Dear Friends, We have an interesting opportunity to reflect on the lives of saints Peter and Paul this week. This is not an exercise I had not previously set myself. These were two flawed characters who became spiritual giants through the intervention of God in their lives. Of course we look to them as examples…
Dear Friends, We have an unusual gospel this week (from Luke, Chapter 8). One of the commentaries I’ve read used the heading ‘The Madman and the Pigs’. No theological nuance there. This is a story of demonic possession, not given credibility in contemporary society. However, a fruitful way to explore this gospel is to look…
This week is our opportunity to celebrate the Trinity. This follows hot on the heels (pardon the pun) of the coming of the Spirit. I spoke last week about the challenge of discerning the Spirit. In Ignatian terms there is Good Spirit that leads to life and Bad Spirit that leads us away from God….
Dear Friends, This week we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit (as depicted in the Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 2). What an extraordinary event! It is an opportunity each year to think about how seriously we take the movement of the Spirit in the world, our community and our lives. In this week’s…
Dear Friends, Our Gospel this week (found in John, Chapter 14) brings both reassurance as well as an issue to ponder. In my sermon this week I will be addressing the theme of Discernment. How do we know God’s presence is with us? I will look at the Ignatian methodology and the Examen prayer. The…
This week’s gospel (found in John Chapter 13) calls us to consider the issues of Jesus’ glorification, his departure and his commandment that we should love one another. In typical counter-cultural fashion, Jesus’ teaching and ministry were not focused on power and aggrandisement. His authority was a direct reflection of his relationship with the Father….
In this week’s gospel (found in John, Chapter 10) Jesus talks about himself as the Shepherd and identifies those who listen to him as his sheep. My sermon this week boils down to one question: are you listening for his voice? This question implicates a lot of sub-issues. How is your prayer life? Are you…
Dear Friends, I feel greatly inspired with the power of the Holy Spirit this week. A day of Diocesan training and a Parish Council meeting have left me buoyed. Preparing this week’s sermon has also been a source of comfort. Our Sunday gospel (found in John 21) provides an inspiring example of the Resurrected Lord…
This first week of Easter has been coloured for me by the death of Pope Francis. The Pope took his name from Francis of Assisi who likewise was an extraordinary character. Many years of teaching children about the latter had me researching the intricacies of his life story. I feel sure you know the stories…