Posted on 24 March 2016 17:02
As we journey with Christ through his Passion and
Crucifixion it is worth bearing in mind some of the little things we as human
beings are drawn to but that are contrary to God’s desire for our lives.
The intolerable pain and suffering taken on by Jesus as he
was abused, spat upon, mocked, and beaten is something we must all think about
over these next few days. Having large
nails driven into your hands and feet and being attached to a cross is
something we simply can’t imagine.
Jesus’ suffering and crucifixion was not some kind of crazy
act designed to impress. |
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Posted on 21 March 2016 14:30
Today’s Gospel: (John 12: 1-11)
‘Six days
before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom he had
raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for him there; Martha waited on them
and Lazarus was among those at table. Mary brought in a pound of very costly
ointment, pure nard, and with it anointed the feet of Jesus, wiping them with
her hair; the house was full of the scent of the ointment. Then Judas
Iscariot – one of his disciples, the man who was to betray him – said,
‘Why wasn’t this ointment sold for three hundred denarii, and the money given
to the poor? |
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Posted on 18 March 2016 12:45
As we embark on another Holy Week we cast our hearts and minds back to Christ's persecution at the hands of his executioners. Jesus' Passion was a horrific and exhausting episode filled with hate, violence, abuse, blood and gore. All directed at one person.
The culmination of this hatred and violence was death on a cross. Left to hang in shame, to be gawped at by the very people he loved and was sent to save.
But thankfully, this death on a cross was not the end. |
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Posted on 11 February 2016 17:19
Today’s
Gospel (Luke 9:22-25):
‘Jesus said
to his disciples: ‘The Son of Man is destined to suffer grievously, to be
rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes and to be put to death,
and to be raised up on the third day.’
Then to all he said, ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of
mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross every day and follow me.
For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his
life for my sake, that man will save it. What gain, then, is it for a man to
have won the whole world and to have lost or ruined his very self? |
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Posted on 15 May 2015 16:30
Sunday's Gospel (John 17:11-19):
'Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said:
‘Holy Father, keep those you have given me true to your name, so that they may be one like us. While I was with them, I kept those you had given me true to your name. I have watched over them and not one is lost except the one who chose to be lost, and this was to fulfil the scriptures. But now I am coming to you and while still in the world I say these things to share my joy with them to the full. I passed your word on to them, |
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Posted on 02 April 2015 12:43
'My soul is sad, my heart is breaking tonight Could you not watch and comfort me until light? Am I alone, surrounded only by night? Could you not watch one hour with me?
Could you not keep awake for one hour with me? Is it so hard that you should do this for me? I die for you that you might always be free. Could you not watch one hour with me?
And so I weep, and there is no-one to hear, I am in pain; will on-one witness my tears? I am your God, and as my passion draws near, Could you not watch one hour with me? |
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Posted on 01 April 2015 20:44
This is the Passion, death and Resurrection of Christ as you've never seen it before. While depicting this earth shattering event using Lego may, on the face of it, seem inappropriate, this is certainly not the case.
Indeed this is a very useful way to show children the story of the Passion. You may even want to watch it with your children now.
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Posted on 27 March 2015 17:03
'I'm doing this for you, and all because I love you' This Sunday is Palm Sunday. A day when we commemorate Christ's journey into Jerusalem, where the very same people who were to betray him just days later, welcomed him with great joy and excitement. And it is also the occasion when we are asked to listen to a more lengthy Gospel passage, recounting the story of Jesus' passion and death. For some people this day is a difficult one. I have heard complaints first hand from people when it comes to having to endure listening to the last hours of Jesus' life. |
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Posted on 27 February 2015 15:11
Jesus Christ: truly heroic
Sunday’s First Reading (Genesis 22:1-2,9-13,15-18):
‘God put Abraham to the test. ‘Abraham, Abraham’ he called. ‘Here I am’ he replied. ‘Take your son,’ God said ‘your only child Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. There you shall offer him as a burnt offering, on a mountain I will point out to you.’
When they arrived at the place God had pointed out to him, Abraham built an altar there, and arranged the wood. Then he bound his son Isaac and put him on the altar on top of the wood. |
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Posted on 13 February 2015 12:41
The ultimate act of love Sunday's Second Reading (1 Corinthians 10: 31-11:1): 'Whatever you eat, whatever you drink, whatever you do at all, do it for the glory of God. Never do anything offensive to anyone – to Jews or Greeks or to the Church of God; just as I try to be helpful to everyone at all times, not anxious for my own advantage but for the advantage of everybody else, so that they may be saved. Take me for your model, as I take Christ.' This text from St Paul's first letter to the Corinthians is a real affirmation of Christ's call to love God and to love our neighbour. |
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