Sunday Reflections
Second Sunday of Lent
Jesus took the three disciples up a high mountain. Mountains were seen as places where one could come nearer to God. Moses had received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai (Exodus 20:1-17)…
First Sunday of Lent
The picture opposite shows the kind of desert where Jesus spent forty days. It is a stark, barren region showing little sign of life. Forty is a biblical number meaning a long period of time. The…
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today’s reading forms part of the Sermon on the Mount, which is a collection of Jesus’ teachings put together by Matthew. It is fitting that the the evangelist located the scene on a mountain, as…
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
In Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, the Ghost of Christmas Present carries a torch, which distributes a flavour that enhances the food of the poor and provides good humour to those who…
St Brigid
Very little is known about Brigid. About the earliest biography is the Vita Sanctae Brigitae, which was written in about 650 by Cogitosus, a monk of Kildare. It is written in good Latin,…
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
John the Baptist’s mission was now over. He had done exactly what he was called to do and soon he would die a martyr’s death. Jesus now moved into the territory which would be the main base for…
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
After the Christmas stories have been told, the revelation of Jesus and who he is continues in Matthew’s gospel as he appears in in his adult life. The Johannine writings describe him as the Lamb…
The Baptism of the Lord
Today’s extract from Isaiah was written at the time of the Babylonian captivity of the Jews. It is a message full of hope, looking forward to a leader who will rescue his people and bring them…
Second Sunday of Christmas
Before Vatican II, the prologue to John’s gospel was read at the end of mass, presumably to stress its centrality to our core beliefs. Professor Raymond Brown describes it as “a hymn, a poetic…
Feast of the Holy Family
The liturgy of the feast of the Holy Family reflects on the values of family life. The first two readings speak to us of respect for parents, relationship between spouses and care of children.…