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Showing posts with the label Benedict XVI

Sunday Reflections, 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, 26 October 2025

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Church Interior with the Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican Dirck van Delen [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)  Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel  Luke 18:1-8  (English Standard Version, Anglicised) At that time: Jesus told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: ‘Two men went up into the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: “God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.” But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” I tell you, ...

'The Gospel invites us to think about the future which awaits us.' Sunday Reflections, 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

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Crowning a baby after baptism George Cardinal Alencherry,  Major Archbishop Emeritus of Ernakulam-Angamaly  (Syro-Malabar), India  [ Wikipedia ;  photo ] Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan,) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)  Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Luke 13:22-30  (English Standard Version, Anglicised) At that time: Jesus went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying towards Jerusalem. And someone said to him, ‘Lord, will those who are saved be few?’ And he said to them, ‘Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, “Lord, open to us”, then he will answer you, “I do not know where you come from.” Then yo...

'The world is charged with the grandeur of God.' Sunday Reflections, Pentecost, Year C

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Pentecost El Greco [ Web Gallery of Art ] Pentecost Sunday, at the Vigil Mass  (Saturday evening), Years ABC NB: The Vigil Mass has its own prayers and readings which should be used at the Vigil Mass. The prayers and readings for the Mass During the Day on Sunday should not be used only on Sunday, not at the Vigil Mass, though some priests seem to be unaware of this. It is incorrect to refer to this Vigil Mass as an ‘anticipated Mass’. It is a celebration proper to the evening before Pentecost Sunday and may be celebrated in an extended form. It also fulfils the Sunday obligation. Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)  Readings  (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   John 7:37-39  (English Standard Version, Anglicised)  On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out,  “If...

'Jesus walks before us and towards the heights.' Sunday Reflections, Palm Sunday, Year C

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Christ's Entry into Jerusalem Giotto di Bondone [ Web Gallery of Art ] And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road  (Luke 19:36).   Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) The gospel for the procession with palms is included here as is the Passion according to St Luke arranged for reading by   N. Narrator.  ✠  Jesus. O. Other single speaker. C. Crowd, or more than one speaker. Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)  The gospel for the procession with palms is included here as is the Passion according to St Luke arranged for reading by   N. Narrator.  ✠  Jesus. O. Other single speaker. C. Crowd, or more than one speaker. Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) The gospel for the procession with palms is included here as is the shorter form of the Passion according to St Luke, Luke 23:1-49. Gosp...

'Fortunately for us, God never fails in his faithfulness' (Benedict XVI). Sunday Reflections, 4th Sunday of Lent, Year C

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T he Return of the Prodigal Son Rembrandt [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan,) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)  Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Luke 15:1-3, 11- 32  (English Standard Version, Anglicised) At that time: The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, ‘This man receives sinners and eats with them.’ So he told them this parable: ‘There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.” And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that co...

'Above all I invite you to remember your own Baptism' (BXVI). Sunday Reflections, Baptism of the Lord, Year C

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  The Baptism of Christ Francesco Mochi [ Web Gallery of Art ]   Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan,) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)   Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Luke 3:15-16, 21-22  (English Standard Version, Anglicised)    At that time: As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, John answered them all, saying, ‘I baptise you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.’ Now when all the people were baptised by John the Baptist and when Jesus also had been baptised and was praying, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, ‘Yo...

'The contemporary world above all needs hope.' Sunday Reflections, 1st Sunday of Advent, Year C

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Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee Rembrandt [ Web Gallery of Art ] . And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves . . .  (Luke 21:25; today’s gospel). We begin Year C, which highlights St Luke's Gospel. From this weekend the Church in England & Wales and in Scotland will be using a new lectionary based on the English Standard Version of the Bible. Readings   (English Standard Version: England & Wales, Scotland) Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Luke 21:25-28, 34-36  (English Standard Version Anglicised) Jesus said to his disciples: 'There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves,   people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is c...