29th January 2012: 4th Sunday of the Year (Cycle B)
Parishioner's Gospel
Contributor: Kim Insley
Mark 1: 21-28
A teacher with authority
I am a teacher. I’ve always wanted to be a teacher, except when I was just four and announced I wanted to be a doctor. When I was asked, ‘Why?’ I said, ‘Because I want to be a man!’ This probably says a lot about society in the early 1960s than about my wishes. But, I digress. I’ve always wanted to be a teacher. As a junior child in year 6 (10 year old) I used to go to the infant classes to help. In secondary school I did work placements (they were not called that then) in primary schools. I went straight from completing A levels into teacher training college in Liverpool at Notre Dame College and after three years teacher training gained my Certificate in Education and came to London to begin teaching. I loved it and though there were challenges, much of it came naturally to me. Indeed, some argue that teachers are born not made. I disagree with that because now I am in Teacher Education myself and I know that anyone can learn to teach. Some do find it easier though!
Why all this about learning to teach? Well, the gospel of Mark immediately brought to mind some important facts about teaching when in verse 27 (just near the end of today’s gospel reading) the people exclaim about how Jesus teaches with authority, such that even the evil spirits obey Him. Our papers are full of problems with behaviour in schools and in society. Government is currently changing teachers’ core standards to give a greater focus on them being able to ‘control’. But Jesus did it naturally. Perhaps this was a time where His human nature and Divine nature came together. You see, all human beings have intuition about communicating with others. Look at anyone who sees a new baby in her mother’s arms ... they smile and bend to look closely. We know that the tiny first cry of a baby is psychologically attractive to human beings. We are made to communicate. But, to communicate with authority is a gift, something I would say is a part of our divine nature.
Every teacher I’ve worked with over my 30 years of teaching has wished for the gift of authority, not to have power but to be able to achieve in their teaching and help their learners. Perhaps we can take from this gospel the importance of touching our innate, divine nature, as Jesus did and whether we are trained teachers or not, allow our communications with others to be inspired by the authority we have been given by God through Baptism.
22nd January 2012: 3rd Sunday of the Year (Cycle B)
Parishioner's Gospel
Contributor: Hilary Marvel
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Mark 1: 14-20
22nd January 2012: 3rd Sunday of the Year (Cycle B)
Parishioner’s Gospel
Contributor: Hilary Marvel
Mark 1: 14-20 (Fishermen leave their nets to follow Jesus)
Oh how simple, but do we practise our faith just by Mass attendance and kind acts?
The key to Following Christ is Three-fold:
Prayer, Faith and Thanksgiving too.
15th January 2012: 2ndSunday of Year (Cycle B) Peace Sunday
Parishioner's Gospel
Contributor: Cecilia Skudder
John 1: 35-42
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John stood with two disciples, as Jesus walked them by.
Staring so intensely, John gave a heartfelt cry.
“Look there is the Lamb of God!” And they followed in His stead.
Jesus asked did they want Him? And this is what they said.
“Rabbi (meaning teacher), where do You abide?”
So Jesus took them with Him, and they stayed there by His side.
Now one of these disciples, Andrew was his name,
rushed to tell his brother, to give the message plain.
He took his brother Simon, to the Messiah he had found.
Jesus looked at Simon, and at first He made no sound.
Then He changed the name to Peter, before the Faithful flock.
No longer Simon Peter, but Cephas which means rock.
Once You saw our Peter, You changed his given name.
For Your work he was chosen, for us You’ve done the same.
We’re not here for our sake, to do as we would please,
We’re here to do Christ’s bidding, an opportunity to seize. Cjs.
Jesus knew just who He wanted as His disciples and chose them and immediately they followed Him.
Jesus has a plan for each of us….do we leave everything immediately to follow Him?
Jesus, First and Foremost, Always. Amen.
8th January 2012: The
Epiphany of the Lord
Parishioner's Gospel
Contributor: Mary Heady
Matth
ew 2: 1-12
Epiphany means manifestation: the revelation of Christ the Saviour to all people beyond the Holy Land.
This is one of the most colourful and appealing stories surrounding the birth of Jesus.
But it would be useless to search for an historical comet or to wonder about the Wise Men (possibly a reference to Zoro-Astrian priests).
Matthew has unashamedly used stories from the childhoods of Abraham and Moses to show the life of Jesus to be like that of His people, one of journeying, searching, rejoicing and grieving.
The story gives us the message that the Wise men represent all pagan peoples and that Jesus was shown first to his own poor (the shepherds) and then to the world outside (the Wise Men). It also seeks to refer us back to the prophesies of the Old Testament.
Though a dubious legend, this story has caught the public imagination. So many cards depict the “Kings” visit, sometimes absurdly, with children and even teddy bears, dressed in rich robes! In any case they were paying homage to the baby Jesus.
Let us remember the old adage:
It’s not what it says, it’s what it means that’s important.
Acknowledging the Christian Community Bible.
1st January 2012: The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God
Parishioner's Gospel
Contributor: Branwen Jones
Luke 2: 16-21
Throughout Advent and the Christmas season we become increasingly aware of the importance of the role of Mary in the mystery of the Incarnation. Her acceptance of the message given to her by the angel Gabriel is a pivotal moment in our salvation.
She, who was so highly favoured and full of grace, was chosen to bear the Son of God, who would free us from sin and death.
In this passage the shepherds have come to Bethlehem in search of the Saviour described to them by an angel whilst they were guarding their sheep in the fields some distance from the town.
Having found the Holy Family, the delighted shepherds are, of course, eager to relate how they came to know about the infant. The reaction to their news of great joy and the angelic host they have witnessed is ‘everyone who heard it was astonished’.
This is quite a natural response to such a marvellous encounter, but it is Mary’s example that we should imitate. We are told ‘she treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.’
The word ‘treasured’ is significant. We treasure something that we value highly and/or brings us joy. It may be a painting, a comment from a colleague or the memory of a wonderful experience. Mary stores up or treasures all that has been said of her son and ‘ponders’ every word in her heart. Pondering is to weigh up or think deeply about their meaning.
Like Mary, we too should treasure the Gospels and ponder all we hear of Jesus.
25th December 2011: Christmas Day, The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Parishioner's Gospel
Contributor: Andrew Jones
Luke 2: 1-14
There was, perhaps a little hyperbole when Luke’s Gospel wrote of a census to be taken of all the world.
Maybe it should have read all the known world.
Historians are divided as to the exact extent of the area concerned but it is probably realistic to suggest that the census was taken throughout the majority of the Roman Empire.
Mary and Joseph were both descendants of the House, or Family of David and therefore were obliged under Roman Law to register in Bethlehem, the city of David, which possibly had a population at that time of between one and two thousand.
During the years 2002 to 2010 I worked on a research project which, from time to time, required searching old British censuses for information concerning the identity of individuals, their families, their professions and trades. One can just imagine the records written at Bethlehem; Joseph a carpenter and his wife Mary and their new born son Jesus. The first official activity in Jesus’s life was a pagan one. A sign perhaps that He was about to change the world.
The birth confirmed the prophesy of the 8th century BC prophet Micah that forecast that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem Ephrahtah. The name meaning Bethlehem and its suburbs.
The Roman Law that recorded the requirements of the census, also included an instruction that absent citizens upon returning must tidy up any allotments of land they owned in and around their cities. We must presume that Joseph didn’t own anything there. Nevertheless the information shows us how closely interlinked the Holy Land and the Roman Empire were.
The Gospel records…there were shepherds living in the fields…and continues the Shepherd theme that is so well-known in Psalm 23…The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want…
Then came the angel’s proclamation …to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour who is the Messiah.
And suddenly there was what one might call the first Christmas Carol…as the heavenly host proclaimed the Gloria praising God and singing…
18th December 2011: 4th Sunday of Advent (Cycle B)
Parishioner’s Gospel
Contributor: Bill Smith
Luke 1:26-38
This Sunday’s Gospel is the narrative of the” Angelus” – the Annunciation by the Angel Gabriel to Mary that she had been chosen to be the mother of Our Blessed Lord. Mary’s reply is simple, profound, complete, and places her whole trust in God – “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to your Word”.
The practice of the recitation of the Angelus prayer is still common in monasteries and convents, but less common now in parishes. Traditionally the church bell would be rung at mid-day to remind those within earshot to pause and pray.
THE ANGELUS PRAYER
V. The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
R. And she conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary
V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R. Be it done unto me according to your Word.
Hail Mary,
V. And the Word was made flesh.
R. And dwelt among us.
Hail Mary
V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray: Pour forth, we beseech thee, O Lord, Your grace into our hearts, that we to whom the incarnation of Christ Thy Son was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His resurrection; through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
11th December 2011: 3rd Sunday of Advent (Cycle B) Gaudete Sunday
Parishioner’s Gospel
Contributor: Cecilia Skudder
John 1: 6-8,19-28
Sent to be a witness, so that all would see the light,
John was questioned if Elijah, did send Him, was that right?
“I am neither Christ nor prophet, but prepare now for the Lord.
In the wilderness I call out, my message not to be ignored.
For He that does me follow, lay his path so very straight.
He is here among you, ‘twill not be long to wait.
I’m not even worthy, to undo His sandal strap.
I baptise with Jordan’s water, which ‘gainst the shore does lap.
He’ll baptise with fire, He is the One to come.
Isaiah prophesied this, he said it.... now it’s done!”
John’s message is for always, and not just in that time.
We eagerly await Lord, for Your purpose is sublime.
We must be ever ready, to respond unto Your call.
You never will desert us, whatever we befall. Cjs.
It is not enough to think about preparation occasionally…it is all the time..
hence 4 weeks of advent and 6 weeks of Lent....but that is the bare minimum...for if we are told all the time to prepare then we must.
Preparation is about thinking ahead, deciding on options, not ours but God's.
After deciding an option we must choose how to make it work and not only work…… but work well.
Our option must always be that of following Jesus…may we do so faithfully even if it hurts. Amen.
4th December 2011: 2nd Sunday of Advent (Cycle B) Bible Sunday
Parishioner’s Gospel
Contributor: Cecilia Skudder
Mark 1: 1-18
The prophet called Isaiah, foretold that he would come.
..The man called John the Baptist, to prepare us for the Son.
Twas to the river Jordan, the people made their way.
But then the proudest of them, also came that day.
John told them that repentance, humility and work,
Prepared them for the future, their duties not to shirk.
For He would soon be coming, more powerful than John.
And John not fit to carry, the sandals He had on.
The purpose for his coming, from which he’d never tire,
was to baptise all the people, with Spirit and with fire.
Then Jesus came from Nazareth, and by John he was baptised
in that Holy River Jordan, when all were then surprised,
as a dove it did descend, on He the chosen One
and a voice it came from heaven, “This is My beloved Son.
With thee I am well pleased.” God’s voice from heaven it came
and life for all mankind would never be the same.
Then to the wilderness, the Spirit drove Him on
Satan tempted Jesus, but He would do no wrong.
John he was arrested as Jesus went to Galilee,
Preaching of God’s Gospel and the way to eternity.
Passing by the sea he saw Simon and his brother,
casting of their nets, catching fish one and the other.
“Follow me I ask you and be fishers of all men”
They did as they were bade and walked with Him from then.
We also await his coming, we’ll never know just when.
We always should be ready, when Jesus comes again. Cjs.
Preparation always, be ready.. .don’t take things for granted.
Advent: A time of Expectation and Preparation
Advent is a time to prepare the way for Him, for Jesus He is coming to save us all from sin.
We must open up our hearts and listen to His word,
Jesus is calling – are we receptive have we heard?
The answer to our problems and choices we must make,
are in His words and teachings which we never must forsake.
So if our lives are troubled and we don’t know where to turn,
let’s pray to Him for guidance and act on what we learn. Cjs.
Jesus we wait… ever ready… ever vigilant..help us to be prepared for without You we can never be so. Amen.
27th November 2011: 1st Sunday of Advent (Cycle B)
Parishioner’s Gospel
Contributor: Hilary Marvel
Mark 13 v.33-37
How poignant, be prepared.
Do what is right.
God is always for us, Who can be against?
The Spirit of God has set us free so rejoice and bear 'fruit' while you may.
Pax tecum
20th November 2011: Our Lord Jesus Christ The King (Cycle A)
Prisoners' Sunday and Prisoners' Week; Youth Day
Parishioner's Gospel
Contributor:
Barbara Davies
Matthew 25: 31-46
THE LAST JUDGEMENT OF THE KING OF ALL NATIONS
The King will say
“Come, blessed of My Father take possession of the Kingdom.
I was hungry, you fed Me
I was thirsty, you gave Me drink
I was naked, you clothed Me
I was sick and you came to see Me.
I was a stranger and you welcomed Me
I was in prison and you visited Me.”
(If you are not in touch with prisoner or his family may I introduce you to PACT< (Prisoner Advice and care trust. www.prisonadvice.org.uk )
All the nations will be brought before Him and all those who without knowing Christ, have shared a common destiny of humankind. Christ reveals the innumerable human deeds that have built what is best in our societies.
And people brought before Him will look in amazement at the God that they have loved or despised in the person of their neighbours.
They’ll say “Lord, when did we see You hungry, thirsty, naked or a stranger, sick or in prison and not help you?”
And the King will answer……
“Whatever you did not do for one of the least of them, you did not do for Me”
And the Kingdom of the Lord is presented to them with its only Law….
…..LOVE
Christian Community Bible
13th November 2011: 33rd Sunday of the Year (Cycle A)
Parishioner's Gospel
Contributor:
Mary Heady
Matthew 25:14-30
It is fairly obvious that the theme of this passage – and indeed of the following verses – is accountability!
This concept is really not very popular today in our “blame someone else” society.
The idea of “talents” can be confusing.
In the time of Jesus a talent was 30 kilogrammes of precious metal. To us it it’s a God given ability.
Some people wrongly interpret it as ‘genius’ and will protest when asked about their talents “I’m no Shakespeare/Mozart!”
Behind this response may lie lazy thinking or a fear of being inadequate. Some folk seem to be rich in abilities; others struggle to find an aptitude for anything.
The passage immediately following this gives us the key to our puzzle.
What we need to develop is our response to what God wants, to make sure that we love our neighbour in whatever way we can.
We may not have many obvious talents, but if we have even a modicum of precious faith, we are duty bound to cherish, develop and share it.
Sadly, with some, faith is a gift given but hidden away, neglected and undervalued, to be returned to God unused.
Our greatest gift or talent is our faith.
So let us increase it with prayer and practise and share it with as many others as we can.
Christian Community Bible.
6th November 2011: 32nd Sunday of the Year (Cycle A)
Parishioner's Gospel
Contributor: Branwen Jones
Matthew 25:1-13
This Gospel passage refers to Christ’s Second Coming and the importance of being prepared at all times. The early church assumed Christ’s return was imminent.
Two thousand years down the line we still wait.
In today’s parable Christ is likened to the bridegroom and the church to the bridesmaids who await his arrival. Unfortunately the wait is a long one and all ten bridesmaids grow sleepy.
Once the bridegroom, Christ, arrives there is a great cry of ‘The bridegroom is here! Go out and meet him.’ The bridesmaids’ role is active, not passive. They are required to ‘go out’ and escort him to the wedding hall, not be coy and hang back apprehensively.
So what is the difference between the sensible bridesmaids and the foolish ones? They all fall asleep, but the sensible or wise bridesmaids have extra supplies of oil to keep their lamps burning. The opening line of today’s first reading, taken from the Book of Wisdom 6: 13 states ‘Wisdom is bright, and does not grow dim.’ Thus the wise bridesmaids had the foresight to ensure their lamps did not grow dim either and we, too, must keep the flame alight.
It is not enough to tacitly acknowledge that we await the Second Coming; we need to be alert and vigilant, active not passive. It is easy to be lulled into a false concept of some vague, far-distant event, unlikely to occur in our lifetime.
Yet Christ does not literally expect us to ‘stay awake’. That would be physically impossible. His words are an injunction to be spiritually alert at all times and not let our oil supplies – our enthusiasm and longing for the Second Coming – run low, as it did with the foolish bridesmaids. Otherwise we run the risk of finding the door barred and hearing those dreadful words, ‘I do not know you.’
30th October 2011: 31st Sunday of the Year (Cycle A)
Parishioner's Gospel
Contributor: Andrew Jones
Matthew 23:1-12
This passage concerns some teachings of Jesus.It begins with a saying which persists with us today…they do not practice what they preach…It quotes the words of Our Lord when teaching villagers about the Scribes and the Pharisees and has also been seen in our current generation, in our own country, in the example of the Members of Parliament expenses scandal.
Indeed, who amongst us can be the first to claim that we are guilt free of not practising what we preach, for I certainly cannot.
God gave the Law to Moses. The elders handed it to the Prophets, who in turn passed it to the Scribes and Pharisees. Jesus taught that mankind should persist with the Law.
What annoyed him was the self-righteous attitude demonstrated by the Scribes and Pharisees who placed burdens on men’s shoulders while they refused to offer any opportunity to relieve them.
In fact the writer, during the last two years, observed two contrasting priorities when visiting the city of Porto. The first concerned a Mass at the Cathedral which was ruined by bus-loads of photo-taking tourists marching through the celebration, with no attempt by the Priest to intervene. Several months later when the cost of the forthcoming Papal visit to Portugal’s second city was a matter of strong debate, I was treated to a 5 star hotel by my client. When I descended on the morning of the actual Papal event, the extensive lobby was blocked by dozens of impressively dressed bishops, who made it extremely difficult for anyone else to move through the hotel’s ground floor.
The worship in the Cathedral for a regular Sunday Mass was allowed to suffer, whilst the expensive Papal visit brought matters to a standstill. Priorities were apparently not right.
Jesus gave many examples of the attention-grabbing conduct of the Scribes and the Pharisees, including their wearing of broad phylacteries, outsize tassels and the enjoyment of the highest places at meals. Phylacteries were intended as small boxes containing specific passages of the Torah but they were made larger and larger to emphasise the importance of the wearers. Tassels were worn as a sign of piety and humility but the Scribes made them larger and larger to impress. The acceptance of the highest place when dining went totally against humility.
About 12 years ago I was travelling through Arkansas with a colleague who is an Anglican. Both having ecumenical sympathies we made it our practice to worship in a different denomination each weekend. On this occasion it was the turn of the local Baptists. When we arrived, we were a little surprised to see the minister greeting the congregation, wearing a faded old shirt and even more faded old denim jeans. His explanation was imminent.
During this week I have heard of folks not coming to church because they are so poor that they cannot buy good clothes.
Now the message is quite clear, Jesus doesn’t care how poor you are, or what you wear, as long as you come and worship in His house.
23rd October 2011: 30th Sunday of the year (Cycle A)
World Mission Day
Parishioner's Gospel
Contributor: Bill Smith
Matthew
22: 34-40
The Ten Commandments of the Old Testament given to Moses are generally in negative form “Thou shalt not------”. When Our Lord is asked which of the commandments is the greatest he does not pick on one of these but instead gives, in the simplest of terms, and in the positive, the command of what we must do.
We must love the Lord our God, we must love our neighbour, and we must love ourselves.
If we adhere to this command all the rest will follow from it.
That is why this is called the “Great Commandment”.
We cannot comprehend God’s love for us, it is beyond our understanding. By comparison our love for Him pales into insignificance.
Every human heart wants both to love and to be loved.
Help us Lord to love thee daily more and more.
16th October 2011: 29th Sunday of the year (Cycle A)
Parishioner's Gospel
Contributor: Cecilia Skudder (Cjs)
Matthew
22: 15-21
The Pharisees so devious, did wish to trick our Lord.
So they plotted in discussions, how to make Him out a fraud.
Their disciples with Herodians, sought Jesus with a plan.
They’d flatter Him they sneered, since He was merely mortal man.
Fawningly they said, “We know You mean so well,
You’re honest as You teach, in the stories that You tell.
Rank means nought to You, so You are not afraid.
Inform us now today, should our taxes now be paid?”
But Jesus Son of God, knew the malice they all felt,
and asked to see a coin, and whose head upon it dwelt?”
“Why its Caesar!” They replied, so Jesus said to them,
the words that say it all, for now… as well as then.
“Give you back to Caesar, all that is his own,
and to God you give His dues, this truth I have made known.”
None can trick the Lord, He knows what’s in our hearts.
The way to live our lives, is in the teaching He imparts.
Political regimes, and rulers of this world,
must hearken to the plan, which God He has unfurled.
Lord help us please this day, to follow all You teach.
To worship and give thanks, so that heaven we will reach. Cjs.
Malice, trickery, derision, all conceivable means were used to undermine Jesus.
There was no end to the hatred the Pharisees felt for Hm.
Daily He was subject to their attempts to malign Him.
Nothing has changed in 2,000 plus years…
Christians face a daily struggle against the force of evil
Render to God ….. Our duty is to love and serve Him…first and foremost. Amen.
9th October 2011: 28th Sunday of the year (Cycle A)
Parishioner's Gospel
Contributor: Linda Holden
Matthew 22: 1-14
The Important and the Urgent
It is instructive to consider the reasons why those who were invited to the feast described in the parable refused to come. Matthew says that they "ignored" the invitation and "went away, one to his farm, another to his business." Luke's Gospel is more detailed on this point and presents the reasons for the refusal of the invitation thus: "I have purchased a field and I must go look at it ... "I have purchased five yoke of oxen and am on my way to see them" ... "I have just married a woman, and therefore I cannot come" (Luke 14:18-20).
What do these different people have in common? All have something urgent to do, something that cannot wait, that demands their immediate attention. And what does the wedding feast represent? It indicates the messianic goods, participation in the salvation brought by Christ, and, therefore, the possibility of eternal life.
The feast represents something important in life, indeed, the only important thing in life.
The mistake of those who rejected the invitation is clear, then: They have left the important for the urgent, the essential for the contingent! This is a widespread and insidious danger, not only in the sphere of religion but also in the purely human sphere.
The following should give us pause for reflection:
It is a very important thing for a man or a woman to go every so often to visit their aging mother of father who is living alone at home or some care facility. For everyone it is important to visit a sick friend to show your concern and perhaps offer them some practical help. But it is not urgent and if you put it off, it does not appear that the world will end and perhaps no one will notice. And you put it off.
The same is true in regard to your health, which is also something important. The doctor sees that you need to take care of yourself, take some time to rest, avoid stress. ... You answer, "Yes, yes, I'll definitely do it just as soon as I'm done with that project, when I've finished working on the house, when I've paid off all my debts. ... Until you see that it is too late. Here is where the problem lies: You go through life chasing after the thousand little things and never find time for the things that truly impact human relationships and can give joy (or deep sadness when neglected) in life. Thus, we see how the Gospel is, indirectly, a school of life; it teaches us to establish priorities, to attend to what is essential. In a word, to not lose the important for the sake of the urgent as happened with those who were invited to the wedding feast in our parable.
Prayer
Father in heaven,
the hand of your loving kindness
powerfully yet gently guides all the moments of our day.
Go before us in our pilgrimage of life,
anticipate our needs and prevent our falling.
send your Spirit to unite us in faith,
that sharing in your service,
we may rejoice in your presence.
We ask this through Christ Our Lord, Amen.
2nd October 2011: 27th Sunday of the Year (Cycle A)
Parishioner's Gospel
Contributor: Hilary Marvel
Matthew
21: 33-43
I surmise that there is a link in this parable between God’s love for His Chosen people who then execute His Son,
Jesus : the innocent and we the chosen people, the Church., the people of God.
We profess adherence to Christ,The Way, the Truth and the Life but then turn away towards self seeking and self interest.
Heaven has been earned for us and our need is to follow Him with our total being.
25th September 2011: 26th Sunday of the Year (Cycle A)
Parishioner's Gospel
Contributor:
Barbara Davies
Matthew 21: 28-32
Parable of the Two Sons
Jesus was teaching in the Temple.
Jewish authorities came to Him and asked “What authority do You have to act like this? Who gave You authority to do all this?”
Jesus said…
“I will ask you one question, only one. John the Baptist, was his baptism a work of God or something human?
They reasoned…
“If we reply it was of God He will say then why didn’t we believe him, but if we say it was merely human, beware of the people because they hold him to be a prophet.”
So they answered….
“We do not know.”
Jesus said
“What do you think of this?
A man had two sons. He went to the first and said “Son today go and work in my vineyard.” The son said “I don’t want to”, but later thought better and went and did it. The father went to the second son and gave him the same command.
The second son said “Sir I will go” but he did not.
Which of the two sons did what the father wanted?
They said
“The first.”
Then Jesus said to them
“Truly the publicans and prostitutes are ahead of you on the way to the Kingdom of heaven. For John came to show you the way to Goodness but you did not believe him. Yet the publicans and prostitutes did. You were witnesses but you neither repented nor believed.”
18th September 2011: 25th Sun of Year
Home Mission Day
Parishioner's Gospel
Contributor: Mary Heady
This Gospel story often puzzles the twenty-first century reader.
When we get to the final pay-out scene and its apparent unfairness, we can almost see a union rep leaping to his/her feet. Whistles are blown and the cry of “everybody out!” echoes round the vineyard.
Throughout history most nations, like these groups of workers, have thought of themselves as special, exclusive, superior to others, none more so than the Catholic Church. The convert of today would find it hard to recognise the Church of sixty years ago, with its emphasis on rules, punishment and conformity. Its members were even forbidden to enter any building or church used by another denomination. Bad luck if one was invited to be a bridesmaid to a non-Catholic wedding. Best not to tell the Parish Priest until after the event!
So, just as the Pharisees told the Jews that they alone were the chosen ones, we find St Peter protesting against the idea that God might want pagans to be offered salvation. We sometimes find it hard, after a lifetime struggle to walk the straight and narrow, to accept that a late conversion delights God.
But this story exemplifies God’s generosity and love. All the groups in His Vineyard are accepted by Him, however slow their arrival.
Their payment, the boundless love He offers, is the same for all.
And how terribly sad is the cry of the final group..
… “No one has hired us!”
11th September 2011: 24th Sunday of the year (Cycle A)
Parishioner's Gospel
Contributor: Branwen Jones
Matt 18: 21-35
This week’s Old and New Testament readings complement each other remarkably. The passage from Ecclesiasticus is virtually a commentary on Jesus’ parable on forgiveness and mercy. So too Psalm 102 emphasises the Lord’s compassion and love, ‘He does not treat us according to our sins nor repay us according to our faults.’
In Jesus’ parable the king of course is God Himself and it is the day of ‘reckoning’ when accounts are to be settled – the balancing of the books at the end of time. The first man brought to the king owes the mind-boggling sum of 10,000 talents – impossible for the servant to repay. But nothing is impossible with God and so the king is moved to pity for this servant who has accumulated such a vast debt and now begs for mercy. How many of us remember the words of the Lord’s Prayer in Latin, which asks forgiveness for ‘debita nostra’ – our debts, our sins? In his compassion the king ‘cancelled’ the debt, wiped it out, just as Jesus cancelled our sins and wiped them out on the cross.
But the story doesn’t end there. The reprieved servant’s immediate action is to assault and demand payment from a fellow servant of a paltry one hundred denarii, throwing him into prison until the debt is paid.
Naturally this outrage comes to the ears of the king who recalls the ‘wicked’ servant and pours out his wrath upon him with the words, ‘Were you not bound, then, to have pity on your fellow servant just as I had pity on you?’ Thus the king dismisses him to be handed over to the torturers until all his debt is paid.
The king’s rhetorical question echoes the words of Ecclesiasticus:
‘If a man nurses anger against another, can he then demand compassion from the Lord?’
The answer is an emphatic no, for as Our Lord concludes, ‘That is how my heavenly father will deal with you unless you each forgive your brother from your heart.’
Let us seek more fervently the grace of God, to teach us to forgive others as we hope for forgiveness from him.
4th September 2011: 23rd Sunday of the year (Cycle A)
Parishioner's Gospel
Contributor: Andrew Jones
Matt 18: 15-20
This gospel is attributed to St. Matthew but, as with the other gospels, that doesn’t mean he wrote it. Scholars explain that Matthew the tax-gatherer, like most of the other apostles would have spoken in Aramaic and written in Hebrew, while the entire New Testament was originally written in Greek. Also, presuming that Matthew was approximately the same age as Jesus, it is unlikely that he could have written the Gospel, which is regularly dated at 80-85 AD.
Such claims are common knowledge amongst theologians and inevitably lead to questions, such as who did write this gospel and the rest of the New Testament? The truth is we don’t know, except that they must have been well-educated Christians.
It has been said that these particular six verses selected for our reading comprise some of the most difficult to interpret in the entire Gospel. Add to that the comments that of all the gospels. The gospel of Matthew in particular follows Judaic legalistic rules and regulations. It is just possible that these verses may have been added to the original text to provide legal apparatus for settling disputes and perhaps to give authority.
Various scholars have used the passage to show that we just cannot take the entire content of the Bible literally. For example the eminent scholar, the late Dr Barclay wrote it sounds much more like the regulations of an ecclesiastical committee than it does like the words of Jesus Christ.
Barclay continues, we may go further. It is not possible that Jesus said it in its present form. It is too legalistic to be a saying of Jesus…e.g. Jesus could not have taught his disciples to take things to church –for the Church didn’t yet exist.
The reading contains some basic items of interest, amongst which the following are of note:
Bringing your brother to order if he does something wrong. One might suppose that Jesus would have preferred to make peace rather than condemn. – Blessed are the peacemakers. According to the verse quoted Jesus said that if he refuses to listen…treat him like a pagan or a tax collector. Yet we are told elsewhere that Matthew was a tax collector and Paul was commanded to take the Christian faith to the pagans.
The second and possibly most controversial point concerns binding and loosing. If these words were said by Jesus then nothing changes but if they were not from his lips major questions might be asked.
The third was that if two of you on earth agree to ask anything at all, it will be granted to you by My Father in Heaven. This is the most difficult of the items to understand. If this was the direct instruction of Our Lord to his contemporary disciples, it is clear and can be easily understood.
If it was intended as the teaching of Jesus to his future followers, it raises several obvious questions, most specifically why are so many prayers not answered?
If Dr Barclay was correct and the text does not reflect the actual teaching of Jesus, then would we be wiser to search elsewhere in the Bible for guidance?
The fourth item is the simplest to understand: where two or three meet in my name, I shall be there with them. But aren’t we also taught that we are never alone individually, because the Lord God is with you wherever you go, Joshua 1 v 9?
There is no lack of faith in questioning these verses. We should understand that the Bible is a compilation of many works by many scholars over many years and even the most prudent of scholars can make mistakes. Quite why this Gospel is titled according to Matthew is not known and presumably will remain a mystery.
28th August 2011:
22nd Sun of Year (A)
Parishioner's Gospel
Gospel Contributor: Bill Smith
Matt 16: 21-27
Jesus begins to prepare the disciples for the suffering and death that was predestined and that he knew lay ahead for him. He tells them that those in authority will kill him and yet that he will be raised to life on the third day.
Poor Peter! –he is outraged that such a thing could happen. He protests his loyalty to Jesus, as he often does, and says he will prevent it. But Jesus rebukes him, in effect saying to him that he should not try to change what has been pre-ordained.
Then comes that clear directive to us all –
if we wish for eternal life we must take up our cross and follow him.
Don’t try to change what God has predestined for us but accept the challenges given to us.
Remember that gains and success in this world count for nothing – we cannot take them with us when the time comes for us to depart this world; our eternal salvation is the priority and our rewards in the next life will reflect how faithful we have been in this.
21st August 2011: 21st Sunday of the Year (Cycle A)
Parishioner's Gospel
Contributor: Cecilia Skudder
Matt 16: 13-20
Jesus posed a question, in Caesarea Philippi.
Addressing the disciples, saying, “Who do people say am I?”
“Some say John the Baptist, Elijah ..Jeremiah.
Others say a prophet, to that You do aspire.”
“But now I’m asking you, My followers to state,
What do you really feel, the truth now please relate.”
Simon Peter stood up tall, pronouncing from his heart.
(And in the Church where Christ was Head, he’d play an important part.)
“You are He who is the Christ; Son of the living God..”
“I tell you Simon Peter, what you say is not so odd.
You are a happy man, this was not revealed by flesh.
For My Father who’s in Heaven, gave these thoughts afresh.
Now I will build my Church, upon the rock that will not fail.
And the underworld will not, against My Church prevail.
To you I give the keys, of My Kingdom that I reign.
What you bind on earth, in heaven will be the same.
What you loose on earth, is loosed everywhere in My name.
To you I give this right, this My message I make plain.
Now this charge I put upon you, tell no one I am Christ.”
This instruction they obeyed, until after He was sacrificed.
And in our world right now, we must seek and strive,
to love and serve our Lord, to keep His truth alive. Cjs.
Many may say they read the Bible and know Christ’s message, but there could be so many interpretations, especially as there is no English translation for some Hebrew words.
Jesus knew Peter was to deny Him and yet Peter was the man chosen to be the leader!
Jesus established his Church to guide his faithful through the centuries. So it is to the Church and Peter’s successor, the Holy Father that we turn to learn Christ’s Truth.
Jesus uses our strengths and weaknesses.....to His purpose.
Lord help me to follow Your will always. Amen.
14th August 2011: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(Transferred from 15th)
Parishioner's Gospel
Contributor: Linda Holden
Luke 1: 39-56
In today’s Gospel we are reminded of the greatness and the power of God in this beautiful narrative of the Visitation. This also includes ‘The Magnificat’ when both Mary and her cousin Elizabeth are full of praise for the works of the Lord and the power of the Holy Spirit who through divine grace will perform even greater ones to those of us who ask.
If we examine the events in this Gospel more closely, we are by virtue of our Baptism, also invited to share in the graces and blessings of this Feast by remaining meek and humble of heart, as God will always favour the prayers of the humble.
This can be seen in several different places both in the Old and the New Testament. We also need to understand that since God is so generous to his creatures that whatever we ask in his name, will always be granted, ‘for nothing is impossible for God.’ (Gn:18:14)
If we try to imitate Mary in the charity she shows to her cousin Elizabeth (Greek translation ‘Daughter of God’, Promise of God etc) through our faith in God we can expect to receive anything we ask for, if it is God’s will.
Since He loves each and every one of us so much He will always shower on us his blessings through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and by living the Gospel values we will always remain close to Jesus and Mary in communion with the whole Church.
During the Assumption Our Lady dropped her cincture (belt) to St Thomas the Apostle. In her merciful care for him, the Blessed Virgin gives the incredulous Apostle a second chance to demonstrate his faith. According to the legend, the reception of the cincture allows St. Thomas to atone for his previous disbelief in the Resurrection by becoming the first herald of the Assumption.
PRAYER
Father in Heaven,
all creation rightly gives you praise,
for all life and all holiness come from you.
In the plan of your wisdom
she who bore the Christ in her womb
was raised body and soul in glory to be with Him in Heaven.
May we follow her example in reflecting your holiness
and join in her hymn of endless love and praise.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
7th August 2011: 19th Sunday of the Year (Cycle A)
Parishioner's Gospel
Contributor: Barbara Davies
Matthew 14:22-33
“Lord I believe ….Help my unbelief”
Pope Benedict XV1 makes a point that the essence of faith is that something meets us that is greater than anything we can think of for ourselves. That is literally what happened to the disciples as they see Jesus walking on the water.
Jesus summons them to faith – a way of approaching reality that entails leaving behind our old ways of measuring things and seeing according to this something greater that meets us.
Peter stepped onto the water in faith, but when he began to think “I can’t be walking on water” he began to sink.
Jesus put out His hand and held him.... “Man of little faith, why did you doubt?”
and......
Contributor: Hilary Marvel
Matthew 14: 22-33
This resonates with those of us who hover like a dragon-fly between trust and incredulity.
The simple life of the fisherman contrasts with the 'sophistication' of the learned and the materialistic.
Who has greater empathy and understanding?