Of all the animals that walked off the Ark two by two with Noah leading them, I bet the humble sheep never realised that they would be subjected for the rest of history to the most malicious form of social profiling. Just because they are white, woolly, and cuddly we label them stupid – almost...

The Resurrection account of the two disciples on their way to Emmaus is, without doubt, one of the best remembered and frequently recounted stories in the Gospels. That is as it should be, because it is written with a sensitivity and compassion that reaches out to us, drawing us along on a gentle journey towards...

Gospel Reflection for the Second Sunday of Easter Sunday April 16th 2023 “The evil men do lives after them. The good is oft’ interred with their bones…” As always, Shakespeare has a way of getting to the heart of matters. It is so true that we are remembered for the poor choices we make rather...

Gospel Reflection for Easter Sunday April 9th 2023 Several years ago I was leading an Easter Vigil Mass, as part of a Directed Retreat experience. The liturgy was well planned, there was a small, intimate group of people taking part and the setting was lovely. As part of the celebration the newly lit Pascal Candle...

“And so… it begins again…” This is, I will admit, the way I usually feel as Holy Week begins each year. Yes, I know it all works out well in the end, and yes, I know the Gospels were written in light of the Resurrection, but the rest of the week leading up to Easter...

Gospel Reflection Sunday March 19th 2023, Fourth Sunday of Lent “This man cannot be from God: he does not keep the sabbath.” Thus spoke the Pharisees in today’s Gospel. They used these words to condemn Jesus for restoring sight to a blind man on the sabbath. Imagine! Because he spat on the ground, made a...

Gospel Reflection Sunday March 12th 2023, Third Sunday of Lent If you read the longer version of this today’s Gospel, you are liable to get lost in a debate about marriage and divorce or a longer reflection on the correct place to worship God. Even the shorter version contains some of this reflection. Of the...

Gospel Reflection Sunday March 5th 2023, Second Sunday of Lent It is human to seek reassurance at times. In moments of self-doubt or when we feel overwhelmed by situations or events, it is healthy to reach out to someone we trust, not so they can solve or take away the issues we face, but simply...

Matthew begins today’s Gospel telling us that Jesus was “led by the Spirit out into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” Interestingly, Mark begins his account of the temptations of Jesus using a different verb. In Mark, “Jesus is driven by the Spirit into the desert…” Mark’s word is stronger and more urgent,...

Last week’s Gospel stretched good will to its breaking point when Jesus told us that, not only must we not kill, but we must not even harbor angry thoughts against a person who hurts or betrays us. That’s a lot to ask, and we might well say to ourselves, “after this, it has to get...