26th Sunday of Ordinary Time

The readings for this Sunday warn us against selfishness and ignoring those in need. God asks us to live with kindness and care, not to turn away from the poor or weak. We are reminded that faith is shown in how we act and also in what we say. In the First reading the prophet Amos speaks to the wealthy of Judah and Israel. Their crime is that they could  not care less about the plight of the poor. God condemns those living in luxury and indifference, foretelling their exile and the end of their extravagant celebrations. In the Second Reading from St Paul’s letter to Timothy we are told as Jesus was faithful to his call in the face of  the hostility that led to his death, So Christians facing persecution should be faithful to Gods call. We are encouraged to pursue virtues and keep the commandments until Christ’s return, honoring the immortal, unseen God.

This Sunday the gospel story tells us about two people, a rich man and a poor man it is a good reflection on the situation in the world at the present time where those who are rich are getting richer at the expense of the poor who are getting poorer. The rich man is wealthy in clothes and food; he is also rich in privilege and  freedom he is free from the worry that besets those who are poor even though he was poorer than the poorest man because of the way he lived his life. You can imagine Lazarus praying: “Give us this day our daily bread.” But he didn’t get  a crumb. You cannot imagine the rich man praying, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Because the privilege he has blinds him to Lazarus the man who lies at his own gate. Both men eventually died as all of us will.  Lazarus went straight to heaven to the joy  of endless happiness.  On the other hand the rich man fares very differently. His enjoyments are over. He is now in Hades and he is told that he can expect no relief. Abraham tells him why he is in his present state: he abused his time on earth he acted as though there would be no judgment day of course there was and he sees the truth of this. He knows that he has no one to blame but himself which adds to his torment. It is also a cause of additional grief to him that his bad example will lead his fellowmen to a similar fate.

This rich man is in eternal torment because he let his wealth become his master and forgot God and his neighbor and all  that leads us to eternal life. In our world today We see men and women who completely ignore their real future while they know that their stay on this earth is of very short duration and that they will have to leave it and yet they still act and live as if they had a permanent home here none of us do. For all of us there is a simple question are we going to be like the rich man and ignore those around us who are the Lazarus’s of our own time and place. There are times when our lack of compassion and action is our crime think of how we react to the homeless, the refugees or those who don’t have enough daily bread. Christ, shared his riches with everyone we should do the same and not be like the rich man in the gospel story?

This weekend Let us take the warnings of Amos, the encouragement of St Paul, and the lesson of Lazarus and the rich man to heart. May we be people of compassion, action, and faith sharing our blessings and building a community of Love ,hope  and joy where no one is left at the gate.

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

As we gather this weekend many places in the world are still at war with each other. We continue our prayer for peace in Gaza and Ukraine as well as all the less talked about wars. This  weekend we  are asked to reflect on our use of worldly resources and our responsibilities to others. The readings challenge us to live with honesty, justice, and faithfulness to God above all else.  In the first reading we hear about Amos who was a great champion off social justice. In this short reading he depicts the religious employers waiting impatiently for the Sabath to end so that they could get on with their lucrative and dishonest trading. Psalm 113 shows that God lifts up the lowly and cares for those who are in need. This shows His love for those who trust Him. In the Second Reading Paul urges the Christian communities to pray for everyone especially those who hold public office as God wants everyone to be saved.

Our gospel reading tells us about the rich Man and his dishonest steward. The steward who looked after his master’s estates is accused of wasting his employer’s goods; he is dismissed, but before he goes he must submit the final account of his stewardship.  In this time of crisis the steward takes firm and immediate action to ensure his own future. He is praised not for his dishonesty, but for his resourcefulness in coping with an emergency with such speed. If a dishonest man can use his employer’s money to ensure there will be people to welcome him when he’s out of a job, how much more should honest people use their money in such a way that they will be welcomed into the kingdom of God when they arrive there. One of the central themes in Luke’s gospel is the suspicion Jesus conveys towards worldly wealth.  Material things can divert our attention and in some cases they can take the place of what truly matters in life. These particular words of Jesus are a warning to those who follow him on the road to heaven, the warning is that we shouldn’t get too attached earthly pocessions and wealth. Our Lord didn’t say who he was warning and his words are meant for all of us today.  What Jesus warned against was not the just acquisition of this world’s goods but their unjust acquisition, and the dishonest use of them when they were justly acquired.

In This gospel story we see an example of someone who knew what he had to do in a crisis situation and Jesus asks all of us to remember no matter what situations we might find ourselves in that we shouldn’t become slaves to pocessions or the wealth that we have and that we shouldn’t be afraid to use whatever our resources we have for the good of everyone especially those in need. The scriptures warn against idolising wealth or allowing possessions to harden our hearts. Instead, we are encouraged to use what we have whether a little or a lot  to serve, uplift, and restore. This is not a call to reckless giving, but a call to thoughtful generosity that reflects God’s own care for the poor. There are many people throughout history who have taken this gospel story  to heart and  decided to act quickly and decisively when required in order to help others and in their time of need. As we reflect on today’s readings and the state of our world, let us renew our commitment to live with honesty, justice, integrity and faithfulness. May we be people who care for the poor, pray earnestly for peace, and practise generosity not just with our resources, but with our hearts. In doing so, we align our lives more closely with God’s ways remembering that very often gods ways are not our ways and then  become true stewards of his love in a world longing for healing, peace, reconciliation and hope. Let us go forth in hope ready to pray, to serve, and to give, trusting that even in the darkest times, God is calling us to be instruments of his peace where we are.

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross that we celebrate this Sunday remembers the Cross of Jesus. It has been celebrated by the Church for centuries. The feast began in the 4th century, when the True Cross was found by St. Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine. Tradition says she found the Cross in Jerusalem, where Jesus was crucified. This discovery made a deep impression on Christians and led to honouring the Cross in a special way.

The liturgy for this feast draws from several scriptural readings that reveal the depth of the Cross’s meaning. In the first reading, the Israelites, weary and frustrated, complain against God and Moses during their journey. In response, God allows venomous serpents to afflict them. After the people repent, God instructs Moses to craft a bronze serpent; those who look upon it are haled. This act foreshadows the healing and salvation brought through Christ’s crucifixion.The second reading presents the humility of Jesus. Though he was in the form of God, Jesus did not cling to equality with God but emptied himself, embracing humanity and obedience—even to the point of death on a cross. For this, God exalted him and gave him a name above all others. In the Gospel, Jesus speaks to Nicodemus, explaining that the Son of Man must be “lifted up” in the same way Moses lifted the serpent in the wilderness. Through this “lifting up” on the cross, Jesus brings eternal life, not condemnation, to the world. He is sent as a gift of salvation—a ransom for many. The cross as a sign of hope is a paradox. It is like the writing we can read on tombs in old graveyards: Ave crux, unica spes – Hail cross, our only hope. That is a good summary of the Christian faith: in the cross of Jesus, our hope has dawned. We say, “Where there’s life there’s hope.” As long as we live we’re able to hope and open ourselves to the future. Our hope gives direction to our lives; it gives us a reason to keep going. But we know that when we hope we become vulnerable. Hoping is always a risk because it looks to what is not here. To avoid the pain of disappointment some people give up hoping. Like the people of Israel in today’s first reading: they stop hoping in God because of the pain that goes with their new found freedom. They want freedom without wilderness; they want liberation without suffering. God sent the plague of serpents to bring the people to their senses. The God who sent the serpents later sends his beloved Son who died on the Cross for our salvation.

On the cross Jesus does what so many want to avoid: he suffers so that others might be free. To suffer and be rejected are the signs of the cross. In Jesus, God does not despise a broken humanity but takes it to himself. Jesus reveals God by making himself vulnerable. He takes on his back what we all want to avoid: responsibility for our sins. He is nailed to the cross. He does not die a natural death; he is put to death. In all this, he does not despise what is human. As Paul says, Jesus does not cling to his equality with God, he enters the deprivation of humanity becoming a servant  then God raised him high and gave him the name that is above all names . In the Cross and then in the resurrection, hope is born again. Hope is born out of realism; it is born out of love and it leads us to great joy in our lives on earth and in heaven. That is why Paul was right for in the cross there is new life and there is triumph. As we honour the Holy Cross, we recognise it as the sign  of hope especially in this Holy Year dedicated to the theme of Hope.

20th Sunday in ordinary time

The Gospel Reading for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time  is not easy to hear. Jesus speaks clearly and the words of Jesus are there to afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted. He says He did not come to bring peace, but fire. He warns that even families will be divided because of Him. His words are bold and direct. In the first reading, he is thrown into a cistern for speaking the truth. People wanted him gone. But God sends someone to help him. Jeremiah did not stop trusting God, even in the mud. The second reading from Hebrews reminds us to keep going. We must stay strong. We should look to Jesus, who faced the cross. He did not give up. Neither should we despite the conflict and suffering that we see going on in the world. Today throughout the world many people are suffering as a result of conflict especially in Gaza and Ukraine as well as other places. We continue our prayer for peace this weekend.

In the gospel reading for this Sunday Jesus says, “I have come to set the world on fire and how I wish it were already blazing.” Jesus is ready and willing to face the hardships that lie ahead. Jesus’ words must have unsettled the people who heard them the first time. It doesn’t sound like Jesus meant that the practice of our faith should make us comfortable, guarantee harmony or tranquility. Indeed, as he predicted, belief in him would cause the most severe conflict, even in the close-knit-family world of his Mediterranean followers and this conflict continues today in many places throughout the world especially in the Holy Land. Jesus has a task to complete and will follow it through, despite the threats to his personal safety. Jesus refers to his fate as “a baptism with which I must be baptized.” He sees his passion as a baptism which he will accept and which will set a fire upon the earth here we are in 2025 talking about the fire that Jesus lit that could not be extinguished that is the fire of faith. When our lives get difficult, for any reason perhaps running low on the resources of spirit, mind and Soul at critical moments, we are tempted to think that the Holy One is asleep behind a closed door. When the truth is that Jesus is with us looking after us in our times of suffering and need.

The faith that Jesus calls his followers to is a faith that leads us to reflect a faith and hope filled life. It is much easier to follow from a safe distance and not be challenged and changed by faith in God. It is very easy to let the bitterness of others take us over but Jesus went to the Cross to overcome all the hatred and bitterness that we see around us even now in 2025. Today we are invited to lead lives less dominated by greed possessiveness and hatred. As I said at the beginning of this piece the words of Jesus are there to afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted and they are a direct challenge to all of us. Faith was not easy at the beginning of the Church and isn’t easy now the martyrs of faith throughout history bear witness to this. If we stop and look around us even now there are people who are prepared to give everything they have including their lives in defense of the faith.  Deciding to follow Jesus is not easy and we have to work at it for anything that is worth doing or being part off will never be easy.  We are called to follow were God leads us and he will do the rest for nothing is impossible to God our father who journeys along with us throughout our lives in the good bad and sad  times and he gives us the faith based certainty that enables us to continue our journey in faith hope and love.

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

This Sunday we continue our prayer for peace in the world. The pictures and the stories of starvation coming out of Gaza are a constant reminder of the need for peace of heart, mind and soul. With  the current state of the world we  pray  that  the politicians will come together to work for peace. The readings for 19th Sunday advise us to be prepared for we do not know when our time to move from this world to the next will come. Spiritual readiness is the theme for this Sunday and we should ask ourselves are we prepared for our lives in the world to come.    In the first Reading  from Wisdom the ancestors had foreknowledge of the Passover, giving them courage. The salvation of the just and destruction of foes were awaited. The Responsorial Psalm tells us that the righteous are urged to rejoice in the Lord. The people chosen by God are blessed, and the Lord’s gaze is upon those who respect Him. They await His mercy and protection.   In the  Second Reading   from Hebrews Abraham’s unwavering faith in God’s promise led him to a foreign land, where he and his descendants flourished.

This Gospel reading begins with some of the most beautiful of Jesus’ words: “There is no need to be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. These particular words fear not little flock are so full of meaning especially these days when there is so much fear and distrust around in many different countries and spheres of life. The words of our Lord should make us all sit up and take notice. He has taken us into his household. He has made us his “little flock.” We are invited guests in his house rather than just being mere servants. Jesus also warns us that we must always be busy about our vocation and there are many vocations in life. We also remember the reason why he invited us into his home. We are Christians, we are members of his Church, God, through Christ’s Incarnation, has put us on the road to heaven. He is always there with us helping us along the way.  We don’t know in advance what God may do with us and our own oftentimes selfish plans a friend of mine always said that Man proposes and God disposes in other words the will of God will happen no matter what we might want or do.  To those who have faith, all things are possible there is an  old saying that faith moves mountains but we should keep on climbing  and it certainly is true.

Faith helps us to rely on the infinite power of God, not on our own limited power. We don’t know when personal circumstances will put us to the test. But we do know that our lives will be a success if we set our hearts and minds on values that go beyond all the goods and chattels of this world. Our faith, is leading us onward, always pointing to something still to come, and at the end of our pilgrimage on earth we will find where our true treasure is and that is in heaven with the Father in his house. The gospel words do not fear little flock are a call for us to place our trust in God and he will help us when we come to the trials and tribulations of life especially these days when the world seems to be  in turmoil.  The Holy Year of Hope encourages us to remain hopeful, even in the face of adversity. Again and again, the Gospel assures us: we need not fear the future. Instead, we are called to place our hope and trust in God our refuge, our strength, our help, and our shield. In doing so, we journey together, trusting that God’s love will see us through all of life’s trials and lead us to our eternal home.

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The readings for 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time are a warning for us not to become too attached to worldly goods and temporary pleasures. Detachment from the things of this world and enriching our spiritual lives is really what  need to be doing. In the first Reading – The preacher declares everything meaningless. Working hard only to leave the results to someone else is futile. Life is full of pain and worry, and this is also meaningless. Psalm 90  offers a prayerful response to the fleeting nature of life. The psalmist does not despair but turns to God, asking for wisdom, compassion, and blessing. In the Second Reading  Paul urges the Church to set their hearts on what is above. The letter to the Colossians emphasizes the full sufficiency of Christ. This reading reminds us that our life in Christ is a new reality.

Earthly attachments and sinful habits are part of the old self, which must be left behind. Paul calls the community to live out their baptismal identity in practical ways. This reading shifts the focus from earthly gain to spiritual renewal of oneself and the community. The gospel is the story of the rich man who foolishly stored up his wealth for a future that he thought would be in his own hands instead the future was in the hands  of God.  Luke  tells us the man is foolish for his planning and for believing that he was immune to life’s tragedies. The lesson of this Sundays parable is obvious and it is perhaps as difficult to put into practice.  To be in this world and not of it, to collect the necessary goods of this world by honest labor and yet remain detached from them, to possess but not be possessed by the worldly riches we may have, this is an ideal to which our weak human nature responds very reluctantly. However some Christians, do respond to the challenge. They earn and use the goods of this world for the good and wellbeing of everyone, while at the same time they keep God’s laws and earn spiritual wealth putting their riches into their spiritual bank. Some renounce the right to possess the things of this world, by entering religious life taking on the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Thus they free themselves to devote their whole time and energy to the service of God and neighbor trough living the spiritual life.

Many people own the world’s goods in order to provide for themselves and their families, but, while so doing they never let their temporal possessions come between them and their spiritual life. To do this is not easy, but God’s grace is always available to help the willing heart.  The message of the Jesus is one of hope, and compassion, it is not the achievement of great influence or wealth, it is not the power over others that prove our greatness in gods eyes.  What proves our greatness is the humble service freely given to those who need the help and friendship we offer them . The last sentence of the parable is stark and clear: Do not store up treasure for yourself, but seek to be rich in the sight of God. That means that we “Seek the Kingdom of God. As Christians we know that the values of this world do not last and that they cannot bring true fulfillment. A successful life in God’s eyes is not about storing up material treasure for ourselves  but about being a source of spiritual treasure for others. In this Holy Year of Hope, we are called to renew our trust in God’s wisdom and embrace the path of spiritual generosity. That means that we use our time, talents, and resources to benefit others, knowing that in doing so, we enrich our own lives with real meaning and joy. `