The parable of the sower Today Fr Paul reads two passages from the Gospel of Matthew. The first (Matthew 13:1-9) is the parable of the sower, which comes before the reading we heard yesterday in which the disciples ask Jesus why he teaches in parables. In the second passage (Matthew 13: 18-23) [...]
Why Jesus teaches in parables Fr Paul says that in our Gospel today, Matthew (13:10-17) quite cleverly slips in the question the disciples ask of Jesus ‘Why do you teach in parables?’. He believes there are two reasons Jesus does this. Firstly, the use of stories and images is a great way [...]
Fr Paul filmed in mid April footage of him and Shannon (Fr Donnelly's pup) on their morning walking ritual reciting the rosary. This 20 minute video is dedicated to bring joy and comfort to those who have limited mobility or are confined for whatever reason.
Feast of St Mary Madgalene Today’s Gospel is from John (20:1-2, 11-18) and, as a Church, today we remember and celebrate the life of St Mary Madgalene. Mary of Magdala was a Jewish woman, who according to the Gospels travelled with Jesus and his followers. She was obviously a very important person [...]
Who can be part of Jesus’ family? Today’s Gospel (Matthew 12: 46-50) may seem quite strange as we see the two distinct groups – Jesus’s immediate blood family with his mother, standing outside anxious to have a word with him, and the second group Jesus has around him, the disciples and the [...]
The Pharisees ask Jesus for a sign In our Gospel (Matthew 12: 38-42) today we hear the scribes and the Pharisees asking Jesus for a sign. He refuses to give them one and makes reference to Jonah. Fr Paul says we, again, see again Matthew as the Gospel writer referring to the [...]
Jesus is the servant of the Lord Fr Paul says today’s Gospel from Matthew (12: 14-21) explains to us how Jesus is the servant of the Lord. We hear at the very beginning about the Pharisees plotting against Jesus and how he withdraws from the district, followed by large crowds. In yesterday’s [...]
Come to me and I will give you rest Fr Paul reads the Gospel from Matthew (11: 28-30) in which Jesus invites us to rest in him. Fr Paul says there are a couple of ways this piece of scripture has been interpreted. For Judaism, the law was all-important and yet it [...]
Feast St Bonaventure Fr Paul reads the Gospel from Matthew (11: 25-27) and shares a little about the life of St Bonaventure, whose feast we celebrate today. St Bonaventure was born around 1218, became a Franciscan in 1243 and studied theology and philosophy at the University of Paris. He became a famous [...]
Jesus laments for the unrepentant towns In today’s Gospel from Matthew (11: 20-24) we hear Jesus lamenting over towns such as Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum. He laments because he has worked many miracles in these towns, which the people have witnessed and yet still they fail to heed the message to repent; they [...]