The See of Saint Peter, 22nd February, 2021 Jesus builds his Church on the rock of Peter – and it’s still here, despite Peter not being quite the rock we might imagine or hope for. And that’s true for most of the Popes, if not all, that will follow and, …
Lent Sunday 1B, 21st February 2021 We touched last week on the concept of ‘re-wilding’ and its metaphorical use for a ‘re-wilding’ of the heart: that is, a deep conversion or change of attitude within those with the power to affect real change. I targeted Boris Johnson in this respect, …
Ash Wednesday, 17th February, 2021 The first blackbird has spoken, heard on emerging from Matins this morning, and signals an end to our winter of sin. Its tentative, and icy blasts of temptation may yet come, but it’s a beginning, and gradually, and faithfully, the dawn chorus will swell in …
Sunday 6 B, 14th February 2021 We are all lepers, now, and in need of conversion. Our leper here represents us all in this time of pandemic, but also, at all times, in need of spiritual healing. There are many reasons one could come up with for the emphasis in …
Solemnity of Saint Scholastica, 10th February, 2021 The language, in our readings today and those of last night, seems very primal – part of that side of us which we try to keep very much under control: the language of feelings, employed here to describe God’s relationship to us and …
Sunday 5B, 7th February, 2021 First, the bad news: For every patient who dies from Covid-19 in hospital, from the moment they encounter that first masked paramedic, they will never see a human face again. Not one smile, nor pair of cheeks, nor lips, nor chin. Not a single human …
The feast of Presentation of the Lord in the Temple, Candlemas day The Law is mentioned five times in this passage describing the presentation of Jesus in the Temple: firstly, for the parents,To be justified as laid down by the Law of Moses and thenobserving what stands written in the …
Sunday 4B, 31st January, 2021 There is a certain irony or tension in our disdain for authoritarian regimes and yet our desire to have leaders who speak with authority. And this tension or ambivalence, applies as much to the Church as to our political life. Interestingly, one of the marks …
The Conversion of Saint Paul, 25th January 2021 Paul is a very determined character in more than one sense. He is determined in the sense of being strong-willed and being able to persevere in whatever tasks he has decided to pursue. And he is determined by God, that is, formed …
Sunday 3B, 24th January, 2021 We would be much better off on our own, surely, without the burden of all these extra laws and extra people? We know who we are as Catholics. Bring the rest on board and we won’t know who we are any more. And France and …
