1st Reading: Tobit 12:1, 5-15 etc The wedding of Tobias and Sarah When the wedding celebration was ended, Tobit called his son Tobias and said to him, “My child, see to paying the wages of the man who went with you, and give him a bonus as well.” So Tobias called him and said, “Take…

1st Reading: Tobit 11:5-17 The joyful reunion of Tobias and his parents Meanwhile Anna sat looking intently down the road by which her son would come. When she caught sight of him coming, she said to his father, “Look, your son is coming, and the man who went with him!” Raphael said to Tobias, before…

1st Reading: Tobit 6-8 (passim) The marriage celebration of Tobias and Sarah, and their devout partnership When he entered Media and already was approaching Ecbatana, Raphael said to the young man, “Brother Tobias.” “Here I am,” he answered. Then Raphael said to him, “We must stay this night in the home of Raguel. He is…

St Kevin, abbot, and Charles Lwanga and companions, martyrs. Coemgen, Caoimhin or Kevin (498-618) is an Irish saint who first live as a hermit and then founded a monastery at Glendalough in County Wicklow, which became a famous centre of learning. He is remembered in popular culture as an ascetic who lived a very simple…

Saint Marcellinus and Peter, martyrs. Two 3rd-century Roman saints. Marcellinus, a priest, and Peter, an exorcist, died in 304, during the persecution under emperor Diocletian. Pope Damasus I heard the story of these two martyrs from their executioner who became a Christian after their deaths. Their names are mentioned in the Roman Canon. 1st Reading:…

Saint Justin, Martyr Justin (100-165) was a lawyer and philosopher from Neapolis in Judaea (modern Nablus), who spent his adult life in Rome. He was the foremost interpreter of the theory of the Logos in the 2nd century. A gifted writer, his best known surviving text is his Apologia to the Roman emperor, Antoninus, defending…

Saint Justin, Martyr Justin (100-165) was a lawyer and philosopher from Neapolis in Judaea (modern Nablus), who spent his adult life in Rome. He was the foremost interpreter of the theory of the Logos in the 2nd century. A gifted writer, his best known surviving text is his Apologia to the Roman emperor, Antoninus, defending…

By what authority?

Today’s gospel comes just after Jesus cleansed the temple, which was a very daring thing to do. There were people in charge of the temple and Jesus certainly had not been authorized by them to do what he did. The question the religious authorities responsible for the temple put to Jesus is very understandable, “What authority have you for acting like this?

Our link with our ancestors

In Peter, the link with the ancestors is kept very firm. In cleansing the temple, Jesus also referred back to Isaiah. Peter advises us, “Be mutually hospitable without complaining; put your gifts at the service of one another, each in the measure that each has received.” Even while doing one’s best, we are not to be surprised if “a trial by fire” may occur..

The vigorous blind man

A lovely stained-glass window that I’ve seen in a church depicts today’s scene, the healing of the man born blind. At the bottom of the picture is written the exchange between Jesus and the man, “What do you want me to do for you?,” “Lord, let me see again.” Apparently this man almost did not get close enough to Jesus to really talk with him; some friends of Jesus scolded the man and told him to keep quiet…

On different wavelengths

There are several clashes between Jesus and his disciples in Mark’s gospel, as they make their way to Jerusalem, where Jesus will be crucified. They are clearly on different wavelengths, which finds expression in the very different questions they ask of each other. James and John ask Jesus for glory, honour, status.

What’s to become of us?

Today’s gospel begins with a question from Peter, “What about us? We have left everything and followed you.” He and the rest of the twelve had given up a great deal to become followers of Jesus. They may have wondered if it was really worth it all. We too have responded to the Lord’s call, maybe not in the same very radical way that those first disciples had answered..

Paradox: Gaining by Losing

This imperative echoes in today’s austere message, where in a memorable image Jesus expresses the no pain, no gain philosophy. “It is easier for a camel to pass through a needle’s eye than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God…

Ending on a high note

The readings today are the final verses of Acts and of John’s gospel. “Wait until I come.” Eternity will be the continuation of the final moment in our earthly journey. Jesus comes to us again and again. Our prayer now is a foretaste of heavenly joy.

Pastor, par excellence

In the heat of the moment we often fall short of our best. This happened even to the great Peter, our church’s chief apostle and pastor, when out of fear he denied Jesus three times. After the resurrection when Peter had returned to his former fishing vocation, Jesus reappeared to him and three times asked the incisive question, “Do you love me?”