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

Good morning and welcome to the Oblate time of prayer and reflection today by Joe O’Connell, a member of the Friends of Saint Eugene in Crewe. 
Thank you for joining us today and our morning prayer here at Crewe.I'm Joseph O’Connor.
In Matthew's gospel, ten 7 to 13, Jesus sends his disciple outhis disciples out to proclaim that the kingdom of God is at hand.
He tells them, obviously, to trust God's providence rather than relying on wealth and possessions, and to always remember that their gifts were given to them freely, and that they should give those gifts freely to others.
We know as Catholics that we're to give our gifts as free as we possibly can. The SVP (Saint Vincent De Paul Society) does this perfectly and their work with those in need.Thank you, Lord, for the Saint Vincent de Paul society.
Thank you for the Oblates whose mission it is to bring the good news to everyone who can hear it, including those who are on the margins.
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.

Good morning and welcome to the Oblate time of prayer and reflection today by Joe O'Connell, a member of the Friends of Saint Eugene in Crewe. Welcome to our reflection today.Coming here from Crewe, I'm Joseph O'Connell.Jesus says in the Gospel of Matthew 5:17 to 19 today, he says, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.I have come not to abolish them, but to fulfill them.”Matthew, in this gospel today is showing us that he fulfills all the promises of the Old Testament, all the ceremonial laws and sacrifices have pointed and now point to Jesus, and he fulfills all of the law and everything that God has promised.We thank you, Lord, for being with us every day.We thank you for fulfilling all our promises. All our dreams.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. Good morning. Have a good day.Thank you for joining us.
 

Good morning and welcome to the Oblate time of prayer and reflection today by Joe O'Connell, a member of the Friends of Saint Eugene in Crewe. 
Welcome to our reflection today.I'm Joseph O’Connell from the Friends of Saint Eugene in Crewe.In a world where fame is sought and pursued, where might is right, where people are regardedas just dispensable, where greed is seen as a virtue - we are reminded in Matthew's Gospel today, 5 13-16 that we are “the salt of the earth”, we are “the city on a hill”.We are meant to be a light in a dark world.Most important thing to remember today, I believe, is that we are called to be children of God.And we can celebrate that every single day.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.

Good morning and welcome to the Oblate time of prayer and reflection today by Joe O'Connell, a member of the Friends of Saint Eugene in Crewe. 
Good morning. I'm Joe O'Connell.Friends and  I’m a Friend of Saint Eugene in Crewe.Our reading is taken from Matthew 5: 1 to 12. Jesus did three things on mountains;He fed the 5000,  the Beatitudes were preached  at  today's reading and the crucifixion.Jesus said, who and if and light and how blessed we are if we're hungry for peace, if we mourn, if we believe in peacemaking. Saint Thomas Aquinas said “The Beatitudes are the perfect standard for the Christ life.”As we come to the end of today's prayer May your day, be full of peace and joy and love. 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.

Good morning and welcome to the Oblate time of prayer and reflection today by Padraig Corcoran, a member of the Oblate Mission with Youth Team. 
On this Feast of Corpus Christi, we celebrate the wonderful gift of the Eucharist—the Body and Blood of Christ. In today's Gospel, Jesus declares: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever."
These words remind us that the Eucharist is not simply a symbol or a remembrance. It is Jesus Himself, given to us as spiritual food for our journey of faith. In every Mass, Christ offers His Body and Blood so that we may share in His life, draw strength from His love, and be united more closely with Him and with one another.
The Eucharist is God's greatest gift of self-giving love. A book was published a number of years ago and it was titled “You Are What you Eat”. As we receive the Bread of Life, we are called to become what we receive—to be Christ's presence in the world through acts of kindness, compassion, forgiveness, and service.
Today, as we honour the Body and Blood of Christ, let us give thanks for this sacred gift that nourishes our souls and sustains us on our pilgrimage to eternal life.
May every Holy Communion draw us closer to You and help us become witnesses of Your love in the world. Amen.

Good morning and welcome to the Oblate time of prayer and reflection today by Padraig Corcoran, a member of the Oblate Mission with Youth Team. 
Jesus contrasts the behaviour of the scribes with that of a poor widow. The scribes seek honour, recognition, and places of importance, while the widow quietly places two small coins into the Temple, everything she has to live on.
To human eyes, her gift seems insignificant. Yet Jesus sees what others do not. He recognises the generosity, trust, and love behind her offering. While others gave from their abundance, she gave from her poverty, holding nothing back from God.
God measures not the size of our gift but the depth of our love. Whether it is our time, our talents, our resources, or our care for others, what matters is the generosity of heart with which we give.
The widow teaches us to trust God completely and to offer ourselves without counting the cost. In a world that often values status and appearances, Jesus points us instead to humility, sincerity, and selfless love.
Help us to trust in You and to offer our lives to You with humility, gratitude, and love. Amen.
 

Good morning and welcome to the Oblate time of prayer and reflection today by Padraig Corcoran, a member of the Oblate Mission with Youth Team. 
Jesus asks a question that challenges the crowd's understanding of the Messiah: "How can the scribes say that Christ is the son of David?" He then points to David's own words in Scripture, where David calls the Messiah "Lord."
Jesus is helping the people see that the Messiah is far greater than they imagined. He is not simply a human descendant of David or a political leader who will solve earthly problems. He is the Son of God, the Lord who comes to bring salvation to all people.
We are invited to reflect on who Jesus truly is in our lives. It is easy to see Him as a teacher, a guide, or someone we turn to in times of need. But Jesus asks us to recognise Him as Lord—the one who deserves our trust, our obedience, and our wholehearted faith.
The crowds listened to Him with delight because His words opened their minds and hearts to a deeper understanding of God. We too are called to listen attentively, allowing Christ to challenge our assumptions and draw us into a deeper relationship with Him.
Lord Jesus, help us to recognise You not only as our Saviour but as the Lord of our lives. May we listen to Your voice and follow You with faith and love each day. Amen.

Good morning and welcome to the Oblate time of prayer and reflection today by Padraig Corcoran, a member of the Oblate Mission with Youth Team. 
In today's Gospel, a scribe asks Jesus, "Which is the first of all the commandments?" Jesus answers by placing love at the very centre of faith: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength," and "You shall love your neighbour as yourself."
These commandments are inseparable. Our love for God is expressed in the way we treat others, and our care for others flows from our relationship with God. Jesus teaches us that faith is not simply about religious observance; it is about allowing God's love to shape every aspect of our lives.
The scribe recognizes the truth of Jesus' words, and Jesus tells him, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God." The Kingdom is not merely a future promise; it is already present whenever people choose love over selfishness, mercy over judgment, and service over self-interest.
Today, on this 4th day of June, we are invited to examine our hearts. Are we growing in love for God through prayer and trust? Are we showing love to our neighbours through kindness, patience, and compassion?
Lord, teach us to love You with our whole being and to love others as You love us. May our words and actions today bring us closer to Your Kingdom. Amen.
 

Good morning and welcome to the Oblate time of prayer and reflection today by Padraig Corcoran, a member of the Oblate Mission with Youth Team. 
In today's Gospel, the Sadducees challenge Jesus with a question about the resurrection, hoping to discredit belief in life after death. Jesus responds by revealing that they have misunderstood both the Scriptures and the power of God. He reminds them that God is "not God of the dead, but of the living."
This Gospel invites us to place our trust in God's promises rather than limiting Him to our human understanding. The Sadducees could not imagine how resurrection was possible because they viewed eternal life through the lens of earthly experience. Jesus calls us to see beyond what we can fully comprehend and to believe in the transforming power of God.
When we face uncertainty, loss, or grief, this passage offers hope. Our relationship with God does not end with death. Through Christ's resurrection, we are promised a share in eternal life. God knows us, loves us, and calls us into a life that is far greater than we can imagine.
Today, let us renew our faith in the God of the living. May we live with hope, trusting that God's love is stronger than death and that our future rests securely in His hands.
Lord, strengthen our faith in the resurrection and help us to live each day with hope and confidence in Your everlasting love. Amen.
 

 
Good morning and welcome to the Oblate time of prayer and reflection today by Padraig Corcoran, a member of the Oblate Mission with Youth Team. 
In today's Gospel, Jesus is confronted with a difficult question: "Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" His opponents hope to trap Him, but Jesus responds with wisdom: "Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God."
Jesus reminds us that while we have responsibilities in society, our deepest allegiance belongs to God. Just as the coin bears the image of Caesar, each one of us bears the image of God. Image and likeness of God. Therefore, we are called not only to fulfil our civic duties but also to offer our lives, hearts, and actions to the Lord.
This Gospel invites us to examine what we are giving to God. Do we reserve only a small part of ourselves for Him, or do we allow Him to shape our decisions, relationships, and priorities? Faith is not something separate from daily life; it should influence how we live, work, serve, and treat others.
Today, may we remember that we belong to God. Created in His image and loved by Him, may we offer Him the gift of our whole selves, trusting that true freedom and purpose are found in living according to His will.
In a world full of influencers who is our greatest?