The Son Of Man Came To Serve
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- Written by Damian Polly OP
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29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Mark 10:35-45
This Sunday's Gospel passage opens with an astonishing request from the Apostles James and John. They boldly request that Jesus do for them whatever they ask of him! They don't just simply ask Jesus a question, they preface it with a demand. And what do they ask for? Nothing less than to be given seats of authority either side of Jesus in his Heavenly Kingdom. Wow! What about that for a demanding request! They seem to be very self-assured that they deserve this privilege. What about the rest of the Apostles? What about Peter, the leader of the Apostles? Surely James and John are skipping the queue a bit here?
What Must I Do To Inherit Eternal Life
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- Written by David McGovern OP
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28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Mark 10:17-30
Do you remember how Jesus rebuked the Apostles in last Sunday’s Gospel? And told them that ‘whoever does not accept the Kingdom of Heaven like a child will not enter into it’. Well the young man we hear about today is the opposite of what Jesus tells us about being childlike because this young man was trying to use his own efforts to pursue the Kingdom of God. He was unable to understand that it was nothing he could do to merit that Kingdom, but that it was God’s gift to those who understand their own neediness.
Homily at the Mass of the Opening of the Academic Year (2012-2013)
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- Written by Luuk Jansen OP
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This is a recording of Fr. John Harris OP giving a homily at the opening Mass of the Academic Year 2012-2013.
Where Two Become One
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- Written by Matthew Martinez OP
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27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Mark 10:2-16
In this week's Gospel, we are presented with a passage from Scripture where the pharisees try to test Jesus. Jesus, however, shows that He is in control of the situation and does not fall into the trap of the pharisees. He is able to very skillfully use the question of the pharisees, as an opportunity to teach and present a proper understanding of Marriage.
In confronting Jesus with the question of divorce, the pharisees look to the teaching of Moses on the matter. Jesus, however, presents a teaching on marriage which seeks to delve much deeper into the Sacrament. He first draws a reference to the beginning of Genesis, where God created man, male and female, and called them to become one flesh. In this way, Jesus emphasizes the unbreakable, unitive bond of marriage, which was in the mind of God from the very beginning. While presenting the context in which Moses allowed for divorce, that of the “unteachableness” of the people, Jesus asks that His followers go beyond a superficial outlook and ponder on the very nature of marriage itself. Jesus explains that, because marriage is a bond made, before God, where the two persons become one flesh, man does not have the power to break this bond, which God has made. Here, Jesus explains that it was because of the people's “hardness of heart,” that Moses allowed for divorce. He, therefore shows that the people, in the time of Moses, were unteachable because of their lack of complete openness to God, within their hearts.
Do Not Keep Your Joy To Yourself
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- Written by Luuk Jansen OP
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On the Gospel of Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48
26th Sunday of the Year
At the beginning of this Sunday's Gospel we see some of the disciples trying to stop a man working miracles in Jesus' name. In the second part we hear about the risk of leading ourselves or others, astray.
Jesus makes clear that there is a distinction between people who work with Him for the cause of good, and those who work against Him. This reminds us that we are all called to help to bring others to know God, it is part of our calling we received at our baptism. The man in the Gospel cast out demons in Jesus' name thereby acknowledging that it is only Jesus who can release us from the burdens of life. Giving evidence to the sayings of Jesus that "my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Mt 11:30) and "I will give rest" (Mt 11:28). It is in the Lord that we find this liberation which sets us free.
The Last Will Be First
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- Written by Colm Mannion OP
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On the Gospel of Mark 9:30-37
25th Sunday of the Year
In this week’s Gospel passage Jesus and the disciples leave the region of Caesarea Philippi and travel south through Galilee. Jesus uses this secret journey as an opportunity to instruct the disciples, but the disciples had been bewildered by Jesus’ further reference to his suffering (v. 32). When they reach Capernaum Jesus asks them what they were talking about on the road. The disciples are too ashamed to answer the question, but in spite of their silence, Jesus addresses what gave rise to their argument - their hunger for power. The disciples of a Master soon to suffer bitter humiliation and death (they are ‘on the way’ to the Jerusalem where it will take place) are all too humanly involved in petty squabbling over precedence. Instead of staying with Jesus’ difficult teachings, they had moved the conversation, from suffering, to power.
