Living in Integrity
12 February 2023
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;…
Salt and Light
5 February 2023
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…
Being Blest
28 January 2023
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…
Calling Disciples
21 January 2023
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…
Behold the Lamb of God
15 January 2023
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…
Called to Worship
7 January 2023
The Epiphany of the Lord First Reading ‡ Isaiah 60:1-6The glory of the Lord shines upon you. Responsorial ‡ Psalm 71:1-2.7-8.10-13Lord, every nation on earth will adore you. Second Reading ‡ Ephesians 3:2-3.5-6The revelation means that pagans now share the same inheritance, that they are parts of the same body. Gospel ‡ Matthew 2:1-12We have…
Being Blessed
31 December 2022
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…
Christmas Reversals by day
24 December 2022
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…
Christmas Reversals by night
24 December 2022
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…
Advent Bodies
17 December 2022
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…
Advent Questions
10 December 2022
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…
Advent Call
4 December 2022
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. Play…
Advent Hope
27 November 2022
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….
Invitation to Paradise
20 November 2022
Season of Growth, Solemnity, Year C
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 ‡…
Signs as Witness
13 November 2022
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 say that I…
Gratitude is a precious gift
8 October 2022
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…
Faith in a Great God
2 October 2022
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…
Being Lazarus
25 September 2022
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 bad things came…
Freedom Parable
18 September 2022
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…
Being Found
11 September 2022
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,…
Freedom for slaves
4 September 2022
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…
All are welcome
27 August 2022
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 ‡ Luke 14:1.7-14All…
The question of salvation
21 August 2022
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…
The first fruits of the new creation
14 August 2022
New Creation, Solemnity, Teaching
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…
Fire of Love
14 August 2022
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 MP3Sunday resource
Faith and Trust
7 August 2022
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.Gospel [longer form]…
The Rich Fool Judged
31 July 2022
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…
Pray with bold intimacy
24 July 2022
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…
Hospitality and Discipleship
17 July 2022
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….
Despised neighbours
10 July 2022
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…