April 12, 2019
In this Palm Sunday reflection taken from our Lent calendar, Catherine from our Theology team considers the call in the first gospel reading we hear to speak out and make our voices heard.
Continue reading “Lent reflection: The good news cannot be kept to itself”March 8, 2019
In this reflection on Jesus’ temptation in the desert (Luke 4:1-13) taken from our Lent calendar, Catherine from our Theology team considers the dark shadow that hunger can cast on people’s lives.
Continue reading “Lent reflection: The shadow of hunger looms”November 9, 2018
This reflection and prayer were written by Joy Wanless from Our Lady of Grace parish, Manchester.
Based on the gospel for Sunday 11 November – Mark 12:38-44
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“But she in her poverty has put in everything she possessed, all she had to live on.”
It’s easy to judge by our own standards, to sometimes forget that all good gifts come from God. Some have gifts to offer to foodbanks. Some are dependent on food banks for the basics to feed their families. There are those who are permanently hungry who Jesus watches just as closely.
Margaret in Batiama, Sierra Leone, experiences the “hungry season”, while they wait for the harvest.
Margaret was struggling, but her life was changed with a small loan from CAFOD which enabled her to buy supplies and set up a shop in her home.
She received training on how to make her business a success. Margaret now earns enough to support her children. She can pass on the gift of the loan and another family’s lives have been changed.
Change a life with the gift of a small loan
She says, “I want to thank CAFOD for appreciating women – especially widowed women fending for themselves.”
What loan can we offer to others? Prayer, friendship, time, money, comforts? What do we have to put in the offering?
What can we give which, like the widow’s mite, isn’t just in excess of our needs but is a genuine gift from the heart?
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Dear Lord, we thank you for your abundant provisions for our lives. We thank you that you show us the way. You don’t judge. You love. Let’s put our wealth, a gift from you, in the offering and share your love. Amen.
August 17, 2018
A reflection on the Gospel (John 6:51-58) considering how God is always close to us, living alongside us, and how we in turn can be alongside those who are in need. This reflection was written by Linda Jones in our Theology team.
Based on the gospel for Sunday 19 August – John 6:51-58
“I am the living bread that came down from heaven.”
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July 13, 2018
In this Sunday’s gospel, Jesus sends out his disciples to spread the Good News, telling them that they must take no possessions with them. Volunteer Trevor Stockton reflects on this gospel reading and how we are all called to live more simply.
Based on the gospel for Sunday 15 July – Mark 6: 7-13
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“He instructed them to take nothing for the journey except a staff”
Continue reading “Gospel reflection: Excess baggage weighs us down”
July 6, 2018
Every Friday we offer you a reflection on the Sunday gospel. This week’s reflection was written by Trevor Stockton, a CAFOD supporter from St Anthony of Padua parish, Wolverhampton.
Based on the gospel for Sunday 8 July – Mark 6:1-6
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“Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been granted him…?”
Continue reading “Gospel reflection: Jesus is rejected in his home town”
November 10, 2017
Every Friday, we offer you a reflection on the Sunday gospel. This week’s reflection was written by Rachel McCarthy, who works in CAFOD’s Theology Programme.
Based on the gospel for Sunday 12 November – Matthew 25:1-13 “Stay awake.”
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It’s midnight. The wedding attendants have been waiting for a long time for the bridegroom. At last, he arrives. The five sensible ones are admitted to the feast, but the other five suddenly find they are unprepared. They scrabble around in a panic, and set out to find oil for their lamps.
After some time, the wedding attendants come back, knocking on the door and calling for the bridegroom to let them in. But it is too late. The doors are shut.
Like the five sensible ones who take oil with their lamps, we are called to prepare for the kingdom of heaven and to keep our gaze fixed on Christ. We must be prepared to show our love for Christ through our actions.
November 3, 2017
Every Friday, we offer you a reflection on the Sunday gospel. This week’s reflection was written by Roisin Beirne, who works in CAFOD’s Legacy team. It is based on the gospel for Sunday 5 November- Matthew 23:1-12.
“Anyone who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Roisin, from our legacy team, would like to share a reflection on this Sunday's gospel reading from Matthew. Please join us in prayer.
Posted by CAFOD on Friday, 3 November 2017
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Continue reading “Gospel reflection: Anyone who humbles himself will be exalted”
October 27, 2017
Every Friday, we offer you a reflection on the Sunday gospel. This week’s reflection was written by Roisin Beirne, who works in CAFOD’s Legacy team.
Based on the gospel for Sunday 29 October – Matthew 22:34-40 “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”
This Sunday we are asked to think about love.
Here at CAFOD we believe that through love we can make a world of difference. By showing compassion to others, we are helping them to feel God’s light.
Saint John of the Cross said, “In the evening of life, we will be judged on love alone”. We are all part of a global family and we must work together to create a more loving and peaceful world.
Continue reading “Gospel reflection: the greatest commandment”
October 20, 2017
Every Friday, we offer you a reflection on the Sunday gospel. This week’s reflection was written by Dr Susy Brouard, who works in CAFOD’s Theology Programme.
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Based on the Gospel for Sunday 22 October – Matthew 22:15-21 “Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar – and to God what belongs to God”
The Religious authorities are determined to undermine Jesus’ authority and once again Jesus manages to undermine their authority instead.
Clearly, the authorities do not stand apart from the Roman occupation, since they readily seem to be able to produce a coin with Caesar’s head on it. It is significant that Jesus is unable to produce a coin himself since he is homeless, dependent on the goodness, generosity and hospitality of others.
Jesus affirms the need to fulfil our civic duties, but even more so – as creatures who are bearers of God’s image – we are called to go beyond the law showing love, mercy and justice to others and to all of creation. This love is made manifest not in a passive desire to avoid doing wrong, but in an active determination to work for the flourishing of all.
Dear Lord, help us to fulfil our civic duties towards one another and towards the common good. Help us to remember that every person is made in your image, and every part of creation reflects your glory. Inspire us to use our civil rights to advocate for the flourishing of all peoples and all creation. Amen.
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