The woman in today’s gospel was caught committing adultery. In line with the Law of Moses she must be put to death. This was a cruel but acceptable way for removing sin by the Jewish society. People who were witnesses to the adultery used it to set a trap for Jesus. Their idea was simple: Moses was the highest authority…

In the initial dialogue the younger son asks his father to “let him have the share of the estate that would come to” him. His father’s reply is positive: he divides the property between the two sons. Unfortunately the English translation of this part of the gospel is not perfect. The original, Greek text uses two meaningful words: the son requests the…

About two years ago I spent four or five days in Glasgow, at  Scotus College. I took part in a very interesting introductory course for foreign priests. There was just one, but serious flaw with the arrangements: the College is very close to the approach of Glasgow International Airport. Every day, from dawn to dusk, planes came to land right…

“Stand up and tell them all I command you”. This call was addressed to the prophet Jeremiah at the very beginning of his prophetic activity. He faced many adversities: kings and lords fighting mercilessly for political power and influence; priests using religion mostly as an instrument of power and a source of income; ordinary people keeping old traditions without their…

Halfway through my studies my colleagues and I were sent to different parishes for five months practise. All the parishes were carefully selected to provide the best quality pastoral work except one. That one had a problem; a young priest had become ill and had had to be released from all his duties. So, the parish needed somebody to take…