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

Good Morning. Thank you for joining all of the Oblate Family today for our time of reflection and prayer during Lent with Pat Hughes.
Welcome to this morning’s reflection on the Gospel from Matthew 7:7-12.“Ask, and you will receive; seek,and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. “ This is a very well known bible verse and it sounds brilliant! Just ask , seek and you will receive! Great ! 
But we all know it doesn’t work like that. When we ask we may not receive exactly what we requested unless we have been persistent in the asking ,as that means we have had great communication with God who will have gradually transformed our hearts and minds to ask for the right thing. We need to establish a personal relationship with the Lord through persistence , seeking and knocking, so that we become engaged in establishing God’s Kingdom on earth.
In turn this will enable us to be so filled with Grace that we find v12 easy :  “Do for others what you want them to do for you”
 
Lord we ask that as we continue to pray, however and wherever we are on in this journey, that our prayer lives will be transformed and our relationship with you will grow deeper and deeper as each day passes.
 
Thank you for being with the Oblates today.

Good Morning. Thank you for joining all of the Oblate Family today for our time of reflection and prayer during Lent with Pat Hughes.
Hello and welcome to Wednesday’s reflection on Gospel reading from Luke 11:29-32. 
Jesus seems here to almost despair at the people around him who ask for signs and miracles and says about himself, ‘there is something greater than Solomon here… there is something greater than Jonah here’. 
 
Jonah preached about repentance and Solomon epitomized wisdom. It is easier for us who know the full story of Jesus to understand that Jesus is greater than Jonah and Solomon combined. Those asking for a miracle at that time did not yet know about Jesus’ death and resurrection after 3 days . We do ! And yet sometimes we too long for a miracle or a sign. Why cannot we just love which is all we are asked to do.
 
The church exists to lead us to that someone greater, to help us to encounter him and to grow in our relationship with him. We pray that over this Lent we will be nourished in our relationship with the Lord and open ourselves up more fully to his call and presence.
 
Lord, we pray that we respond fully to this challenge to listen and recognise the divine presence in our midst.
Let us pray:Glory be to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be.
 
Thank you for joining us this morning .

Good Morning. Thank you for joining all of the Oblate Family today for our time of reflection and prayer during Lent with Pat Hughes.
Hello and welcome to today’s reflection on the Gospel reading Matthew 6:7-12.
Reflecting on this reading has given me a greater love for the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus talks about babbling prayers but says that sharing a heart with the Father who already cares and understands is much more desirable. 
So what have I learned? By starting with “Our Father in heaven”  the prayer establishes a relational, intimate conversation. We then recognise His name is Holy and that we are here to help establish His kingdom on earth by shifting focus from our selfish demands to divine purpose..to doing his will.
We then ask for daily bread, to forgive as we forgive and to deliver us from temptation and evil. ‘As we forgive’ is an enormous responsibility and we need to think carefully when we say this.
 
Lord , I love the quality of this prayer which encourages a deeper, more trusting relationship with God that more than any rote recitation gives me, a genuine heartfelt communication.
Lord, I pray that I sincerely think about what I am saying this Lent , not only in my prayers, but in everyday life…not to gossip or swear or malign others.
 
Let us pray the Our Father together
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.
 
Thank you for being with the Oblates today.

Good Morning. Thank you for joining all of the Oblate Family today for our time of reflection and prayer during Lent with Pat Hughes.
Hello and welcome to our reflection for this Monday from the Gospel reading Matthew 25:31-36. In these verses Jesus looks at the final judgement and He distinguishes the righteous( the sheep) from the unrighteous( the goats). So what makes you righteous? It is not through claiming faithfulness but more in action in the form of engaging in justice and mercy in our daily lives . Jesus emphasizes actions of mercy ‘As long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me.’Jesus reveals that he is present in ‘the least of these’ and the sheep can be surprised that they served Jesus suggesting that true, righteous service is often done without thought of reward or recognition and conversely we must remember that goats , those who neglect the needs of others , have failed through inaction in the face of suffering of others (Christ) .Let us pray that this Lent we become more aware of the suffering around us in our families, communities, parish and elsewhere and that we transfer our awareness into even a small action of serving the hungry, the stranger, the naked, the sick or the imprisoned. Lord gives us the eyes to see and the hands to help. Glory be to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning , is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.Thank you for reflecting with the Oblates today.

Good Morning. Thank you for joining all of the Oblate Family today for our time of reflection and prayer during Lent with Mary Tyrrell.
Hello and welcome to the Oblate reflection and prayer  based on Matthew 4:1-11
After his  baptism, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness where he fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, which left him at a very low ebb indeed both physically and mentally.Satan picked that exact moment to tempt Jesus with a temptation of the flesh, a temptation of pride and a temptation of power. In a similar way we, too, can be tempted in life between the struggles of a demanding job and family obligations.Maybe by cutting corners at work, sacrificing family time for extra money, or compromising integrity for influence. But Jesus’ response to his temptations reminds us: God’s way is the only way.  Let us remember we can rely on prayer and God’s word to help us when we face temptations too.
O sacred heart of Jesus I place my trust in thee Thank you for sharing the Oblate Reflection and prayer.

Good Morning. Thank you for joining all of the Oblate Family today for our time of reflection and prayer during Lent with Mary Tyrrell.
Hello and welcome to the Oblate reflection and prayer  based on Luke 5:27-32 We read about the calling of Levi, the tax collector.In those days tax collectors were considered immoral money-grabbers and religious outcasts.Probably not someone you or I might choose as a friend.But Jesus did.We, next, hear of Jesus at a party, celebrating with Levi and  his  friends. But Jesus was spotted there by the Pharisees who complained yet again about Jesus’ behaviour to his disciples. Jesus responded with a retort in verse 32 that has proved true since then. “I have not come to call the virtuous, but sinners to repentance.” Without exception, we are all in need of forgiveness and healing.As the Pope reminds us in his Lenten letter we must avoid judging others. Thank God, Jesus sees our potential for good and loves us even before we try to change ourselves. Look what happened to Levi when he let Jesus into his life!!!He became a saint. We know him  better as St. Matthew. 
We pray, Lord renew my spirit this Lent. Help me to grow in faith andlove, and to reflect your light in the world. Amen.Thank you for joining our Oblate prayer today.

Good Morning. Thank you for joining all of the Oblate Family today for our time of reflection and prayer today with Mary Tyrrell.
Hello and welcome to the Oblate reflection and prayer based on Matthew 9:14-15.
You might remember that the Pharisees and the disciples of John fasted at least a couple of times a week. So they questioned why Jesus and his disciples did not fast. But Jesus more or less tells them there is a time and place for everything. For the Pharisees fasting primarily indicated an inner hunger for God.Jesus explains that while his disciples did not fast at the moment, there would come a time when they would fast thus signposting his death . Jesus likens fasting to a wedding feast when people are happy because the bridegroom is with them so fasting would be out of place. Have you ever thought that fasting represents your hunger for God? I have to confess I hadn’t but it does give fasting a much deeper meaning than just loosing a bit of weight if I choose to give up biscuits for Lent.
Lord, may my celebration of Lent this year be more meaningful. Help me to reflect on and put into practice how I can draw closer to you through prayer, fasting, and studying God’s Word. Amen
Thank you for joining our Oblate prayer today. 

Good Morning. Thank you for joining all of the Oblate Family today for our time of reflection and prayer today with Mary Tyrrell.
Hello, welcome to the Oblate reflection and prayer which today is based on the reading from Luke 9:22-25
This is not an easy gospel to hear. Jesus is predicting his own suffering and death for the redemption of all humanity. And at the same time, emphasising the cost of discipleship and the necessity of putting God above everything else, and that means everything . We are called to give up all self-interest, all worldly pursuits, and possessions in the service of God. It is a stark reminder that we are called to deny ourselves and to take up our cross as followers of Jesus. We are challenged today to reflect on our own faith and commitment to following Jesus, even when it requires self-denial or making sacrifices.  Today’s gospel is unambiguous. We are reminded of our responsibilities as Christians and the need to persevere in the face of adversity. Let us ask Mary ,who said yes to God and lived it, to pray with us and for us as we say:
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.Thank you for sharing in this prayer today.

Good Morning. Thank you for joining all of the Oblate Family today for our time of reflection and prayer today with Mary Tyrrell.
Hello and welcome to todays’s Oblate reflection and prayer based on St Matthew gospel chap 6. In verse 16 we read “And whenever you fast, do not look somber. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father.Pope Leo's Message for Lent this year is entitled "Listening and Fasting," It is a short letter and well worth a read.In his letter the Pope invites us “to fast not from food but from words that offend and hurt our neighbour.  He suggests we avoid harsh words and rash judgement, refrain from slander and speaking ill of those who are not present and cannot defend themselves.He hopes in this way, words of hatred will give way to words of hope and peace.Imagine if everyone fasted from unkind words and cultivated kindness wouldn’t that lead to a joy-filled Easter celebration.And maybe it might even be a simple yet effective way to change our world - home by home , street by street , county by county, country by country till we have all have peace.Our Lady , queen of peace pray for us.Our Lady , queen of peace pray for the world.
 

Good Morning. Thank you for joining all of the Oblate Family today as we celebrate our 200th Anniversary of our Oblate Constitutions and Rules, for our time of reflection and prayer today with Mary Tyrrell. 
Hello and welcome to our Oblate Reflection and Prayer.Today is a special day and no I’m not referring to pancake Tuesday. It is an Oblate Feast Day.This year is very special indeed, because it is the 200th anniversary of the papal approbation or approval of the newly founded Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate by Pope Leo the 12th, with its motto, “He has sent me to evangelize the poor.” Which expresses both the Oblate charism and the Oblate way of life.In 1818, Eugene had written his vision of the missionary congregation as one of embracing the world.
Today there are almost 4,000 Oblate priests and brothers, working in and evangelizing the world. Bishop Horace Bettachini described Eugene as having a heart as big as the world. I'm sure we all know or have known priests with big hearts. Let us think now of those Oblate priests who have helped us on our spiritual journey. We thank God for their vocation on this special day.
We pray for all Oblate priests, brothers and people.Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
Thank you for joining our prayer today.Let's pray for each other. Bye.