Monday, 7th July 2025

Take Heart – Monday Week 14 in Ordinary Time

‘Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, ‘Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.’ (Matthew 9:22)

Jesus’ miracles, as presented in today’s Gospel, are more than simple healings. They are acts of restoration—from social and religious isolation, and even from death itself. The second case is clear enough. Jesus says the little girl is sleeping, which is true in a deeper sense, for before God, death is but a falling asleep in order to awaken in God’s Kingdom. Yet, to demonstrate this truth—and with genuine compassion—Jesus restores her to life..

Sunday, 6th July 2025

Becalmed or Active? – 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

‘Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’ (Luke 10:11)

A sailing boat without a sail will become becalmed and will drift along with the prevailing current. It may still look elegant, even majestic, but it has no purposeful direction..

Saturday, 5th July 2025

What is your new wine? – Saturday Week 13 in Ordinary Time

‘Neither is new wine put into old wineskins; otherwise, the skins burst, and the wine is spilled, and the skins are destroyed; but new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.’ (Matthew 9:17)

The first thing that comes to mind when I read this scripture is a quote often attributed to Albert Einstein – “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” I think that is exactly what Jesus is saying in today’s Gospel..

Friday, 4th July 2025

Apprenticing under Jesus. – Friday Week 13 in Ordinary Time

‘Follow me.’ (Matthew 9:9)

In today’s Gospel, we hear about Jesus calling Matthew into discipleship. Jesus says to the tax collector, ‘Follow me.’ In today’s context, that would be a surprising thing to say to someone, but it was common 2,000 years ago for rabbis to call potential followers into apprenticeship. It was considered an honour to be selected by an influential rabbi to become his disciple..

Thursday, 3rd July 2025

Transforming doubt to faith – Feast St Thomas, apostle

‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails, and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’ (John 20:25)

Ah, my old friend Thomas. The disciple who so publicly had a crisis of faith that reassures me that I am not alone when faith isn’t easy..

Wednesday, 2nd July 2025

A Curious Tale of Demons and Pigs! – Wednesday Week 13 in Ordinary Time

‘What have you to do with us, Son of God?’ (Matthew 8:29)

Deep into gentile country on the far side of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus is confronted by two ‘demoniacs’ lurking among the tombs. You know the story: he casts out the demons, consigns them to a herd of pigs which subsequently hurl themselves into the water and drown. End of story. Well, nearly..

Tuesday, 1st July 2025

The Storm and the Stillness – Tuesday Week 13 in Ordinary Time

‘And he said to them, ‘Why are you afraid, you of little faith?’ Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm.’ (Matthew 8:26)

Faith doesn’t promise us a ladder to climb out of life’s pain. It promises something far deeper: a friend who walks with us through every aspect of life. Faith does not shield us from loneliness, sickness, fear, or death, yet it assures us we never face them alone. We have a hand to grasp, a love to embrace, a truth to cling to, and a presence to sustain us. It helps us walk in the world with the quiet assurance of one held like a child holding her mother’s hand. God does not remove the pain but enters into it with us..

Monday, 30th June 2025

Does our Enthusiasm Wax and Wane? – Monday Week 13 in Ordinary Time

‘Teacher, I will follow you, wherever you go.’ (Matthew 8:19)

We can on occasions be caught up in the excitement of the moment and promise to do something that we wouldn’t ordinarily commit to doing. For example, we might attend a charity fundraising dinner and buoyed by the impact of the speakers feel that it would be good to make a regular and substantial financial donation to support this cause. In the days following we might reconsider and think that this was a rash decision made and while a noble cause worthy of our support, is not sustainable..

Sunday, 29th June 2025

Responding in Faith – Solemnity Sts Peter and Paul, apostles

‘But who do you say I am?’ (Matthew 16:15)

It has been an exciting, few months. The whole world watched the Vatican waiting for the white smoke to emerge to announce the election of a new Pope..

Saturday, 28th June 2025

Jesus Amazes You! – Saturday Week 12 in Ordinary Time

‘Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed.’ (Matthew 8:8)

In today’s Gospel, Jesus is astonished by the centurion’s words – an expression of deep faith and humility. Reflecting on my own journey, I see how what once amazed me has changed. As a younger person, I was impressed by celebrities and public figures. Now, I find myself moved by simpler, more profound realities..