21^st Sunday of the Year

Our call is to be in relationship – to encounter the God who is at the heart of the universe through Jesus. This relationship involves being in solidarity with God's chosen ones: the least among the people. When we choose God we also choose those who are precious to God. This can be difficult when we witness or even experience situations of cruel violence and the destruction of innocent life. The choice involves an ongoing recommitment to the God who has and continues to liberate and be a source of life for us as we deal with seemingly endless situations of injustice.

Twentieth Sunday of the Year

The word wisdom crops up in the call to live wisely. Though there is the conventional wisdom in contrast to everyday foolishness. Yet, in the Bible’s upside-down world, ‘foolishness’ is seen as wisdom. We see it in the God who endures hatred and rejection. We see it in the God who prefers to be with the weak and unjustly treated rather than the powerful. Wisdom is not about esoteric knowledge but about doing.

Reflections for the Feast of the Assumption

After the Second World War, Mary was declared as assumed into heaven, body and spirit after her death by Pope Pius Xll despite Catholics having already believed this. Experts were concerned that such a new dogma might complicate relations with other Christians. What is important is the timing of this move. Pius XII became pope in March 1939, six months before the Second World War began. The global upheaval that marked the first decade of the papacy of Pius XII produced a veritable litany of the debasement of human dignity. 

Nineteenth Sunday of the Year

At this time cities such as Melbourne and Sydney, not unlike many other cities around the world are still in lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic and its Delta variant. Personal freedom is a precious which should not be taken away by unnecessary policing by the state. But, we must remember that personal freedom need not interfere with the preferential option for the poor or the preferential option for the weakest amongst us. We are meant to be in relationship with others and health is a matter of collective responsibility for those most at risk. This is what we mean by the ‘common good’. This was not evident in the ugly and violent demonstrations this last weekend. 

Eighteenth Sunday of the Year

Whenever we reflect on the scriptures we face another aspect that makes up the image of the God of Jesus. The question is: will we live into God's image or will we try to force God into our image? Our actions or failures to act; our neglect or violence can obscure God’s image in the world. The first reading gives us a glimpse of an emerging relationship with God. The people in the wilderness were still getting to know this God who had been instrumental in their liberation. Their complaints against God and Moses also reveal another aspect of God and the way God relates to us.