Sunday Reflections
Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
Peter is one of the most colourful characters in the New Testament. He was a born leader, with the ability to speak plainly on behalf of his fellow disciples in recognising Jesus as the Christ. He…
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The story of the Canaanite woman in today’s gospel is strange. Surely Jesus, who was so loving when people asked for his help, would take pity on a desperate mother. Jesus had just had another…
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jesus badly need time to be alone with his Father. He had not had any time to grieve for John the Baptist and he had given himself untiringly to the crowds, feeding them and then curing…
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
In today’s gospel, we are told that Jesus had withdrawn to a lonely place with his disciples. He must have wanted some quiet time to mourn the death of John the Baptist, who was his cousin. John's…
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
According to the first-century Roman writer Pliny the Elder, pearls were valued even more than gold or diamonds. Jesus used everyday objects in his parables, to which his audience could easily…
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
In the story The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgeson Burnett, the orphan child, Mary Lennox, is sent from India to live with her uncle in his Yorkshire manor. Mary is a spoilt, badly-…
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Jews looked back nostalgically to the reign of King David, who conquered his enemies and established a strong kingdom. They were now occupied by the Romans, who rode powerful stallions, their…
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jesus’ words in today’s gospel seem at first sight to be very harsh. Are we being asked to put aside the fourth commandment, “Honour thy father and thy mother?” Jesus spent thirty years as part of…
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The prophet Jeremiah preached primarily in Judah, from 626 until 587 BC. The people had started to worship other gods and their evil practices had deeply offended the true God. Jeremiah prophesied…
Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
The image of God as shepherd recurs throughout the Old and New Testaments. Psalm 23 is a perfect example of the care God gives to his people: leading them to rich pastures, nourishing, guiding and…