John

29th Week in Ordinary Time 2020 18th –24th October. People of our time tend to separate out the secular from the religious. But this is a recent perception. For Isaiah it is normal for God, who has enabled the pagan Cyrus, an effective and powerful ruler, to come to power ‘for the sake of my servant Jacob’. Through him the exiles will return home and rebuild Jerusalem and … [Read more...] about NEWSLETTER 18.10.20

28th Week in Ordinary Time 2020 11th – 17th October In today’s Gospel the kingdom of God is portrayed as a great banquet, a wedding feast, where humanity can sit with God. It describes Israel’s refusal to the invitation of the prophets and its rejection of the gospel as proclaimed by Jesus and his apostles. This invitation is now made to the Church and to all … [Read more...] about NEWSLETTER 11.10.20

27th Week in Ordinary Time 2020 4th – 11th October The image of a vineyard in the Bible refers to Israel as God’s people. The parable in the gospel is aimed at ‘the chief priests and the leaders’. They have taken over the vineyard and neglected it. Others will take on this task who will produce fruit. Matthew, writing for the early Church, is saying that Christians were … [Read more...] about NEWSLETTER 04.10.20

26th Week in Ordinary Time 2020 27th September – 3rd October Today we focus on the second Mass reading. It includes a beautiful and profound hymn which expresses the emptying out and glorification of Christ articulating in a powerful way the heart of the mystery of Christ.This year Family Fast Day is on Friday the 9th of October. Although this is a difficult time for us, our … [Read more...] about NEWSLETTER 27.09.20