Reflections

While the Assumption of Mary has been celebrated for over a thousand years, the doctrine of her assumption was officially defined as late as 1950.   To mark the occasion, the famous novelist, Graham Greene, who had been received into the Catholic Church shortly before that, was asked to write an article for Life, then the…

This is the third successive Sunday when our Gospel is taken from John Chapter 6, all about bread.  John likes to start with something familiar like water, light or bread and to rise up step by step to divine life.   Two weeks ago, we read about the multiplication of the loaves and fishes when Jesus…

  Five Loaves and Two Fish Today we commence five Sundays when our Gospel is taken from Chapter 6 of John which is all about the bread of life.  The symbol of John in art is an eagle which sores high.   John begins a chapter with something on ground level such as water in a…

  I will always remember the first time I had to preach to a Sunday Mass congregation.   All the prayers at Mass were then in Latin which very few understood, and the priest had his back to the people most of the time.   I turned around to face the people for the sermon.  The Gospel…

  Sharing in Christ’s Mission When Jesus sent out the apostles to extend his mission, he said more about their lifestyle than what they might say (Mark 7: 7-13).  As St. Francis put it, preach at all times, sometimes using words.  We are so bombarded today by advertising pressure, slogans and biased media that people…

Ordinary Little Nazareth When Jesus returned to his hometown, Nazareth, his reception was disappointing to say the least (Mark 6: 1-6).   People had heard about extraordinary things he did in other towns.  He was invited to speak in the local synagogue and initially most of the people were astonished when they heard him. But soon…

Tempest of the Heart About ten years ago we celebrated the Year of Faith and the logo chosen as a symbol of the times was the boat tossed about in a storm, today’s Gospel, Mark 4:35-41.   In this series of Sunday Reflections, we have already referred to the problems of the Church on several occasions,…

The Power of Little Seeds There are many priests, teachers and parents who feel totally inadequate in the face of today’s society.  The answers of yesterday seem to have no relationship with the questions of today.  Many people are finding it hard to hold on to any faith in the Church.   They struggle to see…

The Body and Blood of Christ The Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ is a celebration of the presence of Jesus Christ in the Blessed Eucharist.  It is an astounding belief.  We would not dare to hold this belief except that it is based on the very words of Jesus himself.  “I am…