It often happens that when we tell another person something that has happened to us, we are not believed. We share an experience in good faith, hoping to be listened to and believed, but the opposite happens. This can upset and even anger us. In the gospel this Sunday, as Jesus sends out his disciples,...

In last Sunday’s gospel, Jesus told his disciples and us that was going to be put to death and to be raised on the third day. In the gospel for this Sunday, this is made very clear again, as Jesus resolutely took the road to Jerusalem, the place of his passion and resurrection. But even...

Today we are surrounded by celebrities. There is no end to the amount of ‘reality’ programmes on television. Our newsagents are full of magazines telling us about where they live, how much they’re worth and far too information about their lives. But it is far from real. Celebrities change their look and style far too...

Jesus loved a good meal and ate with anyone who invited and welcomed him to their table. This is the setting for this Sunday’s gospel. While eating with the Pharisees, a woman silently enters the room. She washed Jesus’ feet with her tears and anointed his feet with oil. This took great courage. Given her...

The Gospel of Luke is often called ‘The Women’s Gospel’, and for good reason. There are more encounters with Jesus and women in Luke than in any of the other gospels. Beginning with Mary and Elizabeth, Jesus cured Peter’s mother-in law, he healed the woman who had been suffering with a haemorrhage for twelve years,...

In the gospels there are plenty of times when Jesus is with people eating and drinking and today’s gospel is no exception. As always, Jesus is concerned with people and their real needs. They are hungry, so he feeds them. He is gracious in his abundant giving. But he feeds them not only with food;...

There is no end to the topics and things that we can now ‘Google’ on the internet. However, the Trinity is not one of them! No matter how hard we try, we will never fully understand this deep mystery. And although we can’t even begin to get hold of or grasp the fullness of the...

If ever there was a line of poetry that captures the energy and power of Pentecost Sunday, it is this line from Gerard Manley Hopkins poem, ‘God’s Grandeur,’ ‘the world is charged with the splendour of God’. The Resurrection of Jesus reaches its powerful climax with an out pouring of life, light and energy for...

Our gospel last Sunday hinted at the Christ’s ascension, this Sunday, in both the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles and the Gospel of Luke we have two accounts of the Ascension. The earthly mission and ministry of Jesus are now over and he is now returning to sit at the right hand...

Having experienced the pain and sorrow of the crucifixion, then the joy and new life of the resurrection, the followers of Jesus now have to face the reality of the Risen Lord’s departure – again. He senses their confusion, pain and sense of loss. But before he leaves them, he gives those two parting gifts;...