The Better Part

Matthew 14.22-33 Listen here to the Gospel and Reflection We know so much about Jesus. We know he is the Good Shepherd who calls each of his sheep by name. We know they listen to his voice and follow him. We know that when a sheep is lost, he finds his sheep. How good it is to be a sheep of the Good Shepherd! He gives all that he has to those sheep. We wonder who those sheep might be... People love to hear Jesus talk about the Good Shepherd and the sheep. They love to hear hi

Matthew 14.22-33 Listen here to the Gospel and Reflection In the Gospel this Sunday, we hear one of Jesus' miracles. Miracles are signs that show us something of the Kingdom of God. Sometimes it can be difficult to figure out what the sign means. In this miracle account, St. Matthew helps us. He repeats one word three times. When something repeats in the Bible, we pay attention because repetition is a signpost for us. It points us in the right direction; it focuses our attent

Matthew 14.22-33 Listen here to the Gospel and Reflection Much of the time, Jesus tells us something of the Kingdom of God in parables. In the Gospel for this Sunday, though, Jesus does not tell a parable of the Kingdom. Instead, he performs a miracle. Miracles, we know, are signs of the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God makes itself fully known through Jesus. Miracles show us something of the Kingdom of God. We have to wonder what we are being shown. Immediately he made the

Matthew 14.13-21 Listen here to the Gospel and Reflection Each Gospel reading for the last four weeks has been filled with parables. Our heads swim in parables! In fact last week, in considering the parable of the Kingdom of God like a net that was thrown into the sea...we thought, we swim in it, right now! How can this be? This week, Jesus is through with parables (for now). He is finished talking. Now he acts. Jesus performs a miracle. Miracles, we know, are signs of the Ki

John 11.3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45 (full reading: John 11.1-45 ) Listen to the Gospel and Reflection In the Gospel for this Sunday, the fifth Sunday of Lent, we hear about a family whom Jesus loves. There are two sisters—Martha and Mary—and a brother named Lazarus. At the beginning of the reading, Jesus learns that Lazarus has become very sick. The sisters of Lazarus sent a message to Jesus, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already

John 11.3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45 (full reading: John 11.1-45 ) Listen to the Gospel and Reflection In the Gospel for this Sunday, the fifth Sunday of Lent, Jesus does the most miraculous—he raises Lazarus from the dead. We know that miracles are signs of what the Kingdom of God is like. In this Gospel passage, Jesus shows us stunningly that our God is the God of Life . We could, we should, we need to rest in that knowledge for a few moments every day! Our God is the God of Li

John 9.1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38 (full reading: John 9.1-41 ) Listen to the Gospel and Reflection We know things about Jesus. We know that he is the Light of the World. He says, I am the Light of the World (John 8:12, 9:5) We know that he is the Good Shepherd. He says, I am the Good Shepherd (John 10:11) We know these things because Jesus says so. But we also know these things because of what Jesus does . Jesus does so. In the Gospel reading for this Sunday, the fourth Sunda

John 9.1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38 (full reading: John 9.1-41 ) Listen to the Gospel and Reflection In the Gospel reading for this Sunday, Jesus gives sight to a man who has never been able to see. He heals him. This is a miracle and it is marvellous, and it is one of many examples of Jesus healing people. Healing and faith go hand in hand. There seems to be a certain order to faith and healing. Look at these three other accounts of healing and faith: 1. Jesus turned, and seei

John 9.1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38 (full reading: John 9.1-41 ) Listen to the Gospel and Reflection In the Gospel reading for this Sunday, Jesus performs a miracle. We know that miracles reveal to us something of the Plan of God. They are signs of what the Kingdom of God is like. In fact, in the Gospel for the fourth Sunday of Lent, Jesus seems determined to give the disciples a sign. When he sees a man who has never been able to see, he says, he was born blind so that God’s wo

Matthew 11.2-11 Listen here to the Gospel and Reflectio n (Adults, you could begin by reading the Gospel to your child.) Matthew 11.2-11 This Sunday is called Gaudete Sunday. We light the third candle of the Advent wreath, the pink one. Gaudete means rejoice and pink is the colour for rejoicing . We wonder, though, why do we rejoice ? Last Sunday, we heard about John the Baptist—the Preparation Person— preparing the people of Israel for Jesus who comes. John the Baptist

Luke 7.11-17 Listen here to the Gospel and Reflectio n This Sunday is a special day. We think in a particular way about people who died. We know a little bit about dying. We know that seeds fall to the ground and die. New life grows out of the death of those seeds. So we know that death is part of life. But what does Jesus know about death? Photo by Osama Khan on Unsplash As Jesus approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. Where are the people

Luke 7.11-17 Listen here to the Gospel and Reflectio n This Sunday is a feast day. It is November 2nd, the feast of All Souls. Each year on this day, we think in a particular way about those people who died before us. Death is a part of life that touches us close to our hearts. On this day, we listen to the Gospel to find out what Jesus thinks about death. We want to learn something of his heart. Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with

Luke 7.11-17 Listen here to the Gospel and Reflectio n Each year we celebrate All Saints Day on November 1st and then All Souls Day on November 2nd. On All Saints, we remember the crowd of people that the Church knows for sure are filled with the Risen Life of God. On All Souls, we remember the crowds of people who died before us. We begin this month, the last month of the Church year, thinking about death. Why? Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large

Luke 17.11-19 Listen here to the Gospel and Reflectio n A strange thing happens in the Gospel for this Sunday. On the way to Jerusalem,...

Luke 17.11-19 Listen here to the Gospel and Reflectio n Much of the time, Jesus preaches to the people about the Kingdom of God. He...

Luke 9.11b-17 Listen to the Gospel and Reflection Everywhere Jesus walks, people gather to listen to him speak about the Kingdom of...

Luke 9.11b-17 Listen to the Gospel and Reflection This Sunday, we celebrate the Feast of the Body and the Blood of Christ. On this...

Luke 9.11b-17 Listen to the Gospel and Reflection This Sunday, we celebrate the Feast of the Body and the Blood of Christ. A feast...

John 2.1-12 Click here to listen here to the Gospel and Reflectio n The reading for this Sunday comes from the Gospel of St. John. We...

John 2.1-12 Click here to listen here to the Gospel and Reflectio n The reading for this Sunday is called the Wedding at Cana. This...