RELIGION AND ART

MONDAY WEEK 26 ORDINARY TIME  Reading Job 1:6-22 The Lord gave, the Lord has taken back: blessed be the name of the Lord One day the Sons of God came to attend on the Lord, and among them was Satan. So the Lord said to Satan, ‘Where have you been?’ ‘Round the earth,’ he answered ‘roaming about.’ So the Lord asked him, ‘Did you notice my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth: a sound and honest man who fears God and shuns evil.’ ‘Yes,’ Satan said ‘but Job is not God-fearing for nothing, is he? Have you not put a wall round him and his house and all his domain? You have blessed all he undertakes, and his flocks throng the countryside. But stretch out your hand and lay a finger on his possessions: I warrant you, he will curse you to your face.’ ‘Very well,’ the Lord said to Satan ‘all he has is in your power. But keep your hands off his person.’ So Satan left the presence of the Lord....... Reading Reflection Gospel Luke 9:46-50 The least among you all is the greatest An...

26TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME  First Reading Amos 6:1,4-7 Woe to those who live in luxury The almighty Lord says this: Woe to those ensconced so snugly in Zion and to those who feel so safe on the mountain of Samaria, those famous men of this first of nations to whom the House of Israel goes as client. Lying on ivory beds and sprawling on their divans, they dine on lambs from the flock, and stall-fattened veal; they bawl to the sound of the harp, they invent new instruments of music like David, they drink wine by the bowlful, and use the finest oil for anointing themselves,  but about the ruin of Joseph they do not care at all. That is why they will be the first to be exiled;  the sprawlers’ revelry is over. Readings Reflection   Second Reading 1 Tim. 6:11 -16 Do all that you have been told, until the Appearing of the Lord   Gospel Luke 16:19-31 “Remember that during your life good things came your way, just as bad things came the way of Lazarus… ” ...

SATURDAY WEEK 25 ORDINARY TIME Reading Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:8 Remember your creator in the days of your youth   Rejoice in your youth, you who are young; let your heart give you joy in your young days. Follow the promptings of your heart and the desires of your eyes. But this you must know: for all these things God will bring you to judgement. Cast worry from your heart, shield your flesh from pain.  Yet youth, the age of dark hair, is vanity.  Reading Reflection   And remember your creator in the days of your youth, before evil days come and the years approach when you say, ‘These give me no pleasure’, before sun and light and moon and stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain;  the day when those who keep the house tremble and strong men are bowed; when the women grind no longer at the mill, because day is darkening at the windows and the street doors are shut; when the sound of the mill is faint, when the voice of the bird is silenced, and ...

FRIDAY WEEK 25 IN ORDINARY TIME Reading  Ecclesiastes 3:1-11   There is a season for everything, a time for every occupation under heaven: A time for giving birth, a time for dying; a time for planting, a time for uprooting what has been planted.....  Reading Reflection Pray the Holy Rosary. Hail Mary. Ave Maria. Lord Jesus I trust in you. Saint Joseph pray for me. Saint Pius of Pietrelcina – Padre Pio pray for you as you celebrate your birthday today. Loving Father according to  Ecclesiastes 3:1-11......" What does a man gain for the efforts that he makes? I contemplate the task that God gives mankind to labour at. All that he does is apt for its time; but though he has permitted man to consider time in its wholeness, man cannot comprehend the work of God from beginning to end." Yes Father man can never understand the mystery of creation. All glory and adoration belong to you our God and Father.

THURSDAY WEEK 25 ORDINARY TIME Reading  Ecclesiastes 1:2-11  Nothing is new and all is vanity Vanity of vanities, the Preacher says. Vanity of vanities. All is vanity! For all his toil, his toil under the sun, what does man gain by it?  A generation goes, a generation comes, yet the earth stands firm for ever. The sun rises, the sun sets; then to its place it speeds and there it rises. Southward goes the wind, then turns to the north; it turns and turns again; back then to its circling goes the wind. Into the sea all the rivers go, and yet the sea is never filled, and still to their goal the rivers go. All things are wearisome. No man can say that eyes have not had enough of seeing, ears their fill of hearing. What was will be again; what has been done will be done again; and there is nothing new under the sun. Take anything of which it may be said, ‘Look now, this is new.’ Already, long before our time, it existed. Only no memory remains of earlier times, just as in time...

WEDNESDAY WEEK 25 ORDINARY TIME Reading Ephesians 4:1-7,11-13 We are all to come to unity, fully mature in the knowledge of the Son of God I, the prisoner in the Lord, implore you to lead a life worthy of your vocation. Bear with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together. There is one Body, one Spirit, just as you were all called into one and the same hope when you were called. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God who is Father of all, over all, through all and within all. Reading Reflection   Each one of us, however, has been given his own share of grace, given as Christ allotted it. To some, his gift was that they should be apostles; to some, prophets; to some, evangelists; to some, pastors and teachers; so that the saints together make a unity in the work of service, building up the body of Christ. In this way we are all to come to unity in ...

TUESDAY WEEK 25 ORDINARY TIME Reading Proverbs 21:1-6,10-13 On wickedness and virtue Like flowing water is the heart of the king in the hand of the Lord, who turns it where he pleases.  A man’s conduct may strike him as upright, the Lord, however, weighs the heart. To act virtuously and with justice is more pleasing to the Lord than sacrifice. Haughty eye, proud heart, lamp of the wicked, nothing but sin. The hardworking man is thoughtful, and all is gain; too much haste, and all that comes of it is want. To make a fortune with the help of a lying tongue, such the idle fantasy of those who look for death. The wicked man’s soul is intent on evil, he looks on his neighbour with dislike. When a mocker is punished, the ignorant man grows wiser, when a wise man is instructed he acquires more knowledge. The Just One watches the house of the wicked:  he hurls the wicked to destruction. He who shuts his ear to the poor man’s cry shall himself plead and...