Life & the Family
“The Meaning of Life – Part 1 (Identity)
“What is the meaning of life? This question may become significant at any stage of life. It may be a fleeting feeling, or something more profound. The answer may seem obvious. The question may also seem perplexing, and prompt further reflection. This series is for all who are touched by the sense that life itself raises questions that need to be explored, for the sake of our own understanding of ourselves, of how we relate to other people, and how we may respond to God….
“John the Baptist is an interesting character. Jesus talked about him occasionally when he was prompting people to think about himself. John attracted the attention of many, who came to him at the river Jordan in order to repent, be baptised, and have their sins forgiven. John’s actions, his forthright preaching, his clothes, and his austere diet prompted that feeling of expectation and the question that was put to him – ‘Who are you?’
“John answered the question in a negative and a positive way. He openly declared that he was not the Christ, and appealed to scripture for his own description of himself as ‘the voice of one crying out in the wilderness.’ His confidence and truthfulness are impressive.
“John is a good example of someone who was entirely at home with who he was. He knew what account to give of himself, yet he also knew that it was not all about him. His identity was formed by self-knowledge, and by his relationships with God, with Jesus, with his contemporary religious authorities, with the crowds who came to him, and with his religious heritage, expressed in the Hebrew scriptures. He knew the tensions and kept them in balance.
“The French philosopher, René Descartes, has been called ‘the father of modern philosophy’….
“For someone who prized simplicity and clarity, Descartes gave a complex account of his identity. What he believed about himself overlaps with John the Baptist’s sense of his identity. He differs from him too. What they have in common is an underlying sense that who they are is not all about them. That ‘it is not all about us’ is true of how we behave, but also of who we make ourselves to be. We cannot be who we are by ourselves, but only by including what has been given us by others from the beginnings of our lives until now. [emphasis added] …
“Our self-worth is often calibrated by other people’s opinions of us. Our identity defined by their approval. This creates a burden and a vulnerability which is hard to erase. At other times, so consumed with our own worries, we fail to see the need of help or of a hand.
“I am because you are. John the Baptist and Descartes teach us this today through their relationship with God. When we know who we are and who we are not, only then can we navigate a room, a person or a crowd.
With Permission, The God Who Speaks, The Bible and Catholics, 31st January 2022 https://www.godwhospeaks.uk/the-god-who-speaks/focus/preparing-for-lent-and-eastertide/the-meaning-of-life-part-1-identity
“The Meaning of Life – Part 2 (Generosity - Giving and Giving Away)
“What is generosity and what does it mean for us today? Bishop David Evans explores how Jesus and Arthur Schopenhauer show us that generosity is the capacity to recognise the lack of something good in a person and to act to supply it….
“Scripture passage: Luke 6:35: But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil….
“The present reflection on generosity follows naturally from [the] description of human beings created by God and dependent on him, living in the world created by God, among other created things, particularly other human beings.
“The passage from St Luke that I have chosen presents Jesus’ demands on the new people that he has gathered around himself – a people called to be holy. He was preparing them to receive the Holy Spirit in due course, by already living in this world the life that is as natural as breathing in the kingdom of God. Jesus invited people to become children of God, as he was Son of God, through the acts of reckless generosity that he demanded of those who wanted to follow him. In effect, he was asking them, and is asking us today, how highly do you value your life? Or paradoxically, how little do you value your life? Are you able to give it up for the sake of others, and for the sake of your Father, as I am doing?...
“There is… one philosopher, Arthur Schopenhauer, (1788-1860), who identifies compassion as the foundation for morality. He contrasts compassion with egoism and malice, defining compassion as that ‘which wills the well-being of an ‘other’ (and by extension, noble-mindedness and magnanimity).’
“There are three key words in this definition: ‘will’, ‘well-being’ and ‘other’. Schopenhauer believed that action is the result of the will being stimulated; that is, action is urged into being by something different from the will itself. In the case of compassion, the stimulus is the lack of something in someone other than oneself, which is to that other person’s benefit. Compassion is not passive. It is a positive response in the real world intended to stop a person suffering by providing them with what they lack….
“Compassion arises from recognising that someone else possesses a reality distinct from my own, and that their suffering is their own and not mine. Action to address the need that causes pain in the other person also has to be taken in the concrete circumstances of everyday life. Schopenhauer teaches us that compassion is not a feeling, but the taking of practical steps to restore a person’s well-being. He does not give examples, nor does he say how he would regard the examples given by Jesus and the motives for them; but he does point to the basis for moral action as the capacity to recognise the lack of something good in a person and to act to supply it….
“Generosity and memories are what bind [mother and daughter, for example]. There might be duty and guilt too, but above all there is love for the other, for the vulnerable who knows us from birth and brought us into life. No matter how stressful this day might be, it is the wellbeing of her mother that matters most.”
With permission, The God Who Speaks, The Bible & Catholics, 28 Feb 2022
https://www.godwhospeaks.uk/the-meaning-of-life-part-2-generosity/
“The Meaning of Life – Part 3 (Adaptability)
“What is adaptability and what does it mean for us today? Bishop David Evans explores how Jesus and Hans-Georg Gadamer show us that adaptability is the capacity to scrutinise the situation one is facing and to change oneself significantly in order to benefit from what it promises….
“Scripture passage: Matthew 20:20-28: But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave….
“Our lives are given meaning in the company of others and through our putting other people before ourselves. … [G]iving meaning to our lives is something individuals do for themselves, which demands that they change. A further element of this enterprise is adaptability….
“Hans-Georg Gadamer … a German philosopher… believed that understanding and interpretation are similar. Both require engagement with a text or person different from oneself. For this to succeed, the interpreter, or translator, must become aware of their own prejudices, the significant aspects of their personality and history that they bring to bear on understanding someone or something. Interpreters must also be willing to be changed by what they receive from the other. Or to adjust their horizons, that is the parameters within which they live, in order to grasp the subject matter of the conversation or text that they are attending to. As well as being interpretation, understanding is also conversion of a sort. This makes language a living reality, even if the text belongs to the past, or the conversation has finished….
“Spiritual adaptability is very subtle, the fruits appear much later than the seeds we planted. Adaptability is as much about risk as it is about courage. To step out in faith and not much understanding requires humility. Whether we’re chatting with friends, or praying in Mass, negotiating a problem at home or struggling at work, our decisions and behaviours can be transformed by the wisdom and compassion of others. And when we serve another, enable them to become all that they can be, these are the moments of God’s grace. The kingdom of heaven begins with us, in the coffee shop, the school, and the boardroom. The Spirit speaks in the language of every cry and every plea. Words are not always necessary to understand God’s will….”
With permission, The God Who Speaks, The Bible & Catholics, 31 March 2022
https://www.godwhospeaks.uk/the-meaning-of-life-part-3-adaptability/
“Families in the Bible - Theme: Adoption - The Holy Family
“Adopt - legally take (another's child) and bring it up as one's own.
“In Biblical Jewish culture, there was not adoption as we know it today. When a child was without parents, someone else in the family would take the child in and raise them. However, we have a unique example of adoption in the Holy Family…. Joseph and Mary were engaged but she was still living with her parents when she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Joseph knew he wasn’t the father and he had to decide what to do about his pregnant fiancée.”
We know the outcome of his selfless decision and of this unique adoption.
With Permission, The God Who Speaks, The Bible and Catholics, 22nd June 2021 https://www.godwhospeaks.uk/the-god-who-speaks/education/primary-schools/families-in-the-bible-worksheets/
“Pope Frances urges young people: Talk with your grandparents
“During Wednesday's General Audience … Pope Francis continued his catechesis on the meaning and value of old age, noting that bonds uniting the generations can prove enriching for families and for the growth of society.
“Inviting the faithful to rediscover the Book of Ruth which he described as ‘a jewel in the Bible’ - Pope Francis said this story ‘sheds light on the beauty of family bonds.’
“The Pope recounted the relationship of love and mutual support between the older widow Naomi and her daughter-in-law Ruth. Naomi, living in a foreign land, is left alone when her two sons die.
“But despite her grief, she encourages her two daughters-in-law to remain among their own people as she returns to Bethlehem, her native town, a gesture Pope Francis described as an ‘act of love.’
“Ruth makes the decision not to abandon Naomi, and accompanies her to Judah, telling her: ‘Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.’
“The Pope underlined that ‘Naomi, moved by Ruth's devotion, will emerge from her pessimism and even take the initiative, opening up a new future for Ruth.’…
“Pope Francis explained that the story of Naomi and Ruth demonstrates that in God's providential plan, faith and love enable challenges to be overcome.
“He went on to say that these bonds uniting the generations can prove enriching for our families and for the growth of a society that respects the dignity and gifts of each of its members, however young or old.
“Pope Francis concluded: "If the young open themselves to gratitude for what they have received, and the elderly take the initiative of relaunching their future, nothing can stop the flourishing of God's blessings among peoples."
“He also recommended that young people talk with their grandparents and to their elders, and that old people talk with young people. This, he said, will … forge that ‘beautiful bridge that we must guard and watch over.’”
With Permission, ICN, Source: Vatican News, 27 Apr 2022
“Pope … looks forward to Malta trip
“[Pope Francis] greeted the people of Malta, the Mediterranean island where St. Paul was shipwrecked and found ‘great humanity’ and hospitality, and where, still today, the people are dedicated to welcoming so many people in search of refuge, he said.
“The pope’s trip to Malta from 2nd-3rd April will be a chance to ‘go to the source of the proclamation of the Gospel, to get to know firsthand a Christian community’ that has such a long history and is so active and alive, he said.
“In his main audience talk, the pope continued his series of talks dedicated to the meaning and value of ‘old age,’ and the importance of maintaining a sense of ‘spiritual sensitivity.’…
“Being sensitive to the Spirit means accepting that one is not the protagonist, but a witness to the presence and greatness of God, he said.… When the elderly are able to keep their ‘spiritual senses’ sharp and alive, he said, then they are able to feel a kind of consolation that their lives have meaning and are able to share a sense of hope with younger people, he said.
“’It is so important to visit older people, to listen to them, to talk to them,’ to have an ‘exchange of civilisations’ between young and old, he said.”
With Permission Universe Catholic Weekly, 30 Mar 2022
“SVP responds to Chancellor's Budget - another missed opportunity …
“Today's Budget announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak is delivered against the backdrop of an inflation rate expected to peak four times above the Bank of England's 2% objective, and an economic outlook which is at best uncertain.
“A recent Resolution Foundation report suggests that the conflict in Ukraine could push peak inflation in 2022-23 above 8%, which could leave the typical real household income for non-pensioners 4%, or £1,000, lower than in 2021-22.
“Wholesale energy prices have risen much faster than expected since the last Budget, and the war in Ukraine is expected to further increase fuel and food prices over the coming months….
“The cost of living crisis is affecting millions of households, many of whom are being supported by members of the St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) and St Vincent's centres across England and Wales. Without the support of the SVP, tens of thousands of families would fall into poverty and be denied the help they need to survive and the empowerment to pull themselves out of poverty and regain their dignity….
“The SVP has been extremely vocal over its concerns …. We pointed out the need for policies which promote secure employment, and we urged the government to listen to the experiences of frontline service providers….
“The government continue to squander opportunities to lead the country out of the pandemic and into a fairer and more just future built on every sector of society. This Budget could have addressed the financial mechanisms which unfairly punish those on lower incomes as inflation rises. Mr Sunak could also have lessened the impact of rising wholesale fuel prices on people who simply cannot afford the startling increase in heating and fuel bills, and the government could have better consulted with frontline service providers, such as the SVP, to provide more robust and targeted solutions to the epidemic of poverty effecting England and Wales during these uncertain times.”
With Permission, Independent Catholic News, James Robert Welton, 23 Mar 2022
“Christian groups urge Chancellor to ease tax burden on families
“Three Christian organisations have called on the Chancellor to make the tax system fairer for families … in light of rising inflation and soaring energy prices….
“The three organisations called on the Government to implement fully transferable tax allowances and bands ahead of the Autumn Budget last year so that all families with the same income pay the same amount of tax regardless of whether they are single-earner or dual-earner households….
“The intervention from the three organisation is intended to help bring about a system whereby all families pay the same amount of tax whatever the split of income between individuals within the family….
“Professor Philip Booth, Professor of Finance, Public Policy and Ethics at St Mary's University, Twickenham, said: ‘The UK is unusual in the Western world in discriminating in such a marked way against single-earner couples or couples whose earnings are not equal. We probably tax families more severely than any other comparable country. It would not only be fairer to move to a tax system where tax rates were based on family income, it would remove the penalties on family formation that exist in our current tax and benefit systems. Furthermore, it would remove the penalties faced by couples where one member takes on caring responsibilities.’"
With Permission, Independent Catholic News, James Somerville-Meikle, 16 Mar 2022
“Retired priest will walk Portuguese Camino to tackle global hunger crisis
“Houghton Regis resident Peter Stannard, 62, is taking part in CAFOD’s Walk against Hunger challenge, which raises money to tackle global food poverty.
“Instead of doing the suggested 5km per day over 40 days of Lent, retired priest Peter will be walking 200km in 13 days. Peter will be walking the length of the Portuguese Camino from Porto to Santiago de Compostela in Spain – an ancient pilgrim route at least a thousand years old. Peter has a fundraising goal of £10,000….
“His challenge starts on 2nd April, and he plans to reach Santiago de Compostela in 13 days….
“Peter is fundraising for aid charity CAFOD. ‘I believe that people often overlook the suffering which goes on in other countries-it just doesn’t receive enough attention,’ he said.
“CAFOD supports communities in the long-term through training people in farming methods, and savings and loans schemes which can help people to start small businesses. CAFOD’s Deborah Purfield paid tribute to Peter’s efforts.
“’So many of our wonderful CAFOD volunteers and supporters are rising to the challenge and Walking against Hunger this Lent,’ she said. ‘They want to support communities to tackle global hunger and malnutrition. I’d like to say thank you to our supporters, particularly Peter Stannard who is planning such an arduous walk in solidarity with our brother and sisters who are in great need. What an inspiration he is.’”
With Permission Universe Catholic Weekly, 25 Mar 2022
“Forgiveness, friendship, prayer: Pope answers questions…
“Pope Francis told an Italian interviewer that forgiveness is ‘a human right.’…
“’We all have the right to be forgiven if we ask for forgiveness. It is a right that flows from God’s nature and has been given to humans as an inheritance,’ he said. ‘Someone who asks for forgiveness has the right to be forgiven.’
“A criminal, he said, must pay his or her debt to society, but still has a right to be forgiven.
“In the hourlong interview, Pope Francis repeated what he often has said about the scandal of weapons’ sales and the futility of war, the obligation to protect the environment and the need for a better-coordinated European process for welcoming migrants and refugees….
“Pope Francis [said], ‘I imagine the church of the future the way St. Paul VI imagined it after the (Second Vatican) Council … [we need to create] new ways to share the Gospel message with the world.
“’This spiritual worldliness within the church makes an ugly thing grow: clericalism, which is a perversion of the church,’ he said. It increases ‘rigidity’ and a reliance on rules rather than on God….
“Pope Francis insisted that Jesus’ incarnation and his death on the cross meant that Christian faith must take flesh in practical signs of love and care for others and in going out to preach the Gospel.
“Pope Francis said people who are born in developed countries to families who always have enough to get by and where health care, education and jobs are fairly easy to come by must recognize that they are no more deserving of those things than a person born into poverty with little or no access to any of those things.
“And while it is tempting to ‘look the other way’ when the news reports on victims of war or migrants drowning or when one sees a person begging on the street, it is ‘a very ugly temptation.’
“’It is not enough to see, one must feel it, touch it,’ the pope said, [adding] that allowing one’s heart to be touched and recognizing a victim as a person, a brother or sister, is the only way to move toward finding a solution.”
With Permission, Universe Catholic Weekly, 7th Feb 2022
“Allow Jesus to bring us his light says Bishop Alan
“In his pastoral letter for the start of January, Bishop Alan Hopes writes, let us truly allow Jesus Christ to bring his light into our dark winter nights and into the dark winter nights of those around us by our sharing of the God-given gifts of love, hope and peace….
“God made each one of us. God loves each one of us. God fills us with hope.
“At the moment of the Incarnation, God pledges that there will be peace on earth to men of goodwill. As we begin the new civic year, we pray fervently with the whole Church that the gift of peace may become a reality for all peoples – all those who are caught up in war and conflict, for all who daily face persecution because of their faith, and all those who do not know real freedom or human dignity in their lives.
“Because of the Incarnation our prayer must lead to action:
- We must be prepared to support those who are actively working for peace in our world;
- to work for reconciliation and peace in our own communities and families;
- to be prepared to welcome all who are refugees and who come to live among us.
- The Incarnation declares that peace is a gift from God himself – a peace that passes all human understanding.
“As we continue to turn aside to contemplate and to worship the Incarnate Son of God …, let us truly allow Jesus Christ to bring his light into our dark winter nights and into the dark winter nights of those around us by our sharing of these God-given gifts of love, hope and peace.”
(With permission) Diocese of East Anglia, Keith Morris, January 4, 2022
https://www.rcdea.org.uk/allow-jesus-to-bring-us-his-light-says-bishop-alan/
Icon of St Joseph and the Holy Family
We welcome the Icon of St Joseph and the Holy Family which has be traveling around the diocese for the Year of St Joseph and the Family. The icon was painted by our parish priest, Fr Luke Goymour.