Gospel Matthew 11:11-15 A greater than John the Baptist has never been seen Jesus spoke to the crowds: ‘I tell you solemnly, of all the children born of women, a greater than John the Baptist has never been seen; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is. Since John the Baptist came, up to this present time, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence and the violent are taking it by storm. Because it was towards John that all the prophecies of the prophets and of the Law were leading; and he, if you will believe me, is the Elijah who was to return. If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen!’ Short Reflection In this passage, Jesus gives John the Baptist the highest possible praise, declaring him the greatest human prophet, the culminating figure of the Old Covenant to whom all previous prophecy pointed. Yet, in the same breath, He reveals a stunning truth: the humblest member of the new Kingdom He is establishing is "greater than he is....

Gospel Matthew 11:28-30 My yoke is easy and my burden light Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.’ Short Reflection In a world that demands constant productivity and self-sufficiency, these words of Jesus are a profound relief. He does not offer a simplistic escape from life's labors and burdens, but a radical exchange. He invites us to replace the crushing, solitary yoke of our own expectations, anxieties, and sins with his yoke. A yoke is a tool for shared work, and Jesus promises to pull with us. His yoke is "easy" not because it demands nothing, but because it is fitted perfectly for our souls by a Master who is "gentle and humble in heart." The rest he promises is not the absence of work, but the deep, soul-level peace that comes from walkin...

Gospel Matthew 18:12-14 The one lost sheep gives him more joy than the ninety-nine that did not stray Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Tell me. Suppose a man has a hundred sheep and one of them strays; will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go in search of the stray? I tell you solemnly, if he finds it, it gives him more joy than do the ninety-nine that did not stray at all. Similarly, it is never the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.’ Short Reflection This parable reveals the astonishing, personal love of God. In a world that often values efficiency and the majority, God's economy is different. The ninety-nine are safe, but His heart is drawn to the one who is lost. This is not because the others are unloved, but because His love is so profound that it focuses with immense intensity on the one in peril. The joy over the one rescued sheep is a window into the heart of heaven—a joy that erupts over a single sinner who...

Gospel Luke 1:26-38 'I am the handmaid of the Lord' The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. He went in and said to her, ‘Rejoice, so highly favoured! The Lord is with you.’ She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, but the angel said to her, ‘Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God’s favour. Listen! You are to conceive and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘But how can this come about, since I am a virgin?’ ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you’ the angel answered ‘and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will b...

Gospel Matthew 3:1-12 The one who follows me will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire In due course John the Baptist appeared; he preached in the wilderness of Judaea and this was his message: ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.’ This was the man the prophet Isaiah spoke of when he said: A voice cries in the wilderness: Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight. This man John wore a garment made of camel-hair with a leather belt round his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then Jerusalem and all Judaea and the whole Jordan district made their way to him, and as they were baptised by him in the river Jordan they confessed their sins. But when he saw a number of Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism he said to them, ‘Brood of vipers, who warned you to fly from the retribution that is coming? But if you are repentant, produce the appropriate fruit, and do not presume to tell yourselves, “We have Abraham for our father,” becaus...

Gospel Matthew 9:35-10:1,5,6-8 The harvest is rich but the labourers are few Jesusmade a tour through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom and curing all kinds of diseases and sickness.     And when he saw the crowds he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.’     He summoned his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits with power to cast them out and to cure all kinds of diseases and sickness. These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them as follows: ‘Go rather to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. And as you go, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils. You received without charge, give without c...