SOLEMNITY OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST (CORPUS CHRISTI)

Theme: Sharing life with Christ

 

1st Reading: The Book of Deuteronomy, chapter 8: 2 - 3, 14b – 16a

Moses appeals to us not to forget that it is God, our Father, who leads us throughout life. It is this same God who satisfies our needs in the most extraordinary manner.

 

2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians, chapter 10: 16 - 17

Paul wants us to note that by sharing in the Body and Blood of Christ, we share a common future with the Lord, and a common salvation with fellow believers.

 

Gospel Reading: John, chapter 6: 51 - 58

Jesus says that unless we fill our hearts and minds, indeed, our very selves with the personality of Christ, we cannot hope for the new and everlasting life.

TRINITY SUNDAY

Theme: The ineffable mystery of God

 

1st Reading: Exodus, chapter 34: 4b – 6, 8 – 9

God reveals his nature by declaring that he is full of compassion, extremely kind and always close to us. Our response to such show of love and faithfulness is to bow in deep reverence, like Moses did.

 

2nd Reading: 2 Corinthians, chapter 13: 11 – 13

Parts of the scripture we are about to hear are constantly on the lips of the faithful. Anytime we share the Grace, let us remember that we are invoking the Holy Spirit to come down and remain upon us.

 

Gospel Reading: John, chapter 3: 16 – 18

God loves us so much so that out of his own free-will, he gave us Jesus Christ, his son, to save us. The only condition we have to fulfill is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

PENTECOST SUNDAY

Theme: The Spirit at work

 

1st Reading: Acts of the Apostles, chapter 2: 1-11

The Holy Spirit descended on the disciples, and they spoke in various tongues. The Pentecost event shows that the Christian message is meant for all people.

 

2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians, chapter 12: 3b - 7, 12 - 13.

St Paul explains to the congregation at Corinth, and to all of us that the Holy Spirit manifests itself in several ways, and that through the same Holy Spirit, we all are members in the one Body of Christ.

 

Gospel Reading: John, chapter 20: 19 - 23.

John’s account of the Pentecost is based on Jesus’ appearance in the midst of his disciples, soon after the resurrection. He breathed the Holy Spirit into them, and empowered them to continue his work. Christ invites us this day, to receive his life-transforming Holy Spirit.

 

7TH SUNDAY OF EASTER: YEAR A

Theme: Prayerful waiting

 

1st Reading: Acts of the Apostles, chapter 1: 12- 14

The disciples, Mother Mary, and the others who returned to the Upper Room demonstrate a key ingredient of Christian discipleship: prayerful waiting upon the Lord’s promises.

 

2nd Reading: 1 Peter, chapter 4: 13 – 16

Scripture says that when we suffer because of good Christian conduct, Jesus will be with us each step of the way.

 

Gospel Reading: John, chapter 17: 1 – 11a

Jesus prays for his disciples and all who follow him, that we may know and believe the oneness of God and his Son, so that our lives would reveal his character and presence.

THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD YEAR A

Theme: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations.”

Ist Reading: The Acts of the Apostles, chapter 1: 1-11                    Jesus died; he rose from the dead, and interacted with his disciples for forty days. Today, we commemorate his ascension into heaven with the prayerful affirmation that Christ will return in the same way as his disciples saw him going into heaven.

 

2^nd Reading: Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, chapter 1: 17-23                St Paul prays for the Ephesians and all believers that the Holy Spirit would open us up to the full knowledge of Christ, our hope, who shares power with God, our father.

 

Gospel Reading: Matthew, chapter 28: 16-20                                     Jesus Christ, to whom all power has been given, sends us, his followers, to go out, and take his message to the world. He assures us that he will be with us until the end of time.

6TH SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR A

 

Theme: Diversity in Unity

 

1st Reading: Acts of the Apostles, chapter 8: 5 – 8, 14 – 17

The Samaritans accepted the Good News and were received into the Christian fellowship. This proves that the Holy Spirit can, and indeed, unite people from all cultures into the one Body of Christ.

 

2nd Reading: 1 Peter, chapter 3: 15 – 18

A life in the Spirit of God often attracts jeers and cynicism. Peter urges the believer to remain resolute and to respond appropriately and fearlessly.

 

Gospel Reading: John, chapter 14: 15 – 21

Jesus promises his eternal presence, through the Holy Spirit, to all who love him and obey his word. To such as these would Christ show himself. 

5TH SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR A

Theme: Kairos – Time of favour

 

1st Reading: Acts of the Apostles, chapter 6: 1- 7

The Apostles did not allow the material needs of the people to distract them from pursuing their spiritual agenda. The message for us is that when we pursue Gospel values, the Spirit of our Lord opens up ways and means for addressing our other needs.

 

2nd Reading: 1 Peter, chapter 2: 4 – 9

We understand from this scripture that we are inextricably linked to Jesus, the cornerstone. As the building blocks, we are enjoined to participate in the ministry of the Messiah.

 

Gospel Reading: John, chapter 14: 1 – 12

Faith in Jesus is faith in God. This also means that we can open up to God through his Word to us, Jesus Christ. We must seize this God-given chance to take Jesus at his word.