Celebrating at Home: Fortunes ReversedXXVI Sunday of Ordinary TimeThe story Jesus tells in the Gospel is about a rich man, his five brothers and a poor man, and how their fortunes get reversed.The story is told against the background belief that riches were a sign of God’s blessing. By the time of Jesus, the teaching of the prophets that blessing brings responsibility seems to have been forgotten.We are not called to hoard God’s blessings, but to be distributors of them so that all have a fair share of this world’ ...Continue Reading

Celebrating at Home: Investing in the FutureXXV Sunday of Ordinary TimeWhen bad things happen to us we are apt to spend a great deal of time being angry at what has taken place – especially if we feel that what has happened is unjust, unfair or unreasonable.Today’s Gospel episode is often called the ‘Parable of the Unjust Steward’. But perhaps he is the one who is being treated unjustly.The final sayings of this Gospel presuppose that Christian life is a stewardship in which the wealth that one handles is wealth God wis ...Continue Reading

Celebrating at Home: Not to Condemn, But to SaveExaltation of the Holy CrossIt is rare for us to celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on a Sunday. This feast commemorates the dedication, in 335, of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre built on the site of the Crucifixion by the Emperor Constantine.The cross is a symbol full of contradictions: an instrument of cruelty and torture, and yet the means of saving love; an instrument of shame and death, yet the way of restoring true dignity and life; an instrume ...Continue Reading

  Celebrating at Home: Real Reality23rd Sunday in Ordinary TimeToday’s Gospel contains a rather heavy dose of real reality about what is required in order to be a disciple of Jesus.The words of Jesus have to be read against the background of the Kingdom life God is inviting us into and the central message of Jesus that we need to place God in the centre of our hearts.The language about hating family members and even our own lives comes from a Semitic idiom which expresses preference. If you prefer one person o ...Continue Reading

Celebrating at Home: Invitation to Dinner22nd Sunday in Ordinary TimeIt’s no accident that the Gospels contain many instances of shared meals, weddings feasts and miraculous feeding. In the Scriptures, meals always have something to do with the great meal – the eternal wedding feast.In this Gospel episode, Jesus has been invited to a meal at the home of a leading Pharisee. Luke tells us that they watched Jesus closely. No doubt, they are trying to make up their minds about him and his teaching.Read more ...  [ ...Continue Reading

September –  Septiembre – Settembre  2025 ENGLISH | ESPAÑOL | ITALIANODownload English: ocarm.org/en/prayer/lectiodivina Descargar Español: ocarm.org/es/prayer/lectiodivina Scarica Italiano: ocarm.org/it/prayer/lectiodivinaENGLISHLECTIO DIVINA - September 2025[*]Lectio Divina September, 2025 [Pdf] (831 KB)[*]Lectio Divina September, 2025 [ePub] (366 KB)[*]Lectio Divina September, 2025 [Mobi] (258 KB)  If you wish to receive updates on current news from the Carmel ...Continue Reading

  Celebrating at Home: The Narrow Door21st Sunday in Ordinary TimeIt is a horrible feeling to find yourself locked out of home. It can instil panic. What will I do now? It is even worse if those inside won’t let you in, or even recognise you. Worse still if the house is full of strangers.There is no mistaking the sense of warning in this passage of Luke’s Gospel.Over the last few weeks, the gospel has presented Jesus on the journey to Jerusalem and his teaching about how to live our lives as disciples and the ...Continue Reading

   Celebrating at Home: The Prophet/s Anguish20th Sunday in Ordinary TimeSometimes we can be overwhelmed by life. Feelings of fear, uncertainty and anxiety bubble away beneath the surface. Sometimes, those feelings reach the surface in an explosion of words and actions.In this Gospel passage we encounter the startling image of Jesus in distress and anguish over his mission and what he is yet to face. Following from last Sunday’s Gospel, the disciple is called not only to stand ready and stay faithful ...Continue Reading

 Celebrating at Home: Being Prepared, Remaining Faithful19th Sunday in Ordinary TimeSometimes in life we find ourselves captivated by a particular cause or project and devote great enthusiasm and passion to it. As time goes on, however, we can find that our enthusiasm fades and our passion cools. Other things begin to take priority. Like last week’s Gospel, being prepared and remaining faithful is the focus of this week’s Gospel passage. Luke’s community (and other early Christians) were slowly growing used to ...Continue Reading

 Celebrating at Home: False Security18th Sunday in Ordinary TimeWe look for ways to protect ourselves and what we own against life’s adverse events. It is not only a problem for wealthy people like the rich man in the Gospel today. It can be a problem for all of us. We seem to have an instinctive need to build a sense of security by amassing goods and wealth.A strong focus in the Luke’s Gospel is that nothing is more destructive of life and humanity than the need to acquire, hold on to and increase wealth. The prob ...Continue Reading