Sunday Reflections
Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
A recent television series, about the Boleyn family, showed how Queen Anne’s father, Thomas, clawed his way up through the court of Henry VIII, making an advantageous marriage and connecting with…
Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Queen Victoria, on hearing that she was next in line to the throne of England, is reputed to have said: “I will be good.” Jesus questioned the young man in today’s gospel as to why he called Him…
Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
There were at least two different schools of thought about divorce in Jesus’ time and the Pharisees were hoping to trap Jesus into supporting one of them, therefore alienating the other. Jesus…
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The apostles were specially chosen by Jesus and it seems they were beginning to think of themselves as an exclusive group. They scolded a man who cast out devils in their Master’s name. We can…
Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jesus has been beginning to reveal to his disciples what lay ahead of him in Jerusalem. It is a terrifying prospect; the Romans had no mercy on those who were seen as a threat to their authority.…
Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jesus had been teaching in Galilee, where he got a reasonably friendly reception. Now he was moving northwards. Caeserea Philippi was situated about forty kilometres from the sea of Galilee, at…
Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Isaiah spoke about what happens when God is present to people. Life is restored in that the desert is watered and people are healed of their disabilities. The prophesy was fulfilled in Jesus, who…
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jesus directed some of his harshest criticism towards the pharisees and scribes. They were supposed to give leadership to the Jewish people, since they were experts in the Law. He in fact…
Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today’s theme is commitment. Joshua asked the Israelites to make a choice between the God who brought them out of Egypt or the gods of their neighbours. It is easy to look on “gods” as belonging…
The Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven
The Orthodox and Eastern Catholic tradition teaches that when Mary’s life came to an end she fell asleep. This is called the Dormition and is depicted in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel in Galway…