1st Reading: Micah 5:1-4 Bethlehem, from you shall come one who is to rule in Israel But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore…
1st Reading: Colossians 1:24-2:3 To spread the faith, Paul suffers on behalf of the Church I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. I became its servant according to God’s…
God’s healing power was seen in the ministry of Jesus, and continues in the sacraments, in advances in medicine and in the work of the caring professions. Today we pray for strength, trusting that God will continue to show compassion to the whole world
1st Reading: Isaiah 35:4-7 Take courage, for God will save his people Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.” Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the…
1st Reading: Colossians 1:21-23 Hold the faith firmly, to come before God free of all blame And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him — provided that you…
1st Reading: Colossians 1:15-20 Through Christ everything was created and reconciled to God He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers — all things have been…
Feast of St Gregory the Great (see below) 1st Reading: Colossians 1:9-14 We can endure whatever comes, being rescued from the power of darkness. For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all…
1st Reading: Colossians 1:1-8 Paul commends “love to the saints” and Christian growth Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. In our prayers for you we…
1st Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6, 9-11 The day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night. Be ready. Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like…
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.
