Hearers of the Word

Notes on the Sunday and Weekday readings

The notes and reflections are offered in different formats: PDF, Portable, Audio, YouTube and Podcast.

1. PDF — the full notes, including weekday introductions, 5 pages.
2. The same gospel notes only in audio format.
3. The same gospel notes presented in a portable format suitable for smartphones and tablets.
4. YouTube video: A further exploration of the Gospel (usually) from a different angle.
5. A podcast offering a fresh reflection on the Sunday Gospel (usually — occasionally based the first or second reading).

Advent 1C24 December 1
All 3 Readings (PDF)
Gospel (Audio)
Gospel (Portable)
Extra Exploration (YouTube)

Advent 2C24 December 8
All 3 Readings (PDF)
Gospel (Audio)
Gospel (Portable)
Extra Exploration (YouTube)

Advent 3C24 December 15
All 3 Readings (PDF)
Gospel (Audio)
Gospel (Portable)
Extra Exploration (YouTube)

Advent 4C24 December 22
All 3 Readings (PDF)
Gospel (Audio)
Gospel (Portable)
Extra Exploration (YouTube)

For material on the Infancy Gospels, you may like to go to Tarsus Scripture School for the following four presentations on Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2 (no charge).

1. Matthew 1:1-17 (Seán Goan)
2. Matthew 1:18-2:23 (Seán Goan)
3. Luke 1-2: Luke's overall project (Kieran O'Mahony)
4. Luke: The Christmas Gospels (Kieran O'Mahony)

Christmas Vigil
All 3 Readings (PDF)
Gospel (Audio)
Gospel (Portable)

Christmas Midnight
All 3 Readings (PDF)
Gospel (Audio)
Gospel (Portable)

Christmas Dawn
All 3 Readings (PDF)
Gospel (Audio)
Gospel (Portable)

Christmas Day
All 3 Readings (PDF)
Gospel (Audio)
Gospel (Portable)

Christmas Week (Thursday, Friday, Saturday)
Notes (PDF)

Holy Family (29 December)
All 3 Readings (PDF)
Gospel (Audio)
Gospel (Portable)

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From St Justin, martyr

On Sunday we have a common assembly of all our members, whether they live in the city or the outlying districts.

The recollections of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as there is time. When the reader has finished, the president of the assembly speaks to us; he urges everyone to imitate the examples of virtue we have heard in the readings. Then we all stand up together and pray.

On the conclusion of our prayer, bread and wine and water are brought forward. The president offers prayers and gives thanks to the best of his ability, and the people give assent by saying, “Amen.” The eucharist is distributed, everyone present communicates, and the deacons take it to those who are absent.

We hold our common assembly on Sunday because it is the first day of the week, the day on which God put darkness and chaos to flight and created the world, and because on that same day our saviour Jesus Christ rose from the dead.