Mass Reading: Sunday - 26th July 2026

First reading
1 Kings 3:5,7-12
Solomon chooses the gift of wisdom

    The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, ‘Ask what you would like me to give you.’ Solomon replied, ‘O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in succession to David my father. But I am a very young man, unskilled in leadership. Your servant finds himself in the midst of this people of yours that you have chosen, a people so many its number cannot be counted or reckoned. Give your servant a heart to understand how to discern between good and evil, for who could govern this people of yours that is so great?’ It pleased the Lord that Solomon should have asked for this. ‘Since you have asked for this’ the Lord said ‘and not asked for long life for yourself or riches or the lives of your enemies, but have asked for a discerning judgement for yourself, here and now I do what you ask. I give you a heart wise and shrewd as none before you has had and none will have after you.’

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 118(119):57,72,76-77,127-130

Lord, how I love your law!

My part, I have resolved, O Lord,
    is to obey your word.
The law from your mouth means more to me
    than silver and gold.

Lord, how I love your law!

Let your love be ready to console me
    by your promise to your servant.
Let your love come and I shall live
    for your law is my delight.

Lord, how I love your law!

That is why I love your commands
    more than finest gold,
why I rule my life by your precepts,
    and hate false ways.

Lord, how I love your law!

Your will is wonderful indeed;
    therefore I obey it.
The unfolding of your word gives light
    and teaches the simple.

Lord, how I love your law!

________

Second reading
Romans 8:28-30
Those he called, he justified

    We know that by turning everything to their good, God co-operates with all those who love him, with all those he has called according to his purpose. They are the ones he chose specially long ago and intended to become true images of his Son, so that his Son might be the eldest of many brothers. He called those he intended for this; those he called he justified, and with those he justified he shared his glory.

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:
Mt11:25

Alleluia, alleluia!

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

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Matthew 13:44-52
He sells everything he owns and buys the field

    Jesus said to the crowds, ‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which someone has found; he hides it again, goes off happy, sells everything he owns and buys the field.

    ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls; when he finds one of great value he goes and sells everything he owns and buys it.

    ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea that brings in a haul of all kinds. When it is full, the fishermen haul it ashore; then, sitting down, they collect the good ones in a basket and throw away those that are no use. This is how it will be at the end of time: the angels will appear and separate the wicked from the just to throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.

    ‘Have you understood all this?’ They said, ‘Yes.’ And he said to them, ‘Well then, every scribe who becomes a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out from his storeroom things both new and old.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

 

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 26th July 2026

 

1 KGS 3:5, 7-12; PS 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-130; ROM 8:28-30; MT 13:44-52 OR 13:44-46


The stewardship way of life could be described as a daily pursuit of the Kingdom of Heaven. Today’s readings remind us of the importance of recognizing that Kingdom in our midst and ordering our lives around what truly matters.

In our first reading from the First Book of Kings, God appears to Solomon in a dream and invites him to ask for whatever he desires. Rather than requesting riches, power, or long life, Solomon asks for “an understanding heart” to distinguish right from wrong. In other words, he asks for wisdom — the ability to recognize what is true and valuable and to live accordingly.

It is no surprise that God is pleased with Solomon’s request. In fact, Solomon becomes known throughout history for his wisdom. The same gift is available to us if we ask for it sincerely. We need wisdom to live the stewardship way of life because stewardship requires us to make choices every day about how we will use the gifts God has entrusted to us.

When our priorities are aligned with God’s will rather than the values of the world, we can live with confidence and peace. As St. Paul reminds us in today’s second reading, “all things work for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose.” This promise applies not only to life’s major decisions, but also to the countless daily choices we make as disciples striving to serve the Lord and advance His Kingdom.

In today’s Gospel, we arrive at the conclusion of three weeks of Jesus’ teaching on the Kingdom of Heaven. Through a series of brief but powerful parables, He reveals the extraordinary value of that Kingdom.

First, Jesus compares it to a treasure hidden in a field. The man who discovers it joyfully sells everything he has in order to obtain it. Next, He describes a merchant who finds a pearl of great price and willingly gives up all he possesses to make it his own.

These images remind us that life in Christ is worth any sacrifice. The Kingdom is not merely one priority among many. It is the greatest treasure we can possess.

Notice, too, that in both stories the treasure is initially hidden. We must actively seek it. We need the wisdom of Solomon to recognize the presence of God’s Kingdom amid the noise, distractions, and competing priorities of daily life.

Jesus then compares the Kingdom to a net cast into the sea that gathers fish of every kind. The invitation to the Kingdom is universal. God desires all people to share in His life and His love.

Yet the Lord concludes with a sobering reminder that each person will ultimately be judged. The angels “will separate the wicked from the righteous.” Jesus wants us to understand that our response to His invitation matters.

Let us pray for the wisdom to recognize the Kingdom of Heaven in our midst and to pursue it with all our hearts. There is no greater treasure, no greater source of joy, and no greater purpose than living as faithful stewards and disciples of Jesus Christ.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 19th July 2026

First reading
Wisdom 12:13,16-19
You will grant repentance after sin

There is no god, other than you, who cares for every thing,
to whom you might have to prove that you never judged unjustly.
Your justice has its source in strength,
your sovereignty over all makes you lenient to all.
You show your strength when your sovereign power is questioned
and you expose the insolence of those who know it;
but, disposing of such strength, you are mild in judgement,
you govern us with great lenience,
for you have only to will, and your power is there.
By acting thus you have taught a lesson to your people
how the virtuous man must be kindly to his fellow men,
and you have given your sons the good hope
that after sin you will grant repentance.

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 85(86):5-6,9-10,15-16

O Lord, you are good and forgiving.

O Lord, you are good and forgiving,
    full of love to all who call.
Give heed, O Lord, to my prayer
    and attend to the sound of my voice.

O Lord, you are good and forgiving.

All the nations shall come to adore you
    and glorify your name, O Lord:
for you are great and do marvellous deeds,
    you who alone are God.

O Lord, you are good and forgiving.

But you, God of mercy and compassion,
    slow to anger, O Lord,
abounding in love and truth,
    turn and take pity on me.

O Lord, you are good and forgiving.

________

Second reading
Romans 8:26-27
The Spirit himself expresses our plea in a way that could never be put into words

    The Spirit comes to help us in our weakness. For when we cannot choose words in order to pray properly, the Spirit himself expresses our plea in a way that could never be put into words, and God who knows everything in our hearts knows perfectly well what he means, and that the pleas of the saints expressed by the Spirit are according to the mind of God.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
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!

Or:
Mt11:25

Alleluia, alleluia!

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

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Matthew 13:24-43
Let them both grow till the harvest

    Jesus put another parable before the crowds: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everybody was asleep his enemy came, sowed darnel all among the wheat, and made off. When the new wheat sprouted and ripened, the darnel appeared as well. The owner’s servants went to him and said, “Sir, was it not good seed that you sowed in your field? If so, where does the darnel come from?” “Some enemy has done this” he answered. And the servants said, “Do you want us to go and weed it out?” But he said, “No, because when you weed out the darnel you might pull up the wheat with it. Let them both grow till the harvest; and at harvest time I shall say to the reapers: First collect the darnel and tie it in bundles to be burnt, then gather the wheat into my barn.”’

    He put another parable before them: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the biggest shrub of all and becomes a tree so that the birds of the air come and shelter in its branches.’

    He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like the yeast a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour till it was leavened all through.’

    In all this Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables; indeed, he would never speak to them except in parables. This was to fulfil the prophecy:

I will speak to you in parables
and expound things hidden since the foundation of the world.

    Then, leaving the crowds, he went to the house; and his disciples came to him and said, ‘Explain the parable about the darnel in the field to us.’ He said in reply, ‘The sower of the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world; the good seed is the subjects of the kingdom; the darnel, the subjects of the evil one; the enemy who sowed them, the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; the reapers are the angels. Well then, just as the darnel is gathered up and burnt in the fire, so it will be at the end of time. The Son of Man will send his angels and they will gather out of his kingdom all things that provoke offences and all who do evil, and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. Then the virtuous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Listen, anyone who has ears!’

The Gospel of the Lord.

 

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 19th July 2026

 

WIS 12:13, 16-19; PS 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16; ROM 8:26-27; MT 13:24-43 OR 13:24-30

Today’s readings offer both encouragement and challenge for the Christian steward. They remind us of God’s justice and mercy, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the often hidden yet powerful growth of God’s Kingdom.

Our first reading from the Book of Wisdom reminds us that God is both all-powerful and infinitely merciful. “Though you are master of might, you judge with clemency.” God’s justice is perfect because it is always joined to His love. As Christian stewards, this is an important reminder. A day will come when each of us will give an account of how we used the gifts God entrusted to us — our time, our talent, and our treasure. We will answer for the role we played in building up His Kingdom and serving His people.

At the same time, we can take comfort in knowing that God judges with mercy. He desires our salvation and continually offers us opportunities to grow closer to Him and to become more faithful disciples.

In our second reading, St. Paul reminds us that we are not left to accomplish this mission on our own. “The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness.” How reassuring those words are. The Holy Spirit dwells within us, guiding us, strengthening us, and interceding for us even when we do not know how to pray as we ought.

Christian stewardship is not merely a human effort. It is a response to God’s grace. The Holy Spirit reveals the unique mission God has entrusted to each of us and provides the wisdom and strength necessary to carry it out. The more we rely on Him, the more fruitful our lives become.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus uses several parables to describe the Kingdom of Heaven. First, He compares it to a field where both wheat and weeds grow together until the harvest. Only then are they separated. It is a sobering reminder that our choices matter and that God, in His justice, will ultimately judge all things.

Yet the Gospel is also filled with hope. Jesus compares the Kingdom to a mustard seed, the smallest of seeds, which grows into a large plant. He compares it to yeast that quietly works its way through the dough until the whole batch is transformed.

These images are especially encouraging for Christian stewards. So often, our efforts can seem small compared to the immense needs around us. The prayers we offer, the ministries we serve in, the sacrifices we make, and the gifts we share may appear insignificant in the moment.

But Jesus assures us that God is at work in ways we cannot always see. He takes our small offerings and uses them to accomplish far more than we could imagine. What seems small in our eyes can bear tremendous fruit in His hands.

God sees every act of generosity, every sacrifice made in love, and every effort to serve Him faithfully. Nothing offered to Him is ever wasted.

In gratitude for all He has given us, let us remain faithful to the mission entrusted to our care. Trusting in the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the power of God at work within us, let us continue building His Kingdom one faithful act of stewardship at a time.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 12th July 2026

First reading
Isaiah 55:10-11
The word that goes out from my mouth does not return to me empty

    Thus says the Lord: ‘As the rain and the snow come down from the heavens and do not return without watering the earth, making it yield and giving growth to provide seed for the sower and bread for the eating, so the word that goes from my mouth does not return to me empty, without carrying out my will and succeeding in what it was sent to do.’

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 64(65):10-14

Some seed fell into rich soil and produced its crop.

You care for the earth, give it water,
    you fill it with riches.
Your river in heaven brims over
    to provide its grain.

Some seed fell into rich soil and produced its crop.

And thus you provide for the earth;
    you drench its furrows;
you level it, soften it with showers;
    you bless its growth.

Some seed fell into rich soil and produced its crop.

You crown the year with your goodness.
    Abundance flows in your steps,
    in the pastures of the wilderness it flows.

Some seed fell into rich soil and produced its crop.

The hills are girded with joy,
    the meadows covered with flocks,
the valleys are decked with wheat.
    They shout for joy, yes, they sing.

Some seed fell into rich soil and produced its crop.

________

Second reading
Romans 8:18-23
The whole creation is eagerly waiting for God to reveal his sons

    I think that what we suffer in this life can never be compared to the glory, as yet unrevealed, which is waiting for us. The whole creation is eagerly waiting for God to reveal his sons. It was not for any fault on the part of creation that it was made unable to attain its purpose, it was made so by God; but creation still retains the hope of being freed, like us, from its slavery to decadence, to enjoy the same freedom and glory as the children of God. From the beginning till now the entire creation, as we know, has been groaning in one great act of giving birth; and not only creation, but all of us who possess the first-fruits of the Spirit, we too groan inwardly as we wait for our bodies to be set free.

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:

Alleluia, alleluia!

The seed is the word of God, Christ the sower;
whoever finds this seed will remain for ever.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Matthew 13:1-23
A sower went out to sow

    Jesus left the house and sat by the lakeside, but such large crowds gathered round him that he got into a boat and sat there. The people all stood on the beach, and he told them many things in parables.

    He said, ‘Imagine a sower going out to sow. As he sowed, some seeds fell on the edge of the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on patches of rock where they found little soil and sprang up straight away, because there was no depth of earth; but as soon as the sun came up they were scorched and, not having any roots, they withered away. Others fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Others fell on rich soil and produced their crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Listen, anyone who has ears!’

    Then the disciples went up to him and asked, ‘Why do you talk to them in parables?’ ‘Because’ he replied, ‘the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven are revealed to you, but they are not revealed to them. For anyone who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough; but from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. The reason I talk to them in parables is that they look without seeing and listen without hearing or understanding. So in their case this prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled:

You will listen and listen again, but not understand,

see and see again, but not perceive.

For the heart of this nation has grown coarse,

their ears are dull of hearing, and they have shut their eyes,

for fear they should see with their eyes,

hear with their ears,

understand with their heart,

and be converted

and be healed by me.

    ‘But happy are your eyes because they see, your ears because they hear! I tell you solemnly, many prophets and holy men longed to see what you see, and never saw it; to hear what you hear, and never heard it.

    ‘You, therefore, are to hear the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom without understanding, the evil one comes and carries off what was sown in his heart: this is the man who received the seed on the edge of the path. The one who received it on patches of rock is the man who hears the word and welcomes it at once with joy. But he has no root in him, he does not last; let some trial come, or some persecution on account of the word, and he falls away at once. The one who received the seed in thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this world and the lure of riches choke the word and so he produces nothing. And the one who received the seed in rich soil is the man who hears the word and understands it; he is the one who yields a harvest and produces now a hundredfold, now sixty, now thirty.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

 

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 12th July 2026

 

IS 55:10-11; PS 65:10-14; ROM 8:18-23; MT 13:1-23 OR 13:1-9

Today’s readings are filled with images that illuminate the stewardship way of life, demonstrating the gradual yet powerful effect this lifestyle has on those who fully embrace it.

In our first reading from Isaiah, the Lord speaks of the gentle but unstoppable power of His Word, comparing it to the rain and snow that water the earth, “making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats.” God reminds us that His Word never returns to Him empty. It always accomplishes His purpose. It gives life, nourishes the soul, and sustains us on our journey of discipleship.

Christian stewards understand the importance of drawing daily nourishment from God’s Word. When we commit ourselves to prayerfully reading and reflecting on Scripture, we can be confident that God is at work within us, slowly transforming our hearts and shaping us into the people He calls us to be.

The image of fertile and fruitful growth in Isaiah prepares us for the well-known Gospel parable that follows. In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus describes a sower scattering seed on different kinds of soil.

Some seed falls on the path and is quickly carried away by birds before it can take root. Some fall on rocky ground where they sprout quickly but cannot survive because their roots are shallow. Other seed falls among thorns that choke the young plants before they can mature.

Finally, some seed falls on rich soil and produces an abundant harvest.

Jesus explains that the seed is the Word of God and that the various soils represent the different ways people receive it. The sower scatters generously, offering the seed to everyone. Yet only a portion of it finds the kind of soil where it can flourish and bear fruit. This is where the stewardship way of life comes in. When we generously offer our time, talent, and treasure in service to God and others, we help cultivate the “good soil” necessary for God’s Word to take root and thrive within us.

Stewardship helps remove the “rocks” of mistrust as we grow in confidence that God will provide for our needs. It clears away the “thorns” of worldly ambition, self-centeredness, and anxiety that can distract us from what matters most. Through prayer, the sacraments, and generous service, the soil of our lives is continually nourished and enriched.

As St. Paul reminds us in today’s second reading, all creation longs for the fullness of what God intends. We, too, await that fulfillment as we strive to live as faithful disciples. The stewardship way of life prepares us for that day by helping us grow steadily in holiness and fruitfulness.

Let us deepen our commitment to this way of life, allowing the Divine Sower to do His work within us. If we remain open to His grace, the Master Gardener will surely produce an abundant harvest through our lives.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 05th July 2026

 

ZEC 9:9-10; PS 145:1-2, 8-11, 13-14; ROM 8:9, 11-13; MT 11:25-30

The theme of humility is central to our readings today. God Himself is a humble God, so if we wish to follow Him as Christian stewards, we too, must be humble. In fact, humility is key to the stewardship way of life, and to a peaceful and fulfilling life.

Our first reading from Zechariah foretells the unexpected way in which the Lord, the Savior of the world, will arrive. “See, your king shall come to you; a just savior is he, meek and riding on an ass… and he shall proclaim peace to the nations.” It is almost unfathomable that our almighty, all-powerful God would humble Himself to live among us as one of our own, let alone to contemplate the unassuming way in which He arrived — born as a helpless baby, growing up under the care of human parents and finally making his entrance as savior on a lowly colt. Christ has given us a clear and compelling model of humility. We dare not pursue any other path for ourselves if we wish to follow Him.

But this kind of humility goes against our natural, worldly bent which says we must insist on hav-ing our own way, assert our rights at all costs, and put ourselves first so as to get ahead. How can we live the radical way Christ is calling us to live?

As St. Paul tells us in the letter to the Romans, our second reading today, “Brothers and sisters: You are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit.” Because of the gifts of our Baptism and Confirmation, we have a “superpower” right within us — the Holy Spirit — Who gives us every spiritual gift and all the strength we need to follow Christ. We must awaken to the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, leaning into Him to increase virtue in us, especially this key virtue of humility. Paul reminds us that this is for our own good after all — “For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”

In our Gospel passage from Matthew, Jesus Himself speaks to the Father of the privileged role that humble souls play in God’s plan of salvation. “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to little ones.”

What does it mean to be a “little one”? It means that we acknowledge we don’t have it all figured out, but that we are very much in need of a savior. It means we recognize that all we are and all we have been given is a gift from God. It means we embrace the stewardship way of life.

It is not easy, but deep peace and consolation come with this way of life. Jesus offers these warm and encouraging words to entice us to embrace it. “Come to me all you who labor and are bur-dened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

Let us resolve to follow in the footsteps of our Savior, embracing the humble path of stewardship. It is the path that leads to peace here and now, and ultimately leads us to heaven.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 05th July 2026

First reading
Zechariah 9:9-10
See now, your king comes humbly to you

The Lord says this:

Rejoice heart and soul, daughter of Zion!
Shout with gladness, daughter of Jerusalem!
See now, your king comes to you;
he is victorious, he is triumphant,
humble and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
He will banish chariots from Ephraim
and horses from Jerusalem;
the bow of war will be banished.
He will proclaim peace for the nations.
His empire shall stretch from sea to sea,
from the River to the ends of the earth.

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 144(145):1-2,8-11,13b-14

I will bless your name for ever, O God my King.

I will give you glory, O God my king,
    I will bless your name for ever.
I will bless you day after day
    and praise your name for ever.

I will bless your name for ever, O God my King. 

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.

I will bless your name for ever, O God my King. 

All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord,
    and your friends shall repeat their blessing.
They shall speak of the glory of your reign
    and declare your might, O God.

I will bless your name for ever, O God my King. 

The Lord is faithful in all his words
    and loving in all his deeds.
The Lord supports all who fall
    and raises all who are bowed down.

I will bless your name for ever, O God my King.

 

________

Second reading
Romans 8:9,11-13
If by the Spirit you put an end to the misdeeds of the body, you will live

    Your interests are not in the unspiritual, but in the spiritual, since the Spirit of God has made his home in you. In fact, unless you possessed the Spirit of Christ you would not belong to him, and if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, then he who raised Jesus from the dead will give life to your own mortal bodies through his Spirit living in you.

    So then, my brothers, there is no necessity for us to obey our unspiritual selves or to live unspiritual lives. If you do live in that way, you are doomed to die; but if by the Spirit you put an end to the misdeeds of the body you will live.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
Mt11:25

Alleluia, alleluia!

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

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Matthew 11:25-30
You have hidden these things from the wise and revealed them to little children

    Jesus exclaimed, ‘I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children. Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased you to do. Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, just as no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

    ‘Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 28th June 2026

 

2 KGS 4:8-11, 14-16A; PS 89:2-3, 16-19; ROM 6:3-4, 8-11; MT 10:37-42

Today’s readings take us back to some basics of stewardship living. The First Reading shows us the necessity and power of hospitality. The Second Reading reminds us what it is that makes us disciples and Christian stewards in the first place (hint: it’s our Baptism). Finally, in today’s Gospel, Christ teaches us how to live daily life as His stewards.

Our First Reading, from 2 Kings, tells the story of a woman who showed loving hospitality to a visitor, inviting him to dinner with her family and arranging a room for him in their home so that he would have a comfortable place to stay during his travels through her town. She reached out to the man in a simple and practical manner to make him feel welcome. That is the essence of Christian hospitality. As it turns out, this man was none other than the prophet Elisha. He rewarded her kindness by interceding with God to obtain for her the miracle of a baby boy after long years of infertility.

In our Second Reading, from the Letter to the Romans, St. Paul reminds us of the power of our Baptism and how it is that this sacrament makes us disciples and therefore stewards. He says that through Baptism “into Christ Jesus” we were both buried with Christ and now are alive in Christ. We are literally new creations, marked for all eternity as one of His own. What does that mean for us here and now? St. Paul tells us very clearly: “You too must think of yourselves as dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus.” We must live for Christ! Nothing less will do.

Our Lord Himself proclaims this same instruction in a rather shocking way in our Gospel passage from Matthew: “Whoever loves father or mother… son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” And, “Whoever finds his life [by living for oneself] will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” How can an all-loving Lord say such things? Precisely because He is the source of all love — He is love incarnate. We can only love others, and even ourselves truly, if we allow ourselves to be emptied of self-love and filled with God’s love.

This is why our Lord tells us we must “lose our lives.” Putting ourselves or others — even those dearest to us — above God simply cannot give us the ultimate fulfillment and peace of soul that we all want. Only God can do that. Only loving God first and living for Christ — “losing our life” — can do that.

But how do we know if we love God more than “father or mother or son or daughter”? Jesus tells us in the next verses. And the fascinating genius of it all is that it is precisely through loving actions towards others, loving them as if they were Christ, that we demonstrate our love for Christ! “Whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because the little one is a disciple… he will surely not lose his reward.”

So, we have come full circle to the importance of hospitality, and to putting God first in our lives because we have become disciples of Christ through our Baptism. We put God first by serving others as if we were serving Christ Himself, thus losing a self-centered life and finding our true fulfillment.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 28th June 2026

First reading
2 Kings 4:8-11,13-16
This is a holy man of God; let him rest here

    One day as Elisha was on his way to Shunem, a woman of rank who lived there pressed him to stay and eat there. After this he always broke his journey for a meal when he passed that way. She said to her husband, ‘Look, I am sure the man who is constantly passing our way must be a holy man of God. Let us build him a small room on the roof, and put him a bed in it, and a table and chair and lamp; whenever he comes to us he can rest there.’ One day when he came, he retired to the upper room and lay down. He said to his servant Gehazi, ‘Call our Shunammitess. Tell her this: “Look, you have gone to all this trouble for us, what can we do for you? Is there anything you would like said for you to the king or to the commander of the army?”’ But she replied, ‘I live with my own people about me.’ ‘What can be done for her then?’ he asked. Gehazi answered, ‘Well, she has no son and her husband is old.’ Elisha said, ‘Call her.’ The servant called her and she stood at the door. This time next year,’ he said ‘you will hold a son in your arms.’

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 88(89):2-3,16-19

I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.

I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord;
    through all ages my mouth will proclaim your truth.
Of this I am sure, that your love lasts for ever,
    that your truth is firmly established as the heavens.

I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.

Happy the people who acclaim such a king,
    who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face,
who find their joy every day in your name,
    who make your justice the source of their bliss.

I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.

For it is you, O Lord, who are the glory of their strength;
    by your favour it is that our might is exalted;
for our ruler is in the keeping of the Lord;
    our king in the keeping of the Holy One of Israel.

I will sing for ever of your love, O Lord.

________

Second reading
Romans 6:3-4,8-11
When we were baptised we went into the tomb with Christ, so that we too might live a new life

    When we were baptised in Christ Jesus we were baptised in his death; in other words, when we were baptised we went into the tomb with him and joined him in death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the Father’s glory, we too might live a new life.

    But we believe that having died with Christ we shall return to life with him: Christ, as we know, having been raised from the dead will never die again. Death has no power over him any more. When he died, he died, once for all, to sin, so his life now is life with God; and in that way, you too must consider yourselves to be dead to sin but alive for God in Christ Jesus.

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:
1P2:9

Alleluia, alleluia!

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

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Matthew 10:37-42
Anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it

    Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘Anyone who prefers father or mother to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who prefers son or daughter to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who does not take his cross and follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it; anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it.

    ‘Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me; and those who welcome me welcome the one who sent me.

    ‘Anyone who welcomes a prophet will have a prophet’s reward; and anyone who welcomes a holy man will have a holy man’s reward.

    ‘If anyone gives so much as a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

 

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 21st June 2026

 

JER 20:10-13; PS 69:8-10, 14, 17, 33-35; ROM 5:12-15; MT 10:26-33


Today’s readings call us to tackle the challenging issues of fear and trust — two concepts on opposite sides of the same coin. They must be confronted and dealt with by all of us who wish to live the stewardship way of life.

In our first reading, from Jeremiah, the prophet expresses sentiments we have all felt at some point in our lives, when he says, “I hear the whispering of many: 'Terror on every side!'” Perhaps this “whispering” comes from the culture that insists we must think of ourselves, our own interests, our financial comfort first — only when we are certain that our own needs are met can we think of serving God and sharing with others.

Perhaps when we consider stepping out of our comfort zones, the fear-inducing whispers come from within us — “you’re too weak, too selfish, too broken to really live as Christ’s disciple.”

Yet, just when Jeremiah is nearly overcome with fear, he remembers the truth, and it is just as true for us today. “The Lord is with me, like a mighty champion.” Of course!

St. Paul reminds us in our second reading, from the letter to the Romans, just how amazing this Mighty Champion is. “For if by the transgression of the one the many died, how much more did the grace of God and the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ overflow for the many.” In other words, the safest and sanest move we can make is to put all our trust in the Lord who is so good to us, this God who cannot be outdone in generosity.

Even so, the Lord knows that facing down our fears and choosing to trust Him with all areas of our lives is an ongoing challenge for us. He is generous with reassurances to us throughout the Scriptures. Today’s Gospel passage from Matthew is a case in point. In the span of eight verses, Jesus addresses the topic of fear four times.

— “Fear no one.”
— “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.”
— “Rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body.”
— “So do not be afraid.”

And the reassurance continues. “Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father’s knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted.” Notice that Jesus says, “your Father” in describing God’s intimate knowledge and tender care for each one of us. He is truly “Abba,” our Dad, Who knows us inside and out. In fact, this intimate knowledge and tender care are precisely why He reassures us over and over again not to fear, but to trust in Him.

With that, let us all breathe a huge sigh of relief. All is well. Our Father knows us through and through, sent His Son to save us, and will always take care of us.

Let’s stop wasting any more time with fear. Instead, let’s put all our energy, all our time, our talents and our treasure into trusting this great God, and using all that we are and all that He has given us to bring Him glory.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 21st June 2026

First reading
Jeremiah 20:10-13
He has delivered the soul of the needy from the hands of evil men

Jeremiah said:

I hear so many disparaging me,
‘“Terror from every side!”
Denounce him! Let us denounce him!’
All those who used to be my friends
watched for my downfall,
‘Perhaps he will be seduced into error.
Then we will master him
and take our revenge!’
But the Lord is at my side, a mighty hero;
my opponents will stumble, mastered,
confounded by their failure;
everlasting, unforgettable disgrace will be theirs.
But you, O Lord of Hosts, you who probe with justice,
who scrutinise the loins and heart,
let me see the vengeance you will take on them,
for I have committed my cause to you.
Sing to the Lord,
praise the Lord,
for he has delivered the soul of the needy
from the hands of evil men.

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 68(69):8-10,14,17,33-35

In your great love, answer me, O Lord.

It is for you that I suffer taunts,
    that shame covers my face,
that I have become a stranger to my brothers,
    an alien to my own mother’s sons.
I burn with zeal for your house
    and taunts against you fall on me.

In your great love, answer me, O Lord.

This is my prayer to you,
    my prayer for your favour.
In your great love, answer me, O God,
    with your help that never fails:
Lord, answer, for your love is kind;
    in your compassion, turn towards me.

In your great love, answer me, O Lord.

The poor when they see it will be glad
    and God-seeking hearts will revive;
for the Lord listens to the needy
    and does not spurn his servants in their chains.
Let the heavens and the earth give him praise,
    the sea and all its living creatures.

In your great love, answer me, O Lord.

________

Second reading
Romans 5:12-15
The gift considerably outweighed the fall

    Sin entered the world through one man, and through sin death, and thus death has spread through the whole human race because everyone has sinned. Sin existed in the world long before the Law was given. There was no law and so no one could be accused of the sin of ‘law-breaking’, yet death reigned over all from Adam to Moses, even though their sin, unlike that of Adam, was not a matter of breaking a law.

    Adam prefigured the One to come, but the gift itself considerably outweighed the fall. If it is certain that through one man’s fall so many died, it is even more certain that divine grace, coming through the one man, Jesus Christ, came to so many as an abundant free gift.

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:
Jn15:26,27

Alleluia, alleluia!

The Spirit of truth will be my witness;
and you too will be my witnesses.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Matthew 10:26-33
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body

    Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘Do not be afraid. For everything that is now covered will be uncovered, and everything now hidden will be made clear. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the daylight; what you hear in whispers, proclaim from the housetops.

    ‘Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; fear him rather who can destroy both body and soul in hell. Can you not buy two sparrows for a penny? And yet not one falls to the ground without your Father knowing. Why, every hair on your head has been counted. So there is no need to be afraid; you are worth more than hundreds of sparrows.

    ‘So if anyone declares himself for me in the presence of men, I will declare myself for him in the presence of my Father in heaven. But the one who disowns me in the presence of men, I will disown in the presence of my Father in heaven.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

 

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.