St John the Baptist – he’s quite a radical figure. Living like a monk or a hermit out in a place far from human habitation, and living quite a simple life, with a garment made of camel’s hair (it might have been a bit itchy), a leather belt, and eating locusts and wild honey. We can assume that, like monks, he was also celibate, giving his whole life over to God. He didn’t do things by half measures, and he doesn’t expect the people to either. I’m not saying that he expected

So, Advent has begun. A time to prepare, not only for Christ’s birth at Christmas, but first to make sure our hearts are ready, should the Lord either call us to Himself, or return in glory. Just imagine if the Lord were to return to earth to judge the living and the dead in just a few days’ time. People are going about doing their Christmas shopping and getting on with normal life, watching TV, eating chocolate, having arguments, and then the Lord returns. If we knew He was

“Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim 3:12), so says St Paul. It happened to Christ, and it will happen to us at some point as well. How should we respond? Look at Christ on the Cross. The rulers scoff: “let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God”. The soldiers say: “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” The inscription above the Cross reads: “This is the King of the Jews” – an act of mockery, in part saying t

Last week we celebrated the dedication of the Lateran Basilica, the cathedral church of Rome, and I made the comparison with the Temple in Jerusalem at the time of Christ. Today we hear how some are marvelling at the Temple, “how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings”. Back in 20 BC, Herod the Great decided to greatly enhance the size and dignity of the Temple. He covered the exterior in white marble and gold plating, and according to the first century historian Jose

Today’s feast is one of those celebrations that can catch you by surprise.  We’re currently in Ordinary Time, but because today’s celebration is of such importance, it trumps the Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time.  So, the first question is, why? The answer is because of the importance of the Lateran Basilica.  Firstly, what is a basilica?  It’s basically a big church.  The church in the parish where I grew up in Walsall is called St Thomas’, but I know a member of the cl

Today we celebrate all those who have completed their life on earth and are now enjoying the bliss of heaven. This includes both the canonised saints, officially recognised by the Church, such as St Joseph, Our Lady, St Peter, St Paul, St Therese of Lisieux and so on, and also those more ordinary people who are in heaven, but only known by a smaller number of people, such as maybe our great-grandparents. We are all called by God to be saints, to be people who live faithfully