Have you ever imagined having a sumptuous dinner without salt? Salt has become a very important part of human life since time immemorial.

Today’s Gospel is the beginning of Jesus’ Sermon “on the Mount” (according to Matthew – “on the Plain” according to Luke) – an extended instruction for his disciples.

Today’s Gospel text focuses on two events: the beginning of Jesus’ preaching in Galilee and the choice of the first apostles. Mark tells the story of each event in a very brief way.

A few years ago I talked to my cousin from the United States over the phone and we chatted for quite a while. While she knows me, while I know that she knows me but somehow in her voice somehow she sounded a little bit bewildered.

The solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, we celebrate today, is an important occasion in the Christmas Season. Through the visitation of the magi, God manifests Godself to the wider world.

As Barry Manilow’s song goes… “It’s just another new year’s eve. Let’s make it the best.” And with the New Year we are blessed with three occasions for this day.

Christmas was not always celebrated in the Church with the same importance with which it is celebrated today.

There was a story of a man who was deeply devoted to St Joseph and when he died he was at the gates of heaven and being interviewed by St Peter.

The tone of today’s celebration is that of great joy. The entrance antiphon for today’s Mass says, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice.

An ancient Chinese proverb advises,’ it is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness’!

The Year of Mercy ended on the 20th of November 2016, the Feast of Christ the King. It started on the 8th of December last year, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

The season of Advent in the liturgical calendar of the year pre-dates the establishment of the date for the birth of Jesus on December 25th.

Imagine this scene in a movie we may have seen in the not so distant past. A condemned criminal sitting on an electric chair in the last minutes of his life, an executioner just waiting for the signal to pull the lever to activate the electric chair, a police officer looking at the clock waiting nervously until the clock strikes 3pm, the time of the execution, another police officer waiting for the phone to ring.

As we are drawing closer to the end of the Liturgical Year (Just one more week to go!), we are invited, dear friends, to reflect upon the end times.

As we are drawing closer to the end of the Liturgical Year (Just one more week to go!), we are invited, dear friends, to reflect upon the end times.