Good Morning. Thank you for joining all of the Oblate Family today for our time of reflection and prayer today with Mary Tyrrell.

Hello and welcome to the Oblate reflection and prayer based on Matthew 9:14-15.

You might remember that the Pharisees and the disciples of John fasted at least a couple of times a week. So they questioned why Jesus and his disciples did not fast. But Jesus more or less tells them there is a time and place for everything. For the Pharisees fasting primarily indicated an inner hunger for God.Jesus explains that while his disciples did not fast at the moment, there would come a time when they would fast thus signposting his death . Jesus likens fasting to a wedding feast when people are happy because the bridegroom is with them so fasting would be out of place. Have you ever thought that fasting represents your hunger for God? I have to confess I hadn’t but it does give fasting a much deeper meaning than just loosing a bit of weight if I choose to give up biscuits for Lent.

Lord, may my celebration of Lent this year be more meaningful. Help me to reflect on and put into practice how I can draw closer to you through prayer, fasting, and studying God’s Word. Amen

Thank you for joining our Oblate prayer today. 

Good Morning. Thank you for joining all of the Oblate Family today for our time of reflection and prayer today with Mary Tyrrell.

Hello, welcome to the Oblate reflection and prayer which today is based on the reading from Luke 9:22-25

This is not an easy gospel to hear. Jesus is predicting his own suffering and death for the redemption of all humanity. And at the same time, emphasising the cost of discipleship and the necessity of putting God above everything else, and that means everything . We are called to give up all self-interest, all worldly pursuits, and possessions in the service of God. It is a stark reminder that we are called to deny ourselves and to take up our cross as followers of Jesus. 

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Good Morning. Thank you for joining all of the Oblate Family today for our time of reflection and prayer today with Mary Tyrrell.

Hello and welcome to todays’s Oblate reflection and prayer based on St Matthew gospel chap 6. 

Good Morning. Thank you for joining all of the Oblate Family today as we celebrate our 200th Anniversary of our Oblate Constitutions and Rules, for our time of reflection and prayer today with Mary Tyrrell. 

Hello and welcome to our Oblate Reflection and Prayer.

Today there are almost 4,000 Oblate priests and brothers, working in and evangelizing the world.

We pray for all Oblate priests, brothers and people.

Good Morning. Thank you for joining all of the Oblate Family today for our time of reflection and prayer today with Mary Tyrrell.

Hello and welcome to today's Oblate reflection and prayer based on Mark's Gospel, chapter 8, 11 to 13.

It is a very short reading in which we meet the Pharisees arguing yet again, and Jesus being frustrated by their lack of understanding. And I think Jesus is most saddened by their reaction. Why does this generation seek a sign asks Jesus?

Today people still look for miraculous signs such as winking statues, grass changing colour to make some spectacular display of God's power to strengthen their faith. Do I sometimes make Jesus sigh deeply? Am I waiting for him to do something spectacular for me?

Jesus is not a person, of big signs, but His life as a person of peace, justice, compassion and gentle love. The only sign that Jesus gives is his own life, death and resurrection. Is that not enough for me?

As we pray together,

Good Morning. Thank you for joining all of the Oblate Family today for our time of reflection and prayer today with Frankie Mac Donald.

Let’s begin.. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit Amen. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil amen. And lets remember the sick and infirm this day. Our Lady of Lourdes, help of the sick, pray for them.

Today’s gospel is taken from St Matthew’s Gospel chapter 5 and is quite a long reading. This time Jesus is telling us that not only must we look at the commandments to guide our life but we need to live them in what we do. We can’t just say one thing and be simultaneously thinking the opposite . There is no point in wishing someone well publicly but privately being envious of them! It's hypocrisy!

Similarly he is telling us to be careful of our speech! Keep it simple! If you mean no say No. No need to elaborate. No need to make oaths or call on divine witness…. just keep it simple Yes or No will suffice. And that can be difficult in many situations particularly if you are garrulous and like an ould natter.

Saying things is easy but it is living them that’s hard! We can only achieve that through Divine assistance and as we ask for that today and ask also for Our Blessed Lady to intercede for us today.

Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Thanks again for joining us in reflection and prayer today.

Good Morning. Thank you for joining all of the Oblate Family today for our time of reflection and prayer. We join Frank MacDonald for today's short episode.

Lets begin.. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit Amen. And lets say the Hail Mary while remembering all of those who are sick and infirm and commend them to the protection of Our Lady. Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee, Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death Amen. Our Lady of Lourdes, help of the sick , pray for us.

Today’s gospel is taken from St Luke’s Gospel chapter 10 and this time describes how Jesus sent out 36 pairs ahead of him to go to every place that he was to go. He told them to remain in the same house and accept the food and drink that their hosts provided.

He told them to heal the sick and tell the people that the Kingdom of God is at hand. He was telling the 72 to evangelise. He was sending them to be lambs among wolves and whatever they needed would be provided.

Are we not called to do the same? Are we not called upon to live our lives in a way that allows people to see that we not only follow God’s word but live it too!

Lets ask the Holy Spirit today for the help to live as Gods children. Come Holy Spirit , Fill the Hearts of your Faithful and kindle in them the Fire of your love.

Thanks again for joining us in reflection and prayer today.

Good Morning and thank you for joining us again for our time of Reflection and Prayer today. Today’s Gospel comes again from Chapter 7 of St Mark’s Gospel.

Lets begin.. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit Amen. And let’s say the Lord’s prayer together. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name , thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil amen. Today’s gospel relates how Jesus is returning from Tyre and going through Sidon to the sea of Galilee.

The people bring a deaf man who has difficulty speaking to Jesus. Often people who are hearing impaired also have difficulty with their speech too.

Often if we are reading something new aloud we need to read it over to properly understand where the stress should fall and indeed which words are more important and deserve to be stressed.

Just as the man in the Gospel could not hear many of us we do not hear the word of God properly or better still we do not understand it properly and if we cannot understand it , how can we properly speak of it ?

Jesus heals the man and we ask him to heal us too so that we can properly comprehend what he is saying to us through the Gospels.

Today let’s pray for that understanding and wisdom so that we can live the word of God in what we do and say.

Lord help us to focus on what we hear and read in the Gospel and live it through our lives. Keep us focused and dedicated to your will as we think of our intentions today and ask the Holy Spirit to work within us; Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love . Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created and you shall renew the face of the Earth. Amen

Thanks again for joining our prayer and reflection today.

Good Morning and thank you for joining us again for our time of Reflection and Prayer today.

We join Frankie MacDonald, member of the Oblate Lourdes Hospitalite team for today’s short podcast.

Today’s Gospel comes again from Chapter 7 of St Mark’s Gospel. 

Lets begin.. in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit Amen. And lets say the Lord’s prayer together. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name , thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil amen. Today’s gospel relates how Jesus has travelled to the region of Tyre and Sidon . Nowadays that would be modern day Lebanon. 

Jesus is approached by a Syrophonecian woman whose little girl was possessed by an unclean spirit. 

She was a gentile and despite the cultural differences and customs of that time approached Jesus with great faith because above all she wanted to rid her daughter of the malevolent influence over her. 

She was not discouraged when Jesus compared the Gentiles seeking help to pet dogs  for she retorted that even dogs could share the crumbs falling from the masters table. 

Her persistence in the face of possible rejection saved her daughter as Jesus declared the little girl free of the demonic influence. 

Today let’s keep faith and to continue to ask for God’s grace and healing. 

Lord help us to focus on what we need and not simply on what we want. Keep us focused and dedicated to your will as we ask the Holy Spirit to work within us; Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love . Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created and you shall renew the face of the Earth. Amen.

Thanks again for joining our prayer and reflection today. 

Good Morning, and thank you for joining all of the Oblate Family near and far for our time of reflection and prayer, and particularly today, the Feast Day of Our Lady of Lourdes. We join Frankie MacDonald, member of the Oblate Lourdes Hospitalie team for today's short podcast. Today, the Oblate Family in Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales, and the Channel Islands who have a great devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes, and how privileged many of us are to serve the sick in Lourdes.

Let’s begin... in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. And let’s say the Hail Mary while remembering all of those who are sick and infirm, and commend them to the protection of Our Lady of Lourdes. Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Today’s gospel is again taken from St Mark’s Gospel, chapter 7, and continues on from yesterday’s Gospel. It relates how Our Lord describes what defiles us (i.e. makes us unclean).

The Pharisees view the failure to observe rituals regarding cleanliness/foodstuffs etc. as what makes us unclean.

Jesus declares that it’s not what goes into us that makes us that way, but what comes out, for example theft, murder, immorality, deceit and so on.

He again highlights their hypocrisy, calling on the people to focus more on what is in their hearts than on what they have eaten or the way they have washed.

Today let’s focus on getting our priorities right.

We ask Our Lady of Lourdes, Help of the Sick, to console and comfort the sick today and every day, as we say:

Thanks again for joining our prayer and reflection today on this special day.