Reflections

In Time of Lockdown Lockdown is a new word for most of us.  In the days after the crucifixion of Jesus, the disciples were in lockdown behind closed doors, paralysed in fear and anxiety. When tyrants start killing it rarely stops at one.  Violence is a highly contagious virus. It is understandable that the disciples…

Christ is Risen I like the story about an ageing flower-lady with an outdoor stall.  Her clothes were old and shabby, her face weather-beaten and wrinkled. A regular customer asked how she was always in good form.  “It’s my friend Jesus”, she replied. “Good Friday was the worst of days.  Three days later, Easter Sunday,…

Jesus the Wounded Healer “Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, who leads us in our faith and brings it to perfection:  for the sake of the joy which lay ahead of him, he endured the cross, disregarding the shame of it, and has taken his seat at the right of God’s throne”.  (Heb….

High Mountain, Great Vision Jesus took three apostles, Peter, James and John with him up a high mountain where they could be alone.  From a mountain height one gets a panoramic view of the winding of rivers, the meeting of roads, the outline of fields.  It is an experience that opens up the mind.  The…

Temptations of Jesus The story of the forbidden fruit is the prototype of all temptation.  The devil is the father of lies and deception.  The most successful deception is the half-truth which is like the tasty bait used to lure the fish.  The devil begins by planting a doubt in the minds of Adam and…

According to Pope Francis, what Jesus set up was a revolution of tenderness … replacing bitterness and hatred with a love that refuses to be contaminated by the wrongdoing of another.  He advanced from what was said in the past to “but I say to you … offer the wicked man no resistance … turn…

A Weed or a Flower When Jesus visited Jerusalem as a twelve year-old he had a long discussion with the leading Jewish teachers.  He was far from impressed and told Mary and Joseph that one day he would devote himself to addressing the problem.  Some of the great prophets claimed that the covenant between God…

No Plan B Here’s a made-up yarn.  Imagine when Jesus in his Ascension returned to heaven.  The angels greet him like the crowd welcoming home the All Ireland champions.  One angel asked, “Did you convert all the great leaders and philosophers?”  He replied, “Not really, I got on better with the ordinary people.”  Another angel…

How time flies!  Today it’s forty days after Christmas, a significant timespan.  Forty days was the duration of the fast of Jesus and the time between his resurrection and ascension. Today is also known as Candlemas Day marking the closure of Christmas as the season of light.  Simeon, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit,…