26th Sunday in Ordinary Time                     Year A                                     1st October 2023 Lectionary Readings: Ezekiel 18 v1-4, 25-32;       Psalm 25 v1-9;       Philippians 2 v1-13;       Matthew 21 v23-32.    Seeing is Believing.    (for some, but not all, it seems.) Jesus is challenging the religious leaders about their understanding of God’s love and purposes. Jesus says that they did…

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time                     Year A                                    24th September 2023. Lectionary Readings: Jonah 3 v10-4 v11;      Psalm 105 v1-6, 37-45;      Philippians 1 v21-30;      Matthew 20 v1-16. Just to turn things on their head, I am starting with some questions for you to ponder:- The Nature of Love Love is only true to itself when it…

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time                    Year A                                     17th September 2023. Lectionary Readings: Genesis 50 v 15-21;         Psalm 103 v8-13;         Romans 14 v 1-12;        Matthew 18 v 21-35. Reluctance In the Old Testament reading, the brothers of Joseph seem reluctant to ask his forgiveness for selling him off as a slave many years before. It…

23rd Sunday on Ordinary Time                  Year A                                    10th September 2023 Lectionary Readings: Ezekiel 33 v 7-11;        Psalm 119 v33-40;        Romans 13 v 8-14;        Matthew 18 v 15-20. ‘Standing Watch’ over the flow of God’s grace and love. Ezekiel has been appointed by God to ‘stand watch for the people of Israel’. (Ezekiel 33 v7).…

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time        Year A                                                 3rd September 2023 Lectionary readings:  Jeremiah 15 v15-21;       Psalm 26 v1-8;       Romans 12 v9-21;          Matthew 16 v21-28.        “Stop talking like a fool” and “Think like God” Most of us find it difficult to think straight in times of trouble. The apostle Paul advises us to “be…

21st Sunday in ordinary Time                      Year A                                                 27th August 2023 Lectionary Readings:  Isaiah 51 v1-6;    Psalm 138;     Romans 12 v1-8;    Matthew 16 v13-20           The Invisible Mentor The person of God not mentioned explicitly in today’s readings is the Holy Spirit. Jesus implies that the Holy Spirit is at work in the mind of…

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time                    Year A                                               20th August 2023 Lectionary Readings: Isaiah 56 v1, 6-8;          Psalm 67;        Romans 11 v1-2a, 29-32;        Matthew 15 v21-28. The ‘bigger picture’ requires a ‘bigger heart’. In the gospel reading, the focus is on a mother’s concern for her daughter’s health. In Paul’s letter the focus is on…

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time.                                Year A                                    13th August 2023 Lectionary Readings: 1 Kings 19 v9-18;       Psalm 85 v8-13;       Romans 10 v5-15;       Matthew 14 v22-33. Faith and Doubt. All four lectionary readings challenge us to have faith in God. Faith that God is in control, has a plan that will not be thwarted, a plan…

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time                    Year A                                     6th August 2023                      Lectionary Readings: Isaiah 55 v1-5;       Psalm 145 v8-9, 14-21;       Romans 9 v1-5;       Matthew 14 v13-21.                       God’s Love and Loyalty. Isaiah relays God’s invitation to the people of Israel, to ‘come to me and live’ (Isaiah 55 v3). God promises them his eternal love and…

17th Sunday on Ordinary Time.                             Year A.                                   30th July 2023            Lectionary Readings: Kings 3 v5-12;      Psalm 119 v129-136;      Romans 8 v26-39;      Matthew 13 v31-33, 44-52.               Wisdom and Understanding. Solomon asks God for wisdom to help him in his role as king. God is pleased that he has done so and gladly grants him…