Beyond Whitewashed Words There’s a peculiar sting when someone says all the right things but means none of them. It’s a hollow echo, a performance of virtue rather than the substance of it. And yet, Jesus names this dynamic with unflinching clarity: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs,Continue reading “Authentic Witness”
Tag Archives: jesus
Leaving the Grave Behind: A Liberation Theology Reflection for the First World
What entombs you? I am Catholic but I really love contemporary Christian music. There are so many various bands whose prayerful tunes fill my heart with hope. In the Hillsong song So Will I (100 Billion X), the lyric “If You left the grave behind You, so will I.” It is a line that hasContinue reading “Leaving the Grave Behind: A Liberation Theology Reflection for the First World”
Happy New Year
As time continues we emerge into 2025. Often we start the year with enthusiasm and positive energy, that – let’s be honest – can quickly fade as routine begins and challenges emerge. That is okay. It is good to look to improve, to seek the positive, to strive to be our best self. It isContinue reading “Happy New Year”
Christmas 2024
Christmas Eve: the church is aglow with candlelight, the air thick with the scent of incense, children abound, life is vibrant and the choir is in song, and the pews packed with people—some regular parishioners, others unfamiliar faces. There’s something uniquely beautiful about this gathering, where everyone, regardless of their spiritual journey, feels the pullContinue reading “Christmas 2024”
Discipleship
What does it mean to be a true disciple? To really follow Christ? There are so many versions of Christianity on this planet. We find one, are born into one, choose one – sometimes all in one lifetime. So many versions of this one significant person as we aspire to be more like him inContinue reading “Discipleship”
To whom do we listen?
In the readings this weekend the responsorial psalm, gospel acclamation and gospel all reference sheep and shepherds. ‘The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.’ Shepherds ensured that their sheep were well-nourished and protected. They made sure the health of the sheep was attended to and the sheep were free to liveContinue reading “To whom do we listen?”
Forgiveness
Recently, I ran a retreat for Year 12s and at the end the focus of our liturgy is forgiveness and reconciliation. For me personally, forgiveness is a challenge. I find it hard to run with the word. Let’s face it – our experiences colour our lens significantly. Too many times I have heard others pretentiouslyContinue reading “Forgiveness”
Trinity Sunday
How do we explore the Holy Trinity? I remember the whole shamrock image from my childhood and the flippant comment from Eric Idle in the film ‘Nuns on the run’ that God is like a shamrock ‘small green and split three ways’. Earlier in the film Robbie Coltrane had a go at explaining the TrinityContinue reading “Trinity Sunday”
What will the future say about us?
What if future historians use social media to recount our history? Not a very accurate picture indeed! We hold back on posting truth to avoid being negative – how many times do we read a post about someone when our experience may be incredibly different? It is appropriate, I believe, to hold back, but whatContinue reading “What will the future say about us?”
His love is everlasting
At Mass this evening the response for the Psalm was about praising God for he was good, ‘his love is everlasting’. I thought about that last phrase. Love is not restricted to God. We love. So what makes his love ‘everlasting’ or beyond our human capacity? Surely my love for my child is everlasting? Well,Continue reading “His love is everlasting”
The Female Theologian 