Anne O’Brien, Director of Mission at St Agnes’ Catholic Parish, reads and reflects on today’s Gospel from Matthew (16: 13-23) in which Simon Peter declares of Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” The expression ‘Rock’ or ‘Rocky’ seems to have been popular for sports people and celebrities. [...]
Today, as we remember the life of St John Vianney, Anne O’Brien, Director of Mission at St Agnes’ Catholic Parish, uses the Gospel reading of the Feast day in the Proper of the Saints from Matthew (9:35-38 – 10:1) in which Jesus says, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few'. After [...]
Anne O’Brien, Director of Mission at St Agnes’ Catholic Parish and a friend of Fr Paul, reads from the Gospel of Matthew (14: 22-36) in which Jesus comes to his disciples walking on the water of the lake, saying ‘Courage, it is I… do not be afraid’. Anne says this Gospel presents [...]
Today as we celebrate the life of St Ignatius of Loyola, Fr Paul reads from the Gospel of Matthew (14: 1-12) which tells how Herod had heard about the reputation of Jesus and likened him to John the Baptist, who Herod had recently beheaded. Fr Paul, after reading the Gospel shares a [...]
Today Fr Paul reads from the Gospel of Matthew (13: 54-58) in which Jesus, when visiting his hometown says, ‘A prophet is only despised in his own country and in his own house’. Fr Paul says in the passage we hear today Jesus returns home and he is rejected by those in [...]
Traditionally, this day has been the memorial of St Martha but earlier this year Pope Francis changed this feast and included, as part of it, not only Martha but Mary and Lazarus as well. Today, as we celebrate the lives of these three siblings, Fr Paul reads from the Gospel of John [...]
Fr Paul reads from the Gospel of Matthew (13: 44-46) in which Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to hidden treasure and to a pearl of great value. In today’s Gospel, Fr Paul says, we have two little parables, and both emphasise that, yes, we may have difficulties in our lives, but [...]
Fr Paul reads from the Gospel of Matthew (13: 36-43) in which Jesus explains the parable of the darnel in the field to the disciples. In today’s Gospel, Fr Paul says, we hear Jesus offer an interpretation of the parable of the wheat and the darnel. This interpretation only occurs in the [...]
Fr Paul reads from the Gospel of Matthew (13: 31-35) in which Jesus tells the parable of the mustard seed, which is the smallest of seeds but grows into a large tree, giving shelter to birds. Afterwards, he shares a little about the lives of Saints Joachim and Anne, whose memorial we [...]
Fr Paul reads from the Gospel of Matthew (13: 24-30) in which Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a good man who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat. Today, Fr Paul says, we hear another parable in which [...]