The all Saint Choir is the Church of the 12 Apostle’s 10am Mass choir
Monday 22 July 2019 Reflection
Sometimes people who are dearest to us are the farthest from us when we most need them. That is one of the ironies of life. Mary is not among the twelve, yet she is the one who goes back to the tomb to look for Jesus after his death. She still mourns him even when it seems the twelve have moved on. Hence she has the privilege of meeting Christ first after his resurrection. There are many reasons why people are attracted and come to us. It may be for the status; it may be because of our fame, or our personality. In the euphoria of all this we must never lose sight of those who befriend us in spite of who we are. They often are the ones that stick to us through thick and thin.
Monday 22 July 2019 Readings
Entrance Antiphon Jn20:17
The Lord said to Mary Magdalene: Go to my brothers and tell them: I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.
Collect
O God, whose Only Begotten Son entrusted Mary Magdalene before all others with announcing the great joy of the Resurrection, grant, we pray, that, through her intercession and example, we may proclaim the living Christ and come to see him reigning in your glory. Who lives and reigns with you. . .
The Gospel of this memorial is proper.
FIRST READING Song of Solomon 3:1-4ab
The bride responds: Upon my bed by night I sought him whom my soul loves; I sought him, but found him not; I called him, but he gave no answer. I will rise now and go about the city, in the streets and in the squares; I will seek him whom my soul loves. ”I sought him, but found him not. The watchmen found me, as they went about in the city. “Have you seen him whom my soul loves?” Scarcely had I passed them, when I found him whom my soul loves.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm63:2.2-4.5-6.8-9(R.see2b)
R/. For you my soul is thirsting, O Lord, my God.
O God, you are my God; at dawn I seek you;
For you my soul is thirsting.
For you my flesh is pining,
Like a dry, weary land without water. R.
I have come before you in the sanctuary,
To behold your strength and your glory.
Your loving mercy is better than life;
My lips will speak your praise. R.
I will bless you all my life;
In your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul shall be filled as with a banquet;
With joyful lips, my mouth shall praise you. R.
For you have been my strength;
In the shadow of your wings I rejoice.
My soul clings fast to you;
Your right hand upholds me. R.
ALLELUIA
Alleluia. O Mary, tell us what you saw along the way. The tomb I saw of the living Christ, and the glory of the Risen One. Alleluia.
GOSPEL John 20:1-2.11-18
Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Saying this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” Mary Magdalene went and said to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Sunday 21 July 2019 Readings
Theme of the Sunday: Hospitality and Listening to the Word. The first reading and the gospel are linked by the theme of hospitality. Ever ready and gratuitous hospitality is a sign of service to our’ neighbours. The kind generosity shown by Abraham towards his visitors is a good example. The story of Martha and Mary stresses that service, even service to Christ, cannot be separated from hearing his word. St Paul is a model of service to his fellows. This is what we might take away from the second reading.
FIRST READING Genesis 18: 1- 10a
In those days: The Lord appeared to Abraham by the Oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day. He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men stood in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the earth, and said, “My lord, if I have found favour in your sight, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree, while I fetch a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on — since you have come to your servant.” So they said, “Do as you have said.” And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, “Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes.” And Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. Then he took curds, and milk, and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate. They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said, “She is in the tent.” The Lord said, “I will surely return to you in the spring, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.”
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 15:2-3a.3bc-4ab.5 (R. 1a)
R/. Lord, who may abide in your tent?
Whoever walks without fault;
who does what is just,
and speaks the truth from his heart.
Who does not slander with his tongue. R.
Who does no wrong to a neighbour,
who casts no slur on a friend,
who looks with scorn on the wicked,
but honours those who fear the Lord. R.
Who lends no money at interest,
And accept no bribes against the innocent.
Such a one shall never be shaken. R.
SECOND READING Colossians 1:24-28
Brethren: Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s affliction for the sake of his body, that is, the Church, of which I became a minister according to the divine office which was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now made manifest to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man mature in Christ.
The word of the Lord.
ALLELUIA Luke 8:15
Alleluia. Blessed are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience. Alleluia.
GOSPEL Luke 10:38-42
At that time: Jesus entered a village; and a woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Saturday 20 July 2019 Readings
FIRST READING Exodus 12:37-42
In those days: The sons of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. A mixed multitude also went up with them, and very many cattle, both flocks and herds. And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they had brought out of Egypt, for it was not leavened, because they were thrust out of Egypt and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any provisions. The time that the sons of Israel dwelt in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. And at the end of four hundred and thirty years, on that very day, all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. It was a night of watching by the Lord, to bring them out of the land of Egypt; so this same night is a night of watching kept to the Lord by all the sons of Israel throughout their generations.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 136:1 and 23-24.10-12. 13-15 (R. lb)
R./ For his mercy endures forever.
Or: Alleluia.
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
He remembered us in our distress,
for his mercy endures forever.
And he snatched us away from our foes,
for his mercy endures forever. R.
The firstborn of the Egyptians he smote,
for his mercy endures forever.
He brought Israel out from their midst,
for his mercy endures forever;
with mighty hand and outstretched arm,
for his mercy endures forever. R.
The Red Sea he divided in two,
for his mercy endures forever;
he made Israel pass through the midst,
for his mercy endures forever;
he flung Pharaoh and his force in the Red Sea,
for his mercy endures forever. R.
ALLELUIA 2 Corinthians 5 :19
Alleluia. God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Alleluia.
GOSPEL Matthew 12:14-21
At that time: The Pharisees went out and took counsel against Jesus, how to destroy him. Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed him, and he healed them all, and ordered them not to make him known. This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he shall proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not wrangle or cry aloud, nor will any one hear his voice in the streets; he will not break a bruised reed or quench a smouldering wick, till he brings justice to victory; and in his name will the Gentiles hope.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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Friday 19 July 2019 Reflection
Laws are good. They help to keep society in order and maintain security of life and property. However, tied to the law is the spirit of the law. Beyond order and security, the law looks out for the good of human beings. Any law that stands against this good is not a just law. We are a fortunate people. We are guided not just by laws in our journey to salvation; we are guided by laws and grace. Every day we are confronted with choices between good and evil. Our choices daily should be informed by the laws of God and also by complete reliance on the grace of God.
Friday 19 July 2019 Readings
FIRST READING Exodus11:10-12:l4
In those days: Moses and Aaron did many wonders before Pharaoh; and the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the sons of Israel go out of his land. The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, “This month shall be for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you. Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month they shall take every man a lamb according to their fathers’ houses, a lamb for a household; and if the household is too small for a lamb, then a man and his neighbour next to his house shall take according to the number of persons; according to what each can eat you shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old; you shall take it from the sheep or from the goats; and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs in the evening. Then they shall take some of the blood, and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat them. They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it. Do not eat any of it raw or, boiled with water, but roasted, its head with its legs and its inner parts. And you shall let none of it remain until the morning, anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. In this manner you shall eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord’s Passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on a1l, the gods of Egypt I will execute judgements: I am the Lord. The blood shall be a sign for you, upon the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall fall upon you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt. This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations you shall observe it as an ordinance for ever.”
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 116: 12-13.15 and 16bc.17-18 (R. 13)
R. The cup of salvation I will raise, I will call on the name of the Lord.
How can I repay the Lord
for all his goodness to me?
The cup of salvation I will raise;
I will call on the name of the Lord. R.
How precious in the eyes of the Lord
is the death of his faithful.
Your servant am I, the son of your handmaid;
you have loosened my bonds. R.
A thanksgiving sacrifice I make;
I will call on the name of the Lord.
My vows to the Lord I will fulfil
before all his people. R.
ALLELUIA John 10:27
Alleluia. My sheep hear my voice; says the Lord; and I know them, and they follow me. Alleluia.
GOSPEL Matthew 12:1-8
At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the sabbath; his disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the sabbath.” He said to them, “Have you not read what David did, when he was hungry, and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the law how on the sabbath the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are guiltless? I tell you, something greater than, the temple is here. And if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Thursday 18 July 2019 Reflection
Mistakes abound in life, yes. The trick, however, is to make it easier for ourselves by learning from those mistakes and not repeating them. A great advantage we have is to learn from someone who is like us in everything except mistakes: Jesus Christ. He is meek and humble, even though his state is divine. Through this he attains the most exalted and glorious state in life. Isn’t that wonderful? Modelling our lives after someone great is one of the greatest lessons of life. We pass through a lot because we are short of models to learn from. Look up to Jesus.
Thursday 18 July 2019 Readings
FIRST READING Exodus 3: 13-20
In those days: [Hearing the voice of the Lord out of the midst of the bush,] Moses said to God, “If I come to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.”’ God also said to Moses, “Say this to the sons of Israel, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you’: this is my name for ever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. Go and gather the elders of Israel together, and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt; and I promise that I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt, to the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey.”’ And they will listen to your voice; and you and the elders of Israel shall go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us; and now, we beg you, let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God.’ I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless compelled by a mighty hand. So I will stretch out my hand and strike Egypt with all the wonders which I will do in it; after that he will let you go.”
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Ps 105: 1 and 5.8-9.24-25.26-27 (R. 8a)
R. The Lord remembers his covenant forever.
Give thanks to the Lord; proclaim his name.
Make known his deeds among the peoples.
Remember the wonders he has done,
his marvels and his words of judgement. R.
He remembers his covenant forever:
the promise he ordained
for a thousand generations,
the covenant he made with Abraham,
the oath he swore to Isaac. R.
He gave his people great increase;
he made them stronger than their foes,
whose hearts he turned to hate his people,
and to deal deceitfully with his servants. R.
Then he sent Moses his servant,
and Aaron whom he, had chosen.
They performed God’s signs among them,
and his wonders in the land of Ham. R.
ALLELUIA Matthew 11:28
Alleluia. Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest, says the Lord. Alleluia.
GOSPEL Matthew 11:28-30
At that time: Jesus declared, “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and l will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
The Gospel of the Lord.