Micah 7:14-15, 18-20Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 My son, you are with me always, and all I have is yours. But it was only right we should celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was dead and has come to life; he was lost and is found. These are some of my favourite verses from the Parable of …
Monthly Archives: March 2023
Friday in the Second Week of Lent
Genesis 37: 3-4. 12-13. 17-18Matthew 21: 33-43. 45-46 ‘Israel(Jacob) loved Joseph more than all his other sons, for he was the son of his old age, and he had a coat with long sleeves made for him.‘ In just one verse the writers of Genesis paint for us a scene that so easily strikes a …
Thursday in Second Week of Lent
Jeremiah 17:5-10Luke 16:19-31 We last met the Rich Man and Lazarus in week twenty seven of Ordinary Time. In the cycle of readings for Year A this text is part of a sequence of Luke’s exposition of Kingdom values. We meet the familiar theme of a reversal of the world’s ways. Grace and favour come …
International Women’s Day and St Frances of Rome
Later today we will celebrate First Vespers of one of our Olivetan forebears, St Frances of Rome. She was wife, mother, widow and founder of the monastery of Tor de’ Specchi in Rome. The accounts of her life bear all the traditional hallmarks of hagiographical writing. She is a special child. Her mother knows this from …
Continue reading “International Women’s Day and St Frances of Rome”
Wednesday in the Second Week of Lent
Jeremiah 18:18-20Matthew 20:16-28 Traditionally, in the weekdays of Lent, Wednesdays and Fridays are days of special focus on Christ’s passion. Today that focus is very clear. As Jesus journeys to Jerusalem he warns the disciples of the events that will unfold. He has taken the path to suffering. Quite naturally, this is beyond the comprehension …
Tuesday in the Second Week of Lent
Isaiah 1:10. 16-20Matthew 23:1-12 Wash, make yourselves clean.Take your wrong-doing out of my sight.Cease to do evil.Learn to do good,search for justice,help the oppressed,be just to the orphan,plead for the widow. This is one of my favourite pieces of Hebrew poetry. It has a rhythm which makes it easy to memorise. It’s an uncompromising message …
Monday in the Second Week of Lent
Daniel 9:4-10Luke 6:36-38 Today, in the first reading from Daniel, the prophet looks back over Israel’s covenant relationship. He fully acknowledges that Israel has strayed far from God and to them ‘the look of shame belongs.’ Israel is now completely dependent on God’s mercy. In Luke today Jesus invites his disciples to ‘be compassionate as …
Second Sunday in Lent
Genesis 12:1-42 Timothy 1:8-10Matthew 17:1-9 Last week we accompanied Jesus to the desert and this week we are invited to make the climb up a high mountain. We find ourselves in the company of Peter, James and John and watch as Jesus is transfigured. Matthew’s hearers would have been at home on the mountain top. …
Saturday in the First Week of Lent
Deuteronomy 26:16-19Matthew 5:43-48 ‘The Lord your God commands you today to observe these laws and customs; you must keep them with all your heart and all your soul.‘ The Book of Deuteronomy is a favourite of mine. Commentators have drawn my attention to the number of times the ‘heart’ is mentioned. What Deuteronomy offers is …
Friday in the First Week of Lent
Ezekiel 18:21-28Matthew 5:20-26 The picture that I have used today is of our altar at Turvey. This place in front of the altar is of huge monastic significance. It is there that you stand as a postulant and ask to begin your monastic journey and then some months later you will stand there as you …