The reflections in this book are designed to help people better understand the gospel reading, to perhaps reflect on the reading during the week before or after Mass. This book provides a valuable aid to clergy in preparing their weekly homily, helping to ground it in the living human experience. Donal Neary SJ is formerly Parish Priest at St Francis Xavier's, Gardiner Street, Dublin, and chaplain at Mater Dei Institute of Education. Fr Neary has drawn on his long experience of pastoral work in Dublin to put together these reflections, and as a result they bear huge relevance to everyday life. Further books in this series are planned for each liturgical year.