Reflections

In today’s Gospel the Lord sent out seventy-two disciples in pairs to prepare the towns he was to visit. His instruction was more about practical example than about talk. Saint Francis advised the brothers to preach at all times, sometimes using words. Actions speak more loudly than words. Saint Paul VI wrote about evangelization: “The…

Peter and Paul  (Matt 16:19) Although Peter and Paul have separate feastdays, The Chair of Peter, (Feb 22nd) and The Conversion of Paul (January 25th), there is a reason for their sharing today’s celebration. As the young Church expanded, its two great leaders, Peter and Paul, settled in Rome, centre of the Roman Empire.  Legends…

A God of Relationships (John 16:12-15) Anthony De Mello was a writer with a great gift of simplifying deep truths.  He wrote that theology is the ability to tell stories about God: and prayer is knowing that you are part of the story. Jesus, as he was about to ascend to heaven, instructed the apostles…

The disciples were numbed when Jesus was telling them that he was going away, but he consoled them with three wonderful promises. Divine Indwelling His first promise was about what is called the divine indwelling.  Father, Son and Holy Spirit will be at home within us if we try our best to follow the teaching…

The Marriage of Heaven and Earth (John 2: 1-11) John’s Gospel has been compared to a large swimming pool in which the infant can paddle and the elephant can swim.  It can be read on a superficial, literal level, or its deep symbols can be explored. “There was a wedding in Cana in Galilee.”  The bride…

God loves a cheerful giver (Mark 12: 38-44) Jesus had reached Jerusalem with his close band of followers.  They entered the sacred area of the temple.  Even at the age of twelve, the boy Jesus was upset by what he had seen in the temple.  He told Mary and Joseph that, come the time, he…

Purgatory: Therapy of Divine Love  (Mark 12:28-34) Purgation is a process of purification.  Purgatory is not specifically mentioned in the bible but the doctrine of purgatory is a beautiful development which holds in unity two ideas which might seem to be contradictory.  Firstly, the doctrine of God’s holiness reminds us of God’s unique otherness, glory,…

The Ascension of the Lord (Mark 16:15-20) The celebration of the Ascension of Jesus to heaven marks the definitive closure of his mission on earth. According to St. Luke, over a period of forty days the Risen Lord appeared to certain disciples in varied ways to prepare them for his final departure. The Apostles were…

This weekend as we celebrate ‘Good Shepherd Sunday’ – we ask you to pray for vocations to our Irish Capuchin Province. We, like all religious orders, depend upon the power of prayer to sustain us and to inspire others to follow the way of St Francis as a Capuchin Friar. There are men out there…