Mass Reflection: Sunday - 19th July 2026

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mass Reading: Sunday - 20th July 2025

First reading
Genesis 18:1-10
'Next year your wife Sarah will have a son'


The Lord appeared to Abraham at the Oak of Mamre while he was sitting by the entrance of the tent during the hottest part of the day. He looked up, and there he saw three men standing near him. As soon as he saw them he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them, and bowed to the ground. ‘My lord,’ he said ‘I beg you, if I find favour with you, kindly do not pass your servant by. A little water shall be brought; you shall wash your feet and lie down under the tree. Let me fetch a little bread and you shall refresh yourselves before going further. That is why you have come in your servant’s direction.’ They replied, ‘Do as you say.’

Abraham hastened to the tent to find Sarah.’ ‘Hurry,’ he said ‘knead three bushels of flour and make loaves.’ Then running to the cattle Abraham took a fine and tender calf and gave it to the servant, who hurried to prepare it. Then taking cream, milk and the calf he had prepared, he laid all before them, and they ate while he remained standing near them under the tree.

‘Where is your wife Sarah?’ they asked him. ‘She is in the tent’ he replied. Then his guest said, ‘I shall visit you again next year without fail, and your wife will then have a son.’


The word of the Lord.




________




Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 14(15):2-5


The just will live in the presence of the Lord.

Lord, who shall dwell on your holy mountain?
He who walks without fault;
he who acts with justice
and speaks the truth from his heart;
he who does not slander with his tongue.

The just will live in the presence of the Lord.

He who does no wrong to his brother,
who casts no slur on his neighbour,
who holds the godless in disdain,
but honours those who fear the Lord.

The just will live in the presence of the Lord.

He who keeps his pledge, come what may;
who takes no interest on a loan
and accepts no bribes against the innocent.
Such a man will stand firm for ever.

The just will live in the presence of the Lord.



_________




Second reading
Colossians 1:24-28
A mystery hidden for generations has been revealed to God's saints


It makes me happy to suffer for you, as I am suffering now, and in my own body to do what I can to make up all that has still to be undergone by Christ for the sake of his body, the Church. I became the servant of the Church when God made me responsible for delivering God’s message to you, the message which was a mystery hidden for generations and centuries and has now been revealed to his saints. It was God’s purpose to reveal it to them and to show all the rich glory of this mystery to pagans. The mystery is Christ among you, your hope of glory: this is the Christ we proclaim, this is the wisdom in which we thoroughly train everyone and instruct everyone, to make them all perfect in Christ.


The word of the Lord.




________




Gospel Acclamation
cf.Ac16:14


Alleluia, alleluia!

Open our heart, O Lord,
to accept the words of your Son.

Alleluia!


Or:
cf.Lk8:15


Alleluia, alleluia!


Blessed are those who,
with a noble and generous heart,
take the word of God to themselves
and yield a harvest through their perseverance.

Alleluia!



________




Gospel
Luke 10:38-42
Martha works; Mary listens


Jesus came to a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. She had a sister called Mary, who sat down at the Lord’s feet and listened to him speaking. Now Martha who was distracted with all the serving said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me.’ But the Lord answered: ‘Martha, Martha,’ he said ‘you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part; it is not to be taken from her.’


The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 20th July 2025

 

GN 18: 1-10A; PS15:2-5; COL 1:24-28; LK 10:38-42

Today’s readings are chock full of inspiration for living a stewardship way of life, starting with our first reading, from Genesis. Here we see the stewardship concept of hospitality at work as Abraham offers a generous welcome to three mysterious men who appear at the entrance to his tent. Some Church fathers hold that the three men are an early symbol of our Triune God; others that the three are angels. In any case, Abraham welcomes them warmly in true stew-ard-ship hospitality, offering them a good meal and some cool water with which to refresh themselves. In return for his generosity, one of the three men promises that Abraham’s elderly wife would miraculously give birth to a son, a promise which indeed comes true.

In our Second Reading, from St. Paul’s letter to the Colossians, Paul uses the term “steward-ship” to describe the particular mission that has been entrusted to Him by God. That is why, he explains, that all the sufferings he endures as part of his ministry are a joy for Him — be-cause they come as a part of the privilege of serving the Lord. This is equally true for each one of us today. We are all called to be the Lord’s faithful stewards, spreading the Good News of the Gospel in our sphere of influence. And while serving the Lord (through formal ministry or just in the daily duties of everyday life) involves some suffering, like Paul, we should count this as part of the privilege of being called His stewards.

Finally, in today’s Gospel reading, from St. Luke, we receive a reminder about the proper use of the gift of time, a fundamental aspect of a stewardship way of life. Our passage highlights one of the most famous dinner parties ever thrown, recalling the day that Martha and Mary hosted our Lord in their home. We are told that Martha, as a good steward, welcomes Christ in but then becomes “burdened with much serving” while her sister and fellow hostess choose to simply sit with Jesus, listening to Him speak.

Martha becomes indignant at Mary’s behavior and complains to Jesus, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” But Jesus, in His infinite wisdom, refuses to get pulled into this sisterly spat. Instead, He offers Martha a fresh way to look at the situation. “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing.”

What is that one thing? It is to put Jesus first in our lives and above all other things; to “sit at his feet” and listen as Mary did, giving Him the priority of our time no matter how busy we think we are.

When we truly commit to putting Christ first in our daily lives through a regular time of prayer and frequent participation in the sacraments, we will find that all our other concerns become less pressing and less overwhelming. Why is this so? Because the time we invest in our rela-tionship with God saturates all aspects of our lives with His grace. And because God cannot be outdone in generosity. He will abundantly reward any sacrifice we make to spend time with Him.

In the week ahead let’s examine how well we show “hospitality" to our Lord by putting Him first through our stewardship of time. If you do not have a daily habit of prayer, commit to five minutes for the next seven days. If you are already in the habit of daily prayer, make sure you are listening at least as much as speaking. Either way, you will be blessed. What a privilege to be His stewards!

Mass Reading: Sunday - 21st July 2024

First reading
Jeremiah 23:1-6
I will gather together the remnant of my flock and raise up shepherds for them

    ‘Doom for the shepherds who allow the flock of my pasture to be destroyed and scattered – it is the Lord who speaks! This, therefore, is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds in charge of my people: You have let my flock be scattered and go wandering and have not taken care of them.

    Right, I will take care of you for your misdeeds – it is the Lord who speaks! But the remnant of my flock I myself will gather from all the countries where I have dispersed them, and will bring them back to their pastures: they shall be fruitful and increase in numbers. I will raise up shepherds to look after them and pasture them; no fear, no terror for them any more; not one shall be lost – it is the Lord who speaks!

    ‘See, the days are coming – it is the Lord who speaks –

when I will raise a virtuous Branch for David,
who will reign as true king and be wise,
practising honesty and integrity in the land.
In his days Judah will be saved
and Israel dwell in confidence.
And this is the name he will be called:
The-Lord-our-integrity.’

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 22(23)

The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.

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

The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.

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

The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.

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

The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.

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

The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.

________

Second reading
Ephesians 2:13-18
Christ Jesus is the peace between us

    In Christ Jesus, you that used to be so far apart from us have been brought very close, by the blood of Christ. For he is the peace between us, and has made the two into one and broken down the barrier which used to keep them apart, actually destroying in his own person the hostility caused by the rules and decrees of the Law. This was to create one single New Man in himself out of the two of them and by restoring peace through the cross, to unite them both in a single Body and reconcile them with God: in his own person he killed the hostility. Later he came to bring the good news of peace, peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near at hand. Through him, both of us have in the one Spirit our way to come to the Father.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
Jn10:27

Alleluia, alleluia!

The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice, 
says the Lord, 
I know them and they follow me.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Mark 6:30-34
They were like sheep without a shepherd

    The apostles rejoined Jesus and told him all they had done and taught. Then he said to them, ‘You must come away to some lonely place all by yourselves and rest for a while’; for there were so many coming and going that the apostles had no time even to eat. So they went off in a boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. But people saw them going, and many could guess where; and from every town they all hurried to the place on foot and reached it before them. So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he set himself to teach them at some length.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 21st July 2024

 

JER 23:1-6; PS 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6; EPH 2:13-18; MK 6:30-34


Today’s readings remind us of how our God is compassionate and passionately loves us.

“Woe to the shepherds who mislead and scatter the flock of my pasture, says the Lord.” Our First Reading from the prophet Jeremiah addresses false prophets who had misled God’s people away from the Lord. Jeremiah was outraged and fought against these prophets. The Lord declares that He will restore His people by bringing back those who have gone astray and providing for them new shepherds so that they will “no longer fear and tremble.”

This reading portrays God’s infinite care and concern for our lives. We can see that God is the one who loved us first. He pursues us constantly. Oftentimes, we are like the people who are blind to His goodness and enticed by sin — something we think will make us happy but does not. God is the one who constantly pursues us and gives us opportunities to say "yes" to Him. He wants to win us back, and ultimately, He will make us happy.

So now we must ask ourselves, who or what is blinding us or leading us away from our ultimate happiness? Stop for a moment and name that thing — money, status, a person, career, laziness, addiction, self-image, health, etc. — that could be leading you away from a more full and happy relationship with God.

As Christian disciples, deep down we really know that our true happiness is God. So, what are we waiting for? Take the leap of faith and allow yourself to radically love God in return.

Our Gospel re-echoes what our First Reading proclaims as masses of people seek Jesus and the apostles. The apostles were exhausted from all the work they had done in Jesus’ name — "they had no opportunity even to eat.”

Jesus tried to seek solitude for the apostles to recuperate from their work, yet the masses of people kept coming after them. Upon seeing this, it says, “his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like a sheep without a shepherd.”

Wherever we are at this point in our lives — following a false shepherd, like in our First Reading, or aimlessly going through life with no shepherd or direction — Jesus is ready to shepherd us. His compassionate heart is ready to guide us. He has been waiting.

So, let us learn from the masses of people in our Gospel today. If we are having trouble of letting go of that "thing" that we think will make us happy or we aren’t sure where to even start in becoming an intentional disciple of Jesus Christ, simply seek Jesus. Seek Him in daily prayer, frequent reception of the sacraments, and through reading the Scriptures. If we can do that, surely, He will be “moved with pity” for us and teach us many things.

As we begin this new week, let us name the things in our lives that are robbing us of our ultimate happiness, work to let go of them, and let us strive to make Jesus our true shepherd by seeking Him in our daily lives.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 23rd July 2023

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

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

The word of the Lord.

________

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

O Lord, you are good and forgiving.

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

O Lord, you are good and forgiving.

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

O Lord, you are good and forgiving.

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

O Lord, you are good and forgiving.

________

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

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

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
cf.Ep1:17,18

Alleluia, alleluia!

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

Alleluia!

Or:
Mt11:25

Alleluia, alleluia!

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

Alleluia!

________

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 23rd July 2023

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

Today’s readings are filled with lessons both cautionary and consoling for the Christian steward.
 
Our first reading, from the book of Wisdom, reminds us that our God is just as well as kind, all-powerful as well as merciful. “For you show your might when the perfection of your power is dis-believed… But though you are master of might, you judge with clemency.” God is indeed kind and loving, but He is also a just judge, and the day will come when we will have to give an account for what we have done with the gifts of time, talent, and treasure that He entrusted to us during our lifetime. We will be judged by God for the part we played — or did not play — in the building of His kingdom. 
 
We are never alone in this work, however, as we are reminded in our second reading from the letter to the Romans. “The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness… the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groaning.” We must turn to the Holy Spirit continuously to guide us in our daily lives as Christian stewards. The Holy Spirit is the source of all wisdom. He will reveal to each of us the unique mission the Father has given us, as individuals and as a parish family, in the building of the kingdom of heaven. And He will give us the strength we need to remain faithful to our mission.
 
Jesus uses several parables to describe this Kingdom in our Gospel passage from Matthew. First, He compares it to a man who sows wheat in his field, but in the darkness of night an enemy comes and sows weeds in the same field. Both weeds and wheat are permitted to grow and only at the harvest time are they separated, or “judged” — the wheat gathered into the sower’s barn and the weeds finally destroyed. So, it will be for each of us at the end of our time on earth. It is a sobering reminder of the justice of God. 
 
But Jesus also gives us comfort and hope in this passage. He says the kingdom of heaven is like the small portion of yeast that is mixed in with flour for the making of bread. The yeast makes up an insignificant fraction of the ingredients, yet it is vital to the outcome — without that tiny bit of yeast, the bread simply will not rise. In a similar vein, Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a mustard seed, “the smallest of all the seeds.” But when it is full-grown it becomes the largest of all the plants, a sturdy and hardy bush where “birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.”

It is those latter two descriptions that are especially encouraging to the Christian steward. So often, the prayers that we pray, the service we offer, the gifts we give — in comparison to the immense needs around us — can seem laughably small. But, as Jesus makes clear through the images of yeast and the mustard seed, that is not the truth! 
 
Far from it. 
 
God sees and treasures and “grows” our offerings of time, talent, and treasure in ways we cannot begin to imagine. If we are but faithful stewards of the gifts entrusted to us, the day will come when we “will shine like the sun in the kingdom of [the] Father.”
 
In justice, in gratitude, in love, then, let us remain faithful to the mission entrusted to our care for the building of the kingdom of heaven.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 17th July 2022

  

GN 18: 1-10A; PS15:2-5; COL 1:24-28; LK 10:38-42

Today’s readings are chock full of inspiration for living a stewardship way of life, starting with our first reading, from Genesis. Here we see the stewardship concept of hospitality at work as Abraham offers a generous welcome to three mysterious men who appear at the entrance to his tent. Some Church fathers hold that the three men are an early symbol of our Triune God; others that the three are angels. In any case, Abraham welcomes them warmly in true steward-ship hospitality, offering them a good meal and some cool water with which to refresh themselves. In return for his generosity, one of the three men promises that Abraham’s elderly wife would miraculously give birth to a son, a promise which indeed comes true.
 
In our Second Reading, from St. Paul’s letter to the Colossians, Paul uses the term “stewardship” to describe the particular mission that has been entrusted to Him by God. That is why, he explains, that all the sufferings he endures as part of his ministry are a joy for Him — because they come as a part of the privilege of serving the Lord. This is equally true for each one of us today. We are all called to be the Lord’s faithful stewards, spreading the Good News of the Gospel in our sphere of influence. And while serving the Lord (through formal ministry or just in the daily duties of everyday life) involves some suffering, like Paul, we should count this as part of the privilege of being called His stewards.
 
Finally, in today’s Gospel reading, from St. Luke, we receive a reminder about the proper use of the gift of time, a fundamental aspect of a stewardship way of life. Our passage highlights one of the most famous dinner parties ever thrown, recalling the day that Martha and Mary hosted our Lord in their home. We are told that Martha, as a good steward, welcomes Christ in but then becomes “burdened with much serving” while her sister and fellow hostess choose to simply sit with Jesus, listening to Him speak. 
 
Martha becomes indignant at Mary’s behavior and complains to Jesus, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” But Jesus, in His infinite wisdom, refuses to get pulled into this sisterly spat. Instead, He offers Martha a fresh way to look at the situation. “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing.” 
 
What is that one thing?  It is to put Jesus first in our lives and above all other things; to “sit at his feet” and listen as Mary did, giving Him the priority of our time no matter how busy we think we are.
 
When we truly commit to putting Christ first in our daily lives through a regular time of prayer and frequent participation in the sacraments, we will find that all our other concerns become less pressing and less overwhelming. Why is this so? Because the time we invest in our relationship with God saturates all aspects of our lives with His grace. And because God cannot be outdone in generosity. He will abundantly reward any sacrifice we make to spend time with Him.
 
In the week ahead let’s examine how well we show “hospitality" to our Lord by putting Him first through our stewardship of time. If you do not have a daily habit of prayer, commit to five minutes for the next seven days. If you are already in the habit of daily prayer, make sure you are listening at least as much as speaking. Either way, you will be blessed. What a privilege to be His stewards!

Mass Reading: Sunday - 17th July 2022

First reading
Genesis 18:1-10
'Next year your wife Sarah will have a son'

    The Lord appeared to Abraham at the Oak of Mamre while he was sitting by the entrance of the tent during the hottest part of the day. He looked up, and there he saw three men standing near him. As soon as he saw them he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them, and bowed to the ground. ‘My lord,’ he said ‘I beg you, if I find favour with you, kindly do not pass your servant by. A little water shall be brought; you shall wash your feet and lie down under the tree. Let me fetch a little bread and you shall refresh yourselves before going further. That is why you have come in your servant’s direction.’ They replied, ‘Do as you say.’

    Abraham hastened to the tent to find Sarah.’ ‘Hurry,’ he said ‘knead three bushels of flour and make loaves.’ Then running to the cattle Abraham took a fine and tender calf and gave it to the servant, who hurried to prepare it. Then taking cream, milk and the calf he had prepared, he laid all before them, and they ate while he remained standing near them under the tree.

    ‘Where is your wife Sarah?’ they asked him. ‘She is in the tent’ he replied. Then his guest said, ‘I shall visit you again next year without fail, and your wife will then have a son.’

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 14(15):2-5

The just will live in the presence of the Lord.

Lord, who shall dwell on your holy mountain?
He who walks without fault;
he who acts with justice
and speaks the truth from his heart;
he who does not slander with his tongue.

The just will live in the presence of the Lord.

He who does no wrong to his brother,
who casts no slur on his neighbour,
who holds the godless in disdain,
but honours those who fear the Lord.

The just will live in the presence of the Lord.

He who keeps his pledge, come what may;
who takes no interest on a loan
and accepts no bribes against the innocent.
Such a man will stand firm for ever.

The just will live in the presence of the Lord.

________

Second reading
Colossians 1:24-28
A mystery hidden for generations has been revealed to God's saints

    It makes me happy to suffer for you, as I am suffering now, and in my own body to do what I can to make up all that has still to be undergone by Christ for the sake of his body, the Church. I became the servant of the Church when God made me responsible for delivering God’s message to you, the message which was a mystery hidden for generations and centuries and has now been revealed to his saints. It was God’s purpose to reveal it to them and to show all the rich glory of this mystery to pagans. The mystery is Christ among you, your hope of glory: this is the Christ we proclaim, this is the wisdom in which we thoroughly train everyone and instruct everyone, to make them all perfect in Christ.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
cf.Ac16:14

Alleluia, alleluia!

Open our heart, O Lord,
to accept the words of your Son.

Alleluia!

Or:
cf.Lk8:15

Alleluia, alleluia!

Blessed are those who, 
with a noble and generous heart,
take the word of God to themselves
and yield a harvest through their perseverance.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Luke 10:38-42
Martha works; Mary listens

    Jesus came to a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. She had a sister called Mary, who sat down at the Lord’s feet and listened to him speaking. Now Martha who was distracted with all the serving said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me.’ But the Lord answered: ‘Martha, Martha,’ he said ‘you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part; it is not to be taken from her.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday, 18th July 2021

 

Today’s readings remind us of how our God is compassionate and passionately loves us. 
 
“Woe to the shepherds who mislead and scatter the flock of my pasture, says the Lord.” Our First Reading from the prophet Jeremiah addresses false prophets who had misled God’s people away from the Lord. Jeremiah was outraged and fought against these prophets. The Lord declares that He will restore His people by bringing back those who have gone astray and providing for them new shepherds so that they will “no longer fear and tremble.”
 
This reading portrays God’s infinite care and concern for our lives. We can see that God is the one who loved us first. He pursues us constantly. Oftentimes, we are like the people who are blind to His goodness and enticed by sin — something we think will make us happy but does not. God is the one who constantly pursues us and gives us opportunities to say "yes" to Him. He wants to win us back, and ultimately, He will make us happy. 
 
So now we must ask ourselves, who or what is blinding us or leading us away from our ultimate happiness? Stop for a moment and name that thing — money, status, a person, career, laziness, addiction, self-image, health, etc. — that could be leading you away from a more full and happy relationship with God.
 
As Christian disciples, deep down we really know that our true happiness is God. So, what are we waiting for? Take the leap of faith and allow yourself to radically love God in return. 
 
Our Gospel echoes what our First Reading proclaims as masses of people seek Jesus and the apostles. The apostles were exhausted from all the work they had done in Jesus’ name — "they had no opportunity even to eat.” 
 
Jesus tried to seek solitude for the apostles to recuperate from their work, yet the masses of people kept coming after them. Upon seeing this, it says, “his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like a sheep without a shepherd.”
 
Wherever we are at this point in our lives — following a false shepherd, like in our First Reading, or aimlessly going through life with no shepherd or direction — Jesus is ready to shepherd us. His compassionate heart is ready to guide us. He has been waiting. 
 
So, let us learn from the masses of people in our Gospel today. If we are having trouble of letting go of that "thing" that we think will make us happy or we aren’t sure where to even start in becoming an intentional disciple of Jesus Christ, simply seek Jesus. Seek Him in daily prayer, frequent reception of the sacraments, and through reading the Scriptures. If we can do that, surely, He will be “moved with pity” for us and teach us many things. 
 
As we begin this new week, let us name the things in our lives that are robbing us of our ultimate happiness, work to let go of them, and let us strive to make Jesus our true shepherd by seeking Him in our daily lives. 

The Liturgy of the Word: Sunday, 18th July 2021

First reading
Jeremiah 23:1-6
I will gather together the remnant of my flock and raise up shepherds for them

‘Doom for the shepherds who allow the flock of my pasture to be destroyed and scattered – it is the Lord who speaks! This, therefore, is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says about the shepherds in charge of my people: You have let my flock be scattered and go wandering and have not taken care of them.

    Right, I will take care of you for your misdeeds – it is the Lord who speaks! But the remnant of my flock I myself will gather from all the countries where I have dispersed them, and will bring them back to their pastures: they shall be fruitful and increase in numbers. I will raise up shepherds to look after them and pasture them; no fear, no terror for them any more; not one shall be lost – it is the Lord who speaks!

‘See, the days are coming – it is the Lord who speaks –
when I will raise a virtuous Branch for David,
who will reign as true king and be wise,
practising honesty and integrity in the land.
In his days Judah will be saved
and Israel dwell in confidence.
And this is the name he will be called:
The-Lord-our-integrity.’

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 22(23)

The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.

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

The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.

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

The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.

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

The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.

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

The Lord is my shepherd: there is nothing I shall want.

________

Second reading
Ephesians 2:13-18
Christ Jesus is the peace between us

In Christ Jesus, you that used to be so far apart from us have been brought very close, by the blood of Christ. For he is the peace between us, and has made the two into one and broken down the barrier which used to keep them apart, actually destroying in his own person the hostility caused by the rules and decrees of the Law. This was to create one single New Man in himself out of the two of them and by restoring peace through the cross, to unite them both in a single Body and reconcile them with God: in his own person he killed the hostility. Later he came to bring the good news of peace, peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near at hand. Through him, both of us have in the one Spirit our way to come to the Father.

The word of the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation
Jn10:27

Alleluia, alleluia!

The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice, 
says the Lord, 
I know them and they follow me.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Mark 6:30-34
They were like sheep without a shepherd

The apostles rejoined Jesus and told him all they had done and taught. Then he said to them, ‘You must come away to some lonely place all by yourselves and rest for a while’; for there were so many coming and going that the apostles had no time even to eat. So they went off in a boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. But people saw them going, and many could guess where; and from every town they all hurried to the place on foot and reached it before them. So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he set himself to teach them at some length.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Readings: Sunday, 19th July 2020

FIRST READING
A reading from the Book of Wisdom    12:13. 16-19
After sin you will grant repentance.

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

The Word of the Lord.



Responsorial Psalm    Ps 85

Response:  O Lord, you are good and forgiving.

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

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

3. But you, God of mercy and compassion,
slow to anger, O Lord,
abounding in love and truth,

turn and take pity on me.



SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Romans    8:26-27
The Spirit himself expresses our plea in a way that could never be put
into words.

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

The Word of the Lord.



Gospel Acclamation    Eph 1:17. 18

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

Or Mt 11:25

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




GOSPEL
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew    13:24-43
Let them both grow till the harvest.

Jesus put a parable before the crowds, ‘The kingdom of heaven
may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.
While everybody was asleep his enemy came, sowed darnel all
among the wheat, and made off. When the new wheat sprouted
and ripened, the darnel appeared as well. The owner’s servants
went to him and said, “Sir, was it not good seed that you sowed in
your field? If so, where does the darnel come from?” “Some enemy
has done this” he answered. And the servants said, “Do you want us
to go and weed it out?” But he said, “No, because when you weed
out the darnel you might pull up the wheat with it. Let them both
grow till the harvest; and at harvest time I shall say to the reapers:
First collect the darnel and tie it in bundles to be burnt, then gather
the wheat into my barn.”‘
He told them another parable, ‘The kingdom of heaven is like the
yeast a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour till it
was leavened all through’.
In all this Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables; indeed, he would
never speak to them except in parables. This was to fulfil the
prophecy: I will speak to you in parables and expound things hidden
since the foundation of the world.
Then, leaving the crowds, he went to the house; and his disciples
came to him and said, ‘Explain the parable about the darnel in the
field to us’. He said in reply, ‘The sower of the good seed is the Son of
Man. The field is the world; the good seed is the subjects of the
kingdom; the darnel, the subjects of the evil one; the enemy who
sowed them, the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; the
reapers are the angels. Well then, just as the darnel is gathered up
and burnt in the fire, so it will be at the end of time. The Son of Man
will send his angels and they will gather out of his Kingdom all the
thinks that provoke offences an all who do evil, and throw them into
the burning furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of
teeth. Then the virtuous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their
Father. Listen, anyone who has ears.

The Gospel of the Lord.