The great conversion: Paul’s recognition of the risen Christ transformed his value system. No longer were the claims of Jesus the blasphemous pretensions of a madman, but utter truth; and Jesus was Messiah and Saviour. 1st Reading: Acts 22:3-16 Paul’s account of his conversion, to his fellow-Jews, on the steps of the Temple “I am…
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity continues until this Monday. With Christians all over the world, we ask God to give us the unity for which Christ prayed.
Theme: We celebrate as Christ’s Body in which we all, laity and clergy, belong. We use our God-given talents to enhance the lives of others. 1st Reading: Nehemiah 8:2-6, 8-10 Ezra the Scribe set out to re-instate the Jewish Laws The priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all…
1st Reading: 2 Samuel 1:1-4 etc David’s grief at the death of Saul and Jonathan After the death of Saul, when David had returned from defeating the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. On the third day, a man came from Saul’s camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. When he…
1st Reading: 1 Samuel 24:3-21 David refrains from killing Saul, and gains the moral high ground He came to the sheepfolds beside the road, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave. The men of David said…
Saint Agnes, virgin and martyr, optional memorial 1st Reading: 1 Samuel 18:6-9 etc Saul’s jealousy threatens David, but Jonathan helps to reconcile them As they were coming home, when David returned from killing the Philistine, the women came out of all the towns of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with…
Saints Fabian and Sebastian, martyrs (optional memorial) 1st Reading: 1 Samuel 17:32-33, etc David kills Goliath, and saves his people David said to Saul, “Let no one’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to…
1st Reading: 1 Samuel 16:1-13 In Bethlehem Samuel anoints David (Jesse’s youngest son) as king The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have…
1st Reading: 1 Samuel 15:16-23 For disobeying the prophet Samuel, Saul is deposed as king Then Samuel said to Saul, “Stop! I will tell you what the Lord said to me last night.” He replied, “Speak.” Samuel said, “Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of…
There are echoes of the Christmas season in today’s liturgy, particularly in the Gospel story of the wedding feast of Cana, in which God’s glory becomes visible in Jesus, as it did at his Epiphany and Baptism.
Theme: Like Mary and Jesus, we should help without being asked and without fuss or demand. 1st Reading: Isaiah 62:1-5 God has prepared joyful feast for his people For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her vindication shines out like the dawn, and her salvation…
1st Reading: 1 Samuel 9:1-4, 12-19; 10:1 Saul is anointed by Samuel as king of Israel, at God’s inspiration There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite, a man of wealth. He had a son whose name was Saul,…
Saint Ita of Limerick optional memorial 1st Reading: 1 Samuel 8:4-7, 10-22 When the people demand a king, Samuel appoints one, but warns of the dangers Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah, and said to him, “You are old and your sons do not follow in your…
1st Reading: 1 Samuel 4:1-11 Despite having the Ark of the Covenant, Israel loses the battle And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. In those days the Philistines mustered for war against Israel, and Israel went out to battle against them; they encamped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines encamped at Aphek. The Philistines…
Saint Hilary of Poitiers, bishop and doctor of the Church 1st Reading: Hebrews 4:1-5, 11 Through faith we shall enter into God’s day of rest Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest is still open, let us take care that none of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For indeed the…
Saint Hilary of Poitiers, optional memorial 1st Reading: 1 Samuel 3:1-10 etc From the sanctuary God calls Samuel, and sends him as a prophet Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. At that time Eli, whose eyesight…
1st Reading: 1 Samuel 1:9-20 Eli promises an answer to Hannah’s prayer; and she gives birth to a son After they had eaten and drunk at Shiloh, Hannah rose and presented herself before the Lord. Now Eli the priest was sitting on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the Lord. She was…
1st Reading. 1 Samuel 1:1-8 Hannah’s grief at being childless; her husband tries to comfort her There was a certain man of Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham son of Elihu son of Tohu son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. He had two wives; the name…
Today we celebrate the feast of the Baptism of the Lord: it’s the last day of the Christmas season.
The baptism of Jesus marked the end of his quiet years in Nazareth and the start of his public ministry.
Theme: Jesus brings justice and divine life to the nations. As his baptised family, we seek the kingdom of God through justice and peace. [Two sets of readings are options to choose from. These below are from Year C.] First Reading: Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd Comfort, O comfort…
