Reflections on the Daily Readings 31st May 2021

Webmaster • May 29, 2021

Monday 31st May 2021


Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth

Believe the impossible

National holidays frequently take precedence over our daily routines, and this Memorial Day is no exception as the country honors those who gave their lives in service. In the midst of your holiday activities, however, take a moment to ponder today’s Feast of the Visitation. It's a wonderfilled account of God’s power to transform human life, as two holy women—cousins Mary and Elizabeth—embrace their unusual and graced pregnancies. Their joy trumps any worry as they glorify the Lord who lifts up the lowly and fills the hungry with good things. Mary’s words have echoed through centuries of faith, calling all believers to see the presence of God in the unexpected. Ask for the grace to see the Holy today.


Today's readings: Zephaniah 3:14-18a or Romans 12:9-16; Luke 1:39-56 “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God, my saviour.”

Tuesday 1st June 2021


Wise up!

Justin sought a universal truth in the Greek philosophies of his day— among Stoics, Platonists, and Pythagoreans—but it was an old man he met, walking along the sea one day in 135, who finally enlightened him. The man simply recounted the story of the Hebrew prophets and Christianity. Justin was hooked. He donned philosopher’s robes to speak of faith and reason, writing persuasively about Christianity. Justin’s writings are most famous for providing a vivid snapshot of the early church—describing in detail how the Eucharist and Baptisms were celebrated, also the practice of reading aloud from the gospels. Seek the truths of the faith in your own way.


Today's readings: Tobit 2:9-14; Mark 12:13-17 “Do not regard a person’s status but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.”



Wednesday 2nd June 2021


On we go

By the time of Jesus, the possibility of life after death had been in the theological discussion for at least a century. In response to the Book of Job, which questioned why bad things happen to good people, the Book of Wisdom, written in the first century before Christ, declared that the “souls of the just are in the hands of God” and that God’s justice was at work even after death. The Sadducees in today’s gospel contest the idea, while Jesus supports it. Our faith in God’s eternal presence helps us to endure the injustices of life and bear wrongs patiently. Remember today that we believe in life everlasting.

Today's readings: Tobit 3:1-11a, 16-17a; Mark 12:18-27 “When they rise from the dead . . . they are like the angels in heaven.”

Thursday 3rd June 2021


Faith rises from the ashes

Twenty-two men and boys, many of them pages in King Mwanga's court in Uganda, were murdered between 1885 and 1887 for refusing to denounce their Catholic faith. Most were burned to death at Namugondo after a two-day death march from the palace. Within several decades, a church was erected near the site of the gruesome executions to honour the martyrs. Now a basilica stands on this holy ground in thanksgiving for the canonization of the Ugandan martyrs in 1964. “A martyr is a witness,” Pope Francis said during a 2015 visit to Uganda. “Past glories were a beginning, but you are called to create future glories. This is what the church asks of you.” This is what the church asks of all of us. How will you witness the glory of the gospel today?


Today's readings: Tobit 6:10-11; 7:1bcde, 9-17; 8:4-9a; Mark 12:28-34 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart.”



Friday 4th June 2021

 

What a blessed day this be

As the northern hemisphere revels in the glories of spring, it's a fitting time to say a few “Glory Be’s” and “Blessed Be’s” in thanksgiving. The “Glory Be,” or “Doxology,” is a short hymn of praise and affirmation of faith: “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.” The “Blessed Be’s,” also known as the “Divine Praises,” are a litany honouring the Trinity, the Blessed Mother, and the angels and saints: “Blessed be God. Blessed be His Holy Name. Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and true Man. . . .” It is typically recited during Benediction and Eucharistic Adoration. But anytime, particularly a sunny day, is the right time to acknowledge how blessed we are to be loved by God.


Today's readings: Tobit 11:5-17; Mark 12:35-37 “Blessed be God, and praised be his great name.”


Saturday 5th June 2021


Animate your life story

Saint Boniface (c. 673-754), born in Devonshire, England, entered the Benedictine Monastery at Exeter and was ordained a priest at 30. Despite his happy life as a monk, he decided to travel to Holland and then Germany as a missionary. He's now known as the “Apostle to Germany” and is credited with unifying the church in Europe. Boniface’s chief concern throughout his life was purity of faith. He saw his mission as ensuring that men and women—lay, clerics, and religious—live holy lives. He exhorted the faithful: “Let all your actions be animated with charity, and according to the gospel, you will possess your souls in patience.” May you experience the peace that comes with a life motivated by love.



Today's readings: Tobit 12:1, 5-15, 20; Mark 12:38-44 “Do good, and evil will not find its way to you.

Prayers for the Sick

By Webmaster • August 14, 2026
Please pray for Our Sick : Margaret Callaghan Doreen Cleary, 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), Margaret Loan, Avril McCluskey, Carol Corr, Thomas Kennedy, David Borland, Margaret Park, Alana Hepburn, Michael Ritchie, and all our sick. .

Dates for your diary

By Webmaster • August 14, 2026
4th October Blessing of Pets (Feast of St. Francis of Assisi after the 11am Mass 24th October Mass of the Sick 10am Mass 7th November Annual Mass for the Dead 10am Mass 800th Anniversary of the Death of St. Francis: More details to follow how we are going to celebrate this to follow next week.

This Sunday's readings - Sunday 16th August

By Webmaster • August 14, 2026
First Reading Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6a,10ab The sign of God's salvation will be a woman clothed with the sun. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 45:10-12,16 The queen takes her place next to God. Second Reading 1 Corinthians 15:20-27 Christ has redeemed Adam's sin. Gospel Reading Luke 1:39-56 Mary greets Elizabeth and sings God's praise. Background on the Gospel Reading Today's feast celebrates Mary's Assumption into heaven. It is one of three feasts of Mary that are Holy Days of Obligation for Catholics in the United States. January 1 is the feast of Mary, the Mother of God, and December 8 is the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. The assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven has long been held as an important Catholic belief. The belief was not defined as dogma, however, until 1950 by Pope Pius XII. The dogma teaches that Mary, who was without sin, was taken, body and soul, into the glory of heaven. The Gospel for this holy day recalls Mary's actions after the announcement of Jesus' birth by the Angel Gabriel. Mary goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth who is also with child. Elizabeth greets Mary with full recognition of the roles they and their unborn children will play in God's plan for salvation. Mary responds to Elizabeth's greeting with her song of praise, the Magnificat. Both women recall and echo God's history of showing favor upon the people of Israel. Mary's Magnificat, in particular, echoes the song of praise offered by Hannah, the mother of Samuel. The Gospel for this day reminds us that Mary's Assumption into heaven is best understood with regard for the full spectrum of Catholic beliefs about the person of Christ and the person of Mary. Only Mary, who was born without stain of original sin—the Immaculate Conception—could give birth to Christ, who is fully God and fully human. This is called the Immaculate Conception. Because of Mary's role in God's plan of salvation, she does not suffer from the effects of sin, which are death and decay. Mary is the first to receive the fullness of the redemption that her son has won for all of humanity. The Church, therefore, recognizes Mary as the sign of the salvation promised to all. Today's Gospel highlights Mary's faith. Mary's faith enabled her to recognise the work of God in her people's history and in her own life. Her openness to God allowed God to work through her so that salvation might come to all. Mary is a model and symbol of the Church. May we be like Mary, open and cooperative in God's plan of salvation.

Prayers for the recently dead, months, mind and Anniversaries

By Webmaster • August 14, 2026
Our Recently Dead Marion Blair, Michael Watson, Donnie Adams (Wishaw), Anne Goddard Wilson, Betty Cassidy (Bellshill), Kathleen Glancey (Bellshill), Charlie Gordon, Kathleen Glancey (Mossend), Elizabeth Anne McPhelamin (Nee Grady), Paul O'Donnelly, David Bradley Month Minds & Anniversaries Tracey Archibald, Christine Archibald, Frank Lyttle, Robert Daley Snr, Paul O'Neill, Paul Gerard McGilvary, Arthur Hughes, Cathy Tedeschi, Mamie Brown, Dennis Brown Snr, Dennis Brown Jnr, Billy McCaig, Tommy Lavery, Cathie Lavery, Hugh McLyndon, Agnes Lyons, Anne Flanagan, Delfina Quintiliani, Ann & Hugh Rodgers, Margaret & James Lindsay, Pat Dougan.  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 • August 14, 2026
I am also 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.

This Sunday's readings - Sunday 9th August

By Webmaster • August 8, 2026
First Reading 1 Kings 19:9a,11-13a The Lord appears to Elijah in a whisper. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 85:9-14 The Lord is the source of salvation. Second Reading Romans 9:1-5 Paul speaks of the blessings that have come to the Israelites. Gospel Reading Matthew 14:22-33 Jesus walks on water, and the disciples acknowledge him as the Son of God.  Background on the Gospel Reading Today’s Gospel directly follows last week’s account of Jesus feeding a crowd of more than 5,000 people with just five loaves of bread and two fish. For the sake of the crowds, Jesus had postponed his time of solitude. Now, at last, Jesus finds some time for quiet and prayer. He sends his disciples ahead of him by boat, dismisses the crowds, and then withdraws to the mountain to pray. The disciples do not fare well. They struggle to weather the wind and waves, making little progress in their journey. We are reminded of a previous story in Chapter 8 of Matthew’s Gospel, when Jesus calms the seas. This time, however, Jesus does not calm the seas, and the disciples do not express fear until they see Jesus walking toward them on the water. In this story it is not the storm that is feared but the sight of Jesus before them, whom they mistake for a ghost. Clues like these suggest that this story is about the disciples’ growing understanding of the identity of Jesus. In continuity with last week’s Gospel about the feeding of the multitude, today’s Gospel is also about what the disciples’ faith in Jesus will enable them to do. In last week’s Gospel, when the disciples see the crowds, they ask Jesus to send the crowds away. Jesus turns the situation around, telling the disciples to feed the crowd with the provisions that they have. Both of these Gospels tell us much about ministry. Jesus calls to the disciples and calms their fears. He is not a ghost. The impulsive Peter seeks proof that the person is indeed Jesus. He asks Jesus to call him out onto the water, and Jesus grants this request. Peter’s fear and doubt overtake him, however, once he is walking on the water. Jesus reaches out to Peter and saves him. When Jesus and Peter enter the boat, Matthew reports that the wind ceases, and the disciples confess that Jesus is the Son of God. Faith in Jesus will enable the disciples to do the work that Jesus has done. Peter walks on water. The five loaves and two fish feed a multitude of people. The disciples can and will participate in the work of the kingdom of heaven. When Peter fears and doubts the person of Jesus, however, he falters. Peter’s example teaches us that true Christian ministry emerges from the faith that Jesus is the Messiah, God’s only Son.

This Sunday's readings - Sunday 2nd August

By Webmaster • August 1, 2026
First Reading Isaiah 55:1-3 The Lord will renew his covenant with the descendents of David. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 145:8-9,15-18 The Lord provides for his people. Second Reading Romans 8:35,37-39 Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Gospel Reading Matthew 14:13-21 Jesus feeds the crowd with five loaves and two fish. Background on the Gospel Reading Today we jump ahead in our reading of Matthew's Gospel to Chapter 14. Last week we heard Jesus conclude his discourse with the crowds about the Kingdom of Heaven. In Matthew's narrative, Jesus then leaves the crowds and returns to Nazareth, where he is rejected. Matthew then recounts the story of John the Baptist's arrest and execution at the hands of Herod. Today's Gospel reading begins at this point. Upon hearing the news of the death of John the Baptist, Jesus seeks to withdraw, but the crowds follow him. Jesus reaches out to them in compassion and heals the sick. At the end of a long day, the disciples encourage Jesus to send the crowds away so that they might find provisions for themselves. Jesus again responds with compassion for the crowd. Jesus tells his disciples to provide food for the crowd. The disciples reply with a report of the meagerness of their own provisions—five loaves and two fish. The result is the very familiar miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fish. Matthew's Gospel tells us that 5,000 men were fed, and this number does not even include the women and children. Jesus' blessing brought abundance from the meager provisions of the disciples. In this action, Jesus offers us a sign of the Kingdom of Heaven that he has been teaching about in the parables. A feast results from the smallest of portions—remember the mustard seed and the yeast. In this miracle we witness an example for Christian life and ministry. Even the smallest of offerings can produce abundant results when placed in the service of the Kingdom of Heaven. We find the story of Jesus' multiplication of the loaves and the fish in each of the four Gospels. In the Gospels of Mark and Matthew, Jesus performs this same miracle on two separate occasions. The story of this miracle is an anticipation of the Eucharist in which we are fed by the abundant grace of God. The importance of the Eucharist has been a defining element of Christian life from the very beginning.

Fr. Frank holiday

By Webmaster • July 17, 2026
Just to let you know I am going on holiday on Tuesday. I will be back on Saturday 8th August for the 10am Mass. The Holy Ghost Fathers are looking after the parish from Tuesday 21st to 27th and Fr. Brown will take over from 28th to 7th August. The next Bulletin will be Thursday 13th August.

This Sunday's readings - Sunday 26th July

By Webmaster • July 17, 2026
First Reading 1 Kings 3:5,7-12 Solomon pleases God when he asks for a wise and understanding heart to better govern the people. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 119:57,72,76-77,127-130 The law of the Lord is more precious than silver and gold. Second Reading Romans 8:28-30 God chose us to be conformed to the image of his Son. Gospel Reading Matthew 13:44-52 (shorter form: Matthew 13:44-46) Jesus teaches about the Kingdom of Heaven.  Background on the Gospel Reading Today’s Gospel concludes three weeks of readings from the 13th Chapter of Matthew’s Gospel. Throughout these three weeks we have heard Jesus teaching crowds about the kingdom of heaven, and we have heard Jesus interpret some of his teachings for the disciples. In this week’s Gospel, Jesus offers three more short parables. The first two parables describe the great value of the kingdom of heaven. In the first parable, Jesus says that the kingdom of heaven is like a buried treasure that is worth possessing even if it means giving up everything else. In the second parable, Jesus proposes that the kingdom of heaven is like a pearl of great worth for which one will sell everything else to possess. These parables teach us that we are to place everything we value in the service of the pursuit of the Kingdom of God. The third parable that Jesus proposes in today’s Gospel is different from the first two, but it is reminiscent of the parable of the sower heard in last week’s Gospel. The kingdom of heaven is compared to fishing with a wide net. After the fish have been collected, the good fish are kept and the bad fish are thrown away; so too, in the final judgment, will the wicked and the righteous be separated. Today’s Gospel concludes with a curious statement about the scribe who understands the kingdom of heaven. Here a metaphor is offered: this scribe is like the head of a household who “brings from his storeroom both the new and the old.” The scribes referred to here are experts of Mosaic law. It is possible that Jesus is here instructing the early Christian community on how to proceed in the interpretation of Jewish law with respect to Jesus’ “new” teaching. Jesus’ teaching about the kingdom of heaven does not replace the Jewish tradition; it interprets it in a different light.

This Sunday's readings - Sunday 19th July

By Webmaster • July 17, 2026
First Reading Wisdom 12:13,16-19 God has shown himself to be a God of justice and mercy. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 86:5-6,9-10,15-16 A prayer to God for mercy. Second Reading Romans 8:26-27 The Spirit intercedes for us with God. Gospel Reading Matthew 13:24-43 (shorter form: Matthew 13:24-30) Jesus offers parables about the Kingdom of Heaven and explains them to his disciples.  Background on the Gospel Reading In today’s Gospel, Jesus offers three parables to describe the Kingdom of Heaven. He also explains why he speaks to the crowds in parables and interprets the parable of the sower for the disciples. This reading is a continuation of Jesus’ discourse that we began reading last Sunday. All three parables use commonplace experiences to describe aspects of the Kingdom of Heaven. The first parable is longer and more detailed than the next two, and it alerts us to the two-fold reality of the Kingdom of Heaven. The beginnings of the Kingdom of Heaven can be found in this world. The fruition of the Kingdom of Heaven, however, will not be realized until the final judgment. In the meantime, as Jesus’ explanation to the disciples cautions, any effort to judge the progress of the Kingdom of Heaven is premature. Only God, in the final judgment, will distinguish the fruit of the Kingdom of Heaven and offer its reward. The second and third parables call to our attention the abundance that will result from the small beginnings of the Kingdom of Heaven. Just as a mustard seed—the smallest of all seeds—will become a large bush, so too God will bring his Kingdom to full bloom. As a small amount of yeast will leaven the entire batch of bread, so too God will bring about the expansion of his Kingdom. In each case the image is of the superabundance that God brings out of even the smallest of signs of the Kingdom. Contained within these parables are words of caution as well as words of consolation. In the parable of the sower we are warned against judging others. To judge and uproot the “weeds” prematurely will harm the wheat; final judgment rests with God. In the parables of the mustard seed and the yeast, we are consoled by the message that God can work wonders and produce abundance from even the smallest beginnings of the Kingdom of Heaven.
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