Tag Archive for ‘faith’
Wednesday 25 September
Ezra 9:5-9, Canticle of Tobit, Luke 9: 1-6 Travelling lights These strange instructions for the twofold apostolic ministry would not fit into a modern manual – no food or money, and minimum clothing. The unmistakable message is that pure, raw faith operates for good only when we are prepared to make room for God – […]
Tuesday 10 September
Colossians 2: 6-15, Psalm 145, Luke 6: 12-19 Diversionary tactics Paul’s warning against errors is especially relevant today when we are presented with a smorgasbord of different beliefs and practices. The words of Pope Francis are particularly relevant: “…self-help courses can be useful in life, but to live by going from one course to another…leads […]
Sunday 8 September
TWENTY THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIMESocial Justice Week Wisdom 9:13-18, Philemon 9-10, 12-17, Psalm 90, Luke 14: 25-33 Detachment When we see people interviewed after a natural disaster standing by houses which have been completely destroyed, they all say that the loss of their possessions doesn’t matter because they are alive. Our faith requires the […]
Friday 6 September
Colossians 1:15-20, Psalm 100, Luke 5: 33-39 Revolution Our contemporary dependence on technology and the accompanying speed of its frequent changes has proved a challenge to people born before 1980. The teaching of Jesus presented similar challenges to His audience. A completely new way of life was presented. This new way is revolutionary – it […]
Extracts from Lumen Fidei, The Light of Faith
From Paragraph 4: The light of faith is unique, since it is capable of illuminating every aspect of human existence. A light this powerful cannot come from ourselves but from a more primordial source: in a word, it must come from God. Faith is born of an encounter with the living God who calls us […]
The Catholic faith in mainland China
In the context of the year of Faith and my research work at the Holy Spirit Study Centre, I became interested in the way Chinese Catholics lived their faith. Of course it is very hard to generalise, because China is so huge and the situations so different between the North and the South, between the […]
Monday 26 August
1 Thessalonians 1:1-5, 8-10, Ps.149, Matthew 23:13-22 Does faith sit on the surface of my life? It’s tempting to presume Jesus’ tough words aren’t for me. But am I living as Paul described? Do I live as if I believe Jesus and his promise of eternal life? Do I radiate God’s love? Would anyone recognise […]
Wednesday 7 August
Numbers 13:1-2,25-14:1,26-29,34-35 Ps.106, Matthew 15:21-28 Feelings are cruel dictators God wills the best for us but allows consequences and will never negate free will. Adult faith requires trust in God and discernment, not simply reacting on feelings. In the Numbers account God told the Israelites he was giving them the land. Focusing on feeling like […]
Friday 2 August
Leviticus 23:1,4-11,15-16,27,34-37, Ps.80, Matthew 13:54-58 Feasting, fasting, faith and family Families celebrate milestones in unique ways and adult children love remembering and passing on those traditions. Retelling our stories builds gratitude, connects us with our best values. The Israelites honoured milestones in worship festivals. The church invites us to worship in feasting and fasting traditions, […]
Monday 29 July
St. Martha Exodus 32: 15-24, 30-34, Ps. 106, Matthew 13: 31-35, or John 11: 19-27, or Luke 10: 38-42 Ringing true Martha’s declaration of faith is as fine as any found elsewhere in the gospels. Can I make the same declaration today and mean it? Can I, when I receive Holy Communion and Jesus is […]
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