吳智勳神父​​​ ​ ​路加福音詳細記載若翰洗者的誕生，他確認若翰洗者的地位，並以他的誕生與耶穌的誕生對比。教會很早便承認若翰洗者的重要，他的生與死都是大瞻禮，他的排名常在宗徒之前。聖經告訴我們，若翰的一生都是為了基督：他準備基督的道路，準備悔改的人群接受基督，介紹人跟隨基督；他是基督的前驅、基督的見證、基督的先知。他是每一位基督徒的模範，我們每個人都應做若翰洗者。 他的出生為親人帶來很大的喜樂，因為他的母親年老生子；但最大的喜樂應是在於讓人認識耶穌基督，因為耶穌才是喜樂的根源。他明顯地是天主揀選的，他的母親在不太可能的情況下生他，他是天主恩寵的產物。他的名字「若翰」，就有天恩的意思。恩寵同時包含了任務，被揀選是有目的的，他有使命要完成。 在耶穌未出現前，他宣講悔改的洗禮，準備人迎接耶穌基督，也掀起一股回歸的熱潮。以色列人幾百年沒有先知了，若翰的外貌、他犀利的言辭、他疾惡如仇的態度、他艱苦的生活，震撼了麻木的、失望的、冷淡的心靈。人們從若翰身上，感受到天主的臨在，肯定他是「天主的人」，他們蜂擁到他面前，接受悔改的洗禮，並聽他的話以相稱的生活，配合內心的轉變。 ​耶穌出現時，若翰把握機會，指出耶穌不尋常的身份：「看，天主的羔羊，除免世罪者！」（若1：29）「我看見了，我便作證：他就是天主子。」（若1：34）他大方地向門徒介紹耶穌，因為他明白自己的使命，就是帶領人走向耶穌。當天便有兩位門徒聽了他的話而跟隨耶穌，最後成為宗徒。 當耶穌公開傳福音時，他便功成身退，歡迎門徒走向耶穌那裡：「他應該興盛，我卻應該衰微。」（若3：30）雖然他已是名滿天下的先知與師傅，但認識自己卑微的身份，與耶穌相比是連替祂解鞋帶也不配。耶穌極度稱讚他：「他比先知還大……婦女所生的，沒有一個比若翰更大。」（路7：26,28）最後他指斥黑落德的罪惡而被監禁殺害，為真理而殉道。 每位基督徒都應成為若翰洗者，作耶穌的見證人。信仰雖然是天主的恩賜，但需要人合作。信仰由聆聽開始，每人的信仰生命中，各有自己的若翰洗者，他介紹我們認識耶穌基督。我們接受了基督後，也要向別人說：「看，天主的羔羊！」若翰雖向所有人宣講悔改的洗禮，但他特別向自己的門徒介紹耶穌。同樣，我們有特別責任向自己親友介紹耶穌基督，親情及友情往往是信仰的橋樑。別人因我們的緣故而開始接觸耶穌基督，能為彼此帶來極大的喜樂。 ​​

  吳智勳神父​​​   ​耶穌用種子比喻天國：天主對大自然有祂的計劃，種子只要撒在地裡，加上適當的栽培，自然發芽生長。假如人並無刻意破壞自然，種子自會從天主那裡接受生長的能力。天國也是這樣，她的來臨是必然的，因為能力來自天主。種子亦能指天主聖言，指耶穌自己，祂曾說過：「人子要受光榮的時刻到了。我實實在在告訴你們：一粒麥子如果不落在地裡死了，仍只是一粒；如果死了，才結出許多子粒來。」（若12：23-24）種子本身有力量成長，人最多能窒息種子在自己的心田裡成長，但不能阻止它必然地在土地裡生長。聖言的能力也沒法擋，當日猶太當權人企圖阻擋而失敗了，日後多種權力曾嘗試壓制亦同樣失敗了，他們只能使聖言不在自己身上結果而已。基督徒相信聖言必然帶出成果，自己要耐心等待收穫的時期。 有人從種子自然生長的道理，領悟出尊重天主在自然中的計劃，否則人會自食其果。今日愛護地球的環保意識，就是要人對自然懷著敬意。我們文化中的道家，特別強調順其自然：「人法地，地法天，天法道，道法自然」。 ​第二個比喻須與第一個連起來看，比喻用最小最大的視覺效果，襯托出種子的力量。在聖地時，我曾把芥子的種子放在手心，的確輕到沒有感覺，小到幾乎眼睛看不到。芥子長大後，「比一切灌木都大」，那是指巴勒斯坦聖地的環境而說的。那裡氣候乾燥，不能長高大樹木，難怪聖經記載建築聖殿的木材，遠道來自黎巴嫩。耶穌誇張地用最小最大的概念，襯托出天國力量之不可擋。耶穌傳福音雖很哄動，但僅限於一個小地方，聽眾多數是猶太人；祂的確有一個微小的開始，連猶太人的團體也不接受祂，祂只能在較低下的階層中發展。祂死的時候，明顯地沒有影響羅馬帝國或羅馬人的社會。羅馬史家只提過一個有若干門徒的猶太師傅，但沒有詳細記載祂的生平，可見祂的影響力在當時是甚小，根本微不足道。羅馬人給予猶太人特恩，可以不朝拜凱撒，但沒有給基督徒任何優待，因為他們少得可憐。但天國的力量畢竟無法抵擋，聖言今天去到世界所有角落，天上的飛鳥皆可棲身其中。 這個種子小收穫大的比喻，可以作很多現代的引伸。基督徒在十三億人口的中國是弱小的一群，影響力比不上傳統的儒釋道教。面對著龐大的非基督徒及沒有信仰的人，我們事實上很渺小，甚至有無奈的感覺。我們能否從今天的比喻中取得無比的信心，聖言的力量不可擋，有一天會影響到世界人口最多的國家？今天讀神學的人雖然多了，但與大學裡其他的學系比較，大概是人數最少的學系，我們能否相信這個最小的學科，能給予學生最大的收穫？ ​​

​今天的福音發生的地點是在一個家裡，這家極有可能就是西滿和安德肋在葛法翁的家。耶穌雖然謙遜地隱退到這個地方，卻仍未能阻止到祂的跟隨者和敵對者對祂的追蹤。 經文裡，除了耶穌的門徒以外，有從耶路撒冷下來的經師和耶穌的親屬。那些經師們質疑耶穌，並挑戰耶穌所宣講的信息；而耶穌的親屬所關注的，是家族的名譽而非真正耶穌本人。 按情理，這兩組人應該對耶穌有一定程度的了解；但奇怪的是，他們都對耶穌的真正身分視而不見！  經師們認為耶穌之所以有大能大力施行奇事，是仗賴與撒殫的關係和魔王的勢力。記述中的爭執情況，相信不單只是發生在耶穌時代，可能也反映出往後猶太會堂對初期教會的指控。耶穌在回應他們時， 曾使用了三次「若……不能存立」來指出， 無論是撒殫、家庭或國家，一旦自相矛盾與攻擊，最終必遭到失敗和瓦解的結果。 至於福音中提及那「永遠不得赦免」的罪， 弟兄姊妹們常常懷著一種戰兢的心情想了解它究竟是甚麼？ 事實上，經文的重點並不是要鼓勵我們定義這種罪或判斷誰人犯上了這樣的罪。其記載的用意，是指出不得赦免，是因為人拒絕了由天主派來施行醫治和赦罪的那位。唯有那些經過深思熟慮，仍頑強地抗拒天主在耶穌身上所成就的救恩計劃，這人才永遠不得赦免；相反地，我們卻忽略了在同一段聖經中，耶穌說「我實在告訴你們：世人的一切罪惡，連所說的任何褻瀆的話，都可得赦免」。可見耶穌基督的福音，是要拯救世上一切的人。 ​另一方面， 耶穌的一些親屬不認同耶穌的言行，說： 「祂瘋了！」原因是他們覺得耶穌的生活行事， 與一般人的習慣有很大差異。 事實上，耶穌在每日生活裡所環繞著的中心是「奉行天主的旨意」。誰是耶穌真正的親屬？就是那些願意切實奉行天主旨意的人。這不是要求我們去否定和地上親人之間的關係；而相反地， 因著我們在奉行天主旨意的同時，可達致加強和維繫我們與親人彼此的關係。 聖母瑪利亞之所以成為天主之母——耶穌基督的母親， 這與她願意奉行天主的旨意是不可分割的。她運用自己的自由意志，願意接受天主的邀請，迎接天主子在她之內，展開天主的救贖計劃。從此，但凡願意奉行天主旨意的，就成了耶穌的親屬。 聖母瑪利亞就是我們的母親，我們也彼此成為耶穌的兄弟姊妹！從初期教會直到今日，我們福傳的基礎就是：天主已作出許諾與邀請，凡願意回應和實行的，就是耶穌真正的親屬。 ​

​一個粗人在街頭罵天主，很多人在旁圍觀，他大喊著：「如果有天主，就在一分鐘內將我打死。」圍觀的人都屏息以待，一分鐘過後，粗人還活著，他更如得意不屑地說：「各位看，根本沒有天主，否則我早就被打死了。」粗人要走時，被一個老人叫住，問說：「如果你孩子叫你打死他，你會答應嗎？」粗人說：「真不像話，我當然不答應。」老人問：「為什麼你不答應？」粗人說道：「沒有為什麼，因為我愛他！」老人和藹的說：「天主也愛你，因為祂把你當做孩子，雖然你叫祂打死你，但祂希望你是開心的活著，而不是痛苦的死去。」    「神存在嗎？」「可否證明神的存在？」自古以來，不少人曾經努力思考以上的問題。有些人像故事中的粗人一樣，假定神的心思意念應該像人一樣，幾時神不按自己的想法行事，結論自然是否認神的存在。與其說神並不存在，倒不如說神無法存在於他們的邏輯思維。相反，教會相信神的存在，更指出這位神是三位一體的天主。不過，教會的肯定，是否同樣因為神的行動符合自己一廂情願的想法？天主三位一體的信仰，是否只是一連串哲學推論的結果？ 縱使天主聖三道理的哲學化表達，總會令人聯想到一些艱澀的術語，例如：「性體」、「位格」、「自立體」、「遣發」、「關係」等，這並不意味教會對天主的肯定是來自哲學的思考。今天幾篇讀經都強調，天主三位一體的信仰，是天主在人類歷史中與人對話的結果。在對話中，不是天主符合了人的期望，而是人明白了天主的說話。 這位與人交談的天主，最後通過祂道成肉身的聖子向我們說話。為甚麼稱聖子的呼喚是「最後」？跟祂先前說過的，究竟有甚麼分別？在耶穌身上，特別是祂十字架上的死亡，天主流露了對人的最深愛情，因為沒有甚麼比十字架更能講出天主的心底話。不過，同一十字架上耶穌所說的「我渴」，也披露了天主對人呼喚的最深盼望，因為在人的眼中，沒有甚麼比十字架更愚罔，也沒有甚麼比接受一個死在十字架上的天主更困難。 ​道成肉身的聖言，披露了在天主內，愛和被愛，呼喚和回應是不分的一體兩面。天主是一個交談的天主，祂向人說話，目的是讓人領會；祂親近人，目的是使人張手回應。如果只有天主默默的付出而無人的知恩惜恩，討論天主的存在只會變成一場抽象的思辨。如果只有天主的獨白而無人的對話，啟示只會淪為空洞的符號。天主父在衪聖子身上說了最後的說話，祂是多麼渴望每一個人都聽到祂的聲音。為此，耶穌派遣門徒說：「去使萬民成為門徒，因父及子及聖神之名給他們授洗，教訓他們遵守我所吩咐你們的一切。看！我同你們天天在一起，直到今世的終結。」（瑪28：19-20） 「如何證明天主的存在？」「父是天主，子是天主，聖神是天主，為甚麼不是三個，而是一個天主？」「為甚麼父，子，神不是一個天主的三張不同面孔？」很多人都覺得天主三位一體的道理不容易理解，其實，真正的困難不在三一的表面矛盾，而是人的邏輯思維，無法消化一個在死在十字架上的天主。只要明白耶穌十字架上的呼喚：「我渴」，三位一體的矛盾便可迎刃而解。 ​

​今天的讀經提醒我們：「愛就在於此，不是我們愛了天主，而是祂愛了我們，並且派遣自己的兒子，為我們做贖罪的犧牲。」（若一4:10）耶穌吩咐我們彼此相愛，是因為天主首先愛了我們。祂對我們的愛是無條件、無限度、無保留的，是這份為朋友捨掉性命的愛情，推動我們以愛還愛，彼此相愛。就像白白得來的，白白與人分施的一樣，天主永不止息的愛，成了人彼此相愛的源源動力。愛人不再是高不可攀的倫理要求，也不是難以承擔的法律重擔，而是天主忠信慈愛的見證。 有一個英國記者曾經問德蘭修女：「當你發現自己無論怎樣努力，也無法解決加爾各答街上垂死者的需要時，是什麼使你堅持下去？」她答說：「我的召叫不是去解決問題，我的召叫是去回應天主的愛。」 伯多祿亦有類似的經驗，他發現凱撒勒雅的傳教工作雖然成功，不過，如果不是聖神首先傾注各種恩惠在科爾乃略等外邦人身上，無論他的講道是如何出色，見証如何感人，他也無法使這些外邦人中的一個受洗。伯多祿深深領會基督徒的使命，首先不是一套偉大的計劃，而是發現天主怎樣愛了我們，並讓天主自我虛空的大愛，化作我們彼此相愛的動力。 因此，耶穌在若望福音中，吩咐我們彼此相愛，就像祂愛了我們一樣。祂是怎樣愛我們？腦海中立刻浮現蕩子、亡羊、失錢……等比喻。在這些比喻中，耶穌所流靈的愛不是責任，也不是義務，而是一份不離不棄的忠信。因著這份忠信，衪甚至不惜交付自己的性命，讓祂的死成為愛情的至深表現。耶穌愛了我們，我們是否如同衪愛我們一樣彼此相愛？耶穌所揭示的愛，絕不是那種一廂情願，強加於他人身上的好意，也不是那種浪漫溫馨氣氛的追求。反之，保祿提醒我們：「愛是含忍的，愛是慈祥的，……凡事包容，凡事相信，凡事盼望，凡事忍耐。」（格前13:4-7） ​保祿為愛所下的定義，我們是耳熟能詳的，但多聽並不等如會多做。曾幾何時，我們何嚐不是以捐獻去取代對弱小的關懷，以禮物去填補無法與孩子共聚的時間，以「沒有先例」作為拒絕付出的藉口；以「秉公處理」掩飾自己偽善的面孔。工作經驗越多，我們越懂得利用制度保護自己，使自己無暇可指。如果我們以為滿全一切法例，條文，責任，義務，便是愛的滿全，我們只是自欺欺人。 耶穌命令我們彼此相愛，如同衪愛了我們一樣，是那麼的簡單，也是那麼的挑戰性，難怪我們的信仰旅程，也是一段充滿拒絕去愛的歷史。凡事包容，但多少次遇上意見不合時，我們爭論得面紅耳熱的，無非是對與錯的問題？凡是相信，曾經傷害過我們的人，有多少我們仍對他充滿信心？凡事盼望，多少次挫敗和病苦中，我們祈求的不是問題奇蹟地化解，而是期待明白事件的意義？凡事忍耐，見到別人的弱點，多少次我們不是大發脾氣，而是看到天主對自己的寬恕？  ​​

閻德龍神父​   ​在福音中，耶穌說：「我是葡萄樹，你們是葡萄枝。」這兩句說話表達出耶穌和我們之間特殊的關係。這份關係密切得就像一棵樹和它的枝條。樹獲得到所需要的營養滋潤，不斷的伸展，在枝條上開花結果。但這現象卻不是必然的。耶穌說凡是在祂身上不結果實的枝條，祂就會剪除。為什麼會有枝條不結果實呢？  我們可以從主日回聖堂參與彌撒的態度中作反省：我們是否在彌撒開始時已經抵達聖堂？在聖道禮儀中，我們可有用心聆聽聖經，從中得到聖言的滋養？抑或是我們有經常遲到的壞習慣，有時甚至在聖道禮儀開始後才抵達聖堂，於是聽不到聖言，漏聽了聖言，或因太趕忙，心情未平復，未能接受聖言？更遑論得到聖言的滋養。  接著耶穌更加清楚的說：「如果你們不住在我內，你們就不能結出果實！因為離開了我，你們什麼也不能作，只有被拋棄在外邊。」如果我們這個惡習不斷的形成，每週回聖堂參與感恩祭，只是人到心不到，又或沒有妥善準備自己接受聖言，容許聖言帶領我們生活，我們跟主的關係便會漸漸疏遠，甚至中斷，我們的信仰會乾枯，不能開花，更不能結果實。  ​為加深與主的關係，我們不能單靠參與外在的禮儀，而是需要在心內與主有深入的溝通。這溝通源自耶穌有力的講話，我們聽了，作為生活的方向，在生活上加以實踐，從而獲得成長，與主結合。  許多人以為只要滿全法律上的一些基本要求，做好教會給我們一些生活上的提點，就可以滿全信仰的責任。今天的聖經正好提醒我們，不結果實的枝條就會被剪除拋在外邊，投在火中焚燒，但願我們不是那枯乾的枝條，不用被丟棄和焚毀。  藉著聖洗聖事，我們加入教會，跟主耶穌基督建立了密切的關係。讓我們不斷努力去接受主的說話，讓祂的說話存留在我們內，藉此推動我們多結果實。「我是葡萄樹，你們是葡萄枝。」讓我們透過這份密切的關係，實踐上主在我們身上的計劃，滿全祂在我們身上的工作。 ​

​很多行業都會登廣告招聘員工，為迎合香港人重視功利，一般會標榜利益去吸引人，例如：薪水高、福利好、假期多、升職快等。有些仍嫌這些字眼太籠統，會強調明顯的好處，如：四天工作，六天薪酬、不須到國內上班、不須超時工作等。有些更利用電視廣告美化某些行業，誇大其重要性。不過這些報喜不報憂的宣傳，一旦被發現與事實相距很遠，便立刻大打折扣。 今天福音中，耶穌有點像為牧人賣廣告。如果純粹從廣告的角度去看，好像不太高明，因為工作又辛苦，又危險，甚至要「為羊捨命」，不把應徵的嚇走才怪。再加上現代教會還增添一些條件，如：不准結婚（貞潔）、不准發達（神貧）、不准自選工作，只接受派遣（服從）等，似乎都與現代人心理背道而馳，大概不必作市場調查，也會預見應徵的人不多。那些真的去應徵時，人們還以為他們是失戀，或受了大挫折，才會「看破紅塵」，做了如斯消極的選擇。 在福音中，耶穌從不把牧人看成一種職業，「善牧不是傭工」，不是為了薪水而去工作。這是一種回應天主召叫的生活，好像耶穌回應天父的要求一樣。此外，牧人要把服務的對象看成自己的家人。耶穌很清楚人對「公家的」和「自己的」東西有不同的心態，故強調「羊是自己的」。牧人要「認識自己的羊」，即與羊有一種深切的關係。都市人可能很難明白人與羊之間怎能有深切的關係，如果把羊換成了狗，大概容易明白一點。再者，認識不是泛泛的，而是去到願意為對方犧牲的地步。我們不妨回顧周圍，如果有些人我們是真的願意為他們犧牲生命的話，我們的確很愛他們。過這種生活時，牧人是「心甘情願」的，非為了改善生活，或只是一種不得已的選擇而已。可見牧人的聖召條件很多，明顯地是天主恩寵的召叫，只求人慷慨的回應，否則根本是不可能。 在聖召主日，教友能做甚麼？ ​第一，是求莊稼的主人多派工人來收祂的莊稼。教友不要只在聖召主日才為聖召祈禱，而是時常祈求。人的祈求是否熱切，反映人是否真的急切需要。不少人喜歡用九日敬禮去求考試過關，擇業順利，求偶成功，疾病痊癒等。但有多少人會為聖召增多而去做九日敬禮？可能本地聖召還未到了拉警報的地步，教友還沒有感受這種深切渴求的需要。 第二，如果你在考慮聖召，便求天主賜自己一顆慷慨的心。如果你是公教父母的話，更須求天主使自己有一份奉獻子女的慷慨。不少公教家庭極樂意為別人的聖召祈禱，卻捨不得為自己的子女求。我在國內聖堂布告板上看到一則很有意義的故事：神父問一個農夫：「如果天主賜你一百萬元，你願意捐五十萬給教會嗎？」農夫爽快的回答：「沒有問題」。神父再問：「如果天主賜你十萬元，你願意捐五萬給教會嗎？」農夫想了一想，回答說：「沒有問題」。神父笑一笑然後問：「如果天主賜你兩頭牛，你願意捐一頭給教會嗎？」農夫頓了一頓，大聲抗議說：「那太不公平了，我家剛好有兩頭牛」。自己沒有的東西，人很容易慷他人之慨；要自己拿出已擁有的東西，情況便不相同。 第三，支持你的牧人，認識你的牧人。教友對牧人的關心，是聖召成功的重要因素。當你愛護你的牧人，不但使他捨不得離開羊群，更做成一個敬重牧人的環境，使你的子弟感受到修道的價值。 願大家先做一隻認識牧人的羊，基督會聆聽善良的羊懇切的祈禱，賜給你們和你們的子女好的牧人。​​

閻德龍神父   ​多年前，我在耶路撒冷見到一隻很美麗的杯子，它繪有耶穌增餅事蹟的圖案，我於是買了它。 豈料我付款以後，再細意欣賞杯子上的圖案，竟才發覺杯子上只繪有四個餅、兩條魚！聖經不是說耶穌用五個餅、兩條魚餵飽群眾的嗎？於是，我認定那杯子是錯體的，要求退貨！店主說他店內的杯全是畫上四個餅的。我細心一想：店內的杯子沒可能全部都畫漏一個餅的；理由很簡單，那「第五個餅」原來是你、是我，是每一位基督徒！我們要成為「第五個餅」！ 

​多默雖跟其他門徒生活在一起，但卻保持距離，不太相信別人。他有自己的內心世界，在裏面他才有安全感；一旦和外界接觸便會恐懼不安，很自然的又退回自己的世界裏。這種人很難接受別人的話，亦難以進入別人的生活經驗裏。當其他門徒跟他分享耶穌顯現的喜樂時，他就覺得是一種挑戰，立刻建起一度理性的圍牆保護自己：「除非我看見他手上的釘孔，……我決不信！」讓我們看看耶穌怎樣帶領這個自我封閉的人走出多疑恐懼的藩籬，向外在的世界開放。 耶穌顯現時首先說：「願你們平安」。多默既是內心恐懼不安，耶穌先安他的心。不安是人最大的敵人，不安的人去那裡或做甚麼事都會不安。耶穌繼而邀請多默從理性的藩籬走出來，去觸摸祂手上的釘孔，肋旁的傷痕，主要是要多默經驗到基督對人的愛。耶穌像對他說：這是為你而受傷的，不要停在理性的保護網裏，走進一個真情實感的世界吧！的確，傷口往往是愛的標記。一位母親抱著兒子逃離火場，被火燒傷頸部和背部；兒子長大後，每次看到及觸摸到母親頸部的傷痕時，都感受到一份真實的愛。多默果然投入耶穌的愛中，熱情的回應：「我主，我的天主！」他的情感被引發出來，重建了愛的關係。 ​耶穌提到不見而信的人是有福的。信德就是要求人離開一個自我設計的安全範圍，投向天主的懷抱，只去信賴祂。信德之父亞巴郎本來很富有，但天主偏偏要求他離開安全的境界，去到一個遙遠的地方。他慷慨地回應天主的召叫，相信天主會帶領他去活一個更豐盛的生命，他沒有要求保證，也沒有像多默一樣提出條件：「除非我看見……」。 ​一個多疑恐懼的人，其信仰歷程會比別人緩慢，他需要一些出谷經驗去衝擊自己。比方，今天我們可嘗試到貧窮的地方去作生活體驗，像出谷紀中的曠野一樣。現代人太幸福了，一些帶著三分飢寒的經驗可幫助他們碰到自己的內心，引發他們對別人的憐憫，從貧窮人身上看到復活的基督。像多默一樣內向的人，他們信仰的障礙可能是過份理性，一些感性的活動可能使他們開放自己。例如：祈禱時不要想得太多，多重視團體祈禱或用身體祈禱，跟隨別人大聲誦唸經文，高聲詠唱，也不妨高舉或張開雙手，把自己整個人投入，放開理性的矜持；又或注視十字架上的耶穌，或遠眺無際的海洋、廣闊的天空，用感覺去體驗天主的臨在，跳出自我細小的空間，聆聽及接受耶穌的邀請：「把你的手指伸到這裡來，看看我的手吧！伸出你的手來，探入我的肋旁」，讓耶穌帶領自己出谷。​​

​浪子回頭比喻的重點，是父親對浪子的無限慈愛和寬恕。記得小時候聽這個比喻，自己總希望不是故事中的浪子。父親雖然慈愛，既往不咎，但又有誰喜歡做一個走投無路，要白白接受他人寬恕的浪子？可以選擇的話，有誰不希望成功是出於自己的奮鬥和能力，而不是他人的格外施恩？所謂「無功不受祿」，要白白接受他人的恩惠，人的感覺一般是不好受；況且，對方無條件的施恩，並不是出於任何義務或責任，而是個人的一番好意，根本沒有甚麼保障或安全感可言。 不過，隨著信仰生活上不斷的跌倒和失望，越來越意識自己原來就是那浪子。若不是天主對自己的寬宏大方，無論自己怎樣努力，相信也是徒然。若不是耶穌以自己的死亡和復活為我們帶來新生命；若不是祂派遣了聖神作我們信仰的保證，恆常讀經、祈禱、默想、勤領聖事、愛德服務……，這一切對我們的得救也是無補於事。 以色列起初也是非常自信，他們認為自己比任何民族更聖潔，更接近天主。然而，經歷了巴比倫入侵和被擄的慘痛，他們認清自己原來也是不堪一擊。全國上下，從司祭、首長、到人民，都是罪大惡極。一如其他異族，他們行事醜惡，褻瀆上主所祝聖的耶路撒冷聖殿。對天主派遣來的聖者，不是嘲笑、輕視，便是譏諷。（編下36:14-16）以色列明白，除了天主的忠信和慈愛，他們沒有甚麼再可以值得信賴。因著這份希望，他們從巴比倫回到故鄉，開始天人關係的新一頁。 保祿也明白人不容易拋開一切，全心相信天主無條件的愛。為此，他在厄弗所人書再三強調：「你們得救是由於恩寵，藉著信德，所以得恩並不是出於你們自己，而是天主的恩惠；不是出於功行，免得有人自誇。」（弗2:8-9）保祿這番絕對的話，表面上不切實際，也容易引起誤解。人好像在天人交往中是完全的被動，無須任何積極的付出。若然，天主的美意會不會像政府的公援一樣容易被濫用，白白的施恩，倒頭來助長了人的依賴和隋性？ ​人的善行與天主無條件的施恩其實並不矛盾。保祿強調救恩是天主白白的賞賜，正因為救恩不可能是人自身努力的成果，否則那就不是救恩。所以，從救恩的本質而言，救恩並非出於人，也不可能出於人的善行。不過，從救恩的效果而言，若沒有人的努力和配合，救恩只會在我們生命中無意識地溜走，就像每天太陽上升，不知多少人錯過日出的燦爛與光芒一樣。 明白了人的善行與天主的救恩如何「合作」，當我們發現自己的屬靈生命因恆常讀經祈禱而有所長進，信仰生活因努力行善避惡而得以豐盈時，除了欣喜外，讓我們感謝，因為天主的恩寵不知不覺間藉我們的操練臨於我們身上。反過來，幾時我們在信仰上跌倒，我們無須太著意自己的錯失，逃避面對自己的醜惡，因為天主從來不會因為我們未盡全力或未臻於善而將我們拒於救恩門外。 一個人如果相信天主的無限慈愛，在生活上又努力與之「合作」，就是當一切努力一下子要白費，又或者一切付出瞬那間要告吹時，不去抱怨和失望，而是去皈依。那是天主再次讓我們意識人一切努力都是徒然，是天主再次邀請我們去體驗那豐盈救恩的時刻。 換句話說，面對天主無條件的救恩，人的「合作」就是在自由中接受。這份自由是真實的，以致人可以放棄希望，憎恨光明，逃避將自己呈現在天主的真理和愛內，把存在於人中間的救恩拒諸門外。我們經常說相信天主，是因為我們相信自己所做的一切，堪當站在天主面前？抑或我們真的相信天主的慈愛，並全心接受衪的計劃？​

閻德龍神父   ​在信仰生活中，不知大家怎樣理解「十誡」？從猶太人出谷的歷史，我們可以看到「十誡」的頒佈是天主將猶太人從埃及被奴役的境況中拯救出來，帶領他們到預許的福地的過程中，天主要與他們建立一個親密的關係，祂藉著梅瑟時常告訴這群在水深火熱，向祂呼求的可憐的人，說：「我是你的父親，是亞巴郎、依撒格、雅各伯的天主，我是你唯一的主」；所以「十誡」的訂定使猶太人在與天主交往的經驗中，透過一些具體生活的模式、行為和天主建立一份神人的關係。這些誡命不需要遵守，卻要在生活中自然地呈現。藉著這些誡命，猶太人確信上主就是他們的天主、救世主，然後以愛的行動表達對天主全心信賴。所以，「十誡」不是誡命、不是規矩，更加不是一旦不遵守，天主便要懲罰的規矩。天主怎會在創造天地萬物之後，去懲罰我們？  天主樂意讓我們了解祂在整個救恩過程中，如何盼望人們悔改，這就是四旬期的精神。進入四旬期第三週，我們有沒有知錯和改過呢？「改過」不單是改一些表面的行為，而是在整個生活中多抽時間祈禱、默想耶穌為愛我們所受的苦難，在生活中行愛德表達對天主的感恩，以補贖自己的罪過，並提醒自己不要繼續犯罪，得罪天主。  ​今天的福音記載耶穌去到耶路撒冷。祂一進入聖殿便十分憤怒，因為人們在那裡進行買賣、敲詐、甚至不公義的勾當，於是耶穌取了一條繩索作鞭子，驅逐群眾出去，並說：「把這些東西從這裏拿出去，不要使我父的殿宇成為商場。」如果耶穌今天站在這兒，你猜祂會否同樣趕我們出去？可能你會說自己並沒有在聖堂內做買賣，且全神貫注聽神父講道！耶穌說的聖殿是指祂自己的身體，不只指建築物，我們每人的身體都是上主的聖殿。請問：自己有沒有善待自己的身體？  ​我們有沒有做了一些損害身體的事？有沒有選擇了一些東西如色情、暴力、亂發脾氣等令自己的身體受污染？我們有沒有聖化自己，使自己整個生命成為上主居住的地方？我們有沒有褻瀆自己的身體，讓它在自私、吝嗇、冷漠中受到傷害？如果是的話，耶穌也會拿起鞭子趕我們出去，因為我們不懂得珍惜天主所賞賜的一切。  進入四旬期第三週，天主不再是要求我們外在地改善一些行為，而是祂要清洗我們的內心，潔淨我們的身體──祂的聖殿。為人不可能的事，為天主一切都可以。今日若望福音最後的一句話：「上主洞悉人心」，祂知道每人的心究竟是怎樣的，我們不用驚怕，也不要說自己做不來，只要我們全心相信上主，努力與祂合作，正如集禱經說：「藉著祈禱、齋戒、善功，提醒和幫助我們在這期間，願意每天真正背起自己的十字架跟隨這位苦難的基督，因為苦難後面就是祂復活的光榮。」 ​

​調查報告顯示美國一年花費數十億高額購買美容產品、上美容院和整形手術，目的是為了讓自己看起來比實際年齡年輕，因此不惜巨額投資希望可以得到別人的讚美；今年的福音記載著主耶穌基督顯聖容，主要目的並不是讓大家看到主耶穌的漂亮和年輕，而是再過不久主耶穌基督要面對十字架被抓被殺害，門徒們面對種種突如其來打擊，主耶穌希望他們要振作不要灰心，與先知們的談話也是為了加強門徒們的信德。 今天我們慶祝主耶穌顯聖容，在我們的生活當中有什麼意義存在？我們又該如何將這個節日運用在我們生活當中？ 一、 主耶穌提醒我們每個人要愛護自己的靈魂，因為我們的靈魂都很漂亮很純潔的，可惜我們的靈魂受到世俗生活、罪惡情慾團團圍住，蒙蔽我們的雙眼無法看到自己靈魂是多麼美麗純潔，因此主耶穌要我們恢復潔白的靈魂。

  ​猶太人對曠野並不陌生，這是他們祖先曾在曠野居住，受過試探，但可惜他們背叛天主，沒有遵守與天主所訂立的盟約，因此不能進入上主的福地。最後，進入上主福地的是他們的第二代。  在生活中，我們願意進入曠野，接受考驗嗎？每一個人都受到不同的試探。有些人為了得到較舒適的生活，或一個更理想的職位，或一份更優厚的薪酬，終日勞碌。勞碌本身並沒有問題，問題在於為甚麼我們要爬得那麼高？我們是否純粹為了滿足物質生活？我並不是說基督徒不用發憤向上，而是基督徒要知道發憤的目的。例如身為學生的，便應明白讀書不應只為爭取一百分，考第一，而是將來能夠回饋社會。  ​耶穌在曠野中四十天，四十天代表一段長考驗的時間。耶穌的榜樣告訴我們應如何戰勝撒殫、移走絆腳石。為我們，甚麼是我們的絆腳石？我們有沒有經常抽點時間閱讀聖經、做克己、實踐愛德；抑或只顧遊戲人間，尋找自己的娛樂，將天主放在一旁？  耶穌宣講福音，勸人悔改。悔是知錯，改是行動。可是，我們很多時候只知錯，稍作改過的嘗試，很快卻又故態復萌，錯完又錯。  四旬期是一個恩寵的時期，讓我們珍惜天主對我們的憐憫，好好反省在生活中，甚麼是我們的考驗？甚麼使我們跌倒？讓我們懷著悔改的心，決心在生活上改過自新。 ​

​癩病人要面對自己無法遮掩的缺陷，故然痛苦，但從信仰角度而言，總比那些不承認自己問題的人來得好。相比之下，癩病人至少接受自己的問題再無可逃避，自己的醜態再無法改變。不要小看這份承認和面對的勇氣，其實是得以轉化的先決條件。當癩病人覺得需要跪下求耶穌時：「你若願意，就能潔淨我」（谷1:40），便聽到耶穌對他說：「我願意，你潔淨了罷。」（谷1:41）救恩的吊詭原來不是因為人做了甚麼，而是人接受自身的無能為力。 今天，仍有很多人認為，基督徒的蒙召是勉力過一個聖潔無暇的完美生活。因此，縱然自身或教會團體仍有很多不足和軟弱，我們喜歡將美好一面展示於人前。對於醜陋的另一面，我們卻諱而不談，或者私底下了事，避免破壞神聖脫俗的形像。其實，這種看法不但把旅途中的教會和天上的無玷新娘混為一談，更錯過了整個救贖的奧義。 ​伯多祿能夠成為福音的見證人，並不是因為他比誰都聖潔和堅強。雖然他曾許下：「即使其他人都跌倒，我卻不然。」（谷14:29）但諷刺地，他在信仰上的領導位置，是由他明認自己的軟弱和背叛開始。因此，癩病人的故事邀請我們揭開自己的形像，勇敢面對我們一直逃避的事實。我們身上的皮膚雖然光滑，但內在卻長滿挫敗與犯罪的內疚；欺騙與不實的自責；憤怒與仇憤的自棄¼¼。一如福音中的癩病人，耶穌願意再一次撫摸，使我們潔淨，唯有我們的否認和逃避，才會阻止痊癒的出現。 ​同樣，今天的福音也邀請我們成為一個治癒者。伯多祿經歷掙扎，克服背叛所帶來的內疚後，耶穌派遣他去堅強其他弟兄，因為過來人的經驗就是最有效的治療力量。為此，我們無須害怕面對團體內的矛盾，衝突，甚至是醜聞。如果一個人能接受自己同樣也會跌倒的事實，那麼，還有什麼可以對他構成威脅呢？某程度上，我們都是癩病患者，分別只是每人有不同的方法去遮掩或逃避。「你若願意，就能潔淨我」（谷1:40）這句祈禱提醒我們，與其繼續否認患病的事實，倒不如接受並將之轉化。說不定有一天，當我們如常地參與彌撒，並在祭台上領受耶穌的體血時，一句誦念多年的經文會突然深深觸動我們：「主，我當不起你到我心裏來，只要你說一句話，我的靈魂就會痊癒。」​

​如果與其他教會的兄弟姊妹作比較，天主教徒傳教意識的薄弱，歸根究底，問題的徵結似乎不是其他宗教得救的可能較大，而是教會缺乏一份由內而外的推動力。保祿當年之所以三次出外傳教，踏遍千山萬水，將福音傳到當時的外邦社會，理由很簡單：「我若傳福音，原沒有什麼可誇躍的，因為這是我不得已的事；我若不傳福音，我就有禍了。」（格前9:16）為保祿來說，傳教首先不是出於他人需要，而是信仰生活的自然流露。當一個人發現信仰的可貴和重要，自然會將它經常掛在嘴邊，又或急不及待與人分享，唯恐其他人錯失機會。如果不是出於這份內在的推動，傳教工作將離不開市場的供求定律。幾時其他人的需求下降，傳教的催迫感自然亦跟著減退。 同樣，傳教工作首要不是出於命令。或許有人會質疑，傳福音不是出於耶穌的命令嗎？「你們要去使萬民成為門徒，因父及子及聖神之名給他們授洗，教訓他們遵守我吩咐你們的一切。」（瑪28:19-20）耶穌的確要求我們繼續祂的傳教工作，但祂也要求我們學習祂的傳教態度，否則傳教的使命只會變成難以負荷的重擔。 從馬爾谷保留的耶穌生活片段，我們得知祂的傳教活動是繁重的。例如：一個安息日，耶穌進了葛法翁的會堂，驅逐邪魔後（谷1:21-28），祂便立刻去到伯多祿的家，治好他發燒的外母。（谷1:29-31）日落以後，安息日一過，人們便把所有患病和附魔的人帶到祂跟前，要求祂的醫治。耶穌何來這股動力，整天為宣揚福音的喜訊而奔波？是為了滿足他人的需要嗎？耶穌當然沒有忽略群眾的需要，但這不是祂的傳教目的。福音告訴我們，經過一夜，當門徒告訴耶穌：「眾人都找你呢！」（谷1:37）耶穌並無因此而自滿，祂反而對門徒說：「讓我們到別處去，到鄰近的村鎮去罷，好叫我也在那裡宣講，因為我是為這事出來的。」（谷1:37-39）耶穌清楚明白，祂的傳教目的是讓人認識父。祂要宣講的就是祂在荒野祈禱中深刻相遇的父。（谷1:35）祂深信這份關係不是無關痛癢，可有可無的，反之，祂為此而生，也為此而死，祂非常在意人們是否認識這位父。所以，耶穌的整個公開生活，就是祂與父緊密關係的自然流露，就是福傳。一切治病施恩行善，都只是這份關係的外在表達而已。 ​如果我們與耶穌的關係，就好像耶穌與父的關係，我相信福傳再不是一件要完成的工作或使命，而是一種自然流露的生活見證。每當發現這位慈父的面容被偽善的人所扭曲，我們也會像耶穌一樣，不惜以身試法，挑戰他們的權威；每當人們因心硬而拒絕接受祂的慈愛，我們也會黯然下淚。如果要評估福傳的工作，我們會考慮天國拓展於人間，大於領洗人數的增長或教會團體的壯大。​

耶穌的聖言與魔鬼的說話鬥得很精采。魔鬼最先想用說話控制耶穌，大聲叫出祂的名字、祂的出處、祂的身分，表示知道對方底蘊，休想來毀滅他們。耶穌並不需要用當時流行的驅魔法唸唸有詞、指天篤地，也不用任何法器，祂只用簡單的說話：「不准說話，走吧！」魔鬼就要走。這就是馬爾谷的結論：耶穌的話就是天主的聖言，有極大的權威，能戰勝邪惡勢力。惡勢力在天主聖言前是「不准說話」，只能離開遠走。 ​在今天，魔鬼邪惡的勢力不以附魔的形態出現，而以更高明的姿態存在。物質主義、享樂主義就是一些軟性的邪惡勢力，我們相信天主聖言有力量驅逐這類邪惡勢力嗎？在日常生活中，我們很重視別人的說話。一句讚賞的話，自己何等心花怒放？一句批評的話，能令自己整天不開心，有人甚至不能忍受別人的話而自殺。人的說話尚且有這樣大的能力，何況是天主的說話？我們重視天主的聖言嗎？天主的話在我們的生活中佔甚麼地位？我們有沒有浪費甚至窒息天主的聖言？讓我們從今天的福音，感受天主聖言的力量，一種我們過去可能不太重視的力量，有信心向我們內或我們外的邪惡勢力說：「不准說話，走吧！」​

與其說人生路上的紅燈是天主對人的愚弄，倒不如說是天主大愛的不斷發現。保祿勸勉格林多人要過一個洒脫的生活。生命中縱使有很多來自天主，並值得我們珍惜的，我們都不可執著不放。例如事業、家庭、感情……所有都是美好的，但這些只是天主的禮物，而不是天主的自身。馬爾谷筆下的門徒，似乎一下子便放下賴以謀生的漁網、漁船，甚至是自己摯愛的家人而跟隨耶穌。其實，真正的捨棄發生在日後不知多少次的沮喪和理想幻滅當中。所以，當保祿說：「有妻子的要像沒有一樣；哭泣的，要像不哭泣的；歡樂的，要像不歡樂的；購買的，要像一無所得的；享用這世界的，要像不享用的，」（格前7:29-30）目的是提醒我們，天主才是人尋覓的終向。 ​因此，人生在世就好像一個過客。我們被召成為宗徒、先知或教師，分別就像乘搭巴士、的士或電車等不同的交通工具，往同一的目的地。無論是什麼交通工具，路上總會遇上或多或少的紅燈。每一次紅燈的出現，並不是天主的捉弄、考驗，因為天主是無條件的，人不需要經得起考驗才獲得天主的憐憫。看見紅燈，故然要停下來，目的是讓我們再一次認清目標，釐定方向，好能繼續安全上路，到達終點。反過來，如果人生只是一條筆直無阻的超級公路，久而久之，人容易失去警覺，甚至昏昏入睡，輕則釀成意外，重則車毀人亡。 當下我們內心可能仍有很多不明所以，憤憤不平的情緒。為什麼我盡心盡力的服務教會，反而招致別人的誤解？為什麼天主繼續讓惡人存在，使好人受到迫害？這一切的背後，其實都是一個綠燈，正邀請我們向天主的無限大愛繼續進發。​

造成這種現象，當然與我們堂區的一般現況有關。一個教友由慕道開始，除了在慕道班的階段，有較明顯的小團體生活作信仰的起點外，領洗後便會在一個人際疏離的大團體中失去呼應。雖然堂區現存不少善會可供教友繼續加深信仰，但這些善會的成立，目的離不開維持日常運作及推行活動。這些服務是否能夠讓人「看」到默西亞，則是見仁見智。難怪一些堂區的中堅份子，積極投入工作多年後，一下子又可以失去信仰。 ​只知耶穌之名，而不知耶穌之實，我們未必會察覺，但我們會意識信仰與生活的疏離。每次到教堂參與彌撒，總希望從中得到生活的啟發；每次拖著沉重的家庭問題，工作困擾，人際傷痕回到聖堂，總希望從中獲得力量。不過，一次又一次，我們所認識的耶穌不是無動於衷，便是搔不到問題的癢處。一篇又一篇的道理，一條又一條的原則不獨毫無幫助，反而加深了自己的罪惡感。 「你們來看看罷！」耶穌今天邀請我們反思對祂的認識。長久以來，我們宣信耶穌是默西亞，但實際上祂可能為我們只是一位經師。如果我們不想繼續做「到此一遊」的基督徒的話，或許我們要在自己的家庭生活，工作環境，及信仰團體中……留下更多的空間，讓自己可以「住」下來，好能與那位有血有肉，有笑有淚的默西亞相遇。​

31/5/18  Visitation of the Virgin Mary to Elizabeth – Feast First Reading  Book of Zephaniah 3:14-18a.  Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!  The LORD has removed the judgment against you, he has turned away your enemies; The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst, you have no further misfortune to fear.  On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem: Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged!  The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; He will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, He will sing joyfully because of you,  as one sings at festivals.  Gospel  Luke 1:39-56.  Mary set out in those days and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah,  where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.  When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit,  cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.  And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.  Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.” And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.  For he has looked with favor on his lowly servant;  from this day all generations will call me blessed. The Almighty has done great things for me,  and holy is his name. He has mercy on those who fear him  in every generation. He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things;  and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel ,  remembering his promise of mercy, The promise he made to our fathers,  to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home. 

30/5/18 Wednesday of the Eighth week in Ordinary Time First Reading  First Letter of Peter 1:18-25.  Realizing that you were ransomed from your futile conduct, handed on by your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold  but with the precious blood of Christ as of a spotless unblemished lamb.  He was known before the foundation of the world but revealed in the final time for you,  who through him believe in God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.  Since you have purified yourselves by obedience to the truth for sincere mutual love, love one another intensely from a (pure) heart.  You have been born anew, not from perishable but from imperishable seed, through the living and abiding word of God,  for: “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of the field; the grass withers, and the flower wilts;  but the word of the Lord remains forever.” This is the word that has been proclaimed to you.  Gospel  Mark 10:32-45.  The disciples were on the way, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus went ahead of them. They were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. Taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them what was going to happen to him.  “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles  who will mock him, spit upon him, scourge him, and put him to death, but after three days he will rise.”  Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”  He replied, “What do you wish (me) to do for you?”  They answered him, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.”  Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” They said to him, “We can.” Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized;  but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared.”  When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John.  Jesus summoned them and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant;  whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.  For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”    29/5/18  Tuesday of the Eighth week in Ordinary Time First Reading  First Letter of Peter 1:10-16.  Beloved: Concerning this salvation, prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and investigated it,  investigating the time and circumstances that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated when it testified in advance to the sufferings destined for Christ and the glories to follow them.  It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you with regard to the things that have now been announced to you by those who preached the good news to you (through) the holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels longed to look.  Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, live soberly, and set your hopes completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  Like obedient children, do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance  but, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct,  for it is written, “Be holy because I (am) holy.”  Gospel  Mark 10:28-31.  Peter began to say to Jesus, “We have given up everything and followed you.”  Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the gospel  who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come.”  But many that are first will be last, and (the) last will be first.” 

28/5/18  Monday of the Eighth week in Ordinary Time First Reading  First Letter of Peter 1:3-9.  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you  who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith, to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time.  In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials,  so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,  as you attain the goal of (your) faith, the salvation of your souls.  Gospel  Mark 10:17-27.  As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and your mother.'”  He replied and said to him, “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.”  Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to (the) poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”  At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.  Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at his words. So Jesus again said to them in reply, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!  It is easier for a camel to pass through (the) eye of (a) needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”  They were exceedingly astonished and said among themselves, “Then who can be saved?”  Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.” 

27/5/18   The Most Holy Trinity – Solemnity First Reading  Book of Deuteronomy 4:32-34.39-40.  Moses said to the people: “Ask now of the days of old, before your time, ever since God created man upon the earth; ask from one end of the sky to the other: Did anything so great ever happen before? Was it ever heard of?  Did a people ever hear the voice of God speaking from the midst of fire, as you did, and live?  Or did any god venture to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by testings, by signs and wonders, by war, with his strong hand and outstretched arm, and by great terrors, all of which the LORD, your God, did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?  This is why you must now know, and fix in your heart, that the LORD is God in the heavens above and on earth below, and that there is no other.  You must keep his statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you today, that you and your children after you may prosper, and that you may have long life on the land which the LORD, your God, is giving you forever.”  Second Reading  Letter to the Romans 8:14-17.  For those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.  For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, “Abba, Father!”  The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,  and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.  Gospel  Matthew 28:16-20.  The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

17/5/18  Thursday of the Seventh week of Easter First Reading  Acts of the Apostles 22:30.23:6-11.  Wishing to determine the truth about why Paul was being accused by the Jews, the commander freed him and ordered the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin to convene. Then he brought Paul down and made him stand before them.  Paul was aware that some were Sadducees and some Pharisees, so he called out before the Sanhedrin, “My brothers, I am a Pharisee, the son of Pharisees; (I) am on trial for hope in the resurrection of the dead.”  When he said this, a dispute broke out between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the group became divided.  For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection or angels or spirits, while the Pharisees acknowledge all three.  A great uproar occurred, and some scribes belonging to the Pharisee party stood up and sharply argued, “We find nothing wrong with this man. Suppose a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?”  The dispute was so serious that the commander, afraid that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, ordered his troops to go down and rescue him from their midst and take him into the compound.  The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage. For just as you have borne witness to my cause in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness in Rome.”  Gospel  John 17:20-26.  Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying: “I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,  so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me.  And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one,  I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me.  Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me.  I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.”

16/05/18  Wednesday of the Seventh week of Easter First Reading  Acts of the Apostles 20:28-38.  At Miletus, Paul spoke to the presbyters of the Church of Ephesus: “Keep watch over yourselves and over the whole flock of which the holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, in which you tend the church of God that he acquired with his own blood.  I know that after my departure savage wolves will come among you, and they will not spare the flock.  And from your own group, men will come forward perverting the truth to draw the disciples away after them.  So be vigilant and remember that for three years, night and day, I unceasingly admonished each of you with tears.  And now I commend you to God and to that gracious word of his that can build you up and give you the inheritance among all who are consecrated.  I have never wanted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.  You know well that these very hands have served my needs and my companions.  In every way I have shown you that by hard work of that sort we must help the weak, and keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'”  When he had finished speaking he knelt down and prayed with them all.  They were all weeping loudly as they threw their arms around Paul and kissed him,  for they were deeply distressed that he had said that they would never see his face again. Then they escorted him to the ship.  Gospel  John 17:11b-19.  Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed, saying: “Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one just as we are.  When I was with them I protected them in your name that you gave me, and I guarded them, and none of them was lost except the son of destruction, in order that the scripture might be fulfilled.  But now I am coming to you. I speak this in the world so that they may share my joy completely.  I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.  I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.  Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth.  As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world.  And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth.” 

10/5/18  Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter First Reading  Acts of the Apostles 18:1-8.  Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. He went to visit them and, because he practiced the same trade, stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. Every sabbath, he entered into discussions in the synagogue, attempting to convince both Jews and Greeks. When Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began to occupy himself totally with preaching the word testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. When they opposed him and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your heads! I am clear of responsibility.  From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” So he left there and went to a house belonging to a man named Titus Justus, a worshiper of God; his house was next to a synagogue. Crispus, the synagogue official, came to believe in the Lord along with his entire household, and many of the Corinthians who heard believed and were baptized. Gospel  John 16:16-20 Jesus said to his disciples:  “A little while and you will no longer see me, and again a little while later and you will see me.” So some of his disciples said to one another, “What does this mean that he is saying to us, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” So they said, “What is this ‘little while’ of which he speaks? We do not know what he means.”  Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Are you discussing with one another what I said, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.”

9/5/18  Wednesday of the Sixth week of Easter First Reading   Acts of the Apostles 17:15.22-34.18:1.  After Paul’s escorts had taken him to Athens, they came away with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.  Then Paul stood up at the Areopagus and said: “You Athenians, I see that in every respect you are very religious.  For as I walked around looking carefully at your shrines, I even discovered an altar inscribed, ‘To an Unknown God.’ What therefore you unknowingly worship, I proclaim to you.  The God who made the world and all that is in it, the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in sanctuaries made by human hands,  nor is he served by human hands because he needs anything. Rather it is he who gives to everyone life and breath and everything.  He made from one the whole human race to dwell on the entire surface of the earth, and he fixed the ordered seasons and the boundaries of their regions,  so that people might seek God, even perhaps grope for him and find him, though indeed he is not far from any one of us.  For ‘In him we live and move and have our being,’ as even some of your poets have said, ‘For we too are his offspring.’  Since therefore we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the divinity is like an image fashioned from gold, silver, or stone by human art and imagination.  God has overlooked the times of ignorance, but now he demands that all people everywhere repent  because he has established a day on which he will ‘judge the world with justice’ through a man he has appointed, and he has provided confirmation for all by raising him from the dead.”  When they heard about resurrection of the dead, some began to scoff, but others said, “We should like to hear you on this some other time.”  And so Paul left them.  But some did join him, and became believers. Among them were Dionysius, a member of the Court of the Areopagus, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.  After this he left Athens and went to Corinth.  Gospel   John 16:12-15.  Jesus said to his disciples: “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.  But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.  Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.”

8/5/2018  Tuesday of the Sixth week of Easter First Reading  Acts of the Apostles 16:22-34.  The crowd in Philippi joined in the attack on Paul and Silas, and the magistrates had them stripped and ordered them to be beaten with rods.  After inflicting many blows on them, they threw them into prison and instructed the jailer to guard them securely.  When he received these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and secured their feet to a stake.  About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God as the prisoners listened,  there was suddenly such a severe earthquake that the foundations of the jail shook; all the doors flew open, and the chains of all were pulled loose.  When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew (his) sword and was about to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped.  But Paul shouted out in a loud voice, “Do no harm to yourself; we are all here.”  He asked for a light and rushed in and, trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas.  Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”  And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your household will be saved.”  So they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house.  He took them in at that hour of the night and bathed their wounds; then he and all his family were baptized at once.  He brought them up into his house and provided a meal and with his household rejoiced at having come to faith in God.  Gospel  John 16:5-11.  Jesus said to his disciples: “Now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts.  But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.  And when he comes he will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation: sin, because they do not believe in me;  righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me;  condemnation, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.”

7/5/18 Monday of the Sixth week of Easter First Reading   Acts of the Apostles 16:11-15.  We set sail from Troas, making a straight run for Samothrace, and on the next day to Neapolis,  and from there to Philippi, a leading city in that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We spent some time in that city.  On the sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river where we thought there would be a place of prayer. We sat and spoke with the women who had gathered there.  One of them, a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, from the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God, listened, and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying.  After she and her household had been baptized, she offered us an invitation, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my home,” and she prevailed on us. Gospel   John 15:26-27.16:1-4a.  Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning. I have told you this so that you may not fall away.  They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God. They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me.  I have told you this so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you.”

6/5/18  Sixth Sunday of Easter First Reading  Acts of the Apostles 10:25-26.34-35.44-48.  When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and, falling at his feet, paid him homage.  Peter, however, raised him up, saying, “Get up. I myself am also a human being.”  Then Peter proceeded to speak and said, “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.  Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.  While Peter was still speaking these things, the holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the word.  The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the holy Spirit should have been poured out on the Gentiles also,  for they could hear them speaking in tongues and glorifying God. Then Peter responded,  “Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people, who have received the holy Spirit even as we have?”  He ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.  Second Reading  First Letter of John 4:7-10.  Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.  Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.  In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him.  In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.  Gospel  John 15:9-17.  Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love.  If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.  No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.  I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.  This I command you: love one another.”

5/5/18  Saturday of the Fifth week of Easter First Reading  Acts of the Apostles 16:1-10.  Paul reached (also) Derbe and Lystra where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek.  The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke highly of him,  and Paul wanted him to come along with him. On account of the Jews of that region, Paul had him circumcised, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.  As they traveled from city to city, they handed on to the people for observance the decisions reached by the apostles and presbyters in Jerusalem.  Day after day the churches grew stronger in faith and increased in number.  They traveled through the Phrygian and Galatian territory because they had been prevented by the holy Spirit from preaching the message in the province of Asia.  When they came to Mysia, they tried to go on into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them,  so they crossed through Mysia and came down to Troas.  During (the) night Paul had a vision. A Macedonian stood before him and implored him with these words, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”  When he had seen the vision, we sought passage to Macedonia at once, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.  Gospel  John 15:18-21.  Jesus said to his disciples: “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you.  Remember the word I spoke to you, ‘No slave is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. And they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me.”

4/5/18  Friday of the Fifth week of Easter First Reading  Acts of the Apostles 15:22-31.  The apostles and presbyters, in agreement with the whole church, decided to choose representatives and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. The ones chosen were Judas, who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, leaders among the brothers.  This is the letter delivered by them: “The apostles and the presbyters, your brothers, to the brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia of Gentile origin: greetings.  Since we have heard that some of our number (who went out) without any mandate from us have upset you with their teachings and disturbed your peace of mind,  we have with one accord decided to choose representatives and to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,  who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  So we are sending Judas and Silas who will also convey this same message by word of mouth:  ‘It is the decision of the holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities,  namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols, from blood, from meats of strangled animals, and from unlawful marriage. If you keep free of these, you will be doing what is right. Farewell.'”  And so they were sent on their journey. Upon their arrival in Antioch they called the assembly together and delivered the letter.  When the people read it, they were delighted with the exhortation.  Gospel  John 15:12-17.  Jesus said to his disciples: “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.  No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.  I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.  This I command you: love one another.”

3/5/18  Saints Philip and James, apostles – Feast First Reading  First Letter to the Corinthians 15:1-8.  I am reminding you, brothers and sisters, of the Gospel I preached to you, which you indeed received and in which you also stand.  Through it you are also being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.  For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures;  that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures;  that he appeared to Kephas, then to the Twelve.  After that, he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.  After that he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.  Last of all, as to one born abnormally, he appeared to me.  Gospel  John 14:6-14.  Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?  Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.  Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves.  Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father.  And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it. 

2/5/18  Wednesday of the Fifth week of Easter First Reading  Acts of the Apostles 15:1-6.  Some who had come down from Judea were instructing the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice, you cannot be saved.”  Because there arose no little dissension and debate by Paul and Barnabas with them, it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some of the others should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and presbyters about this question.  They were sent on their journey by the church, and passed through Phoenicia and Samaria telling of the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers.  When they arrived in Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church, as well as by the apostles and the presbyters, and they reported what God had done with them.  But some from the party of the Pharisees who had become believers stood up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and direct them to observe the Mosaic law.”  The apostles and the presbyters met together to see about this matter.  Gospel  John 15:1-8.  Jesus said to his disciples: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.  Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.  I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.  Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.  By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.” 

1/5/18  Tuesday of the Fifth week of Easter First Reading  Acts of the Apostles 14:19-28.  In those days, some Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived and won over the crowds.  They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.  But when the disciples gathered around him, he got up and entered the city. On the following day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.  After they had proclaimed the good news to that city and made a considerable number of disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch.  They strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying, “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.”  They appointed presbyters for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord in whom they had put their faith.  Then they traveled through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia.  After proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia.  From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now accomplished.  And when they arrived, they called the church together and reported what God had done with them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.  Then they spent no little time with the disciples. 

 

30/4/18  Monday of the Fifth week of Easter First Reading  Acts of the Apostles 14:5-18.  There was an attempt in Iconium by both the Gentiles and the Jews, together with their leaders, to attack and stone Paul and Barnabas.  they realized it and fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and to the surrounding countryside,  where they continued to proclaim the good news.  At Lystra there was a crippled man, lame from birth, who had never walked.  He listened to Paul speaking, who looked intently at him, saw that he had the faith to be healed,  and called out in a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet.” He jumped up and began to walk about.  When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they cried out in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in human form.”  They called Barnabas “Zeus” and Paul “Hermes,” because he was the chief speaker.  And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, for he together with the people intended to offer sacrifice.  The apostles Barnabas and Paul tore their garments when they heard this and rushed out into the crowd, shouting,  “Men, why are you doing this? We are of the same nature as you, human beings. We proclaim to you good news that you should turn from these idols to the living God, ‘who made heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them.’  In past generations he allowed all Gentiles to go their own ways;  yet, in bestowing his goodness, he did not leave himself without witness, for he gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, and filled you with nourishment and gladness for your hearts.”  Even with these words, they scarcely restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.  Gospel  John 14:21-26.  Jesus said to his disciples: “Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.”  Judas, not the Iscariot, said to him, “Master, (then) what happened that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.  Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me.  I have told you this while I am with you.  The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name–he will teach you everything and remind you of all that (I) told you.” 

29/4/18  Fifth Sunday of Easter First Reading  Acts of the Apostles 9:26-31.  When he arrived in Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple.  Then Barnabas took charge of him and brought him to the apostles, and he reported to them how on the way he had seen the Lord and that he had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken out boldly in the name of Jesus.  He moved about freely with them in Jerusalem, and spoke out boldly in the name of the Lord.  He also spoke and debated with the Hellenists, but they tried to kill him.  And when the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him on his way to Tarsus.  The church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace. It was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord, and with the consolation of the holy Spirit it grew in numbers.  Second Reading  First Letter of John 3:18-24.  Children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth.  (Now) this is how we shall know that we belong to the truth and reassure our hearts before him  in whatever our hearts condemn, for God is greater than our hearts and knows everything.  Beloved, if (our) hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence in God  and receive from him whatever we ask, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.  And his commandment is this: we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another just as he commanded us.  Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them, and the way we know that he remains in us is from the Spirit that he gave us.  Gospel  John 15:1-8.  Jesus said to his disciples: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.  Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me.  I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.  Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.  By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.” 

28/4/18  Saturday of the Fourth week of Easter First Reading  Acts of the Apostles 13:44-52.  On the following sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord.  When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and with violent abuse contradicted what Paul said.  Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first, but since you reject it and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles.  For so the Lord has commanded us, ‘I have made you a light to the Gentiles, that you may be an instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth.'”  The Gentiles were delighted when they heard this and glorified the word of the Lord. All who were destined for eternal life came to believe,  and the word of the Lord continued to spread through the whole region.  The Jews, however, incited the women of prominence who were worshipers and the leading men of the city, stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their territory.  So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium.  The disciples were filled with joy and the holy Spirit.  Gospel  John 14:7-14.  Jesus said to his disciples:  “If you know me, then you will also know my Father.  From now on you do know him and have seen him.”   Philip said to him, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?  Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.  Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves.  Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father.  And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it. 

27/4/18  Friday of the Fourth week of Easter First Reading  Acts of the Apostles 13:26-33.  When Paul came to Antioch in Pisidia, he said in the synagogue:   “My brothers, children of the family of Abraham,  and those others among you who are God-fearing,  to us this word of salvation has been sent. The inhabitants of Jerusalem and their leaders failed to recognize him, and by condemning him they fulfilled the oracles of the prophets that are read sabbath after sabbath.  For even though they found no grounds for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him put to death,  and when they had accomplished all that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and placed him in a tomb.  But God raised him from the dead,  and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. These are (now) his witnesses before the people. We ourselves are proclaiming this good news to you that what God promised our ancestors  he has brought to fulfillment for us, (their) children, by raising up Jesus, as it is written in the second psalm, ‘You are my son; this day I have begotten you.'” Gospel   John 14:1-6.  Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.  In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where (I) am going you know the way.” Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?”  Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

26/4/18  Thursday of the Fourth week of Easter First Reading  Acts of the Apostles 13:13-25.  From Paphos, Paul and his companions set sail and arrived at Perga in Pamphylia. But John left them and returned to Jerusalem. They continued on from Perga and reached Antioch in Pisidia. On the sabbath they entered (into) the synagogue and took their seats.  After the reading of the law and the prophets, the synagogue officials sent word to them, “My brothers, if one of you has a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.”  So Paul got up, motioned with his hand, and said, “Fellow Israelites and you others who are God-fearing, listen.  The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and exalted the people during their sojourn in the land of Egypt. With uplifted arm he led them out of it  and for about forty years he put up with them in the desert.  When he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance  at the end of about four hundred and fifty years. After these things he provided judges up to Samuel (the) prophet.  Then they asked for a king. God gave them Saul, son of Kish, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.  Then he removed him and raised up David as their king; of him he testified, ‘I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will carry out my every wish.’  From this man’s descendants God, according to his promise, has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus.  John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel;  and as John was completing his course, he would say, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. Behold, one is coming after me; I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.'”  Gospel  John 13:16-20.  When Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet, he said to them: “Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it.  I am not speaking of all of you. I know those whom I have chosen. But so that the scripture might be fulfilled, ‘The one who ate my food has raised his heel against me.’  From now on I am telling you before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe that I AM.  Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.” 

25/4/18  Saint Mark, evangelist – Feast First Reading First Letter of Peter 5:5b-14.  Beloved:  Clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for:  God opposes the proud but bestows favor on the humble.  So humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.  Cast all your worries upon him because he cares for you.  Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for (someone) to devour.  Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your fellow believers throughout the world undergo the same sufferings.  The God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory through Christ (Jesus) will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you after you have suffered a little.  To him be dominion forever. Amen.  I write you this briefly through Silvanus, whom I consider a faithful brother, exhorting you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Remain firm in it.  The chosen one at Babylon sends you greeting, as does Mark, my son.  Greet one another with a loving kiss. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.  Gospel  Mark 16:15-20.  Jesus said to the eleven: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.  Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.  These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages.  They will pick up serpents (with their hands), and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”  So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God.  But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.

24/4/18  Tuesday of the Fourth week of Easter First Reading  Acts of the Apostles 11:19-26.  Those who had been scattered by the persecution that arose because of Stephen went as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but Jews. There were some Cypriots and Cyrenians among them, however, who came to Antioch and began to speak to the Greeks as well, proclaiming the Lord Jesus.  The hand of the Lord was with them and a great number who believed turned to the Lord.  The news about them reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch.  When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart,  for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith. And a large number of people was added to the Lord.  Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul,  and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a large number of people, and it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians.  Gospel  John 10:22-30.  The feast of the Dedication was taking place in Jerusalem. It was winter. And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me. But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep.  My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”

23/4/18  Monday of the Fourth week of Easter First Reading  Acts of the Apostles 11:1-18.  The Apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles too had accepted the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem the circumcised believers confronted him,  saying, “You entered the house of uncircumcised people and ate with them.”  Peter began and explained it to them step by step, saying,  “I was at prayer in the city of Joppa when in a trance I had a vision, something resembling a large sheet coming down, lowered from the sky by its four corners, and it came to me.  Looking intently into it, I observed and saw the four-legged animals of the earth, the wild beasts, the reptiles, and the birds of the sky.  I also heard a voice say to me, ‘Get up, Peter. Slaughter and eat.’  But I said, ‘Certainly not, sir, because nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’  But a second time a voice from heaven answered, ‘What God has made clean, you are not to call profane.’  This happened three times, and then everything was drawn up again into the sky.  Just then three men appeared at the house where we were, who had been sent to me from Caesarea.  The Spirit told me to accompany them without discriminating. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man’s house.  He related to us how he had seen (the) angel standing in his house, saying, ‘Send someone to Joppa and summon Simon, who is called Peter,  who will speak words to you by which you and all your household will be saved.’  As I began to speak, the holy Spirit fell upon them as it had upon us at the beginning,  and I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, ‘John baptized with water but you will be baptized with the holy Spirit.’  If then God gave them the same gift he gave to us when we came to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to be able to hinder God?”  When they heard this, they stopped objecting and glorified God, saying, “God has then granted life-giving repentance to the Gentiles too.”  Gospel  John 10:1-10.  Jesus said: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.  The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.”  Although Jesus used this figure of speech, they did not realize what he was trying to tell them. So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came (before me) are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.  A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” 

22/4/18   Fourth Sunday of Easter First Reading  Acts of the Apostles 4:8-12.  Peter, filled with the holy Spirit, answered them, “Leaders of the people and elders:  If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a cripple, namely, by what means he was saved,  then all of you and all the people of Israel should know that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarean whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead; in his name this man stands before you healed.  He is ‘the stone rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.’  There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.”  Second Reading  First Letter of John 3:1-2.  Beloved: See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.  Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.  Gospel John 10:11-18.  Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.  A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them.  This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep.  I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me,  just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep.  I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd. This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again.  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father.”

21/4/18  Saturday of the Third week of Easter First Reading  Acts of the Apostles 9:31-42.  The Church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria was at peace. She was being built up and walked in the fear of the Lord, and with the consolation of the Holy Spirit she grew in numbers. As Peter was passing through every region, he went down to the holy ones living in Lydda.  There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been confined to bed for eight years, for he was paralyzed.  Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed.” He got up at once.  And all the inhabitants of Lydda and Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.  Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated means Dorcas). She was completely occupied with good deeds and almsgiving.  Now during those days she fell sick and died, so after washing her, they laid (her) out in a room upstairs.  Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him with the request, “Please come to us without delay.”  So Peter got up and went with them. When he arrived, they took him to the room upstairs where all the widows came to him weeping and showing him the tunics and cloaks that Dorcas had made while she was with them.  Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed. Then he turned to her body and said, “Tabitha, rise up.” She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up.  He gave her his hand and raised her up, and when he had called the holy ones and the widows, he presented her alive.  This became known all over Joppa, and many came to believe in the Lord.  Gospel   John 6:60-69.  Many of the disciples of Jesus who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, “Does this shock you?  What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him.  And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.”  As a result of this, many (of) his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him.  Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?”  Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.  We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” 

20/4/18   Friday of the Third week of Easter First Reading   Acts of the Apostles 9:1-20.  Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that, if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains.  On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him.  He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”  He said, “Who are you, sir?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.  Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.”  The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could see no one.  Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus.  For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank.  There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.”  The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is there praying,  and (in a vision) he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay (his) hands on him, that he may regain his sight.”  But Ananias replied, “Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man, what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem.  And here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call upon your name.”  But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and Israelites,  and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name.”  So Ananias went and entered the house; laying his hands on him, he said, “Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the holy Spirit.”  Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized,  and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength. He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus,  and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.  Gospel  John 6:52-59.  The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his Flesh to eat?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.  Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.  Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.  Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.  This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.”  These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. 

19/4/18  Thursday of the Third week of Easter First Reading  Acts of the Apostles 8:26-40.  The angel of the Lord spoke to Philip,  “Get up and head south on the road  that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, the desert route.” So he got up and set out. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, that is, the queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury, who had come to Jerusalem to worship,  and was returning home. Seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.  The Spirit said to Philip, “Go and join up with that chariot.”  Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”  He replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him.  This was the scripture passage he was reading: “Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opened not his mouth.  In (his) humiliation justice was denied him. Who will tell of his posterity? For his life is taken from the earth.”  Then the eunuch said to Philip in reply, “I beg you, about whom is the prophet saying this? About himself, or about someone else?”  Then Philip opened his mouth and, beginning with this scripture passage, he proclaimed Jesus to him.  As they traveled along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look, there is water. What is to prevent my being baptized?”  Then he ordered the chariot to stop, and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and he baptized him.  When they came out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but continued on his way rejoicing.  Philip came to Azotus, and went about proclaiming the good news to all the towns until he reached Caesarea.  Gospel John 6:44-51.  Jesus said to the crowds: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day. It is written in the prophets: ‘They shall all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me.  Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father.  Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.  I am the bread of life.  Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died;  this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die.  I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” 

18/4/18  Wednesday of the Third week of Easter First Reading  Acts of the Apostles 8:1b-8.  There broke out a severe persecution of the Church in Jerusalem, and all were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria, except the Apostles.  Devout men buried Stephen and made a loud lament over him.  Saul, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the church; entering house after house and dragging out men and women, he handed them over for imprisonment.  Now those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.  Thus Philip went down to (the) city of Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah to them.  With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing.  For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice, came out of many possessed people, and many paralyzed and crippled people were cured.  There was great joy in that city.  Gospel   John 6:35-40.  Jesus said to the crowds, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst. But I told you that although you have seen (me), you do not believe.  Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,  because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me.  And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day.  For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.” 

17/4/18  Tuesday of the Third week of Easter First Reading  Acts of the Apostles 7:51-60.8:1a.  Stephen said to the people, the elders, and the scribes:  “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears,  you always oppose the Holy Spirit;  you are just like your ancestors. Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They put to death those who foretold the coming of the righteous one, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become.  You received the law as transmitted by angels, but you did not observe it.”  When they heard this, they were infuriated, and they ground their teeth at him.  But he, filled with the holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,  and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”  But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears, and rushed upon him together.  They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him. The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul.  As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”  Then he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them”; and when he said this, he fell asleep.  Now Saul was consenting to his execution. Gospel   John 6:30-35.  The crowd said to Jesus: “What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you? What can you do? Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'” So Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.  For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”  So they said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”  Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”

16/4/18  Monday of the Third week of Easter First Reading  Acts of the Apostles 6:8-15.  Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people. Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen, Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and people from Cilicia and Asia, came forward and debated with Stephen,  but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke.  Then they instigated some men to say, “We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.”  They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, accosted him, seized him, and brought him before the Sanhedrin.  They presented false witnesses who testified, “This man never stops saying things against (this) holy place and the law.  For we have heard him claim that this Jesus the Nazorean will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.”  All those who sat in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.  Gospel  John 6:22-29.  [After Jesus had fed the five thousand men, his disciples saw him walking on the sea.] The next day, the crowd that remained across the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not gone along with his disciples in the boat, but only his disciples had left. Other boats came from Tiberias near the place where they had eaten the bread when the Lord gave thanks. When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.  And when they found him across the sea they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”  Jesus answered them and said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled.  Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.” So they said to him, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?”  Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.” 

15/3/18  Third Sunday of Easter First Reading   Acts of the Apostles 3:13-15.17-19.  Peter said to the people: “The God of Abraham, (the God) of Isaac, and (the God) of Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his servant Jesus whom you handed over and denied in Pilate’s presence, when he had decided to release him.  You denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.  The author of life you put to death, but God raised him from the dead; of this we are witnesses.  Now I know, brothers, that you acted out of ignorance, just as your leaders did;  but God has thus brought to fulfillment what he had announced beforehand through the mouth of all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer.  Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away.”  Second Reading   First Letter of John 2:1-5a.  My children, I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one.  He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world.  The way we may be sure that we know him is to keep his command ments.  Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him. This is the way we may know that we are in union with him:  Gospel  Luke 24:35-48.  The disciples of Jesus recounted what had taken place along the way, and how Jesus was made known to them in the breaking of bread. While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost.  Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts?  Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.  While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?”  They gave him a piece of baked fish;  he took it and ate it in front of them.  He said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.”  Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures.  And he said to them, “Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.  You are witnesses of these things.”

14/4/18  Saturday of the Second week of Easter First Reading  Acts of the Apostles 6:1-7.  As the number of disciples continued to grow, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table.  Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task,  whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”  The proposal was acceptable to the whole community, so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the holy Spirit, also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism.  They presented these men to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them.  The word of God continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly; even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith.  Gospel  John 6:16-21.  When it was evening, the disciples of Jesus went down to the sea,  embarked in a boat, and went across the sea to Capernaum. It had already grown dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.  The sea was stirred up because a strong wind was blowing.  When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they began to be afraid. But he said to them, “It is I. Do not be afraid.” They wanted to take him into the boat, but the boat immediately arrived at the shore to which they were heading. 

13/4/18  Friday of the Second week of Easter First Reading  Acts of the Apostles 5:34-42.  A Pharisee in the Sanhedrin named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, respected by all the people, stood up, ordered the Apostles to be put outside for a short time, and said to them, “Fellow children of Israel, be careful what you are about to do to these men.  Some time ago, Theudas appeared, claiming to be someone important, and about four hundred men joined him, but he was killed, and all those who were loyal to him were disbanded and came to nothing.  After him came Judas the Galilean at the time of the census. He also drew people after him, but he too perished and all who were loyal to him were scattered.  So now I tell you, have nothing to do with these men, and let them go. For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself.  But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God.” They were persuaded by him.  After recalling the apostles, they had them flogged, ordered them to stop speaking in the name of Jesus, and dismissed them.  So they left the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name.  And all day long, both at the temple and in their homes, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the Messiah, Jesus.  Gospel   John 6:1-15.  Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee.  A large crowd followed him, because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick.  Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples.  The Jewish feast of Passover was near. When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little (bit).” One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him,  There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many? Jesus said, “Have the people recline.” Now there was a great deal of grass in that place. So the men reclined, about five thousand in number. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted.  When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, “Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.”  So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat. When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, “This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.” Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone. 

12/4/18  Thursday of the Second week of Easter First Reading   Acts of the Apostles 5:27-33.  When the court officers had brought the Apostles in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, the high priest questioned them, “We gave you strict orders (did we not?) to stop teaching in that name. Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and want to bring this man’s blood upon us.”  But Peter and the apostles said in reply, “We must obey God rather than men.  The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree.  God exalted him at his right hand as leader and savior to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins.  We are witnesses of these things, as is the holy Spirit that God has given to those who obey him.”  When they heard this, they became infuriated and wanted to put them to death.  Gospel   John 3:31-36.  The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things. But the one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony.  Whoever does accept his testimony certifies that God is trustworthy.  For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God. He does not ration his gift of the Spirit. The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him.  Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.

11/4/18  Wednesday of the Second week of Easter First Reading  Acts of the Apostles 5:17-26.  The high priest rose up and all his companions, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and, filled with jealousy, laid hands upon the apostles and put them in the public jail.  But during the night, the angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, led them out, and said,  “Go and take your place in the temple area, and tell the people everything about this life.”  When they heard this, they went to the temple early in the morning and taught. When the high priest and his companions arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin, the full senate of the Israelites, and sent to the jail to have them brought in.  But the court officers who went did not find them in the prison, so they came back and reported,  “We found the jail securely locked and the guards stationed outside the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”  When they heard this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss about them, as to what this would come to.  Then someone came in and reported to them, “The men whom you put in prison are in the temple area and are teaching the people.”  Then the captain and the court officers went and brought them in, but without force, because they were afraid of being stoned by the people.  Gospel  John 3:16-21.  God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.  And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed.  But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God. 

10/4/18   Tuesday of the Second week of Easter First Reading  Acts of the Apostles 4:32-37.  The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common. With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all.  There was no needy person among them, for those who owned property or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale,  and put them at the feet of the apostles, and they were distributed to each according to need.  Thus Joseph, also named by the apostles Barnabas (which is translated “son of encouragement”), a Levite, a Cypriot by birth,  sold a piece of property that he owned, then brought the money and put it at the feet of the apostles.  Gospel   John 3:7b-15.  Jesus said to Nicodemus: “’You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus answered and said to him, “How can this happen?”  Jesus answered and said to him, “You are the teacher of Israel and you do not understand this?  Amen, amen, I say to you, we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony.  If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?  No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man.  And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

9/4/18  Annunciation of the Lord – Solemnity First Reading  Book of Isaiah 7:10-14.8:10b.  The LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying:  Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God; let it be deep as the nether world, or high as the sky!  But Ahaz answered, “I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!”  Then he said: Listen, O house of David! Is it not enough for you to weary men, must you also weary my God?  Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel.  which means “God is with us!”  Second Reading  Letter to the Hebrews 10:4-10.  Brothers and sisters: it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats take away sins.  For this reason, when he came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me;  holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight in.  Then I said, ‘As is written of me in the scroll, Behold, I come to do your will, O God.'”  First he says, “Sacrifices and offerings, holocausts and sin offerings, you neither desired nor delighted in.” These are offered according to the law.  Then he says, “Behold, I come to do your will.” He takes away the first to establish the second.  By this “will,” we have been consecrated through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.  Gospel   Luke 1:26-38.  In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,  to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.  And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”  But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.  Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.  He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”  But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.  And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.”  Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

8/4/18  Second Sunday of Easter First Reading  Acts of the Apostles 4:32-35.  The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common. With great power the apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded them all.  There was no needy person among them, for those who owned property or houses would sell them, bring the proceeds of the sale,  and put them at the feet of the apostles, and they were distributed to each according to need.  Second Reading  First Letter of John 5:1-6.  Beloved: Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God, and everyone who loves the father loves (also) the one begotten by him.  In this way we know that we love the children of God when we love God and obey his commandments.  For the love of God is this, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome,  for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world. And the victory that conquers the world is our faith.  Who (indeed) is the victor over the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?  This is the one who came through water and blood, Jesus Christ, not by water alone, but by water and blood. The Spirit is the one that testifies, and the Spirit is truth.  Gospel  John 20:19-31.  On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, «Peace be with you.» When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. (Jesus) said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.  So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”  Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”  Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”  Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of (his) disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may (come to) believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name. 7/4/18  Saturday of Easter week First Reading  Acts of the Apostles 4:13-21.  Observing the boldness of Peter and John and perceiving them to be uneducated, ordinary men, the leaders, elders, and scribes were amazed, and they recognized them as the companions of Jesus. Then when they saw the man who had been cured standing there with them, they could say nothing in reply.  So they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin, and conferred with one another, saying,  “What are we to do with these men? Everyone living in Jerusalem knows that a remarkable sign was done through them, and we cannot deny it.  But so that it may not be spread any further among the people, let us give them a stern warning never again to speak to anyone in this name.”  So they called them back and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.  Peter and John, however, said to them in reply, “Whether it is right in the sight of God for us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges.  It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.”  After threatening them further, they released them, finding no way to punish them, on account of the people who were all praising God for what had happened.  Gospel   Mark 16:9-15.  When Jesus had risen, early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. She went and told his companions who were mourning and weeping.  When they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.  After this he appeared in another form to two of them walking along on their way to the country.  They returned and told the others; but they did not believe them either.  (But) later, as the eleven were at table, he appeared to them and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed those who saw him after he had been raised.  He said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” 

6/4/18  Friday of Easter week First Reading  Acts of the Apostles 4:1-12.  After the crippled man had been cured, while Peter and John were still speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees confronted them, disturbed that they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.  They laid hands on them and put them in custody until the next day, since it was already evening.  But many of those who heard the word came to believe and (the) number of men grew to (about) five thousand.  On the next day, their leaders, elders, and scribes were assembled in Jerusalem,  with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly class.  They brought them into their presence and questioned them, “By what power or by what name have you done this?”  Then Peter, filled with the holy Spirit, answered them, “Leaders of the people and elders:  If we are being examined today about a good deed done to a cripple, namely, by what means he was saved,  then all of you and all the people of Israel should know that it was in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarean whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead; in his name this man stands before you healed.  He is ‘the stone rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.’  There is no salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be saved.”  Gospel   John 21:1-14.  Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way. Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We also will come with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.  Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.”  So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish.  So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea.  The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish.  When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.”  So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they realized it was the Lord. Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish.  This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.

5/4/18  Thursday of Easter week First Reading   Acts of the Apostles 3:11-26.  As the crippled man who had been cured clung to Peter and John, all the people hurried in amazement toward them in the portico called “Solomon’s Portico.” When Peter saw this, he addressed the people, “You Israelites, why are you amazed at this, and why do you look so intently at us as if we had made him walk by our own power or piety?  The God of Abraham, (the God) of Isaac, and (the God) of Jacob, the God of our ancestors, has glorified his servant Jesus whom you handed over and denied in Pilate’s presence, when he had decided to release him.  You denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.  The author of life you put to death, but God raised him from the dead; of this we are witnesses.  And by faith in his name, this man, whom you see and know, his name has made strong, and the faith that comes through it has given him this perfect health, in the presence of all of you.  Now I know, brothers, that you acted out of ignorance, just as your leaders did;  but God has thus brought to fulfillment what he had announced beforehand through the mouth of all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer.  Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away.”  and that the Lord may grant you times of refreshment and send you the Messiah already appointed for you, Jesus,  whom heaven must receive until the times of universal restoration of which God spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old.  For Moses said: ‘A prophet like me will the Lord, your God, raise up for you from among your own kinsmen; to him you shall listen in all that he may say to you.  Everyone who does not listen to that prophet will be cut off from the people.’  Moreover, all the prophets who spoke, from Samuel and those afterwards, also announced these days.  You are the children of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors when he said to Abraham, ‘In your offspring all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’  For you first, God raised up his servant and sent him to bless you by turning each of you from your evil ways.”  Gospel   Luke 24:35-48.  The disciples of Jesus recounted what had taken place along the way, and how Jesus was made known to them in the breaking of bread. While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost.  Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts?  Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.  While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?”  They gave him a piece of baked fish;  he took it and ate it in front of them.  He said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.”  Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures.  And he said to them, “Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.  You are witnesses of these things.”

Wednesday, April 4, 2018 First Reading: Acts 3:1-10 Once when Peter and John were going up to the Temple at three in the afternoon, the hour for prayer, a man crippled from birth was being carried in. Every day they would bring him and put him at the temple gate called “Beautiful”; there he begged from those who entered the Temple. When he saw Peter and John on their way into the Temple, he asked for alms. Then Peter with John at his side looked straight at him and said, “Look at us.” So he looked at them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have neither silver nor gold, but what I have I give you: In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah, walk!” Then he took the beggar by his right hand and helped him up. At once his feet and ankles became firm, and jumping up he stood on his feet and began to walk. And he went with them into the Temple walking and leaping and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God; they recognized him as the one who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple, and they were all astonished and amazed at what had happened to him.   Gospel :Lk 24:13-35 Two disciples of Jesus were going to Emmaus, a village seven miles from Jerusalem, and they talked about what had happened. While they were talking and wondering, Jesus came up and walked with them, but their eyes were held and they did not recognize him. He asked, “What is this you are talking about?” The two stood still, looking sad. Then one named Cleophas answered, “Why, it seems you are the only traveller in Jerusalem who doesn’t know what has happened there these past few days.” And he asked, “What is it?” They replied, “It is about Jesus of Nazareth. He was a prophet, you know, mighty in word and deed before God and the people. But the chief priests and our rulers sentenced him to death. They handed him over to be crucified. We had hoped that he would redeem Israel. It is now the third day since all this took place. It is true that some women of our group have disturbed us. When they went to the tomb at dawn, they did not find his body; they came to tell us that they had seen a vision of angels who told them that Jesus was alive. Some friends of our group went to the tomb and found everything just as the women had said, but they did not see him.” He said to them, “How dull you are, how slow of understanding! You fail to believe the message of the prophets. Is it not written that the Christ should suffer all this and then enter his glory?” Then starting with Moses and going through the prophets, he explained to them everything in the Scriptures concerning himself. As they drew near the village they were heading for, Jesus made as if to go farther. But they prevailed upon him, “Stay with us, for night comes quickly. The day is now almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. When they were at table, he took the bread, said a blessing, broke it and gave each a piece. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; but he vanished out of their sight. And they said to each other, “Were not our hearts filled with ardent yearning when he was talking to us on the road and explaining the Scriptures?” They immediately set out and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and their companions gathered together. They were greeted by these words: “Yes, it is true, the Lord is risen! He has appeared to Simon!” Then the two told what had happened on the road and how Jesus made himself known when he broke bread with them.

20/3/18  Tuesday of the Fifth week of Lent

First Reading   Book of Numbers 21:4-9. 
From Mount Hor the children of Israel set out on the Red Sea road, to by-pass the land of Edom. But with their patience worn out by the journey, 
the people complained against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert, where there is no food or water? We are disgusted with this wretched food!” 
In punishment the LORD sent among the people saraph serpents, which bit the people so that many of them died. 
Then the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned in complaining against the LORD and you. Pray the LORD to take the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people, 
and the LORD said to Moses, “Make a saraph and mount it on a pole, and if anyone who has been bitten looks at it, he will recover.” 
Moses accordingly made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole, and whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpent looked at the bronze serpent, he lived. 

Gospel   John 8:21-30. 
Jesus said to the Pharisees: “I am going away and you will look for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going you cannot come.”
So the Jews said, “He is not going to kill himself, is he, because he said, ‘Where I am going you cannot come’?”
He said to them, “You belong to what is below, I belong to what is above. You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world. 
That is why I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I AM, you will die in your sins.”
So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “What I told you from the beginning.
I have much to say about you in condemnation. But the one who sent me is true, and what I heard from him I tell the world.” 
They did not realize that he was speaking to them of the Father. 
So Jesus said (to them), “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM, and that I do nothing on my own, but I say only what the Father taught me. 
The one who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what is pleasing to him.” 

19/3/18  Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary

First Reading  2nd book of Samuel 7:4-5a.12-14a.16. 
That night the LORD spoke to Nathan and said:
“Go, tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: Should you build me a house to dwell in? 
And when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins, and I will make his kingdom firm. 
It is he who shall build a house for my name. And I will make his royal throne firm forever. 
I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. And if he does wrong, I will correct him with the rod of men and with human chastisements; 
Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever before me; your throne shall stand firm forever.'” 

Second Reading   Letter to the Romans 4:13.16-18.22. 
Brothers and sisters: It was not through the law that the promise was made to Abraham and his descendants that he would inherit the world, but through the righteousness that comes from faith. 
For this reason, it depends on faith, so that it may be a gift, and the promise may be guaranteed to all his descendants, not to those who only adhere to the law but to those who follow the faith of Abraham, who is the father of all of us, 
as it is written, “I have made you father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into being what does not exist. 
He believed, hoping against hope, that he would become “the father of many nations,” according to what was said, “Thus shall your descendants be.” 
That is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” 

Gospel   Matthew 1:16.18-21.24a. 
Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ. 
Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.

18/3/18  Fifth Sunday of Lent

First Reading  Book of Jeremiah 31:31-34. 
The days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 
It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers the day I took them by the hand to lead them forth from the land of Egypt; for they broke my covenant and I had to show myself their master, says the LORD. 
But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD. I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts; I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 
No longer will they have need to teach their friends and kinsmen how to know the LORD. All, from least to greatest, shall know me, says the LORD, for I will forgive their evildoing and remember their sin no more. 

Second Reading  Letter to the Hebrews 5:7-9. 
In the days when Christ Jesus was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 
Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered; 
and when he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him. 

Gospel  John 12:20-33. 
Now there were some Greeks among those who had come up to worship at the feast.
They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.”
Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 
Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.
Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.
Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.” 
I am troubled now. Yet what should I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour.
Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.” 
The crowd there heard it and said it was thunder; but others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 
Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come for my sake but for yours. 
Now is the time of judgment on this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out.
And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” 
He said this indicating the kind of death he would die. 

17/3/18  Saturday of the Fourth week of Lent

First Reading  Book of Jeremiah 11:18-20. 
I knew their plot because the LORD informed me; at that time you, O LORD, showed me their doings. 
Yet I, like a trusting lamb led to slaughter, had not realized that they were hatching plots against me: “Let us destroy the tree in its vigor; let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name will be spoken no more.” 
But, you, O Lord of hosts, O just Judge, searcher of mind and heart, Let me witness the vengeance you take on them, for to you I have entrusted my cause! 

Gospel   John 7:40-53. 
Some in the crowd who heard these words of Jesus said, “This is truly the Prophet.” 
Others said, “This is the Messiah.” But others said, “The Messiah will not come from Galilee, will he? 
Does not scripture say that the Messiah will be of David’s family and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?” 
So a division occurred in the crowd because of him. 
Some of them even wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. 
So the guards went to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not bring him?” 
The guards answered, “Never before has anyone spoken like this one.” 
So the Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? 
Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? 
But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed.” 
Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them, 
Does our law condemn a person before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing? 
They answered and said to him, “You are not from Galilee also, are you? Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.” 
Then each went to his own house,

16/3/18   Friday of the Fourth week of Lent

First Reading   Book of Wisdom 2:1a.12-22. 
The wicked said among themselves,  thinking not aright:
“Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, Reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training. 
He professes to have knowledge of God and styles himself a child of the LORD. 
To us he is the censure of our thoughts; merely to see him is a hardship for us, 
Because his life is not like other men’s, and different are his ways. 
He judges us debased; he holds aloof from our paths as from things impure. He calls blest the destiny of the just and boasts that God is his Father. 
Let us see whether his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him. 
For if the just one be the son of God, he will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes. 
With revilement and torture let us put him to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience. 
Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him.” 
These were their thoughts, but they erred; for their wickedness blinded them, 
And they knew not the hidden counsels of God; neither did they count on a recompense of holiness nor discern the innocent souls’ reward. 

Gospel   John 7:1-2.10.25-30. 
Jesus moved about within Galilee; but he did not wish to travel in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him.
But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near. 
But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, he himself also went up, not openly but (as it were) in secret. 
So some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said, “Is he not the one they are trying to kill? 
And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him. Could the authorities have realized that he is the Messiah?
But we know where he is from. When the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.” 
So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said, “You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true. 
I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.” 
So they tried to arrest him, but no one laid a hand upon him, because his hour had not yet come. 

 

15/3/18  Thursday of the Fourth week of Lent

First Reading   Book of Exodus 32:7-14. 
The LORD said to Moses, “Go down at once to your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt, for they have become depraved. 
They have soon turned aside from the way I pointed out to them, making for themselves a molten calf and worshiping it, sacrificing to it and crying out, ‘This is your God, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt!’ 
“I see how stiff-necked this people is,” continued the LORD to Moses. 
Let me alone, then, that my wrath may blaze up against them to consume them. Then I will make of you a great nation.” 
But Moses implored the LORD, his God, saying, “Why, O LORD, should your wrath blaze up against your own people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with such great power and with so strong a hand? 
Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent he brought them out, that he might kill them in the mountains and exterminate them from the face of the earth’? Let your blazing wrath die down; relent in punishing your people. 
Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, and how you swore to them by your own self, saying, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky; and all this land that I promised, I will give your descendants as their perpetual heritage.'” 
So the LORD relented in the punishment he had threatened to inflict on his people. 

Gospel   John 5:31-47. 
Jesus said to the Jews: “If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is not true. 
But there is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that the testimony he gives on my behalf is true.
You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth. 
I do not accept testimony from a human being, but I say this so that you may be saved. 
He was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light.
But I have testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me.” 
Moreover, the Father who sent me has testified on my behalf. But you have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 
and you do not have his word remaining in you, because you do not believe in the one whom he has sent. 
You search the scriptures, because you think you have eternal life through them; even they testify on my behalf.
But you do not want to come to me to have life. 
I do not accept human praise;
moreover, I know that you do not have the love of God in you. 
I came in the name of my Father, but you do not accept me; yet if another comes in his own name, you will accept him. 
How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God? 
Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father: the one who will accuse you is Moses, in whom you have placed your hope. 
For if you had believed Moses, you would have believed me, because he wrote about me. 
But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

14/3/18  Wednesday of the Fourth week of Lent

First Reading  Book of Isaiah 49:8-15. 
Thus says the LORD: In a time of favor I answer you, on the day of salvation I help you; and I have kept you and given you as a covenant to the people, To restore the land and allot the desolate heritages, 
Saying to the prisoners: Come out! To those in darkness: Show yourselves! Along the ways they shall find pasture, on every bare height shall their pastures be. 
They shall not hunger or thirst, nor shall the scorching wind or the sun strike them; For he who pities them leads them and guides them beside springs of water. 
I will cut a road through all my mountains, and make my highways level. 
See, some shall come from afar, others from the north and the west, and some from the land of Syene. 
Sing out, O heavens, and rejoice, O earth, break forth into song, you mountains. For the LORD comforts his people and shows mercy to his afflicted. 
But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me.” 
Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.

Gospel  John 5:17-30. 
Jesus answered the Jews: “My Father is at work until now, so I am at work.” 
For this reason the Jews tried all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the sabbath but he also called God his own father, making himself equal to God. 
Jesus answered and said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, a son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees his father doing; for what he does, his son will do also.
For the Father loves his Son and shows him everything that he himself does, and he will show him greater works than these, so that you may be amazed. 
For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so also does the Son give life to whomever he wishes.
Nor does the Father judge anyone, but he has given all judgment to his Son,
so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, but has passed from death to life. 
Amen, amen, I say to you, the hour is coming and is now here when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 
For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he gave to his Son the possession of life in himself. 
And he gave him power to exercise judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 
Do not be amazed at this, because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice
and will come out, those who have done good deeds to the resurrection of life, but those who have done wicked deeds to the resurrection of condemnation. 
I cannot do anything on my own; I judge as I hear, and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will but the will of the one who sent me.” 

13/3/18  Tuesday of the Fourth week of Lent

First Reading   Book of Ezekiel 47:1-9.12. 
The angel brought me, Ezekiel, back to the entrance of the temple of the LORD, and I saw water flowing out from beneath the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the façade of the temple was toward the east; the water flowed down from the right side of the temple, south of the altar. 
He led me outside by the north gate, and around to the outer gate facing the east, where I saw water trickling from the southern side. 
Then when he had walked off to the east with a measuring cord in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and had me wade through the water, which was ankle-deep. 
He measured off another thousand and once more had me wade through the water, which was now knee-deep. Again he measured off a thousand and had me wade; the water was up to my waist. 
Once more he measured off a thousand, but there was now a river through which I could not wade; for the water had risen so high it had become a river that could not be crossed except by swimming. 
He asked me, “Have you seen this, son of man?” Then he brought me to the bank of the river, where he had me sit. 
Along the bank of the river I saw very many trees on both sides. 
He said to me, “This water flows into the eastern district down upon the Arabah, and empties into the sea, the salt waters, which it makes fresh. 
Wherever the river flows, every sort of living creature that can multiply shall live, and there shall be abundant fish, for wherever this water comes the sea shall be made fresh. 
Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of every kind shall grow; their leaves shall not fade, nor their fruit fail. Every month they shall bear fresh fruit, for they shall be watered by the flow from the sanctuary. Their fruit shall serve for food, and their leaves for medicine.” 

Gospel   John 5:1-16. 
There was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 
Now there is in Jerusalem at the Sheep (Gate) a pool called in Hebrew Bethesda, with five porticoes.
In these lay a large number of ill, blind, lame, and crippled.

One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. 
When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be well?” 
The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am on my way, someone else gets down there before me.” 
Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your mat, and walk.” 
Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked. Now that day was a sabbath. 
So the Jews said to the man who was cured, “It is the sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to carry your mat.” 
He answered them, “The man who made me well told me, ‘Take up your mat and walk.'” 
They asked him, “Who is the man who told you, ‘Take it up and walk’?” 
The man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away, since there was a crowd there. 
After this Jesus found him in the temple area and said to him, “Look, you are well; do not sin any more, so that nothing worse may happen to you.”
The man went and told the Jews that Jesus was the one who had made him well. 
Therefore, the Jews began to persecute Jesus because he did this on a sabbath. 

12/3/18  Monday of the Fourth week of Lent

First Reading   Book of Isaiah 65:17-21. 
Thus says the LORD: Lo, I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; The things of the past shall not be remembered or come to mind. 
Instead, there shall always be rejoicing and happiness in what I create; For I create Jerusalem to be a joy and its people to be a delight; 
I will rejoice in Jerusalem and exult in my people. No longer shall the sound of weeping be heard there, or the sound of crying; 
No longer shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not round out his full lifetime; He dies a mere youth who reaches but a hundred years, and he who fails of a hundred shall be thought accursed. 
They shall live in the houses they build, and eat the fruit of the vineyards they plant. 

Gospel   John 4:43-54. 
At that time Jesus left [Samaria] for Galilee. 
For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his native place.
When he came into Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, since they had seen all he had done in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves had gone to the feast. 
Then he returned to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. Now there was a royal official whose son was ill in Capernaum.
When he heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and asked him to come down and heal his son, who was near death. 
Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.” 
The royal official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” 
Jesus said to him, “You may go; your son will live.” The man believed what Jesus said to him and left. 
While he was on his way back, his slaves met him and told him that his boy would live. 
He asked them when he began to recover. They told him, “The fever left him yesterday, about one in the afternoon.” 
The father realized that just at that time Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live,” and he and his whole household came to believe. 
(Now) this was the second sign Jesus did when he came to Galilee from Judea.

11/3/18  Fourth Sunday of Lent (Laetare)

First Reading   2nd book of Chronicles 36:14-16.19-23. 
In those days, all the princes of Judah, the priests and the people added infidelity to infidelity, practicing all the abominations of the nations and polluting the LORD’S temple which he had consecrated in Jerusalem. 
Early and often did the LORD, the God of their fathers, send his messengers to them, for he had compassion on his people and his dwelling place. 
But they mocked the messengers of God, despised his warnings, and scoffed at his prophets, until the anger of the LORD against his people was so inflamed that there was no remedy. 
They burnt the house of God, tore down the walls of Jerusalem, set all its palaces afire, and destroyed all its precious objects. 
Those who escaped the sword he carried captive to Babylon, where they became his and his sons’ servants until the kingdom of the Persians came to power. 
All this was to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah: “Until the land has retrieved its lost sabbaths, during all the time it lies waste it shall have rest while seventy years are fulfilled.” 
In the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD inspired King Cyrus of Persia to issue this proclamation throughout his kingdom, both by word of mouth and in writing: 
“Thus says Cyrus, king of Persia: ‘All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD, the God of heaven, has given to me, and he has also charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever, therefore, among you belongs to any part of his people, let him go up, and may his God be with him!'”

Second Reading   Letter to the Ephesians 2:4-10. 
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us, 
even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 
raised us up with him, and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, 
that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; 
it is not from works, so no one may boast. 
For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them. 

Gospel   John 3:14-21. 
Jesus said to Nicodemus, “And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 
And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil.
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. 
But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God. 

 

10/3/18  Saturday of the Third week of Lent

First Reading   Book of Hosea 6:1-6. 
Come, let us return to the LORD, it is he who has rent, but he will heal us; he has struck us, but he will bind our wounds. 
He will revive us after two days; on the third day he will raise us up, to live in his presence. 
Let us know, let us strive to know the LORD; as certain as the dawn is his coming, and his judgment shines forth like the light of day! He will come to us like the rain, like spring rain that waters the earth.” 
What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your piety is like a morning cloud, like the dew that early passes away. 
For this reason I smote them through the prophets, I slew them by the words of my mouth; 
For it is love that I desire, not sacrifice, and knowledge of God rather than holocausts. 

9/3/18  Friday of the Third week of Lent

First Reading    Book of Hosea 14:2-10. 
Thus says the LORD: Return, O Israel, to the LORD, your God; you have collapsed through your guilt. 
Take with you words, and return to the LORD; Say to him, “Forgive all iniquity, and receive what is good, that we may render as offerings the bullocks from our stalls. 
Assyria will not save us, nor shall we have horses to mount; We shall say no more, ‘Our god,’ to the work of our hands; for in you the orphan finds compassion.” 
I will heal their defection, I will love them freely; for my wrath is turned away from them. 
I will be like the dew for Israel: he shall blossom like the lily; He shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar, 
and put forth his shoots. His splendor shall be like the olive tree and his fragrance like the Lebanon cedar. 
Again they shall dwell in his shade and raise grain; They shall blossom like the vine, and his fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon. 
Ephraim! What more has he to do with idols? I have humbled him, but I will prosper him. “I am like a verdant cypress tree”– Because of me you bear fruit! 
Let him who is wise understand these things; let him who is prudent know them. Straight are the paths of the LORD, in them the just walk, but sinners stumble in them. 

Gospel    Mark 12:28b-34. 
One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?”
Jesus replied, “The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! 
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 
The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 
The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, ‘He is One and there is no other than he.’ 
And ‘to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself’ is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 
And when Jesus saw that (he) answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

8/3/18   Thursday of the Third week of Lent

First Reading   Book of Jeremiah 7:23-28. 
Thus says the LORD: This is what I commanded my people: Listen to my voice; then I will be your God and you shall be my people. Walk in all the ways that I command you, so that you may prosper. 
But they obeyed not, nor did they pay heed. They walked in the hardness of their evil hearts and turned their backs, not their faces, to me. 
From the day that your fathers left the land of Egypt even to this day, I have sent you untiringly all my servants the prophets. 
Yet they have not obeyed me nor paid heed; they have stiffened their necks and done worse than their fathers. 
When you speak all these words to them, they will not listen to you either; when you call to them, they will not answer you. 
Say to them: This is the nation which does not listen to the voice of the LORD, its God, or take correction. Faithfulness has disappeared; the word itself is banished from their speech. 

Gospel   Luke 11:14-23. 
Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed. 
Some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” 
Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. 
But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. 
And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. 
If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges.
But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 
When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. 
But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils.
Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” 

7/3/18   Wednesday of the Third week of Lent

First Reading   Book of Deuteronomy 4:1.5-9. 
Moses spoke to the people and said: “Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees which I am teaching you to observe, that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. 
Therefore, I teach you the statutes and decrees as the LORD, my God, has commanded me, that you may observe them in the land you are entering to occupy. 
Observe them carefully, for thus will you give evidence of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations, who will hear of all these statutes and say, ‘This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.’ 
For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us whenever we call upon him? 
Or what great nation has statutes and decrees that are as just as this whole law which I am setting before you today?” 
“However, take care and be earnestly on your guard not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your memory as long as you live, but teach them to your children and to your children’s children.” 

Gospel   Matthew 5:17-19. 
Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. 
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place. 
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” 

6/3/18   Tuesday of the Third week of Lent

First Reading   Book of Daniel 3:25.34-43. 
Azariah stood up in the fire and prayed aloud: 
“For your name’s sake, do not deliver us up forever, or make void your covenant. 
Do not take away your mercy from us, for the sake of Abraham, your beloved, Isaac your servant, and Israel your holy one, 
To whom you promised to multiply their offspring like the stars of heaven, or the sand on the shore of the sea. 
For we are reduced, O Lord, beyond any other nation, brought low everywhere in the world this day because of our sins. 
We have in our day no prince, prophet, or leader, no holocaust, sacrifice, oblation, or incense, no place to offer first fruits, to find favor with you. 
But with contrite heart and humble spirit let us be received; 
As though it were holocausts of rams and bullocks, or thousands of fat lambs, So let our sacrifice be in your presence today as we follow you unreservedly; for those who trust in you cannot be put to shame.
And now we follow you with our whole heart, we fear you and we pray to you. 
Do not let us be put to shame, but deal with us in your kindness and great mercy. 
Deliver us by your wonders, and bring glory to your name, O Lord” 

Gospel   Matthew 18:21-35. 
Peter approached Jesus and asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” 
Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.
That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who decided to settle accounts with his servants. 
When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount.
Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. 
At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.’
Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. 
When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, ‘Pay back what you owe.’
Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ 
But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt. 
Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair.
His master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. 
Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ 
Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should pay back the whole debt.
So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart.”

5/3/18  Monday of the Third week of Lent

First Reading  2nd book of Kings 5:1-15a. 
Naaman, the army commander of the king of Aram, was highly esteemed and respected by his master, for through him the LORD had brought victory to Aram. But valiant as he was, the man was a leper. 
Now the Arameans had captured from the land of Israel in a raid a little girl, who became the servant of Naaman’s wife. 
“If only my master would present himself to the prophet in Samaria,” she said to her mistress, “he would cure him of his leprosy.” 
Naaman went and told his lord just what the slave girl from the land of Israel had said. 
“Go,” said the king of Aram. “I will send along a letter to the king of Israel.” So Naaman set out, taking along ten silver talents, six thousand gold pieces, and ten festal garments. 
To the king of Israel he brought the letter, which read: “With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you, that you may cure him of his leprosy.” 
When he read the letter, the king of Israel tore his garments and exclaimed: “Am I a god with power over life and death, that this man should send someone to me to be cured of leprosy? Take note! You can see he is only looking for a quarrel with me!” 
When Elisha, the man of God, heard that the king of Israel had torn his garments, he sent word to the king: “Why have you torn your garments? Let him come to me and find out that there is a prophet in Israel.” 
Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. 
The prophet sent him the message: “Go and wash seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will heal, and you will be clean.” 
But Naaman went away angry, saying, “I thought that he would surely come out and stand there to invoke the LORD his God, and would move his hand over the spot, and thus cure the leprosy. 
Are not the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be cleansed?” With this, he turned about in anger and left. 
But his servants came up and reasoned with him. “My father,” they said, “if the prophet had told you to do something extraordinary, would you not have done it? All the more now, since he said to you, ‘Wash and be clean,’ should you do as he said.” 
So Naaman went down and plunged into the Jordan seven times at the word of the man of God. His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. 
He returned with his whole retinue to the man of God. On his arrival he stood before him and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel. Please accept a gift from your servant.” 

Gospel    Luke 4:24-30. 
Jesus said to the people in the synagogue at Nazareth: “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. 
Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land.
It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon.
Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” 
When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. 
They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. 
But he passed through the midst of them and went away. 

4/3/18   Third Sunday of Lent

First Reading   Book of Exodus 20:1-17. 
In those days, God delivered all these commandments : 
“I, the LORD, am your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery. 
You shall not have other gods besides me. 
You shall not carve idols for yourselves in the shape of anything in the sky above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth; 
you shall not bow down before them or worship them. For I, the LORD, your God, am a jealous God, inflicting punishment for their fathers’ wickedness on the children of those who hate me, down to the third and fourth generation; 
but bestowing mercy down to the thousandth generation, on the children of those who love me and keep my commandments. 
“You shall not take the name of the LORD, your God, in vain. For the LORD will not leave unpunished him who takes his name in vain. 
“Remember to keep holy the sabbath day. 
Six days you may labor and do all your work, 
but the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD, your God. No work may be done then either by you, or your son or daughter, or your male or female slave, or your beast, or by the alien who lives with you. 
In six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the LORD has blessed the sabbath day and made it holy. 
“Honor your father and your mother, that you may have a long life in the land which the LORD, your God, is giving you. 
“You shall not kill. 
“You shall not commit adultery. 
“You shall not steal. 
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male or female slave, nor his ox or ass, nor anything else that belongs to him.” 

Second Reading   First Letter to the Corinthians 1:22-25. 
Brothers and sisters: Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 
but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 
but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 
For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. 

Gospel   John 2:13-25. 
Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 
He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money-changers seated there.
He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables, 
and to those who sold doves he said, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.” 
His disciples recalled the words of scripture, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
At this the Jews answered and said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” 
Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.”
The Jews said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?”
But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 
Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they came to believe the scripture and the word Jesus had spoken. 
While he was in Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, many began to believe in his name when they saw the signs he was doing. 
But Jesus would not trust himself to them because he knew them all, 
and did not need anyone to testify about human nature. He himself understood it well.

3/3/18   Saturday of the Second week of Lent

First Reading    Book of Micah 7:14-15.18-20. 
Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your inheritance, That dwells apart in a woodland, in the midst of Carmel. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old; 
As in the days when you came from the land of Egypt, show us wonderful signs. 
Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt and pardons sin for the remnant of his inheritance; Who does not persist in anger forever, but delights rather in clemency, 
And will again have compassion on us, treading underfoot our guilt? You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins; 
You will show faithfulness to Jacob, and grace to Abraham, As you have sworn to our fathers from days of old. 

Gospel    Luke 15:1-3.11-32. 
Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, 
but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 
So to them he addressed this parable. 
Then he said, “A man had two sons, 
and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them. 
After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. 
When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. 
So he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine. 
And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but nobody gave him any. 
Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I, dying from hunger. 
I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 
I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”‘ 
So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him. 
His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son.’ 
But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 
Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, 
because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.’ Then the celebration began. 
Now the older son had been out in the field and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music and dancing. 
He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean. 
The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 
He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came out and pleaded with him. 
He said to his father in reply, ‘Look, all these years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. 
But when your son returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you slaughter the fattened calf.’ 
He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have is yours. 
But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.'”

2/3/18   Friday of the Second week of Lent

First Reading   Book of Genesis 37:3-4.12-13a.17b-28. 
Israel loved Joseph best of all his sons, for he was the child of his old age; and he had made him a long tunic. 
When his brothers saw that their father loved him best of all his sons, they hated him so much that they would not even greet him. 
One day, when his brothers had gone to pasture their father’s flocks at Shechem, 
Israel said to Joseph, “Your brothers, you know, are tending our flocks at Shechem. Get ready; I will send you to them.” “I am ready,” Joseph answered. 
The man told him, “They have moved on from here; in fact, I heard them say, ‘Let us go on to Dothan.'” So Joseph went after his brothers and caught up with them in Dothan. 
They noticed him from a distance, and before he came up to them, they plotted to kill him. 
They said to one another: “Here comes that master dreamer! 
Come on, let us kill him and throw him into one of the cisterns here; we could say that a wild beast devoured him. We shall then see what comes of his dreams.” 
When Reuben heard this, he tried to save him from their hands, saying: “We must not take his life. 
Instead of shedding blood,” he continued, “just throw him into that cistern there in the desert; but don’t kill him outright.” His purpose was to rescue him from their hands and restore him to his father. 
So when Joseph came up to them, they stripped him of the long tunic he had on; 
then they took him and threw him into the cistern, which was empty and dry. 
They then sat down to their meal. Looking up, they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, their camels laden with gum, balm and resin to be taken down to Egypt. 
Judah said to his brothers: “What is to be gained by killing our brother and concealing his blood? 
Rather, let us sell him to these Ishmaelites, instead of doing away with him ourselves. After all, he is our brother, our own flesh.” His brothers agreed. 
They sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. Some Midianite traders passed by, and they pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and took him to Egypt. 

Gospel   Matthew 21:33-43.45-46. 
Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: “Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. 
When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce.
But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned. 
Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. 
Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’ 
But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’ They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?” 
They answered him, “He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times.”
Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the scriptures: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes’?
Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they knew that he was speaking about them. And although they were attempting to arrest him, they feared the crowds, for they regarded him as a prophet.

 

First Reading   Book of Jeremiah 17:5-10. 
Thus says the LORD: Cursed is the man who trusts in human beings, who seeks his strength in flesh, whose heart turns away from the LORD. 
He is like a barren bush in the desert that enjoys no change of season, But stands in a lava waste, a salt and empty earth. 
Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose hope is the LORD. 
He is like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream: It fears not the heat when it comes, its leaves stay green; In the year of drought it shows no distress, but still bears fruit. 
More tortuous than all else is the human heart, beyond remedy; who can understand it? 
I, the LORD, alone probe the mind and test the heart, To reward everyone according to his ways, according to the merit of his deeds. 

Gospel   Luke 16:19-31. 
Jesus said to the Pharisees: “There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 
who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.’ 
Abraham replied, ‘My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. 
Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.’  He said, ‘Then I beg you, father, send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.’ 
But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’ 
He said, ‘Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
Then Abraham said, ‘If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'”

 

  這事怎能成就​​

瑪利亞的故事我們都耳熟能詳，不過，要在自己的生命路上，相信天主的同行，有時實在難以接受。小時候，我們可能會置信不疑，但當長大後，我們又會不太相信。所以，每年將臨期，教會再次提醒我們，要相信瑪利亞的故事繼續成為事實，因為「在天主前沒有不能的事。」（路1:37）準備迎接聖誕，就是準備自己，加強信德，重溫瑪利亞所說「照你的話成就於我罷」（路1:38）的事蹟；同時，也是重溫我們領洗時說過「我願意」的事實。如果昔日瑪利亞因接受天主的邀請，使歷史產生難以置信的改變；同樣，今天當我們說「願照你的話成就於我罷」，也能為世界帶來不可思議的改變，使天主與人同在的許諾繼續在我們的生命中成真。 ​​面對人心的頑硬，體制的腐化，或者難以逆轉的潮流風氣，或許我們會想：我只是千千萬萬中的一個，我接受天主的邀請算什麼？我的生命改變又算什麼？的確，我們單獨一個是一無所能，但說不定我們就是那改變世界的現況，促使天國臨現的最後一片雪花呢？說不定我們就是將黑暗化為光明的曙光呢？只要我們也向天主說：「願照你的話成就於我罷！」天主就再一次以超乎我們所能想像的方式成為血肉，而世界會知道，在天主前沒有不可能的事。​

    Third Sunday of Advent         Sunday 17 December 2017​​​ 閻德龍神父​   為信仰作証 任何一套電影，當主角未出場前，一定由一些配角先出現，藉以襯托主角的重要性。今日是將臨期第三主日，我們會看到一位重要人物──洗者若翰。  若望福音記載了司祭和肋未人四次詢問若翰他究竟是誰？讓我們也問問自己：除了工作、照顧家庭、善盡自己日常職務之外，作為基督徒，我們在生活中還需扮演著甚麼角色？ ​

    Second Sunday of Advent         Sunday 10 December 2017​​ 吳智勳神父​   ​將臨的意思是期待主的來臨。今日三篇讀經都提到這問題，但每篇的意義卻不同。首先，依撒意亞先知書提到的將臨，發生於公元前六世紀，當時以色列人正處於流亡期間，先知給他們說：「你們的天主來了」，一切痛苦會成為過去。但事實上，這喜訊只應驗了一半。以色列人雖然重回故地，卻不感到光彩，眼底一片荒涼，始終不能立國。不久，他們又被希臘人、羅馬人統治。他們懷疑：究竟天主來了沒有？​ 現在我們信基督，也相信祂會再來，但實際上等了二千年祂還未來，於是，末日這個基督再來的日子，在一般人眼中成了一件遙遠的事；也有人以死亡去談論基督的來臨，可是對一般人，特別是年輕人來說，死亡是遙不可及的；因此，等候基督來臨的心態，依然不受重視。 現代人生活節拍緊湊，事事講求快捷與效率。了解到現代人這種不喜歡等待的心態，教會今天強調基督「現今」的來臨：譬如在聖事中、在基督徒團聚及祈禱時；既然耶穌每天都來到我們的生活中，我們就應有理由、有動機以聖潔、虔敬的生活去回應，正如伯多祿後書說：「過著沒有瑕疵的生活，使你們見天主時便安然無懼」。因此，末日何時來已不重要，常講末日，可能令人無進取精神，最重要是能夠把握現在。 ​但問題是：誰能過無瑕疵的生活呢？耶穌曾問：「誰沒有罪的先投石」。倘若今天耶穌問：「沒有罪的站出來。」又有誰敢踏出一步呢？因此，聖經不斷提醒我們：人犯罪是事實。若望在書信中說：「誰說自己沒有罪，是個撒謊者，在他內是沒有真理。」保祿也有類似的話：「所有人都犯了罪。」因此，問題不在乎我們有否犯罪，而在乎我們這些有罪的人能否悔改。若翰洗者的呼喚，就是叫人悔改，並以外在的生活，配合內心的皈依。即使已皈依的人，總能夠以不斷的皈依做得更好。​

​ 耶穌在今天福音中講述的小比喻，也是關於等待：那站在門口的看門人或勤雜工，必須畢恭畢敬，一直等到主人回家為止。因為老闆沒有交待確切回家的時間，所以看門人必須醒寤守候，哪怕一直等到半夜或者凌晨為止。等待要求我們保持警醒。在十字路口等綠燈的駕車人，會目不轉睛地盯著交通號誌，以便一但轉綠就能往前行駛。在生產線上，工人們必須全神貫注地確保裝配過程的每一步驟都準確到位。在家裡等候貴客來訪的人，一定會特別豎起耳朵，注意傾聽門鈴的聲音。 　　我們在今天所過的生活裡，經常需要保持警醒。驅車在公路上，短短幾秒鐘的不留神，可能會造成車毀人亡的事故。因此，耶穌對我們的要求依舊是：提高警惕！ 　　然而耶穌所指的，不僅僅侷限於我們開車時或在裝配線上要提高警惕；我們首當關注我們的鄰人。遇上關懷他人利益的人總是一件欣慰的事，他們留意別人的需要，常能噓寒問暖、感同身受。 　　​我們在生命中保持警醒，就意味著要時刻擦亮眼睛、調適好心神，不只是把注意力集中在我們自己身上，不只是光看到我們自己。惟有度這種醒寤生活，才能真正地振奮人心、活出意義。

​​

​基督普世君王節是一個現代教會的瞻禮。在這劇趨俗化的社會裡，天主愈來愈好像無分參與了。人們以為自己以科技可以解決一切問題。倫理道德只屬個人良心；宗教不該與經濟、政治、教育、藝術拉上關係。甚至不少信徒也以為，信仰的要求只是定時去教堂，敬禮。  教會訂立了這瞻禮是為提醒信徒們，不要讓信仰與生活脫節。信仰應該是一切行動的動機和嚮導；他們的使命是做地上的鹽、世界的光。我們念「願你的國來臨」時，也就是這個意思。  在禮儀改革中，基督普世君王節從本來的十月底，被移至禮儀年的最後一個主日。禮儀年的末段富有末世意義，在基督身上也就特別強調「在末世得光榮降來審判萬民的君王」。甲年瑪竇福音的章節當然最適用不過了。  瑪竇在這段福音裡稱耶穌為人子、天父之子、主、君王、牧者、判官。在多個民族的古代文化中，君王也稱為牧者。耶穌又用牧者的行動來形容末世的審判，所以第一讀經用厄則克耳先知的話來描寫君王——牧者：祂是善牧，祂「尋找」、「照顧」、「聚集」、「帶領」、「療養」、「牧放」、「看守」祂的羊。尤其關鍵的是則三十四:17，吾主上主這樣說：「我的羊群啊，關於你們，看，我要在羊與羊，綿羊與山羊之間施行審判。」  ​其實，牧者到傍晚把綿羊和山羊分開，是一個實際需要；山羊比較怕冷，而綿羊卻喜歡新鮮空氣。聖經借用這行動來象徵善人、惡人的區分。  在天主方面，人類本是合一不分的，祂救恩的計劃包羅所有的人。「基督從死者中實在復活了，做了死者的初果……在基督內眾人都要復活」（讀經二）；是人的自主把自己分裂了，有人接納「屬於基督」，有人拒絕「屬於基督」。  ​聖經專家米蘭總主教馬帝尼樞機說：我們不要強調福音無意強調的問題。在這描寫得很生動的最後審判的景象裡，我們要吸取教訓的核心：君王的命令（來吧，去吧！）、解釋（因為……）、被審判者的質問（我們幾時……？）無非是為襯扎出最後的答案：「我實在告訴你們，凡你們對我這些最小兄弟中的一個做的，就是對我做的。」「凡你們沒有給這些最小中的一個做的，便是沒有給我做。」  這是一個多麼使人驚奇的教訓。耶穌竟把整套倫理道德簡化成「愛弱小者」的誡命，甚至在愛人時並不意識到主的臨在也不要緊，只要你「為我的兄弟中最小的一位做的，就是為我做了」，就有名分「來享受我從永遠準備了的幸福」。  信仰和生活不該脫節，信仰的核心是愛的誡命。在社會中實踐愛德，也就是擁護基督君王的王權。 ​​

​金幣的原文是Talent，也譯作「塔冷通」，是用作衡量貴重物品重量的單位。在當時，一個月工作也不能賺取一個。比喻中，Talent有才能之意，但主要含意並非指不要埋沒才能，而是指天主予人不同的恩寵與才能，要人去建設天國，使世界多一份愛心，使社會多一分溫暖。領受才能愈多的人，對建設天國的責任愈大。 每人就其所受的恩寵去拓展天國，沒有人在天國的建立上是完全沒用處的。天主按我們的能力與處境作出要求。天主不會要求老人家去教授聖經、去探訪病人，卻會要求他們與兒孫有良好關係，忍耐、少發牢騷和體諒年輕人，做個快樂的老人。天主要求中年人減少野心及對名利的追求，多重視與家人共聚。對年輕人則不會要求每天數小時祈禱、做善工，卻要求他們尊敬長輩，不要無所事事，要求節約，節制各式各樣的慾念，少講論別人長短等等。由此可知，凡在生活中能讓人看出基督徒價值的，就是在參與建設天國。 ​比喻中提到僕人賺取了多一倍的金幣，但主人並沒有取回或與他對分，而是要他管更多的事，使我們知道不可在建設崗位上停下來，說已經做夠了，這正是「凡有的還要給他」之意。建設天國的果實，不能用數目計算。比喻中對賺五個金幣和賺兩個的，所得到的讚賞並沒有分別，因為天國的財富並非以數目衡量。 這比喻有助我們作出常年期的總結，讓我們反省一下在實際生活中，天主賞賜自己的恩寵，並反省自己如何利用天主的恩寵與才能。一年中天主使我們的知識增加了，技能純熟了，經驗豐富了。我們曾利用這些恩賜為主作了些甚麼？在這禮儀年中，差不多讀完了整部瑪竇福音，我們得著了甚麼？最深感受是甚麼？抑或早已忘記得一乾二淨？若是如此，我們就像比喻中第三個僕人，把天主的聖言埋在地下了。在為主建設天國上，我們可以自問：我曾為天主做了甚麼？現在能為天主做些甚麼？將來又能為天主做些甚麼？​

瑪竇筆下的法利塞人和經師，是耶穌經常嚴厲批評的一群。他們身為宗教領袖，但作風與一般民間領袖沒有兩樣，日常「喜歡穿上長袍遊行，在街上受人請安，在會堂裡坐上座，在筵席上坐首席，他們吞沒了寡婦的家產，而以長久的祈禱作掩飾。」〈谷12：38-40〉不知是否有人為法利塞人和經師抱不平？自己作為一個神父，身份雖然有點不同，也明白在教會生活中，上座或首席有時是難以避免的。曾經堅持不接受上座或首席，結果謙遜不成，反令主人家尶介。 細讀福音的上文下理，發現耶穌其實無反對當時的宗教制度或訓導權威。縱使不滿法利塞人和經師的表現，衪從沒有叫人不尊重他們的權威，反之，衪說：「凡他們對你們所說的，你們要行要守。」〈瑪23：3〉. 耶穌似乎亦認同信仰的傳遞，須要建制與權威，以確保信仰的一脈相承。 ​耶穌嚴厲批評的，只是信仰與建制的本末倒置。身為宗教領袖，法利塞人和經師理應運用自己的權威，更有效地服務信仰。然而，「他們把沉重而難以負荷的擔子捆好，放在人的肩上，自己卻不肯用一個指頭動一下。」〈瑪23：4〉難怪耶穌不留情面的批評他們。同樣，以色列人的司祭，職責是帶領百姓光榮天主的聖名。不過，瑪拉基亞先知時代的司祭，只關心自己的名號，從不把光榮天主的事放在心上。結果亦招致先知的警告：「我必使詛咒臨到你們身上，必使你們的祝福變為詛咒，我已詛咒了，因為你們中誰也沒有把這事放在心上。」〈拉2：2〉 由此可見，耶穌在福音中叫我們不要稱人為師傅，父親或導師，目的不是反對教會團體中設立教宗，神父或神學家等「高位」。衪提醒我們，教會內須要建制及權威，其實是為了服務信仰，而不是利用信仰。如果我們願意在團體中成為大的，讓我們首先去修和異己，治療創傷，服務群體。 在天主的救恩工程中，縱使有人蒙召去宣講福音，服務聖言，施行聖事，祈禱赦罪，彼此卻是兄弟姊妹，並無先後高低之分。一如保祿宗徒，教會所有的權威，都應視自己的職務「像撫育自己孩子的母親。」〈得前12：7〉如此，「高位」只會教人感恩，而不會令人得意忘形，本末倒置。​

  吳智勳神父

比喻本身看似有許多犯駁、不合理的地方。我們會問：究竟有沒有如此野蠻的佃戶？在我們心目中，只有無良地主欺負農民，很少會有兇惡農民欺負地主，所以比喻的故事在現實環境中似乎不太可能發生。我們又會懷疑到底有沒有如此愚蠢的地主，他明知佃戶的行為像流氓，但派遣僕人去時，竟然沒有派其他人同去；而派兒子去時，也沒有派人去保護他，簡直是送羊入虎口。按當時的習慣，如果地主沒有繼承人，那麼租用田地的住客，便可以佔有那些土地，難怪佃戶那麼興奮要殺害主人的兒子。 我們不能用今天的邏輯去看這故事，因為整個比喻是救恩史的縮影。天主特別優待以色列人，為他們開墾了葡萄園，圍上籬笆，掘了榨酒池，築了瞭望台。這一切都是當時以色列人夢寐以求的東西。天主如此賞識以色列人，並不是因為他們了不起，他們只是個弱小的民族，不能和中國、印度、埃及、巴比倫、希臘、羅馬等著名古國相比。這是天主的選擇，天主的恩寵，沒有其他理由。 天主揀選了他們之後，對他們極端信任，由他們全權負責自己的產業。當自己派去的使者被鞭打、被殺害後，天主仍懷著信心，希望他們回頭；最後還本著愛心，派自己的兒子去，希望用愛去贏取他們，結果連兒子也被殺。故事中耶穌迫使當權者回答該怎麼做，讓他們定自己的罪。故事一方面定了當權者的罪，另一方面留有餘地，保留他們回頭皈依的機會。耶穌總是等待他們歸來。 故事中佃戶的行為極不合理，可是不合理的事偏偏會發生。人的罪本身就是不合理、不合邏輯的。天主當日優待了以色列人，今天天主同樣優待了我們，賜我們恩寵，使我們能夠接納祂。可是，我們有感受到這份恩寵的可貴嗎？ 我在中國大陸曾有過趕火車的經驗，當時候車室已擠滿人，候車的乘客只好在火車站外的空地上等候，黑壓壓的坐滿一大群人，而我要在人群中穿插，才能到火車站內。其間我強烈的感受到作為基督徒的幸運。天主為甚麼選擇了我，而沒有選擇我眼前的一大群人？在十二億中國人中，基督徒佔不到百分之一，我作了甚麼，值得天主一再照顧？此後，每當處身於人群之中，感恩之心往往油然而生。

蔡惠民神父 七十個七次

很多人假設信仰生活應該是喜樂平安，恬靜自然。幾時遇到困擾、不安、憂慮或掙扎，直覺便以為這是信德薄弱的後果，心想只要多祈禱，加增信仰，煩惱便會得到化解。 不過，以耶肋米亞先知的經驗為例，信仰的道路不一定是平坦安穩。首先，先知是在不情願之下接受天主的邀請：「上主，你引誘了我，我讓我自己受了你的引 誘；你確實比我強，你戰勝了。」(耶20：9)先知的信仰旅程原來是充滿抗拒和掙扎。保祿亦認為，作耶穌的門徒也不是一條安穩輕鬆的道路：「你們不可與此世同化，反而應該以更新的心思變化自己，為使你們能辨別甚麼是天主的旨意。」(羅2：2) 同樣，伯多祿也經過一番掙扎才明白跟隨耶穌的代價。當他被立為宗徒之長不久，他便對耶穌所預言的掙扎、挫敗，甚至被殺害提出異議：「主，千萬不可，這事絕不會臨到你身上！」(瑪16：22)但耶穌斥責他說：「撒殫，退到我後面去！你是我的絆腳石，因為你所體會的，不是天主的事，而是人的事。」(瑪16：23)縱觀前人的經驗，跟隨耶穌要付出代價。這代價就是甘願放棄對舒適、安穩和嘉許的渴求，放棄物質社會的成功或幸福標準，並甘願接受因愛而帶來的承擔與犧牲。 由此可見，信仰的記號絕不是一般人所假設的溫馨、舒適、甚至浪漫，反之，跟隨耶穌往往使人陷於惶恐，毫無安全感當中。尤其當我們完全信賴天主的時候，手中好像沒有甚麼可以抓緊時，天堂與地獄只是一線之差而已。 如果信仰的道路不是一條平坦大道，難怪耶穌在社會大眾當中不容易找到認同。社會輿論喜歡質疑教會某些紀律或堅持過於嚴苛或不切實際。例如每當有神職人員的性醜聞曝光，司鐸的獨身傳統照例又會引起責難；幾時電視傳來教宗老態畢現、行動不便的畫面，戀棧權勢的指摘又會不絕於耳；遇上教會為履行公義而逆流而上，高聲疾呼時，不明其解者以為教會是爭取出位，另有企圖。 ​明白信仰的代價是一回事，願意付出又是另一回事。這種貪圖安逸，避免犧牲的想法也潛伏在教會群體內，伺機而動。面對信仰無止境的邀請，迂迴曲折的道路，人總有疑惑軟弱的一刻。為此，我們不需為教會內天下烏鴉一樣黑的情況而沮喪。教會與眾不同的地方，就好像伯多祿一樣，縱有不明白，不想接受的時刻，但總不放棄相信。當耶穌責斥他的想法不是天主的想法後，他並無離開，而是退到耶穌後面去。雖然在惶恐中，他始終跟隨耶穌進入耶路撒冷；雖然在昏睡中，他始終陪著耶穌在革責瑪尼山園渡過惶恐的一夜；雖然躲在膽怯的人群中，他始終走在耶穌的苦路後面遠遠注視；雖然因出賣耶穌而滿面羞慚，他始終在晚餐廳靜候祂的顯現。 如果天主願意我們在信仰中掙扎而成長，刻意迴避，只會使我們的生命變得萎縮無力。讓我們不拒絕困難，因為困難使人變得堅強；讓我們不逃避問題，因為問題的解決使人變得智慧。

 

  這段福音事蹟的一般解釋便是，耶穌基督要通過新舊約代表們的臨在，建立一個新人類，使這新團體，通過普世及地方教會，建基在全人類的愛上。所以天父才會說：你們要從祂！

今天耶穌再給我們講另外三個比喻：隱藏的財寶，寶貴的珍珠，以及撒網捕魚的比喻。然後耶穌又對這些比喻作一整體性反省。 前兩個比喻強調發現真價值的喜樂：一個人在田地裡發現了隱藏起來的財寶，欣喜萬分，就變賣他的財產，買下這塊土地；一個商人到處尋找寶貴的珍珠，一旦找到一顆貴重的，就賣掉自己的一切而買下這顆珍珠。

一個人發現自己的聖召，與天主共融及愛近人的召煥，是何等的重要！基督徒們必須努力去發現他們的召叫，天主對他們生命的計畫。一旦發現了，就必會充滿喜樂的，願意放棄該當放棄的一切，而去購買那寶藏，即所謂的天主的計畫。當一個人明白天主造他的目的何在，天主為他預定了什麼命運，也就知道他找到了生命中最重要的事情，並充滿喜樂。

讓兩樣一起長到收割的時候好了 曾經聽過以下一個故事：一天，天主去到天堂，驚訝地看到那裏人山人海，便向伯多祿查詢：「伯多祿，伯多祿，為甚麼有這麼多人來到這裏？」伯多祿回答說：「哦，因為?沒有將惡人剷除，所以，善人、惡人全部都到這裏來了！」天主說：「不行，不行，我們要將犯罪的、作惡的趕出去！」過了一段時間，天主又再到訪天堂，但這回天堂竟沒有幾個人，冷清清的。天主又向伯多祿查詢：「天堂為甚麼如此冷清？」伯多祿答：「天主，因為上次?說過那曾犯罪和作惡的，都要被請離開這裏。於是，絕大部份的人都離開了。」天主見到如斯境況，便說：「唉，算了吧！雖然他們犯了罪，但如果他們有一份懺悔的心，知錯改過，就讓他們到這裏來罷！」  的確，如果天主要剷除一切罪人和惡人，我們無一能夠倖免。可幸的是天主寬宏、容忍，對於我們的過犯，祂不斤斤計較，只期待我們不斷皈依，重新做人。今日福音講論「莠子的比喻」，說天國好像一個人在田裡撒了好種子，但他的仇人潛來，在麥子中間撒上莠子。那人發現了，並沒有立刻將莠子拔除，因怕會連麥子也毀掉。他願意等待收割的時候，把麥子收藏，把莠子捆好，投去焚燒。  從「莠子的比喻」中，讓我們也學習主人的包容和等待。雖然我們見到某些人做了壞事，仍能逍遙法外；我們或會奇怪上主怎麼不處罰那些壞人，不處理那些不公義或罪惡的事情。我們常有一種急不及待的心態，只認定自己的想法及處理方法最為恰當，常要求立即處理事情，往往不願意給予自己及他人改過的機會。  在天主心目中，祂耐心地讓一切繼續發展，直至那完滿時刻的來臨。天主按照祂所預定的計劃，讓一切人得到最好的恩賜。天主讓我們的信仰接受考驗，以證實我們對天主的忠信。我們要在家庭裏、工作間、社會中，時刻努力活出信仰，並懷著謙虛的心，將自己的生命交在上主手中，讓祂帶領。我們不要自作聰明或自以為是，「一刀切」的要求天主將所有壞人、壞事剷除。經驗告訴我們：許多人（包括我們自己）是善中有惡，惡中帶善的。善惡並不如我們所想的黑白分明。天主既然容忍人類，讓善惡並存，為何我們還是認為自己比天主更精明，強要天主按我們的想法去做？ 

撒種的比喻 類似這樣簡短的比喻，應該可以回溯到歷史中的耶穌口中，其意義應該在宣講天國的背景下來了解；比喻的重點並不在於「撒種者」或不同的「地形」，而是代表天國的「種子」。耶穌在宣講天國的過程中，也許會遭遇到挫折，因為人們沒有從他的話中察覺天國的臨在。撒種的比喻先對「失敗」做了相當詳細的描述，但重點則是最後的豐碩成果。耶穌有關天國的宣講，就有如撒下的種子是有效力的，因為天主一直在工作，不論有多少困難阻撓，天主的國必要實現。

有耳的，聽吧！  比喻表達出天國的兩個特徵：一方面天國的來臨是天主的許諾和作為；另一方面，天國並不強迫人接受，因此比喻以「有耳的，聽吧！」作為結束，這是一個呼召，邀請大家相信、接受福音喜訊。

為什麼講「比喻」？  耶穌對群眾講完比喻後，轉而向門徒們解釋祂為什麼說比喻（10-17），由其內容可以判斷，這些話是針對不相信的猶太人而說的。這段經文反映初期教會在耶穌復活事件之後，便開始把比喻應用於不同的具體情況下。在猶太文化中，比喻的目的原本是借用一些圖像好更有效的闡明事物的意義，這應該也是耶穌說比喻的用意；但是，初期教會卻把它用來解釋一個難以理解的事實：為什麼大多數的猶太人不接受耶穌的啟示。 天國的奧妙是只給門徒們知道的，因為「凡有的，還要給他，使他富足；但是，凡沒有的，連他所有的，也要由他奪去。」此為聖經中常見的「被動」表達方式，說明這是天主的作為：只有相信的人才會了解，而且天主要賞賜他們更深的領悟；那些自我封閉的人，不但無法明白，而且將陷入更深的無知中。 對瑪竇而言，凡是不屬於門徒團體的人，便是不能明白的人。他們雖然看到、聽見、也經驗了在耶穌身上所實現的救援，但卻封閉了自己的眼和耳，這是他們自己的過錯，因此耶穌只用「比喻」對他們說話。作者引用依撒意亞書六9-10的經文，目的針對「百姓的心遲鈍」提出一個神學性的解釋。他認為猶太人民的心硬，正應驗了先知的話；換句話說，這原是天主的計劃，使一切的理解及悔改成為不可能的事。 與眼耳被蒙蔽的猶太人對立的，是耶穌的門徒團體。耶穌稱讚門徒們的眼和耳有福，因為他們看見並聽見「先知和義人」所期望的，也就是耶穌所實現的救援。初期基督徒肯定，門徒們不僅了解而且相信了這一切。 撒種比喻的解釋 既然比喻的功用在於借助共同的日常生活經驗，來說明較深奧的事理，因此比喻本來是不需要解釋的。所以學者們大多主張，18-23節中的比喻的解釋，應該是初期教會對撒種的比喻更進一步的應用。 在這個解釋中，重點不再是「話語」（種子）；它寓意式的指出「撒種者」代表初期教會中的宣講者，而種子的「命運」則被具體的用來描述聽眾對天國的話語，有著不同的接受態度。整個解釋充滿了警告及教導性的用語，「結果實」的意義不再指天國的圓滿實現，而是指基督徒的忠實信仰和良好倫理生活。這一切，反映了初期教會的福傳宣講情況；在這個時期，天國即將來臨、緊迫的「末世思想」已經淡化，隨之而來的具體問題是該如何在現世中好好生活，因此福傳的重點轉移為「倫理勸導」。 初期教會把撒種的比喻應用到福傳宣講上，教會的宣講者成為比喻的講述者，其對象則是教會團體。比喻成為一個勸諭性的宣講，積極肯定並激勵基督徒善度信仰生活。   14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A) Sunday 09 July 2017

今日的福音分為兩部分：第一部分是耶穌的祈禱，感謝天父對人的啟示；第二部分是耶穌邀請門徒學習祂良善心謙。 　祈禱最能透露天主與人之間的關係。如果我想知道別人的信仰狀況，我會先問他的祈禱生活。耶穌的祈禱透露出祂與天父獨特的關係；祂稱天主為「父」，在祂以前，沒有猶太人敢用此親密的語氣稱呼天主。 　聖經裡其中一個重大的啟示就是：除非經過耶穌，沒有人可以真正認識天父。天父對人的完整計劃是藉耶穌去啟示，其他的啟示只是局部的、片面的，惟有在耶穌身上，才有圓滿的啟示。可惜這個圓滿啟示，並非人人接納；耶穌慨歎有智慧和聰明的人拒絕祂，反而簡單純樸的人接受祂。 　我不相信耶穌的宣講只有愚夫愚婦聽得明，反而有學問的經師及法利塞人聽不明白。聖經也提到門徒不明耶穌所講，而經師等人聽出耶穌的話是針對他們。所以，問題不是理智上的了解與否，而是心靈上是否接納。耶穌並非譴責聰明而讚美愚蠢，祂譴責由聰明而產生的驕傲與抗拒，祂稱讚由承認自己的不足而產生的謙遜與依賴。 　經師與法利塞人的驕傲，使他們無法接受一個木匠出身的耶穌。他們明白耶穌的宣講，會改變他們的價值觀，能令他們利益受損，地位不穩，故在深思熟慮後拒絕了。反而老百姓沒有理智上、心態上、物質上的障礙，得以自由地欣賞及接納耶穌的宣講，耶穌為此而感謝天父。 　跟著，耶穌邀請人安息在祂內。祂特別邀請「勞苦和負重擔的人」，這並不是指體力勞動的工人，而是指當時為守好法律的大小要求，而弄到自己心力交瘁的人。安息在祂內的秘訣就是學習祂的「良善心謙」。人若能以溫良的善心去生活而又謙虛的依賴天主，他的心靈必會得到安息。耶穌用貼切的比喻去描述這安息的狀況：柔和的軛和輕鬆的擔子。軛是放在動物身上用以耕田的器具，柔和有稱身的意思。耶穌給我們的軛總是稱身的，擔子是輕快的，原因是我們良善心謙，充滿著對基督的愛。有了愛，面前的世界都改變了；缺乏愛，連主日彌撒都會變成難以負荷的重擔，人會頻頻看錶，神父講道時，自己不停打呵欠，哪裡會有安息？ 　讓我們記得耶穌為我們向天父祈禱，希望我們以赤子之心去接納祂，因為只有通過祂，我們才能認識天父。從古到今，人想盡種種方法接觸神明：占卜、星相、靈媒，或加上科學包裝的新方法。耶穌的啟示簡單直接，只有通過祂，才能認識天父。在這個常使人心緒不寧的時代，讓我們接受耶穌的邀請，過良善心謙的生活，必能安息在主內。即使我們跌倒，也只會倒在基督的懷裡。

Sunday 25 June 2017     Jack Ho       在生活的許多事情上我們也許覺得自己很渺小，其實在天主的眼中我們非常的貴重。在福傳的道路上，我們也許會碰到許多的挫折，但耶穌是我們的力量，祂使我們強大！

現今的社會有差不多七十億的人口，我們也許在這茫茫人海中像微不足道的麻雀一樣感覺特別的渺小，獨自一人在生命的強風和時間的流逝中感到無助。有時我們也許感覺自己像麻雀一樣常見，根 本沒有價值。我們也許認為，這樣渺小的我們靠自己的力量完全無法在福傳事業上盡一份力！

的身上。在馬竇福音裡我們聽到了耶穌的回應：『你們不要害怕！』 其實我們在天主眼裡並不渺小。我們每一位都是天主揀選的子民，在洗禮中領受了君王，司祭和先知的職務。我們每一個人都有責任在現今的亂世中代天主發言，傳揚一個新的價值觀，一個以愛為主的價值觀。天主確實與我們同在，就如福音所說的『就是你們的頭髮，天父也一一數過。』我們如果把天主作為生活的中心，倚靠祂的力量，我們其實是強大的！ 

First Reading          Isaiah 40:25-31. 
To whom can you liken me as an equal? says the Holy One. 
Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these: He leads out their army and numbers them, calling them all by name. By his great might and the strength of his power not one of them is missing! 
Why, O Jacob, do you say, and declare, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD, and my right is disregarded by my God”? 
Do you not know or have you not heard? The LORD is the eternal God, creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint nor grow weary, and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny. 
He gives strength to the fainting; for the weak he makes vigor abound. 
Though young men faint and grow weary, and youths stagger and fall, 
They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagles’ wings; They will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint. 

Gospel             Matthew 11:28-30. 
Jesus said to the crowds: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

First  Reading         Isaiah 40:1-11

‘Console my people, console them,’ says your God.

‘Speak to the heart of Jerusalem and cry to her that her period of service is ended, that her guilt has been atoned for, that, from the hand of Yahweh, she has received double punishment for all her sins.’

A voice cries, ‘Prepare in the desert a way for Yahweh. Make a straight highway for our God across the wastelands. Let every valley be filled in, every mountain and hill be levelled, every cliff become a plateau, every escarpment a plain; then the glory of Yahweh will be revealed and all humanity will see it together, for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken.’ A voice said, ‘Cry aloud!’ and I said, ‘What shall I cry?’ -‘All humanity is grass and all its beauty like the wild flower’s. The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of Yahweh blows on them. (The grass is surely the people.) The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God remains forever.’ Go up on a high mountain, messenger of Zion. Shout as loud as you can, messenger of Jerusalem! Shout fearlessly, say to the towns of Judah, ‘Here is your God.’

Here is Lord Yahweh coming with power, his arm maintains his authority, his reward is with him and his prize precedes him. He is like a shepherd feeding his flock, gathering lambs in his arms, holding them against his breast and leading to their rest the mother ewes.

Gospel            Matthew 18:12-14

‘Tell me. Suppose a man has a hundred sheep and one of them strays; will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go in search of the stray?

In truth I tell you, if he finds it, it gives him more joy than do the ninety-nine that did not stray at all.

Similarly, it is never the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.

I, John, saw another angel come up from the East, holding the seal of the living God. He cried out in a loud voice to the four angels who were given power to damage the land and the sea, 
“Do not damage the land or the sea or the trees until we put the seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” 
I heard the number of those who had been marked with the seal, one hundred and forty-four thousand marked from every tribe of the Israelites: 
After this I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. 
They cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne, and from the Lamb.” 
All the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They prostrated themselves before the throne, worshiped God, 
and exclaimed: “Amen. Blessing and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving, honor, power, and might be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” 
Then one of the elders spoke up and said to me, “Who are these wearing white robes, and where did they come from?” 

Beloved: See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 
Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 

12/10/17

First Reading       Malachi 3:13-20a. 
You have defied me in word, says the LORD, yet you ask, “What have we spoken against you?” 
You have said, “It is vain to serve God, and what do we profit by keeping his command, And going about in penitential dress in awe of the LORD of hosts? 
Rather must we call the proud blessed; for indeed evildoers prosper, and even tempt God with impunity.” 
Then they who fear the LORD spoke with one another, and the LORD listened attentively; And a record book was written before him of those who fear the LORD and trust in his name. 
And they shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, my own special possession, on the day I take action. And I will have compassion on them, as a man has compassion on his son who serves him. 
Then you will again see the distinction between the just and the wicked; Between him who serves God, and him who does not serve him. 
For lo, the day is coming, blazing like an oven, when all the proud and all evildoers will be stubble, And the day that is coming will set them on fire, leaving them neither root nor branch, says the LORD of hosts. 

10/10/17

First Reading     Jonah 3:1-10. 
The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: 
“Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and announce to it the message that I will tell you.” 
So Jonah made ready and went to Nineveh, according to the LORD’S bidding. Now Nineveh was an enormously large city; it took three days to go through it. 
Jonah began his journey through the city, and had gone but a single day’s walk announcing, “Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed,” 
when the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth. 
When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in the ashes. 
Then he had this proclaimed throughout Nineveh, by decree of the king and his nobles: “Neither man nor beast, neither cattle nor sheep, shall taste anything; they shall not eat, nor shall they drink water. 
Man and beast shall be covered with sackcloth and call loudly to God; every man shall turn from his evil way and from the violence he has in hand. 
Who knows, God may relent and forgive, and withhold his blazing wrath, so that we shall not perish.” 

First Reading     Jonah 1:1-16.2:1.11. 
This is the word of the LORD that came to Jonah, son of Amittai: 
“Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and preach against it; their wickedness has come up before me.” 
But Jonah made ready to flee to Tarshish away from the LORD. He went down to Joppa, found a ship going to Tarshish, paid the fare, and went aboard to journey with them to Tarshish, away from the LORD. 
The LORD, however, hurled a violent wind upon the sea, and in the furious tempest that arose the ship was on the point of breaking up. 
Then the mariners became frightened and each one cried to his god. To lighten the ship for themselves, they threw its cargo into the sea. Meanwhile, Jonah had gone down into the hold of the ship, and lay there fast asleep. 
The captain came to him and said, “What are you doing asleep? Rise up, call upon your God! Perhaps God will be mindful of us so that we may not perish.” 
Then they said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots to find out on whose account we have met with this misfortune.” So they cast lots, and thus singled out Jonah. 
“Tell us,” they said, “what is your business? Where do you come from? What is your country, and to what people do you belong?” 
“I am a Hebrew,” Jonah answered them; “I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” 
Now the men were seized with great fear and said to him, “How could you do such a thing!”–They knew that he was fleeing from the LORD, because he had told them.– 
“What shall we do with you,” they asked, “that the sea may quiet down for us?” For the sea was growing more and more turbulent. 
Jonah said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea, that it may quiet down for you; since I know it is because of me that this violent storm has come upon you.” 
Still the men rowed hard to regain the land, but they could not, for the sea grew ever more turbulent. 
Then they cried to the LORD: “We beseech you, O LORD, let us not perish for taking this man’s life; do not charge us with shedding innocent blood, for you, LORD, have done as you saw fit.” 
Then they took Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea’s raging abated. 
Struck with great fear of the LORD, the men offered sacrifice and made vows to him. 
But the LORD sent a large fish, that swallowed Jonah; and he remained in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. 

First Reading       Ezra 6:7-8.12b.14-20. 
King Darius issued an order to the officials of West-of-Euphrates: “Let the governor and the elders of the Jews continue the work on that house of God; they are to rebuild it on its former site. 
I also issue this decree concerning your dealing with these elders of the Jews in the rebuilding of that house of God: From the royal revenue, the taxes of West-of-Euphrates, let these men be repaid for their expenses, in full and without delay. 
I, Darius, have issued this decree; let it be carefully executed.” 
The elders of the Jews continued to make progress in the building, supported by the message of the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, son of Iddo. They finished the building according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus and Darius (and of Artaxerxes, king of Persia). 
They completed this house on the third day of the month Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius. 
The Israelites–priests, Levites, and the other returned exiles–celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. 
For the dedication of this house of God, they offered one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, and four hundred lambs, together with twelve he-goats as a sin-offering for all Israel, in keeping with the number of the tribes of Israel. 
Finally, they set up the priests in their classes and the Levites in their divisions for the service of God in Jerusalem, as is prescribed in the book of Moses. 
The exiles kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. 

Gospel      Luke 8:1-3. 

Beloved : First of all, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, 
for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity. 
This is good and pleasing to God our savior, 
who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth. 
For there is one God. There is also one mediator between God and the human race, Christ Jesus, himself human, 
who gave himself as ransom for all. This was the testimony at the proper time. 
For this I was appointed preacher and apostle (I am speaking the truth, I am not lying), teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 

 

Gospel      John 19:25-27. 
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.”

Brothers and sisters: as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him, 
rooted in him and built upon him and established in the faith as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 
See to it that no one captivate you with an empty, seductive philosophy according to human tradition, according to the elemental powers of the world and not according to Christ. 
For in him dwells the whole fullness of the deity bodily, 
and you share in this fullness in him, who is the head of every principality and power. 
In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not administered by hand, by stripping off the carnal body, with the circumcision of Christ. You were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. And even when you were dead in transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he brought you to life along with him, having forgiven us all our transgressions; obliterating the bond against us, with its legal claims, which was opposed to us, he also removed it from our midst, nailing it to the cross. despoiling the principalities and the powers, he made a public spectacle of them, leading them away in triumph by it. 

First Reading     Ezekiel 33:7-9. 
Thus says the LORD: You, son of man, I have appointed watchman for the house of Israel; when you hear me say anything, you shall warn them for me. 
If I tell the wicked man that he shall surely die, and you do not speak out to dissuade the wicked man from his way, he (the wicked man) shall die for his guilt, but I will hold you responsible for his death. 

Second Reading      Romans 13:8-10. 
Brothers and sisters: Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 
The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; you shall not kill; you shall not steal; you shall not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this saying, (namely) “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 
to the holy ones and faithful brothers in Christ in Colossae: grace to you and peace from God our Father. 
We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 
for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the holy ones 
because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. Of this you have already heard through the word of truth, the gospel, 
that has come to you. Just as in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing, so also among you, from the day you heard it and came to know the grace of God in truth, 
as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow slave, who is a trustworthy minister of Christ on your behalf and who also told us of your love in the Spirit. 

Gospel    Matthew 10:16-23. 
Jesus said to his Apostles: “Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves. 
But beware of men, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues,
and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans. 
When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. 
For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 
Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.”
When they persecute you in one town, flee to another. Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”

 

Gospel      Matthew 11:25-30. 
At that time Jesus exclaimed, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. 
All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” 

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.

Gospel    Matthew 8:28-34. 
When Jesus came to the territory of the Gadarenes, 
two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him. They were so savage that no one could travel by that road.
They cried out, “What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?”
Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding.
The demons pleaded with him, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine.” 
And he said to them, “Go then!” They came out and entered the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea where they drowned. 
The swineherds ran away, and when they came to the town they reported everything, including what had happened to the demoniacs. 
Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district.

Gospel,   Matthew 16:13-19. 
Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 
Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Gospel,   Matthew 11:25-30.
At that time Jesus exclaimed, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.”

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.

Reading 1, Second Corinthians 3:4-11

⁴ Such is the confidence we have through Christ in facing God;

⁵ it is not that we are so competent that we can claim any credit for ourselves; all our competence comes from God.

⁶ He has given us the competence to be ministers of a new covenant, a covenant which is not of written letters, but of the Spirit; for the written letters kill, but the Spirit gives life.

⁷ Now if the administering of death, engraved in letters on stone, occurred in such glory that the Israelites could not look Moses steadily in the face, because of its glory, transitory though this glory was,

⁸ how much more will the ministry of the Spirit occur in glory!

⁹ For if it is glorious to administer condemnation, to administer saving justice is far richer in glory.

¹⁰ Indeed, what was once considered glorious has lost all claim to glory, by contrast with the glory which transcends it.

¹¹ For if what was transitory had any glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts for ever.

 

Gospel, Matthew 5:17-19

¹⁷ ‘Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete them.

¹⁸ In truth I tell you, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, not one little stroke, is to disappear from the Law until all its purpose is achieved.

¹⁹ Therefore, anyone who infringes even one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in the kingdom of Heaven; but the person who keeps them and teaches them will be considered great in the kingdom of Heaven.

 

Reading 1, Second Corinthians 1:18-22

¹⁸ As surely as God is trustworthy, what we say to you is not both Yes and No.

¹⁹ The Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed to you by us, that is, by me and by Silvanus and Timothy, was never Yes-and-No; his nature is all Yes.

²⁰ For in him is found the Yes to all God’s promises and therefore it is ‘through him’ that we answer ‘Amen’ to give praise to God.

²¹ It is God who gives us, with you, a sure place in Christ

²² and has both anointed us and marked us with his seal, giving us as pledge the Spirit in our hearts.

Gospel, Matthew 5:13-16

¹³ ‘You are salt for the earth. But if salt loses its taste, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out to be trampled under people’s feet.

¹⁴ ‘You are light for the world. A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden.

¹⁵ No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house.

¹⁶ In the same way your light must shine in people’s sight, so that, seeing your good works, they may give praise to your Father in heaven.