Category Archives: Fr Franco

Third Sunday of Advent – C

Third Sunday of Advent – C

Readings: Zeph 3:14-18; Is 12:2-6; Phil 4:4-7; Lk 3:10-18 “REJOICE” SUNDAY INTRODUCTION We are at the half way mark in our preparation to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It is good to look into our lives and check out … Continue reading

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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 A CALL TO CHANGE [REFLECTION 1] God wants to get involved in us St Luke begins this chapter of his Gospel curiously. He puts out a list of names and places … Continue reading

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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 They will see the Son of Man coming (Lk 21:27) One of the advent hymns that I like most is: We long to see thee so! To see Thee … Continue reading

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Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Readings: Dan 7:13-14; Ps 93:1-2,5; Rev 1:5-8; Jn 18:33-37 JESUS CHRIST, KING OF THE UNIVERSE One of the peculiar paintings on Jesus is The Last Judgement of Michelangelo at Sistine Chapel where the conclave takes place. You see a six-pack … Continue reading

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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 ARE YOU PREPARED? Since the age of 12, I have been in boarding schools.  One of the exciting times in such schools is towards the end of term when there would … Continue reading

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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 She put in everything she possessed. (Mark 12:38-44) When the books of Old Testament refer to the poor they often list three categories of people: the stranger, the orphan and … Continue reading

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Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – B

“The apostles rejoined Jesus and told him all they had done and taught…” (Mk 6:30) “The apostles rejoined Jesus and told him all they had done and taught…” (Mk 6:30) Ministry to young people forms part of the identity of … Continue reading

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Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – B

“He… began to send them out” (Mk 6:7) It was Pope Paul VI who began to speak about new approaches in evangelization, in his post-synodal exhortation: Evangelization in the Modern World (Evangelii Nuntiandi, 1975). This was to be an adequate … Continue reading

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Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – B

“This is the carpenter, surely, the son of Mary…” (Mk 6:3) The gospel text of today narrates to us how the people of his home town reacted to Jesus, despite what they heard and saw in Jesus: the wisdom and … Continue reading

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Solemnity Of SS Peter and Paul – B

Today the feast of martyrdom of saints Peter and Paul. Jesus chose Peter, the fisherman from Galilee, son of John and brother of Andrew, as the leader of the apostles and the rock on which He would build His Church. … Continue reading

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Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time – B

“Quiet now! Be calm!” (Mk 4:39) I have often wondered why in the churches we ring bells. For instance, in most Catholic churches we ring the bell at the beginning of mass and several times during the Eucharistic prayer. In … Continue reading

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Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus – B

Readings: Hos 11:1, 3-4, 8c-9; Eph 3:8-12, 14-19; Jn 19:31-37 The Heart of Jesus is the Heart of Love. Jesus Christ was a brilliant, mind-boggling teacher whose lessons, insight, and wisdom left even erudite scholars awestruck. And yet there is … Continue reading

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

Readings: Ex 24: 3-8; Ps 116:12-13, 15-16, 17-18; Heb 9: 11-15; Mk 14: 12-16, 22-26 “This is my blood, the blood of the covenant, poured out for many” (Mk 14: 24) There are two feasts in the liturgical calendar that … Continue reading

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Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity – B

Readings: Dt 4:32-34.39-40; Ps 33:4-5, 6, 9, 18-19, 20, 22; Rom 8:14-17; Mt 28:16-20 God in Three: Our experience of the Divine At the recommendation of a friend of mine, a few months back, I ventured to read, The Shack.  With … Continue reading

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PENTECOST SUNDAY – B

Readings: Acts 2:1-11; Ps 104:1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34 ; 1 Cor 12:3b-7, 12-13; Jn 20:19-23 HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! In the new era of salvation that began with the birth of the Son of God, the Holy Spirit who is the … Continue reading

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Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord – B

Readings: Acts 1:1-11; Ps 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 ; Eph 1:17-23; Mk 16:15-20 “Proclaim the Good News to all creation” (Mk 16:15)World (Good News) Communication Day As we heard in the first reading of today, Luke tells us in the Acts … Continue reading

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Sixth Sunday of Easter – B

Readings: Acts 10:25–26, 34–35, 44–48; Ps 98:1–4; 1 Jn 4:7–10; Jn 15:9–17 Love one another, as I have loved you (Jn 15:12) From the Golden Rule to a Programme of Life Many Diocesan Catechisms, after listing the Ten Commandments would … Continue reading

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Fifth Sunday of Easter – B

Readings: Acts 9:26-31; Ps 22:26-27, 28, 30, 31-32; 1 Jn 3:18-24; Jn 15:1-8 STAY CONNECTED I have a router which I often carry with myself. This is I do so that I am always connected and above all those in … Continue reading

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Fourth Sunday of Easter – B

Readings: Acts 4:8-12; 1 Jn 3:1-2; Jn 10:11-18 The Folly of the Love of the Shepherd (Jn 10:11-18) The Maasai people of East Africa are a very interesting people. Their photogenic, elegant figures are used to advertise tourism in East … Continue reading

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Third Sunday of Easter – B

Readings: Acts 3:13–15, 17–19; Ps 4:2, 4, 7–9; 1 Jn 2:1–5; Lk 24:35–48 PEACE BE WITH YOU One sentence that we hear repeated so often during the Eastertide is, “Peace be with you.”  Every time Jesus appears to his apostles … Continue reading

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Second Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday) – B

Readings: Acts 4:32–35; Ps 118:2–4, 13–15, 22–24; 1 Jn 5:1–6; Jn 20:19–31 “Jesus, I trust in You.” Happy feast of Easter! Easter is the prototype of all Christian feasts.  It is such a great event that one day of celebration … Continue reading

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The Resurrection of the Lord – B

Readings: Easter Vigil | Mass of Easter Day THE TRUTH OF THE RESURRECTION MAKES EVERYTHING NEW! Introduction Tonight’s Vigil Service has four parts: 1. The Service of Light 2. The Liturgy of the Word 3. The Blessing of Water and … Continue reading

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GOOD FRIDAY – B

READINGS: Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion TRUST JESUS AND THE CROSS BECAUSE THIS IS NOT THE END… Don’t hang the Cross but Hang on the Cross. This requires a lot of Faith, Hope and Love. This can be summed … Continue reading

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MAUNDY THURSDAY – B

READINGS: Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper LOVE MANDATE, EUCHARIST, PRIESTHOOD INTRODUCTION. Today the church commemorates a triple celebration: the institution of the Eucharist, the institution of the sacramental priesthood and the New Commandment of love as seen in Jesus’ … Continue reading

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PALM SUNDAY – B

Readings: Is 50:4–7; Ps 22:8–9, 17–20, 23–24; Phil 2:6–11; Mk 14:1–15:47 The King on a Pony en route to Die (Before the Procession) Today we begin the week of weeks in the liturgical calendar: the Holy Week. Today we begin … Continue reading

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Fifth Sunday of Lent – B

Readings: Jer 31:31–34; Ps 51:3–4, 12–13, 14–15; Heb 5:7–9; Jn 12:20–33 “We want to see Jesus lifted high.” When I read the gospel text of the 5th Sunday in Lent (Year B), I was reminded of a popular song, written … Continue reading

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Fourth Sunday of Lent – B

Readings: 2 Chr 36:14–16, 19–23; Ps 137:1–6; Eph 2:4–10; Jn 3:14–21 “God loved the world so much….” The Gospel of John is often considered the most difficult of the Gospels – highly symbolic in its expression and deeply theological in … Continue reading

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Third Sunday of Lent – B

Readings: Ex 20:1–17; Ps 19:8–11; 1 Cor 1:22–25; Jn 2:13–25 “Zeal for your house will consume me” (John 2:17). Reflection 1. Every believer would proudly profess that he or she believes in God. Perhaps the question that needs to be … Continue reading

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Second Sunday of Lent – B

Readings: Gn 22:1–2, 9–13, 15–18; Ps 116:10, 15–19; Rom 8:31–34; Mk 9:2–10 Going up the mountain: Learning to Pray The liturgy of the word of God for Sundays in Lent is very well thought-out and appropriately laid out. On the … Continue reading

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First Sunday of Lent – B

Readings: Gn 9:8–15; Ps 25:4–9; 1 Pt 3:18–22; Mk 1:12–15 “God does not provide us with a roadmap, but only a compass.” We say the Season of Lent lasts forty days, as the Latin word, ‘Quadragesima” suggests.  When I was … Continue reading

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Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time – B

Readings: Lv 13:1-2, 44-46; Ps 32:1-2, 5, 11; 1 Cor 10:31-11:1; Mk 1:40-45 “Of course I want to! Be cured.” (Mk 1:40-45) Holistic Well-being: Effect of Encounter with Jesus Here is a one-line summary of my reflection: The result of … Continue reading

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Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time – B

Readings: Jb 7:1-4,6-7; 1 Cor 9:16-19,22-23; Mk 1:29-39 “Everybody is looking for you” (Mk 1:29-39): Being busy – restless or engaged? The contemporary culture forces us to be busy. The more you are urbanized, the more you are likely to … Continue reading

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Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time – B

Readings: Dt 18:15-20; Ps 95; 1 Cor 7:32-25; Mk 1:21-28 He taught them with authority (Mk 1:21-28) I don’t know if you have watched those old black-and-white fast moving films from the time of the Second World War. Often they … Continue reading

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Third Sunday in Ordinary Time – B

Readings: Jon 3:1-5,10; 1 Cor 7:29-31; Mk 1:14-20 Repent and Believe in the Good News Little Johnny was basically a good boy. But he had a problem with his temper. He had his bouts of anger that surprised everyone. His … Continue reading

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Solemnity of Our Lady of Arabia

Readings: Zeph 3: 14-18/ Is 12: 2-6/ Gal 4: 4-7/ Lk 1: 39-56 “MY SOUL PROCLAIMS THE GREATNESS OF THE LORD.” A Priest once while traveling by train, was not wanting to enter into any conversation with passengers. To do … Continue reading

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The Epiphany of the Lord – B

Readings: Isaiah: 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6; Matthew 2:1-12 EVERY NATION ON EARTH WILL ADORE THE LORD Introduction The word Epiphany, which means appearance or manifestation or showing forth, marks Jesus’ first appearance to the Gentiles. “Epiphany” refers to God’s Self-revelation … Continue reading

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