A Moment to Pause - a short daily audio reflection rooted in Sacred Scripture

The Oblates
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Every morning at 8:30am you are invited to join a 90-second daily reflection podcast rooted in Sacred Scripture, focusing on the Gospel reading of the day. Join us for your daily moment to pause. A Moment to Pause is a short daily reflection offering 90 seconds of peace, hope, and quiet reflection. Each episode provides a simple reflection and prayer to help you slow down, breathe, and reconnect with God every day. Whether on your daily commute or during a moment of quiet at home, these brief audio reflections guide you toward a deeper connection with God each day. The podcast is presented by members of the Oblate Family - people from all walks of life who live in the Anglo-Irish Province (England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales & Denmark) of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.

  1. 12h ago ·  Video

    A Moment To Pause: Tuesday 3rd November 2026

    Welcome to a Moment to Pause on Tuesday, 3rd of November with Padraig Corcoran. Luke 14:15–24 “Come, for everything is now ready.” Jesus tells the story of a great banquet. Those who were invited began to make excuses, each claiming to be too busy to attend. So the host invited the poor, the blind and the lame. God’s invitation is open to everyone. No one is excluded from His love, and everyone has a place at His table. Yet, how often do we make excuses? We can become so caught up in work, responsibilities and the busyness of everyday life that we fail to make time for God and for others. We are to look beyond ourselves, to recognise those who may feel forgotten or excluded,  and to make room for them in our lives and communities. Am I willing to accept God’s invitation and help others to know that they, too, are welcome? Lord, open our hearts to Your invitation. Help us to make time for You and to welcome everyone with kindness, compassion and love. Amen Thank you for joining us for Morning Prayer.

  2. 1d ago ·  Video

    A Moment To Pause: Monday 2nd November 2026

    Welcome to a Moment to Pause on the feast of All Souls, Monday, 2nd of November with Padraig Corcoran. On this All Souls’ Day, Jesus gives us a message of hope: “I will not reject anyone who comes to me.” Today, we remember our departed loved ones – our parents, family members, friends and all who have gone before us. We miss their presence, their voices and the love they shared with us. The Gospel reminds us that death is not the end. Jesus promises us eternal life and assures us that He will raise us upon the last day. As we pray for our departed brothers and sisters, let us entrust them to God's loving mercy. May this day also remind us to cherish those who are still with us, to forgive one another, to love more deeply and to live each day with faith and kindness. May our sorrow be strengthened by hope, and may we always trust in the promise of the Risen Lord. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen. Thank you for joining us for Morning Prayer.

  3. 2d ago ·  Video

    A Moment To Pause: Sunday 1st November 2026

    Welcome to a Moment to Pause on this, the feast of All Saints, Sunday, 1st of November with Pauline Thomas from Anglesey, North Wales. The gospel reading today is from Matthew chapter five, verses 1 to 12. When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying, ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.   Blessed are they who mourn, for they should be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.  Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you, and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.’ The Beatitudes bring a new way of seeing reality.  At first glance, it seems impossible to state, blessed are those who are poor, or those who hunger and thirst for justice, the persecuted or the peacemakers. Yet what seems inconceivable in the world's thinking, is filled with meaning and light. When brought into contact with the kingdom of God in the lives of the saints, we see this kingdom becoming present among us.  Let us pray. Saint Eugene De Mazenod, pray for us. All you holy men and women, pray for us that we may see the full meaning and the light in the Beatitudes. Amen. Thank you for joining us for Morning Prayer. #allsaints #november #holysouls #saints

  4. 3d ago ·  Video

    A Moment To Pause: Saturday 31st October 2026

    Welcome to a Moment to Pause. Pauline Thomas from Anglesey, north Wales will be with you through this week.  The scripture today comes from the gospel according to Luke, chapter 14, verses 1:7-11 and brings us once again to see Jesus at dinner on a Sabbath at the home of one of the leading Pharisees. He's being closely watched, but not deterred by this. He once again is not afraid to speak directly.  Jesus had noticed how the guests were choosing the places of honour at the table. So he told them a parable. When you're invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honour, a more distinguished guest than you might have been invited by him. And the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, ‘give your place to this man’, and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place.  Rather, when you were invited, go and take the lowest place, so that when the host comes to you, he may say, ‘My friend, move up to a higher position’. Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled. But the one who humbles himself will be exalted. This is not a lesson on etiquette, but rather Jesus is pointing to the need for humility.  Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. At the end of the parable, Jesus goes on to suggest to his host that he invite to his table not his friends, family, or rich neighbours, but rather poorer, more marginalised people who can in no way reciprocate so that the gift may be given freely with no eye on the return.  Lord Jesus, may we day by day learn from you. For the greater gift is to be graced, to follow you more closely.  Thank you for joining us for Morning Prayer.

  5. 4d ago ·  Video

    A Moment To Pause: Friday 30th October 2026

    Welcome to a Moment to Pause. Pauline Thomas from Anglesey, north Wales will be with you through this week.  Today's scripture reading is from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 14, verses 1 to 6. Following the earlier account of Jesus healing of the crippled woman that we shared on Monday, this next story follows on as a second part of a balanced pair that shows Luke's concern to show the inclusive nature of Jesus's ministry.  In today's gospel, we hear about Jesus again on the Sabbath. Dining at the home of one of the leading Pharisees the people there were observing him closely. In front of him there was a man suffering from dropsy. Jesus posed this question to the scholars of the law and Pharisees, asking, ‘is it lawful to cure on the Sabbath or not?’  But they kept silent. So he took the man and healed him, and then sent him away. Then he said to them, ‘If one of you has a child or an ox that has fallen into a well, will you not immediately pull it out on the Sabbath day?’ But they could not manage any answer to his question. This must have been quite an awkward moment of the dinner party.  We know that he's being watched closely by lawyers and Pharisees. His host, the fellow guests. But this does not stop Jesus from using this opportunity for some stark teaching. In fact, he actually initiates this moment. Lord, you draw me to you. You invite me into relationship. And how often does your teaching challenge and shine a light on my inmost thoughts and held beliefs?  As I place my hand in yours. I pray for the grace to trust you, to lead me through these moments. Amen. Thank you for joining us for Morning Prayer.

  6. 5d ago ·  Video

    A Moment To Pause: Thursday 29th October 2026

    Welcome to a Moment to Pause. Pauline Thomas from Anglesey, north Wales will be with you through this week.  Today's scripture reading is from the gospel according to Luke, chapter 13 verses 31 to 35. We hear some seemingly well-intentioned Pharisees warning Jesus by saying, ‘Go away. Leave this area because Herod wants to kill you’. But Jesus will not be deterred or diverted from his journey to Jerusalem. He replied, ‘go and tell that fox: behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I accomplish my purpose. Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow and the following day. For it is impossible that a prophet should die outside of Jerusalem.’ It becomes clear in the gospel that the journey must end in Jesus's death in Jerusalem.  On the face of it. The Pharisees are trying to help Jesus, but their advice would mean him interrupting his journey. He responds with relentless purpose, ‘I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day. For it is impossible a prophet should die outside of Jerusalem’. We are blessed to know that as we hear the gospel through the lens of the resurrection, that Jesus does accomplish his purpose.  Lord Jesus, we pray that as we continue on our journey today, we may be reminded that we are not alone, that we journey with one another through the power of the Holy Spirit, our guide and protector. We ask Mary Immaculate, her mother, to cover us as we journey to cover us with the mantle of her love. Amen.  Thank you for joining us for Morning Prayer.

  7. 6d ago ·  Video

    A Moment To Pause: Wednesday 28th October 2026

    Welcome to a Moment to Pause. Pauline Thomas from Anglesey, north Wales will be with you through this week.  Today's scripture reading is from the gospel according to Luke, chapter six, verses 12 to 16. In the gospel today, we hear how Luke places Jesus's choice of his disciples in the context of prayer. Luke writes, ‘In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called his disciples, and chose from them twelve whom he named apostles’’. Jesus chooses them after a night in prayer.  It seems that Jesus discerns his choice after prayer in union Jesus with the father. It does make one wonder if the choice was not the best when we see that they all fled, leaving him alone before the power, his passion.  But it's precisely this that encourages us and demonstrates that we, like the apostles, are called not on merit, but out of love. Jesus shows me how to pray and even when my attempt at prayer feels completely ineffective, I can always count on his prayer. Jesus, help me to remember this day that you are praying for me, for each one of us, chosen in love.  Thank you for joining us for Morning Prayer.

  8. Oct 27 ·  Video

    A Moment To Pause: Tuesday 27th October 2026

    Welcome to a Moment to Pause. I'm Pauline Thomas, coming to you from Anglesey, north Wales. And I'll be with you through this coming week.  Today's scripture reading comes from the gospel according to Luke, chapter 13, verses 18 to 21. It begins with Jesus posing the question, ‘what is the kingdom of God like?’ He goes on to compare it to a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden. When it was fully grown, it became a large bush, and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches. Again he says, ‘to what shall I compare the kingdom of God?’ But this time answering the question by saying, ‘It's like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour, until the whole batch of the dough was leavened.’ So here we have a male gardener and a female baker standing as icons for God and hidden within something so tiny, the mustard seed, and ordinary, the leaven in the dough, lies the restless and creative power of God. The power of God that moves to transform something so tiny and something so everyday and ordinary into something wonderful and new and life giving. It's enough to have faith the size of a mustard seed in order to do unimaginable things, because it carries within it the strength of God's love that opens the way to new life.  May we take responsibility and with compassion, care for the suffering of others. May our words and actions this day become like the tiny seed or leaven of which Jesus speaks. May we place ourselves at the service of the gospel and of our brothers and sisters. Amen.

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About

Every morning at 8:30am you are invited to join a 90-second daily reflection podcast rooted in Sacred Scripture, focusing on the Gospel reading of the day. Join us for your daily moment to pause. A Moment to Pause is a short daily reflection offering 90 seconds of peace, hope, and quiet reflection. Each episode provides a simple reflection and prayer to help you slow down, breathe, and reconnect with God every day. Whether on your daily commute or during a moment of quiet at home, these brief audio reflections guide you toward a deeper connection with God each day. The podcast is presented by members of the Oblate Family - people from all walks of life who live in the Anglo-Irish Province (England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales & Denmark) of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.

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