Q. How was the raising of Lazarus different from the resurrection of Jesus?
A. One big difference was that Jesus was raised from the dead by his own divine power, whereas Lazarus wasn’t raised by his own power but by that of Jesus. What Lazarus experienced wasn’t resurrection but resuscitation. Resuscitation means coming back in a revival of one’s former life: Lazarus had to face death again at some later date. Resurrection is not coming back in the same life but a going forward in new life, an eternal life which is of a higher nature than mere mortal life.
Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap

Q. What do the letters INRI on the crucifix stand for?
A. These are the first letters of the Latin words Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum, meaning Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews. Pilate, the Roman Governor, ordered that this should be attached to the cross of Jesus as the charge made against him. It was written in Hebrew, Greek and Latin so that everybody there might understand it. In so doing, Pilate was scoring a point against the Jews in showing that they were killing their own king.
(Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap)

Q. What is meant by putting God to the test?
A. It is a way of expressing doubts about God’s protection. It’s like saying to God, ‘I will not believe in you unless I can test you and you give me some very certain sign’. Jesus resisted the temptation to throw himself off the temple as a test of God sending angels to rescue him from the fall. The phrase was used to describe the doubts of the Exodus people that God would look after them. A person who has a deep confidence in God will not need to put God on trial.
Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap

Q. Jesus was called the lamb of God. Does this refer only to his gentleness or has it a deeper meaning?
A. The sacrifice of Jesus replaced the multiple sacrifices of animals which were part of the Jewish religion up till then, especially in reparation for sin. Jesus was called the lamb who took away the sins of the world. Every springtime they sacrificed thousands of lambs for the Passover to commemorate their liberation from slavery in Egypt. According to John’s gospel the death of Jesus took place while these lambs were being sacrificed. The sacrifice of Jesus made all the animal sacrifices redundant. (Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap)

Q. Is it true that the song about the twelve days of Christmas has religious meanings?
A. Yes. This song was a Catholic response to the attempt by the Puritans of Cromwell’s parliament to suppress the celebration of Christmas.
The partridge on the tree pretended to be wounded, to lead a predator away from its nest, as Christ on the Cross deceived the devil.
Two doves recalled the end of the Flood and the Baptism of Jesus.
Then we have three wise men. four evangelists, five golden rings for the faithful bridesmaids whose light did not fail; six days when God laid the foundations of the world; seven sacraments; eight beatitudes; nine fruits of the Spirit; ten commandments; eleven faithful apostles; twelve doctrines in the Apostles’ Creed.
These are the gifts our true love gave us at Christmas. (Fr Silvester O'Flynn OFM Cap)

Q. Is the Christmas Tree a pagan leftover or a Christian symbol?
A. The custom of adorning an evergreen tree at mid-winter probably originated in pagan times. Catholics of the Middle Ages staged religious plays, and an evergreen tree bedecked with apples was the usual stage prop for the Garden of Eden. Christ changed the tree of death into the tree of life, so they began to hang white wafers to symbolise the Eucharist. When the tree was linked to Christmas, stars and angels were added. Placing the family gifts under the tree can remind us of God's gift of the Saviour.
(Fr Silvester O'Flynn OFM Cap)

Q. What did Jesus mean when he said that the least in the Kingdom of heaven is greater than John the Baptist? Isn't this an insult to John?
A. Certainly not an insult since Jesus had already said that a greater than John had not been seen. Jesus was not comparing the personal holiness of John with anybody, before or after, but was speaking of his position at the climax of the preparation for the Messiah. The time of fulfilment is greater than the preparation. In that way, anybody who belongs to the Kingdom of Jesus belongs to a greater era than John. But belonging to a better team than somebody does not necessarily mean that you are a better player than him.
Fr Silvester O'Flynn OFM Cap

Q. 'For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory for ever.' Is this part of the Our Father or where does it come from?
A. It is not part of the Lord's Prayer as it is given to us in the gospels but this beautiful prayer of glory dates back to the first Christian century. The prayer was used in the celebration of the Eucharist according to a very ancient document, the Didache, which is considered to be almost as old as the gospels. It was reintroduced into the Mass in the revision of texts some thirty years ago.
Fr Silvester O'Flynn OFM Cap

Q. Has Advent any special message beside preparing for Christmas?
A. Advent is much more than preparing fro Christmas. It picks up our experience of waiting in hope. We wait for answers from God, for greater closeness in prayer, for an end to injustice and war, for the bright vision of God to replace the darkness of faith. Christmas will celebrate Jesus come among us: Advent relates to Jesus in the womb. It is the season to nurture hope.
'Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words and never stops at all.'
(Emily Dickinson)
Fr Silvester O'Flynn OFM Cap