Category: Reflections

by Fr Martin McCormack SDB MA.LPC

Click HERE for Sunday’s readings in SiSwati

The parable of the prodigal son, sometimes called the parable of the merciful father is one of my favourite stories in the scriptures. Great artists have painted masterpieces depicting this story. In the cultural world which Jesus lived, the son’s request to be given his inheritance while his father is still alive would have been unheard of, almost impossible and a slap in the face to the father and the rest of the clan. Loyalty to the clan was crucial for survival. In Palestinian culture members of a family only understood themselves in relation to their family, their kin, village and religious community. To make such a request was to treat the father as if he were dead.

Continue reading “Reflection for the fourth Sunday of Lent – Year C” →

by Fr Martin McComark SDB

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Robert Robinson was an English clergyman who lived in the 18th century. Not only was he a gifted pastor and preacher he was also a highly gifted poet and hymn writer. However, after many years in the ministry his faith began to drift. He left the ministry and finished up in France, indulging himself in sin.

One night he was riding in a carriage with a Parisian socialite who had recently been converted to Christ. She was interested in his opinion on some poetry she was reading: Come thou Fount of every blessing, Tune my heart to sing thy grace, Streams of mercy never failing, Call for hymns of loudest praise. Continue reading “Reflection for the third Sunday of Lent – Year C” →

By Fr Martin McCormack SDB MA.LPC

Sipho is a prosperous and God-fearing farmer, is praying with his son one night at bedtime. Sipho says to his son, “Let us pray for that poor man who lives down the road, that the good Lord may come to his aid.” His son turns to him and replies, “But, Dad, we don’t need to bother God about that. We can do it ourselves.” prayer and good wishes are not always enough. Love in action is very powerful. Evil prospers when good people do nothing. Each of us here this morning has the power to transfigure the life of another.

I live in a mission where the call for food is never ending. I come out the door some mornings at 6 and people are waiting for help. The usual cry is I am hungry. There are many hungry gogos, two who are blind whom I assist every week. The rawness of their situation makes me wonder about community and Christianity. How can we as a Christian community transfigure the lives of others
Continue reading “Reflection for the Second Sunday of Lent – Year C” →

by Fr. Andrij M. Hlabse

Pope’s Prayer Intention March 2019.

In the Church, God gives the gift to the whole human family of the possibility of being close to Jesus Christ. The Church extends in time and space the mission of Jesus while he walked the earth for our salvation, by offering us the chance to hear his words of forgiveness, be anointed with the oil of his Spirit, and to receive his Body and Blood. By being drawn into the life of the Church, especially the Sacraments, we are enabled to feel close to Jesus, to know his loving presence and action in our lives. Continue reading “March 2019: Recognition of the Right of Christian Communities” →

by Fr. Martin McCormack SDB MA.LPC

Once there was a wealthy industrialist who decided to purchase a Zoo for his personal pleasure and to show off to his friends. He collected animals from all over the world, and his zoo soon became the most complete collection ever. One day the man heard about a beautiful type of gazelle in Africa. He was told he would never take one alive.

So he headed to Africa and the local people told him he had an impossible task. He told the African people I’ll get as many as I want and indeed he did. This is how he did it.
Continue reading “Reflection for the first Sunday of Lent – Year C” →

MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS
FOR LENT 2019

“For the creation waits with eager longing
for the revealing of the children of God” (Rm 8: 19)

(Click HERE to download the full text)

Dear Brothers and Sisters Continue reading “Pope Francis message for Lent 2019” →

by SECAM

Text: Dt 26, 5

Commentary

According to the book of Deuteronomy, the offering of the first fruits of the harvest to the Lord was accompanied by a solemn profession of faith. It was a reminder to the people that the ancestors of Israel were not from Canaan: “My Father is a wandering Aramaic. He went down to Egypt, where he lived as an immigrant with a few people who accompanied him “(Dt 26, 5).

Continue reading “March 2019: Refugees, Migrants, Displaced Persons” →

by Fr Christopher Maseko

By nature we have the quest to love and to be loved. We feel somehow fulfilled when we are appreciated, admired, respected and held in high esteem by others. In that way we feel important. On the other hand, we feel bad when others speak ill of us, mistreat, when reviled, opposed and criticized. Some have adopted the tendency of a one traffic rule and do not reciprocate the love as Jesus encourages us to treat others the same way we would love to be treated.

It is easy to mingle with friends especially if we have one thing in common. It is not easy, however, to meet people whom we dislike. The biggest challenge is to meet those who consider us as enemy. But Jesus even goes further when He says we should not only meet them, but that we should love them. ‘Love your enemy’ is the message to us. There are times when we keep grudges in our hearts against others, times when we allow thoughts of revenge to grow in us, and times when we should have loved our enemies, but we failed to do so. Continue reading “Reflection for the Seventh Sunday – Year C” →