"THIS IS THE LIFE I GAVE YOU"

Readings for Sunday, June 27, 2021 - Year/Sena B

 

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 98

It-Tlettax-il Ħadd taż-Żmien ta’ Matul is-Sena

Reading 1          WISDOM  1:13-15; 2:23-24
God did not make death, nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living. For he fashioned all things that they might have being; and the creatures of the world are wholesome, and there is not a destructive drug among them nor any domain of the netherworld on earth, for justice is undying. For God formed man to be imperishable; the image of his own nature he made him. But by the envy of the devil, death entered the world, and they who belong to his company experience it.

QARI 1          mill-Ktieb tal-Għerf 1:13-15; 2:23-24
Il-mewt mhux Alla għamilha; u lanqas togħġbu l-qerda tal-ħajjin. Hu ħalaq kollox biex jgħix; għall-ħajja huma l-ħlejjaq tad-dinja, m’hemmx fihom velenu tal-mewt. Is-saltna tal-mewt ma taħkimx fuq l-art, għax il-ġustizzja ma taqax taħt il-mewt. Alla ħalaq il-bniedem biex ma jmutx, u għamlu xbieha tiegħu nnifsu. Bl-għira tax-xitan daħlet il-mewt fid-dinja; u jafu xi tfisser dawk li huma tiegħu.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Responsorial Psalm         PSALM 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11, 12, 13
I will extol you, O LORD, for you drew me clear
and did not let my enemies rejoice over me.
O LORD, you brought me up from the netherworld;
you preserved me from among those going down into the pit.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

Sing praise to the LORD, you his faithful ones,
and give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger lasts but a moment;
a lifetime, his good will.
At nightfall, weeping enters in,
but with the dawn, rejoicing.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

Hear, O LORD, and have pity on me;
O LORD, be my helper.
You changed my mourning into dancing;
 O LORD, my God, forever will I give you thanks.
R. I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me.

SALM RESPONSORJALI          Salm 29(30):2,4,5-6,11,12a,13b
R/. (2a): Ngħollik, Mulej, għax erfajtni.
Ngħollik, Mulej, għax erfajtni,
u ma ferraħtx l-għedewwa tiegħi bija.
Mulej, tellajtli mill-mewt ’il ruħi,
ħlistni minn fost dawk li jinżlu fil-ħofra. R/.

Għannu lill-Mulej, ħbieb tiegħu,
faħħru l-isem imqaddes tiegħu.
Għax ftit iddum is-saħna tiegħu,
iżda għomor sħiħ l-imħabba tiegħu.
Filgħaxija jidħol il-biki,
filgħodu jidwi l-għajat ta’ ferħ. R/.

Ismagħni, Mulej, u ħenn għalija;
kun, Mulej, l-għajnuna tiegħi.
Int bdilt fi żfin l-għali tiegħi,
Mulej, Alla tiegħi, infaħħrek għal dejjem! R/.

Reading 2           2 CORINTHIANS 8:7, 9, 13-15
Brothers and sisters: As you excel in every respect, in faith, discourse, knowledge, all earnestness, and in the love we have for you, may you excel in this gracious act also. For you know the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, for your sake he became poor,  so that by his poverty you might become rich. Not that others should have relief while you are burdened, but that as a matter of equality your abundance at the present time should supply their needs, so that their abundance may also supply your needs, that there may be equality. As it is written: Whoever had much did not have more, and whoever had little did not have less.

QARI 2           mit-2 Ittra lill-Korintin 8:7,9,13-15
Ħuti, bħalma intom għonja f’kollox, fil-fidi u fil-kelma, fl-għerf u fiż-żelu kollu, fl-imħabba li aħna rawwimna f’qalbkom, hekk għandkom tistagħnu f’din il-ħidma ta’ ħniena. Intom tafu l-grazzja ta’ Sidna Ġesù Kristu, li għad li kien għani, ftaqar minħabba fikom, sabiex intom tistagħnu permezz tal-faqar tiegħu. Mhux biex il-piż iħeff minn fuq l-oħrajn u jaqa’ kollu fuqkom, imma kulħadd indaqs. Bħalissa ħallu ż-żejjed tagħkom jagħmel tajjeb għan-nieqes ta’ dawk li ma għandhomx, biex iż-żejjed tagħhom għad ikun jista’ jpatti għan-nieqes tagħkom. U hekk ikun kulħadd indaqs, bħalma hu miktub: “Min ġabar ħafna ma sabx iż-żejjed, u min ġabar ftit ma baqax bin-nieqes”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel          MARK 5:21-43 or 5:21-24, 35b-43
When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea. One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, “My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live.” He went off with him, and a large crowd followed him and pressed upon him. There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.” Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?” But his disciples said to Jesus, “You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, ‘Who touched me?’” And he looked around to see who had done it. The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.” While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official’s house arrived and said, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?”  Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid; just have faith.” He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. So he went in and said to them, “Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” And they ridiculed him. Then he put them all out. He took along the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and entered the room where the child was. He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. At that they were utterly astounded. He gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat.

EVANĠELJU         Qari skond San Mark  5:21-24,35b-43
F’dak iż-żmien, wara li Ġesù raġa’ qasam bid-dgħajsa għax-xatt l-ieħor, waqt li kien ħdejn il-baħar inġabret madwaru kotra kbira ta’ nies. U ġie wieħed mill-kapijiet tas-sinagoga, jismu Ġajru. Dan, malli rah, inxteħet f’riġlejh, u talbu ħafna u qallu: “Binti ż-żgħira waslet fl-aħħar; ejja qiegħed idejk fuqha, ħalli tfiq u tgħix”. U Ġesù telaq miegħu, b’kotra kbira miexja warajh, kulħadd iross fuqu. U kien hemm mara li kienet ilha tnax-il sena sħaħ tbati bit-tnixxija tad-demm. Kienet batiet wisq taħt ħafna tobba, u nefqet kulma kellha, u mhux biss ma swielha xejn, imma talli marret għall-agħar. Meta semgħet b’Ġesù, ġiet qalb il-folla, resqet minn warajh u messitlu l-mantar, għax qalet: “Jekk immiss imqar il-mantar tiegħu nkun imfejqa”. F’daqqa waħda t-tnixxija tad-demm waqfitilha, u ġewwa fiha ħasset li kienet fieqet mill-marda tagħha. Ġesù minnufih intebaħ bil-qawwa li ħarġet minnu, u dar lejn il-kotra u staqsa: “Min messli l-mantar?”. Id-dixxipli tiegħu qalulu: “Qiegħed tara dawn in-nies kollha jrossu madwarek, u tistaqsi: ‘Min messni?’”. Hu beda jħares madwaru biex jara jilmaħx lil dik li kienet għamlet dan. Imbagħad il-mara, tirtogħod bil-biża’ għax għarfet x’kien ġralha, resqet, inxteħtet f’riġlejh u stqarritlu s-sewwa kollu. U qalilha: “Binti, il-fidi tiegħek fejqitek; mur bis-sliem, u kun imfejqa mill-marda tiegħek”.  Kif kien għadu jitkellem, waslu xi wħud mid-dar tal-kap tas-sinagoga u lil dan qalulu: “Bintek mietet; għalfejn tħabbtu iżjed l-Imgħallem?”. Iżda Ġesù sama’ x’kienu qegħdin jgħidu, u qal lill-kap tas-sinagoga: “Tibżax, biss inti emmen”. U ma ħalla lil ħadd imur miegħu ħlief lil Pietru, lil Ġakbu, u lil Ġwanni, ħu Ġakbu. Waslu d-dar tal-kap tas-sinagoga, u ra storbju sħiħ u nies jibku u jixhru. Daħal, u qalilhom: “Dan l-istorbju kollu u dan il-biki għalfejn? It-tfajla mhijiex mejta, imma rieqda”. U qabdu jiddieħku bih. Imma hu keċċiehom ilkoll ’il barra, ħa miegħu lil missier it-tfajla u lil ommha u lil dawk li kienu miegħu u daħal fejn kienet it-tfajla. Qabdilha idha, u qalilha: “Talitha, qum!” – jiġifieri: “Tfajla, qiegħed ngħidlek, qum!”. Minnufih it-tfajla qamet u qabdet timxi; għax kellha tnax-il sena. U baqgħu miblugħin bil-għaġeb. U hu wissiehom bis-sħiħ biex dan ma jkun jaf bih ħadd, u qalilhom jagħtuha tiekol. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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Eight-minute  Gospel reflection by Fr Antony Kadavil   

 

GOD'S GIFT OF LIFE

 

Introduction: 

 

Sunday’s readings speak of the gift of life, both physical and spiritual, that God has given us. They urge and challenge us to be grateful for our health in body and soul and to use God’s gifts of life and health responsibly.

 

Scripture lessons: 

 

The first reading, taken from the Book of Wisdom, tells us that God gave us life and health, and that it was the jealousy of the Satan that produced illness and death. The reading also suggests that the goal of our lives on earth is to know, to love, and to serve God here, with perfect health in body and soul, and to share God’s immortal Life forever. 

The Responsorial Psalm (Ps 30) celebrates Christ’s victory over death. The Psalm refrain, “I will praise you Lord, for You have rescued me,” allows us to join the Psalm in thanksgiving. In the second reading, St. Paul asks the Corinthian Christian community to show to their suffering , starving Jewish brothers and sisters in Jerusalem, living in poverty and sickness, the same generous kindness and compassion Jesus showed in healing all who came to Him believing. The generosity of Jesus is the central theme here also, for Paul describes Jesus’ life, death and Resurrection as “the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

Today’s Gospel describes two of our Lord’s miracles, the healing of a woman who suffered from a chronic bleeding disease and the returning of the dead daughter of Jairus to life.    These healings teach us that Jesus wills life, and wills full life for all God’s children. They also reveal Jesus as a generous, kind, compassionate God Who wills that men should live their wholesome lives fully, giving us further proof of the Divine power and the Infinite Mercy of our Saviour. 

These miracles were worked by Jesus as reward for the trusting Faith of a synagogue ruler and of a woman with a hemorrhage. Although the Faith of the ruler may have been defective, and the woman’s Faith may have been a bit superstitious, Jesus amply rewarded the Faith they had by granting them health and life.

Life messages:

# 1: We need to accept God’s call to health, wholeness and holiness. Jesus accepts us as we are. Hence, let us bring before him our bodily illnesses and spiritual wounds and ask for his healing touch. As Christians, we believe that Jesus continues to heal us through God’s instruments in the medical profession like doctors, nurses and medical technicians. Hence, when we go to a doctor, we need to offer a prayer to Christ, The Divine Healer, that we may choose the right doctor, who will make the correct diagnosis, prescribe the correct treatment, and give us the right medicine. Let us not forget the truth that Christ still works wonders of healing. Let us also thank God for the great gift of health and use it for helping those who are sick.

#2: We need to continue the healing mission of the Church: As members of the Church, we are not excused from our vocation to be healers. We do our share of Christ’s healing mission by visiting the sick, by praying for their healing, and by boosting their morale with our loving presence, and words of encouragement and inspiration. Thus, we may enable them to experience the compassion of Jesus the healer.

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JESUS IS IN FULL CONTROL

 Readings for Sunday, June 20, 2021 - Year/Sena B

                            Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time 

Lectionary: 95

It-Tnax-il Ħadd taż-Żmien ta’ Matul is-Sena B

Reading 1          JOB 38:1, 8-11
The Lord addressed Job out of the storm and said: Who shut within doors the sea, when it burst forth from the womb;  when I made the clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling bnds? When I set limits for it and fastened the bar of its door, and said: Thus far shall you come but no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stilled!

QARI 1          mill-Ktieb ta’ Ġob 38:1,8-11
Il-Mulej wieġeb lil Ġob minn ġot-tempesta u qallu: “Min kien dak li għalaq il-baħar b’bibien, meta dan b’qawwa ħareġ mill-ġuf, meta bis-sħab libbistu, u bid-dlam fisqejtu, meta t-truf tiegħu qegħedtlu bħal xatbiet, u bibien li bihom għalaqtu u għedtlu: ‘Sa hawn biss tasal u mhux aktar, ma taqbiżx minn hawn il-qawwa ta’ mwieġek’?”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Responsorial Psalm          PSALM 107:23-24, 25-26, 28-29, 30-31
They who sailed the sea in ships,
trading on the deep waters,
These saw the works of the LORD
and his wonders in the abyss.
R. Give thanks to the Lord, his love is everlasting.

His command raised up a storm wind
which tossed its waves on high.
They mounted up to heaven; they sank to the depths;
their hearts melted away in their plight.
R. Give thanks to the Lord, his love is everlasting.

They cried to the LORD in their distress;
from their straits he rescued them,
He hushed the storm to a gentle breeze,
and the billows of the sea were stilled.
R. Give thanks to the Lord, his love is everlasting.

They rejoiced that they were calmed,
and he brought them to their desired haven.
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his kindness
and his wondrous deeds to the children of men.
R. Give thanks to the Lord, his love is everlasting.

SALM RESPONSORJALI          Salm 106(107):23-24,25-26,28-29,30-31
R/. (1b): Roddu ħajr lill-Mulej, għax għal dejjem it-tjieba tiegħu.
Dawk li jbaħħru fuq l-iġfna,
li jinnegozjaw fuq l-ibħra bla tarf,
raw l-opri tal-Mulej
u l-għeġubijiet tiegħu f’qiegħ il-baħar. R/.

Hu ordna u qajjem riefnu,
li qanqal imwieġ il-baħar.
Għolew sas-smewwiet u niżlu sa qiegħ il-baħar;
qalbhom bdiet tferfer bil-biża’. R/.

Għajtu lill-Mulej fl-hemm tagħhom,
u mid-dwejjaq tagħhom ħelishom.
U bidel ir-riefnu f’żiffa,
u sikket mewġ il-baħar. R/.

Huma ferħu għax ibbnazza;
u hu wassalhom sal-port li xtaqu.
Ħa jroddu ħajr lill-Mulej għal tjubitu,
għall-għeġubijiet tiegħu mal-bnedmin. R/.

Reading 2          2 CORINTHIANS 5:14-17
Brothers and sisters: The love of Christ impels us, once we have come to the conviction that one died for all; therefore, all have died. He indeed died for all, so that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. Consequently, from now on we regard no one according to the flesh; even if we once knew Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him so no longer. So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.

QARI 2          mit-2 ittra ta’ San Pawl lill-Korintin 5:14-17
Ħuti, l-imħabba ta’ Kristu ġġegħelna naħsbu dan: li wieħed miet għal kulħadd, mela kulħadd miet. U miet għal kulħadd biex dawk li jgħixu ma jgħixux għalihom infushom, imma għal dak li miet u rxoxta għalihom. Għalhekk aħna ma nagħrfu lil ħadd skont il-ġisem. Jekk għarafna lil Kristu skont il-ġisem, issa ma nagħrfuhx aktar hekk. Meta wieħed jingħaqad ma’ Kristu, isir ħolqien ġdid; il-qadim għadda u daħal il-ġdid. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel          MARK 4:35-41
On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples: “Let us cross to the other side.” Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet!  Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”

EVANĠELJU          Qari skont San Mark 4:35-41
Darba, filgħaxija, Ġesù qal lid-dixxipli tiegħu: “Ejjew naqsmu għax-xatt l-ieħor”. Ħallew in-nies, u ħaduh magħhom kif kien fid-dgħajsa; u marru miegħu dgħajjes oħra. U qam riefnu kbir, u l-mewġ beda tiela’ għal ġod-dgħajsa, hekk li kienet ġa bdiet timtela bl-ilma. Hu kien fil-poppa, rieqed fuq imħadda. Qajmuh u qalulu: “Mgħallem, dan qisu mhu xejn għalik li aħna se nintilfu?”. Imbagħad qam, ordna lir-riħ u qal lill-baħar: “Iskot! Biżżejjed!”. U r-riħ waqaf u waqgħet kalma kbira. U qalilhom: “Dal-biża’ kollu għaliex? Mela ma għandkomx fidi?”. U qabadhom biża’ kbir, u bdew jgħidu lil xulxin: “Dan min hu, mela, biex saħansitra r-riħ u l-baħar jisimgħu minnu?”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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Eight-minute  Gospel reflection by Fr Antony Kadavil   

CALMING OUR LIFE'S STORMS  

Introduction:

The role of God in calming the storms of life both in the history of the Church and in the lives of Christians is the central theme of the readings for this Storm Sunday.

Scripture lessons summarized:

In the First Reading, God addresses Job for the first time, questioning his right to challenge God’s authority and leading Job deeper and deeper into the mystery of creation. We hear how the Lord speaks to Job whose life was devastated by storms of the total loss of his possessions, the deaths of his dear ones, and a whole-body disease that left him in misery. “Out of the storm,” God reminds Job that He is in control.

Sunday’s Responsorial Psalm (Ps 107) picks up the storm theme and tells us how the Lord saves the sailors caught up in the high waves of a tempest “They who sailed the sea in ships … saw the works of the Lord and His wonders in the abyss.” by first “raising up a storm wind,” then “hushing the storm to a gentle breeze.”

Paul, who “rode the storm” of rejection by his former friends, also experienced storms of violent hostility from the Jews who refused to believe that Jesus was the promised Messiah. So, he explains in the Second Reading that Jesus died for us to make us a “new creation.” In order to receive this gift of love, we have to respond, living for Jesus in all situations of our lives because Jesus has gone before us through the uncharted sea of life.

In today’s Gospel, Mark assures the first-century believers that nothing can harm the Church as long as the risen Lord is with them. He describes how, by a single commanding word, Jesus stilled a storm on the Sea of Galilee, returned the sea to its natural order and saved the apostles from drowning. The incident reminds us that Jesus, resting in our life’s boat is always ready to help us in the storms of life, when we ask.

Life message:

We need to remember that Jesus is always with us in the boat of our life. We all experience different types of violent storms in our lives: physical storms, emotional storms, and spiritual storms. We face storms of sorrow, doubt, anxiety, worry, temptation, and passion. Only Jesus can still these storms. Jesus can give us real peace in the storm of sorrow. 

When we are totally depressed with sorrow Jesus assures us of the glory of the life to come. Jesus consoles us at the loss of our dear ones with the assurance of eternal life for them in the Heavenly home of God the Father where we, too, will live one day. When the storms of doubt seek to uproot the very foundations of our Faith, Jesus is there to still that storm, revealing to us His Divinity and the authority behind the words of the Holy Scripture. 

If we will ask, and respond with loving trust and obedience, Jesus will give us peace in our tempests of doubt, tension, and uncertainty, peace in our storms of anxiety and worry about ourselves, peace about the unknown future, peace about those we love and calm in the storms of passion when our hearts grow hot and our tempers blaze.

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Readings for Sunday, June 13, 2021 - Year/Sena B

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 92

Il-Ħdax-il Ħadd taż-Żmien ta’ Matul is-Sena

    Reading 1         EZEKIEL 17:22-24
Thus says the Lord GOD: I, too, will take from the crest of the cedar, from its topmost branches tear off a tender shoot, and plant it on a high and lofty mountain; on the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it. It shall put forth branches and bear fruit, and become a majestic cedar. Birds of every kind shall dwell beneath it, very winged thing in the shade of its boughs. And all the trees of the field shall knowthat I, the LORD, bring low the high tree, lift high the lowly tree, wither up the green tree, and make the withered tree bloom. As I, the LORD, have spoken, so will I do.

    QARI 1           mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta Eżekjel 17:22-24
Dan jgħid Sidi l-Mulej: “Jien naqta’ mill-quċċata taċ-ċedru l-għoli, minn tarf il-friegħi l-għolja, rimja żgħira, u nxettilha fuq il-muntanja għolja u kbira; fuq il-muntanja l-għolja ta’ Iżrael inxettilha. U hi toħroġ il-friegħi, u tagħmel il-frott, u ssir siġra sabiħa taċ-ċedru. U taħtha jistkenn kull tajr tal-ġwienaħ, jistkennu għad-dell tal-friegħi tagħha. U jagħrfu s-siġar kollha tar-raba’ li jien il-Mulej, li siġra għolja nċekkinha, u siġra żgħira nkabbarha; innixxef is-siġra l-ħadra, u n-niexfa bil-weraq inħaddarha. Jien, il-Mulej, tkellimt, u li għedt nagħmlu”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

    Responsorial Psalm         PSALM 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16
It is good to give thanks to the LORD,
    to sing praise to your name, Most High,
To proclaim your kindness at dawn
    and your faithfulness throughout the night.
R. Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.

The just one shall flourish like the palm tree,
    like a cedar of Lebanon shall he grow.
They that are planted in the house of the LORD
    shall flourish in the courts of our God.
R. Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.

They shall bear fruit even in old age;
    vigorous and sturdy shall they be,
Declaring how just is the LORD,
    my rock, in whom there is no wrong.
R. Lord, it is good to give thanks to you.

 SALM RESPONSORJALI         Salm 91(92):2-3,13-14,15-16

R/. (2a): Tajjeb li nfaħħru l-Mulej.
Tajjeb li nfaħħru l-Mulej,
li ngħannu lil ismek, inti l-Għoli,
inxandru filgħodu t-tjieba tiegħek,
u billejl il-fedeltà tiegħek. R/.

Il-bniedem ġust bħall-palma jħaddar,
bħal ċedru tal-Libanu jikber.
Imħawlin f’dar il-Mulej,
iħaddru fil-btieħi tat-tempju ta’ Alla tagħna. R/.

Sa fi xjuħithom il-frott jagħmlu,
kollhom ħajja u ħdura,
biex ixandru li ġust hu l-Mulej, blata tiegħi,
u ebda qerq ma jinsab fih. R/.

  Reading 2          2 CORINTHIANS 5: 6-10
Brothers and sisters: We are always courageous, although we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yet we are courageous, and we would rather leave the body and go home to the Lord. Therefore, we aspire to please him, whether we are at home or away. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.

  QARI 2         mit-Tieni Ittra lill-Korintin 5:6-10
Ħuti, aħna dejjem qalbna qawwija u nafu li sakemm indumu mlibbsa b’dan il-ġisem, nibqgħu ’l bogħod mill-Mulej – għax aħna ngħixu bil-fidi u mhux bil-viżjoni. Aħna qalbna qawwija u persważi li aħjar noħorġu minn dan il-ġisem u mmorru noqogħdu għand il-Mulej. Għalhekk fuq kollox aħna nfittxu li nogħġbu lilu, sew jekk nibqgħu hawn, sew jekk noħorġu minn dan il-ġisem. Jeħtieġ li lkoll kemm aħna nidhru quddiem it-tribunal ta’ Kristu, ħalli kulħadd jieħu skont it-tajjeb jew il-ħażin li jkun għamel meta kien għadu ħaj fil-ġisem. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

  Gospel          MARK 4:26-34
Jesus said to the crowds: “This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and through it all the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.” He said, “To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.” With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.

  EVANĠELJU         Qari skont San Mark 4:26-34
F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù qal lill-kotra tan-nies: “Is-Saltna ta’ Alla hi bħal meta raġel ikun xeħet iż-żerriegħa fl-art. Rieqed jew imqajjem, billejl jew binhar, iż-żerriegħa tinbet u tikber, bla ma jaf kif. L-art trodd minnha nfisha l-ewwel il-barma, imbagħad is-sbula, imbagħad il-qamħ mimli fis-sbula. U meta l-frott isir, malajr il-bidwi jmidd idu għall-minġel, għax ikun wasal żmien il-ħsad”. U qal: “Ma’ xiex sejrin inqabbluha s-Saltna ta’ Alla, jew b’liema parabbola nfissruha? Qisha żerriegħa tal-mustarda; din meta tinżara’ fil-ħamrija, hi l-iċken fost iż-żrieragħ kollha fuq l-art; imma wara li tinżara’ tikber u ssir l-akbar waħda fost il-ħxejjex kollha, u toħroġ friegħi wesgħin, hekk li l-għasafar tal-ajru jkunu jistgħu jistkennu għad-dell tagħha”. B’ħafna parabboli bħal dawn kien ixandrilhom il-kelma, kif kienu jistgħu jifhmuha huma, u mingħajr xi parabbola ma kienx ikellimhom; imma lid-dixxipli tiegħu, meta kien ikun waħdu magħhom, kien ifissrilhom kollox. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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Eight-minute  Gospel reflection by Fr Antony Kadavil   

The birth and growth of the Kingdom of God, in our human life

Introduction:

Sunday’s readings focus our attention on the birth and growth of the reign or rule of God (Kingdom of God), in our human lives and on the gigantic growth of the Church from very humble beginnings. Both growths are slow and mysterious, guided by the power of the Holy Spirit. (A pertinent anecdote may be added here)

Scripture lessons summarized:

The first reading, taken from Ezekiel 17:22-24, is a Messianic prophecy. Ezekiel tells us how the Lord God of Israel will allow a descendant of King David to become the Messiah and Savior of the world. In contrast with the parable of the tiny mustard seed in today’s Gospel, Ezekiel sees the Messiah originating in a royal family (lofty Cedar, David). 

In today’s Responsorial Psalm (Ps 92), the Psalmist sings of Jesus, “The Just One shall flourish like the palm tree, like a Cedar of Lebanon shall He grow.” In the second reading, St. Paul teaches the Corinthian Christians that they are to advance the growth of God’s Kingdom and His rule in their lives by doing His will so that they may be amply rewarded in the final judgment. 

Finally, in today’s Gospel, Jesus compares the growth of the Kingdom of God to the germination of a wheat seed and that of a tiny mustard seed. Both have exceedingly small beginnings. The wheat seeds, by gradual but steady growth, help the farmer to get a bumper crop. In the same way, the life principle in a tiny mustard seed enables it to grow into a large bush. The reign of God in human hearts and the growth of the Church in the world also have small beginnings. But the Source of all life, God the Holy Spirit, gives to both a steady, persistent, and gigantic growth, provided we, the members of the Church, cooperate with God’s grace.

Life messages:

1) We need to cooperate in the growth of God’s Kingdom: The Kingdom of God is the growth of God’s rule in human hearts that occurs when man does the will of God and surrenders his life to God. The seed of Faith lies dormant within each of us. When we permit the Holy Spirit to nurture it with TLC (tender loving care), it grows miraculously to gigantic proportions. The growth is slow and microscopic in the beginning. But the seed grows by using the power of the Holy Spirit, given to us through the Word of God, the Mass, the Sacraments and prayer. As we learn God’s will from His words and try to put these words into practice, we participate in the growth of God’s Kingdom on earth, a growth which will be completed in our Heavenly life. But since we need the special anointing of the Holy Spirit to be doers of the Word of God, let us offer our lives before God every day, asking for this special anointing.

2) We need to avoid getting discouraged: Since the acceptance God’s rule by human beings is a terribly slow process, there is the danger of discouragement and hopelessness among preachers, evangelizers, and believers. The conviction that growth of the Kingdom of God is the work of the Holy Spirit and needs our humble cooperation should make us optimistic in continuing our work of witnessing. We should continue sowing tiny seeds in the form of words of love, acts of encouragement, deeds of charity, mercy and forgiveness.

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THIS IS MY BODY GIVEN FOR YOU !!

 Readings for Sunday, May 30, 2021 - Year/Sena B

             The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ  Lectionary: 168

                             It-Tifkira tal-Ġisem u tad-Demm ta’ Kristu

Reading  1          EXODUS 24:3-8
When Moses came to the people and related all the words and ordinances of the LORD, they all answered with one voice, "We will do everything that the LORD has told us." Moses then wrote down all the words of the LORD and, rising early the next day, he erected at the foot of the mountain an altar and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. Then, having sent certain young men of the Israelites to offer holocausts and sacrifice young bulls as peace offerings to the LORD, Moses took half of the blood and put it in large bowls; the other half he splashed on the altar. Taking the book of the covenant, he read it aloud to the people, who answered, "All that the LORD has said, we will heed and do." Then he took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, saying, "This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words of his."

QARI I          mill-Ktieb tal-Eżodu 24:3-8
F’dak iż-żmien, Mosè niżel jgħid lill-poplu kulma qallu l-Mulej u kulma ordnalu. Il-poplu wieġeb b’leħen wieħed u qal: “Kulma qalilna l-Mulej nagħmluh”. Mosè kiteb il-kliem kollu tal-Mulej, u filgħodu qam, bena altar taħt il-muntanja, u waqqaf tnax-il plier għat-tnax-il tribù ta’ Iżrael. Imbagħad bagħat xi żgħażagħ minn ulied Iżrael biex joffru sagrifiċċji u joqtlu għoġiela bħala sagrifiċċji tas-sliem lill-Mulej. Mosè ħa nofs id-demm u qiegħdu fi bwieqi, u xerred in-nofs l-ieħor fuq l-altar. Imbagħad ħa l-ktieb tal-patt, u qara minnu hekk li seta’ jisimgħu l-poplu. U huma qalu: “Kulma qalilna l-Mulej nagħmluh, u nisimgħu minnu”. Mosè mbagħad ħa d-demm u, hu u jroxxu fuq il-poplu, qal: “Hawn hu d-demm tal-patt li l-Mulej għamel magħkom skont dan il-kliem kollu”.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Responsorial Psalm         PSALM 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18
How shall I make a return to the LORD
    for all the good he has done for me?
The cup of salvation I will take up,
    and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
R. I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.

Precious in the eyes of the LORD
    is the death of his faithful ones.
I am your servant, the son of your handmaid;
    you have loosed my bonds.
R. I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.

To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving,
    and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
My vows to the LORD I will pay
    in the presence of all his people.
R. I will take the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord.

SALM RESPONSORJALI          Salm 115(116):12-13,15,16bċ,17-18
R/. (13): Ngħolli l-kalċi tas-salvazzjoni, u isem il-Mulej insejjaħ.
Xi rrodd lill-Mulej
għall-ġid k ollu li għamel miegħi?
Ngħolli l-kalċi tas-salvazzjoni,
u isem il-Mulej insejjaħ. R/.

Għażiża f’għajnejn il-Mulej
hi l-mewt tal-ħbieb tiegħu.
Jien qaddej tiegħek, bin il-qaddejja tiegħek.
Int ħallejtli l-irbit tiegħi. R/.

Lilek noffri sagrifiċċju ta’ radd il-ħajr,
u isem il-Mulej insejjaħ.
Intemm lill-Mulej il-wegħdiet tiegħi,
quddiem il-poplu tiegħu kollu. R/.

Reading 2          HEBREWS  9:11-15
Brothers and sisters: When Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come to be, passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by hands, that is, not belonging to this creation, he entered once for all into the sanctuary, not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkling of a heifer's ashes can sanctify those who are defiled so that their flesh is cleansed, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.  For this reason he is mediator of a new covenant: since a death has taken place for deliverance from transgressions under the first covenant, those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.

QARI II           mill-Ittra lil-Lhud 9:11-15
Ħuti, Kristu ġie bħala l-qassis il-kbir tal-ġid li diġà ġie. Hu daħal minn tinda aqwa u aktar perfetta li mhijiex maħduma b’idejn il-bnedmin, jiġifieri mhijiex ħolqien ta’ din l-art; hu daħal darba għal dejjem fis-Santwarju, mhux bis-saħħa tad-demm tal-mogħoż u tal-għoġiela, imma bis-saħħa ta’ demmu stess, u hekk kiseb fidwa għal dejjem. Jekk id-demm tal-mogħoż u tal-gniedes u l-irmied tal-għoġla mraxxax fuq dawk li huma mniġġsa jista’ jqaddishom billi jagħtihom l-indafa tal-ġisem, kemm aktar id-demm ta’ Kristu, li bl-Ispirtu ta’ dejjem offra lilu nnifsu vittma safja lil Alla, jista’ jnaddaf il-kuxjenza tagħkom mill-għemil mejjet biex taqdu lil Alla ħaj! U għalhekk hu medjatur ta’ patt ġdid, testment ġdid, biex, wara li seħħet il-mewt għall-fidwa tal-ħtijiet li saru fi żmien il-patt ta’ qabel, dawk li huma msejħa minn Alla jiksbu l-wirt ta’ dejjem li hu wegħedhom. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Sequence   -  Lauda Sion
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.

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.

Gospel           MARK 14:12-16, 22-26
On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples said to him, "Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?" He sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the city and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow him. Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?"' Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there." The disciples then went off, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover. While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, gave it to them, and said, "Take it; this is my body." Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many. Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God." Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

EVANĠELJU           Qari skond San Mark 14:12-16,22-26
Fl-ewwel jum tal-Ażżmi, meta kienu jissagrifikaw il-ħaruf tal-Għid, id-dixxipli tiegħu qalu lil Ġesù: “Fejn tridna mmorru nħejju biex tiekol l-ikla tal-Għid?”. Imbagħad hu bagħat tnejn mid-dixxipli tiegħu u qalilhom: “Morru l-belt, u tiltaqgħu ma’ raġel iġorr ġarra ilma. Morru warajh, u għidu lil sid id-dar ta’ fejn tarawh dieħel: ‘Qallek l-Imgħallem: Fejn hi l-kamra tiegħi li fiha nista’ niekol l-ikla tal-Għid mad-dixxipli tiegħi?’. U hu jurikom kamra kbira fuq, imgħammra u lesta. Ħejjulna hemmhekk”. U d-dixxipli marru u daħlu fil-belt, u sabu kollox kif kien qalilhom hu; u ħejjew l-ikla tal-Għid.  Huma u jieklu, ħa l-ħobż f’idejh, qal il-barka, qasmu, newwilhulhom u qal: “Ħudu, dan hu ġismi”. Imbagħad ħa kalċi f’idejh, radd il-ħajr, u newwilhulhom, u lkoll xorbu minnu. U qalilhom: “Dan huwa demmi, id-demm tal-patt, li jixxerred għal ħafna. Tassew ngħidilkom, li ma nixrobx iżjed mill-frott tad-dielja sa dakinhar li nixrob inbid ġdid fis-Saltna ta’ Alla”. Imbagħad kantaw is-salmi u ħarġu lejn l-Għolja taż-Żebbuġ. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej. 

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Eight-minute  Gospel reflection by Fr Antony Kadavil  

The Most Holy Body and Blood of 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” so that we may appreciate the Sacrament better and receive maximum benefit from the Eucharist

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: “transubstantiation” which means that the substance of the consecrated bread and wine is changed to the substance of the risen Jesus’ glorified Body and Blood by the action of the Holy Spirit, and its accidents (like color, shape, taste etc.), remain the same.

Scripture lessons:

This year’s readings for the Feast emphasize the theme of Covenant blood because the ancient peoples sealed Covenants with the blood of ritually sacrificed animals, and Jesus sealed his New Covenant with his own Blood shed on Calvary. Today’s first reading describes how Moses, by sprinkling the blood of a sacrificed animal on the altar and on the people, accepted the Covenant Yahweh proposed and made with His People.   

In the second reading, St. Paul affirms that Jesus sealed the New Covenant with his own Blood, thereby putting an end to animal sacrifices.  

Today’s Gospel  then details how Jesus converted this ancient ritual into a Sacrament and sacrifice.  Instead of the lamb’s blood, Jesus offered his own Divine/human Body and Blood, and instead of sprinkling us with blood, Jesus put it into our hands as food and drink: “Take … eat … this IS my Body which will be given up for you” (He did not say “This represents my body”), and “Take … drink …This is … my Blood, the Blood of the new and eternal Covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many….” (nor did He say, “This represents my blood…”).

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

a) the Eucharist is a visible sign that gives us God’s grace and God’s life and, b) as a Meal, The Eucharist nourishes our souls. 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 and reverence.

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 and 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 and presenting our needs and petitions on the altar.

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