- Written by: Alex Walker
The cardinal turns serious again and he leans forward and looks me in the eye.
“The problem – and it’s a major one – is this. We are not meeting the needs of real people. We can’t be self-satisfied. The most pernicious temptation we have in the Church is to give in to the feeling that ‘we have arrived’. Pope Francis is trying to jar us out of that.”
- Written by: Chris McDonnell
Chris McDonnell CT February 16th 2018
The cycle of liturgical seasons continues and now we find ourselves a few days into Lent this year, days of reflection and remaking, a time to pause.
Through the coming weeks we will still have the daily chores, work to do, shopping at the supermarket and all the general concerns of family life. Day in, day out, the effort of being who we are continues unabated.
- Written by: Joseph O'Hanlon
ACTA COMMENTARY ON OUR SUNDAY LECTIONARY
Second Sunday of Lent Year B
Our Lectionary is a precious gift of the Second Vatican Council and the subsequent liturgical reforms. It has begun to give Catholics some knowledge of the Bible though it is still true that, as a general observation, Catholics do not read God’s holy words, to use the phrase of Francis of Assisi.
- Written by: Joseph O'Hanlon
ACTA COMMENTARY ON OUR SUNDAY LECTIONARY
First Sunday of Lent Year B
The Word from God on this the First Sunday of what is a Season of Penance, is that we have nothing to fear, except, of course, fear itself. It is as well to begin Lent with two facts. First, as today’s readings make clear, we are all safe in God’s hands. Secondly, the most often repeated commandment in the whole of the Bible is this: DO NOT BE AFRAID.
- Written by: Alex Walker
Joseph is a native of Cavan, a retired priest of Nottingham Diocese and a member of ACTA from its
inception. He studied at Maynooth, Nottingham University and the Biblicum in Rome. He was
Director of the International Franciscan Study Centre in Canterbury and taught at Allen Hall in
London as well as Upholland and Oscott. His books include The Jesus Who Was, The Jesus Who Is,
The Dance of the Merrymaker, Mark My Word, Beginning the Bible and Walk One Hour. He has
contributed to many journals and periodicals. Joseph has a lifetime experience of teaching the Bible
and an infectious passion for communicating scholarship to adult Christians. We are very grateful to
him for sharing some reflections with us in the season of Lent and beyond, which will appear on this
web site. You are free to use them as you see fit.