Moments with the Gospel Series: Mt 6:25-34 Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God.

 Moments with The Gospel

Moments with the Gospel Series

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Today's Gospel is Matthew 6:25–34 and  is filled with deep assurance and quiet invitation to trust. As I was meditating on this passage the word righteousness caught my attention.

The word  "righteousness" (Greek: dikaiosynē), in this context—especially verse 33—holds rich meaning:

 What “Righteousness” Means in This Passage

At its heart, righteousness means right relationship—with God, with others, with creation, and even within oneself.

In Matthew’s Gospel, it is not a cold moralism or external rule-keeping. It’s about living in harmony with the heart of God.

When Jesus says, "Seek His righteousness," He invites us to:

• Desire what God desires.
• Live with integrity and trust in God’s providence.
• Let go of anxious striving for control, and instead live in faithful alignment with God’s will.

 

Righteousness as Alignment and Trust

In the flow of this passage—where Jesus says not to worry about food, drink, or clothing—righteousness becomes less about doing “right things” and more about:

• Living rightly in God’s kingdom economy of trust.
• Aligning our values with the generosity and simplicity of God.
• Prioritizing inner transformation over external success.

It is a gentle reorientation:

“If we live in tune with God's reign (Kingdom) and His way of being (righteousness), everything else will follow—not because we have earned it, but because we are living from a place of divine trust.”

 

Journal Prayer Prompts.

As we reflect, here are a few prompts you might use in our journaling or prayer:

• What does God’s righteousness look like in my life today?
• Am I seeking security through worry, or through deeper trust in God’s care?
• In what ways can I embody God’s justice, mercy, and right relationship with others today?
• What would it mean for me to seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness—even in uncertainty?

 

Come Holy Spirit Series: Week 6 Part B The Fruit of Kindness.

 Come Holy Spirit Series

Come Holy Spirit 

Come Holy Spirit – Week 6 – The Fruit of Kindness

As we continue our journey through the fruits of the Holy Spirit, this week we pause to reflect on a virtue that sounds gentle and simple but is often greatly misunderstood in its strength: Kindness.

What is Kindness?

Kindness is more than being nice. It’s not about polite words or a forced smile. Kindness flows from a heart that is rooted in God’s love—a heart that sees the other as someone created in the image of God and responds with tenderness, compassion, and mercy.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 1832) lists kindness among the twelve traditional fruits of the Holy Spirit. It’s closely aligned with charity (love) and goodness, but kindness expresses itself in how we treat others moment by moment—with gentleness, patience, and compassion, especially when it is undeserved.

What Does Scripture Say?

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
— Ephesians 4:32

“Love is patient, love is kind...”
— 1 Corinthians 13:4

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness...”
— Galatians 5:22

Kindness is an overflow of the Spirit working in us. When we are truly connected to Christ, kindness becomes less of an effort and more of a habit—something that radiates from within.

How Does Kindness Relate to the Gifts?

Kindness is deeply linked to the gifts of the Holy Spirit—especially the gifts of Piety, Wisdom, and Counsel. These gifts help us see others as God sees them and to respond not with judgment or irritation but with a generous spirit. Wisdom helps us discern what is truly needed; Counsel helps us respond appropriately; and Piety moves us with love and reverence for the other.

Kindness is not weakness. In fact, it takes great strength to be kind when circumstances are difficult, when people are rude, or when we ourselves are tired or wounded. But when we lean into the Holy Spirit, we find that kindness is no longer just something we try to do—it’s something we begin to become.

Practicing Kindness in Daily Life

• Pause before reacting – Sometimes, the kindest thing we can do is pause and not speak the first thing that comes to mind.
• Acknowledge others – A warm smile, a greeting, a kind word to someone who feels invisible can be deeply healing.
• Be gentle with people’s faults – Kindness sees weakness but chooses not to punish it. This also applies to our own faults. Acknowledge the fault to God but be kind to yourself just as Jesus is merciful to you. We need to learn that same kindness and mercy.
• Help quietly – A kind act without expecting recognition is the most beautiful expression of this fruit.
• Speak truth with love – Kindness does not avoid truth but delivers it with mercy and tenderness.

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you notice the people who need a little more kindness this week.

 

Scripture to Pray With

Take sometime this week to pray with these verses:

• Titus 3:4-5 – “When the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us…”
• Proverbs 31:26 – “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.”
• Colossians 3:12 – “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

 

Opportunity to Journal

You may like to reflect on one or more of these:

1. How do I understand the difference between being kind and being nice?
2. In what areas of my life do I struggle to be kind?
3. Have I ever been the recipient of unexpected kindness? How did it change me?
4. Which gifts of the Holy Spirit do I need to rely on more in order to grow in kindness?
5. How can I show kindness to myself this week?

 

Come, Holy Spirit, fill my heart with your fruit of kindness. Let me be a vessel of gentleness, compassion, and strength to those I encounter. Teach me to reflect Your mercy and tenderness in a world so in need of it. Amen.

 

Collect Series: Eighteenth Sunday Ordinary Time Year C

 Collect Series

The Mass: Collect Series Icon.

COLLECT SERIES

 

The Collect of the Mass for 18^TH Sunday of the Year C reads as follows:

 

Draw near to your servants, O Lord, and answer their prayers with unceasing kindness, that, for those who glory in You as their Creator and guide, You may restore what you have created and keep safe what You have restored. 
Who lives and reign with God the Father in the unity o the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

In making this prayer tangible for my life during this week, the following reflection questions emerged: 

1. What is my attitude towards God? Do I truly see God as Creator and myself as the created?

2. How does the attitude of ‘being the creator’ manifest in my life?

3. How will I deliberately make a choice to put God first in my life this week?

4.How will I acknowledge God as Creator this week? Eg become aware of creation around me, take a walk and ponder in both beauty of trees/flowers but God the Creator who made each one.

GOSPEL REFLECTION

Certainly! Here's a Gospel reflection post on Luke 12:13–21, the Parable of the Rich Fool:

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📖 Gospel Reflection | Luke 12:13–21
“Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” (Luke 12:15)

In today’s Gospel, Jesus is confronted by a man asking Him to settle a family dispute over an inheritance. Rather than involving Himself in legal matters, Jesus goes deeper—He addresses the root issue: greed.

He tells the parable of a rich man whose land yields a bountiful harvest. Instead of sharing his abundance, the man decides to tear down his barns and build bigger ones to store it all for himself. He imagines a life of comfort—“Eat, drink, and be merry.” But God calls him a fool. That very night, his life will be demanded of him, and all his accumulated wealth will be left behind.

This parable is not a condemnation of wealth itself, but of the illusion of control and the idolatry of possessions. The rich man is not a villain because he had a good harvest, but because he placed his security, identity, and future in things rather than in God. He lived with no awareness of his mortality and no thought of others.

The key to this gospel occurs in the last sentence where the invitation to become rich in God is offered. What would that mean for me to become rich in God? What changes would I make to my life right now/ this week/ this month? 

Questions for reflection:

• What “barns” am I building in my own life?
• Do I measure success by what I accumulate or by how generously I live?
• If my life were demanded of me tonight, where would my treasure be?
• What changes do I need to make to become rich in God?  What graces do I need to ask for?  How is my prayer life?  Am I really in relationship with God?

 

This parable cuts to the heart of something many of us wrestle with—not just greed in the obvious sense, but a reluctance to let go. For some, it’s financial fear: What if I need this later? For others, it’s emotional: This item holds a memory, a part of my story. And sometimes it’s simply a quiet resistance to change.

Jesus does not shame us for having things. However He does invite us to reflect: Are our possessions serving our life with God, or distracting us from it? Are they freeing us to love others more deeply, or chaining us to fear, control, or nostalgia?

Reflection Invitation:

Go to a shelf or a cupboard in your home. Take a slow look. Then gently ask yourself:

What do I need?

What do I like?

Why do these things belong here?

 Am I becoming rich in God—or merely comfortable in clutter?

Letting go is rarely just a practical act—it is also spiritual. However, Jesus is there waiting in the sacrament of Reconciliation to help us to become rich in God through His mercy and forgiveness.  As we release, we create space: for simplicity, for trust, and for God.

Prayer:
Lord, You know how I cling to what I see, to what feels familiar and safe. Teach me to hold loosely to the things of this world and cling tightly to You. May my heart become less cluttered and more open to Your voice. Help me become rich—not in possessions—but in You through Your grace and compassion.

Come Holy Spirit Series: Week 5 Part B Fruit of Patience.

 Come Holy Spirit Series.

Come Holy Spirit Series Icon.

Come Holy Spirit – Week 5: The Fruit of the Spirit – Patience

“But the fruit of the Spirit is… patience…” – Galatians 5:22

Last week we explored peace as a fruit of the Spirit. This week, we shift to a fruit that often stretches us the most: patience. It's the quiet strength that helps us endure with grace, wait with trust, and love without rushing.

 

What is Patience?

Patience is more than simply waiting. It’s the ability to remain calm and faithful in the face of delay, suffering, or difficulty. It’s a peaceful endurance that holds steady when things don’t go according to our timeline. In the Latin tradition, the word patientia is related to pati – to suffer or endure.

Patience is a quiet fruit, but a strong one. It gives us the inner strength to pause rather than react, to forgive repeatedly, and to trust that God's timing is perfect—even when it doesn’t feel like it.

 

Scripture Reflection

• “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you…” – 2 Peter 3:9
• “Love is patient, love is kind…” – 1 Corinthians 13:4
• “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord.” – James 5:7

These verses remind us that God is patient with us. When we live in the Spirit, we begin to reflect that same patience in our relationships with others—and with ourselves.

 

How Patience Connects with the Gifts of the Spirit

Patience is strengthened by the gifts of fortitude, wisdom, and understanding. Fortitude gives us the strength to endure trials. Wisdom reminds us to look at time and suffering through God's eyes. Understanding helps us accept what we cannot change with humility and trust.

 

Practicing Patience in Daily Life

Here are some ways to cultivate patience:

• Pause and Breathe: When you feel frustration rising, take a moment to breathe. Let the Spirit create space between impulse and response. Eg When we are in traffic and we need to wait to turn right, we can turn our heart to God and offer a prayer of blessing for all those who pass us on the road. This Pausing and breathing whilst offering a prayer for other road users helps us to become more patient as we wait our turn to turn right. 
• Surrender Control: Practice saying, “Not my timing, Lord, but Yours.”
• Extend Grace: Be patient with those who test you. Choose compassion instead of irritation.
• Be Gentle with Yourself: We all need patience with our own failings and limitations. Let the Spirit remind you that we are a work in progress.
• Wait in Hope: When we are waiting—for healing, for answers, for change—turn our waiting into prayer and hope, not worry or despair.

 

Opportunity to Journal:

• In what situations do I find it easiest to be patient? Do I thank God for this fruit?
• Where do I struggle with impatience most—people, circumstances, or myself?
• How might the Holy Spirit be inviting me to grow in patience right now?
• Can I see how patience is already bearing fruit in my life?
• Which gift of the Spirit helps me most when I need patience?

 

A Closing Thought:

Patience may not feel exciting, but it is deeply holy. In a world that rushes and demands instant everything, patience is a powerful witness. It tells the world that we trust in God's timing, not our own. It is  not passive—it is hopeful, faithful endurance.

Come, Holy Spirit, grow in me the fruit of patience. 

Teach me to wait with trust, to bear trials with peace, 

and to walk with quiet strength through all seasons of life. Amen.

 

Come Holy Spirit Series: Week 4 Part B Fruit of the Spirit: Peace

 Come Holy Spirit

Come Holy Spirit Series Icon.

Week 4: The Fruit of the Spirit: Peace

“The fruit of the Spirit is… peace…” — Galatians 5:22

 

Introduction: A Stillness That Surpasses Understanding

Peace is often misunderstood as the absence of noise, conflict, or trouble. But the peace of the Holy Spirit goes far beyond that. It is a deep, unshakable stillness, even in the midst of storms. It’s the peace Jesus offered when He said, “My peace I give you” (John 14:27)—not the fragile peace of the world, but a peace rooted in trust, surrender, and the indwelling presence of God.

Peace is the quiet confidence that God is here, and all will be well.

 

What Does Scripture Say?

• John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you.”
• Philippians 4:7 – “Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
• Isaiah 26:3 – “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.”

Peace is God’s gift to those who rest their lives in Him, even when life feels uncertain.

 

What Does the Church Say?

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2304):

“Respect for and development of human life require peace. Peace is not merely the absence of war… Peace is the work of justice and the effect of charity.”

And from the Compendium (480):

“Peace is the tranquillity of order, the work of justice and the effect of charity.”

This reminds us that true peace isn't passive—it’s active. It is born when our hearts are aligned with God’s justice and filled with divine love. Peace is a fruit of the Spirit because it flows naturally from a heart in communion with Him.

How Does Peace Connect with the Gifts of the Spirit?

• Wisdom leads us to trust in God’s plan and surrender to His timing.
• Understanding helps us see the bigger picture when we feel anxious or afraid.
• Counsel guides us toward decisions that promote peace in our relationships and communities.

When the gifts are at work, peace is the fruit that blossoms gently, often without our realizing it. Others may notice the calm, grounded way we carry ourselves—even when life is difficult.

 

Practicing the Fruit of Peace

Growing in peace means becoming a person of quiet trust, deep prayer, and gentle presence. Here are ways to practice peace this week:

• Create moments of silence: Even five minutes of silence with the Holy Spirit can reset your heart. Peace begins in stillness.
• Pray slowly with Scripture: Let a short verse (like John 14:27) become your anchor throughout the day. Return to it often.
• Breathe deeply, speak gently: Let your words be wrapped in calm. Even under stress, choose words that build bridges.
• Seek reconciliation: Is there someone you’re out of step with? Take a step toward healing, even if it’s a small gesture.
• Trust God with what you cannot control: Write down your worries, then place them—symbolically or literally—into God’s hands.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts…” — Colossians 3:15

 

Journal Opportunity: Reflecting on Peace

1. What does peace feel like to me? When have I felt closest to this kind of peace?
2. Where in my life do I long for greater peace—externally or within?
3. What robs me of peace most often?
4. How can I become a more peaceful presence in my home, work, or parish?
5. How might the Holy Spirit be inviting me to receive and share peace today?

 

Closing Prayer

Come, Holy Spirit, Giver of Peace,
calm my anxious thoughts.
Teach me the kind of peace that doesn’t depend on circumstances.
Let my life reflect Your stillness, Your serenity, Your trust.
When my heart is troubled, remind me that You are near.
Make me a bearer of peace in a world that so desperately needs it.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 

Come Holy Spirit Series: Week 3 Part B Fruit of the Spirit: Joy

 Come Holy Spirit Series.

Come Holy Spirit

Week 3: The Fruit of the Spirit is Joy

“The fruit of the Spirit is… joy…” — Galatians 5:22

 

Introduction: Joy Beyond Circumstance

When we think of joy, we often think of happiness, laughter, or cheerful moments. But the joy the Holy Spirit brings is much deeper—a steady, spiritual gladness rooted not in what’s happening to us but in Who is living within us.

Joy is not the absence of suffering—it is the presence of God.

The fruit of joy grows in the soul that trusts, surrenders, and hopes—even in darkness. It is a sign that the Holy Spirit is quietly active, nourishing the heart with a peace that surpasses understanding.

 

What Does Scripture Say?

• Philippians 4:4 – “Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice!”
• Nehemiah 8:10 – “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”
• Romans 12:12 – “Rejoice in hope, be patient in affliction, be persistent in prayer.”

Scripture teaches that joy is both a command and a gift. It is God’s strength pulsing through us—especially in times of trial.

 

What Does the Church Say?

From the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (384):

“The fruits of the Spirit are perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory.”

Joy is not a surface reaction—it is a foretaste of heaven. In Catholic teaching, joy is closely tied to the virtue of hope and the grace of gratitude.

From the Catechism (CCC 1829), we are reminded:

“The fruits of charity are joy, peace, and mercy...”

That is, true joy flows from love—and bears peace in its wake.

 

How Does Joy Connect with the Gifts of the Spirit?

• Wisdom helps us to rejoice in God’s goodness beyond life’s circumstances.
• Understanding allows us to see God's hand even in confusion or grief.
• Fortitude gives us the strength to carry joy into painful situations, not as denial, but as a quiet light.

Joy and sorrow can coexist—but joy never leaves when it comes from the Holy Spirit. It is steady, rooted, and quietly radiant.

 

Practicing the Fruit of Joy

To grow in joy is to choose to live in the awareness of God’s presence and faithfulness. Here are some tangible ways to practice this fruit:

• Start a gratitude rhythm: Each morning or evening, name three small blessings—sunlight on your window, a kind word, a moment of rest.
• Smile with intention: Offer a genuine smile to someone today—not because everything is perfect, but because God is present.
• Surrender expectations: Joy grows when we let go of needing life to look a certain way and trust God with how it actually unfolds.
• Celebrate small victories: Did you finish something hard? Make it through a tough day? Give thanks. Joy is found in acknowledging progress, not perfection.
• Find joy in service: Offer your time or talents quietly for the good of another—joy often blooms in acts of hidden love.

“Joy is the most infallible sign of the presence of God.” — Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

 

Journal Opportunity: Reflecting on Joy

1. What brings me joy at this stage of my life?
2. When was the last time I felt deeply joyful? What made it so?
3. What is robbing me of joy right now—and what might God be saying in that place?
4. How can I welcome joy in ordinary tasks this week?
5. Where is the Holy Spirit inviting me to rejoice—even if circumstances haven’t changed?

Closing Prayer

Come, Holy Spirit,
awaken joy within me.
Remind me that my joy is not tied to outcomes, but to your presence.
When I feel discouraged, lift my heart.
When I forget your goodness, gently remind me again.
Teach me to rejoice always—not just in moments of gladness, but even in moments of trust.
Let my life reflect the joy that comes from walking with you. Amen.

 

Come Holy Spirit Series: Week 2 Part B: The Fruit of Love

Come Holy Spirit

Come Holy Spirit.

Week 2: The Fruit of the Spirit is Love

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…” — Galatians 5:22

Perhaps when you received the sacrament of Confirmation, you were like me and were able to recite all the gifts of the Spirit and perhaps even the fruits of the Spirit.  However, as the years pass the memory fades and the way to connect the fruits of the Spirit with the gifts of the Spirit has disappeared. 

Perhaps, like me, you have not given the fruits of the Spirit much thought at all.   This is my motivation for writing this series.  I decided to imagine I had never been confirmed before and learn what I can about the gifts and the fruits of the Spirit as if I had never heard of them before. I desire to have a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit. Come Holy Spirit.

The Gift of Love

The Church has always held love (caritas) as the highest of the virtues and the very heartbeat of the Christian life. It is not a fruit we manufacture on our own—it is the natural outpouring of the Holy Spirit at work within us. Love is first in the list of the fruits of the Spirit because all the others flow from it.

As we begin this 12-week journey into the fruits of the Spirit, we start with love—not simply emotion, but divine action; not sentimentality, but sacrificial and faithful presence.

What Does Scripture Say?

• 1 Corinthians 13: “Love is patient, love is kind…” This passage remains the clearest portrait of love lived in the Spirit.
  
  
• Romans 5:5: “The love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
  
  
• John 13:34-35: “A new commandment I give you: love one another as I have loved you.”

In these verses, we see that love is not only a commandment but a gift, presence, and proof of the Spirit’s indwelling.

What Does the Church Say?

The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (383–385) affirms that the fruits of the Spirit are “perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory.”

In paragraph 1822 of the full Catechism:

“Charity is the theological virtue by which we love God above all things for His own sake, and our neighbour as ourselves for the love of God.”

When we speak of love as a fruit, it is deeply theological—it connects heaven and earth in us.

 How Does Love Connect with the Gifts of the Spirit?

• Wisdom allows us to see with God’s eyes—and love with God’s heart.
• Piety gives us the tenderness of devotion toward God and others.
• Counsel helps us act in love when we are unsure.
• Fortitude gives us the strength to love when it is difficult.

Love is not just a fruit—it is the expression of all the gifts taking root.

 Practicing the Fruit of Love

To grow in love is to allow the Holy Spirit to widen our hearts—gradually, humbly, and consistently. This love is not reserved for the extraordinary moments, but revealed in the ordinary, daily acts of grace. Here are some ways to let the fruit of love take deeper root in your life:

• Begin each day with a quiet offering: Before speaking or acting, ask: Holy Spirit, help me to love well today—through my words, my tone, my choices.
  
  
• Listen attentively: Make a conscious effort to be fully present when someone speaks. Set aside distractions. Let love be shown in undivided attention.
  
  
• Notice and affirm the good in others: Send a message, write a note, or speak a kind word that reminds someone of their value—especially when they least expect it.
  
  
• Love in patience: When frustrated, pause. Breathe. Delay a reaction. Choose a softer response. This is love in action.
  
  
• Forgive with gentleness: If a memory of hurt surfaces, pray: Holy Spirit, soften my heart. Teach me to forgive with freedom.
  
  
• Stretch your circle: Look around your parish, workplace, or neighbourhood. Is there someone who might feel overlooked or disconnected? Extend warmth, an invitation, a kind gesture.
  
  
• Serve in hidden ways: Do something kind without needing recognition—return a shopping trolley, wash someone else’s mug, tidy up after a meeting.
  
  
• Pray intentionally for someone each day: Choose one person each morning and hold them in prayer, especially with someone you may find difficult to understand or connect.

“Let all that you do be done in love.” — 1 Corinthians 16:14

 Journal Opportunity: Reflecting on Love

Here are a few journaling prompts to sit with this week:

1. When I think of love, what images or memories come to mind?
2. In what ways do I already see the fruit of love in my life?
3. Where am I struggling to show love right now?
4. What does it mean for me to love as Christ loves?
5. How can I invite the Holy Spirit to help me love more deeply this week?

You may like to print and keep these in your prayer journal or spiritual notebook.

 Closing Prayer

Come, Holy Spirit, fill my heart with your divine fire.
Teach me how to love when I feel dry, wounded, or afraid.
Let my life speak of your love—not just in words, but in every choice I make.
Holy Spirit, grow your fruit in me. Amen.