Father Paul reads from the Gospel of Matthew (26: 14-25) and reflects on the reasons why Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus to the Chief Priests and Pharisees. He suggests three possible answers. Firstly, greed – the scriptures tell us that Judas was dipping into the common fund he was in charge of, so when [...]
In John’s Gospel (Chapter 13) Fr Paul reflects that Jesus is troubled in spirit, knowing that he is soon to be betrayed by Judas. Jesus’s last supper has begun and throughout it we see just how weak the disciples are. Time and again they fail to understand the teaching of Jesus. Even as [...]
Fr Paul reads from the Gospel of John (12:1-11), which tells of Jesus’s return to family and friends in Bethany – to Martha, Lazarus and Mary. We hear of Mary’s beautiful act in anointing the feet of Jesus with pure Nard worth 300 denarii. Fr Paul asks us to keep in mind [...]
The Palm Sunday celebration is always one of contrast, moving quickly from the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem to the reading of The Passion, which takes us through his arrest, torture, crucifixion and death. Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, the high point of the Church’s year, and helps [...]
At the beginning of today's Gospel (John 11: 45-56) many of the Jews had gone to visit Mary, the sister of Lazarus, in the aftermath of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. Afterwards, some of them go and meet with the Pharisees and Chief Priests. This is where the high priest, Caiaphas, foreshadows [...]
In reflecting on today’s Gospel (John 10: 31-42), Fr Paul notes that Jesus’s detractors quibble about titles and authority, threatening to stone Jesus. The real reason for their condemnation of Jesus is his claim to be divine. Jesus counters by asking them to consider the works he does, saying his actions show [...]
Reflecting on the Gospel from John 8: 51-59, Fr Paul shares an interesting insight about the age of Jesus. He also sets the emotional scene between the Jews and Jesus and the growing tension we have seen emerging over the last few Gospel readings. He asks each of us, ‘How would you [...]
Fr Paul reads today’s Gospel (John 8: 21-30), which sees the start of a narrative, a theme that will run until the end of Lent. Jesus is talking to the Jews and Pharisees about where he is going and says they cannot come because they do not believe. This Gospel makes it [...]
Fr Paul reads today’s Gospel (John 8: 21-30), which sees the start of a narrative, a theme that will run until the end of Lent. Jesus is talking to the Jews and Pharisees about where he is going and says they cannot come because they do not believe. This Gospel makes it [...]
In today’s Gospel (John 8:1-11), about the adulterous woman condemned to stoning, two things intrigue Fr Paul. He wonders, as a matter of justice, why the woman’s partner is not with her, being condemned as well; and, what exactly did Jesus write in the sand? The Chief Priests and Pharisees bring the woman [...]