Tag Archive for ‘community’
A Thankful, Sunburnt Country?
“Let us give thanks to the Lord our God,” invites the priest at each Mass. We reply “It is right and just.” In this brief exchange, we capture the essence of Christian prayer and the essence of a Christian way of being in the world. Being thankful is a central hallmark of the person of […]
What’s in a Name?
Our culture encourages us to be ourselves, accentuate our differences, celebrate or even worship our individuality.
Monday 29 January
2 Samuel 15:13-14, 30, 16:5-13; Psalm 3; Mark 5:1-20 Nothing can separate us from the love of God At times our world seems to be in chaos. Occasionally that turmoil is experienced within. We may feel anxious, hopeless and unloved. Those caring for us share our pain. Today’s Gospel tells us that not even the […]
Monday 15 January
1 Samuel 15:16-23; Psalm 50; Mark 2:18-22 Obedient to what God wants of me King Saul lost favour with God because he was disobedient. Jesus asks us to be obedient to his commands. Am I obedient to the requirements of family, work and community? If so, it means that I’m prepared to help towards their […]
Thursday 9 November
the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12; Psalm 46; I Corinthians 3:9-11, 16-17; John 2:13-22 A world-wide community This Church, the Basilica of John Lateran, is the Pope’s Cathedral. It may remind us of the many magnificent churches throughout the world, and also the less grand. It is in the church building […]
Tuesday 7 November
Romans 12:5-16; Psalm 131; Luke 14:15-24. Rejoice in being different In a team, different positions require different skills. In the team of my family, or community, or neighbourhood, our skills or gifts vary. My gifts (God given, of course!) will make me different but valuable. The important thing is to use that gift or skill […]
Tuesday 3 October
Zechariah 8:20-23; Psalm 87 ; Luke 9:51-56 A new start The trouble with retaliation, is that at first glance, it can all seem justified. Yet imagine a world, a country, a community and a family, free of the need to justify and retaliate. Jesus invites us to such a reality, not just to imagine this […]
Tuesday 19 September
1Timothy 3:1-13, Psalm 101, Luke 7:11-17 Catholic character All the qualities that St Paul lists must be part of my Christian character. Even though I may not be called to be a leader in the community, I have a family and my family life is helpful in forming my Christian character. Jesus knows how important […]
Saturday 2 September
1 Thessalonians 4:9-11, Psalm 98, Matthew 25:14-30 Spiritual investment St. Paul urges Christians to make progress in love. Most progress is made by loving those who are closest to me, and to some extent minding my own business. The latter simply means giving priority to sorting out my own love with regard to God. Loving […]
Wednesday 16 August
Deuteronomy 34:1-12; Psalm 66; Matthew 18:15-20 Playing fair Communication is as important as air and water for healthy life. Many disputes, law-suits and even violence come from poor or mis-communication. Talking with and not at each other, listening as well as speaking, are necessary building blocks for any community to grow well. Recognising the presence […]