The encounter with God is worth more than any treasure

On the Gospel of Matthew 13:44-52

17th Sunday of Ordinary Time 

The first thing that struck me when reading this Gospel was the first paragraph. Jesus tells the crowd that the “Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field which someone has found; he hides it again, goes off happy, sells everything he owns and buys the field”. The surprising fact is that the person hides the treasure again and, then, sells everything and buys the field before taking possession of it. I think the inclination of most would be to take the treasure, and to think to themselves that it is 'the finder’s keep', maybe not even considering that it belongs to the owner of the field.

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It is all revealed at harvest time...

On the Gospel of Matthew 13:24-43

16th Sunday of Ordinary Time

The Gospel this week is a continuation of the Gospel of last week and gives a second parable of the seed being sown. Last week Jesus showed how different people receive the gift of God's Word, how some accept it with joy, while others are indifferent or even close their ears and shut their eyes “for fear they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and be converted…”.

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Video of the Solemn Profession of Sr Mary Teresa OP

On the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, there was great joy for the enclosed Dominican nuns who are based in Drogheda, Co. Louth, and for the wider Dominican family in Ireland, as Sr Mary Teresa Dunphy OP made her solemn profession. Final profession, called "solemn profession" among Dominicans, is the final commitment a man or woman makes to remaining a Dominican brother or sister for life.

Originally from County Laois, Sr M.Teresa entered the Dominican monastery in 2005 at the age of 26, after having qualified and worked as a chartered accountant.

She and the Dominican community of nuns in Drogheda, Co Louth were joined by family, friends and members of the Dominican Order for 12.30 p.m.  Mass during which the profession ceremony took place.

Sister M.Teresa is the second Dominican nun to make solemn profession in her monastery in 13 months, Sr Niamh Muireann Galvin having made solemn profession in 2010. The monastery currently has one sister in formation as a novice.

The Sower

On the Gospel of Matthew 13:1-23

15^th Sunday of Ordinary Time

In the middle of this Sunday’s Gospel we find Jesus quoting the following prophecy of Isaiah: ‘You will listen and listen again, but not understand, see and see again, but not perceive. For the heart of this nation has grown coarse, Their ears are dull of hearing, and they have shut their eyes, For fear they should see with their eyes, hear with their eyes, Understand with their heart, and be converted and be healed by me’.

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