Jesus calms our storms in life13th Week in Ordinary Time: Tuesday 2nd July 2019Gen. 19:15-29; Ps. 26(25):2-3,9-10,11-12; Mt. 8:23-27 (Ps Wk I) Matthew presents his Gospel material in such a way as to draw deeper meaning out of it. Originally this was simply a miracle story, but in Matthew’s context it is a lesson in…
Following Christ...regardless of the cost!13th Week in Ordinary Time: Monday 1st July 2019Gen. 18:16-33; Ps. 103(102):1-2,3-4,8-9, 10-11; Mt. 8:18-22 (Ps Wk I) We live in a moral universe. There is ‘right’ and ‘wrong’, and we are accountable. This is a comforting thought, especially when we are faced with the profound injustice and corruption of our…
World Communications Sunday13th Week in Ordinary Time: Sunday 30th June 20191 Kgs 19:16,19-21; Ps. 16(15):1-2,5,7-8, 9-10,11; Gal. 5:1,13-18; Lk. 9:51-62 (Ps Wk I) Through concrete stories, Scripture teaches us lessons which nowadays we would express in more abstract terms — lessons about commitment and responsibilities, personality types and character differences, generosity and unconditional love, reluctance…
Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, ApostlesFeast of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles: Saturday 29th June 2019Acts 12:1-11; Ps. 34(33):2-3,4-5,6-7,8-9; 2 Tim. 4:6-8,17-18; Mt. 16:13-19 (Psalter proper) This was a time of great persecution of the church. James was killed and then Peter was arrested during the Passover season — just like Jesus. Peter was…
The Most Sacred Heart of JesusSolemnity of The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus: Friday 28th June 2019Ez. 34:11-16; Ps. 23(22):1-4,5,6; Rom. 5:5-11; Lk.15:3-7 (Psalter proper) The Opening Prayer for the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is “…we rejoice in the gift of love we have received from the Heart of Jesus, Your Son.”…
12th Week in Ordinary Time12th Week in Ordinary Time: Thursday 27th June 2019Gen. 16:1-12,15-16; Ps. 105:1-2,3-5; Mt. 7:21-29 (Ps Wk IV) It is a pity that the verses of Gen. 16:13-14 were omitted from today’s first reading. They would have provided a comforting hint that, even in the harshest of events, the God who loves…
12th Week in Ordinary Time12th Week in Ordinary Time: Wednesday 26th June 2019Gen. 15:1-12,17-18; Ps. 105(104):1-2,3-4, 6-7,8-9; Mt. 7:15-20 (Ps Wk IV ) Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel can easily apply to the Church in our present age, beset as it is with the appalling sexual abuse scandal throughout the world. It will have come…
12th Week in Ordinary Time12th Week in Ordinary Time: Tuesday 25th June 2019Gen. 13:2,5-18; Ps. 15(14):2-4,5; Mt. 7:6,12-14 (Ps Wk IV ) Abram and Lot went their separate ways, for they both had great possessions and there wasn’t room on the land to support all their livestock. Abram gave Lot the choice of land and…
The Nativity of St John the BaptistThe Nativity of St John the Baptist: Monday 24th June 2019Is. 49:1-6; Ps. 139(138):1-3,13-15; Acts 13:22-26; Lk. 1:57-66,80 John the Baptist was born under strange circumstances. Now the time had come for his parents to name the child. The relatives and neighbours who had gathered for the ceremony expected…
The Most Holy Body and Blood of the Lord (C)Corpus Christi Sunday: 23rd June 2019Gen. 14:18-20; Ps. 110(109):1,2,3,4; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; Lk. 9:11-17 (Psalter proper) So often throughout the Bible God’s loving care for his people is expressed in terms of food and drink. Melchizedek blessed Abraham with gifts of bread and wine, for they…