Reflections on the Daily Readings 23rd August 2021

Webmaster • August 20, 2021

Monday 23rd August


Memorial Of Rose Of Lima,

Family finesse


Parents have expectations of their kids, and kids want to make their own choices—it’s part of the painful growing-up process. Rose of Lima was like a lot of teenagers who clashed with her parents about her future, and she was like a lot of saints who rankled family by refusing to marry. They never let her join a convent, but they didn’t force her to wed either, finally relenting to her choice of chastity. She lived out her brief life as she had wished, in prayer and penance. She is the patron saint of family problems. Everyone has them, so ask Rose for help.


Today's readings: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 8b-10; Matthew 23:13-22

“One who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God.”




Tuesday 24th August


Feast Of Bartholomew,

Apostle Play a stirring role


Bartholomew, also called Nathanael, was one of the original 12 apostles and later, a traveling missionary. He embodied what it means to become a missionary disciple—one who, upon being led to Jesus, wishes to lead others to him, too. As the U.S. bishops say in Go and Make Disciples, Jesus “gave the Church the unending task of evangelizing as a restless power, to stir and to stimulate.” Where can you stir interest in Jesus today?


Today's readings: Revelation 21:9b-14; John 1:45-51 (629).

“Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”



Wednesday 25th August


The past is present


Today, we are becoming aware of the deep truth that wrongs committed in the past, even generations ago, can still perpetuate evil. Such is the sin of racism, which the U.S. Catholic Bishops have repeatedly called “an evil which endures in our society and in our Church” (Brothers and Sisters to Us). Each of us is called to help dismantle racism, to reject profiting from the oppression of others, and to listen to the voices of those who have been silenced too long—for the sake of our past, present, and future.


Today's readings: 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13; Matthew 23:27-32 (427).

“You are like whitewashed tombs.”


Thursday 26th August


Be alert!


Wakefulness is a term often used in spiritual writing. In today’s gospel, Jesus tells his disciples, “Stay awake! You do not know on which day your Lord will come.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains at least 20 references to being awake, usually in regard to “awakening faith.” The church wants its members to be vigilant and tells us in the catechism that the “Holy Spirit constantly seeks to awaken us to keep watch!” Ask the Holy Spirit to help you awaken to God’s presence today.


Today's readings: 1 Thessalonians 3:7-13; Matthew 24:42-51 (428).

“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Stay awake!’”


Friday 27th August


Memorial Of Monica

Hang in there


Sometimes it feels like all of our small choices and actions will never amount to anything. Go big or go home, we’re told. Yet the stuff of transformation, healing, and love is knitted together one small thing at a time. Our call is to have faith and persist. Take a look at Saint Monica, a laywoman from North Africa, who day in and day out offered “small” acts of kindness, love, and care for her beloved yet wayward son Augustine. She never tired of believing in him, even storming heaven on his behalf. Persisting in the small things that are good, beautiful, and true can make a big difference. What small things are you called to persist in?

Today's readings: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8; Matthew 25:1-13 (429).

“Stay awake.”



Saturday 14th August


Memorial Of Augustine

Let happiness be your song


Like all larger-than-life historical figures, Saint Augustine and his legacy are subject to debate. Some find in his vast work reason to take a pessimistic view of humanity. But he was quite life-affirming in his conviction that the happiness found in following God is indeed the only worthy and lasting happiness. “Happy is [the one] who has God,” he succinctly put it. To “have” God for Augustine meant to love God, citing Psalm 72: “For me it is good to cling to God.” Or, as Pharrell Williams put it in his blockbuster song “Happy” a few years back, “Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth.”


Today's readings: 1 Thessalonians 4:9-11; Matthew 25:14-30 (430).

“You yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.”

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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