Sunday Reflections
Third Sunday of Lent
John’s account of the cleansing of the temple is placed at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, unlike the synoptic gospels which place it near his passion. There are many explanations for this. It…
Second Sunday of Lent
The first reading is shocking, especially for parents. Who in their right mind would worship a God who demanded the blood sacrifice of the longed-for and promised child? That was a demand that the…
First Sunday of Lent
Mark tells us very little about Jesus’ time in the wilderness. All we know is that he was there for forty days with wild beasts, was tempted by Satan and looked after by angels. Jesus prepared for…
Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The disease of leprosy can be traced by to at least 2,000 BC and it was very much feared, as there was no remedy till the 1940s. The first reading tells how lepers were to be treated. While it was…
Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
God revealed himself to the Chosen People but their understanding of him could be very simplistic. Virtue was rewarded with prosperity, evil punished with adversity. Miriam got leprosy because she…
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
God makes himself known in many ways. To Samuel it was a voice in the night (1 Sam. 3:1-15), to St Paul it was a brilliant light which caused him to fall to the ground (Acts 9:3-7) and to Moses it…
The Baptism of the Lord
When St Ignatius Loyola was recovering from his wounds from the battle of Pamplona, he asked for light reading to pass the time, such as the romances of chivalry which told of heroes, ladies in…
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…