Category Archives: Friar Gaspar
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
Posted in 2016, Easter, English, Friar Gaspar, Year C
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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
Posted in 2016, Easter, English, Friar Gaspar, Year C
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Second Sunday of Easter – C (Divine Mercy Sunday)
Readings: Acts 5:12-16; Ps 118:2-4,13-15, 22-24; Rev 1:9-13,17-19; Jn 20:19-31 “Lord Increase my Faith” Do you have doubts about the Christian faith? If so, you’re not alone. These are stories of others who have struggled, or are struggling, with tough … Continue reading
Posted in 2016, Easter, English, Friar Gaspar, Year C
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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
Posted in 2016, Easter, English, Friar Gaspar, Year C
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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
Posted in 2016, English, Friar Gaspar, Lent, Year C
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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
Posted in 2016, English, Friar Gaspar, Lent, Year C
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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
Posted in 2016, English, Friar Gaspar, Lent, Year C
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Third Sunday of Lent – C
Readings: Ex 3:1-8,13-15; Ps 103:1-4, 6-8, 11; 1 Cor 10:1-6, 10-12; Lk 13:1-9 I APPOINTED YOU TO BEAR FRUIT In our newspapers we read of disasters and watch catastrophes on television. And we deal with painful tragedies in the lives of … Continue reading
Posted in 2016, English, Friar Gaspar, Lent, Year C
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Second Sunday of Lent – C
Readings: Gen 15:5-12, 17-18; Ps 27:1,7-9, 13-14; Phil 3:17-4:1; Lk 9:28-36 Transfiguration of the Lord There’s a story of a magician doing wonderful magic tricks aboard a cruise ship. Every night, as the magician did something special, the Captain’s pet … Continue reading
Posted in 2016, English, Friar Gaspar, Lent, Year C
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First Sunday of Lent – C
Readings: Deut 26:4-10; Ps 91:1-2,10-15; Rom 10:8-13; Lk 4:1-13 “If You Can Eliminate Temptation, You Can Eliminate Sin” Once four priests were spending a couple of days at a cabin. In the evening they decided to tell each other their … Continue reading
Posted in 2016, English, Friar Gaspar, Lent, Year C
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Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time – C
Readings:Is 6:1-8; Ps 138:1-5, 7-8; 1 Cor 15:1-11; Lk 5:1-11 God Uses Ordinary People In Extrordinary Ways For His Glory At first it may seem that that statement isn’t quite right and you may not believe it. After all aren’t … Continue reading
Posted in 2016, English, Friar Gaspar, OT I, Year C
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Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time – C
Readings: Jer 1:4-5,17-19; Ps 71: 1-6,15-17; 1 Cor 12:31-13:13; Lk 4:21-30 BORN FOR GREATER THINGS! Most of the time we like people who please us, who say nice things about us, and do not confront us. Even if we are … Continue reading
Posted in 2016, English, Friar Gaspar, OT I, Year C
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Third Sunday in Ordinary Time – C
Readings: Neh 8:2-6,10; Ps 19:8-10,15; 1 Cor 12:12-30; Lk 1:1-4, 4:14-21 THE GOOD NEWS We spend much time listening to people talking to us. But do we believe what they say? We like to match what people say with their … Continue reading
Posted in English, Friar Gaspar, OT I, Year C
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Our Lady of Arabia / Second Sunday in Ordinary Time – C
Readings: Is 62:1-5; Ps 96:1-3, 7-10; 1 Cor 12:4-11; Jn 2:1-12 “MAKE SURE YOU INVITE JESUS AND MARY!” Johnny Carson (who hosted the Tonight Show for 30 years), was interviewing an eight-year-old boy one night. The young man was asked … Continue reading
Posted in 2016, English, Friar Gaspar, OT I, Year C
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The Baptism of the Lord – C
Readings: Is 40:1-5, 9-11; Ti 2:11-14, 3:4-7; Lk 3:15-16, 21-22 CLAIMING OUR INHERITANCE AS ‘ADOPTED SONS & DAUGHTERS’ I read this story of two pastors and one priest talking about the problem of cats invading their churches. The Baptist minister … Continue reading
The Epiphany of the Lord
Readings: Is 60:1-6; Ps 72:-12,7-8, 10-13; Eph 3:2-3,5-6; Mt 2:1-12 COME LET US ADORE HIM! Have you ever noticed how life doesn’t always turn out the way we carefully plan it to? Sometimes circumstances don’t always follow our plans. Often, … Continue reading
Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God
Readings: Nm 6:22-27; Ps 67:2-3,5,6,8; Gal 4:4-7; Lk 2:16-21 BE WITH US MARY, ALONG THE WAY! Today’s solemnity is a celebration of Mary’s motherhood of Jesus and the role she played in the history of our salvation. The title “Mother … Continue reading
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 CHRISTMAS IS “GOOD NEWS” FOR ALL PEOPLE The speakers in the mall are playing sleigh-bell songs, Santa is in his grotto with a long line of children waiting … Continue reading
Fourth Sunday of Advent – C
Readings: Mic 5:1-4; Ps 80:2-3,15-16,18-19; Heb 5:5-10; Lk 1:39-45 A “MAGNIFICAT” CHRISTMAS One night, during the six o’clock news on TV, the financial reporter said among other things, “The stock market gained today, and the value of the dollar is … Continue reading
Posted in 2016, Advent, English, English, Friar Gaspar
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Third Sunday of Advent – C
Readings: Zeph 3:14-18; Is 12:2-6; Phil 4:4-7; Lk 3:10-18 RECOICE, THE LORD IS NEAR! Today, the third Sunday of Advent, is known as ‘Gaudete’ Sunday from the first word of the entrance antiphon, which is in turn the first verse … Continue reading
Posted in 2016, Advent, English, English, Friar Gaspar
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Second Sunday of Advent – C
Readings: Bar 5:1-9; Ps 126:1-6; Phil 1:4-6,8-11; Lk 3:1-6 PREPARING THE WAY FOR THE LORD IN MY LIFE! Advent is a season of HOPE. Hope is such an important Christian virtue. Hope is more than optimism. We can be optimistic … Continue reading
Posted in 2016, Advent, English, English, Friar Gaspar
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First Sunday of Advent – C
Readings: Jer 33:14-16; Ps 25:4-5,8-10,14; 1 Thess 3:12-4:2; Lk 21:25-28, 34-36 WAITING IN JOYFUL HOPE! ******************* Advent is a time for new thoughts, new beginnings, new projects, as we start a new year of Christian prayer and worship. The Gospel … Continue reading
Posted in 2016, Advent, English, English, Friar Gaspar
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Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe – B
Readings: Dan 7:13-14; Ps 93:1-2,5; Rev 1:5-8; Jn 18:33-37 JESUS’ KINGSHIP IS ONE OF LOVE, JUSTICE AND PEACE! I Timothy 2:6 says Jesus “gave himself as a ransom.” A ransom is a price paid to purchase someone’s freedom. In 1193, … Continue reading
Posted in 2015, English, Friar Gaspar, OT II, Year B
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Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time – B
Readings: Dan 12:1-3; Ps 16:5,8-11; Heb 10:11-14,18; Mk 13:24-32 LIFE IS SHORT; DEATH IS CERTAIN; ETERNITY IS FOREVER! The Bible says that in the final days or “end times” there will be “distress of nations”. This is certainly the case … Continue reading
Posted in 2015, English, Friar Gaspar, OT II, Year B
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Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time – B
Readings: 1 Kgs 1:10-16; Ps 146:7-10; Heb 9:24-28; Mk 12:41-44 Our Jugs of Oil Will Never Run Dry! Nancy was a single mother with young children. Her ex-husband sent her only a small amount of grocery money every week–so small … Continue reading
Posted in 2015, English, Friar Gaspar, OT II, Year B
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Solemnity of All Saints – B
Readings: Rev 7:2-4, 9-14; Ps 24:1-61; Jn 3:1-3; Mt 5:1-12 Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven! (Mt 5:12) Today, the Church celebrates all the saints: canonized or beatified, and the multitude of those who are … Continue reading
Posted in 2015, English, Friar Gaspar, OT II, Year B
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Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time – B
Readings: Jer 31:7-9; Ps 126:1-6; Heb 5:1-6; Mk 10:46-52 LORD, HEAL OUR SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS According to World Health Organization, there are 39 million blind people on the planet. These are the people who wake up every day and stare down … Continue reading
Posted in 2015, English, Friar Gaspar, OT II, Year B
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Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time – B
Readings: Is 53:10-11; Psalm 33; Heb 4:14-16; Mk 10:35-45 MISSION SUNDAY World Mission Sunday, organized by the Propagation of the Faith, is a day set aside for Catholics worldwide to recommit themselves to the Church’s missionary activity through prayer and … Continue reading
Posted in 2015, English, Friar Gaspar, OT II, Year B
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Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time – B
Readings: Wis. 7:7-11; Heb 4:12-13; Mk 10:17-30 The man who went to Hell with Heaven on his mind. How is a person to measure happiness? Is there an absolute criterion or criteria by which we can assess a person and … Continue reading
Posted in 2015, English, Friar Gaspar, OT II, Year B
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Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time – B
Readings:Gn 2:18-24; Ps 128:1-6; Heb 2:9-11; Mk 10:2-16 TO LOVE AND TO CHERISH “When two people become one by way of marriage, it is not only their hearts that are united, but their minds and souls as well.” — Julie … Continue reading
Posted in 2015, English, Friar Gaspar, OT II, Year B
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Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time – B
Readings: Nm 11:25-29; Ps 19:8-14; Jas 5:1-6; Mk 9:38-48 GOD’S CALL TO HOLINESS, GENEROSITY AND TO BE AN INSPIRATION TO ALL THOSE AROUND A soldier of Alexander the Great was driving a heavily laden mule to the royal tent. The … Continue reading
Posted in 2015, English, Friar Gaspar, OT II, Year B
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Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time – B
Readings: Wis 2:12, 17-20 ; Ps 54:3-4, 5, 6 & 8; Jas 3: 16-4:3, Mk 9: 30-37 HUMILITY and SERVICE – ARE THE MOTHER OF ALL VIRTUES Many years ago, a rider came across some soldiers who were trying to … Continue reading
Posted in 2015, English, Friar Gaspar, OT II, Year B
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Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time – B
Readings: Is 50; 5-9 ; Jas 2: 14-18; Mk 8: 27-35 NO CROSS NO CROWN Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and … Continue reading
Posted in 2015, English, Friar Gaspar, OT II, Year B
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Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
September 8, 2015 The readings: Rom. 8:28-30 or Mic. 5:2-5; Mt. 1:16, 18-23 Anecodote: The “Hail Mary” of a Protestant is powerful! — ( This is a true story.) A little six-year-old Protestant boy had often heard his Catholic companion … Continue reading
Posted in 2015, English, Friar Gaspar, OT II, Year B
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Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time – B
Readings: Readings: Is 35:4-7; Ps 146:7-10; Jas 2:1-5; Mk 7:31-37 “Touch and make us WHOLE” Domingo is a close friend of mine. He is also a quadriplegic (a person who is permanently unable to move or feel both arms and … Continue reading
Posted in 2015, English, Friar Gaspar, OT II, Year B
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Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time – B
Readings: Deut 4:1-2, 6-8; Ps 15:2-3, 3-4, 4-5; Jas 1:17-18, 21-22, 27; Mark 7:1-8, 14-15,21-23 The theme of today’s readings is the nature of true religion. “They talk the talk, but they don’t walk the walk.” That is a good … Continue reading
Posted in 2015, English, Friar Gaspar, OT II, Year B
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Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time – B
Jos 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b; Ps 34:2-3, 16-17, 18-19, 20-21; Eph 5:21-32; Jn 6:60-69 Five wise men got lost in the forest. The first one said:– I will go to the left – my intuition tells me that. The second one … Continue reading
Posted in 2015, English, Friar Gaspar, OT II, Year B
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Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary – B
Readings: Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab; Ps 45:10, 11, 12, 16; 1 Cor 15:20-27; Lk 1:39-56 Cardinal Newman, a Catholic convert had this to say about the Assumption of Mary: It was surely fitting, that she be taken up into heaven … Continue reading
Posted in 2015, English, Friar Gaspar, OT II, Year B
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Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – B
Readings: 1 Kgs 19:4-8; Eph 4:30-5:2; Jn 6:41-51 “If God is the reason to live; then you will never have a reason to quit.” Jesus the Bread of Life that satisfies our spiritual hunger on our journey to eternal life … Continue reading
Posted in 2015, English, Friar Gaspar, OT II, Year B
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Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – B
August 2, 2015 Reading I: Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15; Res Psalm 78:3-4, 23-24, 25, 54; Reading II: Ephesians 4:17, 20-24; Gospel: John 6:24-35 “There are two things the devil is deadly afraid of: Fervent Communion at Eucharist and frequent visits to … Continue reading
Posted in 2015, English, Friar Gaspar, OT II, Year B
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Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – B
July 26, 2015 Reading 1: 2 Kgs 4:42-44; Reading 2: Eph 4:1-6; Gospel: Jn 6:1-15 « We make a living by what we earn, but we make a life by what we give. » There are three kinds of givers … Continue reading
Posted in 2015, English, Friar Gaspar, OT II, Year B
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Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – B
July 19, 2015 First Reading: Jer 23:1-6; Second Reading: Eph 2:13-18; Gospel: Mk 6:30-34 Someone once said that a leader is a person “Who knows the way, goes the way and shows the way.” I would like to go a … Continue reading
Posted in 2015, English, Friar Gaspar, OT II, Year B
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