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

Good morning and thank you for joining the Oblate Family Podcast: A Moment To Pause, for today's time of reflection and prayer during Lent. We listen to Fr Dermot for today's short 90 second podcast.
Good morning everyone. And today we have Saint Patrick.
Patrick, 16 years of age, kidnapped by raiders from Ireland, torn from his family, friends, places he knew and loved in his homeland in Britain. He ended up on a remote mountain in the then wilds of Ireland, looking after sheep. And it was during his years there as a virtual slave, that he rediscovered God. And he eventually returned to Ireland to make God known to the Irish people.And though this terrified youngster Patrick, Saint Patrick is celebrated worldwide.
How ironic that Patrick, a trafficked illegal immigrant, is celebrated each year in a country that's now determined to expel from its borders all foreign migrants.
We pray for all those who have to leave their homelands to seek a safer and better life for themselves and their families.May Saint Patrick make himself known to them.Will be silent for a few moments.
In the name of the father, and of the son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Good morning and thank you for joining the Oblate Family Podcast: A Moment To Pause, for today's time of reflection and prayer during Lent. We listen to Fr Dermot for today's short 90 second podcast.
Good morning, everyone, and welcome to this, little reflection we have today on Monday, the fourth week of Lent. My name is Father Dermot. I'm an Oblate, and I be with you this week.
So in John's Gospel today, we read of the court official who came to Jesus seeking help for his dying son. And then when he was doing this, a messenger from his home tells him his son has died. And yet Jesus tells him, your son will live. What a relief. What a joy, what a burden lifted off for this distraught father. Your son will live. How many mothers and fathers of children killed in Ukraine, Russia, Palestine, Israel, the West Bank, Iran, Sudan and so on, how many will never hear those words? Your son., your daughter will live.They'll never hear them.
We pray now for the thousands of children killed, some of them murdered in the wars that are taking place in our broken world. And for their grieving mums and dads and brothers and sisters.
May Jesus, the God of comfort and tenderness, make himself known to their families. Let's just be silent for a while....
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
 

Good morning and thank you for joining the Oblate Family Podcast: A Moment To Pause, for today's time of reflection and prayer during Lent. We listen to Anne Walker from Friends of Saint Eugene in Crewe for today's short 90 second podcast.
Good morning and welcome to today's Oblate prayer and Reflection of the Gospel on the fourth Sunday of Lent. The Gospel comes from Saint John, chapter nine, verses 1 to 41.
Jesus rejects the disciples assumption in the Gospel that the blind man was a punishment for his and his parents sin. Instead he frames it as an opportunity for the working of God to be revealed. The man who was physically blind gradually sees Jesus's true identity as the Son of God, whilst the religious authorities, who possess physical sight and religious knowledge remain spiritually blind. The man who was formerly blind serves as a courageous witness. He remains steadfast in his testimony, even though he was cast out by religious leaders.
We are asked in the Gospel to examine our own lives for areas of chosen blindness, such as prejudices, refusal to see the good in others. It serves as a call to become a humble, urging us to admit our own limitations, and remain open to being transformed by Jesus.
I wish you a blessed Sunday.
 

Good morning and thank you for joining the Oblate Family Podcast: A Moment To Pause, for today's time of reflection and prayer during Lent. We listen to Anne Walker from Friends of Saint Eugene in Crewe for today's short 90 second podcast.
Good morning and welcome to today's Oblate prayer and Reflection, on the Saturday of the third week of Lent. The Gospel today comes from Saint Luke chapter 18, verses 9 to 14.
The Pharisees prayer in today's Gospel is rooted in score, keeping, evaluating his own worth by looking down on others. His pride blinded him to his need for God and created distance between him and his neighbour. The tax collectors simple plea of “God be merciful to me, a sinner” shows an honest acknowledgment of his brokenness. There was no list of accomplishments, but rather the opening of God's grace to him by being authentic.
The parable teaches us that we cannot earn our standing with God through good works alone but by also being humble enough to admit that we cannot save ourselves. It also invites us to stop hiding behind our religious activities or social status. It challenges us to bring our failures, struggles, and weaknesses into the light of God's presence, where at last we can find peace and a new beginning.
Thank you for listening to me. God bless.

Good morning and thank you for joining the Oblate Family Podcast: A Moment To Pause, for today's time of reflection and prayer during Lent. We listen to Anne Walker from Friends of Saint Eugene in Crewe for today's short 90 second podcast.
Good morning. Welcome today's Oblate reflection. On this Friday, the third week of Lent. Today's Gospel comes from Saint Mark, chapter 12, verses 28 to 34.
Today, Jesus clarifies that the greatest commandment is to love God with one's entire heart, soul, mind, and strength, and also love one's neighbour as oneself. These two commandments are inseparable by showing that love is a commitment that prioritises our relationship with God. We cannot love God while neglecting our neighbour. The scribe recognises in today's Gospel that love is more than all about who burns offerings and sacrifices. Jesus tells the scribe that by his statement he is not far from the kingdom of God.
While reflecting on this, we should ask ourselves does our current approach to relationships work and to think about a whole commitment to God and to a sincere regard for the whole being of the human race.
Have a peaceful and fruitful day. Thank you.

Good morning and thank you for joining the Oblate Family Podcast: A Moment To Pause, for today's time of reflection and prayer during Lent. We listen to Anne Walker from Friends of Saint Eugene in Crewe for today's short 90 second podcast.
Good morning, everyone, and welcome to today's Oblate reflection on this, the Thursday of the third week of Lent. In today's Gospel, which is from Saint Luke chapter 11, verses 14 to 23,
Jesus casts out a demon of a mute man, which prompted from his critics that he had demonic power. Jesus replied to this by saying that a divided kingdom falls and explains that his power comes from God, providing evidence to his critics the Kingdom of God has arrived. He calls for complete allegiance by saying, “Whoever is not with me is against me.” Jesus explains that Satan would not destroy his own kingdom by casting out his own demons. Therefore, we see that there is no middle ground in spiritual warfare. One is either with Jesus gathering souls or against him scattering souls.
Finally, reflecting on today's Gospel, we should be aware of the warning Jesus gives us that we should be against hardening our hearts and be in full communion with Jesus.
Thank you for listening to me and have a blessed day.

Good morning and thank you for joining the Oblate Family Podcast: A Moment To Pause, for today's time of reflection and prayer during Lent. We listen to Anne Walker from Friends of Saint Eugene in Crewe for today's short 90 second podcast
Good morning all. Thank you for joining me on this Wednesday of the third week of Lent. The Gospel today is from Saint Matthew chapter five, verses 17 to 19.
Where Jesus clarifies his relationship with the Old Testament, stating that he came not to abolish the law and the prophets, but to fulfill them. He brought the law to us, intending to complete, establish a divine authenticity, and by revealing its ultimate purpose.By emphasising that not even a small stone will pass away, he assures us that everything is accomplished.
Further on in today's Gospel against minimising the Commandments. By clarifying that his mission is not to be discarded he assures us that he will bring his intended goal himself.
I wish you a very thoughtful, peaceful day.Thank you for listening to me.God bless.

Good morning and thank you for joining the Oblate Family Podcast: A Moment To Pause, for today's time of reflection and prayer during Lent. We listen to Anne Walker from Friends of Saint Eugene in Crewe for today's short 90 second podcast.
Good morning everyone, and welcome to today's Oblate reflectionon this Tuesday, the third week of Lent.
Today's Gospel comes from Saint Matthew chapter 18, verses 21 to 35.Jesus teaches the disciples that because God has forgiven our immeasurable debt, we are required to extend that same forgiveness to others.
When the forgiven servant in today's Gospel encounters a fellow servant who owes him a smaller debt, despite having experienced the forgiveness he has been shown by his master, he refuses to show mercy and has his fellow servant sent to prison. The master hears of this and revokes his forgiveness.
Today we are called to emulate the master's boundless forgiveness in our own lives. Just as we have received God's mercy and forgiveness, we should extend the same to others. We can try to pull apart grudges, resentments and a unforgiving attitude.
Let's just close now by praying the Our Father.Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy nameThy kingdom comeThy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily breadAnd forgive us our trespasses,as we forgive those who trespass against us.And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.Amen.

Good morning and thank you for joining the Oblate Family Podcast: A Moment To Pause, for today's time of reflection and prayer during Lent. We listen to Anne Walker from Friends of Saint Eugene in Crewe for today's short 90 second podcast.
Good morning and welcome to today's Oblate reflection based on the Gospel of Saint Luke, chapter four, verses 24 to 30. On Monday, the 9th of March, the third week of Lent.
 
Jesus challenges his home hometown of Nazareth by highlighting God's universal love, which extends beyond Israel. His audience in the temple, blinded by familiarity and narrow expectations, react with fury. They thought that they knew Jesus too well.
By reciting the example of Elijah and Elisha, who ministered to the widow in Zarepath, and also Naam the Syrian, Jesus emphasizes that God's grace is not restricted to any group or nation.
Today's Gospel invites us to examine our own prejudices toward certain people. And to also welcome them when we wanted to exclude them. Jesus remained calm and passed through the midst, as it says in the gospel. By this He is encouraging us to stay faithful to our calling even when we are misunderstood.We should ourselves think about outsiders in our lives or communities.When God might be calling us to embrace them more fully.
I wish you a blessed and peaceful day.
 
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Good morning and thank you for joining all of the Oblate Family today for our time of reflection and prayer during Lent with Padraig Corcoran, Director of Oblate Youth Ministry for today's short 90 second podcast.
In this Gospel, Jesus Christ meets the Samaritan woman at the well. At a time when social and cultural barriers separated people, Jesus begins a conversation with her — something that would have been unexpected and even controversial. Yet in this simple encounter, He reveals deep truth and dignity.
Jesus offers her “living water,” a symbol of the life and hope that comes from God. The woman, who may have felt judged or excluded by others, becomes the first to recognise something extraordinary in Jesus. She then goes back to her town and shares the good news, becoming a witness who leads others to believe.
On International Women's Day, this Gospel reminds us of the vital role women play in faith, family, and society. The Samaritan woman shows courage, openness, and the power of testimony. Her encounter with Jesus transforms her life and the lives of many around her.
This passage invites us to see how God works through unexpected people and moments. When we truly encounter Christ, like the woman at the well, we cannot help but share the hope we have found.#internationalwomensday #dailyprayer #foryou #shotrts #podcast