19th SEPTEMBER 2025

Your Daily Homily - Lk 8:1-3 | Why did these Women become disciples of  Jesus? | 18 Sept 2020


FRIDAY, TWENTY FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

 

1 Tm 6: 2-12              Ps 49: 6-10, 17-20                  Lk 8: 1-3


    

PARTNERS IN JESUS’ MISSION

 

The Scripture clearly tells us that in obedience to God’s plan, Jesus the second person of the Blessed Trinity took upon himself human nature and dwelt among us. His mission was to reconcile the fallen humanity to God the Father. And as he went around to teach and preach about the values of the Kingdom of God many people gathered around him. He had so many disciples and among them some were women as we heard in today’s gospel. Not only there were just his followers but they also provided to Jesus and his disciples and took care of them. And it is also said of these women that they were helped by Jesus in one or other way. So we see in turn being very grateful to Jesus for all the help they had received from him, they became his followers and took care of their needs in their missionary works. Hence, they became active partners in Jesus’ mission.

 

In the first reading we hear St Paul’s advice to Timothy as a pastor and spiritual leader. Without doubt that advice applies to all spiritual leaders and believers. His advice is how to face false teachings and to be steadfast to the truth without any monetary gains. He invites all to purse righteousness, godliness, faith, love endurance and gentleness. This advice is nothing but to continue the very mission of Jesus. In baptism all of us are given the same mission and we are to invited to work as as to propagate the Kingdom of God to all people and to all nations.

 

How do we live this mission in our own day to day lives and how do we participate in the mission of Jesus? Are we aware that we are partners in the mission of Jesus? Are we ready to be fully committed to the mission of Jesus? We have the beautiful example of the women who not only followed Jesus, but also provided for his needs from their own resources. It is a kind of example for many of us to be partners in the mission of Jesus providing from our sources for the mission works.

 


Response: Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.


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18th SEPTEMBER 2025


THURSDAY, TWENTY FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

 

1 Tm 4: 12-16            Ps 111: 7-10               Lk 7: 36-50


     

FAITH IS LIVED; NOT JUST PROFESSED

 

Paul urges Timothy not to let his youth become an obstacle but to “set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity” (1 Tim 4:12). Authentic faith is not measured by age, experience, or status but by a life that bears the marks of Christ’s transforming power. Paul further exhorts him to “devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching, and to teaching,” underscoring that the Word of God must both be proclaimed with clarity and embodied with integrity.

 

The Gospel gives us a striking picture of this integrity in the unnamed sinful woman who anoints Jesus’ feet with her tears and perfume. Her actions, humble yet bold, scandalize Simon the Pharisee, who silently questions Jesus’ prophetic credentials. But Christ defends her, revealing that the depth of her love flows from the forgiveness she has received: “Her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown.” Here, true devotion is not about outward appearances or social standing but about a heart surrendered to grace.

 

What do we learn from the Word of God today?

  1. Faith is lived, not merely professed: Like Timothy, we are called to mirror Christ in our words, actions, relationships, and choices.
  2. God’s grace fuels our growth: Timothy’s gifts required nurturing, and the forgiven woman’s love sprang from mercy received.
  3. True devotion defies expectations: A young leader and a repentant sinner both embody the values of God’s Kingdom, where the humble are lifted up and the self-righteous are challenged.

 

Today, Christ still asks: “Will you love Me with your whole life and not just in words?” Whether we serve faithfully, like Timothy, or pour out extravagant love, like the forgiven woman, our lives can become living testimonies of God’s grace.

 


Response: Great are the works of the Lord.


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17th SEPTEMBER 2025


WEDNESDAY, TWENTY FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

 

1 Tm 3: 14-16            Ps 111: 1-6                 Lk 7: 31-35


     

RESPONDING TO GOD’S SPEECH

 

In Luke 7:31–35, Jesus rebukes His generation for their stubbornness, likening them to children in the marketplace who refuse to respond to either joyful music or a funeral dirge. Through the prophets, God repeatedly called His people to conversion, yet they turned away. Jeremiah lamented, “They have turned their backs to me and not their faces” (Jer 2:27), and Isaiah decried those who “hear but do not understand, see but do not perceive” (Isa 6:9). Again and again, divine invitations to return to the Lord were met with indifference or hostility.

 

Jesus exposes this tragic pattern by contrasting the ministries of John the Baptist and Himself. John came in fiery asceticism, calling the people to repentance in the spirit of Elijah (Mal 4:5-6), yet many dismissed him as fanatic or possessed. Jesus, embodying the tender mercy of God (Hos 11:4), shared meals with tax collectors and sinners, and was derided as a glutton and drunkard. The same God who spoke through the Law and the Prophets now spoke through John and through His own Son – yet His people refused to listen, because it was not their expectation!

 

Christianity, then, is the culmination of this divine dialogue. In Christ, both the uncompromising holiness of God, as proclaimed by John, and the boundless mercy of God, revealed in Jesus, meet in perfect harmony. The “children of wisdom” (Lk 7:35) are those who discern the voice of God in every form it takes— whether through the stern call to repentance or the gentle offer of grace. They recognize that God’s ways, though at times unsettling, always lead to life.

 

Today, this challenge persists. Are we willing to welcome God’s wisdom in all its expressions, even if it unsettles us? Do we embrace both the cross of conviction and the banquet of mercy? May we not be like the unresponsive children of the marketplace, but imitate those who, hearing God’s voice, rise to answer.

 


Response: Great are the works of the Lord.


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16th SEPTEMBER 2025

DAILY GOSPEL COMMENTARY: THE WIDOW OF NAIN'S SON RESTORED TO LIFE (Lk 7: 11-17) - Catholics Striving For Holiness


TUESDAY, TWENTY FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

 

Memorial of Saints Cornelius and Cyprian

 

1 Tm 3: 1-13              Ps 101: 1-6                 Lk 7: 11-17


 

CALLED TO BE LIFE-GIVERS!

 

 “God has visited his people,” must have been the response of the people of Naim, as they witnessed Jesus raise the son of the widow. St John the Evangelist beautifully articulates it in Jesus’ words, “I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance!” Jesus raised three people back to life – the daughter of Jairus, the son of the widow of Naim, and Lazarus. Although these examples project Him, the Author of Life, giving life to frail humans who received death’s painful embrace, He had nevertheless come in human flesh to give life to our sinful selves. He had come to redeem us from sin and slavery and to elevate us to the lost dignity of children of God.

 

Though unrelated in the first glance, the first reading of the day bears a meaningful connection to the Gospel. In his Letter to Timothy, St Paul sets a standard for the life of a bishop and a deacon. Deacons, Priests and Bishops are all ordained ministers of the Church. Unlike every baptized who share in the common priesthood, these are specifically ordained into the ministerial priesthood of Christ! Hence, in the liturgy, they act in persona Christi. In his ministry, Christ gave life to people, and these men who are chosen by God, are called by the Lord to share in the same mission – to be givers of life. Of course, our clerics are not expected to raise the dead, but through their ministry, through their holiness, and prayer life, they are invited to raise people from their spiritual dormancy, cure their indifference to religion, and rejection of faith! An example par excellence would be the saintly Cure of Ars. Through his selfless efforts and persistent prayers, St John Mary Vianney was able to revive faith in the village of Ars; he brought people back to life! This is what the Church expects from her ministers.

 

As we draw our reflection on these passages from the scripture, let us offer our prayers for our deacons, priests and bishops so that in their ministry they may be guided by the spirit and may revive souls for God!

 


Response: I will walk with blameless heart.


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15th SEPTEMBER 2025

Seven Sorrows Rosary Rosary: Seven Dolor Our Lady Of Sorrows - Seven Dolor  Rosaries Car Rosary

MONDAY, TWENTY THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

 

Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows

 

1 Tm 2: 1-8                Ps 28: 2, 7-9               Jn 19: 25-27 or Lk 2: 33-35


SEVEN SORROWS; ONE LOVE

Today, we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. The Church remembers the deep sorrow and pain Mary experienced as the Mother of Jesus. Tradition speaks of the seven sorrows, that marked her life as she stood beside her Son in His suffering for our salvation.

These seven sorrows are:

  1. Prophecy of Simeon: who told her that a sword would pierce her heart;
  2. Flight into Egypt: escaping with the newborn Jesus to avoid Herod’s deadly plan;
  3. Losing Jesus in the Temple: searching for Him in great distress for three days;
  4. Meeting Jesus on the Way to Calvary: seeing Him bruised and burdened with the cross;
  5. Standing at the Foot of the Cross: watching Him suffer and die;
  6. Receiving Jesus’ Body: holding His lifeless body taken down from the cross; 7.Placing Jesus in the Tomb: laying Him to rest and returning in sorrow.

Her sorrow was not merely emotional but spiritual and full of meaning. She willingly shared in the suffering of Christ for our sake. That’s why the Church honours her sorrow twice: during Passion Week and again today, a feast instituted by Pope Pius VII in the 15th century. Mary is not only the Mother of Jesus she is also the Mother of the Church, which is the Body of Christ. Though she no longer suffers, her compassion continues. As the Book of Lamentations says, “To whom shall you be compared, O Virgin? Your sorrow is like the sea.” Even today, statues of Mary in various places have reportedly wept reminding us that she still feels in her motherly heart, the pain manifested in the world. Her heart remains open to all who suffer.

So, when trials come, bring your pain to Mary; imitate her in reaching out to others in pain—with a kind word, a listening ear, or a gentle touch. Mary teaches us that sorrow joined with Christ brings healing and grace. Her loving endurance shows us how pain can lead to deeper love and unity. Let her example help us carry our own crosses with hope and help others do the same!


Response: Blest be the Lord, for he has heard the sound of my appeal.


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14th SEPTEMBER 2025

फ़ोटो के बारे में कोई जानकारी नहीं दी गई है.


SUNDAY, TWENTY FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

 

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

 

Nm 21: 4-9                 Ps 78               Phil 2: 6-11                 Jn 3: 13-17


    

THE CROSS STILL SPEAKS

 

The liturgy of the day holds a profound significance. Today is the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. This feast has more than a historical remembrance. It is a personal invitation to reflect on how God transforms suffering into redemption. The readings of the day guide us through this same mystery, beginning with the Israelites in the desert. One can only imagine their exhaustion and their frustration after years of wandering. They cry out against God and Moses, not just complaining but rejecting the very journey meant to lead them to freedom. In response, they face venomous serpents. It is not a punishment that God gives, but it is a consequence of their own turning away from trust. Yet even here, God does not abandon them. He instructs Moses to lift up a bronze serpent, so that anyone who looks at it in faith, may live. It is a powerful moment, and a lesson that redemption from death does not come from their own efforts, but from simply lifting their eyes to what God has provided.

 

This story speaks to our own lives. How often in our struggles, do we grow impatient with God? We question His timing, His plan, even His love. We might not voice it aloud, but our hearts whisper, ‘Why is this happening? Where are You?’ And yet, even in our doubt, God offers a way back. Way back not by removing the consequences of our choices, but by giving us something to fix our gaze upon. For the Israelites, it was the bronze serpent. For us, it is the Cross.

 

Jesus makes this connection clear in the Gospel when he says, “…just as Moses lifted up the serpent, so must the Son of Man be lifted up.” The Cross is not just a tragic end to Christ’s life; it is the moment where God takes all our brokenness, our fears, our sins, our despair and transforms it. When we look at the Cross, we not merely see an instrument of torture; we behold in it ‘love’ in its purest and most vulnerable form. It is as if God says, “I meet you here, in your suffering. I do not stand apart from it, rather I enter into it, and I make it holy.”

 

Paul’s words in his letter to the Philippians deepen this truth. Christ, though divine, emptied Himself, not reluctantly, but willingly. He did not cling to His power; He let it go, becoming human, embracing weakness, even accepting death on a Cross. This is not the distant God as some of us sometimes picture, watching from afar. This is a God who kneels in the dirt, who knows hunger and thirst, who feels the weight of betrayal and the bite of nails. And because of this, the Cross becomes more than a symbol, it becomes a bridge between heaven and earth, between God’s holiness and our humanity.

 

So, what does this feast declare to us? It means that when life feels heavy, when we are weighed down by failure, grief, or uncertainty, we do not have to carry it all alone. The Cross teaches us that suffering, when united to Christ, is not meaningless. It is where we meet God most intimately. It also calls us to repentance. Like the Israelites, we are invited to recognize where we have turned away from trust and to look up again, to let God’s mercy heal us. And finally, it challenges us to love as Christ loved. Not in grand, sweeping gestures, but in small, daily sacrifices: to practise patience when we are frustrated, forgiveness when we are hurt, humility when we would rather assert ourselves.

 

The Cross is not a relic of the past. It is alive, it is God’s ongoing answer to human suffering – still speaking, still offering hope. Christ’s outstretched arms still embrace the broken, His wounds still speak mercy to the guilty, His death still brings life to the despairing. Every moment of forgiveness, every spark of hope in darkness, proves the Cross’ power did not end 2,000 years ago. Today, let us pause and really look at the Cross, not as a distant symbol, but as a personal promise. God does not explain away our pain, but He does something greater: He redeems it. In the shadow of the Cross, even our darkest moments can become places of grace. In a world of temporary solutions, the Cross remains God’s eternal promise that no suffering is beyond redemption.

 


Response: Never forget the deeds of the Lord!


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13th SEPTEMBER 2025

Virtue Poster by Marji Stevens, With Our Roots in Him Watercolor Print,  11.5x18 Inches - Etsy Australia

SATURDAY, TWENTY THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

 

Memorial of Saint John Chrysostom

 

1 Tm 1: 15-17            Ps 113: 1-7                 Lk 6: 43-49


 

CULTIVATING VIRTUE FROM THE ROOT

Jesus says in today’s Gospel: ‘A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree is known by its own fruit.’ Jesus uses this image of the tree to teach that a person’s actions – whether good or bad – reflect what is in their heart. As Charles Read once said: ‘Sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.’ Just like a fruit, character does not appear instantly. It grows over time. Jesus teaches that good fruit comes from a healthy and sound life – one that follows moral values and has integrity. If our lives show love, faith, patience, and honesty, it means we are living rightly. But if we show anger, envy, selfishness, or laziness, then something inside us may be spiritually unwell. The words we speak can reveal what is in our hearts. So, we should always try to choose our words from the goodness we store within.

Jesus also tells a parable about building on the right foundation. This connects to His message about sound living. The foundation we build our lives on, will determine how we handle life’s difficulties. The only way to prove our sincerity is by putting our faith into action. Words alone are not enough; actions speak louder. Faith must be active – it calls us to respond. And this response would mean that we nurture and grow in the virtues that are expected of us as Catholics, and reject all vices that keep us away from God’s love!

Thus, if we produce good fruits, let us rejoice! But if we notice bad fruits in our lives, let us turn to God and ask for a change of heart – a metanoia. We need to be transformed from within. This means reaching out to healing through confession and working hard to build a virtuous life.

True people are honest and trustworthy before God, themselves, and others. Their words and actions go hand in hand. So, let us ask ourselves: What kind of foundation is my life built upon?


Response: May the name of the Lord be blest for evermore.


Copyright ©2025 ©Springs of Living Water  http://springs.carmelmedia.in

12th SEPTEMBER 2025

Luke 6:39-42 - The Speck in Your Brother's Eye - Redeeming God

FRIDAY, TWENTY THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

 

1 Tm 1: 1-2, 12-14                 Ps 16: 1-2, 5, 7-8, 11              Lk 6: 39-42


     

TUNING THE ‘I’ FIRST

The readings today speak clearly about the need for humility and self-awareness, especially when we feel the urge to correct others. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus uses a vivid and even dramatic image: someone trying to remove a speck from another person’s eye while a log remains in their own. It’s an exaggeration, yes— but a purposeful one that exposes how easily we focus on others’ faults while ignoring our own. We have all experienced this. Perhaps we get irritated with someone’s habits, or we are quick to point out their flaws—but how often do we stop to ask ourselves: Do I struggle with the same thing? Jesus is not forbidding fraternal correction. Rather, He is inviting us to begin with honest self-examination. Before we speak into someone else’s life, we must allow God to examine and transform our own.

The first reading gives us a powerful example of this in St. Paul. He speaks with striking honesty about his past: once a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. Yet Paul does not mention this to wallow in guilt. He recalls it to proclaim the overwhelming mercy of Christ. Paul knows that it was not his own goodness that saved him—it was God’s grace. This awareness keeps him humble and makes him a compassionate leader, not one who corrects from a place of superiority, but from deep gratitude and love. The message is simple yet deeply challenging: real change begins with me. If I want to help others grow in faith or virtue, I must first surrender my own weaknesses to God. Real correction, must flow not from pride or irritation, but from love—genuine, humble, patient love.

Let us ask the Lord today for honest and open hearts—hearts that are willing to be corrected, hearts that see others with mercy, and hearts that always choose the path of humility. “Lord, help me to see myself clearly. Remove what blinds me, so that I may walk in truth and guide others gently—just as You have guided me.”


Response: It is you, O Lord, who are my portion.


Copyright ©2025 ©Springs of Living Water  http://springs.carmelmedia.in

11th SEPTEMBER 2025

Luke 6:27-38 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to  those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who  spitefully use you.

THURSDAY, TWENTY THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

 

Col 3: 12-17               Ps 150: 1-6                 Lk 6: 27-38


     

A MUCH NEEDED REMINDER

There are days when we wake up feeling unworthy. The weight of our failures, and the words we wish we could take back settle on us like a fog. Yet, in today’s reading, Paul wakes us up to remind us who we really are, not by our own merit but by God’s mercy – chosen, holy and beloved. Paul does not just motivate us into wishful thinking. Rather, he calls us to remember what has already been done for us. We are no longer who we were! Our old selves have been put off and now we dress ourselves in something new. But what?

Put on compassion, he says. Not a feeling of sympathy but the kind that prompts us to place ourselves in the place of those who are suffering. Put on kindness, he adds. Not the kind that makes us feel good but restore dignity in those who need it. Wear humility, he says, not self-pity but the quiet strength to let go of being right all the time. Wear gentleness, he says, in a world that often demands hardness. Wear patience, he says, to love people for what they are; not wishing for what we would want them to be.

Paul then takes us another step! He tells us to bear with one another, to realize that we are not perfect ourselves and neither are our enemies. They need to be forgiven not because they deserve it but because Christ forgave us when we did not! Paul then says to put on love, the love that seeks the good of the other. It is this love that binds our fragmented selves into one happy child of God! Paul gives us some advice after. He says to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts. What is this peace? This peace is not the absence of trouble but the presence of Christ even amid tribulations. It is the joy that comes when he dwells deep within us. This passage is not some suggestion. It is a reminder of who we are and whose we are. Let us remind ourselves that and wait for the change of perception of life!


Response: Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!


Copyright ©2025 ©Springs of Living Water  http://springs.carmelmedia.in

10th SEPTEMBER 2025


WEDNESDAY, TWENTY THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

 

Col 3: 1- 11                Ps 145: 2-3, 10-13                  Lk 6: 20-26


    

NEW LIFE IN CHRIST

In baptism, we were buried with Christ and raised with Him through the power of His resurrection (Col 2:12). In this sacrament, our sins were forgiven, and we became sharers in His victory on the cross—a marvellous gift for every Christian. But what does it mean to live out this new life?

In today’s first reading, St. Paul urges the Colossians to “seek the things that are above,” for God has granted us life in Christ through the forgiveness of our sins. He calls us to “put to death” what is earthly in us—those inordinate passions and desires that arouse the wrath of God (cf. Eph 4:20). To follow Christ is to put on the “new self,” striving to walk in love of God and neighbour.

This new life in Christ is marked by compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. The “old self,” ruled by selfishness and enslaved by harmful passions, destroys both ourselves and those around us. The “new self,” by contrast, is characterised by a communal spirit and constant concern for others. Gratitude then becomes our natural response—a heart that sings the praises of the Creator, echoing today’s psalm. Truly, Christians have been blessed “with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (Eph 1:3–14), and ceaseless praise is the fitting response.

The Beatitudes in Luke’s Gospel reveal the very mind of Christ. They free us from the burden of our sinful nature and open before us the path to true happiness and peace, the way Jesus Himself walked on earth. To live by these Beatitudes is to allow Christ’s own attitudes to shape our choices and relationships.

As pilgrims on earth, we live with our gaze fixed on heaven. Since Christ has passed beyond this world, we too must learn to live for what endures. The good we do may never be seen, recognised, or praised, but it is known to God, “who searches the heart” and rewards in His own time. Let us, then, persevere in living as a people raised with Christ, clothing ourselves each day with the virtues of the new self and walking in grateful praise until we share fully in His glory.


Response: How good is the Lord to all.


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