De Omnibus Dubitandum Est.

This is the third of my posts talking about the theology of the Sunday readings at Mass. This has been a most eventful week for me. Last Sunday was the anniversary of my daughter Ruth's tragic death, we were blessed with the gift of a new baby daughter last Friday, Mary Therese, and my mum went into hospital on Tuesday for an operation. I would appreciate it if you could remember us in your prayers! For these reason, I may not have the time to be as thorough as I would like this week, but I'll certainly do my best. This Sunday the theme for the readings could best be summed up as:


The Bread of Heaven
The readings are:
First Reading: Exodus 16:2-4Psalm: 77: 3-4, 23-25, 54; Response: v. 24Second Reading: Ephesians 4: 17, 20-24Gospel: John 6: 24-35First, a little preliminary survey of each of the books.
I will post the same, or similar prelims week on week, for each book as we encounter them.


Exodus is about freedom and covenant. The Greek word is exodos— ἔξοδος —which translates …

This is the second of my posts talking about the theology of the Sunday readings. This post relates to the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B). If you want to know how and why this came about, please read the first post here.

This Sunday is the feast of St. Martha of Bethany and also  the third anniversary of my daughter Ruth's death on 29th July 2009. It is a difficult day and we always go to Mass and listen carefully to what God is telling us through sacred Scripture.

The theme this Sunday could best be described as:


The Bread of Life The readings are:
First Reading: 2 Kings 4: 42-44Psalm: 144: 10-11, 15-18; Response: v. 16.Second Reading: Ephesians 4: 1-6Gospel: John 6: 1-15First, a little preliminary survey of each of the books.

I will post the same, or similar prelims week on week, for each book as we encounter them.

2 Kings is the second part of the Deuteronomist's chronicle of the rueful story of Israel's decline from the height of magnificence under …