Mass Reflection: Sunday - 25th January 2026

 

IS 8:23-9:3; PS 27:1,4, 13-14; 1 COR 1:10-13, 17; MT 4:12-23 or 4:12-17

Today’s readings remind us that stewardship is not just a thing we do — rather, stewardship is at the core of who we are as disciples of Christ.

Our first reading, from Isaiah, contains this prophecy of Christ and what His saving message would mean to all who embrace it. “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.” We are among those blessed people on whom the light of Christ has shone. By virtue of our Baptism, we, who were once in the darkness and gloom of original sin, have been born again into the great light that is God’s grace in us. We have become cherished members of God’s family.

What a privilege!

Yet, with this privilege comes the responsibility to actually live for God and to bring His Good News to all those we meet at work, at school, in our community and right in our own home.

In our second reading, from the First Letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul urges us to keep the responsibility of sharing the Gospel our foremost priority. In this passage he addresses the divisions and rivalries that have cropped up in the Christian community in Corinth. He urges the Christians there to “be united in the same mind and the same purpose,” reminding them that it was Christ and only Christ Who was crucified for us. We owe everything to Him. Our lives our therefore not about us, our egos, our personal ambitions and loyalties. Those things cannot satisfy us, anyway. Our loyalty must be to Christ above all else and our priority must be to bring His light to everyone He puts in our path.

And there is a certain urgency that comes with the call to a stewardship way of life. We see this in our Gospel passage from Matthew, where we find Jesus on the move. He has left Nazareth and goes to live in Capernaum, fulfilling what was said of Him through the prophet Isaiah, as we recall from today’s first reading. “The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death, light has arisen. From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'" In other words, turn away from selfishness, turn towards God and live as His disciple now — don’t wait!

Later in this same passage, the very first disciples give us examples of a good steward’s prompt “yes” when the Lord called to them. Our Lord sees Simon and his brother, Andrew, living an ordinary day as fishermen when He said to them, “Come after me and I will make you fishers of men.” The two did not hesitate. They didn’t think about themselves or how this might disrupt their business. Rather, "at once they left their nets and followed him.” Then, Jesus called two more brothers, James and John. They, too, were living an ordinary day as fishermen, working alongside their father mending nets in their boat. Jesus called them and “immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.” They did not worry about their personal lives and how their father might react. They put our Lord and His will first and responded without hesitation.

This is the essence of a stewardship way of life — to be always ready for the ways that our Lord is calling us to bring His light to others. It’s more than something we do — it’s who we are.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 25th January 2026

First reading
Isaiah 8:23-9:3
In Galilee of the nations the people has seen a great light

In days past the Lord humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in days to come he will confer glory on the Way of the Sea on the far side of Jordan, province of the nations.

The people that walked in darkness
has seen a great light;
on those who live in a land of deep shadow
a light has shone.
You have made their gladness greater,
you have made their joy increase;
they rejoice in your presence
as men rejoice at harvest time,
as men are happy when they are dividing the spoils.

For the yoke that was weighing on him,
the bar across his shoulders,
the rod of his oppressor –
these you break as on the day of Midian.

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 26(27):1,4,13-14

The Lord is my light and my help.

The Lord is my light and my help;
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
    before whom shall I shrink?

The Lord is my light and my help.

There is one thing I ask of the Lord,
    for this I long,
to live in the house of the Lord,
    all the days of my life,
to savour the sweetness of the Lord,
    to behold his temple.

The Lord is my light and my help.

I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness
    in the land of the living.
Hope in him, hold firm and take heart.
    Hope in the Lord!

The Lord is my light and my help.

________

Second reading
1 Corinthians 1:10-13,17
Make up the differences between you instead of disagreeing among yourselves

I appeal to you, brothers, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, to make up the differences between you, and instead of disagreeing among yourselves, to be united again in your belief and practice. From what Chloe’s people have been telling me, my dear brothers, it is clear that there are serious differences among you. What I mean are all these slogans that you have, like: ‘I am for Paul’, ‘I am for Apollos’, ‘I am for Cephas’, ‘I am for Christ.’ Has Christ been parcelled out?  Was it Paul that was crucified for you?  Were you baptised in the name of Paul?

    For Christ did not send me to baptise, but to preach the Good News, and not to preach that in the terms of philosophy in which the crucifixion of Christ cannot be expressed.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
cf.Mt4:23

Alleluia, alleluia!

Jesus proclaimed the Good News of the kingdom
and cured all kinds of sickness among the people.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Matthew 4:12-23
He went and settled in Capernaum: in this way the prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled

Hearing that John had been arrested, Jesus went back to Galilee, and leaving Nazareth he went and settled in Capernaum, a lakeside town on the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali. In this way the prophecy of Isaiah was to be fulfilled:

‘Land of Zebulun! Land of Naphtali!
Way of the sea on the far side of Jordan,
Galilee of the nations!
The people that lived in darkness has seen a great light;
on those who dwell in the land and shadow of death
a light has dawned.’

From that moment Jesus began his preaching with the message, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.’

    As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee he saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew; they were making a cast in the lake with their net, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.’ And they left their nets at once and followed him. Going on from there he saw another pair of brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John; they were in their boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. At once, leaving the boat and their father, they followed him.

    He went round the whole of Galilee teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom and curing all kinds of diseases and sickness among the people.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 18th January 2026

 

IS 49:3, 5-6; PS 40:2, 4, 7-10;1 COR 1:1-3; JN 1:29-34

Today’s readings provide clear and inspiring reminders of the most fundamental aspect of our identity — that of servants of our most high and holy God, His modern-day disciples and stewards.

In the first reading, from Isaiah, we hear the voice of the “Suffering Servant” — prophetic words of Jesus Christ. “Now the Lord has spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb.” How beautiful! Even from the first moment of his conception in the womb of our Blessed Mother, Jesus’ saving mission had begun. This is true for each one of us. The Father has called each of us from the moment of our conception for a unique mission to further His kingdom on the earth. Each one of us can truly say the Father has “formed me as his servant from the womb.”

To be his servant is all that truly matters in this life, for ourselves, and for our children. Career paths, athletic accomplishments, the school we attend or the city in which we live — all are secondary to the thing that matters most — that we have been called from the womb for the privilege of being God’s servants. Do our daily lives reflect this high calling? Do we use the gifts of our time, talents and treasure in service of God’s kingdom, and do we guide our children to do the same, for that is why God has entrusted these things to us?

Our second reading, from St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, gives us another reminder of our true identity as God’s servants and the high calling we have as Christian stewards. St. Paul greets the Corinthians, and us as well, with this description: “To you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy…” We are called to nothing less than holiness. After all, only the holy can enter heaven.

John the Baptist recognized the holiness of Jesus and the response due to Him when he encountered Christ in person on the day they met at the Jordan River. His response, which we read in our Gospel passage from St. John was, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world… He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’”

What a powerful description of our Lord and the place He should rightfully have in each of our lives. He is truly our Savior, the only one who can free us from our sinfulness. We are utterly and completely dependent on His power, love and mercy. Therefore, He truly does “rank ahead” of us; he deserves to be first, above all other priorities and plans in our lives. Again, let us examine our daily lives, and encourage our children to do the same.

Does the way I spend my time reflect that God comes first? Do prayer and weekly Mass, regular confession and time with my family “rank ahead” of everything else on my calendar? Do I use my talents, skills and energy to serve my family, parish and community in thanksgiving and recognition that God’s kingdom ranks ahead of any other goals or ambitions? Do I spend my money and use my material possessions so as to glorify God?

Challenge questions, to be sure. But questions worthy of our high calling as Christian stewards offered a glorious mission in service of our Lord and His kingdom. What will our response be?

Mass Reading: Sunday - 18th January 2026

First reading
Isaiah 49:3,5-6
I will make you the light of the nations so that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth

The Lord said to me, ‘You are my servant, Israel,
in whom I shall be glorified’;
I was honoured in the eyes of the Lord,
my God was my strength.

And now the Lord has spoken,
he who formed me in the womb to be his servant,
to bring Jacob back to him,
to gather Israel to him:

‘It is not enough for you to be my servant,
to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back the survivors of Israel;
I will make you the light of the nations
so that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.’

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 39(40):2,4,7-10

Here I am, Lord! I come to do your will.

I waited, I waited for the Lord
    and he stooped down to me;
    he heard my cry.
He put a new song into my mouth,
    praise of our God.

Here I am, Lord! I come to do your will.

You do not ask for sacrifice and offerings,
    but an open ear.
You do not ask for holocaust and victim.
    Instead, here am I.

Here I am, Lord! I come to do your will.

In the scroll of the book it stands written
    that I should do your will.
My God, I delight in your law
    in the depth of my heart.

Here I am, Lord! I come to do your will.

Your justice I have proclaimed
    in the great assembly.
My lips I have not sealed;
    you know it, O Lord.

Here I am, Lord! I come to do your will.

________

Second reading
1 Corinthians 1:1-3
May God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ send you grace and peace

I, Paul, appointed by God to be an apostle, together with brother Sosthenes, send greetings to the church of God in Corinth, to the holy people of Jesus Christ, who are called to take their place among all the saints everywhere who pray to our Lord Jesus Christ; for he is their Lord no less than ours. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ send you grace and peace.

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:
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!

________

Gospel
John 1:29-34
'Look: there is the Lamb of God'

Seeing Jesus coming towards him, John said, ‘Look, there is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. This is the one I spoke of when I said: A man is coming after me who ranks before me because he existed before me. I did not know him myself, and yet it was to reveal him to Israel that I came baptising with water.’ John also declared, ‘I saw the Spirit coming down on him from heaven like a dove and resting on him. I did not know him myself, but he who sent me to baptise with water had said to me, “The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and rest is the one who is going to baptise with the Holy Spirit.” Yes, I have seen and I am the witness that he is the Chosen One of God.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 11th January 2026

IS 42:1-4, 6-7; PS 29: 1-4, 9-10;ACTS 10:34-38; MT 3:13-17

Today marks the close of the Christmas season, but before we return to Ordinary Time, we have one more great feast to celebrate — The Baptism of the Lord. And, as we are still in New Year’s resolution season, today’s feast is a perfect opportunity to consider the privileges and responsibilities we all share as Christian stewards by virtue of our own Baptism, and how we might live them out more fully in the year ahead.

At the moment of our Baptism, whether in infancy or later in life, we became adopted sons and daughters of God, members of his holy, Catholic Church. Though we may not have realized it, the moment of our Baptism is also the moment we become Christian stewards, disciples of Jesus Christ, tasked with the work of following in His footsteps day by day and sharing the Gospel message with all those around us.

Our first reading from the Book of Isaiah describes some of the infinitely wonderful characteristics of Christ that we, as his disciples, are called to imitate. Through the prophet, the Father calls His Son “my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased.” Christ’s actions are powerful in effect — “He shall bring for justice to the nations” — yet humbly and gently carried out — “not crying out, not shouting, not making his voice heard in the street, a bruised reed he shall not break…” This is a description of the way of life we must go about in our work as disciples of Christ: humbly and lovingly, without calling attention to ourselves and yet without backing down when the going gets tough.

In our second reading, from the Acts of the Apostles, St. Peter reminds us that God has no favorites; Jesus is “Lord of all” and all are equally wanted and cherished by the Father. Peter gives us yet another glimpse of the person of Jesus we should imitate. “He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.” Again, by virtue of our Baptism, God is with us, too. We, therefore, must live our lives like Jesus, seeking to do good to everyone we encounter; not just those in our inner circle of family and friends, but everyone in our community since the Father loves us all and Jesus sought out everyone with His saving message.

Finally, in the Gospel passage from Matthew, we see yet another aspect of Jesus in action, this time as he humbly stands before John to be baptized by him. Imagine the Son of God waiting his turn in line with sinners seeking baptism. What humility and what willingness to unite Himself to us our Lord demonstrates by this act. We can do no less as we live out our daily lives as his disciples. And when we do strive with all our might to live out our Baptismal call to Christian stewardship, we will experience the deep honor of knowing that our we, too, are God’s “beloved” sons and daughters “with whom He is well-pleased.”

There is no greater honor, no greater satisfaction than living well this stewardship way of life. Let’s resolve in the year ahead to use our Time, Talents, and Treasure in ways that allow us to walk more closely in the footsteps of our incredible Lord and Savior.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 11th January 2026

First reading
Isaiah 42:1-4,6-7
Here is my servant, in whom my soul delights

Thus says the Lord:

Here is my servant whom I uphold,
my chosen one in whom my soul delights.
I have endowed him with my spirit
that he may bring true justice to the nations.

He does not cry out or shout aloud,
or make his voice heard in the streets.
He does not break the crushed reed,
nor quench the wavering flame.

Faithfully he brings true justice;
he will neither waver, nor be crushed
until true justice is established on earth,
for the islands are awaiting his law.

I, the Lord, have called you to serve the cause of right;
I have taken you by the hand and formed you;
I have appointed you as covenant of the people and light of the nations,

to open the eyes of the blind,
to free captives from prison,
and those who live in darkness from the dungeon.

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 28(29):1-4,9-10

The Lord will bless his people with peace.

O give the Lord, you sons of God,
    give the Lord glory and power;
give the Lord the glory of his name.
    Adore the Lord in his holy court.

The Lord will bless his people with peace.

The Lord’s voice resounding on the waters,
    the Lord on the immensity of waters;
the voice of the Lord, full of power,
    the voice of the Lord, full of splendour.

The Lord will bless his people with peace.

The God of glory thunders.
    In his temple they all cry: ‘Glory!’
The Lord sat enthroned over the flood;
    the Lord sits as king for ever.

The Lord will bless his people with peace.

________

Second reading
Acts 10:34-38
God had anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit

    Peter addressed Cornelius and his household: ‘The truth I have now come to realise’ he said ‘is that God does not have favourites, but that anybody of any nationality who fears God and does what is right is acceptable to him.

    ‘It is true, God sent his word to the people of Israel, and it was to them that the good news of peace was brought by Jesus Christ – but Jesus Christ is Lord of all men. You must have heard about the recent happenings in Judaea; about Jesus of Nazareth and how he began in Galilee, after John had been preaching baptism. God had anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and because God was with him, Jesus went about doing good and curing all who had fallen into the power of the devil.’

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
cf.Mk9:8

Alleluia, alleluia!

The heavens opened and the Father’s voice resounded:
‘This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.’

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Matthew 3:13-17
'This is my Son, the Beloved'

    Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John. John tried to dissuade him. ‘It is I who need baptism from you’ he said ‘and yet you come to me!’ But Jesus replied, ‘Leave it like this for the time being; it is fitting that we should, in this way, do all that righteousness demands.’ At this, John gave in to him.

    As soon as Jesus was baptised he came up from the water, and suddenly the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him. And a voice spoke from heaven, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 04th January 2026

IS 60: 1-6; PS 72: 1-2, 7-8, 10-13;EPH 3:2-3A, 5-6; MT 2: 1-12

As our celebration of Christmas continues, today we observe the great feast of The Epiphany of the Lord. The word “epiphany” comes from Greek and means manifestation or appearance. The stew-ardship way of life is one in which we live in grateful response to God’s countless manifestations in our lives.

And as Christian stewards, we are all called to manifest God’s love to each other in the sharing of our gifts. St. Paul describes this beautifully in our second reading in his letter to the Ephesians, saying, “You have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for your benefit.” We have all been given unique and wonderful gifts from our good and generous God. He wants us to share these gifts to benefit others and so to give Him glory.

Our Gospel passage, from Matthew, also has much to teach us about stewardship — through the actions of the magi. These three kings from ancient days display many aspects of stewardship spir-ituality which we can apply as modern-day stewards right now.

First, we observe that their overriding priority is on honoring the long-awaited King. The magi travel a great distance in search of him. Upon arrival in Jerusalem, they immediately begin to ask others where this King may be found, unashamedly declaring that they “have come to do him hom-age.” Is honor and worship of God our highest priority? Do we order our lives so that Sunday Mass is the most important act of the week for ourselves and our families no matter what else is going on?

Second, we observe that the magi, as good stewards, were watching for manifestations of God’s presence in their lives. “We have seen the star at its rising,” they say. Good stewards are keenly aware of the “star” of God’s presence and His gifts in their lives. It is this awareness that fills them with gratitude and the desire to both worship God and share His gifts with others.

Third, we observe in the magi that a stewardship journey is not without its difficulties, its twists and turns. Herod tried to take advantage of their goodness, feigning a desire to join them in wor-shipping the newborn Jesus, in order to hide his deadly intentions. Yet God protected and guided them along their way, and through their cooperation with God’s plan, He accomplished great things through them.

Fourth, we observe that the magi, upon seeing the manifestation of God’s presence in their lives, “were overjoyed.” Good stewards, who live with the awareness of God’s presence and gifts to them, simply can’t help but be filled with joy — not necessarily the fleeting and superficial kind of joy that the world promises if we just obtain enough wealth or power or comfort — but rather, the deep, unalterable joy that only God can give.

Finally, we observe that the magi were so filled with awe upon encountering the newborn Jesus, that they prostrated themselves before him. To prostrate oneself is to make a total offering of one-self in humility, recognizing the greatness of the One before them; it is an act of worship. And as a further act of worship, they “opened their treasures and offered him gifts.” This is precisely why good stewards generously share their material gifts — as a loving act of worship to an extravagant-ly loving God.

Let us rejoice in God’s manifestations in our lives and be watchful for the new ways He is calling us to share ourselves and our gifts in gratitude to our King in the year ahead.

Mass Reading: 04th January 2026

First reading
Isaiah 60:1-6
Above you the glory of the Lord appears

Arise, shine out, Jerusalem, for your light has come,
the glory of the Lord is rising on you,
though night still covers the earth
and darkness the peoples.

Above you the Lord now rises
and above you his glory appears.
The nations come to your light
and kings to your dawning brightness.

Lift up your eyes and look round:
all are assembling and coming towards you,
your sons from far away
and your daughters being tenderly carried.

At this sight you will grow radiant,
your heart throbbing and full;
since the riches of the sea will flow to you,
the wealth of the nations come to you;

camels in throngs will cover you,
and dromedaries of Midian and Ephah;
everyone in Sheba will come,
bringing gold and incense
and singing the praise of the Lord.

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 71(72):1-2,7-8,10-13

All nations shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord.

O God, give your judgement to the king,
    to a king’s son your justice,
that he may judge your people in justice
    and your poor in right judgement.

All nations shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord.

In his days justice shall flourish
    and peace till the moon fails.
He shall rule from sea to sea,
    from the Great River to earth’s bounds.

All nations shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord.

The kings of Tarshish and the sea coasts
    shall pay him tribute.
The kings of Sheba and Seba
    shall bring him gifts.
Before him all kings shall fall prostrate,
    all nations shall serve him.

All nations shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord.

For he shall save the poor when they cry
    and the needy who are helpless.
He will have pity on the weak
    and save the lives of the poor.

All nations shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord.

________

Second reading
Ephesians 3:2-3,5-6
It has now been revealed that pagans share the same inheritance

You have probably heard how I have been entrusted by God with the grace he meant for you, and that it was by a revelation that I was given the knowledge of the mystery. This mystery that has now been revealed through the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets was unknown to any men in past generations; it means that pagans now share the same inheritance, that they are parts of the same body, and that the same promise has been made to them, in Jesus Christ, through the gospel.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
Mt2:2

Alleluia, alleluia!

We saw his star as it rose
and have come to do the Lord homage.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Matthew 2:1-12
The visit of the Magi

After Jesus had been born at Bethlehem in Judaea during the reign of King Herod, some wise men came to Jerusalem from the east. ‘Where is the infant king of the Jews?’ they asked. ‘We saw his star as it rose and have come to do him homage.’ When King Herod heard this he was perturbed, and so was the whole of Jerusalem. He called together all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, and enquired of them where the Christ was to be born. ‘At Bethlehem in Judaea,’ they told him ‘for this is what the prophet wrote:

And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
you are by no means least among the leaders of Judah,
for out of you will come a leader
who will shepherd my people Israel.’

Then Herod summoned the wise men to see him privately. He asked them the exact date on which the star had appeared, and sent them on to Bethlehem. ‘Go and find out all about the child,’ he said ‘and when you have found him, let me know, so that I too may go and do him homage.’ Having listened to what the king had to say, they set out. And there in front of them was the star they had seen rising; it went forward, and halted over the place where the child was. The sight of the star filled them with delight, and going into the house they saw the child with his mother Mary, and falling to their knees they did him homage. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh. But they were warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, and returned to their own country by a different way.

The Gospel of the Lord.