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Reflections & Homilies

Reflections, sermons and homilies.


Reflection on resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury

Lambeth Palace. Image ICN/JS

Revd Dr Sam Wells, Vicar of St Martin in the Fields writes: To be subject to profound and repeated physical abuse at a vulnerable age is among the worst things to befall anyone. Those who have had the courage to come forward and detail their experiences at the hands of a distorted individual over a period of decades must be at the very centre of the church's care and concern. While the individual ... Read More


We must not forget our war dead

Photo by Jametlene Reskp on Unsplash

At the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, we remember the fallen of our wars. The Armistice, that ended the fighting of the First World War ahead of peace negotiations, began at 11am on 11 November 1918. We also pay our respects to the Armed Forces family on Remembrance Sunday. Bishop Paul Mason, Catholic Bishop of the Forces, offers this reflection to help us focus on the... Read More


Sunday Reflection with Canon Robin Gibbons: 10 November 2024

Widow's mite, 6th century mosaic © Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo, Ravenna

Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 155 Leo the Great whose feast it also is on this Sunday, preached these words which rank as some of the most succinct and evocative in defining our Christian life and Mission: 'Christian, remember your dignity, and now that you share in God's own nature, do not return by sin to your former base condition. Bear in mind who is your head and of whose ... Read More


A Prayer for America

Photo by Javier Martinez on Unsplash

Rev Dr Sam Wells, Vicar of St Martin in the Fields, Trafalgar Square, writes: Mysterious God your ways are sometimes hard to fathom and your purposes amid the turmoil of life are sometimes hard to perceive. Bless America. Be close today to those who behold the election result with dismay. Be with migrants who fear hostility and deportation. Uphold women who anticipate disrespect and feel their we... Read More


Fr Richard Rohr on seeking the Public Good

Fr Richard Rohr

In a 2017 homily based on this Scripture passage, Father Richard reminds us of the foundational requirements of Christian living: 'You have heard that it was said, "Love your neighbour and hate your enemy." But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.… If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not e... Read More


Sunday Reflection with Canon Robin Gibbons: 3 November 2024

Rembrandt - Moses with the Ten Commandments Google Art

Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time Do you have a Bible in your home, and treat it with care? How do you use the scriptures in your prayer and faith life, perhaps as both a resource and a guide, a readily available treasure to dip into, as and when necessary? Or as some do, have they become a part of the fabric of your daily/weekly prayer life, perhaps through the daily office or the practice of ... Read More


The Pope Video: November 2024 - For those who have lost a child

The loss of a child may be the worst pain a father and mother can experience. There's no word that could possibly describe such profound grief. Pope Francis asks us to join him in prayer this month precisely for those parents who have lost a child. In the Video produced by the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network that accompanies his prayer intention, Pope Francis invites us to listen in a particular w... Read More


Sunday Reflection with Canon Robin Gibbons: 27 October 2024

The Healing of Blind Bartimaeus by Fernando Gallego workshop Univ. of Arizona Museum of Art

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time I am not sure why my eyes kept returning to this phrase of Jeremiah from our first reading this Sunday, but it certainly moved me to deeper reflection about trust and hope in the kindness of the Lord: 'With weeping they shall come, but with compassion I will guide them; I will lead them to streams of water, on a level road, without stumbling. For I am a father to ... Read More


Cardinal Vincent welcomes Pope's new Encyclical

Cardinal Nichols. ICN Screenshot.

Today, 24th October, Pope Francis released his fourth Encyclical Letter on the Human and Divine Love of the Heart of Jesus, entitled Dilexit Nos, 'He loved us' (Romans 8:37). Cardinal Vincent praised this 'remarkable Letter', noting that it, 'speaks eloquently of the love of God for every person'. He highlights the Letter's invitation to 'anyone who is broken-hearted, or feeling empty of heart, or... Read More


Bishop Davies welcomes Pope's new encyclical: 'Dilexit nos'

Bishop Mark Davies

The Bishop of Shrewsbury, Bishop Mark Davies, has welcomed Pope Francis' fourth encyclical letter Dilexit nos on the Human and Divine Love of the Heart of Jesus Christ, as a "great gift" saying that, as the Church seeks to grow in communion, participation and mission, "an authentic path of renewal must pass through the Heart of Jesus." Introducing the encyclical, Bishop Davies wrote: "the Holy Fat... Read More


Edinburgh: Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski gives Romero Lecture on Resilience in the Face of Injustice

Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski

Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski, Bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London, gave the following lecture on 'Romero and Ukraine: Resilience in the Face of Injustice' on Friday, 18 October in Lauriston Hall, of Edinburgh's Jesuit Church of the Sacred Heart. INTRODUCTION Thank you for your gracious invitation to give this Romero Lecture. Since my appointment as the Ukrainian Cat... Read More


Sunday Reflection with Canon Robin Gibbons 20 October 2024

Baptistry Arians1

Twenty Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help." (Heb 6:15,16) Some of the words in that quote from the letter to the Hebrews in our second reading this Sun... Read More


Holy Land Reflection: This is not a religious war

His Beatitude Michel Sabbah

His Beatitude Michel Sabbah, Patriarch Emeritus of Jerusalem writes: After a year of constant war, as the cycle of death continues unabated, we feel the need as Christians and as citizens to seek out the hope that comes from our faith. First, we must admit that we are exhausted, paralyzed by grief and fear. We are staring into the darkness. The entire region is in the grip of bloodshed that contin... Read More


Sunday Reflection with Canon Robin Gibbons: 13 October 2024

Image: B Pierpoint 174v

Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time Lectionary: 143 "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" (Mk 10:17) How many of us ask that question of ourselves let alone God? There seems to be another type of question that perhaps due to a more secularised culture leaves out any suggestion that we work to enter eternal life and simply demands an answer to the destination of our journey "Whe... Read More

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