Is 55:1-3 Rom 8:35, 37-39 Mt 14:13-21 We have all had the experience of our plans not working out. We have it in our minds to do something and we are prevented from doing what we had intended. Somebody unexpectedly calls as we are about to go out, or while we are on the way somewhere someone crosses our path and we get delayed. We can have a negative reaction to that kind of experience. We view the unexpected caller or the unplanned encounter as an interruption. Yet, from another perspective, attending to the interruption can often be turn out…

Jer 26:1-9 Mt 13:54-58 The people of Jesus’ home town recognized the wisdom with which Jesus spoke and the life-giving powers that were at work through his actions. Both were clearly evident to all. They go on to ask a probing question, ‘Where did this man get it all?’ As people who have come to believe in Jesus we would have no hesitation in answering that question, ‘Jesus got his wisdom and his life-giving powers from God’. ‘It is God who is at work through what Jesus says and does’. However, the people of Nazareth were unable to give a…

IGNATIUS was born at Loyola in Spain, in the year 1491. He served his king as a courtier and a soldier till his thirtieth year. At that age, being laid low by a wound, he received the call of divine grace to leave the world. He embraced poverty and humiliation, that he might become more like to Christ, and won others to join him in the service of God. Prompted by their love for Jesus Christ, Ignatius and his companions made a vow to go to the Holy Land, but war broke out, and prevented the execution of their project.…

Hos 10:1-3, 7-8, 12 Mt 10:1-7 Jesus has been gathering a growing number of disciples since the beginning of his public ministry. According to today’s gospel reading, from this larger group, Jesus called twelve to whom he gave authority and power to share in his healing ministry. The number twelve was significant; it is a reminder of the twelve tribes of Israel. This group of twelve were to symbolize the renewed Israel that Jesus was working to form. Jesus chose these twelve very deliberately. They were to receive intensive training and instruction so as to share in his ministry in…

Acts 12:1-11 2 Tm 4:6-8, 17-18 Mt 16:13-19 Today we celebrate the feast of two of the great pillars of the church, Peter and Paul. They came from very different backgrounds. Peter was a fisherman from rural Galilee. Paul was a learned Pharisee from the university city of Tarsus. Peter’s first language was Aramaic; Paul’s first language was Greek. Peter knew Jesus from the time of Jesus’ baptism and was with Jesus until the time of Jesus’ passion and death; Paul only ever met the risen Lord, in the vicinity of Damascus. For all their differences, they had at least…

Lam 2:2, 10-14, 18-19 Mt 8:5-17 In the past three months or so, we have become used to things happening at a distance from us. Children and young people have been taught at a distance, as lessons are given online and TVs. People shop at a distance as they go to the websites and have items delivered to their doors. Parishioners have been attending Mass at a distance, as they tune in to Masses via Radios and TVs. In today’s gospel reading, Jesus heals at a distance. When a Roman centurion plead with Jesus about his seriously ill servant, Jesus…