NEWSLETTER

Jesus uses two images in today’s Gospel to help us see how to live as his disciples.  Christians are to be the salt of the earth and light to enlighten all peoples.  Salt preserves food and adds flavour. Before refrigeration salt was essential in helping to preserve food, and Christians are to act as salt… Read more: NEWSLETTER 08.02.26

In today’s Gospel reading Matthew sets Jesus on a mountain.  He depicts him as a new Moses who renews the covenant with God and teaches the way to live as God’s people. In a world that teaches happiness consists in wealth, power, youth, sexual license and independence from authority, Jesus proposes another perspective. Happiness (or… Read more: NEWSLETTER 01.02.26

Today’s Gospel reading tells us that Jesus starts preaching in the obscurity of lakeside Galilee, and what does he preach?  Exactly the same words as John the Baptist preached in Judaea: ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand,’  The kingdom of heaven is what John was announcing, and Jesus is doing just… Read more: NEWSLETTER 25.01.26

In today’s Gospel John the Baptist says to the people ‘Behold the Lamb of God’. The phrase ‘Lamb of God’ was not new; it was a reference to the Passover lamb, the lamb in Exodus which was slain and whose blood set the people free from slavery in Egypt.  Every year at Passover the Jews… Read more: NEWSLETTER 18.01.26

Today Jesus appears in the midst of the people. They have responded to the prophetic promptings of John the Baptist. John has called them to repent and prepare for a new coming of God into their midst. The story of Jesus’ baptism echoes the ancient prophecy God made through Isaiah. Matthew’s description suggests that Jesus… Read more: NEWSLETTER 11.01.26