I want to speak today about misery. Also about sorrow, and weeping; about grief, and bitter lamentation. We find all that in today’s reading from Isaiah. In a very familiar passage, the Prophet addresses himself to those who are poor, whose hearts are…
We heard these words in today’s first reading. They come at the beginning of the second part of Isaiah; his “Book of Consolation”. With these words, Handel’s Messiah memorably opens. According to the Authorised Version of the Bible: Comfort ye; comfort ye my people. Handel sets this for…
Today we celebrate the glorification of St. Andrew. For now though, I’d like, if I may, to speak above all about Andrew’s humiliation. I wonder if you’ve ever noticed the extent to which St. Andrew is…
A talent in the ancient world was a huge sum of money. I suppose in our terms it would be worth millions, maybe even billions of pounds. And that’s appropriate for the parable, because in the Christian life the Lord endows all of us with…
During a community retreat, it’s nice to be told how wonderful we are, how edifying and inspiring our life is, how much God loves us, and how heavenly joy lies just around the corner for us all. Sr. Anna Christi has done that for us, bless her, and much …
This year the Pluscarden community had invited Br. Peter Eghwrudjakpor OSB, Prior of Ewu Monastery in Nigeria, to preach our annual retreat. Unfortunately the Covid-19 restrictions made that impossible. Nearer to hand though is the…
