Lord is kind and merciful; slow to anger, and rich in compassion. (Psalm 102) Matthew’s Gospel today gives us Jesus’ seminal teaching on forgiveness, and arguably one of Jesus’ most important teachings – because our own eternal destiny hangs on it. Indeed, this teaching never fails to inspire us with its truth and beauty until…

If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts. (Psalm 94) Today’s Gospel features Jesus’ instruction on fraternal correction, something we shrink from in our usual everyday life. But, there it is: sometimes it has to be done, although only in a spirit of kindness and control. Perhaps we avoid it because we hesitate…

My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God. (Psalm 62) Today’s Gospel is a very sad and serious one. Our reaction, like Peter’s, may be not to accept the prediction. We do not want Jesus to have to undergo rejection and a tortured death. Jesus is under no illusion, however, that being the…

Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands. (Psalm 138) In the Gospel today, Jesus confers the keys of the kingdom of heaven upon Peter, while declaring him the rock upon which he will build his Church. Jesus accompanies these words with the promise that the gates of the underworld…

O God, let all the nations praise you! (Psalm 66) All the readings this Sunday illustrate a common theme: God’s universal love for his creatures, beyond the confines of his chosen people and beyond the barriers of gender, religion and nationality. God’s love is universal and he wants everybody to be saved. This is illustrated…

Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation. (Psalm 84) This Gospel of Jesus walking on the storm-tossed waters of the Sea of Galilee describes those times in our lives when troubles begin to overwhelm us. We seem to be in the boat alone, at the mercy of relentless winds and rains.…

The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs. (Psalm 144) Today’s readings describe God’s gracious, merciful love, but none more so than the Gospel. When Jesus feeds the five thousand, to say nothing of the women and children, with five loaves and two fish, this is God’s love in action. We…

Lord, I love your commands. (Psalm 118) Today’s Gospel continues Matthew’s descriptions of what the kingdom of heaven is like. Jesus never says what the kingdom actually is, but tells us what the kingdom is like in parables and similes. We read that the kingdom is like hidden treasure in a field or a pearl…

Lord, you are good and forgiving. (Psalm 85) In today’s Gospel, Jesus draws on his knowledge of rural and village life to illustrate his parables of the kingdom of heaven. He frequently says, “The kingdom of heaven is like…” We can marvel at how vivid and timeless are our Lord’s similes so that they still…

The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest. (Psalm 64). Today’s long Gospel from St. Matthew is the parable of the sower whose seed falls on different types of soil and produces a harvest accordingly – or not. The Gospel is divided into three parts: the parable itself, Jesus’ observations on…