26th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A

Promises, responsibility, conversion of heart, and change of mindset.  These are our key words for today’s scripture readings.

In our first reading to the prophet Ezekiel, it explains that every individual has a responsibility to be personally accountable for their own sinful ways.  This was a new development in the Israeli mindset, compared to a centuries-old tradition.  Ezekiel goes on by saying:  ‘a good person who turns bad throughout the course of their life, will pay the ultimate price.  However, a bad person who has a ‘change of heart’ and starts living a virtuous life, that person will win God’s favour.’

In the Gospel, Jesus was explaining to the Temple authorities, that their rejection of John the Baptist’s message was wrong in the eyes of God.  Jesus spoke this parable about two sons.  At this time, there was a culture where sons in general, were to honour and obey their fathers, and if they did not it was a very shameful act of defiance.  The first son as we know, refused to do the fathers work, but changed his mind and did it anyway.  While the second son agreed to do the work, but then never bothered to do it. 

The chief priests recognised that the first son did his father’s will, in the end.  However, Jesus left them dumbfounded by saying the people who are at the very bottom of society, and are outside of God’s covenant, like the tax collectors and prostitutes will enter the Kingdom of God before them. 

These outcasts heard about John the Baptist’s message of repentance and changed their mindset, while the chief priests refused to listen to him.  They didn’t listen, because they had the Law of Moses, and by their Office as Priests, they thought they knew God’s Will, and were reluctant to change their mindset to repentance.     

Let us think about our own promises and responsibilities that we have made during our life?  Are we fulfilling them?  For example, it is easy for newly-weds having no problem saying ‘Yes, I do’ during their promises on their big day, but as you know it is increasingly difficult to keep every promise that we agree to over time, because life brings along many difficulties especially in married life. 

During Mass at Holy Communion we say ‘Amen’ when receiving the Body & Blood of Christ, do we truly realise who we are saying ‘yes’ to within our hearts. 

For me personally, the promises and responsibilities of the Priesthood are very demanding.  At Ordination every priest promises to be obedient to the bishop and promises to prayer the Divine Office, five times a day.  Without a clear daily structure like seminary where time is set aside for communal prayer, it is easy to get lost in the busyness of the day, and sometimes I am playing catch up, reciting two sets of prayers back-to-back.  Obviously, this is not ideal, because sometimes it is rushed and I am not concentrating on the words prayerfully, as I should.

Another example is when the phone rings and it is the Bishop or the Vicar General giving me additional jobs and responsibilities, I start to grumble, wondering how to get out of this situation, but in the end, I remember the ‘yes’ I made at ordination, the promise of obedience to fulfil the Bishop’s will.  I guess the moral of the story – is to always read the small print.

So, let us today re-awaken our responsibilities and promises that we have made.  Conforming our ways to God’s ways, our paths to God’s paths.  Since God has a Divine plan for each one of us, because we are his people, the one Body of Christ, building up the Kingdom of Heaven, of the Glory of His Holy Name. 

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A

In today’s Gospel, Jesus presents us with a parable that sheds light on yet another mystery of the Kingdom of Heaven.  Over the centuries, many different interpretations have been offered regarding its meaning.  Some see it as a story about the final judgment, when the first will be last, and the last will be first.  Others understand it as a summary of salvation history, where Israel faithfully served the Lord for generations before the Gentiles were welcomed into God’s covenant through Christ.  Still others see it as a lesson about conversion, reminding us that some respond to God’s call early in life while others come to him much later on.  Each of these interpretations contains valuable insights.

The parable itself moves between a vineyard and the village marketplace.  The vineyard, a familiar biblical image for God’s people, is the place where work is to be done.  Throughout the day, the landowner repeatedly returns to the marketplace in search of labourers.  Beginning at dawn and continuing until the final hour before sunset, he invites workers into his vineyard and promises them a just wage.  One denarius, which was the normal daily wage, was offered. 

The surprise comes at the end of the day.  Those who worked only one hour received the same payment as those who had laboured from dawn.  Through the eyes of the world, this seems unfair.  

Through the eyes of the Kingdom, however, it reveals something profound about God.  The reward symbolises the gift of salvation, eternal life, and communion with God.  These gifts cannot be earned by our own efforts; they are given through God’s grace.

Sometimes we can fall into the trap of thinking that our prayers, sacrifices, good works, or even years of faithful service somehow give us a greater claim on God’s blessings.  While these things are important, they do not place God in our debt.  

Isaiah reminds us, God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, nor are his ways our ways.  Salvation is always a gift flowing from the abundance of God’s love and mercy.

This parable therefore carries both a theological and a moral lesson. The theological lesson is that God is extremely generous.  He desires that all people to be saved, whether they come to him early or late. The moral lesson is a warning against envy and comparison.  The workers who complained were not deprived of anything; they received exactly what had been promised.  Their unhappiness came from comparing themselves with others, rather than rejoicing in what they received, through the goodness of the master.

How often can the same temptation arise within us?  We can become focused on what others receive instead of giving thanks for what God has given us.  Yet the Gospel invites us to celebrate every soul that comes to the Lord, whether after a lifetime of faith or at the very end of ones life.  Heaven rejoices whenever a sinner turns back to God.

Today, therefore, let us approach the Lord with grateful and humble hearts.  Let us thank him for the countless blessings we receive each day, blessings that we neither deserve nor can earn. Above all, let us be grateful for the gift of the Sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist, through which Christ nourishes us with his very Body and Blood.  

As we continue along our earthly pilgrimage towards our heavenly reward, may we never lose sight of God’s boundless generosity.  May we learn to rejoice not only in the blessings given to us, but also in the grace and mercy that God freely pours out upon all his faithful children.

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A

Today we hear St Peter being outspoken once again, asking Jesus a question.  ‘How often must I forgive my brother?’  Last week we heard about how Jesus told us, how to address the problem of people sinning against us and the community, by giving correction and guidance.  Now the narrative continues, and we focus on how we should forgive people when they sin against us. 

It was known during that time in Palestine, that some Rabbis consider ‘three times’ to be a sufficient number to forgive someone for the same offense.  So, Peter is being very generous in suggesting ‘seven times’ to Jesus.  However, Jesus responds and takes everyone by surprise, ‘not seven times I tell you, but seventy-seven times.’  This is to highlight that there is no limit for forgiveness, it is boundless.  To illustrate his point about the unlimitedness of forgiveness, Jesus tells us this parable about a king and his unforgiving servant who owes a huge amount of debt.

Elsewhere, we read in the Gospels, Jesus teaches us how to forgive and to receive God’s mercy through the beatitudes and introducing us to the Lord’s Prayer.

Today Jesus calls us to a very high standard of mercy being his disciples.  We cannot speak words of forgiveness while harbouring resentment in our hearts. 

We read in the Catechism that true forgiveness entails a vital participation coming from the depths of our hearts.  It shines forth like a beacon of holiness and mercy, which is the love of God radiating down upon us through his divine grace.

It is true, it is not easy to forgive, especially after years of hurt.  Some injuries are so deep, that it might seem impossible to forgive and forget.  Nevertheless, if we remember how much God has forgiven us over the years, then we can avoid becoming like that unforgiving servant in today’s parable.

As for me personally, in the past I was quite choosey about who I accepted as friends on social media sites like Facebook.  Especially my former school friends.  Remembering their hurtful words towards me in my younger days at secondary school.  Obviously, these people probably have no recollection of these past events.  However, I do still find myself hovering my figure over the ‘reject’ button as I spend some time contemplating over my feelings.

Forgiveness is so difficult, yet for the Church, it is so important to let go and to show mercy.  We are encouraged to pray for these people, asking the Holy Spirit to heal our hearts of division and injury, and turning it into love and compassion, that purifies the memory by transforming the hurt into a prayer of intercession.  In this way, we can let go, and forgive our enemies interiorly from our own hearts.

So, let us during this Mass, ask the Holy Spirit to open up our hearts this day, as we place all our pains, hurt and worries from our past onto the altar, as we offer them up to the Lord. 

We are called to imitate Christ in a special way, since Jesus forgave the Romans & the Jewish people from their sins, as they crucified him upon the cross, He said: ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do’, we should do the same in our lives. 

There is already too much pain and suffering in this world, let us try to reduce the anxiety in our hearts by placing them into the Lord’s hands.

As we pray the Lord’s prayer together a bit later on, let us reflect upon these words:  ‘give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  Amen.’

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A

“If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.”  I am sure, after listening to this Gospel reading, you will say to yourself, that’s easier said than done.  Confrontation with anyone in this modern age, is extremely difficult.  One negative word towards another and the next minute your picture is being broadcasted on the local news channel.  But sometimes, there comes a point where something needs to be said.  The silence of the situation is just going to make things worse, and the longer we leave it, the worse it will be.

There has been a few situations in my past that a simple apology would have cleared the air, but none of us, would move from our stubborn self-centredness.  As time went on, the situation festered, and a long-time friendship came to an end and ceased to exist.

As we all know, life is too short, and we all have to take seriously the duty of doing good.  The love of our neighbour is the second most important commandment we are told to keep.

There is no perfect harmony between people all the time, however, we do expect a little pain to come our way – every so often.  The Gospel brings to mind the delicate question of counselling to those who are misbehaving.  It goes without saying that correction is never welcome when we hear it.  Great caution must be exercised because the wrong word or the use of excessive language could cause more damage than the original fault. 

Correction can also be embarrassing, as it may carry with it the risk of losing a long-established friendship.  However, there are occasions when the failure to speak out, will lead to an ongoing practice of bad, or possible evil habits.  In these situations what we have to say, should be expressed in a spirit of charity and love.

As some of you may know, I am the Catholic Hospital Chaplin, I remember on one occasion, I found myself shouting at a builder, who warranted much needed correction.  It was during the summer heat wave, I was walking out of the hospital canteen and approaching me were three builders, who were also on their dinner break.  One of these builders, a young chap, was wearing no top.  He was bare chested.  I was shocked to see that anyone would be half clothed in a professional setting like a hospital.  I shouted at him – well … I raised my voice a little in annoyance, while I walked past, saying: “This is a hospital, at least put a top on!”  Obviously, the young man grumbled to his friends and carried on walking.  Funnily enough, I heard the other two builders, winding him up saying: “A priest has told you off.” 

Obviously, I probably could have handled the situation better, I just hoped and prayed he manged to clothe himself probably later on. 

We need to remember what St Paul said to the Romans: “Love does no wrong to a neighbour, therefore love is the fulfilling of the Law.”  If we can have the ability to be genuinely concerned about a situation, a little honesty can often clear the air and change the situation for the better. 

None of us is perfect, so when we point out the faults of others, we should be prepared to hear about our own failings too. 

I am sure if I walked around the hospital not dressed properly, I would definitely be on the local news that afternoon, with a 101 letters being sent to the Bishop or even the Safeguarding Office.

So today, let us ask the Lord for the grace to be peacemakers.  Let us seek reconciliation where relationships have become strained, and let us be ready to offer and receive forgiveness.  

As we place our prayers upon the altar in this Eucharist meal, may Christ heal any divisions within our hearts and within our community, so that together we may grow in His love and peace.  Amen.

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A

Today’s Gospel reading brought back memories of my seminary days at Oscott.  During our scripture lessons, we carefully went over this reading line by line, to understand what it meant.  This reading has two versions in the Gospel accounts, there’s one in Matthew’s Gospel and there’s one in Mark’s.  Unfortunately, the one I studied was the other gospel account – Mark, but I am sure that the same key points will still apply to us today.

The line I will be focusing on, is probably the line that stands out the most, because it is strange and confusing to understand, especially coming from the lips of Jesus to Peter.  The line is: ‘Get behind me Satan.’

Poor Peter, in the Gospel, he seems to go from hero to villain in the space of just a few seconds.  He starts off alright, recognising that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God, when they were in the region of Caesarea Philippi, since Jesus puts this question to his disciples ‘who do people say that the Son of Man is?’  But from then on, it’s downhill all the way for Peter.

It all starts going wrong when Jesus happens to mention that he has no choice but to go to Jerusalem and to be killed.  Jesus said this with particular honesty and boldness.  However, that was too much for Peter, he reacts really quite strongly.  Peter takes Jesus to one side, which you can see, is a very controlling movement. 

It is equivalent of Peter taking Jesus by the scruff of the neck to have a serious word.  Peter convinced that he knows better than Jesus, must talk him out of all this nonsense about suffering and death.  After all, they are on their way to Jerusalem, and it is going to be glorious, and Jesus and the apostles will going to be on central stage.

Peter has put himself in front of Jesus, blocking his way.  So, Jesus turns in such a way to make it into a teachable moment, and tells Peter and his disciples, to get behind him, to get back on board, to get back to where they belong; to assume the proper place for a disciple – behind the master, following in his footsteps.  The Master must precede, the disciples must follow.  That is what ‘get behind me’ means.  Jesus isn’t dismissing Peter here, he is just reminding him to be a disciple and follow him.

But Jesus does also call him ‘Satan’, so what does that mean?  Again, the bible uses this word in a special way.  In Hebrew, the word ‘Satan’ means ‘opponent’.  Someone who is working against God.  So, when Jesus calls Peter ‘Satan’, he is saying, ‘Look Peter, can’t you see, you are behaving like God’s opponent.  You are resisting God’s will.  You need to do God’s will and not to resist it.’

So, in today’s reading, Peter doesn’t exactly cover himself with glory, but I suggest it isn’t as bad as we might have first thought.  Jesus doesn’t reject Peter, far from it. 

He wants to keep Peter as his disciple and to remind him, and us also, that human feelings, human interests, human desires and aspirations, don’t always necessarily chime in with the will of God. 

If we are not careful, then our approach to things can oppose the will of God. 

Our Lord is asking us all here today, to make sure that in every choice and every decision that we make in lives, we allow ourselves to be guided by God’s will. 

God must always take the lead, and we as his disciples, have the same role as Peter, and that is to get behind Jesus and follow him.

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

“Mary set out and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah.”  The village of Ain Karim in the hill country near Jerusalem is the traditional site of the house of Zechariah and Elizabeth.  It is located about five miles from the temple, convenient for Zechariah’s priestly duties.  For Mary, however, the journey from Nazareth would be about 90 miles, depending on the route, and it would have taken several days.  There is no mention of Joseph accompanying her, but it is nice to think that Joseph might have been with her, to help Mary along through dangerous and uncertain paths.

The Angel Gabriel said at the Annunciation:  ‘Hail Mary, Full of Grace.’  The Catechism confirms that Mary did not suffer from Original Sin, which was the first sin of Adam and Eve eating of the forbidden fruit.  Allowing Mary to receive the honour of being called ‘Immaculate’, Full of Grace. 

This doctrine of the ‘Immaculate Conception’ shows God’s Divine power working by grace throughout Mary’s life, it can be traced all the way back to the beginning of her existence.  The Immaculate Conception is the moment when Mary gave her ‘Yes’ to God, and God became Man, in Mary’s womb. 

It is only fitting that the baby Jesus dwelt in a worthy place, a new Ark, a holy temple, a dwelling place fit for the Messiah, and not stained by sin.

When Mary’s earthly life was finished, she was taken body and soul into Heavenly Glory.  Since Mary was ‘Full of Grace, and did not suffer from original sin, it was fitting that Mary, like her Son, would not experience any bodily corruption.

We read in the Old Testament that Enoch was taken into Heaven without seeing death, in the book of Hebrews.  Also, Elijah who was whisked into Heaven by the ‘Chariots of Fire’ in the whirlwind at the end of his life, from the second book of Kings.  If God could assume these righteous men, it is certainly possible that Jesus could assume his own Mother as well.

The idea of Mary’s bodily Assumption into Heaven at the end of her earthly life, became a focus for early Marian devotions, with the first evidence for the celebrating of the ‘Feast of the Dormition’ dating back to the year 600 in Constantinople and then 50 years later in Rome.

There have been many legends about the death of Mary, her falling asleep and passing into Heaven.  The oldest Greek narrative is from the Discourse of St John the Theologian, about the Falling asleep of the Mother of God.  In his discourse, there is the well-known motif of the gathering of the apostles in Jerusalem, some of whom had died, and God granted them to be present at the bedside of Mary.  Paul, Mark and James were included along with 12 other members during Mary’s final moments. 

So, let us today, allow this Solemnity to give us the opportunity to reflect on Mary’s purity.  She was the greatest background figure in the life of Christ, always co-operating with her Son.  She lived as an example to imitate, living through the same ups and downs that we do every day. 

On this joyful occasion, let us remind ourselves that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and like Mary, we are destined for that Glory that is presented to us, within the paradise of Heaven.

Let us allow Mary’s intercession to work in us and through us, as we become closer to the Lord, in mind, body and soul.

Our Lady, Mary Immaculate:  Pray for us.

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A

Today’s readings invite us to reflect on our faith in the midst of fear and uncertainty.  We are reminded that God is always present, however, not often where we expect him to be, and that the great challenge of the Christian life is to trust him when the winds are against us.

In the first reading, Elijah is exhausted, discouraged, and fearful.  He has done God’s work faithfully, yet everything seems to be falling apart.  Standing on Mount Horeb, he experiences wind, earthquake, and fire.  These are dramatic signs, but the Lord is not in them. Finally, Elijah hears a tiny whispering sound, a still small voice, and there he encounters God.

How often do we look for God in the big and dramatic scenes of life. Yet more often God comes quietly.  He speaks to us through prayer, through Scripture, and through the Sacraments.  The problem is not that God is silent.  The problem is that we need to be silent through the busyness of our daily lives.

In our Gospel today, we hear Jesus walking on the water.  A dramatic encounter with God involving an intensive manifestation of Jesus’ divine power.  The disciples came face to face with the divine person of Jesus, the shroud of mystery briefly pulled back to reveal his true identity.

We hear Jesus didn’t not accompany his disciples in the boat.  Instead, he sends them off ahead to the other side, while he stayed behind.  Jesus wanted his quiet moment of prayer and solitude up the mountain, to pray to His heavenly Father. 

Meanwhile the disciples were fighting for their lives against stormy weather for much of the night, the wind blowing hard against their boats, churning up big angry waves upon the sea of Galilee. 

Galilee sits about 210 metres below sea level, making it one of the lowest freshwater lakes in the world.  The lake is surrounded by hills and mountains, especially on the eastern side.  Cold air rushing down from these heights collides with the warm air over the lake, creating sudden and violent storms.

With the surrounding terrain, that contains many ravines that act like wind tunnels, strong winds descend through these gaps, and they can strike the lake with very little warning, whipping up large waves very quickly.

The disciples managed to get close, a few miles from shore, during the 4^th watch of the night, which is around the hours of 3 – 6am. 

Suddenly they see Jesus walking towards the boat.  Their first reaction was terror, as they thought it was a ghost.  However, Jesus responds, ‘It is I’, hoping to calm their fears. 

As we know, Peter asks to join him on the water, at first things start to go well, as Peter begins to stride across the waves, every step supported by a miracle of God.  Peter shows himself being courageous towards his fellow disciples. 

However, the situation quickly changes.  Peter seeing how strong the wind was, let fear overpower his faith, Peter, took his eyes off the Lord, and he began to sink.  All Peter could do, is to cry out, saying:  Lord, Save me!

How many times do we panic and all we can do, is to cry out in desperation saying:  Lord, Save me! 

We can all find ourselves in stormy situations, sometimes we prevail and grow stronger, sometimes we falter.  It is in these times of testing that can show us where our spiritual development is and where we need improvement, and to grow in our Christian maturity.

The heart of this Christian message, is salvation cannot be earned by having a perfect faith or being flawless in discipleship.  We all need saving through the outstretched hand of Jesus on the cross. 

As we gather around the altar today, we bring with us our own storms. Some may be visible; others may be hidden.  Some of us may feel more like Elijah, exhausted and searching for God.  Others may feel like the disciples, fighting against a headwind.  Others may feel like Peter, sinking beneath the waves of fear or doubt.

Today’s message is simple:  listen for the Lord’s voice, keep your eyes fixed on Christ, and never be afraid to cry out for help.  God, who spoke to Elijah in a whisper, and God who grasped Peter by the hand, is the same Lord and God, who comes to us today in the Eucharist.  When the storms rage around us, may we hear his words in our hearts:  “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”  Amen.

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A

Today’s first reading from the prophet Isaiah and the Gospel about the feeding of the five thousand are united by a beautiful theme:  God is generous beyond all expectation.  He is not a God who gives sparingly, but a Father who delights in satisfying the deepest hunger of his people.

Through Isaiah, the Lord speaks to a people who are weary, disappointed and tempted to look elsewhere for fulfilment: “Come to the water all you who are thirsty.”  God invites everyone, especially those who have nothing to offer in return.  His grace is not for sale,  His love cannot be earned, His gifts are always freely given.

Isaiah asks a question that remains relevant to us today: “Why spend money on what is not bread, or your wages on what fails to satisfy?” How often we search for happiness in possessions, success, or entertainment.  Yet even when we obtain these things, we can still feel empty.  The human heart has a deeper hunger, a hunger for meaning, communion, forgiveness, and love.  Only God can satisfy that hunger.

In the Gospel, we see this promise fulfilled in Jesus.  The crowds follow him into a deserted place.  They are hungry, both spiritually and physically.  The disciples see only the visual problem at hand, having only five loaves and two fish, which seemed hopelessly inadequate.  Their solution was practical: “Let’s send the crowds away.”

However, Jesus responds differently.  He says, “Give them something to eat yourselves.”  The disciples focus on what they lack; Jesus focuses on what they have.  The little food they had placed into Jesus’ hands becomes more than enough for everyone.

This miracle teaches us something important about the Christian life. Very often we feel inadequate, we look at our limitations, our weakness, our lack of resources, and we conclude that we can only do very little.  However, Jesus simply asks us to offer what we do have. A little faith, a little generosity, a little time, a little compassion.  When these are placed in His hands, they become instruments of grace and love.

The feeding of the five thousand is also a sign pointing towards the Eucharist.  Notice the actions of Jesus: he takes the bread, looks up to heaven, says the blessing, breaks the bread, and gives it to the disciples for distribution.  These same actions are repeated at the Last Supper and continue at every Mass.  The miracle in the wilderness foreshadows the greater miracle of Christ giving himself as the Bread of Life.

The people ate and were satisfied, this is an important detail.  God does not merely keep us alive; he desires to fill us with the abundance of his life.  The twelve baskets left over remind us that God’s generosity always exceeds our expectations.  There is more than enough grace, more than enough mercy, more than enough love to go around.

As we reflect on these readings today, we might ask ourselves:  What hunger do I bring to the Lord today?  Am I seeking satisfaction in things that cannot truly nourish my soul?  And what are troubles and difficulties that I need to place into the Lord’s hands?

The Good News is that Jesus will always gather his people, and continues to feed them with His Words and His Body and Blood.  He transforms what seems small into a blessing for many.

May we hear anew Isaiah’s invitation: “Come to the water, all you who are thirsty.”  May we draw closer to Christ with humility, bringing before him the hunger of our hearts, as we receive the Eucharist.  Then nourished by his Body and Blood, may we be satisfied by the love and grace of God, that was poured out for the life of the world, through Jesus Christ in His saving sacrifice on the Cross.  

Renewed in faith and confident, knowing that God’s grace is always enough for us, let us be ready to share the compassion, hope, and abundance of love we ourselves have received with others.

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A

No Homily – Week in Lourdes – Prayers said for you all.