‘This was the first of the signs given by Jesus: it was given at Cana in Galilee.’ In other words, Jesus had performed his first miracle. And what was that miracle? Turning water into wine. Some people might say: a shortage of wine at a wedding is a first-world problem… The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke are full of…

‘Mission accomplished’ could have been the exclamation of John the Baptist, had he been familiar with our modern expressions. From its very beginning, even in the womb, his entire life was dedicated to ‘preparing the way for the Lord’ and announcing the arrival of the long-awaited Messiah. The baptism of Jesus in the river Jordan is the official beginning of…

I was at an informal meeting of ministers from various local Christian churches. At one point, the discussion drifted into the topic of family life and subsequently into the domestic challenges faced by married ministers. Among those challenges was how to strike the right balance between being a servant to their respective congregations and beyond, while being a caring spouse…

The Litany of Loreto, one of the traditional Catholic prayers, recalls many titles ascribed to the Mother of Jesus, each followed by a plea for her intercession. Those titles are derived from biblical, spiritual and devotional sources. It’s a much-loved litany, especially in some countries. Throughout the month of May in Poland, people gather in churches, or by roadside shrines…

The name of the mountain pass ‘Rest and Be Thankful’ surely has a note of irony to it, as that scenic road is blocked every now and again by landslides. Clearing the road and making it passable is akin to painting the Forth Road Bridge. That’s our modern equivalent of responding to the ancient cry as recalled in today’s gospel:…