regan.ocd – SPRINGS OF LIVING WATER

August 29, 2025August 29, 2025

30th AUGUST 2025

SATURDAY, TWENTY FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Memorial of Saint Euphrasia

1 Thes 4:9-11 Ps 98:1,7-9 Mt 25:14-30

BE FRUITFUL FOR LOVE

Paul commends the community for their exemplary brotherly love, which reflects their deep understanding of Christian discipleship. He acknowledges that their love for one another is not merely a human virtue but a divine gift, taught by God Himself. However, Paul does not stop at praise; he exhorts them to “excel still more” in their love, urging them to live quietly, mind their own affairs, and work diligently. Authentic Christian love is not passive but active; it requires practical expression in daily life.

The responsorial psalm celebrates God’s marvelous deeds which reveal His unconditional love for His people. As Christians, our love for others is not self-generated but a response to the love we have first received from God. Just as the psalm calls for joyful praise, our lives should echo God’s love through acts of mercy, kindness, and justice. This divine love is the foundation of all human love; when we recognize how deeply we are loved by God, we are empowered to love others without reservation. The psalm thus reminds us that true love flows from gratitude for God’s gifts.

Jesus’ parable of the talents illustrates that love for others is expressed through the faithful stewardship of God’s gifts. The master entrusts his servants with varying talents, not for hoarding but for fruitful investment. The first two servants, who double their talents, exemplify love as active engagement – using their blessings to glorify God and serve others. In contrast, the third servant, who buries his talent, represents a failure to love, rooted in fear and complacency. Jesus’ message is clear: love requires courage, creativity, and responsibility. We are called to multiply God’s graces for the good of others. Thus, we are challenged today to examine how we use our gifts, reminding us that love is a commitment to fruitful action in God’s kingdom.

Response: The Lord comes to judge the peoples with fairness.

August 28, 2025August 28, 2025

29th AUGUST 2025

Holy Mass images...: The Passion/Beheading of Saint John the Baptist

FRIDAY, TWENTY FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Memorial of the Passion of John the Baptist

Jer 1:17-19 Ps 71:1-6,15,17 Mk 6:17-29

FAITH FREES US FROM FEAR

Today’s Gospel contrasts the courage of John with the fear of Herod. John was a simple man with simple needs and a simple lifestyle. He lived to preach repentance and to prepare the way for the Lord. Those who heard him, repented and were baptized by him. John proclaimed the truth boldly, and was courageous even before kings and princes. He even confronted Herod about marrying his brother’s wife. Herod on the other hand was afraid. He was afraid of losing his reputation, his position or influence as ruler. He used his power to do things that were evil but also to protect himself. He imprisoned John to ensure that John did not undermine his authority. The contrast here is between one person who trusts God and is free to live boldly as compared to the other who trusts in human power, and yet lives in fear of losing everything.

The Gospel ends with Herod killing John because of this fear. John’s freedom is rewarded by death. How do we understand this? Jesus said “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt 10:28). To love and fear God is to live in truth, to live boldly because our life does not end with this world. Jesus says “I am the way, the truth and the life” (Jn 14:6). The exhortation of the Lord is to not fear the evil in this world, but to follow Him who is the way, the truth and the life. To trust God is to follow him without fear of what happens to our body, because our soul is more important than our body. Following Jesus in faith and courage is the only way to ensure our soul is truly free.

Response: My mouth will tell of your salvation, Lord.

August 27, 2025August 27, 2025

28th AUGUST 2025

Tending the Flame – Light on the Hill

THURSDAY, TWENTY FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Memorial of Saint Augustine

1 Thes 3:7-13 Ps 90:3-5,12-14,17 Mt 24:42-51

TEND THE FLAME

One evening, as Brother Thomas walked the cloisters in quiet prayer, he noticed an old lamp flickering beside the statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. He paused and gently fixed the wick. “It is a small thing,” he thought, “but let no flame die while I am here to tend it.” In the Gospel, Jesus warns: “Be you also ready, because at what hour you know not the Son of man will come.” Readiness is a daily tending of our spiritual lamp through hidden, faithful acts of love.

To live prepared is to live with awareness that the ‘now’ is sacred. Holiness is not found in waiting for a perfect hour but in being present and faithful in the now, be it in the kitchen, at the desk, or in the family’s chaos. Someone may say, “I will repent tomorrow. I will pray more when I have time.” But what if the Master comes tonight? Like the man guarding his house, would we not watch if we knew the thief’s hour? Jesus calls us to vigilance not from fear but from love, to a readiness born from relationship. St. John of the Cross wrote, “In the evening of life, we will be judged on love alone.” Not on success, not on comfort, not even on how much we accomplished, but how much we loved, how often we served, and whether we lived as servants feeding the household in due time.

Hence, ask yourself: if Christ came today, would He find you tending your lamp, or asleep in comfort? Would He find you feeding others with kindness, patience, prayer, or indulging in your own lives? The time is unknown, but the call is clear. Be the faithful servant, not out of fear, but because love is too precious to postpone. Tend the flame. Now is the hour.

Response: Fill us with your merciful love, O Lord, and we shall exult.

August 26, 2025August 25, 2025

27th AUGUST 2025

The Pharisee in Me, 1904 Winnebago Street, Madison, WI, United States, Wisconsin 53704, 24 August 2025 | AllEvents

WEDNESDAY, TWENTY FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Memorial of Saint Monica

1 Thes 2:9-13 Ps 139:7-12 Mt 23:27-32

GOING BEYOND CULTURAL CHRISTIANITY

Every stream of jobs, offices, and professions has its own protocols, requiring discipline and strict procedures of functioning. These role definitions give visibility and identity to them, because they are the embodiment of the values that are essential for the advancement of the aims of their respective institutions. If this is required even for schools and commercial institutions to ensure their marketability and growth, how much more should it be a reality for those who claim to follow Jesus?

If we truly intend to follow Jesus, we cannot hide behind a lifestyle of minimum sacrifices. That is a cheap Christianity lived for social status and local visibility. Do we not eagerly listen to sermons and attend retreats, yet in our prayers, we refuse to go beyond seeking emotional satisfaction for loneliness, or a source of cheap consolation in times of trouble? Without any desire to take the path Jesus calls us to, we can never be his true followers. The sermons we listen to are not meant for entertainment, nor for a self-absolving washing of guilt, nor for seeking the balm of consolation without any will to move beyond our comfort zones. We must step into the vulnerability of Christian community as required by the Gospel message.

St. Paul, who felt hurt when the Thessalonians and Corinthians falsely branded him as money-minded, remained patient with them and guided them to the truth. His life, as well as that of St. Monica, re-echoes that of Christ, especially in the sufferings they endured for Him and the Gospel. Jesus challenges our hypocrisy, and demands that the word we receive must take flesh; our piety and spiritual life must translate into a value-based way of living. Holiness is not about sentiments but a virtuous life. Let us go beyond mere cultural Christianity.

Response: O Lord, you search me and you know me.

August 25, 2025August 25, 2025

26th AUGUST 2025

TUESDAY, TWENTY FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

1 Thes 2:1-8 Ps 139:1-6 Mt 23:23-26

LIVING FROM THE INSIDE OUT

Paul reminds the Thessalonians, and us, that true ministry springs from sincerity: “We speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts.” Paul was not seeking applause or approval; his service came from a heart anchored in truth. That is the essence of an authentic Christian: one who lives for an audience of One. To bring this to life, think of a tree. Its beauty and fruitfulness do not come from painted leaves or polished bark but from deep, unseen roots that draw life from the soil. Likewise, our Christian life must be rooted deeply in Christ. Only then will the fruits of kindness, mercy and faithfulness naturally blossom.

In the Gospel, Jesus confronts the Pharisees, who were obsessed with appearances. They tithed mint and cumin with great precision yet ignored the weightier matters of justice, mercy, and faith. It is as if they were washing the outside of a dirty cup while leaving the inside untouched. Jesus exhorts them to clean the inside first, so that the outside may also be clean. How often do we fall into the trap of appearances – posting online the perfect Bible verse, attending church, saying the right words – while our hearts remain untouched by grace? Authentic Christianity is not a performance; it is a transformation. It is not about how we look but who we are becoming in Christ.

Let us ask ourselves: Are we living from the inside out? Are our actions born of love, or of obligation? Are we rooted in God, or just trimming the leaves? May we allow the Spirit to dig deep, to purify our intentions and shape our hearts, so that what the world sees on the outside reflects the living Christ within. Then, and only then, will we shine as true witnesses of His love.

Response: O Lord, you search me and you know me.

August 24, 2025August 24, 2025

25th AUGUST 2025

1 Thessalonians 1:5–10 (ESV) - 1 Thessalonians 1:5–10 ESV - because our gospel… | Biblia

MONDAY, TWENTY FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

1 Thes 1:1-5,8-10 Ps 149:1-6,9 Mt 23:13-22

KEEP THE FIRE BURNING

Paul writes this letter out of profound concern for the new converts of Thessalonica, who, left unexpectedly on their own, now face persecution and the constant pull of pagan culture. Though absent in person and longing to return, Paul sends this epistle in his place to strengthen them during these trying times and to encourage them to remain chaste and charitable. The letter is marked not by rebuke but by joy, gratitude, and encouragement. Paul is moved by their astonishing growth in faith, hope, and love. Yet, mindful of human frailty, he urges them to stay the course. As the saying goes, “A new broom sweeps clean.” Paul may have feared that as the initial fervour of their conversion waned, they might slip back into old ways or grow lukewarm in faith.

How often we experience the same! After a retreat or a powerful encounter with God, we begin afresh: resolute, fervent, determined. We make many promises – to live differently, to pray more, to forgive, to let go of sin. But as days pass, the fire dims, routines return, and we find ourselves right back where we started. Paul does not want this for the Thessalonians. He wants the flame to keep burning in their hearts. His concern is rooted in deep love and spiritual responsibility. If Paul felt this so deeply for them, how much more must Jesus feel for us?

It does not matter how far you have wandered from God or how many resolutions you have broken. Come back to Jesus today. His arms are open, longing for your return. For “the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is His faithfulness” (Lam. 3:22–23). Would you turn away from such tender love, such a loving invitation?

Response: The Lord takes delight in his people.

August 23, 2025August 21, 2025

24th AUGUST 2025

SUNDAY, TWENTY FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Is 66:18-21 Ps 117 Heb 12:5-7,11-13 Lk 13:22-30

IN WOUNDING HE HEALS

Christ is our sublime model upon whom we must pattern our life. His only desire was to do the will of His Heavenly Father. St. John of the Cross counsels that anything which is not purely for the honour and glory of God should be renounced. The sacrament of Baptism washes away original sin but there remains the tendency to sin. God cannot force the free will of the individual. When a person makes an effort to choose good, God purifies the person in the crucible of trials and temptations – a kind of discipline of a loving Father towards his children. As St. Augustine says, our hearts are restless until they find their rest in God. In order to find this rest, the human heart goes in search of all things that come on the way. In this craving for satisfaction there develops in human heart many inordinate appetites. According to St. John of the Cross, to reach union with God the soul must mortify within itself all voluntary inordinate appetites for creatures or things since these appetites are contrary to the perfect love of God and consequently to union with God.

The readings of today invite us to submit ourselves to the loving discipline of God who created us. It is not only the Jews or Christians whom the Lord will gather to himself, but every person who sincerely seeks Him. Many will come from east and west to share the banquet of his kingdom. In the first reading of today, through Isaiah, God promises to gather all the nations to himself. This is the Good News of salvation not only to the Israelites but also to every person belonging to a different race and language. The truth of the only true God will also be revealed to every nation as it was first revealed to Israel. In the history of Israel, we see that often the Israelites strayed away from God and sought after foreign gods and pleasures to satisfy their hearts. Instead of satisfaction, they received only pain and tribulation for their cravings. God in his mercy, however, worked out salvation through these sufferings when they returned to him with repentant hearts.

The Letter to the Hebrews tells us that God is our Loving Father. He disciplines us just like our own fathers, who love us. “My child, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves the one he loves, as the Father the son in whom he delights” says the book of Proverbs (3:11 12). This proverb teaches us that divine discipline is inspired by divine love. Without this wisdom one might mistake the trials of life such as persecution, as the signs of God’s anger hammering down for every fault and failure. On the contrary, God is a wise and caring Father who desires only to make his children better. To remedy their sins and selfishness He sends difficulties to train them in righteousness and to raise them to spiritual adulthood. Christ himself learned obedience through suffering! (c.f. Heb. 5:8).

What is all this discipline about? We find the answer in the Gospel of today. Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching the commandment of love. Salvation depends first on God’s grace, then on our cooperation and obedience. Jesus here stresses the difficulties of the spiritual life, where few will enter God’s glory while the door remains open. We need to do our best to squeeze through this narrow door. He rebukes the impenitent who are shut out from God’s blessings and describes the pangs of the damned who weep and gnash their teeth. Does Jesus want to frighten us by these words? Not at all! He is treating us as adults and telling us the truth about all that happens in this life and the next. We need to travel this path by faith alone. However, Jesus knows that we are weak, hence, from the cross he gave us a companion and guide in this journey: “Behold your mother.” Let us be determined to take Mary, the mother of Jesus and our mother, to live with us, that she may lead us on this journey towards life eternal.

Response: Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel.

August 22, 2025August 21, 2025

23rd AUGUST 2025

SATURDAY, TWENTIETH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Ru 2:1-3,8-11; 4:13-17 Ps 128:1-5 Mt 23:1-12

THE MEEK AND MERCIFUL HEART

The book of Ruth tells the charming story of a wonderful woman. What makes her great is her profession of faith “where ever you go I will go, where ever you lodge I will lodge, your people shall be my people and your God my God”. Ruth is portrayed as highly submissive and deferential towards both Naomi and Boaz. Boaz is also of noble character; he is generous in safeguarding the rights of the poor, the stranger and the widow. He protects Ruth and provides for her inconveniences.

On the other hand, in the Gospel passage, we come face to face with the contrasting personalities of the scribes and the Pharisees, who challenged Jesus time and again. They lived hypocritical lives engrossed in religiosity, and considered themselves perfect beings who weren’t in need of God’s mercy. Jesus asks his disciples to be selfless in serving others. For Jesus, true authority does not manifest itself in being powerful but in empowering others. It comes in the form of service. Jesus, the model of humility in authority, urges us all: “Learn from me for I am meek and humble of heart”.

A merciful heart does not mean a weak heart. Anyone who wishes to be merciful must have…

a strong and steadfast heart, closed to anger and open to God.
a heart that lets itself be pierced by the Spirit so as to allow the love of God to pour out on the world,
a poor heart, that recognizes the freedom that comes from being attached to nothing, and thus makes itself available to everyone.

Let us learn from Jesus therefore, who is meek and humble of heart. Let our lives be a true reflection of Him, and let our words and actions manifest His love, so that we may become beacons of God’s compassion to all.

Response: Indeed thus shall be blessed the man who fears the Lord

August 21, 2025August 21, 2025

22nd AUGUST 2025

FRIDAY, TWENTIETH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Memorial of the Queenship of the Bl. Virgin Mary

Ru 1:1,3-6,14-16,22 Ps 146:5-10 Mt 22:34-40

LOVE: A COMMITMENT TO OBEY HIM

Jesus’ summary of the law consists of two commandments that encourage love of God and love of neighbour. The first commandment, called the Shema, is found in Deuteronomy 6:5 9, while the second commandment is a quotation from Leviticus 19:18. This response proves His fidelity to the Jewish tradition and His commitment to a spirituality that emphasizes what is essential. The first commandment defines love as understood by Jesus, a love that characterizes God’s relationship with us. It is this love that makes possible a wholehearted response to Him, which then overflows into our relationships with others. Love of God; that is, a commitment to listen to His Word and obey His will, enables a love for others that transcends natural affection, convenience, and self-interest. Indeed, love for others is the test of the authenticity of one’s love for God.

In today’s first reading, we encounter Ruth, who comes to love God through the love she experienced from her mother-in-law, Naomi. Orpah chose to return home; by human standards, her decision was reasonable. But Ruth went beyond reasonableness. She ventured past human expectations and calculations of what was safe or proper. She embodied the spirit of Abraham, who made a similar leap of faith. Ruth’s selfless devotion to Naomi and her God brought immeasurable divine blessings. She rose above her circumstances to fulfil God’s will. Her words to Naomi – “Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God – demonstrate her faithfulness to the commandment of love.

Today, the Church honours Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth. Her queenship is the reward for her faithfulness to God’s plan. Let us ask the Lord for the grace to listen to His Word and obey His will, so that we too may fulfil the commandment of love in our daily lives.

Response: My soul, give praise to the Lord!

August 20, 2025August 20, 2025

21st AUGUST 2025

Justification by Faith Alone [Galatians 2:16-21] | Scandia Bible Church

FRIDAY, TWENTIETH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Memorial of Saint Pius X

Jgs 11:29-39 Ps 40:5,7-10 Mt 22:1-14

FAITH ALONE!

“In sorrow and suffering, go straight to God with confidence, and you will be strengthened, enlightened, and instructed,” says St. John of the Cross. Both Jephthah and the guests invited to the wedding feast lacked the faith to trust in God’s divine plan. Instead, they trusted in their own human plans. But as followers of Christ, we have a great future ahead of us. Every day, Jesus assures us that if we submit to His holy will, we will be victorious and take our place in the heavenly kingdom. Whenever we face sorrow or suffering, we need only go to Him with hearts full of confidence. Whenever we struggle with our own plans, we need only surrender them to Him. He will surely strengthen us, enlighten us, and instruct us on what to do.

Instead of trusting in our plans, as Jephthah did, we must joyfully sing like the psalmist, who finds delight in doing God’s will. Instead of ending in regret, as Jephthah did, we should gladly accept the wedding invitation our Lord extends to each of us. It is a great honour to be invited as His guest. And, He Himself makes us worthy to attend this wedding feast. He even provides the wedding garment – His own righteousness. Let us, then, accept this gift from Him so we may join in this glorious celebration. Let us offer no excuses but stand ready. The enticements of the world may tempt us to make excuses, yet the Lord patiently waits. Like the king in the parable, our Lord invites everyone without distinction. All are equal in His sight. Yet only those who accept His invitation with faith will partake of the feast He has prepared. It is not by our merits, lineage, or connections that we earn a place at this banquet, but through faith alone.

Response: See, I have come, Lord, to do your will.