Sunday Reflections
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
God revealed himself to the Chosen People but their understanding of him could be very simplistic. Virtue was rewarded with prosperity, evil punished with adversity. Miriam got leprosy because she…
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
God makes himself known in many ways. To Samuel it was a voice in the night (1 Sam. 3:1-15), to St Paul it was a brilliant light which caused him to fall to the ground (Acts 9:3-7) and to Moses it…
The Baptism of the Lord
When St Ignatius Loyola was recovering from his wounds from the battle of Pamplona, he asked for light reading to pass the time, such as the romances of chivalry which told of heroes, ladies in…
Solemnity of the Holy Family
The only gospels to speak about the infancy of Jesus are those of Matthew and Luke, and their versions of the event are very different. However, most of the stories are theological in nature…
Fourth Sunday of Advent
St Luke’s story of the Annunciation has been a favourite with artists who have imagined the scene in various ways. This picture is by Fra Angelico, who lived in the fifteenth century. It is…
Third Sunday of Advent
This Sunday is called Gaudete Sunday. We are invited to rejoice, for Christmas Day draws even closer. The pink candle is lit. We are learning about Jesus both from Isaiah and from John the Baptist…
Second Sunday of Advent
The first reading is from Deutero Isaiah, a body of writing by an author who followed in the footsteps of the prophet Isaiah. Unlike the earlier prophet there is no condemnation or judgement of…
First Sunday of Advent
The first reading this Sunday is from Isaiah, written when the Israelites had returned to their homeland. It was probably composed by a group of unknown prophets. It berates the people for their…
Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
In the film The Death of Stalin there is an unedifying struggle for power on the leader’s demise, which leads to a bloody coup d’état. Even when they are bloodless, there are very often…
Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today we have a worldly parable with a spiritual meaning. It seems to be all about money and investment: the master expected a return for the talents and even suggested that the third servant…