Saturday, 16th August 2025

Be as Little Children – Saturday Week 19 in Ordinary Time

‘For it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.’ (Matthew 19:14)

There is a scene in the book To Kill a Mockingbird where Atticus, a lawyer, is sitting outside the county jail in the middle of the night watching over a black prisoner, Tom Robinson, whom he has been unable to defend against a charge of raping a girl. A lynch mob of men comes to get Tom. A tense standoff follows. Unexpectedly, Atticus’ two children turn up to see why he is not home. Their innocence dissipates this tense situation and the mob leaves. I sometimes think that the children in today’s gospel had a similar effect on what was happening – a large crowd had come to listen to Jesus but there were some Pharisees intent on asking Jesus some difficult questions about divorce..

Friday, 15th August 2025

God Keeps his Promises – Solemnity The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

‘He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.’ (Luke 1:54-55)

The Assumption is one of the great Marian feasts. It is the culmination of all that God promised to humanity. Mary is the model for the faithful. Her trust in God’s Word from the message of Gabriel at the Annunciation, her fiat, has come to fruition. After her earthly journey, she is assumed body and soul into heaven. Mary goes before us in the ultimate fulfilment of God’s promise to which we aspire in the fulness of time..

Thursday, 14th August 2025

Openness of Heart – Memorial St Maximilian Kolbe, priest, martyr

‘Forgive your brother or sister from your heart’ (Matthew 18:35)

Three weeks ago, I was privileged to witness our daughter’s 35-week scan: the baby’s powerful, regular beating heart tracking across the screen was unforgettable. The other data on the screen was not nearly as significant..

Wednesday, 13th August 2025

The Good Samaritan – Wednesday Week 19 in Ordinary Time

‘For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.’ (Matthew 18:20)

In today’s Gospel, Jesus offers a profound framework for conflict resolution within the Christian community. His words are not merely procedural—they are deeply relational, rooted in love, humility, and the pursuit of restored communion..

Tuesday, 12th August 2025

A Constant Delight – Tuesday Week 19 in Ordinary Time

‘So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.’ (Matthew 18:14)

Being a parent is a constant process of making priorities. Knowing that you really don’t have a chance of getting through all the things on the list, you decide what is most important and work from there, hoping you get to the most important of the tasks..

Monday, 11th August 2025

Attuned to the Bigger Picture – Memorial St. Clare, virgin

‘The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised.’ And they were greatly distressed.’ (Matthew 17:22-23)

Today’s Gospel is the second occasion when Jesus foretells His death and resurrection. Previously, it was Peter who reacted violently to this news protesting “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” Jesus chastises Peter telling him that he is ‘a stumbling block…for you are setting your mind not on divine things, but on human things.’ (Matthew 16:22-23) The response of the disciples in today’s reading ‘they were greatly distressed’ is a little more muted but clearly shows both their concern for Jesus and their inability to understand the full import of Jesus’ forewarning, that his death and resurrection are necessary..

Sunday, 10th August 2025

Sacred Anticipation – 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

‘You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.’ Luke 12:40

I have an evening routine that helps me get ready for the following day. I pick out what I’m going to wear; I get my lunch ready; check my calendar; and set my alarm. It prepares me for my plans for the following day, but how am I ready for God’s plans for my day?..

Saturday, 9th August 2025

Trusting in the ordinary and yet extraordinary – Saturday, Week 18 in Ordinary Time

‘When they came to the crowd, a man came to him, knelt before him, and said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly.’ (Mt 17:14)

I am always a little suspect of street corner preachers. I am suspect of their certainty, of their black and white approach to life, while life is more a never-ending grey with questions that are not easily answered. Life is not all chocolates and roses nor is it all pain and loss. Life has its ups and downs, good times and bad – it is a journey. Faith, trust, belief are not destinations but cobble stones on life’s journey..

Friday, 8th August 2025

Embracing Daily Dependence – Solemnity St Mary of the Cross, virgin

‘So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own.’ (Matthew 10:16)

As I write this, it is the Monday after the weekend readings about prayer. The message that resonated with me from those readings was the ‘dailiness’ of prayer, reflecting an ongoing dependence on God. Jesus encourages us to pray persistently and authentically, continually bringing the cry of our hearts before God. Reflecting on Paul’s advice to the Philippians, I realise that when I feel anxious, perhaps it’s a sign that I am not in every situation letting my ‘requests be known to God.’ (Phil 4:6-7)..

Thursday, 7th August 2025

He Remains a Suffering Christ – Thursday, Week 18 in Ordinary Time

‘From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering…’ (Mt 16:21)

The question, ‘Who do people say I am?’ is one easily answered, and the apostles do so without hesitation: ‘A prophet, like one of the prophets of old.’ But the real nub of today’s Gospel is the rather more difficult: ‘But who do you say that I am?’..