24th Sunday in Ordinary Time                    Year A                                     13th September 2026. Lectionary Readings: Genesis 50 v 15-21;         Psalm 103 v8-13;         Romans 14 v 1-12;        Matthew 18 v 21-35. Reluctance In the Old Testament reading, the brothers of Joseph seem reluctant to ask his forgiveness for selling him off as a slave many years before. It…

23rd Sunday on Ordinary Time                  Year A                                    6th September 2026 Lectionary Readings: Ezekiel 33 v 7-11;        Psalm 119 v33-40;        Romans 13 v 8-14;        Matthew 18 v 15-20. ‘Standing Watch’ over the flow of God’s grace and love. Ezekiel has been appointed by God to ‘stand watch for the people of Israel’. (Ezekiel 33 v7).God…

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time                   Year A                                                 30th August 2026 Lectionary readings:  Jeremiah 15 v15-21;       Psalm 26 v1-8;       Romans 12 v9-21;          Matthew 16 v21-28.        “Stop talking like a fool” and “Think like God”Most of us find it difficult to think straight in times of trouble. The apostle Paul advises us to “be patient…

21st Sunday in ordinary Time                     Year A                                                 23rd August 2026 Lectionary Readings:  Isaiah 51 v1-6;    Psalm 138;     Romans 12 v1-8;    Matthew 16 v13-20           The Invisible Mentor The person of God not mentioned explicitly in today’s readings is the Holy Spirit. Jesus implies that the Holy Spirit is at work in the mind of…

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time                    Year A                                               16th August 2026 Lectionary Readings: Isaiah 56 v1, 6-8;          Psalm 67;        Romans 11 v1-2a, 29-32;        Matthew 15 v21-28. The ‘bigger picture’ requires a ‘bigger heart’. In the gospel reading, the focus is on a mother’s concern for her daughter’s health. In Paul’s letter the focus is on…

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time.                               Year A                                    9th August 2026 Lectionary Readings: 1 Kings 19 v9-18;       Psalm 85 v8-13;       Romans 10 v5-15;       Matthew 14 v22-33. Faith and Doubt. All four lectionary readings challenge us to have faith in God. Faith that God is in control, has a plan that will not be thwarted, a plan…

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time                                Year A                                     2nd August 2026         Lectionary Readings: Isaiah 55 v1-5;       Psalm 145 v8-9, 14-21;       Romans 9 v1-5;       Matthew 14 v13-21.                       God’s Love and Loyalty. Isaiah relays God’s invitation to the people of Israel, to ‘come to me and live’ (Isaiah 55 v3). God promises them his eternal love and…

17th Sunday on Ordinary Time.                             Year A.                                   26th July 2026            Lectionary Readings: Kings 3 v5-12;      Psalm 119 v129-136;      Romans 8 v26-39;      Matthew 13 v31-33, 44-52.               Wisdom and Understanding. Solomon asks God for wisdom to help him in his role as king. God is pleased that he has done so and gladly grants him…

The 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time,                                   Year A,                       19th July 2026 Lectionary Readings: Isaiah 44 v 6-8;      Psalm 86 v11-17;      Romans 8 v 12-25;      Matthew 13 v 24-30, 36-43.                  Who is Jesus? Matthew has followed last week’s parable about farming with another, in this week’s gospel reading. I think Matthew is trying…

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time                    Year A                                                12th July 2026 Lectionary Readings: Isaiah 55 v1-13;        Psalm 65 v9-13;        Romans 8 v1-11;        Matthew 13 v1-9; 18-23 How can I live a ‘productive’ life? Well,  says Isaiah, start by turning back to God, give up your ‘crooked ways’ and ‘evil thoughts’ and you will find that ‘God…