Opening to the Grace of Holy Week

Entering into the experience of Jesus, his pain, sorrow and suffering, will increase our appreciation for what he has done for us and increase our love for him.

The Gospel is that God responds to our weakness and woundedness with compassion and mercy. Jesus doesn’t condemn this woman before him; he forgives her, he shows her mercy. He tells her to sin no more, but he acts with compassion. He meets her misery with mercy

This story of the prodigal son is one of the most moving portrayals of God's loving compassion for his people. It is a real family story about breakups and reconciliation, about love that covers all sorts of failings and about love to the end. It is about a father who never stopped loving and never gave up on his son.

The image of the fig tree which is supposed to bear fruit is a symbol of our lives that are meant to be lived according to the purpose of God, the purpose for which we were created.

The Transfiguration confirms for us that there is a spiritual reality that is much greater and more beautiful than the ordinary world of matter that we experience around us. Jesus, through his Transfiguration, confirms for us that he is the Christ, the Son of God. In him rests our whole faith. Let us listen to him.

During Lent we called to identify our temptations, and fight against the things that hold us captive, the habits and addictions, the slavery to sin.

What are my words saying about me? Jesus says that our words flow out of what fills our hearts. Our words reveal our inner lives, and they have a powerful influence on what our hearts are like.

Make no mistake, this is Jesus’ most difficult teaching. This teaching is what sets Christianity apart from other religions, philosophies, psychologies, and even basic common sense. This teaching of Jesus defines the core of Christian ethics and who we are as Christians.

The key to understanding the biblical path to happiness is: “Blessed the one who has placed his trust in the Lord”

In the same way that Mary and Joseph literally were entrusted with keeping Jesus alive, we need to keep him alive within ourselves and in others."

Today we consider what darkness and difficulty we have or may be still experiencing that the light of Christ can dispel. The light of Christ comes to the temples of our lives to bring hope and comfort.

The power of the Word of God is that is it always has the potential to be fulfilled in our hearing.

Jesus transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary, just as His death and resurrection transform humanity’s relationship with God.

This feast of the Baptism of the Lord calls for a response: to receive the revelation of God and live in communion with him.

Homily for the Solemnity of the Epiphany – 7 January 2024

God delights in showing himself to us so that our yearning for him can be fully satisfied. His love is humble, beautiful, and true, reaching into our lives with salvation today.

Human families are joyous and messy, yet called to holiness.

Today, we celebrate the birth of our Saviour, a tiny baby born to humble parents in a stable. This is no ordinary story; it is the drama of God reaching out to save us. The angel’s announcement to the shepherds—"To us is born this day a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord"—speaks to the deep longing in our hearts.

Mary, our model of Advent, helps us prepare with her trust, courage, and readiness to bring Christ to birth in the world.

The joy we have as Christians is not dependent on our circumstances.

God speaks to those with hearts that are humble and open.