Gospel: John 2:13-22
As the Passover of the Jews was at hand, Jesus went up to ­Jerusalem.
In the temple court he found merchants selling oxen, sheep and doves,
and money-changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords,
he drove them all out of the temple court, together with the oxen and sheep.

Gospel: Matthew 25:1-13
This story throws light on what will happen in the kingdom of heaven:
Ten bridesmaids went out with their lamps to meet the bridegroom.
Five of them were foolish, and five were sensible.
The careless bridesmaids took their lamps as they were, and did not take extra oil.

Gospel: Luke 16:9-15
And so I tell you: use filthy money to make friends for yourselves, so that, when it fails,
these people may welcome you into the eternal homes.
Whoever can be trusted in little things can also be trusted in great ones;
whoever is dishonest in slight matters will also be dis­honest in greater ones.

Gospel: Luke 16:1-8
At another time Jesus told his disciples, “There was a rich man, whose steward was
reported to him because of fraudulent service. He summoned the steward and asked him,
‘What is this I hear about you? I want you to render an account of your service, for it is about to be terminated.’
The steward thought to himself, ‘What am I to do now? My master will surely dismiss me.

Gospel: Luke 15:1-10
Meanwhile tax collectors and sinners were seeking the company of Jesus,
all of them eager to hear what he had to say. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law frowned at this,
muttering, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
So Jesus told them this parable: “Who among you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them,

Gospel: Luke 14:25-33
One day, when large crowds were walking along with Jesus, he turned and said to them,
“If you come to me, unwilling to sacrifice your love for your father and mother, your spouse and children,
your brothers and sisters, and indeed yourself, you cannot be my disciple.
Whoever does not follow me, carrying his own cross, cannot be my disciple. Do you build a house without

Gospel: Luke 14:15-24
Upon hearing these words, one of those at the table said to Jesus,
“Happy are those who eat at the banquet in the kingdom of God!”
Jesus replied, “A man once gave a feast and invited many guests. When it was time for the feast,
he sent his servant to tell those he had invited to come, for everything was ready.

Gospel: John 6:37-40
Yet all those whom the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me, I shall not turn away.
For I have come from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of the One who sent me.
And the will of him who sent me is that I lose nothing of what he has given me,
but instead that I raise it up on the last day. This is the will of the Father,

Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12a
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain. He sat down and his disciples gathered around him.
Then he spoke and began to teach them:
Fortunate are those who are poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Fortunate are those who mourn; they shall be comforted.

 Gospel: Luke 2:16-21
  So they came hurriedly, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the feeding trough. On seeing him, they related what they had been told about the child; and all were astonished on hearing the shepherds. As for Mary, she treasured all these words, and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds then returned, giving glory and praise to God for all they had heard and seen, just as the angels had told them. On the eighth day, the circumcision of the baby had to be performed; he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
 

REFLECTION:
A humble scene is described in the gospel – the baby Jesus lying in the manger, yet the shepherds give glory and praise to God. What a contrast to our present situation wherein children are considered more as a liability instead of an asset. Many countries allow abortion. Bles­sed Mother Teresa of Calcutta calls this the “greatest crime of the century.” “Children are bles­sings,” says Pope Francis. Children are our future. Growing up with my ten siblings was a joyful and memorable experience, and even more precious now than we are grown-ups. There were quarrels and misunderstandings but there was more fun that came out from those experiences.
May civil governments protect, nourish and promote the well-being of children, especially those who are displaced by civil wars. Mother Mary, we entrust to you the unborn and all abandoned children.