How often must I forgive? Fr Paul reads Matthew’s Gospel (18:21-19:1) in which Peter asks Jesus how often he must forgive his brother. The parable of the ungrateful servant, we hear in the Gospel today, continues and concludes that forgiveness should be at the centre of any Christian life and community. It is acknowledged [...]
The limits of forgiveness Fr Paul reads Matthew’s Gospel (18:15-20) in which Jesus talks to his disciples about resolving differences and reminds us that ‘wherever two or more are gathered in my name I shall be there with them’. In today’s Gospel, Fr Paul says we learn that Matthew is a realist. [...]
Feast of St Clare of Assisi Fr Paul reads Matthew’s Gospel (18:1-5, 10, 12-14) in which Jesus tells the disciples ‘unless you become like little children you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven’ and then remembers the life of St Clare of Assisi. Clare was born in Assisi and, as such, she [...]
Feast of St Lawrence Fr Paul reads the Gospel from John (12: 24-26) when Jesus tells his disciples that unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground, it remains but a grain of wheat. It is the feast of St Lawrence, deacon and martyr, and Fr Paul shares what is known [...]
Feast of St Mary of the Cross Mackillop Today, as we celebrate the solemnity of St Mary of the Cross Mackillop, our first Australian saint, Fr Paul begins by reading the Gospel from Matthew (6: 5-34), in which we are told not to worry that God will look after us. Fr Paul [...]
Take up your cross and follow me Today, in Matthew’s Gospel (16: 24-28), Fr Paul says we hear the first of three times that Jesus clearly predicts his suffering and, basically, the disciples can’t stomach this message. Each time Jesus repeats the message for them, they too, must share in his suffering. [...]
Feast of the Transfiguration Today, Fr Paul reads from the Gospel of Matthew (17: 1-9) as we celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration. Fr Paul reflects that this is the moment when the disciples, who are present with Jesus, were shown the divinity of Jesus. He says, this scene reminds us of [...]
The Canaanite woman’s faith Today’s Gospel (Matthew 15: 21-28) is about the interaction Jesus has with a Canaanite woman whose daughter is tormented by a devil. Fr Paul says that, from the outset of this Gospel, the woman who comes to Jesus is not after anything for herself. It is for her [...]
Feast of St John Vianney Fr Paul reads today’s Gospel from Matthew (15: 1-2, 10-14) in which the Pharisees question Jesus about why his disciples break away from tradition. In his reflection, Fr Paul reminds us that over previous days we have celebrated the lives of various founders of religious orders (the [...]
Feast of St Dominic Today’s Gospel (Matthew 14: 13-21) tells of crowds pursuing Jesus and the disciples even though they had withdrawn to a lonely place after hearing of the death of John the Baptist. After the Gospel reading Fr Paul shares a little about St Dominic, whose feast day we celebrate [...]