Seeing the Son: Seeing the Father

May 3rd was the feast day of two apostles, about whom little is known, Saint James and St Philip. This James is known as James the Less, the son of Alphaeus, to avoid confusion with the other James (the Great) son of Zebedee. We know a little more about Philip, who is mentioned frequently in the 

Gospels. He was from Bethsaida, as were Peter and Andrew. He probably first heard of Jesus through being a disciple of John the Baptist. Jesus seemed to trust him greatly. Selecting him to find food for the multitude.

“I am forever grateful to St Philip for some of his questions to Jesus, because it is in Philip’s request, “Lord show us the Father” that Jesus elaborates on his relationship to his Father, one of the most beautiful texts in the Gospel of John.

Jesus said to him “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever 

has seen me has seen the Father” 

                                                                                        John 14: 8-9, 11

“Often, when at prayer, I seem to get nowhere. I then glance at the large ikon of Christ, the Pantocrator, in our chapel and reflect on Jesus’ response to Philip….

“I know I cannot comprehend God, that his mystery is beyond me, but I know that in the Ikon I see Jesus. Trusting his words, I know in an inexplicable way that in seeing Jesus I also see the Father.”

                                                                   Blessings of the Daily Brother Victor-Antoine d’Avila-Latourette

St James is the patron saint of apothecaries; pharmacists; dying people; fullers; pastry chefs.

St Philip is the patron saint of hatters and pastry chefs.

The Forty Martyrs of England and Wales are a group of Catholic lay and religious, men and women, executed between 1535 and 1679 for treason and related offences under various laws enacted by Parliament during the English Reformation. Their names are listed below. They died for the Faith as did many Protestants under Queen Mary.
• Saint John Almond
• Saint Edmund Arrowsmith
• Saint Ambrose Barlow
• Saint John Boste
• Saint Alexander Briant
• Saint Edmund Campion
• Saint Margaret Clitherow
• Saint Philip Evans
• Saint Thomas Garnet
• Saint Edmund Gennings
• Saint Richard Gwyn
• Saint John Houghton
• Saint Philip Howard
• Saint John Jones
• Saint John Kemble
• Saint Luke Kirby
• Saint Robert Lawrence
• Saint David Lewis
• Saint Anne Line
• Saint John Lloyd
• Saint Cuthbert Mayne
• Saint Henry Morse
• Saint Nicholas Owen
• Saint John Payne
• Saint Polydore Plasden
• Saint John Plessington
• Saint Richard Reynolds
• Saint John Rigby
• Saint John Roberts
• Saint Alban Roe
• Saint Ralph Sherwin
• Saint Robert Southwell
• Saint John Southworth
• Saint John Stone
• Saint John Wall
• Saint Henry Walpole
• Saint Margaret Ward
• Saint Augustine Webster
• Saint Swithun Wells
• Saint Eustace White

You can go to the bulletin for Sunday 3 May 2020 and click on their names to find out more about them (or look them up online in a search engine/web browser). Some are Welsh, when Wales was considered part of England.

St. Catherine of Siena was born during the outbreak of the plague in Siena, Italy on March 25, 1347. She was the 25th child born to her mother, although half of her brothers and sisters did not survive childhood. Catherine herself was a twin, but her sister did not survive infancy. Her mother was 40 when she was born. Her father was a cloth dyer.

At the age of 16, Catherine's sister, Bonaventura, died, leaving her husband as a widower. Catherine's parents proposed that he marry Catherine as a replacement, but Catherine opposed this. She began fasting and cut her hair short to mar her appearance. Her parents attempted to resist this move to avoid marriage, but they were unsuccessful. Her fasting and her devotion to her family, convinced them to relent and allow her to live as she pleased. Despite Catherine's religious nature, she did not choose to enter a convent. Instead she joined the Third Order of St. Dominic, which allowed her to associate with a religious society while living at home.

Something changed her when she was 21. She described an experience she referred to as her "mystical marriage to Christ.” Such mystical experiences change people, and St. Catherine was no exception. In her vision, she was told to re-enter public life and to help the poor and sick. She immediately went into public to help people in need. She often visited hospitals and homes where the poor and sick were found. Her activities quickly attracted followers who helped her in her mission to serve the poor and sick. She was drawn further into the world as she worked, and eventually she began to travel, calling for reform of the Church and for people to confess and to love God totally. She became involved in politics, and was key in working to keep city states loyal to the Pope.

She died in 1380, aged 33. She is the patroness against fire, illness, and of the United States, Italy, 

miscarriages, people ridiculed for their faith, sexual temptation, and nurses.

“It has been a strange time this year. Everything familiar has been abolished or at least rearranged. But perhaps if you stare at it hard enough, the very strangeness of this time can itself be a gift and a renewal. Holy Week and the Triduum are so much part of the rhythm of our lives that it is easy for them to solidify into an unvarying pattern as the years go by. 

There is nothing intrinsically bad about habit – it is one of the ways that we, as beings embedded in time, can experience something like the timelessness of eternity – but all the same, habit does have a certain an aesthetic quality as well. We end up doing habitual things not for a reason, not because of what they really are, but simply because we have always done them.

So the kind of shake-up we are all having this year can (painful though it is) bring some reconnection and clarity. When we watch across the Internet the Pope and a mere dozen people going through a ruthlessly abbreviated Easter Vigil in the middle of an empty St Peter’s, this is nothing like what we are used to: any of us. Even the tiniest parish church could do better! But put that to one side and look at what you are experiencing: the fire is kindled, the praises of the Easter candle are sung, the Red Sea is safely crossed and the stone is rolled away from the tomb. In the end, what else matters apart from that? Nothing.”

                                                                                Source: Universalis, April 12 2020

By focusing not on what we are missing, but on the essentials of our lives, we can refresh our Faith and with it our relationships with others and our way of life.

Almighty and merciful Father, who shows your love to all of your creation.

We come before you asking for a quick control of the Coronavirus currently ravaging our world.

Hear graciously the prayers we make for those affected by the virus in various parts of the world.

Grant healing to the sick, eternal life to the dead and consolation to the bereaved families.

We pray that an effective medicine to combat the sickness be speedily found.

We pray for the relevant governments and health authorities that they take appropriate steps for the good of the people.

Look upon us in your mercy and forgive us our failings.       Amen.

Now and Tomorrow

As the world sings triumphant cries to heaven over death that You conquered, help us, Lord, now and tomorrow, and let us not forget.

Help us to celebrate your Resurrection each day, by remembering the sacrifice you have made for us, so that we can overcome our fears and face the world with belief in Your presence around us, hope in our salvation and love of You and all with whom we live and work.

Peace and Thanksgiving to You, O Lord.

Easter Prayer of Saint Hippolytus

Christ is Risen: The world below lies desolate

Christ is Risen: The spirits of evil are fallen

Christ is Risen: The angels of God are rejoicing

Christ is Risen: The tombs of the dead are empty

Christ is Risen indeed from the dead,

the first of the sleepers,

Glory and power are his forever and ever.

Draw Us Forth 

Draw us forth, God of all creation.

Draw us forward and away from limited certainty

into the immense world of your love.

Give us the capacity to even for a moment

taste the richness of the feast you give us.

Give us the peace to live with uncertainty,

with questions,

with doubts.

Help us to experience the resurrection anew

with open wonder and an increasing ability

to see you in the people of Easter.

Friend of Sinners

Lord Jesus,

You chose to be called the friend of sinners.

By your saving death and resurrection

free me from my sins.

May your peace take root in my heart

and bring forth a harvest of love, holiness, and truth.

Joyous Time of Year

May the glory and the promise

of this joyous time of year

bring peace and happiness to you

and those you hold most dear.

And may Christ, Our Risen Saviour,

always be there by your side

to bless you most abundantly

and be your loving guide.

“As the Lord makes his solemn entrance into Jerusalem, we too enter into that special time, Passiontide. It is the final destination of our Lenten pilgrimage. By reliving each event of the Saviour’s last week before his death, we become participants in those very events. The Offices of Holy Week are a great aid to us in following the sequence of Jesus’ last days, step by step, unto his cruel last hours. They portray how Christ honestly accomplished his redemptive work. By unfolding before our eyes the mysteries of Christ’s suffering, death and Resurrection, in all its historical details, the liturgy allows us to witness to the supreme act of God’s love. It is a love that has no equal.”

                                     Blessings of the Daily, Brother Victor-Antione d’Avola-Latourrette

Why not follow Jesus each day this week by joining Fr Luke in his broadcast of the daily Mass? You can find it at www.facebook.com/bmrcparish/live  See Parish Calendar for details of times of Mass. 

You can also find the Gospel readings for each day of Holy Week as follows:

• Today (Palm Sunday): Matthew 21:1-11
• Monday: John 12: 1-11
• Tuesday: John 13:21-33,36-38 
• Wednesday: Matthew 26: 14-25 
• Maundy Thursday: John 13: 1-15
• Good Friday: John 18: -19: 42 
• Holy Saturday: Matthew 28: -10

“On the last Sunday before Holy Week, our Gospel reading is Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. [John 11:1-45]. “Now Jesus loved Martha and Mary, her sister, and Lazarus. So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.” This is curious. How can Jesus love Mary, Martha and Lazarus and yet still choose to delay healing Lazarus? Jesus’ followers had already seen him raise Jairus’ daughter who had just died. [Matthew 9], they had seen him raise the 

widow of Nain’s son [Luke 7] who had been dead for an even longer time, and we will now see him raise Lazarus.

Jesus deliberately waits to help us see that he “is the resurrection and the life”. This is not only about the afterlife as he explains to Martha but new life begins now. If I want this, can I tell God where I need him to bring me his life?

                                                      Reflections for Lent, Cardinal Hume Centre 2020

“Lent is a favourable time for letting Christ serve us so that we in turn may become more like him.  This happens whenever we hear the word of God…”

                                                      Pope Francis

‘Today’s Gospel reading tells how Jesus heals a blind man. [John 9:1-38]

St Paul in the second reading [Ephesians 5:8-14] instructs us to “walk as children of thelight” to “try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful worksof darkness, but instead expose them.” And in the first reading, the Lord says to theprophet Samuel who Is looking to anoint a new king that the Lord God looks on the heart and not on the outward appearance. [1 Samuel 16: 6-7].

What blindness might I want the Lord to help me overcome this Lent? Am I blinded by some bitterness of heart, lack of forgiveness, pride, legalism, perfectionism or irrational fear?

“During this Lent, then, brothers and sisters, let us all ask the Lord: ‘Fac cor nostrum secundum cor tuum’: Make our hearts like yours (Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus). In this way we will receive a heart which is firm and merciful, attentive and generous, a heart which is not closed, indifferent or prey to the globalization of indifference.”

                                                                 Reflections for Lent, Cardinal Hume Centre 2020

“Do not let the past disturb you, just leave everything in the Sacred Heart and begin

again with joy. “

                                                                 St. Teresa of Calcutta

‘In this Sunday’s Gospel Reading, Jesus meets a Samaritan woman at a well and chooses to engage with her in conversation, trying to help her understand who he is: “Everyone who drinks this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks the water I shall give him will never thirst: the water I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. [John 4:13-14]

St Paul in the second reading reminds us that “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to is.” and “God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,” [Romans. 5:5-8]

Today can I take time to be alert to listen to God’s voice of love in conversation with him and 

with people around me?

                                                                                      Reflections for Lent, Cardinal Hume Centre 2020

“Lent is a fitting time for self-denial; we would do well to ask ourselves what we can give up in order to 

help and enrich others by our own poverty. Let us not forget that real poverty hurts: no self-denial is 

real without this dimension of penance. I distrust a charity that costs nothing and does not hurt.”

                                                                                     Pope Francis

“Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He loves 

us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God’s love encompasses us 

entirely. … He loves us completely, even though those who are flawed, rejected, awkward, 

sorrowful or broken.”

                                                                                      Dieter F Uchtdorf

“Christmas reminds us that God continues to love us all, even the worst of us. To me, to 

you, to each of us, he says today: “I love you and I will always love you, for you are precious 

in my eyes”.

God does not love you because you think and act the right way. He loves you, plain and 

simple. His love is unconditional; it does not depend on you. You may have mistaken ideas, 

you may have made a complete mess of things, but the Lord continues to love you. How 

often do we think that God is good if we are good and punishes us if we are bad. Yet that 

is not how he is. For all our sins, he continues to love us. His love does not change. It is not 

fickle; it is faithful. It is patient. This is the gift we find at Christmas. We discover to our 

amazement that the Lord is absolute gratuity, absolute tender love. His glory does not 

overwhelm us; his presence does not terrify us. He is born in utter poverty in order to win 

our hearts by the wealth of his love.

But what is this grace? It is divine love, the love that changes lives, renews history, liberates 

from evil, fills hearts with peace and joy. Tonight the love of God has been revealed to us: 

it is Jesus. In Jesus, the Most High made himself tiny, so that we might love him.”

                                            Pope Francis Midnight Mass Homily 24 December 2019

Past, the Past, no more be seen!

But the Bethlehem-star may lead me

To the sight of Him Who freed me

From the self that I have been.

Make me pure, Lord: Thou art holy;

Make me meek, Lord: Thou wert lowly;

Now beginning, and alway:

Now begin, on Christmas day.

                            Gerard Manley Hopkins

This was the moment when Before

Turned into After, and the future’s

Uninvented timekeepers presented arms.

This was the moment when nothing

Happened. Only dull peace

Sprawled boringly over the earth.

This was the moment when even energetic Romans

Could find nothing better to do

Than counting heads in remote provinces.

And this was the moment

When a few farm workers and three

Members of an obscure Persian sect

Walked haphazard by starlight straight

Into the kingdom of heaven.

                                              U A Fanthorpe

The other day I was in a shop that sells kitchen equipment. In one corner four shelves were stacked with different brands and varieties of electric toasters, over twenty in all. Prices varied widely from £27 to £158. When I saw the latter price, I asked myself, “Why would anyone pay that amount just to burn or singe bread? Or perhaps the retailer thinks it might be bought as a Christmas present.”

This is the time of year when we are tempted (or pressured) to be extravagant in getting gifts for family and friends to celebrate Christmas. But why do we do it? We know that some gifts are bought out of a sense of duty. “We must buy Aunt Maud something, or she would be terribly upset.” Giving someone something unnecessarily expensive may come across only as a boast about how wealthy you are. However most gifts are bought and given to celebrate our affection and love for others. But what does this mean?

Giving things to people always carries a symbolic meaning. So, do we give to others in order to tell them that we want a gift in return? Or do we give not expecting or asking for a return, but simply because we love them? If it is the first of these, then we are not giving, but engaging in a form of trading. If it is the latter then we are imitating what God does for us, His love is universal and eternal – it is everywhere and always there. And this, I think, is how we should approach Christmas shopping – finding gifts that will express our love (not our wealth) for those to whom we send. them. The greatest gift we can give others, of course, is our love as parents, siblings, friends or even enemies. That can take the form of physical objects or prayers on their behalf or time spent with them, and so on. A device for burning bread is not the only way of showing you care, whatever the cost.

                                   TC

A babe wandering the world’s wilderness 

whose horrors seek to overwhelm and crush 

your spirit, you cry out in a voice that’s ageless 

for counsel to escape evil’s ambush.

What is good has been explained to you, child; 

this is what the Lord asks of you: only this,
to act justly, love tenderly, be mild,
accepting, ready to receive his kiss

as you humbly walk each day with your God:
a life at odds with itself, discomfort
joined with true peace, the normal with the odd, 

easeful hardship, love and terror’s concert.

          The world wants martyrs for the gods above: 

           God asks only that we return his love.

                                                    Tom Caple April 2019

                                                    Drawn from Micah 6

Peace is the goal of most people and all nations. What that means, of course, differs widely from one person, one community, one nation, from another. As we approach another Remembrance Day, it is worth reflecting on what we Catholics mean by it. Catholic Social Teaching views peace as having two dimensions: being at peace with God and being at peace with others, especially between nations.

“Peace I leave with you, my own peace I give you; a peace the world cannot give, this is my gift to you. Let not your hearts be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27)

“Peace with God is God’s gift to us. God alone can place us in right relationship with him. This teaching is clear in both the old and the new testaments. God initiated the covenant with man, restored it when we fell, and fulfilled it in Jesus Christ....

As Christians, we know that god dwells in us making us temples of the holy spirit (cf. 1 Cor. 6:19). He promised us that he would provide for all our needs (cf. Matt. 6:26-34) and that “all things would work together for good for those that love god and are called according to his purposes” (Rom. 8:28). We are told that without him we can do nothing (John 15:5), but that, in him, we are “more than conquerors” (Rom. 8:37).’(Mgr Stewart Swetland A Primer of Peace 2007) Because this is God’s gift, we should do everything we can to protect and sustain it. However, we know too well how easy it is to divert ourselves from being at peace with God because of:

• The troubles of life and the fear of being without;
• Others’ faults and shortcomings;
• Our own faults and shortcomings.
• The fear of suffering.

Next week we will look at the tools God gives us to overcome these difficulties and maintainour peace with Him.

                                                               TC

We saw last week how Peace begins with peace between God and Humanity. If you are a believer, how else can you have a positive relationship with your Creator?  Belief in God and in God’s peace freely offered to us is the bedrock on which we can build peaceful relations between people and nations. We have seen that for each of us there are issues that can divert us from the search for peace with God and, therefore, with others. They are: -life’s troubles and fear of being without; our and others’ faults and shortcomings; and fear of suffering. 

So, how do we deal with them? 

Jesus did not leave us bereft of resources. One of His great gifts was the Beatitudes. They are much, much more than a set of suggestions or guidelines – they, together with the Ten Commandments, constitute a programme of actions to take to be at peace with God and, making them the centre of our way of living, the basis for being at peace with others around us. If you want  to  know  what  peace  and  justice  is,  it  is  the beatitudes working together, and in concert with the Commandments, summed up in the following: 

“The love we get from God is what we must 

give others - that means giving all we are,” 

their dying mother whispered. “The dry dust 

we are springs to life in others justly loved.” 

     Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for 

     justice, for they shall have their fill and more.” 

                                                                                 From ‘Justice’ Tom Caple

“For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven. A time to be born ... A time to plant ... A time to uproot what has been planted.

                                 ECCLESIASTES 3:3-2

“Working in the garden in these last days of October is indeed an endless source of satisfaction. One season is dying, yet we are already looking ahead by making preparations for the next spring. This is the same in our life of communion with God. Though this communion is realized in the present moment, in the daily of our lives, it looks ahead to the designs God has for each of us, to his promise of eternal life. After the long winter of our lives achieves its completion, we can look forward to the endless spring feast, the Lord’s eternal day.”

                                 Brother Victor-Antoine d’Avila-Latourette • Blessings of the daily

“Peace I leave with you, my own peace I give you; a peace the world cannot give, this is my gift to you. Let not your hearts be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27) 

We are all familiar with Red Poppies, made by the Royal British Legion to commemorate British military victims of war and those who fought alongside them, and to acknowledge civilian victims. 

You may be less familiar with White Poppies. They have been worn for almost 80 years and have three elements: remembrance for ALL victims of war; a commitment to peace; and challenge to attempts to glamorise war. 

My father and I never met. He was killed in the War six months before I was born. His death was neither glamourous nor heroic, just messy and painful. So, I have always worn a red poppy to remember his sacrifice. 

Equally, I know that people of different communities, nations, religions, age, etc. have died and continue to do so because of war and its consequences. So I support all attempts to end war, and bring about lasting peace. That’s why I wear a White Poppy. 

Both types of Poppy are about respect and remembrance. That’s why I support wearing both. 

                                                                                 TC

That time of year thou mayst in me behold

When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang

Upon those boughs which shake against the cold,

Bare ruin'd choirs, where late the sweet birds sang.

In me thou see'st the twilight of such day

As after sunset fadeth in the west.

Which by and by black night doth take away, 

Death's second self, that seals up all in rest.

In me thou see'st the glowing of such fire
That on the ashes of his youth doth lie,
As the death-bed whereon it must expire, 

Consum'd with that which it was nourish'd by. 

This thou perceiv'st, which makes thy love more strong,

To love that well which thou must leave ere long.

                                               William Shakespeare

The Bible cites many instances to show that God watches out for his people. In Exodus, God promises to send a messenger, an angel, to act as a guide. “I am going to send an angel in front of you, to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared.” (Exodus 23: 20-22) In Genesis, angels escorted Lot out of Sodom. An angel finds food for Elijah in the desert, and in Matthew’s Gospel we are told that angels ministered to Jesus in the desert. In the Acts of the Apostles, we read that an angel released Peter from prison. 

Belief in Angels and specifically guardian angels who are assigned to guard the souls of individuals is ancient. I remember when I was a child being instructed about my guardian angel. I can’t say I have been very attentive said for some time to what he has, until I came across a quote from Pope Francis: 

“Ask yourself this question today: How is my relationship with my guardian angel? Do I listen to him? Do I say good morning to him in the morning? Do I ask him: Watch over me when I sleep?’ Do I speak with him? Do I ask his advice? He is by my side. We can answer this question today, each of us: how is our relationship with this angel that the Lord has sent to watch over me and accompany me on my journey, and who always sees the face of the Father who is in heaven. 

“The angel is the daily door toward transcendence, to the encounter with the Father, the angel helps me walk along the path because he looks at the Father who knows the way. Let us not forget this traveling companion.” 

                                                                                  Pope Francis 2015 

“As we journey along the pleasant and sometimes unpleasant rhythms of the seasons, we become more and more aware of the immutable wisdom of the seasons, and their Creator. We become more attentive to the question of living in harmony with nature’s cycles, of looking deep into the seasons which shape our daily lives. From them we glean inspiration and inner sustenance. 

“Ultimately, our lives become fully integrated only when we accept the guidance of God and harmonise with the cycles of nature, the cycles of the heart, the cycles of the liturgy and the cycles of life and death……………. 

“…. I gaze at the tapestry of beauty around me and delight in the sunlight shining in the trees. The air is crystal clear, and there is nothing finer than breathing it deeply. As I rejoice at the lovely sight of our trees, standing tall in regal colours, I drink deeply from the sweetly scented seasonal air. I thank God for the gift of life, for the fact that he brought me here to this place, to this point in time, where I can marvel at the wonders of his creation. It gives complete satisfaction to the heart.” 

                        From Blessings of the Daily•Brother Victor-Antione d’Avila-Latourette 

1. Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

2. Blessed are the meek: for they shall possess the land. 

3. Blessed are they who mourn: for they shall be comforted. 

4. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice: for they shall have their fill. 

5. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 

6. Blessed are the clean of heart: for they shall see God. 

7. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 

8. Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Some (mercifully few) people look on the poor with disdain as if poverty is their fault. Most of us have some sympathy for those who find it difficult to meet their needs for whatever reason. So, when Jesus talks about the “poor in spirit”, and urges us to seek it, what exactly does he mean? 

Simply this: we must be humble in our spiritual life. “Humble” has some negative meanings these days, thanks to Charles Dickens and his creation, Uriah Heap, a swivel-eyed, leering hypocrite who proclaims frequently that ‘I’m very ‘umble’. Fortunately Uriah is not the role model for what Jesus meant. 

“Humble” emerged in English 800 years ago and meant “submissive, respectful, lowly in manner, modest, not self-asserting, obedient." So, to be “poor in spirit” is to acknowledge in modesty our spiritual poverty and sinfulness and – this is where humility is essential – our need for salvation, for Jesus’ saving love, if we are to overcome our spiritual poverty and move onwards in our spiritual journey. 

There are both negative and positive consequences of this acknowledgement. On the one hand we must not be self-satisfied or proud, acting as if we don’t really need God, because we are good enough. On the other hand, we must put self-interest aside and focus on God’s gift of love to us, sharing it with all who are part of our lives. This means trusting Him to protect us and give us the Holy Spirit’s gift of discernment that enables us to sense what he asks, and to use our talents in His service, 

Like everything that Jesus asks of us, when we put our self-interest to one side, it is all quite – Simple!! 

                                                               TC 

Meekness ≠ Weakness 

“We have every reason to be meek. We did not bring ourselves into existence. Every good we have is a gift ..… We cannot prevent our own deaths. We cannot raise ourselves from the dead and give ourselves the gift of eternal life with God. But God can.”                       Kevin Aldrich • Catholic Stand • May 2014 

Of all the Beatitudes, the one calling for meekness might seem the most puzzling. Isn’t it the strong and most forceful who conquer lands and acquire power? From our Catholic perspective meekness means making choices: choosing to embrace humility, to put aside arrogance, and to be kind and open to others. These are not the actions of the weak and naïve! To make and stay with these choices, you have to have courage, strength and stamina. 

Across the Church there are priests, religious, catechists, teachers, ministers, parents and young people who strive to live Catholic virtues and who do so in a meek and humble fashion. Their gentleness of heart and spirit shows that, in their own way, they are claiming their inheritance by the power of love, compassion, mercy, and understanding: - the outward signs of meekness. 

How do we become meek? We must throw away anger. Meekness is the opponent of anger. Therefore, we return love for hatred and blessings and prayers for curses. One thing we do not do is violently impose our faith on others. The early Church conquered the Roman Empire through non-violent means and we will re-evangelize our society in the same way. 

So Meekness is chiefly about the virtue of hope. We trust that God will keep his promises to us: to give us eternal life.       

                                                      TC 

In the last two weeks we have reflected on humility and meekness. This week we look at one of the most difficult of life’s experiences – grieving and comforting those who mourn. 

It seems a bit odd that the mournful can be called ‘blessed’. We all understand how painful grief can be, whatever the loss – and it doesn’t feel like being blessed. Indeed, it can feel like a punishment. But this beatitude refer to a special kind of mourning that is, in fact the antidote to grieving. 

If we love God, we will love all those who belong to God, that is, everyone. God’s incomprehensible love is given to every human being without exception. 

When we truly love others, their happiness becomes ours. Even so, we may find them in pain, suffering and struggling to be happy. Because we love them, their suffering also becomes ours. We mourn for and with them. It is impossible to remain indifferent to the sufferings of others, once we have discovered and recognised God’s love. It is the sins of human beings, the cold indifference of others towards God and our neighbour that fills us with sorrow. 

God’s love is there for all who grieve. We can be a channel of God’s love for those who mourn, by sharing their grief. 

Through this sharing, both become blessed. 

                                                         TC 

Source: The Beatitudes: A Concise Summary Deacon Douglas McManaman • catholiceducation.org 

“See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are.” 1 John 3.1-2 

Those who heard the fourth Beatitude would recognise immediately the terms He used. At the time Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount, hunger and thirst were quite common. However, Jesus did not intend his words to be taken literally. He is pointing to what John (above) says: that God’s love is so great that he gave his Son in sacrifice to save us. Through this act of love our identity as children of God is confirmed. 

The foundation of love is justice and moral perfection. This makes sense. To pursue justice is not to obey passively God’s law, but also to act: - to achieve, sustain and promote brotherly love of Jesus. In other words, following this beatitude means committing ourselves to establishing and maintaining the right (just and loving) relationship between ourselves, God and the people we live and work with. 

So, why ‘hunger’? Hunger is a sign of life. We become spiritually alive when we hunger to love others for their sakes, not as snack food to meet our needs. Jesus says those who have this hunger will find their appetites filled. This makes it easier to see the wrongs about us and to want to do battle to fix them. We cannot do this relying on our own strengths, but, as with the first three Beatitudes, by abandoning our self-interest to allow Jesus to work within us. 

“Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.” 1 John 4:7 

                                                           TC 

What is Mercy? 

Mercy is the unmerited act of kindness to someone in need. It is kind to do something good for another. This may be giving some water to someone who is parched or giving all one has to people who have nothing. 

It is unmerited because it is not something the recipient has ‘earned’. It is a just act to reward employees for doing their jobs not an act of mercy! Contributing to the second collections in church are acts of mercy because they invite you to make an unmerited act of kindness for people in need. 

Being merciful is not just about giving money. It is, more importantly, about our use of the power we have over others. You may think you don’t have any power, but you do - over elderly relatives who need you to ensure they are cared for; children whose education is in your hands; neighbours who may need friendship. Mercy also extends to those who may have offended or hurt you, when forgiveness may lead them to do good. 

Take a moment now to write down the people in your life who could or do benefit from your unmerited kindness towards them. I think you’ll find it a long list! 

Christ promised that those who show mercy will receive it. We need His mercy; we are sinners and prone to use our power over people to act in our interests, not theirs. As with a hunger for justice, we must also search within ourselves for the mercy that wants no reward. Acts of mercy are powerful ways of sharing God’s love with others 

Prayer: Lord give me eyes to see how I can make an act with kindness today to someone in need. Amen. 

                                                        TC 

God’s plan for us is to see Him and to be with Him forever. To be pure of heart means that our love is directed wholly and solely to God: 

“you shall love the LORD, your God, with your whole heart, and with your whole being, and with your whole strength” [Deuteronomy 6:5] 

Jesus added that we must love our neighbour as ourselves [Mark 12:29-31] for, as we have seen in looking at other Beatitudes, our mission is to continue Jesus’ work and bring God’s love to others’ 

It is an old definition made popular again these days that “pure” means “without blemish’. Because of this, some argue that “pure” spirituality is a spirituality unsoiled by contact with grosser elements most especially with biological matter such as the human body with its wide variety of fluids, sticky viscous substances, mucus, blood, spit, sweat and so on. But this is to argue for sterility. In the same way there are those who claim that ‘scepticism is the purity of the intellect and the only sure thing is doubt’ But that also is to argue for intellectual sterility through failure to commit sincerely to any faith or any action. Think about it and you will realise that these ways of thinking about purity go only skin deep. 

From the earliest days of the Church, Christians have taken an entirely different approach. Our emphasis is on being free from sin and has above all to do with relationships - with God and our fellow humans. If we have a heart that is simple, open, and good, purity of heart means that we don’t hide who we are from other people, and that we treat others the way Christ would, as persons with great dignity, not reducing them to objects of personal pleasure. Thus may we see God 

                                                                       TC 

“Peace” has several meanings for us humans: an end to hostilities; freedom from disturbance; tranquillity; peace of mind; being in a state of friendliness; civil order. All these definitions have one thing in common: they refer to relations between people and usually refer to some improvement from undesirable to agreeable human circumstances. 

This is not what Jesus is talking about when calling peacemakers “children of God”. In this Beatitude, Jesus refers to our relationship with God as individuals, as communities and as a Church. He is saying that whatever else is happening, our focus has to be on the journey to paradise, following the road. He urges pursuit of ‘the peace that surpasses all understanding’ (Philippians’ 4:7). 

Being at peace is not a passive state: it is good to strive for the end of war, for freedom from disturbance, for maintaining friendships and so on. But these are only steps on our journey, driven by our desire to serve and love God, and not our self-interests. Self-interest may drive much peacemaking: history shows such ‘peace’ is not sustainable. 

God’s Peace should be the basis of all work for peace, because divine peace is the fulfilment of our friendship with God, our acceptance of His authority and our joy in His love. As such it is the perfect template for achieving peace in the world. Jesus, leader and exemplar of our struggle for peace, says he is not bringing peace on earth but bringing earth (that’s all of us) to peace in heaven. 

It follows that peace is and should be the Church’s priority and that building and maintaining friendships is top priority for each of us in our daily lives. 

                                                                 TC 

We celebrated this event on August 6th. In the Gospel accounts of the Transfiguration, we see the explicit desire on the part of the eternal Father to glorify his Son before he undergoes the sufferings of his Passion. For the moment the veil covering his divinity is lifted and, suddenly, Jesus appears clothed in unsurpassed beauty. He is luminous, translucent with the Father’s glory. The disciples present at the event instantly recognise the glory of God shining from that human face. From the mysterious, enveloping cloud, they hear the solemn declaration: “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him.” (Mt 17:5) This is the Father speaking, with nearly the exact words he spoke from on high at the baptism of Jesus. He bears witness to the fact that Jesus is the only Son of God, true God from true God, as we believe and assent in the Credo. 

                              From Blessing of the Daily Br. Victor-Antoine d’Avila-Laturette 

Most people seem to think of ‘freedom’ and ‘obedience’ as opposites. This usually in reference to some ‘rules’ that a person wants to break or dismiss. “Now I work for myself, I can express myself fully.” “I’m retired, so I can do what I want.” 

In reality, freedom and obedience go hand in hand: 

“Freedom of choice is a core value of modern life. Somebody might express it as follows: ‘I don’t want to be told what to do. I want to be free to be me. I express my freedom by exercising my right to choose … Yet, for many people, their supposedly free choices are driven by obedience to a hidden agenda.” 

                                          Rev. Christopher Jamison Finding Sanctuary 

“Choice” of clothing is a good example. People may think they have many choices when buying clothes, ranging from grunge jeans to smart suits, differing styles, materials and prices. Yet these ‘choices’ are only responses to other people’s ideas about what we should wear. Fashion houses, retailers, fashion leaders, friends and associates’ preferences - few of us can claim to be truly independent in what we wear. Using the language of freedom while being ruled by hidden agendas is dangerous. We may claim to be doing one thing but are actually doing the other. I know someone who often says, “I’m still a Catholic, but I don’t go to mass. It does nothing for me.” Can you be a Catholic and refuse to go to mass? 

Obeying good rules is healthy and life fulfilling. So is true independence. So how can we do both? First we must know what we are choosing to obey. Second we must look for choices which improve our spiritual wellbeing. How can we tell that? It’s very difficult, but there are two things we can do that help us – listening to God as he talks to us through scripture, the Mass, the words of our parish priest and other good people we may meet: then, we can ask ourselves “What would Jesus do?” 

                                                  TC. 

Do Your Children a Favour — Be a Burden on Them 

God gave us the Ten Commandments to guide us in right living. The Fourth Commandment, “Honour your father and mother,” is the last of the “Do” Commandments (as opposed to the 6 “Don’ts” that follow). 

We get plenty of opportunities to freely choose obedience to the first three Commandments. But once our parents get older — much older — and need more and more assistance, we don’t always get the opportunity to “honour” our parents — to take direct care of them. Many parents have chosen to not allow this, because they don’t want to be a “burden.” 

At one time, it was common for three (or more) generations to live under one roof. Now, the elderly have strangers taking care of them in institutions. Multiple generations of children have been conditioned to think “it’s probably better” to arrange this and call or stop by for a visit once a week, or once a month... or not at all. It has become “normal” to see taking care of one’s parents as just not practical — that we’re not qualified or we’re too busy. In the meantime, many elderly parents sit in hospital-like rooms in soulless facilities growing depressed that they see their children and grandchildren seldomly, and wonder why life turned out this way. Some ask God why he continues to let them live, because what’s the point? Some children wonder the same thing. 

When you look at this issue from the perspective both of the elderly parent and of the not-very-involved adult child, is it any wonder that assisted suicide has become culturally acceptable? In this context, even some Catholics are tempted to think “It’s probably better.” It isn’t. 

So, when you’re considering how you might want to handle retirement, consider the value of being a burden on your children. 

                                                   TC 

Recently someone asked me “How holy do you have to be to become a saint?” The Church’s teaching is that we can all become saints: 

“A "saint" is anyone in Heaven, whether recognized on Earth or not ……. These may include our own mothers, grandmothers or other loved ones (cf. 2 Tim 1:5) who may have not always lived perfect lives but amid their faults and failings they kept moving forward and proved pleasing to the Lord" 

                              (What is a saint? Vatican Information Service, 29 July 1997) 

Of course, there are saints and Saints, the latter being those officially proclaimed by the Church as a Saint. And I think that was what my friend was asking about – how the Church recognises that someone is in heaven and that their life was such that they should be held up as an example to all. 

5 Steps to Sainthood 

First, the person’s local bishop investigates their life. If the bishop is satisfied, he submits the information to the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints (CCS). 

Second, the CCS can choose to reject the application or accept it and begin their own investigation of the person’s life. The person may then be called Servant of God. 

Third, if the CCS approves of the candidate, they can choose to declare that the person lived a life heroically virtuous. This isn’t a declaration that the person is in heaven, but that they pursued holiness while here on earth. The person may be called Venerable. 

Fourth, to be recognized as someone in heaven requires that a miracle has taken place through the intercession of that person. Miracles have to be first verified as scientifically unexplainable by independent experts, then the person is approved by a panel of theologians. Final approval lies with the pope. The person is then declared Blessed. 

Fifth, a second miracle is needed in order to declare someone a Saint. The confirmation of a second miracle goes through the same scrutiny as the first. 

More about this and our own progress toward sainthood below. 

                                                            TC 

Last week we saw how the Church recognises a person as a Saint – i.e. someone who has entered heaven and is a model for the rest of us. We also saw that everyone who gets to heaven is a saint, including those whose credentials for canonisation may not be known or recognised on earth. That is probably what will be the case for most us! So, it is worth exploring what it means in practical terms. 

Essentially, becoming a saint (whether canonised or not) means living a holy life. The question we might ask is how do I become and remain holy? That, however, is not quite the right question: 

Do you not know and understand that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells permanently in you? … for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are” (I Corinthians 3:16-17) 

We do not become holy by what we do, but by what God has made of us - His temple. The message of the Gospel is not about being egotistical and having a (cunning?) plan for becoming holy. The Gospel’s message is about what God has done for us, through the sacrifice of His Son. We have been set aside for a specific purpose. You can’t become holy – you are made holy by God’s grace. This not something that happens in stages, but the act of God within us. Holiness is not a thing: it is a person and his name is Jesus. We live in Him and are eternally holy because of it. 

That is not to say we can sit back smugly and watch the world go by. That would be placing ‘ME’ before Him. The purpose that God has for us in this life is to grow in the way we express the holiness within us. The Beatitudes tell us the different ways in which we can express this in terms others can recognise. It is our witness to the truth of the Gospel. It is worth reading and reflecting on the Beatitudes and the part they play (or should play) in our day-to-day lives. So, you can stop running to find what you already possess. Instead, use it! 

                                                              TC 

“Fear is a force that can turn that which is real, meaningful, warm, gentle, and kind in your life into devastation and a desert. It is a powerful force…. 

“The best story I know is from India … and it is a story about a man who is condemned to spend a night in a cell with a poisonous snake. If he made the slightest little stir, the snake was on top of him and he was dead. So, he stood in the corner of the cell … petrified. He barely dared to breathe for fear of alerting the snake. … When the full force of light came in with the full dawn he noticed it was not a snake at all. It was an old rope. 

The moral of the story is very profound: …… in our minds there are harmless old ropes, but when fear begins to work on them, we convert them into monsters who hold us prisoners.” 

                                    Walking in the Pastures of Wonder John O’Donohue 

Help is at hand. There are 33 places in the Bible where God tells to be not afraid: e.g. 

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 

Dali’s painting Christ of St John o the Cross is a breath-taking vision of what Christ has done for us. The original can be seen in the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow and is well worth a visit. 

The painting is known as the Christ of Saint John of the Cross, because its design is based on a drawing by the 16th-century Spanish friar St John of the Cross. The composition of Christ is also based on a triangle and circle (the triangle is formed by Christ's arms; the circle is formed by Christ's head). The triangle, since it has three sides, is a reference to the Trinity. The circle represents Unity. 

Like its subject, the painting caused controversy when first acquired by the Art Gallery. Heated debates ensued about the propriety depicting Christ in a secular place, whether it was blasphemous and whether it was too clearly ‘papist’ propaganda. There was also a petition to have the money used to buy it (£8,000) spent on facilities for art students. The fury of this brouhaha led one over-zealous opponent to attack it with a stone and his bare hands, causing considerable damage that, fortunately, could be repaired by conservators. (Since then it has won a poll as Scotland’s favourite painting.) 

It is ironic that the attack on the painting with stone and hands mirrors the attempts, and ultimate failure, of his enemies to humiliate and destroy him. Christ lives with us still, as does this painting. 

“For many, God seems to be distant: he does not evoke any emotional resonance. They do not love God less, if they venerate him as God and do his will. [However] by becoming man God gave us an object more accessible to our emotions. By loving Christ, and our neighbour in him, we love God with our heart of flesh…… 

“He who sees Christ, sees the Father. Christ giving himself up to death for love of us - that is what the Father is like. He gave what was most dear to him, his Son, who is ‘the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being’ (Hebrews 1:3), whom he loved with a love that is his eternal substance. Could he love us with such great love and remain beyond reach?................ 

Perhaps the deepest mystery is not that God loves us, for he is Love, but that he wants our love - for he is God. 

“That love is pure gratuitousness, before any response on our part. ‘Christ died for us while we were still sinners … enemies [of God].’ (Romans 5:8, 10). My faith is o believe in the existence of this love, not in the perfect, abstract love as the philosophers would like to imagine it, nor in a universal love for my fellow humans as such. It is in this scandalous, irrational, gratuitous, absolute love of God in Christ that I believe. 

‘The life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.’ (Galations 2:20)” 

From ‘From Advent to Pentecost: Carthusian Novice Conferences’ by A Carthusian: DLT 1999 

were donated to the parish and have come from the shrine at Krakow. To find out more about this devotion please take a leaflet from the rack at the back of Church. 

On Sundays and special feast days the Church requires the singing of the “Gloria.” It is an ancient hymn, one that started out very humbly as a personal poem, imitating the Psalms, seeking to praise God. 

The initial words of the Gloria are straight from the Bible and part of an angelic hymn to God on that first Christmas night. (Luke 2:14) 

However, after that line everything else was composed separately. Who com-posed it? There is no known author, but it can be traced back to the third century., “The Gloria, like the Kyrie, was not created originally for the liturgy of the Mass. It is an heirloom from the treasure of ancient Church hymns, a precious remnant of a literature now almost buried but once certainly very rich.” 

                            Joseph A. Jungmann in The Mass of the Roman Rite 

These early hymns were called, “psalms by private persons” and were not written for any particular liturgical use. At first it was used in the East as a morning hymn in the Little Hours of the Divine Office, as a general hymn of thanksgiving and praise used outside the main liturgical events. One of the first instances of its use during the Mass was at the Mass of Christmas night. Later it was added to Sundays and feasts of martyrs. As the centuries went by this particular hymn became more and more a central part of the Mass and was obligatory on certain days by the 5th century. 

The current General Instruction of the Roman Missal explains its vital importance: 

The Gloria in excelsis (Glory to God in the highest) is a most ancient and venerable hymn by which the Church, gathered in the Holy Spirit, glorifies and entreats God the Father and the Lamb. The text of this hymn may not be replaced by any other. 

It is a glorious song, one that invites us to complete the hymn of the angels and to add our voices in thanksgiving for everything that God has done for us. 

Source: https://aleteia.org/2018/02/03/how-someones-poem-became-the-greatest-hymn-of-the-mass/ 

“It was revealed to Abba Antony in his desert that there was one who was his equal in the city. He was a doctor by profession, and whatever he had beyond his needs he gave to the poor, and every day he sang the Sanctus with the angels. 

              ST ANTONY THE GREAT 

Re-reading this episode about the life of St Antony of the Desert is always refreshing. One wonders who is worthy of greater admiration: Saint Antony, the father of monks, who with deep humility recognises the holiness in another and rejoices in it: or the admirable evangelical witness of this doctor’s life, who strove to live by God’s word in the midst of the wicked world of his times!

Both lives, one lived in the solitude of the desert and the other amid the distractions of the world, spring from the same love for God, the same purity of intention in God’s service, possess the same love for the poor in whom both recognise the person of Christ, and practise the same detachment in giving up what is superfluous in their lives.

Because of this, both Abba Antony in his austere desert solitude, and the humble doctor in his noisy city environment are equally pleasing in the sight of the Lord and are given the equal joy of praising God unceasingly, singing daily in the company of the angels the thrice-holy hymn: Holy, Holy, Holy.”

Brother Victor-Antione d’Avila-Latourette: Blessings of the Daily 

At the end of the fourth century, a woman named Etheria made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Her journal, discovered in 1887, gives an unprecedented glimpse of liturgical life there. Among the celebrations she describes is the gala procession in honour of his Presentation in the Temple 40 days later—February 15. 

This feast emphasizes Jesus’ first appearance in the Temple. 

The observance spread throughout the Western Church in the fifth and sixth centuries. Because the Church in the West celebrated Jesus’ birth on December 25, the Presentation was moved to February 2, 40 days after Christmas. At the beginning of the eighth century, Pope Sergius inaugurated a candlelight procession, which has become part of the celebration, giving the feast its popular name: Candlemas. 

After celebrating the Nativity of our Lord, with its splendour in both the Church and the popular culture, it would be easy to overlook the significance of this feast. Yet Joseph and Mary’s presentation of the baby was no pro forma event. They did this to conform with the Law and in doing so God enters the Temple. The words of the prophet Malachi are fulfilled in the poor parents presenting their firstborn son along with their humble sacrifice of two turtledoves. 

Simeon and Anna, having spent their lives in prayer and waiting in the Temple for the Messiah, have their ‘moment’ with the glorious Nunc Dimittis of Simeon. With Candlemas we celebrate the coming of the Light of the World. But a shadow also passes. Simeon not only proclaimed that he had seen his salvation, but also told the Mother of our Lord that her share would include a sorrow-pierced heart. 

                                                           TC 

Laetare is the Latin for Rejoice and comes from the first words of the Introit at Mass - Isaiah 66:10-11, which begins "Rejoice, O Jerusalem" and continues "Rejoice with joy, you that have been in sorrow". Today, the Fourth Sunday, has been viewed traditionally as a day of celebration tinged with sadness, coming in the middle of Lent when Easter is in sight and Lenten austerity can be lessened briefly to encourage people to continue with the discipline of penance. So the purple of Lent is put aside and rose vestments are used instead. 

In fact ‘Rose Sunday’ is another traditional name for this day, although by far the most recognisable name is ‘Mothering Sunday’ - not, note, “Mother’s Day”, which is a modern commercial invention. 

Mothering Sunday got its name during the Middle Ages, when people were expected, at this time in Lent, to go to mass at their ‘Mother’ church; i.e. where they were baptised, or their parish church or their cathedral (a cathedral being the ‘mother’ of all the parish churches in a diocese). 

In later times, Mothering Sunday became a day when domestic servants were given a day off to visit their mother church, usually with other family members. It was often the only time that whole families could gather together, since on other days they were prevented from doing so by conflicting working hours. Today is not much different. 

As for “Mother’s Day”, my mother got it right: she would always say 

”Why one Mother’s Day? Every Day should be Mother’s Day!!” 

                                                          TC

This is still for some, the lambing season. For Christians, the presence of a new baby lamb is an intimation of another lamb. 

Jesus the Lamb of God, offered himself in sacrifice to the Father at the exact time of the Jewish Passover, at the very moment that paschal lambs were being killed for sacrifice in the Temple. 

The Lord’s self-sacrifice was accomplished out of that incomprehensible love he had for us, so that he might “take away the sins of many and bring salvation” to those who eagerly await him. 

Prayer 

O long-suffering Lord, who accepted death for our sake, glory to you! 

May we walk by your side and bear witness to your love for all mankind. 

Amen 

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: 

to loose the chains of injustice 

and untie the cords that imprison unfairly, 

to set the oppressed free 

and break every yoke? 

Is it not to share your food with the hungry 

and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— 

when you see the naked, to clothe him, 

and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? 

Then your light will break forth like the dawn, 

and your healing will quickly appear; 

then your righteousness will go before you, 

and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. 

Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; 

you will cry for help, and he will say: Here I am. 

                             Isaiah 58:6–9 (NIV) 

“Too often we become enemies of others: we do not wish them well. And Jesus tells us to love our enemies! And this is not easy! Let me just answer this question and let each of us answer it in our own heart: ‘Do I pray for my enemies? Do I pray for those who do not love me?’ If we say ‘yes’ I will say ‘Go on, pray more, you are on right path.” 

                                 Pope Francis - Vatican Radio 

Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 

                                 Romans 12:17-18 

Reconciliation is not an end in itself. St Teresa of Avila summed up beautifully why we need to cleanse our souls in readiness for Christ’s Resurrection and Ascension. 

CHRIST HAS NO BODY 

Christ has no body but yours, 

No hands, no feet on earth but yours, 

Yours are the eyes with which he looks 

compassion on this world, 

Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good, 

Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world. 

Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, 

Yours are the eyes, you are his body. 

Christ has no body now but yours, 

No hands, no feet on earth but yours, 

Yours are the eyes with which he looks 

compassion on this world. 

Christ has no body now on earth but yours. 

Charity ... 

is more than giving money. It is stretching out to those in need with Christian love: 

“If you break the chains of oppression; 

if you set the pris’ners free; 

if you share your bread with the hungry; 

give protection to the lost; 

give a shelter to the homeless; 

clothe the naked in your midst; 

then your light shall break forth like the dawn.” 

Marty Haugen ‘Return to God’ 

The Holy Humility of Christ 

The ‘Kenosis’ icon reminds us of the trial and death of Christ and his patient endurance throughout. These are not the sufferings of an ordinary man. They are endured by the Son, in whose person the divine and the human co-exist. Christ’s humility in accepting suffering is a lesson and model for us all. 

The icon (see below) is the focus of “The Bridegroom” service celebrated in churches of the Byzantine tradition in Holy Week. The stanzas of the Bridegroom hymn are beautiful and expressive, especially when sung. Here are some in loose translation: 

O Bridegroom, more beautiful than all men, 

Called to your kingdom’s spiritual feast, 

We need your flawless wedding garments, 

So that clothed in all your beauty’s raiments 

We may come into your bridal chamber, 

Shining as your guests with glory and joy. 

Let us love the Bridegroom, ready our lamps. 

Let virtue’s radiance and faith’s depth shine, 

And thus, wise virgins, let us come with Christ 

To the wedding feast and receive from God 

The incorruptible garment and crown. 

(for more go to http://standrewgoc.org/hom

"Nor do I condemn you. You may go." (John 8:11) 

Forgiveness, in its truest and highest form, is a free act of love. But precisely because it is an act of love, it has its own intrinsic demands: the first of which is: ”God alone is absolute truth. But He made the human heart open to the desire for truth, which He then fully revealed in His Incarnate Son. ...”. Pope John Paul II 

Christians must let go of resentments and forgive those who have wronged them so that they may experience God’s forgiveness, Pope Francis has said. 

This can be particularly difficult when “we carry with us a list of things that have been done to us,” the pope said in his homily on March 6th at morning Mass in the Domus Sanctae Marthae. 

“God’s forgiveness is felt strongly within us as long as we forgive others. And this isn’t easy because grudges make a nest in our heart and there is always that bitterness,” he said. 

Prayer 

Lord Jesus 

In your mercy heal us; 

In your love and tenderness, remake us; 

In your compassion, bring grace and forgiveness; 

For the beauty of heaven, may your love prepare us. 

                                          TC

There are many myths about the origins of the snowdrop.  Among these is the story of Eve, who was distraught after God had expelled her and Adam from the Garden. As Eve sat weeping, an angel appeared to comfort her. The angel caught a snowflake and breathed upon it. The snowflake fluttered to the earth and gave birth to the snowdrop. Thus did this delicate bloom come to symbolize hope and rebirth. 

Snowdrops bloom in late winter and so it is no wonder that they are regarded as indicators of forthcoming Spring and better weather. They also have a special meaning for Christians. They bloom before or at the beginning of Lent, the season in which we remember Christ’s sacrifice to redeem us, and when we anticipate the glory of Easter and the Resurrection. It is perfectly proper then that we rejoice in the blossoming of snowdrops, for they give us hope, reassure us of rebirth and provide consolation as we recall our Saviour’s suffering. 

                                                         TC