Thoughts and Reflections

Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13/ Ps 146(145)/ 1 Corinthians 1:26-31/ Matthew 5:1-12a We live in a time when the loudest voices get the most attention, when self-promotion is considered a virtue, when influence is measured by followers and 'likes'. We are surrounded by a culture that tells us to market ourselves, to climb the ladder, to make our mark on the world. The truth we learn today is that God's way is different. The readings today call us to change, they present us with a radic

Isaiah 9:1b-4/ Ps 27(26)/ 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17/ Matthew 4:12-17 We live in a world powered by electricity. We flip a switch, and there is light. We adjust a thermostat, and warmth fills our homes. We plug in our devices, and we are connected to the world. We take this power for granted, until suddenly, we do not have it anymore. The recent storm reminded us of this reality in a dramatic way. When the power went out, some of our homes and businesses sat in darkness for da

Isaiah 49:3, 5-6/ Ps 40(39)/ 1 Corinthians 1:1-3/ John 1:29-34 As the memory of Christmas recedes we are called to recognise who the baby born in a stable so long ago is and what he means to us in our lives. John the Baptist gives us the answer with the words: "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." These words are so familiar to us, we hear them at every Mass. The priest lifts the consecrated host and makes John's proclamation: "Behold the Lamb of God

Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7/ Ps 29(28)/ Acts 10:34-38/ Matthew 3:13-17 Few of us will remember our baptism with most being newly born babies when our parents brought us to church with our godparents and promised to bring us up in the faith. It is a useful reminder today of what that baptism meant for us. Baptism is the first and most important of the sacraments because it is the normal way to salvation and is the gateway sacrament without which none of the other sacraments can be rece

Sirach 24:1-2, 8-12/ Ps 147/ Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-18/ John 1:1-5, 9-14 What presents did we receive this Christmas? As the day recedes in our memory let us again consider the greatest gift we have been given. While the world has already packed away Christmas, moving on to sales and resolutions, we are still here, still standing at the manger, still pondering the incredible mystery of who this child is. So we should be, because this isn't just a nice holiday story that fades wi