Category: past Deacon Mike’s Weekly Reflections

First Reading: Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18Second Reading: Philippians 3:17—4:1 Gospel: Luke 9:28b-36 Can we communicate directly with heaven? The answer is “yes”, as in our Lenten journey, God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit continue to invite us into Read More …

First Reading: Deuteronomy 26:4-10Second Reading: Romans 10:8-13Gospel: Luke 4:1-13 During the forty years in the desert, after their deliverance from Egypt, the Israelites experienced three tests: physical hunger, lure of idolatry and the temptation to test God. We know from Read More …

First Reading: Sirach 27:4-7Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:54-58Gospel: Luke 6:39-45      Praise no one before he speaks, for it is then that people are tested. (Sir27:7) Our first reading invites us to reflect on how speech reveals the nature of Read More …

First Reading: 1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:45-49Gospel: Luke 6:27-38 To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat Read More …

First Reading: Jeremiah 17:5-8Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:12, 16-20Gospel: Luke 6:17, 20-26      Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours. Perhaps when we read Jesus’s opening to the Beatitudes, we may focus on the Read More …

First Reading: Isaiah 6:1-2a, 3-8Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Gospel: Luke 5:1-11 In our 1st reading from Isaiah, we hear Isaiah respond “Here I am” to the Lord’s question: “whom shall I send?” Isaiah, knowing his own sinfulness cries out: Read More …

First Reading: Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:31—13:13 Gospel: Luke 4:21-30 Do you believe that you are a prophet like Jeremiah is today’s first reading? Be careful how you respond…you may be thinking: “I am not a prophet, but Read More …

First Reading: Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:12-30Gospel: Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21 Other translations will say a “year of favor”. In the book of Leviticus, this is referred to as “the jubilee year”. When, then, your countryman becomes so Read More …

First Reading: Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:12-30Gospel: Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21 Today’s gospel of the Wedding Feast at Cana is the third Sunday in a row, where Jesus reveals Himself, i.e. an Epiphany. Two weeks ago, Jesus revealed Read More …

First Reading: Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7Second Reading: Acts 10:34-38Gospel: Luke 3:15-16, 21-22 Today’s celebration of the Baptism of the Lord closes our Christmas season, and it marks the start of Jesus’ public ministry. Sound familiar? Indeed, as at our Baptism, we Read More …