Reflections on the Daily Readings 18th April 2022

Webmaster • April 16, 2022

Monday 18th April


Monday Within The Octave Of Easter

How do you solve a mystery named Mary? 


There are so many women named Mary mentioned in the New Testament that we’re not even certain how many there were—could be six to nine—because the same women might be identified different ways. The various Marys get mentioned 54 times in 49 verses, so it’s hard to sort them all out. Not only does it reveal to readers that Mary was a popular name then, but also that Jesus had a lot of women followers who were very close to him—women who were key figures in the key moments of his life and ministry, his death, and his Resurrection. Which Mary was which might confuse us today, but their various important roles in his life are clearly deserving of honour.


Today's readings: Acts 2:14, 22-33; Matthew 28:8-15

“Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb . . . and ran to announce the news to his disciples.”



Tuesday 19th April


Tuesday Within The Octave Of Easter

Grant us peace


Today is the anniversary of Benedict XVI becoming pope in 2005. As a theologian, Benedict wrote extensively of faith and politics in pluralistic societies. One of his prayers pleads: “God of peace, bring your peace to our violent world: peace in the hearts of all men and women and peace among the nations of the Earth.” This is a good prayer to have on hand, particularly on a day that marks the anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.


Today's readings: Acts 2:36-41; John 20:11-18

“Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ ”



Wednesday 20th April


Wednesday Within The Octave Of Easter

Look up!


The disciples on the road to Emmaus were grieving Jesus but failed to recognize him when he approached them. In our daily rush to and fro, it is easy to overlook what is happening all around: the dance of creation, day in and day out. As Earth Day approaches, take a moment from the busyness to contemplate with awe the beauty great and small. Keep these words of Saint Augustine in mind about the book of God’s creation: “Look above you! Look below you! Read it. God, whom you want to discover, never wrote that book with ink. Instead, He set before your eyes the things that He had made. Can you ask for a louder voice than that?”


Today's readings: Acts 3:1-10; Luke 24:13-35

“Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.”


Thursday 21st April


Thursday Within The Octave Of Easter

Journey into the unknown


The worldwide church is now about halfway through a process with a rather unwieldy name: “Synod on Synodality.” The idea is for the church at all levels to “listen and dialogue.” The word synod means “to travel together,” and this synod is refreshing, as a bottom-up approach in a church accustomed to top-down leadership. By its nature, there is no clarity about where it leads, but the process itself is the main point. Let’s pray the church’s Synod Prayer for Unity, that the process “lead us closer to [God’s] Son and so to one another.”


Today's readings: Acts 3:11-26; Luke 24:35-48 (264).

“He stood in their midst and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ ”


Friday 22nd April


Friday Within The Octave Of Easter

Embrace the Resurrection: Plant a garden 


The Easter season gives us ample time and resources to delve into the Paschal Mystery. Scripture, liturgies, and feast days all help us embrace the Resurrection as part of our own story. That’s not always easy to comprehend. Fortunately, there are glimpses of Resurrection everywhere! So much of Easter is represented through nature—lilies, tulips, lambs, bunnies—indeed the whole season of spring helps us bodily embrace the Resurrection. This Easter season, consider planting a garden or fostering a kitten (April is National Garden Month as well as Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month, and today happens to be Earth Day as well!). Embrace the Resurrection in the world all around you.


Today's readings: Acts 4:1-12; John 21:1-14

“Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish.” 



Saturday 23rd April


Saturday Within The Octave Of Easter

Every day an Easter


Easter isn’t just a day, it is a season, an ongoing feast. The Octave of Easter (Easter Sunday and the seven days that follow) has been, since the earliest centuries of Christian history, a time of extended celebration. The joy of Easter Sunday is prolonged for a full eight days, an octave of rejoicing. Every day of the Octave is treated as another Easter, a tradition preserved in our liturgy, with readings and rituals that mirror what occurs on Easter Sunday. Rise up! It’s still Easter!


Today's readings: Acts 4:13-21; Mark 16:9-15 (266).

“When Jesus had risen . . . he appeared first to Mary Magdalene.” 

Prayers for the Sick

By Webmaster • January 30, 2026
Please pray for Our Sick : Margaret Callaghan Doreen Cleary, Michael Ritchie, Neil Boyle, John Rielly Molly Strang, James Clark, Fr. Michael McLaughlin, Patricia Henderson, Joanna Maier (Connecticut USA), Therese Gilgunn Tressy Callaghan, Suzanne McMurray, Mary Coyle, Lesley Watson (Spain) Maureen McHugh, Margaret Burke, Marie White, Kathleen Daly, John McGuire, Jill Brown, Karen Pritchatt, Louise Newton, Faith Lyndsey, Jill Brown, Marie McGuire, James Morton, Paul Kearney, Thomas Daly, Andrew McCluskey, Premature Baby Vincent McDowell, Bill Allan, Gudren Berk (Germany), Jaqueline McReynolds, Mary Morrison, Helen Howarth (Easterhouse) Eugene McVey and all our sick.

Dates for your diary

By Webmaster • January 30, 2026
Mass of the Sick Saturday 14th February 10am Mass Ash Wednesday 18th February: Masses 7am, 10am & 6pm Sacramental Meetings Tuesday 24th February St. Peter's & St. Mark's 6pm First Confession 6.30pm First Communion  7pm Confirmation Meetings will take place in the Church

Gift Aid

By Webmaster • January 30, 2026
If you wish to sign up for Gift Aid. It is a great way to help the parish financially, costing you absolutely nothing. If you wish to sign up contact myself or Doreen Lee and we will give you the form and hand it back as you can and we can get it organised. As I said it costs you nothing, but helps the parish so much.

This week's readings

By Webmaster • January 30, 2026
First Reading Zephaniah 2:3, 3:12-13 There will be a people who remain sheltered from God’s anger. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 146:6-10 The Lord is faithful forever. Second Reading 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 God chooses the weak to show his power. Gospel Reading Matthew 5:1-12a Jesus teaches what it means to be happy. Background on the Gospel Reading Today’s reading is the beginning of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, which is found in Matthew’s Gospel. The form of the Beatitudes found here is not unique to Jesus. Beatitudes are found in the Old Testament, in the psalms, and in wisdom literature, for example. They are a way to teach about who will find favor with God. We quickly note in this reading that the people whom Jesus calls “blessed” and “happy” are not people we think of as blessed or happy . . . the poor in spirit, the meek, the persecuted. This Gospel is one of reversals. Jesus’ blueprint for happiness reflects little of what the world might call happiness.  “Blessed” is sometimes translated as happy, fortunate, or favored. In other words, Jesus is saying that divine favor is upon those who are poor, those who mourn, those who are persecuted. This news might have been welcome—and surprising—to the crowds who heard Jesus that day. The Beatitudes can be understood as a framework for Christian living. Our vocation as Christians is not to be first in this world, but rather to be first in the eyes of God. By referring to the good things that the faithful will experience, Matthew reminds us that those who act in the manner described in the Beatitudes will find their reward with God.

Prayers for the recently dead, months, mind and Anniversaries

By Webmaster • January 30, 2026
Our Recently Dead Frances Drummond, Mary McCrudden, Mary Mearns, Grace Hogg (Wishaw), Baby Lila Rose Kasap (2 months) Anne Marie Watson, Jean Murdoch Month Minds & Anniversaries John Corns, Margaret McCluskey, Helen Connolly, Catherine, Patrick & James O'Donnell, Mary Lyons, Margaret Mine, Marie McLaughlin, Jean & Mary Kane, Mary, Pat & Margaret Cox, Edward & Margaret Rodden Please if you could make sure all month minds and anniversaries are handed in no later than Wednesday Night. If they come in after that they will be read out at Mass on Sunday. If the recently dead come in after the Wednesday deadline they too will be read out at Mass on the Sunday

Powerpoint Remote Control:

By Webmaster • January 30, 2026
I am looking for Volunteers to move the power-points on during the Sunday Masses, Vigil 4pm, 9.30am & 11am. It is very easy to operate, if we get enough volunteers for each Mass we would put a wee rota together. It would take a wee bit of pressure off me.

Year of St Francis of Assisi

By Webmaster • January 24, 2026
The “Year of St Francis of Assisi”, was proclaimed by Pope Leo, in Rome to mark the 800th Anniversary of St Francis’ death in 2026. I am proposing to put a statue of St. Francis in the Church for this jubilee year. This is from EWTN Pope Leo XIV has proclaimed a “Special Year of St. Francis” to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the saint’s death. During this time of grace, which will extend until January 2027, the faithful are granted the opportunity to obtain a plenary indulgence . This Franciscan Jubilee Year, considered a gift for the entire Church and an occasion for authentic spiritual renewal, was inaugurated on Jan. 10 with a decree issued by the Apostolic Penitentiary of the Holy See. Until Jan. 10 of next year, the faithful can obtain this grace under the usual conditions — sacramental confession, Communion, and prayer for the intentions of the pope — by making a pilgrimage to any Franciscan conventual church or place of worship dedicated to St. Francis anywhere in the world. Furthermore, the elderly, the sick, and those who, for serious reasons, cannot leave their homes can obtain the plenary indulgence  by spiritually joining in the jubilee celebrations and offering their prayers, pains, or sufferings to God.

Mass of the sick

By Webmaster • January 17, 2026
Mass of the Sick Saturday 14th February 10am Mass Ash Wednesday 18th February more details to follow.

Second Sunday of Ordinary Time - 18th January

By Webmaster • January 17, 2026
The Second Sunday of the Year A, falling on January 18, 2026, is known as the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, featuring readings from Isaiah (calling the Messiah a shoot from Jesse), 1 Corinthians (emphasizing unity in Christ), and John's Gospel (John the Baptist identifying Jesus as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world). This Sunday marks a shift after Christmas and Epiphany into the regular flow of Ordinary Time, focusing on discipleship, God's calling, and Jesus's identity as revealed through the Baptist. Key Readings (Year A): ● First Reading : Isaiah 49:1-7 (The Servant Song, foretelling the Messiah's mission). ● Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 40 (A response of praise and commitment). ● Second Reading : 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 (Paul's greeting and call to unity). ● Gospel : John 1:29-42 (John the Baptist points to Jesus as the Lamb of God). Themes & Focus: ● The Calling of Disciples : The Gospel highlights Jesus's first disciples (Andrew and another) meeting and following Him. ● Identity of Jesus : The powerful declaration "Behold the Lamb of God" is central, connecting Jesus to sacrifice and redemption. ● Unity in Christ: 1 Corinthians speaks to the diverse people called to be saints, united in Christ. ● Ordinary Time : Moving from festive seasons into regular liturgical focus on Christian life and growth. Context: ● This Sunday often coincides with the start of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

Baptism of the lord

By Webmaster • January 11, 2026
The Baptism of the Lord is observed as a distinct feast in the Roman rite, although it was originally one of three Gospel events marked by the feast of the Epiphany. Long after the visit of the Magi had in the West overshadowed the other elements commemorated in the Epiphany, Pope Pius XII instituted in 1955 a separate liturgical commemoration of the Baptism.  Currently, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord is usually celebrated the Sunday after Epiphany. The exception is when Epiphany is observed on January 7th or 8th; this causes the Baptism to be celebrated on the Monday immediately following Epiphany.When celebrated on Sunday, the Baptism is part of Christmas Time,
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