Sunday Reflections
Solemnity of the Holy Family
The only gospels to speak about the infancy of Jesus are those of Matthew and Luke, and their versions of the event are very different. However, most of the stories are theological in nature…
Fourth Sunday of Advent
St Luke’s story of the Annunciation has been a favourite with artists who have imagined the scene in various ways. This picture is by Fra Angelico, who lived in the fifteenth century. It is…
Third Sunday of Advent
This Sunday is called Gaudete Sunday. We are invited to rejoice, for Christmas Day draws even closer. The pink candle is lit. We are learning about Jesus both from Isaiah and from John the Baptist…
Second Sunday of Advent
The first reading is from Deutero Isaiah, a body of writing by an author who followed in the footsteps of the prophet Isaiah. Unlike the earlier prophet there is no condemnation or judgement of…
First Sunday of Advent
The first reading this Sunday is from Isaiah, written when the Israelites had returned to their homeland. It was probably composed by a group of unknown prophets. It berates the people for their…
Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
In the film The Death of Stalin there is an unedifying struggle for power on the leader’s demise, which leads to a bloody coup d’état. Even when they are bloodless, there are very often…
Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today we have a worldly parable with a spiritual meaning. It seems to be all about money and investment: the master expected a return for the talents and even suggested that the third servant…
Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jewish marriages had an established ritual. First there was the engagement, which was a formal agreement made by the fathers. Then there was the betrothal where promises were made. This was a…
Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Pharisees have, on the whole, had a bad press, but we have to be careful about blanket condemnation of the group. Nicodemus was a pharisee and Joseph of Arimathea may have been one. Gamaliel (…
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Pharisees should have been very pleased that Jesus had silenced the Saducees (Matt. 22:23-33) who differed with them on the doctrine of the resurrection. However, their anger with Jesus made…