Peter Blog a few random thoughts

The Gospel today presents to us a contrast between a man and a woman. One is the host and the other is the woman who is uninvited. Simon is a Pharisee and prides himself in being at a distance between himself and those who are sinners. He gives Jesus a place at table and speaks to him with respect. This would have been considered a risk because Jesus had already got a reputation for being a blasphemer. For Simon a meal like this would have been a good and I am sure would told the world and their mother about it. You can imagine his annoyance that in fact a woman, with no name, steals the limelight. She may well have been a prostitute and not a welcome guest at the table. Her welcome of Jesus is completely different to that of Simon. She is overcome by emotion kisses the feet of Jesus and dries his feet with her hair. Notice the difference between the two. Simon is proper and correct with his greeting of Jesus and the woman although a sinner is over flowing with love. Jesus res...

back The Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) Eucharistic Service Malcolm McMahon O.P. Email Readings: Exodus 24:3-8 Hebrews 9:11-15 Mark 14:12-16,22-26 Dominicans from St Thomas Aquinas onwards have been very articulate in helping the Church understand more deeply the mystery of the Blessed Eucharist that we celebrate today. A modern Dominican, the late Father Paul O’Leary from Ireland has helped me personally in making the vital association between the Eucharist and justice. The constant mistake that we all make about the Eucharist is that is a thing rather than a person. With a person, we can develop a relationship which of its very nature is dynamic and healing, consoling, and loving. This is no less so with the presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Personally I do not like the term adoration, which has become fashionable nowadays, because it can so easily makes me think of idolatry. The Blessed Sacrament is not a thing to be adored but a perso...