Scripture Reflections Seeking Understanding

This week the Church celebrates yet another solemnity - The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul. Unlike some of the other recent celebrations, this one is not affected by the date of Easter. It is celebrated every year on 29 June, and as it falls on a Sunday this year, it takes precedence over the Sunday liturgy.  In the first and second readings from Acts and Timothy we see first Peter and then Paul imprisoned for their faith. In the former, Peter is set free to continue the work of proclaiming the Gospel. In the latter, Paul is reflecting on his ministry aware that his time is almost at an end. What ties both of these stories together is the faith and conviction of both men to serve God, understanding but not fearing the consequences of doing so - a sentiment that is captured in the refrain of the psalm, " The Lord has set me free from all my fears. "   Where does this confidence come from? In the reading from Matthew's Gospel we find ourselves at Caesarea Philippi, at the t...

This Sunday the Church celebrates the Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, (formerly Corpus Christi). Initiated as a diocesan observance in Belgium in the thirteenth century, with the intention of honouring the Eucharist outside of the Easter season, in time  it became a solemnity of the universal Church . Once again, as we did at Pentecost, we pray a sequence before the Gospel - a song of praise that lauds the eucharist as the real and undivided presence of Christ that unites us with Him.  The Gospel reading from Luke then draws a parallel between the Eucharist and the miraculous feeding of the five thousand. In this account, those that have been drawn together by the Word of Jesus are now seeking nourishment. Just as we are drawn from the Gospel to the altar.  For a short story it is heavy on the details. It tells us about the size of the groups that the people sat down in, the overall number of men that were there ( and I would assume an equal number of women and chi...

Come on a journey down memory lane with me, to the 1970s, and the best of animation used for education. Old school, hand drawn animation with catchy soundtracks.  🎵 The past, the present, and the future.  The heart, the mind, and the body. And somewhere in the ancient mystic Trinity, you get three… it’s a magic number.   This week, as the Church celebrates Trinity Sunday, the idea that 3 is significant, if not magic, is the focus of my reflection.  From John's account of the Gospel we hear Jesus say to the disciples,  All that is mine is the Father's, and all that the Spirit reveals to you is mine .  It’s a clear expression of the unity between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. And it’s from this passage, supported by others, that our belief in the Triune nature of God originates. That God is three  and  God is one.  But how is that possible? How can three be one?  As an RE teacher I have often used my wife as an example.  W...

This  Sunday   we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost.  The entrance antiphon proclaims that 'The love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Spirit of God dwelling within us.'   The immediate and vivid memory this prompts in me is primary school, felt banners, guitars and children's voices belting out... ♫ God is dwelling in my Heart. He and I are one. All His joy He gives to me, through Christ His son.  And with Jesus in my heart, what have I to fear. For He is the Son if God. In my Heart he is near.  To this day it's a loud sense-memory, and a happy one.  In the first reading this Sunday we also hear a loud sense-memory from the apostles.  'Suddenly, they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house.'  The Gospel tells us that they were all gathered in one place 'for fear of the Jews.' It's not clear whether there is any particular threat that they are hiding from, or whether the...