A Moment to Pause - a short daily audio reflection rooted in Sacred Scripture

You are welcome to the reflection today with Mary O'Brien from our Lourdes Team in Dublin.Good morning and welcome to our Oblate time of Reflection. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen. 
Today’s gospel is from Matthew 8:23-27 This is the gospel where Jesus and his disciples are in a boat.  A storm breaks over the lake.  The boat is tossed from side to side, and the disciples are terrified, fearing for their lives.  Jesus sleeps through it all.  They wake him up, and ask him to save them. “Save us Lord, we are going down”.  For me, this is the interesting sentence – though he rebukes them and says ‘you men of little faith’, I notice they didn’t just say ‘what can we do?’ they said ‘Save us Lord ‘   There is faith in that, even though they did fear they would drown.   When we’re lost and overwhelmed, and we’re full of doubts, all we need at times is that smidgen of faith to ask Jesus to be with us.  That is enough. 
Lord, we pray, our faith is known to you and we ask that you hear our prayers as we begin this new day.   Through Christ our Lord, Amen. 

You are welcome to the reflection today with Mary O'Brien from our Lourdes Team in Dublin.Good morning and welcome to our Oblate morning time of reflection. We begin in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen. 
Today’s Gospel is from Matthew 16:13-19 In this text Jesus puts the question to Simon Peter ‘who do you say I am?’ and Peter answered: ‘You are the Christ, son of the living God? Peter’s answer came from his faith in Jesus and his witness of the works of Jesus. I wonder what I might say?   I’m a practising Catholic, I’ve read scripture and learned of the work of Jesus. But is it just a book I’ve read, or stories I’ve heard.   Only faith…an honest faith that is based on a personal relationship with Jesus allows me, without any doubt, to say like Peter – You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.   
We pray:  Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be world without end, Amen.  

You are welcome to the reflection today with Bobby Neil from the Bluebell-Inchicore Pastoral Area.Good morning and welcome to the Oblate Family Moment to Pause. Our gospel this morning for Sunday the 28th of June is Matthew 10, verses 37 to 42, where we hear about renouncing oneself to follow Jesus and helping others. In today's gospel, Jesus tells us that life is not all about looking after number one. Today's gospel challenges all of us. We have a decision to make in how we are going to live our own lives. What are my values? Am I willing to say yes to Jesus by helping out a neighbour in need? Am I willing to go and take a chance in faith and take up my cross? Crosses are heavy. But Jesus tells us we are not alone. Our father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.Thank you for joining us this morning. I hope you have a pleasant day. May the Lord bless us and keep us. Amen.
 

You are welcome to the reflection today with Bobby Neil from the Bluebell-Inchicore Pastoral Area on Saturday 27th of June in the 12th week of Ordinary time.This morning's gospel is taken from Saint Matthew chapter 8, verses 5 to 17.  Here we are told that Jesus goes into the city of Capernaum, where he meets this centurion, not a Jew, but an officer in the Roman army. He pleads for assistance and asks Jesus’ help, but not for himself. It's for his servant who is at home, paralyzed and in pain. The centurion knows the system because of his position and rank in the Roman army. This Centurion responds to Jesus: “I am not worthy.” He has the courage to ask Jesus for assistance. But in faith says, “just give the word.” Is this not a good example for us? When we pray, have the courage to pray like the centurion. Prayer and faith are combined. Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful and enkindle in us Lord Jesus, the fire of your love. Send forth your spirit upon us. We shall be changed, healed by your everlasting love. Amen.Thank you for joining us this morning.
 

You are welcome to the reflection today with Bobby Neil from the Bluebell-Inchicore Pastoral Area on Friday 26th of June in the 12th week of Ordinary time.Our gospel this morning is taken from Saint Matthew chapter 8, verses 1 to 4. 
Today Saint Luke tells us that in the midst of a large crowd, Jesus takes a man aside and cures him. He was a leper. Jesus touches the leper and Jesus shows his compassion by asking the question, do you want to be cured? Then he is told to follow the procedures by going to the priest and making an offering as proof. So today we have good news. Jesus performs a miracle. A prayer was answered in faith. The leper says, “if you want to, you can cure me.” How often are we asked to pray for someone who was sick or in hospital? Can we have any better prayer than the words of the leper? Lord Jesus, if you want to, you can cure me. Glory be to the father, and to the son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be world without end. Amen. Thank you for joining us this morning. I hope you have a good day.

You are welcome to the reflection today with Bobby Neil from the Bluebell-Inchicore Pastoral Area on Thursday 25th of June in the 12th week of Ordinary time.
Our gospel this morning is taken from Saint Matthew chapter seven, verses 21 to 29, where we hear about the true disciple. In today's gospel, we learn that listening and actions go hand in hand. Once again, Jesus continues to teach us. First, we must listen to the word. But listening is not enough. We must take the words we hear. Take them to heart and then act upon them. In today's world, if we go to a professional for advice, a builder, an architect, and then ignore the advice, we are just wasting our time and our money. Jesus word was given to be acted on. Not a case of in one ear and out the other. And we may stay strong and survive. So let us pray this morning. Lord Jesus, I believe in you have now my unbelief. Lord Jesus, I hope in you. Come, Lord Jesus, come. Thank you for joining us and I hope you have a good and safe day.

You are welcome to the reflection today with Bobby Neil from the Bluebell-Inchicore Pastoral Area on Wednesday 24th of June, Feast of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist.
Our gospel this morning is taken from Saint Luke chapter one, verses 57 to 66 and 80, where we hear about John the Baptist. To comply with the law. John's parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth, brought him to the temple to be circumcised. All the neighbours thought John would be named after his father. But no, John's parents believed what the angel had told them. When Zechariah wrote his name, John, his speech returned. The last verse we read, “and indeed the hand of the Lord was with him. And meanwhile the child grew up and his spirit matured.” So faith and prayer go hand in hand. Zechariah and Elizabeth prayed, and they believed, and their prayers were answered. Glory be to the father, and to the son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world at hand. Amen.
Thank you for joining us this morning. 

You are welcome to the reflection today with Bobby Neil from the Bluebell-Inchicore Pastoral Area on Tuesday 23rd of June.
Good morning and welcome to the Oblate Morning reflection. My name is Bobby Neil, and you join me here in the Inchicore-Bluebell pastoral area. Our gospel this morning is taken from Matthew chapter seven, verses 15 to 20. 
In today's gospel, Jesus warns us about false prophets. People never go on to be someone else. Today we are bombarded with messages of all kinds information, some good and some bad. So-called good news. 
Do we know where we are getting our information from? Do we stop to check the sources? It is so easy to get carried away with all the hype. So when Jesus says you will be able to tell them by their fruit, we believe in Jesus’ message. In all the hustle and bustle of life, can we stop and slow down for a moment and choose the right path? The message of Jesus. 
Let us finish with a prayer. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Thank you for joining us this morning.

You are welcome to the reflection today with Bobby Neil from the Bluebell-Inchicore Pastoral Area on Monday 22nd of June.
Good morning and welcome to the Oblate Family Morning reflection. My name is Bobby Neil, and you join me here from the Inchicore-Bluebell pastoral area. This morning's gospel is taken from Saint Matthew chapter ten, verses 37 to 42. 
Just as Jesus taught the 12 disciples after he had picked them from the various trades. He continues to teach us. In today's gospel, Jesus tells us that life is not all about Number One. Jesus challenges us all today and we have a decision to make. How am I going to live my life? Am I going to welcome someone by carrying out a little kindness, even giving someone a cup of water? 
Am I willing to take a risk and go against the norm? 
Lord Jesus, we believe that you are the Christ, the son of the living God. Help now our unbelief. Thank you for joining us this morning. And I'm more reflection. 
I hope you have a good day.Thank you for being with us today. 
 

You are welcome to the reflection today with Marcellus from the Oblate Parish in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time.
Welcome to our reflection today from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter ten, verses 26 to 33. There is no doubt that our Christian faith is being challenged in these present days. The world is telling us that Christianity should be something private, and that it needs to be kept to oneself. We as Christians are, in some places and instances, not able to share and live our faith openly for fear of what might happen. But Jesus in this scripture commands us to confront the fear. He commands: “Fear no one”. Do not be afraid because he has us covered. The time has come for us Christians to let the whole world know the love, peace, joy, and power in our faith through our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us therefore be bold and share Jesus Christ, who is the Good News to the world. Let everything about your life direct the world to Christ, our Saviour. Jesus is indeed the answer for the world today. Remember, he says, “everyone who acknowledges me before others, I will acknowledge before my Heavenly Father”. Amen. God bless you. Have a blessed day.Thank you for being with us today.