Water flows from the Temple and turns the land into a fertile paradise, bringing health and life, says Ezekiel. But this living Temple is Christ, says John. Encountering him means forgiveness, health, and life. These readings on the symbolism of life-giving water and on Christ have been chosen in view of baptism, the Lenten-Easter sacrament: […]
For people who believe, the golden age lies in the future, not in the past, says the third section of the book of Isaiah. Before the exile, the Jews and their prophets looked to the beginnings, to the past, as the golden era from which humankind had declined. Now the prophet turns to the future.
Greeting (See Second Reading) We were darkness once but now we are light in the Lord. Wake up from your sleep, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. May the light of Christ be always with you. R/ And also with you. Introduction by the Celebrant Open Our Eyes, Lord One of
We cannot save ourselves by rites and practices. Sin is forgiven, and lasting happiness is found in an encounter of love with God. If we recognise that we are sinners, people who have failed at times and who could do better, we recognise that our love is still very limited, and then, there is room
Many human endeavours fail because God is left out of the picture. Israel wanted to go her own way, relying on her resources and alliances with the mighty of the day. The mighty are toppled by mightier ones, and everything collapses. People today try to achieve prosperity and happiness, but at the expense of others,
“Listen to my voice,” says God through his prophet Jeremiah, and then, he complains that God’s people fails to listen, that they listen to themselves and follow their own ways. Their deeds do not speak the language of God. They do not follow God. In the Gospel, Jesus cures the man who was mute. Worse
What is the meaning of the commandments to us? To some, they are the summary and summit of all morality; to others, narrow and outmoded rules; still to others, obstacles to the freedom of the gospel. To Israel, they were the expression of fidelity to God and to the whole people as part of God’s
We don’t like too much – or not at all – to acknowledge it, but we have been forgiven a lot. Open, scandalous, upsetting sins… maybe not. Probably not. But scandalous, in the sense of totally unexpected on the part of people who profess to be the sign of the Church, of Christ, of God…
Today’s liturgy thinks especially of converts who are baptized and immersed into the baptismal water. Are conversion and missionary action still valid? Why be concerned about unknown, distant peoples? – Elisha cured the pagan officer from Damascus, Syria, and the man found both healing and faith. Jesus, not accepted as a prophet in his own
Greeting (See Second Reading) The love of God has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. May that love of God be always with you. R/ And also with you. Introduction by the Celebrant A Deep Personal Encounter Often, we are not willing to listen to
