Holy Family - 28 Dec 2008

On this feast we reflect about being part of a human family, and can be led deeper into the mystery of God and the way that in scripture we are often presented with feminine images of God. For example, God is 'compassionate' - but the Hebrew word for this 'Rakham' also means womb, so when we call God compassionate, we could also say that God is womb-like.
Recorded at Sacred Heart, 9.30am. (10'15")

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Christmas Day

Following from the Gospel of Luke (2:1-14) of Midnight Mass, we reflect on what the word 'glory' means. It is based on the Greek word 'doxa' and the Hebrew word 'kabod' - which means weight/significance/substance. We experience a glimpse of the glory of God when we look up at the night sky. Exodus 33 tells the wonderful story of Moses asking to see the glory of God. We discover that God has shared his glory with us (Ps 8) but we substitute so many other things for the glory and honour that we were crowned with. Christmas gives us another chance to find the glory that God offers us.
(8'21")

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Saying 'yes' to God

Advent Sunday 4 (Year B) - 21 Dec 2008

We are presented with the powerful image of the virgin Mary,'deeply disturbed' by the angel Gabriel's message - and yet she says 'yes' to the Lord with all her heart. The great contrast is between Mary's 'yes' and the desire of King David (2 Sam) to build a temple for the Lord, which seems to be all about his own desire, his own ego-drama, rather than the great Theo-drama that each of us is invited to be part of - using the ideas of Hans Urs von Balthasar (1905-1988), the wonderful Swiss theologian of the 20th Century.

Recorded at St Michael's, 8am Mass. (11'27")

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Advent Homilies

Advent Sunday 3 (Year B) - 14 Dec 2008 - 6pm
Based on Isaiah 61 - "The spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for the Lord has anointed me. He sent me to bring good news to the poor..." This text is fulfilled in the person of Jesus, but each one of us is also called to share this anointing with our world.
Recorded at St Michael's, 6pm. (9'55")
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Advent Sunday 3 (Year B) - 14 Dec 2008
Based on Isaiah 61 - "The spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for the Lord has anointed me. He sent me to bring good news to the poor..." This text is fulfilled in the person of Jesus, but each one of us is also called to share this anointing with our world.
Recorded at St Michael's, 9.30am. (10'57")

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Advent Sunday 2 (Year B) - 7 Dec 2008
Beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Recorded at Sacred Heart Church. (15'03")

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Advent Sunday 1 (Year B) - 30 Nov 2008
A reflection on the images of sin given in the prophet Isaiah, the first reading - being lost; a hard heart; a dry leaf blowing in the wind; and the potter and the clay. (11'27")

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