Fr Paul reads the Gospel from Matthew (16: 13-23) in which Simon says to Jesus, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” and Jesus gives him the name Peter (which means ‘rock’) and says, “on this rock I will build my church”. Fr Paul says this reading is a turning [...]
As we celebrate the Transfiguration of our Lord, Fr Paul reads the Gospel from Luke (9: 28-36) in which Jesus takes Peter, John and James up onto a mountain to pray and there they witness his appearance transform. Fr Paul says this account of the Transfiguration of the Lord can sound embarrassingly magical. [...]
Fr Paul shares in today’s Gospel (Matthew 14: 22-36) the story of Jesus walking on water to His disciples who were in a boat offshore. Fr Paul says, it is often said in this gospel the Christian people are the boat, and St Peter is at the helm. Like every boat crew, everyone, all of us has a part [...]
Fr Paul Gooley reads from the Gospel of Matthew (9: 35-10:1) in which Jesus says to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Afterwards, Fr Paul shares a little about St John Vianney whose [...]
Fr Paul reads from the Gospel of Matthew (14: 1-12) in which tells how Herod comes to arrest and kill John the Baptist. Fr Paul says today’s Gospel is Matthew’s version of the murder of John the Baptist. What we hear in the Gospel is the bizarre behavior of Herod. Firstly, Herod wants [...]
Fr Paul Gooley reads from the Gospel of Matthew (5: 13-19) in which Jesus says , “you are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses it saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.” Afterwards, Fr [...]
Fr Paul Gooley reads from the Gospel of Luke (14: 25-33) in which Jesus turns to a large crowd and says, “if anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters – yes, even their own life – such a person can not be my [...]
Fr Paul reads from the Gospel of Matthew (13: 44-46) in which Jesus says the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field or a merchant looking for fine pearls. Fr Paul says what we learn from today’s Gospel is that the followers of Jesus must be convinced that the Kingdom [...]
Fr Paul Gooley reads from the Gospel of John (11: 19-27) in which Martha says to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” Afterwards, Fr Paul shares a little about St Martha, Mary and Lazarus [...]
Fr Paul Gooley reads from the Gospel of Matthew (13: 31-35) in which Jesus tells the parables of the mustard seed and the yeast. Fr Paul says one way of coming to a better understanding of the parables is to seek out the circumstances in which Jesus might have told them, and then [...]