Mass Reading: Sunday - 18th October 2026

Entrance Antiphon
Cf. Ps 16: 6, 8

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

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

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

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

The word of the Lord.

________

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

Give the Lord glory and power.

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

Give the Lord glory and power.

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

Give the Lord glory and power.

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

Give the Lord glory and power.

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

Give the Lord glory and power.

________

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

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

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

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

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
Jn17:17

Alleluia, alleluia!

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

Alleluia!

Or:
Ph2:15-16

Alleluia, alleluia!

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

Alleluia!

________

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

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

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 18th October 2026

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mass Reading: Sunday -11th October 2026

Entrance Antiphon
Ps 129: 3-4

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

________

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

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

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 22(23)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

________

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

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

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
Jn1:14,12

Alleluia, alleluia!

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

Alleluia!

Or:
cf.Ep1:17,18

Alleluia, alleluia!

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

Alleluia!

________

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

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

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday -11th October 2026

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 04th October 2026

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mass Reading: Sunday - 04th October 2026

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

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

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

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

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

The word of the Lord.

________

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

The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.

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

The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.

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

The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.

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

The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.

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

The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.

________

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

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

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
Jn15:15

Alleluia, alleluia!

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

Alleluia!

Or:
cf.Jn15:16

Alleluia, alleluia!

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

Alleluia!

________

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

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

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

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

The Gospel of the Lord.