RESPONDING TO GOD'S CALLING

 Readings for Sunday, December 22  2024 

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Lectionary: 12

Ir-Raba Ħadd ta' l-Avvent

Reading 1                 MICAH 5:1-4a

Thus says the LORD:  You, Bethlehem-Ephrathah,  too small to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel; whose origin is from of old,  from ancient times.  herefore the Lord will give them up, until the time when she who is to give birth has borne, and the rest of his kindred shall return to the children of Israel. He shall stand firm and shepherd his flock by the strength of the LORD, in the majestic name of the LORD, his God; and they shall remain, for now his greatness shall reach to the ends of the earth; he shall be peace.

QARI 1                  mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta Mikea 5, 1-4a

Dan jgħid il-Mulej: “Int, Betlehem ta’ Efrata, ċkejkna fost il-familji ta’ Ġuda, minnek għad joħroġli dak li jkun prinċep f’Iżrael; hu għandu l-bidu tiegħu mill-qedem, sa minn dejjem ta’ dejjem.  Għalhekk il-Mulej jitlaqhom sa meta teħles dik li hi fl-uġigħ tal-ħlas; imbagħad il-bqija ta’ ħutu jerġgħu lura fost ulied Iżrael. U hu joqgħod jirgħa l-merħla tiegħu bil-qawwa tal-Mulej, bil-glorja ta’ isem il-Mulej, Alla tiegħu. U huma jgħammru fiż-żgur, għax issa tkun kbira setgħetu, sa trufijiet l-art. U dan ikun is-sliem!”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Responsorial Psalm                 PSALM 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19.

O shepherd of Israel, hearken,

from your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth.
Rouse your power,
and come to save us.
R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

Once again, O LORD of hosts,
look down from heaven, and see;
take care of this vine,
and protect what your right hand has planted
the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

May your help be with the man of your right hand,
with the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
Then we will no more withdraw from you;
give us new life, and we will call upon your name.
R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.

SALM RESPONSORJALI                  Salm 79 (80), 2aċ u 3b. 15-16. 18-19

R/.:  Mulej, itfa’ fuqna d-dija ta’ wiċċek, u nkunu salvi

O Ragħaj ta’ Iżrael, agħti widen,
int li qiegħed fuq il-kerubini, iddi.
Qajjem il-qawwa tiegħek,
u ejja ħa ssalvana. R/.

Erġa’ ejja, Alla tal-eżerċti;
ħares mis-sema, u ara,
u żur ’il din id-dielja.
Ħu ħsieb dak li ħawlet lemintek,
ir-rimja li int kabbart għalik. R/.

Ħa tkun idek fuq il-bniedem ta’ lemintek,
fuq il-bniedem li int saħħaħt għalik.
Aħna ma nitbegħdux minnek;
roddilna l-ħajja, u aħna nsejħu ismek. R/.

Reading 2                 HEBREWS 10:5-10

Brothers and sisters:  When Christ came into the world, he said:  “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; in holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight.  Then I said, ‘As is written of me in the scroll, "behold, I come to do your will, O God.’“  First he says, “Sacrifices and offerings, holocausts and sin offerings, you neither desired nor delighted in.” These are offered according to the law. Then he says, :Behold, I come to do your will.” He takes away the first to establish the second. By this “will,”  we have been consecrated  through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

QARI 2                  mill-Ittra lil-Lhud 10, 5-10

Ħuti, Kristu meta daħal fid-dinja qal: “Sagrifiċċju u offerta int ma ridtx, imma ġisem int ħejjejt għalija; vittmi maħruqa u vittmi għad-dnubiet lilek ma għoġbukx. Jien imbagħad għedt: “Hawn jien, ġejt biex nagħmel ir-rieda tiegħek, O Alla, kif fil-ktieb hemm miktub fuqi”.“ L-ewwel qal: “Sagrifiċċji u offerti, vittmi maħruqa u vittmi għad-dnubiet, la ridthom u lanqas għoġbuk”, għalkemm dawn titlobhom il-Liġi. Imbagħad qal: “Hawn jien, ġejt biex nagħmel ir-rieda tiegħek”. B’hekk Alla neħħa s-sagrifiċċji tal-ewwel biex iqiegħed flokhom tat-tieni. Bis-saħħa ta’ din ir-rieda aħna konna mqaddsin, permezz tal-offerta tal-ġisem ta’ Ġesù Kristu magħmula darba għal dejjem. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Gospel                 LUKE 1:39-45

Mary set out and travelled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,  the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said,  “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

EVANĠELJU                   Qari skont San Luqa 1, 39-45

F’dawk il-ġranet Marija qamet u marret tħaffef lejn l-għoljiet, f’belt tal-Lhudija. Daħlet għand Żakkarija u sellmet lil Eliżabetta. Malli Eliżabetta semgħet lil Marija ssellmilha, it-tarbija qabżet fil-ġuf tagħha u Eliżabetta mtliet bl-Ispirtu s-Santu; u nfexxet f’għajta kbira u qalet: “Imbierka inti fost in-nisa, u mbierek il-frott tal-ġuf tiegħek! U minn fejn ġieni dan li omm il-Mulej tiegħi tiġi għandi? Għax ara, malli smajt f’widnejja leħen it-tislima tiegħek, it-tarbija li għandi fil-ġuf qabżet bil-ferħ. Iva, hienja dik li emmnet li jseħħ kulma bagħat jgħidilha l-Mulej”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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

OUR INSPIRATION TO CARRY OUT GOD'S WORD 

 Central theme: 

Sunday’s readings remind us that Jesus is reborn every day in ordinary people living ordinary lives, who have the willingness to respond to God’s call and the openness to do God’s will. These Scriptures suggest that Christmas should inspire us to carry out God's word as Mary and Jesus did, in perfect, loving obedience to His will, with cheerful kindness and unselfish generosity.

Scripture lessons: 

In the first reading, the prophet Micah assures the Jews that God is faithful to His promises and that from the unimportant village of Bethlehem He will send to them the long-expected ruler. The third stanza of today’s Responsorial Psalm (Ps. 80), is a prayer for God's blessing on the Davidic king, of Whom we sing in the first, “O Shepherd of Israel, hearken; from Your Throne upon the cherubim, shine forth! Rouse Your power and come to save us!” (vv 2-3).

The second reading, taken from Paul's Letter to the Hebrews, reminds us to be thankful for Jesus Christ’s Self-offering, the perfect sacrifice of loving obedience that liberated us from sin. In obedient, willing eagerness to do God’s will, ("Behold, I come to do Your will”), Christ gave Himself in the place of all other ritual sacrifices offered as the means of sanctification. In the Gospel, Luke tells us how two seemingly insignificant women met to celebrate the kindness and fidelity of God. 

We see here how sensitive Mary was to the needs of Elizabeth, her older cousin who had miraculously become pregnant in her old age. For Luke, discipleship consists in listening to God's word and then carrying it out, and Mary does both, to become the most perfect disciple.

Life messages: 

1) We need to carry Jesus to others as Mary did. Christmas is the ideal time for us to be filled with the Spirit of Christ, through Whom Christ is reborn in us and thus enables us to share His love with all whom we encounter. We do so by offering each of them humble and committed service, unconditional forgiveness and compassionate, caring love. Let us take the time to visit others during this Christmas season, especially the sick and shut-ins, to bring some inspiration into their lives, and hopefully to bring them closer to God.

2) We need to bless and encourage the younger generation. Elizabeth demonstrates the responsibility of the older generation to inspire the younger generation. Grandparents, parents, teachers, and leaders are responsible for encouraging those around them. By complimenting and encouraging one’s spouse, children and friends, let us show them how valuable they are to us and to God.

3) We need to recognize the Real Presence of the Emmanuel (God is with us) in the Holy Eucharist, in the Bible, in the Sacraments, and in the praying community. The hill country of Judea is right here in our surroundings. Let us convey Jesus to people around us by our acts of love, kindness and forgiveness.

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"HE WILL SING JOYFULLY BECAUSE OF YOU..."

 Readings for Sunday, December 15  2024 

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT 
Lectionary: 9

IT-TIELET ĦADD TAL-AVVENT

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Reading 1                 Zephefaniah 3:14-18a

Shout for joy, O daughter Zion!  Sing joyfully, O Israel!  Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem! The LORD has removed the judgment against you  he has turned away your enemies;  the King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst, you have no further misfortune to fear. On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem:  Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged! The LORD, your God, is in your midst,  a mighty saviour;   he will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, he will sing joyfully because of you, as one sings at festivals.  

QARI 1                  mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta Sofonija 3:14-18a

Għajjat bil-ferħ ta’ qalbek, bint Sijon, Iżrael, samma’ leħnek! Infexx fl-hena u ifraħ b’qalbek kollha, bint Ġerusalemm! Neħħa l-Mulej minn fuqek is-sentenza li kellek kontrik, keċċa l-għedewwa tiegħek. Is-sultan t’Iżrael, il-Mulej, hu f’nofsok; ma jkollokx iżjed ħsara minn xiex tibża’. Dakinhar jgħidu lil Ġerusalemm: “Tibżax, Sijon, tħallix idejk jintelqu! Il-Mulej, Alla tiegħek, qiegħed f’nofsok, gwerrier li jsalva; minħabba fik jithenna b’hena kbir, fi mħabbtu jġeddek, jinfexx minħabba fik f’għajat ta’ ferħ, bħallikieku f’jum ta’ festa”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Responsorial Psalm                  ISAIAH 12:2-3, 4, 5-6.

God indeed is my Saviour;  I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my saviour. 
With joy you will draw water  at the fountain of salvation. 
R. Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.

Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;
among the nations make known his deeds,
proclaim how exalted is his name.
R. Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.

Sing praise to the LORD for his glorious achievement;
let this be known throughout all the earth.
Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,
 for great in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel!
R. Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.

SALM RESPONSORJALI                 ISAIJA 12:2-3,4bċd,5-6

R/.(6): Kbir hu f’nofsok il-Qaddis ta’ Iżrael.

Alla s-salvazzjoni tiegħi,
jiena nittama u ma jkollix mniex nibża’.
Għax qawwieti u għanjieti hu l-Mulej,
għalija sar is-salvazzjoni.
Kollkom ferħana
timlew l-ilma mill-għejun tas-salvazzjoni. R/.

Roddu ħajr lill-Mulej, sejħu ismu,
għarrfu lill-ġnus bl-għemejjel tiegħu,
xandru li ismu huwa fl-għoli. R/.

Għannu lill-Mulej għax għamel ħwejjeġ kbar;
ħa jkun dan magħruf mal-art kollha.
Aqbeż bil-ferħ, għanni,
int li tgħammar f’Sijon,
għax kbir hu f’nofsok il-Qaddis ta’ Iżrael. R/.

Reading 2                  PHILIPPIANSl 4:4-7

Brothers and sisters:  Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again:  rejoice! Your kindness should be known to all. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety at all, but in everything,  by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,  make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

QARI 2                  mill-Ittra ta’ San Pawl lill-Filippin  4:4-7 

Ħuti, ifirħu dejjem fil-Mulej; nerġa’ ngħidilkom, ifirħu. Il-ħlewwa tagħkom ħa jkunu jafuha l-bnedmin kollha. Il-Mulej qorob! Tħabbtu raskom b’xejn. Fit-talb kollu tagħkom itolbu u uru lil Alla xi jkollkom bżonn, u iżżuh ħajr. U s-sliem ta’ Alla, sliem li jgħaddi kulma l-moħħ jista’ jifhem, iżommilkom qalbkom u moħħkom sħaħ fi Kristu Ġesù. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel                 LUKE 3:10-18

The crowds asked John the Baptist, “What should we do?” He said to them in reply, “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none.  And whoever has food should do likewise.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He answered them,  “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.” Soldiers also asked him, “And what is it that we should do?” He told them, “Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone,  and be satisfied with your wages.” Now the people were filled with expectation,  and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. John answered them all, saying,  “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn,  but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” Exhorting them in many other ways,  he preached good news to the people.

EVANĠELJU                 Qari skont San Luqa 3:10-18

F’dak iż-żmien, in-nies kienu jistaqsu lil Ġwanni u jgħidulu: “Mela x’għandna nagħmlu?”. U huwa kien iweġibhom: “Min għandu żewġ ilbiesi, jaqsam ma’ min ma għandu xejn, u min għandu x’jiekol jagħmel l-istess”. Resqu wkoll xi pubblikani biex jitgħammdu u qalulu: “Mgħallem, x’għandna nagħmlu aħna?”. U huwa weġibhom: “Tissikkaw lil ħadd biex jagħtikom taxxi iżjed milli jmisskom tieħdu”. Staqsewh ukoll xi suldati u qalulu: “U aħna, x’għandna nagħmlu?”. U huwa weġibhom: “Tisirqu lil ħadd bit-theddid jew bil-qerq tagħkom, u kkuntentaw ruħkom bil-paga li għandkom”.  Il-poplu kien qiegħed jistenna ħerqan, u kulħadd kien jistaqsi lilu nnifsu dwar Ġwanni, jekk kienx hu l-Messija. Għalhekk Ġwanni qabad u qal lil kulħadd: “Jien, ngħid għalija, ngħammidkom bl-ilma, imma ġej wieħed aqwa minni, li ma jistħoqqlix inħollu l-qfieli tal-qorq tiegħu. Hu jgħammidkom bl-Ispirtu s-Santu u n-nar. Il-midra qiegħda f’idu, biex iderri l-qiegħa u jiġbor il-qamħ fil-maħżen tiegħu, imma t-tiben jaħarqu b’nar li ma jintefiex”. U b’ħafna twissijiet oħra kien ixandar lill-poplu l-bxara t-tajba. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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

SO WHAT ARE WE NOW GOING TO DO?   

 Introduction:

The central theme of Sunday’s readings is the command "Rejoice!" We are to do so mainly by realizing the presence of Jesus in our midst, by receiving Jesus into our lives through our repentance, by our renewal of life, and by our faithful doing of God’s will. Today is called “Gaudete” Sunday because Sunday’s Mass begins with the opening antiphon, “Gaudete in Domino semper” (“Rejoice in the Lord always”). Today we light the rose-colored candle of the Advent wreath, and the priest may wear rose-colored vestments, to express our communal joy in the coming of Jesus as our Savior. We rejoice because a) we are celebrating the day of Christ’s birth, b) we recognize Jesus’ daily presence in our midst, and c) we wait for Christ’s return in glory.

Scripture lessons summarized: 

In today’s first reading, the prophet Zephaniah encourages Jerusalem and Israel to shout out for the joy of their expected deliverance by the Lord. In today’s Responsorial Psalm (Is 12:6), the prophet Isaiah gives the same instruction, "Shout with exultation, O city of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel." St. Paul echoes this message of joy in the second reading, a letter written from imprisonment: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again, rejoice...” 

In the Gospel today, John the Baptist explains the secret of Christian joy as our wholehearted commitment to God’s Way by the doing of His will. John challenges people to generosity and a sense of fairness so that others may have reason to rejoice. According to John, happiness comes from doing our duties faithfully, doing good for others, and sharing our blessings with others in need. John’s call to repentance is a call to joy and restoration. 

Repentance means a change in the purpose and direction of our lives. John tells the people to act with justice, charity, and honesty, letting their lives reflect their transformation. For us, that transformation occurs when Christ enters our lives, and we begin to live those lives in the ways Jesus teaches and John suggests.

Life Messages:

1) We are called to a change of life. First, we should examine our relationships with others. We need to mend ruptures, ease or relieve frictions, face family responsibilities, work honestly, and treat employees and employers justly. Our domestic and social lives must be put in order. We must abandon our selfish thirst for consumption and, instead, be filled with the expectation of Jesus' coming. 

2) We need to remember that we, like John the Baptist, are Christ’s precursors: Parents, teachers, and public servants act as Christ’s precursors by repenting of their sins, reforming their lives, and bringing Christ into the lives of those entrusted to their care. Parents are expected to instill in their children a true Christian spirit and an appreciation for Christian values by their own lives and behaviour. All public servants need to remember that they are God's instruments and that they are to lead the people they serve to the feet of Jesus, so that they, too, may know him personally and accept him as their Saviour, Lord and Brother.

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"I WILL PUT ENMITY BETWEEN YOU AND THE WOMAN...."

 Readings for Sunday, December 8  2024 

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Lectionary: 689

Solennità tat-Tnissil bla Tebgħa tal-Verġni Mqaddsa Marija

Reading 1                  GENESIS 3:9-15, 20

After the man, Adam, had eaten of the tree, the LORD God called to the man and asked him, "Where are you?" He answered, "I heard you in the garden; but I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself." Then he asked, "Who told you that you were naked? You have eaten, then, from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat!" The man replied, "The woman whom you put here with me-- she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it." The LORD God then asked the woman, "Why did you do such a thing?" The woman answered, "The serpent tricked me into it, so I ate it." Then the LORD God said to the serpent: "Because you have done this, you shall be banned from all the animals and from all the wild creatures; on your belly shall you crawl, and dirt shall you eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel."  The man called his wife Eve, because she became the mother of all the living.

QARI 1                    mill-Ktieb tal-Ġenesi. 3: 9-15.20

Wara li Adam kiel mis-siġra: Il-Mulej sejjaħlu u qallu: “Fejn int?” U wieġbu: “Għax smajt ħossok fil-ġnien, u billi jien għarwien, bżajt u staħbejt”. U qallu: “Min qallek li int għarwien? Jaqaw kilt mis-siġra li għidtlek ma tikolx minnha?” U wieġeb Adam: “Il-mara li tajtni miegħi, hi tatni mis-siġra, u jiena kilt”. U l-Mulej Alla qal lill-mara: “X’inhu li għamilt?” U l-mara weġbitu: “Is-serp daħak bija, u kilt”. U l-Mulej Alla qal lis-serp: “Talli għamilt hekk, int tkun l-iżjed misħut fost il-bhejjem kollha u fost l-annimali selvaġġi kollha. Int timxi għal żaqqek u tiekol it-trab għal ħajtek kollha. Innissel mibegħda bejnek u bejn il-mara, bejn nislek u bejn nisilha. Hu jgħaffiġlek rasek u inti tgħattanlu għarqubu”. U lil martu Adam semmieha Eva, għax kienet omm il-ħajjin kollha. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej. 

Responsorial Psalm                 PSALM 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4

Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvellous deeds.

The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvellous deeds.

All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvellous deeds.

SALM RESPONSORJALI                 Salm 97: 1-4

R/. Għannu lill-Mulej għanja ġdida, għax għamel l-għeġubijiet!

Għannu lill-Mulej għanja ġdida,
għax għamel l-għeġubijiet.
Ġibitlu r-rebħa l-leminija tiegħu
u d-driegħ imqaddes tiegħu. R/.

Għarraf il-Mulej is-salvazzjoni tiegħu,
f’għajnejn il-ġnus wera l-ġustizzja tiegħu.
Ftakar fi tjubitu
u fil-fedeltà tiegħu għal dar Israel. R/.

Raw it-truf kollha tal-art
is-salvazzjoni ta’ Alla tagħna.
Għajtu bil-ferħ lill-Mulej fl-art kollha,
infexxu fil-hena, ifirħu u għannu. R/.

Reading 2                  EPHESIANS 1:3-6, 11-12

Brothers and sisters:  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved. In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ.

QARI 2                  mill-Ittra lill-Efesin 1: 3-6.11-12

Ħuti: Imbierek Alla u Missier Sidna Ġesù Kristu, li mliena b’kull xorta ta’ barka spiritwali, fis-smewwiet, fi Kristu. Hekk hu għażilna fih, sa minn qabel il-ħolqien tad-dinja, biex inkunu qaddisa u bla tebgħa quddiemu fl-imħabba; iddestinana li nkunu għalih ulied addottivi permezz ta’ Ġesù Kristu, skont ma għoġob lir-rieda tiegħu għat-tifħir tal-glorja tal-grazzja tiegħu, li biha mliena fil-Maħbub tiegħu.  Fih aħna wkoll konna magħżula, iddestinati minn qabel, skont il-pjan imfassal minn qabel minn min imexxi kollox skont il-fehma tar-rieda tiegħu, sabiex inkunu għat-tifħir tal-glorja tiegħu, aħna li, sa minn qabel, konna nittamaw fi Kristu. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel                  LUKE 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, "Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end." But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?" And the angel said to her in reply, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God." Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

EVANĠELJU                Qari skont San Luqa 1: 26-38

F’dak iż-żmien: L-anġlu Gabrijel kien mibgħut minn Alla f’belt tal-Galilija, jisimhaNazaret, għand xebba mgħarrsa ma’ raġel jismu Ġużeppi, mid-dar ta’ David; u x-xebba kien jisimha Marija. Daħal għandha u qalilha: “Sliem għalik, mimlija bil-grazzja, il-Mulej miegħek”. Għal dan il-kliem tħawdet, u bdiet titħasseb bejnha u bejn ruħha x’setgħet tfisser dik it-tislima. Iżda l-anġlu qalilha: “Tibżax, Marija, għax inti sa tnissel fi ħdanek u jkollox iben u ssemmih Ġesù. Hu jkun kbir, u jkun jissejjaħ Bin il-Għoli, u l-Mulej Alla jagħtih it-tron ta’ David missieru; u jsaltan fuq dar Ġakobb għal dejjem, u s-saltna tiegħu ma jkollhiex tmiem”.  Iżda, Marija qalet lill-anġlu: “Kif ikun dan, ladarba ma nagħrafx raġel?” Weġibha l-anġlu u qalilha: “L-Ispirtu s-Santu jiġi fuqek u l-qawwa tal-Għoli tixħet id-dell tagħha fuqek; u għalhekk dak li jitwieled minnek ikun qaddis u jkun jissejjaħ Bin Alla. U ara, il-qariba tiegħek Eliżabetta, hija wkoll nisslet iben fi ħdanha, u dan huwa s-sitt xahar għaliha li kienu jgħidu li ma jistax ikollha tfal; għax għal Alla ma hemm xejn li ma jistax isir”.  Imbagħad qalet Marija: “Hawn jien il-qaddejja tal-Mulej; ħa jsir minni skont kelmtek!” U l-anġlu telaq minn ħdejha.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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Homily for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception    

BLESSED ARE YOU AMONGST WOMEN...

By the Most Rev Timothy Costelloe SDB, Archbishop of Perth.

The teaching of the Immaculate Conception tells us that Mary, from the first moment of her existence, was totally free from the influence of that universal sinfulness which touches us all from the first moments of our existence. We come to be in a world broken by sinfulness and not one aspect of life is free from this. But God has never left the human race without his help and at the fulness of time he worked our salvation; Mary was to be the mother of the Saviour, and so on the side of the cause of salvation; she gave birth to the human being who saves us all and so it was fitting for her to be preserved from the brokenness which affects us by the grace of her Son.

The First Reading evokes the image of sinful brokenness which we experience, of the disobedience which brings pain and suffering. This brokenness becomes part of our being human in the world and we spread it everywhere. The wonder of God’s mercy is that in his Son, Jesus, born of the Virgin, God turns our human nature into an instrument of the healing of the world, the reconciliation of all people.

The Gospel speaks, not of Mary’s conception, but that of Jesus. It begins the moment Mary says that ‘Yes’. The angel greets her as “full of grace”, filled with God’s love and God’s favour, specially singled out for this moment. Through our baptism and through grace we can become actors in the healing of the world, the reconciliation of all. We can be instruments of grace or instruments of sinfulness and we know that we go easily from one to the other.

Our humanity can only be a healing, reconciling humanity if we seek to live in obedience to God, if we accept and respond to God’s grace. We need grace, which our second readings celebrates as God’s free gift to us in his beloved Son. Mary was preserved from the influence of sinfulness, was able to say her ‘yes’ to God because of grace. Grace – God’s gift – enabled her to be all that she was, to respond to God as she did. All is grace.

Many centuries ago St Augustine helped the Church clarify her teaching that we cannot do the good, we cannot be saved without grace. Then some said that maybe the initial movement to God, the first turning to God is possible without grace. But the Second Council of Arausio or Orange in 529 taught that we cannot even want to do good without grace; every movement to God is a work of grace, a grace which comes before we do anything, prevenient grace. Grace prompts and makes it possible for us to do the good which heals and saves. We cannot do the truly good without God’s help. And this help God gives generously, we just have to be open, with the help of his grace, to God’s ways which are not our ways.

We are all too often the cause of sin and pain in other people’s lives. Let us turn to the Lord, with the help of his grace, pray for his grace, pray to become more obedient to him after the example of Mary, only then can we be people who bring wholeness and healing into the lives of those around us, into our world which hungers for the balm of grace.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

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A NEW YEAR BEGINS .....

Readings for Sunday, December 1, 2024 

First Sunday of Advent
Lectionary: 3

l-Ewwel Ħadd tal-Avvent

Reading 1                 JEREMIAH 33:14-16

The days are coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and Judah. In those days, in that time, I will raise up for David a just shoot ; he shall do what is right and just in the land. In those days Judah shall be safe and Jerusalem shall dwell secure; this is what they shall call her: “The LORD our justice.”

QARI 1                  mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta Ġeremija 33:14-16

Ara, għad jiġu jiem – oraklu tal-Mulej – meta nġib fuq dar Iżrael u dar Ġuda l-ġid li wegħedthom. F’dawk il-jiem u f’dak iż-żmien intalla’ min-nisel ta’ David rimja tas-sewwa, bniedem li jagħmel il-ġustizzja u s-sewwa fil-pajjiż. F’dawk il-jiem Ġuda jinħeles u Ġerusalemm tgħammar b’moħħha mistrieħ, u għalhekk isejħulha: Il-Mulej is-sewwa tagħna. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Responsorial Psalm                 PSALM 25:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14

Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior,
and for you I wait all the day. 
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.

Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
and teaches the humble his way. 
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.

All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy
toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him,
and his covenant, for their instruction. 
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.

SALM RESPONSORJALI                 Salm 24(25):4bċ-5ab,8-9,10,14

R/. (1b): Lejk jien nerfa’ ruħi, Mulej.

Triqatek, Mulej, għarrafni,
il-mogħdijiet tiegħek għallimni.
Mexxini fis-sewwa tiegħek u għallimni,
għax int Alla tas-salvazzjoni tiegħi. R/.

Tajjeb u sewwa l-Mulej;
għalhekk juri triqtu lill-ħatja.
Imexxi l-imsejkna fis-sewwa,
jgħallem lill-fqajrin it-triq tiegħu. R/.

Il-mogħdijiet tal-Mulej kollhom tjieba u fedeltà
għal min iħares il-patt u l-liġijiet tiegħu.
Midħla l-Mulej ta’ dawk li jibżgħu minnu,
lilhom jgħarraf il-patt tiegħu. R/.

Reading 2                 1 THESSALONIANS 3:12—4:2

Brothers and sisters:  May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we have for you,  so as to strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones.  Amen.  Finally, brothers and sisters, we earnestly ask and exhort you in the Lord Jesus that, as you received from us how you should conduct yourselves to please God and as you are conducting yourselves you do so even more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 

QARI 2                   mill-Ewwel Ittra lit-Tessalonikin 3:12–4:2

Ħuti, jalla l-Mulej ikattrilkom u jfawwarkom bl-imħabba għal xulxin u lejn kulħadd, l-istess bħalma aħna nħobbu lilkom, ħalli jqawwilkom qalbkom u jkollkom qdusija bla għajb quddiem Alla, Missierna, għal meta jiġi Sidna Ġesù mdawwar bil-qaddisin tiegħu. Fl-aħħar, ħuti, intom tgħallimtu mingħandna kif għandkom timxu biex togħġbu lil Alla, kif tabilħaqq qegħdin iġġibu ruħkom; aħna f’Sidna Ġesù nitolbukom u nħeġġukom biex tagħmlu xi ħaġa iżjed. Tafu x’tagħlim tajniekom permezz ta’ Sidna Ġesù. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel                 LUKE 21:25-28, 34-36

Jesus said to his disciples: “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay,  perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world,  for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand. “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”

EVANĠELJU                 Qari skont San Luqa 21:25-28,34-36

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù qal lid-dixxipli tiegħu: “Ikun hemm sinjali fix-xemx u l-qamar u l-kwiekeb. Il-ġnus fuq l-art, b’qalbhom ittaqtaq, ma jafux x’jaqbdu jagħmlu minħabba l-ħsejjes tal-baħar u tal-imwieġ; in-nies ruħhom ħierġa bil-biża’ billi jobsru xi jkun ġej fuq id-dinja, għax il-qawwiet tas-smewwiet jitqallbu. Imbagħad jaraw lil Bin il-bniedem ġej fi sħaba, b’qawwa u glorja kbira. Meta jibda jseħħ dan kollu, qawwu qalbkom u erfgħu raskom, għax il-fidwa tagħkom hi fil-qrib. Oqogħdu attenti, u qisu li l-ikel u x-xorb żejjed u s-sokor ma jmewtulkomx qalbkom, u tħallux li l-ħafna tħassib għall-ħtiġiet tal-ħajja jeħdilkom raskom, li ma ssibuhx dak il-Jum fuqkom għall-għarrieda. Għax hu Jum li għad jaqa’ bħal nassa fuq kull min jgħammar fuq wiċċ l-art kollha. Ishru, mela, u itolbu l-ħin kollu, biex tkunu tifilħu tgħaddu minn kulma għandu jiġri u tieqfu quddiem Bin il-bniedem”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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

 CHRIST REBORN IN OUR LIVES

Introduction 

The Central theme is that Advent is a time of waiting for Christ, allowing Jesus to be reborn in our lives. It is also a time for purifying our hearts by repentance and for renewing our lives by reflecting on and experiencing the several comings (advents) of Christ into our lives. Besides coming into our world through birth, Jesus comes into our lives through His Church and its members, through its Sacraments (especially the Holy Eucharist), the Word of God, the worshipping community, and finally, in His Second Coming

Scripture lessons summarized: 

In the first reading, the prophet Jeremiah waits and hopes for an ideal descendant of King David who, as the Messiah of God, will bring security, peace, and justice to God’s people. Christians believe that Jeremiah’s waiting and hoping were fulfilled in Jesus. Jeremiah’s prophecy assures us that the Lord, our Justice will fulfill His promises, and, hence, that we need not be afraid, despite frightening events and almost universal moral degradation. 

The Psalmist expresses the central idea of patient, vigilant, prayerful waiting for the Lord in today’s Responsorial Psalm (Ps 25), singing, “Your ways, O Lord, make known to me; teach me your paths, guide me in your Truth and teach me for You are God, my Savior.” In the second reading, Paul urges the Thessalonians to continue and intensify the life of holiness and mutual love he has taught them as they wait for “the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His holy ones." 

In Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus prophesies the signs and portents that will accompany his Second Coming and encourages us to be expectant, optimistic, vigilant, and well-prepared: “When these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads, because your redemption is at hand” (Lk 21:28). Jesus wants us to face the future with confidence in God’s providence.

Life messages: 

1) We need to prepare ourselves for Christ’s second coming by allowing Jesus to be reborn daily in our lives. Advent gives us time to make this preparation -- repenting of and confessing our sins, renewing our lives through prayer, penance, and sharing our blessings with others. In Advent, we also ought to check for what needs to be put right in our lives, to see how we have failed, and to assess the ways in which we can do better. Let us accept the challenge of the German mystic Angelus Silesius “Christ could be born a thousand times in Bethlehem – but all in vain until He is born in me.” (Quoted in Messenger of The Heart: The Book Of Angelus Silesius, With Observations By Frederick Franck, 2005)

2) A message of warning and hope: The Church reminds us that we will each be asked to give an account of our lives before Christ the Judge, both at the moment of our death (“private Judgment”) and at Jesus’ second coming (“The Last Judgment”). Today’s readings invite us to assess our lives every night during Advent and to make the necessary alterations in our thoughts, words, deeds, and omissionns, in the light of the approaching Christmas celebration. Amid the tragedies that sometimes occur in our daily lives and the setbacks in spiritual life, we must raise our heads in hope and anticipation, knowing that the Lord is coming again.

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THE KING OF TRUTH

Readings for Sunday, November 24,  2024 

The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Lectionary: 161

Solennità ta’ Sidna Ġesù Kristu Sultan tal-Ħolqien Kollu (Kristu Re)

Reading 1                 DANIEL 7:13-14

As the visions during the night continued, I saw one like a Son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; when he reached the Ancient One  and was presented before him, the one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship; all peoples, nations, and languages serve him.  His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed. 

QARI 1                  mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta Danjel 7:13-14

Billejl deherli qiegħed nara bħal iben ta’ bniedem, ġej mis-sħab tas-sema, li baqa’ sejjer sax-Xiħ fl-għomor u ressquh quddiemu. U tawh ħakma, ġieħ, u saltna, biex lilu jaqdi kull ġens, u poplu, u lsien. Ħakmietu ħakma għal dejjem li ma tgħaddix, u saltnatu li ma tinqeridx. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Responsorial Psalm                 PSALM 93:1, 1-2, 5

The LORD is king, in splendor robed;
    robed is the LORD and girt about with strength.
R. The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.

And he has made the world firm,
    not to be moved.
Your throne stands firm from of old;
    from everlasting you are, O LORD.
R. The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.

Your decrees are worthy of trust indeed;
    holiness befits your house,
    O LORD, for length of days.
R. The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty.

SALM RESPONSORJALI                 Salm 92(93):1ab,1ċ-2,5

R/. (1a): Il-Mulej isaltan; il-kobor libes.

Il-Mulej isaltan; il-kobor libes,
libes il-Mulej u tħażżem bil-qawwa. R/.

Iżomm sħiħa d-dinja; qatt ma titħarrek.
Imwaqqaf it-tron tiegħek fis-sod minn dejjem;
minn dejjem ta’ dejjem int. R/.

Il-kmandamenti tiegħek ta’ min joqgħod fuqhom;
qdusija lil darek tixraq, Mulej,
sakemm itul iż-żmien. R/.

Reading 2                 REVELATIONS 1:5-8

Jesus Christ is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth.  To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father, to him be glory and power forever and ever.  Amen. Behold, he is coming amid the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. All the peoples of the earth will lament him. Yes.  Amen. "I am the Alpha and the Omega, " says the Lord God, "the one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty."

QARI 2                  mill-Ktieb tal-Apokalissi ta’ San Ġwann App. 1:5-8

Ġesù Kristu hu x-xhud fidil, il-Kbir fost il-mejtin, il-Prinċep tas-slaten tad-dinja. Lil Dak li ħabbna, u li ħallna minn dnubietna bis-saħħa ta’ demmu, u li għamilna saltna, qassisin għal Alla tiegħu Missieru, lilu l-glorja u s-setgħa għal dejjem ta’ dejjem. Amen.  Arawh, ġej fis-sħab, u l-għajnejn kollha jarawh, ukoll dawk li kienu nifduh; u r-razez kollha tal-art jibdew iħabbtu fuq sidirhom minħabba fih. Iva. Amen! Jiena huwa l-Alfa u l-Omega, jgħid il-Mulej Alla, li hu, u li kien, u li għad irid jiġi, Dak li jista’ kollox! Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel                 JOHN 18:33b-37

Pilate said to Jesus, "Are you the King of the Jews?"  Jesus answered, "Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?"  Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me.  What have you done?"  Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews.  But as it is, my kingdom is not here."  So Pilate said to him, "Then you are a king?"  Jesus answered, "You say I am a king.  For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.  Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."

EVANĠELJU                 Qari skont San Ġwann 18:33b-37

F’dak iż-żmien, Pilatu sejjaħ lil Ġesù u qallu: “Inti s-sultan tal-Lhud?”. Ġesù wieġeb: “Dan qiegħed tgħidu int minn moħħok, jew kienu oħrajn li qalulek dan fuqi?”. Pilatu wieġeb: “Mela jiena Lhudi? Kien il-poplu tiegħek u l-qassisin il-kbar li tawk f’idejja. X’għamilt?”. Ġesù wieġeb: “Is-saltna tiegħi mhijiex ta’ din id-dinja. Li kieku saltnati kienet ta’ din id-dinja, l-għases tiegħi kienu jiġġieldu biex ma ningħatax f’idejn il-Lhud; imma tabilħaqq saltnati mhijiex ta’ hawn”. Pilatu qallu: “Mela int sultan?”. U Ġesù wieġeb: “Int qiegħed tgħidu; jien sultan. Jien għalhekk twelidt, u għalhekk ġejt fid-dinja, biex nixhed għall-verità. U kull min iħobb il-verità jisma’ leħni”.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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

Christ the King Sunday 

Introduction 

This Sunday, the last in Cycle B of the Church’s liturgical year, the readings describe the enthronement of the victorious Christ as King in Heaven in all His glory. Instituting this Feast of Christ, the King in 1925, Pope Pius XI proclaimed: “Pax Christi in regno Christi” (the peace of Christ in the reign of Christ). This means that we live in the peace of Christ when we surrender our lives to Him every day, accept Him as our God, Saviour and King and allow Him to rule our lives. 

Why Christ is our King?: 

1) Christ is God, the Creator of the universe and, hence, wields a supreme power over all things; "All things were created through Him"; 

2) Christ is our Redeemer, He purchased us by His precious Blood, and made us His property and possession; 

3) Christ is the Head of the Church, "holding in all things the primacy"; 

4) God bestowed upon Christ the nations of the world as His special possession and dominion.

Biblical basis of the feast: 

A) Old Testament texts: The title "Christ the King" has its roots both in Scripture and in the whole theology of the Kingdom of God. In most of the Messianic prophecies, given in the Old Testament books of Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Daniel, Christ the Messiah is represented as a King. 

B) New Testament texts:  a) In the Annunciation, recorded in Lk 1:32-33, we read: “…and the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the House of Jacob for ever; and of His Kingdom there will be no end.” In fact, the Kingdom of God is the center of Jesus’ teaching, and the phrase "Kingdom of God" occurs in the Gospels 122 times, of which 90 instances are uses by Jesus. 

    b) The Magi from the Far East came to Jerusalem and asked the question: (Mt 2:2) “Where is the Baby born to be the King of the Jews? We saw His star… and we have come to worship Him." 

    c) During the royal reception given to Jesus on Palm Sunday, the Jews shouted: (Lk 19:38) “God bless the King, Who comes in the name of the Lord." 

    d) During the trial of Jesus described in today’s Gospel, Pilate asked the question : “Are you the king of the Jews?" (Jn 18:33), and Jesus replied: “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the Truth" (Jn:18:37) 

    e) The signboard hung over Jesus’ head on the cross read: “Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews." 

    f) Before his Ascension into Heaven, Jesus declared: “All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to Me; go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations … (Mt 28:18ff).” 

    g) Finally, in Matthew 25:31, we read that Christ the King will come in glory to judge us on the day of the Last Judgment.

Life Messages: 

1) We need to accept and surrender our lives to Christ the King as our Lord, King, and Savior. We surrender our lives to Jesus every day when we give priority to all that Jesus taught when we are making our daily choices, especially moral choices. We should not exclude Christ our King from any area of our personal or family lives. In other words, Christ must be in full charge of our lives, and we must give Christ sovereign power over our bodies, our thoughts, our heart, and our will. 

2) We need to be serving disciples of a serving King. Jesus declared, “…whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mt 20:27-28), and later showed us the spirit of service by washing of the feet of the apostles. We become Jesus’ followers when we recognize Jesus present in everyone, especially the poor, the sick, the outcast, and the marginalized in society and render humble and loving service to Jesus in each of them. 

3) We need to accept Jesus Christ as the King of love. Jesus, having come to proclaim to all of us the Good News of God’s love and salvation and arrived at the ending of his life, gave us a “new commandment” of love: “Love one another as I have loved you.” Then he demonstrated that love by dying for us sinners. We accept Jesus as our King of love when we love others as Jesus loves each of us, unconditionally, sacrificially, and with agape love.

//////////////////////////////////////     © Fr Tony's Homilies 2024.  ©  https://frtonyshomilies.com    

WE ARE HIS INHERITANCE

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 158

Qari tat-Tlieta u Tletin Ħadd taż-Żmien ta’ Matul is-Sena

Reading 1                DANIEL 12:1-3

In those days, I Daniel,  heard this word of the Lord: "At that time there shall arise Michael, the great prince, guardian of your people; it shall be a time unsurpassed in distress since nations began until that time. At that time your people shall escape, everyone who is found written in the book. “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake;  some shall live forever,  others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace.  “But the wise shall shine brightly  like the splendour of the firmament, and those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever."  

QARI 1                              mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta Danjel 12:1-3

F’dak iż-żmien iqum Mikiel, il-prinċep il-kbir, dak li qiegħed fuq ulied il-poplu tiegħek. Imbagħad jiġi żmien ta’ għawġ, li qatt ma jkun deher ieħor bħalu minn mindu ġens kien ġens sa dak iż-żmien. Imma jkun żmien li fih il-poplu tiegħek jinħeles, dawk kollha li jkunu nstabu miktuba fil-ktieb. U ħafna minn dawk li huma rieqda fit-trab tal-art jistenbħu, min għall-ħajja ta’ dejjem u min għall-għajb u l-istmerrija għal dejjem. Il-bnedmin bil-għaqal ikollhom fuqhom dija bħal dik tas-sema, u dawk li jkunu wasslu ’l ħafna fis-sewwa jkunu jiddu bħal kwiekeb għal dejjem ta’ dejjem. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Responsorial Psalm                 PSALM 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11

O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
    you it is who hold fast my lot.
I set the LORD ever before me;
    with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord!

Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
    my body, too, abides in confidence;
because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld,
    nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord!

You will show me the path to life,
    fullness of joys in your presence,
    the delights at your right hand forever.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord!

SALM RESPONSORJALI                 Salm 15(16):5,8,9-10,11

R/.(1): Ħarisni, o Alla, għax fik jien nistkenn.

Mulej, inti s-sehem tal-wirt u r-riżq tiegħi,
inti żżomm f’idejk xortija.
Inżomm il-Mulej dejjem quddiemi,
għax bih f’leminti qatt ma nitħarrek. R/.

Hekk tifraħ qalbi u tithenna ruħi,
u ġismi wkoll jistrieħ fil-kwiet.
Għax int ma titlaqnix fl-imwiet,
ma tħallix il-maħbub tiegħek jara l-qabar. R/.

Int tgħallimni t-triq tal-ħajja;
hemm il-milja tal-ferħ quddiemek,
hemm l-għaxqa għal dejjem f’lemintek. R/.

Reading 2               HEBREWS 10:11-14, 18

Brothers and sisters: Every priest stands daily at his ministry, offering frequently those same sacrifices that can never take away sins.  But this one offered one sacrifice for sins, and took his seat forever at the right hand of God; now he waits until his enemies are made his footstool.  For by one offering he has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated. Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer offering for sin.

QARI 2                  mill-Ittra lil-Lhud 10:11-14,18

Kull qassis ieħor imur kuljum biex jaqdi l-ministeru tiegħu, u joffri u jerġa’ joffri l-istess sagrifiċċju, bla ma jistgħu qatt ineħħu d-dnubiet. Imma Kristu, wara li offra sagrifiċċju wieħed għad-dnubiet, qagħad għal dejjem fuq in-naħa tal-lemin ta’ Alla, fejn qiegħed jistenna sa ma l-għedewwa tiegħu jitqiegħdu mirfes taħt riġlejh. Għax hu b’offerta waħda għamel perfetti għal dejjem lil dawk li huwa jqaddes. Issa, fejn hemm il-maħfra tad-dnubiet, ma hemmx għalfejn issir aktar l-offerta għad-dnubiet.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel                 MARK 13:24-32

Jesus said to his disciples: "In those days after that tribulation the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. "And then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in the clouds' with great power and glory, and then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky. "Learn a lesson from the fig tree.  When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, know that he is near, at the gates. Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. "But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."

EVANĠELJU               Qari skont San Mark 13:24-32

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù qal lid-dixxipli tiegħu: “Wara jiem ta’ dwejjaq kbar, ix-xemx tiddallam, il-qamar jitlef id-dija tiegħu, il-kwiekeb jibdew jaqgħu mis-sema, u l-qawwiet tas-smewwiet jitqallbu. Imbagħad jaraw lil Bin il-bniedem ġej fis-sħab b’qawwa kbira u bi glorja. U mbagħad jibgħat l-anġli biex jiġbor flimkien il-maħturin tiegħu mill-erbat irjieħ, minn tarf l-art sa tarf is-sema.  Mis-siġra tat-tin tgħallmu din il-parabbola. Meta l-fergħa tagħha tirtab u tarmi l-weraq, intom tintebħu li s-sajf fil-qrib. Hekk ukoll meta taraw dan jiġri, kunu afu li hu fil-qrib, fil-bieb. Tassew ngħidilkom, li ma jgħaddix dan in-nisel qabel ma jiġri dan kollu. Is-sema u l-art jgħaddu, imma kliemi ma jgħaddix. Dwar dak il-jum u s-siegħa ħadd ma jaf meta se jaslu, anqas l-anġli fis-sema, u anqas l-Iben; ħadd ħlief il-Missier”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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

 

"THE FOUR LAST THINGS"

Introduction: 

The central theme of Sunday’s readings give us the assurance that our God will be with us all the days of our lives and that we will have the ongoing presence of the Holy Spirit in our midst, guiding, protecting, and strengthening us in spite of our necessary uncertainty concerning the end time when “Christ will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.” Each year at this time, the Church asks us to consider our “four last things” – Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell , or the end, judgment, reward, punishment.

Scripture lessons summarized: 

The readings invite us to focus our attention on the threefold coming of Jesus: 

1) His first coming according to the flesh, as Redeemer. 

2) His second coming, either at our death, or at the end of time and the world, which will bring our salvation to completion. 

3) His coming into our lives each time we step forward in genuine Christian living of loving God living in others by sharing our blessings with them and serving them with agape love.

The first reading, taken from the prophet Daniel (167 BC), was originally given to comfort and give hope to the Jewish people persecuted by a cruel pagan Greek king, Antiochus Epiphanes. It also advises us to live wisely and justly in the present time, instead of worrying about the unknown future. Through the Psalm Response for today’s Responsorial Psalm (Ps 16), the Holy Spirit has us sing our Faith affirmation, “You are my inheritance, O Lord!” In today’s second reading, the author of the Letter to the Hebrews challenges us to look to the future with hope and serenity because Jesus, having secured the forgiveness of our sins and our sanctification through the sacrifice on the cross, sits forever at God’s right hand as the one Mediator between man and God.

Sunday’s Gospel, taken from Mark (AD 69), offered hope to early Christians persecuted by the Roman Emperor Nero, by reminding them of Jesus’ words about His glorious return to earth with great power and glory as Judge to gather and reward the elect. Daniel and Mark continue to remind us that God will ensure that the righteous will survive the ordeal and will find a place with Him. Through the parable of the fig tree, Jesus warns us all to read the “signs of the time,” reminding us that we must be ever prepared to give an account of our lives to Jesus when He comes in glory as our Judge, because we cannot know “either the day or the hour” of His Second Coming.

Life messages:

 1) Let us recognize the “second coming” of Jesus in our daily lives through everyday occurrences, always remembering that Jesus comes without warning. But let us not get frightened at the thought of Christ’s Second Coming, because Jesus is with us every day, abiding with the Father and the Holy Spirit in our hearts, dwelling in our Church in the Holy Eucharist, teaching us in the Holy Bible, and unifying us with Him and each other in our worshipping communities. We will be able to welcome Jesus in His Second Coming as long as we faithfully do the will of God by daily serving our brothers and sisters, recognizing Christ’s presence in them, and by being reconciled with God and with our brothers and sisters every day.

2) We need to “learn the lesson from the fig tree.” This means that we are to watch and wait in a state of readiness. Instead of worrying about the endtime events, we are asked to live every day of our lives loving God living in others, by our committed service to them with sacrificial agape love.

//////////////////////////////////////     © Fr Tony's Homilies 2024.  ©  https://frtonyshomilies.com  

THE SMALL THINGS THAT COUNT A LOT TO GOD

 Readings for Sunday, November 10,  2024              

     

           Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time  Lectionary: 155

Qari tat-Tnejn u Tletin Ħadd taż-Żmien ta’ Matul is-Sena

Reading 1                 1 KINGS 17:10-16

In those days, Elijah the prophet went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the entrance of the city, a widow was gathering sticks there; he called out to her, "Please bring me a small cupful of water to drink." She left to get it, and he called out after her, "Please bring along a bit of bread."  She answered, "As the LORD, your God, lives, I have nothing baked; there is only a handful of flour in my jar and a little oil in my jug.  Just now I was collecting a couple of sticks, to go in and prepare something for myself and my son; when we have eaten it, we shall die."  Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid.  Go and do as you propose. But first make me a little cake and bring it to me. Then you can prepare something for yourself and your son.  For the LORD, the God of Israel, says, 'The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the day when the LORD sends rain upon the earth.'"  She left and did as Elijah had said.  She was able to eat for a year, and he and her son as well; the jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, as the LORD had foretold through Elijah.

QARI 1                  mill-Ewwel Ktieb tas-Slaten 17:10-16

F’dak iż-żmien, il-profeta Elija qam u rħielha lejn Sarefta. Kif wasal ħdejn bieb il-belt, kien hemm waħda armla tiġbor il-ħatab. Elija sejħilha u qalilha: “Jekk jogħġbok, ġibli f’bieqja belgħa ilma x’nixrob”.   Hi u sejra, Elija raġa’ sejħilha u qalilha: “Ġibli wkoll, jekk jogħġbok, kisra ħobż f’idek”. Hija wieġbet: “Daqskemm hu ħaj il-Mulej, Alla tiegħek, ma għandi xejn maħbuż; qabda dqiq f’ġarra u ftit żejt fil-kus kulma baqagħli. Ara, qiegħda niġbor biċċtejn ħatab; issa nħejji xi ħaġa għalija u għal ibni; u mbagħad nikluha u mmutu”.  Elija wieġeb: “La tibżax, mur u agħmel kif għedtli: imma qabel agħmel ftira żgħira għalija, u ġibhieli. Imbagħad agħmel għalik u għal ibnek. Għax din hi l-kelma tal-Mulej, Alla ta’ Iżrael: Il-ġarra tad-dqiq ma tintemm qatt, u l-kus taż-żejt ma jitbattalx, sa dakinhar li l-Mulej jibgħat ix-xita fil-pajjiż”. U dik marret u għamlet kif qalilha Elija. Damu jieklu għal żmien, hi u hu, u darha kollha. U l-ġarra tad-dqiq ma ntemmitx, u l-kus taż-żejt ma tbattalx, kif kien qal il-Mulej permezz ta’ Elija. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Responsorial Psalm                 PSALM 146:7, 8-9, 9-10

The LORD keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or: R. Alleluia.

The LORD gives sight to the blind.
The LORD raises up those who were bowed down;
the LORD loves the just.
The LORD protects strangers.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or: R. Alleluia.

The fatherless and the widow he sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.
R. Praise the Lord, my soul!
or: R. Alleluia.

SALM RESPONSORJALI                 Salm 145(146):7,8-9a,9bċ-10

R/.(1): Faħħar, ruħ tiegħi, il-Mulej!

Il-Mulej jagħmel ħaqq lill-maħqurin,
u jagħti l-ħobż lill-imġewħin.
Il-Mulej jeħles lill-imjassrin. R/.

Il-Mulej jiftaħ għajnejn l-għomja;
il-Mulej jerfa’ lill-milwijin;
il-Mulej iħobb lill-ġusti;
il-Mulej iħares lill-barranin. R/.

Il-Mulej iżomm lill-iltim u lill-armla,
imma lill-ħżiena jħarbtilhom triqathom.
Il-Mulej isaltan għal dejjem;
Alla tiegħek, Sijon, minn nisel għal nisel. R/.

Reading 2                 HEBREWS 9:24-28

Christ did not enter into a sanctuary made by hands, a copy of the true one, but heaven itself, that he might now appear before God on our behalf.  Not that he might offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters each year into the sanctuary with blood that is not his own; if that were so, he would have had to suffer repeatedly from the foundation of the world.  But now once for all he has appeared at the end of the ages to take away sin by his sacrifice.  Just as it is appointed that human beings die once, and after this the judgment, so also Christ, offered once to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to take away sin but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him. 

QARI 2                  mill-Ittra lil-Lhud 9:24-28

Kristu ma daħalx f’santwarju magħmul b’idejn il-bnedmin li hu biss xbieha tas-santwarju veru, imma daħal fis-sema stess, biex issa jidher għalina quddiem Alla. U daħal hemm mhux biex minn żmien għal żmien joffri lilu nnifsu bħalma l-qassis il-kbir jidħol kull sena fis-santwarju biex joffri demm ħaddieħor. Li kieku kien hekk, kien ikollu jbati ħafna drabi sa mill-ħolqien tad-dinja.  Iżda issa deher darba għal dejjem, meta waslet il-milja taż-żminijiet, biex ineħħi d-dnub bis-sagrifiċċju tiegħu nnifsu. U kif hu miktub għall-bnedmin li għandhom imutu darba biss, u wara dan isir il-ġudizzju, hekk ukoll Kristu, wara li offra lilu nnifsu darba biss biex jitgħabba bid-dnubiet tal-kotra, għad jerġa’ jidher darb’oħra, mhux biex ineħħi d-dnubiet, imma biex isalva lil dawk li qegħdin jistennewh bil-ħerqa. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel                 MARK 12:38-44 

In the course of his teaching Jesus said to the crowds, "Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and accept greetings in the marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honour at banquets. They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation." He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, "Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury.  For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood."

EVANĠELJU                 Qari skont San Mark 12:38-44

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù kien qiegħed jgħallem fit-tempju u jgħid: “Iftħu għajnejkom mill-kittieba, li jħobbu jduru mat-toroq bi lbiesi twal, jixtiequ min isellmilhom fil-pjazez, u fis-sinagogi joqogħdu fis-siġġijiet ta’ quddiem, u fil-postijiet ewlenin fil-pranzijiet; iberbqu ġid ir-romol, u mbagħad għal wiċċ in-nies idumu ħafna jitolbu. Dawn jieħdu kundanna aktar iebsa”. Ġesù kien qiegħed biswit it-teżor, iħares u jara xi flus jitfgħu n-nies fit-teżor. Bosta għonja bdew jitfgħu ħafna. Resqet waħda armla fqira u tefgħet biċċtejn żgħar, jiġifieri xi żewġ ċenteżmi.  Hu sejjaħ id-dixxipli tiegħu u qalilhom: “Tassew ngħidilkom, li din l-armla fqira tefgħet iktar minn dawk kollha li tefgħu fit-teżor. Għax dawk kollha tefgħu miż-żejjed tagħhom, imma hi, fil-faqar tagħha, tefgħet kulma kellha, dak kollu li kellha biex tgħix”.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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

SERVING OTHERS LOVINGLY AND SACRIFICIALLY

Introduction: 

Sunday’s readings invite us to surrender our lives to God with a humble and generous heart, by serving others lovingly and sacrificially.

Scripture lessons: 

This Sunday's first reading and the Gospel present poor widows who sacrificially gave their whole lives and means of livelihood to God, symbolising the supreme sacrifice Jesus would offer by giving His life for others. In the first reading, taken from the First Book of Kings, a poor widow who has barely enough food for herself and her son welcomes the prophet Elijah as a man of God, offers all her food to him and receives her reward from God in the form of a continuing daily supply of food. 

In the Gospel, Jesus contrasts the external signs of honour sought by the scribes with the humble, sacrificial offering of a poor widow and declares that she has found true honour in God’s eyes. The poor widows in both the first reading and the Gospel gave away all that they possessed for the glory of God. The sacrificial self-giving of the widows in the first reading and the Gospel reflects God’s love in giving His only Son for us, and Christ’s love in sacrificing himself on the cross. So, the second reading tells us how Jesus, as the High Priest of the New Testament, surrendered His life to God His Father totally and unconditionally as a sacrificial offering for our sins – a sacrifice far beyond the sacrifices made by the poor widows.

Life messages: 

# 1: We need to appreciate the widows of our parish:Even in seemingly prosperous societies, widows (and widowers), in addition to their deep grief, often suffer from economic loss, from the burden of rearing a family alone, and from a strange isolation from friends, which often sets in soon after protestations of support at their spouses’ funerals. Let us learn to appreciate the widows and widowers of our parish community. Their loneliness draws them closer to God and to stewardship in the parish. They are often active participants in all the liturgical celebrations, offering prayers for their families and for their parish family. Frequently, they are active in the parish organizations, as well as in visiting and serving the sick and the shut-ins. Hence, let us appreciate them, support them, encourage them and pray for them.

#2: We need to accept Christ’s criteria of judging people: We often judge people by what they possess. We give weight to their position in society, to their educational qualifications, or to their celebrity status. But Jesus measures us in a totally different way – on the basis of our inner motives and the intentions hidden behind our actions. He evaluates us on the basis of the sacrifices we make for others and on the degree of our surrender to His holy will. The offering God wants from us is not our material possessions, but our hearts and lives. What is hardest to give is ourselves in love and concern, because that gift costs us more than reaching for our purses. Let us, like the poor widow, find the courage to share the wealth and talents we hold. Let us stop dribbling out our stores of love, selflessness, sacrifice, and compassion and dare to pour out our whole heart, our whole being, our "whole life" into the love-starved coffers of this world.

//////////////////////////////////////     © Fr Tony's Homilies 2024.  ©  https://frtonyshomilies.com    

THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE OF OUR RELIGION

Readings for Sunday, November 3,  2024 

Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 152

Il-Wieħed u Tletin Ħadd taż-Żmien ta’ Matul is-Sena

Reading 1                 DEUTERONOMY 6:2-6

Moses spoke to the people, saying:  "Fear the LORD, your God, and keep, throughout the days of your lives, all his statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you, and thus have long life. Hear then, Israel, and be careful to observe them,  that you may grow and prosper the more, in keeping with the promise of the LORD, the God of your fathers, to give you a land flowing with milk and honey.   "Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone!  Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today."

QARI 1                  mill-Ktieb tad-Dewteronomju 6:2-6

Mosè kellem lill-poplu u qal: “Ibża’ mill-Mulej, Alla tiegħek, billi int, ibnek u bin ibnek, tħarsu dejjem il-liġijiet u l-kmandamenti kollha tiegħu, li jien qiegħed nagħtik, biex ikollok għomor twil.  Isma’, o Iżrael, u ħu ħsieb agħmilhom, biex ikollok il-ġid u toktor ħafna, bħalma wiegħed il-Mulej, Alla ta’ missirijietek, li jagħtik art tnixxi ħalib u għasel. Isma’, o Iżrael: Alla tagħna l-Mulej, il-Mulej waħdu. Ħobb, mela, lill-Mulej, Alla tiegħek, b’qalbek kollha, b’ruħek kollha u b’saħħtek kollha. Żomm f’qalbek dan il-kliem u dawn il-kmandamenti li qiegħed nagħtik illum”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Responsorial Psalm                 PSALM 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51

I love you, O LORD, my strength,

    O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer.
R. I love you, Lord, my strength.

My God, my rock of refuge,
    my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold!
Praised be the LORD, I exclaim,
    and I am safe from my enemies.
R. I love you, Lord, my strength.

The LORD lives!  And blessed be my rock!
    Extolled be God my savior.
You who gave great victories to your king
    and showed kindness to your anointed.
R. I love you, Lord, my strength.

SALM RESPONSORJALI                 Salm 17:2-3a,3bċ-4,47,51ab

R/.(2): Inħobbok, Mulej, qawwa tiegħi!

Inħobbok, Mulej, qawwa tiegħi!
Il-Mulej blata tiegħi,
fortizza u ħellies tiegħi! R/.

Alla tiegħi, sur tal-kenn tiegħi u tarka tiegħi,
qawwa tas-salvazzjoni tiegħi u kenn tiegħi!
Insejjaħ il-Mulej, li hu ta’ min ifaħħru,
u nkun meħlus mill-għedewwa tiegħi. R/.

Ħaj il-Mulej! Imbierek hu, il-blata tiegħi!
Ikun imfaħħar Alla tas-salvazzjoni tiegħi!
Hu jkabbar ir-rebħ lis-sultan tiegħu,
juri mħabbtu mal-midluk tiegħu. R/.

Reading 2                  HEBREWS 7:23-28

Brothers and sisters:  The levitical priests were many because they were prevented by death from remaining in office, but Jesus, because he remains forever, has a priesthood that does not pass away. Therefore, he is always able to save those who approach God through him,  since he lives forever to make intercession for them. It was fitting that we should have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, higher than the heavens. He has no need, as did the high priests, to offer sacrifice day after day, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did that once for all when he offered himself.  For the law appoints men subject to weakness to be high priests, but the word of the oath, which was taken after the law, appoints a son, who has been made perfect forever.

QARI 2                 mill-Ittra lil-Lhud 7:23-28

Ħuti, dawk tal-imgħoddi kienu jsiru qassisin f’għadd kbir, għax minħabba fil-mewt ma kinux jistgħu jibqgħu għal dejjem. Imma Ġesù, billi jibqa’ għal dejjem, għandu saċerdozju li ma jintemm qatt. Għalhekk ukoll huwa jista’ jsalva għalkollox ’il dawk li bih jersqu lejn Alla, ladarba hu jibqa’ għal dejjem ħaj biex jidħol għalihom.  Dan hu, tabilħaqq, il-qassis il-kbir li kien jgħodd għalina: qaddis, innoċenti, safi, maqtugħ mill-midinbin, merfugħ ’il fuq mis-smewwiet; li ma għandux bżonn, bħall-qassisin il-kbar l-oħra, joffri kuljum is-sagrifiċċju, l-ewwel għad-dnubiet tiegħu stess, imbagħad għad-dnubiet tal-poplu. Dan hu għamlu darba għal dejjem, meta offra lilu nnifsu.  Għax il-Liġi tqiegħed bħala qassisin il-kbar bnedmin li huma dgħajfa; iżda l-kelma tal-ġurament, li ġiet wara l-Liġi, tqiegħed Iben, li ġie magħmul perfett għal dejjem.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel                 MARK 12:28b-34

One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, "Which is the first of all the commandments?"  Jesus replied, "The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul,  with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these."  The scribe said to him, "Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, 'He is One and there is no other than he.' And 'to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself' is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God."  And no one dared to ask him any more questions. 

EVANĠELJU                 Qari skont San Mark 12:28b-34

F’dak iż-żmien, wieħed mill-kittieba resaq fuq Ġesù u staqsieh: “Liema wieħed fost il-kmandamenti kollha huwa l-ewwel?”. Ġesù wieġbu: “L-ewwel wieħed huwa dan: Isma’ Iżrael! Il-Mulej, Alla tagħna, Mulej wieħed hu, u int għandek tħobb lill-Mulej, Alla tiegħek, b’qalbek kollha, b’ruħek kollha, b’moħħok kollu, u bil-qawwa tiegħek kollha. U t-tieni hu dan: Ħobb lil għajrek bħalek innifsek. Ma hemmx kmandament ieħor akbar minn dawn”. Qallu l-kittieb: “Sewwa qiegħed tgħid, Mgħallem; għandek raġun tgħid li wieħed hemm, u li ma hemmx ieħor ħliefu. Iva, li tħobb lilu b’qalbek kollha, b’moħħok kollu, u bil-qawwa tiegħek kollha, u li tħobb lil għajrek bħalek innifsek, huwa aqwa minn kull sagrifiċċju tal-ħruq u mis-sagrifiċċji kollha”. Ġesù, meta rah kemm kien wieġeb bil-għaqal, qallu: “M’intix ’il bogħod mis-Saltna ta’ Alla”. U ħadd ma kellu l-ħila jistaqsih iżjed. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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

    

 

   TRUE RELIGION IS LOVING GOD AND OUR FELLIOW HUMAN BEINGS 

The central theme: 

The central message of Sunday’s readings is the most fundamental principle of all religions, especially Christianity. It is to love God in Himself and living in others. Scripture readings for today remind us that we are created to love God by loving others and to love others as an expression of our love for God. Our religious practices, like prayers, Bible reading, Sacraments, acts of penance, and self-control, are meant to help us to acknowledge and appreciate the presence of God in our neighbours and to express our love for God by serving our neighbours with love, sharing our blessings with them.

Scripture lessons: 

The first reading presents Moses explaining the Law to the Israelites after his return from Mount Sinai. He tries to make the people reverence and obey the Law given by God as something that will bring them dignity, purpose, stature, distinction, and a unique place in history. He reminds them that keeping God’s commandments will give them God’s blessings of long life, prosperity, and fruitful, peaceful lives. 

The Responsorial Psalm (Ps 18) invites us to love God because He alone is our strength and our stronghold. In Sunday’s Gospel, a Scribe asks Jesus to summarize the most important of the Mosaic Laws in one sentence. Jesus cites the first sentence of the Jewish Shema prayer: “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is Lord alone! Therefore, you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength” (Dt 6:4). Then Jesus adds its complementary law: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself” (Lv 19:18). Thus, Jesus says, true religion is loving God and loving our fellow human beings at the same time. It is by showing genuine, active love for our neighbours that we can demonstrate that we really love God.

Life Messages: 

#1:  How do we love God? We must keep God’s commandments, and offer daily prayers of thanksgiving, praise, contrition for our failings, and petition. We also need to read and meditate on His word in the Holy Bible and to participate actively in the Holy Mass and other liturgical functions. If I am going to love God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength, then I am going to have to place His will ahead of mine, and to ask Him for help when I have to say no to some things that I might want to do. I am also going to have to seek the Lord’s will and make it paramount in my life.

#2: How do we love our neighbour?: We love our neighbour by helping, supporting, encouraging, forgiving, and praying for everyone, without discrimination based on colour, race, gender, age, wealth, or social status. If I am going to love my neighbour as I love myself, or as Jesus has loved me, it will cost me suffering as it did Jesus! I may have to seek forgiveness when I think I have done something wrong. I may have to sacrifice something I think I need, to meet a brother’s need. I may have to spend time in prayer for other people and reach out to them, helping, encouraging, and supporting them in the name of the Lord.

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