Category Archives: Uncategorized

Eight days later, Jesus came. After the joys and exuberance of Easter Sunday and Easter Week, we settle down into the longest Season in the Church’s Year – Eastertide. This period of fifty days is a time of sustained gladness, … Continue reading →

When the Word is proclaimed, it is real and active the Lord is present, and what is described is, in a sense, happening now. On certain days this is made more obvious by the selection of scripture that refers to … Continue reading →

First reading: Isaiah 50:4-7   Second Reading: Philippians 2: 6-11 Gospel Reading: Year B – St Mark’s Gospel RESPONSORIAL PSALM All who see me deride me. They curl their lips, they toss their heads. “He trusted in the Lord, let him … Continue reading →

Third Scrutiny The Gospel of the Fifth Sunday is perhaps the deepest meditation on the mystery of Baptism and membership of the Church. It is a prelude to the events of Easter Sunday, when we celebrate the triumph of life … Continue reading →

Second Scrutiny When we get to Easter, there are two symbols of the resurrection that we use in Church: fire and light (the Easter Candle) and water (the Font). Last week we reflected on water, and this week there are … Continue reading →

First Scrutiny The Gospel of the third Sunday is the remarkable conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman by the well, the theme is water – which gives life, which cleanses, which is so necessary. This reading forms part of … Continue reading →

Lent is a Season of preparation for the whole Paschal Triduum – Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday: not just a time to reflect on the Cross. Often our Lenten devotions can focus exclusively on the Cross, and the … Continue reading →

In the Cycle of Sunday Readings, the oldest are those of Year A in Lent these Gospels have accompanied the Church for many centuries. We must realise why: Lent was originally the time of immediate preparation of candidates for Baptism … Continue reading →

“The leprosy left him at once and he was cured.” Thankfully, we do not encounter leprosy in our culture. It can therefore be difficult to enter into the real depth of today’s readings. We have to understand that leprosy meant … Continue reading →

  He cured many who suffered from diseases of one kind or another. This world, as we know, is a fragile and fallible place, in which we encounter hunger, disease, sickness and death. Jesus proclaims, by his actions of healing, … Continue reading →