk to us.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Luke 24:13-35
They recognized him at the breaking of bread

    Two of the disciples of Jesus were on their way to a village called Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking together about all that had happened. Now as they talked this over, Jesus himself came up and walked by their side; but something prevented them from recognising him. He said to them, ‘What matters are you discussing as you walk along?’ They stopped short, their faces downcast.

    Then one of them, called Cleopas, answered him, ‘You must be the only person staying in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have been happening there these last few days.’ ‘What things?’ he asked. ‘All about Jesus of Nazareth’ they answered ‘who proved he was a great prophet by the things he said and did in the sight of God and of the whole people; and how our chief priests and our leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and had him crucified. Our own hope had been that he would be the one to set Israel free. And this is not all: two whole days have gone by since it all happened; and some women from our group have astounded us: they went to the tomb in the early morning, and when they did not find the body, they came back to tell us they had seen a vision of angels who declared he was alive. Some of our friends went to the tomb and found everything exactly as the women had reported, but of him they saw nothing.’

    Then he said to them, ‘You foolish men! So slow to believe the full message of the prophets! Was it not ordained that the Christ should suffer and so enter into his glory?’ Then, starting with Moses and going through all the prophets, he explained to them the passages throughout the scriptures that were about himself.

    When they drew near to the village to which they were going, he made as if to go on; but they pressed him to stay with them. ‘It is nearly evening’ they said ‘and the day is almost over.’ So he went in to stay with them. Now while he was with them at table, he took the bread and said the blessing; then he broke it and handed it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognised him; but he had vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, ‘Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked to us on the road and explained the scriptures to us?’

    They set out that instant and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven assembled together with their companions, who said to them, ‘Yes, it is true. The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.’ Then they told their story of what had happened on the road and how they had recognised him at the breaking of bread.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 19th April 2026

 

ACTS 2:14, 22-33; PS 16:1-2, 5, 7-11; 1 PT 1:17-21; LK 24:13-35

Today’s readings focus on a theme of “sojourning.” As Christian stewards, we know our lives are a sojourn toward the ultimate destination of heaven.

Our Gospel passage today describes the sojourn of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. The two are dejected and despondent after Jesus’ death. They knew Jesus personally. They had heard the Gospel message directly from His lips. They heard the testimony of the women who discovered our Lord’s empty tomb and saw a vision of angels announcing He was alive. They had been informed by other disciples who went to the tomb that all was exactly as the women reported.

How much more obvious could the Good News be?

And yet, at times, the reaction of the two disciples describes our own stewardship journey, doesn’t it? We have the fullness of the Catholic faith, the power of the sacraments, and the support of our parish family. Yet, we often lose our way. We fail to see all the gifts we have been given. We lack trust in the perfect goodness and almighty power of God.

But notice what happens to the two men when their eyes are opened once again, and they recognize Jesus in the Eucharist — the “breaking of the bread.” They are transformed! Their hearts are set on fire with love for the Lord and for their faith. They recall that their hearts began “burning within” as the Lord was explaining the Scriptures to them. When we find we have lost our way, we can go to the same sources as the two disciples on the road to Emmaus — the Scriptures and the Eucharist.

In this Easter season, resolve to feast deeply on these two sources of grace. They are the fuel that will propel us on our journey toward heaven.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 12th April 2026

First reading
Acts 2:42-47
The faithful all lived together and owned everything in common

    The whole community remained faithful to the teaching of the apostles, to the brotherhood, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers.

    The many miracles and signs worked through the apostles made a deep impression on everyone.

    The faithful all lived together and owned everything in common; they sold their goods and possessions and shared out the proceeds among themselves according to what each one needed.

    They went as a body to the Temple every day but met in their houses for the breaking of bread; they shared their food gladly and generously; they praised God and were looked up to by everyone. Day by day the Lord added to their community those destined to be saved.

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 117(118):2-4,13-15,22-24

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love has no end.

Let the sons of Israel say:
    ‘His love has no end.’
Let the sons of Aaron say:
    ‘His love has no end.’
Let those who fear the Lord say:
    ‘His love has no end.’

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love has no end.

I was thrust down, thrust down and falling,
    but the Lord was my helper.
The Lord is my strength and my song;
    he was my saviour.
There are shouts of joy and victory
    in the tents of the just.

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love has no end.

The stone which the builders rejected
    has become the corner stone.
This is the work of the Lord,
    a marvel in our eyes.
This day was made by the Lord;
    we rejoice and are glad.

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love has no end.

________

Second reading
1 Peter 1:3-9
You did not see Christ, yet you love him

    Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy has given us a new birth as his sons, by raising Jesus Christ from the dead, so that we have a sure hope and the promise of an inheritance that can never be spoilt or soiled and never fade away, because it is being kept for you in the heavens. Through your faith, God’s power will guard you until the salvation which has been prepared is revealed at the end of time. This is a cause of great joy for you, even though you may for a short time have to bear being plagued by all sorts of trials; so that, when Jesus Christ is revealed, your faith will have been tested and proved like gold – only it is more precious than gold, which is corruptible even though it bears testing by fire – and then you will have praise and glory and honour. You did not see him, yet you love him; and still without seeing him, you are already filled with a joy so glorious that it cannot be described, because you believe; and you are sure of the end to which your faith looks forward, that is, the salvation of your souls.

The word of the Lord.

________

Sequence
Victimae Paschali Laudes

Christians, to the Paschal Victim
    offer sacrifice and praise.
The sheep are ransomed by the Lamb;
and Christ, the undefiled,
hath sinners to his Father reconciled.

Death with life contended:
    combat strangely ended!

Life’s own Champion, slain,
    yet lives to reign.

Tell us, Mary: 
    say what thou didst see 
    upon the way.

The tomb the Living did enclose;
I saw Christ’s glory as he rose!

The angels there attesting;
shroud with grave-clothes resting.

Christ, my hope, has risen:
he goes before you into Galilee.

That Christ is truly risen
    from the dead we know.
Victorious king, thy mercy show!

________

Gospel Acclamation
Jn20:29

Alleluia, alleluia!

Jesus said: ‘You believe because you can see me.
Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.’

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
John 20:19-31
Eight days later, Jesus came again and stood among them

    In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, ‘Peace be with you’, and showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the Lord, and he said to them again, ‘Peace be with you.

‘As the Father sent me,

so am I sending you.’

    After saying this he breathed on them and said:

‘Receive the Holy Spirit.
For those whose sins you forgive,
they are forgiven;
for those whose sins you retain,
they are retained.’

    Thomas, called the Twin, who was one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. When the disciples said, ‘We have seen the Lord’, he answered, ‘Unless I see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe.’ Eight days later the disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. The doors were closed, but Jesus came in and stood among them. ‘Peace be with you’ he said. Then he spoke to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Doubt no longer but believe.’ Thomas replied, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him:

‘You believe because you can see me.

Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.’

    There were many other signs that Jesus worked and the disciples saw, but they are not recorded in this book. These are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing this you may have life through his name.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 12th April 2026

 

ACTS 2:42-47; PS 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24; 1 PT 1:3-9; JN 20:19-31

The Christian steward approaches life with an “Easter vision,” rooted in gratitude for and confidence in the salvation our Lord has won for us through His death and Resurrection. Today’s readings on this Divine Mercy Sunday show how that vision is lived out in daily life and remind us that we can place complete trust in the mercy of God to lead us, step by step, toward heaven.

Our first reading, from the Acts of the Apostles, describes this beautiful way of life as practiced by the first Christians: “They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers.” And, “They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying favor with all the people.” This is a snapshot of the first community of Christian stewards living daily stewardship — embracing prayer through the breaking of the bread, formation through the teaching of the apostles, hospitality through communal life and joyful fellowship, and service through their care for one another. What an inspiration for us as modern-day stewards.

The Easter season is not a time to relax in the practice of our faith now that Lent is behind us. Rather, it is a time to live our faith with even deeper joy and gratitude as we celebrate our Lord’s victory over sin and death. St. Peter captures this Easter outlook beautifully in our second reading: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is … kept in heaven for you.” This should shape the way we live each day. At the same time, St. Peter acknowledges that the Christian life is not without hardship: “In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials.”

Certainly, it can be difficult to keep our eyes fixed on heaven when earthly concerns — job stress, family struggles, health worries, political division — loom so large. At times, we can find ourselves becoming cynical like the Apostle Thomas in today’s Gospel, before his encounter with the merciful Savior. Not present when Jesus first appeared to the other Apostles after the Resurrection, Thomas refused to believe their witness that they had “seen the Lord.”

He insisted he would not believe unless he placed his finger into the nail marks and his hand into Christ’s side. Yet his doubts did not repel our Lord — they drew Him near in an extraordinary way. Beneath Thomas’ stubborn words, Jesus saw pain, disappointment and fear. Our Lord, who is mercy itself, did not condemn him. Instead, He calmed his doubts, invited him closer, and allowed him to touch those Sacred Wounds.

What amazing grace.

When we are tempted to doubt, for whatever reason, we need only seek the Lord — in prayer, in the sacraments, and through the encouragement of our Christian community. Just as He did for Thomas, our Lord will mercifully restore our Easter vision and fill us with His joy and peace.