The Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Exodus 22:20-26; Psalm 17; 1Thessalonians 1:5-10; Matthew 22:34-40

In our first reading from the Book of Exodus the Lord is telling the people how they should behave towards the poor and the stranger. If they are not honest and upright with the poor and less fortunate then the Lord will be angry for he hears the cry of the poor and will answer their cries for justice. In the gospel, the Pharisees are still trying to trick Jesus and yet again they fail. He answers their question regarding the greatest commandment and goes on to tell them that they must love their neighbour as themselves – something they were not happy to do for they saw themselves as being greater than the majority of their neighbours. These readings challenge us to look at ourselves and to see how we treat our neighbours and particularly the poor.

St Paul continues to encourage the Thessalonians to remain faithful to God in our second reading by telling them of how the reputation of their faith has spread to other places and so is an example for others.

The Thirtieth Monday in Ordinary Time

Ephesians 4:32-5:8; Psalm 1; Luke 13:10-17

Our first reading this week is again taken from St Paul’s letter to the Christian community at Ephesus and in today’s passage Paul encourages us to love others in imitation of the Father and the Son who both love much. Only in this way can we build up the kingdom of God and live righteously. The Psalm speaks of how a good person lives. In the Gospel, Christ heals a woman on the Sabbath which infuriates a synagogue official who tells the people to come to be healed on any day of the week except the Sabbath. The Lord answers and says that none of those present would hesitate to untie his donkey on the Sabbath in order to water the beast and therefore it is right to untie a fellow human from their bonds on the Sabbath. His words leave the officials confused while the people are happy to hear him.

The Thirtieth Tuesday in Ordinary Time

Ephesians 5:21-33; Psalm 127; Luke 13:18-21

Our first reading from the letter to the Ephesians today does not appear to be very politically correct these days but St Paul’s underlying message of respect is all the more important in today’s overwhelming climate of individualism and self-centredness. Paul speaks of married life and says that a husband and wife should have the same relationship with each other as Christ has with his Church. Today’s Gospel sees Christ using two brief parables to show how the kingdom flourishes and grows. It can only grow if we allow it to do so and if we each help in its spread.

Feast of Sts Simon and Jude the Apostles

Ephesians 2:19-22; Psalm 18; Luke 6:12-19

Our first reading from the letter to the Ephesians speaks of the Church being founded on the Apostles. St Paul speaks about the role the Apostles played in the establishment of the Church and of how their lives can give a sure foundation to the faith of each of us. The gospel passage recounts the naming of the Twelve Apostles by Christ. What is significant about his choice is that they were ordinary people who believed in him and acknowledged their sinfulness and need of grace. More importantly, Jesus spent time in prayer before he made his choice. We too should pray before we make our own important decisions and try to live as the Apostles did – completely faithful to the Lord.

The Thirtieth Thursday in Ordinary Time

Ephesians 6:10-20; Psalm 143; Luke 13:31-35

St Paul tells us in our final section from his letter to the Christian community in the port city of Ephesus that it is the devil we must fear and not our fellow men and women. To combat the devil we must allow God to clothe us in spiritual armour and to pray constantly while spreading the Gospel. In the Gospel text some Pharisees come to warn Jesus to leave Jerusalem or he will die at the hands of Herod. However, he tells them that it is his destiny as a prophet to die in Jerusalem. He then weeps at the fact that Jerusalem has rejected both him and his message.

The Thirtieth Friday in Ordinary Time

Philippians 1:1-11; Psalm 110; Luke 14:1-6

Today we begin reading from St Paul’s letter to the Christians in the northern Greek town of Philippi. This was the first Christian community Paul had founded in Europe about the year 50 AD, this letter being written about six years later when Paul was in prison. In our opening section, Paul tells the people that the work they have begun – that is, the spread of the Gospel – will be completed by Christ when they are called home to heaven. Paul writes in glowing terms about the people and prays that their virtues may increase and that they may be blessed by the Lord. In the Gospel, Jesus is again under scrutiny on the Sabbath as he goes to a meal in the home of a leading Pharisee. Before acting he asks if healing on the Sabbath is really against the Law given that those listening would unhesitatingly pull their ox from a well on the Sabbath if it fell in. His argument goes unanswered by those who were present.

The Thirtieth Saturday in Ordinary Time

Philippians 1:18-26; Psalm 41; Luke 14:1, 7-11

In our first reading from his letter to the Philippians, St Paul says that he wants to die for the simple reason that he wants to go to heaven. However, he realises that he has an important mission to take care of before he dies and that is the spread of the Gospel. Paul also says that both life and death come under the influence of Christ and therefore he is happy to live but does not fear death. This mission is also our mission. Christ warns us in the gospel, in the story of the wedding feast, about being a humble people and about not seeking the highest honours. Humility will serve the kingdom, and ourselves, far better than pride and honours.