Gospel Luke 11:42-46 You overlook justice and the love of God The Lord said to the Pharisees: ‘Alas for you Pharisees! You who pay your tithe of mint and rue and all sorts of garden herbs and overlook justice and the love of God! These you should have practised, without leaving the others undone. Alas for you Pharisees who like taking the seats of honour in the synagogues and being greeted obsequiously in the market squares! Alas for you, because you are like the unmarked tombs that men walk on without knowing it!     A lawyer then spoke up. ‘Master,’ he said ‘when you speak like this you insult us too.’     ‘Alas for you lawyers also,’ he replied ‘because you load on men burdens that are unendurable, burdens that you yourselves do not move a finger to lift.’ The Gospel passage from Luke 11:42-46 challenges us to examine our hearts and actions. The Pharisees meticulously follow rituals but neglect justice and God's love, while the lawyers impose harsh bur...

Gospel Luke 11:37-41 Give thanks for what you have and it will all be clean Jesus had just finished speaking when a Pharisee invited him to dine at his house. He went in and sat down at the table. The Pharisee saw this and was surprised that he had not first washed before the meal. But the Lord said to him, ‘Oh, you Pharisees! You clean the outside of cup and plate, while inside yourselves you are filled with extortion and wickedness. Fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside too? Instead, give alms from what you have and then indeed everything will be clean for you.’ Jesus challenges us to be sincere in our faith, reminding us that true cleanliness comes from within, not just outward appearances. When we give generously and gratefully from what we have, we align our hearts with God’s holiness, making both our actions and intentions pure. Reflection question: In what ways do I focus more on outward appearances than inner integrity, and how can I practice gratitude ...

Gospel Luke 11:29-32 As Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be a sign The crowds got even bigger, and Jesus addressed them:     ‘This is a wicked generation; it is asking for a sign. The only sign it will be given is the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. On Judgement day the Queen of the South will rise up with the men of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and there is something greater than Solomon here. On Judgement day the men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation and condemn it, because when Jonah preached they repented; and there is something greater than Jonah here.’ This Gospel reminds us that Jesus is the ultimate sign from God, greater than even the revered figures of Jonah and Solomon. Despite witnessing his teachings and miracles, many still demand more proof and fail to op...

Gospel Luke 17:11-19 No-one has come back to praise God, only this foreigner On the way to Jerusalem Jesus travelled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered one of the villages, ten lepers came to meet him. They stood some way off and called to him, ‘Jesus! Master! Take pity on us.’ When he saw them he said, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ Now as they were going away they were cleansed. Finding himself cured, one of them turned back praising God at the top of his voice and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. The man was a Samaritan. This made Jesus say, ‘Were not all ten made clean? The other nine, where are they? It seems that no one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.’ And he said to the man, ‘Stand up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.’ This Gospel passage reminds us of the importance of gratitude and recognizing God's blessings in our lives. Jesus heals all ten lepers, but only one—a for...

Gospel Luke 11:27-28 'Happy the womb that bore you and the breasts you sucked!' As Jesus was speaking, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, ‘Happy the womb that bore you and the breasts you sucked!’ But he replied, ‘Still happier those who hear the word of God and keep it!’ This Gospel reminds us that true blessing comes not only from physical connection or heritage but from listening to God's Word and living it faithfully. Jesus teaches that spiritual obedience and openness to God's message bring deeper and lasting happiness than natural ties alone. Reflection Question How can I more faithfully listen to and live out God’s Word in my daily life? Prayer Lord, help me to hear Your Word clearly and to keep it in my heart. Guide me to live according to Your will, so that I may find true joy and blessing in You. Amen.

Gospel Luke 11:15-26 The finger of God has overtaken you When Jesus had cast out a devil, some of the people said, ‘It is through Beelzebul, the prince of devils, that he casts out devils.’ Others asked him, as a test, for a sign from heaven; but, knowing what they were thinking, he said to them, ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is heading for ruin, and a household divided against itself collapses. So too with Satan: if he is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? – since you assert that it is through Beelzebul that I cast out devils. Now if it is through Beelzebul that I cast out devils, through whom do your own experts cast them out? Let them be your judges then. But if it is through the finger of God that I cast out devils, then know that the kingdom of God has overtaken you. So long as a strong man fully armed guards his own palace, his goods are undisturbed; but when someone stronger than he is attacks and defeats him, the stronger man takes away all ...