2025

See, my servant will prosper,he shall be lifted up, exalted, rise to great heights.As the crowds were appalled on seeing him– so disfigured did he lookthat he seemed no longer human –so will the crowds be astonished at him,and kings stand speechless before him;for they shall see something never toldand witness something never heard before:‘Who […]

Today we are in vigil, in mourning for the cruel death of our beloved Jesus.  Today we put ourselves there with Mary, the mother of Jesus, with Mary Magdalen, with the other women, and with John, who stood by the cross and witnessed as Jesus died.  We are there with the 11 disciples, all left

When, exactly, did the Last Supper take place?  The synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) have Jesus and his disciples eating the Last Supper as the Passover feast, before he suffers, so that the Day of Passover should be the day of his crucifixion.  In John’s Gospel, the timing of the Last Supper occurs twenty-four

The Lord has given mea well-trained tongue.That I may know how to speak to the wearya word that will rouse them.Each morning, he wakes me to hear,to listen like a disciple.The Lord has opened my ear. For my part, I made no resistance,neither did I turn away.I offered my back to those who struck me,my

Islands, listen to me,pay attention, remotest peoples.The Lord called me before I was born,from my mother’s womb he pronounced my name. He made my mouth a sharp sword,and hid me in the shadow of his hand.He made me into a sharpened arrow,and concealed me in his quiver. He said to me, ‘You are my servant

During this sacred time of Holy Week, we may be tempted to fall into a pattern of ‘knowing’ the stories and rituals, and thus move on automatic pilot through the week.   After all, we Christians have prayerfully reflected on these events throughout our lives. Isaiah contains four so-called “Servant Songs”, three of which will

Some celebrants are tempted to drop preaching a homily today because of the length of the Gospel, not to mention the blessing of palms and a procession. Yet, as this day is the opening of Holy Week, it seems a pity not to say something, by way of introduction, about the meaning of this climax

The Lord says this: ‘I am going to take the sons of Israel from the nations where they have gone. I shall gather them together from everywhere and bring them home to their own soil. I shall make them into one nation in my own land and on the mountains of Israel, and one king

Today’s Old Testament reading is the last of several readings from Jeremiah during Lent (Jeremiah 20:10-13).  Jeremiah’s ministry extended for some forty years (about 625-585 BC).  At the mid-point of his ministry, the Babylonian empire under Nebuchadnezzar began expanding in the Middle East and Israel’s existence was threatened. Jeremiah warned Israel about this threat, having

The Old Testament reading for today (Genesis 17:3-9) tells the story of God establishing his covenant with Abram.  Before today’s scene, Abram frequently demonstrated his faith in God, even in trying circumstances.  God speaks to Abram, now 99 years old: “I shall maintain my covenant between myself and you, and to your descendants after you,