Dear Brothers and Sisters,

I suppose it may be said that everyone must wonder about life in general and their life in particular. We all lack some kind of meaning for our existence. I believe that if we ask we will receive, if we seek we will find and if we knock the door will be opened. One of the characteristics of those who ask, seek and knock, is that they know that life can only be celebrated in “moments” and that there is always more to come. In imitation of Christ, we will sometimes have to empty ourselves of our favourite assumptions; empty ourselves of out dated attitudes so that we allow ourselves to be filled with the good news of the gospel.

May you be as excited by the prospect of life accompanied by Christ as God means you to be.

Have a good week,

Fr. Richard

“Too many cooks spoil the broth” and “Many hands make light work” are proverbs which at first sight seem contradictory, but which are not. Some of the stories that Jesus tells, seem anti-trade union; like today’s gospel; but are not. We always have to place words in a context to realise the full import of their meaning. To be hired by God in the context of the gospel is each person’s moment of conversion; conversion is a response to love; God’s love has no measure and neither should ours for God. To be called before another person to be converted is reward in itself.

Have a good week,

Fr. Richard

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The Book of Ecclesiasticus from which the first reading comes this Sunday is one of the Wisdom Books of the Old Testament. In the Catholic Canon
of the Old Testament, there are seven Wisdom Books: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, Wisdom and Ecclesiasticus. They are
wonderful reflections of lives lived by people seeking God. Much more sound the wisdom of these books, than the wisdom of the world.
Dip into them and see.

Have a good week,

Fr. Richard

Dear Brothers and Sisters,


Fraternal correction is not to be entered into lightly. It is not about fault finding, or being a bossy boots. It requires wisdom, timing and a mutuality of regard and esteem. Necessarily then, it is not something that will happen often.

It is not a matter of speaking the truth, or calling a spade a spade. It is about speaking the truth in love . We love so few; and sometimes even the few we love we do not love deeply. It is not something then, that we will do often……. and it should not cause offence.

Have a good week,
Fr. Richard