The Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Isaiah 5:1-7; Psalm 79; Philippians 4:6-9; Matthew 21:33-43

Through the Prophet Isaiah in the first reading the Lord speaks of a vineyard which he planted and which has yielded bad fruit. The Lord is now going to let the vineyard be destroyed and over-run. The good vines that were planted were the Lord’s Chosen People but the bad fruit is their lack of belief and their sinfulness. In the gospel we have another parable concerning a vineyard. In this, the tenants try to take over ownership of the vineyard by killing the owner’s son. We are reminded that while we may live in the Lord’s vineyard here on earth we still owe our homage to God. We may try at playing gods but it will get us nowhere if we ignore the one true God from whom all things come.

In the second reading to the Philippians, St Paul tells us to pray to God if there is anything we need and that, at the very least, the peace of God will be granted to us.

The Twenty-seventh Monday in Ordinary Time

Galatians 1:6-12; Psalm 110; Luke 10:25-37

This week our first reading comes from the New Testament and today’s passage comes from St Paul’s letter to the Galatians written about 57-58 AD. This was a predominantly Gentile Christian community in Northern Galatia in what is present-day Turkey. In today’s passage Paul reminds us that there are those who preach different things and call it ‘the good news.’ We must be on our guard against them for there is only one Gospel and we must accept it in its entirety. Believing in anything else can lead us from the truth and the love of God. In our Gospel we have the story of the Good Samaritan which illustrates for us that everyone – including our enemies – is our neighbour and so we should reach out to them in their need no matter how inconvenient that might be. We have the example of Christ who cured people so long as they had faith in him.

The Twenty-seventh Tuesday in Ordinary Time

Galatians 1:13-24; Psalm 138; Luke 10:38-42

In our reading from the letter to the Christian community in Galatia we are told how St Paul used to persecute the early Church. This all ended, however, when he answered the call of God to serve the Gospel. Paul had been forced to defend himself because of Jewish teachers who had visited the area and told the people that Paul had no authority to teach. In the Gospel, we see Jesus visit the home of his friends Martha, Mary and Lazarus. He is welcomed and Martha plays the host and fusses over food and other niceties while Mary sits at his feet. When Martha complains that Mary is doing nothing, the Lord tells her to relax and to take a leaf out of Mary’s book because Mary is spending time with her Lord and listening to what he is saying. It is very easy for us to neglect quality time with the Lord in prayer and the reading of Scripture but these are the things which make our relationship with him stronger.

Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary

Acts 1:12-14; Psalm – Luke 1; Luke 1:26-38

The readings and the Psalm today focus very much on Our Lady. In the first reading we see the apostles and a number of others gathered with Mary in the upper room between the Ascension and Pentecost. They are gathered together in prayer. The Psalm is Mary’s beautiful prayer, the Magnificat, in which she praises God. In the gospel, we see the archangel Gabriel greeting Mary at the Annunciation. She says ‘yes’ to God in complete trust and confidence. Today’s memorial reminds us to be steadfast in prayer and to always trust in the Lord for he will be with us to strengthen and to guide us.

The Twenty-seventh Thursday in Ordinary Time

Galatians 3:1-5; Psalm – see Luke 1; Luke 11:5-13

St Paul is admonishing the Galatians in the first reading for they believe that they have received the Holy Spirit because they have kept the Law. Paul tells them that it has nothing to do with the Law but with their faith. In the Gospel, Christ teaches us to ask the Father for whatever we need. All our prayers are answered by God if only we would ask, though we might not always like the answer we receive. We are called on today to believe in God and to trust in him for if we simply keep the Commandments but do not believe it will count for very little.

The Twenty-seventh Friday in Ordinary Time

Galatians 3:7-14; Psalm 110; Luke 11:15-26

In the first reading, St Paul tells the Christian community of Galatia that those who do have faith receive the same blessing as Abraham – “our father in faith” – whether they be Jew, Gentile or pagan. Paul says that Christ came to free people from the Jewish Law and to give us the path of faith instead. Faith is what is important and it is a gift of God made available to all people. In our Gospel, Jesus tells the people that he is not Beelzebul, the prince of devils. His power and authority over unclean spirits comes from God and not from the devil. In this way his kingdom is greater than that of his foes.

The Twenty-seventh Saturday in Ordinary Time

Galatians 3:22-29; Psalm 104; Luke 11:27-28

St Paul tells us in the first reading that because of our faith in Christ we are all sons and daughters of God. In fact we are all either son or daughter because such distinctions do not exist in the sight of God. To Paul, the Law of Moses was no more than a ‘guide’ until such time as the people were mature enough to accept the path of faith. For Paul, that time has now arrived and the path has been given to the world through Jesus Christ. In the Gospel we are told that those who are happiest are those who hear the word of God and keep it and live by it. We are challenged to hear the message of Christ in the Scriptures and to live by that message every day of our lives and to participate in the spread of that message.