Fr Paul Gooley reads today’s Gospel from Mark (7: 31-37) in which Jesus touches the ears and tongue of the man who was deaf and mute and cures him, saying ‘Ephphatha!’ which means ‘be opened!’. Fr Paul says the roundabout route taken by Jesus from Sidon to the Lake via the Decapolis region [...]
Fr Paul Gooley reads today’s Gospel from Mark (7: 24-30) in which a gentile woman born in Syrian Phoenica seeks out Jesus to beg him to cure her daughter. Fr Paul says this Gospel begins an important section of Mark’s Gospel. He is writing for a largely gentile audience, which is why he [...]
Fr Paul Gooley reads today’s Gospel from Mark (7:14-23) in which Jesus says, ‘Nothing that goes into a person from outside can make them unclean; it is the things that come from inside a person that make them unclean’. Fr Paul says today’s Gospel follows on from yesterday dealing with the issue of [...]
Fr Paul Gooley reads today’s Gospel from Mark (7:1-13) in which the Pharisees question Jesus about how his disciples follow Jewish tradition and law. Afterwards, he shares a little about St Paul Miki and his companions, whose memorial we celebrate today. Fr Paul notes Paul Miki was born in Japan between 1564 and [...]
Fr Paul Gooley reads today’s Gospel from Mark (6:53-56) in which Jesus was recognised as people bought the sick to him to be healed. Afterwards, he shares a little about the life of St Agatha whose memorial we celebrate today. Fr Paul says Agatha was martyred at Catania in Sicily, probably during the [...]
Fr Paul Gooley reads today’s Gospel from Mark (6:30-34) in which Jesus encourages the disciples, after their time away on mission, to take time out with him in a quiet place to rest. Fr Paul says at both beginning and end of this section of the Gospel we are reminded that the foremost [...]
As we celebrate the Presentation of the Lord, Fr Paul Gooley reads today’s Gospel from Luke (2:22-40) in which Mary and Joseph take Jesus to be presented at the Temple in Jerusalem. Fr Paul says the story of the Presentation of the child Jesus in the Temple is dominated by Simeon’s welcome, ‘a [...]
Fr Paul Gooley reads today’s Gospel from Mark (6: 7-13) in which Jesus sends out the twelve on mission, instructing them to take nothing with them and not to worry if they are not welcomed. Fr Paul says, the instructions we hear in today’s Gospel, instructions for those going on a mission, is [...]
Fr Paul Gooley reads today’s Gospel from Mark (6: 1-6) in which Jesus, returning to his hometown says, ‘A prophet is despised in his own country’. Afterwards, Fr Paul shares a little about the life of St John Bosco whose memorial we celebrate today. Fr Paul says, John was born in Piedmont of [...]
Fr Paul Gooley reads today’s Gospel from Mark (5: 21-43) in which Jesus heals the woman who touches his cloak and brings a young girl back to life. Fr Paul says, as we have seen, the author of the Gospel of Mark likes to combine experiences just to show how significant they are. [...]