Year B (17)

Just before today’s first reading, at the start of this 18th chapter, we’re told that:

When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. (1 Sam 18:1)

Unlike Saul who herded donkeys and …

On Wednesday, we heard from Brendan about how we should focus on our reconciliation with God, or rather, God’s reconciliation with us – and Brendan was right to remind us, as St Paul did, that “God has reconciled the human world to himself in Christ – fundamentally and …

“Beware false prophets” Jesus says. For it is “by their fruits [that] you will know them”.

Actions speak louder than words, and hypocrisy and inauthenticity should be warning signs for Christians in their leaders.

You will recall how yesterday Steve intended to intimate how …

Remembering how the LORD came to the exiled Israelites in Egypt, the first reading tells once again how his people are asking for a sign. Psalm 85 is celebrating the end of that exile, many years after the prayer of the Prophet Micah in our first reading. In our Gospel …

This morning’s readings call us to reflect deeply on how we, as a Christian community, live out the balance between justice and mercy. They challenge us to consider what it means to truly follow Christ—both individually and as part of the Body of Christ, the Church.

In …

Yesterday some of us were introduced to a word that was perhaps not part of the usual vocabulary of men and women who work in finance. That word was charism or spiritual gift. It is a word that our first reading from St Paul’s letter to the Corinthians examines.

When Paul …

Today’s first reading is taken from the Book of Proverbs, a beautiful example of “wisdom literature.” Here, wisdom isn’t abstract or theoretical—it’s practical guidance for living well. Proverbs teaches us how to act with justice and compassion, especially toward …

Today’s readings offer us profound reflections on the sanctity of marriage. They remind us that marriage is a gift from God, a lifelong covenant between a man and a woman, rooted in God’s original plan for humanity. As we reflect on these readings, let us also consider how …

In today’s Gospel from Luke, we hear the disciples approach Jesus with a simple yet profound request: “Lord, teach us to pray.” This request speaks to their desire for a deeper communion with God, and Jesus responds by giving them—and us—the Our Father. …

Brothers,

Today we celebrate the Memorial of St Stanislaus Kostka. He was a polish Jesuit, famed for walking 750km to Germany to be admitted into the Society by St Peter Canisius. He died of illness in 1568, aged 18. He was, all agreed, a Jesuit who died too young. In …

This morning’s readings and the memorial of Blesseds Miguel Pro, Emilio Moscoso, and Rutilio Grande and companions invite us to reflect deeply on the call to bear courageous witness, to trust in God’s strength, and to live in the hope of the resurrection. These themes …

Today we celebrate Ash Wednesday, the day that around the world marks the beginning of Lent, the start of our long journey towards the resurrection at Easter. The prophet Joel says today, “Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people. …

Tonight we hear about the healing miracles of Jesus. I suppose Jesus could have healed the rich and famous but instead he heals the people who are on the margins of Society.

Jesus heals a physically impaired person, a man who is both deaf and suffers from a speech …

Good morning everyone. It’s good to be here again with you all. Our readings offer three insights to us this morning. The first is that if we are serious about being Christians, we need to reverse our thinking; the second is that we should beware ambition; and the third is …

Our readings this morning talk of prophecy, God’s faithfulness and the importance of our faith.

Our first reading is trying to remind us that our leaders should never lack the gift of prophecy. Whether they exercise it or not is the real question. The reading tries to show …

Today we remember All the Saints. This feast started out as the Feast for All Martyrs and was celebrated on 13 May in Rome. The Eastern Church adopted this as early as the year 359. It was so popular at the time it was celebrated during the Roman harvest so that enough food …

Clearly this story of the multiplication of the loaves that we have just heard is an allusion to the Eucharist that we are celebrating together here today. In fact, all of today’s readings have much to say about the Mass that we celebrate when we come to Newman.

The second …