1st Reading: Lamentations 2:2, 10-14, 18-19) A survivor of Jerusalem’s destruction laments in mournful tones The Lord has destroyed without mercy all the dwellings of Jacob; in his wrath he has broken down the strongholds of daughter Judah; he has brought down to the ground in dishonour the kingdom and its rulers. The elders of…
1st Reading: Acts (2:1-11) Peter is imprisoned, but an angel sets him free to continue leading the church About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword. After he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to…
(St Irenaeus, bishop & martyr (Memorial) 1st Reading: 2 Kings (24:8-17) Nebuchadnezzar’s first deportation of the Jews to Babylon, c. 597 BCE Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign; he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Nehushta daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the…
1st Reading: 2 Kings (22:8-13; 23:1-3) When Deuteronomy is rediscovered in the temple, it leads to reform The high priest Hilkiah said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord.” When Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, he read it. Then Shaphan the secretary came…
1st Reading: 2 Kings (19:9-11, 14-21, 31-35a, 36) The Assyrians attack Jerusalem; but Isaiah promises that a remnant will be saved When the king heard concerning King Tirhakah of Ethiopia, “See, he has set out to fight against you,” he sent messengers again to Hezekiah, saying, “Thus shall you speak to King Hezekiah of Judah:…
1st Reading: 2 Kings (17:5-8, 13-15, 18) Exile of the ten northern tribes of Israel, for not listening to the prophets The king of Assyria invaded all the land and came to Samaria; for three years he besieged it. In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria captured Samaria; he carried the Israelites…
Just three birthdays are celebrated by the Church in the Liturgy each year – that of Jesus at the winter solstice, his mother’s on 8th September and that of his cousin John the Baptist near midsummer’s day. John’s birthday comes just after the longest day of the year, when the light begins to decline — just as Jesus’ birthday is just after the shortest day. The placing of these two feasts summarises John the Baptist’s mission: ‘I must decrease, he must increase.’
1st Reading: Isaiah (49:1-6) The Lord called me before I was born; in my mother’s womb he named me Listen to me, O coastlands, pay attention, you peoples from far away! The Lord called me before I was born, while I was in my mother’s womb he named me. He made my mouth like a…
1st Reading: 2 Chronicles (24:17-25) King Joash murders the son of the priest who had saved his life After the death of Jehoiada the officials of Judah came and did obeisance to the king; then the king listened to them. They abandoned the house of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and served the…
1st Reading: 2 Kings (11:1-4, 9-18, 20) Athaliah seized the crown by violence. When she is executed, the covenant is renewed When Athaliah, Ahaziah’s mother, saw that her son was dead, she set about to destroy all the royal family. But Jehosheba, King Joram’s daughter, Ahaziah’s sister, took Joash son of Ahaziah, and stole him…
1st Reading: Sirach 48:1-14) The miracles of Elijah… He will introduce the messianic era Elijah arose, a prophet like fire, and his word burned like a torch. He brought a famine upon them, and by his zeal he made them few in number. By the word of the Lord he shut up the heavens, and…
(The Irish Martyrs (Memorial) 1st Reading: 2 Kings (2:1, 6-14) After crossing the Jordan, Elijah is taken up to heaven, and his mantle falls to Elisha When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. Elijah said to him, “Stay here;…
1st Reading: 1 Kings (21:17-29) Ahab is blamed for murdering Naboth; then he repents The word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying: Go down to meet King Ahab of Israel, who rules in Samaria; he is now in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to take possession. You shall say…
1st Reading: 1 Kings (21:1-16) After condemning poor Naboth, King Ahab seized his precious vineyard Later the following events took place: Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, beside the palace of King Ahab of Samaria. And Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard, so that I may have it for a vegetable…
Throughout these summer months, trees, plants and grasses grow and flourish.Our faith is also to grow and flourish during these Sundays of Ordinary Time. The green vestments worn signify continuing growth in faith.
• Today is celebrated as Father’s Day, so in the Mass we remember and pray for the fathers of our community.
1st Reading: Ezekiel (17:22-24) It is God who plants and makes fruitful, who raises up and humbles Thus says the Lord God: I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of a cedar; I will set it out. I will break off a tender one from the topmost of its young twigs; I…
1st Reading: 1 Kings (19:19-21) Elijah chooses Elisha as his attendant and successor Elijah set out and found Elisha son of Shaphat, who was ploughing. There were twelve yoke of oxen ahead of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle over him. He left the oxen, ran…
1st Reading: 1 Kings (19:8-16) Elijah’s encounter with God, at the cave on Mount Horeb Elijah got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God. At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there….
1st Reading: 1 Kings (18:41-46) Elijah predicts the rain that ends the drought Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of rushing rain.” So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; there he bowed himself down upon the earth…
1st Reading: 1 Kings (18:20-39) Elijah’s faith in the living God is confirmed by fire from heaven Ahab sent to all the Israelites, and assembled the prophets at Mount Carmel. Elijah then came near to all the people, and said, “How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the Lord is God,…
