Mass Reflection: Sunday - 05th July 2026

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mass Reading: Sunday - 05th July 2026

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

The Lord says this:

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

The word of the Lord.

________

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

________

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

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

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

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
Mt11:25

Alleluia, alleluia!

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

Alleluia!

________

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

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

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

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 6th July 2025

First reading

Isaiah 66:10-14 ·

Towards Jerusalem I send flowing peace, like a river

Rejoice, Jerusalem,

be glad for her, all you who love her!

Rejoice, rejoice for her,

all you who mourned her!

That you may be suckled, filled,

from her consoling breast,

that you may savour with delight

her glorious breasts.

For thus says the Lord:

Now towards her I send flowing

peace, like a river,

and like a stream in spate

the glory of the nations.

At her breast will her nurslings be carried

and fondled in her lap.

Like a son comforted by his mother

will I comfort you.

And by Jerusalem you will be comforted.

At the sight your heart will rejoice,

and your bones flourish like the grass.

To his servants the Lord will reveal his hand.

The Word of the Lord

______________

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 65(66):1-7,16,20

Cry out with joy to God, all the earth.

Cry out with joy to God all the earth,

    O sing to the glory of his name.

O render him glorious praise.

    Say to God: ‘How tremendous your deeds!

Cry out with joy to God, all the earth.

‘Before you all the earth shall bow;

    shall sing to you, sing to your name!’

Come and see the works of God,

    tremendous his deeds among men.

Cry out with joy to God, all the earth.

He turned the sea into dry land,

    they passed through the river dry-shod.

Let our joy then be in him;

    he rules for ever by his might.

Cry out with joy to God, all the earth.

Come and hear, all who fear God.

    I will tell what he did for my soul:

Blessed be God who did not reject my prayer nor withhold his love from me.

______________

Second reading

Galatians 6:14-18 ·

The marks on my body are those of Jesus

    The only thing I can boast about is the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world. It does not matter if a person is circumcised or not; what matters is for him to become an altogether new creature. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, who form the Israel of God.

    I want no more trouble from anybody after this; the marks on my body are those of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, my brothers. Amen.

The word of the Lord 

_____________

Gospel Acclamation

Jn15:15

Alleluia, alleluia!

I call you friends, says the Lord,

because I have made known to you

everything I have learnt from my Father.

Alleluia!

____________

Gospel

Luke 10:1-12,17-20

Your peace will rest on that man

   The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them out ahead of him, in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself was to visit. He said to them, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest. Start off now, but remember, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Carry no purse, no haversack, no sandals. Salute no one on the road.

    ‘Whatever house you go into, let your first words be, “Peace to this house!” And if a man of peace lives there, your peace will go and rest on him; if not, it will come back to you. Stay in the same house, taking what food and drink they have to offer, for the labourer deserves his wages; do not move from house to house.

    ‘Whenever you go into a town where they make you welcome, eat what is set before you. Cure those in it who are sick, and say, “The kingdom of God is very near to you.” But whenever you enter a town and they do not make you welcome, go out into its streets and say, “We wipe off the very dust of your town that clings to our feet, and leave it with you. Yet be sure of this: the kingdom of God is very near.” I tell you, on that day it will not go as hard with Sodom as with that town.’

    The seventy-two came back rejoicing. ‘Lord,’ they said ‘even the devils submit to us when we use your name.’ He said to them, ‘I watched Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Yes, I have given you power to tread underfoot serpents and scorpions and the whole strength of the enemy; nothing shall ever hurt you. Yet do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you; rejoice rather that your names are written in heaven.’

The Gospel of the Lord

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 6th July 2025

IS 66:10-14C; PS 66:1-7, 16, 20; GAL 6: 14-18; LK 10:1-12, 17-20
 

In today’s Gospel passage, from Luke, we find our Lord appointing disciples to go out and prepare others to receive His invitation into the Kingdom of God. Every verse has something to say about the way a Christian steward should approach others. Let’s consider at least a few of the coaching tips Christ gives.

“The Lord appointed seventy-two others whom He sent out ahead of Him in pairs to every town and place He intended to visit.” In His wisdom, Christ sent His disciples out not as indi-viduals but in pairs, as teams. This approach to evangelization certainly provided practical advantages. The disciples could lean on each other for mutual support and encouragement, helping each other to stay on task and to put their heads together to pray and problem-solve. This teamwork approach is just as relevant to us modern-day Christian stewards. It takes courage and commitment to go out and invite others into the Christian life. We need to work together to do it well.

But there is also symbolic importance to working in teams. It points to the reality that when we invite others to embrace the Good News of the Gospel, we are not merely inviting them into a belief system, but into a relationship with Christ and through that relationship, into Christ’s family — our fellow Christian disciples near and far. 

Our parish is, in a sense, our immediate spiritual family in this extended worldwide fold. We are not meant to live as isolated individuals within the parish any more than we are meant to live in isolation within our families. We are meant to be a community. That is why it is so important for us to foster a vibrant, supportive, welcoming parish life. This is why we emphasize hospitality as one of the pillars of stewardship. It is not enough just to point others to Christ, we must in-vite them to join us in community with Him; we must offer a place and mission for them in the Church and within our parish family.

Next, Christ instructs, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” Who are the laborers that our Lord speaks of? Perhaps it is the clergy and religious who first come to mind. And we certainly have a duty to pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life. But we confirmed Catholics are also HIs laborers, called by Christ to bring others to Him and to join us in the life of Christian discipleship.

How are we to do this?  We are to go first to God in prayer. Inviting people into the Kingdom of Christ is above all a spiritual endeavor so our Lord reminds us to seek God’s wisdom before approaching others. The harvest, after all, belongs to Him. We simply have the privilege of helping with the harvesting. This also reminds us that it is not primarily through “Catholic guilt trips” that we will ignite in others a passion for serving Christ and living the Gospel. It is God Himself who must be at work in us as we call others to the Christian life.

The very next instruction Christ gives is this: “Go on your way.” Yes, we must pray for each other, for our families, and for our parish. But then we must go! The Good News of Christ is meant to be shared, and not just within the confines of our own parish family. We must take it out wherever our way leads us — in our neighborhood, at our workplace, in our social life. This is the essence and purpose of a stewardship way of life.

This week, let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work on the harvest all around us.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 07th July 2024

First reading
Ezekiel 2:2-5
These rebels shall know that there is a prophet among them

    The spirit came into me and made me stand up, and I heard the Lord speaking to me. He said, ‘Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to the rebels who have turned against me. Till now they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me. The sons are defiant and obstinate; I am sending you to them, to say, “The Lord says this.” Whether they listen or not, this set of rebels shall know there is a prophet among them.’

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 122(123)

Our eyes are on the Lord till he shows us his mercy.

To you have I lifted up my eyes,
    you who dwell in the heavens;
my eyes, like the eyes of slaves
    on the hand of their lords.

Our eyes are on the Lord till he shows us his mercy.

Like the eyes of a servant
    on the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes are on the Lord our God
    till he show us his mercy.

Our eyes are on the Lord till he shows us his mercy.

Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.
    We are filled with contempt.
Indeed all too full is our soul
    with the scorn of the rich,
    with the proud man’s disdain.

Our eyes are on the Lord till he shows us his mercy.

________

Second reading

2 Corinthians 12:7-10
The Lord's power is at its best in weakness

    In view of the extraordinary nature of these revelations, to stop me from getting too proud I was given a thorn in the flesh, an angel of Satan to beat me and stop me from getting too proud! About this thing, I have pleaded with the Lord three times for it to leave me, but he has said, ‘My grace is enough for you: my power is at its best in weakness.’ So I shall be very happy to make my weaknesses my special boast so that the power of Christ may stay over me, and that is why I am quite content with my weaknesses, and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and the agonies I go through for Christ’s sake. For it is when I am weak that I am strong.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
Jn1:14,12

Alleluia, alleluia!

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

Alleluia!

Or:
Lk4:18

Alleluia, alleluia!

The Lord has sent me to bring the good news to the poor,
to proclaim liberty to captives.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Mark 6:1-6
'A prophet is only despised in his own country' 

    Jesus went to his home town and his disciples accompanied him. With the coming of the sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue and most of them were astonished when they heard him. They said, ‘Where did the man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been granted him, and these miracles that are worked through him? This is the carpenter, surely, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joset and Jude and Simon? His sisters, too, are they not here with us?’ And they would not accept him. And Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is only despised in his own country, among his own relations and in his own house’; and he could work no miracle there, though he cured a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.

The Gospel of the Lord.

 

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 07th July 2024

EZ 2:2-5; PS 123:1-2, 2, 3-4; 2 COR 12:7-10; MK 6:1-6

Our readings today portray three figures that experienced challenges — Ezekiel, St. Paul and Jesus. It is a reminder for us that, even in our weakest and toughest moments, God has a plan.

Our first figure, the prophet Ezekiel, reminds us of the challenges we encounter in our day-to-day lives. He is sent to the Israelites who are in need of truth as they are rebels who have rebelled against God. Essentially, he is sent on a challenging mission to encounter tough people.

Sometimes within our own mission fields, we are faced with challenges. It might be finishing a rough week at work, parenting a rebellious child, sharing your faith with reluctant family members, or being extremely kind to the rude cashier. In the face of the challenge, we oftentimes feel like we have been sent to the toughest of tough places. We ask ourselves, "Will I make it out?"

God prepares Ezekiel for this mission by essentially telling Ezekiel to remain close to Him as the Lord says, “You shall say to them: Thus says the LORD GOD! And whether they heed or resist — for they are a rebellious house — they shall know that a prophet has been among them.”

We might feel like we have been thrown into these challenges completely unprepared. Yet, the reality is, if we face the challenge with God, we will make it out and we will be a witness to our faith in the process.

Our second figure, St. Paul, reminds us of the crosses that the Lord presents to us throughout life. St. Paul describes a “thorn” that had been given to him. He believed this thorn to be the thing that kept him grounded as he said, “to beat me, to keep me from being too elated.”

At first, he asked the Lord to remove this cross, but the Lord replied, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” Through this explanation, St. Paul resolved to believe, “I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”

We all bear crosses in this life, whether they seem to be little thorns or sharp daggers. The easiest thing to do, as St. Paul did, is to pray for the cross to be taken. It would be great if all of our struggles just magically faded away! But listen to the Lord’s words, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.”

Stop and reflect on your cross. Instead of wishing it to go away, look at it as an opportunity to grow and to allow God to work in your life. God permitted this cross in your life for a reason. Do not let the opportunity for Christ to work on your heart pass you by.

Our last figure is Jesus Himself. He reminds us of the times that we are not accepted by others in this life. Jesus was teaching in the synagogue on the sabbath and those who heard Him were taken back by His teaching ability. They questioned where He received His knowledge and power, especially if He was raised from a carpenter.

It says, “they took offense at him… He was amazed at their lack of faith.”

As Christian stewards, we are not always accepted. It might be because of what we believe in, the principles we stand for, how we spend our time and money, what we choose to participate in or not, or even how we raise our families. And sometimes our toughest critics are those we are closest to, which can leave us in amazement.

Jesus was supposed to be rejected so that He could suffer, die and rise for us. It was all part of God’s plan. So too, is our rejection. It is all part of God’s plan. Maybe it is to strengthen us, to grow our own faith, to be a witness to someone else or to just get a glimpse of how Christ was rejected.

Regardless of the reason, let us pray for the strength to not shy away in rejection and to not become like those who rejected Christ. Rather, let us cling to Christ in that moment and let us remember that God has a plan.

Today, as we hear about these three figures in the Scriptures, let us reflect on our lives. Recall that God loves us more than we could ever imagine. There is not a moment that goes by that He does not have us in mind. He has a specific plan for our lives. Therefore, may we encounter life’s challenges, our weaknesses and moments of feeling unwanted with confidence in Christ.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 09th July 2023

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

The Lord says this:

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

The word of the Lord.

________

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

________

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

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

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

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
Mt11:25

Alleluia, alleluia!

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

Alleluia!

________

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

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

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

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 09th July 2023

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

The theme of humility is central to our readings today. God Himself is a humble God, so if we wish to follow Him as Christian stewards, we too, must be humble. In fact, humility is key to the stewardship way of life, and to a peaceful and fulfilling life.
 
Our first reading from Zechariah foretells the unexpected way in which the Lord, the Savior of the world, will arrive. “See, your king shall come to you; a just savior is he, meek and riding on an ass… and he shall proclaim peace to the nations.” It is almost unfathomable that our almighty, all-powerful God would humble Himself to live among us as one of our own, let alone to contemplate the unassuming way in which He arrived — born as a helpless baby, growing up under the care of human parents and finally making his entrance as savior on a lowly colt. Christ has given us a clear and compelling model of humility. We dare not pursue any other path for ourselves if we wish to follow Him. 
 
But this kind of humility goes against our natural, worldly bent which says we must insist on having our own way, assert our rights at all costs, and put ourselves first so as to get ahead. How can we live the radical way Christ is calling us to live? 
 
As St. Paul tells us in the letter to the Romans, our second reading today, “Brothers and sisters: You are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit.” Because of the gifts of our Baptism and Confirmation, we have a “superpower” right within us — the Holy Spirit — Who gives us every spiritual gift and all the strength we need to follow Christ. We must awaken to the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, leaning into Him to increase virtue in us, especially this key virtue of humility. Paul reminds us that this is for our own good after all — “For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”
 
In our Gospel passage from Matthew, Jesus Himself speaks to the Father of the privileged role that humble souls play in God’s plan of salvation. “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to little ones.” 
 
What does it mean to be a “little one”? It means that we acknowledge we don’t have it all figured out, but that we are very much in need of a savior. It means we recognize that all we are and all we have been given is a gift from God. It means we embrace the stewardship way of life. 
 
It is not easy, but deep peace and consolation come with this way of life. Jesus offers these warm and encouraging words to entice us to embrace it. “Come to me all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” 
 
Let us resolve to follow in the footsteps of our Savior, embracing the humble path of stewardship. It is the path that leads to peace here and now, and ultimately leads us to heaven.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 03rd July 2022

First reading
Isaiah 66:10-14
Towards Jerusalem I send flowing peace, like a river

Rejoice, Jerusalem,
be glad for her, all you who love her!
Rejoice, rejoice for her,
all you who mourned her!

That you may be suckled, filled,
from her consoling breast,
that you may savour with delight
her glorious breasts.

For thus says the Lord:
Now towards her I send flowing
peace, like a river,
and like a stream in spate
the glory of the nations.

At her breast will her nurslings be carried
and fondled in her lap.
Like a son comforted by his mother
will I comfort you.
And by Jerusalem you will be comforted.

At the sight your heart will rejoice,
and your bones flourish like the grass.
To his servants the Lord will reveal his hand.

The word of the Lord.

___________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 65(66):1-7,16,20

Cry out with joy to God, all the earth.

Cry out with joy to God all the earth,
    O sing to the glory of his name.
O render him glorious praise.
    Say to God: ‘How tremendous your deeds!

Cry out with joy to God, all the earth.

‘Before you all the earth shall bow;
    shall sing to you, sing to your name!’
Come and see the works of God,
    tremendous his deeds among men.

Cry out with joy to God, all the earth.

He turned the sea into dry land,
    they passed through the river dry-shod.
Let our joy then be in him;
    he rules for ever by his might.

Cry out with joy to God, all the earth.

Come and hear, all who fear God.
    I will tell what he did for my soul:
Blessed be God who did not reject my prayer
    nor withhold his love from me.

Cry out with joy to God, all the earth.

________

Second reading
Galatians 6:14-18
The marks on my body are those of Jesus

    The only thing I can boast about is the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world. It does not matter if a person is circumcised or not; what matters is for him to become an altogether new creature. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, who form the Israel of God.

    I want no more trouble from anybody after this; the marks on my body are those of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, my brothers. Amen.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
Jn15:15

Alleluia, alleluia!

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

Alleluia!

Or:
Col3:15,16

Alleluia, alleluia!

May the peace of Christ reign in your hearts;

let the message of Christ find a home with you.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Luke 10:1-12,17-20
Your peace will rest on that man

    The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them out ahead of him, in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself was to visit. He said to them, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest. Start off now, but remember, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Carry no purse, no haversack, no sandals. Salute no one on the road.

    ‘Whatever house you go into, let your first words be, “Peace to this house!” And if a man of peace lives there, your peace will go and rest on him; if not, it will come back to you. Stay in the same house, taking what food and drink they have to offer, for the labourer deserves his wages; do not move from house to house.

    ‘Whenever you go into a town where they make you welcome, eat what is set before you. Cure those in it who are sick, and say, “The kingdom of God is very near to you.” But whenever you enter a town and they do not make you welcome, go out into its streets and say, “We wipe off the very dust of your town that clings to our feet, and leave it with you. Yet be sure of this: the kingdom of God is very near.” I tell you, on that day it will not go as hard with Sodom as with that town.’

    The seventy-two came back rejoicing. ‘Lord,’ they said ‘even the devils submit to us when we use your name.’ He said to them, ‘I watched Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Yes, I have given you power to tread underfoot serpents and scorpions and the whole strength of the enemy; nothing shall ever hurt you. Yet do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you; rejoice rather that your names are written in heaven.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 03rd July 2022

In today’s Gospel passage, from Luke, we find our Lord appointing disciples to go out and prepare others to receive His invitation into the Kingdom of God. Every verse has something to say about the way a Christian steward should approach others. Let’s consider at least a few of the coaching tips Christ gives.
 
“The Lord appointed seventy-two others whom He sent out ahead of Him in pairs to every town and place He intended to visit.” In His wisdom, Christ sent His disciples out not as individuals but in pairs, as teams. This approach to evangelization certainly provided practical advantages. The disciples could lean on each other for mutual support and encouragement, helping each other to stay on task and to put their heads together to pray and problem-solve. This teamwork approach is just as relevant to us modern-day Christian stewards. It takes courage and commitment to go out and invite others into the Christian life. We need to work together to do it well.
 
But there is also symbolic importance to working in teams. It points to the reality that when we invite others to embrace the Good News of the Gospel, we are not merely inviting them into a belief system, but into a relationship with Christ and through that relationship, into Christ’s family — our fellow Christian disciples near and far. 
 
Our parish is, in a sense, our immediate spiritual family in this extended worldwide fold. We are not meant to live as isolated individuals within the parish any more than we are meant to live in isolation within our families. We are meant to be a community. That is why it is so important for us to foster a vibrant, supportive, welcoming parish life. This is why we emphasize hospitality as one of the pillars of stewardship. It is not enough just to point others to Christ, we must invite them to join us in community with Him; we must offer a place and mission for them in the Church and within our parish family.
 
Next, Christ instructs, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” Who are the laborers that our Lord speaks of? Perhaps it is the clergy and religious who first come to mind. And we certainly have a duty to pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life. But we confirmed Catholics are also HIs laborers, called by Christ to bring others to Him and to join us in the life of Christian discipleship.
 
How are we to do this?  We are to go first to God in prayer. Inviting people into the Kingdom of Christ is above all a spiritual endeavor so our Lord reminds us to seek God’s wisdom before approaching others. The harvest, after all, belongs to Him. We simply have the privilege of helping with the harvesting. This also reminds us that it is not primarily through “Catholic guilt trips” that we will ignite in others a passion for serving Christ and living the Gospel. It is God Himself who must be at work in us as we call others to the Christian life.
 
The very next instruction Christ gives is this: “Go on your way.” Yes, we must pray for each other, for our families, and for our parish. But then we must go! The Good News of Christ is meant to be shared, and not just within the confines of our own parish family. We must take it out wherever our way leads us — in our neighborhood, at our workplace, in our social life. This is the essence and purpose of a stewardship way of life.
 
This week, let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work on the harvest all around us.

Mass Reflection:. Sunday, 04th July 2021

Our readings today portray three figures that experienced challenges — Ezekiel, St. Paul and Jesus. It is a reminder for us that, even in our weakest and toughest moments, God has a plan. 
 
Our first figure, the prophet Ezekiel, reminds us of the challenges we encounter in our day-to-day lives. He is sent to the Israelites who are in need of truth as they are rebels who have rebelled against God. Essentially, he is sent on a challenging mission to encounter tough people. 
 
Sometimes within our own mission fields, we are faced with challenges. It might be finishing a rough week at work, parenting a rebellious child, sharing your faith with reluctant family members, or being extremely kind to the rude cashier. In the face of the challenge, we oftentimes feel like we have been sent to the toughest of tough places. We ask ourselves, "Will I make it out?" 
 
God prepares Ezekiel for this mission by essentially telling Ezekiel to remain close to Him as the Lord says, “You shall say to them: Thus says the LORD GOD! And whether they heed or resist — for they are a rebellious house — they shall know that a prophet has been among them.” 
 
We might feel like we have been thrown into these challenges completely unprepared. Yet, the reality is, if we face the challenge with God, we will make it out and we will be a witness to our faith in the process. 
 
Our second figure, St. Paul, reminds us of the crosses that the Lord presents to us throughout life. St. Paul describes a “thorn” that had been given to him. He believed this thorn to be the thing that kept him grounded as he said, “to beat me, to keep me from being too elated.” 
 
At first, he asked the Lord to remove this cross, but the Lord replied, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” Through this explanation, St. Paul resolved to believe, “I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”
 
We all bear crosses in this life, whether they seem to be little thorns or sharp daggers. The easiest thing to do, as St. Paul did, is to pray for the cross to be taken. It would be great if all of our struggles just magically faded away! But listen to the Lord’s words, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.”
 
Stop and reflect on your cross. Instead of wishing it to go away, look at it as an opportunity to grow and to allow God to work in your life. God permitted this cross in your life for a reason. Do not let the opportunity for Christ to work on your heart pass you by. 
 
Our last figure is Jesus Himself. He reminds us of the times that we are not accepted by others in this life. Jesus was teaching in the synagogue on the sabbath and those who heard Him were taken back by His teaching ability. They questioned where He received His knowledge and power, especially if He was raised from a carpenter. 
 
It says, “they took offense at him… He was amazed at their lack of faith.”
 
As Christian stewards, we are not always accepted. It might be because of what we believe in, the principles we stand for, how we spend our time and money, what we choose to participate in or not, or even how we raise our families. And sometimes our toughest critics are those we are closest to, which can leave us in amazement.
 
Jesus was supposed to be rejected so that He could suffer, die and rise for us. It was all part of God’s plan. So too, is our rejection. It is all part of God’s plan. Maybe it is to strengthen us, to grow our own faith, to be a witness to someone else or to just get a glimpse of how Christ was rejected. 
 
Regardless of the reason, let us pray for the strength to not shy away in rejection and to not become like those who rejected Christ. Rather, let us cling to Christ in that moment and let us remember that God has a plan. 
 
Today, as we hear about these three figures in the Scriptures, let us reflect on our lives. Recall that God loves us more than we could ever imagine. There is not a moment that goes by that He does not have us in mind. He has a specific plan for our lives. Therefore, may we encounter life’s challenges, our weaknesses and moments of feeling unwanted with confidence in Christ.

The Liturgy of the Word:. Sunday, 04th July 2021

First reading	Ezekiel 2:2-5

These rebels shall know that there is a prophet among them

The spirit came into me and made me stand up, and I heard the Lord speaking to me. He said, ‘Son of man, I am sending you to the Israelites, to the rebels who have turned against me. Till now they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me. The sons are defiant and obstinate; I am sending you to them, to say, “The Lord says this.” Whether they listen or not, this set of rebels shall know there is a prophet among them.’

The word of the Lord.

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Responsorial Psalm	Psalm 122(123)

Our eyes are on the Lord till he shows us his mercy.

To you have I lifted up my eyes,

  you who dwell in the heavens;

my eyes, like the eyes of slaves

  on the hand of their lords.

Our eyes are on the Lord till he shows us his mercy.

Like the eyes of a servant

  on the hand of her mistress,

so our eyes are on the Lord our God

  till he show us his mercy.

Our eyes are on the Lord till he shows us his mercy.

Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.

  We are filled with contempt.

Indeed all too full is our soul

  with the scorn of the rich,

  with the proud man’s disdain.

Our eyes are on the Lord till he shows us his mercy.

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Second reading
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 ·

The Lord's power is at its best in weakness

In view of the extraordinary nature of these revelations, to stop me from getting too proud I was given a thorn in the flesh, an angel of Satan to beat me and stop me from getting too proud! About this thing, I have pleaded with the Lord three times for it to leave me, but he has said, ‘My grace is enough for you: my power is at its best in weakness.’ So I shall be very happy to make my weaknesses my special boast so that the power of Christ may stay over me, and that is why I am quite content with my weaknesses, and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and the agonies I go through for Christ’s sake. For it is when I am weak that I am strong.

The word of the Lord.

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Gospel Acclamation	Jn1:14,12

Alleluia, alleluia!

The Word was made flesh and lived among us:

to all who did accept him

he gave power to become children of God.

Alleluia

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Gospel	Mark 6:1-6

'A prophet is only despised in his own country'

Jesus went to his home town and his disciples accompanied him. With the coming of the sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue and most of them were astonished when they heard him. They said, ‘Where did the man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been granted him, and these miracles that are worked through him? This is the carpenter, surely, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joset and Jude and Simon? His sisters, too, are they not here with us?’ And they would not accept him. And Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is only despised in his own country, among his own relations and in his own house’; and he could work no miracle there, though he cured a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.

The Gospel of the Lord.