Author Archives: Father Kevin

Spiritual return-on-investment (the 33rd Sunday of OT)

Our readings this weekend focus more and more on the end of all things as we drift towards the end of the liturgical year, which takes place on the day before the first Sunday of Advent. And, just as we attempt to settle our affairs and package everything as we come to the end ofContinue reading “Spiritual return-on-investment (the 33rd Sunday of OT)”

Reading through the book of Daniel

Daniel is a rather interesting set of short stories that circle around one noble and pious Judaite boy who was removed from Jerusalem into exile (in about the beginning of the sixth century BC) with friends of his: Ananias, Misael, and Azarias. The four were immediately given Chaldean names, respectively: Baltassar, Sidrach, Misach and Abednago.Continue reading “Reading through the book of Daniel”

In Remembrance

“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn;At the going down of the sun, and in the morning;We will remember them.” “They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;They sit no more at familiar tables of home;They have no lot in our labourContinue reading “In Remembrance”

Wisdom on the march (the 32nd Sunday of OT)

“O God, Thou art my God; how eager my quest for Thee, body athirst and soul longing for Thee, like some parched wilderness, where stream is none! So in the holy place, I contemplate Thee, ready for the revelation of Thy greatness, Thy glory.” Psalm 62 [link] I wonder sometimes if we as a peopleContinue reading “Wisdom on the march (the 32nd Sunday of OT)”

Quick read through the prophet Zecharyah

Above is Michelangelo’s version of the prophet from the heights of the Sistine chapel at S. Peter’s on the Vatican hill. Zecharyah, or Zacharias as he is in the old Catholic bibles, was a later prophet, who lived only a few hundred years before Christ, in the Jewish period of Sacred Scripture. The Israelite kingdomsContinue reading “Quick read through the prophet Zecharyah”

‘And now, priests, a warning for you…’ (the 31st Sunday of OT)

We all know what damage bad and corrupted leaders can cause generally – how they can ruin not just a community but also the work of that community. But today we can talk about corruption among leaders of a religious community, because the readings of the Sunday give us the opportunity. And this is notContinue reading “‘And now, priests, a warning for you…’ (the 31st Sunday of OT)”

Tobias and the angel

Yesterday was All Souls day, and as I was walking through the cemeteries, I thought often about why our race buries their dead, and why particularly those of Jewish and Catholic communities use such elaborate ceremonial for funeral and burial/cremation. And I remembered Tobias (Hebrew, Tobi-yah), a short story in our Old Testaments that isContinue reading “Tobias and the angel”

Charity to God and man (the 30th Sunday of OT)

“Listen then, Israel; there is no Lord but the Lord our God, and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with the love of thy whole heart, and thy whole soul, and thy whole strength.” Deuteronomy, 6: 4-5 [link] Above is the call of the Hebrew and the Jew, and the Catholic, from the bookContinue reading “Charity to God and man (the 30th Sunday of OT)”

The evil inclination

This is an interesting inheritance that Christians have from Jewish theology: the יֵצֶר הַרַע‎. The evil inclination. It is given by S. Paul in our reading at Mass this morning, from his letter to the Romans: “My own actions bewilder me; what I do is not what I wish to do, but something which IContinue reading “The evil inclination”

Ss. Chad and Cedd, early English bishops

This morning, we had the ordinary weekday readings, with a strong message from S. Paul on the observance of ritual purity, which is to remain within the Christian Church as it did within the Temple Judaism of Paul’s day. “I am speaking in the language of common life, because nature is still strong in you.Continue reading “Ss. Chad and Cedd, early English bishops”

God or the king? or both? (the 29th Sunday of OT)

“A message from the Lord to the king He has anointed, to Cyrus. I have caught him by his right hand, ready to subdue nations at his coming, put kings to flight, open every gateway before him, so that no door can keep him out. And now (says the Lord) I will still lead theeContinue reading “God or the king? or both? (the 29th Sunday of OT)”

Parish AGM at Mablethorpe

The Mablethorpe S. Joseph parish annual general meeting took place this last Thursday, after the morning Mass, and the following are (a) the message from the Chair, and (ii) the minutes of the meeting. Chair’s Report – AGM 2023  Firstly, a big thankyou to our regular parishioners. We have, over Covid and since, built upContinue reading “Parish AGM at Mablethorpe”

The wedding garment (the 28th Sunday of OT)

The theme of the last few weekend’s readings on the vineyard of the Lord being the House of Israel is continued this weekend. This time, the kingdom of God is not drawn as a vineyard with workers or as a vineyard with the management being changed, but as a royal wedding feast. And the feast,Continue reading “The wedding garment (the 28th Sunday of OT)”

Prisoner’s Sunday (8-Oct-2023)

Mgr. Richard Moth, liaison bishop for prisons [image source] “This year Prisoners’ Sunday – the national day of prayer and action for prisoners and their families – falls on 8th October. Prisoners’ Sunday is an important opportunity for us all to direct our thoughts and prayers to the needs of prisoners and their families, andContinue reading “Prisoner’s Sunday (8-Oct-2023)”

Message of the Holy Father for the 109th World Day of Prayer for Migrants and Refugees (Sunday, the 24th of September, 2023)

“The synodal path that we have undertaken as a Church leads us to see in those who are most vulnerable – among whom are many migrants and refugees – special companions on our way, to be loved and cared for as brothers and sisters.”

The English College, Lisbon (1622-1972)

“Established at a time of penal persecution in England, it found itself able as a British establishment to help negotiate the marriage of Catherine of Braganza and Charles II…”

‘Evangelii Gaudium’ Sunday

“A range of resources is being prepared for the Year of Prayer in 2024 which include a course on the Lord’s Prayer from small groups for Lent, encouragement to try different ways of praying from the tradition of the Church.”

Jews and Gentiles together (the 20th Sunday of OT)

“…the time had come for the promises made by God to the Hebrews to be applied to non-Jews. It took a long time for the Apostles themselves to realise this…”

The Transfiguration of the Lord

This weekend by a coincidence, the feast day of the Transfiguration falls on the Sunday and, being a feast, ranks with the Sunday and is able to ride over the Sunday, filling our churches with white, a colour that is vividly described in the gospels by the men who heard first-hand descriptions (from the ApostlesContinue reading “The Transfiguration of the Lord”

‘His mercy is from age to age’ (Luke, 1: 50)

“For the elderly, it means not dwelling on the loss of physical strength and thinking with regret about missed opportunities. Let us all look ahead! And allow ourselves to be shaped by God’s grace…”

A plenary indulgence for Grandparents Day

“…the Apostolic Penitentiary has announced that the Holy Father has granted a plenary indulgence for the Faithful who take part in this Third World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, on the 23rd of July.”

We’ve lost two clerics last weekend…

And they are both men I knew and worked with. I knew Father Gradwell when he joined my seminary during my last months there as a permanent deacon preparing for the priesthood, following the death of his wife Susan. As for the Reverend Stephen Doona, he was our active deacon at the Cathedral when IContinue reading “We’ve lost two clerics last weekend…”

The Bible in a year

Updated the 4th of September, 2023 Ever since this idea was given me by a fellow priest of the diocese, I have endeavoured to find my way regularly through all of Sacred Scripture, for if you don’t go to it you don’t quite get it in full. The liturgical sequence we get at daily Masses,Continue reading “The Bible in a year”

Share your opinions with the Diocese

“we are conducting a consultative phase to develop the most effective plan. Gathering a cross representation of opinions, via an e-survey, this process is designed to gauge reaction to our spiritual themes, funding priorities, assess our ability to raise additional funds and consider key fundraising aspects.”

Short commentary on the prophecy of Isaiah

“Isaias is similar to other prophets in the usual condemnations: the people have forsaken the God of their ancestors and become thoroughly idolatrous, becoming comparable to the ancient cities of Sodom and Gomorrah; their practice of the Hebrew religion is superficial and have become abominable to God; and they are morally corrupt…”