10 October, 2019. Thursday of Week 27
Even if he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs…
Even if he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs…
Jonah cannot abide the idea of Israel’s enemies receiving mercy, after the harm they had done to his own people. He pleaded to be allowed bypass Nineveh and leave it to destruction…
We aim at a healthy balance between contemplation and action, so that we reflect the characteristics of both Martha and Mary, Paul and Peter, Jonah and the Ninevites…
This feast was established in memory of the Christian naval victory over the Turks (at Lepanto 1571). Our Lady is daily honoured in the Rosary, which invites us to meditate the mysteries of the life, death and resurrection of Christ her son.
The Spirit of God lives in us, inspiring us and guarding us. In the Spirit, we worship our creator and entrust ourselves to the Lord’s loving care.
• ‘Day for Life’ is celebrated today by the Church in Ireland, focussing on the theme: ‘The Scourge of Domestic Abuse’.
Early in the morning Jesus often went up the hillside, his favourite place for quiet prayer. When visiting Jerusalem, he spent nights at prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane…
Our gospel allows us a rare glimpse into the inner prayer of Jesus. The Evangelists, especially Luke, often mention the observable fact that Jesus prayed, but seldom indicate what he prayed about…
The people of Chorazin and Bethsaida did not appreciate the significance of Jesus among them. They were indifferent to his healing ministry, and were not inclined to take him seriously…
“The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few.”We are challenged to do at least something to promote God’s compassion and justice in our world…
See that you do not despise one of these little ones, ftheir angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.
ust as hatred was a standard Samaritan response to Jews, so the disciples’ anger was a standard Jewish response to Samaritans…
Children can give us a glimpse of the new Jerusalem, for Zechariah imagines the city with boys and girls playing in the streets; and in the Gospel Jesus turns to children to teach about who is greatest in the Kingdom of God…
Today’s readings remind us that God is on the side of the poor, defending their rights.
• Today is the 105th World Day of Migrants and Refugees.
“Please send him to my father’s house to warn my five brothers, to keep them from coming into this place of torment.’ Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’
Zechariah teaches us not to be too gloomy or pessimistic. Each sorrow can be transformed into a reason for hope. In God’s name he says, “I will favour Jerusalem and the house of Judah; do not fear.”
Luke, more than the other evangelists, regularly portrays Jesus at prayer. It was after such a pause for prayer that he asked his disciples the two questions, “Who do others say I am?” and “Who do you say I am?” They were important questions. …
Luke paints a sad portrait of Herod the Tetrarch, for whom religion was a curiosity, a practical way to win the people’s loyalty. How ironic that his wish to see the Nazarene prophet was fulfilled only when, for political reasons…
Ezra was like another Moses, urging his Hebrew people to faithfully keep their covenant with God. Although the Jews returned from exile in 537 B.C., on reaching the Promised Land they accomplished little, apart from partially…
Whatever our level of faith, we need an openness to the real world and cordial relations with other people. Perhaps that was what Jesus meant in his reply to the message of his mother Mary and his relatives…
Our readings over the next three weeks are from the early post-exilic period, from the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, Baruch, Jonah, Malachi and Joel. All of them shared a deep love for the Jerusalem temple…