In today’s Gospel reading, we see Jesus preaching to His disciples the seminal Sermon on the Plains. In the preceding verses, Jesus goes up to the mountain to pray, and summons His disciples to join Him on the mountain (Luke 6:12). There, He chooses twelve men of diverse backgrounds to become the Apostles (Luke 6:13-16). Apostle is a [...]
Today’s gospel passage gives us an idea of the call to discipleship. Faith and obedience are essentials in this apostolate. Jesus was at the Sea of Galilee preaching to a large crowd who did not leave him enough room to preach. He got into Simon’s fishing boat and continued preaching to the crowd. Why did He choose Simon’s [...]
In ancient times, anointing was a cultural practice used by shepherds to protect their sheep. The pouring of oil on a sheep’s head would make it slippery for insects to cling onto the sheep’s fur thereby preventing an infestation. It became a symbol of God’s blessing and protection and is associated with a consecration for a divine purpose [...]
The changing of water to wine at the wedding at Cana is the first of the signs written about in the Gospel according to John. The Greek word used to describe this miracle is sēmeîon, which translates as “a sign, prodigy, portent, i.e. an unusual occurrence, transcending the common course of nature” (The NAS New Testament Greek Lexicon). [...]
What are the signs in your life? When has Jesus turned water into wine for you? As disciples of the Lord, this is true for us too. We are called not only to recognise the signs in our lives, but also to look beyond the physical to the transcendent reality which they point towards, to perceive the sacred which [...]
We come together as the Church today to celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany. In our entrance antiphon, the Church declares that "The Lord and ruler is coming; kingship is his, and government and power." Indeed, this is nothing less than all the preparations of Advent fulfilled to perfection. Epiphany is the crown, the liturgical peak, of the [...]