Sunday Reflections
The Presentation of the Lord
Luke wrote for gentiles and possibly Hellenic Jews. The whole purpose of his gospel is to tell them the story of Jesus. He begins by introducing a cast of characters, whose faith points them to…
Thrd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today’s gospel is especially appropriate at this time. The wealthy are becoming even richer, while the poor are being left behind. The rich often misuse their power for their own benefit, rather…
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
There were probably a large number of people at the Wedding Feast of Cana. Jesus and his twelve disciples would have swelled the number. It would seem at this point that Jesus was still living at…
The Baptism of the Lord
All four gospels give an account of the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. Mark begins his gospel with the baptism of Jesus and John bears witness to his identity through the Baptist, who…
Second Sunday of Christmas
The prologue to the gospel of John introduces the reader to the themes of the gospel which he is about to encounter. The last gospel was written probably around 100 AD and therefore is the product…
Solemnity of the Holy Family
The story of Hannah and Samuel is extraordinary. What mother would part with her child? Like many bible stories it is symbolic in nature, like that of Abraham, who was asked to sacrifice Isaac (…
Fourth Sunday of Advent
We actually know relatively little about Mary, mother of Jesus. Most of our information comes from Luke, who narrates a fairly full account of the conception, birth and early childhood of Jesus (…
Third Sunday of Advent
Today the message is one of joy, reflected in the colour pink. There is also a message about social justice. We are bombarded with pictures in magazines and on television, of tables groaning under…
First Sunday of Advent
Today we begin the journey towards Christmas. The reading from Jeremiah reminds us of the long wait of the chosen people for the coming of the Messiah. The genealogies at the beginning of Matthew…
Solemnity of Jesus Christ, Universal King
“My Kingdom is not of this world,” said Jesus to Pilate (John 18:36). Today we celebrate a kingship which is very different to most of those that have existed throughout history. Pomp, splendour,…