Mass Reading: Sunday - 26th July 2026

First reading
1 Kings 3:5,7-12
Solomon chooses the gift of wisdom

    The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, ‘Ask what you would like me to give you.’ Solomon replied, ‘O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in succession to David my father. But I am a very young man, unskilled in leadership. Your servant finds himself in the midst of this people of yours that you have chosen, a people so many its number cannot be counted or reckoned. Give your servant a heart to understand how to discern between good and evil, for who could govern this people of yours that is so great?’ It pleased the Lord that Solomon should have asked for this. ‘Since you have asked for this’ the Lord said ‘and not asked for long life for yourself or riches or the lives of your enemies, but have asked for a discerning judgement for yourself, here and now I do what you ask. I give you a heart wise and shrewd as none before you has had and none will have after you.’

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 118(119):57,72,76-77,127-130

Lord, how I love your law!

My part, I have resolved, O Lord,
    is to obey your word.
The law from your mouth means more to me
    than silver and gold.

Lord, how I love your law!

Let your love be ready to console me
    by your promise to your servant.
Let your love come and I shall live
    for your law is my delight.

Lord, how I love your law!

That is why I love your commands
    more than finest gold,
why I rule my life by your precepts,
    and hate false ways.

Lord, how I love your law!

Your will is wonderful indeed;
    therefore I obey it.
The unfolding of your word gives light
    and teaches the simple.

Lord, how I love your law!

________

Second reading
Romans 8:28-30
Those he called, he justified

    We know that by turning everything to their good, God co-operates with all those who love him, with all those he has called according to his purpose. They are the ones he chose specially long ago and intended to become true images of his Son, so that his Son might be the eldest of many brothers. He called those he intended for this; those he called he justified, and with those he justified he shared his glory.

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:
Mt11:25

Alleluia, alleluia!

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

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Matthew 13:44-52
He sells everything he owns and buys the field

    Jesus said to the crowds, ‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which someone has found; he hides it again, goes off happy, sells everything he owns and buys the field.

    ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls; when he finds one of great value he goes and sells everything he owns and buys it.

    ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea that brings in a haul of all kinds. When it is full, the fishermen haul it ashore; then, sitting down, they collect the good ones in a basket and throw away those that are no use. This is how it will be at the end of time: the angels will appear and separate the wicked from the just to throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.

    ‘Have you understood all this?’ They said, ‘Yes.’ And he said to them, ‘Well then, every scribe who becomes a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out from his storeroom things both new and old.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

 

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 26th July 2026

 

1 KGS 3:5, 7-12; PS 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-130; ROM 8:28-30; MT 13:44-52 OR 13:44-46


The stewardship way of life could be described as a daily pursuit of the Kingdom of Heaven. Today’s readings remind us of the importance of recognizing that Kingdom in our midst and ordering our lives around what truly matters.

In our first reading from the First Book of Kings, God appears to Solomon in a dream and invites him to ask for whatever he desires. Rather than requesting riches, power, or long life, Solomon asks for “an understanding heart” to distinguish right from wrong. In other words, he asks for wisdom — the ability to recognize what is true and valuable and to live accordingly.

It is no surprise that God is pleased with Solomon’s request. In fact, Solomon becomes known throughout history for his wisdom. The same gift is available to us if we ask for it sincerely. We need wisdom to live the stewardship way of life because stewardship requires us to make choices every day about how we will use the gifts God has entrusted to us.

When our priorities are aligned with God’s will rather than the values of the world, we can live with confidence and peace. As St. Paul reminds us in today’s second reading, “all things work for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose.” This promise applies not only to life’s major decisions, but also to the countless daily choices we make as disciples striving to serve the Lord and advance His Kingdom.

In today’s Gospel, we arrive at the conclusion of three weeks of Jesus’ teaching on the Kingdom of Heaven. Through a series of brief but powerful parables, He reveals the extraordinary value of that Kingdom.

First, Jesus compares it to a treasure hidden in a field. The man who discovers it joyfully sells everything he has in order to obtain it. Next, He describes a merchant who finds a pearl of great price and willingly gives up all he possesses to make it his own.

These images remind us that life in Christ is worth any sacrifice. The Kingdom is not merely one priority among many. It is the greatest treasure we can possess.

Notice, too, that in both stories the treasure is initially hidden. We must actively seek it. We need the wisdom of Solomon to recognize the presence of God’s Kingdom amid the noise, distractions, and competing priorities of daily life.

Jesus then compares the Kingdom to a net cast into the sea that gathers fish of every kind. The invitation to the Kingdom is universal. God desires all people to share in His life and His love.

Yet the Lord concludes with a sobering reminder that each person will ultimately be judged. The angels “will separate the wicked from the righteous.” Jesus wants us to understand that our response to His invitation matters.

Let us pray for the wisdom to recognize the Kingdom of Heaven in our midst and to pursue it with all our hearts. There is no greater treasure, no greater source of joy, and no greater purpose than living as faithful stewards and disciples of Jesus Christ.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 27th July 2025

First reading
Genesis 18:20-32
Abraham negotiates with the Lord

    The Lord said, ‘How great an outcry there is against Sodom and Gomorrah! How grievous is their sin! I propose to go down and see whether or not they have done all that is alleged in the outcry against them that has come up to me. I am determined to know.’

    The men left there and went to Sodom while Abraham remained standing before the Lord. Approaching him he said, ‘Are you really going to destroy the just man with the sinner? Perhaps there are fifty just men in the town. Will you really overwhelm them, will you not spare the place for the fifty just men in it? Do not think of doing such a thing: to kill the just man with the sinner, treating just and sinner alike! Do not think of it! Will the judge of the whole earth not administer justice?’ the Lord replied, ‘If at Sodom I find fifty just men in the town, I will spare the whole place because of them.’

    Abraham replied, ‘I am bold indeed to speak like this to my Lord, I who am dust and ashes. But perhaps the fifty just men lack five: will you destroy the whole city for five?’ ‘No,’ he replied ‘I will not destroy it if I find forty-five just men there.’ Again Abraham said to him, ‘Perhaps there will only be forty there.’ ‘I will not do it’ he replied ‘for the sake of the forty.’

    Abraham said, ‘I trust my Lord will not be angry, but give me leave to speak: perhaps there will only be thirty there.’ ‘I will not do it’ he replied ‘if I find thirty there.’ He said, ‘I am bold indeed to speak like this, but perhaps there will only be twenty there.’ ‘I will not destroy it’ he replied ‘for the sake of the twenty.’ He said, ‘I trust my Lord will not be angry if I speak once more: perhaps there will only be ten.’ ‘I will not destroy it’ he replied ‘for the sake of the ten.’

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 137(138):1-3,6-8

On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord.

I thank you, Lord, with all my heart:
    you have heard the words of my mouth.
In the presence of the angels I will bless you.
    I will adore before your holy temple.

On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord.

I thank you for your faithfulness and love,
    which excel all we ever knew of you.
On the day I called, you answered;
    you increased the strength of my soul.

On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord.

The Lord is high yet he looks on the lowly
    and the haughty he knows from afar.
Though I walk in the midst of affliction
    you give me life and frustrate my foes.

On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord.

You stretch out your hand and save me,
    your hand will do all things for me.
Your love, O Lord, is eternal,
    discard not the work of your hands.

On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord.

________

Second reading
Colossians 2:12-14
Christ has brought you to life with him and forgiven us all our sins

    You have been buried with Christ, when you were baptised; and by baptism, too, you have been raised up with him through your belief in the power of God who raised him from the dead. You were dead, because you were sinners and had not been circumcised: he has brought you to life with him, he has forgiven us all our sins.

    He has overridden the Law, and cancelled every record of the debt that we had to pay; he has done away with it by nailing it to the cross.

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:
Rm8:15

Alleluia, alleluia!

The spirit you received is the spirit of sons,
and it makes us cry out, ‘Abba, Father!’

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Luke 11:1-13
How to pray

    Once Jesus was in a certain place praying, and when he had finished one of his disciples said, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’

    He said to them, ‘Say this when you pray:

‘“Father, may your name be held holy,
your kingdom come;
give us each day our daily bread,
and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive each one who is in debt to us.
And do not put us to the test.”’

    He also said to them:

    ‘Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him in the middle of the night to say, “My friend, lend me three loaves, because a friend of mine on his travels has just arrived at my house and I have nothing to offer him”; and the man answers from inside the house, “Do not bother me. The door is bolted now, and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up to give it you.” I tell you, if the man does not get up and give it him for friendship’s sake, persistence will be enough to make him get up and give his friend all he wants.

    ‘So I say to you: Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For the one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him. What father among you would hand his son a stone when he asked for bread? Or hand him a snake instead of a fish? Or hand him a scorpion if he asked for an egg? If you then, who are evil, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 27th July 2025

 

GN 18:20-32; PS138:1-3, 6-8; COL 2:12-14; LK 11:1-13

The teachings of our Catholic faith are inexhaustibly deep, but they are also amazingly simple. Today’s readings take us back to the basics, reminding us how we as Christian stewards are to approach our relationship with God and others.

The First Reading gives us an early glimpse of the extravagance of God’s mercy revealed in the very first book of the Old Testament. In this passage from Genesis, we find Abraham testing the limits of God’s kindness and patience with His people. God tells Abraham that despite the terrible depravity in Sodom and Gomorrah, for the sake of just a handful of innocent people, He would spare them all. This passage illustrates two basic truths of Christian stewardship: what an infinitely loving God we serve and what a privilege we have in our gift of faith, a gift that we must share for the sake of others.

The Second Reading, from St. Paul’s letter to the Colossians, reminds us of this stewardship basic: Christ “brought you to life along with him, having forgiven us all our transgressions; obliterating the bond against us…nailing it to the cross.” Jesus loves us so much that he took on our sins to free us from death and offer us eternal life. What a generous Savior we have who gives us the gift of eternal life. This truth should fill us with overwhelming gratitude, inspiring us to share our lives generously with others as faithful disciples of our Lord.

The Gospel reading from Luke takes us back to the basics of prayer, offering us both a method of prayer from Jesus Himself and the encouragement to persist in prayer. In this passage, some of His disciples ask our Lord to teach them how to pray. Jesus instantly offers them the beautiful prayer which we, of course, call the Our Father. This prayer is so rich that it still forms the basis of our approach to God the Father over 2,000 years later. At the same time, it is so simple, we teach it as a first prayer to young children.

The Our Father is truly a steward’s prayer. In it, we call upon God in an intimate way, as Father. We ask that His will be done (not ours!) and that His kingdom come (not ours!). In other words, we remember that He is our Creator, everything is His, and our focus in life should be on His priorities, not our own. Then we ask Him to supply our needs (to give our daily bread), forgive our sins, and protect us from evil. That is, we proclaim that we trust completely in His provision for us and mercy towards us. We, too, commit to extending mercy ourselves (as we forgive those who sin against us).

As we pray the words of the Our Father, we recognize this basic truth about ourselves and God: God is our Father, and we are beloved and infinitely blessed to be His children. This is the basis of a stewardship way of life.

After giving us the Our Father, Jesus shares the funny little story of the man who bugs his neighbor for bread in the middle of the night. The man’s persistence pays off. How much more perfectly the Father will answer the prayers of His children when we persist in going to Him with our needs.

At the end of the Gospel passage, Jesus offers one more “basic” for us stewards about our relationship with the Father: Ask Him, seek Him, knock on His door! He can hardly wait to bless us, HIs children. Remember that this week, then go, be a blessing to others! Stewardship is just that simple.

Mass Rreading: Sunday - 28th July 2024

First reading
2 Kings 4:42-44
They will eat, and have some left over

    A man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing Elisha, the man of God, bread from the first-fruits, twenty barley loaves and fresh grain in the ear.’ ‘Give it to the people to eat’, Elisha said. But his servant replied, ‘How can I serve this to a hundred men?’ ‘Give it to the people to eat’ he insisted ‘for the Lord says this, “They will eat and have some left over.”’ He served them; they ate and had some left over, as the Lord had said.

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 144(145):10-11,15-18

You open wide your hand, O Lord, and grant our desires.

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.

You open wide your hand, O Lord, and grant our desires.

The eyes of all creatures look to you
    and you give them their food in due time.
You open wide your hand,
    grant the desires of all who live.

You open wide your hand, O Lord, and grant our desires.

The Lord is just in all his ways
    and loving in all his deeds.
He is close to all who call him,
    who call on him from their hearts.

You open wide your hand, O Lord, and grant our desires.

________

Second reading
Ephesians 4:1-6
One Body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God

    I, the prisoner in the Lord, implore you to lead a life worthy of your vocation. Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together. There is one Body, one Spirit, just as you were all called into one and the same hope when you were called. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God who is Father of all, over all, through all and within all.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
cf.Jn6:63,68

Alleluia, alleluia!

Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life;
you have the message of eternal life.

Alleluia!

Or:
Lk7:16

Alleluia, alleluia!

A great prophet has appeared among us;
God has visited his people.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
John 6:1-15
The feeding of the five thousand

    Jesus went off to the other side of the Sea of Galilee – or of Tiberias – and a large crowd followed him, impressed by the signs he gave by curing the sick. Jesus climbed the hillside, and sat down there with his disciples. It was shortly before the Jewish feast of Passover.

    Looking up, Jesus saw the crowds approaching and said to Philip, ‘Where can we buy some bread for these people to eat?’ He only said this to test Philip; he himself knew exactly what he was going to do. Philip answered, ‘Two hundred denarii would only buy enough to give them a small piece each.’ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said, ‘There is a small boy here with five barley loaves and two fish; but what is that between so many?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Make the people sit down.’ There was plenty of grass there, and as many as five thousand men sat down. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and gave them out to all who were sitting ready; he then did the same with the fish, giving out as much as was wanted. When they had eaten enough he said to the disciples, ‘Pick up the pieces left over, so that nothing gets wasted.’ So they picked them up, and filled twelve hampers with scraps left over from the meal of five barley loaves. The people, seeing this sign that he had given, said, ‘This really is the prophet who is to come into the world.’ Jesus, who could see they were about to come and take him by force and make him king, escaped back to the hills by himself.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 28th July 2024

 

2 KGS 4:42-44; PS 145:10-11, 15-16, 17-18; EPH 4:1-6; JN 6:1-15

Our readings today remind us that we are called to give God everything we have. We are inspired by the servant and the little boy, who didn’t have much but gave the very best of what they had and all that they had for God. In turn, He multiplied their gifts above and beyond what they could have imagined. God will do the same for us today. We must allow Him to do so.

Our first reading from the second book of Kings foreshadows the multiplication of the loaves and fish in our Gospel today. The servant brings to the king, Elisha, twenty barley loaves from the first fruits of the harvest and fresh grain. Elisha gave strict commands to give it to the people to eat. The servant questioned, “how can I set this before a hundred people?” Yet Elisha stated that the Lord said, “They shall eat and there shall be some left over.” And we hear that it was true, people ate and still, there was food left over.

Likewise, in our Gospel Jesus asked the apostles how they were going to feed the crowd that had been following them. Philip replied that not even 200 days’ worth of wages would be enough for the number of people. All they had were five barley loaves and two fish from a little boy. Yet Jesus multiplied the food so that there were baskets left over. All ate and were satisfied.

The servant and the little boy are excellent examples for us as Christian stewards. The servant gave the very best of what he had, and the boy gave all that he had, then God did the rest.

We must ask ourselves, what is our very best, and are we giving it to God? It can be easy to give God the bare minimum. It is convenient and doesn’t cause us to stretch ourselves. Yet, a key component of living as a good steward is constantly re-evaluating our lives, particularly our relationship with God, to ensure we are not just ‘scraping by,’ but rather, giving God our entire lives.

As we evaluate our lives, we should ask ourselves — "how am I giving God my time, using my talents, and sharing my treasures?"

We are called to give God adequate time each day and if we don’t plan it out then it is likely that He won’t get any. Maybe it is the first fifteen minutes of each morning or the first fifteen when we get home from work. It could be the moment all the kids are napping or a quiet fifteen minutes on our lunch break. We need to find what works best for us so that God can become a greater part of our daily lives.

An additional way we are called to spend our time is with our loved ones. We are called to give undivided time to our families—whether it is having a family meal, quality time in the evening, a family game in the back yard, praying together, or a phone call to check in on our siblings or relatives—giving our families time is a key component of living as a Christian steward.

We are also called to put our gifts and talents to good use too. We all have countless talents that we are asked to use each day, yet sometimes we miss the opportunity to use them well. Yet the servant and the boy teach us that it is not up to us to decide how our gift will affect others. God will do that. All we need to do is to give it well. So whether we are called to go to work to provide for our family, phone a friend to just listen, or cook three meals a day for our spouse and kids, we are called to do it for the glory of God and with our whole heart.

Lastly, the servant reminds us that we are called to give the first fruits of our treasures. The servant gave to Elisha the very best of his harvest, not the scraps. It shows how important God was to that servant. And likewise, in our Gospel, the little boy shared all that he had with Jesus, not just part of it.

We are called to do the same. It is easy to give something; it is difficult to give the finest gift. Giving our very best requires us to evaluate our priorities in life. We must ask ourselves—do my spending habits reflect that God is the top priority in my life? Do I view all of my possessions as gifts from God that can be used for His glory?

Giving God our finest gift can be a challenge. I am sure the little boy was thinking to himself, ‘I just gave up my dinner!’ Yet it is always worth it. When we strive to live out our call as Christian stewards by entrusting all that we have been given to the One who graciously gave us these gifts, we will be blessed beyond measure.

As we begin a new week, let us spend some time evaluating our relationship with God by asking, ‘what is my very best, and am I giving it to God?’

Mass Reading: Sunday - 30th July 2023

First reading
1 Kings 3:5,7-12
Solomon chooses the gift of wisdom

    The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream and said, ‘Ask what you would like me to give you.’ Solomon replied, ‘O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in succession to David my father. But I am a very young man, unskilled in leadership. Your servant finds himself in the midst of this people of yours that you have chosen, a people so many its number cannot be counted or reckoned. Give your servant a heart to understand how to discern between good and evil, for who could govern this people of yours that is so great?’ It pleased the Lord that Solomon should have asked for this. ‘Since you have asked for this’ the Lord said ‘and not asked for long life for yourself or riches or the lives of your enemies, but have asked for a discerning judgement for yourself, here and now I do what you ask. I give you a heart wise and shrewd as none before you has had and none will have after you.’

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 118(119):57,72,76-77,127-130

Lord, how I love your law!

My part, I have resolved, O Lord,
    is to obey your word.
The law from your mouth means more to me
    than silver and gold.

Lord, how I love your law!

Let your love be ready to console me
    by your promise to your servant.
Let your love come and I shall live
    for your law is my delight.

Lord, how I love your law!

That is why I love your commands
    more than finest gold,
why I rule my life by your precepts,
    and hate false ways.

Lord, how I love your law!

Your will is wonderful indeed;
    therefore I obey it.
The unfolding of your word gives light
    and teaches the simple.

Lord, how I love your law!

________

Second reading
Romans 8:28-30
Those he called, he justified

    We know that by turning everything to their good, God co-operates with all those who love him, with all those he has called according to his purpose. They are the ones he chose specially long ago and intended to become true images of his Son, so that his Son might be the eldest of many brothers. He called those he intended for this; those he called he justified, and with those he justified he shared his glory.

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:
Mt11:25

Alleluia, alleluia!

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

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Matthew 13:44-52
He sells everything he owns and buys the field

    Jesus said to the crowds, ‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which someone has found; he hides it again, goes off happy, sells everything he owns and buys the field.

    ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls; when he finds one of great value he goes and sells everything he owns and buys it.

    ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea that brings in a haul of all kinds. When it is full, the fishermen haul it ashore; then, sitting down, they collect the good ones in a basket and throw away those that are no use. This is how it will be at the end of time: the angels will appear and separate the wicked from the just to throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.

    ‘Have you understood all this?’ They said, ‘Yes.’ And he said to them, ‘Well then, every scribe who becomes a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out from his storeroom things both new and old.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 30th July 2023

 1 KGS 3:5,7-12; PS 119:57,72, 76-77, 127-130; ROM 8:28-30; MT 13:44-52 OR 13:44-46

The stewardship way of life could be described as a daily pursuit of the kingdom of heaven. Today’s readings show us the critical importance of recognizing the kingdom of heaven in our midst and prioritizing our lives in order to obtain it.
 
In our First Reading, from the First Book of Kings, God appears to Solomon in a dream and invites Solomon to ask Him for something he desires. Rather than asking for riches or power, Solomon asks for the gift of “an understanding heart... to distinguish right from wrong.” In other words, he asks God to help him discern what is true and therefore what really matters in life. It is no surprise that God is pleased to give him this gift and that Solomon has been known since then as the wisest of kings. God will give the same gift to us if we ask Him sincerely. And in fact, we must have a wise and understanding heart if we are to live the stewardship way of life, to guide our priorities and decision-making in matters big and small.
 
When we pursue Godly — rather than worldly — priorities, we can do so with great peace because, as St. Paul reminds us in the Second Reading, from Romans, “all things work for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose.” All things — not just the major, life-altering decisions, but the countless tiny ones we make on a daily basis as we strive to serve the Lord and advance the kingdom of heaven.
 
In our Gospel passage from Matthew today, we arrive at the conclusion of three weeks of Jesus’ teaching on the kingdom of heaven. In the first of today’s parables, our Lord reminds us that living for Him and for His kingdom will be costly. But the deep joy that comes in following Him makes the “price” entailed worth it. Jesus says, “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” Next, He says the kingdom of heaven is “like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.” 
 
In each of these stories, the kingdom of heaven is somewhat “hidden.” We must intentionally search for it amidst the noise of the world that bombards us. We need wisdom to recognize it. Yet, our Lord reminds us that His kingdom is meant for everyone and He wants us to find it! He says, “It is like a net thrown into the sea which collects fish of every kind.”
 
But Jesus concludes His teaching with a rather ominous image, reminding us that every “fish” will also be judged as good or bad. “The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.” This is a description that is difficult to forget. Clearly Jesus wants to get our attention.
 
Let us pray for the wisdom to recognize the kingdom of heaven in our midst and intensify our efforts to pursue it starting right now. There is no time to lose, and we will obtain the immeasurable joy that only comes when we live as disciples of Jesus.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 24th July 2022

July 24, 2022 — Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

GN 18:20-32; PS138:1-3, 6-8; COL 2:12-14; LK 11:1-13

The teachings of our Catholic faith are inexhaustibly deep, but they are also amazingly simple. Today’s readings take us back to the basics, reminding us how we as Christian stewards are to approach our relationship with God and others.
 
The First Reading gives us an early glimpse of the extravagance of God’s mercy revealed in the very first book of the Old Testament. In this passage from Genesis, we find Abraham testing the limits of God’s kindness and patience with His people. God tells Abraham that despite the terrible depravity in Sodom and Gomorrah, for the sake of just a handful of innocent people, He would spare them all. This passage illustrates two basic truths of Christian stewardship: what an infinitely loving God we serve and what a privilege we have in our gift of faith, a gift that we must share for the sake of others.
 
The Second Reading, from St. Paul’s letter to the Colossians, reminds us of this stewardship basic: Christ “brought you to life along with him, having forgiven us all our transgressions; obliterating the bond against us…nailing it to the cross.” Jesus loves us so much that he took on our sins to free us from death and offer us eternal life. What a generous Savior we have who gives us the gift of eternal life. This truth should fill us with overwhelming gratitude, inspiring us to share our lives generously with others as faithful disciples of our Lord. 
 
The Gospel reading from Luke takes us back to the basics of prayer, offering us both a method of prayer from Jesus Himself and the encouragement to persist in prayer. In this passage, some of His disciples ask our Lord to teach them how to pray. Jesus instantly offers them the beautiful prayer which we, of course, call the Our Father. This prayer is so rich that it still forms the basis of our approach to God the Father over 2,000 years later. At the same time, it is so simple, we teach it as a first prayer to young children.
 
The Our Father is truly a steward’s prayer. In it, we call upon God in an intimate way, as Father. We ask that His will be done (not ours!) and that His kingdom come (not ours!). In other words, we remember that He is our Creator, everything is His, and our focus in life should be on His priorities, not our own. Then we ask Him to supply our needs (to give our daily bread), forgive our sins, and protect us from evil. That is, we proclaim that we trust completely in His provision for us and mercy towards us. We, too, commit to extending mercy ourselves (as we forgive those who sin against us). 
 
As we pray the words of the Our Father, we recognize this basic truth about ourselves and God: God is our Father, and we are beloved and infinitely blessed to be His children. This is the basis of a stewardship way of life. 
 
After giving us the Our Father, Jesus shares the funny little story of the man who bugs his neighbor for bread in the middle of the night. The man’s persistence pays off. How much more perfectly the Father will answer the prayers of His children when we persist in going to Him with our needs. 
 
At the end of the Gospel passage, Jesus offers one more “basic” for us stewards about our relationship with the Father:  Ask Him, seek Him, knock on His door! He can hardly wait to bless us, HIs children. Remember that this week, then go, be a blessing to others! Stewardship is just that simple.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 24th July 2022

First reading
Genesis 18:20-32
Abraham negotiates with the Lord

    The Lord said, ‘How great an outcry there is against Sodom and Gomorrah! How grievous is their sin! I propose to go down and see whether or not they have done all that is alleged in the outcry against them that has come up to me. I am determined to know.’

    The men left there and went to Sodom while Abraham remained standing before the Lord. Approaching him he said, ‘Are you really going to destroy the just man with the sinner? Perhaps there are fifty just men in the town. Will you really overwhelm them, will you not spare the place for the fifty just men in it? Do not think of doing such a thing: to kill the just man with the sinner, treating just and sinner alike! Do not think of it! Will the judge of the whole earth not administer justice?’ the Lord replied, ‘If at Sodom I find fifty just men in the town, I will spare the whole place because of them.’

    Abraham replied, ‘I am bold indeed to speak like this to my Lord, I who am dust and ashes. But perhaps the fifty just men lack five: will you destroy the whole city for five?’ ‘No,’ he replied ‘I will not destroy it if I find forty-five just men there.’ Again Abraham said to him, ‘Perhaps there will only be forty there.’ ‘I will not do it’ he replied ‘for the sake of the forty.’

    Abraham said, ‘I trust my Lord will not be angry, but give me leave to speak: perhaps there will only be thirty there.’ ‘I will not do it’ he replied ‘if I find thirty there.’ He said, ‘I am bold indeed to speak like this, but perhaps there will only be twenty there.’ ‘I will not destroy it’ he replied ‘for the sake of the twenty.’ He said, ‘I trust my Lord will not be angry if I speak once more: perhaps there will only be ten.’ ‘I will not destroy it’ he replied ‘for the sake of the ten.’

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 137(138):1-3,6-8

On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord.

I thank you, Lord, with all my heart:
    you have heard the words of my mouth.
In the presence of the angels I will bless you.
    I will adore before your holy temple.

On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord.

I thank you for your faithfulness and love,
    which excel all we ever knew of you.
On the day I called, you answered;
    you increased the strength of my soul.

On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord.

The Lord is high yet he looks on the lowly
    and the haughty he knows from afar.
Though I walk in the midst of affliction
    you give me life and frustrate my foes.

On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord.

You stretch out your hand and save me,
    your hand will do all things for me.
Your love, O Lord, is eternal,
    discard not the work of your hands.

On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord.

________

Second reading
Colossians 2:12-14
Christ has brought you to life with him and forgiven us all our sins

    You have been buried with Christ, when you were baptised; and by baptism, too, you have been raised up with him through your belief in the power of God who raised him from the dead. You were dead, because you were sinners and had not been circumcised: he has brought you to life with him, he has forgiven us all our sins.

    He has overridden the Law, and cancelled every record of the debt that we had to pay; he has done away with it by nailing it to the cross.

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:
Rm8:15

Alleluia, alleluia!

The spirit you received is the spirit of sons,
and it makes us cry out, ‘Abba, Father!’

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Luke 11:1-13
How to pray

    Once Jesus was in a certain place praying, and when he had finished one of his disciples said, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’

    He said to them, ‘Say this when you pray:

‘“Father, may your name be held holy,
your kingdom come;
give us each day our daily bread,
and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive each one who is in debt to us.
And do not put us to the test.”’

He also said to them:

    ‘Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him in the middle of the night to say, “My friend, lend me three loaves, because a friend of mine on his travels has just arrived at my house and I have nothing to offer him”; and the man answers from inside the house, “Do not bother me. The door is bolted now, and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up to give it you.” I tell you, if the man does not get up and give it him for friendship’s sake, persistence will be enough to make him get up and give his friend all he wants.

    ‘So I say to you: Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For the one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him. What father among you would hand his son a stone when he asked for bread? Or hand him a snake instead of a fish? Or hand him a scorpion if he asked for an egg? If you then, who are evil, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday, 25th July 2021

 

Our readings today remind us that we are called to give God everything we have. We are inspired by the servant and the little boy, who didn’t have much but gave the very best of what they had and all that they had for God. In turn, He multiplied their gifts above and beyond what they could have imagined. God will do the same for us today. We must allow Him to do so. 

 

Our first reading from the second book of Kings foreshadows the multiplication of the loaves and fish in our Gospel today. The servant brings to the king, Elisha, twenty barley loaves from the first fruits of the harvest and fresh grain. Elisha gave strict commands to give it to the people to eat. The servant questioned, “how can I set this before a hundred people?” Yet Elisha stated that the Lord said, “They shall eat and there shall be some left over.” And we hear that it was true, people ate and still, there was food left over. 

 

Likewise, in our Gospel Jesus asked the apostles how they were going to feed the crowd that had been following them. Philip replied that not even 200 days’ worth of wages would be enough for the number of people. All they had were five barley loaves and two fish from a little boy. Yet Jesus multiplied the food so that there were baskets left over. All ate and were satisfied. 

 

The servant and the little boy are excellent examples for us as Christian stewards. The servant gave the very best of what he had, and the boy gave all that he had, then God did the rest. 

 

We must ask ourselves, what is our very best, and are we giving it to God? It can be easy to give God the bare minimum. It is convenient and doesn’t cause us to stretch ourselves. Yet, a key component of living as a good steward is constantly re-evaluating our lives, particularly our relationship with God, to ensure we are not just ‘scraping by,’ but rather, giving God our entire lives. 

 

As we evaluate our lives, we should ask ourselves — "how am I giving God my time, using my talents, and sharing my treasures?"

 

We are called to give God adequate time each day and if we don’t plan it out then it is likely that He won’t get any. Maybe it is the first fifteen minutes of each morning or the first fifteen when we get home from work. It could be the moment all the kids are napping or a quiet fifteen minutes on our lunch break. We need to find what works best for us so that God can become a greater part of our daily lives. 

 

An additional way we are called to spend our time is with our loved ones. We are called to give undivided time to our families—whether it is having a family meal, quality time in the evening, a family game in the back yard, praying together, or a phone call to check in on our siblings or relatives—giving our families time is a key component of living as a Christian steward. 

 

We are also called to put our gifts and talents to good use too. We all have countless talents that we are asked to use each day, yet sometimes we miss the opportunity to use them well. Yet the servant and the boy teach us that it is not up to us to decide how our gift will affect others. God will do that. All we need to do is to give it well. So whether we are called to go to work to provide for our family, phone a friend to just listen, or cook three meals a day for our spouse and kids, we are called to do it for the glory of God and with our whole heart.  

 

Lastly, the servant reminds us that we are called to give the first fruits of our treasures. The servant gave to Elisha the very best of his harvest, not the scraps. It shows how important God was to that servant. And likewise, in our Gospel, the little boy shared all that he had with Jesus, not just part of it.

 

We are called to do the same. It is easy to give something; it is difficult to give the finest gift. Giving our very best requires us to evaluate our priorities in life. We must ask ourselves—do my spending habits reflect that God is the top priority in my life? Do I view all of my possessions as gifts from God that can be used for His glory?

 

Giving God our finest gift can be a challenge. I am sure the little boy was thinking to himself, ‘I just gave up my dinner!’ Yet it is always worth it. When we strive to live out our call as Christian stewards by entrusting all that we have been given to the One who graciously gave us these gifts, we will be blessed beyond measure. 

 

As we begin a new week, let us spend some time evaluating our relationship with God by asking, ‘what is my very best, and am I giving it to God?’

The Liturgy of the Word: Sunday, 25h July 2021

First reading
2 Kings 4:42-44
They will eat, and have some left over

A man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing Elisha, the man of God, bread from the first-fruits, twenty barley loaves and fresh grain in the ear.’ ‘Give it to the people to eat’, Elisha said. But his servant replied, ‘How can I serve this to a hundred men?’ ‘Give it to the people to eat’ he insisted ‘for the Lord says this, “They will eat and have some left over.”’ He served them; they ate and had some left over, as the Lord had said.

The word of the Lord.

_______

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 144(145):10-11,15-18

You open wide your hand, O Lord, and grant our desires.

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.

You open wide your hand, O Lord, and grant our desires.

The eyes of all creatures look to you
    and you give them their food in due time.
You open wide your hand,
    grant the desires of all who live.

You open wide your hand, O Lord, and grant our desires.

The Lord is just in all his ways
    and loving in all his deeds.
He is close to all who call him,
    who call on him from their hearts.

You open wide your hand, O Lord, and grant our desires.

________

Second reading
Ephesians 4:1-6
One Body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God

I, the prisoner in the Lord, implore you to lead a life worthy of your vocation. Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together. There is one Body, one Spirit, just as you were all called into one and the same hope when you were called. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God who is Father of all, over all, through all and within all.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
cf.Jn6:63,68

Alleluia, alleluia!

Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life;
you have the message of eternal life.

Alleluia!

Or:

Lk7:16

Alleluia, alleluia!

A great prophet has appeared among us;
God has visited his people.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
John 6:1-15
The feeding of the five thousand

Jesus went off to the other side of the Sea of Galilee – or of Tiberias – and a large crowd followed him, impressed by the signs he gave by curing the sick. Jesus climbed the hillside, and sat down there with his disciples. It was shortly before the Jewish feast of Passover.

    Looking up, Jesus saw the crowds approaching and said to Philip, ‘Where can we buy some bread for these people to eat?’ He only said this to test Philip; he himself knew exactly what he was going to do. Philip answered, ‘Two hundred denarii would only buy enough to give them a small piece each.’ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said, ‘There is a small boy here with five barley loaves and two fish; but what is that between so many?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Make the people sit down.’ There was plenty of grass there, and as many as five thousand men sat down. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and gave them out to all who were sitting ready; he then did the same with the fish, giving out as much as was wanted. When they had eaten enough he said to the disciples, ‘Pick up the pieces left over, so that nothing gets wasted.’ So they picked them up, and filled twelve hampers with scraps left over from the meal of five barley loaves. The people, seeing this sign that he had given, said, ‘This really is the prophet who is to come into the world.’ Jesus, who could see they were about to come and take him by force and make him king, escaped back to the hills by himself.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Readings: Sunday, 26th July 2020

FIRST READING
A reading from the First Book of Kings    3:5. 7-12
You have asked for a discerning judgement for yourself, here and
now I do what you ask.

At Gibeon the Lord appeared in a dream to Solomon during the
night. God said, ‘Ask what you would like me to give you’. Now, the
Lord my God, you have made your servant king in succession to
David my father. But I am a very young man, unskilled in leadership.
Your servant finds himself in the midst of this people of yours that you
have chosen, a people so many its number cannot be counted or
reckoned. Give your servant a heart to understand how to discern
between good and evil, for who could govern this people of yours
that is so great?’ It pleased the Lord that Solomon should have
asked for this. ‘Since you have asked for this’ the Lord said ‘and not
asked for long life for yourself or riches or the lives of your enemies,
but have asked for a discerning judgement for yourself, here and
now I do what you ask. I give you a heart wise and shrewd as none
before you has had and none will have after you.

The Word of the Lord.



Responsorial Psalm    Ps 118

Response Lord how I love your law!

1. My part, I have resolved, O Lord,
is to obey your word.
The law from your mouth means more to me.
than silver and gold.

2. Let your love be ready to console me
by your promise to your servant.
Let your love come to me and I shall live
for your law is my delight.

3. That is why I love your commands
more than finest gold.
That is why I rule my life by your precepts:
I hate false ways.

4. Your will is wonderful indeed;
therefore I obey it.
The unfolding of your word gives light
and teaches the simple.



SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to Romans    8:28-30
God intended to become true images of his Son.

We know that by turning everything to their good God co-operates
with all those who love him, with all those that he has, called
according to his purpose. They are the ones he chose specially long
ago and intended to become true images of his Son, so that his Son
might be the eldest of many brothers. He called those he intended
for this; those he called he justified, and with those he justified he
shared his glory.

The Word of the Lord.



Gospel Acclamation    Jn 15: 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 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    13:44-52
He sells everything he owns and buys it.

‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which
someone has found; he hides it again, goes off happy, sells
everything he owns and buys the field.
‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine
pearls; when he finds one of great value he goes and sells
everything he owns and buys it.
‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea
that brings in a haul of all kinds. When it is full, the fishermen haul it
ashore; then, sitting down, they collect the good ones in a basket
and throw away those that are no use. This is how it will be at the
end of time: the angels will appear and separate the wicked from
the just to throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be
weeping and grinding of teeth.
‘Have you understood all this?’ They said, ‘Yes’. And he said to them,
‘Well then, every scribe who becomes a disciple of the kingdom of
heaven is like a householder who brings out from his storeroom things
both new and old’.

The Gospel of the Lord.

_______________

Shorter form of the Gospel

GOSPEL
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew 13:44-52
He sells everything he owns and buys it.

‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which
someone has found; he hides it again, goes off happy, sells
everything he owns and buys the field.
‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine
pearls; when he finds one of great value he goes and sells
everything he owns and buys it.


The Gospel of the Lord.