Today’s first reading is the magnificent hymn of love from St. Paul’s first letter to the people of Corinth. I recall once meeting with a couple to prepare their marriage ceremony. They were insistent that there be no religious readings, certainly nothing from the bible. I wasn’t sure how to respond and…(Read More)
Bishop Michael Curry’s sermon at the royal wedding was inspiring and makes an ideal reflection for today’s great feast of Pentecost. I especially enjoyed when the bishop’s passion even caused the candlesticks to vibrate – but many of the hearers seemed to remain unmoved…(Read More)
The gospel readings of each Sunday are a central part of the nourishment given in the liturgy which sets us up for the week ahead. Too often the gospel is not heard or remembered and we are the poorer for it as we face the challenges of the week. So let’s take a moment…(Read More)
Christmas Greetings to you all. There are many things that I could share in this Christmas day clip, but the image that keeps coming to mind is the Christmas dinner table around which people will gather today with family and friends. A few decades ago the people seated at one Christmas table probably held similar…(Read More)
A good homily story I heard a number of years ago had as its punch-line “remember that the most important thing, is to always keep the most important thing, as the most important thing.” It’s a great line, even without the preceding story. For me it has become a regular touchstone, a method…(Read More)
Yesterday I had the privilege of taking part in the Funeral Mass and burial rites of a much-loved Christchurch woman. Wendy died early last week decades too young at 47. For her husband and seven children this past week since their wife and mother’s sudden death has been an eternity of pain as…(Read More)
One of the great privileges in the life of a priest is to celebrate weddings. I am very aware that the last thing that the couple or their family and friends gathered for the wedding want to hear is a homily from the priest. But I almost always take the opportunity to share an encouragement…(Read More)
Yes, there was a Saint Valentine. In fact it seems there were many early Christian martyrs named Valentine. But people do not think of these saints when they celebrate St. Valentine’s Day. February 14 is a more superficial celebration of ‘romantic love’, popularised by Medieval artists, Renaissance poets and contemporary commercial entrepreneurs. This is…(Read More)
I have no doubt that over the centuries today’s gospel reading has fired up many a preacher of the fire and brimstone sermon style. Here is the end of today’s gospel: “Do not be amazed at this, because the hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear his…(Read More)
It is a glorious summer’s morning here in Cheviot. I’m thinking of the many people around the world who are suffering the weather at present with, extreme cold in the US and flooding in the UK and unbearable heat in Australia. Our time in NZ will come again as the seasons turn, but…(Read More)
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