Reflections

The Unconditional Love of God This Sunday’s Gospel (Matt 5:38-48) is the fourth excerpt from the Sermon on the Mount, the charter of the Kingdom of God, the description of a Christian life. Last Sunday Jesus gave us a new understanding of three commandments, moving from what “You have learnt from what is said” to…

The Commandments are guidelines to Virtues Jesus proclaimed that his mission was to bring people back from evil ways to the reign of God in their lives.  His words were backed up by healing people and casting out evil spirits. The charter of his kingdom was set out in the Sermon on the Mount.  Today’s…

The Christian Identity Card Ghandi’s favourite reading was the Sermon on the Mount, especially the Beatitudes.  He was deeply impressed by the life of Jesus Christ but not by the lives of Christians.  Last week our Gospel was about the mission of Jesus to restore the world to the reign of God.  Today we start…

The voice of John the Baptist is now silenced behind prison walls.  It is time for Jesus to begin his mission.  He leaves his home and work in Nazareth and settles initially in Capernaum, a lakeside town not too far away.  There he begins his preaching with a short but challenging message.  “Repent, for the…

The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world This Sunday’s Gospel (John 1:29-34) begins with John the Baptist pointing towards Jesus and saying, “Look, there is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.”  His words are repeated at Mass in order to alert us to the…

Mary, Mother of God and Mother of the Church  The liturgical celebration of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, has been ascribed to several different dates down through the ages.  The liturgical reform which prepared the way for the Second Vatican Council prompted the restoration of the feast to January 1st, the completion of the…

The Reason for the Season is Jesus 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 snowy…

Two great prophets, Isaiah and John the Baptist, stride into our liturgical readings for the Second Sunday of Advent.  We usually think of prophets as people who foretell the future but that is only partially true.  The real meaning of prophecy is the unveiling and proclamation of God’s presence in dark and difficult times. Prophets…

Advent is the season of Hope Dark November will soon be past, and in the Church’s calendar, today is the First Sunday of Advent, the beginning of the new liturgical year.  Advent means coming and it has three dimensions: the past coming of Christ at the first Christmas; the future coming of Christ at the…