Thomas Merton, entering his monastery, spoke of being enclosed in the four walls of his new freedom. The Disciples in the locked room found a new freedom with the resurrected Christ.

Readings for the Second Sunday of Easter, 28th April 2019 (Divine Mercy Sunday).

Acts 5:12-16

Psalm 117:2,22-27

Apocalypse 1:9-13,17-19

John 20:19-31

We are told that the stone at the tomb was rolled away. But why? Jesus didn't need it.

Readings for Easter, 20th and 21st April 2019.

Vigil Mass

Romans 6:3-11

Psalm 117:1-2,16-17,22-23

Luke 24:1-12

Easter Day

Acts 10:34,37-43

Psalm 117:1-2,16-17,22-23

Colossians 3:1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6-8

John 20:1-9 or Luke 24:1-2 or Luke 24:13-35

When we kneel in the Passion we not only pause at the death of Our Lord. We also recall an extraordinary humility that the incarnate God should allow himself to be put to death by his creation.

Readings for Good Friday, 19th April 2019.

Isaiah 52:13-53:12

Psalm 30:2,6,12-13,15-17,25

Hebrews 4:14-16,5:7-9

John 18:1-19:42

When we meditate we often have to work hard to enter into a mystery. At the Eucharist we enter into the reality of Our Lord's Passion.

Readings for Holy Thursday of the Lord's Supper, 18th April 2019.

Exodus 12:1-8,11-14

Psalm 115:12-13,15-18

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

John 13:1-15

Jesus declared that if his disciples were silent the stones would cry out. What did he mean by that? Perhaps it is a warning to us all not to deny him.

Readings for Palm Sunday (Year C), 14th April 2019.

Luke 19:28-40

Isaiah 50:4-7

Psalm 21:8-9,17-20,23-24

Philippians 2:6-11

John 22:14-23:56

Jesus was teaching to an interested audience when the Scribes and Pharisees tried to divert him from what he was doing as they brought to him the woman caught in adultery. In our own day we should not stop the teaching. Readings for the Fifth Sunday of Lent (Year C), 7th April 2019.

Isaiah 43:16-21

Psalm 125

Philippians 3:8-14

John 8:1-11

The Prodigal Son was able to travel to the ends of the earth, but (in the words of GK Chesterton) was able to be brought back "with a twitch upon the thread." Join Catholic Musings for a contemplation of the readings for the Fourth Second Sunday of Lent (Year C). Readings for the 31st March 2019. Laetare Sunday.

Joshua 5:9-12

Psalm 33:2-7

2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Luke 15:1-3,11-32

Jesus spoke to the people of the need to repent or perish. Moses found the presence of God in a burning bush which did not perish. Join Catholic Musings for a contemplation of the readings for the Third Second Sunday of Lent (Year C). Readings for the 24th March 2019.

Exodus 3:1-8,13-15

Psalm 102:1-4,6-8,11

1 Corinthians 10:1-6,10-12

Luke 13:1-9

We may all have experiences of "highs" in our religious life, but how do we cope when we "come down" from these mountain tops?

Join Catholic Musings for a contemplation of the readings for the Second Sunday of Lent (Year C). Readings for the 17th March 2019.

Genesis 15:5-12,17-18

Psalm26:1,7-9,13-14

Philippians 3:17-4:1

Luke 9:28-36

The Temptations of Jesus may not have been so much to tempt Jesus but to give the Devil assurance as to who Jesus was.

Join Catholic Musings for a contemplation of the readings for the First Sunday of Lent (Year C). Readings for the 10th March 2019.

Deuteronomy 26:4-10

Psalm 90:1-2,10-15

Romans 10:8-13

Luke 4:1-13