Saint Thomas Aquinas taught that every human being is assigned a guardian angel. The archangels are next in the hierarchy of angelic spirits and serve humanity directly, performing the most important tasks, and today we honour three of them. Michael, whose name means ‘Who is like God’, is mentioned several times in the Bible. Michael…
Our Gospel passage is taken from Matthew, Chapter 20 If taken literally, the parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard would likely raise the hackles of any business person, whether in the corporate or not-for-profit world. This parable is certainly not about a fair wage or just recompense for work. In fact, it goes against…
The Gospel passage for today is found in Matthew, Chapter 18 In a sense, our Gospel today is an ideal Gospel to ponder any time we want to get our spiritual lives in order. Approaching today’s Gospel passage in context, you can almost discern a not-so-subtle storm brewing among the disciples over which of them…
Our Gospel passage this week comes from Matthew, Chapter 18 Today’s Gospel passage parallels with the Gospel from two Sundays ago. Both passages use the word ‘Church’ – the only two places the term appears in the Gospels – and both passages speak of binding and loosing, and even though this passage is primarily concerned…
Our Gospel passage today comes from Matthew Chapter 16 Verse 21 from today’s chapter marks a transition in Matthew’s story as Jerusalem and its events begin to loom large. Immediately after Peter’s confession from last Sunday, Jesus turns his attention to the cross – his own cross and the one appointed for each person who…
Today’s Gospel passage comes from Matthew, Chapter 16 Peter’s historic confession of faith in Caesarea Philippi stands as one of the great affirmations in the Gospels. Matthew presents it almost as a blurt – unanticipated, not overtly foreshadowed in the previous passage. Today’s Gospel scene takes place about twenty miles north of the Sea of…
This week’s Gospel passage is found in Matthew Chapter 15 Matthew’s story of a Canaanite woman follows a controversy with some Pharisees and scribes. He recalls the encounter between Jesus and the Jerusalem authorities, not just to record this memorable exchange. Matthew is writing to the church of his day, a church that is an…
Our Gospel passage is drawn from Matthew Chapter 14 Our Gospel for today is a text filled with vivid imagery. The picture of the disciples sent on their own across troubled seas and of Jesus walking on water to save them and to calm the waters is a picture that has given comfort, encouragement, and…
Our Gospel passage for today is found in Mark, Chapter 9 What a beautifully strange and wonderful story we find in Mark today. Our gospel reading tells of Jesus’ transfiguration, an event recounted by all three of the synoptic gospels. In the experience of the Transfiguration, the Son of God, now in the flesh, allowed…
Our Gospel passage is found in Matthew Chapter 20, verses 20–28 This week we celebrate the feast of James the Apostle, normally celebrated on 25 July. James was the son of Zebedee the fisherman and Salome, the sister/cousin of Jesus’ mother, and the brother of John, the Evangelist and Apostle. James was one of Jesus’…
