The Word of God

Ezek 2:8–3:4

But you, son of man, hear what I say to you; be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth, and eat what I give you.”  And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and lo, a written scroll was in it; and he spread it before me; and it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe. Read More

True freedom

Mt 17:22-27

When the disciples were together with Jesus in Galilee, Jesus said to them, ‘The Son of man is going to be delivered into the power of men; they will put him to death, and on the third day he will be raised up again.’ And a great sadness came over them. When they reached Capernaum, the collectors of the half-shekel came to Peter and said, ‘Does your master not pay the half-shekel?’ ‘Yes,’ he replied, and went into the house. But before he could speak, Jesus said, ‘Simon, what is your opinion? From whom do earthly kings take toll or tribute? From their sons or from foreigners?’ And when he replied, ‘From foreigners,’ Jesus said, ‘Well then, the sons are exempt. However, so that we shall not be the downfall of others, go to the lake and cast a hook; take the first fish that rises, open its mouth and there you will find a shekel; take it and give it to them for me and for yourself.’ Read More

 Do not falter along the way

1 Kgs 19:4-8

In those days, Elijah went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree; and he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am no better than my fathers.” And he lay down and slept under a broom tree; and behold, an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.” And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank, and lay down again.  And the angel of the Lord came again a second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, else the journey will be too great for you.”  And he arose, and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God. Read More

To hate one’s own life in this world

Jn 12:24-26

Reading for the Feast of St. Lawrence

At that time Jesus said to his disciples: “In all truth I tell you, unless a wheat grain falls into the earth and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies it yields a rich harvest. Anyone who loves his life loses it; anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me, must follow me, and my servant will be with me wherever I am. If anyone serves me, my Father will honour him”. Read More

Come, we’re going for our people

Est 4:17 k-m, r-t

Reading for the memorial of St Edith Stein

In those days Queen Esther took refuge with the Lord in the mortal peril which had overtaken her. She took off her sumptuous robes and put on sorrowful mourning. Instead of expensive perfumes, she covered her head with ashes and dung. She mortified her body severely, and the former scenes of her happiness and elegance were now littered with tressestorn from her hair. She besought the Lord God of Israel in these words: My Lord, our King, the Only One, come to my help, for I am alone and have no helper but you and am about to take my life in my hands.

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You are the Messiah

Mt 16:13-19

When Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, Who do men say that the Son of man is?”  And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.  He said to them, But who do you say that I am?  Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Read More

FEAST OF GOD THE FATHER: “Father of all humanity”

Through the meditations of the last few days, we have had the opportunity to encounter God the Father more closely. Sometimes negative experiences that we may have had in our lives prevent us from recognizing the true image of God, for example, if the relationship with our biological father was rather problematic. However, one should not get caught up in these experiences; instead, it becomes even more necessary to discover God as our loving Father, who is able to heal our wounds and fill any inner emptiness with Himself. Read More

Novena to God the Father | Day 9: “At the service of the love of God Father”

This novena, which we have concluded today, has been aimed at showing us the love of the Father, so that we can experience it as the source of our joy. During these nine days we have been invited to deepen our trust in God, to glorify Him, to love Him and to enter into an intimate friendship with Him.

God’s joy is to be in the midst of us, the people. And this applies to each and every one of us. Read More

Novena to God the Father | Day 8: “Loving our Father”

The best thing we can give our Father is our sincere love. Let us remember what Jesus said: “He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me” (Jn 14:21). This is the constant and necessary response for God’s love not only to go out to us, but to penetrate us. As long as we do not live according to the commandments, God will knock at the door of our heart to let Him in. If we open the door, the Father, together with the Son and the Holy Spirit, will come to dwell in us (cf. Jn 14:23). Read More

Novena to God the Father | Day 7: “Honour our father”

“Honor to whom honor is due” (Rom 13:7). This  applies to our Father more than to anyone else! To Him belong “honour, glory and praise”, as the hymn of the Apocalypse so beautifully proclaims (Rev 5:12).

If we could only catch a glimpse of heaven and see how He is constantly honoured by the angels and saints who live in loving and full communion with Him, our attitude towards God would be profoundly transformed. Read More