Author Archives: friargaspar

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time – A

Readings: Is 8:23–9:3; I Cor 1:10-13, 17; Mt 4:12-23 The World calls the Qualified, but God qualifies the Called! A story is told that one day a middle-aged, single woman came to see a holy old priest to confide to … Continue reading

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Solemnity of Our Lady of Arabia

Readings: Is 60:1-6; Ps 71: 1-2, 7-8, 10-13; Rom 12:9-16; Lk 1:45 QUEEN OF ARABIA! QUEEN OF PEACE! Our Lady of Arabia is a Roman Catholic title of the Blessed Virgin Mary holding a scapular and the Child Jesus as … Continue reading

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Epiphany of the Lord – A

Readings: Is 60: 1-6; Ps 72: 1-2, 7-8. 10-13; Eph 3: 2-3, 5-6; Mt 2: 1-12 COME, LET US ADORE HIM! A survey was made among school children asking the question why they enjoyed reading Harry Potter novels and watching … Continue reading

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Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God – A

Readings: Nm 6: 22-27; Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Gal 4: 4-7; Lk 2: 16-21 “A NEW BEGINNING FOR A NEW YEAR!” A story is told that at the beginning of a new year, a high school principal decided to … Continue reading

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The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph – A

Readings: Sir 3: 2-6, 12-14 or Col 3: 12-21; Ps 128: 1-5; Mt 2: 13-15, 19-23 THE HOLY FAMILY, A MODEL FOR EVERY FAMILY A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year old grandson. The … Continue reading

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The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)

Readings: Is 52:7-10; Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18 UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN Recognizing Jesus One of my favorite Christmas stories is about the old shoe cobbler who dreamed one Christmas Eve that Jesus would … Continue reading

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Fourth Sunday of Advent – A

Readings: Is 7:10-14; Ps 24:1-6; Rom 1:1-7; Mt 1:18-2 HERE I AM, I COME TO OBEY YOUR WILL, O GOD! Today is the Fourth Sunday of Advent – the final Sunday before Christmas. Christmas is only a few days away … Continue reading

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Third Sunday of Advent – A

Readings: Is 35:1-6,10; Ps 146:6-10; Jam 5:7-10; Mt 11:2-11 “REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS! THE LORD IS NEAR.” When Einstein fled Nazi Germany, he came to America and bought an old two-story house within walking distance of Princeton University. There … Continue reading

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Second Sunday of Advent – A

Readings: Is 11:1-10; Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17; Rom 15:4-9; Mt 3:1-12 “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 sat quietly … Continue reading

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First Sunday of Advent – A

Readings: Is 2:1-5; Ps 122:1-9; Rom 13:11-14; Mt 24:37-44 COME, LET US WALK IN THE LIGHT OF THE LORD! Today we begin a new Liturgical Year and indeed, it is the First Sunday of Advent. Here we go again! Another … Continue reading

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Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Readings: 2 Sam 5:1-3; Ps 122:1-5; Col 1:12-20; Lk 23:35-43 Christus Vincit. Christus Regnat. Christus Imperat. Christ conquers. Christ reigns. Christ commands. Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He … Continue reading

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Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time – C

Readings: Mal 3:19-20a; Ps 98:5-6, 7-8, 9; 2 Thes 3:7-12; Lk 21:5-19 OUR REDEMPTION IS NEAR With just one week left to come to the end of the Church’s liturgical calendar, (Year C), and about six weeks to draw the … Continue reading

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Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time – C

Readings: 2 Mac 7:1-2, 9-14; Ps 17:1,5-6,8,15; 2 Thes 2:16-3:5; Lk 20:27-38 THE RESSURECTION GIVES MY LIFE MEANING, DIRECTION AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO START OVER A memo from God to You: I am God. Today I will be handling all … Continue reading

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The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)

Readings: Wis 3:1-9; Ps 23:1-3, 3-6; Rom 5:5-11; Jn 6:37-40 Come, you who are blessed by my Father; Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Today I am going to tell you something that ought … Continue reading

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Solemnity of All Saints

Readings: Rev 7:2-4, 9-14; Ps 24:1-6; 1 Jn 3:1-3; Mt 5:1-12 Rejoice and be Glad, for your Reward will be Great in Heaven! Today’s solemnity commemorates every Saint, known and unknown. To better understand the significance of All Saints’ Day, … Continue reading

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Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time – C

Readings: Wis 11, 22-12, 2; Ps: 144, 1-2. 11-14; 2 Thes 1, 11-2, 2; Lk 19, 1-10 Scrutinized by People, But Admired by God   Jon Pedley lived the life of a swinging millionaire until an alcohol-fueled car accident in … Continue reading

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Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time – C (Mission Sunday)

Readings: Sir 35:12-14, 16-18; Ps 34:2-3,17-19, 23; 2 Tim 4:6-8,16-18; Lk 18:9-14 THE HUMBLE WILL BE EXALTED A man received a promotion to the position of Vice President of the company he worked for. The promotion went to his head, … Continue reading

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Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time – C

Readings: Ex 17:8-13; Ps 121:1-8; 2 Tim 3:14-4:2; Lk 18:1-8 “We must pray with our eyes on God… not on the difficulties.” — Oswald Chambers God only gives three answers to prayer: 1. Yes! 2. Not yet. 3. I have … Continue reading

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Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time – C

Readings: 2 Kgs 5:14-17; Ps 98:1-4; 2 Tim 2:8-13; Lk 17:11-19 “Each grateful thought we hold is a healing balm that transforms our lives” A poor woman would always sit among others in a certain market place selling bunches of … Continue reading

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Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time – C

Readings: Hab 1:2-3;2:2-4; Ps 95:1-2,6-9; 2 Tim 1:6-8,13-14; Lk 17:5-10 THE JUST WILL LIVE BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH Diane, a young Christian University student, was home for the summer. She had gone to visit some friends one evening and time … Continue reading

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Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time – C

Readings: Amos 6:1, 4-7; Ps 146:7-10; 1 Tim 6:11-16; Lk 16:19-31 “Aspire to Inspire before you Expire!” Let us imagine this scene. A man dies and arrives before the judgment seat of God. The divine judge goes through the book … Continue reading

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Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time – C

Readings: Am 8:4-7; Ps 113:1-2, 4-6, 7-8; 1 Tm 2:1-8; Lk 16:1-13 LIVING AS GOD’S FAITHFUL STEWARDS Everyone, even secretly, has mused about sudden wealth. What would we do the money? Pay bills? Quit employment? Buy new dwellings? Go on an … Continue reading

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Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time – C

Readings: Ex 32:7-11, 13-14; Ps 51:3-4, 12-13, 17, 19; 1 Tim 1:12-17; Lk 15:1-10 BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL In her novel ‘Five for Sorrow, Ten for Joy’, author Rumer Godden tells an intriguing tale. The heroine of the story is … Continue reading

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Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time – C

Readings: Wis 9:13-18; Ps 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14-17; Phmn 9-10, 12-17; Lk 14:25-33 PUUTING GOD FIRST There once was a man who had nothing for his family to eat. He had an old shotgun and three bullets. So, he decided … Continue reading

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Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time – C

Readings: Sir 3:17-18,20,28-29; Ps 68:4-5, 6-7, 10-11; Heb 12:18-19,22-24; Luke 14:1,7-14 “HUMILITY SAVES A MAN, BUT PRIDE MAKES HIM LOSE HIS WAY” — Pope Francis A truly humble man is hard to find, yet God delights to honor such selfless … Continue reading

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Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time – C

Readings: Is 66:18-21; Ps 117:1, 2; Heb 12:5-7, 11-13; Lk 13:22-30 MAKE STRAIGHT YOUR PATHS! Five wise men got lost in the forest. The first one said: I will go the left – my intuition tells me that. The second … Continue reading

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Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary – C

Readings: Rev 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab; Ps 45:10, 11, 12, 16; 1 Cor 15:20-27; Lk 1:39-56 TO JESUS THROUGH MARY With great joy we celebrate the solemn feast of Mary’s Assumption into heaven. It is not only a glorious mystery of … Continue reading

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Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time – C

Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/081416.cfm “Be God’s prophets and God’s microphones.” — Oscar Romero The central theme of today’s readings is that we should courageously live out our religious convictions and principles in our lives, as Jeremiah, Paul and Jesus did theirs, even … Continue reading

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Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – C

Readings: Wis 18, 6-9; Ps 32, 1.12.18-22; Heb 11, 1-2.8-19; Lk 12, 35-40 Integrating Awareness, Service and Faith into Our Lives There are times when we say to ourselves, “If only I could see more clearly! If only I knew … Continue reading

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Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – C

Readings: Eccl 1:2; 2:21-23; Ps 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17; Col 3:1-5, 9-11; Lk 12:13-21 “A LONG LIFE MAY NOT BE GOOD ENOUGH, BUT A GOOD LIFE IS DEFINITELY LONG ENOUGH” Having Our Priorities Straight It happened that there was … Continue reading

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Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – C

Readings: Gen 18, 20 -32; Ps: 137, 1-3. 6-8; Col 1, 12-14; Lk 11, 1-13 NEVER GIVE UP ON GOD BECAUSE GOD NEVER GIVES UP ON US God’s Delay Is Not His Denial I had been unemployed for most months of 2010. At … Continue reading

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Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – C

Readings: Gen 18, 1-10; Ps: 14, 2-5; Col 1, 24-28; Lk 10, 38-42 SERVICE AND CONTEMPLATION Two Sides of the Same Coin On this 16th Sunday, the first reading and the Gospel have so much in common. Of utmost importance … Continue reading

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Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – C

Readings: Dt 30:10-14;Ps 69:14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36, 37; Col 1:15-20; Lk10:25-37 WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR? The first reading is taken from the book of Deuteronomy 30:10-14 and is the final discourse of Moses, just prior to the selection of … Continue reading

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Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – C

Readings: Is 66:10-14c; Ps 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20; Gal 6:14-18; Lk 10: 1-12, 17-20 AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST The world famous Pagannini was scheduled to begin his violin recital, one evening, when he found that his Stradivarius violin had been … Continue reading

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Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – C

Readings: I Kgs 19:16b, 19-21; Gal 5:1, 13-18; Lk 9: 51-62 ANSWERING THE CALL OF CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP During the US civil war Abraham Lincoln met with a group of ministers for a prayer breakfast. Lincoln was not a church-goer but … Continue reading

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Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time – C

Readings: Zech 12:10-11; 13:1; Ps 62:2-6. 8-9 r. 2; Gal 3:26-29; Lk 9:18-24 “WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?” Jesus saw aspects of his own life and mission foreshadowed in Zechariah’s prophecy given in the First Reading and in … Continue reading

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Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time – C

Readings: 2 Sam 12: 7–10, 13; Ps 32: 1–2, 5,7,11; Gal 2:16, 19–21; Lk 7:36–50 TEARS, KISSES AND PERFUME Three things that Jesus is still looking for today. A religious man learned that a prostitute was doing business in the neighbourhood. … Continue reading

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Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – C

Readings: 1 Kgs 17-17-24; Ps 30: 2,4-6,11-13; Gal 1:11-19; Lk 7:11-17 OUR GOD IS A GOD OF LIFE! The loving giver and preserver of all life, God is unjustly accused when conceived of as a vengeful, punishing despot who wrests … Continue reading

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Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ – C

Readings: Gen 14:18-20; Ps 110:1, 2, 3, 4; 1 Cor 11:23-26; Lk 9:11b-17 THE EUCHARIST IS JESUS! ….. HIS BODY, BLOOD, SOUL AND DIVINITY It was related that once when the Duke of Wellington remained to take Holy Communion at … Continue reading

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Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity – C

Readings: Prv 8:22-31; Ps 8:4-5, 6-7, 8-9; Rom 5:1-5; Jn 16:12-15 “IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN.” At confirmation, the Archbishop asked the children for a definition of the Holy … Continue reading

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Solemnity of Pentecost – C

Readings: Acts 2:1-11; 1 Cor. 12:3-7,12-13; Jn 20:19-23 “I Believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life.” You might not know the name Angelo Dundee, but you’ve undoubtedly heard of Muhammad Ali, probably the most famous professional … Continue reading

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Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord – C

Readings: Acts 1:1-11; Ps 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9; Eph 1:17-23; Lk 24:46-53 LOVE LIFTED ME The Key Zig Ziglar tells the story about an elderly man playing an organ in a cathedral in Europe. He was playing sad and melancholy music. … Continue reading

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Sixth Sunday of Easter – C

Readings: Acts 15:1-2, 22-29; Ps 67:2-3, 5-6, 8; Rev 21:10-14, 22-23; Jn 14:23-29 To Obey is Better than Sacrifice Obedience in the Bible means this: love + trust + action. It starts with love, as Jesus said in John 14:15: … Continue reading

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Fifth Sunday of Easter – C

Readings: Acts 14:21-27; Ps 145:8-13; Rev 21:1-5; Jn 13:31-35 WHAT IS LOVE? LOVE IS UNCONDITIONAL COMMITMENT TO AN IMPERFECT PERSON. TO LOVE SOMEBODY ISN’T JUST A STRONG FEELING. IT IS A DECISION, A JUDGEMENT AND A PROMISE OF A LIFETIME. Here … Continue reading

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Fourth Sunday of Easter – C

Readings: Acts 13:14, 43-52; Ps 100:1-3, 5; Rev 7:9,14-17; Jn 10:27-30 GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY « World Day of Prayer for Vocations » “Who is running the Church, you or the Holy Spirit?” Here is an anecdote that perfectly conveys the … Continue reading

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Third Sunday of Easter – C

Readings: Acts 5: 27-32, 40f. Rev 5:11-14 Jn 21:1-19 (or 1-14) LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING A girl wanted a ring. But the boy gave a teddy bear instead. In anger the girl threw the bear on the road. The boy went … 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 or 1 Cor 5:6b-8; Jn 20:1-9 or Lk 24:1-12 The cross couldn’t hold him, the tomb couldn’t contain him, the burial cloths were unnecessary, because Jesus is alive! HE IS … Continue reading

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Palm Sunday – C

Readings: Is 50:4-7; Ps 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24; Phil 2:6-11; Lk 22:14-23:56 HOSANNA! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD! There’s an old story of the boy who stood on a sidewalk, waiting for a bus. A … Continue reading

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Fifth Sunday of Lent – C

Readings: Is 43:16-21; Ps 126:1-6; Phil 3:8-14; Jn 8:1-11 EVERY SAINT HAS A PAST, AND EVERY SINNER, A FUTURE! Our title for today’s Reflection states that everyone who has been declared a Saint was, at one time, something less than … Continue reading

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Fourth Sunday of Lent – C

Readings: Jos 5:9-12; Ps 34:2-7; 2 Cor 5:17-21; Lk 15:1-3, 11-32 GOD’S MERCY HAS NO BOUNDARIES A Modern-Day Prodigal: Jenny grew up in Rankin Park, Newcastle. In her early teenage years she fell into a pattern of long running battles … Continue reading

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