Aiming for a renewal of our spiritual life

 Readings for Sunday, Febuary 28, 2021 - Year/Sena B

Second Sunday of Lent

Lectionary: 26

It-Tieni Ħadd tar-Randan

 

Reading 1        GENESIS 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18
God put Abraham to the test. He called to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am!” he replied. Then God said: “Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. There you shall offer him up as a holocaust  on a height that I will point out to you.” When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. Then he reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the LORD’s messenger called to him from heaven,  “Abraham, Abraham!” “Here I am!” he answered. “Do not lay your hand on the boy,” said the messenger. “Do not do the least thing to him. I know now how devoted you are to God, since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son.” As Abraham looked about,  he spied a ram caught by its horns in the thicket. So he went and took the ram and offered it up as a holocaust in place of his son. Again the LORD’s messenger called to Abraham from heaven and said: “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you acted as you did in not withholding from me your beloved son, I will bless you abundantly and make your descendants as countless as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore; your descendants shall take possession of the gates of their enemies, and in your descendants all the nations of the earth shall find blessing— all this because you obeyed my command.”

QARI 1        mill-Ktieb tal-Ġenesi  22:1-2,9a,10-13,15-18
F’dak iż-żmien, Alla ried iġarrab lil Abraham u qallu: “Abraham!”. U hu wieġbu: “Hawn jien!”. U qallu: “Aqbad lil ibnek il-waħdieni, li inti tħobb, lil Iżakk; u mur lejn l-art ta’ Morija, u hemm offrih b’sagrifiċċju tal-ħruq fuq waħda mill-għoljiet li jien se ngħidlek”. U waslu fil-post li kien semmielu Alla. U Abraham medd idu u qabad is-sikkina biex joqtol lil ibnu. U sejjaħlu l-anġlu tal-Mulej mis-smewwiet u qallu: “Abraham, Abraham!”. U dan wieġbu: “Hawn jien”. U qallu: “La tmiddx idek fuq iż-żagħżugħ u tagħmillu ebda ħsara; għax issa naf li inti tibża’ minn Alla, u ma ċaħħadtnix minn ibnek il-waħdieni”. U Abraham rafa’ għajnejh, ta ħarsa madwaru, u ra muntun warajh maqbud minn qrunu fil-friegħi. U Abraham mar u qabad il-muntun, u offrieh b’sagrifiċċju tal-ħruq minflok ibnu. U għat-tieni darba l-anġlu tal-Mulej sejjaħ lil Abraham mis-smewwiet u qallu: “Naħlef fuq ruħi – oraklu tal-Mulej – ladarba int għamilt ħaġa bħal din, u ma ċaħħadtnix minn ibnek il-waħdieni, jien inbierkek żgur u nkattarlek sewwa lil nislek bħall-kwiekeb tas-sema u bħar-ramel f’xatt il-baħar; u nislek għad jiret bwieb l-għedewwa tiegħu. U jitbierku b’nislek il-ġnus kollha tal-art talli smajt minn kelmti”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Responsorial Psalm        PSALM  116:10, 15, 16-17, 18-19
I believed, even when I said,
    “I am greatly afflicted.”
Precious in the eyes of the LORD
    is the death of his faithful ones.
R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.

O LORD, I am your servant;
    I am your servant, the son of your handmaid;
    you have loosed my bonds.
To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving,
    and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.

My vows to the LORD I will pay
    in the presence of all his people,
In the courts of the house of the LORD,
    in your midst, O Jerusalem.
R. I will walk before the Lord, in the land of the living.

SALM RESPONSORJALI        Salm 115(116):10,15-19
R/. (9): Jien nimxi quddiem il-Mulej f’art il-ħajjin.

Bqajt nemmen, imqar meta għedt:
“Jien imdejjaq ħafna!”.
Għażiża f’għajnejn il-Mulej
hi l-mewt tal-ħbieb tiegħu. R/.

Iva, Mulej, jien qaddej tiegħek,
jien qaddej tiegħek, bin il-qaddejja tiegħek.
Int ħallejtli l-irbit tiegħi.
Lilek noffri sagrifiċċju ta’ radd il-ħajr,
u isem il-Mulej insejjaħ. R/.

Intemm lill-Mulej il-wegħdiet tiegħi,
quddiem il-poplu tiegħu kollu,
fil-btieħi ta’ dar il-Mulej,
ġo nofsok, Ġerusalemm! R/.

Reading 2        ROMANS 8:31b-34
Brothers and sisters: If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son  but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him? Who will bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who acquits us, who will condemn? Christ Jesus it is who died—or, rather, was raised— who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.

QARI 2        mill-Ittra ta’ San Pawl lir-Rumani 8:31b-34
Ħuti, jekk Alla hu magħna min jista’ jkun kontra tagħna? Hu, li lanqas lil Ibnu stess ma ħafirha, imma tah għalina lkoll, kif ma jagħtiniex ukoll kollox miegħu? Min se jakkuża l-magħżulin ta’ Alla? Alla stess hu dak li jiġġustifikahom. Min se jikkundannahom? Kristu Ġesù li miet, jew aħjar, li qam mill-imwiet, jinsab fuq il-lemin ta’ Alla, hu li jidħol għalina. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel        MARK 9:2-10
Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son.  Listen to him.” Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them. As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant.

EVANĠELJU        Qari skont San Mark 9:2-10
F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù ħa miegħu lil Pietru u lil Ġakbu u lil Ġwanni, tellagħhom weħidhom fuq muntanja għolja, u tbiddel quddiemhom.  Ilbiesu sar abjad u jgħammex b’dija tal-għaġeb: ebda ħassiel fid-dinja ma jista’ jġib il-ħwejjeġ bojod daqshekk. U dehrilhom Elija ma’ Mosè, jitkellmu ma’ Ġesù. Qabad Pietru u qal lil Ġesù: “Mgħallem, kemm hu sew li aħna hawn! Ħa ntellgħu tliet tined, waħda għalik, waħda għal Mosè, u waħda għal Elija”. Dan qalu għax ma kienx jaf x’jaqbad jgħid bil-biża’ kbir li waqa’ fuqhom. Imbagħad ġiet sħaba u għattiethom, u minn ġos-sħaba nstama’ leħen jgħid: “Dan hu Ibni l-għażiż, isimgħu lilu”. Minnufih taw ħarsa madwarhom, u ma raw lil ħadd iżjed magħhom ħlief lil Ġesù waħdu. Huma u neżlin minn fuq il-muntanja, tahom ordni biex ma jitkellmu ma’ ħadd fuq li kienu raw qabel ma Bin il-bniedem ikun qam mill-imwiet. Huma żammew kollox moħbi, iżda bdew jistaqsu lil xulxin x’kien ifisser tqum mill-imwiet. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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Eight-minute  

Gospel reflection 

by Fr Antony Kadavil 

  

//  LENT 2  

Our Transformation

Introduction: 

The common theme of today’s readings is challenge for metamorphosis or transformation, especially during this Lent season. How? We have to transform our dull and sleepy spiritual life into dynamic Christian life during Lent. How? By cooperating with the grace of God or the strengthening of the Holy Spirit by prayer, fasting and sharing our blessings. Result expected? A renewal of our spiritual life during Lent by our Spirit-filled lives radiating Christ’s love and mercy around us.

Scripture lessons: 

The first reading explains how his trusting faith in his God’s mercy and power and his blind obedience to his God’s order to sacrifice his only son of his old age, transformed the life of Abraham, making him the supreme model of Faith. Second reading: God showed His love for us by allowing the transformation of the glorious preaching and healing ministry of His Son to a tragic end, proving that God’s love has no limits. 

Sunday’s Responsorial Psalm (Ps 116) speaks of God’s distress at the death of anyone. “Too costly in the eyes of the LORD is the death of His faithful.” In the Transfiguration story in today’s Gospel, Jesus is revealed in His Heavenly glory, superior to Moses and Elijah. The primary purpose of Jesus’ Transfiguration was to allow him to consult his Heavenly Father and ascertain His plan for His Son’s suffering, death and Resurrection.  

God’s secondary aim was to make Jesus’ chosen disciples aware of Jesus’ Divine glory, so that they might discard their worldly ambitions and dreams of a conquering political Messiah and might be strengthened in their time of trial. 

A third aim was to give Jesus the conviction that he will be the Son of God his loving Father even during his suffering and death. Finally, by describing the theophany of Jesus’ Transfiguration, the Gospel gives us a glimpse of the Heavenly glory awaiting those who do God’s will by putting their trusting Faith in Him.

Life messages:

 (1) Every sacrament we receive transforms our lives: for example, Baptism transforms us into children of God and heirs of heaven. Confirmation transforms us to brave witnesses of and warriors for Christ. Reconciliation transforms sinners to saints. 

(2) The “transfiguration” in the Holy Mass is the source of our strength: In each Holy Mass, the bread and wine we offer on the altar are transformed into the crucified and risen, living body and blood of Jesus by transubstantiation. Just as Jesus’ transfiguration strengthened the apostles in their time of trial, each holy Mass should be our source of Heavenly strength against temptations, and our renewal during Lent. In addition, our Holy Communion with the living Jesus should be the source of our daily “transfiguration,” transforming our minds and hearts so that we may do more good, by humble and selfless service to others. 

(3) Christ’s transfiguration gives us the message of encouragement and hope: In moments of doubt and during our dark moments of despair and hopelessness, pains and suffering, the thought of our future transformation in Heaven will help us to reach out to God and to listen to His consoling words: “This is my beloved son.” 

Let us offer our Lenten sacrifices to our Lord so that, through these practices of Lent and through the acceptance of our daily crosses, we may grow closer to him in his suffering, may share in the carrying of his cross and finally may share the glory of his second “transfiguration,” namely, his Resurrection.

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 Readings for Sunday, Febuary 21, 2021 - Year/Sena B

First Sunday of Lent
Lectionary: 23

L-Ewwel Ħadd tar-Randan

Reading I       GENESIS 9:8-15
God said to Noah and to his sons with him: “See, I am now establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you and with every living creature that was with you: all the birds, and the various tame and wild animals that were with you and came out of the ark. I will establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all bodily creatures be destroyed by the waters of a flood; there shall not be another flood to devastate the earth.” God added: “This is the sign that I am giving for all ages to come, of the covenant between me and you and every living creature with you: I set my bow in the clouds to serve as a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth, and the bow appears in the clouds, I will recall the covenant I have made between me and you and all living beings, so that the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all mortal beings.”
 
QARI I       mill-Ktieb tal-Ġenesi 9:8-15
Alla kellem lil Noè u lil uliedu miegħu u qalilhom: “Arawni, hawn jien se nagħmel il-patt tiegħi magħkom u ma’ nisilkom warajkom; ma’ kull ħliqa ħajja li hemm magħkom, mat-tjur u mal-bhejjem, ma’ kull bhima selvaġġa li hemm magħkom, u mal-bhejjem kollha li ħarġu magħkom mill-arka. Jien nagħmel il-patt tiegħi magħkom, li qatt iżjed ma jinqered, ebda laħam ħaj, bl-ilmijiet tad-dulluvju; u qatt iżjed ma jkun hemm dulluvju biex iħarbat l-art”. U żied jgħid Alla: “Dan ikun is-sinjal tal-patt li jien qiegħed nagħmel bejni u bejnkom, u bejn kull ħliqa ħajja li hemm magħkom, għall-ġenerazzjonijiet kollha għal dejjem. Inqiegħed il-qaws tiegħi fis-sħab, u jkun sinjal tal-patt bejni u bejn l-art. Meta niġma’ s-sħab fuq l-art u tfeġġ il-qawsalla fis-sħab, jien niftakar fil-patt bejni u bejnkom u bejn kull ruħ ħajja f’kull laħam; u ma jkunx hemm iżjed l-ilma tad-dilluvju biex jeqred kull laħam ħaj”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

RESPONSORIAL  PSALM      PSALMs 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R. (cf. 10) Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant.
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.
R. Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant.

Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
    and your love are from of old.
In your kindness remember me,
    because of your goodness, O LORD.
R. Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant.

Good and upright is the LORD,
    thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
    and he teaches the humble his way.
R. Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant.
 

SALM RESPONSORJALI        SALM 24(25):4-5ab,6-7bċ,8-9
R/. (10): Il-mogħdijiet tal-Mulej kollhom tjieba u fedeltà.
Triqatek, Mulej, għarrafni,
il-mogħdijiet tiegħek għallimni.
Mexxini fis-sewwa tiegħek u għallimni,
għax int Alla tas-salvazzjoni tiegħi. R/.

Ftakar fil-ħniena u t-tjieba tiegħek,
għax huma minn dejjem, Mulej.
Inti tajjeb, Mulej;
ftakar fija skont it-tjieba tiegħek. R/.

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

Reading II       1 PETER  3:18-22
Beloved: Christ suffered for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that he might lead you to God. Put to death in the flesh, he was brought to life in the Spirit. In it he also went to preach to the spirits in prison, who had once been disobedient while God patiently waited in the days of Noah during the building of the ark, in which a few persons, eight in all, were saved through water. This prefigured baptism, which saves you now. It is not a removal of dirt from the body but an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.

QARI II       mill-Ewwel Ittra ta’ San Pietru 3:18-22
Għeżież, Kristu wkoll miet darba għal dejjem minħabba d-dnubiet; hu li kien ġust, miet għall-inġusti biex iressaqkom lejn Alla; kien mogħti l-mewt fil-ġisem, imma ħa l-ħajja fl-ispirtu, li bih mar ixandar is-salvazzjoni lill-erwieħ li kienu magħluqa fil-ħabs. Dawn kienu l-erwieħ ta’ dawk li darba ma ridux jisimgħu, meta Alla qagħad jistenna bis-sabar fiż-żmien li Noè kien jibni l-arka. Ftit, jiġifieri tmienja biss, salvaw bis-saħħa tal-ilma. Dan l-ilma huwa tixbiha tal-magħmudija, li issa ssalva lilkom ukoll. Mhux għax tnaddaf il-ħmieġ tal-ġisem, imma għax hi talba lil Alla ħierġa minn kuxjenza safja bis-saħħa tal-qawmien ta’ Ġesù Kristu, li tela’ s-sema u qiegħed fuq il-lemin ta’ Alla u għandu taħtu s-Setgħat u l-Qawwiet tal-anġli. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel        MARK 1:12-15
The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him. After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

EVANĠELJU         Qari skond San Mark 1:12-15
F’dak iż-żmien, l-Ispirtu ħareġ lil Ġesù fid-deżert. U baqa’ fid-deżert erbgħin jum, jiġġarrab mix-Xitan. Kien jgħix mal-bhejjem selvaġġi, u kienu jaqduh l-anġli. Wara li arrestaw lil Ġwanni, Ġesù mar il-Galilija jxandar l-Evanġelju ta’ Alla u jgħid: “Iż-żmien huwa mitmum, u s-Saltna ta’ Alla waslet; indmu u emmnu fl-Evanġelju”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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 Eight-minute  Gospel reflection by Fr Antony Kadavil   

 
METANOIA - 

 True Repentence


Introduction: 

The primary purpose of Lent is to prepare us for the celebration of Jesus’ death and Resurrection. The Church tries to achieve this goal by leading her children to metanoia or true “repentance,” by reordering their priorities, and the changing of their values, ideals, and ambitions through fasting, prayer, almsgiving, and self-control. Since by Baptism we share the death and Resurrection of Jesus, today’s readings refer to Baptism directly or indirectly.

The Scripture lessons:
The first reading tells us how man irrevocably broke the original covenant God had made with Adam and Eve, and how the merciful God selected Noah and his family to renew the covenant. Noah’s rescue from the flood symbolizes how we are saved through the water of Baptism which cleanses us of sin and makes us one with Christ.
Today’s Responsorial Psalm (Ps 25) is an exquisite penitential prayer, humbly acknowledging human insufficiency and our radical dependence upon God, His mercy and His forgiveness. The psalmist lists some of God’s Own characteristics that will shape the life of the forgiven penitent: truth, compassion, love, kindness, goodness, uprightness, humility, and justice.  

In the second reading, St. Peter shows us how Noah’s episode prefigured Baptism. He reminds us that, as Noah and his family were saved from the waters of the deluge, so we are saved through the waters of Baptism. Baptism is an outward sign of the New Covenant that God has made with His people. It makes us adopted children of God, heirs of Heaven, and temples of the Holy Spirit. 

In the Gospel, we are told that Jesus faced and defeated the tempter by his forty days of prayer and penance in the desert immediately following his baptism. It also tells us how Jesus started preaching his Messianic mission: “The time is fulfilled. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent. Believe in the Gospel.”

Life messages:

1) Let us conquer our temptations as Jesus did, using the methods Jesus employed. Jesus conquered his tempter, the devil by prayer, penance, and timely use of the word of God. Hence, during this Lent, let us confront our evil tendencies by talking to God, by listening to Him speaking to us though the Holy Bible, and by practicing self-control to subdue our evil tendencies. 

2) Let us convert Lent into a time for spiritual growth and Christian maturity by: a) participating in the Mass each day, or at least a few days in the week; b) setting aside some part of our day for personal prayer; c) reading some Scripture, alone or, better still, with others. d) setting aside some money we might spend on ourselves for meals, entertainment, or clothes and giving it to an organization which takes care of the less fortunate in our society; e) abstaining from smoking, alcohol, and other evil addictions; f) receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation in Lent and participating in the “Stations of the Cross” on Fridays; g) visiting the sick and those in nursing homes and doing some acts of charity, kindness, and mercy every day in the Lent. 

 

3) Let us use Lent to fight daily against the evil within us and around us by practicing self-control, relying on the power of prayer, and seeking the assistance and anointing of the Holy Spirit.

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BECOMING PURE AND HOLY

Readings for Sunday, February 14, 2021

                               Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time 

Lectionary: 77

Is-Sitt Ħadd taż-Żmien ta’ Matul is-Sena

Reading I        LEVITICUS 13:1-2, 44-46
The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “If someone has on his skin a scab or pustule or blotch which appears to be the sore of leprosy, he shall be brought to Aaron, the priest, or to one of the priests among his descendants. If the man is leprous and unclean, the priest shall declare him unclean by reason of the sore on his head. “The one who bears the sore of leprosy shall keep his garments rent and his head bare, and shall muffle his beard; he shall cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean!’ As long as the sore is on him he shall declare himself unclean, since he is in fact unclean. He shall dwell apart, making his abode outside the camp.”

QARI I       LEVITIKU 13, 1-2.45-46
Il-Mulej kellem lil Mosè u lil Aron u qalilhom: “Meta xi ħadd ikollu fil-ġilda xi qxur jew xi bużżieqa, jew xi tebgħa bajda, qisha ġerħa tal-ġdiem, jeħduh għand Aron il-qassis, jew għand xi ħadd minn uliedu l-qassisin. Il-marid bil-ġdiem għandu jilbes ħwejjeġ imqattgħa u jħalli rasu mikxufa, u jitgħatta sa geddumu, u jgħajjat: ‘Imniġġes! Imniġġes!’. Kemm idum marid ikun miżmum b’imniġġes li hu, u jgħix waħdu f’postu barra mill-kamp”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Responsorial Psalm       PSALM 32:1-2, 5, 11
Blessed is he whose fault is taken away,
    whose sin is covered.
Blessed the man to whom the LORD imputes not guilt,
    in whose spirit there is no guile.
R. I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.

Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
    my guilt I covered not.
I said, “I confess my faults to the LORD,”
    and you took away the guilt of my sin.
R. I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.

Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you just;
    exult, all you upright of heart.
R. I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation.

SALM RESPONSORJALI      Salm 31 (32), 1-2.5.11
R/. (7): Int kenn għalija, iddawwarni u tferraħni bil-ħelsien tiegħek
Hieni l-bniedem li ħtijietu maħfura,
li għandu d-dnub tiegħu mistur!
Hieni l-bniedem li ebda ħażen ma jgħoddlu l-Mulej,
u ma għandu ebda qerq f’qalbu! R/.

Id-dnub tiegħi jien stqarrejtlek,
u l-ħażen tiegħi ma ħbejtulekx.
Jien għedt: “Quddiem il-Mulej nistqarr ħtijieti”.
U int ħfirtli l-ħażen tad-dnub tiegħi. R/.

Ifirħu, twajbin, u thennew fil-Mulej;
għajtu bil-ferħ, intom ilkoll ta’ qalbkom safja. R/.

Reading II       1 CORINTHIANS 10:31—11:1
Brothers and sisters, Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.  Avoid giving offense, whether to the Jews or Greeks or  the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in every way, not seeking my own benefit but that of the many, that they may be saved. Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

QARI II       mill-Ewwel Ittra lill-Korintin 10, 3-11,1
Ħuti, sew jekk tieklu, sew jekk tixorbu, tagħmlu x’tagħmlu, agħmlu kollox għall-glorja ta’ Alla. Tkunux ta’ tfixkil, la għal-Lhud, la għall-Griegi, u lanqas għall-Knisja ta’ Alla. Hekk jiena nogħġob lil kulħadd f’kollox, bla ma nfittex l-interessi tiegħi, imma tal-ħafna biex isalvaw. Ixbhu lili, bħalma jien nixbah lil Kristu. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Gospel        MARK 1:40-45
A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once.  He said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.

EVANĠELJU      Qari San Mark 1, 40-45
F’dak iż-żmien, resaq fuq Ġesù wieħed lebbruż jitolbu bil-ħerqa, inxteħet għarkupptejh quddiemu u qallu: “Jekk trid, tista’ tfejjaqni!”. Imqanqal mill-ħniena, Ġesù medd idu fuqu, messu u qallu: “Irrid, kun imnaddaf!”. U minnufih il-lebbra marritlu u ġismu ndaf. U widdbu bis-sħiħ, bagħtu malajr u qallu: “Qis li ma tgħid xejn lil ħadd; iżda mur uri ruħek lill-qassis, u agħmel offerta għall-fejqan tiegħek kif ordna Mosè, biex tkunilhom ta’ xhieda”. Iżda dak, meta telaq, beda jxandar ma’ kullimkien u jxerred l-aħbar, hekk li Ġesù f’ebda belt ma sata’ iżjed jidħol bid-dieher, imma kien jibqa’ barra fil-kampanja u kienu jmorru ħdejh nies minn kullimkien. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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Eight-minute Gospel reflection by Fr Antony Kadavil 

BECOMING PURE AND HOLY

Introduction:
All three readings today teach us that we are called to become pure and holy. But we don’t become holy by some ritual observances. We become holy by confessing our sins to God and offering our lives for God’s glory and by sharing God’s love with everyone around us without discriminating against anyone based on color, race, culture, religion, lifestyle, wealth, or social status.

Scripture lessons summarized:
The word Vayikra (the Hebrew name of the Book of Leviticus) means that God called Moses and His chosen people to holiness and purity.  That is why the first reading teaches the theme of freedom from bodily and ritual impurity as a sign of internal holiness. This freedom is symbolized by the precautions against contracting leprosy given in the first reading and by the healing of the leper described in the Gospel. 

The first reading shows the ancient Jewish attitude toward leprosy and gives the rules for the segregation of lepers.  This provides a background for Jesus’ healing of a leper.  In Sunday’s Responsorial Psalm (Ps 32), the psalmist says:  “I confessed my faults to the LORD, and You took away my guilt.” He teaches us that we become holy by confessing our sins and being reconciled with God every day. The psalm serves as a mini treatise on reconciliation, covering the meaning of the spiritual leprosy of sin and showing how we are forgiven by a Sacramental encounter with God: “I turn to You, Lord, in times of trouble, and You fill me with the joy of salvation.”  

In today’s second reading, St. Paul exhorts us to become holy by doing “everything for the glory of God” and by showing sensitivity toward others who are different from us, rather than passing judgment on them.  In today’s Gospel we find a description of how Jesus heals a leper, liberating him both from the disease of leprosy and from the unjust, inhuman social, ritual, and religious isolation and ostracism to which lepers were subjected.

Life messages:
1) We need to trust in the mercy of a forgiving God who assures us that our sins are forgiven and that we are clean.  We are forgiven and made spiritually clean from the spiritual leprosy of sins when we repent of our sins, because God is a God of love Who waits patiently for us.  The only condition required of us is that we ask for forgiveness with a repentant heart.  We are sure to hear His words of absolution, “Very well — your sins are forgiven, and you are clean,” echoed in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.   

2) We need to tear down the walls that separate us from others and build bridges of loving relationship. Jesus calls every one of us to demolish the walls that separate us from each other and to welcome the outcasts and the untouchables of society.   These include homosexuals, the imprisoned, AIDS victims, alcoholics, drug addicts and marginalized groups – the divorced, the unmarried-single mothers, migrant workers, and the mentally ill. God’s loving hand must reach out to them through us.   Jesus wants us to touch their lives.   

Let us re-examine the barriers we have created and approach God with a heart that is ready to welcome the outcasts in our society.

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           Readings for Sunday, February 7, 2021

              Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time 

                 Lectionary: 74

               Il-Ħames Ħadd taż-Żmien ta’ Matul is-Sena

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READING 1            JOB 7:1-4, 6-7
Job spoke, saying: Is not man’s life on earth a drudgery? Are not his days those of hirelings? He is a slave who longs for the shade, a hireling who waits for his wages. So I have been assigned months of misery, and troubled nights have been allotted to me. If in bed I say, “When shall I arise?” then the night drags on;     I am filled with restlessness until the dawn. My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle;     they come to an end without hope. Remember that my life is like the wind;     I shall not see happiness again.

QARI I        Qari mill-Ktieb ta’ Ġob 7, 1-4.6-7
Ġob tkellem u qal: “Ħajjet il-bniedem mhix forsi xogħol bilfors fuq l-art? U għomru mhux bħal jiem il-ħaddiem mikri? Bħalma lsir jixxennaq għad-dell, u bħalma l-mikri jistenna l-ħlas, hekk xhur fiergħa kienu sehmi, u ljieli dwejjaq messew lili. Jekk nimtedd, ngħid: ‘Meta se nqum?’ u meta nqum, ngħid: ‘Meta se jidlam?’. u hekk nixba’ nhewden sa ma jidlam. Eħfef minn mekkuk għaddew jiemi, u bla tama ntemmu. Ftakar li ħajti buffura riħ, u għajnejja ma jerġgħux jaraw ir-riżq”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

RESP[ONSORIAL PSALM        PSALM 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
Praise the LORD, for he is good;
    sing praise to our God, for he is gracious;
    it is fitting to praise him.
The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem;
    the dispersed of Israel he gathers.
R. Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted.

He heals the brokenhearted
    and binds up their wounds.
He tells the number of the stars;
    he calls each by name.
R. Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted.

Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
    to his wisdom there is no limit.
The LORD sustains the lowly;
    the wicked he casts to the ground.
R. Praise the Lord, who heals the brokenhearted.

SALM RESPONSORJALI        Salm 146 (147), 1-2.3-4.5-6
R/. (ara 3a): Faħħru l-Mulej, li jfejjaq il-qlub maqsuma

Faħħru l-Mulej, għax tajjeb li tgħanni lil Alla tagħna;
għax ħelu u xieraq it-tifħir tiegħu.
Jibni ’l Ġerusalemm il-Mulej,
jiġma’ l-imxerrdin ta’ Iżrael. R/.

Hu jfejjaq il-qlub maqsuma,
hu jorbot il-ġrieħi tagħhom.
Hu jgħodd in-numru tal-kwiekeb;
kollha jsejħilhom b’isimhom. R/.

Kbir Sidna l-Mulej, u ta’ qawwa kbira;
bla tarf id-dehen tiegħu.
Jerfa’ l-imsejknin il-Mulej,
u jniżżel sal-art il-ħżiena. R/.

READING 2          1 CORINTHIANS 9:16-19, 22-23
Brothers and sisters: If I preach the gospel, this is no reason for me to boast, for an obligation has been imposed on me, and woe to me if I do not preach it! If I do so willingly, I have a recompense, but if unwillingly, then I have been entrusted with a stewardship. What then is my recompense? That, when I preach, I offer the gospel free of charge so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel. Although I am free in regard to all, I have made myself a slave to all so as to win over as many as possible. To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak. I have become all things to all, to save at least some. All this I do for the sake of the gospel, so that I too may have a share in it.

QARI II        mill-Ewwel Ittra lill-Korintin 9. 16-19.22-23
Ħuti, jekk jiena nxandar l-Evanġelju ma għandix biex niftaħar; jien obbligat nagħmlu dan. Ħażin għalija jekk ma nxandarx l-Evanġelju! Jekk dan nagħmlu minn rajja, ikolli dritt għall-ħlas; imma jekk nagħmlu għax obbligat, dan ifisser li qiegħed nagħmel ix-xogħol li Alla fdali f’idejja. X’inhu mela l-ħlas tiegħi? Li meta nxandar l-Evanġelju, inxandru b’xejn, bla ma nfittex id-dritt li jagħtini l-Evanġelju stess. Għax għad li ma jiena marbut ma’ ħadd, jien għamilt lili nnifsi lsir ta’ kulħadd biex nirbaħ lil ħafna. Sirt dgħajjef mad-dgħajfin, biex nirbaħ id-dgħajfin. Sirt kollox ma’ kulħadd, biex insalva lil kulħadd. Nagħmel dan kollu minħabba l-Evanġelju biex ikolli sehem minnu. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

GOSPEL        MARK 1:29-39
On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them. When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him. Rising very early before dawn, he left  and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.”So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.

EVANĠELJU        Qari skont San Mark 1, 29-39
F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù u d-dixxipli ħarġu mis-sinagoga u baqgħu sejrin ma’ Ġakbu u Ġwanni għand Xmun u Indrì. Issa omm il-mara ta’ Xmun kienet fis-sodda bid-deni, u malajr qalulu biha. Resaq lejha, qabadha minn idha u qajjimha. U d-deni ħallieha, u bdiet isservihom. Filgħaxija, imbagħad, fi nżul ix-xemx, ħadulu quddiemu lil dawk kollha li kienu morda jew li kienu maħkuma mix-xitan. U quddiem il-bieb inġabret il-belt bi ħġarha. U fejjaq ħafna morda minn kull xorta ta’ mard, u ħareġ għadd kbir ta’ xjaten li hu ma kienx iħallihom jitkellmu, għax huma kienu jafu min kien. L-għada filgħodu kmieni, qabel ma żernaq, qam, ħareġ u mar f’post imwarrab u qagħad hemm jitlob. Xmun u sħabu l-oħrajn marru jfittxuh. Kif sabuh, qalulu: “Kulħadd jistaqsi għalik”. U qalilhom: “Ejjew immorru band’oħra, fl-irħula tal-qrib, ħalli nippriedka hemmhekk ukoll, għax għalhekk ħriġt”. U dar il-Galilija kollha, jippriedka fis-sinagogi tagħhom u joħroġ ix-xjaten. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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 Gospel reflection by Fr Antony Kadavil    

 God's gifts of hope and optimism 

   

 

Introduction: 

In these difficult days of pandemic wtrife all around the world,  next Sunday’s readings challenge us to avoid Job’s pessimistic and desperate view of life as a chain of pain and sufferings and to accept life with hope and optimism as a precious gift from God, using it to do good for others and spending our time, talents and lives for others as Jesus did and as St. Paul did too (as he tells us too in the Second Reading).

Scripture lessons summarized: 

While the Gospel presents Jesus enthusiastically living out his Sabbath day of preaching and healing ministry, the first reading details Job’s frustrations in striking contrast: Job complains of the tedium and futility of life and the miseries of human existence. But eventually, his eyes opened by God, Job surrenders himself, his suffering, his work and everything he had had and lost to God’s greater wisdom (Job 42:1-6).  Job’s miseries also marked the condition of the people who came to Jesus for healing. Jesus overturns the human condition, bringing hope and healing — then and now. 

The second reading reveals Paul to us as a true, dynamic follower of Jesus, moved as Jesus was by concern for the lost which led him to preach the Gospel without cost to the people, and to serve them as their slave with Jesus’ love and fidelity. Pointing out the spontaneous response of Peter’s mother-in-law after she had been healed by Jesus, Sunday’s Gospel teaches us that true discipleship means giving selfless, loving service to others. 

Mark shows us a typical Sabbath day in Jesus’ ministry: taking part in the synagogue worship, teaching with authority, exorcising a demon, healing Simon’s mother-in-law and, after sundown, curing “many who were sick with various diseases, and [driving] out many demons” – a full day and evening of selfless ministry. Yet, Jesus rises early the next morning and goes off “to a deserted place” to pray, in order to assess his work before God his Father and to recharge his spiritual batteries.

Life messages: 

1)    We need to be instruments for Jesus’ healing work. Bringing healing and wholeness is Jesus’ ministry even today. We all need healing for our minds, our memories, and our broken relationships, and now Jesus is also using counselors, doctors, friends, or even strangers in his healing ministry.    Let us ask for the ordinary healing we need in our own lives. When we are healed, let us not forget to thank Jesus for his goodness, mercy, and compassion by turning to serve others.  Our own healing process is completed only when we are ready to help others in their needs and to focus on things outside ourselves. Let us also be instruments for Jesus’ healing by visiting the sick and praying for their healing.  But let us remember that we need the Lord’s strength not only to make ourselves and others well, but to make us and others whole.  

2)    We need to live for others as Jesus did: Jesus was a man for others, sharing what he had with others. In his life there was time for prayer, time for healing, and time for reconciliation.  Let us take up this challenge by sharing love, mercy, compassion and forgiveness with others. 

Instead of considering life as dull and pointless, let us live our lives as Jesus did, full of dynamism and zeal for the glory of God.

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 Readings for Sunday, January 31, 2021

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 71

Ir-Raba’ Ħadd taż-Żmien ta’ Matul is-Sena

Reading I        Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Moses spoke to all the people, saying: “A prophet like me will the LORD, your God, raise up for you from among your own kin; to him you shall listen.nThis is exactly what you requested of the LORD, your God, at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let us not again hear the voice of the LORD, our God, nor see this great fire any more, lest we die.’ And the LORD said to me, ‘This was well said. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kin, and will put my words into his mouth; he shall tell them all that I command him. Whoever will not listen to my words which he speaks in my name, I myself will make him answer for it. But if a prophet presumes to speak in my name an oracle that I have not commanded him to speak, or speaks in the name of other gods, he shall die.’”

QARI I         mill-Ktieb tad-Dewteronomju 18:15-20
Mosè kellem lill-poplu u qal: “Il-Mulej, Alla tiegħek, iqajjimlek profeta bħali minn ġensek, minn fost ħutek; lilu għandkom tisimgħu. Dan kollu skont ma tlabt inti stess lill-Mulej, Alla tiegħek, fil-Ħoreb f’jum il-laqgħa, meta għedt: ‘Jalla ma nismax aktar leħen il-Mulej, Alla tiegħi, u ma narax aktar dan in-nar iħeġġeġ, ħalli ma mmutx’. U l-Mulej qalli: ‘Sewwa għamlu li tkellmu. Jiena nqajmilhom profeta bħalek, minn fost ħuthom; inqiegħed kliemi fuq fommu, u jħabbrilhom kulma nordnalu. Min ma jagħtix widen għal kliemi li huwa jħabbar f’ismi, jiena nitolbu kont talli jkun naqas. U jekk xi profeta jfettillu jgħid f’ismi ħwejjeġ li ma nkunx qabbadtu jgħid, jew inkella jħabbar f’isem allat oħra, dan il-profeta jkun ħaqqu l-mewt’”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Responsorial Psalm       Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 7-9
Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD;
    let us acclaim the rock of our salvation.
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
    let us joyfully sing psalms to him.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Come, let us bow down in worship;
    let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
For he is our God,
    and we are the people he shepherds, the flock he guides.
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Oh, that today you would hear his voice:
    “Harden not your hearts as at Meribah,
    as in the day of Massah in the desert,
Where your fathers tempted me;
    they tested me though they had seen my works.”
R. If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

SALM RESPONSORJALI        Salm 94(95):1-2,6-7,8-9
R/. (8): Mhux li kontu llum tisimgħu leħen il-Mulej, la twebbsux qalbkom.

Ejjew, ħa nfaħħru bl-hena l-Mulej,
ħa ngħajtu bil-ferħ lill-blata tas-salvazzjoni tagħna!
Nersqu quddiemu b’għana ta’ radd il-ħajr,
ngħannulu b’għajat ta’ ferħ. R/.

Ejjew inqimuh u ninxteħtu quddiemu,
għarkupptejna quddiem il-Mulej li ħalaqna!
Għaliex hu Alla tagħna,
u aħna l-poplu tal-mergħa tiegħu u n-nagħaġ tiegħu. R/.

Mhux li kontu llum tisimgħu leħnu!
“La twebbsux qalbkom bħal f’Meriba,
bħal dakinhar f’Massa, fid-deżert,
meta ġarrbuni u ttantawni missirijietkom,
għalkemm raw dak li jien għamilt”. R/.

Reading II         1 Corinthians 7:32-35
Brothers and sisters: I should like you to be free of anxieties. An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. But a married man is anxious about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and he is divided. An unmarried woman or a virgin is anxious about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy in both body and spirit. A married woman, on the other hand, is anxious about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. I am telling you this for your own benefit, not to impose a restraint upon you, but for the sake of propriety and adherence to the Lord without distraction.
 
QARI II        mill-Ewwel Ittra lill-Korintin 7:32-35
Ħuti, iva, jiena rridkom bla ħsibijiet. Ir-raġel mhux miżżewweġ, ħsiebu fil-ħwejjeġ tal-Mulej, jiġifieri, kif jogħġob lill-Mulej. Min hu miżżewweġ, ħsiebu fil-ħwejjeġ tad-dinja, jiġifieri, kif jogħġob lil martu, u hu mifrud fih innifsu! Hekk ukoll il-mara mhix miżżewġa u x-xebba ħsiebhom fil-ħwejjeġ tal-Mulej, jiġifieri, biex ikunu qaddisa f’ġisimhom u f’ruħhom. Iżda l-mara miżżewġa ħsiebha fil-ħwejjeġ tad-dinja, jiġifieri, kif togħġob lil żewġha. Dan qiegħed ngħidhulkom għall-ġid tagħkom, mhux biex inxekkilkom, iżda għall-ġid tagħkom u biex tgħixu marbutin mal-Mulej bla tixrid ta’ moħħ. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel        Mark 1:21-28
Then they came to Capernaum, and on the sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet!  Come out of him!” The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him. All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

 

EVANĠELJU        Qari skont San Mark 1:21-
F’dak iż-żmien, Ġesù u d-dixxipli tiegħu daħlu Kafarnahum. Malajr, f’jum is-Sibt, daħal fis-sinagoga u qagħad jgħallem. In-nies baqgħu mistagħġbin bil-mod tat-tagħlim tiegħu, għax beda jgħallimhom bħal wieħed li għandu s-setgħa, u mhux bħall-kittieba.Mela jkun hemm fis-sinagoga tagħhom raġel bi spirtu ħażin u qabad jgħajjat u jgħid: “Aħna x’għandna x’naqsmu, Ġesù ta’ Nazaret? Ġejt biex teqridna? Jien naf min int: il-Qaddis ta’ Alla!”. Imma Ġesù kkmandah: “Iskot! Oħroġ minnu!”. Imbagħad l-ispirtu ħażin lir-raġel beda jħabbtu ħafna, għajjat għajta kbira u ħareġ minnu. U lkoll stagħġbu, u bdew jistaqsu lil xulxin u jgħidu: “Dan x’inhu? X’tagħlim ġdid mogħti bis-setgħa! Sa lill-ispirti ħżiena jikkmanda, u huma joqogħdu għalih!”. U l-fama tiegħu malajr xterdet mal-inħawi kollha tal-Galilija. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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Gospel reflection by Fr Antony Kadavil   

 
We need to approach Jesus for liberation

 

Scripture lessons summarized: 

Sunday’s first reading tells us that a true prophet like Moses speaks with authority because it is God Who speaks through him. After the Babylonian exile, the Jewish priests began to interpret the words of Moses given in the first reading, namely, “a prophet like me,” as referring to one individual, the expected Messiah. This passage is chosen for Sunday’s first reading because it refers to Jesus, the “preacher with authority,” mentioned in Sunday’s Gospel.

The response for today’s Responsorial Psalm, (Ps 95), speaks of not hardening our hearts when we hear God’s authoritative voice through the Scripture and the Church’s teaching authority. 

In the second reading, St. Paul exercises his God-given authority as the Apostle to the Gentiles to teach people in Corinth that marriage is a holy state ordained by God and that it is a life-long partnership according to the teaching of the Lord. But he opts for, and recommends, celibacy, so that one may serve the Lord without the distractions of married life. 

In Sunday’s Gospel under review, Mark describes one sample Sabbath day of Jesus’ public life. Jesus joins in public worship in the synagogue as a practicing Jew, heals the sick, drives out evil spirits and prays privately. People immediately noticed that Jesus teaches with authority and heals with Divine power. Jesus explains the Scriptures with complete confidence, and when questioned by people, he answered with authority. Jesus in using his real (authentic) Divine authority to teach, empower, liberate, and heal others. In today’s Gospel, the evil spirit recognized and loudly declared Jesus as the Messiah.  Jesus' harsh, command, “Be quiet! Come out of him!” exorcises the demon who departs, obedient to His Divine authority.

Life Messages: 

1) We need to approach Jesus for liberation: Jesus did not use his authority and Divine power to rule and control people, but to set them free. Hence, let us approach Jesus with trusting Faith so that he may free us from the evil spirits that keep us from praying and that prevent us from loving others and sharing our blessings with them. Jesus also frees us from all the “evil spirits” of fear, jealousy, anger, envy, addictions, compulsions, selfishness, resentment, and hostility. May God free us from all those spirits which make us deaf, dumb, blind, lame, and paralyzed, physically and spiritually.

2) We need to use our God-given authority to build up lives.  So many people with authority have made a lasting impression on our lives either for good or ill. Perhaps it was a grandparent, an uncle, or a parent, who loved us and cared for us.  Perhaps it was a Sunday school teacher who encouraged us in our Faith and exerted a positive impact on our lives. Perhaps we remember the kindness as well as the firm discipline that a schoolteacher gave us. Teachers are powerful because they change and mold lives. Hence, let us all become good teachers like Jesus and use our authority to mold young lives in the right way.

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OUR ABSOLUTE NEED OF REPENTANCE

 Readings for Sunday, January 24, 2021

 

Sunday of the Word of God
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 68

It-Tielet Ħadd taż-Żmien ta’ Matul is-Sena

Reading I       JONAH 3:1-5, 10
The word of the LORD came to Jonah, saying: “Set out for the great city of Nineveh, and announce to it the message that I will tell you.” So Jonah made ready and went to Nineveh, according to the LORD’S bidding. Now Nineveh was an enormously large city; it took three days to go through it. Jonah began his journey through the city, and had gone but a single day’s walk announcing, “Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed, “ when the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth. When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way, he repented of the evil that he had threatened to do to them; he did not carry it out.

QARI I        mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta Ġona 3:1-5,10
Il-kelma tal-Mulej waslet lil Ġona u qallu: “Qum, mur f’Ninwè, il-belt il-kbira, u xandrilha li ngħidlek jien”. U Ġona qam u mar f’Ninwè kif qallu l-Mulej.Issa Ninwè kienet belt kbira għall-aħħar, trid tlitt ijiem biex timxiha. Ġona, kif daħal il-belt, beda ġurnata mixi, ixandar u jgħid: “Erbgħin jum ieħor, u Ninwè ssir ħerba!”.In-nies ta’ Ninwè emmnu f’Alla, nedew sawma u libsu l-ixkejjer, mill-kbir saż-żgħir. U Alla ra x’għamlu, kif reġgħu lura minn triqthom il-ħażina. U Alla raġa’ bdielu mid-deni li qal li kien se jagħmlilhom, u ma għamlux. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Responsorial Psalm        PSALM 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
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.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.

Remember that your compassion, O LORD,
    and your love are from of old.
In your kindness remember me,
    because of your goodness, O LORD.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.

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. Teach me your ways, O Lord.

SALM RESPONSORJALI       Salm 24(25):4bċ-5ab,6-7bċ,8-9
R/. (4a): Triqatek, Mulej, għarrafni.
Triqatek, Mulej, għarrafni,
il-mogħdijiet tiegħek għallimni.
Mexxini fis-sewwa tiegħek u għallimni,
għax int Alla tas-salvazzjoni tiegħi. R/.

Ftakar fil-ħniena u t-tjieba tiegħek,
għax huma minn dejjem, Mulej.
Inti tajjeb, Mulej;
ftakar fija skont it-tjieba tiegħek. R/.

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

Reading II       1 CORINTHIANS 7:29-31
I tell you, brothers and sisters, the time is running out. From now on, let those having wives act as not having them, those weeping as not weeping, those rejoicing as not rejoicing, those buying as not owning, those using the world as not using it fully. For the world in its present form is passing away.

QARI II        mill-Ewwel Ittra lill-Korintin 7:29-31
Dan ngħidilkom, ħuti: iż-żmien qsar. Ħa jkunu, mela, dawk li għandhom mara, bħallikieku ma għandhomx; dawk li jibku, bħallikieku ma jibkux; dawk li jifirħu, bħallikieku ma jifirħux; dawk li jixtru, bħallikieku ma għandhom xejn; dawk li jgawdu d-dinja, bħallikieku ma jgawduhiex; għax is-sura ta’ din id-dinja għad tgħaddi! Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel       MARK 1:14-20
After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they abandoned their nets and followed him. He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.

EVANĠELJU        Qari skont San Mark 1:14-20
Wara li arrestaw lil Ġwanni, Ġesù mar il-Galilija jxandar l-Evanġelju ta’ Alla u jgħid: “Iż-żmien huwa mitmum, u s-Saltna ta’ Alla waslet; indmu u emmnu fl-Evanġelju”.Waqt li kien għaddej ma’ xatt il-baħar tal-Galilija, lemaħ lil Xmun u ’l ħuh Indrì qegħdin ikalaw ix-xbiek fil-baħar, għax kienu sajjieda. U Ġesù qalilhom: “Ejjew warajja, u nagħmel minnkom sajjieda tal-bnedmin”. U minnufih telqu x-xbiek, u marru warajh. Wara li mexa ftit ieħor ra lil Ġakbu ta’ Żebedew u lil ħuh Ġwanni fid-dgħajsa qegħdin isewwu x-xbiek, u minnufih sejħilhom. U huma telqu lil missierhom Żebedew fid-dgħajsa mal-lavranti, u marru warajh. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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Gospel reflection by Fr Antony Kadavil     Our absolute need of repentance

Introduction: The three readings next Sunday's celebration of ther Eucharist, underline our absolute need of repentance and our immediate need for a prompt response to God’s call.

Scripture lessons:

The first reading tells us how God had to deal with the disobedient, fleeing prophet Jonah to turn him around (convert him), so that, repenting, he would go to Nineveh to preach repentance there. The wicked people of Nineveh, however, accepted Jonah as God’s prophet at once, and promptly responded to God’s call for repentance as Jonah preached it. In the second reading, Paul urges the Christian community in Corinth to lose no time in accepting the message of the Gospel and in renewing their lives with repentance because Jesus’ second coming may occur at any moment. Today’s Gospel describes how Jesus came to Galilee and began preaching, challenging people to “repent and believe in the Gospel.” 

Just as John did, Jesus also called for repentance, meaning a change in one’s mind or in the direction of one’s life and setting new priorities. Repentance also means hating sin itself, not just being sorry for the consequences of one’s sins. Believing in the Gospel demands from the hearers a resolution to take Jesus’ words seriously, to translate them into action, and to put trust in Jesus’ authority. Jesus preached the Gospel, or Good News, that God is a loving, forgiving, caring and merciful Father Who wants to liberate us and save us from our sins through His son Jesus. 

By describing the call of Jesus’ first disciples, Andrew, Peter, James, and John,Sunday’s Gospel also emphasizes how we, sinners, are to respond to God’s call with total commitment by abandoning our accustomed style of sinful life. Jesus started his public ministry immediately after John the Baptist was arrested. According to Mark, Jesus selected four fishermen, Andrew and his brother Peter with James and his brother John, right from their fishing boats. Jesus wanted these ordinary, hard-working people as assistants for his ministry because they would be very responsive and generous instruments in the hands of God.

Life messages: 

1) We need to appreciate our call to become Christ’s disciples: Every one of us is called by God, both individually, and collectively as a parish community, to continue Jesus’ mission of preaching the Good News of God’s Kingdom and healing the sick

2) We are called individually to a way of life or vocation: – a religious commitment (priest, deacon, missionary, religious Sister or Brother, marriage partner, or single person), plus a particular occupation rising from our talents (medicine, law, teaching, healing, writing, art, music, building and carpentry, homemaking, child-rearing ….). Our own unique vocation should enable us to become what God wants us to be.  As St. Francis Sales puts it, we are expected to bloom where we are planted.  

3) Our call, of course, begins with our Baptism and the other Sacraments of Initiation. It is strengthened through the years with the Eucharist and Reconciliation, healed and consoled by Anointing and, for those so called, made manifest in the sacraments of Matrimony or Holy Orders. The amazing truth is that God is relentless in calling us back to Himself even when we stray away from Him.

 4) Let us be thankful to God for His Divine grace of calling us to be members of the true Church. Let us remember that it is our vocation in life as Christians to transmit Christ’s Light through our living, radiating Jesus’ unconditional love, mercy, forgiveness, and humble service to all in our society.

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Our call to discipleship

Readings for Sunday, January 17, 2021

Second Sunday of Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 65.

It-Tieni Ħadd taż-Żmien ta’ Matul is-Sena

Reading I       1 Samuel 3:3b-10, 19
Samuel was sleeping in the temple of the LORD where the ark of God was. The LORD called to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.” Samuel ran to Eli and said, “Here I am.  You called me.” “I did not call you, “  Eli said.  “Go back to sleep.” So he went back to sleep. Again the LORD called Samuel, who rose and went to Eli. “Here I am, “ he said.  “You called me.” But Eli answered, “I did not call you, my son.  Go back to sleep.” At that time Samuel was not familiar with the LORD, because the LORD had not revealed anything to him as yet. The LORD called Samuel again, for the third time. Getting up and going to Eli, he said, “Here I am.  You called me.” Then Eli understood that the LORD was calling the youth. So he said to Samuel, “Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply, Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.” When Samuel went to sleep in his place, the LORD came and revealed his presence, calling out as before, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel answered, “Speak, for your servant is listening.“  Samuel grew up, and the LORD was with him, not permitting any word of his to be without effect.

QARI I         mill-Ewwel Ktieb ta’ Samwel1 3:3b-10,19
F’dak iż-żmien, Samwel kien mimdud fit-tempju tal-Mulej, fejn kien hemm l-arka ta’ Alla. Il-Mulej sejjaħ: “Samwel!”. U dan wieġeb: “Hawn jien!”. U mar jiġri għand Għeli. “Hawn jien”, qallu, “għalfejn sejjaħtli?”. “Ma sejjaħtlekx”, wieġeb, “erġa’ mur imtedd”. U raġa’ mar jorqod. U ssokta l-Mulej isejjaħ: “Samwel!”. U Samwel qam u mar għand Għeli u qallu: “Hawn jien! Għalfejn sejjaħtli?”. “Ma sejjaħtlekx, ibni”, wieġeb, “erġa’ mur orqod”. Samwel kien għadu ma għarafx il-Mulej, u anqas kienet għadha ma ttgħarrfitlu l-kelma tal-Mulej. U ssokta l-Mulej isejjaħ: “Samwel!” għat-tielet darba. U dan qam, u mar għand Għeli, u qallu: “Hawn jien! Għalfejn sejjaħtli?”. U Għeli fehem li l-Mulej kien qiegħed isejjaħ iż-żagħżugħ. U qal lil Samwel: “Mur orqod. Jekk jerġa’ jsejjaħlek, wieġeb: ‘Tkellem, Mulej, għax il-qaddej tiegħek qiegħed jisma’’”. U Samwel mar jorqod f’postu.v U l-Mulej ġie, waqaf ħdejh, u sejjaħ bħal drabi oħra: “Samwel! Samwel!”. U Samwel wieġeb: “Tkellem, għax il-qaddej tiegħek qiegħed jisma’”. Samwel kiber, u l-Mulej kien miegħu, u ma ħalla ebda kelma milli qal tmur fix-xejn.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.  

Responsorial Psalm       PSALM 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10
I have waited, waited for the LORD,
    and he stooped toward me and heard my cry.
And he put a new song into my mouth,
    a hymn to our God.
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

Sacrifice or offering you wished not,
    but ears open to obedience you gave me.
Holocausts or sin-offerings you sought not;
    then said I, “Behold I come.”
R. Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.

“In the written scroll it is prescribed for me,
to do your will, O my God, is my delight,
    and your law is within my heart!”
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

I announced your justice in the vast assembly;
    I did not restrain my lips, as you, O LORD, know.
R. Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

SALM RESPONSORJALI        Salm 39(40):2,4ab,7-8a,8b-9,10
R/. (8a.9a): Hawn jien, Mulej, ġej nagħmel ir-rieda tiegħek.
Ittamajt b’tama qawwija fil-Mulej;
hu niżel ħdejja u sama’ l-għajta tiegħi.
Qegħedli fuq fommi għanja ġdida,
għanja ta’ tifħir lil Alla tagħna. R/.

Int ma titgħaxxaqx b’sagrifiċċji u offerti;
imma widnejja inti ftaħtli;
ma tlabtnix vittmi tal-ħruq u tat-tpattija.
Imbagħad jien għedt: “Hawn jien, ġej”. R/.

“Fil-bidu tal-ktieb hemm miktub fuqi
li nagħmel ir-rieda tiegħek.
Alla tiegħi, dan jogħġobni;
il-liġi tiegħek ġewwa qalbi”. R/.

Xandart il-ġustizzja f’ġemgħa kbira;
xufftejja ma żammejthomx magħluqa.
Mulej, dan inti tafu. R/.

Reading II      1 Corinthians 6:13c-15a, 17-20
Brothers and sisters: The body is not for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body;  God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? But whoever is joined to the Lord becomes one Spirit with him. Avoid immorality.  Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the immoral person sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body.
 
QARI II       mill-Ewwel Ittra lill-Korintin 6:13c-15a,17-20
Ħuti, il-ġisem mhuwiex għaż-żína iżda għall-Mulej, u l-Mulej huwa għall-ġisem. U Alla qajjem il-Mulej u jqajjem lilna wkoll bil-qawwa tiegħu. Ma tafux li l-iġsma tagħkom huma membri ta’ Kristu? Min jingħaqad mal-Mulej hu ruħ waħda miegħu. Aħarbu ż-żína! Kull dnub li wieħed jagħmel hu ’l barra minn ġismu, iżda min jagħmel iż-żína jkun qiegħed jidneb kontra ġismu stess. Jew ma tafux li ġisimkom hu tempju tal-Ispirtu s-Santu, li jinsab jgħammar fikom, li għandkom minn Alla? Ma tafux li intom m’intomx tagħkom infuskom? Bil-għoli kontu mixtrija! Mela agħtu ġieħ lil Alla permezz ta’ ġisimkom. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

Gospel       John 1:35-42
John was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus. Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” — which translated means Teacher —, “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they went and saw where Jesus was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” — which is translated Christ —. Then he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John;  you will be called Cephas” — which is translated Peter.

EVANĠELJU         Qari skond San Ġwann 1:35-42
F’dak iż-żmien, Ġwanni kien hemm ma’ tnejn mid-dixxipli tiegħu. Ħares lejn Ġesù li kien għaddej minn hemm, u qal: “Araw il-Ħaruf ta’ Alla”. Iż-żewġ dixxipli semgħuh jgħid dan, u marru wara Ġesù. Ġesù dar u rahom mexjin warajh, u qalilhom: “Xi tridu?”. Iżda huma staqsewh: “Rabbi” – li tfisser, Mgħallem – “fejn toqgħod?”. Hu weġibhom: “Ejjew u taraw”. U marru miegħu u raw fejn kien joqgħod, u dakinhar baqgħu miegħu. Kien ħabta tal-erbgħa ta’ waranofsinhar. Wieħed mit-tnejn li semgħu x’kien qal Ġwanni u marru wara Ġesù kien Indrì, ħu Xmun Pietru. L-ewwel ma għamel mar isib lil ħuh Xmun, u qallu: “Sibna l-Messija” – li tfisser Kristu. U ħadu għand Ġesù. Ġesù ħares lejh u qallu: “Inti Xmun, bin Ġwanni. Inti tissejjaħ Kefa” – jew Pietru. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.

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Gospel reflection by Fr Antony Kadavil  / Vatican News 
http://frtonyshomilies.com/

Everyone is called by God to be a witness for Christ

Introduction: 

The main theme of today’s Scripture readings is Divine vocation – that everyone is called by God to be a witness for Christ by doing something for others with his or her life, using his or her unique gifts and blessings. Hence, today’s readings remind us of our personal and corporate call to become witnesses for Jesus, the Lamb of God, by leading lives of holiness and purity.

Scripture lessons summarized: 

The first reading describes how Yahweh called Samuel to His service and how the boy Samuel responded to Him, saying, “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.” Hence, God blessed him in the mission entrusted to him, and Samuel became an illustrious figure, ranking with Moses and David as a man of God. In the Responsorial Psalm (Ps 40), the psalmist sings, “Behold, I come to do Your will,” indicating that his vocation is to obey, to do what God commands him to do. In the second reading, St. Paul explains to the Corinthians that their Divine call is a call to holiness. Hence, they need to keep their bodies pure and souls holy, because by Baptism they have become parts of Christ’s Body and the temples of the Holy Spirit. 

In the Gospel, John the Baptist claims that his vocation is to introduce Jesus to two of his own disciples as the “Lamb of God,” suggesting Jesus’ vocation to become a sacrificial lamb to atone for our sins. The disciples followed Jesus to his residence, accepting his invitation to “come and see.”  They stayed with him that day. Then Andrew brought his brother Simon to Jesus, presenting him to Jesus as the Messiah.  Thus, today’s Gospel also describes the call or vocation of the first apostles and challenges us to invite others to Christ by our Christian witnessing.

Life messages:
1) Our Christian vocation is to live and die like the Lamb of God.  (A) We live like the Lamb of God: (i) by leading pure, innocent, humble, selfless lives, obeying Christ’s commandment of love;(ii) by appreciating the loving providence and protecting care of the Good Shepherd for his Church;  (iii) by partaking of the Body and Blood of the Good Shepherd in the Holy Eucharist and deriving spiritual strength from the Holy Spirit through prayer and the Sacraments. (B) We are called to die like the Lamb of God: a) by sharing sacrificially our blessings of health, wealth, and talents with others in the family, parish, and community; b) by bearing witness to Christ in our illness, pain, and suffering through our graceful acceptance of all of it; c) by offering our sufferings for God’s glory, as penance for our sins, and for the conversion of sinners. 

2) Our call is to bear witness to the Lamb of God.  Doing this requires a personal experience of Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We get this personal experience of Jesus in our daily lives through the meditative reading and study of the Bible, through personal and family prayers, and through our active participation in the Eucharistic celebration. Once we have experienced the personal presence of Jesus in our daily lives, we will start sharing with others the Good News of love, peace, justice, tolerance, mercy, and forgiveness preached and lived by Jesus.

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