Sunday Reflections
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Last Sunday we read Matthew’s account of the Beatitudes, which describe the qualities of those who follow Jesus, who demonstrated them in his own life. In today’s gospel he singles out two things…
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Jewish people had been given the Ten Commandments and all the other precepts which made up the Law. That was what bound them together as the chosen people and gave them a road-map for living.…
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Zebulun and Nephtali were sons of Jacob and were allotted land in what became the kingdom of Israel. They were in an unfortunate position as they were frequently overrun by invading armies and…
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
John the Baptist acted a signpost pointing to Jesus. He had a clear sense of his mission and, when questioned, resisted the temptation to assume any other identity than that of the prophesy of…
The Baptism of the Lord
During the Christmas period we have read how the infant Jesus was made known firstly to the Jewish shepherds and secondly to the gentile Magi. The scene is now set for the appearance of Jesus at…
Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God
Devotion to Mary probably began in the third century AD. The four gospels, written in the late first century, treat of her in very different ways. In Matthew the focus is on Joseph, who is named…
The Nativity of the Lord
Today we light the white candle, which is the Christ candle, for it is Christmas day.
Each of the four evangelists has his own way of presenting the coming of the Messiah. We need to bear…
Fourth Sunday of Advent
We are now very near to Christmas and the fourth candle is lit, which is the angel candle. Luke speaks of an annunciation by an angel to Mary, while Matthew describes one to Joseph through a dream…
Third Sunday of Advent
The prophet Isaiah lived in the eighth century BC, in the kingdom of Judah. He was writing before the Jews were exiled to Babylon. He warned about the faithlessness of the people and how…
Second Sunday of Advent
The picture of the young child in close proximity to a cobra is part of the imagery that the prophet Isaiah depicts in today’s reading. His vision is of a world where fierce and gentle animals…