Reflections

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,…

Introducing Matthew Matthew will provide the Sunday gospel readings this year.  There were three stages in the development of each gospel. The foundation was laid in the life and teaching of Jesus.  Then the memory of Jesus was passed on by the developing Christian communities through stories of miracles, in moral teaching and by liturgical…

The Supper of the Lamb “Look, there is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world”.   With these words John the Baptist identified Jesus as the one who would come after him. Up to that time, when people wanted to thank God, or ask for something, especially the forgiveness of guilt,…

The Crushed Reed and Wavering Flame When Jesus entered the water to be baptised by John the Baptist, John declared that he should be the one baptised by Jesus.  Jesus made a strange answer. “Leave it like this … and do all that righteousness demands.” Righteousness is not a very happy word.  It suggests the…