31 Sunday B - 2 Commandments of Love

1)    First Thing in the Morning:

A few years ago, a radio station ran a contest. Disc jockeys invited their listeners to tune in their clock radios. "Just for fun," they said, "when you wake up to the sound of FM-106, call and tell us the first words you spoke when you rolled out of bed. If you're the third caller, you'll win $106."

It didn't take long for the contest to grow in enthusiasm. The first morning, a buoyant disc jockey said, "Caller number three, what did you say when you rolled out of bed this morning?" A groggy voice said, "Do I smell coffee burning?" Another day, a sleepy clerical worker said, "Oh no, I'm late for work." Somebody else said her first words were, "Honey, did I put out the dog last night?" A muffled curse was immediately heard in the background, and then a man was heard to say, "No, you didn't." It was a funny contest and drew a considerable audience. 

Nov 1: All Saints

From Fr. Jude Botelho:

The first reading from the Book of Revelation was written during the time of the persecution by the Roman Empire, to strengthen the faith of the Christians. The Apocalypse sees the clash with the Roman Empire as the clash between Christ and Satan. There can be only one result of such an encounter, the victory of Christ and his followers. The victory of Christ is also the victory of all those who have believed in Him. All these holy people are sealed by the mark of the Lamb and will be protected by him. We celebrate their victory and the promise they hold out for us who try to follow in their footsteps.

30 Sunday B: Blind man - That I may see

Fr. Jude Botelho:

The first reading from the prophet Jeremiah reminds us that God is coming to save his people. God is the one who fulfills his promise. “See I will bring them back…all of them, the blind and the lame, the woman with child and the woman in labour. They left in tears; I will comfort them and bring them back.” We often say “Jesus is our Saviour.” We need to ask what has He saved us from? What has He saved me from? If I am not aware of what he has saved me from, I cannot really call Jesus my Saviour. The reading also reminds us that Jesus has a special love and care for the handicapped, the suffering, those who are helpless, those who have no one to pay attention to them, those who no one can save.

29 Sunday B: Not where you sit, but how you serve

Fr. Jude Botelho:

Today's first reading from the fourth servant song of the prophet Isaiah portrays the picture of the just man, the Suffering Servant of Yahweh, who is ready to carry the burden of others and endure pain and hardship for others' sake. The Suffering Servant ideal placed before us is the challenge put to all people who claim to be disciples of the Master. Our idea of discipleship is one of privilege, one of power, one of influence, one of being close to the decision maker. God's idea of leadership is one who is ready to bear the burden of others, one who can take responsibility not only for his own deeds but the deeds of others as well, and to do so without complaint. Instead of playing the boss, instead of claiming 'I am the head so you have to do as I say!' can I be the leader who shoulders the burdens of others?

Mission Sunday - Oct 21, 2018

During the American Revolution, a man in civilian clothes rode past a group of soldiers who were busy pulling out a horse carriage stuck in deep mud. Their officer was shouting instructions to them while making no attempt to help. The stranger who witnessed the scene asked the officer why he wasn't helping. With great dignity, the officer replied, "Sir, I am a Corporal!" The stranger dismounted from his horse and proceeded to help the exhausted soldiers himself.

28 Sunday B: Discipleship: Sell, Give and Come

  

27 Sunday B - Marriage

FROM FR. JUDE BOTELHO:

The first reading speaks to us of love – God’s love for his creation, his people, his very own. He does not create and leave them to manage on their own. God is constantly involved in our life! “It is not good that man should be alone. I will make him a helpmate.” We have been made to be people who need people. It is part of our nature to be in relationship with one another, to be people who live in love, people who live in community, in a family, in togetherness. We are made for one another, made from one another. The description of woman being created from man’s rib is symbolic. She is not created from his foot to be controlled, she is not created from his head to dominate him but from close to his heart, always needed, always to be cared for.