The Supper of the Lamb “Look, there is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world”.   With these words John the Baptist identified Jesus as the one who would come after him. Up to that time, when people wanted to thank God, or ask for something, especially the forgiveness of guilt,…

continue reading

The Crushed Reed and Wavering Flame When Jesus entered the water to be baptised by John the Baptist, John declared that he should be the one baptised by Jesus.  Jesus made a strange answer. “Leave it like this … and do all that righteousness demands.” Righteousness is not a very happy word.  It suggests the…

continue reading

For the Feast of the Epiphany today: Magi Take the Magi as your patrons. Pilgrims three and kings they were. Suffered cold and gnawing darkness; Led them almost to despair. ‘Til the star appeared to lead them, Lit the darkest desert night, Then they laughed and travelled quickly. Joyful in their faith-filled flight. But the…

continue reading

Holy Trinity, Father Mathew Quay, Cork City.   Christmas Eve Mass at 7.30pm (Concelebrated Mass and Blessing of the Crib) Christmas Day Masses 8.00am, 10.00am, 11.00am, 12.30pm   Masses for the rest of the week Thursday 26th Friday 27th Saturday 28th 10.00 and 12.00 noon. No evening Mass.     St Mary of the Angel’s…

continue reading

The Reason for the Season is Jesus   Have we forgotten why we celebrate Christmas?   A friend told me she got a card wishing her a very merry Winter Festival!   Could you beat that!  People tell me they have to search in shops for cards that portray the Nativity.   Light looked down and saw…

continue reading

The Joy of Forgiveness   Vengeance is a dirty word, an unhappy state of mind.   John the Baptist predicted the axe of vengeance and the fires of wrath.  Yet Isaiah in the First Reading says of God’s vengeance, “He is coming to heal you.”  In the mind of Jesus, vengeance did not mean punishment…

continue reading

Advent, Season of Hope Advent has been devoured by the commercial side of Christmas.  This is a pity because the spirituality of Advent is most needed today.   It is appropriate that we celebrate Advent in winter because the spiritual message of Advent brings hope to our experiences of the winter of the spirit.  It is…

continue reading

Tomorrow is what’s become known as ‘Black Friday’. We’ve all seen the new reports with the disturbing images of stampedes as people trample over one another to get the ‘bargain of the century’. Don’t be fooled – be polite and kind to each other. Black Friday is all about things – people are not things. Shop…

continue reading

Jesus Christ, King of the Universe Luke 23:35-43 Jesus announced at the beginning of his public ministry that his mission would be to establish the kingdom of God in the world. His preaching and way of life set out the ideals of what the world would be like if we all lived up to his…

continue reading