Jesus in his home synagogue Today’s gospel begins with an account of the liturgy of the word in the synagogue of Jesus’ home town of Nazareth. He stands up to read from the prophet Isaiah and then sits down to interpret what the reading means, here and now… 1st Reading: 1 Thess. 4:13-18 We will…
As we move from summer to autumn, we praise God who sustains us all year round. We ask for help with new undertakings and perseverance with continuing projects, knowing that nothing will work well without God’s grace.
1st Reading: Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8 Listening to God’s word brings life and wisdom So now, Israel, give heed to the statutes and ordinances that I am teaching you to observe, so that you may live to enter and occupy the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. You must neither…
1st Reading: Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8 Heed God’s words and observe them diligently; this is your source of life and wisdom. So now, Israel, give heed to the statutes and ordinances that I am teaching you to observe, so that you may live to enter and occupy the land that the Lord, the God of your…
1st Reading: Jeremiah 1:17-19. Like Jeremiah, we must resist domineering rulers But you, gird up your loins; stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Do not break down before them, or I will break you before them. And I for my part have made you today a fortified city, an iron pillar,…
Feast of St. Augustine (see below) 1st Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 Being ready for the Lord’s coming Finally, brothers and sisters, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus that, as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God (as, in fact, you are doing), you should do so…
Feast of St. Monica (see below) 1st Reading: 1 Thess. 3:7-13 Paul recalls the faith of the Thessalonians and prays for their spritual growth. For this reason, brothers and sisters, during all our distress and persecution we have been encouraged about you through your faith. For we now live, if you continue to stand firm…
1st Reading: 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 The gospel is no mere opinion but is God’s own word You remember our labour and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how…
Feast of Saints Louis of France and of Joseph Calasanctius (see below) 1st Reading: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 How gently Paul treated the Thessalonians You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain, but though we had already suffered and been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you know, we had…
On St Bartholomew, see below 1st Reading: Revelation 21:9-14 The City of God has 12 gates, representing the 12 apostles. Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And…
We gather as people who have chosen to serve the Lord, chosen to walk the Christian way. We worship God who leads us on — and ask for strength to continue as we have begun.
1st Reading: Joshua 24:1-2 When they reach the Promised Land, will they serve the true God? Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel; and they presented themselves before God. And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the…
The Queenship of Mary (see below) 1st Reading: Isaiah 9:1-6 Joy and restoration will come to those who sat in darkness There will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he…
Also feast of Saint Pius X, pope, (Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto 1835–1914). See below. 1st Reading: Ruth 1:1 etc. Ruth migrates to Bethlehem, with her widowed mother-in-law In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land, and a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to live in the country of…
Feast of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (See below) 1st Reading: Judges 11:29-39 After Jephthah’s rash vow, he sacrifices his only daughter Then the spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh. He passed on to Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he passed on to the Ammonites….
1st Reading: Judges 9:6-15 In a riddle Jotham curses Abimelech and the people of Shechem All the lords of Shechem and all Beth-millo came together, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar at Shechem. When it was told to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount…
1st Reading: Judges 6:11-24 When Gideon doubts, his faith is confirmed by a sign from God. Now the angel of the Lord came and sat under the oak at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, as his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the wine press, to hide it from the Midianites. The…
1st Reading: Judges 2:11-19 The era of the Judges alternates fall and restoration. Then the Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and worshipped the Baals; and they abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; they followed other gods, from…
Whoever eats the flesh of the Lord and drinks his blood will live for ever. We celebrate Jesus’ promise, believing we will share the eternal destiny of all who have this divine life in them.
1st Reading: Proverbs 9:1-6 Wisdom has built her house with seven pillars. Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn herself seven pillars. She has slaughtered her animals, she has mixed her wine, she has also set her table. She has sent out her servant girls, she calls from the highest places in the town,…
