Community
Prepare the Way
8 December 2024
Embracing Renewal: Reflections on the Reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris and the Advent Season Greetings, dear friends. Today, I want to share some reflections on a momentous event that resonates deeply with my personal experiences and memories: the recent reopening and dedication of Notre-Dame de Paris. This iconic cathedral, which suffered a devastating fire in…
Advent Darkness
1 December 2024
Embracing Faith and Hope in Times of Turmoil: Reflections from the Advent Season Greetings, dear friends. As we gather in this sacred space, I invite you to journey with me back to the late 1st century, to the west coast of the Roman province of Asia Minor, in what is now modern-day Turkey. It is…
Apocalypto
17 November 2024
Embracing Faith Amidst Uncertainty: Reflections on Apocalyptic Themes in Scripture Today, I want to share some reflections that delves into the themes of revelation and apocalypse in scripture, particularly as we approach the darker, colder months of winter (in the northern hemisphere). These reflections are inspired by the biblical stories of Noah and Jacob, as…
Generosity
10 November 2024
Embracing Generosity: Lessons from Elijah and the Widow of Sidon Reflecting on the profound themes of generosity, abundance, and the teachings of Jesus. These reflections were inspired by a personal experience and the timeless story of Elijah and the widow of Sidon. Today, I want to share these insights with you, offering a detailed guide…
Embracing True Freedom
13 October 2024
I delve into a profound biblical encounter that speaks volumes about our spiritual journey and the quest for true freedom. The story of the young man who approaches Jesus, eager to inherit eternal life, is a powerful narrative that resonates with many of us, especially those who are young and zealous in their faith. This…
Come and See
14 January 2024
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…
People Love
24 December 2023
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…
Forgiving Flow
17 September 2023
“The only way to let go is the way of mercy, the way of forgiveness, the way that doesn’t say that it didn’t matter, that thing is not significant. Yes, it happened and it was crucial and it was awful, but still from my side of the street, I have that obligation to let it…
Doubting faith
21 May 2023
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…
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…
Come to the Centre and go
19 June 2022
Season of Growth, Solemnity, Year C
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…
Jesus Others You = Joy
8 September 2019
Discipleship, Season of Growth, Teaching, Year C
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…
God is always enough
2 August 2015
18B – Bread of life (John 6:24-35; Exodus 16: 2-4, 12-15) When you read the Gospel of John, you must always be aware of the broad canvas upon which John writes his Gospel. He is always mindful and aware of all that has gone on before in the past – the history of the people…
Sharing with open hands
25 July 2015
This year we have been reading from the Gospel of Mark. Last week we had the story of Jesus and the disciples crossing over the lake and coming to find a large crowd of people, which he set out to teach at some length. Rather than continuing the story from Mark, we interrupt the story…
Apostles breaking down barriers
19 July 2015
We meet the disciples of Jesus today as they return from their missionary journeys where they went out in pairs to not only proclaim the message of salvation but they were also tasked to heal the sick and bring release to those bound with evil spirits. They return no longer as disciples – but they…
Called to go on exodus to the others
26 April 2015
Discipleship, Easter, Seasons, Teaching
The image of Jesus as the Good Shepherd is one that has endured across the centuries of the Christian Church. The image of the young Jesus as the shepherd bringing home the stray or wounded lamb has been found on the walls of the catacombs, and a statue of the Good Shepherd has also been…
The dedication of the Lateran Basilica
10 November 2014
It is rare for a feast day to bump-off the Sunday liturgy – usually only the feast days and solemnities of the Lord or of our Lady (but only during Ordinary Time) – but today the dedication of a basilica in the city of Rome from back in the fourth century displaces the Sunday cycle…
Storms and Silence – Elijah and Peter
10 August 2014
The audio at the start of the homily today is from the video “Elijah” by Dan Stevers. Elijah in I Kings 17-18 is presented as the dude – the great hero of the people of Israel. He is able to break a 40 month drought, beat a chariot in a 30km race, raise the dead, call down…
Trinity as Community and Relationship
15 June 2014
Easter, Season of Growth, Seasons, Year A
When it comes time to celebrate Trinity Sunday it can be tempting to settle in for another discussion on this abstract and irrelevant theological idea. Yet the readings that are offered for this Year A cycle give the clear basis for why the divine dance of love that describes the relationship between the Father, Son and…
Identity in the Merciful Messiah
27 April 2014
In the program Grand Designs, host Kevin McCloud walks with people who are transforming often old buildings into new and beautiful designs. I had a little experience with this when I was in Nowra Parish and the old parish hall, which for many years was used by the school as classrooms, but had been laying…
Jesus Others You = Joy
9 September 2013
Discipleship, Season of Growth, Teaching, Year C
Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew 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…
Becoming the people of God
26 May 2012
About a month ago I accepted the invitation of one of our parishioners – Peter – to go gliding with him. It is certainly an incredible experience as you are towed up a couple thousand metres by an old crop-duster, and then once you reach the designated height the cable connecting you to the plain…
Finding the right walls
24 January 2010
Third Sunday (Year C). When adults attempt to teach young children how to ride a bike, they sometimes cry out decidedly unhelpful comments like – ‘just keep pedaling’ or ‘ride straight’ or ‘don’t crash into that parked car.’ When we think back on our first attempts at riding a bike, we may have very vivid…