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Showing posts with the label Rembrandt

'To serve the unity of those who have become brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ.’ Sunday Reflections, 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

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St Peter El Greco [ Web Gallery of Art ] 'You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it'  (Matthew 16:18; Gospel).   Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Matthew 16:13-20 ( English Standard Version Anglicised) Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples,  “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”   And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”   He said to them,  “But who do you say that I am?”  Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”   And Jesus answered him,  “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.  And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of h

Brendan Kelly, a saintly teenager with Down Syndrome who died from leukaemia

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The Little Children Being Brought to Jesus Rembrandt [ Web Gallery of Art ] A few weeks ago I came across an article in Crisis Magazine with the intriguing title  Brendan Had Three Babies   by Austin Ruse. (There is a delightful photo of Brendan there supplied by his family that I was unable to save.) Brendan Kelly, from Virginia, USA, was born with Down Syndrome and developed leukaemia at a young age. This eventually led to his death at the age of 16 in 2013. Here are the opening paragraphs of Austin Ruse's article. E very year   on the anniversary of his passing, Brendan Kelly gives a little gift to a woman who was close with him. It has never been great big things, but always a kind of wink that Brendan is there, and that he loves her. This past May was the 10th anniversary of this 16-year-old boy’s passing, a boy with Down syndrome and a lifelong struggle with leukemia that eventually took his life.  This year she waited and waited for the little gift that she expected. At the

Sunday Reflections, Ascension; 7th Sunday of Easter, Year A

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  Ascension Cupola Italian Mosaic Artist [ WebGallery of Art ] Ascension, Year A The Ascension is celebrated on Ascension Thursday, 18 May, in England & Wales, Scotland. In the USA it is celebrated on Ascension Thursday in the Ecclesiastical Provinces of Boston, Hartford, New York, Omaha, Philadelphia. In all of these places Ascension Thursday is a Holyday of Obligation. The Ascension is observed on Sunday, 21 May, in Aotearoa-New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Ireland, Philippines, USA (apart from the jurisdictions mentioned above). Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Matthew 28:16-20 ( English Standard Version, Anglicised) Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.   And when they saw him they worshipped him, but some doubted.   And Jesus came and said to them,  “All authority in heaven and on earth has been gi

'I have always trusted in Jesus.' Sunday Reflections, 5th Sunday of Easter, Year A

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  Apostle St Thomas El Greco [ Web Gallery of Art ] Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”   Jesus said to him,  “I am the way, and the truth, and the life"   (John 14:5-6; Gospel). Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel :   John 14:1-12  (English Standard Version, Anglicised) Jesus said to his disciples: “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.   In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?   And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.   And you know the way to where I am going.”     Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”   Jesus said to him,  “I am the way, and the truth, and the life

The Road to Emmaus can be anywhere. Sunday Reflections, 3rd Sunday of Easter, Year A

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  Supper at Emmaus Rembrandt [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel :  Luke 24:13-35   (English Standard Version, Anglicised) That very day two of the disciples were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem,   1 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened.   While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.   But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.   And he said to them,  “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?”  And they stood still, looking sad.   Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”   And he said to them,  “What things?”  And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man

'Our time needs Christians who have been grasped by Christ.' Sunday Reflections, 2nd Sunday of Easter, Year A

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  The Incredulity of St Thomas Caravaggio [ Web Gallery of Art ] Second Sunday of Easter, Year A Divine Mercy Sunday Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel :   John 20:19-31   (English Standard Version, Anglicised) On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them,  “Peace be with you.”   When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.   Jesus said to them again,  “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”   And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,  “Receive the Holy Spirit.   If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called th

'Jesus is risen from the dead, defeating death by death, and giving life to those in the grave.' Sunday Reflections, Easter Sunday

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The Resurrection of Christ El Greco [ Web Gallery ofArt ] The Easter Vigil in the Holy Night Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA ) At the Mass during the Day Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings  (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   John 20:1-9     (English Standard Version, Anglicised) Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.   So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”   So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going towards the tomb.   Both of them were running together, but the

Yes, O Lord! We also believe, notwithstanding our doubts and darkness.' Sunday Reflections, 5th Sunday of Lent, Year A

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The Raising of Lazarus Caravaggio [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel     John11:1-45  [11:3-7,17, 20-27, 33b-45]    ( English Standard Version Anglicised: India)       Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.   It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill.   So the sisters sent to him, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.”   But when Jesus heard it he said,  “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Continue at Bangor to Bobbio .