* Isaiah 49:3,5-6 – *1 Corinthians 1:1-3 – * John 1:29-34 The Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, leads us along almost the same path as the previous Sunday. Once again, we return to the River Jordan and to the event of Jesus’ baptism. This time, however, we are no longer direct witnesses of the…
I once lived in community for several years with an Oblate brother who was wonderfully generous and pious to a fault. But he struggled to pick up symbol and metaphor. He took things literally. For him, what the words said is what they meant! This caused him considerable confusion and consternation when each day praying…
How can Scripture draw us more deeply to God? One ancient Christian practice offers a path: lectio divina, Latin for ‘sacred reading.’ It is one of the earliest forms of Christian prayer, long recommended by the Church as a way to let the Bible come alive in our hearts. From the beginning, Christians followed the…
Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7; Psalm 29 (28); Acts 10:34-38; Matthew 3:13-17 ===== “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased” Matt 3:13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptised by him. Matt3:14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptised by you,…
Remember the song lyrics: “What the world needs now is love, sweet love!” It’s hard to disagree with such a sentiment, especially at the present time when nations and people are at war with each other. Love is a beautiful thing, and we could use more of it. However, the world is in need of…
Readings: Isaiah 2:1-5; Ps 122 (121); Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:37-44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour Matt 24:37 [Jesus said] For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Matt 24:38 For as in…
Exodus 17:8-13 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2 Luke 18:1-8 How does one obtain an identity card, a passport, or a certificate of good conduct? You submit an application, attach the required documents, and wait. But what about gaining access to a good hospital, finding decent employment, or securing social housing? Is it enough to file the…
Jesus told his disciples a parable about the need to pray continually and never lose heart. Prayer is a mystery. Today we are being taught about the necessity of intercessory prayer and persevering in order not to lose heart- to pray every day. The examples of Moses with uplifted arms and the widow’s relentless pursuit of…
Why did early Christianity alight on the ideal of virginity, when an intelligent or even just a suspicious Roman could see that its adoption would undermine the very fabric of ancient society?” That’s a comment from historian Kate Cooper and it poses some questions worth examining. Does the single state, celibacy, (vowed or otherwise) undermine…
Exodus 17:8-13; Psalm 121 (120); 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2; Luke 18:1-8 Jesus told a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart Luke 18:1 Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. Luke 18:2 He said, “In a certain city there was…
Fr Dominik Domagala
Fr Ronald Rolheiser
Fr John McCarthy