Friday, May 23, 2025

Entering the Joy : Easter Entrance Antiphons Friday 5th Week of Eastertide

Entering the Joy: Easter Entrance Antiphons.

He is Not Here: He Is Risen.


 Entering the Joy – Friday, Week 5 of Eastertide

Entrance Antiphon:
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and divinity, and wisdom and strength and honour, alleluia.”
(cf. Revelation 5:12)

 

The Slain Lamb is Now Worthy of All

Today’s antiphon places us in the heart of the heavenly liturgy.
We are not just remembering what Jesus did —
we are joining the worship of heaven, where the risen Christ is adored.

But notice how He is described:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain…”

Not “the victorious warrior,” not “the conquering king” — but the Lamb, and not just the Lamb — the slain Lamb.

His worthiness comes through sacrifice.
His glory comes through the cross.
And now, He receives everything:
Power. Divinity. Wisdom. Strength. Honour.

This is what Easter proclaims:
The one who gave everything now holds everything.

 

Spirituality in Action

How can I carry this antiphon into my day?

  • Whisper: “Worthy is the Lamb.” Let it re-centre you when you feel scattered.
  • Honour Christ today by giving your best — your attention, your kindness, your strength.
  • Reflect: where in your life do you need to surrender control and let the Lamb reign?

 Short Prayer

Worthy are You, Jesus,
Slain for us, risen in glory.
You hold power, wisdom, and strength —
and yet You still carry wounds of love.
Let me honour You today
in how I live, speak, and love.
Alleluia. Amen.

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Come Holy Spirit Series: Week 5 Gift of Fortitude ( courage).

Come Holy Spirit Series

Come Holy Spirit


 Come Holy Spirit Series: Week 5 — The Gift of Fortitude  “The Strength to Stand, the Grace to Endure”

Welcome back to our Come Holy Spirit series. This week, we meet a gift that some of us know more intimately than others. She’s the steady one. The fire in the bones. The calm in the storm. She doesn’t always make headlines, but when life gets hard, she’s the one who stays.  This is the Gift of Fortitude—also called Courage.

And personally? I’ve always felt that I received a triple dose at Confirmation.
This girl doesn’t often let me down. She has rarely failed me, and even in the one moment where I felt her flicker, a wise priest reminded me that maybe the Spirit was helping me lean into other gifts.

But this week, I come home to her again. And maybe you need her too.

 What Does the Catechism Say About Fortitude?

Q. 389. What are the gifts of the Holy Spirit?
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are permanent dispositions which make man docile in following the promptings of the Holy Spirit. They are: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.
(CCC 1830–1831)

 What Is the Gift of Fortitude?

Fortitude is the supernatural courage to do what is right, especially when it's difficult, unpopular, frightening, or exhausting. 

  • It is not bravado
  • It is not recklessness.
  • It is not natural toughness or sheer willpower.

Fortitude is:

  • Grace to stand firm in faith under trial.
  • Courage to speak the truth with love, even when it costs.
  • Strength to persevere through long seasons of suffering or silence.
  • Steadiness to keep going when others give up.

 Why Do We Need Fortitude?

Our life is full of hills that feel too steep. We need fortitude because truth is often inconvenient, because love is demanding and because discipleship is not always applauded.

Fortitude helps us:

  • Push through fear and spiritual fatigue.
  • Stay faithful in the face of opposition or temptation.
  • Endure with hope when we want to give up.
  • Choose Christ again and again—even when it’s hard.

It doesn’t always feel dramatic. Often, it looks like just showing up—to prayer, to Mass, to your vocation—when you could so easily walk away.

 

How Can We Strengthen and Use the Gift of Fortitude?

1. Recall where you’ve already stood strong.
Your past victories in God’s grace are proof He’ll strengthen you again.

2. Pray when you’re weak.
Fortitude grows in the furnace. Pray: “Holy Spirit, I’m scared. Help me take the next step.”

3. Let others strengthen you.
The Spirit often speaks through encouraging words, supportive friends, or even a line in Scripture at just the right moment.

4. Act in small brave ways.
Say the hard thing kindly. Try again. Admit weakness. Ask for help. Stay when it’s easier to run.

5. Don’t confuse weariness with failure.
Fortitude is not never feeling tired. It’s pressing on anyway.

 Scriptures That Speak to Fortitude

“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread… for it is the Lord your God who goes with you.”
— Deuteronomy 31:6

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
— Philippians 4:13

“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not give up.”
— Galatians 6:9

“The Spirit helps us in our weakness.”
— Romans 8:26

 Reflection Question for the Week

Where in my life am I being called to keep going, keep speaking, or keep trusting—when everything in me wants to stop?

 Daily Soul Moments: Fortitude Week

  • Sunday: Remember a moment when God gave you unexpected strength. Give thanks.
  • Monday: Ask: Where do I feel resistance or fear right now? Offer it to the Spirit.
  • Tuesday: Read Deuteronomy 31:6. Let it settle deep into your bones.
  • Wednesday: Do one small brave thing today.
  • Thursday: Encourage someone else in their battle. Let Fortitude flow through you.
  • Friday: Let yourself rest—Fortitude is not about burnout, but rooted strength.
  • Saturday: Look back on the week: Where did Fortitude quietly carry you?

 

Closing Prayer

Come, Holy Spirit, Gift of Fortitude,
Be my courage when I falter,
My strength when I’m weak,
My resolve when I want to run.
Help me to stand in love, speak with truth, and persevere in hope.
Let me rise again when I fall, and walk with quiet strength wherever You lead.


Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Moments with the Gospel Series: Gospel of John 14 and understanding the word bequeath.

 Moments with the Gospel Series

Moments with the Gospel Icon.


Today’s Gospel is from John 14: 27-31.  As I was meditating on this Gospel, the word bequeath took my attention.  What is bequeath I wondered?

“Peace, I bequeath you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.”

The word “bequeath” — is sometimes used in older or more formal translations in place of “leave.” The Greek verb here is ἀφίημι (aphiēmi), which means to send away, leave, release, or let go. In this context, it conveys "leaving behind" as a legacy or inheritance, which is why “bequeath” fits so beautifully.

Teasing out bequeath:

  • Legal and Lasting: “Bequeath” is a term often used in a will. It suggests that Jesus is intentionally leaving something behind for His disciples — not accidentally, but as a deliberate gift in view of His departure. His peace is part of their inheritance as His followers.
  • Irrevocable: What is bequeathed is not taken back. It becomes the possession of the recipient. So, Christ’s peace isn't momentary — it remains with them, even after He ascends.
  • Personal and Intimate: Unlike the world’s transient or conditional peace (which can be broken or disturbed), Christ’s peace is relational — grounded in His union with the Father and extended to His followers.
  • A Peace Unlike the World’s: Jesus contrasts His gift with the way the world gives — often selectively, manipulatively, or temporarily. His bequeathed peace is eternal, sustaining, and rooted in divine love.

 

Then I wondered: What does it mean that Jesus bequeaths me His peace — not just for a moment of comfort, but as an enduring inheritance? At every Mass, just before Communion, we hear words that echo John 14:27 directly:

“Peace I leave you, my peace I give you…”

This is spoken by the priest in the Rite of Peace, right after the Lord’s Prayer and before the Lamb of God:

“Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your Apostles: Peace I leave you, my peace I give you, look not on our sins but on the faith of your Church…”

This moment is not just a remembrance of something Jesus once said — it’s a present and active bequeathing. In the context of the liturgy, Christ Himself is bestowing His peace anew — not symbolically, but sacramentally, as part of His gift of Himself in the Eucharist.

So yes, every day at Mass:

  • The bequeathing of peace is re-presented.
  • The words of John 14:27 are liturgically embodied.
  • This peace is not just a polite greeting — it's a preparation for communion with Christ, as He comes to dwell in us.

 

Liturgical Contingency

This means His peace is:

  • Tied to the mystery of His Passion (which He was about to undergo when He first spoke those words),
  • Given in the context of His self-offering (the Eucharist),
  • Meant to dwell in us, transforming us into peacemakers and bearers of His legacy.

Jesus offers us His peace — not as possession, but as participation. At the Sign of Peace, we do not just exchange a gesture, rather we pass on what we have received, sacrificing self to extend His peace to the very people He died to reconcile.

It is Eucharistic: It is

·         peace broken and shared,

·         offered in love,

·         not held for self.

That moment of the Sign of Peace can seem so small, even routine.
However, when seen through the lens of John 14:27 and the Eucharist,
it becomes a sacred relay of grace. Christ bequeaths His peace, and we become the stewards who carry it outward ,not just in words, but in lives offered for others.

After the Resurrection, Jesus greets His disciples with:

“Peace be with you.”

This is not just a gentle hello, rather it is  a continuation and confirmation of what He bequeathed in John 14:27.Now, risen and victorious, He seals that gift.

Consider these moments:

  • John 20:19: “Peace be with you” — as He shows them His wounds.
  • John 20:21: “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
  • John 20:26 (eight days later to Thomas and the others): again, “Peace be with you.”

Each time, it is not just comfort. It is mission, identity, and assurance.

He speaks peace into:

  • Their fear behind locked doors.
  • Their guilt for abandoning Him.
  • Their confusion about what comes next.

His peace becomes resurrection-shaped — not avoidance of suffering, but the victory through it. It is the same peace He gave in John 14…but now glorified, and entrusted to His Church.

How does this Peace disappear?

Jesus gives His peace — a peace the world cannot give and cannot take away.
And yet… we do feel it slip through our fingers sometimes. People, wounds, misunderstandings, daily irritations — they seem to disrupt or “steal” that peace.

So what’s going on? Theologically and spiritually:

The peace Jesus gives is not the absence of trouble — it’s His presence in the midst of it.  We are human.  Our hearts are still learning to rest in Him, still growing in trust. So our experience of that peace can falter — even if the gift itself has not been withdrawn.

Why it feels disrupted:

  1. Our attention shifts — from Christ to circumstance.
  2. We try to control outcomes rather than surrendering to God’s providence.
  3. We absorb other people’s turmoil rather than remaining rooted in Christ’s stillness.
  4. We forget we are vessels, not sources — peace flows through us, not from us.

So how do we protect this peace — so we can infuse it at the Sign of Peace?

Here are some ways that echo the spiritual wisdom of saints and scripture:

 

1. Guard your inner chapel

“Let not your hearts be troubled” (Jn 14:27)

This is Jesus telling us we can choose not to let it in. It takes spiritual training, yes, but there is a core within — a still point — where Christ dwells. Return to it often. Make it a habit: small pauses in the day to breathe, remember His presence, and re-anchor.

2. Stay close to the Giver, not just the gift

Peace is not a thing — it’s Christ Himself.

The more we cultivate closeness to Him — through the Word, through silence, through adoration — the more this peace becomes a climate within, not a weather report outside.

3. Practice the Sign of Peace before Mass

What would it look like to prepare to share peace by actively forgiving before we even walk in?

Think of people or moments that have unsettled us — and consciously, interiorly say:

“I forgive you. I hand you over to Christ.”
“I choose peace because He gave it to me.”

This clears the way to share a genuine peace during the liturgy, not just a gesture.

 

4. Let peace be your response, not your reward

If we only feel peace when others treat us well, we’ll always be at their mercy.

But if peace becomes our response, our gift, our offering — even when it costs — it becomes sacrificial, like Christ’s peace. It becomes Eucharistic.


How do I carry the peace I’ve been given so that I can share it, not lose it?

We are to stay rooted in the Giver — and when it feels lost, return again. That is discipleship.

So my meditation on the word bequeath took me on an interesting journey.  Yes. All in one word: bequeath.

Not just “give” — but entrust.
Not just “offer” — but make you a steward.
A lasting gift, given with love,
to hold, to guard, to live from, and to pass on.

All the mystery of Christ’s peace,
all the cost of the Cross,
all the strength of the Resurrection —
bequeathed to you.

Not earned. Not borrowed.
Yours.
By His will, sealed in love.

 



 


Enter The Joy: Easter Antiphon Series; Tuesday 5th Week Eastertide

Entering the Joy: Easter Antiphon Series.

He is Not Here. He Is Risen.


Entering the Joy – Tuesday, Week 5 of Eastertide

Entrance Antiphon:
“Let us rejoice and be glad and give glory to God, for the Lord our God the Almighty reigns, alleluia.”
(cf. Revelation 19:7, 6)

 

Rejoicing in the Reign of God

Today’s Entrance Antiphon is an invitation to joy that’s not based on feelings, but on truth:

“The Lord our God the Almighty reigns.”  It’s a statement of fact — not a mood. When everything feels unsettled, the antiphon reminds us:God still reigns.

When plans unravel or burdens feel heavy: God still reigns. God reigns with mercy. With wisdom. With resurrection power. And so we’re called to do three things:

Rejoice. Be glad. Give glory.Rejoicing doesn’t mean pretending things are perfect — it means living in trust, because the throne is not empty.

 

Spirituality in Action

How can I carry this antiphon into my day?

  • Say quietly (or aloud): “The Lord our God the Almighty reigns.” Let it settle your spirit.
  • Offer a small act of praise today — a song, a whispered “thank you,” a moment of stillness in the sun.
  • In a situation where you feel powerless, pause and say: “God is reigning, even here.”

 

Short Prayer

Almighty God,
You reign over all — even the places I cannot control.
Teach me to rejoice in Your kingship,
to be glad in Your presence,
and to give glory in the way I live today.
Alleluia. Amen.

  

Monday, May 19, 2025

Entering the Joy: Easter Antiphon Series: Monday 5th Week of Eastertide

Entering the Joy: Easter Entrance Antiphon Series.

He Is Not Here: He Is Risen.


 Monday Week 5 of Eastertide

Entrance Antiphon:  “The Good Shepherd has risen, who laid down his life for his sheep and willingly died for his flock, alleluia.” (cf. John 10:11, 15)


Today’s Entrance Antiphon brings us back to the heart of Easter: the Risen Christ.

He is not just any shepherd; He is the Good Shepherd who knows His sheep intimately and lays down His life for them. But the story doesn't end with sacrifice. He has risen, conquering death, and continues to guide and protect His flock.

This image reassures us that we are never alone. The Risen Shepherd walks with us, leading us through the challenges of life, offering comfort, guidance, and unwavering love.

Spirituality in Action  

How can I carry this antiphon into my day?

  • Trust in His guidance: When faced with decisions, remember that the Good Shepherd is leading you.
  • Offer care to others: Reflect His shepherding by being attentive and compassionate to those around you.
  • Embrace hope: Let the reality of the Resurrection fill you with hope, especially in moments of doubt or fear.

 Short Prayer

God Shepherd,
You laid down Your life for me and rose again in glory.
Lead me today with Your gentle guidance.
Help me to hear Your voice and follow where You lead.
May I find comfort in Your presence and share Your love with others.
Amen.
 

Sunday, May 18, 2025

Collect Series: Fifth Sunday Eastertide Year C

Collect Series

The Mass: Collect Series icon.


 COLLECT

Almighty ever- living God, constantly accomplish the Pascal Mystery within us,

That those You were pleased to make new in Holy Baptism

may, under Your protective care, bear much fruit and come to the joys of life eternal.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,

who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God for ever and ever.

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

In making this prayer tangible, the following reflection questions emerged:


1. What is the Pascal Mystery and what does it mean to me?

2.How can living the Pascal Mystery be accomplished within me this coming week?

3. What does my Baptism mean to me? If you have any photos/mementos of your Baptism, look at them as a means of being in that moment of Baptism.

4.If possible, visit the Church in which you were baptised- go to Mass there or make a visit/light a candle and say a prayer that your Baptism will be made new your life this coming week. If it is not possible to visit, google the place on the internet and enter into the moment of prayer to make your Baptism new this coming week.

5.How can I bear much fruit with God’s protective care this coming week?

6. How will I live the joy of Eastertide this coming week?

7. What preparations will I make this coming week to receive the joys of life eternal (reach Heaven)? Am I ready to die at a moment’s notice and enter into Heaven?



GOSPEL REFLECTION.

The Gospel is from John 13:31-33a, 34-35.  Jesus said ‘’I lay down my life for my friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.  What I command is that you love one another.’’ Would we pass the test that Christ himself lays down for deciding who are his true followers? 

 Today’s Gospel begins with the phrase ‘’when Judas had gone’’. Why is this little phrase important?  Jesus knew that Judas was to betray him and yet, He did stop Him before he went. He knew the suffering He would endure and He also knew that this was His mission and purpose for the world- to suffer, to die and on the third day rise again. 

 When we meet with the various forms of betrayal- the various types of Judas in our lives, are we like Jesus and get on with living out the purpose and mission that Christ has given us, or do we try to stop the betrayer, confront the betrayer and get caught up in his/her agenda not the mission and purpose that Christ has given us?

 The remainder of the Gospel is the giving of the commandment of love by Jesus. ‘’Love one another as I have loved you’’.  Simple to say and incredibly challenging to live- why because Jesus is commanding us to love with His love just as He has loved us.  We must be clear in our mind and heart how Jesus has/does love us first, otherwise how can we emulate His love?

Yes, we are human, but with God’s help and love, we can achieve a greater capacity to love and to love one another.  Knowing the love of Christ personally is key here because with that conviction and inner strength, we can face the difficult times, the difficult people and situations and still, with God’s help love one another.

 Many of us in prayer tell God our problems. It is good to be honest in prayer with God.  However, He knows before the thought is in our mind. Many of us tell God our problems but do not go further and remind God of His promises. God is always faithful to His promises. 

In this instance, we may have a person who is giving us grief, talking behind our backs, sullying our reputation personally and/or professionally. Can we love them?  Probably we do not feel like it.  However, we can say: Jesus, this person ( put in the name)  is giving me grief, talking behind my back, sullying my reputation. I do not feel like loving them. You love me so with your help, I will love ( put in the name of the person) with Your love just as you have loved me.
Praying like this in faith, for as long as it needs to take since the change in myself and the other person may take time ( or may only occur in one person if God chooses). Standing on the promises of God is vital in our prayer and not just pray the problem. Tell God the problem, but remind Him of His promises since it will nurture our faith in the process and God never fails on His promises. The promise here is that Jesus has told us that I have loved you. The command is to love another with that same love- the same love He gives us.

 If you do not know the promises of God from Scripture in relation to the problem you are currently experiencing, spend 15 minutes and google it. There are scriptures for every problem faced in some form or another. Write them down, have them in your phone, in your computer, in your handbag/purse- wherever these promises are convenient for you to use and to have on hand ready when you need them most.  Memorise them so that you can pray them in your heart at the time you need them. Pray them every day. Stand of the promises of God in your problem not just the problem.

 Key to this of course is really knowing and appreciating the great love Jesus has for every person. We have to really know and believe in the love Jesus has for us personally. 

 We can look at this commandment to love in another way.  In the Cadbury advertisement (chocolate), the tag line and message is ‘’ there is a glass and half in everyone’’.

As secular as the advertisement and sentiment is in relation to the product, it may be a useful consideration to keep in mind because in fact, with Jesus we, ourselves can be a glass and a half and with a generous heart, we too can look at others as the glass and a half too. This is particularly useful in times of betrayal and when we are not inclined to love.  There is always a glass and a half in everyone.

 May you love one another as I have loved you this coming week?

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Come Holy Spirit Series: The Gift of Knowledge- Learning to See what Matters.

Come Holy Spirit Series

Come Holy Spirit.


Week 4 — The Gift of Knowledge: 
“Seeing the World Through God’s Eyes”

Welcome back to Come Holy Spirit, our series of rediscovering the gifts given at Confirmation, allowing them to breathe fresh life into us.  We have already walked with Wisdom, Understanding, and Counsel. Now we pause to explore the Gift of Knowledge.

This gift may surprise you—it’s not about knowing facts or data, but about seeing all creation, ourselves, and the world in relation to God.

 

What Does the Catechism Say About Knowledge?

Q. 389. What are the gifts of the Holy Spirit?
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are permanent dispositions which make man docile in following the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
They are: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.
(CCC 1830–1831)

 

What Is the Gift of Knowledge?

The Gift of Knowledge is not about knowing more—it’s about knowing rightly.

It allows us to:

  • See the world as God sees it.
  • Recognize the Creator behind creation.
  • Understand the passing nature of earthly things.
  • Keep perspective, knowing what truly matters.

This gift opens our eyes to the deep truth that everything good in the world comes from God—and that all creation is meant to lead us back to Him, not to become an idol or distraction.

It’s the gift that gently whispers:

“This is beautiful—but it is not God.
Enjoy it—but do not cling to it.
Let it point you back to the Giver.”

 

Why Do We Need the Gift of Knowledge?

Because we live in a world that is obsessed with knowing more, having more, experiencing more.  Yet, often we feel emptier.

Knowledge as a gift of the Spirit helps us:

  • Keep God at the centre of all things.
  • Use the things of this world without becoming possessed by them.
  • Avoid attachments that pull us away from God.
  • See everything in its proper light.

This gift brings freedom and balance.

 

How Can We Refresh, Renew, and Use the Gift of Knowledge?

1. Spend time in nature or beauty.
Let it lift your heart to God, the Creator—not just to the creation itself.

2. Examine attachments.
Is something taking too much place in your heart? Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see it clearly.

3. Pray with gratitude.
Thank God for the good things in your life—but hold them lightly, knowing they are gifts, not gods.

4. Read Scripture slowly.
Let passages that speak of creation, stewardship, and humility reawaken the gift.

5. Offer the gift for others.
When someone is struggling with materialism, discouragement, or fear, pray that they too may receive the Gift of Knowledge.

 

Scriptures That Reflect the Gift of Knowledge

“The earth is the Lord’s and all it contains,
the world, and those who dwell in it.”
— Psalm 24:1

“Whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ.”
— Philippians 3:7

“For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.”
— 1 Timothy 6:7

 

Reflection Question for the Week

Where am I being invited to see the world, my work, my possessions, and even my struggles through God’s eyes?
What is God gently asking me to hold more lightly—or more gratefully?

 

Daily Soul Moments: Knowledge Week

  • Sunday: Reflect on something beautiful in your day. Let it lead you to praise God.
  • Monday: Pray: “Holy Spirit, show me what really matters today.”
  • Tuesday: Read Psalm 24. Where is God reminding you that He is the true Owner of all?
  • Wednesday: Reflect on your attachments. What might you need to let go of?
  • Thursday: Offer thanks for one earthly blessing—but release it back to God.
  • Friday: Ask: Where have I been blind to God’s presence in the ordinary?
  • Saturday: Review the week. How has the Spirit helped you see more clearly?

 

Closing Prayer

Come, Holy Spirit, Gift of Knowledge,
Open my eyes to the things that truly matter.
Let me enjoy the good things of this life, but never lose sight of You, the Giver of all.
Help me to see the world, others, and myself through Your eyes.
Free me from false attachments, and teach me the joy of loving You above all things.