"WITHOUT COST YOU HAVE RECEIVED; WITHOUT COST YOU ARE TO GIVE."

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 91

Reading 1                Exodus 19:2-6a 

In those days, the Israelites came to the desert of Sinai and pitched camp. While Israel was encamped here in front of the mountain, Moses went up the mountain to God. Then the LORD called to him and said, “Thus shall you say to the house of Jacob; tell the Israelites: You have seen for yourselves how I treated the Egyptians and how I bore you up on eagle wings and brought you here to myself.  Therefore, if you hearken to my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my special possession, dearer to me than all other people, though all the earth is mine. You shall be to me a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.” 

Responsorial Psalm                  Psalm 100:1-2, 3, 5

Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
    serve the LORD with gladness;
    come before him with joyful song.
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.

Know that the LORD is God;
    he made us, his we are;
    his people, the flock he tends.
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.

The LORD is good:
    his kindness endures forever,
    and his faithfulness to all generations.
R. We are his people: the sheep of his flock.

Reading 2                             Romans 5:6-11

Brothers and sisters:  Christ, while we were still helpless,  yet died at the appointed time for the ungodly. Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die.  But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. How much more then, since we are now justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath. Indeed, if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, once reconciled, will we be saved by his life.  Not only that, but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Gospel                  Matthew 9:36—10:8

At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned,  like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harve st is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” Then he summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon from Cana, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him. Jesus sent out these twelve after instructing them thus, “Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town. Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”

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"B’xejn ħadtu, b’xejn agħtu”

>>>> Qari tal-Ħdax-il Ħadd taż-Żmien ta’ Matul is-Sena

Qari 1                  Qari mill-Ktieb tal-Eżodu19, 2-6a

F’dak iż-żmien, wara li refgħu t-tined, minn Rafidim ulied Iżrael waslu fid-deżert tas-Sinaj u waqqfu t-tined fid-deżert. Iżrael waqqaf it-tined hemm, biswit il-muntanja.  Mosè tala’ ħdejn Alla, u l-Mulej sejjaħlu mill-muntanja u qallu: “Dan għid lil dar Ġakobb u għarraf lil ulied Iżrael: “Rajtu intom x’għamilt lill-Eġizzjani, u kif lilkom ġarrejtkom fuq il-ġwienaħ tal-ajkli u ressaqtkom lejja. Issa, jekk tisimgħu leħni u żżommu l-patt tiegħi, intom tkunu l-wirt tiegħi minn fost il-popli kollha, għax l-art kollha tiegħi. Intom tkunu għalija saltna ta’ qassisin u ġens qaddis””. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej    R/. Irroddu ħajr lil Alla

Salm Responsorjali                  Salm 99 (100), 2.3.5

R/. (3c): Aħna l-poplu tiegħu u n-nagħaġ tal-mergħa tiegħu

Għajtu bil-ferħ lill-Mulej, nies kollha tal-art,
aqdu bil-ferħ lill-Mulej,
idħlu quddiemu b’għana ferrieħi. R/.

Kunu afu li Jaħweh hu Alla,
hu ħalaqna u aħna tiegħu,
aħna l-poplu tiegħu u n-nagħaġ tal-mergħa tiegħu. R/.

Għax twajjeb il-Mulej,
għal dejjem it-tjieba tiegħu;
minn żmien għal żmien il-fedeltà tiegħu. R/.

Qari 2                    mill-Ittra ta’ San Pawl lir-Rumani 5, 6-11

Ħuti, meta aħna konna bla saħħa, Kristu, meta wasal iż-żmien, miet għall-ħżiena. Bilkemm wieħed imut għal wieħed tajjeb, għad li wieħed għandu mnejn jagħmel il-qalb u jmut għal wieħed ġeneruż.  Iżda Alla wriena l-imħabba tiegħu meta Kristu miet għalina, aħna li konna għadna midinbin. Kemm aktar u aktar issa li aħna ġġustifikati b’demmu, insalvaw permezz tiegħu mill-korla ta’ Alla!  Jekk meta konna għadna għedewwa ta’ Alla tħabbibna miegħu bis-saħħa tal-mewt ta’ Ibnu, kemm iktar issa, li aħna ħbieb miegħu, insalvaw permezz tal-ħajja tiegħu? Mhux hekk biss, imma niftaħru wkoll f’Alla b’Sidna Ġesù Kristu li permezz tiegħu ksibna din il-ħbiberija.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej,    R/. Irroddu ħajr lil Alla

Evanġelju                 Qari skond San Mattew 9, 36 – 10, 8

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù ra n-nies u tħassarhom, għax kienu mdejqa u mitluqa bħal nagħaġ bla ragħaj. Imbagħad qal lid-dixxipli tiegħu: “Il-ħsad huwa kbir, iżda l-ħaddiema ftit. Itolbu mela lil Sid il-ħsad biex jibgħat ħaddiema għall-ħsad tiegħu”. Sejjaħ lejh it-tnax-il dixxiplu tiegħu, u tahom is-setgħa fuq l-ispirti ħżiena biex ikeċċuhom, u jfejqu kull xorta ta’ mard u ’l kull min kien nieqes minn saħħtu.  L-ismijiet tat-tnax-il appostlu huma dawn: l-ewwel Xmun, jgħidulu Pietru, u ħuh Indrì, u Ġakbu ta’ Żebedew, u ħuh Ġwanni, Filippu u Bartilmew, Tumas u Mattew il-pubblikan, Ġakbu ta’ Alfew, u Taddew, Xmun il-Kanani, u Ġuda l-Iskarjota, li mbagħad ittradieh.  Lil dawn it-tnax Ġesù bagħathom b’dawn l-ordnijiet: “Taqbdux triq il-pagani, u tidħlux f’belt tas-Samaritani; imma qabel xejn morru fittxu n-nagħaġ il-mitlufa tad-dar ta’ Iżrael. Intom u sejrin, xandru u għidu li s-Saltna tas-Smewwiet waslet. Fejqu l-morda, qajmu l-mejtin, fejqu l-lebbrużi, keċċu x-xjaten. B’xejn ħadtu, b’xejn agħtu”.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej  R/. Tifħir lilek Kristu

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/////////////  REFLECTION .....  

 Eight-minute homily in one page

He gave you grace and talents without charge, "so now you have to give without charge..."

Introduction: 

The main theme of this Sunday’s readings is that we are commissioned or sent, to transform others with the “Good News” of God’s love, mercy, forgiveness, and salvation through Jesus His Son.

Scripture lessons: 

The first reading gives Israel the “Good News” that the God of Mount Sinai loves and cares for his people. God showed His continuing care for Israel by liberating the people from slavery in Egypt and by offering them a relationship in which they would be God’s “special possession,”-- “a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.” 

Paul, in today’s second reading, reflects on how Jesus in his life, death, and resurrection made manifest God’s love and care for mankind. According to Paul, the greatest proof of God’s love and care for us is Jesus’ willingness to die on behalf of sinful mankind and so make possible a new and better relationship with God. 

Sunday’s Gospel is, in effect, a reminder from God to each one of us: “You have received grace and talents from Me without charge, and so you have to give without charge through your simple, responsible, sharing lives.” This is indeed the core of the priestly vocation and of the vocation of every Christian through his or her Baptism. Up to this point in the story, Jesus himself was the focus of the healing, teaching, and controversy. With the commissioning of his disciples, others began to assume some of the responsibility for the new movement that heralded the kingdom of God. That new movement was destined to grow later, with increasing diversity, as it extended beyond the borders of Galilee, into Gentile territory, becoming the Universal Christian Church.

Life Messages:

1) Be Jesus-Presenters: Jesus continues to be active in our lives through the Bible and the Sacraments. In addition, the Lord God gives us the Holy Spirit, the One Who teaches us, and reminds us of all that Jesus has said to us. We are invited to become one with God and Jesus, and to let the Holy Spirit work through us. We are asked to perform the works of Jesus, and through these works to reveal the power and character of God to the world. If we accept this invitation and live it out wholeheartedly, with God’s grace people will look at us and say, “Jesus!”

2) Be healers in the modern world: People are sick in body as well as mind. As Christians sharing Jesus’ mission, we can bring healing and wholeness to people with whom we come into contact. Although we cannot raise the dead, we can help people to recover interest and a zest for living. People can be physically alive but dead in many other respects. “Cleansing the lepers” means rehabilitating and bringing back fully into our communities all those who, for one reason or another, are marginalized, rejected, despised, or ostracized on the basis of race, nationality, marital status, financial condition, religion, gender or sexual orientation. 

We have to help casting out from our people the demons who possess them by means of addictions to alcohol, nicotine, drugs, pornography, sexual deviations, and the like, first by asking God and others for help to free ourselves from our own chains of evil addictions, and then turning to helping others to remove theirs in the same way.

//////////////////////////////////////     Fr Tony Kadavil's Homilies © 2026.  /  https://frtonyshomilies.com  ////////  

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"FOR MY FLESH IS TRUE FOOD AND MY BLOOD IS TRUE DRINK"

 The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Lectionary: 167

Reading 1                 Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14b-16a

Moses said to the people: "Remember how for forty years now the LORD, your God, has directed all your journeying in the desert, so as to test you by affliction and find out whether or not it was your intention   to keep his commandments.  He therefore let you be afflicted with hunger, and then fed you with manna, a food unknown to you and your fathers, in order to show you that not by bread alone does one live, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of the LORD.  "Do not forget the LORD, your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery; who guided you through the vast and terrible desert with its saraph serpents and scorpions, its parched and waterl ess ground; who brought forth water for you from the flinty rock and fed you in the desert with manna, a food unknown to your fathers."

 Responsorial Psalm                 Psalm 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20

Glorify the LORD, O Jerusalem;
praise your God, O Zion.
For he has strengthened the bars of your gates;
he has blessed your children within you.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
or: R. Alleluia.

He has granted peace in your borders;
with the best of wheat he fills you.
He sends forth his command to the earth;
swiftly runs his word!
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
or: R. Alleluia.

He has proclaimed his word to Jacob,
his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
He has not done thus for any other nation;
his ordinances he has not made known to them. Alleluia.
R. Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.
or: R. Alleluia.

 Reading 2                   Corinthians 10:16-17

Brothers and sisters: The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.  

Sequence — Lauda Sion  (shorter form) 

Lo! the angel's food is given
To the pilgrim who has striven;
see the children's bread from heaven,
which on dogs may not be spent.

Truth the ancient types fulfilling,
Isaac bound, a victim willing,
Paschal lamb, its lifeblood spilling,
manna to the fathers sent.

Very bread, good shepherd, tend us,
Jesu, of your love befriend us,
You refresh us, you defend us,
Your eternal goodness send us

In the land of life to see.

You who all things can and know,
Who on earth such food bestow,
Grant us with your saints, though lowest,
Where the heav'nly feast you show,
Fellow heirs and guests to be. Amen. Alleluia.

 Gospel                 John 6:51-58

Jesus said to the Jewish crowds: "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." The Jews quarrelled 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." 

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"... La l-ħobża hi waħda, aħna, li aħna ħafna, aħna ġisem wieħed ..."  

>>> Is-Solennità tal-Ġisem u d-Demm Imqaddes ta’ Kristu

                                                                       

Qari 1                       mill-Ktieb tad-Dewteronomju 8:2-3,14b-16a

F’dak iż-żmien, Mosè kellem lill-poplu u qal: “Ftakar fil-mixja kollha li mexxiek il-Mulej, Alla tiegħek, matul dawn l-erbgħin sena fid-deżert, biex iċekknek u jġarrbek, ħalli jkun jaf x’għandek f’qalbek, jekk tridx toqgħod għall-kmandamenti tiegħu jew le. Huwa ċekknek, ried li tbati l-ġuħ, imbagħad temgħek il-manna, li la int u lanqas missirijietek ma kontu qatt tafu biha, biex jurik li mhux bil-ħobż biss jgħix il-bniedem, imma b’dak kollu li joħroġ minn fomm il-Mulej, b’dan jgħix il-bniedem. Qis li ma titkabbarx qalbek u tinsa l-Mulej, Alla tiegħek, li ħarġek mill-art tal-Eġittu, mill-art tal-jasar. Hu li mexxiek fid-deżert kbir u jwaħħax, mimli sriep velenużi u skorpjuni, art niexfa bla ilma xejn, li ħariġlek l-ilma mill-blata taż-żnied, li temgħek il-manna fid-deżert, li missirijietek ma kienu jafu biha xejn”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.  R. Irroddu ħajr lil Alla.

Salm Responsorjali                 Salm 146(147):12-13,14-15,19-20

R. (12a): Sebbaħ, Ġerusalemm, lill-Mulej.

Sebbaħ, Ġerusalemm, lill-Mulej;
faħħar lil Alla tiegħek, Sijon!
Hu jsaħħaħ l-istaneg tal-bibien tiegħek,
u jbierek ġewwa fik lil uliedek. R.

Hu jqiegħed fis-sliem it-trufijiet ta’ artek,
u lilek bl-aħjar qamħ ixebbgħek.
Hu jibgħat fuq l-art il-kmand tiegħu;
bil-ħeffa tiġri l-kelma tiegħu. R.

Hu jxandar kelmtu lil Ġakobb,
il-liġijiet u d-digrieti tiegħu lil Iżrael.
Ma għamel hekk ma’ ebda poplu;
lil ħadd ma għarraf id-digrieti tiegħu. R.

Qari 2                   mill-Ewwel Ittra ta’ San Pawl lill-Korintin 10:16-17

Ħuti, il-kalċi mbierek li fuqu ngħidu l-barka mhuwiex għaqda mad-demm ta’ Kristu? U l-ħobż li naqsmu mhuwiex għaqda mal-ġisem ta’ Kristu? Għax la l-ħobża hi waħda, aħna, li aħna ħafna, aħna ġisem wieħed; ilkoll kemm aħna nieħdu sehem minn ħobża waħda.  La l-ħobża hi waħda, aħna, li aħna ħafna, aħna ġisem wieħed. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.  R. Irroddu ħajr lil Alla.

Sekwenza

Dan ħobż l-anġli, magħmul ikel
għall-bnedmin fit-triq tal-ħajja,
ikel bnin għall-ulied kollha,
li m’għandux fix-xejn jintrema.

Bi xbihat kien ilu mħabbar,
f’dik l-offerta ta’ Iżakk,
fil-ħaruf li nqatel fl-Għid,
u fil-manna tad-deżert.

Int ragħaj tajjeb, ħobż tassew,
Ġesù tagħna, ħenn għalina;
Int itmagħna u ħarisna:
Inti lilna l-ġid urina
fl-art imbierka tal-ħajjin.

Int li taf u tista’ kollox,
li titmagħna hawn f’dil-ħajja,
hemm agħmilna lkoll imsieħba,
f’għaqda waħda lkoll werrieta
mal-qtajjiet tal-qaddisin.

         Amen. Hallelujah.

Evanġelju                     Qari mill-Evanġelju skond San Ġwann 6:51-58

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù qal lin-nies: “Jiena hu l-ħobż il-ħaj, li niżel mis-sema. Jekk xi ħadd jiekol minn dan il-ħobż jgħix għal dejjem. U l-ħobż li jiena nagħti huwa ġismi għall-ħajja tad-dinja”. Fuq hekk il-Lhud tlewmu bejniethom, u bdew jgħidu: “Kif jista’ dan jagħtina ġismu biex nikluh?”. Ġesù mela qalilhom: “Tassew, tassew ngħidilkom, jekk ma tiklux il-ġisem ta’ Bin il-bniedem u ma tixorbux demmu, ma jkollkomx il-ħajja fikom. Min jiekol ġismi u jixrob demmi għandu l-ħajja ta’ dejjem, u jiena nqajmu mill-imwiet fl-aħħar jum. Għax ġismi huwa tassew ikel, u demmi hu tassew xorb. Min jiekol ġismi u jixrob demmi jibqa’ fija u jiena fih. Bħalma bagħatni l-Missier, li hu ħaj, u jiena ngħix b’Missieri, hekk ukoll min jiekol lili, hu wkoll jgħix bija. Dan huwa l-ħobż li niżel mis-sema; mhuwiex bħal dak li kielu missirjietkom u mietu; min jiekol dan il-ħobż jgħix għal dejjem”.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.  R. Tifħir lilek, Kristu.

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/////////////  REFLECTION 

Why do we celebrate the feast of Corpus Christ ?

Importance: 

1) The last two precious gifts given to us by Jesus are the Holy Eucharist as our spiritual food on Holy Thursday and Jesus’ mother Mary as our spiritual Mother on Good Friday 

2) Corpus Christi is the celebration of the abiding presence of a loving God as Emmanuel – God-with-us – in order to give collective thanks to our Lord for his living with us in the Eucharist. 

3) The feast also gives us an occasion to learn more about the importance and value of the “Real Presence” of Jesus in the Eucharist so that we may appreciate the Infinite Value of the Sacrament by adoring and receiving Jesus in It

We believe in the “Real Presence” of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist because 

1) Jesus promised it after miraculously feeding the 5000. 

2) Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist during his Last Supper. 

3) Jesus commanded his disciples to repeat it in his memory.

 4) “Nothing is impossible for God.”

We explain the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist by the Aristotelian philosophical term “transubstantiation” which means that the substance of the consecrated bread and wine is changed, by the action of the Holy Spirit at the Epiklesis through the words of the priest, into the substance of the risen Jesus’ risen glorified Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity, while its accidents (like color, shape, taste etc.), remain unchanged.

Scripture lessons: 

In the first reading, Dt 8:2-3, 14b-16a, Moses instructs the Israelites to “remember and not forget” God’s miraculous provision of food in the manna given to them in the desert. The Church, through the Holy Mass, re-presents (makes present again) or re-enacts the Sacramental Self-offering Jesus makes on Calvary. In the second reading, Paul reminds the Corinthians that the Bread they share is the real Body of Christ which makes their community also the Body of the risen Christ. In Sunday’s Gospel passage, Jesus identifies himself as “the living bread that came down from heaven,” thus linking himself with the manna in the wilderness, while assuring his disciples that, unlike those who ate manna, “One who eats this Bread will live for ever.”

A Sacrament and a sacrifice: Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist both as a sacramental banquet and a sacrificial offering.

1) As a Sacrament: 

a) the Eucharist is a visible sign that gives us God’s grace and His life and, 

b) as a meal, it nourishes our souls. 

2) As a sacrifice: 

a) the Eucharistic celebration is a re-presentation or re-enactment of Jesus’ sacrifice on Calvary, completed in His Resurrection. 

b) We offer Jesus’ sacrifice to God the Father for the remission of our sins, using signs and symbols.

Life messages:

1) Let us appreciate the “Real Presence” of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, by receiving Him with true repentance for our sins, due preparation, reverence in our reception and spending time in thanksgiving to, and adoration of, Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, now within us.

2) Let us be Christ-bearers and -conveyers: By receiving Holy Communion, we become Christ-bearers as Mary was, with the duty of conveying Christ to others at home and in the workplace, through love, mercy, forgiveness, and humble, sacrificial service.

3) Let us offer our lives on the altar along with Jesus’ sacrifice, asking pardon for our sins, expressing gratitude for the blessings we have received, presenting our needs and petitions on the altar, and receiving Jesus with due preparation in Holy Communion.

//////////////////////////////////////     Fr Tony's Homilies © 2026.  /  https://frtonyshomilies.com  ////////

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"WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE CONDEMNED ..."

  Readings for Sunday, MAY 31, 2026 

>>> 

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity
Lectionary: 164

Reading 1                  Exodus 34:4b-6, 8-9

Early in the morning Moses went up Mount Sinai as the LORD had commanded him, taking along the two stone tablets. Having come down in a cloud, the LORD stood with Moses there and proclaimed his name, "LORD." Thus the LORD passed before him and cried out, "The LORD, the LORD, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity." Moses at once bowed down to the ground in worship. Then he said, "If I find favor with you, O Lord, do come along in our company. This is indeed a stiff-necked people; yet pardon our wickedness and sins, and receive us as your own."

 Responsorial Psalm                  Daniel 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56

Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, praiseworthy and exalted above all forever; And blessed is your holy and glorious name, praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages. 
R. Glory and praise for ever!

Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,
praiseworthy and glorious above all forever.
R. Glory and praise for ever!

Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.
R. Glory and praise for ever!

Blessed are you who look into the depths
from your throne upon the cherubim,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.
R. Glory and praise for ever!

 Reading 2                  2 Corinthians 13:11-13

Brothers and sisters, rejoice.  Mend your ways, encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the holy ones greet you.  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

 Gospel                John 3:16-18

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.

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/////  BIL-MALTI   ////////

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"... MIN JEMMEN FIH MA JKUNX IKKUNDANNAT..."  

>>>> Qari tas-Solennità tat-Trinità Qaddisa

        Il-Ħadd wara Għid il-Ħamsin

Qari 1                   mill-Ktieb tal-Eżodu 34:4b-6,8-9

F’dak iż-żmien, Mosè qam filgħodu kmieni, u tala’ fuq il-muntanja tas-Sinaj, kif kien ordnalu l-Mulej, u ħa f’idejh iż-żewġ twavel tal-ġebel. Imbagħad il-Mulej niżel fi sħaba u waqaf hemm maġenbu; u xandar l-isem tal-Mulej. U l-Mulej għadda minn quddiemu u għajjat: “Jaħweh! Jaħweh! Alla li jagħder u jħenn; tqil biex jagħdab u kbir fit-tjieba u fil-fedeltà”.  Mosè minnufih inxteħet għal wiċċu fl-art, ta qima u qal: “Jekk jien tassew sibt ħniena quddiemek, Sidi, ħa jiġi Sidi ġo nofsna, nitolbok; għax dan hu poplu rasu iebsa. Aħfrilna ħżunitna u ħtijietna, u ħudna b’wirt għalik”.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.  R. Irroddu ħajr lil Alla.

Salm Responsorjali                Danjel 3:52,53,54,55,56

Imbierek int, Mulej, Alla ta’ missirijietna. 
R. (52b): Ta’ min ifaħħrek u jgħollik fuq kollox għal dejjem.

Imbierek ismek, qaddis u msebbaħ. 

R. (52b): Ta’ min ifaħħrek u jgħollik fuq kollox għal dejjem.

Imbierek int fit-tempju tas-sebħ imqaddes tiegħek. 

R. (52b): Ta’ min ifaħħrek u jgħollik fuq kollox għal dejjem.

Imbierek int li qiegħed fuq il-kerubini, li ħarstek tinfed l-abbissi. 

R. (52b): Ta’ min ifaħħrek u jgħollik fuq kollox għal dejjem.

Imbierek int fuq it-tron ta’ saltnatek. 
R. (52b): Ta’ min ifaħħrek u jgħollik fuq kollox għal dejjem.

Imbierek int fil-wisa’ kollu tas-sema. 

R. (52b): Ta’ min ifaħħrek u jgħollik fuq kollox għal dejjem.

Qari 2                   Għeluq tat-Tieni Ittra ta’ San Pawl lill-Korintin 13:11-13

Ħuti, ifirħu, ħabirku għall-perfezzjoni, isimgħu milli wieħed jgħidilkom, kunu ta’ fehma waħda, żommu s-sliem, u Alla tal-imħabba u s-sliem ikun magħkom. Sellmu lil xulxin b’bewsa qaddisa. Il-qaddisin kollha jsellmulkom. Il-grazzja ta’ Sidna Ġesù Kristu, l-imħabba ta’ Alla u l-għaqda fl-Ispirtu s-Santu jkunu magħkom ilkoll.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Evanġelju                  Qari skond San Ġwann 3:16-18

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù qal lil Nikodemu: “Alla hekk ħabb lid-dinja li ta lil Ibnu l-waħdieni, biex kull min jemmen fih ma jintilifx, iżda jkollu l-ħajja ta’ dejjem. Għax Alla ma bagħatx lil Ibnu fid-dinja biex jagħmel ħaqq mid-dinja, imma biex id-dinja ssalva permezz tiegħu. Min jemmen fih ma jkunx ikkundannat; iżda min ma jemminx huwa ġa kkundannat, għax ma emminx fl-isem tal-Iben il-waħdieni ta’ Alla”.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej. R. Tifħir lilek, Kristu.

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/////////////  REFLECTION -

HOLY TRINITY SUNDAY 

Introduction: 

The mystery of the most Holy Trinity is a basic doctrine of Faith in Christianity, understandable not with our heads but with our hearts. It teaches us that there are three distinct Persons in one God, sharing the same Divine Nature, co-equal and co-eternal. Our mind cannot grasp this doctrine which teaches that 1+1+1 = 1 and not 3. But we believe in this Mystery because Jesus, Who is God, taught it clearly, the Evangelists recorded it, the Fathers of the Church tried to explain it, and the Councils of Nicaea and Constantinople defined it as a dogma of Christian Faith. 

Importance of Holy Trinity in Christian life: 

1) All prayers in the Church begin in the Name of the Holy Trinity and end glorifying the Trinity. 

2) All Sacraments are administered (we are baptized, confirmed, anointed, our sins are forgiven, our marriage is blessed, and our Bishops, priests and deacons are ordained) in the name of the Holy Trinity. 

3) When Church bells ring thrice daily, they remind us to give glory to the Holy Trinity for the Incarnation of Jesus and His Redemption of all of us. 

4) We bless ourselves, and the priest blesses us, in the Name of the Holy Trinity.

Biblical basis: 

There are only vague and hidden references to the Trinity in the Old Testament. But the New Testament gives clear teachings on the Holy Trinity.

   1) At the Annunciation, God the Father sends His angel to Mary, God the Holy Spirit comes upon her, the Power of the Most High overshadows her, and God the Son becomes Incarnate in her womb.

   2) At the baptism of Jesus, when the Son receives baptism from John the Baptist, the Father’s Voice is heard, and the Holy Spirit appears as a Dove and descends upon Jesus.

   3) At the Ascension, Jesus gives the missionary command to his disciples to baptize those who believe, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

   4) John’s account: In John’s Gospel, chapters 15--18, we have a detailed account of Jesus’ teaching of the role of each Person of the Holy Trinity: 

     a) God the Father creates and provides for His creatures. 

     b) God the Son redeems us and reconciles us with God. 

     c) God the Holy Spirit sanctifies us, strengthens us, teaches us, and guides us to God.

Life messages:

1) Let us respect ourselves and others because everyone is the temple of the Holy Spirit where all Three Persons of the Holy Trinity abide.

2) Let us have the firm conviction that the Trinitarian God abides in us, that He is the Source of our hope, courage and strength, and that He is our final destination.

3) Let us practice the Trinitarian relationship of love and unity in the family relationships of father, mother, and children because by Baptism we become children of God and members of God’s Trinitarian family.

4) Let us practice the I–God–my neighbour vertical and horizontal Trinitarian relationships in this life by loving God.

//////////////////////////////////////     Fr Tony's Homilies © 2026.  /  https://frtonyshomilies.com  ////////

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"...And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit"

  Readings for Sunday, May 24, 2026 

>>>>  Pentecost Sunday - 

Mass during the Day   

Lectionary: 63

Reading 1                  Acts 2:1-11

When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.  Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, "Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in his native language? We are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travelers from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism, Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God."

Responsorial Psalm                  Psalm 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34 

Bless the LORD, O my soul!
O LORD, my God, you are great indeed!
How manifold are your works, O LORD!
the earth is full of your creatures;
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.

or: R. Alleluia. 

May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
may the LORD be glad in his works!
Pleasing to him be my theme;
I will be glad in the LORD.
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
or:  R. Alleluia.

If you take away their breath, they perish
and return to their dust.
When you send forth your spirit, they are created,
and you renew the face of the earth.
R. Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth.
or: R. Alleluia.

Reading 2                 1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13

Brothers and sisters:  No one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. As a body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ.  For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink of one Spirit.

Sequence — Veni, Sancte Spiritus

Come, Holy Spirit, come!
And from your celestial home
Shed a ray of light divine!

Come, Father of the poor!
Come, source of all our store!
Come, within our bosoms shine.

You, of comforters the best;
You, the soul’s most welcome guest;
Sweet refreshment here below;

In our labour, rest most sweet;
Grateful coolness in the heat;
Solace in the midst of woe.

O most blessed Light divine,
Shine within these hearts of yours,
And our inmost being fill!

Where you are not, we have naught,
Nothing good in deed or thought,
Nothing free from taint of ill.

Heal our wounds, our strength renew;
On our dryness pour your dew;
Wash the stains of guilt away:

Bend the stubborn heart and will;
Melt the frozen, warm the chill;
Guide the steps that go astray.

On the faithful, who adore
And confess you, evermore
In your sevenfold gift descend;

Give them virtue’s sure reward;
Give them your salvation, Lord;
Give them joys that never end. Amen.
lleluia.
 
Gospel              John 20:19-23

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."

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<><><><><><><><><><><>      /////  BIL-MALTI   ////////        <<<<<<<<<

"Ilkoll tgħammidna fi Spirtu wieħed biex nagħmlu ġisem wieħed."

>>>> Is-Solennità ta’ Għid il-Ħamsin

Quddiesa tal-Jum:

QARI 1                         mill-Ktieb tal-Atti tal-Appostli 2:1-11

Meta wasal jum Għid il-Ħamsin, huma kienu lkoll flimkien f’post wieħed. F’daqqa waħda ġie mis-sema ħoss bħal ta’ riħ qawwi, u mela d-dar kollha fejn kienu qegħdin. U dehrulhom ilsna qishom tan-nar, li tqassmu u qagħdu fuq kull wieħed minnhom. Imtlew ilkoll bl-Ispirtu s-Santu u bdew jitkellmu b’ilsna oħra, skont ma l-Ispirtu kien jagħtihom li jitkellmu.   F’Ġerusalemm kien hemm xi Lhud, nies twajba minn kull nazzjon li hawn taħt is-sema. Malli nstama’ dan il-ħoss, inġabret kotra kbira, ilkoll imħawdin għax kull wieħed minnhom kien jismagħhom jitkellmu bl-ilsien tiegħu. Mibluhin u mistagħġbin, bdew jgħidu: “Dawn li qegħdin jitkellmu mhumiex ilkoll mill-Galilija? Mela kif kull wieħed minna qiegħed jismagħhom jitkellmu bi lsien art twelidu? Partin, Medin u Għelamin, nies mill-Mesopotamja, mil-Lhudija, mill-Kappadoċja, minn Pontu, mill-Asja, mill-Friġja, mill-Pamfilja, mill-Eġittu, mill-inħawi tal-Libja madwar Ċireni, nies li ġew minn Ruma, kemm Lhud u kemm prosèliti, oħrajn minn Kreta u Għarab, aħna lkoll qegħdin nisimgħuhom ixandru bl-ilsna tagħna l-għeġubijiet ta’ Alla!”.   Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.  ℟. It-tifħir lilek, Kristu.

SALM RESPONSORJALI                  Salm 103(104):1ab,24aċ,29bċ-30,31,34

℟. (30): Ibgħat l-Ispirtu tiegħek, Mulej, u ġedded il-wiċċ tal-art.

Bierek ruħ tiegħi, lill-Mulej!
Mulej, Alla tiegħi, inti kbir bil-bosta!
Kemm huma kotrana l-għemejjel tiegħek, Mulej!
Mimlija l-art bil-ħlejjaq tiegħek. ℟.

Jekk teħdilhom nifishom, imutu,
u lejn it-trab jerġgħu jmorru.
Malli tibgħat in-nifs tiegħek, jinħolqu,
u inti ġġedded il-wiċċ tal-art. ℟.

Jibqa’ sebħ il-Mulej għal dejjem!
Jifraħ il-Mulej bl-għemejjel tiegħu!
Ħa togħġbu l-għanja tiegħi,
għax jiena fil-Mulej l-hena tiegħi. ℟.

QARI 2                   mill-Ewwel Ittra ta’ San Pawl lill-Korintin 12:3b-7,12-13

Ħuti, ħadd ma jista’ jgħid: “Ġesù hu l-Mulej!”, jekk mhux imqanqal mill-Ispirtu s-Santu. Hemm imbagħad diversi doni, imma l-istess wieħed hu l-Ispirtu; hemm diversi ministeri, imma l-istess wieħed hu l-Mulej; hemm diversi ħidmiet, imma l-istess Alla, li jaħdem kollox f’kulħadd. Lil kull wieħed tingħata r-rivelazzjoni tal-Ispirtu għall-ġid ta’ kulħadd. Bħalma l-ġisem hu wieħed u fih ħafna membri, u l-membri kollha tal-ġisem, għad li huma ħafna, jagħmlu ġisem wieħed, hekk ukoll Kristu. Għax aħna wkoll, ilkoll tgħammidna fi Spirtu wieħed biex nagħmlu ġisem wieħed, sew Lhud sew Griegi, sew ilsiera sew ħielsa, u lkoll xrobna minn Spirtu wieħed.   Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.    ℟. It-tifħir lilek, Kristu.

SEKWENZA

Spirtu s-Santu, ejja fina,
raġġ ta’ dawl qaddis agħtina,
xerrdu f’ruħna mis-smewwiet.

O Missier il-foqra tiegħek,
inti ġġib id-doni miegħek,
tagħni b’dawlek qalb l-ulied.

Inti l-aqwa faraġ tagħna,
fik kull hena xħin tkun magħna,
tħossok fewġa ħelwa r-ruħ.

Fl-għaja, lejn is-serħ twassalna;
jekk imħeġġa wisq, trażżanna;
mill-għajnejn tixxotta d-dmugħ.

O dawl hieni ta’ qdusija,
nitolbuk li bik mimlija
tkun il-qalb ta’ kull fidil.

Mingħajr dawlek li jmexxina
ebda ħajr ma jkun hemm fina,
ebda safa fil-għemil.

Naddaf kull fejn hemm it-tbajja’,
fejn hemm nixfa reġġa’ l-ħajja,
lill-miġruħ agħtih fejqan.

Rattab fina l-ebusija,
agħti lill-berdin bżulija,
għin fit-triq lil min beżgħan.

Agħti s-seba’ doni tiegħek
lil min jimxi fidil miegħek
u li fik jistrieħ kull ħin.

Agħti ’l kull virtù sabiħa
ħlas ta’ salvazzjoni sħiħa,
agħti l-ġenna lit-tajbin.
Amen. Hallelujah.

EVANĠELJU                  Qari skond San Ġwann 20:19-23

Dak il-Ħadd filgħaxija, fl-ewwel jum tal-ġimgħa, meta d-dixxipli kienu flimkien imbeżżgħa mil-Lhud, bil-bibien magħluqa, ġie Ġesù u qagħad f’nofshom; u qalilhom: “Is-sliem għalikom!”. Kif qal hekk, uriehom idejh u ġenbu. Id-dixxipli ferħu meta raw lill-Mulej. Imbagħad Ġesù tenna jgħidilhom: “Is-sliem għalikom! Kif il-Missier bagħat lili, hekk jien nibgħat lilkom”. Kif qal hekk, nefaħ fuqhom u qalilhom: “Ħudu l-Ispirtu s-Santu. Dawk li taħfrulhom dnubiethom ikunu maħfura, u dawk li żżommuhomlhom ikunu miżmuma”.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej. ℟. It-tifħir lilek, Kristu.

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/////////////  REFLECTION     --  from  Fr TONY KADAVIL's Homilies 

PENTECOST SUNDAY 

Eight-minute homily in one page

Introduction: 

Pentecost literally means 50th. It is a feast celebrated even now by Jews on the 50th day after the Passover feast and by Christians on the 50th day after the feast of the Resurrection of Jesusby Christians. The Jewish Pentecost was originally a post-harvest thanksgiving feast. Later, the Jews included in it the remembrance of God’s Covenants with Noah after the Deluge and with Moses at Mt. Sinai

The event:   On the day of Pentecost.....

    1) The Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary as tongues of fire. 

    2) The frightened apostles were transformed into fiery preachers and evangelizers and were given the gift of tongues by a special anointing of the Holy Spirit. 

    3) The listeners experienced a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit through the apostles’ gift of tongues: they heard Peter speaking in their native languages. 

    4) The early Christians became powerful witnesses and brave martyrs for their Faith in Jesus.

The role of the Holy Spirit in Christian life: 

    1) As an indwelling God, the Holy Spirit makes us His Living Temples (I Cor 3:16). 

    2) As a strengthening God, He strengthens us in our fight against temptations and in our mission of bearing witness to Christ by our transparent Christian lives. 

    3) As a sanctifying God, He makes us holy through the Sacraments: 

        a) Through Baptism He makes us children of God and heirs of Heaven. 

        b) Through Confirmation, He makes us temples of God, warriors, and defenders of the Faith. 

        c) Through the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Last Anointing, He enables us to be reconciled with God by pardoning our sins. 

        d) Through the Sacrifice and Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, He gives us spiritual nourishment by changing bread and wine into Jesus’ Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, through Epiclesis. 

        e) Through the Sacraments of the priesthood (Ordination) and matrimony (Marriage), He makes the Church community holy. 

    4) As a teaching and guiding God, He clarifies and constantly reminds us of Christ’s teachings and guides the Magisterium of the Church in presenting Christ’s teachings correctly. 

    5) As a listening and speaking God, He listens to our prayers, enables us to pray, and speaks to us, mainly through the Bible. 

    6) As a Giver of gifts, He pours out on us His gifts, fruits, and charisms, thus enriching the Church.

Life messages: 

We need to permit the Holy Spirit to take control of our lives: 

    1) by constantly remembering His Holy Presence and behaving well; 

    2) by praying for His daily anointing so that we may fight against our temptations and control our evil tendencies, evil habits, and addictions; 

    3) by asking His daily assistance to pray, listening to God through meditative Bible reading, and talking to Him in personal, family, and liturgical prayers; and 

    4) by asking the help of the Holy Spirit to do good for others and to be reconciled with God and others every day.

//////////////////////////////////////     Fr Tony's Homilies © 2026.  /  https://frtonyshomilies.com  ////////

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 Readings for Sunday, MAY 17, 2026 

>>>Seventh Sunday of Easter  

 The Ascension of Jesus                                                               Lectionary: 59

Reading 1                            Acts 1:12-14

After Jesus had been taken up to heaven the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. When they entered the city they went to the upper room where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. 

Responsorial Psalm                 Psalm 27:1, 4, 7-8

The LORD is my light and my salvation;  whom should I fear?                                          The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid?   

R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living. Or:  R. Alleluia.

One thing I ask of the LORD; this I seek: To dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, That I may gaze on the loveliness of the LORD and contemplate his temple.   

 R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.  or:  R. Alleluia.

Hear, O Lord, the sound of my call; have pity on me, and answer me. Of you my heart speaks; you my glance seeks.     

 R. I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living. or:  R. Alleluia.

Reading 2                 1 Peter 4:13-16

Beloved:   Rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice exultantly.  If you are insulted for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let no one among you be made to suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as an intriguer. But whoever is made to suffer as a Christian should not be ashamed but glorify God because of the name.

Gospel                  John 17:1-11a

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come.  Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you, just as you gave him authority over all people, so that your son may give eternal life to all you gave him. Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do. Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you before the world began.  “I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.  Now they know that everything you gave me is from you, because the words you gave to me I have given to them, and they accepted them and truly understood that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me, because they are yours, and everything of mine is yours and everything of yours is mine, and I have been glorified in them. And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you.” 

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<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>    /////  BIL-MALTI   ////////       <<<<<<<<<

   

<<<<<<<<<

"...Morru, mela,    agħmlu dixxipli       mill-ġnus kollha..."

>>>> Solennità tat-Tlugħ il-Mulej fis-Sema

QARI 1                 Bidu tal-Ktieb tal-Atti tal-Appostli 1:1-11

Fl-ewwel rakkont tiegħi, Teofilu, tkellimt fuq dak kollu li Ġesù kien għamel u għallem minn mindu beda sal-jum li fih kien meħud fis-sema, wara li, permezz tal-Ispirtu s-Santu, ta l-ordnijiet tiegħu lill-appostli li hu kien għażel.  Wara l-passjoni tiegħu dehrilhom u tahom ħafna provi li hu ħaj; f’erbgħin jum rawh kemm-il darba u kellimhom fuq il-ħwejjeġ tas-Saltna ta’ Alla. Meta kien għadu magħhom, ordnalhom biex ma jitilqux minn Ġerusalemm, imma joqogħdu jistennew sa ma sseħħ il-wegħda tal-Missier, “li fuqha”, qalilhom, “smajtu x’kont għedtilkom: Ġwanni għammed bl-ilma, imma intom, fi ftit jiem oħra titgħammdu bl-Ispirtu s-Santu”.  Kif kienu flimkien staqsewh: “Mulej, hu dan iż-żmien li fih int se terġa’ twaqqaf is-Saltna ta’ Iżrael?”. Hu weġibhom: “Mhijiex biċċa tagħkom li tkunu tafu l-waqt u ż-żmien li l-Missier għażel bis-setgħa tiegħu. Imma meta jiġi fuqkom l-Ispirtu s-Santu, intom tirċievu l-qawwa, u tkunu xhieda tiegħi f’Ġerusalemm, fil-Lhudija kollha u s-Samarija u sa truf l-art”.  Wara li qal dan, huma u jħarsu lejh, kien meħud ’il fuq, u sħaba ħadithulhom minn quddiem għajnejhom. Waqt li kienu b’għajnejhom fis-sema jħarsu lejh sejjer, f’daqqa waħda dehru ħdejhom żewġt irġiel libsin l-abjad, u qalulhom: “Irġiel tal-Galilija, x’intom tħarsu lejn is-sema? Dan Ġesù, li kien meħud minn magħkom lejn is-sema, għad jerġa’ jiġi kif rajtuh sejjer”.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej. ℟. Irroddu ħajr lil Alla.

SALM RESPONSORJALI                Salm 46(47):2-3,6-7,8-9

       ℟. (6): Tela’ Alla b’għajat ta’ ferħ.
        Jew  Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah.

Popli kollha, ċapċpu idejkom,
għajtu b’leħen ta’ ferħ lil Alla!
Għax il-Mulej, l-Għoli, hu tal-biża’,
sultan kbir fuq l-art kollha. ℟.

Tela’ Alla b’għajat ta’ ferħ,
il-Mulej bid-daqq tat-trombi.
Għannu lil Alla, għannu,
għannu lis-sultan tagħna, għannu. ℟.

Għax Alla s-sultan tal-art kollha:
għannulu bis-sengħa għanja sabiħa.
Isaltan Alla fuq il-ġnus kollha,
joqgħod Alla fuq it-tron imqaddes tiegħu. ℟.     

QARI 2                   mill-Ittra ta’ San Pawl lill-Efesin 1:17-23

Ħuti, Alla ta’ Sidna Ġesù Kristu, il-Missier tal-glorja, jagħtikom spirtu ta’ għerf u rivelazzjoni biex tagħrfuh sewwa. Hu jdawlilkom l-għajnejn ta’ qalbkom biex tagħrfu x’inhi t-tama tas-sejħa tagħkom; x’inhu l-għana tal-glorja tal-wirt li takom taqsmu mal-qaddisin.  Tagħrfu x’inhu l-kobor bla qies tas-setgħa tiegħu fina li emminna,  skond il-ħila tal-qawwa kbira tiegħu li ħaddem fi Kristu, meta qajmu mill-imwiet u qiegħdu fil-lemin tiegħu fis-smewwiet, ’il fuq minn kull Saltna u Setgħa, minn kull Qawwa u Ħakma, ’il fuq minn kull isem li jissemma, mhux biss għaż-żmien ta’ issa, imma wkoll għal li ġej. Iva, qiegħed kollox taħt riġlejh, u għamlu ras fuq il-Knisja kollha, li hi Ġismu, il-milja ta’ dak li jimla kollox f’kollox.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.  ℟. Irroddu ħajr lil Alla.

EVANĠELJU                 Għeluq tal-Evanġelju skond San Mattew 28:16-20

F’dak iż-żmien, il-ħdax-il dixxiplu telqu lejn il-Galilija u marru fuq il-muntanja fejn kien ordnalhom Ġesù. Kif rawh, inxteħtu quddiemu, għalkemm xi wħud iddubitaw. Ġesù resaq ikellimhom u qalilhom: “Lili ngħatat kull setgħa fis-sema u fl-art. Morru, mela, agħmlu dixxipli mill-ġnus kollha, u għammduhom fl-isem tal-Missier u tal-Iben u tal-Ispirtu s-Santu, u għallmuhom iħarsu dak kollu li ordnajtilkom jien. U ara, jiena magħkom dejjem, sal-aħħar taż-żmien”.   Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.  ℟. Tifħir lilek, Kristu.

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The Ascension of Our Lord

 Eight-minute homily in one page

Introduction: 

Sunday’s readings describe the Ascension of the Lord Jesus into his Heavenly glory after promising to send the Holy Spirit to the Apostles as the source of Heavenly power and commanding them to bear witness to Him through their lives and preaching throughout the world. But the ascended Jesus is still with us because of His promise, “I am with you always; yes, to the end of time” (Mt 28-20). He is with us at all times and in all places, releasing a new energy upon the earth, the energy of the Holy Spirit.

The Scripture lessons summarized: 

The first reading, taken from the Acts of the Apostles, presents the scene of Jesus’ Ascension, the promise of the Holy Spirit, Jesus’ instructions to the apostles to wait in Jerusalem for the Power from above, and missionary command to the apostles to bear witness to him. Sunday’s Responsorial Psalm (Ps 47) suggests that, by his Ascension, the risen Lord “mounts his throne” in glory. In the second reading, Paul teaches us that God revealed His might in the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ, thus exalting Him over all angelic forces. Jesus remains accessible to us now in the life-giving Holy Spirit, assuring us that one day we, too, will be ascending to Heavenly glory, provided that, with His grace, we live out our Faith in Him through the mission of loving service He entrusts to us. 

This Sunday’s Gospel tells us that, with his return to the Father, Jesus completed his personal mission on earth. But just before his Ascension, Jesus entrusted to the disciples that same mission of preaching the Good News and evangelizing the whole world by bearing witness to him through their lives. It is in his Ascension that we see Jesus entering fully into the Life and Glory of God. In the descriptions of Christ after his Resurrection, we are given a hint of what life will be like in Heaven. The prospect of sharing that glory should be the driving force of our lives.

Life messages:

1) We need to be proclaimers and evangelizers: To be a Christian is to be a proclaimer and an evangelizer. There is a difference between preaching and proclaiming. We preach with words, but we proclaim with our lives. Let us ask the guidance of the Spirit of God to bear witness to Jesus by our transparent Christian lives.

2) We have a teaching mission: Jesus taught us lessons of Faith, Hope, Love, forgiveness, mercy, and salvation by his life and his preaching and gave us the same mission for the conversion of our brothers and sisters. Hence, let us learn about Jesus and his teachings through our daily study of the Bible and the teachings of the Church, experience Jesus in personal prayer, our reception of the Sacraments and our works of charity, and convey to others the Jesus whom we experience with the help of the Holy Spirit. 

3) We need Jesus as our source of strength and encouragement in doing His will: We will be able to overcome doubts about our Faith, as well as baseless fears, anxieties, and worries, by meditating on Jesus’ Ascension and the lesson it teaches — that we, too, are called to share his Glory in Heaven.

//////////////////////////////////////     Fr Tony's Homilies © 2026.  /  https://frtonyshomilies.com  / 

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THE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

 Readings for Sunday, May 10, 2026 

   

>>>Sixth Sunday of Easter
       Lectionary: 55

Reading 1                 Acts 8:5-8, 14-17

Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ 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 or crippled people were cured. There was great joy in that city. Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who went down and prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for it had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.

Responsorial Psalm                   Psalm 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20

Shout joyfully to God, all the earth,

sing praise to the glory of his name;
proclaim his glorious praise.
Say to God, “How tremendous are your deeds!”
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:  R. Alleluia.

“Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you,
sing praise to your name!”
Come and see the works of God,
his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:  R. Alleluia.

He has changed the sea into dry land;
through the river they passed on foot;
therefore let us rejoice in him.
He rules by his might forever.
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:  R. Alleluia.

Hear now, all you who fear God, while I declare
what he has done for me.
Blessed be God who refused me not
my prayer or his kindness!
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or: R. Alleluia.

Reading 2                 1 Peter 3:15-18

Beloved: Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that be the will of God, than for doing evil.  For Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that he might lead you to God.  Put to death in the flesh, he was brought to life in the Spirit.

Gospel                  John 14:15-21

Jesus said to his disciples:  “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept,  because it neither sees nor knows him.  But you know him, because he remains with you, and will be in you.  I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me,  but you will see me, because I live and you will live.  On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me.  And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.”

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/////  BIL-MALTI   ////////    <<<<<<<<

Qiegħdu jdejhom fuqhom, u huma rċevew l-Ispirtu s-Santu.

>>>> Qari tas-Sitt Ħadd tal-Għid

QARI 1                   mill-Ktieb tal-Atti tal-Appostli 8:5-8,14-17

F’dak iż-żmien, Filippu niżel f’belt tas-Samarija u xandar lil Kristu lin-nies tagħha. Il-folol tan-nies b’fehma waħda kienu joqogħdu attenti għal dak li kien jgħidilhom Filippu, meta kienu jisimgħuh u jaraw il-mirakli li kien jagħmel. Kien hemm nies maħkuma mill-ispirti ħżiena, u dawn b’għajat kbir kienu joħorġu minn ħafna minnhom; u ħafna nies oħrajn, mifluġa jew zopop, kienu jitfejqu. U kien hemm ferħ kbir f’dik il-belt.  L-appostli, li kienu Ġerusalemm, semgħu li s-Samarija laqgħet il-kelma ta’ Alla, u bagħtu hemm lil Pietru u lil Ġwanni. Dawn niżlu hemm u talbu biex dawk li emmnu jirċievu l-Ispirtu s-Santu; għax l-Ispirtu s-Santu kien għadu ma niżel fuq ħadd minnhom, imma kienu tgħammdu biss f’isem il-Mulej Ġesù. Imbagħad l-appostli qiegħdu jdejhom fuqhom, u huma rċevew l-Ispirtu s-Santu.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

SALM RESPONSORJALI                  Salm 65(66):1-3a,4-5,6-7a,16,20

℟. Għajtu bil-ferħ lil Alla, bnedmin tad-dinja kollha.                                                                             Jew  ℟. Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah.

Għajtu bil-ferħ lil Alla,
bnedmin tad-dinja kollha;
għannu s-sebħ ta’ ismu,
xandru s-sebħ u t-tifħir tiegħu.
Għidu lil Alla: “Kemm int tal-biża’ f’għemilek! R/.

L-art kollha tagħtik qima,
tgħannilek u tgħanni lil ismek”.
Ejjew, araw l-għemejjel ta’ Alla;
tal-biża’ f’għemilu fost il-bnedmin. R/.

Biddel il-baħar f’art niexfa,
għaddew bil-mixi minn nofs ix-xmara.
Għalhekk, nifirħu bih!
Hu jsaltan bil-kobor tiegħu għal dejjem. R/.

Ejjew, isimgħu, u ngħidilkom,
intom ilkoll li tibżgħu minn Alla,
ngħidilkom x’għamel miegħi.
Imbierek Alla, li ma warrabx it-talba tiegħi;
ma warrabx minn fuqi t-tjieba tiegħu! R/.

QARI 2                    mill-Ewwel Ittra ta’ San Pietru 1 Piet 3:15-18

Għeżież, lill-Mulej Kristu qaddsu f’qalbkom. Kunu dejjem lesti biex tagħtu tweġiba lil kull min jitlobkom il-għala tat-tama li għandkom. Imma wieġbu bil-ħlewwa u bir-rispett. Żommu safja l-kuxjenza tagħkom biex, meta jgħidu fuqkom, dawk stess li jkasbru l-imġiba tajba tagħkom fi Kristu jkollhom għalxiex jistħu. Jekk din tkun ir-rieda ta’ Alla, aħjar tbati għax tkun għamilt it-tajjeb milli għax tkun għamilt il-ħażin.  Għax Kristu wkoll miet darba għal dejjem minħabba d-dnubiet; hu li kien ġust, miet għall-inġusti biex iressaqkom lejn Alla; kien mogħti l-mewt fil-ġisem, imma ħa l-ħajja fl-ispirtu.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

EVANĠELJU                  Qari skond San Ġwann 14:15-21

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù qal lid-dixxipli tiegħu: “Jekk tħobbuni, ħarsu l-kmandamenti tiegħi. U jiena nitlob lill-Missier, u hu jagħtikom Difensur ieħor biex jibqa’ magħkom għal dejjem, l-Ispirtu tal-verità, li d-dinja ma tistax tirċevih, għax hija la tarah u lanqas tagħrfu. Iżda intom tagħrfuh, għaliex jgħammar magħkom, u huwa fikom. Ma nħallikomx iltiema. Nerġa’ niġi għandkom. Ftit ieħor, u d-dinja ma taranix aktar. Iżda intom għad tarawni, għax jiena ngħix, u intom ukoll għad tgħixu. F’dak il-jum intom tagħrfu li jiena f’Missieri, u intom fija u jiena fikom. Min iżomm il-kmandamenti tiegħi u jħarishom, dak hu li jħobbni; u min iħobb lili, iħobbu wkoll il-Missier, u jiena wkoll inħobbu u nurih lili nnifsi”.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.  

>>>>>  Meta s-Solennità ta’ Tlugħ il-Mulej fis-Sema tiġi ċċelebrata nhar il-Ħadd li ġej, illum jistgħu jinqraw it-tieni qari u l-Evanġelju tas-Seba’ Ħadd tal-Għid.

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The Gift of the Holy Spirit

An 8-minute Reflection on Sunday's Readings by Fr Anthony Kadavil   

Theme: 

Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit to his apostles in Sunday’s readings explains who the Holy Spirit is, what His roles are, and how we can experience Him in our daily lives.

Homily starter - 

What is it that makes some horses winning thoroughbreds? They have more speed, strength, their inherited gene structure, training by expert trainers, and their skillful jockeys to activate and develop their inner powers. We Christians have the stamina given by the Holy Spirit and training by parents, teachers and well-wishers. The question is whether or not we use all this to conquer temptations, avoid sin and practice virtues.

Scripture lesson summarized: 

The first reading describes how the Holy Spirit helped Philip, the Deacon, to preach powerfully and convert the Samaritans in large numbers, and how the Holy Spirit helped Peter and John, giving them a fresh anointing.

In the second reading, Peter shows us that Holy Spirit makes it possible for believers to live God-fearing lives the in the midst of opposition and persecution.

Today’s Gospel, taken from the “Last Supper Discourse,” describes the gift of the Holy Spirit which Jesus is going to give his disciples who obey his commandment of love. Thus, the faithful believers will have the indwelling of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit in their souls.

Role of the Holy Spirit: 

    As the Divine Advocate....

     1) The Holy Spirit will instruct us in Jesus’ doctrines and illumine our minds to receive deeper knowledge of our Faith.

    2) The Divine Advocate will enable us to defend our Faith powerfully when needed.

    3) He will guide us in the proper practice of true Christian love by enabling us to recognize Jesus in the in the poor, in the sick, in the homeless, in the marginalized, in the outcast, in the drug addicts, and even in the criminals (“I was in prison…”), and so to become agents of healing and reconciliation in a broken and divided world.

Life message: 

    1) We need to welcome the Holy Spirit, allow Him to act in us, and seek His help every day for our steady growth in spiritual life: 

    a) To conquer temptations from our habitual sins and to avoid the near occasions of these and other sins.

    b) To remove the blocks caused by our addictions, evil habits, and from the various forms of abuse which we suffered in our early life, preventing our spiritual growth.

    c) To discern and recognize the presence of Jesus in all the people we meet during the day and to offer them humble, loving service.

    d) To become agents of reconciliation and healing to others in our family and this community, by asking forgiveness from those we have offended, and graciously granting forgiveness to those who continue to hurt our feelings and ill-treat us.

//////////////////////////////////////     Fr Tony's Homilies © 2026.  /  https://frtonyshomilies.com  / 

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