5th Week of LentSunday, 7th April 2019Is. 43:16-21; Ps. 126(125):1-3,4-5,6; Phil. 3:8-14; Jn. 8:1-11 (Ps Wk I) Today’s readings give us powerful messages. Firstly, it tells of the almighty God who is above all circumstances. Prophet Isaiah reminded us of the protecting power of God by recalling the Crossing of the Red Sea where we…
4th Week of LentSaturday, 6th April 2019Jer. 11:18-20; Ps. 8(7):2-3,9-10,11-12; Jn. 7:40-52 (Ps Wk IV) The Prophet Jeremiah, who suffered much, is often taken as a pre-figure of Jesus. Jeremiah sees himself “like a trusting lamb led to slaughter”. This image was also used by Isaiah in describing God’s Suffering Servant and so came to…
4th Week of LentFriday, 5th April 2019Wis. 2:1,12-22; Ps. 34(33):17-18,19-20,21,23; Jn. 7:1-2,10,25-30 (Ps Wk IV) A truly righteous and holy person is very threatening to some people. They see in this person everything that they are not. Rather than changing themselves, they want to destroy the one who makes them feel uncomfortable. They sometimes torment…
4th Week of LentThursday, 4th April 2019Ex. 32:7-14; Ps. 106(105):19-20,21-22,23; Jn. 5:31-47 (Ps Wk IV) Unfortunately politicians have a rather bad name today. This is a pity because politics are an essential part of life. When, for example, Mum and Dad bargain with little son or daughter and get him or her to do another…
4th Week of LentWednesday, 3rd April 2019Is. 49:8-15; Ps. 145(144):8-9,13-14,17-18; Jn. 5:17-30 (Ps Wk IV) In the gospel passage today, John the Evangelist provides the answers to two key questions. Firstly, what gives Jesus the right to ‘work’ on the Sabbath by healing the sick. Secondly, what gives Jesus the right to call God his…
4th Week of LentTueday, 2nd April 2019Ez. 47:1-9,12; Ps. 46(45):2-3,5-6,8-9; Jn. 5:1-3,5-16 (Ps Wk IV) Physical suffering can have a deadening effect on the mind and spirit — as the story from John’s Gospel today reveals. The man who had been sick for thirty-eight years was obviously waiting for the movement of the waters and…
4th Week of Lent Monday, 1st April 2019Is. 65:17-21; Ps. 30(29):2,4,5-6,11-12,13; Jn. 4:43-54 (Ps Wk IV) In our broken, bleeding, and fearful world, many long for a new heaven and a new earth. It would be wonderful if we lived in a world of abundance, peace, prosperity, and happiness. Many would say that this wish…
4th Week of LentSunday, 31st March 2019Josh. 5:9,10-12; Ps. 34(33):2-3,4-5,6-7; 2 Cor. 5:17-21; Lk. 15:1-3,11-32 (Ps Wk IV) The manna in the desert was a very concrete sign of God's special providence for Israel at a difficult time in their journey. The manna was a very special grace. The Book of Joshua records, however, that…
3th Week of LentSaturday, 30th March 2019Hos. 5:15b-6:6; Ps. 51(50):3-4,18-19,20-21; Lk. 18:9-14 (Ps Wk III) For the people of Israel, there was only one legitimate response to what they believed to be God’s punishment: repentance. No excuses, no arrogance, no bargaining — just humble submission to God’s actions and a plea for forgiveness. This is…
3th Week of LentFriday, 29th March 2019Hos. 14:2-10; Ps. 81(80):6-9,10-11,14,17 Mk. 12:28-34 (Ps Wk III) Hosea was an Old Testament prophet. A prophet was a person who brought God’s message to the people, and it was often a challenging one. Earlier Hosea had been dwelling on Israel's betrayal of the covenant with God and here…