A Reflection for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Unlike the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, the Gospel according to John has a rather plain description of John the Baptist. It makes no mention of his eccentric lifestyle or dress (living in the desert, wearing camel hair), or of his strange diet (eating locusts and wild honey). The text doesn’t even use the title ‘John the Baptist’. However, one point in the Fourth Gospel is very clear, recording that the Baptist does not want any case of mistaken identity; he asserts that he is definitely not the Christ, nor even a Messiah look-alike. John is a witness to the light; he is not the light. He is merely a forerunner in the vanguard party.
Author: - January 19, 2020
A Reflection for The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
This Sunday marks the crossover from Christmastide to Ordinary Time. We do this by recalling something extraordinary that continues to remind us of what Christmas and the incarnation is all about. The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord raises all kinds of interesting questions about the curious moment when Jesus comes to John for baptism. In Matthew, our Gospel for the coming year, the baptism is presented as another moment of revelation. In the scene, Jesus is depicted as “seeing” the Spirit coming down on him while the crowd is told “this is my beloved Son” (Contrast this with Mark where the voice speaks to Jesus!). What does it mean for Matthew?
Author: - January 12, 2020
A Reflection for the Feast of the Epiphany
Some years ago, I had the privilege of working with the Spiritan initiative for asylum-seekers in Ireland (SPIRASI). Given the geographical situation of Ireland, most of the clients come to us from the east. Like the magi in the gospel, they too are on a quest. The readings today in simple terms offer us a vision of family and community. In these sacred stories we distil an understanding of family. The Scripture today defines family not in terms of literal definition but in terms of a vision for family where loving and heartfelt relationships are central to the experience.
Author: - January 6, 2020
A Reflection for the Second Sunday of Christmas
Jn. 1: 1-18 So, it is 2020! A new year, a new start for a new decade. But what’s new in the world – we might be tempted to go down the line of saying it’s the “same old, same old”. However, today’s Scripture reminds us that the new calendar year is still…
Author: - January 3, 2020
