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

Good morning and thank you for joining our Oblate short time to pause, reflect and pray together on Friday February 6th 2026. Thanks to Caroline Shevelan for today's reflection.In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit amenYou abandon the commandments of God and hold to human tradition.Today’s Gospel is short, challenging and to the point.The Pharisees are clearly being told they have their priorities wrong, that they are somehow missing the point of the tradition they are holding to.How easy is it to get caught up in obeying the letter of commandments and traditions alike,  and ignore the spirit? How often am I irritated because someone fails to genuflect before the tabernacle, or talks in exposition.In my irritation I am judgemental. There could be a thousand and one reasons why tradition was not adhered to in that moment.Earlier this week Jesus said to us, a new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you.What the pharisees were doing was not loving it was point scoring, trying to catch Jesus out, to undermine his authority and credibility. When we are judgemental in guarding our traditions, we fail to account for the commandment given to us by Jesus– to love as we have been loved.We pray for all those who have distanced from their faith, because instead of the welcome of the Father they have found the judgement.We pray for all the times we have been judgemental and failed to love, that we would be offered the chance to make amends.
Thank you for joining us today! 

Good morning and thank you for joining our Oblate short time to pause, reflect and pray together on  Thursday February 5th 2026. Thanks to Caroline Shevelan for today’s reflection: 
In the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit amen
The opening question of today’s Gospel, is maybe one we are asking ourselves.
Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say? Father save me from this hour
My soul has certainly been troubled over recent years. Troubled by injustice, cruelty and the disregard for the dignity of life in all its forms.
Should we ask to be spared these times?
Ini this passage Jesus shows us that we do not know why we might have been given these times to live in. Maybe, like Esther it is ‘for just such a time as this’ that we are called to live out our faith in ways we had hoped never to experience.
Jesus goes on to say, ‘the light is in you…walk while you have the light so the darkness will not overtake you’
Jesus, light of the world, Jesus whom Simeon and Anna acknowledged and proclaimed as the light of the world, Jesus tells us today that the light is in us, that we are to believe in the light in us. That even when we walk in darkness we are to hold onto the light.
We pray Lord may we see and cling to the light, even where no light seems possible. May we be like you Lord as you foretold your death, knowing that even here the darkness has only the power we give it.
Thank you for joining us this morning. 

In the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit amen
The message of today’s gospel is clear, unambiguous
For truly I tell you when you did these things for the least of my brethren you did it for me.
Jesus again places relationships front and centre of his teaching. Our actions flow from our relationship with God, we love one another as we have been loved, and this requires action.
To feed, clothe, welcome, care, tend to.
It is a timely passage.
And the cost of living this Gospel passage is high for many people around the globe. Minnesota is the latest shocking example, where currently people cannot go to work, go shopping or safely send their children to school without fear of being arrested or hamred.
But it seems the community there is willing to pay the cost of loving their neighbours, going out for groceries, giving up valuable income to strike in protest, so the neighbours and strangers alike are kept safer, people creating unity in a community where hatred is being sown and pedalled as protection.
Some have even paid the ultimate cost to protect.
Not all of us will be called to action in this way, but we are all called to love, to clothe, to feed, to care and tend – and perhaps most importantly right now, to welcome.
We pray for those on the front line of living the Gospel, for anyone who is in danger or need because they are choosing to help their neighbour.

Good morning and thank you for joining our Oblate short time to pause, reflect and pray together on Tuesday February 3rd 2026. Thanks to Caroline Shevelan for today’s reflection: 
In the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit amen
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you so you must love one another.
How does Jesus love us?
In scripture we are given analogy, parable and example. Jesus loved wholeheartedly, completely, without reservation or regard for what was correct or proper, and without regard for what people might think or the disruption it might cause.
In the Gospels those who were living without love were the focus: the woman caught in adultery, the doubters, those who were suffering in any way. Jesus met them with compassion and he loved them too much to leave them where they were.
He meets us in the same way, sees our need in compassion and loves us too much to leave us where we are. The love he shows is a challenging love, challenging us to compassion growth and wholeness, to relationship, even when it is messy and uncomfortable.
Lord encourage us, show us where we already love as you have loved us and may we have room for the paradox of knowing we love well and knowing we can still grow.
And so we pray…
For those who need the small spark of the light of love from God from Jesus from me today.
Thank you for joining us this morning. 

Good morning and thank you for joining our Oblate short time to pause, reflect and pray together on the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, or Candlemas, Monday February 2nd 2026. Thanks to Caroline Shevelan for today’s reflection: 
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Today is Candlemas, the official end of the liturgical season of Christmastide.
In the northern hemisphere there is a little more light. And light is the theme of the feast, the lighting and blessing of candles.
Jesus light of the world is presented in the temple and Simeon knows him, like John the Baptist knew him in the womb, like Elizabeth knew.
‘My eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples – a light for the revelation to the gentiles and for glory to your people Israel’
And Anna knows him and begins to praise God and speak about the child.
The lit candle is a symbol of hope, the smallest flame that dispels the darkness. 
In John’s Gospel, Jesus echoes Simeons words and the words of the ancient prophets
‘I am the light of the world -anyone whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life’
Do we know Jesus as the light of the world? As the great light seen by those who walk in darkness or as the small flickering flame that keeps the darkness at bay?
Will we light and bless a candle today?
We pray for all those whose live in the darkness of fear, hopelessness, loneliness or despair.
 We pray for light in our world, especially in the places where the dark feels thick, heavy and immovable. 
We pray for the coming of the light.
Thank you for joining us. 

Good morning and thank you for joining our Oblate short time to pause, reflect and pray together on Sunday February 1st 2026 of Ordinary Time. Thanks to Br Michael Moore OMI for today’s reflection: 
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Good morning and welcome, and thank you for joining us for our morning prayer with the Oblate family.
The values of Jesus and God's kingdom are not the values of the world. God's kingdom is built upon justice, love, forgiveness, compassion, and respect for all. The world reveres power, prestige and privilege and wealth and control over others. The Beatitudes challenge the world's and our own values.Perhaps we could slowly read them today and see how they both encourage and call us to follow Christ in a deeper way.
We now offer our own intentions.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.
Lord, we thank you for your powerful word. May we listen to it and put it into practice each day.
Thank you for joining us for our morning prayer.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit.Amen.

Good morning and thank you for joining our Oblate short time to pause, reflect and pray together on Saturday January 31st 2026 of Ordinary Time. Thanks to Br Michael Moore OMI for today’s reflection: 
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The gospel today is Jesus calming the storm. We all go through difficult and painful experiences, times perhaps, when we feel as if we are alone with Jesus by our side, we are not and never alone.Today Jesus asks us not to be afraid like Peter. Let us reach out and ask Jesus to save and protect us, especially when we feel as if we are sinking.
We offer our own intentions.
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.
Lord, inspired by Saint John Bosco, we thank you for your constant strength and protection, especially when we are troubled, anxious, or in difficulty of any kind.
Thank you for joining us for our morning prayer.
In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Good morning and thank you for joining our Oblate short time to pause, reflect and pray together on Friday January 30th 2026 of Ordinary Time. Thanks to Br Michael Moore OMI for today’s reflection: 
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Good morning and welcome, and thank you for joining us for our morning prayer with the Oblate Family.
Jesus says that the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of seeds, but when it grows, it is the biggest of trees. The kingdom of God begins with small, quiet and silent actions. We are all capable of doing wonderful things today, even if nobody sees or knows about them. What one small act will I do today that will make God's kingdom a reality.
We offer our own intentions.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.
Lord, bless and encourage us today.Help us to do ordinary things extraordinarily well. Amen.
Thank you for joining us for our morning prayer.
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Good morning and thank you for joining our Oblate short time to pause, reflect and pray together on Thursday January 29th 2026 of Ordinary Time. Thanks to Br Michael Moore OMI for today's reflection: 
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Good morning and welcome and thank you for joining us for our morning prayer with the oblate family.
In John's Gospel, Jesus calls himself the light of the world. Jesus also calls and asks each of us to let our own light shine in and for the world. He asks us not to hide our light away. Today, may we each have the courage to shine brightly. Who knows, our small light might be the one thing the world is longing for today. We offer our own intentions.
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.
Lord, we thank you for the light that is hidden within each of us. Help us to let it shine out brightly for all to see this day.Thank you for joining us for our morning prayer.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.Amen.

Good morning and thank you for joining our Oblate short time to pause, reflect and pray together on Wednesday January 28th 2026 of Ordinary Time. Thanks to Br Michael Moore OMI for today's reflection: 
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Good morning and welcome, and thank you for joining us for our morning prayer with the oblate family.
Jesus likens the word of God to a seed, and like any seed, God's Word, when planted in us, needs to be nurtured, nourished, and cared for.
If we dismiss or ignore this, the Word of God will not take root in us, grow and produce fruit and fruit that will last.Let us take a little time today to notice, nurture, and nourish God's powerful life giving word that is freely given and sown in each of us.
We offer our own intentions.
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.
Lord, to the example of Saint Thomas Aquinas, may we protect and care for your powerful word which is sown in each of us.May we treasure and share with all those we meet. Amen.
Thank you for joining us for our morning prayer.