David has to be one of the most attractive personalities of the whole Bible. When the prophet Samuel was sent to anoint a new king of Israel, David was not even considered a possibility by his father Jesse. He was the youngest, a shepherd. But Samuel insisted that Jesse call...
Well, I had a lovely break in Alicante with some priest friends. Plenty of sunshine and good food, although in the shade it could be chilly! Alicante has a lot of history and much of it is centred around St. Barbara’s castle and fortress, parts of which go back...
The people of Nazareth thought of themselves as faithful Jews. But when Jesus tells them that their faith is lacking they get so angry that they want to lynch him. Why would Jesus appear to provoke them so? We perhaps get a clue from the remark made by one of...
The presence of Jesus in person in his home town synagogue was electric. St. Luke’s account of what happened when Jesus did the reading and commented upon it conveys the powerful presence Jesus had. He is self-assured, deliberate; he is strong and clear; and his words about the scripture being...
At the moment of his conception in the womb of Mary by the Holy Spirit, the Son of God began to exist as the man Jesus. You could say that, at that moment, God the Father said, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.” At the moment...
Lead, Kindly Light, amidst th’encircling gloom, lead thou me on! The night is dark, and I am far from home, lead thou me on! Keep thou my feet: I do not ask to see the distant scene; one step enough for me. This first verse from the famous poem of...
In his or her own way, each of the three members of the Holy Family put God before each other. They did not make God just one priority among others but subjected their entire lives to God’s will. The Holy Family is holy precisely because it arose from unreserved obedience...
You can’t think of Christmas without thinking of home. We have all experienced at different times in our lives the need just to go home, to stay at home. It’s hard really to describe what home is. The word itself conjures up all sorts of feelings and certainties, all manner...
As you go a-visiting over the festive season you will certainly be bringing with you a gift to your loved ones and friends. Whatever gift you bring, your main gift will be yourself, your presence, your company, your love. In listening to the Gospel of the visitation of Mary to...
The readings of this Sunday are the last ones of Advent which focus mainly on the second coming of Jesus at the end of time. They are bursting with joy and anticipation. In the first reading, Israel is invited to sing and shout for joy, to exult with all her...
