GOING UP OR GOING DOWN - IT'S ALWAYS OUR DECISION!!

 Readings for Sunday, September 28, 2025 

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Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time                 Lectionary: 138

Is-Sitta u Għoxrin Ħadd taż-Żmien ta’ matul is-Sena

Reading 1              Amos 6:1a, 4-7

Thus says the LORD the God of hosts:  Woe to the complacent in Zion!  Lying upon beds of ivory,  stretched comfortably on their couches,  they eat lambs taken from the flock,  and calves from the stall!  Improvising to the music of the harp,  like David, they devise their own accompaniment.  They drink wine from bowls  and anoint themselves with the best oils;  yet they are not made ill by the collapse of Joseph!  Therefore, now they shall be the first to go into exile,   and their wanton revelry shall be done away with. 

QARI 1                  mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta Għamos 6:1a,4-7

Dan jgħid il-Mulej li jista’ kollox: “Ħażin għalihom dawk li f’Sijon għandhom moħħhom mistrieħ, dawk li qalbhom qawwija fil-muntanja tas-Samarija! Fuq sodod tal-avorju mimduda, jitmattru fuq il-friex; u ħrief il-merħla jieklu, għoġiela mill-istalla. Mal-arpa jqabblu l-għana, bħal David strumenti jivvintaw.  L-inbid ilegilguh minn bwieqi kbar, u bl-ifjen żjut jindilku, bla xejn ma jsewdu qalbhom  għall-qerda ta’ Ġużeppi. Għalhekk ikunu l-ewwel fost dawk li jittieħdu fl-eżilju, u tintemm imbagħad l-għajta tal-imhejmin”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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

Blessed is he who keeps faith forever,
 secures justice for the oppressed,
 gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
R. (1b) Praise the Lord, my soul!

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!

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!

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

R/.(1b): Faħħar, ruħ tiegħi, il-Mulej!

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

Il-Mulej li jiftaħ għajnejn l-għomja;
il-Mulej li jerfa’ lill-milwijin;
il-Mulej li jħobb lill-ġusti;

il-Mulej li jħares 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                 1 Timothy 6:11-16

But you, man of God, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate for the noble confession, to keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ that the blessed and only ruler will make manifest at the proper time, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, and whom no human being has seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal power.  Amen.

QARI 2                  mill-Ewwel Ittra lil Timotju 6:11-16

Int, bniedem ta’ Alla, fittex li jkollok il-ġustizzja, it-tjieba, il-fidi, l-imħabba, is-sabar, il-ħlewwa. Tqabad it-taqbida t-tajba tal-fidi; qis li tirbaħ il-ħajja ta’ dejjem li għaliha kont imsejjaħ u li tagħha għamilt l-istqarrija sabiħa quddiem ħafna xhieda.  Inwissik quddiem Alla li jagħti l-ħajja lill-ħlejjaq kollha, u quddiem Kristu Ġesù li xehed u għamel l-istqarrija sabiħa quddiem Ponzju Pilatu. Inwissik biex tħares l-istruzzjonijiet li rċevejt u żżomm ruħek bla tebgħa u bla ħtija sa jum id-dehra ta’ Sidna Ġesù Kristu, li għad juriha f’waqtha .  Dak li hu l-hieni u waħdu setgħani, is-Sultan tas-slaten u s-Sid tas-sidien, li hu biss ma jmut qatt u jgħammar f’dawl li ħadd ma jista’ jersaq lejh, hu li ebda bniedem qatt ma rah u anqas qatt jista’ jarah. Lilu ġieħ u setgħa għal dejjem! Amen. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel                   Luke 16:19-31

Jesus said to the Pharisees: "There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried,  and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.' Abraham replied, 'My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.' He said, 'Then I beg you, father, send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.' But Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.' He said, 'Oh no, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'  Then Abraham said, 'If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.'"

EVANĠELJU                  Qari skont San Luqa 16:19-31

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù qal lill-Fariżej: “Mela kien hemm raġel għani, jilbes il-porpra u għażel mill-ifjen; l-hena tiegħu kien li kuljum jagħmel ikla mill-aħjar. U wieħed fqir jismu Lazzru, li kellu ġismu ġerħa waħda, kien imur jinxteħet ħdejn il-bieb ta’ daru, bix-xewqa li jixba’ b’dak li jaqa’ mill-mejda tal-għani. Sal-klieb kienu jmorru jilagħqu l-ġrieħi tiegħu.  Ġara li l-fqir miet, u l-anġli ħaduh fi ħdan Abraham. Imbagħad miet ukoll l-għani, u difnuh. Dan, kif sab ruħu fi tbatijiet ħorox f’Art l-Imwiet, rafa’ ħarstu, u mill-bogħod lemaħ lil Abraham, b’Lazzru fi ħdanu. U għolla leħnu u qallu: “Missier Abraham, ikollok ħniena minni u ibgħat lil Lazzru jbill tarf sebgħu fl-ilma ħa jtaffili n-nixfa li għandi fi lsieni, għax qiegħed ninħaqar wisq f’dan in-nar”.  Iżda Abraham qallu: “Ibni, ftakar li t-tajjeb tiegħek irċevejtu f’ħajtek; hekk ukoll Lazzru, il-ħażin irċevieh f’ħajtu. Imma issa hu hawnhekk qiegħed jitfarraġ, waqt li inti qiegħed tbati. Barra minn dan, hemm vojt bla qies bejnkom u bejnna, biex min ikun irid jaqsam minn hawn għal għandkom ma jkunx jista’, u anqas ma jgħaddu minn hemm għal għandna”. Qallu l-għani: “Mela nitolbok, missier, ibagħtu f’dar missieri, għax għandi ħames aħwa, ħalli jagħmlilhom twissija kif imiss, li ma jmorrux huma wkoll jiġu f’dan il-post ta’ tbatijiet ħorox!”. Qallu Abraham: “Għandhom lil Mosè u l-Profeti; jisimgħu lilhom”. Qallu dak: “Le, missier Abraham, imma jekk imur għandhom xi ħadd mill-imwiet, jindmu”. Iżda wieġbu Abraham: “Jekk ma jisimgħux lil Mosè u l-Profeti, anqas jekk iqum xi ħadd mill-imwiet ma jemmnu”.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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THE CHOICE OF OUR ETERNITY IS OURS!

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

Introduction:

The main theme of this Sunday's readings is the warning that the selfish and extravagant use of God’s blessings, like wealth, without sharing them with the poor and the needy is a serious sin deserving eternal punishment. Today’s readings stress the Covenant responsibility of the rich for the poor, reminding us of the truth that wealth without active mercy for the poor is great wickedness. They also warn us against making money the goal of our existence.

Scripture lessons: 

The Prophet Amos, in the first reading, issues a powerful warning to those who seek wealth at the expense of the poor and who spend their time and their money on themselves alone. He prophesies that those rich and self-indulgent people will be punished by God with exile because they don’t care for their poor and suffering brothers. The Responsorial Psalm (Ps 146) praises Yahweh, who cares for the poor. In the second reading, Paul admonishes Timothy, and us, to pursue virtue (“righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness”);tocompete well for the faith; to lay hold of eternal life; and to keep the commandment of love, instead of seeking wealth. In today’s Gospel, Jesus gives us a warning, pointing to the destiny of the rich man who neglected his duty to show mercy to poor Lazarus. The rich man was punished, not for having riches, but for neglecting the Scriptures and what they taught on sharing his blessings with the poor.

Life messages: 

1) We are all rich enough to share our blessings with others. God has blessed each one of us with wealth or health or special talents or social power or political influence or a combination of many blessings. The parable invites us to share what we have been given with others in various ways instead of using everything exclusively for selfish gains.

2) We need to remember that sharing is the criterion of Last Judgment: Mattthew (25:31ff) tells us that all six questions to be asked of each one of us by Jesus when He comes in glory as our judge are based on how well or poorly we have shared the blessings we have received from Him (food, drink, home, mercy and compassion), with our brothers and sisters -- anyone in need -- for Jesus identifies himself with each of them.

3) We need to treat the unborn as our brother/sister Lazarus. In the 21st century our Lazarus is also our pre-born brother and sister. Many of these babies are brutally executed in their mother’s wombs. Their cries for a chance to live are rejected 4,400 times a day in our country. The rich man was condemned for not treating Lazarus as his brother. We also will be condemned for our selfishness if we do not treat the preborn as our brothers and sisters. 

4) Our choices here determine the kind of eternity we will have. It has been put this way: "Where we go hereafter depends on what we ‘go after,’ here!" Where we will arrive depends on what road we travel. We will get what we choose and what we live for. We are shaping our moral character to fit forever in one of two places.

//////////////////////////////////////     Fr Tony's Homilies © 2025.  /  https://frtonyshomilies.com  / 

"GOD WANTS EVERYONE TO BE SAVED"

Readings for Sunday, September 21, 2025 

Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary TimeLectionary: 135

Qari tal-Ħamsa u Għoxrin Ħadd taż-Żmien ta’ Matul is-Sena

Reading 1                Amos 8:4-7

Hear this, you who trample upon the needy  and destroy the poor of the land!  "When will the new moon be over," you ask,  "that we may sell our grain,  and the sabbath, that we may display the wheat?  We will diminish the ephah,  add to the shekel,  and fix our scales for cheating!  We will buy the lowly for silver,  and the poor for a pair of sandals;  even the refuse of the wheat we will sell!"  The LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob:  Never will I forget a thing they have done!

QARI 1                 mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta Għamos 8:4-7 

Il-Mulej qalli: “Isimgħu dan, intom li tikkalpestaw l-imsejken, intom li ttemmu l-foqra tal-pajjiż, u tgħidu: ‘Meta se jgħaddi l-qamar ġdid, ħa nbigħu l-qamħ? Meta se jgħaddi s-Sibt ħa nferrgħu x-xgħir, inċekknu l-efa, u nkabbru x-xekel, u nqarrqu b’miżien falz, nixtru bil-flus il-foqra, u b’żewġt iqrieq l-imsejken? Inbigħu sal-karfa tal-qamħ’”. Il-Mulej ħalef bil-foħrija ta’ Ġakobb: “Ma ninsa qatt xejn minn għemilhom!”.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Responsorial Psalm               Psalm 113:1-2, 4-6, 7-8

Praise, you servants of the LORD,

 praise the name of the LORD.
Blessed be the name of the LORD
 both now and forever.
R. Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor.

High above all nations is the LORD;
 above the heavens is his glory.
Who is like the LORD, our God, who is enthroned on high
 and looks upon the heavens and the earth below?
R. Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor.

He raises up the lowly from the dust;
 from the dunghill he lifts up the poor
to seat them with princes,
 with the princes of his own people.
R. Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor.

SALM RESPONSORJALI                  Salm 112(113):1-2,4-6,7-8

R/. (ara 1a u 7b): Faħħru lill-Mulej, li jerfa’ l-fqir.

Faħħru, qaddejja tal-Mulej,
faħħru isem il-Mulej.
Ikun isem il-Mulej imbierek,
minn issa u għal dejjem! R/.

Għoli fuq il-ġnus kollha l-Mulej,
ogħla mis-smewwiet hu sebħu.
Min hu bħall-Mulej, Alla tagħna,
li qiegħed fl-għoli,
u li jħares ’l isfel,
lejn is-smewwiet u lejn l-art? R/.

Hu li jqajjem mit-trab l-imsejken,
u jerfa’ mill-miżbla l-fqajjar,
biex mal-kbarat iqiegħdu,
mal-kbarat tal-poplu tiegħu. R/.

Reading 2                  1 Timothy 2:1-8

Beloved:   First of all, I ask that supplications, prayers,   petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity. This is good and pleasing to God our saviour, who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth. For there is one God. There is also one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as ransom for all. This was the testimony at the proper time. For this I was appointed preacher and apostle — I am speaking the truth, I am not lying —, teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. It is my wish, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument.

QARI 2                   mill-Ewwel Ittra ta’ San Pawl lil Timotju 2:1-8

Għażiż, nitolbok l-ewwel nett li jsiru suppliki, orazzjonijiet, talb u radd il-ħajr għall-bnedmin kollha; għas-slaten, għal dawk kollha li għandhom xi awtorità, biex inkunu nistgħu ngħaddu ħajja fil-kwiet u fis-sliem, fit-tjieba u kif jixraq. Dan hu tajjeb u jogħġob lil Alla s-Salvatur tagħna, li jrid li l-bnedmin kollha jsalvaw u jaslu biex jagħrfu l-verità.  Għax wieħed hu Alla, u wieħed hu l-medjatur bejn Alla u l-bniedem, il-Bniedem Kristu Ġesù, li ta lilu nnifsu bħala prezz tal-fidwa għal kulħadd; u x-xhieda ta’ dan ngħatat f’waqtha. Hu għal dan li jien kont magħmul xandâr u appostlu – qiegħed ngħid is-sewwa, m’iniex nigdeb – biex ngħallem lill-ġnus il-fidi u l-verità. Nixtieq li l-irġiel jitolbu kullimkien, jerfgħu ’l fuq idejn safja bla għadab u bla ġlied.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel                Luke 16:1-13

Jesus said to his disciples, "A rich man had a steward who was reported to him for squandering his property. He summoned him and said, 'What is this I hear about you? Prepare a full account of your stewardship, because you can no longer be my steward.' The steward said to himself, 'What shall I do, now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me? I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg. I know what I shall do so that, when I am removed from the stewardship, they may welcome me into their homes.' He called in his master's debtors one by one. To the first he said, 'How much do you owe my master?' He replied, 'One hundred measures of olive oil.' He said to him, 'Here is your promissory note. Sit down and quickly write one for fifty.' Then to another the steward said, 'And you, how much do you owe?' He replied, 'One hundred kors of wheat.' The steward said to him, 'Here is your promissory note; write one for eighty.' And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently. "For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones. If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth? If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours? No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon."

EVANĠELJU                  Qari skont San Luqa 16:1-13

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù qal lid-dixxipli tiegħu: “Kien hemm raġel għani li kellu amministratur, u lil dan xlewh lil sidu li kien qiegħed iberbaqlu ġidu. Għalhekk is-sid sejjaħlu u qallu: ‘Dan x’inhu li qiegħed nisma’ fuqek? Agħtini kont tal-amministrazzjoni tiegħek, għax ma tistax tibqa’ iżjed amministratur tiegħi’. L-amministratur bejnu u bejn ruħu qal: ‘Issa x’sejjer nagħmel, ladarba sidi se jneħħini mill-amministrazzjoni? Immur nagħżaq? Ma niflaħx. Nittallab? Nistħi. Naf x’nagħmel, ħalli meta nitwarrab minn fuq din l-amministrazzjoni, insib lil ħaddieħor li jilqagħni għandu’. U wieħed wieħed bagħat għal dawk li kellhom jagħtu lil sidu. ‘Kemm għandek tagħtih lil sidi?’, staqsa lill-ewwel wieħed. ‘Mitt barmil żejt’, wieġbu dak. Qallu l-amministratur: ‘Oħroġ il-karti tiegħek, oqgħod bilqiegħda malajr u ikteb ħamsin’. Lil ieħor staqsieh: ‘U int, kemm għandek tagħti?’. ‘Mitt xkora qamħ’, wieġbu. Qallu: ‘Oħroġ il-karti tiegħek u ikteb tmenin’.  U s-sid faħħru lil dak l-amministratur ħażin talli ħadem b’rasu. Għax ulied din id-dinja jimxu bil-għaqal aktar minn ulied id-dawl ma’ min hu tal-qatgħa tagħhom. U jiena ngħidilkom: agħmlu għalikom infuskom ħbieb ta’ qligħ il-ħżunija, ħalli meta jonqoskom, jilqgħukom fl-għerejjex ta’ dejjem.  Min hu fidil f’ħaġa tassew żgħira, hu fidil ukoll fil-ħafna; min hu diżonest f’ħaġa tassew żgħira, hu diżonest ukoll fil-ħafna. Jekk mela ma wrejtux ruħkom fidili fil-qligħ il-ħażin, min se jafdalkom il-ġid veru? U jekk ma wrejtux ruħkom fidili f’dak li hu ta’ ħaddieħor, min se jagħtikom dak li hu tagħkom? Ebda qaddej ma jista’ jaqdi żewġ sidien, għax jew ikun jobgħod lil wieħed minnhom u jħobb lill-ieħor, jew jintrabat ma’ wieħed u jistmell lill-ieħor. Ma tistgħux taqdu lil Alla u lill-flus”.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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GOD EXPECTS FAITHFUL STEWARDSHIP FROM US                                     

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

Introduction: 

Sunday’s readings remind us that we are God’s stewards, and that God expects faithful and prudent stewardship from us. They challenge us to use our God-given talents and blessings, like wealth, wisely to attain Heavenly bliss.

Scripture lessons summarized:  

In the first reading, Amos, the prophet of social justice, condemns the crooked business practices of the 8th century BC Jewish merchants of Judea and reminds the Israelites and us to be faithful to our Covenant with Yahweh, God of Justice. We need to practice justice and mercy to all, as God’s faithful stewards. Amos warns us also against setting making money at any cost as the goal of our life. 

Today’s Responsorial Psalm (Ps 113) reminds us that the All-seeing God protects and cares for the poor. In the second reading, St. Paul instructs the first century Judeo-Christians to become true stewards of the Gospel of Jesus, the only Mediator between God and man, by preaching the “Good News” to the pagans and by including them in intercessory prayers, too. Today’s Gospel story tells us about the crooked, but resourceful, estate manager and challenges us to use our blessings -- time, talents, health and wealth – wisely and justly so that they will serve us well in eternity. We use our earthly wealth wisely when we spend it for our own needs in moderation and when we love and help the needy around us, because these are the purposes for which God has entrusted His blessings to us.

Life messages: 

1) We need to be faithful in the little things of life: Let us remember Saint John Chrysostom’s warning, "Faithfulness in little things is a big thing," and the reminder of St. Theresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa, canonized September 4, 2016 by Pope Francis), “Do little things with great love.” Hence, let us not ignore doing little things, like acknowledging a favor with a sincere “thank you,” congratulating others for their success, sharing in their sorrows, and/or offering them help and support in their needs. 

2) We need to use our spiritual resources wisely. The manager in Jesus’ story used all his resources to secure his future. We must be no less resourceful. We have God’s gifts of the Real Presence of Jesus in the in the Church Tabernacle 24/7; the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass celebrated often -- even daily and weekly in places blessed with many priests; the Seven Sacraments as sources of Divine grace; the Holy Bible with the word of God for daily meditation and practice; and the teaching authority (Magisterium) of the Spirit-guided Church to direct us in our Christian life. We need to use these resources in such a way that it will be said of us, "And the master commended them because they acted so prudently."

3) We need to be prepared to give an account of our stewardship. We insure our houses against fire, storms, flood, and thieves, just as we insure our lives, buying life insurance, health insurance, and car insurance. In the same way, let us “insure” ourselves (with God, not Prudential!) for the one thing that most certainly will happen, namely, our meeting God to give Him an account of our lives. What really matters, at the time of our Private Judgment by God at the moment of our death, is how wisely we have used our blessings during our life, lovingly and generously sharing.  

//////////////////////////////////////     Fr Tony's Homilies © 2025.  /  https://frtonyshomilies.com  / 

"THE SON OF MAN MUST BE LIFTED UP FOR US..."

 Readings for Sunday, September 14, 2025 

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Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Lectionary: 638

Festa tal-Eżaltazzjoni tas-Salib Imqaddes

Reading 1                  Numbers 21:4b-9

With their patience worn out by the journey, the people complained against God and Moses, "Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in this desert, where there is no food or water? We are disgusted with this wretched food!"  In punishment the Lord sent among the people saraph serpents, which bit the people so that many of them died. Then the people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned in complaining against the LORD and you. Pray the Lord to take the serpents from us." So Moses prayed for the people, and the Lord said to Moses, "Make a saraph and mount it on a pole, and if any who have been bitten look at it, they will live." Moses accordingly made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole, and whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpent looked at the bronze serpent, he lived. 

QARI 1                   mill-Ktieb tan-Numri 21:4b-9

F’dak iż-żmien, x’ħin refgħu il-kamp u telqu minn ħdejn il-muntanja Ħor, l-Iżraelin għaddew mat-triq tal-Baħar tal-Qasab biex jeħduha bid-dawra mal-art ta’ Edom, imma l-poplu ddejjaq jimxi, u beda jgerger kontra Alla u kontra Mosè: «Għala tellajtuna mill-Eġittu biex immutu fid-deżert? M’hawnx ħobż u lanqas ilma; aħna xbajna b’dan l-ikel ħafif.»  U l-Mulej bagħat sriep velenużi f’nofs il-poplu u bdew jigdmuhom; u mietu ħafna mill-poplu ta’ Iżrael. U l-poplu mar għand Mosè, u qalulu: «Dnibna għax tkellimna kontra l-Mulej u kontra tiegħek. Itlob lill-Mulej ħa jwarrab is-sriep minn fostna.» U Mosè mar jitlob għall-poplu. U l-Mulej kellem lil Mosè u qallu: «Agħmel serp tal-bronż velenuż, u arbulah bħal stendard; u kull min jingidem u jħares lejh ifiq u jgħix.» U Mosè għamel serp tal-bronż, u arbulah bħal stendard. U ġara li kull min kien jigdmu s-serp kien iħares lejn is-serp tal-bronż, u kien ifiq u jgħix.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Responsorial Psalm                  Psalm 78:1bc-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38

Hearken, my people, to my teaching; 
incline your ears to the words of my mouth. 
I will open my mouth in a parable, 
I will utter mysteries from of old. 
R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!  

While he slew them they sought him and inquired after God again,
Remembering that God was their rock and the Most High God, their redeemer. 
R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!

But they flattered him with their mouths
and lied to him with their tongues,
Though their hearts were not steadfast toward him,
nor were they faithful to his covenant.
R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!

But he, being merciful, forgave their sin
and destroyed them not;
Often he turned back his anger
and let none of his wrath be roused.
R. Do not forget the works of the Lord!

SALM RESPONSORJALI                    Salm 77, 1-2, 34-38

R/. Tinsewx l-għemejjel kbar ta’ Alla.

Poplu tiegħi, agħtu widen għal-liġi tiegħi,
iftħu widnejkom għal kliem fommi.
Niftaħ fommi biex inxandar kliem l-għerf;
nitkellem fuq ħwejjeġ moħbija mill-qedem. R/.

Kienu jfittxuh meta kien jeqridhom,
kienu jindmu u jfittxu lill Alla bil-ħerqa;
kienu jiftakru li Alla l-blata tagħhom,
Alla l-Għoli l-feddej tagħhom. R/.

Imma kienu jqarrqu bih bi kliemhom,
kienu jigdbulu bi lsienhom.
Għax qalbhom ma kinitx sewwa miegħu,
ma kinux fidili mal-patt tiegħu. R/.

Iżda hu kien iħenn u jaħfrilhom il-ħtija,
ma kienx jasal biex jeqridhom;
ħafna drabi kien iżomm il-korla,
ma kienx jixgħel qilltu kollha. R/.

Reading 2                  Philippians 2:6-11

Brothers and sisters: Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.  Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

QARI 2                  mit-2 Ittra lil Filippin 2:6-11

Ġesù Kristu li kellu n-natura ta’ Alla, ma qagħadx ifittex tiegħu li hu daqs Alla, iżda xejjen lilu nnifsu billi ħa n-natura ta’ lsir; sar jixbah lill-bnedmin, u deher minn barra bħala bniedem; ċekken lilu nnifsu, billi obda sal-mewt, anzi sal-mewt tas-salib. Għalhekk Alla għollieh sas-smewwiet u żejnu bl-Isem li hu fuq kull isem, biex fl-isem ta’ Ġesù fis-sema, fl-art u f’qiegħ l-art – il-ħlejjaq kollha jinżlu għarrkubbtejhom, u kull ilsien jistqarr: «Ġesù Kristu hu l-Mulej, għall-glorja ta’ Alla l-Missier.» Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel                  John 3:13-17

Jesus said to Nicodemus: "No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life."  For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

EVANĠELJU                  Qari skont San Ġwann 3:13-17

F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù qal lil Nikodemu: «Ħadd ma tela’ s-sema ħlief Bin il-bniedem, li niżel mis-sema. U kif Mosè rafa’ s-serp fid-deżert, hekk jeħtieġ li jkun merfugħ Bin il-bniedem, biex kull min jemmen fih ikollu l-ħajja ta’ dejjem. Għax Alla hekk ħabb lid-dinja li ta lil Ibnu l-waħdieni, biex kull min jemmen fih ma jintilifx, iżda jkollu l-ħajja ta’ dejjem.» Għax Alla ma bagħatx lil Ibnu fid-dinja biex jagħmel ħaqq mid-dinja, imma biex id-dinja ssalva permezz tiegħu.»  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej 

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THE SYMBOL OF CHRIST'S SACRIFICIAL LOVE

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

Introduction: 

We celebrate this feast of the Exaltation of the Cross for two reasons: 

(1) to understand the history of the discovery and recovery of the True Cross and 

(2) to appreciate better the importance of the symbol and reality of Christ’s sacrificial love, namely, the cross in the daily life of every Christian.

History:

The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is one of twelve “Master feasts” celebrated in the Church to honour Jesus Christ, our Lord and Master. This feast is celebrated to memorialize the first installation of the remnants of the true cross of Jesus in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Mount Calvary, September 14, AD 335, and its reinstallation on September 14, AD 630. 

The original cross on which Jesus was crucified was excavated in AD 326 by a team led by St. Helena, the mother of the first Christian Roman Emperor, Constantine. The Emperor built the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Calvary, it was consecrated on September 14, AD 335, and the remains of the cross were installed in it by Archbishop Maccharios of Jerusalem. 

After three centuries, the Persians invaded Jerusalem, plundered it of all valuables and took with them the relic of the Holy Cross. In AD 630, Emperor Heraclius II defeated the Persians, recaptured the casket containing the holy relic, and reinstalled it in the rebuilt Church, which was destroyed by Muslims in 1009. The crusaders rebuilt it as the present Church of the Holy Sepulchre in 1149. The largest fragment of the holy cross is now kept in Santa Croce Church in Rome.

The cross immediately became an object of veneration. At a Good Friday celebration in Jerusalem toward the end of the fourth century, according to an eyewitness, the wood was taken out of its silver container and placed on a table together with the inscription Pilate ordered placed above Jesus' head: Then "all the people pass through, one by one; all of them bow down, touching the cross and the inscription, first with their foreheads, then with their eyes; and, after kissing the cross, they move on."

To this day, the Eastern Churches, Catholic and Orthodox alike, celebrate the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on the September anniversary of the basilica's dedication. The feast entered the Western calendar in the seventh century after Emperor Heraclius recovered the cross from the Persians, who had carried it off in 614, 15 years earlier. According to the story, the emperor intended to carry the cross back into Jerusalem himself, but was unable to move forward until he took off his imperial garb and became a barefoot pilgrim.

The Scripture readings summarized: 

The first reading next Sunday (Nm 21:4b—9) describes how God healed the complaining Israelites through the brazen serpent. The second reading (Phil 2:6-11) reminds us that Jesus, “… humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross,”  In today’s Gospel, answering the question raised by Nicodemus, Jesus cites the example of how, when the Israelites were in the desert, the impaled brazen serpent (representing the healing power of God), which God commanded Moses to raise, saved from death the serpent-bitten Israelites who looked at it (Nm 21:4-9). Then Jesus explains how He is going to save the world by dying on the cross.

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CARRYING OUR OWN CROSS

 Readings for Sunday, September 7, 2025 

Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 129

It-Tlieta u Għoxrin Ħadd taż-Żmien ta’ Matul is-Sena

Reading 1                  Wisdom 9:13-18b

 Who can know God’s counsel,  or who can conceive what the LORD intends?  For the deliberations of mortals are timid,  and unsure are our plans.  For the corruptible body burdens the soul  and the earthen shelter weighs down the mind that has many concerns.  And scarce do we guess the things on earth,  and what is within our grasp we find with difficulty;  but when things are in heaven, who can search them out?  Or who ever knew your counsel, except you had given wisdom  and sent your holy spirit from on high?  And thus were the paths of those on earth made straight.

QARI 1                  mill-Ktieb tal-Għerf 9:13-19

Min jista’ jagħraf ħsieb Alla? Min jista’ jifhem xi jrid il-Mulej? Beżżiegħa huma ħsibijiet il-bnedmin, u kull pjan tagħna mhu xejn fiż-żgur; għax ruħna mtaqqla b’ġisem li jitħassar, u għar-ruħ li taħseb hu piż it-tafal li fih tgħammar. Bilkemm nistgħu nintebħu x’hemm fuq l-art, u bit-tbatija nsibu dak li hu taħt għajnejna; mela min jista’ jitkixxef fuq il-ħwejjeġ tas-sema? Min qatt għaraf ir-rieda tiegħek, jekk int innifsek ma tajtux l-għerf, u ma bgħattx fuqu mill-għoli l-ispirtu qaddis tiegħek? Hekk saru dritti triqat in-nies tal-art, hekk tgħallmu l-bnedmin dak li jogħġob lilek, u salvaw bis-saħħa tal-għerf. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Responsorial Psalm                  Psalm 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 and 17

R. (1) In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

You turn man back to dust,
saying, “Return, O children of men.”
For a thousand years in your sight
 are as yesterday, now that it is past,
or as a watch of the night.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

You make an end of them in their sleep;
 the next morning they are like the changing grass,
Which at dawn springs up anew,
 but by evening wilts and fades.
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

Teach us to number our days aright,
 that we may gain wisdom of heart.
Return, O LORD! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

Fill us at daybreak with your kindness,
 that we may shout for joy and gladness all our days.
And may the gracious care of the LORD our God be ours;
 prosper the work of our hands for us!
Prosper the work of our hands!
R. In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.

SALM RESPONSORJALI                  Salm 89(90):3-4,5-6,12-13,14,17

R/.(1): Mulej, int kenn għalina.

Int traġġa’ l-bnedmin lejn it-trab,
u tgħidilhom: “Erġgħu lura, intom bnedmin!”.
Elf sena huma għalik bħall-jum tal-bieraħ li għadda,
jew bħal sahra tal-lejl. R/.

Int taħsadhom, u jsiru bħal ħolma.
Huma bħall-ħaxix li jinbet filgħodu;
filgħodu jwarrad u jħaddar,
filgħaxija jidbiel u jinxef. R/.

Għalhekk għallimna ngħoddu jiem ħajjitna,
sabiex aħna nimxu bil-għaqal.
Dur lejna, Mulej! Kemm se ddum?
Ħenn għall-qaddejja tiegħek. R/.

Imliena kmieni bit-tjieba tiegħek,
biex nifirħu u nithennew ħajjitna kollha.
Ħa tkun fuqna l-grazzja ta’ Alla Sidna!
Wettqilna inti x-xogħol ta’ jdejna,
wettaq, iva, xogħol idejna. R/.

Reading 2                 Philemon 9-10, 12-17

I, Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus, urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus, whose father I have become in my imprisonment; I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you. I should have liked to retain him for myself, so that he might serve me on your behalf in my imprisonment for the gospel, but I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that the good you do might not be forced but voluntary. Perhaps this is why he was away from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a brother, beloved especially to me, but even more so to you, as a man and in the Lord. So if you regard me as a partner, welcome him as you would me. 

QARI 2                  mill-Ittra ta’ San Pawl lil Filemon 9b-10,12-17

Għażiż, jiena, Pawlu, raġel xwejjaħ, u issa priġunier ta’ Kristu Ġesù, qiegħed nitolbok bil-ħerqa għal ibni, li jiena nissilt fil-ktajjen, għal Oneżimu. Xtaqt kieku żammejtu miegħi, biex, kif jien fil-ħabs għall-Evanġelju, idur bija minflokok hu. Iżda ma ridt nagħmel xejn mingħajr ma nara x’jidhirlek int, biex l-opra tajba tiegħek ma tkunx għamiltha bilfors, imma tkun ħierġa mill-qalb. Għandu mnejn li għalhekk hu telaq minn miegħek għal ftit, biex inti terġa’ tiksbu lura għal dejjem, mhux iktar bħala lsir, imma xi ħaġa iktar minn ilsir, bħala ħuk għażiż; għażiż fuq kollox għalija, imma kemm iktar għalik, skont id-dinja u skont il-Mulej. Int mela, jekk inti qalb waħda miegħi, ilqgħu bħallikieku kont jien! Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel                 Luke 14:25-33]

Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them, “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say, ‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’ Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. In the same way, anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.” 

EVANĠELJU                  Qari skont San Luqa 14:25-33

F’dak iż-żmien, kotra kbira ta’ nies kienet miexja ma’ Ġesù. Hu dar lejhom u qalilhom: “Min jiġi għandi ma jistax ikun dixxiplu tiegħi jekk ma jobgħodx lil missieru u ’l ommu u lil martu u lil uliedu, ’il ħutu subien u bniet, u saħansitra lilu nnifsu. Min ma jerfax salibu u jimxi warajja ma jistax ikun dixxiplu tiegħi. Għax min minnkom ikun irid jibni torri u ma joqgħodx bilqiegħda biex l-ewwel nett iqis in-nefqa, ħalli jara għandux biżżejjed biex iwassal sal-aħħar? Għax jekk jiġrilu li jqiegħed is-sisien biex imbagħad ma jkunx jista’ jtemm il-bini, kull min jarah jibda jwaqqgħu għaċ-ċajt u jgħid: ‘Dan il-bniedem beda jibni u ma kellux il-ħila jkompli sal-aħħar’. Jew liema sultan, li jkun sejjer jagħmel gwerra kontra sultan ieħor, ma joqgħodx l-ewwel bilqiegħda biex jara jekk jistax b’għaxart elef raġel iħabbatha ma’ min ġej għalih b’għoxrin elf ruħ? Għax inkella, meta l-ieħor ikun għadu ’l bogħod, ikollu jibgħatlu ambaxxata biex jitolbu l-ftehim għall-paċi. Hekk ukoll ħadd ma jista’ jkun dixxiplu tiegħi jekk ma jitlaqx ġidu kollu”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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LIVING OUT OUR BAPTISMAL COMMITMENT

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

Central theme: 

Next Sunday's readings challenge us to live out our Baptismal commitment to the true Christian discipleship of total commitment to the will of God, putting God first in our lives.

Scripture lessons summarized: 

The first reading, taken from the Book of Wisdom, instructs us to ask for the gifts of discernment and strength from the Holy Spirit so that we may do the will of God as His true disciples. The Responsorial Psalm (Ps 90), instructs true disciples to lead holy lives by remaining constantly aware of the brevity and uncertainty of life. The second reading, taken from St. Paul’s letter to Philemon, teaches us that detachment and renunciation are necessary for a true disciple of Christ. As a responsible Apostle and zealous disciple of Christ, Paul had to renounce the service of his new helper, Onesimus, and return him to his master. As a new disciple of Christ, Onesimus had to leave Paul, face his owner as a runaway slave, and accept the consequences. 

Today’s Gospel reminds us to count the cost of being a disciple and follower of Christ because the cost is high: true Christian discipleship requires one to "renounce" both earthly possessions and possessions of the heart (i.e., one's relationships). In today’s Gospel, Jesus lays out four conditions for true Christian discipleship. 

>> 1) Renounce too much attachment to family, giving priority to God and His commandments. 

>> 2) Break off the excessive attachment to possessions by leading a detached life, willingly sharing one’s blessings with others.

>> 3) Be ready to carry the cross and follow Jesus by 

  a) gracefully accepting and lovingly offering our pains and suffering with Jesus on the cross for the salvation of all of us 

  b) sharing our blessings sacrificially with others 

  c) accepting the pain involved in controlling our evil habits and tendencies and 

  d) by welcoming as God’ gift to us of the pain and humiliation we suffer in professing our faith in public and in practicing it in daily life, standing with Jesus, his ideas and ideals.

>> 4) Calculate the cost involved in following Jesus. Using the two parables of the tower-builder and the king defending his country, Jesus says we must think long and hard about Christian discipleship before we commit ourselves to Jesus in this full, life-long surrender of body and soul to Him Who loves us,

Life messages: 

We need to accept the challenge of Christian discipleship with heroic commitment and practice it. We do so: 

    1) by daily recharging our spiritual batteries through prayer, i.e., by talking to God, and by listening to Him through our meditative reading and study of the Bible; 

    2) by sharing in God’s life through frequent and active participation in the Eucharistic celebration, and grateful use of the gift of the Sacrament of Reconciliation when we have sinned and turned away from Him 

    3) by practicing the spirit of detachment and the renunciation of evil habits; 

    4) by the generous giving our time, talents and resources for the Lord’s work in the Church universal, and especially in our parish community, relying on the guidance of the Holy Spirit, 

    5) by loving all God’s children, especially the less fortunate ones, through humble, selfless acts of kindness, mercy, forgiveness, and service; 

    6) by showing true commitment to the obligations and duties entrusted to us by our vocation in life and our profession, for example, by fidelity in marriage and firm adherence to justice in our living and profession.

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