Consider the meeting of the Woman of Samaria with Jesus through the poetry of St John Paul the Great.

Readings for the Third Sunday of Lent (Year A) 15th March 2020.

Reading 1

Ex 17:3-7

Strike the rock and water will flow from it.

Psalm

Ps 94:1-2,6-9

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

Reading 2

Rom 5:1-2,5-8

The love of God has been poured into our hearts.

Gospel

John 4:5-42

A spring of water welling up to eternal life.

When the disciples looked up, they saw no one but Jesus. We can do the same.

Readings for the Second Sunday of Lent (Year A) 8th March 2020.

Reading 1

Gn 12:1-4

All the tribes of the earth shall bless themselves by you.

Psalm

Ps 32:-5,18-20,22

Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

Reading 2

2 Tim 1:8-10

God calls and enlightens us.

Gospel

Matt 17:1-9

His face shone like the sun.

In Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" Satan is shown as alluring. Why did Jesus not succumb.

Readings for the First Sunday of Lent (Year A) 1st March 2020.

Reading 1

Gn 2:7-9.3:1-7

The creation of our first parents, and sin.

Psalm

Ps 51:3-4,5-6,12-13,17

Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Reading 2

Rom 5:12-19 or 5:12,17-19

Where sin increased, there grace increased all the more.

Gospel

Matt 4:1-11

Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights and was tempted.

We are God's Temple. We need to look at the Cross to see what that means.

Readings for the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) 23rd February 2020.

Reading 1

Lev 19:1-2, 17-18

You must love your neighbour, as yourself.

Psalm

Ps 102:1-4. 8. 10, 12-13 r. 8

The Lord is compassion and love.

Reading 2

1 Cor 3:16-23

All are your servants, but you belong to Christ and Christ belongs to God.

Gospel

Matt 5:38-48

Love your enemies.

On first sight the Gospel today shows Jesus asking more of his disciples than the law says. But in fact he is making the journey easier.

Readings for the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) 16th February 2020.

Reading 1

Eccl 15:15-20

He never commanded anyone to be godless.

Psalm

Ps 118:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34 r. 1

They are happy who follow God's law!

Reading 2

1 Cor 2:6-10

God predestined wisdom to be for our glory before the ages began.

Gospel

Matt 5:17-37

You have learnt how it was said to your ancestors; but I say this to you.

Shorter

Matt 5:20-22a, 27-28, 33-34a, 37

You have learnt how it was said to your ancestors; but I say this to you.

Light can be used to create the right mood. But these lights go out.

Readings for the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) 9th February 2020.

Reading 1

Isa 58:7-10

Then will your light shine like the dawn.

Psalm

Ps 111:4-9 r. 4

The good man is a light in the darkness for the upright. Or Alleluia!

Reading 2

1 Cor 2:1-5

During my stay with you, the only knowledge I claimed to have was about Jesus as the crucified Christ.

Gospel

Matt 5:13-16

You are the light of the world.

Simeon encountered Christ in the Temple. Others encountered him and left with hearts full or heavy. We encounter him too.

Readings for the Presentation of the Lord (Year A) 2nd February 2020.

Reading 1

Malachi 3:1-4

The Lord you are seeking will suddenly enter his Temple.

Psalm

Ps 23:7-10 r. 8

Who is the king of glory? It is the Lord

Reading 2

Heb 2:14-18

It was essential that he should in this way become completely like his brothers.

Gospel Lk 2:22-40 My eyes have seen your salvation.

Shorter Lk 2:22-32 My eyes have seen your salvation.

Our true home is in heaven. Where do our national allegiances stand?

Readings for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) 26th January 2020.

Reading 1

Isa 8:23b-9:3

In Galilee of the nations the people have seen a great light.

Psalm

Ps 26:1. 4. 13-14 r. 1

The Lord is my light and my help.

Reading 2

1 Cor 1:10-13, 17

Make up the differences between you instead of disagreeing among yourselves.

Gospel

Matt 4:12-17

He went and settled in Capernaum: in this way the prophecy of Isaiah was to be fulfilled.

Israel was told that it was not enough for them to be the Lord's servant. There was more to do. There is more for us to do as well. Readings for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) 19th January 2020.

Reading 1

Isa 49: 3, 5-6

I will make you the light of the nations so that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.

Psalm

Ps 39:2. 4. 7-10 r. 8.9

Here I am, Lord! I come to do your will.

Reading 2

1 Cor 1:1-3

May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ send you grace and peace.

Gospel

John 1:29-34

Look, there is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.

It was right that things were as they were at the Baptism "for the time being" - but there is a different order to come.

Readings for the Baptism of the Lord (Year A) 12th January 2020.

Reading 1

Isa 42:1-4, 6-7

Here is my servant in whom my servant delights.

Psalm

Ps 28:1-2. 3-4. 9-10 r. 11

The Lord will bless his people with peace.

Reading 2

Acts 10:34-38

God anointed him with the Holy Spirit

Gospel

Matt 3:13-17

As soon as Jesus was baptised he saw the Spirit of God coming down on him.