The prophecy of Zephaniah is perhaps rather easily overlooked; but as we glimpse from today’s first reading, it’s well worthy of our attention. Zephaniah was a contemporary of Jeremiah, active in the second half of the 7th century before Christ. By the time he was born, the Northern Kingdom of Israel had ceased to exist. Judah remained tenuously independent for now, but its Kings indulged in religious syncretism or outright idolatry; and with their pagan practices went also pagan morals, including much shedding of innocent blood (cf. 2 Kings 21:16).
Christ the King, Year B, 24 November 2024, Dan 7:13-1, Apoc 1:5-8, John 18:33-37
If we needed reassurance, having spent the last three weeks or so praying for the dead and perhaps thinking of our own death, and about the Last Things, then the Church in Her wisdom delivers it. Sometimes the link between the readings at Mass is subtle, even difficult to discern. Not this time! The passage from the Apocalypse unambiguously answers any questions that were perhaps left hanging in the air by the other two readings
Homily for the 8 o’clock Mass, 3 November 2024, Sunday 31B: Mark 12:28-34
Also St. Margaret’s Forres
Today's Gospel comes as a brief moment of relief amid the tension and foreboding of St. Mark's Gospel narrative. The episode is set in Holy Week, after Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, to cries of Hosanna. Before and after it we read only of bitter confrontation between Jesus and the Jewish authorities.
Homily for Sunday 30B, 27 October 2024: Psalm 104:3; Mark 10:46-52 etc.
As the procession entered Mass this morning we sang the Introit Laetetur cor - Let the heart of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Seek the Lord and be strengthened. Seek his face always. These words are taken from Psalm 104 (in our Greek numbering. St. Benedict has us sing it each week at Saturday Vigils). The idea of seeking God occurs several times in the Psalms (cf. e.g. Ps 39/40:16; 68/69:6 etc.) Another familiar Introit has a closely related text, taken from another Psalm (26/27:8-9): Tibi dixit cor meum - To you my heart has said, I have sought your face. I will earnestly seek your face O Lord. Do not turn your face away from me.
Homily for Sunday 26B, 29 September 2024: Mark 9:38-48 (& James 5:1-6) 8 o’clock at Pluscarden, and 11.00 St. Margaret’s Forres
In today’s Gospel we heard three or four somewhat disparate sayings of Jesus. These are part of a series of five or six which St. Mark has grouped together here. They are united by linking “catch words”. Also there’s a general theme of belonging to Jesus, or not; and the ultimate consequences of that.
I should like to focus now on the last of our sayings today: the really shocking one about millstones around necks, and hands and feet being chopped off, and eyes gouged out.
Homily for Sunday 25B, 22 September 2024, Mark 9:30-37; James 3:16-4:3
St. Margaret’s Forres Supply
There are two attitudes, or mind-sets, or approaches to life. They areradically different, and opposed to one another. One is worldly, the other Christian. The worldly attitude puts self first, and seeks to gain what it can for whatever seems good for Me. The Christian attitude puts self aside, or even puts self to death (cf. Rm 8:13, Col 3:5 etc.). Instead it looks to Jesus, to God; seeking always and above all to follow Jesus, to belong to him, to be united with him.
Vespers in Elgin Cathedral: Saturday 31 August 2024
Elgin Cathedral was founded by King Alexander II 800 years ago, in the year 1224.
Historic Scotland, who own and maintain the site, have done their best to mark this significant anniversary. But among all the events and promotions, there seems to have been no Christian religious service included anywhere.
Homily for the 8 o’clock Mass (also St. Margaret’s, Forres), 28 July 2024 Sunday 17B: John 6:1-15
As everyone here is intensely aware, this year our Sunday Gospels are generally taken from St. Mark. But because this Gospel is so short, when we come to the feeding of the 5,000, the lectionary switches instead to Chapter 6 of St. John’s Gospel. This Chapter begins with St. John’s account of the feeding of the 5,000, and then continues on with the long Bread of Life discourse that follows. We shall read extracts from that discourse over the next 4 Sundays.