Thoughts and Reflections

Isaiah 45:1, 4-6/ Ps 96(95) 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5b/ Matthew 22:15-21 When I was at primary school, a very long time ago now, we were taken to see a film called A Man for All Seasons. It is the story of Saint Thomas More. As Lord Chancellor of England, appointed by King Henry VIII, Thomas was the second most powerful man in the country but this did not save him from arrest, imprisonment and execution. A husband and father languishing in the Tower of London, all he had to do wa

Isaiah 25:6-10a/ Ps 23(22)/ Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20/ Matthew 22:1-14 I often suggest the first reading and the psalm today for funerals. In our darkest hours these words speak of a future beyond death. The prophet Isaiah gives us a glimpse of heaven. On the mountain, the Lord of hosts prepares a feast of rich food and fine wine for all peoples, he will remove the mourning veil, overcome death and wipe away tears from every face. The psalm, so familiar to us as the hymn The

Isaiah 5:1-7/ Ps 80(79)/ Philippians 4:6-9/ Matthew 21:33-43 Just days before Germany invaded Poland in 1939 initiating the second world war, Pope Pius XII made one last desperate appeal. It was a plea from a man who could see what was coming, his words, ‘Nothing is lost with peace, everything may be lost with war’ were not heeded. The rest is history, with devastation, death, and injury across Europe. Pope Pius XII could be considered a prophet because it was exactly what Is

Ezekiel 18:25-28/ Ps 25(24)/ Philippians 2:1-5/ Matthew 21:28-32 Let us return to the night before Jesus died, to Peter, the one Jesus chose to lead his Church on earth. This was the man who promised that even if he had to die he would never deny Jesus. This was a resounding yes to Jesus but then just a few hours later he denied knowing Jesus, not once, but three times. The yes had so quickly turned to no. But Peter did not leave it there, he wept bitterly when he realised wh

Isaiah 55:6-9/ Ps 145(144)/ Philippians 1:20c-24, 27a/ Matthew 20:1-16 Remember one of the criminals crucified with Jesus. He was at the end of his life, crucified for the crimes he had committed, when he said to Jesus those wonderful words, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ Jesus responded to him saying, 'today you will be with me in paradise.' On the face of it this crucified criminal had done nothing to earn a place in heaven, no lifetime of good works,