TODAY’S GOSPEL [MATTHEW 13: 44 – 52] continues one of the especially significant elements of Matthew’s version of the Good News – the so-called Parables of the Kingdom. This Sunday’s verses bring Matthew’s record of these parables to an end. These parables, taken together, confirm the fact recorded in our reflection for the Fifteenth Sunday – […]
SIXTEENTH SUNDAY – July, 23
Last weeks’ reflection ended with the observation that “the unidentified rocks and thorns are the barriers of our own making.” It takes a real sense of purpose, honesty and self-evaluation to identify those areas of our discipleship which stand in need of change and upgrade. The prophet Jeremiah once said “break up your fallow ground, […]
FIFTEENTH SUNDAY – July, 16
In general the scriptures have many examples of apparent paradoxes and enigmas. TODAY’S OLD TESTAMENT READING [ISAIAH 55: 10 – 11] tells us that “so shall my word that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty.” Yet, TODAY’S GOSPEL [MATTHEW 13: 1 – 23] teaches clearly that God’s word(the seed that is sown) does not always produce what was […]
FOURTEENTH SUNDAY – July, 09
In TODAY’S GOSPEL [MATTHEW 11: 25 – 30] Jesus makes a statement that, at first sight, I thought had not always been easily evident to me. “ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” True or false? Taken on its own and in isolation from the other verses of this Gospel extract I could honestly callfoul! […]
THIRTEENTH SUNDAY – July, 02
Last week we faced the challenge that our discipleship involved encountering various forms of opposition and confrontation – even from those very close to us. THIS SUNDAY’S GOSPEL [MATTHEW 10: 37 – 42] concludes the second section of the apostle’s record of the Good News. The verses under consideration emphasise that the cross which must […]
TWELFTH SUNDAY – June, 25
THIS SUNDAY’S OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURE [JEREMIAH 20: 10 – 13] provides us with an excellent return to the so-called ‘ordinary’ Sundays of the year. We are firmly reminded of the fact that we are in it for the long haul. After the powerful Easter reminders of resurrection, life and the dramatic few years of the […]
