John

Dear Friends, In today’s first reading we hear Isaiah’s powerful imagery of  the promised liberation and healing of the needy. This is realised in Mark’s account of the healing miracle of Jesus. The promised times of liberation have arrived in the person of Jesus. Next weekend Fr Denys Lloyd will be here to celebrate the weekend Masses in my absence. I shall be away … [Read more...] about NEWSLETTER 05.09.21

Dear Friends, Today’s Gospel is about integrity of life, purity of heart and the free commitment of our lives to God. If our hearts are pure then so will be our lives. On Saturday we celebrated the feast of St Augustine. We can identify with his prayer: ‘Let me come to you wholly, and grasp your hand with my whole heart that you may deliver me from every temptation, even to … [Read more...] about NEWSLETTER 29.08.21

Dear Friends, Jesus has just used very graphic imagery of eating the flesh of the Son of Man and drinking his blood. This would have been shocking  to his Jewish hearers. Even some of his disciples find it ’intolerable language’ and they leave him. It is Peter who speaks for the apostles with a declaration of loyalty and faith in Jesus. God bless Father … [Read more...] about NEWSLETTER 22.08.21

Dear Friends, Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Lady. ‘Of all women you are the most blessed’’. The words of Elizabeth express the place of Mary in the history of salvation. Because she was linked so closely to the redeeming incarnation of the Son of God, Mary also shared in his resurrection. Today’s feast celebrates the transition of Our Lady to be … [Read more...] about NEWSLETTER 15.08.21

Dear Friends The rejection of Jesus by his neighbours is based on his origins: 'we know his father and mother'. John presents Jesus' origins at the beginning of his gospel: 'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God'. The complaints of the crowd echo the complaints of the Hebrews in the Exodus against Moses and Aaron who were chosen by God to lead Israel … [Read more...] about NEWSLETTER 08.08.21