Good morning and thank you for joining our Oblate short time to pause, reflect and pray together on Wednesday January 21st 2026 of Ordinary Time. Thanks to Mary O'Brien in Dublin for today's reflection:

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

As we begin our day, I thank you for joining our Oblate shared short time to pause, reflect and pray together

Today’s gospel is Mark, 3: 1-6

This gospel is another example of Jesus being in conflict with the Pharisees and their rigid laws. When Jesus enters the synagogue he finds a man with a withered hand. The pharisees were watching to see if he would break the law by curing the man on the Sabbath. The gospel includes this text:

“Jesus said to them ‘Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save life or to kill?’ But they were silent. He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man ‘stretch out your hand’ …and his hand was cured”

This text shows us that the way of Jesus is about service, doing good, restoring life.

Lord, today let everything I do be a prayer to you. Help me to realise that you are always there with me in the mundane tasks and places where I often fail to recognise your presence. May I be open to hearing your voice always.

Thank you for joining me.

#bible #prayer #podcast #faith #catholic

Good morning and thank you for joining our Oblate short time to pause, reflect and pray together. Thanks to Mary O'Brien in Dublin for today's reflection:

Today’s gospel is Mark, 2:23-28, and the extract I want to share is:

“One Sabbath he was going through the grain fields and as he made his way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. The Pharisees said,’Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath’. …. Jesus said ‘The Sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the Sabbath’ “

In this text I think Jesus shows us how rules are not intended to be more important than human need. In scripture we find Jesus showing us new ways to lead our lives and pointing to the need for new laws, laws that will serve people rather than just rule in an authoritarian way,

Lord, as I begin this day, guide my words so that I may be a source of encouragement rather than discouragement, that I may offer comfort and hope rather than hurt and that I may show love rather than pain.

Thank you for joining me.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Welcome to A moment to pause - a daily reflection prayer podcast. Today is Monday January 19th 2026 of Ordinary Time and Mary O'Brien in Dublin brings you this reflection.

In the name of the Father, and of the son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Good morning and thank you for joining our Oblate short time to pause and to reflect as we begin our day.

The gospel for today is from Mark, chapter 2 verses 18-22

This gospel challenges us to consider how we are living our lives. Are we just following old ways, old habits - or are we open to growth and renewal.

The verse that struck me is:

“No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old cloak, otherwise the patch pulls away from it – the new from the old and a worse tear is made. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins.”

Lord you challenge me not to cling to old ways or to have a closed mind, but to have an open heart and mind.

I thank you for the gift of this new day. Thank you for the chance to begin afresh: to love, to give and to be all that you would want me to be. May your light guide me and your spirit bring me peace.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

Today we join Joseph O’Connell for our A Moment To Pause Podcast during Ordinary Time.

Our gospel reflection today comes from the Gospel of John 1: 29 to 34.

Most people think the baptism of Jesus is just a quiet moment in the Jordan.

Let us pray to the Mother of God that we may be protected, loved, and cared for by the Holy Spirit and the angels and saints in heaven.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Thank you for sharing these moments with us.

#DailyBiblePodcast #DailyScriptureReadings #Bibleinaminute

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Welcome to our reflection this morning.

It's taken from the gospel of Mark 8: 34 to 37.

Jesus speaks words that can sound harsh and demanding. “Deny yourselves, take up your cross and follow me.”

Jesus is teaching us how to interpret his message correctly. To lose our life for his name's sake does not mean giving up what makes us human, but letting go of whatever prevents us from being fully loving and kind.

Pride and fear, selfishness and the need to control everything ourselves, are the things stop us following Jesus. The cross Jesus asks us to carry is not something we choose, but the daily challenges we face with faith and love.

Jesus invites us to look beyond success, status, and possessions, and to measure life by what truly lasts.

When we listen carefully to his words and interpret them through the lens of love, we discover that following Jesus does not take life away from us.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Let us follow you carefully and lovingly, Lord.

Today we join Joseph O’Connell for our A Moment To Pause Podcast during Ordinary Time.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Welcome to our reflection this morning.

Our gospel reading is taken from Mark two 1 to 12.

We see the depth of Jesus's love revealed not only in what he does, but in how he sees people.

When the paralyzed man is lowered through the roof, Jesus first notices the faith of those who bring him. He welcomes their determination, not as an interruption, but as an act of love.

This shows us that Jesus’ love reaches beyond those physical suffering, but he loves the whole person, body, mind and soul. Even when faced with criticism and doubt Jesus continues to act with compassion.

This passage must remind us that Jesus's love is active, courageous, and personal.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

As we pray for all those today who are disabled

#DailyBiblePodcast #DailyScriptureReadings #Bibleinaminute 

Today we join Joseph O’Connell for our A Moment To Pause Podcast during Ordinary Time.

In the name of the Father and the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Welcome to our reflection today.

A man with leprosy comes to Jesus with trust in humanity.

“If you choose, you could make me clean” Before Jesus speaks, he listens not just with his ears, but with his heart. He listens to the man's pain, his isolation and his hope for the future.

Jesus responds with compassion and then gives a clear instruction.

Yet the man doesn’t fully listen. Overcome with joy, he speaks freely in his obedience or his disobedience, makes Jesus's mission much harder.

This passage reminds us that listening to Jesus means more than having words to hear and blessings to receive.  It means trusting his wisdom even when his instructions are difficult and don't match our excitement.

When we are truly listening to Jesus, we allow His work and His words to unfold in the right way, not just for our lives, but for the good of all.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

The name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

#DailyBiblePodcast #DailyScriptureReadings #Bibleinaminute 

Today we join Joseph O’Connell for our A Moment To Pause Podcast during Ordinary Time.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

Welcome to our reflection today. We're taking our reflection from Mark's Gospel 1:  29 to 39.

Jesus does not heal always from a distance.

By evening, the crowds arrive with their pain, worries, depressions and sorrows and long held worries. Jesus receives them all.

Yet before dawn he goes off to pray by himself.

This passage reassures us that Jesus meets us gently in our weakness and weariness.

Today we join Joseph O'Connell for our A Moment To Pause Podcast.

In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Welcome to our reflection today. It is from Mark's Gospel 1: 21 to 28.

Jesus does enter the synagogue and teaches with authority people have never heard before. Not borrowed, not rehearsed, but lived and real.

The apostles are there watching and learning. They don't speak, they don't question. They stay close. Their response is one of trustful attentiveness.

When Jesus confronts the unclean spirit, his authority becomes unmistakable. With a single command, he restores freedom and peace.

The apostles witness that following Jesus means standing beside him.

The apostles teach us that before we can speak or act in his name, we must first of all learn to remain with him, open and willing to be transformed.

May you be with us, Lord,

Today we join Joseph O'Connell for our A Moment To Pause Podcast.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Welcome to our reflection today.

Jesus begins with a simple but life challenging message.

What's striking is their response.

Jesus still calls today not to comfort, but into transformation and to become fishers of people and love and hope.

Thank you for joining us today for our morning prayer.

May the Lord bless us, look after us and take care of us.