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Showing posts with the label Vincent van Gogh

Sunday Reflections, 3rd Sunday of Advent, Year A, 14 December 2025

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St John the Baptist in Prison Juan Fernández de Navarrete [ Web Gallery of Art ] Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, 'Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”' (Matthew 11:2-3; Gospel). Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: (England & Wales, Scotland, India)   Readings  (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Matthew 11:2-11   (English Standard Version, Anglicised) Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples   and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”   And Jesus answered them,  “Go and tell John what you hear and see:   the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and ...

Sunday Reflections, 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 5 October 2025

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Farmer in a Field Vincent van Gogh [ Web Gallery of Art ] ‘Will any one of you who has a servant ploughing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, “Come at once and recline at table”'?  (Luke 17:7; Gospel). Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)  Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Luke 17:5-10  (English Standard Version, Anglicised) At that time: The Apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’ And the Lord said, ‘If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea”, and it would obey you. ‘Will any one of you who has a servant ploughing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, “Come at once and recline at table”? Will he not rather say to him, “Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve...

'Christ is all, and in all.' Sunday Reflections, 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

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Altar of St Ignatius of Loyola, Il Gesù, Rome Andrea Pozzo SJ [ Web Gallery of Art ] Very rightly the fine arts are considered to rank among the noblest activities of man's genius, and this applies especially to religious art and to its highest achievement, which is sacred art. These arts, by their very nature, are oriented toward the infinite beauty of God which they attempt in some way to portray by the work of human hands; they achieve their purpose of redounding to God's praise and glory in proportion as they are directed the more exclusively to the single aim of turning men's minds devoutly toward God  (Vatican II,  Sacrosanctum Concilium , No 122). Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan,) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)  Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Luke 12:13-21  (English Standard Version, Anglicised) At that time: Som...

The Lord, in his kindness, has graced me with the abiding memory of his visit that day.' Sunday Reflections, 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

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Christ in the House of Martha and Mary Tintoretto [ Web Gallery of Art ] Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan,) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)  Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Luke 10:38-42  (English Standard Version, Anglicised) At that time: Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.’ Léachtaí i nGaeilge Abraham and the Three Angels Gerbrand van den Ee...

'The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good.' Sunday Reflections, 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

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Regina Pacis - Queen of Peace University of Bonn [ Wikipedia ;  photo ] Our Lady, Queen of Peace, pray for peace in Ukraine. Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan,)   Reading s  (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)  Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Luke 6:39-45  (English Standard Version, Anglicised) At that time: Jesus told his disciples a parable: ‘Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, “Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye”, when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite! First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will...

To forgive is a decision. Sunday Reflections, 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

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Christ as Saviour El Greco [ Web Gallery of Art ] It is he who forgives all your guilt,  who heals every one of your ills (Ps 102 [103]:2; Responsorial Psalm). Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan,) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)  Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Luke 6:27-38  (English Standard Version, Anglicised) At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, ‘I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you; and from one who takes away your goods, do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. ‘If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to y...

'Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.' Sunday Reflections, 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

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Miraculous Draught of Fishes Raphael [ Web Gallery of Art ] Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord  (Luke 5:8; Gospel)). Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan,) Readings   (English Standard Version, Catholic Edition: England & Wales, India, Scotland)  Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Luke 5:1-11  (English Standard Version, Anglicised) At that time: The crowd was pressing in on Jesus to hear the word of God. He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.’ And Simon answered, ‘Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at yo...

God's kingdom is constantly breaking through in this world, in very ordinary, unplanned encounters. Sunday Reflections, Christ the King, Year B

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From  The Gospel of John  (2003)  Directed by Philip Saville.  [John 18:33-37, today's Gospel] Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, [England & Wales], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   John 18:33-37  (English Standard Version Anglicised: India) Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?”     Jesus answered,  “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?”   Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?”   Jesus answered,  “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”   Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered,  “You say that I am a king. For thi...

'Christ compares himself to the sower and explains that the seed is the word.' Sunday Reflections, 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

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The Archangel Michael Unknown Italian Goldsmith [ Web Gallery of Art ] At that time shall arise  Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time  (Daniel 12:1. First Reading).  Readings   (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland) Readings   (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) Gospel   Mark 13:24-32  (English Standard Version, Anglicised)    Jesus said to his disciples: “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light,   and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.   And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.   And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the fou...