Unless a grain of wheat dies My father was a gardener all his life. We were lucky enough to have a very large garden at home.  All through the year it was filled with a huge variety of vegetables, plants and flowers. In spring he would sow seeds. They would grow slowly and silently and...

Jesus is lifted up for all to see In Jewish history Moses is a key figure. He led the people from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land. Before they reached the Promised Land they had to pass through the desert and this was not always an easy experience for them! While they...

Jesus disturbs the peace If you ‘Google’ the name Jesus and search images, there are countless pictures and paintings of Jesus; some old, some very modern. He is often presented as the kind and peaceful Messiah. A popular image of Jesus is him as the Good Shepherd carrying a sheep on his shoulders. These are...

On the mountain with Jesus We often use the phrase ‘peak moments’ to talk about and describe important or significant experiences. The gospel today is one of those ‘peak moments’ for Jesus and those who are with him. Jesus takes his three of his friends, Peter, James and John away from the market place and...

Jesus is tempted and tested Having started our Lenten journey on Ash Wednesday, we now find ourselves in the desert with Jesus as he is tempted and tested. Mark’s account of Jesus in the desert is short, sharp and very direct; Jesus is in the desert with the wild beasts. This is as real and...

Our journey towards Easter begins My brother Stephen is a marathon runner. Obviously he doesn’t just wake up and decide to run a marathon that day! Running a marathon takes preparation, patience and perseverance. It also takes a lot of time, training and discipline. He has to make sacrifices as he trains and prepares. He...

Jesus heals the leper The message of healing that we heard about in the gospel last Sunday continues today when a leper comes to Jesus and asks to be healed. The Jewish regulations and laws regarding leprosy are clearly outlined in the first reading from the Book of Leviticus. Those who are lepers are to...

Jesus heals those who are sick Today, even with the help of medical staff, chemists and modern medicine, we all still get sick and suffer from pain of one sort another. A small matter of a toothache can cause many a sleepless night! Things were very different and far worse at the time of Jesus....

The authority, words and action of Jesus In the gospel today the impact of the words of Jesus are seen in real concrete action. He heals a man who is sick and who has neither control nor authority over his own body. Not so with Jesus. When Jesus speaks he orders the evil spirits to...

God is still calling us! In last Sunday’s readings we heard how God called Samuel and how both John the Baptist and Andrew introduced others to Jesus. Today this theme and message continues in our readings. In the first reading we hear about Jonah. ‘The Lord said to Jonah, get up, go and proclaim the...