Reflections on the Daily Readings 26th July 2021

Webmaster • July 24, 2021

Monday 26th July


Memorial Of Joachim And Anne, Parents Of The Blessed Virgin Mary

Family ties


Jesus’ ancestry through Joseph is extensively traced in two of the gospels, but there’s nothing there about his maternal line. The names of his grandparents—Mary’s parents—aren’t mentioned in scripture, but tradition has dubbed them Joachim and Anne. Whatever their names were, they had to have been remarkable people to have raised the mother of God. The courage and faith they passed on to Mary is a precious gift all parents can pass to their children. Treasure your own intergenerational bonds.


Today's readings: Exodus 32:15-24, 30-34; Matthew 13:31-35

“The birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.”




Tuesday 27th July


Parables of trying and trust


Jesus favored parables—short allegories featuring people, places, and things familiar to ordinary listeners—to get his point across. Typically, they were about the kingdom of God, standing in stark contrast to the current world. “The kingdom of God, even if it requires our cooperation, is firstly a gift of the Lord,” Pope Benedict XVI reminded pilgrims in 2012. Not that humans shouldn’t lift a finger. Such parables, Benedict said, echo a famous saying from Ignatius of Loyola: “Act as if everything depended on you; trust as if everything depended on God.” Where do you need to trust God more and where, perhaps, do you need to act?


Today's readings: Exodus 33:7-11; 34:5b-9, 28; Matthew 13:36-43

“Whoever has ears ought to hear.”



Wednesday 28th July


Stay the course


Father Stanley Rother is one step away from canonization and being named publicly as a saint of the Catholic Church. Born in Oklahoma in 1935, ordained a priest in 1963, missioned to Guatemala in 1968, Rother immersed himself among the Tz’ufujil Mayan communities. When civil war broke out and his name appeared on a death list, after briefly departing he decided to return, saying, the “shepherd cannot run." On July 28, 1981, three men entered the rectory where he lived and killed him. Now recognized as a martyr for the faith, Rother was beatified by the Vatican in 2016. As we await the canonization of this first American martyr, pray that you, too, might be a sign of Christ’s love to the people close to you, even when it comes at a cost.


Today's readings: Exodus 34:29-35; Matthew 13:44-46 (403).

“When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.”



Thursday 29th July


Memorial Of Martha, Mary, And Lazarus

Lesson learned


Any memorial honoring Saint Martha, along with her sister and brother, includes a well-deserved nod to those who quietly serve. But Martha's role in salvation history goes well beyond her hospitality to Jesus and lies in the example of her maturing faith. When Jesus admonished her about her anxiety, Martha listened. She grew in wisdom and understanding, so much so that when her brother Lazarus dies, she runs to meet Jesus and declares: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” Martha provides an inspiration to all of us to persevere in knowing God, loving Christ, and serving others.


Today's readings: Exodus 40:16-21, 34-38 (404); John 11:19-27 or Luke 10:38-42 

“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing.”

Friday 30th July


Open the door to your own ministry


Do you ever think about your daily activities as a ministry? No activity is outside the realm of a possible ministry. Take Blessed Solanus Casey, for example. One of Solanus’ jobs was as a porter, that is, a door keeper. Open/shut case, right? Not at all! Solanus understood his simple job as being a true ministry, service of God through service of others. He did not merely answer the door; he opened his heart to everyone who entered. In doing so, Solanus was able to reflect God’s love and healing to others in a way that truly made a difference. How do you open your heart to others during your daily routine?


Today's readings: Leviticus 23:1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34b-37; Matthew 13:54-58 (405).

 “Is he not the carpenter’s son?”




Saturday 31st July


Memorial Of Ignatius Of Loyola, Priest

Book your biblical excursion


Never underestimate the power of a book to change lives or history. Ignatius of Loyola was a young Spanish soldier from a prominent military family. While recovering from a serious war injury, he came upon Vita Christi, a spiritual biography of the life of Christ by 14th-century German Catholic monk Ludolph of Saxony. In the book he found the meditative technique of immersing oneself in a biblical scene from the life of Jesus. The book changed Ignatius’ life, and the technique became foundational to the development of Ignatian spirituality and the famed Spiritual Exercises. Try the technique: Open a gospel, read a story, and place yourself at the scene. Really be there. See what happens.


Today's readings: Leviticus 25:1, 8-17; Matthew 14:1-12

“This fiftieth year you shall make sacred by proclaiming liberty in the land for all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you.”

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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