Wednesday 15 July 2026 - Lord of heaven and earth

Wednesday 15 July 2026 - Lord of heaven and earth

Wednesday 15 July 2026 Today is Wednesday the 15th of July, the feast of Saint Bonaventure, in the 15th week of Ordinary Time. CalledOut Music sings, ‘Ese’, a song meaning ‘thank you’. Can you sing this to God too today? What shall I render? Tell me what I can offer (to You) How can I say that I'm grateful I have a Father who will Never ever fail me, no He never sleep or slumber He'll never fall my hand You have been closer than a friend And this, Your love will never end So I've come to say Ese, Ese Oluwa oh Ese, Ese Baba Ese, Ese Oluwa oh Ese, Ese Baba I'll give You my heart and affection Give You my love and devotion I'll never cease to worship You, my God So I've come to give my offering Many blessings fall on me Every step of the way I have felt Your presence You have been closer than a friend And this Your love will never end So I've come to say Ese, Ese Oluwa oh Ese, Ese Baba Ese, Ese Oluwa oh Ese, Ese Baba Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew 11:25-27 At that time Jesus said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Today is the feast day of St Bonaventure, a contemporary and friend of St Thomas Aquinas. As a Franciscan, modelling St Francis, Jesus was at the centre of everything - his teaching, his writing, and his life. On this feast day, we may pray for the gift of wisdom and the ability to integrate faith and reason in our lives. In today’s passage, we are witnesses to Jesus’ prayer to the Father, rejoicing in the Father’s plan for the world. We often reflect on the suffering of Jesus - what does it mean to witness this prayer of gratitude and trust? We might place ourselves within the intimacy of the relationship that Jesus had with his heavenly Father. Imagine Jesus’ face. Hear the warmth in his voice as he speaks. Jesus speaks of his followers as “little children,” seeing that they are blessed by their openness to learn from him, a virtue lacking in others who perhaps saw themselves as intellectuals who already knew. What might you need to let go of so as to become more childlike in your relationship with God? As you listen to the passage again, consider how you might ask for the grace to become one of those “little ones”. Matthew 11:25-27 At that time Jesus said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth…” In these final moments of prayer, rest in the love of God the Father, opening your heart as a beloved child. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be World without end Amen

Tuesday 14 July 2026 - Deeds of power

Tuesday 14 July 2026 Today is Tuesday the 14th of July, in the 15th week of Ordinary Time. Oculi mei ad Dominum Deum: My eyes are on the Lord God. Wherever you are right now, on the way to work, walking in the park, sitting at home… what can you see? What can you see around you? Remember for a moment that God is present in all of this, that all of this has been made by God, and is loved by God, that God holds you, and all of this, in the palm of God’s hand. (Lyrics currently unavailable) Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew 11:20-24 Then [Jesus] began to reproach the cities in which most of his deeds of power had been done, because they did not repent. ‘Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, on the day of judgement it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades. For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that on the day of judgement it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom than for you.’ In today’s reading, Jesus speaks to the towns that witnessed grace, healing, mercy - and still did not change. “If the mighty works done in you had been done elsewhere, they would have repented…” Remain here for a moment. What is your response? What stirs in you as you hear these words? Is there a sense of not anger but grief – a longing for what should be? Resistance against what has been uncovered? Gratitude for a life lived differently? A desire to begin again? These towns were perhaps well known to the listeners. Consider what is your witness to the town that you live in today? When we listen to this passage again, hear Jesus speaking to you today. Does your life reflect the graces received through faith? Matthew 11:20-24 Then [Jesus] began to reproach the cities in which most of his deeds of power had been done, because they did not repent. ‘Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, on the day of judgement it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades. For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that on the day of judgement it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom than for you.’ In this time of prayer, picture Jesus sitting beside you. Speak with the Lord about all that is on your heart. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be World without end Amen

Monday 13 July 2026 - Learn to do good

Monday 13 July 2026 Today is Monday the 13th of July, in the 15th week of Ordinary Time. One Hope Project sings, ‘Good Work In Me’. How is God transforming you at the moment? Everything I have within And all that is before me Meet me in this broken place Transform it for Your glory I lay this life down Fall into You now A sacrifice of praise Surrendered to You My loving Saviour I trust in Your great name You will meet me in my hurting, Jesus You are all I need Your love will satisfy I trust the plans You have for me I will stand upon the promise You have not forsaken me You walk beside me in the waiting You are doing a good work in me Now when I'm faced with trials I'll choose Your joy each morning I trust You though I'm terrified So use me for Your glory You are a God of transformation Your presence carries restoration You deserve my praise There's power in Your name Today’s reading is from the Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah 1:10-17 Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah! What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt-offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats. When you come to appear before me, who asked this from your hand? Trample my courts no more; bringing offerings is futile; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and sabbath and calling of convocation— I cannot endure solemn assemblies with iniquity. Your new moons and your appointed festivals my soul hates; they have become a burden to me, I am weary of bearing them. When you stretch out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow. In today’s reading, no one seems safe from Isaiah’s challenging words. Might we sense God speaking through Isaiah - not with imagined anger, but with the heartbreak of someone whose children have forgotten what love looks like. The rituals are celebrated, prayers are recited, sacrifices are offered. But for what? For whom? Are there times when, although you want your faith to be authentic, you retreat to habit, routine, or appearances? The prophet offers a different, truer way: “…Learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.” As you listen to the passage again, reflect a little more on what the Lord is asking of you. Perhaps you might think of an action or practice that you could take up to reflect this in your own life. Isaiah 1:10-17 Hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of Sodom! Listen to the teaching of our God, you people of Gomorrah! What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt-offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats. When you come to appear before me, who asked this from your hand? Trample my courts no more; bringing offerings is futile; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and sabbath and calling of convocation— I cannot endure solemn assemblies with iniquity. Your new moons and your appointed festivals my soul hates; they have become a burden to me, I am weary of bearing them. When you stretch out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow. “Learn to do good; seek justice.” As this time of prayer comes to an end, take time to speak with the Lord, asking for guidance in your relationship with the world. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be World without end Amen

Sunday 12 July 2026 - Giving seed to the sower

Sunday 12 July 2026 Today is Sunday the 12th of July, Sea Sunday, beginning the 15th week of Ordinary Time. The Nuns of St Cecilia’s Abbey sing Oculi omnium in te sperant: ‘The eyes of all turn to you in hope, O Lord: and you give them food in due season. You open your hand and fill every creature with blessing.’ As you listen, turn your attention, your eyes, your heart, to God. Amid any noise and activity around you, hold yourself in stillness for a moment, ready to accept what God has to give you. Today’s reading is from the Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah 55:10-11 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it. Today’s reading gives us an image of abundance, and of the provision of God. Take a moment to recall the gifts you receive from God each day – the food you eat, the water you drink, the very breath you breathe... We get an image in this passage of a connectedness: from the rain and snow to the earth, the seed, the sower, the bread, the eater... Today we celebrate “Sea Sunday”, a chance to give thanks for our seafarers and fishers, another example of how we are connected without seeing the full process. How often do you pause to consider the chain of events that brings the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the safety we experience? Can you see God moving in each step? As you hear the reading again, notice that this image of connection in producing food also displays the journey of the word and purpose of God. Isaiah 55:10-11 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it. 'But it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.' Speak to God about what God’s success looks like... you might like to ask for help in recognising the things that God is purposing. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be World without end Amen

Saturday 11 July 2026 - A photograph album

Saturday 11 July 2026 Welcome to the Saturday Examen. Spend a moment becoming still. Today, we will revisit a slightly different style of Examen reflection we have used before:  Imagine yourself in a place where you feel at peace.  It might be your own room at home.  There are two chairs there and you sit on one of these. There is a knock on the door, and you open it.  It is Jesus.  You invite him to sit down.  What is it like to have him there?  He has brought a book with him, and you realise that it is a photograph album of the week...  He has taken pictures of you throughout the week. You and Jesus look through the photos talking about them.  If one in particular catches your eye, for which you are grateful, spend some time with it and talk to Jesus about it . . . Is there a particular picture Jesus wants you to look at?  What do you feel about his choice?  What do you say to him about it? Is there a picture there which you wish wasn’t there?  Talk to him about that too. When you are ready the album is closed.  What do you ask of Jesus before he departs, to help you for the week ahead?  How do you take leave of each other?  How do you feel now? Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be World without end Amen