Author Archives: friargaspar

Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God

Readings: Num 6: 22-27; Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Gal 4: 4-7; Lk 2: 16-21 Mary, Mother of God, help me to walk with God this Year “Mary, the all holy ever virgin Mother of God, is the masterwork of … Continue reading

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Fourth Sunday of Advent – B

Readings: 2 Sam 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Ps 89:2-5, 27, 29; Rom 16:25-27; Lk 1:26-38 “BEHOLD, I AM THE HANDMAID OF THE LORD. MAY IT BE DONE TO ME ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD.” A Persian legend runs that a certain … Continue reading

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Third Sunday of Advent – B

Readings: Is 61:1-2, 10-11; Lk 1:46-50, 53-54; 1 Thes 5:16-24; Jn 1:6-8, 19-28 “REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS, AND AGAIN I SAY REJOICE! INDEED, THE LORD IS NEAR.” There is joy in retrospect, as we look at the past; there … Continue reading

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Second Sunday of Advent – B

Readings: Is 40:1-5, 9-11; Ps 85:9-14; 2 Pt 3:8-14; Mk 1:1-8 “PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE STRAIGHT HIS PATHS.” Once, when a conference of ministers was held in a certain town, a certain old preacher had sat quietly … Continue reading

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Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Readings: Gen 3:9-15, 20; Eph 1:3-6, 11-12; Lk 1:26-38 “HAIL, FULL OF GRACE!” On June 22nd 1998, the Church of Corpus Christi in Moyross in Limerick was destroyed by fire causing an estimated £250,000 worth of damage. At first it … Continue reading

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First Sunday of Advent – B

Readings: Is 63: 16-17. 19b; 64: 2-7/ Ps 80: 2-3. 15-16. 18-19/ 1 Cor 1: 3-9/ Mk 13: 33-37 “BE WATCHFUL, BE ALERT! FOR YOU DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE TIME WILL COME.” Today is the First Sunday of Advent … Continue reading

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Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Readings: Ez 34:11-12, 15-17; Ps 23:1-3, 5-6 1; Cor 15:20-26, 28; Mt 25:31-46 ALL GLORY TO JESUS CHRIST, OUR LORD AND KING, NOW AND FOREVER! I would like to begin with a humorous story. Once a priest was giving a … Continue reading

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Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time – A

Readings: Prov 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31; Ps 128:1-5 1; Thes 5:1-6; Mt 25:14-30 “COME, SHARE YOUR MASTER’S JOY.” Once upon a time there were two teenagers who were the ninth and tenth person on Mollie Whopi’s basketball team. They were on … Continue reading

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Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time – A

Readings: Wis 6:12-16; Ps 63:2-8 1; Thes 4:13-18; Mt 25:1-13 “THEREFORE, STAY AWAKE, FOR YOU KNOW NEITHER THE DAY NOR THE HOUR.” There is an old story of a jester who sometimes made very wise utterances. One day, the jester … Continue reading

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Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time – A

Readings: Mal 1:14-2:2, 8-10; Ps 131:1-3 1; Thes 2:7-9, 13; Mt 23:1-12 “THE GREATEST AMONG YOU MUST BE YOUR SERVANT.” There is a story told of a troubled mother who came to Mahatma Gandhi along with her little daughter, and … Continue reading

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All Souls’ Day

THE SUFFERING CHURCH Today is the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, more commonly known as All Souls’ Day. While not a day of Holy Obligation like yesterday’s Feast of All Saints, a day focused on the Church in Heaven, … Continue reading

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Solemnity of All Saints

Readings: Rev 7:2-4, 9-14; 1 Jn 3:1-3; Mt 5:1-12a “LORD, THIS IS THE PEOPLE THAT LONGS TO SEE YOUR FACE!” After a long illness a woman died and arrived at the Gates of Heaven. While she was waiting for St. … Continue reading

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Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time – A

Readings: Ex 22:20-26; Ps 18:2-4, 47, 51 1; Thes 1:5-10; Mt 22:34-40 “TEACHER, WHICH COMMANDMENT IN THE LAW IS THE GREATEST?” There is a natural, logical kind of loving that loves lovely things and lovely people. That’s logical. But there … Continue reading

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Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time – A

Readings: Is 45:1 ,4-6; Ps 96:1, 3-5, 7-10; 1 Thes 1:1-5; Mt 22:15-21 “THEN REPAY TO CAESAR WHAT BELONGS TO CAESAR AND TO GOD WHAT BELONGS TO GOD.” Once upon a time there was a very generous man who had … Continue reading

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Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time – A

Readings: Is 25:6-10; Ps 23:1-6; Phil 4:12-16, 19-20; Mt 22:1-14 “Many are invited, but few are chosen.” Once upon a time a family had lived on a street for a long time and had no neighbors because the other lots … Continue reading

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Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time – A

Readings: Is 5:1-7; Ps 80:9, 12-16, 19-20; Phil 4:6-9; Mt 21:33-43 “THE STONE THAT THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE CORNERSTONE!” George Campbell Morgan, a renowned English preacher and a Bible scholar, was one of 150 young men who sought … Continue reading

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Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time – A

Readings: Ez 18:25-28; Ps 25:4-9; Phil 2:1-11; Mt 21:28-32 “O LORD, WE HAVE SINNED AGAINST YOU AND DISOBEYED YOUR WILL.” In the eleventh century, King Henry III of Bavaria grew tired of court life and the pressures of being a … Continue reading

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Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time – A

Readings: Is 55:6-9; Ps 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18; Phil 1:20-24, 27; Mt 20:1-16 “ARE YOU ENVIOUS BECAUSE I AM GENEROUS?” There was a guy who died and was being given a tour of heaven, and he saw a friend of his … Continue reading

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Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time – A

Readings: Sir 27:30-28:7; Ps 103:1-4, 9-12; Rom 14:7-9; Mt 18:21-35 FREEDOM IN FORGIVENESS When a drunk driver took the life of his wife, his son, his daughter and his unborn child, he decided to do the hardest thing of all, … Continue reading

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Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time – A

Readings: Ez 33:7-9; Ps 95:1-2, 6-9; Rom 13:8-10; Mt 18:15-20 AM I MY BROTHER’S KEEPER? Am I my brother’s keeper? This question goes back to the very beginning of God’s plan for salvation, and haunts us in a multitude of … Continue reading

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Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time – A

Readings: Jer 20:7-9; Ps 63:2-6, 8-9; Rom 12:1-2; Mt 16:21-27 IN DYING WE ARE BORN TO ETERNAL LIFE St. Augustine was born in 354 AD in Africa. His mother, St. Monica, was a devout Christian, who raised her son with … Continue reading

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Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time – A

Readings: Is 22:19-23; Ps 138:1-3, 6, 8; Rom 11:33-36; Mt 16:13-20 “YOU ARE PETER, AND UPON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH.” When Christian Herter was Governor of Massachusetts, he was running hard for a second term in office. … Continue reading

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Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time – A

Readings: Is 56:1,6-7; Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Rom 11:13-15, 29-32; Mt 15:21-28 “O GOD, O GOD, LET ALL NATIONS PRAISE YOU!” During the World War II, a small group of soldiers were on a special mission. Their good buddy … Continue reading

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Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – A

Readings: 1 Kgs 19:9a, 11-13a; Ps 85:9-14; Rom 9:1-5; Mt 14: 22-33 “LORD, LET US SEE YOUR KINDNESS, AND GRANT US YOUR SALVATION.” There is a story told about a young man and an old preacher. The young man had … Continue reading

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Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord – A

Readings: Dn 7: 9-10, 13-14; Ps 97: 1-2, 5-6, 9; 2 Pt 1: 16-19; Mt 17: 1-9 Transfigure us, O Lord! I’m sure you are familiar with this expression: ‘No pain, no gain; no thorn, no crown; no suffering, no … Continue reading

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Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – A

Readings: 1 Kgs 3: 5. 7-12; Ps 119: 57, 72, 76-77, 127-130; Rom 8: 28-30; Mt 13: 44-52 “LORD, YOU ARE MY GREATEST TREASURE!” A story is told of a teacher who asked a class of students, “What would you … Continue reading

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Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – A

Readings: Wis 12: 13, 16-19; Ps 86: 5-6, 9-10, 15-16; Rom 8: 26-27; Mt 13: 24-43 “LORD, YOU ARE GOOD AND FORGIVING.” There is the story of a young lady who was a bright student. Unfortunately, she did not have … Continue reading

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Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – A

Readings: Is 55: 10-11; Ps 65: 10, 11-14 (Lk 8:8); Rom 8: 18-23; Mt 13: 1-23 THE SEED IS THE WORD OF GOD, CHRIST IS THE SOWER ALL WHO COME TO HIM WILL HAVE LIFE FOREVER. The First Reading is … Continue reading

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Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – A

Readings: Zech 9:9-10; Ps 145:1-2, 8-11, 13-14; Rom 8:9, 11-13; Mt 11:25-30 Know Christ and you will know rest. No Christ and there will be no rest! … In this life or the one to come! A man had a … Continue reading

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Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – A

Readings: 2 Kgs 4:8–11, 14–16; Ps 89:2–3,16–19; Rom 6:3–4,8–11; Mt 10:37–42 A CHOSEN RACE, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION! A young man who had been raised as an atheist was training to be an Olympic diver. The only religious … Continue reading

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Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time – A

Readings: Jer 20:10-13; Ps 69:8-10, 14, 17, 33-35; Rom 5:12-15; Mt 10:26-33 “Be not afraid! Your Father cares for you!” Biologists say that fear is not only a universal emotion but the first of emotions to be developed in man … Continue reading

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Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ – A

Readings: Deut 8:2-3, 14-16; Ps 147:12-15, 19-20; 1 Cor 10:16-17; Jn 6:51-58 THE EUCHARIST IS JESUS! “Always remain close to the Catholic Church, because it alone can give you true peace, since it alone possesses Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, … Continue reading

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The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity – A

Readings: Ex 34:4-6, 8-9; Dan 3:52-56; 2 Cor 13:11-13; Jn 3:16-18 IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, THE SON AND OF THE THE HOLY SPIRIT The TRINITY is one of the most basic doctrines of our Christian faith. When we … Continue reading

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Pentecost Sunday – A

Readings: Acts 2:1-11; Ps 104:1,24,29-31,34; 1 Cor 12:3-7,12-13; Jn 20:19-23 “Come, Holy Spirit! Live in me and in all of us as you lived in Mary and the Apostles.” Today is “Pentecost Sunday,” the fiftieth day after the Resurrection. On … Continue reading

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Solemnity of The Ascension of the Lord – A

Readings: Acts 1:1-11; Ps 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9; Eph 1:17-23; Mt 28:16-20 His Ascension is not His Separation from His People, but the Ascension of His Throne and the Beginning of His reign as Head of the Church. When you try … Continue reading

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Sixth Sunday of Easter – A

Readings: Acts 8:5-8, 14-17; Ps 66:1-7, 16, 20; 1 Pt 3:15-18; Jn 14:15-21 ALIVE IN THE SPIRIT Speaking to a large audience, Bishop Fulton Sheen, held up a glass and asked, “How can I get the air out of this … Continue reading

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Fifth Sunday of Easter – A

Readings: Acts 6:1-7; Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19; 1 Pt 2:4-9; Jn 14:1-12 “I AM THE WAY AND THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE. NO ONE CAN COME TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME.” During the 2nd World War, in Malaya, a … Continue reading

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Fourth Sunday of Easter – A

Readings: Acts 2:14, 36-41; Ps 23:1-6; 1 Pt 2:20-25; Jn 10:1-10 GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY “The Lord is your shepherd; don’t ever say “I am lost”. He leads you to green pastures; don’t ever say “I am broke”. Let the weak … Continue reading

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Third Sunday of Easter – A

Readings: Acts 2:14,22-28; Ps 16:1-2, 5, 7-11; 1 Pt 1:17-21; Lk 24:13-35 THE EMMAUS JOURNEY: Talking, Walking, Sharing and Knowing. I read about a minister who was given the honor of preaching at an important meeting of his denomination. Just … Continue reading

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Second Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday) – A

Readings: Acts 2:42-47; Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24; 1 Pt 1:3-9; Jn 20:19-31 He who knows how to forgive prepares for himself many graces from God. As often as I look upon the cross, so often will I forgive with all … Continue reading

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Easter Sunday – The Resurrection of the Lord

Readings: Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23; Col 3:1-4; Jn 20:1-9 JESUS CHRIST IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN, INDEED, TO DIE NO MORE! ALLELUIA! Today is Easter Sunday, and on this feast day we joyfully celebrate the glorious Resurrection … Continue reading

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Good Friday – A

Readings: Is 52:13—53:12; Ps 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17, 25; Heb 4:14-16; 5:7-9; Jn 18:1—19:42 HIS DESTINY WAS THE CROSS HIS PURPOSE WAS LOVE HIS REASON WAS YOU “It is finished’; and he bowed his head and handed over his … Continue reading

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Holy Thursday – A

Readings: Ex 12:1-8, 11-14; Ps 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18; 1 Cor 11:23-26; Jn 13:34; Jn 13:1-15 LOVE cannot remain by itself- it has no meaning. LOVE has to be put into action and that action is SERVICE – Mother Teresa- Evening … Continue reading

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Palm Sunday – A

Readings: Is 50:4-7; Ps 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24; Phil 2:6-11; Mt 27:11-54 HOSANNA TO THE KING OF KINGS! After five and a half weeks of preparation, we now enter into the climax of the Lenten season viz. Holy Week, the chief … Continue reading

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Fifth Sunday of Lent – A

Readings: Ezek 37:12-14; Ps 130:1-8; Rom 8:8-11; Jn 11:1-45 Everybody has troubles but not everybody has JESUS. JESUS MAKES THE DIFFERENCE I dreamed that I went to heaven and an angel was showing me around. We walked side-by-side inside a … Continue reading

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Fourth Sunday of Lent – A

Readings: 1 Sam 16:1b,6-7,10-13a; Ps 23:1-6; Eph 5:8-14; John 9:1-41 Little Faith will bring your Soul to Heaven, But Great Faith will bring Heaven to your Soul. The Fourth Sunday of Lent customarily is called “Laetare Sunday,” and it takes … Continue reading

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Third Sunday of Lent – A

Readings: Ex 17:3-7; Ps 95:1-2, 6-9; Rom 5:1-2, 5-8; Jn 4:5-15,19-26,39-42 LIKE THE WOMAN AT THE WELL, WE ARE SEEKING- FOR THINGS THAT CANNOT SATISFY Many of you might still remember the hollywood Marilyn Monroe of the 1950s? Monroe had … Continue reading

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Second Sunday of Lent – A

Readings: Gen 12:1-4; Ps 33:4-5,18-20, 22; 2 Tim 1:8-10; Mt 17:1-9 “IT’S BETTER HIGHER UP!” There is a story told of a certain woman who was always bright, cheerful and optimistic, even though she was confined to her room because … Continue reading

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First Sunday of Lent – A

Readings: Gen 2:7-9; 3:1-7; Ps 51:3-6; 12-14,17; Rom 5:12-19; Mt 4:1-11 One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God. The story is told of a pastor who was asked … Continue reading

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Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time – A

Readings: Zeph 2:3; 3:12-13; Ps 146:6-10; 1 Cor 1:26-31; Mt 5:1-12 “Happy is the man who trusts in the Lord!” All the Scripture Readings of today speak about how to achieve true and lasting happiness which comes from God, and … Continue reading

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