Weekly reflections – Dominican Friars Ireland

They Came to Do Him Homage

Archivist Author — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 20:09:23 +0000

On the Gospel of Matthew 2:1-12 Epiphany The story of the Epiphany (a word which means ‘manifestation’ or ‘showing’ in Greek) is familiar to us all. The three Magi, sometimes represented as kings, are on a journey with an obscure goal: to find the king whose star they had seen. The gospel adds a further […]

When Peter saw this he fell at the feet of Jesus

Archivist Author — Sun, 07 Feb 2016 18:14:00 +0000

Jesus is growing in popularity, an great crowds are following Him. He is at the lake of Gennesaret, or the Sea of Galilee, and presumably knew Peter a little as He would have stayed with him in Capernaum after John the Baptist had pointed Jesus out at the river Jordan. Jesus asks Peter to give […]

It is all the same mystery.

Archivist Author — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 19:29:44 +0000

The Irish Dominicans are always fond of recalling memories of past brethren. One particular memory is that of our brother William Barden, Archbishop of Isfahan of the Latins. Archbishop William was noted for his intense spiritual life and his deep insights into the Christian mystery. One day, just before the community processed out for Christmas Mass, […]

The “Good” God

Archivist Author — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 15:02:48 +0000

The Ancient Greek philosophers had concepts that Christianity assimilated into its own teaching to help penetrate deeper the mysteries of faith. One such concept is that of the Good. Aristotle said that all our actions aim at some end. The criteria for discerning the Good according to Aristotle is such that it is the final […]

I didn’t expect that!

Archivist Author — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 07:45:07 +0000

In the 1990s there was a famous TV ad for an orange soft drink. It showed a man drinking the soft drink and then in a slow motion replay a small man covered in orange paint is seen running up to the man drinking, unbeknownst to him. After the man has taken a drink, the […]

Turning our No into Yes; Grace and Prayer.

Archivist Author — Fri, 26 Sep 2014 16:27:24 +0000

This past weekend, a number of brothers were involved in Night Fever, this is a worldwide street outreach by young people to people as they pass by a local church. This street evangelization initiative began World Youth Day 2005 in Bonn on the 29th of October 2005 and has spread to other cities across Europe. […]

Who needs to be reminded of that?

Archivist Author — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 18:57:23 +0000

A few years ago I went to visit a friend. My friend looked at my crucifix with a certain distaste saying “You Catholics are always promoting that horrific and dark symbol of suffering, who needs to be reminded of that?”It is true that Catholics venerate and exalt the Crucifix to remind themselves of Jesus’s death […]

Love your neighbour as yourself

Archivist Author — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 10:00:46 +0000

Being in the Church can make life difficult. Having to throw in your lot with such a mixed bag of characters presents us with unpleasant possibilities: difficult fellow pew-dwellers, boring ceremonies, unwelcome teachings, constant demands on our charity… It’s hard not to sympathise with those who choose the more peaceful and exalted path of ‘spirituality’ […]

An Apprenticeship in Love

Archivist Author — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 09:00:46 +0000

It is a good thing for us that God’s ways are not man’s ways. God understands our weaknesses and still loves us. This is evidenced by the way Jesus takes Peter under his wing, promising to build His Church on Peter’s confession of faith. Such a turn of events might not have been possible according […]

Keys of the Kingdom

Archivist Author — Mon, 25 Aug 2014 09:21:14 +0000

In recent times Jehovah Witnesses have been standing outside the General Post Office on O’Connell Street, the main street of Dublin, Ireland, holding aloft copies of a book entitled, What does the Bible Really Say? On a number of occasions I have stopped to engage in conversation with them, beginning the conversation a little […]