Theme: We naturally resent those who do us wrong. But hatred, if nurtured, can come between us and God, whose ideal of perfection is mercy. 1st Reading: Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18 God calls us to love our neighbour as ourselves The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel…
1st Reading: Hebrews 11:1-7 Heroic examples of faith, from the Scriptures Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from…
The Seven Founders of the Servite Order; Saint Fintan, abbot 1st Reading: Genesis 11:1-9 When people sought independence from God, their language is scrambled Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as they migrated from the east, they came upon a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there….
1st Reading: Genesis 9:1-13 The rainbow, a perpetual sign of God’s covenant with Noah and the human race God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. The fear and dread of you shall rest on every animal of the earth, and on every bird of…
1st Reading: Genesis 8:6-13, 20-22 The Lord promises never again to destroy the earth At the end of forty days Noah opened the window of the ark that he had made and sent out the raven; and it went to and fro until the waters were dried up from the earth. Then he sent out…
1st Reading: Acts 13:46-49 The missionary courage of the apostles, later emulated by the mission of Cyril and Methodius to the Slavs. Then both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken first to you. Since you reject it and judge yourselves to be unworthy…
1st Reading: Genesis 4:1-15 Cain’s jealousy leading to the murder of his brother Abel Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have produced a man with the help of the Lord.” Next she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a…
Theme: Using our freedom well. It is not so much individual acts that can separate us from God, but our disorientated hearts, drawn to self-assertion and selfishness. Jesus insists that our conscience must go deeper than external deeds. The vital question is what is going on within our hearts, our thoughts and motives? He teaches…
Our Lady of Lourdes; Saint Gobnait, virgin 1st Reading: Genesis 3:9-24 The Lord sentences the serpent, and Adam and Eve are expelled from the garden The Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” He said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because…
Saint Scholastica, virgin 1st Reading: Genesis 3:1-8 The woman and man eat the forbidden fruit, then try to hide from God in the garden Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat from any…
Today’s readings ask for decisions, challenging Christians to choose the right path. We gather to worship God, who can help us in all our choices.
1st Reading: Genesis 2:18-25 Woman stands equal to man; they are to be joined as one flesh Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.” So out of the ground the Lord God formed every animal of the field…
Saint Jerome Emiliani, priest; Saint Josephine Bakhita, virgin 1st Reading: Genesis 2:4-9, 15-17 God creates Adam and sets him in the garden to cultivate it These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created. In the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, when no plant…
Saint Mel of Ardagh, bishop 1st Reading: Genesis 1:20–2:4 God forms man and woman in the divine likeness, then rests on the seventh day And God said, “Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky.” So God created the great sea…
Saint Paul Miki and Companions, martyrs 1st Reading: Genesis 1:1-19 God creates light, sky, earth and sun, moon and stars, in the act of creation In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God…
Over these Sundays, we listen to what Jesus taught in his Sermon on the Mount. In today’s liturgy, we hear that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Rejoicing in this calling, we praise God who sustains us all our days.
Saint Agatha, virgin and martyr Salt and Light Tyranny and oppression still flourish in many places abroad; and in less spectacular fashion closer to home. Unfairness and structural abuse often stare us in the face, such as long-term poverty, unemployment and homelessness. Christ invites us to solidarity with people in dire need. How seriously do…
1st Reading: Hebrews 13:15-17, 20-21 God raised up Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing…
Saint Blaise, bishop and martyr; Saint Ansgar, bishop 1st Reading: Hebrews 13:1-8 A call to hospitality, contentment, care of prisoners and the persecuted Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in prison, as though you…
1st Reading: Malachi 3:1-4 God’s Messenger will refine the chosen people See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight – indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But…
