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Reflections & Homilies

Reflections, sermons and homilies.


Text: Fr Fadi Diab at Southwark Cathedral + video

Colette Joyce from Westminster Justice and Peace with Fr Fadi Diab. Image: ICN/JS

Father Fadi Diab, Rector of the Anglican Parish in Ramallah, in the Palestinian West Bank gave the following sermon at Southwark Anglican Cathedral at the 9 and 11am services on Sunday, 17 March 2024. Afterwards he took part in a Q&A session. See a link to a video of the service below. May the words of my mouth, the meditations of our hearts, the actions of our hands, and the conditions of our... Read More


Text: Dr Raymond Perrier at London St Oscar Romero service

Dr Perrier. Image: ICN/JS

Dr Raymond Perrier, Director of the Denis Hurley Centre in Durban, South Africa, gave the following address during the Ecumenical Service to mark the 44th anniversary of the martyrdom of St Oscar Romero at St Martin in the Fields, Trafalgar Sqhaere, London on Saturday, 16 March 2024. Prayerful and Prophetic Resilience in the Face of Injustice We have, in the figures of St Oscar Romero of El Salva... Read More


(Further) Sunday Reflection with Canon Robin Gibbons 17 March 2024

Leaf from a Beatus Manuscript: Lamb at the foot of the Cross, flanked by two angels. Image public domain.

Year B readings ( Not the Scrutiny which is Year A as my original text ) A partial apology!! An extra reflection, thanks to a kind person who sent a message to say that I was stuck on year A, which is partly true, but only if you are not doing the Scrutinies, for if you are my reflection of Lazarus is still apposite, as it will be for our Byzantine Rite Eastern Catholics who celebrate this event o... Read More


Sunday Reflection with Canon Robin Gibbons - 17 March 2024

The Raising of Lazarus,  by Juan de Flandes.

Fifth Sunday in Lent 1. The conundrum of Lazarus Who can remain unmoved by the story of Lazarus being called out from death by Jesus, it is both enormously compassionate yet also horrific, the decayed body is called to life, almost like a Frankenstein figure, monstrous in its decay, and many artists have portrayed the horror of that moment in their depictions of this gospel story, for many it is ... Read More


Pope at Audience: We can acquire virtue through God's grace

Several youngsters enjoyed the ride with the Holy Father in his popemobile - screenshot

During his General Audience today, Pope Francis continued his catecheses on virtues and vices, this week reflecting on virtue in general and encouraging usl to acquire it through the Lord's grace. Father Pierluigi Giroli from the Vatican Secretariat of State, read the Pope's address to pilgrims gathered in St Peter's Square - the second audience outdoors this year - as he still has "a bit of a col... Read More


Gidea Park Faith Talks: Readings at the Easter Vigil

The Readings at the Easter Vigil - the 'four nights of salvation'. As Holy Week approaches Fr Adrian Graffy explains the significance of the readings at the Easter Vigil. Fr Adrian Graffy is parish priest of Gidea Park, a Scripture scholar, and member of the Pontifical Biblical Commission. Wednesday 20th March 7pm (1900 GMT) This is an in-person event, held in the parish hall. Coffee will be avai... Read More


Sunday Reflection with Canon Robin Gibbons - March 10 2024

Ship of Faith 17thC Russian Icon

Fourth Sunday in Lent 1. Christ the one who saves How does this phrase from this Sunday's gospel strike you? "For God so loved the world that he gave* his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.(Jn 3: 16) There are layers to unpack in it, firstly an acknowledgement that the Lord Christ is not just for those who follow Him, but for those who beli... Read More


Pope Francis: Put God's forgiveness at centre of the Church

Pope arriving at St Pius Vi parish - Screenshot

Pope Francis presided over a penitential liturgy at St Pius V parish in Rome, to open the '24 Hours for the Lord' initiative, on Friday afternoon. In his reflection Pope Francis focused on the theme of this year's event, 'Walking in the new life.' "Confession, the Sacrament of God's forgiveness, allows us to start again on the journey of new life that began with our Baptism," he said. In the jour... Read More


Sunday Reflection with Canon Robin Gibbons: March 3rd 2024

Third Sunday in Lent 1. Thirst To be hungry and thirsty is something that touches us all, from our own experiences of lack of nourishment, to the painful sights of those in dire need of sustenance and water, humans and animals alike. I hope that we consider it a basic requirement of ordinary life that living things have their needs and basic necessities for survival considered, especially by those... Read More


The Pope Video: March 2024 - For persecuted Christians

In the March edition of 'The Pope Video', produced in collaboration with Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the Pontiff dedicates this month's prayer intention to persecuted Christians. Pope Francis says: "This month, I want to tell you a story that is a reflection of the Church today. It is the story of a little-known witness of faith. Visiting a refugee camp in Lesbos, a man told me, "Father, I a... Read More


Novena for the Holy Land

Our Lady Untier of Knots online Novena For the Holy Land, begins from today, Thursday 29 February to Friday, 8 March, 2024. Hosted by Westminster Justice and Peace these nine days of prayer for the Holy Land will be led each evening from 8 to 8.45pm by Mary Pierre-Harvey, Hounslow Parish. In this Novena to Our Lady Untier of Knots, we pray for the populations of Palestine and Israel suffering the ... Read More


Victor Courtois Memorial Lecture: Seek Fellowship, not Confrontation

Fr Edwin welcomes Professor Calabria

The seventh Victor Courtois Memorial Lecture, organized by the Islamic Studies Association in Delhi, was held at the Millennium Hall of St Xavier's School in Delhi on 23 February 2024. The lecture titled: 'From Morocco to the Mughal Empire: Franciscan Encounters with Muslims and their Significance for Interreligious Dialogue Today' was delivered by Professor Michael Calabria OFM. Victor Courtois S... Read More


Sunday Reflection with Canon Robin Gibbons: February 24th 2024

Abraham Isaac - Wiki Images

Second Sunday in Lent The Akedah. The story of the Akedah is horrible, it goes against so much of what we are told God is, or the experience of God should be and it has given rise to much thought and discussion in Judaism, with no one clear interpretation dominating the explanation. But its terrible story, even with that significant outcome of Isaac being spared death, still ends in a blood sacrif... Read More


Reflection: So much pain, so much need for healing

Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg

Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg writes: I set my hope on two words in this week's Torah reading: verapoh verapeh, 'heal, surely heal.' In fact, they're just one word, doubled for emphasis: 'Heal.' I pray to the God of healing, and for the capacity in each of us to be healers. Waves of worry and sorrow wash over us with a remorselessness most of us have not experienced in our lifetimes. It's hard to hold... Read More

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