Mass Reflection: Sunday - 08th November 2026

 

WIS 6:12-16; PS 63:2-8; 1 THES 4:13-18 OR 4:13-14; MT 25:1-13

Wisdom is at the heart of today's readings. It is one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit and an essential gift for living the stewardship way of life. As Christian stewards, we should continually ask the Holy Spirit to deepen this gift within us.

Our First Reading comes from the Book of Wisdom itself. We hear, "Taking thought of wisdom is the perfection of prudence, and whoever for her sake keeps vigil shall quickly be free from care."

How does wisdom free us from anxiety? Not because it gives us all the answers, but because it teaches us to trust the One who does. The wisdom of the Holy Spirit helps us rely on God's providence rather than our own understanding. In a complicated and unpredictable world, that trust brings lasting peace.

St. Paul applies that same wisdom to the subject of death in today's Second Reading. He reminds the Thessalonians not to grieve "like the rest, who have no hope." Because Christ has conquered death through His Resurrection, those who belong to Him have reason for hope even in the face of loss.

This truth is both comforting and challenging. Death is inevitable, but it is not the end. Wise Christian stewards keep this eternal perspective before them, allowing it to shape the way they live each day.

Jesus reinforces that lesson in today's Gospel through the parable of the 10 virgins awaiting the arrival of the bridegroom. Five prepare wisely by bringing enough oil for their lamps. Five do not.

When the bridegroom arrives unexpectedly, only those who are prepared are ready to enter the wedding feast. Jesus concludes with the simple instruction: "Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour."

The stewardship way of life helps us remain ready for that day. Through prayer, the sacraments, generous service, and the faithful use of the gifts God has entrusted to us, we keep our hearts turned toward Christ. Then, whenever the Bridegroom comes, we will be prepared to meet Him with joy.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 08th November 2026

Entrance Antiphon
Cf. Ps 87: 3

Let my prayer come into your presence.
Incline your ear to my cry for help, O Lord.

---------------

First reading
Wisdom 6:12-16
Wisdom is found by those who look for her

    Wisdom is bright, and does not grow dim.
By those who love her she is readily seen,
and found by those who look for her.
Quick to anticipate those who desire her, she makes herself known to them.
Watch for her early and you will have no trouble;
you will find her sitting at your gates.
Even to think about her is understanding fully grown;
be on the alert for her and anxiety will quickly leave you.
She herself walks about looking for those who are worthy of her
and graciously shows herself to them as they go,
in every thought of theirs coming to meet them.

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 62(63):2-8

For you my soul is thirsting, O God, my God.

O God, you are my God, for you I long;
    for you my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you
    like a dry, weary land without water.

For you my soul is thirsting, O God, my God.

So I gaze on you in the sanctuary
    to see your strength and your glory.
For your love is better than life,
    my lips will speak your praise.

For you my soul is thirsting, O God, my God.

So I will bless you all my life,
    in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul shall be filled as with a banquet,
    my mouth shall praise you with joy.

For you my soul is thirsting, O God, my God.

On my bed I remember you.
    On you I muse through the night
for you have been my help;
    in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.

For you my soul is thirsting, O God, my God.

________

Second reading
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Do not grieve about those who have died in Jesus

    We want you to be quite certain, brothers, about those who have died, to make sure that you do not grieve about them, like the other people who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and that it will be the same for those who have died in Jesus: God will bring them with him. We can tell you this from the Lord’s own teaching, that any of us who are left alive until the Lord’s coming will not have any advantage over those who have died. At the trumpet of God, the voice of the archangel will call out the command and the Lord himself will come down from heaven; those who have died in Christ will be the first to rise, and then those of us who are still alive will be taken up in the clouds, together with them; to meet the Lord in the air. So we shall stay with the Lord for ever. With such thoughts as these you should comfort one another.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
Mt24:42 44

Alleluia, alleluia!

Stay awake and stand ready,
because you do not know the hour
when the Son of Man is coming.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Matthew 25:1-13
The wise and foolish virgins

    Jesus told this parable to his disciples: ‘The kingdom of heaven will be like this: Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were sensible: the foolish ones did take their lamps, but they brought no oil, whereas the sensible ones took flasks of oil as well as their lamps. The bridegroom was late, and they all grew drowsy and fell asleep. But at midnight there was a cry, “The bridegroom is here! Go out and meet him.” At this, all those bridesmaids woke up and trimmed their lamps, and the foolish ones said to the sensible ones, “Give us some of your oil: our lamps are going out.” But they replied, “There may not be enough for us and for you; you had better go to those who sell it and buy some for yourselves.” They had gone off to buy it when the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding hall and the door was closed. The other bridesmaids arrived later. “Lord, Lord,” they said “open the door for us.” But he replied, “I tell you solemnly, I do not know you.” So stay awake, because you do not know either the day or the hour.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Pope's Prayer Intention - November 2026

 𝐏𝐎𝐏𝐄 𝐋𝐄𝐎 𝐗𝐈𝐕’𝐒 𝐏𝐑𝐀𝐘𝐄𝐑 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 🙏

This month, Pope Leo XIV invites us to pray for the proper use of wealth, that the resources entrusted to us may serve the common good and be shared in solidarity with those who have less.

May we open our hearts to the needs of our brothers and sisters and put generosity and love into action.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 1st November 2026

 

RV 7:2-4, 9-14; PS 24:1B-4B, 5-6; 1 JN 3:1-3; MT 5:1-12A

On this Solemnity of All Saints, we have the profound joy of celebrating our brothers and sisters in Christ, the saints. Their lives remind us that holiness is not reserved for a select few. Through Baptism, each of us receives the call to holiness and discipleship. In other words, we are all called to become saints.

The stewardship way of life helps us answer that call in the ordinary circumstances of daily life, offering ourselves back to God with grateful hearts.

Our First Reading from Revelation gives us a glimpse of heaven: "a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people and tongue." They stand before the throne of God, praising the Lamb who has redeemed them. Their joy did not come without sacrifice. They re-mained faithful through suffering and trials, trusting in God's grace until the end.

St. John offers us great encouragement in today's Second Reading: "See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are." Already we are God's children, but an even greater joy awaits us. "We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." That promise gives us hope and strengthens us to persevere.

In today's Gospel, Jesus proclaims the Beatitudes. These are not simply beautiful sayings or lofty ideals. They describe the heart of a disciple. The poor in spirit, the merciful, the pure of heart, the peacemakers, and those who remain faithful through persecution reveal lives transformed by God's grace.

These virtues run contrary to many of the values our culture celebrates. We cannot produce them by our own effort. They are the fruit of a life rooted in prayer, nourished by the sacraments, and shaped by an ever-deepening relationship with Christ.

As Christian stewards, we seek to grow in these virtues day by day, relying not on our own strength but on God's grace. May the witness and prayers of our brothers and sisters in Christ, the saints, encourage us as we continue our own journey toward the everlasting joy of heaven.

Mass Rerading: Sunday - 1st November 2026

 Entrance Antiphon

Let us all rejoice in the Lord,
as we celebrate the feast day in honour of all the Saints,
at whose festival the Angels rejoice
and praise the Son of God.

First reading
Apocalypse 7:2-4,9-14
I saw a huge number, impossible to count, of people from every nation, race, tribe and language

    I, John, saw another angel rising where the sun rises, carrying the seal of the living God; he called in a powerful voice to the four angels whose duty was to devastate land and sea, ‘Wait before you do any damage on land or at sea or to the trees, until we have put the seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.’ Then I heard how many were sealed: a hundred and forty-four thousand, out of all the tribes of Israel.

    After that I saw a huge number, impossible to count, of people from every nation, race, tribe and language; they were standing in front of the throne and in front of the Lamb, dressed in white robes and holding palms in their hands. They shouted aloud, ‘Victory to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’ And all the angels who were standing in a circle round the throne, surrounding the elders and the four animals, prostrated themselves before the throne, and touched the ground with their foreheads, worshipping God with these words, ‘Amen. Praise and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and strength to our God for ever and ever. Amen.’

    One of the elders then spoke, and asked me, ‘Do you know who these people are, dressed in white robes, and where they have come from?’ I answered him, ‘You can tell me, my lord.’ Then he said, ‘These are the people who have been through the great persecution, and they have washed their robes white again in the blood of the Lamb.’

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 23(24):1-6

Such are the men who seek your face, O Lord.

The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness,
    the world and all its peoples.
It is he who set it on the seas;
    on the waters he made it firm.

Such are the men who seek your face, O Lord.

Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord?
    Who shall stand in his holy place?
The man with clean hands and pure heart,
    who desires not worthless things.

Such are the men who seek your face, O Lord.

He shall receive blessings from the Lord
    and reward from the God who saves him.
Such are the men who seek him,
    seek the face of the God of Jacob.

Such are the men who seek your face, O Lord.

________

Second reading
1 John 3:1-3
We shall be like God because we shall see him as he really is

Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us,
    by letting us be called God’s children;
    and that is what we are.
Because the world refused to acknowledge him,
    therefore it does not acknowledge us.
My dear people, we are already the children of God
    but what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed;
all we know is, that when it is revealed
    we shall be like him
    because we shall see him as he really is.
Surely everyone who entertains this hope
    must purify himself, must try to be as pure as Christ.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
Mt11:28

Alleluia, alleluia!

Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened
and I will give you rest, says the Lord.

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.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 25th October 2026

Entrance Antiphon
Cf. Ps 104: 3-4

Let the hearts that seek the Lord rejoice;
turn to the Lord and his strength;
constantly seek his face.

________

First reading
Exodus 22:20-26
If you are harsh with the widow and orphan, my anger will flare against you

    The Lord said to Moses, ‘Tell the sons of Israel this:

    ‘“You must not molest the stranger or oppress him, for you lived as strangers in the land of Egypt. You must not be harsh with the widow, or with the orphan; if you are harsh with them, they will surely cry out to me, and be sure I shall hear their cry; my anger will flare and I shall kill you with the sword, your own wives will be widows, your own children orphans.

    ‘“If you lend money to any of my people, to any poor man among you, you must not play the usurer with him: you must not demand interest from him.

    ‘“If you take another’s cloak as a pledge, you must give it back to him before sunset. It is all the covering he has; it is the cloak he wraps his body in; what else would he sleep in? If he cries to me, I will listen, for I am full of pity.”’

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 17(18):2-4,47,51

I love you, Lord, my strength.

I love you, Lord, my strength,
    my rock, my fortress, my saviour.
My God is the rock where I take refuge;
    my shield, my mighty help, my stronghold.
The Lord is worthy of all praise,
    when I call I am saved from my foes.

I love you, Lord, my strength.

Long life to the Lord, my rock!
    Praised be the God who saves me,
He has given great victories to his king
    and shown his love for his anointed.

I love you, Lord, my strength.

________

Second reading
1 Thessalonians 1:5-10
You broke with idolatry and became servants of God; you are now waiting for his Son

    You observed the sort of life we lived when we were with you, which was for your instruction, and you were led to become imitators of us, and of the Lord; and it was with the joy of the Holy Spirit that you took to the gospel, in spite of the great opposition all round you. This has made you the great example to all believers in Macedonia and Achaia since it was from you that the word of the Lord started to spread – and not only throughout Macedonia and Achaia, for the news of your faith in God has spread everywhere. We do not need to tell other people about it: other people tell us how we started the work among you, how you broke with idolatry when you were converted to God and became servants of the real, living God; and how you are now waiting for Jesus, his Son, whom he raised from the dead, to come from heaven to save us from the retribution which is coming.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
cf.Ac16:14

Alleluia, alleluia!

Open our heart, O Lord,
to accept the words of your Son.

Alleluia!

Or:
Jn14:23

Alleluia, alleluia!

If anyone loves me he will keep my word,
and my Father will love him, 
and we shall come to him.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Matthew 22:34-40
The commandments of love

    When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees they got together and, to disconcert him, one of them put a question, ‘Master, which is the greatest commandment of the Law?’ Jesus said, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second resembles it: You must love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang the whole Law, and the Prophets also.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 25th October 2026

 

EX 22:20-26; PS 18:2-4, 47, 51; 1 THES 1:5C-10; MT 22:34-40

Today's readings are all about love — God's faithful love for His people and the love we are called to return to Him and to one another. The stewardship way of life is simply the daily practice of these two greatest commandments.

From the beginning, God reveals Himself as a loving and compassionate Father who has a special concern for those most in need. He asks His people to show that same compassion in the way they treat one another.

Our First Reading from Exodus illustrates this beautifully. God commands His people not to oppress the foreigner, the widow, or the orphan. He even instructs them to return a poor person's cloak before sunset, explaining, "If he cries out to me, I will hear him; for I am compassionate." God's mercy is never meant to stop with us. It is meant to flow through us to others.

Jesus brings this teaching to its fulfillment in today's Gospel. When asked which commandment is the greatest, He answers, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." Then He immediately adds, "The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

These two commandments cannot be separated. The more deeply we love God, the more naturally we begin to love the people He places in our lives. And the way we love our neighbor becomes one of the clearest expressions of our love for God.

Living this out will look different for each of us. God may be inviting one person to deepen a daily habit of prayer, another to spend more time before Him in the Eucharist, and someone else to be more attentive to a family member, friend, or neighbor who needs encouragement. He may be calling us to serve in a parish ministry or simply to become more generous with our time and attention in the ordinary moments of each day.

The stewardship way of life is how each of us lives these two greatest commandments according to the vocation God has given us. In the end, stewardship is about one thing above all else — love.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 18th October 2026

Entrance Antiphon
Cf. Ps 16: 6, 8

To you I call; for you will surely heed me, O God;
turn your ear to me; hear my words.
Guard me as the apple of your eye;
in the shadow of your wings protect me.

First reading
Isaiah 45:1,4-6
I have taken Cyrus by his right hand to subdue nations before him

Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus,
whom he has taken by his right hand
to subdue nations before him
and strip the loins of kings,
to force gateways before him
that their gates be closed no more:

‘It is for the sake of my servant Jacob,
of Israel my chosen one,
that I have called you by your name,
conferring a title though you do not know me.
I am the Lord, unrivalled;
there is no other God besides me.
Though you do not know me, I arm you
that men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun
that, apart from me, all is nothing.’

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 95(96):1,3-5,7-10

Give the Lord glory and power.

O sing a new song to the Lord,
    sing to the Lord all the earth.
Tell among the nations his glory
    and his wonders among all the peoples.

Give the Lord glory and power.

The Lord is great and worthy of praise,
    to be feared above all gods;
    the gods of the heathens are naught.
It was the Lord who made the heavens,

Give the Lord glory and power.

Give the Lord, you families of peoples,
    give the Lord glory and power;
    give the Lord the glory of his name.
Bring an offering and enter his courts.

Give the Lord glory and power.

Worship the Lord in his temple.
    O earth, tremble before him.
Proclaim to the nations: ‘God is king.’
    He will judge the peoples in fairness.

Give the Lord glory and power.

________

Second reading
1 Thessalonians 1:1-5
We constantly remember your faith, your love and your hope

    From Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, to the Church in Thessalonika which is in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ; wishing you grace and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

    We always mention you in our prayers and thank God for you all, and constantly remember before God our Father how you have shown your faith in action, worked for love and persevered through hope, in our Lord Jesus Christ.

    We know, brothers, that God loves you and that you have been chosen, because when we brought the Good News to you, it came to you not only as words, but as power and as the Holy Spirit and as utter conviction.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
Jn17:17

Alleluia, alleluia!

Your word is truth, O Lord:
consecrate us in the truth.

Alleluia!

Or:
Ph2:15-16

Alleluia, alleluia!

You will shine in the world like bright stars
because you are offering it the word of life.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Matthew 22:15-21
Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar

The Pharisees went away to work out between them how to trap Jesus in what he said. And they sent their disciples to him, together with the Herodians, to say, ‘Master, we know that you are an honest man and teach the way of God in an honest way, and that you are not afraid of anyone, because a man’s rank means nothing to you. Tell us your opinion, then. Is it permissible to pay taxes to Caesar or not?’ But Jesus was aware of their malice and replied, ‘You hypocrites! Why do you set this trap for me? Let me see the money you pay the tax with.’ They handed him a denarius, and he said, ‘Whose head is this? Whose name?’ ‘Caesar’s’ they replied. He then said to them, ‘Very well, give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar – and to God what belongs to God.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 18th October 2026

 

IS 45:1, 4-6; PS 96:1, 3-5, 7-10; 1 THES 1:1-5B; MT 22:15-21

Today's readings remind us to be mindful not only of who we are, but also Whose we are.

In our First Reading, the prophet Isaiah proclaims one of the great truths of our faith: "I am the LORD and there is no other, there is no God besides me." Those words remain just as important today as they were centuries ago. In a world filled with competing priorities and constant distractions, we are called to place God first in every area of our lives.

Christian stewardship helps us do exactly that. It challenges us to use our time, talents, and treasure in ways that proclaim not only with our words, but also with our lives, that we belong to the Lord.

St. Paul encourages the Christians in Thessalonica by reminding them that the Gospel came to them "not in word alone, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much conviction." Those same gifts have been given to us. Through Baptism, the Eucharist, Reconciliation, Sacred Scripture, and the life of the Church, God supplies every grace we need to live as faithful disciples.

That truth comes into sharp focus in today's Gospel. The Pharisees try to trap Jesus by asking whether it is lawful to pay the tax to Caesar. They believe they have presented Him with an impossible choice. If He approves the tax, He risks losing the support of the people. If He rejects it, He risks the wrath of the Roman authorities.

Jesus answers with divine wisdom. Holding up the coin, He asks whose image it bears. When they reply, "Caesar," He tells them, "Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God."

The coin bears Caesar's image, so it belongs to Caesar. We bear the image and likeness of God. We belong to Him.

Everything we have comes from the Lord, and through Baptism we have become His sons and daughters. Our lives are not our own.

They are gifts entrusted to us so that, in gratitude, we may know Him, love Him, serve Him, and help others do the same.

May we joyfully give thanks to God each day by living as people who never forget Whose we are.

Mass Reading: Sunday -11th October 2026

Entrance Antiphon
Ps 129: 3-4

If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
Lord, who could stand?
But with you is found forgiveness,
O God of Israel.

________

First reading
Isaiah 25:6-10
The Lord will prepare a banquet for every nation

On this mountain,
the Lord of hosts will prepare for all peoples
a banquet of rich food, a banquet of fine wines,
of food rich and juicy, of fine strained wines.
On this mountain he will remove
the mourning veil covering all peoples,
and the shroud enwrapping all nations,
he will destroy Death for ever.
The Lord will wipe away
the tears from every cheek;
he will take away his people’s shame
everywhere on earth,
for the Lord has said so.
That day, it will be said: See, this is our God
in whom we hoped for salvation;
the Lord is the one in whom we hoped.
We exult and we rejoice
that he has saved us;
for the hand of the Lord
rests on this mountain.

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 22(23)

In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell for ever and ever.

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.

In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell for ever and ever.

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.

In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell for ever and ever.

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

In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell for ever and ever.

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.

In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell for ever and ever.

________

Second reading
Philippians 4:12-14,19-20
With the help of the One who gives me strength, there is nothing I cannot master

    I know how to be poor and I know how to be rich too. I have been through my initiation and now I am ready for anything anywhere: full stomach or empty stomach, poverty or plenty. There is nothing I cannot master with the help of the One who gives me strength. All the same, it was good of you to share with me in my hardships. In return my God will fulfil all your needs, in Christ Jesus, as lavishly as only God can. Glory to God, our Father, for ever and ever. Amen.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
Jn1:14,12

Alleluia, alleluia!

The Word was made flesh and lived among us:
to all who did accept him 
he gave power to become children of God.

Alleluia!

Or:
cf.Ep1:17,18

Alleluia, alleluia!

May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ
enlighten the eyes of our mind,
so that we can see what hope his call holds for us.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Matthew 22:1-14
Invite everyone you can to the wedding

    Jesus began to speak to the chief priests and elders of the people in parables: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a feast for his son’s wedding. He sent his servants to call those who had been invited, but they would not come. Next he sent some more servants. “Tell those who have been invited” he said “that I have my banquet all prepared, my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, everything is ready. Come to the wedding.” But they were not interested: one went off to his farm, another to his business, and the rest seized his servants, maltreated them and killed them. The king was furious. He despatched his troops, destroyed those murderers and burnt their town. Then he said to his servants, “The wedding is ready; but as those who were invited proved to be unworthy, go to the crossroads in the town and invite everyone you can find to the wedding.” So these servants went out on to the roads and collected together everyone they could find, bad and good alike; and the wedding hall was filled with guests. When the king came in to look at the guests he noticed one man who was not wearing a wedding garment, and said to him, “How did you get in here, my friend, without a wedding garment?” And the man was silent. Then the king said to the attendants, “Bind him hand and foot and throw him out into the dark, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.” For many are called, but few are chosen.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday -11th October 2026

 

IS 25:6-10A; PS 23:1-6; PHIL 4:12-14, 19-20; MT 22:1-14 or 22:1-10

Life has a way of pulling our attention toward immediate concerns, making it easy to lose sight of what matters most — our call to live for the Kingdom of Heaven. The stewardship way of life helps us keep our priorities in order, teaching us to live each day with eternity in view.

In our First Reading, Isaiah paints a beautiful picture of the joy awaiting those who remain faithful to God. The Lord prepares "a feast of rich food and choice wines" for His people and promises to remove every sorrow. "The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face." It is a powerful reminder that God desires everlasting joy for each of His children.

Yet our attention is often drawn elsewhere. Prayer can be crowded out by busy schedules. The sacraments can become routine or neglected. We can become so focused on today's demands that we lose sight of the eternal life God is preparing for us.

St. Paul shows us how to keep the right perspective. In today's Second Reading from Philippians, he writes, "I know how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance." Whether he experienced hardship or prosperity, Paul's confidence rested in Christ rather than in changing circumstances.

His secret is simple: "I can do all things in him who strengthens me." And he reminds us why that confidence is well placed: "My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

Jesus returns to the image of a great feast in today's Gospel. He compares the Kingdom of Heaven to a king who prepares a wedding banquet for his son. Many of those invited refuse to come. Some simply ignore the invitation, choosing their farms, businesses, and daily concerns instead.

It is a question worth asking ourselves. How often do we allow ordinary responsibilities, worthwhile though they may be, to crowd out the Lord's invitation to deeper communion with Him?

God continues to invite us every day through prayer, the sacraments, His Word, and the people He places in our lives. As Christian stewards, we respond by placing Him first and allowing every other part of life to find its proper place in Him.

When we live this way, we begin to experience the joy of His Kingdom even now while looking forward to its fullness in heaven.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 04th October 2026

 

IS 5:1-7; PS 80:9, 12-16, 19-20; PHIL 4:6-9; MT 21:33-43

We have been given so many gifts and blessings by our Heavenly Father. Yet, in our fallen state it is all too easy to take them for granted. Our readings today teach us that we must live with an intentional awareness of our many blessings and use them gratefully to glorify God.

Our First Reading, from Isaiah, foreshadows today’s Gospel passage. Both passages employ images of a landowner and his vineyard. The First Reading tells the story of a landowner who, with great love and care, creates the perfect vineyard and fills it with the choicest vines. Yet, it fails to produce good fruit. As a result, the landowner allows the vineyard to go to ruin. This is a reminder that while Our Heavenly Father is merciful and kind, He is also just. As Christian stewards, we must continuously fight the tendency towards complacency and instead use our blessings to produce good fruit.

Our Second Reading, from St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians, is a reminder of one key blessing that is surprisingly easy to take for granted — the gift of our thought life. Our intellect is a gift from God and we are called to steward it well. Lack of discipline in our thoughts can easily lead us down a path of discontentment and fear. St. Paul instructs us rather to “have no anxiety at all.” How are we to do this? He tells us, “In everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.” And as it turns out, by turning our thoughts towards God with gratitude, we will be blessed immediately. Paul continues, “Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

Paul gives specific advice for intentionally maintaining an attitude of gratitude in our thought life. “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, and if there is anything worthy of praise” these are the things we should focus on. As we develop this habit we will discover a powerful way to navigate life with peace and joy despite the troubles that surround us.

In our Gospel passage from Matthew, we return to the image of a vineyard in a parable Jesus uses to teach the importance of using our blessings well. It is the story of a landowner who plants a vineyard and leases it to tenants before he goes on a journey. Instead of tending the vineyard, the tenants mistreat the servants in the vineyard and even the son of the landowner, whom they kill. When the landowner realizes what the tenants have done, he puts them to death and leases his vineyard to tenants who “will give him the produce at the proper times.”

By Baptism, we have received the gift of salvation and membership in the Kingdom of God — we are now “tenants” called to work in the “vineyard” and produce fruit for its owner, our Heavenly Father. This calling is a gift from God to be treasured above all other gifts. Jesus makes it clear that if we squander the gift of salvation, we will lose it. It is a sobering truth.

So, let us live each day with a profound awareness of all that we have been given by God. Let us use our intellect to think on these gifts throughout the day and resolve to use all our gifts for God’s glory. We will find peace, joy, and purpose as we do.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 04th October 2026

First reading
Isaiah 5:1-7
Against the Lord’s vineyard

Let me sing to my friend
the song of his love for his vineyard.

My friend had a vineyard
on a fertile hillside.
He dug the soil, cleared it of stones
and planted choice vines in it.
In the middle he built a tower,
he dug a press there too.
He expected it to yield grapes,
but sour grapes were all that it gave.

And now, inhabitants of Jerusalem
and men of Judah,
I ask you to judge
between my vineyard and me.
What could I have done for my vineyard
that I have not done?
I expected it to yield grapes.
Why did it yield sour grapes instead?

Very well, I will tell you
what I am going to do to my vineyard:
I will take away its hedge for it to be grazed on,
and knock down its wall for it to be trampled on.
I will lay it waste, unpruned, undug;
overgrown by the briar and the thorn.
I will command the clouds
to rain no rain on it.
Yes, the vineyard of the Lord of Hosts
is the House of Israel,
and the men of Judah
that chosen plant.
He expected justice, but found bloodshed,
integrity, but only a cry of distress.

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 79(80):9,12-16,19-20

The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.

You brought a vine out of Egypt;
    to plant it you drove out the nations.
It stretched out its branches to the sea,
    to the Great River it stretched out its shoots.

The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.

Then why have you broken down its walls?
    It is plucked by all who pass by.
It is ravaged by the boar of the forest,
    devoured by the beasts of the field.

The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.

God of hosts, turn again, we implore,
    look down from heaven and see.
Visit this vine and protect it,
    the vine your right hand has planted.

The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.

And we shall never forsake you again;
    give us life that we may call upon your name.
God of hosts, bring us back;
    let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.

The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.

________

Second reading
Philippians 4:6-9
If there is anything you need, pray for it.

There is no need to worry; but if there is anything you need, pray for it, asking God for it with prayer and thanksgiving, and that peace of God, which is so much greater than we can understand, will guard your hearts and your thoughts, in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, fill your minds with everything that is true, everything that is noble, everything that is good and pure, everything that we love and honour, and everything that can be thought virtuous or worthy of praise. Keep doing all the things that you learnt from me and have been taught by me and have heard or seen that I do. Then the God of peace will be with you.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
Jn15:15

Alleluia, alleluia!

I call you friends, says the Lord,
because I have made known to you
everything I have learnt from my Father.

Alleluia!

Or:
cf.Jn15:16

Alleluia, alleluia!

I chose you from the world
to go out and bear fruit,
fruit that will last,
says the Lord.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Matthew 21:33-43
This is the landlord's heir: come, let us kill him

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people, ‘Listen to another parable. There was a man, a landowner, who planted a vineyard; he fenced it round, dug a winepress in it and built a tower; then he leased it to tenants and went abroad. When vintage time drew near he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his servants, thrashed one, killed another and stoned a third. Next he sent some more servants, this time a larger number, and they dealt with them in the same way. Finally he sent his son to them. “They will respect my son” he said. But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, “This is the heir. Come on, let us kill him and take over his inheritance.” So they seized him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?’ They answered, ‘He will bring those wretches to a wretched end and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will deliver the produce to him when the season arrives.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the scriptures:

It was the stone rejected by the builders
that became the keystone.
This was the Lord’s doing
and it is wonderful to see?

‘I tell you, then, that the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 27th September 2026

 

EZ 18:25-28; PS 25:4-5, 8-10, 14; PHIL 2:1-11 or 2:1-5; MT 21:28-32

Today’s readings challenge the modern-day disciple to imitate more fully both the actions and attitudes of Christ. This is, after all, the point of our stewardship way of life.

St. Paul encapsulates the actions and attitudes we must strive for in the Second Reading, from the Letter to the Philippians. “Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but also for those of others.” In other words, Paul continues, “Have in you the same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus.” Whether we are at work or school or within our own homes, our actions should be focused on others first in imitation of Christ, Who is always perfectly focused on others.

But there is another reason for seeing others as more important than ourselves, a reason that will help us to become better stewards. It is the recognition that the “others” in my life — whether my spouse and children, my next-door neighbor, or even the co-worker that gets on my last nerve — all these others are gifts from God, to be treasured and nurtured for God’s glory.

And just in case this seems like a bit too much to ask of us, St. Paul gives us another reminder about the Savior we are imitating as we embrace this attitude towards others. “Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave… he humbled Himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Unimaginable humility.

We should not be overwhelmed by this high bar, however. Our God is a loving and patient Father. He embraces every faltering step we take in imitation of His Son. Jesus demonstrates this comforting truth through the parable He tells in today’s Gospel from Matthew. It is the story of two sons whose father instructs them to go out and work in his vineyard that day. The second son gives the right answer, right away: “Yes, sir.” But he does not follow through. Despite the lip service, he has failed to follow his father’s will.

The first son just can’t seem to get on board with his father’s command. He responds, “I will not.” At least he is honest! And this honest, less-than-perfect response should be consoling to us, Christian stewards. Haven’t we all felt this way at times when God’s will for us seems to be just too hard? We can be honest with God at these times. He knows already, after all. But when we stay engaged in a real relationship with Him, even if it’s just to say, “I don’t think I can, Lord,” He will supply us with just the grace we need to change our minds and do what He is asking us to do.

We can even take a step backward from time to time because our Father is merciful and kind. What matters is that we keep baby-stepping along, assured of the grace we need to more closely imitate the actions and attitudes of Christ. This is the beauty of the stewardship way of life.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 27th September 2026

First reading
Ezekiel 18:25-28
When the sinner renounces sin, he shall certainly live

    The word of the Lord was addressed to me as follows: ‘You object, “What the Lord does is unjust.” Listen, you House of Israel: is what I do unjust? Is it not what you do that is unjust? When the upright man renounces his integrity to commit sin and dies because of this, he dies because of the evil that he himself has committed. When the sinner renounces sin to become law-abiding and honest, he deserves to live. He has chosen to renounce all his previous sins; he shall certainly live; he shall not die.’

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 24(25):4-9

Remember your mercy, Lord.

Lord, make me know your ways.
    Lord, teach me your paths.
Make me walk in your truth, and teach me:
    for you are God my saviour.

Remember your mercy, Lord.

Remember your mercy, Lord,
    and the love you have shown from of old.
Do not remember the sins of my youth.
    In your love remember me,
    because of your goodness, O Lord.

Remember your mercy, Lord.

The Lord is good and upright.
    He shows the path to those who stray,
He guides the humble in the right path,
    He teaches his way to the poor.

Remember your mercy, Lord.

________

Second reading
Philippians 2:1-11
Be united in your love

    If our life in Christ means anything to you, if love can persuade at all, or the Spirit that we have in common, or any tenderness and sympathy, then be united in your convictions and united in your love, with a common purpose and a common mind. That is the one thing which would make me completely happy. There must be no competition among you, no conceit; but everybody is to be self-effacing. Always consider the other person to be better than yourself, so that nobody thinks of his own interests first but everybody thinks of other people’s interests instead. In your minds you must be the same as Christ Jesus:

His state was divine,
yet he did not cling
to his equality with God
but emptied himself
to assume the condition of a slave,
and became as men are;
and being as all men are,
he was humbler yet,
even to accepting death,
death on a cross.
But God raised him high
and gave him the name
which is above all other names
so that all beings in the heavens,
on earth and in the underworld,
should bend the knee at the name of Jesus
and that every tongue should acclaim
Jesus Christ as Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
Jn14:23

Alleluia, alleluia!

If anyone loves me he will keep my word,
and my Father will love him, 
and we shall come to him.

Alleluia!

Or:
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!

________

Gospel
Matthew 21:28-32
Tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you

    Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people, ‘What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He went and said to the first, “My boy, you go and work in the vineyard today.” He answered, “I will not go,” but afterwards thought better of it and went. The man then went and said the same thing to the second who answered, “Certainly, sir,” but did not go. Which of the two did the father’s will?’ ‘The first’ they said. Jesus said to them, ‘I tell you solemnly, tax collectors and prostitutes are making their way into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you, a pattern of true righteousness, but you did not believe him, and yet the tax collectors and prostitutes did. Even after seeing that, you refused to think better of it and believe in him.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reading: Sunday -20th September 2026

First reading
Isaiah 55:6-9
My thoughts are not your thoughts

Seek the Lord while he is still to be found,
call to him while he is still near.
Let the wicked man abandon his way,
the evil man his thoughts.
Let him turn back to the Lord who will take pity on him,
to our God who is rich in forgiving;
for my thoughts are not your thoughts,
my ways not your ways – it is the Lord who speaks.
Yes, the heavens are as high above earth
as my ways are above your ways,
my thoughts above your thoughts.

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 144(145):2-3,8-9,17-18

The Lord is close to all who call him.

I will bless you day after day
    and praise your name for ever.
The Lord is great, highly to be praised,
    his greatness cannot be measured.

The Lord is close to all who call him.

The Lord is kind and full of compassion,
    slow to anger, abounding in love.
How good is the Lord to all,
    compassionate to all his creatures.

The Lord is close to all who call him.

The Lord is just in all his ways
    and loving in all his deeds.
He is close to all who call him,
    who call on him from their hearts.

The Lord is close to all who call him.

________

Second reading
Philippians 1:20-24,27
Life to me is Christ; but death would bring me more

    Christ will be glorified in my body, whether by my life or by my death. Life to me, of course, is Christ, but then death would bring me something more; but then again, if living in this body means doing work which is having good results – I do not know what I should choose. I am caught in this dilemma: I want to be gone and be with Christ, which would be very much the better, but for me to stay alive in this body is a more urgent need for your sake.

    Avoid anything in your everyday lives that would be unworthy of the gospel of Christ.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
cf.Lk19:38,2:14

Alleluia, alleluia!

Blessings on the King who comes,
in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven
and glory in the highest heavens!

Alleluia!

Or:
cf.Ac16:14

Alleluia, alleluia!

Open our heart, O Lord,
to accept the words of your Son.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Matthew 20:1-16
Why be envious because I am generous?

    Jesus said to his disciples: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner going out at daybreak to hire workers for his vineyard. He made an agreement with the workers for one denarius a day, and sent them to his vineyard. Going out at about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the market place and said to them, “You go to my vineyard too and I will give you a fair wage.” So they went. At about the sixth hour and again at about the ninth hour, he went out and did the same. Then at about the eleventh hour he went out and found more men standing round, and he said to them, “Why have you been standing here idle all day?” “Because no one has hired us” they answered. He said to them, “You go into my vineyard too.” In the evening, the owner of the vineyard said to his bailiff, “Call the workers and pay them their wages, starting with the last arrivals and ending with the first.” So those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came forward and received one denarius each. When the first came, they expected to get more, but they too received one denarius each. They took it, but grumbled at the landowner. “The men who came last” they said “have done only one hour, and you have treated them the same as us, though we have done a heavy day’s work in all the heat.” He answered one of them and said, “My friend, I am not being unjust to you; did we not agree on one denarius? Take your earnings and go. I choose to pay the last comer as much as I pay you. Have I no right to do what I like with my own? Why be envious because I am generous?” Thus the last will be first, and the first, last.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

 

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 20th September 2026

 

IS 55:6-9; PS 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18; PHIL 1:20C-24, 27A; MT 20:1-16A

Though we can never fully comprehend the perfection of God and His ways, Sacred Scripture reminds us that God's ways and priorities are often very different from our own. As Christian stewards, we are called to adopt His way of thinking rather than the world's.

Our First Reading from Isaiah begins with an urgent invitation: "Seek the Lord while he may be found, call him while he is near." Stewardship reminds us that time itself is a gift from God. The time to know, love, and serve Him is now. We cannot afford to waste the precious moments He has entrusted to us.

The world often tells us that success is measured by getting ahead, looking out for ourselves, or believing that time is money. God offers a different perspective: "My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways." As His disciples, we are called to see life from God's perspective, using our time, talents, and treasure with eternity in mind.

St. Paul models this way of thinking in today's Second Reading. He writes, "For to me life is Christ." Paul's life no longer revolves around himself. Everything is centered on Christ. The same should be true for every Christian steward.

In today's Gospel, Jesus illustrates this divine perspective through the parable of the workers in the vineyard. Some labor from early morning, while others are called only near the end of the day. Yet the landowner gives each worker the same wage. Those who worked the longest grumble because they are measuring fairness according to human standards rather than recognizing God's extraordinary generosity.

That same temptation can affect us. We may compare ourselves to others and wonder whether everyone else is contributing as much as we are at home, in our parish, or in our community. At those moments, we need to remember that it is a privilege simply to have been invited into the Lord's vineyard. The more opportunities we have to serve Him, the greater the gift.

Living the stewardship way of life, with Christ at the center of everything, fills our lives with meaning, purpose, and lasting joy. May we thank God each day for calling us to share in His work.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 13th September 2026

First reading
Ecclesiasticus 27:33-28:9
Forgive your neighbour the hurt he does you; and when you pray, your sins will be forgiven

Resentment and anger, these are foul things,
    and both are found with the sinner.
He who exacts vengeance will experience the vengeance of the Lord,
    who keeps strict account of sin.
Forgive your neighbour the hurt he does you,
    and when you pray, your sins will be forgiven.
If a man nurses anger against another,
    can he then demand compassion from the Lord?
Showing no pity for a man like himself,
    can he then plead for his own sins?
Mere creature of flesh, he cherishes resentment;
    who will forgive him his sins?
Remember the last things, and stop hating,
    remember dissolution and death, and live by the commandments.
Remember the commandments, and do not bear your neighbour ill-will;
    remember the covenant of the Most High, and overlook the offence.

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 102(103):1-4,9-12

The Lord is compassion and love, slow to anger and rich in mercy.

My soul, give thanks to the Lord
    all my being, bless his holy name.
My soul, give thanks to the Lord
    and never forget all his blessings.

The Lord is compassion and love, slow to anger and rich in mercy.

It is he who forgives all your guilt,
    who heals every one of your ills,
who redeems your life from the grave,
    who crowns you with love and compassion.

The Lord is compassion and love, slow to anger and rich in mercy.

His wrath will come to an end;
    he will not be angry for ever.
He does not treat us according to our sins
    nor repay us according to our faults.

The Lord is compassion and love, slow to anger and rich in mercy.

For as the heavens are high above the earth
    so strong is his love for those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west
    so far does he remove our sins.

The Lord is compassion and love, slow to anger and rich in mercy.

________

Second reading
Romans 14:7-9
Alive or dead, we belong to the Lord

    The life and death of each of us has its influence on others; if we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord, so that alive or dead we belong to the Lord. This explains why Christ both died and came to life: it was so that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

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:
Jn13:34

Alleluia, alleluia!

I give you a new commandment:
love one another just as I have loved you, 
says the Lord.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Matthew 18:21-35
To be forgiven, you must forgive

    Peter went up to Jesus and said, ‘Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me? As often as seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘Not seven, I tell you, but seventy-seven times.

    ‘And so the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who decided to settle his accounts with his servants. When the reckoning began, they brought him a man who owed ten thousand talents; but he had no means of paying, so his master gave orders that he should be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, to meet the debt. At this, the servant threw himself down at his master’s feet. “Give me time” he said “and I will pay the whole sum.” And the servant’s master felt so sorry for him that he let him go and cancelled the debt. Now as this servant went out, he happened to meet a fellow servant who owed him one hundred denarii; and he seized him by the throat and began to throttle him. “Pay what you owe me” he said. His fellow servant fell at his feet and implored him, saying, “Give me time and I will pay you.” But the other would not agree; on the contrary, he had him thrown into prison till he should pay the debt. His fellow servants were deeply distressed when they saw what had happened, and they went to their master and reported the whole affair to him. Then the master sent for him. “You wicked servant,” he said “I cancelled all that debt of yours when you appealed to me. Were you not bound, then, to have pity on your fellow servant just as I had pity on you?” And in his anger the master handed him over to the torturers till he should pay all his debt. And that is how my heavenly Father will deal with you unless you each forgive your brother from your heart.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 13th September 2026

 

SIR 27:30-28:7; PS 103:1-4, 9-12; ROM 14:7-9; MT 18:21-35

Christian stewardship begins with the recognition that everything we have and everything we are is a gift from God. We respond to His extraordinary generosity by offering our lives back to Him in gratitude. The stewardship of our time, talents, and treasure helps form us as disciples, but true stewardship also transforms our hearts.

Today's readings invite us to examine the state of our hearts — our thoughts, attitudes, and emotions.

In our First Reading from Sirach, we hear about the destructive power of anger: "Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight... Could anyone nourish anger against another and expect healing from the Lord?" All of us have been hurt by others at some point, some more deeply than others. While our emotions are gifts from God, we are called to steward them well rather than allowing them to control us.

How do we do that? Sirach gives us the answer: "Remember your last days, set enmity aside... Think of the commandments... remember the Most High's covenant, and overlook faults." Instead of dwelling on past hurts, we choose gratitude. We remember God's countless blessings, His unfailing mercy, and His faithful love, placing our trust in Him.

When we adopt this perspective, we discover real freedom. We remember that our lives belong to God, not to ourselves. St. Paul expresses this beautifully in today's Second Reading: "Whether we live or die, we are the Lord's." Because everything we have comes from Him, we need not cling to anger or resentment. We can entrust every hurt and every injustice to the Lord.

In today's Gospel, Jesus deepens this lesson through the parable of the unforgiving servant. A king forgives a debt so enormous it could never be repaid, yet that same servant refuses to forgive a much smaller debt owed to him.

The story should sound familiar. God has given us life, forgiven our sins through His Son, and opened the way to eternal life. Like the servant in the parable, we could never repay such a gift. The only fitting response is to offer Him our whole lives and to extend the same mercy and forgiveness He has shown to us. As Jesus teaches, we are called to "forgive your brother from your heart."

That is the freedom and joy found in the stewardship way of life.