Uncategorized – SPRINGS OF LIVING WATER

January 18, 2026January 18, 2026

19th JANUARY 2026

Humility in Leadership | Julian Stodd's Learning Blog

MONDAY, SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

1 Sm 15: 16-23 Ps 50: 8-9, 16-17, 21, 23 Mk 2: 18-22

HUMILITY AS THE HEART OF TRUE SPIRITUALITY

To be religious and spiritual is not about choosing one over the other. Many describe themselves as “spiritual but not religious,” yet the very word ‘religion’ means being bound to what is sacred and divine. It is not merely a set of rules or rituals but a way of living and acting. There is one God who invites us into one life of communion with Him; therefore, religion and spirituality are distinct yet inseparable. Our authenticity is known not by theories we profess but by the fruits we bear; fruits that are visible, tangible, and transformative. To be spiritual is not accidental; it begins with God’s choice and our response to that choice. Throughout salvation history, God chooses people to lead others into harmony under His divine authority. Through Abraham, God begins a covenant of communion. Through Moses, He guides His people toward fidelity. Yet even the great figures like David, God’s chosen king, and Solomon, the wisest of men, failed when they sought their own pleasure over obedience. Today’s reading highlights Saul’s deviation from God’s command. St Paul reminds us that God does not choose us because of our strength or brilliance, but out of His gracious love.

In the first reading, Samuel reminds Saul: “Though you were once small in your own eyes… the Lord anointed you king over Israel.” The insignificant Saul was entrusted with a great mission – to defeat Israel’s enemies. This reveals our own posture before God: humility, obedience, and trust. Like Abraham, we are invited to surrender to God’s plan even when it stretches us. God’s unchanging call remains the same: carry out the mission entrusted to you with courage, faith, and humble submission. Finally, true prayer and fasting are not merely external acts but the offering of our whole life in service. Mary shows this perfectly in her words: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.” Where Adam failed in obedience, and where Saul and David stumbled in leadership, we are reminded of God’s simple and essential requirement: to act justly, love genuinely, and walk humbly with our God (Mic 6:8). These form the heart of all authentic worship and discipleship.

Response: To my beloved I will show my glory.

January 17, 2026January 18, 2026

18th JANUARY 2026

My Reflections...: Reflection for Saturday January 3 The Most Holy Name of Jesus: John 1:29-34

SUNDAY, SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Is 49: 3, 5-6 Ps 40: 2, 4, 7-10 1 Cor 1: 1-3 Jn 1: 29-34

CALLED TO CLAIM OUR TRUE IDENTITY

Today’s readings reveal something very beautiful about our relationship with God: we are known, we are seen, and we are called. God looks at us not with judgment, but with love. He sees our weaknesses and still chooses us to carry His light. Our lives become meaningful when we allow this truth to settle in our hearts and respond to His gentle call. The readings show us that we are not chosen by chance. We are chosen by love. God reaches into the ordinary moments of our lives and calls us by name, just as He formed His servant from the womb and sent him as a light to others. This means that God’s purpose for us does not begin when we feel ready; it begins long before, even when we cannot see it. He knows who we truly are: beloved, valued, and precious in His sight. His call is not a burden placed on our shoulders but an invitation to walk in His light and to share that light with the world around us. When we walk with Him, even the uncertain steps in life become steady.

We often think God waits for us to be perfect before He calls us, but this is not true. He comes to us in our weakness, in our confusion, and even in our silence. He lifts us gently and gives us strength we do not have on our own. His grace becomes the courage we need. His peace becomes the anchor of our hearts. His love becomes the ground on which we stand. When we let these truths shape our daily lives, we become people who naturally bring hope and kindness to others. This calling to be light, to be holy, to be His, has always been lived out through ordinary people with willing hearts. Think about Moses: he felt unworthy and unsure, but God’s assurance, “I will be with you,” changed everything. Mary, too, responded with a simple and humble heart, saying, “Let it be done to me.” Her “yes,” spoken in quiet faith, opened the door for God’s greatest work. Their stories remind us that God is not looking for perfect hands, but open hands.

We see the same pattern in the life of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. She was a young woman living a hidden life in a convent. She did not perform great miracles or preach to crowds. Yet she discovered her calling in doing small things with great love. She understood that God sees the heart, not the size of the action. Her “little way” continues to inspire people around the world because she allowed God to work through her simple, everyday acts. Through her humility and trust, God shone His light quietly yet powerfully. She is a reminder that every one of us can become a light, no matter our place in life.

Even in ordinary life, we witness how God’s call transforms people. Think about a teacher who once doubted her abilities. She was unsure, nervous, and afraid of failing. But she chose to teach with compassion, patience, and faith. Her gentle encouragement gave new confidence to her struggling students. She did not shine because she was without flaws; she shone because she allowed love to guide her actions. This is how God spreads His light; through simple gestures done with sincerity.

The same truth appears in today’s Gospel, where John the Baptist recognizes Jesus as the Lamb of God. John did not understand everything at first. He said, “I did not know Him,” but he remained faithful to the mission God had given him. Because he stayed faithful, God revealed what he needed to see. This teaches us that following God’s call is a journey. We may not see the whole path, but if we trust Him, the light will come step by step. And so, when we gather these messages together, we understand something profound: God sees us, God calls us, and God sends us, even with our flaws, doubts, and fears. When we become aware of Christ’s presence in our everyday lives, we receive direction, purpose, and peace. His call gives meaning to our work, our relationships, and our struggles.

Therefore, let us try to live out this calling in simple yet intentional ways by spending quiet time each day asking God to show us our purpose, by looking for small ways to be a light—through kindness, a listening ear, or a word of encouragement.

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

January 16, 2026January 16, 2026

17th JANUARY 2026

My Reflections...: Reflection for January 13, Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 2:13-17

SATURDAY, FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Memorial of Anthony, Abbot

1 Sm 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1 Ps 21: 2-7 Mk 2: 13-17

CHOSEN BY THE LORD FOR A MISSION

God chooses people for various missions. When God chooses, He does not see the externals: intelligence and talents. He sees the heart and the disposition of the one who is chosen. The chosen ones may not have great competencies and capacities, but God who chooses makes them capable. He fills them with the necessary graces to fulfil the mission to which they are called.

God chose Saul to be the king of the people of Israel and Jesus chose Levi to be His disciple. God chose Saul, the son of Kish, to be the king of His people Israel. Saul was a handsome man and Samuel was God’s instrument who recognized Saul to be the king over Israel. Samuel anointed Saul as the king. God gave Saul the mission of reigning over the people of Israel and saving them from their enemies. Saul accepted his call from God and fulfilled his mission.

As Jesus was passing by, He saw Levi the son of Alpheus sitting at the tax office. As a tax collector, Levi was occupied with money. Like any other tax collector, he too was disliked by the people. But Jesus looked at him with compassion. Seeing a new disciple in him, Jesus invited him to follow Him. Jesus’ compassionate look changed Levi the tax collector into a disciple. Levi immediately left everything and followed the Lord.

Each one of us is chosen by God. God has entrusted us with a particular mission. St Anthony was called to live a life of silence, solitude and prayer, and so were many other saints who has received the Lord’s personal invitation. We too, on our part, need to accept the personal call which the Lord offers us, and sincerely try and fulfil our mission trusting in God’s providence. How shall we respond to our call? i) Spend a few minutes in silence in prayer; ii) Learn to listen to the Lord; iii) Be open to listen to God through those whom God may choose as His instruments or messengers; iv) Accept the call and fulfil the mission sincerely.

Response: In your strength, O Lord, the king rejoices.

January 15, 2026January 15, 2026

16th JANUARY 2026

The King We Need, Not The King We Want: KevinH - Phoenix Preacher

FRIDAY, FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Memorial of St Joseph Vaz

1 Sm 8: 4-7. 10-22 Ps 89: 16-19 Mk 2: 1-12

THE KING WE TRULY NEED

Buddha, in his second Noble Truth teaches that, “Desire is the root cause of sorrow.” That saying comes alive in today’s first reading. The Israelites were not content with what God had given them. Though God had provided wise judges to guide them, they longed for something more: a king, so that they could be “like all the nations.” Their desire was not wrong in itself; after all, God had already promised Abraham that kings would come from his line. The problem lay in why they wanted one: not to serve God better, but to resemble the world around them.

We often fall into the same trap. When we see others enjoying blessings we lack, our hearts begin to crave what they have. In the process, we forget that true joy comes not from imitation, but from living out God’s unique plan for us. Through Samuel, God warned the Israelites about the consequences of their choice. The king would take their sons for his army, their daughters for his household, their land for his gain, and burden them with heavy taxes. These words came true under David and Solomon and their reigns, though glorious, ended in division, sin, and exile. Every king had his own weaknesses that led the nation to suffer. Still, God allowed it, respecting their freedom, while reminding them that any earthly ruler was merely His viceroy.

But history longed for a different kind of king, a king after God’s own heart. In Jesus, that longing was fulfilled. Unlike earthly rulers, He came not to be served but to serve. He conquers not by sword or power, but by mercy and love. His kingdom is not of this world, yet it transforms this world from within. Today’s Gospel shows this King forgiving sins and healing the paralyzed, a power no human king could claim. In Jesus, we meet the only ruler who truly sets us free. Let us, then, stop chasing what others have and desire the One who alone satisfies every heart. Let Him reign in us, for only when Jesus is our King do we find peace that no desire can steal.

Response: I will sing forever of your mercies, O Lord.

January 14, 2026January 14, 2026

15th JANUARY 2026

My Reflections...: Reflection for Thursday January 16, First Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 1:40-45

THURSDAY, FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

1 Sam 4: 1-11 Ps 44: 10-11, 14-15, 24-25 Mk 1: 40-45

REAL COMPASSION: SHARE ANOTHER’S CONDITION

The readings of today, highlight a spirituality from defeat and lament to healing and proclamation. In 1 Samuel, the Philistines are clearly the dominant power in the district. In spite of the presence of the ark that gave Israel the assurance of the presence of YHWH, they suffered a crushing loss. This revealed the Israelites misplaced trust in ritual rather than relationship with God. The same could happen in our lives if we are not careful. Do we place our trust in self-image, or do we strive to build a relationship with Christ? Their belief that God’s favour could be sought through the presence of the Ark led them to disaster. This included the death of Eli’s sons & the capture of the Ark.

In Psalm 44 we see the community feeling abandoned; cries out in anguish asking, “Why God, Why do you hide your face?” The psalm becomes a bridge between defeat and hope. It is a prayer that is honest and faithful. We do not get any easy answers from prayer. It invites us to remain in a relationship with God even in suffering and when times are difficult in life. The Psalm’s lament prepares us to receive the proclaimed word from the Gospel. A leper approaches Jesus with trust and says, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Jesus responds with compassion, reaches out and touches him so that he is healed not only in body but also restores his dignity. Will we choose to be like Israel or like the leper who trusted God and was restored?

Today’s readings invite us to go beyond external signs, urging us to be open to interior transformation and to be in a relationship with God trusting Him at all times. For Mark, real compassion is understood as solidarity; when one is willing to share and enter the others condition. The love Jesus demonstrates is a love that will take him to the cross. The leper’s humble plea and Jesus’ compassion is affirmed by Pope Leo XIV in his encyclical Dilexi Te, as a love that crosses boundaries, restores dignity and invites joyful witness.

Response: Redeem us, O Lord, with your merciful love!

January 13, 2026January 13, 2026

14th JANUARY 2026

Daily Gospel Reading – Mark 1:29-39 | Daily Bible Readings

WEDNESDAY, FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

1 Sam 3: 1-10. 19-20 Ps 40: 2,5,7-10 Mk 1: 29-39

CALLED TO BE INSTRUMENTS OF RECONCILIATION

“God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation” (1 Corinthians 5:19). These words reveal both our human need and God’s generous response. Humanity has always longed for healing, restoration, and renewed relationship with God. Seeing our weakness, God Himself chose to act. He sent His Son Jesus into the world, not only to preach, but to reconcile, to lift us out of brokenness, and to draw us back into communion with Him. And through the Holy Spirit, He continues this mission in us today, entrusting to each of us the ministry of reconciliation.

In the Gospel, Jesus enters the home of Simon Peter and heals his mother-in-law. Soon after, the whole town gathers with their sick, burdened, and oppressed. Jesus heals them, frees them from demonic bondage, and restores their dignity. Every act of healing is a sign of what God desires for all humanity: a return to wholeness, a reconnection with divine life. Yet Jesus performs His ministry from a place of deep prayer. Early in the morning, He withdraws to commune with the Father. From this communion flows purpose and clarity, so that He can say, “Let us go on to the next towns… for that is why I came.” If we are to continue His mission, we too must first anchor our hearts in prayer, and then step out as bearers of reconciliation.

The first reading, the story of Eli and the young Samuel, mirrors this path. God calls repeatedly, yet Samuel does not recognise His voice. Like Samuel, we often run toward noise, activity, and our own ideas. But God’s voice is heard in stillness. When Samuel finally responds, “Speak, Lord, for your servant listens,” his life is opened to God’s purpose. Both readings remind us: reconciliation begins with listening. When we quiet our hearts, allow God to speak, and open ourselves to His healing grace, we not only receive reconciliation, but we become its instruments for others.

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

January 12, 2026January 12, 2026

13th JANUARY 2026

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TUESDAY, FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

1 Sm 1: 9-20 1 Sm 2: 1, 4-8 Mk 1: 21-28

WHEN GOD SPEAKS, FREEDOM FOLLOWS

There is a story told of a prisoner who, after many years behind bars, began to attend the small chapel services held each week in the prison yard. He would sit quietly at the back, unmoved and skeptical. One day, during a simple reading of Scripture, something shifted. He later said, “It was as if the walls no longer had power over me. I was still in prison, but I was free.” Such a moment of awakening captures the mystery of what happens when we encounter the living presence of God. In the Gospel, the people in the synagogue are astonished not just by Jesus’ teaching, but by the authority with which He speaks. His word carries a power that human reasoning cannot explain; a power that heals, restores, and liberates. This is what happens when trust meets divine authority: miracles unfold, not always in the way we expect, but always in the way we most need.

In those moments of faith and surrender, we also discover a deeper truth: “I am not alone.” God’s presence fills even the most desolate spaces. Whether in a prison cell, a hospital room, or the quiet corners of our own uncertainty, His Spirit abides with us. It is in this companionship that miracles take root and hope endures. To trust God completely is to believe that His word can reach beyond what seems unchangeable. That He can move the immovable, open what seems closed, and bring peace into chaos. St. Teresa of Avila reminds us: “Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you. All things are passing; God never changes. Patience obtains all things. Whoever has God lacks nothing. God alone suffices.”

Her words call us to trust in the God whose authority is rooted in love. The prisoner’s freedom, the healed man in the synagogue, and the countless moments of grace we experience – all testify to this eternal truth: when we let God speak, when we remember we are never alone, and when we dare to trust Him fully, the impossible becomes possible.

Response: My heart exults in the Lord, my Saviour.

January 11, 2026January 11, 2026

12th JANUARY 2026

NGƯỜI LỮ HÀNH HY VỌNG: JANUARY 14, 2013 : MONDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

MONDAY, FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

1 Sm 1: 1-8 Ps 116: 12-13, 14-19 Mk 1: 14-20

WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME TO RESPOND TO HIS CALL

Self-preservation is a natural instinct rooted in our desire for survival. Yet moments of insecurity remind us that we are not absolute masters of our lives but stewards of a gift entrusted to us. Elkana and Anna understood this truth deeply. By recognizing God’s ownership of life and surrendering to His will, they opened themselves to God’s greater plan. Their son Samuel, born in an extraordinary way, would become the instrument through whom God ushered in a new phase of guidance for Israel.

Like them, we too have the right to present our desires before God with honesty and persistence. But along with this right comes a responsibility: the duty to acknowledge God’s lordship over our lives. His plans, though sometimes hidden or slow in unfolding, ultimately lead to what is truly good for us. This is at the heart of the good news Jesus proclaimed, even after hearing that John the Baptist had been silenced by Herod. Earthly powers may attempt to suppress God’s message, but God continues His work through simple, humble people.

Jesus takes up the mission where John left off, announcing that the Kingdom is near and calling us to conversion. Repentance is not merely regret for past wrongs; it is the conscious decision to choose the narrow but life-giving path that leads to true happiness. Jesus invites us to turn away from the passions and impulses that drag us down and to place our lives under the guidance of a renewed mind and heart.

This journey of conversion brings genuine inner freedom: a freedom from destructive attitudes, false attachments, and restless desires. It leads us to live in harmony with ourselves and in peace with others. The invitation Jesus extends is urgent: time is passing, and the opportunity to reorder our lives according to God’s plan must not be ignored. Just as Samuel’s birth marked a new beginning for Israel, choosing the path of repentance becomes a new beginning for us. In trusting God’s design and surrendering to His loving lordship, we discover the joy, harmony, and deep peace that the Gospel promises.

Response: A thanksgiving sacrifice I make to you, O Lord.

January 10, 2026January 11, 2026

11th JANUARY 2026

Stream episode Our Rebirth in Prayer (The Baptism of the Lord) by Blessed Meditations podcast | Listen online for free on SoundCloud

SUNDAY, BAPTISM OF THE LORD

Is 42: 1-4, 6-7 Ps 29: 1-4, 9-11 Acts 10: 34-38 Mt 3: 13-17

CALLED TO CLAIM OUR TRUE IDENTITY

The gospel of St. Matthew, parts of which we have been listening to through Advent and Christmastide, present Jesus as a person just like us. His genealogy consists of saints and sinners; people whose stories have been immortalized and others who, apart from having their names mentioned, have completely passed into oblivion. There are men like Abraham, David and St. Joseph who knew the heart of God. On the other hand, there were men who belonged to the noble class but were utterly devoid of nobility of character. We have pagan women who were outside the covenant with Yahweh and “The Woman” who would come to represent holiness and the fulness of the covenant for all generations to come. Neither was mixed-marriages uncommon, nor were the dark sins of adultery and incest. Jesus did not choose a perfect and pure family line but came into one no different than ours.

Along with family history, there was also the issue of nationality. He was born in Bethlehem but perhaps spent a considerable part of his childhood in Egypt before being uprooted again and brought to Nazareth. He was called a Nazarene, but would he not have carried something of the culture and lifestyle of his formative years in Egypt? The second person of the Holy Trinity in choosing to become incarnate in our sinful world did not rid Himself of our own anxiety, struggles, fears and uncertainties concerned with a search for identity.

However, in his Baptism, he plunges into an identification with humanity at a yet deeper spiritual level. The sinless One allowed Himself to be looked upon as a sinner – an identification that has only begun at the river Jordan, but one that will be fully realized at His Baptism on the Cross when He does not just appear as a sinner, but allows Himself to be seen as a personification of sin itself. But in losing His identity completely, the fulness of His true identity is revealed by the Heavenly Father. Delighted with Jesus’ self-abasement it is now the Father Himself who discloses the Divine relationship: “This is my Son, The Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

The world would like to limit us by determining our identity based on background and achievements. Our ‘value’ is judged accordingly. Our faith, however, reveals that identity is something inherent to our existence. It comes not from achievements, but from belonging to God. At our own Baptism, we were plunged not merely into water but into Christ Himself. By becoming one with Him, accepting the life he offers, we also become one with His identity: a beloved son / daughter of the Father.

Conformity with this identity, however, is a process. The imperfections of our family history, culture, ethnicity are often too big for us to address. Yet we try to fix things. Jesus chose to identify with us- people who struggle, fail and are never up to the mark – in order to save us and use our broken lives and make us whole and beautiful. All we need is humility and surrender; humility to accept our brokenness and surrender to let God do the fixing. Above all earthly ties and labels, we belong to the heavenly Father who created us and longs for us to listen to his proclamation of who we are to Him, “You are my beloved son, my beloved daughter.” The experience of this love and truth is what strengthens us and gives us true security. It sets us free from the compulsive urge to constantly prove ourselves in order to be loved and accepted. This is what St. Peter tells us in the second reading: God has no favourites. He accepts anyone who is humble.

The qualities of Christ, which the Holy Spirit gives to every baptized are described in the first reading. Such a person does not use tactics of self-promotion but is silent and secure, resting in the power of the Holy Spirit. At the same time, the knowledge of their brokenness makes them sensitive and empathetic towards the crushed and the wavering. Having experienced healing, they in turn become healers to others. Have we accepted the full import of our baptism?

Response: The Lord will bless his people with peace.

January 9, 2026January 9, 2026

10th JANUARY 2026

He Must Increase” | John 3:22-30 | January 11, 2025 - YouTube

SATURDAY, CHRISTMASTIDE

1 Jn 5: 14-21 Ps 149: 1-6, 9 Jn 3: 22-30

NOT ME LORD; BUT YOU BE PRAISED!

Today’s readings remind us to live with humble faith and joyful trust in God. We are called to pray seeking God’s will trusting that he hearkens to our cries. We must keep our hearts free from anything that takes God’s place: our pride, possessions, or desires. Like John the Baptist, we should let Christ shine through our lives. True joy comes when we live humbly, serve others with love, and give all glorify God. In 1 Jn 5:14-21, St John gives us a powerful assurance: God hears us when we pray according to His will. This passage encourages us to pray with confidence, knowing that our petitions are not only heard but will be answered if they align with God’s purpose. John emphasizes that prayer is an expression of faith. We are called to pray for others, especially for fellow believers, knowing that God’s will is ultimately for their well-being and spiritual restoration. This passage encourages reflection on our own prayer life. Are we praying with confidence, trusting that God hears and responds to our requests in His own way? Are we praying according to God’s will, seeking His guidance above our own desires?

We encounter John the Baptist’s profound humility. When his disciples express concern that Jesus is baptizing more people than John, he responds by supporting that his role is to prepare the way for Jesus, and that Jesus must increase while he must decrease. John the Baptist’s response teaches us a valuable lesson in humility. He recognizes that his purpose is not to seek personal glory but to point others toward Christ. Jesus is the true Bridegroom, and John is merely the friend of the Bridegroom who rejoices in the success and presence of Christ. John’s words challenge us to reflect on our own humility. Are we willing to step aside and allow Christ to take centre stage in our lives, careers, and relationships? Do we approach ministry and service with a selfless heart, focused on glorifying God rather than seeking personal recognition? John’s example teaches us that true joy comes from humbling ourselves and recognizing that Christ is the one who must be glorified!

Response: The Lord takes delight in his people!