Hebrews 2:5ff. Everything is subject to Jesus who is totally one with us. He was crowned with glory, after being perfected through suffering. Mark 1:21ff. People are spellbound that Jesus teaches with such authority and even gives orders to unclean spirits. Power to make us new Our Scriptures reach into the deep roots of life…

Hebrews 1:1ff. In times past God spoke to us in many and varied ways, but in this final age, through his eternal and creative Son. Mark 1:14ff. Jesus begins his mission, proclaiming the reign of God and calling his first disciples to work with him in bringing the Good News to others. Affection and Spirituality…

“Noblesse Oblige” Today’s first reading, surely, is among the finest moral exhortations in the whole Bible. Human beings are called and graced into the image of God; and since God’s essence is love, God’s children must be characterised by their spirit of love. The quality is also how we “live through him” that is, through…

As one community contracts, another expands In spite of its fervent adherence to the person of Jesus and its high ideals of community purity and fraternal love, it is clear from the letters that the Johannine community suffered from grave internal tensions, which eventually led to its break-up, amid reproaches and recrimination. The beginnings of…

Is 60:1-6. In the age to come, the Messiah, the Saviour King, will reveal his glory to all the nations. To work for this is now the mission of the Church. Eph 3:2-3, 5-6. The salvation revealed in Christ is for everyone. In his Church, there can be no exclusivness or racial distinction. Mt 2:1-12….

Fraternal Love, and Encounter with Christ John’s letter continues its emphasis on fraternal love, as the surest sign that a person is spiritually alive, closely tied to Jesus and living authentically, or “from the truth”. Today he gives to his ideal of love “agapé” a strong flavour of social justice and of sharing, both of…

Are We Righteous, or Sinners? John’s letter continues on the idea that Christians are “born of God” but now adds a strong ethical dimension to this: Those who are truly “born of God” do what is right and are “righteous” – mirroring the righteousness of God himself. There is an almost sectarian fervour in the…

Christ-centred Focus The extensive use of the first letter of John in the immediate post-Christmas period is due to its strongly Christ-centred focus, in a meditative, almost mystical tone. In prayerful and somewhat repetitive fashion, John hovers around the theme of salvation and the love of God, incarnated in Jesus. It is through Him that…

Where should our Focus be?

Num 6:22-27. The solemn priestly blessing, a prayer that God would bless and protect us and be gracious to us, is very apt at the beginning of a new year. Gal 4:4-7. Through the Incarnation, the distance between God and man has been bridged and now we can call God “Abba! Father!” Lk 2:16-21. The…

Ml 3:1ff. God’s messenger will bring about a conversion of hearts, before the great and terrible day of the Lord.

Luke 1:57ff. Amazement, joy and hopefulness at the birth of John the Baptist.

1 Samuel 1:24ff. Samuel’s mother, Hannah, dedicates her young son to a life of service to God.

Luke 1:46ff. Mary’s hymn of praise and thanksgiving, the Magnificat.

So 2:8ff. Lyrical love-poetry from the Song of Songs, about the beloved who is coming.

Luke 1:39ff. The mutual encouragement of Mary and Elizabeth: sharing of faith at the Visitation.

Isaiah 7:10ff. King Ahaz refuses to ask a sign of the Lord; then Isaiah promises a child to be called Immanuel.

Luke 1:26ff. The angelic annunciation to Mary, the highly-favoured one: she will conceive of the Spirit, and give birth to Jesus.