tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76705174869067335042024-03-28T22:00:34.022+08:00Church of ST JOSEPH PlentongCHURCH OF ST JOSEPH, PLENTONG
避 兰 圣 若 瑟 天 主 堂
LOT 2139, Jalan Bunga Raya,
81750 Plentong, Johor, Malaysia
Tel/Fax: 07-386 3062
Email: stjoseph@ymail.comST JOSEPH PLENTONGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16711340916949677178noreply@blogger.comBlogger1004125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670517486906733504.post-49709592653430855402024-03-28T22:00:00.259+08:002024-03-28T22:00:00.154+08:00Mass Reading: Friday - 29th March 2024<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b>First reading</b><br />Isaiah 52:13-53:12</span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">The servant of the Lord, an expiatory Sacrifice</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">See, my servant will prosper,<br />he shall be lifted up, exalted, rise to great heights.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As the crowds were appalled on seeing him<br />– so disfigured did he look<br />that he seemed no longer human –<br />so will the crowds be astonished at him,<br />and kings stand speechless before him;<br />for they shall see something never told<br />and witness something never heard before:<br />‘Who could believe what we have heard,<br />and to whom has the power of the Lord been revealed?’</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Like a sapling he grew up in front of us,<br />like a root in arid ground.<br />Without beauty, without majesty we saw him,<br />no looks to attract our eyes;<br />a thing despised and rejected by men,<br />a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering,<br />a man to make people screen their faces;<br />he was despised and we took no account of him.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And yet ours were the sufferings he bore,<br />ours the sorrows he carried.<br />But we, we thought of him as someone punished,<br />struck by God, and brought low.<br />Yet he was pierced through for our faults,<br />crushed for our sins.<br />On him lies a punishment that brings us peace,<br />and through his wounds we are healed.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We had all gone astray like sheep,<br />each taking his own way,<br />and the Lord burdened him<br />with the sins of all of us.<br />Harshly dealt with, he bore it humbly,<br />he never opened his mouth,<br />like a lamb that is led to the slaughter-house,<br />like a sheep that is dumb before its shearers<br />never opening its mouth.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">By force and by law he was taken;<br />would anyone plead his cause?<br />Yes, he was torn away from the land of the living;<br />for our faults struck down in death.<br />They gave him a grave with the wicked,<br />a tomb with the rich,<br />though he had done no wrong<br />and there had been no perjury in his mouth.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The Lord has been pleased to crush him with suffering.<br />If he offers his life in atonement,<br />he shall see his heirs, he shall have a long life<br />and through him what the Lord wishes will be done.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">His soul’s anguish over<br />he shall see the light and be content.<br />By his sufferings shall my servant justify many,<br />taking their faults on himself.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hence I will grant whole hordes for his tribute,<br />he shall divide the spoil with the mighty,<br />for surrendering himself to death<br />and letting himself be taken for a sinner,<br />while he was bearing the faults of many<br />and praying all the time for sinners.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The word of the Lord.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b>Responsorial Psalm</b><br />Psalm 30(31):2,6,12-13,15-17,25</span></div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">In you, O Lord, I take refuge.<br /> Let me never be put to shame.<br />In your justice, set me free,<br />Into your hands I commend my spirit.<br /> It is you who will redeem me, Lord.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">In the face of all my foes<br /> I am a reproach,<br />an object of scorn to my neighbours<br /> and of fear to my friends.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">Those who see me in the street<br /> run far away from me.<br />I am like a dead man, forgotten in men’s hearts,<br /> like a thing thrown away.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">But as for me, I trust in you, Lord;<br /> I say: ‘You are my God.<br />My life is in your hands, deliver me<br /> from the hands of those who hate me.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">Let your face shine on your servant.<br /> Save me in your love.’<br />Be strong, let your heart take courage,<br /> all who hope in the Lord.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b>Second reading</b><br />Hebrews 4:14-16,5:7-9</span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">The Lord burdened him with the sins of all of us</span></div><p><span> </span>Since in Jesus, the Son of God, we have the supreme high priest who has gone through to the highest heaven, we must never let go of the faith that we have professed. For it is not as if we had a high priest who was incapable of feeling our weaknesses with us; but we have one who has been tempted in every way that we are, though he is without sin. Let us be confident, then, in approaching the throne of grace, that we shall have mercy from him and find grace when we are in need of help.</p><p> During his life on earth, he offered up prayer and entreaty, aloud and in silent tears, to the one who had the power to save him out of death, and he submitted so humbly that his prayer was heard. Although he was Son, he learnt to obey through suffering; but having been made perfect, he became for all who obey him the source of eternal salvation.</p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The word of the Lord.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b>Gospel Acclamation</b><br />Phil2:8-9</span></div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Glory and praise to you, O Christ!</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">Christ was humbler yet,<br />even to accepting death, death on a cross.<br />But God raised him high<br />and gave him the name which is above all names.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Glory and praise to you, O Christ!</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b>John 18:1-19:42</b><br />The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ</span></div><p>Key: <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N.</span> Narrator. <span style="color: #990000;">✠</span> Jesus. <span style="color: #bf9000;">O.</span> Other single speaker. <span style="color: #0b5394;">C. </span>Crowd, or more than one speaker.</p><p> <span style="color: #0c343d;"> </span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kedron valley. There was a garden there, and he went into it with his disciples. Judas the traitor knew the place well, since Jesus had often met his disciples there, and he brought the cohort to this place together with a detachment of guards sent by the chief priests and the Pharisees, all with lanterns and torches and weapons. Knowing everything that was going to happen to him, Jesus then came forward and said,</p><p> <span style="color: #990000;"> ✠</span> Who are you looking for?</p><p> <span style="color: #0c343d;"> </span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> They answered, </p><p> <span style="color: #0b5394;">C.</span><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span>Jesus the Nazarene.</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> He said, </p><p> <span style="color: #990000;"> ✠</span> I am he.</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> Now Judas the traitor was standing among them. When Jesus said, ‘I am he’, they moved back and fell to the ground. He asked them a second time,</p><p> <span style="color: #990000;"> ✠</span> Who are you looking for?</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> They said,</p><p> <span style="color: #0b5394;">C.</span> Jesus the Nazarene.</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> Jesus replied,</p><p> <span style="color: #990000;">✠</span> I have told you that I am he. If I am the one you are looking for, let these others go.</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> This was to fulfil the words he had spoken, ‘Not one of those you gave me have I lost.’</p><p> Simon Peter, who carried a sword, drew it and wounded the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter,</p><p> <span style="color: #990000;">✠</span> Put your sword back in its scabbard; am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> The cohort and its captain and the Jewish guards seized Jesus and bound him. They took him first to Annas, because Annas was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had suggested to the Jews, ‘It is better for one man to die for the people.’</p><p> <span> </span>Simon Peter, with another disciple, followed Jesus. This disciple, who was known to the high priest, went with Jesus into the high priest’s palace, but Peter stayed outside the door. So the other disciple, the one known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman who was keeping the door and brought Peter in. The maid on duty at the door said to Peter,</p><p> <span style="color: #bf9000;">O.</span> Aren’t you another of that man’s disciples?</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span>. He answered,</p><p> <span style="color: #bf9000;">O.</span> I am not.</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> Now it was cold, and the servants and guards had lit a charcoal fire and were standing there warming themselves; so Peter stood there too, warming himself with the others.</p><p> <span> </span>The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered,</p><p> <span style="color: #990000;">✠</span> I have spoken openly for all the world to hear; I have always taught in the synagogue and in the Temple where all the Jews meet together: I have said nothing in secret. But why ask me? Ask my hearers what I taught: they know what I said.</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> At these words, one of the guards standing by gave Jesus a slap in the face, saying,</p><p> <span style="color: #bf9000;">O.</span> Is that the way to answer the high priest?</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> Jesus replied,</p><p> <span style="color: #990000;">✠</span> If there is something wrong in what I said, point it out; but if there is no offence in it, why do you strike me?</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> Then Annas sent him, still bound, to Caiaphas the high priest.</p><p> As Simon Peter stood there warming himself, someone said to him,</p><p> <span style="color: #bf9000;">O.</span> Aren’t you another of his disciples?</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> He denied it, saying,</p><p> <span style="color: #bf9000;">O.</span> I am not.</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> One of the high priest’s servants, a relation of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said,</p><p> <span style="color: #bf9000;">O.</span> Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> Again Peter denied it; and at once a cock crew.</p><p> They then led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the Praetorium. It was now morning. They did not go into the Praetorium themselves or they would be defiled and unable to eat the passover. So Pilate came outside to them and said,</p><p> <span style="color: #bf9000;">O.</span> What charge do you bring against this man?</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> They replied,</p><p> <span style="color: #0b5394;">C.</span> If he were not a criminal, we should not be handing him over to you.</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> Pilate said,</p><p> <span style="color: #bf9000;">O.</span> Take him yourselves, and try him by your own Law.</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> The Jews answered,</p><p> <span style="color: #0b5394;">C.</span> We are not allowed to put a man to death.</p><div style="text-align: left;"> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> This was to fulfil the words Jesus had spoken indicating the way he was going to die.<br /> So Pilate went back into the Praetorium and called Jesus to him, and asked,</div><p> <span style="color: #bf9000;">O.</span> Are you the king of the Jews?</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> Jesus replied,</p><p> <span style="color: #990000;">✠</span> Do you ask this of your own accord, or have others spoken to you about me?</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> Pilate answered,</p><p> <span style="color: #bf9000;">O.</span> Am I a Jew? It is your own people and the chief priests who have handed you over to me: what have you done?</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> Jesus replied,</p><p> <span style="color: #990000;">✠</span> Mine is not a kingdom of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, my men would have fought to prevent my being surrendered to the Jews. But my kingdom is not of this kind.</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> Pilate said,</p><p> <span style="color: #bf9000;">O.</span> So you are a king, then?</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> Jesus answered,</p><p> <span style="color: #990000;">✠</span> It is you who say it. Yes, I am a king. I was born for this, I came into the world for this: to bear witness to the truth; and all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice.</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> Pilate said,</p><p> <span style="color: #bf9000;">O.</span> Truth? What is that?</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> and with that he went out again to the Jews and said,</p><p> <span style="color: #bf9000;">O.</span> I find no case against him. But according to a custom of yours I should release one prisoner at the Passover; would you like me, then, to release the king of the Jews?</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> At this they shouted:</p><p> <span style="color: #0b5394;">C.</span> Not this man, but Barabbas.</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> Barabbas was a brigand.</p><p> Pilate then had Jesus taken away and scourged; and after this, the soldiers twisted some thorns into a crown and put it on his head, and dressed him in a purple robe. They kept coming up to him and saying,</p><p> <span style="color: #0b5394;">C.</span> Hail, king of the Jews!</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> and they slapped him in the face.</p><p> Pilate came outside again and said to them,</p><p> <span style="color: #bf9000;">O.</span> Look, I am going to bring him out to you to let you see that I find no case.</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> Jesus then came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said,</p><p> <span style="color: #bf9000;">O.</span> Here is the man.</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> When they saw him the chief priests and the guards shouted,</p><p> <span style="color: #0b5394;">C.</span> Crucify him! Crucify him!</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> Pilate said,</p><p> <span style="color: #bf9000;">O.</span> Take him yourselves and crucify him: I can find no case against him.</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> The Jews replied,</p><p> <span style="color: #0b5394;">C.</span> We have a Law, and according to that Law he ought to die, because he has claimed to be the Son of God.</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> When Pilate heard them say this his fears increased. Re-entering the Praetorium, he said to Jesus</p><p> <span style="color: #bf9000;">O.</span> Where do you come from?</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> But Jesus made no answer. Pilate then said to him,</p><p> <span style="color: #bf9000;">O.</span> Are you refusing to speak to me? Surely you know I have power to release you and I have power to crucify you?</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> Jesus replied,</p><p> <span style="color: #990000;">✠</span> You would have no power over me if it had not been given you from above; that is why the one who handed me over to you has the greater guilt.</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> From that moment Pilate was anxious to set him free, but the Jews shouted,</p><p> <span style="color: #0b5394;">C.</span> If you set him free you are no friend of Caesar’s; anyone who makes himself king is defying Caesar.</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> Hearing these words, Pilate had Jesus brought out, and seated himself on the chair of judgement at a place called the Pavement, in Hebrew Gabbatha. It was Passover Preparation Day, about the sixth hour. Pilate said to the Jews,</p><p> <span style="color: #bf9000;">O.</span> Here is your king.</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> They said,</p><p> <span style="color: #0b5394;">C.</span> Take him away, take him away! Crucify him!</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> Pilate said,</p><p> <span style="color: #bf9000;">O.</span> Do you want me to crucify your king?</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> The chief priests answered,</p><p> <span style="color: #0b5394;">C.</span> We have no king except Caesar.</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> So in the end Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.</p><p> <span> </span>They then took charge of Jesus, and carrying his own cross he went out of the city to the place of the skull or, as it was called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified him with two others, one on either side with Jesus in the middle. Pilate wrote out a notice and had it fixed to the cross; it ran: ‘Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews.’ This notice was read by many of the Jews, because the place where Jesus was crucified was not far from the city, and the writing was in Hebrew, Latin and Greek. So the Jewish chief priests said to Pilate,</p><p> <span style="color: #0b5394;">C.</span> You should not write ‘King of the Jews,’ but ‘This man said: “I am King of the Jews.”’</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> Pilate answered,</p><p> <span style="color: #bf9000;">O.</span> What I have written, I have written.</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> When the soldiers had finished crucifying Jesus they took his clothing and divided it into four shares, one for each soldier. His undergarment was seamless, woven in one piece from neck to hem; so they said to one another,</p><p> <span style="color: #0b5394;">C.</span> Instead of tearing it, let’s throw dice to decide who is to have it.</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> In this way the words of scripture were fulfilled:</p><p> <span> </span>They shared out my clothing among them.</p><p> <span> </span>They cast lots for my clothes.</p><p><span> <span> </span></span>This is exactly what the soldiers did.</p><p> <span> </span> Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. Seeing his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother,</p><p> <span style="color: #990000;">✠</span> Woman, this is your son.</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> Then to the disciple he said,</p><p> <span style="color: #990000;">✠</span> This is your mother.</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> And from that moment the disciple made a place for her in his home.</p><p> <span> </span>After this, Jesus knew that everything had now been completed, and to fulfil the scripture perfectly he said:</p><p> <span style="color: #990000;">✠</span> I am thirsty.</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> A jar full of vinegar stood there, so putting a sponge soaked in the vinegar on a hyssop stick they held it up to his mouth. After Jesus had taken the vinegar he said,</p><p> <span style="color: #990000;">✠</span> It is accomplished;</p><p> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">N</span><span style="color: #6aa84f;">.</span> and bowing his head he gave up his spirit. </p><p> <span style="color: #cc0000;">Here all kneel and pause for a short time. </span></p><p> <span> </span>It was Preparation Day, and to prevent the bodies remaining on the cross during the sabbath – since that sabbath was a day of special solemnity – the Jews asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken away. Consequently the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with him and then of the other. When they came to Jesus, they found he was already dead, and so instead of breaking his legs one of the soldiers pierced his side with a lance; and immediately there came out blood and water. This is the evidence of one who saw it – trustworthy evidence, and he knows he speaks the truth – and he gives it so that you may believe as well. Because all this happened to fulfil the words of scripture:</p><p> <span> </span>Not one bone of his will be broken;</p><p> <span> </span> and again, in another place scripture says:</p><p> <span> </span>They will look on the one whom they have pierced.</p><p><span> <span> </span></span>After this, Joseph of Arimathaea, who was a disciple of Jesus – though a secret one because he was afraid of the Jews – asked Pilate to let him remove the body of Jesus. Pilate gave permission, so they came and took it away. Nicodemus came as well – the same one who had first come to Jesus at night-time – and he brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, following the Jewish burial custom. At the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, and in this garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been buried. Since it was the Jewish Day of Preparation and the tomb was near at hand, they laid Jesus there.</p><p><br /></p>ST JOSEPH PLENTONGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16711340916949677178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670517486906733504.post-22953956981017468312024-03-27T22:00:00.044+08:002024-03-27T22:00:00.138+08:00Mass Reading: Thursday - 28th March 2024<div style="text-align: left;"><b>First reading</b><br />Exodus 12:1-8,11-14<br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">The Passover is a day of festival for all generations, for ever</span></div><p>The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt:</p><p> ‘This month is to be the first of all the others for you, the first month of your year. Speak to the whole community of Israel and say, “On the tenth day of this month each man must take an animal from the flock, one for each family: one animal for each household. If the household is too small to eat the animal, a man must join with his neighbour, the nearest to his house, as the number of persons requires. You must take into account what each can eat in deciding the number for the animal. It must be an animal without blemish, a male one year old; you may take it from either sheep or goats. You must keep it till the fourteenth day of the month when the whole assembly of the community of Israel shall slaughter it between the two evenings. Some of the blood must then be taken and put on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses where it is eaten. That night, the flesh is to be eaten, roasted over the fire; it must be eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. You shall eat it like this: with a girdle round your waist, sandals on your feet, a staff in your hand. You shall eat it hastily: it is a passover in honour of the Lord. That night, I will go through the land of Egypt and strike down all the first-born in the land of Egypt, man and beast alike, and I shall deal out punishment to all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord! The blood shall serve to mark the houses that you live in. When I see the blood I will pass over you and you shall escape the destroying plague when I strike the land of Egypt. This day is to be a day of remembrance for you, and you must celebrate it as a feast in the Lord’s honour. For all generations you are to declare it a day of festival, for ever.”’</p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The word of the Lord.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Responsorial Psalm</b><br />Psalm 115(116):12-13,15-18</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The blessing-cup that we bless is a communion with the blood of Christ.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">How can I repay the Lord<br /> for his goodness to me?<br />The cup of salvation I will raise;<br /> I will call on the Lord’s name.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The blessing-cup that we bless is a communion with the blood of Christ.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">O precious in the eyes of the Lord<br /> is the death of his faithful.<br />Your servant, Lord, your servant am I;<br /> you have loosened my bonds.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The blessing-cup that we bless is a communion with the blood of Christ.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">A thanksgiving sacrifice I make;<br /> I will call on the Lord’s name.<br />My vows to the Lord I will fulfil<br /> before all his people.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The blessing-cup that we bless is a communion with the blood of Christ.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Second reading</b><br />1 Corinthians 11:23-26<br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">Every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are proclaiming the death of the Lord</span></div><p><span> </span>This is what I received from the Lord, and in turn passed on to you: that on the same night that he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread, and thanked God for it and broke it, and he said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this as a memorial of me.’ In the same way he took the cup after supper, and said, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Whenever you drink it, do this as a memorial of me.’ Until the Lord comes, therefore, every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are proclaiming his death.</p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The word of the Lord.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Gospel Acclamation</b><br />Jn13:34</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus!</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">I give you a new commandment:<br />love one another just as I have loved you, <br />says the Lord.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus!</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Gospel</b><br />John 13:1-15<br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">Now he showed how perfect his love was</span></div><p><span> </span>It was before the festival of the Passover, and Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to pass from this world to the Father. He had always loved those who were his in the world, but now he showed how perfect his love was.</p><p> They were at supper, and the devil had already put it into the mind of Judas Iscariot son of Simon, to betray him. Jesus knew that the Father had put everything into his hands, and that he had come from God and was returning to God, and he got up from table, removed his outer garment and, taking a towel, wrapped it round his waist; he then poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel he was wearing. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’ Jesus answered, ‘At the moment you do not know what I am doing, but later you will understand.’ ‘Never!’ said Peter ‘You shall never wash my feet.’ Jesus replied, ‘If I do not wash you, you can have nothing in common with me.’ ‘Then, Lord,’ said Simon Peter ‘not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well!’ Jesus said, ‘No one who has taken a bath needs washing, he is clean all over. You too are clean, though not all of you are.’ He knew who was going to betray him, that was why he said, ‘though not all of you are.’</p><p> When he had washed their feet and put on his clothes again he went back to the table. ‘Do you understand’ he said ‘what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord, and rightly; so I am. If I, then, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you should wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done to you.’</p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The Gospel of the Lord.</span></p><p><br /></p>ST JOSEPH PLENTONGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16711340916949677178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670517486906733504.post-54532479068545359422024-03-24T10:03:00.001+08:002024-03-25T10:05:11.173+08:00Mass Reflection: Sunday - 24th March 2024<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFTMc91aYhYFjOStbysHD5hLEJd6uRsiMxru4eoOdBT4-QTyRkWQGQ4peootKirrmcEC8ezXsAMg8yYahEYZ-lc69xFaWqmkgAmAbQhNSP5lKvjuSu-KQQO4rwNdTKKvBBDmHFq6rlEQtB3R_9l20UKBjs5sgU8DMy643HtT1BeR0GAt_lWr8718R0u0A" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFTMc91aYhYFjOStbysHD5hLEJd6uRsiMxru4eoOdBT4-QTyRkWQGQ4peootKirrmcEC8ezXsAMg8yYahEYZ-lc69xFaWqmkgAmAbQhNSP5lKvjuSu-KQQO4rwNdTKKvBBDmHFq6rlEQtB3R_9l20UKBjs5sgU8DMy643HtT1BeR0GAt_lWr8718R0u0A" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032424.cfm">IS 50:4-7; PS 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24; PHIL 2:6-11; MK 14:1-15:47</a><br /> <br />Today we celebrate Palm Sunday — the beginning of our Holy Week. Our liturgy starts with the account of Jesus humbly entering into Jerusalem riding a donkey. People put cloaks and palm branches in His pathway crying, “Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” It is with great joy that Christ was being honored as king, still in the same breath, we are filled with sorrow as we reflect on Christ’s passion and death. Thankfully, we know the glorious outcome of this painful journey. Today, as we read about the climax of Christ’s mission here on earth, we are reminded that He is the Perfect Steward, a model for us all on our stewardship journey. <br /> <br />Our First Reading, from the prophet Isaiah, portrays a suffering servant. The suffering servant, in many ways, foreshadows what Jesus endured during His passion — “I gave my back to those who beat me… my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting.” Christ endured such tortures, knowing that He did not deserve them, but still He humbly submitted to them. <br /> <br />We see that throughout Christ’s life, His mission as a steward was to fulfill His Father’s mission. He became man for a reason, and He humbly and obediently submitted to that mission for each one of us. We, too, play a unique role in our Father’s mission by bringing souls to Christ. And it simply begins with the witness of our lives. Let all that we do, including the way we speak and act, reflect our mission in this life. <br /> <br />This message is re-echoed in our Second Reading, from St. Paul to the Philippians. St. Paul says, “Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself… he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” We see again that although our Lord deserved every honor and praise from man while on earth, He chose the path of service and humility, sacrifice and love. He gave us everything in that moment. This truly was an overflowing gift for each one of us. So how can we share our gratitude with the Gracious Giver? We can bring service, humility, sacrifice and love into all areas of our lives — our homes by the way we treat our family members, into our church by the way we welcome and serve our neighbors, and into our workplaces by the way we speak and act. <br /> <br />Our Gospel today shares the account of Jesus’ last days on earth, and how He lives them says a great deal about how we should be living ours as faithful stewards. Jesus does many things in these last days, and they all revolve around prayer and service — two trademark actions of a good and faithful Catholic. He first hosts a Passover meal in which He gives us His Body and Blood in the Eucharist. He then intensely prays to His Father. Lastly, He submits to humiliation, torture and death for our sake, calling out to God the Father in His weakest moments. We might not be called to the same type of prayer and service, but we are all called to commit time in daily prayer with our Lord, and to serve our families, churches and neighbors in the various ways God is calling us to do so. No matter our state in life, we are all called to be faithful stewards through prayer and service. <br /><br />As we embark on this Holy Week, let us take some time to reflect on the life of Christ as He is our model Steward, and may we strive to imitate Him daily. </span>ST JOSEPH PLENTONGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16711340916949677178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670517486906733504.post-69771173235057253572024-03-23T10:05:00.001+08:002024-03-25T10:48:14.517+08:00Mass Reading: Sunday - 24th March 2024<div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: #990000;">Gospel<br /></b><span style="color: #990000;">Mark 11:1-10<br /></span><span style="color: #cc0000;">Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">When they drew near to Jerusalem, <br />to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, <br />Jesus sent two of his disciples, and said to them, <br />‘Go into the village opposite you, <br />and immediately as you enter it <br />you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat; <br />untie it and bring it. <br />If any one says to you, <br />“Why are you doing this?” say,<br />“The Lord has need of it <br />and will send it back here immediately.”’ <br />And they went away,<br />and found a colt tied at the door out in the open street; <br />and they untied it.<br />And those who stood there said to them, <br />‘What are you doing, untying the colt?’ <br />And they told them what Jesus had said; <br />and they let them go. <br />And they brought the colt to Jesus, <br />and threw their garments on it; <br />and he sat upon it.<br />And many spread their garments on the road, <br />and others spread leafy branches <br />which they had cut from the fields. <br />And those who went before <br />and those who followed cried out, <br />‘Hosanna!<br />Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! <br />Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is coming! <br />Hosanna in the highest!’</div><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b>First reading</b><br />Isaiah 50:4-7</span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">I did not cover my face against insult: I know I shall not be shamed</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The Lord has given me<br />a disciple’s tongue.<br />So that I may know how to reply to the wearied<br />he provides me with speech.<br />Each morning he wakes me to hear,<br />to listen like a disciple.<br />The Lord has opened my ear.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">For my part, I made no resistance,<br />neither did I turn away.<br />I offered my back to those who struck me,<br />my cheeks to those who tore at my beard;<br />I did not cover my face<br />against insult and spittle.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The Lord comes to my help,<br />so that I am untouched by the insults.<br />So, too, I set my face like flint;<br />I know I shall not be shamed.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The word of the Lord.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b><br />Responsorial Psalm</b><br />Psalm 21(22):8-9,17-20,23-24</span></div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">All who see me deride me.<br /> They curl their lips, they toss their heads.<br />‘He trusted in the Lord, let him save him;<br /> let him release him if this is his friend.’</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?</span></p><p>Many dogs have surrounded me,</p><div style="text-align: left;"> a band of the wicked beset me.<br />They tear holes in my hands and my feet<br /> I can count every one of my bones.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">They divide my clothing among them.<br /> They cast lots for my robe.<br />O Lord, do not leave me alone,<br /> my strength, make haste to help me!</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">I will tell of your name to my brethren<br /> and praise you where they are assembled.<br />‘You who fear the Lord give him praise;<br /> all sons of Jacob, give him glory.<br /> Revere him, Israel’s sons.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b>Second reading</b><br />Philippians 2:6-11</span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">Christ humbled himself but God raised him high</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">His state was divine,<br />yet Christ Jesus did not cling<br />to his equality with God<br />but emptied himself<br />to assume the condition of a slave<br />and became as men are;<br />and being as all men are,<br />he was humbler yet,<br />even to accepting death,<br />death on a cross.<br />But God raised him high<br />and gave him the name<br />which is above all other names<br />so that all beings<br />in the heavens, on earth and in the underworld,<br />should bend the knee at the name of Jesus<br />and that every tongue should acclaim<br />Jesus Christ as Lord,<br />to the glory of God the Father.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The word of the Lord.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b>Gospel Acclamation</b><br />Phil2:8-9</span></div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">Christ was humbler yet,<br />even to accepting death, death on a cross.<br />But God raised him high<br />and gave him the name which is above all names.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><p>Mark 14:1-15:47</p><p>The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark</p><p><br /></p><p>Key: <span style="color: #274e13;"><b>N.</b></span> Narrator.<span style="color: #990000;"> <b>✠</b></span> Jesus. <span style="color: #073763;"><b>O</b>.</span> Other single speaker. <span style="color: #783f04;"><b>C</b>.</span> Crowd, or more than one speaker.</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> It was two days before the Passover and the feast of Unleavened Bread, and the chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus by some trick and have him put to death. For they said,</p><p> <b style="color: #783f04;">C</b>. It must not be during the festivities, or there will be a disturbance among the people.</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>. </b>Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper; he was at dinner when a woman came in with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the ointment on his head. Some who were there said to one another indignantly,</p><p> <b style="color: #783f04;">C</b>. Why this waste of ointment? Ointment like this could have been sold for over three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor.</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>. </b> and they were angry with her. But Jesus said,</p><p> <b style="color: #990000;">✠</b> Leave her alone. Why are you upsetting her? What she has done for me is one of the good works. You have the poor with you always, and you can be kind to them whenever you wish, but you will not always have me. She has done what was in her power to do: she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. I tell you solemnly, wherever throughout all the world the Good News is proclaimed, what she has done will be told also, in remembrance of her.</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, approached the chief priests with an offer to hand Jesus over to them. They were delighted to hear it, and promised to give him money; and he looked for a way of betraying him when the opportunity should occur.</p><p> On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was sacrificed, his disciples said to him,</p><p> <b style="color: #783f04;">C</b>. Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the passover?</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> So he sent two of his disciples, saying to them,</p><p> <b style="color: #990000;">✠</b> Go into the city and you will meet a man carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him, and say to the owner of the house which he enters, ‘The Master says: “Where is my dining room in which I can eat the passover with my disciples?”’ He will show you a large upper room furnished with couches, all prepared. Make the preparations for us there.</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> The disciples set out and went to the city and found everything as he had told them, and prepared the Passover.</p><p> When evening came he arrived with the Twelve. And while they were at table eating, Jesus said,</p><p> <b style="color: #990000;">✠</b> I tell you solemnly, one of you is about to betray me, one of you eating with me.</p><p><b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>. </b>They were distressed and asked him, one after another,</p><p> <b style="color: #783f04;">C</b>. Not I, surely?</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> He said to them,</p><p> <b style="color: #990000;">✠</b> It is one of the Twelve, one who is dipping into the same dish with me. Yes, the Son of Man is going to his fate, as the scriptures say he will, but alas for that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! Better for that man if he had never been born!</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>. </b> And as they were eating he took some bread, and when he had said the blessing he broke it and gave it to them, saying:</p><p> <b style="color: #990000;">✠</b> Take it: this is my body.</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> Then he took a cup, and when he had returned thanks he gave it to them, and all drank from it, and he said to them,</p><p> <b style="color: #990000;">✠</b> This is my blood, the blood of the covenant, which is to be poured out for many. I tell you solemnly, I shall not drink any more wine until the day I drink the new wine in the kingdom of God.</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> After psalms had been sung they left for the Mount of Olives. And Jesus said to them,</p><p> <b style="color: #990000;">✠</b> You will all lose faith, for the scripture says: ‘I shall strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered.’ However, after my resurrection I shall go before you to Galilee.</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> Peter said,</p><p> <b style="color: #073763;">O</b>. Even if all lose faith, I will not.</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> And Jesus said to him,</p><p> <b style="color: #990000;">✠</b> I tell you solemnly, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will have disowned me three times.</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> But he repeated still more earnestly,</p><p> <b style="color: #073763;">O</b>. If I have to die with you, I will never disown you.</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> And they all said the same.</p><p> They came to a small estate called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples,</p><p> <b style="color: #990000;">✠</b> Stay here while I pray.</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> Then he took Peter and James and John with him. And a sudden fear came over him, and great distress. And he said to them,</p><p> <b style="color: #990000;">✠</b> My soul is sorrowful to the point of death. Wait here, and keep awake.</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> And going on a little further he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, this hour might pass him by. He said:</p><p> <b style="color: #990000;">✠ </b>Abba (Father)! Everything is possible for you. Take this cup away from me. But let it be as you, not I, would have it.</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> He came back and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter,</p><p> <b style="color: #990000;">✠</b> Simon, are you asleep? Had you not the strength to keep awake one hour? You should be awake, and praying not to be put to the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> Again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. And once more he came back and found them sleeping, their eyes were so heavy; and they could find no answer for him. He came back a third time and said to them,</p><p> <b style="color: #990000;">✠</b> You can sleep on now and take your rest. It is all over. The hour has come. Now the Son of Man is to be betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up! Let us go! My betrayer is close at hand already.</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> Even while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, came up with a number of men armed with swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. Now the traitor had arranged a signal with them. He had said,</p><p> <b style="color: #073763;">O</b>. The one I kiss he is the man. Take him in charge, and see he is well guarded when you lead him away.</p><p> <b><span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> So when the traitor came, he went straight up to Jesus and said,</p><p> <b style="color: #073763;">O</b>. Rabbi!</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> and kissed him. The others seized him and took him in charge. Then one of the bystanders drew his sword and struck out at the high priest’s servant, and cut off his ear.</p><p> Then Jesus spoke:</p><p> <b style="color: #990000;">✠</b> Am I a brigand, that you had to set out to capture me with swords and clubs? I was among you teaching in the Temple day after day and you never laid hands on me. But this is to fulfil the scriptures.</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> And they all deserted him and ran away. A young man who followed him had nothing on but a linen cloth. They caught hold of him, but he left the cloth in their hands and ran away naked.</p><p> They led Jesus off to the high priest; and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes assembled there. Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the high priest’s palace, and was sitting with the attendants warming himself at the fire.</p><p> The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus on which they might pass the death sentence. But they could not find any. Several, indeed, brought false evidence against him, but their evidence was conflicting. Some stood up and submitted this false evidence against him,</p><p> <b style="color: #783f04;">C</b>. We heard him say, ‘I am going to destroy this Temple made by human hands, and in three days build another, not made by human hands.’</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> But even on this point their evidence was conflicting. The high priest then stood up before the whole assembly and put this question to Jesus,</p><p> <b style="color: #073763;">O</b>. Have you no answer to that? What is this evidence these men are bringing against you?</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> But he was silent and made no answer at all. The high priest put a second question to him,</p><p> <b style="color: #073763;">O</b>. Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> Jesus said,</p><p> <b style="color: #990000;">✠</b> I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> The high priest tore his robes, and said:</p><p> <b style="color: #073763;">O</b>. What need of witnesses have we now? You heard the blasphemy. What is your finding?</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> And they all gave their verdict: he deserved to die.</p><p> Some of them started spitting at him and, blindfolding him, began hitting him with their fists and shouting,</p><p> <b style="color: #783f04;">C</b>. Play the prophet!</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> And the attendants rained blows on him.</p><p> While Peter was down below in the courtyard, one of the high priest’s servant-girls came up. She saw Peter warming himself there, stared at him and said,</p><p> <b style="color: #073763;">O</b>. You too were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> But he denied it, saying.</p><p> <b style="color: #073763;">O</b>. I do not know, I do not understand, what you are talking about.</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> And he went out into the forecourt. The servant-girl saw him and again started telling the bystanders,</p><p> <b style="color: #073763;">O</b>. This fellow is one of them.</p><p> <b><span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> But again he denied it. A little later the bystanders themselves said to Peter,</p><p> <b style="color: #783f04;">C</b>. You are one of them for sure! Why, you are a Galilean.</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> But he started calling down curses on himself and swearing,</p><p> <b style="color: #073763;">O</b>. I do not know the man you speak of.</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> At that moment the cock crew for the second time, and Peter recalled how Jesus had said to him, ‘Before the cock crows twice, you will have disowned me three times.’ And he burst into tears.</p><p> First thing in the morning, the chief priests together with the elders and scribes, in short the whole Sanhedrin, had their plan ready. They had Jesus bound and took him away and handed him over to Pilate.</p><p> Pilate questioned him:</p><p> <b style="color: #073763;">O</b>. Are you the king of the Jews?</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> He answered,</p><p> <b style="color: #990000;">✠</b> It is you who say it.</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> And the chief priests brought many accusations against him. Pilate questioned him again:</p><p> <b style="color: #073763;">O</b>. Have you no reply at all? See how many accusations they are bringing against you!</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> But, to Pilate’s amazement, Jesus made no further reply.</p><p> At festival time Pilate used to release a prisoner for them, anyone they asked for. Now a man called Barabbas was then in prison with the rioters who had committed murder during the uprising. When the crowd went up and began to ask Pilate the customary favour, Pilate answered them</p><p> <b style="color: #073763;">O</b>. Do you want me to release for you the king of the Jews?</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> For he realised it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over. The chief priests, however, had incited the crowd to demand that he should release Barabbas for them instead. Then Pilate spoke again:</p><p> <b style="color: #073763;">O</b>. But in that case, what am I to do with the man you call king of the Jews?</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> They shouted back,</p><p> <b style="color: #783f04;">C</b>. Crucify him!</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> Pilate asked them,</p><p> <b style="color: #073763;">O</b>. Why? What harm has he done?</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> But they shouted all the louder,</p><p> <b style="color: #783f04;">C</b>. Crucify him!</p><p> <b><span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> So Pilate, anxious to placate the crowd, released Barabbas for them and, having ordered Jesus to be scourged, handed him over to be crucified.</p><p> The soldiers led him away to the inner part of the palace, that is, the Praetorium, and called the whole cohort together. They dressed him up in purple, twisted some thorns into a crown and put it on him. And they began saluting him,</p><p> <b style="color: #783f04;">C</b>. Hail, king of the Jews!</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> They struck his head with a reed and spat on him; and they went down on their knees to do him homage. And when they had finished making fun of him, they took off the purple and dressed him in his own clothes.</p><p> They led him out to crucify him: they enlisted a passer-by, Simon of Cyrene, father of Alexander and Rufus, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross. They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha, which means the place of the skull.</p><p> They offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he refused it. Then they crucified him, and shared out his clothing, casting lots to decide what each should get. It was the third hour when they crucified him. The inscription giving the charge against him read: ‘The King of the Jews.’ And they crucified two robbers with him, one on his right and one on his left.</p><p> The passers-by jeered at him; they shook their heads and said,</p><p> <b style="color: #783f04;">C</b>. Aha! So you would destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days! Then save yourself: come down from the cross!</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> The chief priests and the scribes mocked him among themselves in the same way. They said,</p><p> <b style="color: #783f04;">C</b>. He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the king of Israel, come down from the cross now, for us to see it and believe.</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> Even those who were crucified with him taunted him.</p><p> When the sixth hour came there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice,</p><p> <b style="color: #990000;">✠</b> Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> which means, ‘My God, my God, why have you deserted me?’ When some of those who stood by heard this, they said</p><p> <b style="color: #783f04;">C</b>. Listen, he is calling on Elijah.</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> Someone ran and soaked a sponge in vinegar and, putting it on a reed, gave it him to drink, saying:</p><p> <b style="color: #073763;">O</b>. Wait and see if Elijah will come to take him down.</p><p> <b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> But Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last.</p><p> All kneel and pause for a moment.</p><p> And the veil of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The centurion, who was standing in front of him, had seen how he had died, and he said,</p><p> <b style="color: #073763;">O</b>. In truth this man was a son of God.</p><p><b> <span style="color: #274e13;">N</span>.</b> There were some women watching from a distance. Among them were Mary of Magdala, Mary who was the mother of James the younger and Joset, and Salome. These used to follow him and look after him when he was in Galilee. And there were many other women there who had come up to Jerusalem with him.</p><p> It was now evening, and since it was Preparation Day (that is, the vigil of the sabbath), there came Joseph of Arimathaea, a prominent member of the Council, who himself lived in the hope of seeing the kingdom of God, and he boldly went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate, astonished that he should have died so soon, summoned the centurion and enquired if he was already dead. Having been assured of this by the centurion, he granted the corpse to Joseph who bought a shroud, took Jesus down from the cross, wrapped him in the shroud and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb. Mary of Magdala and Mary the mother of Joset were watching and took note of where he was laid.</p><p><br /></p>ST JOSEPH PLENTONGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16711340916949677178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670517486906733504.post-67388436266121683782024-03-15T22:00:00.071+08:002024-03-15T22:00:00.142+08:00Mass Reading: Sunday - 17th March 2024<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><b>First reading</b><br />Jeremiah 31:31-34</span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">I will write my Law in their hearts</span></div><p><span> </span>See, the days are coming – it is the Lord who speaks – when I will make a new covenant with the House of Israel (and the House of Judah), but not a covenant like the one I made with their ancestors on the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant of mine, so I had to show them who was master. It is the Lord who speaks. No, this is the covenant I will make with the House of Israel when those days arrive – it is the Lord who speaks. Deep within them I will plant my Law, writing it on their hearts. Then I will be their God and they shall be my people. There will be no further need for neighbour to try to teach neighbour, or brother to say to brother, ‘Learn to know the Lord!’ No, they will all know me, the least no less than the greatest – it is the Lord who speaks – since I will forgive their iniquity and never call their sin to mind.</p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The word of the Lord.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><b>Responsorial Psalm</b><br />Psalm 50(51):3-4,12-15</span></div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">A pure heart create for me, O God.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness.<br /> In your compassion blot out my offence.<br />O wash me more and more from my guilt<br /> and cleanse me from my sin.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">A pure heart create for me, O God.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">A pure heart create for me, O God,<br /> put a steadfast spirit within me.<br />Do not cast me away from your presence,<br /> nor deprive me of your holy spirit.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">A pure heart create for me, O God.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">Give me again the joy of your help;<br /> with a spirit of fervour sustain me,<br />that I may teach transgressors your ways<br /> and sinners may return to you.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">A pure heart create for me, O God.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><b>Second reading</b><br />Hebrews 5:7-9</span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">He learned to obey and he became the source of eternal salvation</span></div><p><span> </span>During his life on earth, Christ offered up prayer and entreaty, aloud and in silent tears, to the one who had the power to save him out of death, and he submitted so humbly that his prayer was heard. Although he was Son, he learnt to obey through suffering; but having been made perfect, he became for all who obey him the source of eternal salvation.</p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The word of the Lord.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><b>Gospel Acclamation</b><br />Jn12:26</span></div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">Whoever serves me must follow me, says the Lord;<br />and where I am, there also will my servant be.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Glory to you, O Christ, you are the Word of God!</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><b>Gospel</b><br />John 12:20-33</span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">If a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies, it yields a rich harvest</span></div><p><span> </span>Among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. These approached Philip, who came from Bethsaida in Galilee, and put this request to him, ‘Sir, we should like to see Jesus.’ Philip went to tell Andrew, and Andrew and Philip together went to tell Jesus. Jesus replied to them:</p><div style="text-align: left;">‘Now the hour has come<br />for the Son of Man to be glorified.<br />I tell you, most solemnly,<br />unless a wheat grain falls on the ground and dies,<br />it remains only a single grain;<br />but if it dies,<br />it yields a rich harvest.<br />Anyone who loves his life loses it;<br />anyone who hates his life in this world<br />will keep it for the eternal life.<br />If a man serves me, he must follow me,<br />wherever I am, my servant will be there too.<br />If anyone serves me, my Father will honour him.<br />Now my soul is troubled.<br />What shall I say:<br />Father, save me from this hour?<br />But it was for this very reason that I have come to this hour.<br />Father, glorify your name!’</div><p><span> </span>A voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.’ People standing by, who heard this, said it was a clap of thunder; others said, ‘It was an angel speaking to him.’ Jesus answered, ‘It was not for my sake that this voice came, but for yours.</p><div style="text-align: left;">‘Now sentence is being passed on this world;<br />now the prince of this world is to be overthrown.<br />And when I am lifted up from the earth,<br />I shall draw all men to myself.’</div><p><span> </span>By these words he indicated the kind of death he would die.</p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The Gospel of the Lord.</span></p><p><br /></p>ST JOSEPH PLENTONGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16711340916949677178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670517486906733504.post-33587587732310588852024-03-15T22:00:00.010+08:002024-03-15T22:00:00.142+08:00Mass Reflection: Sunday - 17th March 2024<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong style="color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, baskerville, georgia, serif;"><span style="color: teal;"><a href="https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031724-YearB.cfm" style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">JER 31:31-34; PS 51:3-4, 12-13, 14-15; HEB 5:7-9; JN 12:20-33</a></span></span></strong></span></p><img height="460" src="https://mcusercontent.com/7966b83159749778babff90a2/images/27bac9cd-4bf5-e6f0-ff74-05f7c3dc9602.jpg" width="1200" /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;">As we are nearing the end of our Lenten journey, our readings today remind us of the goodness that our God has to offer us. <br /> <br />Our First Reading, from the prophet Jeremiah, foretells the coming of the new covenant. Because man failed to remain faithful to God’s covenant requirements, the Lord declares that a new covenant will be made. This covenant is unique because it will be written within the hearts of man, as the Lord says, “I will place my law within them and write it upon their hearts.” This covenant will transform man’s relationship with God and it will be through our Mediator, Jesus Christ. <br /> <br />Once we begin Holy Week, we receive the sign of this new covenant at the Last Supper — the Eucharist. And it is in the Eucharist that we commemorate Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross — the moment when God “forgives our evildoing and remembers our sin no more.” And although this covenant was established many years ago, it is still new for us today. As this Lenten season comes to a close, let us strive to partake in the richness God has offered to us through this covenant by more faithfully living out our call as disciples of Christ through prayer, frequent reception of the sacraments, and service to our families and neighbors. <br /> <br />In our Gospel today, Jesus announces that the “hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” All that He came to do on this earth was soon to be fulfilled. When we reflect on what Jesus says in this passage, He tells us a great deal about how we should be living as disciples of Christ. He states clearly, “unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.” <br /> <br />We are called to “die” to ourselves by detaching from our own desires and entrusting our lives to all that God has in store for us. Without this practice of self-denial, we might miss occasions God has given us to produce good fruit. We have been practicing this throughout our Lenten season through fasting. One way to continue this effort after Lent is by taking advantage of the countless opportunities God presents to us to sacrifice our desires for something much greater — whether it be waking up 15 minutes earlier to spend time in prayer with the Lord, fasting from a favorite comfort on a weekly basis, or taking the time to call to check in on a friend or family member instead of turning on the TV, just to name a few. It is important to die to ourselves so that we might continue to make room for God and the good things He wants to produce in us all year long. <br /> <br />Jesus also states, “whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.” God should have our entire heart, not just a portion of it. When we regularly practice the discipline of detachment by offering small, daily sacrifices to the Lord, we are also better preparing our hearts for the ultimate happiness in eternal life. <br /> <br />As our Lenten journey soon concludes, let us strive to more faithfully live out our covenant with God by actively living as disciples of Christ. And may we consider the ways in which we might continue the practice of self-denial by offering small, daily sacrifices to the Lord.</span><div style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"></div></div>ST JOSEPH PLENTONGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16711340916949677178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670517486906733504.post-84435007440489367562024-03-08T22:00:00.010+08:002024-03-08T22:00:00.147+08:00Mass Reflection: Sunday - 10th March 2024<p><strong style="background-color: #e6f3e6;"><a href="https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031024-YearB.cfm" style="font-weight: normal; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;">2 CHR 36: 14-16, 19-23; PS 137: 1-6; EPH 2: 4-10; JN 3: 14-2</span></a></strong></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"> <span style="background-color: #e6f3e6;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjESEVVJd_w2fQEjveCbPCHx_M1nopOs6FURO3OMZAE8d2wtFSgojFPjFUMrDbMoidQirKA9br1vXt__dC8xaPUFcpU-d2QiGngLhbwkS9qkInK_JM-LES9OicjmfGeS0wiASxu_DCDd8484idJ9QKrfydkZuB61cg8ccHJJMI5k-3gF7o4VGqL4GWluCM" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="675" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjESEVVJd_w2fQEjveCbPCHx_M1nopOs6FURO3OMZAE8d2wtFSgojFPjFUMrDbMoidQirKA9br1vXt__dC8xaPUFcpU-d2QiGngLhbwkS9qkInK_JM-LES9OicjmfGeS0wiASxu_DCDd8484idJ9QKrfydkZuB61cg8ccHJJMI5k-3gF7o4VGqL4GWluCM=w435-h240" width="435" /></a></span></div><span style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><p><span style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></p>Today, the Fourth Sunday of Lent, is what is called Laetare Sunday. Most of us are quite accustomed to the Mass being conducted in our native tongue, and we may have lost track of the fact that Latin is still the official language of the Church. On occasion Latin reasserts itself. This Sunday is one of those times as Laetare means “Rejoice” in Latin. In the Introit to the Mass (the entrance antiphon) it begins Laetare, Jerusalem (“Rejoice, Jerusalem!”)</span><br style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">The actual midpoint of Lent occurred this past Thursday, and this day has traditionally been viewed as a day of celebration, when we sort of lessen the soberness normally attached to Lent. You may notice some changes in the church itself in terms of environment, and priests and deacons have the option of wearing pink or rose vestments rather than purple or violet. This Sunday has a corresponding day during Advent called Gaudete Sunday. The point of both these days is providing us with encouragement in the midst of our penitential seasons.</span><br style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">As part of this more upbeat attitude and approach to our celebrations of Mass this weekend, there is a focus on salvation and redemption, which is the reason we have to “rejoice.”</span><br style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">There are two Books of Chronicles — First Chronicles and Second Chronicles. Although Chronicles tends to repeat much of what has gone before in the Bible, the writer (the chronicler) brings a different approach to some aspects. The material of Chronicles lists genealogies from Adam to King Saul and covers the death of Saul, the reign of King David, the reign of King Solomon, and from the division of the monarchy into the northern and southern kingdoms to the end of the Babylonian exile.</span><br style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Our First Reading comes from the final chapter of Second Chronicles, so it includes the beginning of the Babylonian Exile (607-586 B.C.). The chronicler spent a lot of time addressing the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem (thus the statement Laetare, Jerusalem (“Rejoice, Jerusalem”). The final verses of today’s readings are indeed the closing of Chronicles. Chronicles points out to the Jewish people, and to us also, that they are strongly connected to God’s overall plan. “Whoever, therefore, among you belongs to any part of his people, let him go up (return to Jerusalem) and may his God be with him.” The people were released from exile by King Cyrus of Persia in the first year of his reign. Where the Books of Kings seems to be centered on stern moral judgments, Chronicles is essentially a book of hope. That is why we rejoice. Christ’s saving grace gives us hope during this time of Lent.</span><br style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">St. Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, our Second Reading, reminds us “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God.” What a reason to rejoice. God loves us even when we are not lovable. He loves us even when we do not give Him a reason to do so. </span><br style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">We are also reminded that God created each of us. In this same reading St. Paul declares, “for we are his (God’s) handiwork.” In the original Greek the word translated as “handiwork” is poiema (ποίημα). Another meaning of the word is considered by some scholars to be “masterpiece.” The word poiema is also the root word for “poem” and “poetry.” What a joyous thought for us to consider and appreciate! We, each and every one of us, are God’s masterpiece, His poem. That is a reason to celebrate, but it is also a reason for us to be doing things during Lent to make us more that way.</span><br style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish, but might have eternal life.” (John 3:16) There are well more than 30,000 verses in the Bible as we know it, but this particular verse has been held forward as the most succinct declaration of the entire Gospel message. Yet, we may dissect all the meanings too much, but because of its brevity and its power it is worthy of a close look. “God so loved the world…” This includes all of us, the entire world; it does not limit this love to a particular group or location. “He gave…” That is what God does; He gives. We are the recipients. Stewardship is understanding that is the case, and striving to share some of those gifts “…so that everyone believes.” </span><br style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><br style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">This is much more than an intellectual conviction. It means to trust in God, to rely on God, and to cling to God in many ways. That is also at the basis of a stewardship way of life. We respond to God by becoming disciples and placing our total trust in Him. “…might have eternal life.” The concept of eternity is beyond our ability to comprehend as humans. This is much more than living forever; it means living with God, in His glory forever. That is what we all strive for; that is why we do what we do always, not just during this Lent. That also is a reason to “rejoice.”</span><p></p>ST JOSEPH PLENTONGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16711340916949677178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670517486906733504.post-26387511427361832182024-03-08T22:00:00.009+08:002024-03-08T22:00:00.147+08:00Mass Reading: Sunday - 10th March 2024<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><b>First reading</b><br />2 Chronicles 36:14-16,19-23</span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">God's wrath and mercy are revealed in the exile and release of his people</span></span></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> </span>All the heads of the priesthood, and the people too, added infidelity to infidelity, copying all the shameful practices of the nations and defiling the Temple that the Lord had consecrated for himself in Jerusalem. The Lord, the God of their ancestors, tirelessly sent them messenger after messenger, since he wished to spare his people and his house. But they ridiculed the messengers of God, they despised his words, they laughed at his prophets, until at last the wrath of the Lord rose so high against his people that there was no further remedy.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> Their enemies burned down the Temple of God, demolished the walls of Jerusalem, set fire to all its palaces, and destroyed everything of value in it. The survivors were deported by Nebuchadnezzar to Babylon; they were to serve him and his sons until the kingdom of Persia came to power. This is how the word of the Lord was fulfilled that he spoke through Jeremiah, ‘Until this land has enjoyed its sabbath rest, until seventy years have gone by, it will keep sabbath throughout the days of its desolation.’</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> And in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, to fulfil the word of the Lord that was spoken through Jeremiah, the Lord roused the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia to issue a proclamation and to have it publicly displayed throughout his kingdom: ‘Thus speaks Cyrus king of Persia, “The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth; he has ordered me to build him a Temple in Jerusalem, in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all his people, may his God be with him! Let him go up.”’</span></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">The word of the Lord.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">________</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><b>Responsorial Psalm</b><br /></span><span style="color: #a64d79;">Psalm 136(137):1-6</span></span></div><p><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">O let my tongue cleave to my mouth if I remember you not!</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">By the rivers of Babylon<br /> there we sat and wept,<br /> remembering Zion;<br />on the poplars that grew there<br /> we hung up our harps.</span></div><p><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">O let my tongue cleave to my mouth if I remember you not!</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For it was there that they asked us,<br /> our captors, for songs,<br /> our oppressors, for joy.<br />‘Sing to us,’ they said,<br /> ‘one of Zion’s songs.’</span></div><p><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">O let my tongue cleave to my mouth if I remember you not!</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">O how could we sing<br /> the song of the Lord<br /> on alien soil?<br />If I forget you, Jerusalem,<br /> let my right hand wither!</span></div><p><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">O let my tongue cleave to my mouth if I remember you not!</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">O let my tongue<br /> cleave to my mouth<br /> if I remember you not,<br />if I prize not Jerusalem<br /> above all my joys!</span></div><p><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">O let my tongue cleave to my mouth if I remember you not!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">________</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b style="color: #a64d79;">Second reading</b><br /><span style="color: #a64d79;">Ephesians 2:4-10</span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">You have been saved through grace</span></span></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> </span>God loved us with so much love that he was generous with his mercy: when we were dead through our sins, he brought us to life with Christ – it is through grace that you have been saved – and raised us up with him and gave us a place with him in heaven, in Christ Jesus.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> This was to show for all ages to come, through his goodness towards us in Christ Jesus, how infinitely rich he is in grace. Because it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith; not by anything of your own, but by a gift from God; not by anything that you have done, so that nobody can claim the credit. We are God’s work of art, created in Christ Jesus to live the good life as from the beginning he had meant us to live it.</span></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">The word of the Lord.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">________</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: medium;"><b>Gospel Acclamation</b><br />Jn3:16</span></div><p><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">Glory and praise to you, O Christ!</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son:<br />everyone who believes in him has eternal life.</span></div><p><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">Glory and praise to you, O Christ!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">________</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><b>Gospel</b><br />John 3:14-21</span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">God sent his Son so that through him the world might be saved</span></span></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Jesus said to Nicodemus:</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">‘The Son of Man must be lifted up<br />as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert,<br />so that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.<br />Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son,<br />so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost<br />but may have eternal life.<br />For God sent his Son into the world<br />not to condemn the world,<br />but so that through him the world might be saved.<br />No one who believes in him will be condemned;<br />but whoever refuses to believe is condemned already,<br />because he has refused to believe in the name of God’s only Son.<br />On these grounds is sentence pronounced:<br />that though the light has come into the world<br />men have shown they prefer darkness to the light<br />because their deeds were evil.<br />And indeed, everybody who does wrong<br />hates the light and avoids it,<br />for fear his actions should be exposed;<br />but the man who lives by the truth comes out into the light,<br />so that it may be plainly seen that what he does is done in God.’</span></div><p><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: medium;">The Gospel of the Lord.</span></p><p><br /></p>ST JOSEPH PLENTONGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16711340916949677178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670517486906733504.post-51170324823703787352024-03-01T22:00:00.077+08:002024-03-01T22:00:00.145+08:00Mass Reading: Sunday - 03rd March 2024<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><b>First reading</b><br />Exodus 20:1-17</span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">The Law given at Sinai</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></div><p><span> </span>God spoke all these words. He said, ‘I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.</p><p> ‘You shall have no gods except me.</p><p> ‘You shall not make yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything in heaven or on earth beneath or in the waters under the earth; you shall not bow down to them or serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God and I punish the father’s fault in the sons, the grandsons, and the great-grandsons of those who hate me; but I show kindness to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.</p><p> ‘You shall not utter the name of the Lord your God to misuse it, for the Lord will not leave unpunished the man who utters his name to misuse it.</p><p> ‘Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy. For six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath for the Lord your God. You shall do no work that day, neither you nor your son nor your daughter nor your servants, men or women, nor your animals nor the stranger who lives with you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that these hold, but on the seventh day he rested; that is why the Lord has blessed the sabbath day and made it sacred.</p><p> ‘Honour your father and your mother so that you may have a long life in the land that the Lord your God has given to you.</p><p> ‘You shall not kill.</p><p> ‘You shall not commit adultery.</p><p> ‘You shall not steal.</p><p> ‘You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.</p><p> ‘You shall not covet your neighbour’s house. You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, or his servant, man or woman, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is his.’</p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The word of the Lord.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><b>Responsorial Psalm</b><br />Psalm 18(19):8-11</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span></div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">You, Lord, have the message of eternal life.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">The law of the Lord is perfect,<br /> it revives the soul.<br />The rule of the Lord is to be trusted,<br /> it gives wisdom to the simple.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">You, Lord, have the message of eternal life.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">The precepts of the Lord are right,<br /> they gladden the heart.<br />The command of the Lord is clear,<br /> it gives light to the eyes.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">You, Lord, have the message of eternal life.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">The fear of the Lord is holy,<br /> abiding for ever.<br />The decrees of the Lord are truth<br /> and all of them just.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">You, Lord, have the message of eternal life.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">They are more to be desired than gold,<br /> than the purest of gold<br />and sweeter are they than honey,<br /> than honey from the comb.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">You, Lord, have the message of eternal life.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><b>Second reading</b><br />1 Corinthians 1:22-25</span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">The crucified Christ, the power and wisdom of God</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></div><p><span> </span>While the Jews demand miracles and the Greeks look for wisdom, here are we preaching a crucified Christ; to the Jews an obstacle that they cannot get over, to the pagans madness, but to those who have been called, whether they are Jews or Greeks, a Christ who is the power and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The word of the Lord.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><b>Gospel Acclamation</b><br />Jn11:25, 26</span></div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord;<br />whoever believes in me will never die.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!</span></p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><b>Or:</b><br />Jn3:16</span></div><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son:<br />everyone who believes in him has eternal life.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><b>Gospel</b><br />John 2:13-25</span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">Destroy this sanctuary and in three days I will raise it up</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></div><p><span> </span>Just before the Jewish Passover Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and in the Temple he found people selling cattle and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting at their counters there. Making a whip out of some cord, he drove them all out of the Temple, cattle and sheep as well, scattered the money-changers’ coins, knocked their tables over and said to the pigeon-sellers, ‘Take all this out of here and stop turning my Father’s house into a market.’ Then his disciples remembered the words of scripture: Zeal for your house will devour me. The Jews intervened and said, ‘What sign can you show us to justify what you have done?’ Jesus answered, ‘Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews replied, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this sanctuary: are you going to raise it up in three days?’ But he was speaking of the sanctuary that was his body, and when Jesus rose from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the scripture and the words he had said.</p><p> During his stay in Jerusalem for the Passover many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he gave, but Jesus knew them all and did not trust himself to them; he never needed evidence about any man; he could tell what a man had in him.</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The Gospel of the Lord.</span></p><p><br /></p>ST JOSEPH PLENTONGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16711340916949677178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670517486906733504.post-2619091027343710022024-03-01T22:00:00.006+08:002024-03-01T22:00:00.145+08:00Mass Reflection: Sunday - 03rd March 2024<p><strong style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: dimgrey;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, baskerville, georgia, serif;"><a href="https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030324.cfm" style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;">EX 20:1-17; PS 19:8, 9, 10, 11; 1 COR 1:22-25; JN 2:13-25</span></a></span></span></strong></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSp6XNbaS4b7X7ym9iNtgV0qpCORu8lmLw6gJ50852T7ckycSUhy_-Exv8KK2TpnOkQStL8x_j9GevCV_C9K-LcnLIN9gwUcddT5yr0fVjUA8D5iA3savCtFF0IEtDCLkLZfj_M-gdN63EqMJbcY24vJpSHDUnaSH-eJP5CDDDCoiSd-YU9QkCRm7pErY" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" data-original-height="374" data-original-width="664" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSp6XNbaS4b7X7ym9iNtgV0qpCORu8lmLw6gJ50852T7ckycSUhy_-Exv8KK2TpnOkQStL8x_j9GevCV_C9K-LcnLIN9gwUcddT5yr0fVjUA8D5iA3savCtFF0IEtDCLkLZfj_M-gdN63EqMJbcY24vJpSHDUnaSH-eJP5CDDDCoiSd-YU9QkCRm7pErY" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">This week marks the halfway point in our season of Lent. Our readings call us to roll up our sleeves and persevere through the remainder of Lent by committing to a more faithful life with Christ.</span><br style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">In our First Reading from the Book of Exodus, God delivers the Ten Commandments. He commands to not worship any gods besides Him, “For I, the Lord, your God, am a jealous God.” He states that those who do not follow His commands will receive punishment — yet, to those who love the Lord and follow His commands, He will show “mercy down to the thousandth generation.”</span><br style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">These commandments, when faithfully followed, help us remain close to God. They are vitally important to our faith. They call us to love God with all our heart, mind and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves. God presents these commandments to us with the freedom to follow them or reject them. If we reject them, we will have to accept the consequences. If we follow them, we begin to understand that these commands are not burdensome but rather liberating. It is because of God’s deep love for us that He gifted us with them. They will keep us free from sin and death and help us enter into eternal life with Him. And we are called to follow them fully as God says, “For I, the Lord, your God, am a jealous God.” He does not want a half-hearted devotion or a lukewarm disciple. As Christian stewards, we are called to follow these commandments wholeheartedly and to seek His mercy when we fail. </span><br style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">In our Gospel today, Jesus purifies the temple area because it is being misused as a marketplace. He becomes angry at their lack of reverence for God. He spills the coins of the money changers and overturns tables, saying, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.” Those who were with Him asked for a sign for doing this and He said, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” No one understood that He was referring to the death and resurrection of His Body. </span><br style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Jesus witnessed the way people mistreated the temple — the place to worship God and God alone. He drives out the evil and works to purify all that is sinful in that place. This is what Jesus wants to do for us this Lenten season. He wants to remove all impurity and evil in our lives and within our hearts so that we may have a proper dwelling place for the Holy Spirit. So, let us ask ourselves, what areas of our life need cleansing? Let us name those areas and invite Jesus to purify us. He became man to take to carry our burdens and wipe away our sins. He has given us boundless mercy, but we must do our part to seek it and commit to living a more faithful life as a disciple of Christ. </span><br style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">This season of Lent is only halfway done — there is still time to work through our shortcomings and purify our hearts for the glorious Easter morning. Let us not waste another moment. Let us commit to living more faithfully God’s commandments, let us seek God’s mercy and let us invite God to transform our hearts. </span></span><p></p>ST JOSEPH PLENTONGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16711340916949677178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670517486906733504.post-2807885213463737142024-02-23T22:00:00.053+08:002024-02-23T22:00:00.162+08:00Mass Reading: Sunday - 25th February 2024<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>First reading</b><br />Genesis 22:1-2,9-13,15-18</span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">The sacrifice of Abraham, our father in faith</span></div><p><span> </span>God put Abraham to the test. ‘Abraham, Abraham’ he called. ‘Here I am’ he replied. ‘Take your son,’ God said ‘your only child Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. There you shall offer him as a burnt offering, on a mountain I will point out to you.’</p><p> When they arrived at the place God had pointed out to him, Abraham built an altar there, and arranged the wood. Then he bound his son Isaac and put him on the altar on top of the wood. Abraham stretched out his hand and seized the knife to kill his son.</p><p> But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven. ‘Abraham, Abraham’ he said. ‘I am here’ he replied. ‘Do not raise your hand against the boy’ the angel said. ‘Do not harm him, for now I know you fear God. You have not refused me your son, your only son.’ Then looking up, Abraham saw a ram caught by its horns in a bush. Abraham took the ram and offered it as a burnt-offering in place of his son.</p><p> The angel of the Lord called Abraham a second time from heaven. ‘I swear by my own self – it is the Lord who speaks – because you have done this, because you have not refused me your son, your only son, I will shower blessings on you, I will make your descendants as many as the stars of heaven and the grains of sand on the seashore. Your descendants shall gain possession of the gates of their enemies. All the nations of the earth shall bless themselves by your descendants, as a reward for your obedience.’</p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The word of the Lord.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>Responsorial Psalm</b><br />Psalm 115(116):10,15-19</span></div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">I trusted, even when I said:<br /> ‘I am sorely afflicted,’<br />O precious in the eyes of the Lord<br /> is the death of his faithful.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">Your servant, Lord, your servant am I;<br /> you have loosened my bonds.<br />A thanksgiving sacrifice I make;<br /> I will call on the Lord’s name.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">My vows to the Lord I will fulfil<br /> before all his people,<br />in the courts of the house of the Lord,<br /> in your midst, O Jerusalem.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>Second reading</b><br />Romans 8:31-34</span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">God did not spare his own Son</span></div><p><span> </span>With God on our side who can be against us? Since God did not spare his own Son, but gave him up to benefit us all, we may be certain, after such a gift, that he will not refuse anything he can give. Could anyone accuse those that God has chosen? When God acquits, could anyone condemn? Could Christ Jesus? No! He not only died for us – he rose from the dead, and there at God’s right hand he stands and pleads for us.</p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The word of the Lord.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>Gospel Acclamation</b><br />Mt17:5</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Glory and praise to you, O Christ!<br />From the bright cloud the Father’s voice was heard:<br />‘This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.’<br />Glory and praise to you, O Christ!</div><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>Gospel</b><br />Mark 9:2-10</span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">This is my Son, the Beloved</span></div><p><span> </span>Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone by themselves. There in their presence he was transfigured: his clothes became dazzlingly white, whiter than any earthly bleacher could make them. Elijah appeared to them with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus. Then Peter spoke to Jesus: ‘Rabbi,’ he said ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; so let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He did not know what to say; they were so frightened. And a cloud came, covering them in shadow; and there came a voice from the cloud, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.’ Then suddenly, when they looked round, they saw no one with them any more but only Jesus.</p><p> As they came down from the mountain he warned them to tell no one what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. They observed the warning faithfully, though among themselves they discussed what ‘rising from the dead’ could mean.</p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The Gospel of the Lord.</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>ST JOSEPH PLENTONGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16711340916949677178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670517486906733504.post-71845402624324539572024-02-23T22:00:00.005+08:002024-02-23T22:00:00.163+08:00Mass Reflection: Sunday - 25th February 2024<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> <strong style="color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: dimgrey;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, baskerville, georgia, serif;"><a href="https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022524.cfm" style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">GN 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18; PS 116:10, 15, 16-17, 18-19; ROM 8:31b-34; MK 9:2-10</a></span></span></strong></span></p><div style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica;"><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><img align="center" data-file-id="2510" height="311" src="https://mcusercontent.com/7966b83159749778babff90a2/_compresseds/39c58e1e-3cdb-f96f-a474-5a42c6e17601.jpg" style="border: 0px; height: 311px; margin: 6px; outline: none; width: 550px;" width="550" /></span></span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Our readings today are a powerful testimony to God’s profound love for each one of us. This is an important message that is conveyed during this holy season of Lent as we partake in the suffering, death, and resurrection of God’s only Son. It is also a reminder for us, as Christian stewards, to surrender all that we have to the Gracious Giver. </span><br style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">The First Reading from Genesis is the infamous story of God putting Abraham to the test. God commands Abraham to offer his son, Isaac, to the Lord as a sacrifice. Abraham obeys the Lord. He takes Isaac up to the land of Moriah, builds an altar, and prepares to slaughter his son. Yet, a messenger of the Lord cries out at the last moment to stop him, “Do not lay your hand on the boy… I know now how devoted you are to God, since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son.” Because of Abraham’s faithfulness and surrender to the Lord, the Lord blesses him abundantly, “I will bless you abundantly and make your descendants as countless as the stars of the sky.”</span><br style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">We can only imagine how Abraham felt, offering the life of his son, not understanding why, but blindly obeying. Yet, Abraham’s response of total surrender to God’s plan is a beautiful testament to trust in God’s deep love for us. As Christian stewards, we are called to surrender all to the Lord — our time, our talents, and even our material possessions. We should willingly give God our entire lives with the confidence that He will take care of us. When we surrender all to the Lord, we are allowing Him to be in charge. And just as we see in Abraham’s story, when God is in control, He blesses abundantly. Our God is all good, all-knowing, and all-loving. All that He has in store for us is for the good of our salvation. He will not disappoint. </span><br style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">St. Paul echoes this message so beautifully in our Second Reading. He says, “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him?” God loves us so much that He gave us His only Son who suffered, died, and rose for us. He has given us His very best. Can we not entrust our entire lives to Him knowing He will continue to pour out His love on us? </span><br style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">In our Gospel, Jesus took Peter, James, and John up a mountain, apart from the rest. It says, “he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white.” Then God spoke out from a cloud, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” Peter, James, and John had this intimate moment with Jesus, seeing Him as He truly is. </span><br style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">God desires to have this intimate relationship with us too. As we entrust our lives to God, He will more fully reveal Himself to us. We will more clearly see Christ in our lives as He truly is and, in turn, we will become more dazzling ourselves. </span><br style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Let us strive to journey up the mountain with Jesus during this Lenten season — growing in our intimate relationship with Him. May we reflect on His profound love for us on this journey. And let us pray for total surrender to His providence. </span><br /></span><br /></div></div>ST JOSEPH PLENTONGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16711340916949677178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670517486906733504.post-11563293307745307642024-02-16T22:00:00.054+08:002024-02-22T11:07:43.421+08:00Mass Reading: Sunday - 18th February 2024<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>First reading</b><br />Genesis 9:8-15</span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">'There shall be no flood to destroy the earth again'</span></div><p><span> </span>God spoke to Noah and his sons, ‘See, I establish my Covenant with you, and with your descendants after you; also with every living creature to be found with you, birds, cattle and every wild beast with you: everything that came out of the ark, everything that lives on the earth. I establish my Covenant with you: no thing of flesh shall be swept away again by the waters of the flood. There shall be no flood to destroy the earth again.’</p><p> God said, ‘Here is the sign of the Covenant I make between myself and you and every living creature with you for all generations: I set my bow in the clouds and it shall be a sign of the Covenant between me and the earth. When I gather the clouds over the earth and the bow appears in the clouds, I will recall the Covenant between myself and you and every living creature of every kind. And so the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all things of flesh.’</p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The word of the Lord.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>Responsorial Psalm</b><br />Psalm 24(25):4-6,7b-9</span></div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Your ways, Lord, are faithfulness and love for those who keep your covenant.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">Lord, make me know your ways.<br /> Lord, teach me your paths.<br />Make me walk in your truth, and teach me:<br /> for you are God my saviour.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Your ways, Lord, are faithfulness and love for those who keep your covenant.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">Remember your mercy, Lord,<br /> and the love you have shown from of old.<br />In your love remember me,<br /> because of your goodness, O Lord.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Your ways, Lord, are faithfulness and love for those who keep your covenant.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">The Lord is good and upright.<br /> He shows the path to those who stray,<br />He guides the humble in the right path,<br /> He teaches his way to the poor.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Your ways, Lord, are faithfulness and love for those who keep your covenant.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">Second reading<br />1 Peter 3:18-22<br />The water on which the Ark floated is a type of the baptism which saves you now</div><p><span> </span>Christ himself, innocent though he was, died once for sins, died for the guilty, to lead us to God. In the body he was put to death, in the spirit he was raised to life, and, in the spirit, he went to preach to the spirits in prison. Now it was long ago, when Noah was still building that ark which saved only a small group of eight people ‘by water’, and when God was still waiting patiently, that these spirits refused to believe. That water is a type of the baptism which saves you now, and which is not the washing off of physical dirt but a pledge made to God from a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has entered heaven and is at God’s right hand, now that he has made the angels and Dominations and Powers his subjects.</p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The word of the Lord.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>Gospel Acclamation</b><br />Mt4:4</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!<br />Man does not live on bread alone,<br />but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.<br />Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!</div><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>Gospel</b><br />Mark 1:12-15</span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">Jesus was tempted by Satan, and the angels looked after him</span></div><p><span> </span>The Spirit drove Jesus out into the wilderness and he remained there for forty days, and was tempted by Satan. He was with the wild beasts, and the angels looked after him.</p><p> After John had been arrested, Jesus went into Galilee. There he proclaimed the Good News from God. ‘The time has come’ he said ‘and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News.’</p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The Gospel of the Lord.</span></p><p><br /></p>ST JOSEPH PLENTONGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16711340916949677178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670517486906733504.post-90090355112241427572024-02-16T22:00:00.005+08:002024-02-22T11:01:41.387+08:00Mass Reflection: Sunday - 18th February 2024<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> <strong style="color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: dimgrey;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, baskerville, georgia, serif;"><a href="https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021824.cfm" style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">GN 9:8-15; PS 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9; 1 PT 3:18-22; MK 1:12-15</a></span></span></strong></span></p><div style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica;"><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><img align="none" data-file-id="829" height="353" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/7966b83159749778babff90a2/images/f6ea414b-7bcb-4518-a2df-6e9804606d3b.jpg" style="border: 0px; height: 353px; margin: 8px; outline: none; width: 530px;" width="530" /></span></div><div style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">As we celebrate our first Sunday of Lent, our readings today remind us why we partake in this 40-day Lenten journey — to prepare our hearts for the resurrection of Christ on the glorious Easter morning.</span><br style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Many times throughout Scripture, God presents great blessings after 40 days of purification. We see an example of this in our First Reading from Genesis. In the story of Noah and the flood, Noah preserves his family and animals on an ark for 40 days and 40 nights. There is no doubt that this journey was filled with a great deal of sacrifice and prayer as those days dragged on and the earth was swallowed up by waters. Yet, after that time of trial, Noah and his family received a covenant from the Lord. God says, “See, I am now establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you… that never again shall all bodily creatures be destroyed by the waters of a flood.” And the sign of this covenant between God and man is a rainbow, “When I bring clouds over the earth, and the bow appears in the clouds, I will recall the covenant I have made between men and you and all living beings.” Without the 40-day journey in the ark, Noah would not have been able to receive this covenant with a grateful heart. God presents great blessings to those who are prepared to receive them. </span><br style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">St. Peter reminds us in our Second Reading of the many blessings we receive from Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection. He proclaims, “Christ suffered for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous that he might lead you to God.” And again, “[Baptism] is not a removal of dirt from the body but an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” These are the many blessings God has shared with us through the gift of His Son. </span><br style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">To receive the blessings more readily from Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection, we too are called to endure 40 days “in the desert.” In our Gospel from St. Mark, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert where He was tempted by Satan. Jesus was called to face trials and to confront evil. During this time, He committed to intense prayer and fasting. It was not necessary for Jesus to go into the desert so that He might be purified. But it was necessary for Him to go into the desert to endure the temptations of man for our sake. He was fully man, and experienced temptations just like us, yet responded to them perfectly, never falling into sin. Once He was finished, He began proclaiming the Gospel, saying, “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” The Good News of Jesus Christ was announced. </span><br style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">We should strive to fully participate in this Lenten season by mirroring Jesus, the model steward by Whom we are called to imitate. Through our time in the desert, we will confront evil by weeding out the roots of sin in our lives through fasting. And we will be sustained and nourished in the desert by prayer. If we willingly choose to spend this Lent like Jesus, we will be ready to receive the glorious gift of Himself and partake in the riches that pour forth from that Gift. </span><br style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Let us strive to purify our hearts for the remainder of these 40 days so that we might be ready to receive all that God plans to bless us with on Easter. </span></span></div>ST JOSEPH PLENTONGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16711340916949677178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670517486906733504.post-53978600085171917402024-02-13T22:00:00.094+08:002024-02-13T22:00:00.140+08:00Mass Reading: Wednesday - 14th February 2024<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><b>First reading</b><br />Joel 2:12-18</span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">Let your hearts be broken, not your garments torn</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span>‘Now, now – it is the Lord who speaks –<br />come back to me with all your heart,<br />fasting, weeping, mourning.’<br />Let your hearts be broken, not your garments torn,<br />turn to the Lord your God again,<br />for he is all tenderness and compassion,<br />slow to anger, rich in graciousness,<br />and ready to relent.<br />Who knows if he will not turn again, will not relent,<br />will not leave a blessing as he passes,<br />oblation and libation<br />for the Lord your God?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><span> </span>Sound the trumpet in Zion!</div><div style="text-align: left;">Order a fast,</div><div style="text-align: left;">proclaim a solemn assembly,<br />call the people together,<br />summon the community,<br />assemble the elders,<br />gather the children,<br />even the infants at the breast.<br />Let the bridegroom leave his bedroom<br />and the bride her alcove.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span>Between vestibule and altar let the priests,<br />the ministers of the Lord, lament.<br />Let them say,<br />‘Spare your people, Lord!<br />Do not make your heritage a thing of shame,<br />a byword for the nations.<br />Why should it be said among the nations,<br />“Where is their God?”’</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span> </span>Then the Lord, jealous on behalf of his land,<br />took pity on his people.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The word of the Lord.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><b>Responsorial Psalm</b><br />Psalm 50(51):3-6,12-14,17</span></div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness.<br /> In your compassion blot out my offence.<br />O wash me more and more from my guilt<br /> and cleanse me from my sin.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">My offences truly I know them;<br /> my sin is always before me<br />Against you, you alone, have I sinned;<br /> what is evil in your sight I have done.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">A pure heart create for me, O God,<br /> put a steadfast spirit within me.<br />Do not cast me away from your presence,<br /> nor deprive me of your holy spirit.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">Give me again the joy of your help;<br /> with a spirit of fervour sustain me,<br />O Lord, open my lips<br /> and my mouth shall declare your praise.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><b>Second reading</b><br />2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2</span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">Be reconciled to God</span></div><p><span> </span>We are ambassadors for Christ; it is as though God were appealing through us, and the appeal that we make in Christ’s name is: be reconciled to God. For our sake God made the sinless one into sin, so that in him we might become the goodness of God. As his fellow workers, we beg you once again not to neglect the grace of God that you have received. For he says: At the favourable time, I have listened to you; on the day of salvation I came to your help. Well, now is the favourable time; this is the day of salvation.</p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The word of the Lord.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><b><br />Gospel Acclamation</b><br />Ps50:12,14</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!<br />A pure heart create for me, O God,<br />and give me again the joy of your help.<br />Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!</div><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><b>Or:</b><br />cf.Ps94:8</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!<br />Harden not your hearts today,<br />but listen to the voice of the Lord.<br />Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!</div><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><b>Gospel</b><br />Matthew 6:1-6,16-18</span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">Your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you</span></div><p><span> </span>Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Be careful not to parade your good deeds before men to attract their notice; by doing this you will lose all reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you; this is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win men’s admiration. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right is doing; your almsgiving must be secret, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.</p><p> ‘And when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites: they love to say their prayers standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for people to see them; I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you pray, go to your private room and, when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.</p><p> ‘When you fast do not put on a gloomy look as the hypocrites do: they pull long faces to let men know they are fasting. I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that no one will know you are fasting except your Father who sees all that is done in secret; and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.’</p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The Gospel of the Lord.</span></p><p> </p>ST JOSEPH PLENTONGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16711340916949677178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670517486906733504.post-12574489244764312432024-02-09T22:00:00.078+08:002024-02-09T22:00:00.137+08:00Mass Reading: Sunday - 11th February 2024<div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: #274e13;">First reading<br /></b><span style="color: #274e13;">Leviticus 13:1-2,44-46<br /></span><span style="color: #cc0000;">The unclean man must live outside the camp</span></div><p> The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ‘If a swelling or scab or shiny spot appears on a man’s skin, a case of leprosy of the skin is to be suspected. The man must be taken to Aaron, the priest, or to one of the priests who are his sons.</p><p> ‘The man is leprous: he is unclean. The priest must declare him unclean; he is suffering from leprosy of the head. A man infected with leprosy must wear his clothing torn and his hair disordered; he must shield his upper lip and cry, “Unclean, unclean.” As long as the disease lasts he must be unclean; and therefore he must live apart: he must live outside the camp.’</p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The word of the Lord.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><br /><b>Responsorial Psalm</b><br />Psalm 31(32):1-2,5,11</span></div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">You are my refuge, O Lord; you fill me with the joy of salvation.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">Happy the man whose offence is forgiven,<br /> whose sin is remitted.<br />O happy the man to whom the Lord<br /> imputes no guilt,<br /> in whose spirit is no guile.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">You are my refuge, O Lord; you fill me with the joy of salvation.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">But now I have acknowledged my sins;<br /> my guilt I did not hide.<br />I said: ‘I will confess<br /> my offence to the Lord.’<br />And you, Lord, have forgiven<br /> the guilt of my sin.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">You are my refuge, O Lord; you fill me with the joy of salvation.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">Rejoice, rejoice in the Lord,<br /> exult, you just!<br />O come, ring out your joy,<br /> all you upright of heart.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">You are my refuge, O Lord; you fill me with the joy of salvation.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b><br />Second reading</b><br />1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1</span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">Take me for your model, as I take Christ</span></div><p><span> </span>Whatever you eat, whatever you drink, whatever you do at all, do it for the glory of God. Never do anything offensive to anyone – to Jews or Greeks or to the Church of God; just as I try to be helpful to everyone at all times, not anxious for my own advantage but for the advantage of everybody else, so that they may be saved. Take me for your model, as I take Christ.</p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The word of the Lord.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Gospel Acclamation</b><br />cf.Ep1:17,18</span></div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Alleluia, alleluia!</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ<br />enlighten the eyes of our mind,<br />so that we can see what hope his call holds for us.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Alleluia!</span></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Or:</b><br />Lk7:16</span></div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Alleluia, alleluia!</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">A great prophet has appeared among us;<br />God has visited his people.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Alleluia!</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Gospel</b><br />Mark 1:40-45</span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">The leprosy left the man at once, and he was cured</span></div><p> A leper came to Jesus and pleaded on his knees: ‘If you want to’ he said ‘you can cure me.’ Feeling sorry for him, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him. ‘Of course I want to!’ he said. ‘Be cured!’ And the leprosy left him at once and he was cured. Jesus immediately sent him away and sternly ordered him, ‘Mind you say nothing to anyone, but go and show yourself to the priest, and make the offering for your healing prescribed by Moses as evidence of your recovery.’ The man went away, but then started talking about it freely and telling the story everywhere, so that Jesus could no longer go openly into any town, but had to stay outside in places where nobody lived. Even so, people from all around would come to him.</p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The Gospel of the Lord.</span></p><p> </p>ST JOSEPH PLENTONGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16711340916949677178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670517486906733504.post-16256972854649325632024-02-09T22:00:00.004+08:002024-02-09T22:00:00.137+08:00Mass Reflection: Sunday - 11th February 2024<p> <strong style="color: dimgrey; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, baskerville, georgia, serif;"><a href="https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021124.cfm" style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">LV 13:1-2, 44-46; PS 32:1-2, 5, 11; 1 COR 10:31-11:1; MK 1:40-45</a></span></strong></p><span style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica;"></span><div style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /><img align="none" data-file-id="2506" height="309" src="https://mcusercontent.com/7966b83159749778babff90a2/images/434ba506-a070-9b5f-7253-a625d739a00d.jpg" style="border: 0px; height: 309px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 550px;" width="550" /><br /></div><div style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Our readings today prepare us for the penitential season of Lent that we are about to enter. They call us to consider what our Lenten journey might be like — an opportunity to be healed and cleansed on our journey as disciples of Christ. </span><br style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Our First Reading and our Gospel are tied closely together. In the book of Leviticus, the Lord tells Moses and Aaron in regard to a person with leprosy that “As long as the sore is on him he shall declare himself unclean… He shall dwell apart, making his abode outside the camp.” It was said that if a man had visible skin diseases, he would have to show himself to the priest who would declare him clean or unclean. If declared unclean, he would reside outside the community, separating himself from the rest. </span><br style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Now in our Gospel, a leper came to Jesus, knelt before Him, and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out and touched this diseased man and healed him. He then encouraged the man to show himself to the priest and offer himself a cleansing, referencing what was commanded in the Law of Moses. By completing these rituals, this man might be reinstituted into the community. </span><br style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Let us approach this holy season of Lent like the leper. We are filled with sores and wounds — namely, our sins. By our faults, we have distanced ourselves from God and His community. The leper reminds us Who to go to so that we might be healed. Let us approach the Lord this season on our knees asking for forgiveness and healing from our offenses, saying, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” There is no doubt that, if we have a contrite heart, Jesus will stretch out His hand in forgiveness and His mercy will touch our lives. </span><br style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">And like the leper, we too should go forth from being healed with a commitment to cleanse ourselves from the lasting effects of sin. Lent is a time to offer acts of reparation through Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving so that we might be purified in all areas of our life and walk with the Gracious Healer, Who sacrificed His life for our sake. Let us commit to spending extra time with our Lord in prayer — He will purify the heart that has been wounded. Let us fast from something that competes for our attention or holds us back from our relationship with God. As we offer that sacrifice to the Lord, we will be filled with freedom and peace and will be strengthened in the face of temptation. And let us give alms to God in thanksgiving for His gifts that He has poured out on us. It will remind us that everything we have is a gift from God — everything good comes from Him, and we want to share every aspect of our lives with Him.</span><br style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;" /><span style="color: #656565; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Let us approach this holy season of Lent as an opportunity to be healed and cleansed. As we prepare for Ash Wednesday this week, reflect on the sores and wounds that we can bring to the Lord during this season. He is ready to stretch out His hand to heal us in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. And let us consider what we can do to offer acts of reparation so that we might be purified and one day partake in the resurrection of Christ. </span></div>ST JOSEPH PLENTONGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16711340916949677178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670517486906733504.post-18001313810339985662024-02-02T22:00:00.094+08:002024-02-02T22:00:00.155+08:00Mass Reading: Sunday - 4th February 2024<div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: #274e13;">First reading<br /></b><span style="color: #274e13;">Job 7:1-4,6-7<br /></span><span style="color: #cc0000;">My life is but a breath</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Job began to speak:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Is not man’s life on earth nothing more than pressed service,<br /> his time no better than hired drudgery?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Like the slave, sighing for the shade,<br /> or the workman with no thought but his wages,<br />months of delusion I have assigned to me,<br /> nothing for my own but nights of grief.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Lying in bed I wonder, ‘When will it be day?’<br /> Risen I think, ‘How slowly evening comes!’<br /> Restlessly I fret till twilight falls.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Swifter than a weaver’s shuttle my days have passed,<br /> and vanished, leaving no hope behind.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Remember that my life is but a breath,<br /> and that my eyes will never again see joy.</div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">The word of the Lord.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Responsorial Psalm</b><br />Psalm 146(147):1-6</span></div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Praise the Lord who heals the broken-hearted.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">Praise the Lord for he is good;<br /> sing to our God for he is loving:<br /> to him our praise is due.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Praise the Lord who heals the broken-hearted.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">The Lord builds up Jerusalem<br /> and brings back Israel’s exiles,<br />he heals the broken-hearted,<br /> he binds up all their wounds.<br />He fixes the number of the stars;<br /> he calls each one by its name.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Praise the Lord who heals the broken-hearted.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">Our Lord is great and almighty;<br /> his wisdom can never be measured.<br />The Lord raises the lowly;<br /> he humbles the wicked to the dust.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Praise the Lord who heals the broken-hearted.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Second reading</b><br />1 Corinthians 9:16-19,22-23</span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">I should be punished if I did not preach the Gospel</span></div><p><span> </span>I do not boast of preaching the gospel, since it is a duty which has been laid on me; I should be punished if I did not preach it! If I had chosen this work myself, I might have been paid for it, but as I have not, it is a responsibility which has been put into my hands. Do you know what my reward is? It is this: in my preaching, to be able to offer the Good News free, and not insist on the rights which the gospel gives me.</p><p> So though I am not a slave of any man I have made myself the slave of everyone so as to win as many as I could. For the weak I made myself weak: I made myself all things to all men in order to save some at any cost; and I still do this, for the sake of the gospel, to have a share in its blessings.</p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The word of the Lord.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Gospel Acclamation</b><br />Jn8:12</span></div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Alleluia, alleluia!</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">I am the light of the world, says the Lord;<br />anyone who follows me will have the light of life.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Alleluia!</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: #274e13;">Or:<br /></b><span style="color: #274e13;">Mt8:17</span></div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Alleluia, alleluia!</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">He took our sicknesses away,<br />and carried our diseases for us.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Alleluia!</span></p><p><br /></p><p> ________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Gospel</b><br />Mark 1:29-39</span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">He cast out devils and cured many who were suffering from disease</span></div><p><span> </span>On leaving the synagogue, Jesus went with James and John straight to the house of Simon and Andrew. Now Simon’s mother-in-law had gone to bed with fever, and they told him about her straightaway. He went to her, took her by the hand and helped her up. And the fever left her and she began to wait on them.</p><p> That evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and those who were possessed by devils. The whole town came crowding round the door, and he cured many who were suffering from diseases of one kind or another; he also cast out many devils, but he would not allow them to speak, because they knew who he was.</p><p> In the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house, and went off to a lonely place and prayed there. Simon and his companions set out in search of him, and when they found him they said, ‘Everybody is looking for you.’ He answered, ‘Let us go elsewhere, to the neighbouring country towns, so that I can preach there too, because that is why I came.’ And he went all through Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out devils.</p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The Gospel of the Lord.</span></p><p><br /></p>ST JOSEPH PLENTONGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16711340916949677178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670517486906733504.post-81421015723632646712024-02-02T22:00:00.006+08:002024-02-02T22:00:00.155+08:00Mass Reflection: Sunday - 4th February 2024<p><strong style="color: dimgrey; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, baskerville, georgia, serif;"><a href="https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020424.cfm" style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">JB 7:1-4, 6-7; PS 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6; 1 COR 9-16, 22-23; MK 1:29-39</a></span></span></strong></p><span style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px;"></span><div style="background-color: #e6f3e6; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica;"><img align="center" data-file-id="2498" height="372" src="https://mcusercontent.com/7966b83159749778babff90a2/images/e409e269-70a2-e539-e5e5-1488f0ae6f88.jpg" style="border: 0px; height: 372px; margin: 10px; outline: none; width: 525px;" width="525" /><br /><span style="color: #656565;">Our readings today remind us that Christ came to serve. The world often encourages us to look inward — for ways that someone or something can better serve us. Countering this typical mindset, Jesus’ entire life was focused on others. He came to fulfill His Father’s mission — the salvation of mankind. He labored for this mission by becoming the humblest of servants. This is made evident in our Gospel today. Let us recall that as disciples of Christ, we are called to be imitators — to labor for our Father’s mission by becoming humble servants. </span><br style="color: #656565;" /><span style="color: #656565;"> </span><br style="color: #656565;" /><span style="color: #656565;">Healing people was a central part of Jesus’ ministry. In today's Gospel, He heals Simon’s mother-in-law from a fever, in addition to those who are diseased and possessed. Jesus was becoming well known from these miracles as Simon says to Jesus, “Everyone is looking for you.” Jesus did deserve all glory and honor — yet, He did not seek after the praise. Rather, He responded by saying, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also.” Jesus was already looking to whom He could serve next. </span><br style="color: #656565;" /><span style="color: #656565;"> </span><br style="color: #656565;" /><span style="color: #656565;">As Christian stewards, we too are called to be humble servants who labor for our Father’s mission. We should strive to imitate Christ — the Perfect Steward — Who was constantly aware of the needs of those around Him and put His gifts to good use. For us, this begins right here in our home, parish, and community. It doesn’t need to be complex, but rather, very simple — to live each moment in awareness of our Father’s mission and in gratitude for all He has given us. When we intentionally live each moment for Christ, even the ordinary moments are made significant. </span><br style="color: #656565;" /><span style="color: #656565;"> </span><br style="color: #656565;" /><span style="color: #656565;">In our Second Reading, St. Paul exemplifies becoming a humble servant for Christ. He says, “I have made myself a slave to all so as to win over as many as possible. To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak… All this I do for the sake of the gospel.” He, like Christ, handed his life over to God in service to the salvation of mankind. He has become an imitator of Christ. And he tells the people of Corinth, “If I preach the gospel, this is no reason for me to boast.” This mission has been entrusted to him and it is by God that it is made possible. </span><br style="color: #656565;" /><span style="color: #656565;"> </span><br style="color: #656565;" /><span style="color: #656565;">And how might we live in awareness of our Father’s mission? Jesus tells us that the way to be attentive is through prayer. Before Jesus made the decision to “go on to the nearby villages” so that He might preach there too, He first “went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.” It is through prayer that Jesus could hear what His Father was asking of Him so that He could perfectly accomplish His will. We, too, are called to spend time in daily prayer — we will then become aware of the opportunities to serve the Lord. We will also recognize that it is He Who gives us the strength as a steward — therefore, He should receive every ounce of gratitude. </span><br style="color: #656565;" /><span style="color: #656565;"> </span><br style="color: #656565;" /><span style="color: #656565;">Let us commit to finding some quiet time this week to pray. Let us ask the Lord — how can I serve You better throughout my days? How can I make more time for You so that I may better know your plans for me? And let us pray, "Make me humble, Lord."</span><span style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, times new roman, serif;"></span><br /></div>ST JOSEPH PLENTONGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16711340916949677178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670517486906733504.post-14041590178098745542024-02-01T09:57:00.000+08:002024-02-01T09:57:37.887+08:00 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐬' 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒<p><span style="font-size: large;">For the terminally ill</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We pray that those with a terminal illness, and their families, receive the necessary physical and spiritual care and accompaniment.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">🙏 𝑶𝒖𝒓 𝑭𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">🙏 𝑯𝒂𝒊𝒍 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒚</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">🙏 𝑮𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝑩𝒆</span></p>ST JOSEPH PLENTONGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16711340916949677178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670517486906733504.post-22278341911193221572024-01-26T22:00:00.069+08:002024-01-26T22:00:00.141+08:00Mass Reflection: Sunday - 28th January 2024<p><strong style="color: dimgrey; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, baskerville, georgia, serif;"><a href="https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012824.cfm" style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">DT 18:15-20; PS 95:1-2, 6-7, 7-9; 1 COR 7:32-35; MK 1:21-28</a></span></strong></p><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica;"></span><div style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial;"><img align="right" data-file-id="2494" height="104" src="https://mcusercontent.com/7966b83159749778babff90a2/images/0bf40875-0fc8-08e0-1dad-cb7bc6e4cfbf.jpg" style="border: 0px; height: 104px; margin: 6px 0px 10px 10px; outline: none; width: 150px;" width="150" /></span><span style="background-color: #fafafa; color: #656565; font-family: merriweather, georgia, times new roman, serif;">Our readings today remind us of God’s authority. If we willingly give God authority over our lives and trust in His provision, He will take care of us no matter what. <br /> <br />In our First Reading, Moses announces to the Israelites that God will send them another prophet through whom He will communicate His commands. Regarding the prophet, the Lord says, “Whoever will not listen to my words which he speaks in my name, I myself will make him answer for it. But if a prophet presumes to speak in my name an oracle I have not commanded… he shall die.” <br /> <br />These are tough words to hear from our Lord, but they are a good reminder for us. We, too, will answer to the Lord one day as to how well we listened to His words and lived by His commands. The thought of our final judgment may cause us to cringe in fear. And while it is good to have a holy fear of being separated from God for all eternity, fear is not to be the motivating factor on our faith journey. <br /> <br />As Christian stewards, it is our job to imitate Christ and follow His commands out of gratitude for all that He has given us. We are more willing to live by God’s commands when we are motivated by love and gratitude. <br /> <br />In our Second Reading, St. Paul tells us how to give God authority over our lives. St. Paul was preaching to the people of Corinth regarding Christ’s Second Coming. Because he thought the Second Coming was approaching fast, he encouraged them, if unmarried, to remain that way so they might fix their hearts on Christ with the time they have left. It might seem that St. Paul’s message cannot apply to us in our present day — however, what he said has great value to us. No matter our state of life — bishop, priest, deacon, religious, married, single — we are called to put Christ first in our lives and to strive to please Him in all that we do. We are inviting God to have authority over our lives when we make Him our top priority. As a result, we will be more prepared to meet Christ at His Second Coming, and we will have an overwhelming peace in our hearts. <br /> <br />Our Gospel today reminds us why we want to give God this authority. Jesus was teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath. All were fixed on His words and astonished at what He had to say. Suddenly everyone’s attention shifted to a man with an unclean spirit who began to question Jesus and His authority. Jesus responded, “Quiet, come out of him!” and removed the evil spirit from the man. All were amazed at the healing of this man. <br /> <br />Life can sometimes look like the synagogue in Capernaum. We are living as disciples of Christ when we suddenly recognize evil around us — through events in our lives, temptations we are enduring, or by falling into sin. It can distract us, consume our attention, or even cause us to despair. In these moments of trial, we must remember the Healer in our Gospel today. Recall His words, “Quiet, come out of Him!” Jesus has the power and authority over evil, for He has conquered sin and death. He also has the power and authority over us. And when we invite Him to have that authority, He will heal us and help us persevere. <br /> <br />Today, we are reminded that God is in control and that we want Him to be in control. He is the loving Healer Who will work miracles in our lives if we give Him the authority to do so.</span><span style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><br /> <br /><br /></span></div>ST JOSEPH PLENTONGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16711340916949677178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670517486906733504.post-8847403268612886732024-01-26T22:00:00.068+08:002024-01-26T22:00:00.141+08:00Mass Reading: Sunday - 28th January 2024<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>First reading</b><br />Deuteronomy 18:15-20</span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">I will raise up a prophet and put my words into his mouth</span></div><p><span> </span>Moses said to the people: ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like myself, from among yourselves, from your own brothers; to him you must listen. This is what you yourselves asked of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the Assembly. “Do not let me hear again” you said “the voice of the Lord my God, nor look any longer on this great fire, or I shall die”; and the Lord said to me, “All they have spoken is well said. I will raise up a prophet like yourself for them from their own brothers; I will put my words into his mouth and he shall tell them all I command him. The man who does not listen to my words that he speaks in my name, shall be held answerable to me for it. But the prophet who presumes to say in my name a thing I have not commanded him to say, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.”’</p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The word of the Lord.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Responsorial Psalm</b><br />Psalm 94(95):1-2,6-9</span></div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">O that today you would listen to his voice! ‘Harden not your hearts.’</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">Come, ring out our joy to the Lord;<br /> hail the rock who saves us.<br />Let us come before him, giving thanks,<br /> with songs let us hail the Lord.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">O that today you would listen to his voice! ‘Harden not your hearts.’</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">Come in; let us bow and bend low;<br /> let us kneel before the God who made us:<br />for he is our God and we<br /> the people who belong to his pasture,<br /> the flock that is led by his hand.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">O that today you would listen to his voice! ‘Harden not your hearts.’</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">O that today you would listen to his voice!<br /> ‘Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,<br /> as on that day at Massah in the desert<br />when your fathers put me to the test;<br /> when they tried me, though they saw my work.’</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">O that today you would listen to his voice! ‘Harden not your hearts.’</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Second reading</b><br />1 Corinthians 7:32-35</span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">Give your undivided attention to the Lord</span></div><p><span> </span>I would like to see you free from all worry. An unmarried man can devote himself to the Lord’s affairs, all he need worry about is pleasing the Lord; but a married man has to bother about the world’s affairs and devote himself to pleasing his wife: he is torn two ways. In the same way an unmarried woman, like a young girl, can devote herself to the Lord’s affairs; all she need worry about is being holy in body and spirit. The married woman, on the other hand, has to worry about the world’s affairs and devote herself to pleasing her husband. I say this only to help you, not to put a halter round your necks, but simply to make sure that everything is as it should be, and that you give your undivided attention to the Lord.</p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The word of the Lord.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Gospel Acclamation</b><br />Mt11:25</span></div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Alleluia, alleluia!</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">Blessed are you, Father, <br />Lord of heaven and earth,<br />for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom<br />to mere children.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Alleluia!</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Or:</b><br />Mt4:16</span></div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Alleluia, alleluia!</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">The people that lived in darkness<br />has seen a great light;<br />on those who dwell in the land and shadow of death<br />a light has dawned.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Alleluia!</span></p><p><br /></p><p>_________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Gospel</b><br />Mark 1:21-28</span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">Unlike the scribes, he taught them with authority</span></div><p><span> </span>Jesus and his disciples went as far as Capernaum, and as soon as the sabbath came he went to the synagogue and began to teach. And his teaching made a deep impression on them because, unlike the scribes, he taught them with authority.</p><p> In their synagogue just then there was a man possessed by an unclean spirit and it shouted, ‘What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus said sharply, ‘Be quiet! Come out of him!’ And the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and with a loud cry went out of him. The people were so astonished that they started asking each other what it all meant. ‘Here is a teaching that is new’ they said ‘and with authority behind it: he gives orders even to unclean spirits and they obey him.’ And his reputation rapidly spread everywhere, through all the surrounding Galilean countryside.</p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The Gospel of the Lord.</span></p><p><br /></p>ST JOSEPH PLENTONGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16711340916949677178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670517486906733504.post-9348444898372624332024-01-19T22:00:00.065+08:002024-01-23T11:00:47.213+08:00Mass Reading: Sunday - 21st January 2024<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>First reading</b><br />Jonah 3:1-5,10</span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">The people of Nineveh renounce their evil behaviour</span></div><p><span> </span>The word of the Lord was addressed to Jonah: ‘Up!’ he said ‘Go to Nineveh, the great city, and preach to them as I told you to.’ Jonah set out and went to Nineveh in obedience to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was a city great beyond compare: it took three days to cross it. Jonah went on into the city, making a day’s journey. He preached in these words, ‘Only forty days more and Nineveh is going to be destroyed.’ And the people of Nineveh believed in God; they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least.</p><p> God saw their efforts to renounce their evil behaviour, and God relented: he did not inflict on them the disaster which he had threatened.</p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The word of the Lord.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Responsorial Psalm</b><br />Psalm 24(25):4-6,7b-9</span></div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Lord, make me know your ways.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">Lord, make me know your ways.<br /> Lord, teach me your paths.<br />Make me walk in your truth, and teach me:<br /> for you are God my saviour.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Lord, make me know your ways.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">Remember your mercy, Lord,<br /> and the love you have shown from of old.<br />In your love remember me,<br /> because of your goodness, O Lord.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Lord, make me know your ways.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">The Lord is good and upright.<br /> He shows the path to those who stray,<br />He guides the humble in the right path,<br /> He teaches his way to the poor.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Lord, make me know your ways.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Second reading</b><br />1 Corinthians 7:29-31</span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">The world as we know it is passing away</span></div><p><span> </span>Brothers: our time is growing short. Those who have wives should live as though they had none, and those who mourn should live as though they had nothing to mourn for; those who are enjoying life should live as though there were nothing to laugh about; those whose life is buying things should live as though they had nothing of their own; and those who have to deal with the world should not become engrossed in it. I say this because the world as we know it is passing away.</p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The word of the Lord.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Gospel Acclamation</b><br />Mk1:15</span></div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Alleluia, alleluia!</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">The kingdom of God is close at hand:<br />repent, and believe the Good News.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Alleluia!</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: #274e13;">Gospel</b><br /><span style="color: #274e13;">Mark 1:14-20</span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">I will make you into fishers of men</span></div><p><span> </span>After John had been arrested, Jesus went into Galilee. There he proclaimed the Good News from God. ‘The time has come’ he said ‘and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News.’</p><p> As he was walking along by the Sea of Galilee he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in the lake – for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you into fishers of men.’ And at once they left their nets and followed him.</p><p> Going on a little further, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John; they too were in their boat, mending their nets. He called them at once and, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the men he employed, they went after him.</p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The Gospel of the Lord.</span></p>ST JOSEPH PLENTONGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16711340916949677178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670517486906733504.post-23449272009146944882024-01-19T22:00:00.064+08:002024-01-19T22:00:00.132+08:00Mass Reflection: Sunday - 21st January 2024<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman", times, baskerville, georgia, serif;"><span style="color: maroon;"><a href="https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012124.cfm" style="color: #007c89; font-weight: normal; text-size-adjust: 100%;" target="_blank">Jon 3:1-5, 10; PS 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9; 1 COR 7:29-31; MK 1:14-20</a></span></span></strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica;"></span></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><img align="right" data-file-id="889" height="165" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/7966b83159749778babff90a2/images/fcebbc59-5ff5-42ba-9da4-2735bc7221e7.jpg" style="border: 0px; height: 165px; margin: 6px 0px 9px 9px; outline: none; width: 140px;" width="140" /></span><span style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", serif;">Our readings today call us to be decisive in our faith. God calls us as stewards to repent and renew our commitment to Him each day.</span><br style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", serif;" /><span style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", serif;"> </span><br style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", serif;" /><span style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", serif;">In our First Reading, God instructs the prophet Jonah to travel through the city of Nineveh and warns the people that the city would be destroyed due to their evil ways. When the people of Nineveh heard this, they declared a fast in repentance. The Lord saw this and had compassion for them.</span><br style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", serif;" /><span style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", serif;"> </span><br style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", serif;" /><span style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", serif;">Every moment is an opportunity to either grow closer to God or further away from Him. We can identify with the people of Nineveh when we recognize that our actions are not drawing us closer to God. We may be attached to certain sins or living in complacency — over time, that can weaken our commitment to the Lord and sever the relationship we have with Him.</span><br style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", serif;" /><span style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", serif;"> </span><br style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", serif;" /><span style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", serif;">When we become aware of our weaknesses, it should not cause us to despair. Instead, it should call us to act quickly as the people of Nineveh did. Jonah had been gone only a single day's walk before the people repented. We, too, should go no more than a single day without acknowledging our offenses towards God and renewing our commitment to Him with greater conviction. God wants to be compassionate towards us, but we must be willing to recognize our need to repent.</span><br style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", serif;" /><span style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", serif;"> </span><br style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", serif;" /><span style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", serif;">Our Gospel today shares Mark's account of Jesus calling His first disciples. In his account, Jesus approaches Simon and Andrew, and later, James and John. These four men were fishermen, casting their nets. Jesus states, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men." In both instances, the men immediately abandoned what was before them and followed Christ.</span><br style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", serif;" /><span style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", serif;"> </span><br style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", serif;" /><span style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", serif;">Imagine if Simon and Andrew looked at their Savior and said, "Thanks for the offer, but we will finish up fishing and meet you later." That is no way a disciple should respond to Christ’s call. Yet, that is how we often respond to Jesus' offer to us, "Come after me." We can easily fall into the misconception that we have plenty of time to live active discipleship. We rationalize that we will eventually get around to deepening our commitment to prayer when we have time, even though we have been wanting to do so for months. We can justify that we are too busy right now to make time to go to confession regularly, but tell ourselves we will do it soon once our schedules ease up. But as faithful stewards of our time, we must change our ways and immediately follow Christ more intentionally, because Christ is calling us to act now, just like the first disciples did.</span><br style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", serif;" /><span style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", serif;"> </span><br style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", serif;" /><span style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", serif;">These men became members of Jesus' 12 apostles. They surrendered their entire lives to follow Christ. They left their jobs, homes, and families, devoting their lives to God's work. We, too, are called to surrender our lives to the Lord so that He may work through us. We might think, “God isn't calling me.” But indeed, He is. Just as He called four ordinary fishermen, He is continuously calling each one of us. Renewing and reevaluating what God might be asking of us throughout our lives is a key component of our stewardship journey.</span><br style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", serif;" /><span style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", serif;"> </span><br style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", serif;" /><span style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", serif;">As we settle into this New Year, let us ponder the ways we can repent and renew our commitment to God. Let us ask ourselves, what are we casting our nets for? And are we willing to leave it behind for something much greater? If not now, when?</span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", serif; font-size: 14px;"></span></div>ST JOSEPH PLENTONGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16711340916949677178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7670517486906733504.post-6837900133031290042024-01-12T22:00:00.073+08:002024-01-12T22:00:00.140+08:00Mass Reading: Sunday - 14th January 2024<div style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: #274e13;">First reading<br /></b><span style="color: #274e13;">1 Samuel 3:3-10,19<br /></span><span style="color: #cc0000;">'Speak, Lord, your servant is listening'</span></div><p><span> </span>Samuel was lying in the sanctuary of the Lord, where the ark of God was, when the Lord called, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ He answered, ‘Here I am.’ Then he ran to Eli and said, ‘Here I am, since you called me.’ Eli said, ‘I did not call. Go back and lie down.’ So he went and lay down. Once again the Lord called, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, ‘Here I am, since you called me.’ He replied, ‘I did not call you, my son; go back and lie down.’ Samuel had as yet no knowledge of the Lord and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. Once again the Lord called, the third time. He got up and went to Eli and said, ‘Here I am, since you called me.’ Eli then understood that it was the Lord who was calling the boy, and he said to Samuel, ‘Go and lie down, and if someone calls say, “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.”’ So Samuel went and lay down in his place.</p><p> The Lord then came and stood by, calling as he had done before, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ Samuel answered, ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.’</p><p> Samuel grew up and the Lord was with him and let no word of his fall to the ground.</p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The word of the Lord.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Responsorial Psalm</b><br />Psalm 39(40):2,4,7-10</span></div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Here I am, Lord! I come to do your will.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">I waited, I waited for the Lord<br /> and he stooped down to me;<br /> he heard my cry.<br />He put a new song into my mouth,<br /> praise of our God.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Here I am, Lord! I come to do your will.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">You do not ask for sacrifice and offerings,<br /> but an open ear.<br />You do not ask for holocaust and victim.<br /> Instead, here am I.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Here I am, Lord! I come to do your will.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">In the scroll of the book it stands written<br /> that I should do your will.<br />My God, I delight in your law<br /> in the depth of my heart.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Here I am, Lord! I come to do your will.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">Your justice I have proclaimed<br /> in the great assembly.<br />My lips I have not sealed;<br /> you know it, O Lord.</div><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Here I am, Lord! I come to do your will.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Second reading</b><br />1 Corinthians 6:13-15,17-20</span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">Do not sin against your own body</span></div><p><br /></p><p><span> </span>The body is not meant for fornication: it is for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. God, who raised the Lord from the dead, will by his power raise us up too.</p><p> You know, surely, that your bodies are members making up the body of Christ; do you think I can take parts of Christ’s body and join them to the body of a prostitute? Never! But anyone who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him.</p><p> Keep away from fornication. All the other sins are committed outside the body; but to fornicate is to sin against your own body. Your body, you know, is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you since you received him from God. You are not your own property; you have been bought and paid for. That is why you should use your body for the glory of God.</p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The word of the Lord.</span></p><p><br /></p><p>________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Gospel Acclamation</b><br />1S3:9,Jn6:68</span></div><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Alleluia, alleluia!</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">Speak, Lord, your servant is listening:<br />you have the message of eternal life.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Alleluia!</span></p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Or:</b><br />Jn1:41,17</span></div><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Alleluia, alleluia!</span></p><div style="text-align: left;">We have found the Messiah – which means the Christ –<br />grace and truth have come through him.</div><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">Alleluia!</span></p><p><br /></p><p> ________</p><p><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #274e13;"><b>Gospel</b><br />John 1:35-42</span><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;">'We have found the Messiah' </span></div><p><span> </span>As John stood with two of his disciples, Jesus passed, and John stared hard at him and said, ‘Look, there is the lamb of God.’ Hearing this, the two disciples followed Jesus. Jesus turned round, saw them following and said, ‘What do you want?’ They answered, ‘Rabbi,’ – which means Teacher – ‘where do you live?’ ‘Come and see’ he replied; so they went and saw where he lived, and stayed with him the rest of that day. It was about the tenth hour.</p><p> One of these two who became followers of Jesus after hearing what John had said was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. Early next morning, Andrew met his brother and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ – which means the Christ – and he took Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked hard at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John; you are to be called Cephas’ – meaning Rock.</p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">The Gospel of the Lord.</span></p><p> </p>ST JOSEPH PLENTONGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16711340916949677178noreply@blogger.com0