Jesus saw the two brothers, Simon and Andrew, making a cast with their net, going about their daily work, and he called out to them, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of people.” Immediately the two brothers left what they were doing and followed Jesus. The story is perhaps streamlined for the decision of these two brothers must have taken some time…
Advent begins today, and with it a new year in the Church’s life. We look forward with hope to the end of time, when Christ will come in glory — and with joy, even in the midst of pandemic, we prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ.
“Keep awake-for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”
28 November, 2020. Saturday of Week 34 1st Reading: Revelation 22:1-7 The river of life, the healing fruits and the Lamb who is coming soon Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the…
27 November, 2020. Friday of Week 34 St Fergal, bishop and missionary (Opt. Mem.) 1st Reading: Revelation 20:1-4; 21:1-2 Those who reject the beast will reign with Christ for 1000 years Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. He…
26 November, 2020. Thursday of Week 34 1st Reading: Revelation 18:1-2, 21-23; 19:1-3, 9 The happy guests at the Lamb’s wedding feast I, John, saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority; and the earth was made bright with his splendour. He called out with a mighty voice, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the…
25 November, 2020. Wednesday of Week 34 St Catherine of Alexandria, virgin and martyr; St Clement I, pope and martyr ; St Colman, bishop (Opt. Mem.) 1st Reading: Revelation 15:1-4 The seven plagues sent by the wrath of God Then I saw another portent in heaven, great and amazing: seven angels with seven plagues, which…
24 November, 2020. Tuesday of Week 34 Ss Andrew Dung-Lác, priest and Companions, martyrs (Memorial) 1st Reading: Revelation 14:14-19 The grapes are thrown into the winepress of God’s wrath Then I looked, and there was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one like the Son of Man, with a golden crown on…
23 November, 2020. Monday of Week 34 St Columban, abbot and missionary (Memorial) 1st Reading: Revelation 14:1-3a, 4-5 The 144,000 are the first fruits of humankind Then I looked, and there was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion! And with him were one hundred forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father’s name written…
Today we celebrate the feast of Christ the King. At the end of time, this king will come in glory to judge the living and the dead. He will ask how we treated the hungry and thirsty, the stranger, the naked, those sick or in prison. But in the meantime, he will bind our wounds and revive our sometimes-drooping spirits, like a Good Shepherd.
22 November, 2020. Jesus Christ, King of the Universe On this, the last Sunday in the liturgical year, we honour Christ the King. It is a feast on which to renew our loyalty to Jesus our Saviour, shown in the way that we love our neighbour. The shepherd-theme is prominent, both as basis for our…
21 November, 2020. Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary 1st Reading: Zechariah 2:14-17 Rejoice, O daughter Zion! For I will dwell in your midst Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! For lo, I will come and dwell in your midst, says the Lord. Many nations shall join themselves to the Lord on that day, and…
20 November, 2020. Friday of Week 33 1st Reading: Revelation 10:8-11 The scroll that was sweet on the tongue but sour in the stomach I, John, heard the voice that I had heard from heaven speak to me again, saying, “Go, take the scroll that is open in the hand of the angel who is…
19 November, 2020. Thursday of Week 33 1st Reading: Revelation 5:1-10 The Lamb who was killed opens the seals of the Book of Life I, John, saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals; and I saw…
18 November, 2020. Wednesday of Week 33 The Dedication of the Basilicas of Ss Peter and Paul (Opt. Mem.) 1st Reading: Revelation 4:1-11 The twenty-four elders before God’s throne In my vision I looked, and there in heaven a door stood open! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a…
17 November, 2020. Tuesday of Week 33 St Elizabeth of Hungary, religious (Memorial) 1st Reading: Revelation 3:1-6, 14-22 Those who are lukewarm will be spat out I, John, heard the Lord say to me, “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who has the seven spirits of…
16 November, 2020. Monday of Week 33 16 Monday St Margaret of Scotland (Opt. Mem.); St Gertrude, virgin (Opt. Mem.) 1st Reading: Revelation Apocalypse) 1:1-4; 2:1-5 Encouragement to the churches in Asia Minor The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him, to show his servants what must soon take place; he made it known…
The end of this year and the beginning of the Advent season is coming closer, and the Liturgy invites us to look further into the future, towards the end of time, to be ready when the Day of the Lord comes.
• Today has been designated by Pope Francis as the “WORLD DAY OF THE POOR”
15 November, 2020. 33rd Sunday, Year A Today’s gospel focuses on the kind of behaviour that will be tested in Final Judgment. We are here and now writing the book of evidence for that judgement on the value of lives. A key element is the use of the talents and opportunities God has given us…
14 November, 2020. Saturday of Week 32 St Laurence O’Toole, bishop (Opt. Mem.) 1st Reading: 3 John verses 5-8 It is well to provide hospitality for traveling missionaries Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the friends, even though they are strangers to you; they have testified to your love before the church. You…
