Tag Archives: gospel

Poisonous legacies and new tongues

The basic hagiography of Francis Xavier goes something like this: Born in 1506 in the Navarre region of France, Francis met Ignatius of Loyola as a young man, and was greatly influenced by his friendship. Together, with others, they formed … Continue reading

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Year B Advent 1: Be the gospel

We enter Advent slap bang in the middle of Mark’s little apocalypse; this end of the world, stars falling out, desolating times piece of prophecy: the little apocalypse. The thing about apocalypse is that it comes up over and over … Continue reading

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Year A Proper 28: the rewrite

At first glance, it’s an easy one. The master distributes wealth, gifts, talents. The recipients either put them to work and harvest their reward, or bury them, ignore them, and finally hand them back covered with dirt and none the … Continue reading

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All Saints

The letter to the Ephesians makes a perfect sermon all by itself for All Saints and a day of baptism. I hardly feel as though I need say more. But there is more. Listen to the words that come just … Continue reading

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Boniface, Missionary and Martyr

I read and hear often that the most effective way of introducing new people to the church (or vice versa) is by personal invitation to a friend, neighbour, or grocery checkout assistant. (Let’s leave aside for now the question of … Continue reading

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Unforgivable

So you think you’ve committed the unpardonable, unforgivable, permanently staining sin. Welcome. It is amazing, isn’t it, that with all of the gospel good news telling us how much God loves us, how ready God is to forgive us, how … Continue reading

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Wanton Story-Telling: Year B, Easter 2

My children are among the very few people who have heard this story. I don’t like to tell it because it sounds so strange, so unusual, so unbelievable. I once saw the Holy Spirit in the church in which I … Continue reading

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