Homilies

On this day, 13 May, 100 years ago a woman, “brighter than the sun”, wearing a white mantle edged with gold and holding a rosary, appeared to three children.

When on visitation some years ago in this very parish of North Sydney, I went to the parish primary school. As I entered a tiny-tot, who saw I was unusually dressed, asked what I was.

People have reflected upon the meaning of friendship ever since the Book of Genesis described the first one – between Adam and Eve.

‘Total war.’ Even today it has an ominous ring. The phrase was coined by the German General Erich Ludendorff to describe what happened in the First World War.

Poor St Thomas. He gets a bad rap, even from his brother-apostle John in our Gospel today (Jn 20:19-31). He’s been dubbed ‘Doubting Thomas’ ever since, pilloried for his lack of faith, his failure to accept the testimony of his friends.

The picture of Abdul Hamid Youssef, cradling his dead twins, Ahmed and Aiya, broke the heart of our world last week. Abdul lost 22 relatives, including his wife Dalal al-Saha and two nine-month-old children, during a chemical weapon attack by the Syrian government on its own people.

The picture of Abdul Hamid Youssef, cradling his dead twins, Ahmed and Aiya, broke the heart of our world last week.

There are many versions of the story. Famously rediscovered by St Helena in the year 326, the Cross of Christ had been an object of devotion from the earliest times.

Feet. Not the most glamorous part of the human body. But as I realized more clearly last year when I was off them, we need our feet to stand, for balance and support, to bear our weight and get ourselves from A to B.

Feet. Not the most glamorous part of the human body. But as I realized more clearly last year when I was off them, we need our feet to stand, for balance and support, to bear our weight and get ourselves from A to B.