Feast of Saints Peter and Paul

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A House Divided Falls - Mark 3:25

First of all, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. And indeed, there must be differences among you to show which of you are approved. 1 Cor. 11:18 I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree together, so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be united in mind and conviction. My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: Individuals among you are saying, “I follow Paul,” “I follow Apollos,” “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 1 Cor. 1:10 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone. Rom. 12:17 Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you harmony with one another in Christ Jesus, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring glory to God. Rom. 15:5 Therefore if you have any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being united in spirit and purpose. 1 Pt. 3: Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Phil. 2:1 Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 1 Pt. 3:8 What better image could be found to describe our situation today than "a house divided". Everywhere you look, be it in religion, politics, or society in general the voices of acrimony are heard rising up among the people. In Mark 3:25, and parallel in Matthew 12:25 and Luke 11:17, Jesus uses this image in response to his being accused of causing divisions by his teaching. But in his defence he uncovers the real author of division, the undivided Evil One, the Accuser . . . the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God." Rev. 12:10 While the real author of division is exposed by Jesus, our complicity in its work of division must also be discerned and addressed. The texts quoted above indicate how the first generation of the Church is being called to address their complicity, their sins of division.  This is no less necessary for our generation. As we reflect on our calling to share in the mission of evangelization we must carefully examine the condition and character of our work - are we actually building or dividing?  When it comes to divisions, we must not underestimate their complexity and the harm they do; yet at the same time we must not underestimate the power of the reconciling love found in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the tools we are given to work with. The work of unifying begins first in our own house, indeed in each one's heart. Now with this healing grace at work in us we can be more effective builders of unity in the wider communities. Church community and evangelization will always be our calling. How we carry it out will be a learning process for each generation. But it will always be a work love, unity and healing. One last thought; the opening verse of Psalm 127 begins with this wisdom: Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labour in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. Lets us never forget that we are the labourers, the Lord is the Architect. Father, I am not asking on behalf of them alone, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. I am not asking that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the Evil One. John 17: Repairs are underway, now we need workers

Twelfth Sunday - 2021

On that day, when evening had come, Jesus said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was being swamped. But Jesus was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. Jesus said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Mk 4:35-41 ! ! ! And so it is in these days ! ! ! Some Points for Reflection and Prayer The disciples have listen to Jesus gracious words - teaching like nothing they have ever heard. They are strongly attracted, and begin to seek after Jesus to hear more. Consider your own attraction to Jesus and the Catholic faith - what is it that is attracting you - why do you stay with it? They have witnessed healing power result from his prayer. Spirits obey his authority. Consider your own experience -  what moments of convincing experience stand out as strongly persuading for your faith?  A raging storm overtakes them on the sea - the boat is rapidly taking on water - sinking appears immanent - they are seized by fear. Jesus presence is not in doubt but his behavior is unexplainable - he is sleeping - sleeping!!! ".... do you not care that we are perishing?” Consider your response in your "stormy times" - what is the measure of doubt that overtakes you - are you confused by the thought of Jesus being present with you, yet seeming to be of no help? Jesus "awakens", takes charge and the storm abates. “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” Consider that storms are real, fear comes naturally - so how do I know my faith is faltering - when I say "DON'T YOU CARE!"

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Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

There are several saints with a special connection to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, but Saint Margaret Mary, will forever be associated with devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the symbol of Christ’s love. The first liturgical feast of the Sacred Heart was celebrated, with episcopal approval, on 31 August 1670, in the major seminary of Rennes, France, through the efforts of Saint John Eudes. In 1856, Pope Pius IX established the Feast of the Sacred Heart as obligatory for the whole Church, to be celebrated on the Friday after the Octave of Corpus Christi. In June 1889, Leo XIII raised the feast to the dignity of the first class. In 1928, Pope Pius XI raised the feast to the highest rank.  The Roman Missal published in 1970 provided three sets of prayers and readings, one for each year of the three-year liturgical cycle. Priests may use this Mass, celebrated with white vestments, as a Votive Mass on other days also, especially on the first Friday of each month (unless falling on a day of higher rank). On this first Friday it is also common to hold a Eucharistic adoration for a few hours. For more on these saints visit Saint of the Day < < < LINK > > >

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Corpus Christi - 2021

This Sunday’s celebration of Corpus Christi will be unlike any we have ever known. All church doors remain locked and no one will be gathering around the table of the Eucharist. As the image above suggests we might group those not attending Mass this weekend into two major groups, those prevented from entering churches because of Covid Pandemic restrictions and those who no longer choose to attend church. The first group are truly hungering for the Bread of Life; lets us hope that these restrictions now preventing them will soon be lifted. But what of those who’s absence from Mass has been for some time a matter of their own choosing, what should be said of them? Their reasons are many and complex, and regrettably many have made this choice because of the influence of an extremely negative attitude toward religion generally found in our culture today. What is needed here is not judgement but healing. Here I am drawn back to the scripture texts we have recently reflected on during the Easter celebrations. One is the account of Thomas’ rejections of the witness given by his fellow disciples who have encountered the risen Jesus. Another is the account of the two Disciples on the road to Emmaus. There were two major views of a resurrection from the dead held by people at the time of Jesus, that of  the Sadducees who held that there was to be no resurrection of the dead whatsoever; the other by the Pharisees who did expect the dead to rise again, but back into this world in bodies exactly like those they had before they died. Thomas whose heart has been broken by the crucifixion and death of Jesus is not looking for some comforting idea of Jesus spiritual rising, put forward by those looking for consolation. Thomas needs to see the real, physical, living Jesus, back in his body, just like the Pharisees and all resurrectionists would need to see. The two Disciples on the road to Emmaus had hoped Jesus was the Messiah who would restore Israel to political freedom and greatness once again, but then witnessed his death and burial, are now leaving Jerusalem with heavy hearts to begin to look for another Messiah to come. Jesus’ appearance in his risen, glorified body to Thomas and the two Disciples restores them again to convinced believers. But in the case of the two Disciples a new dynamic is added to Jesus’ way of appearing and restoring faith. Jesus will continue to remain and confirm the faith believers, but it will be from now on by His real presence in the Eucharist. First people will need to be “Seekers”, or become Seekers again. This remains the work of Evangelization. But once seeking has been introduced into one’s heart, Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist will be the ever-present confirmation of that faith; the same confirmation that Jesus’ appearance brought to His disciples. When at last we are able to gather again around the Table of the Lord let us bring in our hearts all those we know who have chosen to deny themselves such a blessing, the blessing to be in the very presence of the Risen Lord Jesus, the blessing that was granted to Thomas and the two Disciples in their time of doubting.

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