The Call—Fr Dave Callaghan– Why Was Jesus A Carpenter? (Was it purely an accident that Jesus was a Carpenter? Was it simply a random chance that the saviour of the world would take on this profession, or was God trying to reveal something about how he works with his people? A master Craftsman not only shapes the wood for a useful purpose, but also allows the true colour and grain of the wood to be seen. It can often be hard to understand what God is doing in our lives, particularly when it seems that good things are being stripped away from us. We need to trust that as he cuts away all of our defensive layers, he will be revealing our true inner beauty.)

On The Journey This Week: The Gospel reflection by Fr Chris de Sousa on John the Baptist and ourselves being called to share the revelation of Jesus as Messiah. Mother Hilda’s story on unexpected gifts from both people and God. Plus, Fr Dave Callaghan asks why Jesus was a Carpenter, Trish McCarthy says a daily examen helps us to get in touch spiritually with our physical experiences of life and God's presence and purpose for our lives, and Fr Mike Delaney’s tunes into the sounds of like going on around him.

Milk & Honey—Trish McCarthy—Sleeping with Bread (Trish says a daily examen is just like the time during World War 2 that young children were given some bread to take to bed to comfort them and help them sleep without fear. A daily examen comforts us, putting us in contact with God and with him identifying what we are most and least grateful for this day, as well as identifying one thing we would like to act on in the coming day with God’s help. This process helps us to get in touch spiritually with our physical experiences of life and God's presence and purpose for our lives.)

Wisdom from the Abbey–Mother Hilda—The Unexpected Gift (Mother Hilda receives an unexpected gift from a visitor and it reminds her of the many unexpected gifts that God sends our way every day. He sends us a new day, completely untouched, a day that embodies who you and he are. He sends a lovely memory known only to the two of you. He sends a kind word that lodges in your heart where only he can access. He even allows gifts that don't look so good, but a gift just the same. You and I don't always recognise these gifts. We fail to see the trouble he's gone to. What gifts will God give you unexpectedly this week?)

Wisdom from the Abbey–Mother Hilda—Chandeliers (Mother Hilda remembers the large chandeliers in her mother’s home, their light was a little ineffectual because the area they were lighting up was so big. They look good for sure, but they didn't really do the job. So often we're a bit like those chandeliers, we look at the world and all of its concern right now and the problems seem so big. We not only don't know where to start to make things better, but even if we did, we consider that our own poor efforts wouldn't and couldn't be enough. Well, the answer is really very simple, stop trying to be the chandeliers that light up too big a space. Shine where you are in your own small apartment of life. Imagine how it would really be if this week each of us decided simply to shine where we are. Now what a light that'd be on the world.)

MenAlive—Peter Gabauer—Prayer Testimony (Pete Gabauer, who runs a successful furniture technology business, talks to Journey Editor Max Norden, on how men Alive has transformed his life through connecting and staying in brotherhood together, but also in really learning how to pray and develop a relationship with God. There's a great satisfaction in getting things done but many men fail to attend to the interior journey. Prayer provides that opportunity to really look back and review what's happening and that interior journey of saying where have I been? Where's my heart been? Have I been open to seeing the action of God? Sometimes men think they know how to make all the decisions in life. But when we engage God in that process and ask for that eternal wisdom, often, we end up making different decisions, but much, much better decisions with better outcomes.)

Milk & Honey—Trish McCarthy—Food In (Have you ever wondered what you're made of? We'll put very simply, we are a masterpiece of chemical elements, minerals, and vitamins. Most of us walk around in a state of dehydration and yet our bodies require water to function. At the most basic level. A remarkable thing about our bodies, as they are very forgiving, but why not give it some love today? Ease the pressure and include two extra water rich meals today.)

Incarnate Series–Fr Mark De Battista--We Saw His Star (The manifestation (or “epiphany”) of Jesus Christ to the gentile world was an extraordinary event in salvation history. From this day forward, the recognition and adoration of Jesus by the Magi would set the way in which all future generations would seek the Lord: “In spirit and in truth” (Jn 4:24). The Epiphany indicates that the light of Christ must shine out for the whole world, while the bearers of this light must make disciples of all the nations.)

Gospel Reflection– Fr Rob Galea—Encounter Changes (they went back home through a different way, why? Simply because of the encounter they had with Jesus. The author is trying to tell us when you encounter Jesus when you experience Jesus, then you'll never be the same again. You can never walk the same way you walked before. The scriptures talk about that when you encounter Jesus, when you encounter the Holy Spirit, you are under the influence. We should walk away, never the same and people will know that we have been with Jesus. This is what happened to the wise men. This is what happened to the apostles and the question I ask you is; are you the same? Have you encountered Jesus? And if you encountered Jesus, how are you different? Can the world recognise that you are under the influence of the spirit of God?)

On The Journey This Week: The Gospel reflection Fr Rob Galea. Mother Hilda’s story of chandeliers and her call to us to be the bright light of our own small apartment of life. Plus, an extra Epiphany reflection from Fr Mark De Battista, and Peter Gabauer from Men Alive on how prayer changes men’s lives.