Sunday Reflections
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The parable of the sower is timeless in that every generation can understand its imagery. People from the west of Ireland can particularly understand rocky ground! When St Paul preached to the…
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
St Paul made the cross the central part of his teaching. When he had preached to the Athenians, he found that they were more interested in hearing something novel rather than exploring the mystery…
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Often the words of Jesus seem puzzling. He himself lived in a family for thirty years, which was his main education in life and where he loved and was loved. Is he telling us to abandon our…
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
One of the main themes of today’s readings is God’s love for us. Jesus used the image of a sparrow to describe this love. A sparrow is a very unremarkable bird with its drab brown colouring. The…
Corpus Christi
"If you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood you will have no life in you."
In chapter 6, St John gives an extensive teaching on the Eucharist which many of Jesus’…
Trinity Sunday
The modern world wants rational explanations for everything; yet the doctrine of the Trinity is something that we will never begin to understand. If we try to, it is as though we are floundering…
Pentecost Sunday
Luke uses powerful images of tongues of fire and a loud wind to describe the coming of he Holy Spirit. He wants to convey to his readers the drama of the occasion and the gift that has been given…
The Ascension of the Lord
The Ascension of Jesus into heaven brings to a conclusion the resurrection story, where he has been transformed into a new life. The three evangelists Mark, Matthew and John give very little…
Sixth Sunday of Easter
The atmosphere at the Last Supper must have been one of both great fear and sadness. Jesus had been betrayed by one of his friends and he knew his end was coming. His disciples were confused but…
Fifth Sunday of Easter
In his gospel, John’s central object is to proclaim the person of Jesus Christ as saviour. His prologue declares clearly that Jesus is the Word of God, who existed from the beginning. He concludes…