Reflections on Daily Readings 2026
June 28th – July 25th, 2026
June 28 – July 4, 2026
13th Week of Ordinary Time | Readings: Sunday Cycle A; Weekday Cycle 2.
The Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
2Kings 4:8-11, 14-16; Psalm 88; Romans 6:3-4, 8-11; Matthew 10:37-42
In our first reading from the second Book of the Kings, we see the prophet Elisha rewarding a Shunemite woman for her kindness to him by telling her that she will bear a son within a year. She and her husband had made him welcome whenever he passed and had even built a small room for him. Being childless was a great stigma at the time and so he lifts that stigma as thanks for her kindness and hospitality to him. Christ echoes this in the gospel passage in that he tells us that we must always show kindness and hospitality to others. In this way we are living out the gospel precepts and will be rewarded. There is also a reminder that in welcoming others awe are welcoming Christ himself who is to be found in the hearts of others. We must be worthy of the life Christ won for us and be prepared to defend it and nourish it, otherwise, in our case, Christ’s sacrifice will have been for nothing.
St Paul tells us in the second reading that we have already died with Christ in baptism and now live a new life with him. As Christ was raised from the dead so too will we be raised for living a life worthy of that great gift.
Solemnity of Sts Peter & Paul the Apostles
Today’s feast celebrates the two founders of the Church in the city of Rome and has been observed in Rome since the fourth century. This date was traditionally considered the foundation day of the city of Rome by Romulus and Remus.
Readings
Acts 12:1-11; Psalm 33; 2Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18; Matthew 16:13-19
Our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles tells of the release of St Peter from prison before Herod could put him to death as he had St James. In the second reading, St Paul tells Timothy that he has been able to preach the Good News because he had God at his side to give him power and to guide him. In the gospel, Jesus makes Peter the head of the Church and tells him that nothing will ever prevail against the Church. Our readings show us how we should live – by being faithful to God and not fearing what may come for God is always with us. They also remind us that even those who consider themselves to be ‘ordinary’ can become ‘heroes’ of the faith for these men were quite ordinary and quite unremarkable before they received the Holy Spirit – the same Spirit which we too have received. We are also reminded that they were old men when they were martyred because even in old age they witnessed for Christ. Regardless of our age or our standing in society we should always publicly acknowledge Christ as our Saviour.
Tuesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Amos 3:1-8, 4:11-12; Psalm 5; Matthew 8:23-27
Today’s reading from the Prophet Amos continues yesterday’s theme of reminding the people of how much they have sinned against God. They are also given warning that the Lord means to punish them for their sins. Today’s Psalm could easily have been the words on the lips of the Prophet Amos. In the text from St Matthew’s Gospel, we see Jesus command the forces of nature and calm a storm. The readings remind us of the infinite power of God and that, in Jesus, he has made a covenant with us which we must honour.
Wednesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Amos 5:14-15, 21-24; Psalm 49; Matthew 8:28-34
The Prophet Amos tells us in our first reading what it is that the Lord wants of us – justice and integrity. The prophet warns the people that the Lord is not deceived by their outward show of piety or their loud hymns of worship. Only when justice prevails will the Lord listen to his people. Our Gospel sees Jesus driving out demons from two demoniacs. The local people are afraid and ask Jesus to leave their area. The message of the Lord calls for a radical transformation in our lives if we are to be worthy of him. However, if we begin working towards integrity and justice then we will be well on the way towards that conversion which Christ asks of us.
Memorial of St Oliver Plunkett, Bishop & Martyr
Oliver was born in Meath in 1625 and ordained priest in Rome in 1654. Soon after he was made professor at the Propaganda Fide College and in 1669 was created Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland. It was a difficult time for the Church in Ireland and even though he was on very good terms with the Protestant bishops, he was forced into hiding in 1673. Following his betrayal he was arrested and imprisoned in Dublin Castle. His trial in Dublin collapsed due to lack of evidence and he was sent to London where a grand jury said there was nothing to answer for. Following a third (fixed) trial he was sentenced to death. He was hung, drawn and quartered in 1681, the last Roman Catholic to be martyred at Tyburn, London. He was canonized in 1975.
Thursday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Amos 7:10-17; Psalm 18; Matthew 9:1-8
In today’s first reading Amos is confronted by King Jeroboam and Amaziah, his royal priest. They do not like what Amos prophesies but in reply, Amos tells them that his words do not come from a group of prophets, like Amaziah, but directly from God. He then tells them how the kingdom will end. In the Gospel, Jesus forgives a paralytic man his sins which outraged the scribes. He tells them that he has the power to forgive and heals the man to prove his authority. The people are amazed and pleased to see this. We are reminded that not everyone, such as Amaziah, speaks the truth but that the words of Jesus are truth and life.
Feast of St Thomas the Apostle
Very little is known about Thomas other than what is found in the Gospels. Also known as Didymus (The Twin) his questioning of Christ’s teaching and his disbelief in the resurrection show that even the closest followers of Christ had doubts and that, even in doubting, the Lord is there to give strength and guidance. Tradition holds that he brought the faith to Southern India where he is said to have died. He is the patron saint of architects, builders and India.
Readings
Ephesians 2:19-22; Psalm 116; John 20:24-29
The first reading from St Paul’s letter to the Ephesians tells us that we are all part of God’s household and that that household has the Apostles and prophets for its foundations. In the gospel, we see St Thomas doubt the words of the others when they say that Jesus has risen and appeared to them. When Jesus appears to them again eight days later, Thomas is in the room and believes once he can physically touch the Lord. In this way Thomas represents all peoples down through the centuries who have not personally seen the Risen Lord. Thomas’ great declaration of faith – “My Lord and my God” – should be all the proof we need.
Saturday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Amos 9:11-15; Psalm 84; Matthew 9:14-17
In the first reading from the Prophet Amos, the Lord tells his people that he will revive their fortunes and re-establish the kingdom of David. We know that this will happen in the person of Jesus, the Messiah. In the Gospel, Jesus tells John the Baptist’s disciples that his own disciples do not fast in his presence because they have the Lord of Life with them. When he is gone from them then they will fast and mourn. We have the Lord always with us and so we should rejoice and live by his precepts so that we may never be abandoned as were the people of old when they sinned against God.
July 5 – July 11, 2026
14th Week of Ordinary Time | Readings: Sunday Cycle A; Weekday Cycle 2.
The Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Zechariah 9:9-10; Psalm 144; Romans 8:9, 11-13; Matthew 11:25-30
The first reading from the prophet Zechariah tells us that the Lord will come in victory but he will also come very humbly and riding on a donkey. This reminds us of the Lord’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Passion Sunday – the fulfilment of this prophecy. In the gospel, Jesus says that his way of life can be discerned by little children, so simple is his way. His way is one of humility and gentleness and if we live as he did then we too will inherit everlasting life. There is also a reminder that little children trust their parents and that this is the way in which we should approach the gospel and faith in God. If we act too much like adults and try to scientifically explain things then we run the risk of missing the message itself. We need to trust God and his Son in a child-like way.
In the second reading St Paul tells us that we already have the Spirit of Christ living in us and that, as a result, there is no reason why we should not live the life Christ wants of us. Our spiritual selves are far more important that the unspiritual side and we must allow the spiritual side to dominate our lives. Were we to do this then we would very quickly transform our world.
Monday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Hosea 2:16-18, 21-22; Psalm 144; Matthew 9:18-26
In today’s reading from the prophet Hosea, who was writing about the year 755 BC, the Lord is speaking of his relationship with his people. So strong is his love for his people that he speaks of marrying Israel for ever. Hosea was the first to use this marriage image when talking about God and his people but it is one which was to be used by later prophets and also St Paul. In the Gospel, Jesus restores life to a little girl who has died. More importantly, he cures a woman whose faith was so strong that she believed that she would be cured even if she only touched his cloak. She was also courageous enough to own up when Jesus asked who had touched him – strict Jewish law would have decreed that she should not be in a crowd as that could result in those coming into contact with her being impure and unable to attend synagogue. We are called on to be like this woman and to believe in God completely. He has chosen us out of all of creation to be his bride and therefore he will not abandon us.
Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Hosea 8:4-7, 11-13; Psalm 113; Matthew 9:32-38
In our first reading today we read that despite the fact that the Lord has chosen his people as his spouse the people turn from God and spurn him. He recounts their sins and how they abused his altars and created false idols for themselves. Now, God is about to punish them. In the Gospel, Jesus is sorry to see many people coming to him for they have nobody to minister to them. We are called on to be labourers in this great harvest. We do not all have to become priests and religious but we are all called to live according to the Gospel values, in this way the kingdom of God will be strengthened daily and more people will become shepherds of the flock.
Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Hosea 10:1-3, 7-8, 12; Psalm 104; Matthew 10:1-7
Today we read in the text from the Prophet Hosea that Israel has turned from the Lord and worshipped false gods, and so the Lord is now going to punish the people. If the people had retained their integrity they would not be in such a situation. Hosea pleads with the people to change their ways and return to the Lord. In the Gospel we see Jesus choosing his twelve closest companions and sending them out to preach in his name. Because Israel was the Lord’s Chosen People through the ages, the apostles are told to go with the message to the house of Israel first and to leave the others aside for the moment. While the names of the Twelve appear in a few places in the New Testament no two lists are in the same order, though St Peter’s name always appears first.
Thursday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Hosea 11:1-4, 8-9; Psalm 79; Matthew 10:7-15
The Lord recounts the sins of his people in today’s first reading from Hosea. He also recalls some of what he did for the people and how he blessed them. While he is angry with his people he will still keep his anger in check. He may punish this ‘ungrateful son’ but he will not destroy him. Today’s Gospel text continues on from yesterday’s passage and in it we see Jesus instructing the Twelve before they go out in his name. We too need to be mindful of all that the Lord has done for us and we should give thanks for that each day, not just in our prayers, but by living lives worthy of the Gospel which we can proclaim in the manner in which we live.
Friday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Hosea 14:2-10; Psalm 50; Matthew 10:16-23
In our first reading for today, the Lord speaks through the prophet Hosea and tells his people what he wants of them. Those who listen and believe in the message will walk in righteousness but those who reject it will stumble and fall. In our Gospel passage Jesus continues to instruct the Twelve in today’s text from St Matthew. In it he warns them of the hardships that will come but he strengthens them by telling them that they will have him with them and that the words they will speak will be from him – therefore they need have no cause for fear. We are called to live righteously before God and to remember that those who preach the true Gospel in his name are doing so with the guidance of the Lord. As the people of the Old Testament were invited back to God despite their sins, so too we will be welcomed if we ask the Lord for forgiveness.
Feast of St Benedict, Abbot & Patron of Europe
Benedict was born in central Italy in 480. He was sent to Rome to study but left the city for the life of a hermit in Subiaco, not far from Rome, about the year 500. So many gathered around him that he founded twelve communities of monks, but in time left them because of their lack of discipline. He moved to Monte Cassino and established the famous monastery there on the site of a pagan temple to Apollo. He wrote a Rule for the monks which has become the foundation of spirituality and monastic life though it is not believed that he intended starting a religious order. He is the spiritual head of monks in the Western Church as St Basil is spiritual head of those in the Eastern Church. He died while at prayer in March 547 and was made Patron of Europe by Paul VI in 1964.
Readings
Proverbs 2:1-9; Psalm 33; Matthew 19:27-29
The first reading from Proverbs exhorts us to apply ourselves in seeking the truth for there is a great treasure to be found in the truth. When we discover it then we will “understand what virtue is, justice and fair dealing.” In the gospel, Jesus assures Peter that those who have left everything for him will receive a great reward, that reward being eternal life. The readings are quite appropriate for the feast of St Benedict for they recount exactly the sort of life Benedict lived. We too are called to seek truth and to give up everything for the sake of Christ and the kingdom.
July 12 – July 18, 2026
15th Week of Ordinary Time | Readings: Sunday Cycle A; Weekday Cycle 2.
The Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 55:10-11; Psalm 64; Romans 8:18-23; Matthew 13:1-23
Today’s first reading and the gospel are linked by seeds. In the first reading Isaiah tells us that both rain and snow water the earth and cause the seeds to grow and provide us with food. In the gospel, Christ speaks of a sower sowing his seed and of the different places where the seed fell and grew. We are the seed and Christ the water which nourishes us and causes us to grow. The reading today should prompt us to look honestly at our own lives and see which seed we happen to be – fruitful or fruitless.
St Paul, in the second reading, tells us that no matter what happens to us there is a glory awaiting us which is beyond compare. In order to attain the glory which has been promised us we must nurture the seed within us and listen to the word of God and put it into practice every day. Only then will we become a successful harvest and help others to grow also.
Monday, 13 July
Monday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 1:10-17; Psalm 49; Matthew 10:34-11:1
In today’s passage from the book of the Prophet Isaiah God tells his people that ritual sacrifice no longer pleases him. He wants the people to truly believe in what they are doing rather than just performing. He wants the people to be concerned with justice and peace. The Psalm takes up this theme. In the Gospel from St Matthew, we see Jesus telling his listeners that he has not come to bring peace but trouble. This is because his message calls for a conversion of heart and a new way of life which many will and, indeed, still do reject. Our readings challenge us to make this conversion and become true Christians in thought, word and deed.
Memorial of St Teresa of Jesus of Los Andes
Juana (Juanita) Fernandez Solar was born on July 13, 1900, in Santiago, Chile. Academically gifted she excelled in school and was awarded her school’s prize for outstanding student. She enjoyed sports and had a talent for music and, after leaving school, helped orphans and the poor and taught catechism. From the age of fifteen and at the request of a Carmelite nun in Santiago, she kept a detailed diary which gives great insight into her faith and prayer life, as do the many letters which survive. She was very much inspired by the biography of St Thérèse of Lisieux and by the writings of St Elizabeth of the Trinity, St Teresa of Jesus (of Avila) and St John of the Cross. She entered Carmel in May 1919 taking the name ‘Teresa of Jesus’ and died of typhus on April 12, 1920, having been given a dispensation in periculo mortis to make her profession of vows as a Carmelite nun. She was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1993, the first Chilean saint.
Tuesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 7:1-9; Psalm 47: Matthew 11:20-24
In our first reading today from the Prophet Isaiah the Lord is telling his people to stand by him and they will be safe, but if they do not stand by him then they will not stand at all. This takes place about the year 733 BC when the rulers of Israel (the northern kingdom) and Aram had forged alliances with foreign rulers. Isaiah tells King Ahaz of Jerusalem to place his trust in God and God will defend him. In the Gospel, Christ exhorts his hearers to listen to him and to believe in him. Christ names a number of towns in which he had worked most of his miracles but where true faith had not materialised. He tells the people that these towns will be punished more severely than Sodom unless they listen and convert. We too are called to conversion of heart and a new way of life.
Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 10:5-7, 13-16; Psalm 93; Matthew 11:25-27
The people are reminded by the prophet Isaiah in today’s first reading that kingdoms and powers rise and fall but that everything is subject to God’s power. Isaiah foretells that the King of Assyria will be used by God as the stick to discipline the people of Judah for the sins they have committed. In the Gospel, Jesus says that it is children who truly understand the message of the kingdom. By this he is saying that those with no preconceptions or theories can easily grasp the message he brings. To truly understand that message we need to have a clear mind and childlike trust.
Memorial of St Bonaventure, Bishop & Doctor of the Church
Giovanni di Fidanza was born between 1218 and 1221 in Tuscany, Italy. He joined the Order of Friars Minor and rose through the ranks becoming the Order’s seventh Minister General in 1257, devoting much time to the unity of the Order. He was approached with a view to making him Archbishop of York in northern England, but this he refused. Eventually he was made bishop of Albano, Rome, and a cardinal in 1273. One of the key mystical theologians and scholars of his time he attended the Council of Lyons in 1274 at which he died. One of his tasks at this council was the re-unification of the Latin and the Orthodox Churches which seemed to begin well but failed soon after his death. He was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1588.
Solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
The Carmelite Order had its formal beginnings among a group of crusaders on Mount Carmel in Israel beside a spring used by the Old Testament prophet Elijah. In the centre of their compound they built a chapel dedicated to St Mary of the Place, which was Mount Carmel. This devotion to Mary continued and became stronger as the centuries passed and is best exemplified in the full title of the Order: The Order of the Brothers of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel. This particular feast was first celebrated in the fourteenth century and became the patronal feast of the Order early in the seventeenth century. It was recognised by Pope Paul V (1605-1621) as the feastday of the Scapular Confraternity.
Readings:
1Kings 18:42b-45a; Psalm 14; Galatians 4:4-7; John 19:25-27
In the first reading we see the holy prophet Elijah instructing his servant to keep watch on the sky, for the drought which had plagued the land was soon to end. When he saw the small cloud, the servant was told to go and tell King Ahab to prepare for the rains. The unnamed servant symbolises the Carmelite who is attentive to his master, who awaits his master’s word and then brings that word to others, the master being Jesus Christ. The Psalm reminds us that only those who seek after purity will be admitted to God’s house.
In the second reading, St Paul wrote to the people of Galatia that the One who redeemed them was born of a woman and was therefore subject to the Law as all humans are. Yet it was by his life, death and resurrection that the people are redeemed because, for Paul, only someone born under the Law could redeem the subjects of the Law and free them from its slavery so as to live the true life God had intended. Our Lady is the woman who gave birth to the Saviour and, through the motherhood bestowed on her at the foot of the Cross, we are all her children. We also share in the gift of the Holy Spirit which binds us in adopted sonship.
In the gospel, we see Jesus on the Cross with very few close family or friends to support him. Before he died, he looked after his mother by placing her under the care of John, the Beloved Disciple. But Mary didn’t simply become a guest in John’s house or someone for him to look out for: she became his mother and John became her son. It is a powerful reminder that we are all the children of Mary, brothers and sisters to one another and to Jesus Christ, and that we must have a care and concern for others. Mary is also seen in her sorrow as one who is silent but who still trusts in the wisdom of God even in what must have been a very dark moment in her life as she watched her Son die without dignity. For Carmelites, these readings are important for we are the Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and therefore we are servants of the Lord and of his Word.
Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 38:1-6, 21-22, 7-8; Psalm 38; Matthew 12:1-8
In our first reading we see that Hezekiah is now King of the southern kingdom of Judah. He is told by Isaiah that he is about to die so he prays to God and is cured because of his faith. In the Gospel, Jesus admonishes the Pharisees for being too legalistic about the Sabbath day. His disciples had been out walking with him and had picked a few heads of corn as they passed through the corn fields. What the Lord wants is mercy and not legalism for only in mercy is true faith to be seen.
Saturday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Micah 2:1-5; Psalm 9; Matthew 12:14-21
Our first reading today comes from the Prophet Micah – a contemporary of Isaiah – through whom God warns that those who plot evil and mischief will themselves be plotted against by God. Micah speaks about how those who commit evil even lie awake at night thinking up even more ways to deprive the poor. In the Gospel, Jesus is forced to move on from a particular district sooner than he intended because the Pharisees had decided to destroy him and were looking for a way to do it. As he goes he cures more people but tells them to say nothing about it – his time has not yet come. But our time has come and now is the time for us to live as true Christians and to proclaim the message of the Good News.
July 19 – July 25, 2026
16th Week of Ordinary Time | Readings: Sunday Cycle A; Weekday Cycle 2.
The Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Wisdom 12:13, 16-19; Psalm 85; Romans 8:26-27; Matthew 13:24-43
Our readings today speak to us of the mercy of God and of his judgment. God knows all things and he knows the secret thoughts of our hearts and of our prayers, though we are not always able to express these. He is merciful to the repentant and his Spirit is always with us to help and guide us. The Word of God has been given to us but we must be wary of those who seek to stifle that presence and that life. What God seeks is honesty, integrity and faith. The first reading from the Book of Wisdom speaks of the sovereignty of God and of his power but also of his great lenience for his people. The gospel sets three parables before us today – that of the darnel sowed among good seed, of the mustard seed and the parable of the yeast. Upon hearing the gospel we should ask ourselves whether we are the good seed or the weeds and whether or not we help in the growth of the kingdom.
The second reading, from the letter to the Romans, reminds us that the Spirit comes to help us in our weakness. If we allow the Spirit to work in us then we will be able to live the gospel precepts but also to give true glory and praise to God. This is the Spirit, the Advocate, which Christ promised us before the Ascension.
Solemnity of St Elijah the Prophet
The Prophet Elijah is the greatest of the Old Testament prophets and, with Moses, is one of the two great figures of the Hebrew Scriptures who represent the Law and the Prophets. In Hebrew, his name means ‘The Lord is my God’, and this he lived out in his life and work. He defended God on Mount Carmel as the one true God against the prophets of the false god, Baal, and for which he was hunted by Queen Jezebel. He is a key figure for the Carmelite Order whose early members lived beside the spring on Mount Carmel which was used by the prophet himself. His devotion to God, his prayer life, his intimate union with God are examples for Carmelites as they strive to bring God’s presence alive in the lives of others.
Readings:
1Kings 19:1-9a, 11-14a; Psalm 15; 1Peter 1:8-12; Luke 9:28b-36
In our reading from the first Book of the Kings, we read that, having slain all the prophets of Baal, Elijah is now threatened by Queen Jezebel who seeks his life in retribution. In fear, he flees into the wilderness but is supported by the angel of God. When he reached the mountain, he stood before God who made himself known to Elijah, not in the form of great and wonderful power, but in the form of a gentle voice, a quiet breeze. When asked why he was there Elijah replied: ‘I am filled with a jealous zeal for the Lord of hosts’.
St Peter tells us in the second reading that what the prophets had been looking forward to was the presence of Christ on earth. That presence has now been revealed to the people who have now received the Holy Spirit for their good.
In the gospel, we read St Luke’s account of the transfiguration of the Lord. During the transfiguration he was joined by Moses who represents the Law, and by Elijah who represents the Prophets. In this way, we are shown that the authority of Jesus Christ is greater than these two pillars of the Jewish faith, and we are also reminded that their teachings pointed to his arrival. Elijah is a shining example of one who answered God’s call and gave his life to the service of God. Even his name bears witness – the Hebrew ‘Elia’ means ‘The Lord is my God’.
Tuesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Micah 7:14-15, 18-20; Psalm 84; Matthew 12:46-50
The Prophet Micah is calling on the Lord in the first reading to be merciful to his people and to pardon their sins and transgressions. The people wish to live under God’s blessing as in the past and Micah’s prayer to God is on their behalf. The Psalm takes up this theme and asks the Lord to revive his people, to lead them in the right path. In the Gospel, Jesus tells us that those who do the will of God are his brothers and sisters and mother. If we want to be called brothers and sisters of Christ then we too must denounce our sinful ways and do the will of the Father.
Feast of St Mary Magdalene
Mary of Magdala was one of the followers of Christ who is mentioned in all four Gospels. She stood by the cross of Christ as he was dying and she was the first to see the risen Lord. Because she was the one who told the apostles that the Lord had risen, she is often referred to as “the apostle to the apostles.”
Readings
Songs 3:1-4 (or Corinthians 5:14-17); Psalm 62; John 20:1-2, 11-18
The first reading from the Song of Songs tells of a person seeking the one whom they love. Today we can understand it as Mary Magdalene seeking the Lord. In the gospel from St John we see Mary at the empty tomb and been greeted by Christ himself, now risen from the dead. For her faithfulness to him she has been rewarded by being the first person to see the Lord after his resurrection and also by being the one to proclaim that news to the apostles.
Feast of St Bridget of Sweden, Patroness of Europe
Bridget was born between 1302 and 1304 in Sweden and in 1316 was married to Ulf Gudmarsson and together they had eight children. She became the chief lady-in-waiting at the royal court of King Magnus II in 1335, possibly due to her father’s post as a provincial governor. She was widowed in 1344 and from then on devoted her life to the poor and destitute. She travelled to Rome for the Jubilee Year in 1350 and spent the rest of her life there. She also established the Bridgettines though it never received official approval in her lifetime. She died in Rome in 1373 and her remains were returned to her native Sweden, to the Bridgettine monastery she had founded. Catherine – her fourth child – followed her mother and dedicated her life to the poor and to the strengthening of the Bridgettines. She too was widowed at a young age and she too was canonized.
Readings
Galatians 2:19-20; Psalm 33; John 15:1-8
The first reading from St Paul to the Galatians speaks very much of the life of St Bridget of Sweden. She gave what she had in the service of the poor and of Christ and the life she lived was not hers but Christ’s. The gospel speaks of the vine whose branches bear much fruit if they remain pure and part of the vine tree. We are called to be like Bridget and to give of what we have in the service of the Lord and of his people. If we do so then we will produce much fruit for the kingdom.
Friday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Jeremiah 3:14-17; Psalm – Jeremiah 31:1-13; Matthew 13:18-23
The Lord calls his people back to him in the first reading from the Prophet Jeremiah. He tells them that he will give them shepherds to guide them and that Zion will be their focal point as is a throne in a throne room. Today’s Gospel text explains the parable of the sower. We are called on to be the rich soil in to which the seed fell and produced a harvest. We are reminded today to look into ourselves from time to time in order to rid ourselves of anything which might reduce our faith and so separate us from the love of God.
Memorial of Blessed John Soreth, Carmelite Priest
John Soreth was born at Caen in Normandy and entered Carmel as a young man. He studied at Paris and pre-dated St Teresa of Jesus (of Avila) in his attempts to reform the Order. He was Prior General from 1451 until 1471 and was responsible for the Constitutions of 1462. He introduced nuns into the Order in the Netherlands in the early 1450s and also promoted the Third Order. He died in 1471.
Feast of St James the Apostle
Also known as James the Greater, he was the brother of St John the Apostle and Evangelist. Not much is known about him other than what is to be found in the Gospels where he has a special place among the Twelve with Peter and John. In Spain it is believed that he preached the Gospel in the Iberian Peninsula and that his relics were buried at Santiago de Compostela, but this is not maintained outside of Spain. He was the first of the apostles to die having been martyred by Herod Agrippa between 42 and 44 AD.
Readings
2Corinthians 4:7-15; Psalm 125; Matthew 20:20-28
In our passage from the second letter to the Corinthians St Paul tells us that, because he believes and proclaims the word of God, he will be raised to life with Christ. The death and the life of Christ are at work in him in a very powerful way. There is also a reminder that there will be trials in witnessing for the Lord. In the gospel we see Zebedee’s wife coming to Jesus to ask that her sons sit at his right and left in heaven. Jesus can grant them places in heaven but only if they suffer for him through the spread of the Gospel. We too are called to live lives worthy of the kingdom no matter what trials may come our way. We are to carry our cross every day for Christ and to proclaim the Gospel by the example of how we live.
