Humble Faith in Jesus – St. Josphine Bakhita (1 Kg 11:4-13; Ps 106; Mk 7:24-30) ************************************************* In today’s first reading, the famous King Solomon lost his mind in old age and fell into idolatry in an attempt to please his wives, even though God had appeared to him to chastise and try to correct him. […]

Worship from the Heart Memorial: St. Paul Miki and Companions (1 Kg 8:22-30; Ps 84; Mk 7:1-13) ******************************************************** Did you notice that the word “heart” is mentioned in all three readings today? “Your servants who walk before you with all their heart” (King Solomon); “My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living […]

We Are God’s Temple (1 Kn 8:1-13; Ps 132; Mk 6:53-56) *********************************** The first reading is all about the glory and magnificence of the temple – the ark of the covenant is brought to the Temple; sacrifices innumerable were made; there were only the stone tablets in it that were placed in the Holy of […]

The Presentation of the Lord (Malachi 3:1-4; Psalm 23:7-10; Heb 2:14-18; Lk 2:22-24) ****************************************************** A traveller in Africa tells this true story of passing through a drought-stricken area and being followed by a small, emaciated, hungry shy boy who came out of the bush. Whenever the traveller stopped, the boy stopped also. Finally, he took […]

Growing into a More Mature Image of God (2 Sam 24:2, 9-17; Ps 32; Mk 6:1-6) *************************************** “We are not punished for our shortcomings, we are punished by them.” This snippet of wisdom comes from the movement of Alcoholics Anonymous and relates to the readings today with their challenge to us to grow into a […]

On Faith, Compassion, Grieving and Healing (2 Sam 18:9-19:3; Ps 86; Mk 5:21-43) ******************************************** “Believe, have compassion, heal and grieve.” These words capture the essence of the readings today and provide us with this message: Come to Jesus with faith, have compassion, experience healing, and be empowered to grieve. In the gospel, faith is what […]

On Not Throwing Stones (2 Sam 15:13 – 16:13; Ps 3; Mk 5:1-200 *********************************************** A vain king who lived in a glass palace and loved hording, kept on buying more and more thrones and storing them in his attic. Finally, one day they all came crashing down. The moral of the story is that “people […]

Sharing in the Power and Authority of Jesus (Dt 18:15-20; Psalm 95; 1 Cor 7:17, 32-35; Mk 1:21-28) ************************************************************ Are your familiar with the expression to “Walk the talk? Live your faith and share in the power and authority of Jesus. The great American lecturer, essayist and poet, Ralph Waldo Emerson, could have coined that […]

With Jesus in Our Boats – St Angela Merici (2 Sam 12:1-17; Ps 51; Mk 4:35-41) ******************************************** Have you ever prayed with your emotions? Have faith in Jesus and in the power of prayer. Today’s familiar account of Jesus calming the storm highlights the fear and lack of faith of the disciples, the serenity of […]

The Reign of God, Radical Discipleship and Redemptive Suffering: Memorial – Saints Timothy and Titus (2 Tim 1:1-8; Ps 96; Lk 10:1-9) ********************************************************* Two sentences connect the readings today on this memorial of Timothy and Titus. Paul, in the first reading to Timothy, invites him to join in suffering for the gospel. Luke, in today’s […]