Reflections

Awareness of God and of sin The days are lengthening, daffodils are here and there is encouraging news about control of the Covid pandemic.  Is there any possibility that the virus of sin might be stamped out?  Sadly, following the news any night, the evidence is depressing. The Readings at Mass today are about two…

Gracious Words In today’s Gospel Reading (Luke 4: 21-30) we continue last Sunday’s story of Jesus returning to his home town, Nazareth, where he preached in the local synagogue.  After reading from Isaiah about the power of the Holy Spirit inaugurating a time of liberation and a new way of seeing life, he handed back…

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 but there is no shortage of fir trees, snow, red robins and Victorian carriages. …

The Joy of the Visitation Children are counting down the days.  After this Sunday, only six more days till Christmas.  Excitement is bubbling up.  I could feel it myself when watching the television commercial where a little boy keeps asking “Will he really come?”  Of course, we all think that he is waiting for Santa…

Someone is coming The entrance antiphon for Mass on the Third Sunday of Advent sets the tone for coming closer to Christmas.  “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice.  Indeed, the Lord is near.”  Today is known as Gaudete Sunday, a day of special rejoicing. The Second Reading is worth repeating in full…

Prepare a way for the Lord “The word of God came to John son of Zechariah, in the wilderness.” I really love Advent.  Each season of the liturgical year has its own rich spirituality, but I think Advent has the message that is most relevant at the moment, at least in the state of the…

Stay awake, praying at all times The First Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of the liturgical year.  The Gospel of the day is about the end of time (Luke21:25-28.34).   It might seem odd that Advent begins, not with preparation for the coming of Christ at Christmas, but his coming for us at the end…

Jesus Christ, the Universal King This is the last Sunday of the liturgical year when we celebrate Jesus Christ, the Universal King.  The end of the year anticipates the end of time when “the Kingdom of God will come in all its fullness.  Then the just will reign with Jesus Christ for ever, glorified in…

Purgatory: Therapy of Divine Love November is the month when we remember those who have died and we pray for the souls in purgatory.  Purgatory is not specifically mentioned in the bible but the doctrine of purgatory is a beautiful development which holds in unity two ideas that might appear to be contradictory. The doctrine…