Love

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…

Understanding True Kingship: Reflections on Jesus as the “Son of Man” and the “Crucified Messiah” There is a compelling contrast between the traditional view of monarchy, as exemplified by King Charles of the British royal family, and the biblical understanding of Jesus Christ as the “Son of Man” and the “crucified Messiah.” This exploration invites…

Embracing the Commandments: A Journey of Love and Curiosity Today, I want to share with you some reflections, where we delved into the profound themes of curiosity, the commandments in the Bible, and the transformative power of love. As we explore these themes, I hope to offer you valuable insights and actionable advice that can…

Reflection on Bartimaeus: A Journey from Isolation to Community In the biblical narrative, the story of Bartimaeus, the blind beggar, serves as a profound illustration of the human experience of isolation and the transformative power of community and love. Bartimaeus, positioned on the outskirts of society, embodies the struggles of those who feel disconnected and…

Understanding Gehenna: A Call to Embrace Love and Freedom Have you ever been told to “go to hell”? It’s not a pleasant experience, but if it happens, you might not need to be too shocked or upset. The term “hell” in the Bible often refers to a specific place rather than the fiery, fantastical realm…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

The Power of Conversations and the Parable of Talents Fr Richard Healey shares his insights on two contrasting conversations he had with fellow priests, which was both enlightening and deeply thought-provoking. It revolved around the Gospel reading about the parable of the bags of gold, also known as the parable of talents. The Parable of…

The Intersection of Love, Justice, and Personal Annoyances The Annoyances of Life and the Call for Justice I found myself reflecting on the various things that annoy me, such as people not adhering to traffic rules. It’s a common enough grievance, but it led me to a deeper conversation about the importance of justice and…

“God is generous and God will pour himself out as much as we are able to receive. And our lives are about growing in that capacity to be able to be used and to receive the goodness of God.” Fr Richard Healey So many of us have a whole mix of memories from our childhood,…

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…

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…

Easter – Sunday 5 Play MP3 Watch video Resources 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,…

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, where Christ is. Gospel ‡ John 20:1-9The…

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…

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…

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;…

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…

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

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…

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,…

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 MP3Watch video Generated Transcript So we are in November and this is the 32nd Sunday in the year, so we’re definitely getting towards the pointy end of…

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,…