Readings: Isaiah 62:1-5; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; John 2:1-11 We’ve been listening to these readings for decades: recall that water fills John’s Gospel. From John’s baptism, in the first chapter, to today’s Gospel in the next; from the end of Chapter Three when Jesus and John are both baptizing, on to Jesus at Jacob’s well in […]
Reflection for Thursday of the First Week (Memorial of St. Anthony of Egypt)
Readings: Hebrews 3:7-14; Mark 1:40-45 Our First Reading today begins with the marvelous words, The Holy Spirit says…to introduce a long quote from Psalm Ninety-four. I find that a vivid reminder of how intimate and accessible the Holy Spirit is in our lives, and how effective. Saint Anthony of the Egypt certainly realized that when, […]
Reflection for the Monday of the First Week, Year One
Readings: Hebrews 1:1-6; Mark 1:14-20 When Jesus called Peter and Andrew to follow him, they left their nets and followed him–as simple as that. The stark way Mark writes the scene makes their reaction seem like a reflex. I wonder whether they realized what they were doing. I say that because ten chapters later, after […]
Reflection for 10 January
Readings: 1 John 4:18-5:4; Luke 4:14-22 Both readings today drive home the impact of the Incarnation; not only has God come among us in our flesh, but the Incarnation changes our existence. It has revealed that there is more to our lives and future than we could have imagined. However, if you read the continuation […]
Reflection for 5 January, the Memorial of St. John Neumann
Readings: 1 John 3:11-21; John 1:43-51 In the light of current events, both in the Church and politics, I believe it’s worthwhile to consider the contribution of Bishop John Neumann (1811-1860). He was an unassuming man from a humble background who profited from a solid education. He lived in very different circumstances than our own: […]
A Word from the Cistercian Fathers for Epiphany
It is to Christ that the guiding star leads us, proclaiming him and pointing him out. It proclaims him in its appearing and points him out by going ahead and standing over the house where he is. Now the star which leads us to Jesus is sacred scripture. Behold, our light has already come because […]
Reflection for Thursday, 3 January
Readings 1 John 2:29-3:6; John 1:29-34 Christianity can be quite fractious when it comes to articulating our relationship with God. While Pharisees, Sadducees–even some Essenes–and people who were none of the above, disagreed about the priesthood, doctrine and the books that constituted the scriptures, they managed to worship in the same Temple and observed the […]
Fr. James’ Homily for the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God, 1 January, 2019
Readings: Numbers 6:22-27; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21 Looking at the traditional Nativity scene, we usually see a pleasant pastoral idyll. There’s a good reason for the charm of such representations: they try to communicate something of the beauty of God’s graciousness. Today’s Gospel reading is stark by contrast and definitely odd. There we find a […]
Reflection for 31 December, 2018
Readings: 1 John 2:18-21; John 1:1-18 As we round out the Christmas Octave, we’re returned to the Gospel of the Christmas Day Mass. One reaction could be, “Here we go again.” And, in fact, life often feels like that. Again and again in confession, for example, penitents talk as if nothing ever changes. In actual […]
Reflection for 29 December
Readings: 1 John 2:3-11; Luke 2:22-35 The older I grow, the more I appreciate the sense of fulfilment expressed by Simeon’s Canticle. Having hopes is a risky business; and carrying hopes into old age is a tricky business. Should I define my hopes too narrowly, if I limit my expectations to my specifications, I could […]