Thursday of Week 1 in Ordinary Time Heb 3:7-14Mk 1:40-45 A leper came to Jesus and pleaded on his knees: “If you want to,” he said, “you can cure me.” I have been writing for Oxygen for probably ten years or more now. Sometimes, reflections don’t come easily; you’ve really got to dig deep into... Continue Reading →
1 July, Friday – The Church is for Sinners & the Sick
Friday of Week 13 in Ordinary Time Amo 8:4-6, 9-12 Mt 9:9-13 “...I did not come to call the virtuous, but sinners.” The well and the sick in the gospel are figurative expressions for the righteous and sinners. In today’s gospel context, the Pharisees were included among the former, not on account of their righteousness... Continue Reading →
29 March, Tuesday — Do You Want to Be Well?
Tuesday of the 4th Week of Lent Ez 47:1-9,12Jn 5:1-16 "Wherever the river flows... and flowing into the sea, it makes its waters wholesome... they will bear new fruit every month, because this water comes from the sanctuary." Something struck me reading the words spoken by the ill man who laid near the pool of... Continue Reading →
21 March, Monday — On Healing
Monday of the 3rd Week of Lent 2 Kgs 5:1-15Lk 4:24-30 But his servants approached him and said, 'My father, if the prophet had asked you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? All the more reason, then, when he says to you, ‘"Bathe and you will become clean.”' Lent is a... Continue Reading →
1 February, Tuesday – Salvation is Offered to All
Tuesday of Week 4 in Ordinary Time 2 Sam 18:9-10,14,24-25,30-19:3 Mk 5:21-43 "My daughter, your faith has restored you to health; go in peace and be free from your complaint." Continuing with the salvation story from yesterday’s gospel concerning the demoniac, Jesus continues with his healing touches in the two ladies he encountered today --... Continue Reading →
15 November, Monday – Believe in Healing
Nov 15 – Memorial for St. Albert the Great, bishop, religious, doctor St. Albertus (1206-1280) was the son of a military nobleman. A Dominican priest, he taught theology at Colgone and Paris and was the teacher of St. Thomas Aquinas. He was an influential teacher, preacher, and administrator, and became the Bishop of Regensburg. He introduced... Continue Reading →
10 November, Wednesday — Full Circle
Nov 10 – Memorial for St. Leo the Great, pope, doctor St. Leo (c.400 – 461) was born of Italian nobility. He was a strong student, especially in scripture and theology. As a priest, he was an eloquent writer and homilist. He was pope from 440-461 during the time of the invasion of Attila the Hun.... Continue Reading →
5 October, Tuesday – Run-Run-Run. STOP-LISTEN. Trust-Follow.
Tuesday of Week 27 in Ordinary Time Jonah 3:1-10Lk 10:38-42 Mary, who sat down at the Lord’s feet and listened to him speaking... Of late, I have been running a lot. No - I don't mean physically running. I have been running... ... around in my head... around problems and frustrations... fixing others' problems... away... Continue Reading →
8 June, Tuesday — Come, Holy Spirit, Come
Tuesday of Week 10 in Ordinary Time 2 Cor 1:18-22Mt 5:13-16 Remember it is God himself who assures us all… marking us with his seal and giving us the pledge, the Spirit, that we carry in our hearts. My son recently ‘attended’ Pentecost Mass online. He was enjoying the children’s liturgy songs and attentively listening... Continue Reading →
12 November, Thursday — Healing from a Place of Love
Nov 12 – Memorial for St. Josaphat, bishop, religious, martyr John (1580-1623) had a father who was a municipal counsellor, and a mother who was known for her piety. He was raised in the Orthodox Ruthenian Church which, on 23 Nov 1595, in the Union of Brest, united with the Church of Rome. He was... Continue Reading →