Reflections on the Daily Readings 6th March 2022

Webmaster • March 5, 2022

Monday 7th March


Memorial Of Perpetua And Felicity,

My Peace I Leave You


Saints Perpetua and Felicity shared an intense intimate bond. These two North African women were young new mothers imprisoned together by the Roman Empire for being Christians. Perpetua was a noblewoman and Felicity was her enslaved servant—but their unequal relationship was upended by their new faith, in which Saint Paul said there is “neither slave nor free.” The two held each other in the moments before their grisly public executions in an amphitheater and gave each other the kiss of peace before dying. In the face of any horror—from slavery to persecution to execution, all of which still exist in our modern times—love has power over hate.


Today's readings: Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18; Matthew 25:31-46

“When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?”


Tuesday 8th March


Memorial Of John Of God

Give your life in noble pursuit 


The Order of Brothers Hospitallers honors the work of Saint John of God, who was born and died on this day. John’s tumultuous path—as orphan, then soldier, then suffering from mental illness—eventually led to a humble spiritual life of tending the sick and dying poor. John died as he lived, in noble pursuit: He succumbed to pneumonia after rescuing a drowning man. Founded on the Rule of Saint Augustine, the order consoles the world’s sick and poor but also, officially, oversees medical care of the pope. Pray Augustine’s “Watch, O Lord” prayer to remember the sick and dying today—and all who comfort them.


Today's readings: Isaiah 55:10-11; Matthew 6:7-15

"So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me void, but shall do my will."




Wednesday 9th March


Memorial Of Frances Of Rome,

Let your legacy be one for the ages 


On this second day of National Catholic Sisters Week, we celebrate the feast of Saint Frances of Rome. Her renown as a servant of the poor was so great that centuries after her death, she became an inspiration for the first community of black nuns in America: Baltimore’s Oblate Sisters of Providence, founded in 1829 by Servant of God Mary Lange (one of the church’s six venerated African Americans). Dedicated to teaching black children during slavery, the Oblates named their flagship school in the Italian noblewoman’s honor, and St. Frances Academy is today the oldest continually operating black Catholic school in the nation. Like those holy sisters, let’s model the charism of Saint Frances this day and always.


Today's readings: Jonah 3:1-10; Luke 11:29-32

“My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.”


Thursday 10th March


Lenten Weekday

Let faith lead you to freedom


Today is the death date of abolitionist Harriet Tubman (1820-1913), whose life embodied Christian liberation. A deeply religious woman, Tubman risked her life repeatedly to lead enslaved men and women to freedom, relying on a deep bond with God for strength during these dangerous missions. Today, many people suffer injustice and lack of freedom. Whether it be a phone call to a legislator or an act of solidarity with an exploited group, take one step today that honors the tradition of Harriet Tubman.


Today's readings: Esther C:12, 14-16, 23-25; Matthew 7:7-12

“For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”


Friday 11th March


Lenten Weekday

Second chances are a first principle 


The good news of God’s forgiveness is the most confounding of Christian teachings. For those who rarely turn away from God in sin, it seems unjust that God’s mercy is indiscriminate, and for those who have turned away time and again and finally come to terms with their sinfulness, it seems impossible that God’s mercy is at hand. As Benedictine Sister Joan Chittister, O.S.B. says, “Perhaps forgiveness is the last thing mentioned in the Creed because it is the last thing learned in life.” Lent is our annual crash course in the practice of forgiving—ourselves and others.


Today's readings: Ezekiel 18:21-28; Matthew 5:20-26

“If the wicked man turns away from all the sins he committed, . . . none of the crimes he committed shall be remembered against him.”



Saturday 12th March


Lenten Weekday

To those to whom much is given . . .


Jewish diarist Anne Frank, whose death is observed today, once wrote: “Why can’t people who have more than they need for themselves give that surplus to their fellow citizens?” In most societies, alas, gaining wealth seems more the point than giving it away. But during Lent, Catholics customarily practice almsgiving, the tradition of sharing our wealth with those in need. Remembering that “charity covers a multitude of sins” (1 Pet. 4:8), what better time than Lent to send some of our money to our diocesan Catholic Charities or Catholic Relief Services?


Today's readings: Deuteronomy 26:16-19; Matthew 5:43-48 (229).

“Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!”

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.

Prayers for the Sick

By Webmaster • July 17, 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, and all our sick. .

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.

Prayers for the recently dead, months, mind and Anniversaries

By Webmaster • July 17, 2026
Our Recently Dead Ruth Leabody, Mary Coyle, Bobby Frew, Jim Kennedy (Strathaven), John McKenzie Month Minds & Anniversaries Ann & Hugh Rodgers, Pat Dougan, John Smith, William Smith, Peter McGarry, Raymond Findlater 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

Gift Aid

By Webmaster • July 11, 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 Sunday's readings - Sunday 12th July

By Webmaster • July 11, 2026
First Reading Isaiah 55:10-11 The Word of the Lord shall achieve its purpose. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 65:10-14 A prayer of praise to God for his abundance. Second Reading Romans 8:18-23 Together with all of creation, we await God’s redemption. Gospel Reading Matthew 13:1-23 (shorter form: Matthew 13:1-9) Jesus teaches that the kingdom of heaven is like seed that has been sown on good soil.  Background on the Gospel Reading Today’s Gospel marks the beginning of the third long discourse given by Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. Over the next few weeks, the Gospel readings will consist of the entire 13th Chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, a lengthy teaching discourse. Throughout this discourse, Jesus will offer several parables to illustrate for his listeners what he means by the kingdom of heaven. He begins with the parable of the sower, which appears rather straightforward—of course seeds grow best in good soil. Seeds that miss the soil, are sown on rocky ground, or are sown among other plants will not grow. The surprise in the parable is the enormous yield of the seed that is sown on good soil. Jesus then explains his use of parables. Jesus seems to suggest that he uses parables to teach because the meanings of parables are not self-evident. The hearer must engage in some degree of reflection in order to comprehend the message of a parable. In this way, the medium—the parable—models the point of the parable of the sower. Those who are willing to engage themselves in the effort to understand will be rewarded by the discovery of the message and will bear fruit. To bring home the point, Jesus interprets the parable of the sower to his disciples. The different types of soil in which the seeds are sown are metaphors for the disposition with which each individual hears the teaching about the kingdom of heaven. Some will be easily swayed away from the kingdom of heaven. Some will receive it for a time but will lose it when faced with difficulties. Some will hear the word but will then permit other cares to choke it out. Yet some will receive it well, and the seed will produce abundant fruit.

Powerpoint Remote Control:

By Webmaster • July 11, 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.
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