Mass Reflection: Sunday - 26th January 2025

 

NEH 8: 2-4A, 5-6, 8-10; PS 19: 8-10, 15; 1 COR 12:12-30 or 1 COR 12:12-14, 27; LK 1: 1-4; 4: 14-21

Today’s Second Reading, from St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, picks up where we left off last week and continues with a similar theme. The message is that we are each unique in the gifts and talents God has given to us, and therefore, we all have different tasks to fulfill as members of the Body of Christ.

What is further developed this week is the truth that, though different in our roles, every single individual is equally important and needed in the Church, from the freshly baptized newborn to the teenager sitting reluctantly by his parents, to the elderly shut-in who can no longer attend Sunday Mass. “God placed the parts, each one of them, in the body as he intended. If they were all one part, where would the body be? But as it is there are many parts, yet one body.”

What does this teach us as Christian stewards? It shows us that we all have equal dignity and worth in God’s sight, and that if God sees us as equally precious, we should view each other in this same light. It teaches us to humbly recognize our own gifts as well as the giftedness of every member of our parish family. And, while God designed us to be ultimately dependent on Him, it seems He has also designed us to need each other! This is part of the beauty and richness of a stewardship way of life. No one person can “do it all” in life — whether in family life or parish life. But God does not ask us to do it all. He simply asks us to share the gifts and talents we do have in the season of life we find ourselves right now.

And just what are we, as Christian stewards, aiming to achieve by sharing our gifts and talents? We are aiming to follow in the footsteps of our Lord, furthering with His grace the mission He began 2,000 years ago. He declares in the Gospel reading from St. Luke today what this mission is: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free….”

What a noble purpose! What great dignity has been bestowed upon us, modern-day disciples, that we are called to this same task.

In the week ahead, let’s take this mission to heart, examining the way we can use our gifts and talents for this mission and asking ourselves what it looks like in our unique circumstances to “bring glad tidings to the poor,” “liberty to captives,” “sight to the blind” and “freedom to the oppressed.”

It might feel uncomfortable at first. But the good news is you don’t have to do it all. Do your part, let your brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ do theirs, and know that the Spirit of the Lord is upon us all as we live out this stewardship way of life.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 26th January 2025

First reading
Nehemiah 8:2-6,8-10
All the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law

    Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, consisting of men, women, and children old enough to understand. This was the first day of the seventh month. On the square before the Water Gate, in the presence of the men and women, and children old enough to understand, he read from the book from early morning till noon; all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.

    Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden dais erected for the purpose. In full view of all the people – since he stood higher than all the people – Ezra opened the book; and when he opened it all the people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people raised their hands and answered, ‘Amen! Amen!’ Then they bowed down and, face to the ground, prostrated themselves before the Lord. And Ezra read from the Law of God, translating and giving the sense, so that the people understood what was read.

    Then Nehemiah – His Excellency – and Ezra, priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people, said to all the people, ‘This day is sacred to the Lord your God. Do not be mournful, do not weep.’ For the people were all in tears as they listened to the words of the Law.

    He then said, ‘Go, eat the fat, drink the sweet wine, and send a portion to the man who has nothing prepared ready. For this day is sacred to our Lord. Do not be sad: the joy of the Lord is your stronghold.’

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 18(19):8-10,15

Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life.

The law of the Lord is perfect,
    it revives the soul.
The rule of the Lord is to be trusted,
    it gives wisdom to the simple.

Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life.

The precepts of the Lord are right,
    they gladden the heart.
The command of the Lord is clear,
    it gives light to the eyes.

Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life.

The fear of the Lord is holy,
    abiding for ever.
The decrees of the Lord are truth
    and all of them just.

Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life.

May the spoken words of my mouth,
    the thoughts of my heart,
win favour in your sight, O Lord,
    my rescuer, my rock!

Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life.

________

Second reading
1 Corinthians 12:12-30
You together are Christ's body, but each a different part of it

    Just as a human body, though it is made up of many parts, is a single unit because all these parts, though many, make one body, so it is with Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptised, Jews as well as Greeks, slaves as well as citizens, and one Spirit was given to us all to drink.

    Nor is the body to be identified with any one of its many parts. If the foot were to say, ‘I am not a hand and so I do not belong to the body’, would that mean that it stopped being part of the body? If the ear were to say, ‘I am not an eye, and so I do not belong to the body’, would that mean that it was not a part of the body? If your whole body was just one eye, how would you hear anything? If it was just one ear, how would you smell anything?

    Instead of that, God put all the separate parts into the body on purpose. If all the parts were the same, how could it be a body? As it is, the parts are many but the body is one. The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I do not need you’, nor can the head say to the feet, ‘I do not need you.’

    What is more, it is precisely the parts of the body that seem to be the weakest which are the indispensable ones; and it is the least honourable parts of the body that we clothe with the greatest care. So our more improper parts get decorated in a way that our more proper parts do not need. God has arranged the body so that more dignity is given to the parts which are without it, and that there may not be disagreements inside the body, but that each part may be equally concerned for all the others. If one part is hurt, all parts are hurt with it. If one part is given special honour, all parts enjoy it.

    Now you together are Christ’s body; but each of you is a different part of it. In the Church, God has given the first place to apostles, the second to prophets, the third to teachers; after them, miracles, and after them the gift of healing; helpers, good leaders, those with many languages. Are all of them apostles, or all of them prophets, or all of them teachers? Do they all have the gift of miracles, or all have the gift of healing? Do all speak strange languages, and all interpret them?

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
Lk4:18

Alleluia, alleluia!

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

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Luke 1:1-4,4:14-21
'This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen'

    Seeing that many others have undertaken to draw up accounts of the events that have taken place among us, exactly as these were handed down to us by those who from the outset were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, I in my turn, after carefully going over the whole story from the beginning, have decided to write an ordered account for you, Theophilus, so that your Excellency may learn how well founded the teaching is that you have received.

    Jesus, with the power of the Spirit in him, returned to Galilee; and his reputation spread throughout the countryside. He taught in their synagogues and everyone praised him.

    He came to Nazara, where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day as he usually did. He stood up to read and they handed him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll he found the place where it is written:

The spirit of the Lord has been given to me,

for he has anointed me.

He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor,

to proclaim liberty to captives

and to the blind new sight,

to set the downtrodden free,

to proclaim the Lord’s year of favour.

He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the assistant and sat down. And all eyes in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to speak to them, ‘This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 21st January 2024

First reading
Jonah 3:1-5,10
The people of Nineveh renounce their evil behaviour

    The word of the Lord was addressed to Jonah: ‘Up!’ he said ‘Go to Nineveh, the great city, and preach to them as I told you to.’ Jonah set out and went to Nineveh in obedience to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was a city great beyond compare: it took three days to cross it. Jonah went on into the city, making a day’s journey. He preached in these words, ‘Only forty days more and Nineveh is going to be destroyed.’ And the people of Nineveh believed in God; they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least.

    God saw their efforts to renounce their evil behaviour, and God relented: he did not inflict on them the disaster which he had threatened.

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 24(25):4-6,7b-9

Lord, make me know your ways.

Lord, make me know your ways.
    Lord, teach me your paths.
Make me walk in your truth, and teach me:
    for you are God my saviour.

Lord, make me know your ways.

Remember your mercy, Lord,
    and the love you have shown from of old.
In your love remember me,
    because of your goodness, O Lord.

Lord, make me know your ways.

The Lord is good and upright.
    He shows the path to those who stray,
He guides the humble in the right path,
    He teaches his way to the poor.

Lord, make me know your ways.

________

Second reading
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
The world as we know it is passing away

    Brothers: our time is growing short. Those who have wives should live as though they had none, and those who mourn should live as though they had nothing to mourn for; those who are enjoying life should live as though there were nothing to laugh about; those whose life is buying things should live as though they had nothing of their own; and those who have to deal with the world should not become engrossed in it. I say this because the world as we know it is passing away.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
Mk1:15

Alleluia, alleluia!

The kingdom of God is close at hand:
repent, and believe the Good News.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Mark 1:14-20
I will make you into fishers of men

    After John had been arrested, Jesus went into Galilee. There he proclaimed the Good News from God. ‘The time has come’ he said ‘and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News.’

    As he was walking along by the Sea of Galilee he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in the lake – for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you into fishers of men.’ And at once they left their nets and followed him.

    Going on a little further, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John; they too were in their boat, mending their nets. He called them at once and, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the men he employed, they went after him.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 21st January 2024

Jon 3:1-5, 10; PS 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9; 1 COR 7:29-31; MK 1:14-20

Our readings today call us to be decisive in our faith. God calls us as stewards to repent and renew our commitment to Him each day.
 
In our First Reading, God instructs the prophet Jonah to travel through the city of Nineveh and warns the people that the city would be destroyed due to their evil ways. When the people of Nineveh heard this, they declared a fast in repentance. The Lord saw this and had compassion for them.
 
Every moment is an opportunity to either grow closer to God or further away from Him. We can identify with the people of Nineveh when we recognize that our actions are not drawing us closer to God. We may be attached to certain sins or living in complacency — over time, that can weaken our commitment to the Lord and sever the relationship we have with Him.
 
When we become aware of our weaknesses, it should not cause us to despair. Instead, it should call us to act quickly as the people of Nineveh did. Jonah had been gone only a single day's walk before the people repented. We, too, should go no more than a single day without acknowledging our offenses towards God and renewing our commitment to Him with greater conviction. God wants to be compassionate towards us, but we must be willing to recognize our need to repent.
 
Our Gospel today shares Mark's account of Jesus calling His first disciples. In his account, Jesus approaches Simon and Andrew, and later, James and John. These four men were fishermen, casting their nets. Jesus states, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men." In both instances, the men immediately abandoned what was before them and followed Christ.
 
Imagine if Simon and Andrew looked at their Savior and said, "Thanks for the offer, but we will finish up fishing and meet you later." That is no way a disciple should respond to Christ’s call. Yet, that is how we often respond to Jesus' offer to us, "Come after me." We can easily fall into the misconception that we have plenty of time to live active discipleship. We rationalize that we will eventually get around to deepening our commitment to prayer when we have time, even though we have been wanting to do so for months. We can justify that we are too busy right now to make time to go to confession regularly, but tell ourselves we will do it soon once our schedules ease up. But as faithful stewards of our time, we must change our ways and immediately follow Christ more intentionally, because Christ is calling us to act now, just like the first disciples did.
 
These men became members of Jesus' 12 apostles. They surrendered their entire lives to follow Christ. They left their jobs, homes, and families, devoting their lives to God's work. We, too, are called to surrender our lives to the Lord so that He may work through us. We might think, “God isn't calling me.” But indeed, He is. Just as He called four ordinary fishermen, He is continuously calling each one of us. Renewing and reevaluating what God might be asking of us throughout our lives is a key component of our stewardship journey.
 
As we settle into this New Year, let us ponder the ways we can repent and renew our commitment to God. Let us ask ourselves, what are we casting our nets for? And are we willing to leave it behind for something much greater? If not now, when?

Mass Reading: Sunday - 22nd January 2023

First reading
Isaiah 8:23-9:3
In Galilee of the nations the people has seen a great light

In days past the Lord humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in days to come he will confer glory on the Way of the Sea on the far side of Jordan, province of the nations.

The people that walked in darkness
has seen a great light;
on those who live in a land of deep shadow
a light has shone.
You have made their gladness greater,
you have made their joy increase;
they rejoice in your presence
as men rejoice at harvest time,
as men are happy when they are dividing the spoils.

For the yoke that was weighing on him,
the bar across his shoulders,
the rod of his oppressor –
these you break as on the day of Midian.

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 26(27):1,4,13-14

The Lord is my light and my help.

The Lord is my light and my help;
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
    before whom shall I shrink?

The Lord is my light and my help.

There is one thing I ask of the Lord,
    for this I long,
to live in the house of the Lord,
    all the days of my life,
to savour the sweetness of the Lord,
    to behold his temple.

The Lord is my light and my help.

I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness
    in the land of the living.
Hope in him, hold firm and take heart.
    Hope in the Lord!

The Lord is my light and my help.

________

Second reading
1 Corinthians 1:10-13,17
Make up the differences between you instead of disagreeing among yourselves

    I appeal to you, brothers, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, to make up the differences between you, and instead of disagreeing among yourselves, to be united again in your belief and practice. From what Chloe’s people have been telling me, my dear brothers, it is clear that there are serious differences among you. What I mean are all these slogans that you have, like: ‘I am for Paul’, ‘I am for Apollos’, ‘I am for Cephas’, ‘I am for Christ.’ Has Christ been parcelled out? Was it Paul that was crucified for you? Were you baptised in the name of Paul?

    For Christ did not send me to baptise, but to preach the Good News, and not to preach that in the terms of philosophy in which the crucifixion of Christ cannot be expressed.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
cf.Mt4:23

Alleluia, alleluia!

Jesus proclaimed the Good News of the kingdom
and cured all kinds of sickness among the people.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Matthew 4:12-23
He went and settled in Capernaum: in this way the prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled

    Hearing that John had been arrested, Jesus went back to Galilee, and leaving Nazareth he went and settled in Capernaum, a lakeside town on the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali. In this way the prophecy of Isaiah was to be fulfilled:

‘Land of Zebulun! Land of Naphtali!
Way of the sea on the far side of Jordan,
Galilee of the nations!
The people that lived in darkness has seen a great light;
on those who dwell in the land and shadow of death
a light has dawned.’

    From that moment Jesus began his preaching with the message, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.’

    As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee he saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew; they were making a cast in the lake with their net, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.’ And they left their nets at once and followed him. Going on from there he saw another pair of brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John; they were in their boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. At once, leaving the boat and their father, they followed him.

    He went round the whole of Galilee teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom and curing all kinds of diseases and sickness among the people.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 22nd January 2023

 IS 8:23-9:3; PS 27:1,4, 13-14; 1 COR 1:10-13, 17; MT 4:12-23 or 4:12-17

Today’s readings remind us that stewardship is not just a thing we do — rather, stewardship is at the core of who we are as disciples of Christ.
 
Our first reading, from Isaiah, contains this prophecy of Christ and what His saving message would mean to all who embrace it. “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone.” We are among those blessed people on whom the light of Christ has shone. By virtue of our Baptism, we, who were once in the darkness and gloom of original sin, have been born again into the great light that is God’s grace in us. We have become cherished members of God’s family. 
 
What a privilege!
 
Yet, with this privilege comes the responsibility to actually live for God and to bring His Good News to all those we meet at work, at school, in our community and right in our own home.
 
In our second reading, from the First Letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul urges us to keep the responsibility of sharing the Gospel our foremost priority. In this passage he addresses the divisions and rivalries that have cropped up in the Christian community in Corinth. He urges the Christians there to “be united in the same mind and the same purpose,” reminding them that it was Christ and only Christ Who was crucified for us. We owe everything to Him. Our lives our therefore not about us, our egos, our personal ambitions and loyalties. Those things cannot satisfy us, anyway. Our loyalty must be to Christ above all else and our priority must be to bring His light to everyone He puts in our path.
 
And there is a certain urgency that comes with the call to a stewardship way of life. We see this in our Gospel passage from Matthew, where we find Jesus on the move. He has left Nazareth and goes to live in Capernaum, fulfilling what was said of Him through the prophet Isaiah, as we recall from today’s first reading. “The people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death, light has arisen. From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'" In other words, turn away from selfishness, turn towards God and live as His disciple now — don’t wait!
 
Later in this same passage, the very first disciples give us examples of a good steward’s prompt “yes” when the Lord called to them. Our Lord sees Simon and his brother, Andrew, living an ordinary day as fishermen when He said to them, “Come after me and I will make you fishers of men.” The two did not hesitate. They didn’t think about themselves or how this might disrupt their business. Rather, "at once they left their nets and followed him.” Then, Jesus called two more brothers, James and John. They, too, were living an ordinary day as fishermen, working alongside their father mending nets in their boat. Jesus called them and “immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him.” They did not worry about their personal lives and how their father might react. They put our Lord and His will first and responded without hesitation. 
 
This is the essence of a stewardship way of life — to be always ready for the ways that our Lord is calling us to bring His light to others. It’s more than something we do — it’s who we are.

Mass Readings - Sunday, 26th January 2020

FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah    8:23-9:3
In Galilee of the nations the people have seen a great light.

In days past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of
Naphtali, but in days to come he will confer glory on the Way of the
Sea on the far side of Jordan, province of the nations.
The people that walked in darkness
has seen a great light;
on those who live in a land of deep shadow
a light has shone.
You have made their gladness greater,
you have made their joy increase;
they rejoice in your presence
as men rejoice at harvest time,
as men are happy when they are dividing the spoils.
For the yoke that was weighing on him,
the bar across his shoulders,
the rod of his oppressor,
these you break as on the day of Midian.

The Word of the Lord



Responsorial Psalm    Ps 26
Response:    The Lord is my light and my help.

1. The Lord is my light and my help;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
before whom shall I shrink?

2. There is one thing I ask of the Lord,
for this I long,
to live in the house of the Lord,
all the days of my life,
to savour the sweetness of the Lord,
to behold his temple.

3. I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness
in the land of the living.
Hope in him, hold firm and take heart.
Hope in the Lord!



SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to Corinthians    1:10-13. 17
Make up the difference between you instead of disagreeing among
yourselves

I appeal to you, brothers, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, to
make up the differences between you, and instead of disagreeing
among yourselves, to be united again in your belief and practice.
From what Chloe’s people have been telling me, my dear brothers,
it is clear that there are serious differences among you. What I mean
are all these slogans that you have, like: ‘I am for Paul,’ ‘I am for
Apollos,’ ‘I am for Cephas,’ ‘I am for Christ’. Has Christ been
parcelled out? Was it Paul that was crucified for you? Were you
baptised in the name of Paul?
For Christ did not send me to baptise, but to preach the Good News,
and not to preach that in the terms of philosophy in which the
crucifixion of Christ cannot be expressed.

The Word of the Lord


Gospel Acclamation   Mt 4:23

Alleluia, alleluia!
Jesus proclaimed the Good News of the kingdom,
and cured all kinds of sickness among the people
Alleluia!

or Jn   1:14

Alleluia, alleluia!
Blessings on the King who comes, in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heavens!
Alleluia!



Gospel
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew    4:12-23
Jesus went and settled in Capernaum: in this way the prophecy of
Isaiah was fulfilled

Hearing that John had been arrested Jesus went back to Galilee,
and leaving Nazareth he went and settled in Capernaum, a lakeside
town on the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali. In this way the
prophecy of Isaiah was to be fulfilled:
‘Land of Zebulun! Land of Naphtali!
Way of the sea on the far side of Jordan,
Galilee of the nations!
The people that lived in darkness
has seen a great light;
on those who dwell in the land and shadow of death
a light has dawned.’
From that moment Jesus began his preaching with the message,
‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.’
As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee he saw two brothers, Simon,
who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew; they were making a
cast in the lake with their net, for they were fishermen. And he said to
them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.’ And they left
their nets at once and followed him. Going on from there he saw
another pair of brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother
John; they were in their boat with their father Zebedee, mending
their nets, and he called them. At once, leaving the boat and their
father, they followed him.
Going on from there he saw another pair of brothers, James son of
Zebedee and his brother John; they were in their boat with their
father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. At once
leaving the boat and their father, they followed him.
He went round the whole of Galilee teaching in their synagogue
proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom and curing all kinds
diseases and sickness among the people.

The Gospel of the Lord

************************************************


Shorter form of the

GOSPEL
A reading from the Gospel according to Matthew    4:12-23
Jesus went and settled in Capernaum: in this way the prophecy of

Isaiah was fulfilled

Hearing that John had been arrested Jesus went back to
Galilee, and leaving Nazareth he went and settled in Capernaum, a
lakeside town on the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali. In this way
the prophecy of Isaiah was to be fulfilled:
‘Land of Zebulun! Land of Naphtali!
Way of the sea on the far side of Jordan,
Galilee of the nations!
The people that lived in darkness
has seen a great light;
on those who dwell in the land and shadow of death
a light has dawned.’
From that moment Jesus began his preaching with the message,
‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand’.

The Gospel of the Lord