Sunday Reflections
First Sunday of Advent
Today we celebrate the beginning of the Church’s new year. We light the first candle, which represents hope. The reading from Isaiah dates from the time when the Jews returned from exile in…
Christ the King
Matthew would appear to be the only gospel in which the Last Judgement is described in the imagery of sheep and goats. In Palestine sheep and goats lived together by day but were separated at…
Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
As we approach the end of the Church’s year, Matthew’s gospel is describing the time when Jesus was approaching his passion and death. His parables draw our attention towards our final reckoning…
Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
During the month of November, when we remember our dead, we are also reminded in the Sunday liturgy of the “last things.” Matthew in particular lays emphasis on final judgement. Today’s parable is…
Solemnity of All Saints
The process of formal canonization can be very selective and even sometimes political. Men greatly outnumber women, there are few married saints and of those most are royalty and many are widows.…
Thirtieth Sunday in ordinary Time
Throughout his ministry, Jesus was constantly harassed by both the Saducees and Pharisees. The Saducees did not believe in the resurrection and had previously posed a trick question (Matthew 22:23…
Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Pharisees and the Herodians would not usually be on the same side. The Pharisees were anti-Roman and believed in a coming Messiah. They kept the Law assiduously and Jesus did not match their…
Twenty-eight Sunday in Ordinary Time
Imagine being invited to a party and not only refusing to come but attacking those who were sent to deliver the message! Over the past weeks Jesus has been telling parables that illustrate the…
Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
A vineyard is frequently used as a symbol in both the Old and New Testaments. This is the third Sunday in a row in which this image has been used; the story in today’s gospel is really an allegory…
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
“For this reason I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the truth.” (John 18:37)
Jesus spent his whole life testifying to the truth. The parable he told in today’s reading…