First reading 1 Corinthians 15:35-37,42-49

The resurrected body is heavenly by nature

Someone may ask, ‘How are dead people raised, and what sort of body do they have when they come back?’ They are stupid questions. Whatever you sow in the ground has to die before it is given new life and the thing that you sow is not what is going to come; you sow a bare grain, say of wheat or something like that. It is the same with the resurrection of the dead: the thing that is sown is perishable but what is raised is imperishable; the thing that is sown is contemptible but what is raised is glorious; the thing that is sown is weak but what is raised is powerful; when it is sown it embodies the soul, when it is raised it embodies the spirit.
If the soul has its own embodiment, so does the spirit have its own embodiment. The first man, Adam, as scripture says, became a living soul; but the last Adam has become a life-giving spirit. That is, first the one with the soul, not the spirit, and after that, the one with the spirit. The first man, being from the earth, is earthly by nature; the second man is from heaven. As this earthly man was, so are we on earth; and as the heavenly man is, so are we in heaven. And we, who have been modelled on the earthly man, will be modelled on the heavenly man.

Responsorial Psalm 55(56):10-14

I shall walk in the presence of God in the light of the living.

My foes will be put to flight
on the day that I call to you.
This I know, that God is on my side.

In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I shall not fear;
what can mortal man do to me?

I am bound by the vows I have made you.
O God, I will offer you praise
for you have rescued my soul from death,
you kept my feet from stumbling
that I may walk in the presence of God
and enjoy the light of the living.

Gospel Luke 8:4-15

The parable of the sower

With a large crowd gathering and people from every town finding their way to him, Jesus used this parable:
‘A sower went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some fell on the edge of the path and was trampled on; and the birds of the air ate it up. Some seed fell on rock, and when it came up it withered away, having no moisture. Some seed fell amongst thorns and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some seed fell into rich soil and grew and produced its crop a hundredfold.’ Saying this he cried, ‘Listen, anyone who has ears to hear!’
His disciples asked him what this parable might mean, and he said, ‘The mysteries of the kingdom of God are revealed to you; for the rest there are only parables, so that they may see but not perceive, listen but not understand.

‘This, then, is what the parable means: the seed is the word of God. Those on the edge of the path are people who have heard it, and then the devil comes and carries away the word from their hearts in case they should believe and be saved. Those on the rock are people who, when they first hear it, welcome the word with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of trial they give up. As for the part that fell into thorns, this is people who have heard, but as they go on their way they are choked by the worries and riches and pleasures of life and do not reach maturity. As for the part in the rich soil, this is people with a noble and generous heart who have heard the word and take it to themselves and yield a harvest through their perseverance.’

The Patient Sower

In today’s Gospel, Jesus spoke to a large crowd and told the parable of the Sower. He invited them to become more committed followers by listening to His Word and putting it into practice. Likewise, Jesus calls us to examine our own hearts because He wants us to commit ourselves as His faithful disciples rather than engage only at a superficial level.

As we honestly look at our own hearts, we may discover that at different times we are like the hardened path, closed to God’s Word; the rocky ground, eager at first but quick to lose the joy when faced with troubles; or the thorny ground, where worries and distractions slowly overpower God’s Word. Yet Jesus never gives up on us. He calls us to become good soil, hearts that are open to receive and live by His Word. Let us allow Jesus, our Sower, to work in our lives so that we can bear the fruit of His love. We are His committed disciples who choose to stay close to Jesus and live out His Word each day.

Reflective question:
Which kind of soil am I at this point in my life?

Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD

First reading 1 Corinthians 15:12-20

If Christ has not been raised, your belief is useless

Now if Christ raised from the dead is what has been preached, how can some of you be saying that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, Christ himself cannot have been raised, and if Christ has not been raised then our preaching is useless and your believing it is useless; indeed, we are shown up as witnesses who have committed perjury before God, because we swore in evidence before God that he had raised Christ to life. For if the dead are not raised, Christ has not been raised, and if Christ has not been raised, you are still in your sins. And what is more serious, all who have died in Christ have perished. If our hope in Christ has been for this life only, we are the most unfortunate of all people.
But Christ has in fact been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of all who have fallen asleep.

Responsorial Psalm 16(17):1,6-8,15

I shall be filled, when I awake, with the sight of your glory, O Lord.

Lord, hear a cause that is just,
pay heed to my cry.
Turn your ear to my prayer:
no deceit is on my lips.

I am here and I call, you will hear me, O God.
Turn your ear to me; hear my words.
Display your great love, you whose right hand saves
your friends from those who rebel against them.

Guard me as the apple of your eye.
Hide me in the shadow of your wings
As for me, in my justice I shall see your face
and be filled, when I awake, with the sight of your glory.

Gospel Luke 8:1-3

The women who accompanied Jesus

Jesus made his way through towns and villages preaching, and proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom of God. With him went the Twelve, as well as certain women who had been cured of evil spirits and ailments: Mary surnamed the Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and several others who provided for them out of their own resources.

Risen Christ, Our Hope

In today’s first reading, St Paul states that Christ’s Resurrection is at the very heart of Christian hope: “If Christ has not been raised then our preaching is useless, and your believing is useless.” Christian hope is rooted in the Person of Jesus Christ, whose resurrection shows that suffering, failure, sadness and death do not have the final word. In our difficult moments, such as facing an illness, loss, or uncertainty about the future, we can trust that God can bring goodness and life from situations that seem hopeless and dead.

The Gospel shows us that several women followed Jesus as He travelled from place to place. They used their own resources to support Him in His mission. Though they did not fully understand everything, they remained faithful in their following. Their perseverance reflects their hope in Jesus. Today, let us follow Jesus, not only in moments of enthusiasm but also in the ordinary moments of life. As His disciples, we are people of hope, not because life is free from problems, but because the risen Jesus walks with us. Let us place our hope in Him.

Reflective question:
How can I be a sign of hope to others today?

Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD

First reading 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

I preached what the others preach, and you all believed

Brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, the gospel that you received and in which you are firmly established; because the gospel will save you only if you keep believing exactly what I preached to you – believing anything else will not lead to anything.
Well then, in the first place, I taught you what I had been taught myself, namely that Christ died for our sins, in accordance with the scriptures; that he was buried; and that he was raised to life on the third day, in accordance with the scriptures; that he appeared first to Cephas and secondly to the Twelve. Next he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died; then he appeared to James, and then to all the apostles; and last of all he appeared to me too; it was as though I was born when no one expected it.
I am the least of the apostles; in fact, since I persecuted the Church of God, I hardly deserve the name apostle; but by God’s grace that is what I am, and the grace that he gave me has not been fruitless. On the contrary, I, or rather the grace of God that is with me, have worked harder than any of the others; but what matters is that I preach what they preach, and this is what you all believed.

Responsorial Psalm 117(118):1-2,15-17,28

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good.

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,
for his love has no end.
Let the sons of Israel say:
‘His love has no end.’

The Lord’s right hand has triumphed;
his right hand raised me up.
I shall not die, I shall live
and recount his deeds.

You are my God, I thank you.
My God, I praise you.
I will thank you for you have given answer
and you are my saviour.

Gospel Luke 7:36-50

Her many sins have been forgiven, or she would not have shown such great love

One of the Pharisees invited Jesus to a meal. When he arrived at the Pharisee’s house and took his place at table, a woman came in, who had a bad name in the town. She had heard he was dining with the Pharisee and had brought with her an alabaster jar of ointment. She waited behind him at his feet, weeping, and her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them away with her hair; then she covered his feet with kisses and anointed them with the ointment.
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would know who this woman is that is touching him and what a bad name she has.’ Then Jesus took him up and said, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’ ‘Speak, Master’ was the reply. ‘There was once a creditor who had two men in his debt; one owed him five hundred denarii, the other fifty. They were unable to pay, so he pardoned them both. Which of them will love him more?’ ‘The one who was pardoned more, I suppose’ answered Simon. Jesus said, ‘You are right.’
Then he turned to the woman. ‘Simon,’ he said ‘you see this woman? I came into your house, and you poured no water over my feet, but she has poured out her tears over my feet and wiped them away with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but she has been covering my feet with kisses ever since I came in. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. For this reason I tell you that her sins, her many sins, must have been forgiven her, or she would not have shown such great love. It is the man who is forgiven little who shows little love.’ Then he said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ Those who were with him at table began to say to themselves, ‘Who is this man, that he even forgives sins?’ But he said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’

Showing Great Love

When the woman with a bad reputation entered the house where Jesus was dining, Simon the Pharisee looked at her with condemnation. She then began washing Jesus’ feet, and Simon judged Jesus as well. He thought that if Jesus were truly a prophet, He would not allow such a woman to touch Him. Simon could not see the love in her actions or the compassion in Jesus’ response. Yet the woman had the courage to do what love compelled her to do. She brought a jar of ointment, wept at Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. Unconcerned by the judgment around her, she simply wanted to love the One who had shown her mercy. Jesus knew what Simon and the other guests were thinking. Through a parable, He taught them that true love flows from a heart that has received forgiveness.

Today, Jesus invites us to recognise our need for God’s mercy and to receive His forgiveness again and again. When our hearts are touched by God’s love, we become less concerned with judging others and more ready to love them.

Reflective question:
What is Jesus inviting me to change in the way I love today?

Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD

First reading 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13

The supremacy of charity

Be ambitious for the higher gifts. And I am going to show you a way that is better than any of them.
If I have all the eloquence of men or of angels, but speak without love, I am simply a gong booming or a cymbal clashing. If I have the gift of prophecy, understanding all the mysteries there are, and knowing everything, and if I have faith in all its fullness, to move mountains, but without love, then I am nothing at all. If I give away all that I possess, piece by piece, and if I even let them take my body to burn it, but am without love, it will do me no good whatever.
Love is always patient and kind; it is never jealous; love is never boastful or conceited; it is never rude or selfish; it does not take offence, and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people’s sins but delights in the truth; it is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes.
Love does not come to an end. But if there are gifts of prophecy, the time will come when they must fail; or the gift of languages, it will not continue for ever; and knowledge – for this, too, the time will come when it must fail. For our knowledge is imperfect and our prophesying is imperfect; but once perfection comes, all imperfect things will disappear. When I was a child, I used to talk like a child, and think like a child, and argue like a child, but now I am a man, all childish ways are put behind me. Now we are seeing a dim reflection in a mirror; but then we shall be seeing face to face. The knowledge that I have now is imperfect; but then I shall know as fully as I am known.
In short, there are three things that last: faith, hope and love; and the greatest of these is love.

Responsorial Psalm 32(33):2-5,12,22

Happy the people the Lord has chosen as his own.

Give thanks to the Lord upon the harp,
with a ten-stringed lute sing him songs.
O sing him a song that is new,
play loudly, with all your skill.

For the word of the Lord is faithful
and all his works to be trusted.
The Lord loves justice and right
and fills the earth with his love.

They are happy, whose God is the Lord,
the people he has chosen as his own.
May your love be upon us, O Lord,
as we place all our hope in you.

Gospel Luke 7:31-35

‘We played the pipes, and you wouldn’t dance’

Jesus said to the people:
‘What description can I find for the men of this generation? What are they like? They are like children shouting to one another while they sit in the market-place:

‘“We played the pipes for you,
and you wouldn’t dance;
we sang dirges,
and you wouldn’t cry.”

‘For John the Baptist comes, not eating bread, not drinking wine, and you say, “He is possessed.” The Son of Man comes, eating and drinking, and you say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.” Yet Wisdom has been proved right by all her children.’

Growing In Love And Wisdom

In today’s first reading, St Paul speaks to us about the way of love. We may have impressive gifts and talents, but without love, these gifts lose their deepest meaning and purpose. Today, let us prayerfully reflect on St Paul’s description of what love is: it is patient, kind, never jealous, never boastful, never rude or selfish, and it does not bear grudges. Instead, it rejoices in truth, bears with others, hopes and perseveres. We are invited to choose love, and in doing so, we participate in God’s own life.

In the Gospel, the people rejected both John the Baptist and Jesus because they did not agree with their lifestyles; one was too rigid and the other too liberated. Their hearts were closed, dismissing God’s message because it did not come in the way they expected. These two readings challenge us to a more mature faith. We are called not just to admire love, but to live it; not merely to hear God’s message, but to receive it with open hearts. Today, let us root our lives in Christ so that He can help us to grow in love and wisdom.

Reflective question:
What one concrete act of love can I offer today?

Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD

First reading 1 Corinthians 12:12-14,27-31

You together are Christ’s body: each of you a different part

Just as a human body, though it is made up of many parts, is a single unit because all these parts, though many, make one body, so it is with Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptised, Jews as well as Greeks, slaves as well as citizens, and one Spirit was given to us all to drink.
Nor is the body to be identified with any one of its many parts. Now you together are Christ’s body; but each of you is a different part of it. In the Church, God has given the first place to apostles, the second to prophets, the third to teachers; after them, miracles, and after them the gift of healing; helpers, good leaders, those with many languages. Are all of them apostles, or all of them prophets, or all of them teachers? Do they all have the gift of miracles, or all have the gift of healing? Do all speak strange languages, and all interpret them? Be ambitious for the higher gifts.

Responsorial Psalm 99(100)

We are his people, the sheep of his flock.

Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness.
Come before him, singing for joy.

Know that he, the Lord, is God.
He made us, we belong to him,
we are his people, the sheep of his flock.

Go within his gates, giving thanks.
Enter his courts with songs of praise.
Give thanks to him and bless his name.

Indeed, how good is the Lord,
eternal his merciful love.
He is faithful from age to age.

Gospel John 19:25-27

‘Woman, this is your son’

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. Seeing his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, ‘Woman, this is your son.’ Then to the disciple he said, ‘This is your mother.’ And from that moment the disciple made a place for her in his home.

Mary, Mother Of Sorrows

At the foot of Jesus’ cross, Mary, His mother, stood with steadfast love, silent courage and deep trust in God. She watched her Son suffer rejection, humiliation and death. As a mother, she experienced pain beyond words. Yet Mary did not turn away; she stood firm and continued to believe that God’s love was still at work, even when everything seemed lost.

Today, let us reflect on Mary’s presence at the foot of the cross. This is what faithful love looks like. Although she could not take suffering and death away from Jesus, she stood to stay close to her beloved Son. Mary, Mother of Sorrows, continues to stand with us as we face the crosses of our lives. She lends us her strength when we find it hard to go on, and reminds us always to look at her Son, whose love will never fail us, and whose Resurrection shows us that love always has the final word.

Reflective question:
Is there a sorrow in my life that I can place in Mary’s loving care?

Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD

First reading Numbers 21:4-9

If anyone was bitten by a serpent, he looked up at the bronze serpent and lived

On the way through the wilderness the people lost patience. They spoke against God and against Moses, ‘Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die in this wilderness? For there is neither bread nor water here; we are sick of this unsatisfying food.’
At this God sent fiery serpents among the people; their bite brought death to many in Israel. The people came and said to Moses, ‘We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you. Intercede for us with the Lord to save us from these serpents.’ Moses interceded for the people, and the Lord answered him, ‘Make a fiery serpent and put it on a standard. If anyone is bitten and looks at it, he shall live.’ So Moses fashioned a bronze serpent which he put on a standard, and if anyone was bitten by a serpent, he looked at the bronze serpent and lived.

Responsorial Psalm 77(78):1-2,34-38

Never forget the deeds of the Lord.

Give heed, my people, to my teaching;
turn your ear to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in a parable
and reveal hidden lessons of the past.

When he slew them then they would seek him,
return and seek him in earnest.
They would remember that God was their rock,
God the Most High their redeemer.

But the words they spoke were mere flattery;
they lied to him with their lips.
For their hearts were not truly with him;
they were not faithful to his covenant.

Yet he who is full of compassion
forgave them their sin and spared them.
So often he held back his anger
when he might have stirred up his rage.

Gospel John 3:13-17

God sent his Son so that through him the world might be saved

Jesus said to Nicodemus:

‘No one has gone up to heaven
except the one who came down from heaven,
the Son of Man who is in heaven;
and the Son of Man must be lifted up
as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert,
so that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.
Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost
but may have eternal life.
For God sent his Son into the world
not to condemn the world,
but so that through him the world might be saved.’

God So Loved…

The heart of the Gospel is revealed in today’s Gospel: “God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son.” God’s constant response to us despite our brokenness and messy lives is not condemnation but closeness. In Jesus, He draws near to us to love us, even in our darkest moments. As we celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, we come to grasp that the cross is not a place of failure and hopelessness but a sign of God’s unconditional and faithful love. On the cross, Jesus entered into human pain, rejection, suffering and even death, so that we do not need to suffer alone.

This comforting truth changes the way we approach our own crosses. When we feel anxious, misunderstood or lonely, we look to Christ, knowing that He understands our struggles and shares in our suffering. Today, let us bring our concrete pain and suffering to Jesus, and pray, “Lord, stay with me and help me to carry this cross with patience and hope.” May we remember that Jesus is not indifferent to our suffering. He is with us, giving us strength when our own fails.

Reflective question:
Do I truly believe that God is with me during moments of struggle and suffering?

Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD

First reading Ecclesiasticus 27:33-28:9

Forgive your neighbour the hurt he does you; and when you pray, your sins will be forgiven

Resentment and anger, these are foul things,
and both are found with the sinner.
He who exacts vengeance will experience the vengeance of the Lord,
who keeps strict account of sin.
Forgive your neighbour the hurt he does you,
and when you pray, your sins will be forgiven.
If a man nurses anger against another,
can he then demand compassion from the Lord?
Showing no pity for a man like himself,
can he then plead for his own sins?
Mere creature of flesh, he cherishes resentment;
who will forgive him his sins?
Remember the last things, and stop hating,
remember dissolution and death, and live by the commandments.
Remember the commandments, and do not bear your neighbour ill-will;
remember the covenant of the Most High, and overlook the offence.

Responsorial Psalm 102(103):1-4,9-12

The Lord is compassion and love, slow to anger and rich in mercy.

My soul, give thanks to the Lord
all my being, bless his holy name.
My soul, give thanks to the Lord
and never forget all his blessings.

It is he who forgives all your guilt,
who heals every one of your ills,
who redeems your life from the grave,
who crowns you with love and compassion.

His wrath will come to an end;
he will not be angry for ever.
He does not treat us according to our sins
nor repay us according to our faults.

For as the heavens are high above the earth
so strong is his love for those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west
so far does he remove our sins.

Second reading Romans 14:7-9

Alive or dead, we belong to the Lord

The life and death of each of us has its influence on others; if we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord, so that alive or dead we belong to the Lord. This explains why Christ both died and came to life: it was so that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

Gospel Matthew 18:21-35

To be forgiven, you must forgive

Peter went up to Jesus and said, ‘Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me? As often as seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘Not seven, I tell you, but seventy-seven times.
‘And so the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who decided to settle his accounts with his servants. When the reckoning began, they brought him a man who owed ten thousand talents; but he had no means of paying, so his master gave orders that he should be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, to meet the debt. At this, the servant threw himself down at his master’s feet. “Give me time” he said “and I will pay the whole sum.” And the servant’s master felt so sorry for him that he let him go and cancelled the debt. Now as this servant went out, he happened to meet a fellow servant who owed him one hundred denarii; and he seized him by the throat and began to throttle him. “Pay what you owe me” he said. His fellow servant fell at his feet and implored him, saying, “Give me time and I will pay you.” But the other would not agree; on the contrary, he had him thrown into prison till he should pay the debt. His fellow servants were deeply distressed when they saw what had happened, and they went to their master and reported the whole affair to him. Then the master sent for him. “You wicked servant,” he said “I cancelled all that debt of yours when you appealed to me. Were you not bound, then, to have pity on your fellow servant just as I had pity on you?” And in his anger the master handed him over to the torturers till he should pay all his debt. And that is how my heavenly Father will deal with you unless you each forgive your brother from your heart.’

The courageous act of forgiving

In the first reading of Ecclesiasticus, it states, “If a man nurses anger against another, can he then demand compassion from the Lord?” The invitation reminds us that we should always be ready to forgive those who have wronged us, just as God is always prepared to forgive us for our sins. When we hold onto resentments, we fill our hearts with bitterness and anger, which prevent us from experiencing peace and joy. It is essential to acknowledge that wrongs have occurred and that we can seek truth and justice. However, this means we choose not to let hatred and resentment control our hearts. We place the situation and the person who has hurt us before God and ask Him for the strength we need each day to move forward.

In the Gospel, Jesus shares a parable about an unforgiving servant who refuses to forgive a fellow servant for a small debt, even after being forgiven by his master for a much larger amount. This parable invites us to show mercy to others because we have received so much mercy from God. God does not want us to become prisoners of our anger, but to allow His love to give us the courage to take steps toward forgiveness.

Reflective question:
When I remember God’s mercy toward me, does it make me more patient and compassionate with others?

Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD

First reading 1 Corinthians 10:14-22

We are a single body because we all share the one bread

My dear brothers, you must keep clear of idolatry. I say to you as sensible people: judge for yourselves what I am saying. The blessing-cup that we bless is a communion with the blood of Christ, and the bread that we break is a communion with the body of Christ. The fact that there is only one loaf means that, though there are many of us, we form a single body because we all have a share in this one loaf. Look at the other Israel, the race, where those who eat the sacrifices are in communion with the altar.
Does this mean that the food sacrificed to idols has a real value, or that the idol itself is real? Not at all. It simply means that the sacrifices that they offer they sacrifice to demons who are not God. I have no desire to see you in communion with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot take your share at the table of the Lord and at the table of demons. Do we want to make the Lord angry; are we stronger than he is?

Responsorial Psalm 115(116):12-13,17-18

A thanksgiving sacrifice I make to you, O Lord.

How can I repay the Lord
for his goodness to me?
The cup of salvation I will raise;
I will call on the Lord’s name.

A thanksgiving sacrifice I make;
I will call on the Lord’s name.
My vows to the Lord I will fulfil
before all his people.

Gospel Luke 6:43-49

Whoever hears me builds his house on a rock

Jesus said to his disciples:
‘There is no sound tree that produces rotten fruit, nor again a rotten tree that produces sound fruit. For every tree can be told by its own fruit: people do not pick figs from thorns, nor gather grapes from brambles. A good man draws what is good from the store of goodness in his heart; a bad man draws what is bad from the store of badness. For a man’s words flow out of what fills his heart.
‘Why do you call me, “Lord, Lord” and not do what I say?
‘Everyone who comes to me and listens to my words and acts on them – I will show you what he is like. He is like the man who when he built his house dug, and dug deep, and laid the foundations on rock; when the river was in flood it bore down on that house but could not shake it, it was so well built. But the one who listens and does nothing is like the man who built his house on soil, with no foundations: as soon as the river bore down on it, it collapsed; and what a ruin that house became!’

Lord, help me do what I say

Paul reminds the Corinthians that avoiding idol worship is fundamental to true faith in Christ. Paul warns the Christians that if one eats at the sacrificial banquet offered by the gentiles, one is united in some way to the god in whose honour the sacrifice is offered and to those who honour this god.

Once converted, Christians must guard against any return to paganism.

All actions must proceed from faith in the one Lord. The cup of blessing makes all Christians sharers in the blood of Christ. The bread they share binds them to Christ and one another. As the body of Christ, they are nourished by this sharing.

The unity celebrated during the Lord’s supper can be damaged when Christians take part in idol worship, which can cause scandal and division within the community. It is not possible to eat at the Lord’s Supper and follow the practices of idol worship.

In his teachings, Jesus makes this point clearly when he states that those who call on the name of Jesus as Lord must genuinely demonstrate the quality of their relationship with the Lord.

They can do this if they hear his words and put them into practice. Jesus uses the image of a fruit-tree to emphasise the genuineness of one’s action; that is, “no good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit” (Lk 6:43).

Christians, therefore, must demonstrate through their deeds what they profess and believe.

Lord, help me do what I say.

Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Daily Shalom” by Herald Malaysia

First reading 1 Corinthians 9:16-19,22-27

We go into strict training, like fighters at the games

I do not boast of preaching the gospel, since it is a duty which has been laid on me; I should be punished if I did not preach it! If I had chosen this work myself, I might have been paid for it, but as I have not, it is a responsibility which has been put into my hands. Do you know what my reward is? It is this: in my preaching, to be able to offer the Good News free, and not insist on the rights which the gospel gives me.
So though I am not a slave of any man I have made myself the slave of everyone so as to win as many as I could. I made myself all things to all men in order to save some at any cost; and I still do this, for the sake of the gospel, to have a share in its blessings.
All the runners at the stadium are trying to win, but only one of them gets the prize. You must run in the same way, meaning to win. All the fighters at the games go into strict training; they do this just to win a wreath that will wither away, but we do it for a wreath that will never wither. That is how I run, intent on winning; that is how I fight, not beating the air. I treat my body hard and make it obey me, for, having been an announcer myself, I should not want to be disqualified.

Responsorial Psalm 83(84):3-6,12

How lovely is your dwelling-place, Lord, God of hosts.

My soul is longing and yearning,
is yearning for the courts of the Lord.
My heart and my soul ring out their joy
to God, the living God.

The sparrow herself finds a home
and the swallow a nest for her brood;
she lays her young by your altars,
Lord of hosts, my king and my God.

They are happy, who dwell in your house,
for ever singing your praise.
They are happy, whose strength is in you,
in whose hearts are the roads to Zion.

For the Lord God is a rampart, a shield;
he will give us his favour and glory.
The Lord will not refuse any good
to those who walk without blame.

Gospel Luke 6:39-42

Can the blind lead the blind?

Jesus told a parable to the disciples: ‘Can one blind man guide another? Surely both will fall into a pit? The disciple is not superior to his teacher; the fully trained disciple will always be like his teacher. Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the plank in your own? How can you say to your brother, “Brother, let me take out the splinter that is in your eye,” when you cannot see the plank in your own? Hypocrite! Take the plank out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take out the splinter that is in your brother’s eye.’

Responsibility To Share The Gospel

In the first reading, St Paul tells us, “I do not boast of preaching the gospel, since it is a duty which has been laid on me…it is a responsibility which has been put into my hands.” For St Paul, preaching the Gospel is a responsibility entrusted to him by God, and as a result, he strives to lead others to encounter Christ, no matter the cost. Today, we have been entrusted by God with the responsibility to share the Gospel through our words, smiles, honesty, service and the way we relate with others. Let us not keep the Good News of God’s love to ourselves, but use our lives to bring others closer to Him.

In the Gospel, Jesus tells us not to judge others while failing to recognise our own faults. He asks, “Why do you observe the splinter in your brother’s eye and never notice the plank in your own?” Jesus wants us to look at ourselves before we point out others’ shortcomings and mistakes. Let us take a moment in this time of prayer to examine our own hearts and make love our top priority so that our witness may become credible.

Reflective questions:
Does my life reflect the Gospel that I want others to know? Does it help them to encounter Christ?

Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD

First reading 1 Corinthians 8:1-7,11-13

Your brethren may be weaker than you: do not lead them astray

Now about food sacrificed to idols. ‘We all have knowledge’; yes, that is so, but knowledge gives self-importance – it is love that makes the building grow. A man may imagine he understands something, but still not understand anything in the way that he ought to. But any man who loves God is known by him. Well then, about eating food sacrificed to idols: we know that idols do not really exist in the world and that there is no god but the One. And even if there were things called gods, either in the sky or on earth – where there certainly seem to be ‘gods’ and ‘lords’ in plenty – still for us there is one God, the Father, from whom all things come and for whom we exist; and there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things come and through whom we exist.
Some people, however, do not have this knowledge. There are some who have been so long used to idols that they eat this food as though it really had been sacrificed to the idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled by it. In this way your knowledge could become the ruin of someone weak, of a brother for whom Christ died. By sinning in this way against your brothers, and injuring their weak consciences, it would be Christ against whom you sinned. That is why, since food can be the occasion of my brother’s downfall, I shall never eat meat again in case I am the cause of a brother’s downfall.

Responsorial Psalm 138(139):1-3,13-14,23-24

Lead me, O Lord, in the path of life eternal.

O Lord, you search me and you know me,
you know my resting and my rising,
you discern my purpose from afar.
You mark when I walk or lie down,
all my ways lie open to you.

For it was you who created my being,
knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I thank you for the wonder of my being,
for the wonders of all your creation.

Already you knew my soul,
O search me, God, and know my heart.
O test me and know my thoughts.
See that I follow not the wrong path
and lead me in the path of life eternal.

Gospel Luke 6:27-38

Love your enemies

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I say this to you who are listening: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly. To the man who slaps you on one cheek, present the other cheek too; to the man who takes your cloak from you, do not refuse your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for your property back from the man who robs you. Treat others as you would like them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks can you expect? For even sinners do that much. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners lend to sinners to get back the same amount. Instead, love your enemies and do good, and lend without any hope of return. You will have a great reward, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
‘Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned yourselves; grant pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap; because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back.’

Love, Do Good, Bless And Pray

Jesus tells us today, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who treat you poorly.” His message is challenging to embrace because it is difficult to love those who do not love us in return. Jesus asks us to love our enemies, do good to those who hate us, bless those who curse us, and pray for those who treat us badly. This does not mean that we must accept wrongdoings done against us or ignore injustice. We need to set healthy boundaries and seek justice. Yet, Jesus invites us not to let hatred or bitterness rule our hearts.

To love our enemies does not mean we must feel affection for them; rather, we choose to love them by being patient instead of anger, forgiveness instead of resentment, and goodness over vindication. Today, may we love beyond what is easy so that we can reflect God’s love and mercy.

Reflective question:
How can remembering God’s mercy toward me help me become more merciful to others?

Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD