rmhealey.org: Recent Episodes
Fr Richard Healey
Reflecting on Matthew’s account of Jesus walking on water and Peter’s attempt to join him, this homily draws on a memory of driving through a violent storm near the Brindabellas to explore what it means to face fear and uncertainty without losing sight of God’s presence. It contrasts our tendency to look for God in […]
The multiplication of the loaves and fishes is a familiar story, yet the physical miracle of turning a few loaves into a feast for thousands is perhaps the least surprising element of the narrative. Throughout our lives, many of us have witnessed quiet glimpses of divine providence—times in soup kitchens or community outreach centers where […]
Foreknown, Loved, and Transformed: Walking the Golden Chain of Grace Imagine waiting seven long years for something your heart desperately desires. For a couple named Mark and Liz, those seven years were defined by endless medical appointments, fertility clinics, careful tracking, and the quiet weight of anxiety. When news of a pregnancy finally arrived, joy […]
A friend once told me about a parish that found itself in a genuinely dangerous situation. A large group of parishioners had begun agitating against the leadership team and the parish council, support for them was growing, and factions were starting to form. So the parish gathered everyone together to discern what to do about […]
Growing up in the dairy country of the Bega Valley, in a place called Brogo, meant living closely connected to the rhythm of the land. While only a few farms down by the river ever attempted to grow commercial crops, most families settled for maintaining a substantial backyard veggie patch. In a household of seven […]
There is a distinct and familiar imagery in watching a young child head off on their first ever school camp, completely dwarfed by a monstrous backpack. They stumble along the footpath, practically buckling under the weight of excessive clothing and various items they stubbornly deemed essential for a single overnight trip. When a well-meaning adult […]
There is something quietly powerful about the person in a parish community who notices others. You know the kind: the one who cannot bear to see someone sitting alone, who crosses the room with a warm smile, perhaps carrying a cup of tea, and who asks not just “How are you?” but “How are you […]
Storms, Companions, and the God Who Stays Drawing on a childhood memory of a storm-frightened farm dog, Fr Richard reflects on this Sunday’s readings — Jeremiah’s lament, Paul’s letter to the Romans, and Jesus sending out the Twelve — to explore how God meets our fear not with empty reassurance but with presence, companionship, and […]
From Apprentices to Apostles: Carrying Divine Compassion into the Peak Hour Crowd If you have ever stood on a crowded railway platform during the morning peak hour, watched the brake lights crawl along the M5 after a long day in town, or navigated the afternoon frustration of Narellan Road, you have seen the exact crowd […]
A story was told of a mother arriving at a refugee camp in Lebanon after walking for two weeks with her three young children. When an aid worker finally gave her a simple meal of bread and rice, she held the bread for a moment and said she never knew if she would eat bread […]
Even as the weather turns distinctly chilly, a memory from the height of summer can offer us a profound spiritual insight. Picture a local swimming pool on a scorching hot afternoon, alive with the sound of children laughing, splashing, and diving straight into the deep end without a second thought. Off to the side, however, […]
Any Sydney-sider knows the feeling. It’s the middle of a long, sweltering afternoon, the power has cut out, the air conditioning is dead, and everything feels close and compressed around you. All you can do is wait and hope. Then, almost imperceptibly at first, something shifts. The trees begin to sway, the windows rattle in […]
From Dry Bones to Pentecost People: The Spirit Who Speaks Every Language Beginning with a self-deprecating confession about being naturally awkward, this Pentecost homily weaves together the Tower of Babel, Ezekiel’s valley of dry bones, the giving of the Law at Sinai, and the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost into a single, hope-filled story. […]
There’s a particular kind of awkwardness that settles over a room full of people who don’t quite know each other yet. You’ve probably felt it — that moment at a parish gathering or community meeting where everyone is technically in the same space but not yet with one another. Someone needs to break the ice. […]
Beyond the Departure Gates: Finding the Ascended Christ in Our Own Backyard If you have ever spent time in the departure terminal at Sydney Airport—particularly the international terminal—you know the exact emotional climate of that space. It is a place thick with human drama. You can stand there and watch life unfold in a series […]
The Promise of the Paraclete Summary: Drawing on the eve of Jesus’s crucifixion and Philip’s bold mission to Samaria, this homily reflects on the Holy Spirit as the paracletos — the one who draws alongside us in our loneliness and loss. As Pentecost approaches, we are invited to open ourselves to the Spirit’s presence and […]
Recalculating: Finding Our Way as Living Stones This homily draws a parallel between the physical disorientation of navigating newly built suburbs with Google Maps and the spiritual confusion the disciples felt at the Last Supper. Just as Jesus answered Thomas’s uncertainty by declaring himself “the way, the truth, and the life,” he offers us ultimate […]
There is something quietly humbling about being compared to a sheep. They are not exactly the most glamorous of creatures — a little clueless, a little helpless, entirely dependent on someone else to keep them alive. Unlike cattle, horses, or goats, sheep simply cannot go feral. Without human care, they do not survive. Their wool […]
Some weeks bring with them a weight that words struggle to carry. A brief text message about a broken relationship. A hospital room where parents sit in silence beside unbearable loss. These moments remind us how fragile hope can be, and how quickly it can be taken from us. Most of us know that place. […]
The early days of the pandemic taught us something about distance. We learned how quickly instinctive compassion could be interrupted by fear, how easily we could freeze when invisible lines suddenly mattered more than human need. A dropped bag of groceries became a moment of uncertainty. Do I help, or do I step back? That […]
There is a particular moment at the beginning of the day that feels almost suspended in time. It is neither night nor morning, neither dark nor fully illuminated. Shapes emerge slowly, outlines become clearer, and you sense that something is about to change, even though it has not yet done so. It is a gentle […]
There is something deeply human about watching a small light shine against a gathering darkness. It captures our attention instinctively, almost tenderly, because it speaks to something we recognise within ourselves. A simple moment—a child watching a glowing kite rise into the evening sky—becomes a quiet parable of faith. What was once frustrating suddenly becomes […]
Bringing Our Burdens to the Cross If you’ve ever walked into an emergency department, you’ll recognise the strange sameness of it. It doesn’t matter whether it’s midday with the sun blazing outside or three in the morning with the streets empty and silent. The atmosphere is often the same: a room full of people waiting. […]
Holy Week: From Worldly Power to the Way of Jesus Recently, while taking one of my regular walks through our neighborhood parklands, I paused to watch a group of young people playing basketball. It was fascinating to see them gathered on the old, weathered asphalt courts near the swimming pool, despite the shiny new courts […]
Walking among graves between services, you learn to read the language of stone. Every headstone speaks in its own accent—dates and names and carved symbols trying to make sense of what refuses to be domesticated: death. Across Sydney’s cemeteries the differences are striking, yet the ache is the same. There is a pull to tidy […]
Anyone who has worn glasses knows the strange moment of panic when they cannot be found. We search the bedside table, pat down pockets, retrace our steps across the house—only to discover that the glasses were sitting on top of our heads all along. It is a small and ordinary experience, but it reminds us […]
Encountering God’s Love and Breaking Barriers Usually, I like to be fairly well prepared when I go out on a bushwalk, making sure I have got enough water with me for the journey. Yet, there have certainly been times when I have been caught out. Perhaps it was a cloudy day, leading to the mistaken […]
Encounters on the Mountain: Embracing God’s Call and Grace in Everyday Life Key Takeaway:Mountaintop encounters in Scripture and in our lives are moments of divine grace and transformation. They remind us that God calls us not because of our achievements, but out of sheer love, inviting us to trust, be transformed, and share that grace […]
There’s something quietly disorienting about walking a path you know well in the dark. Fr Richard knows that feeling firsthand — years spent in Wollongong, regular walks along the foreshore and the lighthouse, the Blue Mile so familiar it barely registered anymore. Then one morning, an early start, a schedule that wouldn’t wait, and suddenly […]
The first time you try to ride a bike, it’s rarely smooth. Parents or teachers might encourage you to look ahead and keep pedaling, but most of us started out with training wheels or perhaps even a tricycle, providing stability as we learned. These tools didn’t teach us to ride on their own, but they […]
Transforming Lives Through Gratitude: The Power of Thankfulness in Challenging TimesGratitude Transforms: From a Drought-Stricken Community to the Ten Lepers Core Overview– Background and objectives: A sermon reflecting on how habitual gratitude reshapes individuals and communities, illustrated by a rural Australian anecdote and the biblical account of Jesus healing ten people with a skin disease […]
A young man’s zeal at a monastery highlights a common misconception: faith isn’t a fuel you simply add more of, but a gift that must be exercised and grown. Using Habakkuk, Paul’s instruction to Timothy (“fan into a flame”), and Jesus’ exchange about forgiveness, the speaker emphasizes that we already possess what we need by […]
This passage reflects on Jesus’ parable of the rich man and Lazarus, noting it’s unique in naming the poor man (Lazarus/Eleazar, “God is my help”). The speaker contrasts how society knows the rich by name while the poor are anonymous and judged as morally culpable; Jesus instead challenges the idea that wealth equals blessing and […]
Have you ever read a Bible story that made you squirm a little? For me, it’s the parable of the dishonest steward. You know the one: a manager is about to be fired for squandering his master’s money. His solution? He goes on a debt-slashing spree, reducing what people owe to his boss to secure […]
The text reflects on the significance of the cross, particularly in the context of a retreat experience at a Benedictine monastery in France. It describes a simple wooden cross that, despite its plain appearance, serves as a powerful symbol of healing, surrender, and transformation. The narrative connects the cross to biblical stories, specifically the Israelites’ […]
Climbing the Mountain of Discipleship: Embracing the Radical Call of Jesus In today’s reflection, I want to invite you to journey with me into one of the most challenging teachings of Jesus—a teaching that, at first glance, seems almost impossible to accept. It’s a passage that jars us, especially when we hear it in the […]
Embracing Humility and Vulnerability: Following Jesus to the Edges As I reflect on the powerful symbolism found in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, I am reminded of the profound invitation that lies at the heart of our Christian journey. The main entrance to this sacred church is barely a metre high, requiring every […]
How to Find Freedom in the Christian Life Have you ever been hiking and come across a seemingly impassable obstacle? Maybe it’s a tight squeeze between two towering sandstone walls. You might have to take off your backpack, turn sideways, and hold your breath to just barely slide through. But on the other side, the […]
Embracing the Gospel’s Challenge: Speaking Truth, Confronting Injustice, and Living God’s Transformative Love In today’s world, the gospel message can feel uncomfortable. It does not always bring immediate peace or unity. Instead, it often calls us to face division, challenge complacency, and confront injustice—both in our personal lives and in society. This post explores the […]
Living in the Present: A Church-Centred Reflection on Ambition, Grace, and True Fulfilment Introduction In my recent homily, I shared the story of Jake, a skilled carpenter whose dream of building the perfect house became an all-consuming pursuit. Jake’s journey is not just about bricks and mortar; it’s a mirror for our own lives, especially […]
A young boy once stood outside a locked church door, tugging at the handle with all his might. He knocked once, then again, and finally sat down on the steps, frustrated. A passerby noticed and asked, “Why are you trying so hard to get in?” The boy replied, “I just want to talk to God. […]
Choosing the Better Part: Reflections on Hospitality, Distraction, and Spiritual Nourishment As a parish priest, I often find myself reflecting on the stories of Scripture, not as distant tales, but as living invitations to examine our own hearts and habits. In a recent homily, I explored the familiar tension between Martha and Mary, set against […]
Living a Spirit-Energised Faith Reflections from Fr Richard Healey’s Homily on Deuteronomy and the Good Samaritan As a priest, I often find that the simplest childhood memories can illuminate profound spiritual truths. In a recent homily, I shared a story from my own childhood: the excitement of receiving a toy electric car for Christmas, only […]
Bringing the Gospel to Life: Lessons from the Farmers Market As a Catholic priest, I often find that the most profound lessons about faith and community come not from grand theological treatises, but from the simple, everyday encounters that God places before us. Recently, I had such an experience during a rare visit to a […]
Building the Church: Lessons from Peter and Paul for a Living, Thriving Community As a Catholic priest, I often find myself reflecting on the foundations of our faith and the ongoing mission of the Church. In a recent homily, I drew inspiration from two of our greatest saints—Peter and Paul—and explored how their unique gifts […]
The Transformative Power of the Eucharist: Reflections for a Church Community As a Catholic priest, I often find myself returning to the heart of our faith: the Eucharist. It is here, around the altar, that we gather as a community, seeking nourishment, unity, and transformation. In this post, I want to share some in-depth reflections […]
Divine Wisdom for Life Transformation Fr Richard discussed the importance of guidance in life, comparing the reliance on GPS for navigation to the need for divine wisdom from God, who offers this guidance to all believers. He emphasized that this divine wisdom is not just for reaching heaven but for transforming lives here on earth, […]
Pentecost: The Spirit’s Fire and Our Call to Witness As we gather to celebrate the feast of Pentecost, I invite you to journey with me beyond the familiar images of gentle doves and soft breezes. Pentecost is not a quiet, comfortable moment in the Church’s story. It is a dramatic, earth-shattering event that continues to […]
Reflections on Farewells and the Anticipation of the Holy Spirit As we navigate the moments of saying goodbye, how adept are we at handling these emotional transitions? For many, farewells can feel awkward, prompting a preference for quick exits—disappearing without much fanfare. Observing people at airports, for instance, can be quite telling. You see parents […]
A Spiritual Reflection on Community, Presence, and the Holy Spirit Today, I want to share with you a reflection inspired by the vision of the “New Jerusalem” as described in the final chapters of Revelation. This vision invites us to imagine a heavenly city, a place of ultimate goodness, holiness, and truth, where God dwells […]
Welcome, dear friends, to another enriching reflection. Today, we delve into the profound themes of love, transformation, and divine presence as shared by Fr Richard Healey in this homily. As we journey through the Easter season, let us explore how these themes can guide us in our daily lives, drawing us closer to God and […]
Building Bridges: A Reflection on Connection, Community, and the Role of the Church Fr Richard delved into the profound metaphor of bridges, drawing parallels between physical structures and the spiritual mission of the church. This reflection, rich with personal anecdotes and theological insights, offers valuable lessons on connection, community, and the role of the church […]
Embracing Our Past for Spiritual Transformation In this blog post, I want to delve into the profound reflections shared by Fr Richard Healey during a recent homily. The central theme revolves around the nature of our memories, particularly those that are vivid and formative, and how they intersect with our faith and discipleship. Using the […]
Embracing the Breath of Life: A Reflection on Resurrection and Divine Mercy Welcome to this reflection on the profound significance of breath, resurrection, and divine mercy. Today, we delve into the essence of breathing, which is not merely a biological function but a vital source of energy and life. Remarkably, about 80% of our energy […]
Embracing the Physical Reality of the Resurrection Today we delve into the significance of the resurrection of Jesus, focusing on its physical reality rather than viewing it as merely a spiritual or metaphorical event. As a Catholic priest, I, Fr Richard Healey, aim to offer reflections that not only deepen our understanding of the resurrection […]
Embracing the Spirit of Passover and Holy Week: A Journey of Reflection and Transformation As we approach Holy Week, it is essential to delve into the profound themes that this sacred time brings to the forefront of our faith. In a recent homily, I reflected on the significance of the Jewish feast of Passover and […]
Embracing Mercy and Grace: A Reflection on John 8:1-11 In this blog post, I want to delve into a profound biblical story that captures the essence of mercy and grace. This reflection is based on a homily by Fr Richard Healey, a Catholic priest, who offers a deep and insightful look into the encounter between […]
Reflection on Sin and Reconciliation: A Journey Home In this episode, we delve into the profound themes of sin, reconciliation, and the invitation to return to God, particularly through the lens of the parable of the Prodigal Son. This narrative, where Jesus associates with those labeled as sinners by the religious elite, such as the […]
Encountering God in the Present: Reflections on Moses and the Burning Bush Greetings, dear friends. Today, I want to share some reflections from a recent homily I delivered, focusing on the profound themes found in the story of Moses and the burning bush. This narrative, rich with spiritual insights, offers us a deeper understanding of […]
Embracing God’s Covenant: A Reflection on Faith, Trust, and Transformation In this episode, I, Fr Richard Healey, delve into the profound themes of contracts, covenants, and the transformative power of God’s love, particularly through the lens of the biblical narrative of Abraham (then known as Abram) in Genesis. As we journey through this reflection, I […]
The Journey of Elijah: Finding God in Silence and Sustenance In this episode, we delve into the life of the biblical prophet Elijah, a figure who bursts onto the scene with remarkable fervour and significance. Elijah’s name, meaning “my God is Yahweh,” encapsulates his role as a powerful hero in the narrative of Israel, particularly […]
Spiritual Hunger and the Quest for Fulfillment In this episode, I share a personal story from my travels in Europe, which serves as a backdrop for a deeper exploration of spiritual hunger and the quest for fulfillment in a relationship with God. The narrative begins with a hiking adventure in the Austrian Alps, where I, […]
The Abundance of God’s Love: Reflections on the Miracle of Feeding the 5,000 Greetings, dear friends. Today, I want to delve into a profound and timeless message that resonates deeply within our faith and daily lives. This reflection is inspired by the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000, a narrative that beautifully illustrates the themes […]
The Encounter of Mary Magdalene with the Risen Jesus Today, we reflect on a profound moment from the Gospel of John, where we witness Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the risen Christ. This encounter is not just a historical event but a deeply spiritual and transformative experience that offers us valuable lessons in faith, redemption, and […]
Finding Solitude in the Midst of Chaos: A Reflection on Compassion and Spiritual Nourishment Watch the Mass In our fast-paced world, finding moments of solitude can seem like an impossible task. Yet, as Fr Richard Healey reflects in his homily, these moments are not just beneficial but essential for our spiritual well-being. Drawing from the […]
Embracing the Mission: Sharing God’s Love with the World Today, I want to delve into a theme that is both timeless and profoundly relevant to our lives as followers of Christ: the mission to share the message of salvation with others. This reflection is inspired by the experiences of biblical figures such as Amos and […]
Embracing the Transformative Power of God’s Grace: A Reflection on Home, Vulnerability, and Faith Welcome to this reflection on the concept of home and the transformative power of God’s grace. Today, I want to share with you some personal experiences and biblical insights that have shaped my understanding of home and the profound impact of […]
Embracing Healing and Restoration: A Reflection on Faith and Community In this week’s homily, I found myself deeply moved by the Gospel of Mark, particularly the stories of the woman healed by touching the hem of Jesus’ garment and the subsequent healing of Jairus’ daughter. These narratives are rich with themes of healing, restoration, and […]
Finding Peace in Life’s Storms: A Reflection on the Gospel of Jesus Calming the Storm Today, I want to share with you a reflection that is inspired by the Gospel story of Jesus calming the storm. This story is a powerful reminder of the peace and strength we can find in God’s presence during the […]
Embracing Growth and Grace Establishing Solid Foundations One of the key points I discussed was the importance of establishing solid foundations before delving into any subject matter. This principle is not only crucial in our spiritual lives but also in our everyday learning processes. The Frustration of Learning Something New We all know the frustration […]
Embracing God’s Mercy: Reflections on Guilt, Shame, and Redemption In this episode, I delve into the profound biblical story of Adam and Eve from the book of Genesis. This narrative is not just an ancient tale but a mirror reflecting our own experiences of guilt, shame, and the transformative power of God’s mercy. Let’s explore […]
The Lifesaving Grace of Giving: Blood Donation and the Eucharist As I stood before my congregation, I found myself reflecting on the profound significance of blood in our lives—both physically and spiritually. It’s a topic that resonates deeply with me, not only as a priest but also as someone who has experienced the life-giving act […]
Embracing the Journey of Discipleship: A Reflection on the Gospel of Matthew The Significance of Commencement Greetings to all of you, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ. I am Fr Richard Healey, and today I want to share with you a reflection that has been on my heart. As we gather together in our […]
Embracing the Transformative Power of the Holy Spirit As a Catholic priest, I’ve had the privilege of delving into the depths of spiritual reflection and sharing these insights with my congregation. Today, I want to share with you a profound experience that resonates with the very core of our faith – the transformative power of […]
Embracing the Transformative Power of the Holy Spirit I am Fr Richard Healey, and today, I want to share with you a profound reflection that has been stirring in my heart. It’s about the indispensable role of the Holy Spirit in our lives and the church, particularly through the lens of the transformative experience of […]
Embracing the Mystery: Celebrating the Feast of the Ascension Introduction: Today I want to share with you a reflection on one of the pivotal moments in the Christian calendar – the Feast of the Ascension. This feast day, which commemorates the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven, often stirs a mix of emotions and thoughts […]
Embracing the Joy and Friendship of God: Lessons from Bishop Peter Today I want to share with you some insights and personal reflections that have shaped my journey of faith. I will be delving into the remarkable influence of the late Bishop Peter Ingham, a man whose love for laughter and God has left an […]
Embracing Spiritual Growth: The Art of Pruning in Our Lives Ironically, during my seminarian days, I found myself in the role of a plant specialist, working for an indoor plant hire company known as Jungle Gyms. Despite my lack of expertise, people would often come to me seeking advice for their home plants. I recall, […]
Embracing the Transformative Power of God’s Love: Reflections for the Easter Season I welcome you to a space where we delve into the profound messages of our faith, especially as we find ourselves in the heart of the Easter season. Today, I wish to share with you not just a sermon, but a journey through […]
Embracing the Transformative Power of the Resurrection: Insights and Reflections Today, I want to delve into the significance of the resurrection of Jesus and its far-reaching implications for humanity, as we discussed in our Easter Sunday gathering. The Road to Emmaus: A Story of Revelation and Hope Our conversation began with the captivating narrative from […]
Breathing New Life: Reflections on Transformation and Faith in Uncertain Times Introduction Greetings, dear friends and members of our spiritual family. I am Fr Richard Healey, and today I want to share with you a reflection that has been on my heart, especially considering the tumultuous events that have unfolded in 2020. As we gather […]
The Acts of the Apostles; or, the Acts of King Jesus; or, the Acts of the Holy Spirit. Right click on the chapter heading to save or download the file to your device. Chapter 1 https://rmhealey.com/docs/Bible/51_Acts/Acts01.mp3 Prologue; the Ascension. I. THE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM – The group of apostles; Judas is replaced Chapter 2 https://rmhealey.com/docs/Bible/51_Acts/Acts02.mp3 […]
A Pilgrim’s Reflections: Embracing the Journey of Faith Walking the Ancient Path Hello, dear readers and fellow pilgrims on the journey of life. I am Fr Richard Healey, and I recently had the profound experience of leading a group of pilgrims through the sacred shrines of Europe, an odyssey that culminated in the revered Camino […]
Embracing the Journey of Surrender: Lessons from the Way of Saint James As a priest and a spiritual guide, I’ve had the profound privilege of leading a group of pilgrims on a transformative journey that has left an indelible mark on my heart and faith. Today, I want to share with you the insights and […]
The Intersection of Person-Centered Therapy and Christian Spirituality: A Good Friday Reflection As we gather in our sacred space this Good Friday, I find myself contemplating the profound connection between the therapeutic approach known as person-centered therapy and our Christian spirituality. I am Fr Richard Healey, and today, I want to share with you some […]
Listen to Audio Bible (Mark) Watch this on YouTube The Gospel according to MARK Chapter 1. https://rmhealey.com/docs/Bible/48_Mark/Mark01.mp3 PRELUDE TO THE PUBLIC MINISTRY OF JESUS. The proclamation of John the Baptist. Jesus is baptised. Testing in the desert. THE GALILEAN MINISTRY. Jesus begins to proclaim the message. The first four disciples are called. Jesus teaches in […]
Embracing Love and Mercy Amidst the Shadows of Betrayal and Violence As we journey through the solemn and reflective period leading up to Easter, I find myself compelled to share with you a profound experience that has deeply touched my heart and spirit. In today’s blog post, I want to take you through the same […]
Creating Space for Intimacy with God: A Lenten Reflection Tidying Up the Soul: A Journey to Spiritual Clarity An experience of delving into the essence of Lent and what it means to truly create space for intimacy with God. I share a personal narrative that I believe resonates with many of us on our faith […]
A Journey Through Libraries, Scriptures, and Divine Grace: Reflections During Lent I want to share with you the profound lessons and insights as we explored the meticulous organisation of libraries, the structure of the Old Testament, and the boundless grace and love of God during the solemn season of Lent. The Carmelite Library: A Lesson […]
The Miracle of Sight: A Journey of Transformation and Faith A Sermon of Reflection and Insight The Beauty That Surrounds Us My recent experience driving through the snowy mountains was nothing short of breathtaking. The sight of the sapphire blue waters of a lake, surrounded by the deep green of the bush, was a moment […]
Rediscovering the Ten Words: Declarations of Freedom and Love This is far from a simple recitation of ancient laws. Instead, we explored the profound significance of these commandments as declarations of freedom and love, especially in the context of a people emerging from the shackles of slavery. The Misconception of the Commandments It’s a common […]
Unpacking the Profound Lessons of Abraham and Isaac: A Journey Through Faith and Obedience As someone deeply invested in the exploration of Christian theology, I’ve always been drawn to the stories that challenge us, that compel us to look deeper into our faith and the nature of our relationship with God. I take a deep […]
Embracing the Wilderness: A Lenten Journey of Self-Discovery and Renewal Introduction: The Season of Transformation The Gospel story of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness in Mark provides spiritual insights but also practical guidance for our own Lenten journeys. In this blog post, I aim to unpack the rich tapestry of themes we explored, inviting you […]
Four years ago, if we’d read that gospel and tried to kind of get into the mindset of this leper, this person who was declared to be unclean, who had to say that out loud when he’d walk around the community, he would have to keep this long distance from everybody else – ringing a […]
Unveiling the Layers of Scripture: A Journey Through Context and Wisdom Fr Richard Healey shared invaluable insights into the art of interpreting scripture, particularly focusing on the Gospel of Mark. I am excited to share with you the essence of this episode, transforming the spoken word into written wisdom, and invite you to join me […]
Embracing Wisdom in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: A Reflection on Interpretation and Authority The Quest for True Intelligence Greetings, dear readers. In a recent sermon I delivered to my congregation, I found myself grappling with the extraordinary developments in artificial intelligence that have characterized our current decade. As a religious leader, I’ve always been […]
Finding My Way Back: A Journey of Repentance and Restoration Lost in the Wilderness It was a day like any other when I decided to explore a national park, seeking solace in a less crowded area. Little did I know, this adventure would turn into a lesson about life’s path and the concept of repentance. […]
Encountering the Divine: A Journey from Distance to Presence A Reflection on Divine Intimacy and Community Today, I want to take you on a personal journey—a journey that delves into the essence of spiritual connection and the profound impact of community in our lives. This is not just a recount of an episode; it’s a […]
Unveiling the Mysteries of the Magi A Journey of Faith and Fulfilment Today we embarked on a journey back in time to the ancient story of the Magi and their quest to find the newborn Jesus. I want to share with you the insights and lessons gleaned from this remarkable narrative. The Pilgrimage of the […]
The Profound Significance of Mary in Christianity As we step into the new year, it’s a time of reflection and transformation—a time to ponder upon the words that have shaped our faith and the figures that have stood as pillars within our spiritual narratives. Today, I want to share with you insights of the significance […]
Embracing the Journey: Reflections on the Feast of the Holy Family I recently had the chance to delve into a topic that resonates deeply with many of us: the essence of family and the power of faith. Fr Richard Healey offers a profound sermon on the Feast of the Holy Family, a celebration that holds […]
A Reflection on the Nativity Scene The Humility and Vulnerability of Jesus The birth of Jesus is a story of humility and vulnerability. Born in a manger, surrounded by animals, Jesus’ birth was far from the royal entrance one might expect for a king. This humble beginning makes Jesus more approachable and relatable. It’s a […]
The Humble Birth of Jesus: A Reflection on the Significance of Christmas The Gospel of John and the Letter to Titus As a podcaster and a spiritual guide, I recently had the opportunity to delve into the profound significance of Christmas and the birth of Jesus. During a religious service, I found myself reflecting on […]
Embracing the True Nature of God: A Reflection on Mary’s Encounter with Angel Gabriel Challenging the Common Perception of God As a religious leader, I often find myself questioning the common perception of God. Many people tend to view Him as grumpy and easily angered. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. When God […]
Finding Joy in Every Circumstance This sermon is a powerful exploration of joy, freedom, and identity. I’d like to share some of the key insights and lessons from this sermon with you. Rejoicing in the Lord Always: A Commandment and a Challenge The sermon began with a discussion of the commandment given by Paul to […]
Finding Peace and Unity in Exile: A Reflection on Personal Hardships and Natural Disasters Introduction Today I explore the concept of exile, drawing parallels to personal hardships and natural disasters that disrupt our normal activities. This blog post is a reflection on that episode, where I discussed the historical exile of the people of Jerusalem […]
Embracing the Season of Advent: A Journey of Hope, Sin, and Transformation Understanding the Significance of Advent As a priest and a religious leader, I often find myself answering questions about the season of Advent. Many people are confused about its significance, often drawing parallels with Lent and the traditions associated with it. However, Advent […]
A Journey of Understanding: Reflecting on Gospel, Grace, and Extending Love Beyond Boundaries Initial Confusion and Evolving Understanding I found myself reflecting on a particular gospel passage that has significantly shaped my understanding of Christian life. Initially, I was confused about how this passage fits into the grand scheme of my faith. I grappled with […]
(00:00:00) – So this question of what do you do when you get into an argument, when a fight, a dispute breaks out, when something has happened that has put you off side? How do you respond to that situation? And I’m sure for every single one of us, you know, various scenarios will be … Community and Mercy Read More »
Fr Richard delivers a thought-provoking homily centered around the nature of a mirror and its ability to reverse our way of thinking. Drawing parallels to the ongoing experience of COVID-19 in NSW, the speaker reflects on past lockdowns and the new skills people had to acquire, such as cutting their own hair. Moving on to … Empty Mirror Read More »
We live in an age of scientific discovery and continuing exploration. There’s a new space race and lunar exploration is back in the news. We’re also devoting resources and energy to exploring more our inner worlds as well as outer space. Do an internet search on self-help & self-discovery and you’ll get millions of hits for … Mind the gap Read More »
So welcome to Saint John the Evangelist Catholic Church! Now, what does it actually mean to be a Catholic Church? Catholic means universal. Universal means everyone. Everyone is included. It dates back to St Cyril of Jerusalem in the early 2nd century. It was the first recorded use of this term catholic. And I guess … Being Catholic Read More »
There are so many situations that we face in our lives where. It’s we’re just. Overwhelmed. But things just get too much for us and I think. Both our first reading and our gospel today, when we read the bigger context, provide those. Why does Jesus need that alone time well earlier on in the … Into stormy silence Read More »
Sometimes we have an experience that was so sublime, so magical, so amazing – that we struggle to even share all its details with a close friend. Even when it is photographed, and videoed, and instagrammed to within a millimetre of its life, some things can defy simple, adequate descriptions. Maybe the event wasn’t even … Transformed Read More »
One of the things that I kind of find myself struggling with as I grow older is some of the stories that I heard and learned when I was a child, and particularly in church circles. Some of those stories about the Saints and heroes of the faith. Like the only thing that I really … The strange way of wisdom Read More »
Play MP3 This year the last few Sundays seem to have been inviting us to reflect upon the very essence of who God is, how we stand in the presence of God, how we make sense of the nature, the quality of God. Last week, the Apostles were first named as such: they were sent … Body and Nephesh Read More »
I suspect that when many of us hear this kind of talk about being sent, about being called to go out to be part of the mission of Jesus, that we get very uncomfortable about that. We’re like, yeah, you know, that’s fine for the good sisters; that’s fine, maybe even for those crazy priests … Being Segullah Read More »
The fact that we need to have this Feast day is a testament to the nature of of humanity. That the scriptures are so full of these details about the compassion of God, about the mercy of the Lord, about the Lord who is full of steadfast love, who is so committed absolutely to the … The Sacred Heart of Jesus Read More »
Many polls indicate that few census Catholics believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. This may also explain why so many of the people who once gathered each Sunday to celebrate with us, have not returned after the pandemic. If you do not believe that in receiving the Eucharist you actually receive … The Lord feeds us Read More »
Trinity Sunday What is God life? When I was a kid, I had a pretty clear idea. God was an old dude with a long white beard. He sat on a big golden chair. He had a kindly face, but a really short fuse. He seemed to get ticked off by almost anything at all. … Compassionate and Gracious Read More »
I grew up in the country. I don’t think I really noticed a couple of key things until much later – because often you only notice things when they’re not there anymore. But there were two things. When you would go outside, particularly on a night like this, pretty chilly kind of night. The night … Silence and Space Read More »
Growing up in the country and one of the things that I don’t think I really noticed that the time cause often you only notice things when they’re not there anymore. But there were two things. When you would go outside, particularly on a night like this, pretty chilly kind of night. The night sky … Silence and Word Read More »
Ascension Sunday When I was 21, I was living in a formation house as my first year of attempting to follow this desire to be a priest. Towards the end of the first year I got sick. But before I realised that I was getting sick, I had come down with Chicken pox and as … Doubting faith Read More »
The Sixth Sunday in Easter, Year A Play MP3 | Watch video When I was a kid, I kind of grew up with a lot of science fiction as part of my diet, both in reading and and watching TV. And one of the wonderful things about sci-fi is you can kind of imagine almost … Advocate Read More »
Mass from St John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Campbelltown with Fr Richard Healey Friday in the Fifth Week of Easter (Friday 12 May 2023) First Reading ‡ Acts 15:22-31 It has been decided by the Holy Spirit and ourselves not to burden you beyond what is essential. Responsorial ‡ Psalm 56:8-12 I will praise you … Called and Chosen Read More »
Easter – Sunday 5 00:00:00 Sometimes it can be really difficult to accept the simple claims that the gospel makes to know that we are indeed loved with this amazing intimacy of life and goodness to trust. 00:00:21 That God actually wants us to have that experience of this intimacy, of relationship with him, and […]
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Easter, Sunday 4, Year A. One of my pet peeves are the shallow stereotypes that abound around ideas of “What does it mean to be a Christian?” Tight-laced, Straight. Goody 2 shoes. Narrow. Conservative. Anti-Environment. Homophobic. Backward. It is really hard to live well against this. I’m sure you faced this often enough when you […]
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Sunday 3 in Easter, Year A In this Catholic Mass, we celebrate the 3rd Sunday of Easter with a focus on the Gospel of the road to Emmaus (Luke 24). Join us in exploring the theme of Hope along the road as we reflect on the journey of the disciples on their way to Emmaus. […]
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Sunday 2 in Easter – Sunday of Divine Mercy This year, during this season of Easter, we will be working our way through this first letter of Saint Peter. We don’t really know when it was written, there were no markers to kind of indicate when that happened. Peter used a secretary called Sylvanas to […]
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Mass of the Resurrection – Easter Sunday First Reading ‡ Acts 10:34.36-43We have eaten and drunk with him after his resurrection from the dead. Responsorial ‡ Psalm 117:1-2.16-17.22-23This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad. Second Reading (option 1) ‡ Colossians 3:1-4Look for the things that are in heaven, […]
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A reflection on the Passion of Jesus in the Gospel of John. Play MP3 No tags for this post.
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Palm Sunday / Passion Sunday, Year A Commemoration of the Lord’s EntranceYear A ‡ Matthew 21:1-11Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. At the Mass First Reading ‡ Isaiah 50:4-7 I did not cover my face against insult and I know I will not be ashamed. Responsorial ‡ Psalm 21:8-9.17-20.23-24 My […]
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Lent 5. Year A Lazarus – El’Azar (God is my help) we are told that Jesus loves Lazarus, along with his two sisters, Miryam + Marta. Yet, when he hears that Lazarus is sick, he delays. How odd! What is going on? Have you felt like God is delaying in answer to your prayers? WTF? […]
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The Annunciation of the Lord (25 March 2023) This feast originated in the East during the sixth century and gained universal observance in the West during the eighth century. It is a feast of the Lord, commemorating the announcement to the Virgin Mary of the Word made flesh, Mary’s acceptance of God’s will, and the […]
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19 March (20 March 2023) St Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary 02:53 Reading 1 – 2 Samuel 7:4-5.12-14.16 03:58 Psalm: The son of David will live for ever. 05:09 Reading 2 – Romans 4:13.16-18.22 07:35 Gospel – Matthew 1:16.18-21.24 08:53-11:49 Homily – Trusting and believing Play MP3 Watch Video Tags: Abraham, Faith, Joseph, […]
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Fourth Sunday in Lent, Year A First Reading ‡ 1 Samuel 16:1,6-7,10-13 In the presence of the Lord God, they anointed David king of Israel. Responsorial ‡ Psalm 22(23) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. Second Reading ‡ Ephesians 5:8-14 Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. […]
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17 March – St Patrick, evangelist First Reading ‡ Jeremiah 1:4-9 Go now to those to whom I send you. Responsorial ‡ Psalm 116 Go out to all the world and tell the Good News. Second Reading ‡ Acts 13:46-49 We must turn to the pagans. Gospel ‡ Luke 10:1-12.17-20 Your peace will rest on […]
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First Reading ‡ Exodus 17:3-7Give us water to drink. Responsorial ‡ Psalm 94:1-2,6-9If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Second Reading ‡ Romans 5:1-2,5-8The love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given us. Gospel [longer form] ‡ John 4:5-42The water that I shall […]
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To have a sense of where you’re going is something that is so crucial. We all now take it for granted with our phones offering us GPS and our cars giving us guidance and direction along the way. But it’s still within our living memory of what it was like to try and find your […]
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Lent Sunday 1, Year A In Genesis 22 the Lord tests Abraham, and they (Abraham + Isaac) begin by taking a 3 days journey. Israel through Moses tries to persuade the Pharoah to allow them to go into the wilderness for three days to worship while in Egypt (Exodus 5) Yet, once they have escaped […]
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Sunday 7 in Year A First Reading ‡ Leviticus 19:1-2.17-18You must love your neighbour, as yourself. Responsorial ‡ Psalm 102:1-4.8.10.12-13The Lord is kind and merciful. Second Reading ‡ 1 Corinthians 3:16-23All things are yours, but you belong to Christ and Christ belongs to God. Gospel ‡ Matthew 5:38-48Love your enemies. Play MP3 Watch Video Tags: […]
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Sunday 6, Year A. First Reading ‡ Sirach 15:15-20He never commanded anyone to be godless. Responsorial ‡ Psalm 118:1-2.4-5.17-18.33-34Happy are they who follow the law of the Lord! Second Reading ‡ 1 Corinthians 2:6-10God in his wisdom predestined our glory before the ages began. Gospel [longer form] ‡ Matthew 5:17-37Such was said to your ancestors; […]
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First Reading ‡ Isaiah 58:7-10Your light will shine like the dawn. Responsorial ‡ Psalm 111:4-9A light rises in the darkness for the upright. Second Reading ‡ 1 Corinthians 2:1-5I came to you to proclaim Christ crucified. Gospel ‡ Matthew 5:13-16You are the light of the world. Generated Transcript: So, we continue to read through […]
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The Blessings (Beatitudes in Latin) are not replacements to the Ten Words / Commandments from the Book of Exodus 20 or Deut 5. They are not things that we have to strive to achieve, or conform our lives to. They are states of life where if we draw near to Jesus and allow him to […]
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I asked ChatGPT this prompt: Write a short sermon on Mt 4:12-23 with a focus on the call of the four brothers as a model of discipleship. This is the response: In Matthew 4:12-23, we see the story of Jesus calling four brothers, Simon, also known as Peter, Andrew, James, and John, to be his […]
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As we move into this ordinary time of the year and this cycle of readings from what should be the Gospel of Matthew in Year A. We now have a reading from the Gospel of John – because we need to hear this witness of John the Baptist and John the evangelist presents him in […]
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The Epiphany of the Lord When we come to this feast of the Epiphany, we bring with it a whole bunch of different expectations and ideas. We’ve had the Magi journeying across the sanctuary during the week. And finally we add them now to the Nativity scene. That’s bringing together two completely separate and […]
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Mary, Mother of God – Octave Day of Christmas My dear mother has kept a diary all her adult life. It does not contain her deepest thoughts, feelings or secrets, but it is an accurate chronicle of the events in her life and that of our family, with all the comings and goings, trips and […]
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We are all very familiar with the Christmas story and the Christmas Gospel that we just read from the Luke 2. But in some ways the story is even more familiar than we think – and yet still radically different. For we all know stories that begin about the rich and famous. Our newspapers and […]
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We are all very familiar with the Christmas story and the Christmas Gospel that we just read from the Luke 2. But in some ways the story is even more familiar than we think – and yet still radically different. For we all know stories that begin about the rich and famous. Our newspapers and […]
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Sunday 4 in the Season of Advent This week saw the release of the first post-Covid super blockbuster movie, the sequel to the 2009 movie Avatar, which is still the highest-grossing movie at the box-office (US$2.9b). I saw the new movie on the opening day, in 3D. Avatar: The Way of Water, runs to over […]
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Third Sunday in Advent, Year A. John began his ministry as we saw last week with a very clear idea about where he sat, where he fitted within the broad spectrum of Jewish life and indeed of what we call salvation history. His sense that like Elijah that he clearly knew the kind of model […]
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Second Sunday in Advent, Year A First Reading ‡ Isaiah 11:1-10He judges the poor with justice. Responsorial ‡ Psalm 71:1-2.7-8.12-13.17Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever. Second Reading ‡ Romans 15:4-9Christ, the hope of all people. Gospel ‡ Matthew 3:1-12Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand. Generated […]
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Advent – Welcome! From the Greek word “parousia”, meaning arrival or coming: ready or not! 4 full weeks this year with Christmas on a Sunday. The longest it can be. Next year, with Christmas on a Monday, it is the shortest (3 weeks and 1 day). Won’t have Christmas on a Sunday again until 2033. […]
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The Solemnity of Jesus the Christ, the King of the Universe First Reading ‡ 2 Samuel 5:1-3 They anointed David king of Israel. Responsorial ‡ Psalm 121:1-5 Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord. Second Reading ‡ Colossians 1:12-20 He has taken us into the kingdom of his beloved Son. Gospel ‡ […]
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Sunday 33 in Year C First Reading ‡ Malachi 3:19-20 The sun of righteousness will shine on you. Responsorial ‡ Psalm 97:5-9The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice. Second Reading ‡ 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12 Do not give anyone food who refuses to work. Gospel ‡ Luke 21:5-19 Your endurance will win you your life. I must […]
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Sunday 28 in Year C All ten ‘lepers’ were cured – but only one was fully healed Healing comes from the God of Israel. We cannot be fully healed while the world remains so divided. Humans love to have boundary lines. I suspect that most of us thought very little about state borders in Australia […]
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Sunday 27 in Year C First Reading ‡ Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4The just will live by faithfulness. Responsorial ‡ Psalm 94:1-2.6-9If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. Second Reading ‡ 2 Timothy 1:6-8.13-14Never be ashamed of witnessing the Lord. Gospel ‡ Luke 17:5-10If you had faith! Very occasionally on a cold winter’s morning […]
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Sunday 26 in Year C First Reading ‡ Amos 6:1.4-7You who give yourself to licentiousness and revelry will be exiled. Responsorial ‡ Psalm 145:6-10Praise the Lord, my soul! Second Reading ‡ 1 Timothy 6:11-16Obey the commandments until the coming of the Lord. Gospel ‡ Luke 16:19-31During your life good things came your way just as […]
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Sunday 25, Year C First Reading ‡ Amos 8:4-7 The Lord God spoke against those who buy the poor for money. Responsorial ‡ Psalm 112:1-2.4-8 Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor. Second Reading ‡ 1 Timothy 2:1-8 Let prayers be offered to God for everyone; he wants all people to be saved. Gospel […]
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Sunday 24, Year C 3 Parables of Joy. Finding what was lost. Jesus hosts the tax collectors & sinners as his special, honoured guests. The accusation thrown against Jesus regularly – behold a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners. A refrain. When we hear a set of parables like this, […]
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Sunday 23 in Year C As a child – I really didn’t think about slavery. Later, after studying a little history, I thought slavery no longer existed – but I was wrong! In fact – although estimates and exact definitions vary – there are more slaves in total now than in any period of human […]
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Sunday 22 in Year C First Reading ‡ Sirach 3:17-20.27-28Humble yourself and you will find favour with the Lord. Responsorial ‡ Psalm 67:4-7.10-11God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor. Second Reading ‡ Hebrews 12:18-19.22-24You have to come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God. Gospel ‡ […]
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Sunday 21, in Year C. Jesus continues his road trip from Galilee to Jerusalem, which he begins in Luke 9:51 (eight weeks back on Sunday 13C) – heading for suffering and death. He knows the reality of rejection and disciples dropping off when the novelty wore off. He continues to invite us into God’s greater […]
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First Reading ‡ Revelation 11:19; 12:1-6.10I saw a woman clothed with the sun and with the moon beneath her feet. Responsorial ‡ Psalm 44:10-12.16The queen stands at your right hand, arrayed in gold. Second Reading ‡ 1 Corinthians 15:20-27aAs members of Christ all people will be raised, Christ first, and after him all who belong […]
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First Reading ‡ Jeremiah 38:4-6.8-10You bore me to be a man of strife for the whole world. Responsorial ‡ Psalm 39:2-4.18Lord, come to my aid! Second Reading ‡ Hebrews 12:1-4Let us bear patiently the struggle placed upon us. Gospel ‡ Luke 12:49-53I have come not to give peace, but discord. Play MP3 Sunday resource Tags: […]
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Sunday 19 in Year C First Reading ‡ Wisdom 18:6-9Just as you struck our enemies, you made us glorious by calling us to you. Responsorial ‡ Psalm 32:1.12.18-20.22Happy the people the Lord has chosen to be his own. Second Reading [longer form] ‡ Hebrews 11:1-2.8-19We will look for the city designed and built by God. […]
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Sunday 18 in Year C First Reading ‡ Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23What do people gain by all their work? Responsorial ‡ Psalm 89:3-6.12-14.17In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge. Second Reading ‡ Colossians 3:1-5.9-11Seek the things that are above where Christ is. Gospel ‡ Luke 12:13-21To whom will all this wealth of yours […]
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Lord, teach us to pray! What a great request. I doubt if any person who is trying to faithfully follow God thinks that they are praying too much, or too well. We all desire to grow in our prayer. To spend our time in God’s presence in a way that is more fruitful and more […]
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I like walking, and for many years now have tried to walk around 10km/day. Ideally this is bushwalking, but with our constant rain and flooding, many areas are closed, damaged, or way too muddy for pleasant walking. Instead, I now do lots of urban walking. I enjoy exploring new housing estates that surround our region. […]
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One of the great challenges in understanding a parable like the Good Samaritan is recapturing the original impact it would have had to those who first heard Jesus tell this short story. The first problem is that we are over familiar with the basic story. The second is that the word Samaritan has lost its […]
In 1966, Christians made up 88.2% of the Australian population. 25 years later in 1991 it was 74%. Another 25 years later in 2016 it had dropped to 52.1%. Now in the just-released data from the 2021 Census, we are no longer a majority Christian nation, with only 43.85% of people identifying as Christians. The […]
Sunday 13 in Year C.Patronal Feast of the Diocese of Wollongong: The Immaculate Heart of Mary First Reading ‡ 1 Kings 19:16.19-21Elisha rose and followed Elijah and became his servant. Responsorial ‡ Psalm 15:1-2.5.7-11You are my inheritance, O Lord. Second Reading ‡ Galatians 5:1.13-18My brothers, you were called to freedom. Gospel ‡ Luke 9:51-62Jesus resolutely […]
One of the truly great things about the gospels is that they remind us that the disciples are not magically transformed the first time they meet Jesus. It takes time for them to get to know him and slowly begin to understand what he is all about. I imagine that they were pretty chuffed at […]
TRINITY SUNDAY – The divine dance The biggest challenge in approaching a deeper understanding of the nature of God is being Western. Having a Western mind is really useful for science and computing + engineering. It is really not all that helpful for God. It began with the Greeks who loved making distinctions and treating […]
More than 30 years ago while in pre-seminary formation, I was told a quote from a Russian Orthodox monk, who died in the nineteenth century, St Seraphim of Sarov (1754/1759-1833). The quote is – “the goal of the Christian life is the acquisition of the Holy Spirit.” Seraphim goes on to say that like many […]
Ascension day can be a very confusing experience. For many people the imagery and artwork that accompany this feast does not help to clear the confusion. Picturing the feet of Jesus beneath a cloud that is taking him away from us does not help. Whenever an image is encountered in the scriptures, our first question […]
Sixth Sunday in Easter, Year C. We arrive at almost the very ending of the bible with our reading from Revelation 21 today. We are given the vision of the new Jerusalem as it descends and heaven and earth are fully reunited once again. The city is enormous – 12,000 stadia (2,400km) in each direction […]
Fifth Sunday in Easter, Year C. You shall be my people – and I will be your God. The Gospel passage that we hear today is sandwiched between two awful moments. Immediately before Judas is outed as the betrayer of Jesus. He takes the bread from the dish of Jesus and leaves the upper room. […]
John 10 – festival of Dedication/Lights – the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, occurring during the Jewish month of Chislev 25 (during our December – Hanukkah often occurs near Christmas). The second half of John 10 happens two months after feast of Tabernacles (John 7: 1 – 10:21). Same place (temple area in Jerusalem) but a different […]
Easter 3C Last week the disciples were locked away – together in fear, distress, grief and anxiety. Jesus came and stood among them. Shalom! Peace be with you. He showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. He breathes the breathe of new life, the gift of the Holy Spirit upon them. He […]
Second Sunday in Easter, Year C. First Reading ‡ Acts 5:12-16The numbers of men and women who came to believe in the Lord increased steadily. Responsorial ‡ Psalm 117:2-4.22-27Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting. Second Reading ‡ Revelation 1:9-13.17-19I was dead and now I am to live for […]
When you set out and walk east from the old city of Jerusalem through the Lion Gate, you move first through the shallow Kidron Valley before beginning to climb up the lower sections of the Mount of Olives. You pass first through the Garden of Gethsemene, complete with its old olive groves and the Christian […]
Easter Vigil 2022 When you set out and walk east from the old city of Jerusalem through the Lion Gate, you move first through the shallow Kidron Valley before beginning to climb up the lower sections of the Mount of Olives. You pass first through the Garden of Gethsemene, complete with its old olive groves […]
Good Friday – Solemn Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion First Reading ‡ Isaiah 52:13-53:12 He surrendered himself to death, while bearing the faults of many. Responsorial ‡ Psalm 30:2.6.12-13.15-17.25 Father, I put my life in your hands. Second Reading ‡ Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9 He learned obedience and became the source of eternal salvation for all who […]
Holy Thursday reflection Something amazing happened in the life of the beloved disciple. Tradition holds that John, the author of the fourth gospel, was the youngest of the 12 apostles. He is the only apostle who died in old age. The others were all martyred. The gospel that carries his name is an extraordinary achievement, […]
Commemoration of the Lord’s EntranceYear C ‡ Luke 19:28-40 – Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. First Reading ‡ Isaiah 50:4-7I did not cover my face against insult and I know I will not be ashamed. Responsorial ‡ Psalm 21:8-9.17-20.23-24My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Second Reading […]
Play MP3 Watch video Sunday 5 in Lent, Year C. First Reading ‡ Isaiah 43:16-21 I am doing a new thing and I will give drink to my people. Responsorial ‡ Psalm 125 The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy. Second Reading ‡ Philippians 3:8-14 Because of Christ I look upon […]
Sunday 4, Year C, Season of Lent (Laetare Sunday) First Reading ‡ Joshua 5:9-12The people of God went to the promised land and there kept the passover. Responsorial ‡ Psalm 33:2-7Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. Second Reading ‡ 2 Corinthians 5:17-21God reconciled us to himself through Christ. Gospel ‡ Luke 15:1-3.11-32Your brother […]
Third Sunday in Lent, C. First Reading ‡ Exodus 3:1-8.13-15 This is what you must say to the children of Israel: I Am has sent me to you Responsorial ‡ Psalm 102:1-4.6-8.11 The Lord is kind and merciful. Second Reading ‡ 1 Corinthians 10:1-6.10-12 All this that happened to the people of Moses in the desert was written […]
Second Sunday in Lent, Year C. First Reading ‡ Genesis 15:5-12.17-18 God made a covenant with Abraham, his faithful servant. Responsorial ‡ Psalm 26:1.7-9.13-14 The Lord is my light and my salvation. Second Reading ‡ Philippians 3:17-4:1 Christ will transfigure these bodies of ours into copies of his glorious body. Gospel ‡ Luke 9:28-36 As […]
First Sunday in Lent, Year C First Reading ‡ Deuteronomy 26:4-10The confession of faith of the elect. Responsorial ‡ Psalm 90:1-2.10-15Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble. Second Reading ‡ Romans 10:8-13The confession of faith of the believers in Christ. Gospel ‡ Luke 4:1-13Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus was led by the […]
First Reading ‡ Sirach 27:4-7 Do not praise someone before they have spoken. Responsorial ‡ Psalm 91:2-3.13-16 Lord, it is good to give thanks to you. Second Reading ‡ 1 Corinthians 15:54-58 Victory has been given to us through Jesus Christ. Gospel ‡ Luke 6:39-45 A person speaks from what is in their heart. Play MP3 Watch Video This […]
Who is the worst person that you know? Who is the person who is causing you the most grief right now? Who is your greatest enemy? Or the person who causes you to lose sleep at night…?It’s probably better to be someone that we know well – a friend, partner, neighbour, colleague. But it could […]
Blessing is a very Christian-ese kind of word. We don’t really ever hear the word outside of a Christian- and church-context; but in church, we hear the word frequently. When people sneeze, we might still say to them “God bless you.” (Which actually comes from the middle ages and the horrible experience of the Black […]
Sunday 05, Year C. First Reading ‡ Isaiah 6:1-8 Responsorial ‡ Psalm 138:1-8 In the sight of the angels I will sing your praises, Lord. Second Reading ‡ 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Gospel ‡ Luke 5:1-11 Play MP3 Watch video I’m sure that every single one of us here can identify at least one particular thing in life […]
Tom Wright, the former Anglican bishop of Durham in England notes, that when Jesus preached, people tried to stone him or throw him off 400m high cliffs. When Tom preaches, the church ladies might offer to make him cups of tea! I join Tom in wondering what I’m doing wrong. when no one even offers […]
Sunday of the Word of God Third Sunday in the Year, C. First Reading ‡ Nehemiah 8:2-6.8-10 – They read from the book of Law and they understood what was read. Responsorial ‡ Psalm 18:8-10.15 – Your words, Lord, are spirit and life. Second Reading ‡ 1 Corinthians 12:12-30 – Together you are Christ’s body; but […]
Have you ever experienced a treasure hunt? The kind where you have to go hunting for clues – and when you have found the first clue you can then hopefully solve it so that you can continue to find the second one and on and on. It seems that the author of John’s gospel would […]
Baptism of Jesus We transition today with a feast that both closes the Season of Christmas, and launches us into the new season of the year In the Baptism, all of the Gospel accounts agree that this was the moment when the adult Jesus begins his public ministry. Jesus spent the first 90% of his […]
Each of the Gospels begins with the baptism of Jesus – launches his public ministry (next week) Each has an overture – like a piece of music that introduces us to mood and main themes. Matthew is no different. 2 chapters that situate the action of his genealogy and birth. He wrote his gospel after […]
The Feast of the Holy Family 1 Samuel 1:20-22.24-28 – For the whole of his life, Samuel shall be lent to the Lord. Psalm 83:2-3.5-6.9-10 – How happy they who dwell in your house, O Lord. 1 John 3:1-2.21-24 – He calls you his own children, and that is what you are. Luke 2:41-52 – His parents found him […]
Hey! Look over there! What did you look at? Example of a dog, looking at the finger, rather than what is being pointed to. No longer walking in darkness – now in light. Often we have been so distracted by the folk law that has grown up around Christmas, that we continue to walk in […]
Fourth Sunday in Advent, Year C. First Reading ‡ Micah 5:1- 4 Responsorial ‡ Psalm 79:2-3.15-16.18-19Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved. Second Reading ‡ Hebrews 10:5-10 Gospel ‡ Luke 1:39-44 Play MP3 Watch video (I forgot that I am tall) Readings What is your favourite […]
Wednesday during Week 3 in the Season of Advent A reading from the Holy Gospel, according to Luke. (Luke 7:19-23) John, summoning two of his disciples sent them to the Lord to ask: Are you the one who is to come, or must we wait for someone else? When the men reached Jesus, they said “John the Baptist has sent […]
Advent 3, Year C Zephaniah 3:14-18. Philippians 4:4-7 Luke 3:10-18 Play MP3 Watch video Key points: Take time to imagine God delighting in you, rejoicing over you! He renews you in his love. It is wonderful to be in a good mood – to be happy, cheerful, joyful. We don’t live in a joy fest […]
As we move through the season of Advent, there can be so many themes and ideas thrown in our direction, it can be difficult to keep up.There is the movement through the four Sundays, which is fairly consistent across the three-year-cycle of readings: Sunday 1 focusses on the ‘end times’; Sunday 2 and 3 on […]
The Gospel today has always tended to set a note of fear within me. It seems like God is waiting to spring out and catch me in a trap. The way that I have heard this has often instilled a very unhealthy spiritual sense. As I prayed with the readings the notes played within the […]
The Feast of “Christ the King” is relatively new in Catholic terms, being established by Pope Pius XI only in 1925. That it was during the political battle for the sovereignty of the Papal States and the fight against modernism colours the nature of the celebration. Originally celebrated on the last Sunday in October (still […]
Sunday 33, Year B. Daniel 12:1-3; Mark 13:24-32 Play MP3 Watch video Our final reading from the Gospel of Mark for the year (next week – John 18).Mark 13 is challenging. Filled with references from the Hebrew Bible. If you don’t get those, you will be confused and probably get the meaning wrong. In our […]
1 Kings 17:10-16 The widow made a little scone from her flour meal and brought it to Elijah. Mark 12:38-44 This poor widow has put more in than all who contributed. Play MP3 Watch video Generated Transcript So we are in November and this is the 32nd Sunday in the year, so we’re definitely getting towards the […]
When you are caught in an emergency situation and you have to evacuate your house – what would you grab in the 60 seconds that you have available to you? Would it be a photo album, a piece of jewellery, device or memento? Sometimes it is good to be forced to boil things down to […]
We have emerged from extraordinary period. After the relative freedom which we enjoyed for about a year after our first lock-down, to be plunged back into a serious lockdown crisis was jarring. Our period of isolation from the worst effects of Covid-19 also came to an end, with the disease not only affecting people in […]
Once again we meet foolish disciples who screw up the simple and easy job of being faithful disciples. What unfolds is even more terrible when you read the section of Mark’s gospel that comes immediately before the section we read this Sunday (Mark 10:35-45). 32 They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem. Jesus was […]
The man in today’s gospel is eager – he runs to Jesus full of desire – yet also caught up in self-centredness. He wants ‘eternal life’ — that is a life that knows no bounds, a life that is not limited by space and time, but that keeps on filling his heart from the fount […]
Divorce is one of the sad realities of our world. There are very few families that have not been touched by the heartache of separation and divorce. I suspect that my immediate family where my parents and my four siblings are all in multi-decade first marriages makes us rather unusual. The reality is that making […]
Oh hell! This passage is the only one where Mark mentions ‘hell’ – 3 times in total. Luke only mentions it once (Luke 12:5); Matthew 7 times. Never in John’s gospel or the writings of Paul. Once in James 3 and once in 2 Peter 2. Total of 13 mentions – always the word ‘Gehenna’ […]
Sunday 25, Year B. Mark 9:30-37 Play MP3 Watch video Generated Transcript As I have grown older, my fondness for the gospel of Mark has also grown, and one of the things I really like about this gospel is the humanity of Jesus, but especially the humanity of the disciples. Yeah, they are in so […]
The story so far. Mark begins with a simple introduction: The beginning of the Good News about Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God. We’re then told a little about John the baptiser, the baptism of Jesus and then the temptation in the wilderness with angels and wild beasts. Jesus begins his ministry in Galilee. […]
One of the (many) cruel outcomes of Christian history is the unwarranted neglect of the Gospel of Mark. It was not until the sixth century that the first known commentary on the Gospel was written. It seems that the fact that it was the first of the gospels to be written was unknown, and so […]
Mark 7:1-23 (Sunday 22, Year B) – full NRSV Gospel, not the strange shorter/edited form as in the lectionary. Play MP3 Watch video Read Gospel (red-letter / colour-coded edition) Read Social Justice Statement 2021-2022 An Englishman, an Irishman and an Australian go into a bar and they notice, sitting over at one of the tables, a […]
Sunday 21B (Joshua 24:1-2,15-18 & John 6:60-69) Joshua today invites the people to renew the covenant. He gathers the people in the very centre of the promised land, at Shechem, and retells the story of salvation so far. He reminds the people of all that God has accomplished within their history. He reminds them of […]
At first glance, this feast day appears to be all about the dignity of Mary. When Pope Pius XII solemnly declared the doctrine of Mary’s bodily assumption into heaven as a dogma of the faith on 1 Nov 1950 in the document Munificentissimus Deus, at paragraph 44 he stated: “the Immaculate Mother of God, the […]
Solemnity of Mary of the Cross MacKillop Although Mary of the Cross was canonised in 2010 as the first Australian saint, this is the first year that the feast day has fallen on a Sunday since then. When Mary was declared a saint, her feast day was bumped up in the ecclesiastical and liturgical rankings […]
Sunday 18, Year B. First Reading ‡ Exodus 16:2-4.12-15 I will rain bread from heaven upon you. Responsorial ‡ Psalm 77:3-4.23-25.54 The Lord gave them bread from heaven. Second Reading ‡ Ephesians 4:17.20-24 Put on the new person that has been created in God’s image. Gospel ‡ John 6:24-35 Whoever comes to me will never be hungry; whoever believes in me will never […]
Last week, Jesus and his disciples went looking for a lonely place away from the crowds. Mark told us that Jesus was so busy looking after people and caring for their needs through mighty works of healing that neither he nor his disciples had time for rest or even to eat. So they jump in […]
NB. The first attempt at livestreaming Mass from St Columbkille’s – had a number of technical problems! We listen to Mark 6 tonight, and join Jesus and the disciples as they hear the terrible news that “King” Herod the Tetrarch has, during a magnificent banquet, executed John the Baptiser. So while Jesus needs to find […]
Over the next 7 Sundays our second readings will be taken from one of St Paul’s prison letters – the circular letter to the community in Ephesus (in Asia-Minor, or modern-day west-coast of Turkey). It is a beautiful, rich and deep insight into Paul’s meditation and worship. Our reading today from Ephesians 1:3-14 contains 12 verses, […]
Sunday 13, Year BMark 5:21-43 Play MP3 Watch whole Mass (recorded with 2 participants during greater Sydney June lockdown) Generated Transcript Last Sunday we heard in the gospel that Jesus has authority over the wind and the waves. This little group of disciples were crossing over the Sea of Galilee in that boat, and the storm […]
In the mid 60s of the first century, Rome was the place to be. It was the centre of political, cultural and economic power. Population of around 2 million with a Jewish community of 30-40k. There was a pattern of discord and contention between the Jewish community and the city of Rome. In the year […]
Solemnity of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Patronal Feast of the Diocese of Wollongong) Readings for 11th Sunday of the Year, B. St Columbkille’s Catholic Church, Corrimal. Ezekiel 17:22-24; Mark 4:26-34 Play MP3 Watch Video Watch full Mass here – with special guest Tongan choir leading us in song What can we say the kingdom […]
Our God is a rock. The Lord is my shepherd. I am the living bread come down from heaven. I am the true vine. When you read through the the pages of scripture, you’re confronted constantly by the Hebrew idea of metaphors. These comparisons between something that we have some sense about, something that we’re […]
One of the truly wonderful aspects of the TV series called The Chosen. It’s a multi season series on the Life of Jesus and his disciples. But one of the wonderful things about this series is it’s very biblical but it tries to look at the different characters in the life and ministry of Jesus and develop some of their […]
Easter 5B John 15:1-8 Play MP3 Watch video (Generated Transcript from Vigil Mass) Whenever we read any passage in Scripture, but especially one of the Gospels, an important thing is to know: Where are we in the story? What’s happening? Here, we’re essentially in the middle of this long section of the Last Supper. The final discourse that Jesus gives to […]
The image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd has been one of those images that has captured something in our hearts and lives, and we know that it’s from the earliest days of Christianity. But one of the favorite images of the ways to portray Jesus has been exactly as this. Jesus there with the […]
The Road to Emmaus: Jesus shared with the two disciples along the road. “Didn’t our hearts burn within us?” They recognised Jesus in the breaking of the bread. Now, as they gather together in Jerusalem, Jesus himself stands among them: “Peace be with you!” The meal that the two disciples shared at Emmaus was about […]
There are 3 kinds of seasons in the church year: Seasons of Preparation, Seasons of Celebrations, and the Season of Life. The main and longest season is prosaically called Ordinary – yet this is such an ordinary name for the period of time which is all about growing as disciples and followers of Jesus. ⇒ […]
Happy Easter! “Until this moment, they failed to understand.” I think we are on the side of the disciples in this. People who die and then rise from the dead, is not part of our ordinary human experience. You know, that’s not the kind of thing that we’re used to happening. It is not as though that we are now in our 21st century […]
The gospel proclaims that there is no place for triumphalism in the Christian community, for it is a gospel of “little ones,” of women who were considered so insignificant that their witness had no social or religious validity. By the end of the day of crucifixion, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses had […]
On Good Friday we read the story of the broken God – the passion of Jesus from the Gospel of John. It a story that invites us to reflect on our own brokenness and how God in Jesus can begin the work of bringing healing to us and to those around us who are broken. […]
Every one of us have a central story that has shaped us and fashioned us; something that continues to define us and help us to understand who we are and how we have become that person. The Passover and the transformation of that ritual that Jesus enacted in the Last Supper is for us this […]
There is a stark transition between the celebration and welcome as we join the pilgrim crowd who join and acclaim Jesus the Messiah in procession into the city of Jerusalem. Suddenly after our palms are blessed and the entry is proclaimed, there is a jolt and a movement in the liturgy into the suffering servant […]
Some Greeks asking to see Jesus made all the difference! That outsiders and foreigners were now asking to meet with Jesus is the final sign that Jesus was looking for. Now the hour has come. When Mary asked Jesus to solve the problem of the wedding without wine at Cana, Jesus told her that his […]
In our English Bibles we follow the order of the old Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible. Divided into 4 sections – Pentateuch, History, Wisdom and Prophets. But the Hebrew Bible itself places the various books of the Biblical library together in a different way, using just 3 main sections: Torah, Nevi’ im and Ketuvim […]
When you were a kid, who had a swear jar? Maybe I was not the only one to have my mouth washed out with soap and water – in Kindy! I guess it worked – at least I never had to go through all of that again. No, I can’t remember what I allegedly said. […]
Last week we found ourselves journeying with Jesus into the wilderness to be tested. We know that so often our lives have so many distractions that it is difficult to hear the voice of the Father claiming us as his own precious children. Abraham is invited today to once again leave and go – to […]
Every year at the beginning of Lent, we are invited to journey with Jesus into the wilderness. The Gospel we have just read is sometimes called the temptation in the wilderness or the desert. This is an appropriate name for the similar story that is told within the Gospels of Luke and Matthew. But here […]
What is the best way to let everyone know what is going on? Tell one person the news, but ask them to keep it secret! Jesus discovers this in the Gospel today. In the Greek text he is very strong – not just sternly ordered – there is a hint of anger. More than a […]
This Sunday is Sunday of the Word of God (celebrated in Australia on the first Sunday in February), where Pope Francis invites the whole Church to encounter God and get to know Jesus through reading the Word. The Bible is not an easy read. It contains many different styles, including narrative/story, poetry and discourse. It […]
One year ago today, there were more news stories coming out about this strange new coronavirus that originated in a large Chinese city that I hadn’t even heard of – Wuhan. On 25 Jan the first 4 cases were reported in Australia. By 30 Jan the virus had spread to 20 countries. First cases were […]
Last Sunday we heard the first words of Jesus in the Gospel of John “what are you looking for?” Such a powerful question that continues to haunt us. Today we hear the first words of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark. After John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the GOOD NEWS, saying: “The […]
For many Christians, our faith is as people of the book. This is especially true as a result of the Protestant reformation. Yet the bible can sometimes serve to muzzle the active and dynamic relational quality of life with God. Many people relate to the opening line of 1 Samuel 3:1 – that the ‘word […]
O come to the water, all you who are thirsty!Though you have no silver, come, eat, and be satisfied! This is the invitation that God so longs for us to hear. A constant longing for us to hear the invitation to be in relationship with God. To have nothing hold us back from being with […]
Do you know that I am weird? There is also a more than fair chance that I’m not the only weird person here today! Statistically, we talk about people who are most likely going to be surveyed by researchers. Unfortunately, most of them share something in common: they are weird. WEIRD is an acronym – […]
I must confess a certain dis-ease in celebrating the feast of the holy family each year. Although it is a wonderful thing to do, there is a certain degree of disconnect and contrast between the seemingly perfect example of the Holy Family and the lived reality of most people. When you zoom back out from […]
The church tonight – only half the number of people who had booked & many others would come. Glass of water: is it half full or half empty? Those who say the glass is half empty, we call a pessimist; those who say half-full we characterise as an optimist. As a follower of Jesus, should […]
When Paul wanted to convey his most developed and longest letter to the half-dozen or so house churches in the city of Rome, he needed to find someone who understood exactly what he wanted to say, who perhaps was able to memorise the letter word-for-word and who knew how to interpret the letter and perform […]
Do you remember what it was like to learn English? The experience will be very different depending on whether it was your first language learnt as an infant, or much later in life. In any language, there are at least 4 main components: learning to hear and understand what is said, learning to speak the […]
Comfort my people, comfort them. Like the other 3 gospels, the one that we read from today – which we announce is “according to mark” is anonymous. The tradition that has named the author as Mark, or John Mark, dates to the second century. From the third century, it was believed that Matthew wrote his […]
We transition today into a new liturgical year. What is unusual about this new season of Advent is that the themes of the readings that we have been hearing during the last few weeks continue as we move from ordinary time into the new season. It is the only time during the liturgical year that […]
We have been on a pilgrimage with the Gospel of Matthew this year & arrive at this scene marking the conclusion of the public ministry of Jesus. We are presented with Jesus the king announcing a final blessing upon all of those who have been a blessing for others throughout their life. They receive the […]
“The parable of the Talents” Talent is just a Greek word, that the English translators fluffed, by writing it in English letters. Another translation is the master gave his servants 5/2/1 bags of gold. A talent is first a measure of weight – but there is much debate as to how much it is worth. […]
When we arrive in November, we know that there will be a change in the energy and movement of the liturgical year. Geared to the seasons in the northern hemisphere, there is increasing darkness and an apocalyptic turn as we hear the final passages of Jesus during the final week of his public ministry. It […]
9 Beatitudes. Blessings. Jesus on a mountain proclaiming all these blessings on the crowd. Beatitude. Nice enough. Beginning of the most famous sermon of all time. On the surface it all seems simple enough – until you start to go below the surface. Who is being blessed? What does it mean? A question to keep asking […]
Anger is a difficult emotion that perhaps gets a bad reputation from our experience as children and being told that it is wrong to feel angry. Yet in our first reading from Exodus 22:20-26 we hear about the kinds of things that make God angry – when the widows, the orphans, the strangers, the foreigners, […]
We continue to read from the Gospel of Matthew (22:15-21) as we accompany Jesus during his final days in Jerusalem. He has made his triumphant entry into the city with a crowd of pilgrims, then he pulled the stunt in the temple, overthrowing the tables of the money changers. There was a question about his […]
Weeping and grinding of teeth. Many are called but few are chosen. This is certainly a strange parable (or is it two parables?) of Jesus. It is told, like the two other parables that we have heard the last two weeks, not to the disciples or followers of Jesus, but to the Jewish religious leaders […]
At the beginning of Matthew 21, Jesus and his disciples arrived in Jerusalem making their triumphant entry – in the event that we commemorate each year on Palm Sunday. He makes his way to the temple and when he sees that this House of Prayer for all the nations has become a marketplace, he sets […]
“A Father had two sons…” It is such an evocative line. We will all know and have experience of the natural conflict that exists within families. The line probably activates the Parable in Luke 15:11-32 of the Merciful Father / Prodigal Son. It may also remind us of some of the ‘great’ sons and their […]
The story that Jesus tells today is challenging (Matthew 20:1-16). It disturbs us, especially as children of capitalism and the sense of justice that we have developed. Surely the workers who were out in the vineyard all day long (and a 12-hour day is described) deserve to be paid more than the workers who only […]
Today we conclude the 18th chapter of Matthew. This fourth block of teaching centres around life in the community. It began with the question of who is the greatest in this new covenant community and culminates in this over-the-top story of abundant grace and mercy. Peter the impetuous again provides the fodder for the teaching […]
When we arrive at our Gospel today, we have jumped over a chapter and a half of the story from where we left it last week. We haven’t moved far geographically (from the northern reaches of Israel in Caesarea Philippi to the northern side of the lake), but we continue on this inexorable journey to […]
The Gospel today continues directly on from the one we listened to last week. The setting is still the very north of Israel – although the population was now much more pagan and gentile than Jewish. Jesus has taken the disciples away from the crowds to prepare them for the final journey to Jerusalem. He […]
But you – who do you say I am? To make sense of any passage in scripture it is necessary not only to read the actual text closely and carefully, we also need to read and pray the text within its context. Where does the passage fit within the flow of the narrative – as […]
Wow. This is a strange Gospel. A challenging Gospel. We can be left with the question – what the? Why does Jesus respond to this woman who acknowledges him as the Lord and Son of David with such indifference and hostility? How would you feel if you brought a loved-one before Jesus who you knew […]
When we read or hear this Gospel scene from Matthew 14:22-33, it can be tempting to focus only on the mighty sign of both Jesus and then Peter walking on the water. This miracle has become almost a trope and a mere meme. The Netflix series from earlier this year, Messiah reaches something of a […]
To fully appreciate the story of Zacchaeus you do need to understand how despised he would have been within the society of Jericho – itself already on the outside of acceptable Jewish society, given its reputation as a city of sin and its history of standing opposed to the kingdom of God. There were three […]
The parable that lies at the heart of our Gospel this week, from Luke chapter 18, seems at first glance to be describing a religious event. In reality, like the parable that begins chapter 18 which we heard last Sunday – the one about the widow and the corrupt judge – this parable also is […]
Although St Paul tells his young disciple Timothy that “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, refuting error, guiding people’s lives and teaching them to be holy” (2 Tim 3:16) it is hard to see how that can be applied to our first reading today, taken from Exodus 17:8-13. Like so many other passages from the Old Testament it describes a bloody battle that ends with the line “with the edge […]
When was the last time that you were so truly grateful for something that happened in your life that you had to shout out aloud in thanksgiving. I remember as a kid growing up on the farm, we would often help dad when he went to burn off in the steep gullies that were difficult to slash or otherwise control. Usually the fires burnt away without incident, but occasionally the day was a little hotter […]
Societies have always been constructed around complicated systems of honour and appearance. Some people are part of the ‘in crowd’; others are not. This week I caught up with two families that each have fourteen-year-old daughters who were born only a few days apart – so they have grown up like sisters. Before they go out to a party with their friends they Skype each other to check what they are wearing to make sure […]
In the forty or so parables that Jesus tells in the first three Gospels there are lots of twists and surprises along the way – but perhaps none is quite as perplexing as the one that we find in the sixteenth chapter of the Gospel of Luke, the parable of the unjust steward. It is enough to give a moralist apoplexy – why does it seem that Jesus is praising the actions of this man […]
When I was in USA a few months ago, I visited the Great Smoky Mountains national park in Eastern Tennessee. It is a beautiful place, and the most visited of the national parks in America, attracting millions of visitors each year. And most of those visitors first go to the main entrance and visitors station located in a beautiful valley surrounded by parkland. I stopped and watched one of the park-keepers who was working very […]
The gospel that we just heard is one of those that makes you really wonder who Jesus is? What kind of person says something as outrageous as ‘If any man comes to me without hating (miseo) his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes and his own life too, he cannot be my disciple. Anyone who does not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.’ (Luke 14:26-27) This seems to be the opposite […]
The vision that the letter to the Hebrews paints today is certainly expansive. It is an image of the new creation where everyone is welcome and treated as a first-born son and citizen. After attending a forum at the University of Wollongong this week (in 2013) on Refugees, it became even more apparent how far removed this vision is from our current experience in Australia. Bishop Peter Ingham released a pastoral letter on the issue and […]
When I was a student at Sydney University, there was one question that I was regularly asked – are you saved? Sometimes it was in the form of the “if you died tonight, where would you end up – in heaven or hell?” Perhaps this was because as an Economics student I had more time to wander around campus and hang out at other Christian meetings, especially those of the Evangelical and Pentecostal students. There […]
One of the things that never fails to amaze me – and this is a little embarrassing to admit! – is when you have been literally under the weather for a while: the sky is grey and overcast, perhaps it has rained a bit, with fog and mist thrown in and the weather is really beginning to have its depressing impact upon you. But then you get to the airport, and after your flight takes […]
The opening line of our Gospel today provides an essential description of the Christian message for us – if only we could receive it and live it. “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it has pleased the Father to give you the Kingdom.” So often we live caught up in a false notion that God is constantly keeping track in some imagined heavenly ledger of all our activities. We imagine that there is a […]
There is a sense of urgency in the Gospel today as Jesus sends out this group of seventy(-two) disciples to prepare the way for him as he continues to make his pilgrimage journey to Jerusalem. He had already sent out the twelve apostles on mission at the beginning of the previous chapter (Luke 9:1); only this gospel records this second larger sending out. Using the principle of first mention, we perhaps are able to see […]
The Gospel of Luke begins and ends in Jerusalem. Until the Gospel today (from Luke 9:51-62) all the action has taken place with Jesus ministering around the area where he grew up – Galilee – in places such as Capernaum, the lake, Nain and Mount Tabor. But there is a decisive shift at the beginning of today’s gospel, when Jesus “sets his face resolutely towards Jerusalem”. It seems that the question that formed the heart of […]
When I read this Gospel, from Luke chapter 7, verses 36-50, of the anointing of Jesus by a sinful woman, two very vivid images come to mind, evoked by two songs. The first is the old song ‘Beautiful to Me’ by Don Francisco, which in his style is a powerful retelling of this story, told from the point-of-view of Simon the Pharisee. The song continues to repeat a refrain, which is “your sins were red […]
Jeremiah is one of the most favourite prophets in part because he is so transparent about his call and its consequences. He certainly didn’t go out of his way to be a prophet. You couldn’t really blame him. At the time of his call, during the reign of King Josiah, the southern kingdom of Judah was not at the peak of its historical greatness. The ten tribes from the northern kingdom of Israel had fallen […]
The scene that is presented to us today from the book of Nehemiah is much more significant than it perhaps at first appears. The people of Israel have recently returned from the devastating period of exile in Babylon, which began with the complete destruction of the city of Jerusalem and its temple in 586 BCE, and which was only coming to an end because the Babylonian empire had itself been conquered by the Persians, and […]
When you come to reflect on the baptism of Jesus, the first thing that you need to take account of is how odd an event it must have been. The primary significance of the baptism that John was offering was a washing from sin and a ritual of repentance. It was in direct competition to the sacrificial system of the temple which was all about cleansing a person from personal sin and recognising how terrible […]