Reflections

The formal instructions for tonight’s liturgy tell me to preach a homily that sheds light on, “the principal mysteries that are commemorated… namely, the institution of the Holy Eucharist and of the priestly order, and the commandment of the Lord concerning fraternal charity.”  That’s a lot to speak to in just a few minutes. I think we grasp the connection

Mass readings for Palm Sunday of the Passion of our Lord:Mark 11.1-10 Isaiah 50.4-7 Psalm 22.7-8, 16-19, 22-23 Philippians 2.6-11 Mark 14.1-15.47 The changes to the liturgical calendar in the wake of Vatican II saw Passion Sunday, celebrated on the 5th Sunday of Lent, that would have been last week, moved to the 6th Sunday, that is Palm Sunday which

Mass readings for the 5th Sunday of Lent:Jeremiah 31.31-34 Psalm 51.1-2,10-13 Hebrews 5.7-9 John 12.20-33 In our gospel reading we find an interesting chain of events. The apostles are approached by people described as “Greeks” – they want to meet Jesus. These disciples in turn tell Jesus of the request; and in hearing this, Jesus is prompted to declare, “The

Not to repeat myself on the gospels we hear at scrutiny masses, but they are long. And as a preacher, the cue I take from this, is that the gospel is, as it always is, the principal expression of God’s word. Indeed, it is communicating to those with ears to hear far more than anything I could say with hours

The story of the healing of the blind man is a story of perennial relevance to us. It speaks of skepticism, of hostility to Christ, of denial of the efficacious nature of Christian faith and belief in the gospel. And in our current moment in history, we can see how Christianity has been dismissed as irrelevant, blamed for the ills

Mass readings for the 4th Sunday of Lent (Laetare):2 Chronicles 36.14-17a, 19-23 Psalm 137.1-6 Ephesians 2.4-10 John 3.14-21 At the Christmas Eve service, we read a famous passage from Isaiah: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of darkness—on them light has shone.” (Isaiah 9.2). Today, in our gospel, we