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

A very good morning to you. We join Kirk Jacob in London for this week's podcast and short time of daily prayer together. 
Today is Sunday, the 30th August and we focus on the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary time of the Church’s year.This morning’s Oblate podcast is on the Scripture text of St. Matthew 16: 21-27.We begin: In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.Today’s Gospel is all about dying of the self and the ego and living for the soulful state in order to bring about the Kingdom of God here on earth. Jesus tries to prepare his disciples for his imminent suffering and death at the hands of the religious elders and chief priests, though his  disciples are in denial. They won’t have it that way! Peter even rebukes Jesus for saying and thinking that his ending is ever going to happen that way. Jesus puts Peter right back in his place with explaining that God’s ways are not man’s ways!If we try to save our lives, we lose it and if we lose our lives, we save it.! Perhaps, we may cast our minds and think of those self-sacrificing people today – the fire fighters who are trying to stop wild fires happening over Europe and some of them have sadly lost their lives in order to protect the country and the wild fires from spreading even further to destroy homes and livestock and human beings.Lord, teach us to die to ourselves and to live for You. We make our prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.Have a wonderful Sunday! Thank you. God bless you all.                 
#catholic #goodnews #podcast #gospel sunday
 

A very good morning to you. We join Kirk Jacob in London for this week's podcast and short time of daily prayer together. 
Today is Saturday, the 29th August and it’s the feast to commemorate the beheading of St. John the Baptist.This morning’s Oblate podcast is on the Scripture text of St. Mark chapter 6: verses17-29.We begin: In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.In today’s Gospel, we notice a lot of political power dynamics. King Herod is torn by his internal conflict as he forcefully takes his brother Philip’s wife Herodias to be his own and John the Baptist challenges him about it very publicly. On the one hand, he is greatly perplexed when he hears John speak, whilst on the other, he is glad to hear his deep thoughts. This torn allegiance again shows its ugly head when on his birthday, Herodias’ daughter dances for him and captures his heart. He puts a wish list for her to choose from: even half his kingdom. However, the rug is pulled from right under him as Herodias sends an immediate death wish via her daughter by seeking the physical beheading of John.King Herod was fenced in and he couldn’t go back on his word in front of his official guests and he found himself being torn in his allegiance once again. He carries out the wish of Herodias’ daughter and we see the tragic ending and beheading of John the Baptist. John was Jesus’ cousin and we wonder how his parents Zechariah and Elizabeth must have felt at their son being beheaded and murdered.Today, we give a thought for people who are facing immanent death row sentencing. We pray for God’s grace in their tragic endings. Amen.We wish you a Blessed day!   Thank you.          
#catholic #goodnews #podcast #gospel #johnthebaptist

A very good morning to you. We join Kirk Jacob in London for this week's podcast and short time of daily prayer together. 
A very good morning to you. Today is Friday, the 28th August and it’s the feast of St. Augustine of Hippo, the North African Bishop, Philosopher and Theologian. Yesterday, we had his Mum’s feast -  St. Monica. One of his famous quotes is: ‘Our hearts are restless until they rest in You. Lord’. This morning’s Oblate podcast is on the Scripture text of St. Matthew 25: 1-13.We begin: In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.In today’s Gospel, Jesus shares the parable of the ten virgins, five wise and five foolish ones. Five of them were ready as their lamps were filled up with oil waiting for the Bridegroom to arrive. On the other hand, five others chose to be unprepared. It reminded me of that quote: ‘If you fail to prepare, then prepare to fail!’.  The lamps refers to our spiritual readiness and personal vigilance. The five foolish ones without oil were kept out of the Wedding feast as they were out with last minute shopping while the five wise ones were included in the celebrations. In our own lives, true preparedness is needed for organising various parts of our social and working lives. Some things can be rescued at last minute, most things need good preparation. Every mid-September in Lourdes France, our Province organises and prepares the annual pilgrimage. A huge amount of effort goes into organising this largest Oblate family event. We pray: Lord Jesus to bless all our efforts and preparations in this the 200th Year celebrations.A final thought from Hellen Keller:  ‘it is better for us to light a candle than to curse the darkness!’. Have a delightful day!              
#catholic #goodnews #podcast #gospel #saintaugustine #saintmonica

A very good morning to you. We join Kirk Jacob in London for this week's podcast and short time of daily prayer together. 
Today is Thursday, the 27th August and it’s the Feast of St. Monica. She was the mother of the famous St. Augustine of Hippo.   She is remembered for her persistent prayers and tears which led to the conversion of her son, Augustine. It was her readiness to working in God’s time that mattered! This morning’s Oblate podcast is on the Scripture text of St. Matthew 24: 42-51. It’s about readiness! 
We begin: In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 
In today’s Gospel, the urgency from Jesus to his disciples is to ‘Stay awake’ in readiness. So, we could ask ourselves that same question: why was Jesus urging his disciples to stay and be ready for whom and for what kind of life situations?  
I am reminded today of the recent European athletics in Birmingham. If you watched any of it; you notice how the athletes get their adrenalin going as they GET READY before take off in their various sporting disciplines.. its fascinating! One chap Karsten Warholm, a Norwegian 400 metres hurdler stood out for me. He severely beat his chest as if to tell the world.. Bring it on! Boy! Did he deliver well for a 4th consecutive games! It reminded me of a grand Uncle Ivan Jacob who competed for our roots – India in the final of the 400 metres at the 1952 summer Olympics in Tokyo.  
A final thought from Thich Nhat Hanh: Waking up this morning, I smile. Twenty-four brand new hours are before me. I vow to live fully in each moment and to look at all beings with eyes of compassion. Have a fabulous day!
#catholic #goodnews #podcast #gospel #saintmonica
 

A very good morning to you. We join Kirk Jacob in London for this week's podcast and short time of daily prayer together. 
Today is Wednesday, the 26th August. This morning’s Oblate podcast is on the Scripture text of St. Matthew 23: verses 27-32. 
We begin: In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 
In today’s Gospel, Jesus reprimands the religious authorities even stronger. He likens them to whitewashed tombs which appear outwardly beautiful but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. Imagine that! Jesus challenges the religious leaders to practice authenticity and integrity. He urges them to honour their sacred word! Think of a time when you allowed yourself to be carried away by not honouring your sacred word. Maybe, you promised to visit, phone or write to a family member or friend though you kept putting it off, somehow finding reasons to cancel at the last minute by making up stories or giving excuses to not go and see that person. Maybe you didn’t have the heart to tell the loved one the truth of the matter, that you feel embarrassed since you are holding on to the 25th anniversary of a hurt situation, thereby preventing inner freedom and growth to flower in that unique relationship. 
We pray. We weep for those who weeped because of us. We pray for all who caused us pain or to whom we have caused pain. We pray that all past hurts be healed in the Eucharist. We offer all for those who already passed away. We make our prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a gorgeous day!   
#catholic #goodnews #podcast #gospel 

A very good morning to you. We join Kirk Jacob in London for this week's podcast and short time of daily prayer together. 
Today is Tuesday, the 25th August.   It’s the Feast of St. Louis whose name I took at confirmation. We give thanks for our baptism and confirmation.  This morning’s Oblate podcast is on the Scripture text of St. Matthew 23:23-26.             
We begin: In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 
In today’s Gospel, Jesus has a right go at the religious authorities by telling them off: ‘Woe to you!’, he says several times, as they were constantly oppressing their own people by laying heavy burdens on them and then pretending to be the pious, self-righteous ones. The Gospels remind us that one of the greatest sins we can fall into and be blinded by is ‘self-righteousness’. And this is rooted in an entitlement mindset and a deceitful ego which plays mind games. It’s a trap that many high powered individuals and groups in our societies keep falling into regularly and don’t even notice it. 
Jesus addresses these issues of justice, mercy, faithfulness. He insists that by first cleaning the inside of our tea and coffee cups which regularly get stained with the tar of caffeine, its only then that we can offer others healthy cups of tea, coffee and practice new muscles of mercy and hospitality.  
We pray: Lord Jesus, help us in areas where we are unteachable. We make our prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a wonderful day!
#catholic #goodnews #podcast #saintlouis #gospel 

A very good morning to you. We join Kirk Jacob in London for this week's podcast and short time of daily prayer together. I hope the weather is cooling down wherever you are. Today is Monday, the 24th August, the Feast of St. Bartholomew , one of Jesus’ first 12 Apostles. This morning’s Oblate podcast is on the Scripture text of John 1:45-51.
We begin: In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
This morning, we take a few deep breaths and notice the cool and warm air entering and leaving our body. …(quiet moments). Picture your breath being like the waves of the ocean and consider each wave representing the movement of our breath. Each breath is a gift from our ever-loving God.
Someone who gave his total breath for the Kingdom of God was Bartholomew, otherwise known as Nathaniel. In today’s Gospel, we see how he was one of the first disciples to express total belief in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God.
Biblical historians tell us that Bartholomew travelled and preached in the regions of India and Armenia. It was in Armenia where he was martyred by being skinned alive and then beheaded. A tragic death for his faith. (pause). He is the patron saint of leather workers, tanners and butchers.
We pray: ‘Strengthen in us, O Lord, the FAITH, by which our blessed Apostle Bartholomew clung wholeheartedly to your Son Jesus. Grant that through the help of his prayers, your Church may become for all the troubled nations, a sacrament of your saving grace. We make our prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a wonderful day! #catholic #goodnews #podcast #sunday #gospel 

Good morning and welcome, and thank you for joining us for our morning prayer with the Oblate Family. Today we join Jocelyne Verdier in London on Sunday the 23rd of August.
Welcome to A Moment To Pause.nThe Gospel is taken from Matthew chapter 16, verse 13 to 20. This passage remind me to ask myself the same question: Who is Jesus for me? Who is Jesus in my life?Let us pause and think deeply.Lord, we want to know you better. We want to trust you and follow you every day. Like Peter, we pray for the courage to tell others about our faith and stay faithful to Jesus in all that we do and love you more. Amen.#catholic #goodnews #podcast #sunday #gospel 

Good morning and welcome, and thank you for joining us for our morning prayer with the Oblate Family. Today we join Jocelyne Verdier in London on Saturday the 22nd of August.
Welcome to A Moment To Pause.The Gospel reading is from the Gospel of Matthew. In this passage, Jesus teaches about serving what we preach to others. Christ is our Father, and as brothers and sisters in Christ, serving the Lord and our neighbour with a humble heart brings us closer to him and keep us away from selfishness and pride.Lord, help us be kind. Give to others without expectation and excel in doing simple things extraordinarily well. Amen.#catholic #goodnews #podcast #sunday #gospel 

Good morning and welcome, and thank you for joining us for our morning prayer with the Oblate Family. Today we join Jocelyne Verdier in London on Friday the 21st of August.
Welcome to A Moment To Pause.Today's Gospel is about love. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. And you shall love your neighbour as yourself.This is the greatest commandment of all. Lord, in our imperfections and with a humble heart, we’ve come to you.Fill us with your Holy Spirit so we can love ourselves, love our neighbours, and above all, we can love you with all our being. Amen.
 
#catholic #goodnews #podcast #sunday #gospel