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Irish Capuchin Franciscans

10 hours ago

The harvest is rich, the labourers are few (Matthew 9:36-10:8)

Today we return to Matthew’s Gospel which is constructed around five great sermons.  Firstly, the Sermon on the Mount outlined the masterplan of the kingdom of God.  Today’s Reading is from the second sermon, which is the instruction of the apostles.

Jesus always urged us to see what is good in people rather than what is bad.  “Blessed are the pure in heart they shall see God.”

 Jesus practised what he preached.  He had an extraordinary ability, the eye of an artist, to see potential in unlikely people.  By the grace of God, Simon Peter, a man with a fiery temper, who once pulled out a sword to slice off the ear of a soldier, was chosen to be the first pope.  The brothers, James and John, were known as the Sons of Thunder.  Once, they offered to call down fire on a Samaritan town which rejected Jesus.  The cheek of these brothers!  They did not ask Jesus to call down the fire but they would do it!  Yet Jesus saw their potential.  James became the first of the apostles to be martyred.  John lived longer than the others and became the contemplative who inspired the Gospel of John and other writings.  Simon, a nationalist zealot, learned how to work with Matthew, who collected taxes for the despised Romans.  An unlikely team became wonderful missionaries.

 A motto in advertising is to think globally but act locally.  The missionary strategy of Jesus was to work with the small group in the limited area of Galilee and Judea.  The mission would extend worldwide after Pentecost.

The harvest is rich, the labourers are few

I was ordained a priest sixty years ago. The first Sunday I faced a congregation, the Gospel was the one we have today.  Jesus felt sorry for the congregation because “They were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd.”  I can still remember a strange feeling when I looked at the congregation. Would my life be for people who are harassed and rejected? “The harvest is rich but the labourers are few.” And we are ageing.  Pray earnestly for vocations to the priesthood. 

Christ is counting on you (Cursillo motto)

Br. Silvester O'Flynn OFM Cap. (Sunday Reflections) ... See MoreSee Less

Irish Capuchin Franciscans

2 days ago

Three Capuchins taking a cappuccino break in Ards! The Wild Garden Cafe is now open daily for the best coffee and cakes for miles. #ardsfriary #ArdsFriaryBeach #ardsfriarywalk #ardsfriarytrail ... See MoreSee Less

Irish Capuchin Franciscans

5 days ago

The Feast of Corpus Christi (John: Chapter 6)

Today’s Gospel is taken from John Chapter 6 which tells us about three kinds of bread… bread for bodily hunger, bread to nourish faith, and the divine bread of the Eucharist.  With the first bread Jesus fed a multitude through the miraculous multiplication of five loaves and two fish.

Next day, people came back to him, perhaps for another free dinner!  In John’s Gospel, miracles are regarded as signs to advance in faith.  So, Jesus then asked his audience to move on from ordinary bread to the bread that endures to eternal life. The second kind of bread will satisfy the hungers of the spirit.  “I am the bread of life.  Whoever comes to me will never hunger; whoever believes in me will never thirst.”  To believe in Jesus means a commitment to follow his ideals and teaching … as the way, the truth and the life.  People who knew Jesus from childhood found it hard to make this commitment. (John 6:42-43)

After bread for the body and the bread of faith, Jesus raised their minds to the third bread  (John 6: 51-58).  He spoke in the future tense because this bread had not yet been given. “The bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world.”  It is no surprise that the people were deeply puzzled by this.  “How can this man give us his flesh to eat.” So, Jesus repeated his promise in seven further statements.  Seven is always the divine number in John’s Gospel.  People were still puzzled but Jesus explained that they would understand this future bread only in the light of the resurrection.  “What if you should see the Son of man ascend to where he was before”(John 6:62).  It is the Risen Lord whom we meet in the Eucharist.  On the night before he died, at the Last Supper, he gave the blessed bread to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, given up for you.”  And giving them the cup of wine, he said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood poured out for you.”

For some thirty years the Son of God was on earth in a human body of flesh and blood.  Now he is embodied in the consecrated bread and wine.  “In the Eucharist Christ gives us the very body which he gave up for us on the cross which he poured out fo ... See MoreSee Less

Irish Capuchin Franciscans

1 week ago

Join the Friars and Secular Franciscan Order in Raheny for the annual triduum in honour of St Anthony of Padua. This year's celebrant and preacher is Br. Antony Kurian (Vicar in Church Street Friary, Vocations Promotor and Co-Mission Secretary). Blessing of lillies on the final night. This event is always very well attended so make sure to arrive early to get a seat. All are welcome. ... See MoreSee Less