22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A

Today’s Gospel reading brought back memories of my seminary days at Oscott.  During our scripture lessons, we carefully went over this reading line by line, to understand what it meant.  This reading has two versions in the Gospel accounts, there’s one in Matthew’s Gospel and there’s one in Mark’s.  Unfortunately, the one I studied was the other gospel account – Mark, but I am sure that the same key points will still apply to us today.

The line I will be focusing on, is probably the line that stands out the most, because it is strange and confusing to understand, especially coming from the lips of Jesus to Peter.  The line is: ‘Get behind me Satan.’

Poor Peter, in the Gospel, he seems to go from hero to villain in the space of just a few seconds.  He starts off alright, recognising that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God, when they were in the region of Caesarea Philippi, since Jesus puts this question to his disciples ‘who do people say that the Son of Man is?’  But from then on, it’s downhill all the way for Peter.

It all starts going wrong when Jesus happens to mention that he has no choice but to go to Jerusalem and to be killed.  Jesus said this with particular honesty and boldness.  However, that was too much for Peter, he reacts really quite strongly.  Peter takes Jesus to one side, which you can see, is a very controlling movement. 

It is equivalent of Peter taking Jesus by the scruff of the neck to have a serious word.  Peter convinced that he knows better than Jesus, must talk him out of all this nonsense about suffering and death.  After all, they are on their way to Jerusalem, and it is going to be glorious, and Jesus and the apostles will going to be on central stage.

Peter has put himself in front of Jesus, blocking his way.  So, Jesus turns in such a way to make it into a teachable moment, and tells Peter and his disciples, to get behind him, to get back on board, to get back to where they belong; to assume the proper place for a disciple – behind the master, following in his footsteps.  The Master must precede, the disciples must follow.  That is what ‘get behind me’ means.  Jesus isn’t dismissing Peter here, he is just reminding him to be a disciple and follow him.

But Jesus does also call him ‘Satan’, so what does that mean?  Again, the bible uses this word in a special way.  In Hebrew, the word ‘Satan’ means ‘opponent’.  Someone who is working against God.  So, when Jesus calls Peter ‘Satan’, he is saying, ‘Look Peter, can’t you see, you are behaving like God’s opponent.  You are resisting God’s will.  You need to do God’s will and not to resist it.’

So, in today’s reading, Peter doesn’t exactly cover himself with glory, but I suggest it isn’t as bad as we might have first thought.  Jesus doesn’t reject Peter, far from it. 

He wants to keep Peter as his disciple and to remind him, and us also, that human feelings, human interests, human desires and aspirations, don’t always necessarily chime in with the will of God. 

If we are not careful, then our approach to things can oppose the will of God. 

Our Lord is asking us all here today, to make sure that in every choice and every decision that we make in lives, we allow ourselves to be guided by God’s will. 

God must always take the lead, and we as his disciples, have the same role as Peter, and that is to get behind Jesus and follow him.

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

“Mary set out and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah.”  The village of Ain Karim in the hill country near Jerusalem is the traditional site of the house of Zechariah and Elizabeth.  It is located about five miles from the temple, convenient for Zechariah’s priestly duties.  For Mary, however, the journey from Nazareth would be about 90 miles, depending on the route, and it would have taken several days.  There is no mention of Joseph accompanying her, but it is nice to think that Joseph might have been with her, to help Mary along through dangerous and uncertain paths.

The Angel Gabriel said at the Annunciation:  ‘Hail Mary, Full of Grace.’  The Catechism confirms that Mary did not suffer from Original Sin, which was the first sin of Adam and Eve eating of the forbidden fruit.  Allowing Mary to receive the honour of being called ‘Immaculate’, Full of Grace. 

This doctrine of the ‘Immaculate Conception’ shows God’s Divine power working by grace throughout Mary’s life, it can be traced all the way back to the beginning of her existence.  The Immaculate Conception is the moment when Mary gave her ‘Yes’ to God, and God became Man, in Mary’s womb. 

It is only fitting that the baby Jesus dwelt in a worthy place, a new Ark, a holy temple, a dwelling place fit for the Messiah, and not stained by sin.

When Mary’s earthly life was finished, she was taken body and soul into Heavenly Glory.  Since Mary was ‘Full of Grace, and did not suffer from original sin, it was fitting that Mary, like her Son, would not experience any bodily corruption.

We read in the Old Testament that Enoch was taken into Heaven without seeing death, in the book of Hebrews.  Also, Elijah who was whisked into Heaven by the ‘Chariots of Fire’ in the whirlwind at the end of his life, from the second book of Kings.  If God could assume these righteous men, it is certainly possible that Jesus could assume his own Mother as well.

The idea of Mary’s bodily Assumption into Heaven at the end of her earthly life, became a focus for early Marian devotions, with the first evidence for the celebrating of the ‘Feast of the Dormition’ dating back to the year 600 in Constantinople and then 50 years later in Rome.

There have been many legends about the death of Mary, her falling asleep and passing into Heaven.  The oldest Greek narrative is from the Discourse of St John the Theologian, about the Falling asleep of the Mother of God.  In his discourse, there is the well-known motif of the gathering of the apostles in Jerusalem, some of whom had died, and God granted them to be present at the bedside of Mary.  Paul, Mark and James were included along with 12 other members during Mary’s final moments. 

So, let us today, allow this Solemnity to give us the opportunity to reflect on Mary’s purity.  She was the greatest background figure in the life of Christ, always co-operating with her Son.  She lived as an example to imitate, living through the same ups and downs that we do every day. 

On this joyful occasion, let us remind ourselves that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and like Mary, we are destined for that Glory that is presented to us, within the paradise of Heaven.

Let us allow Mary’s intercession to work in us and through us, as we become closer to the Lord, in mind, body and soul.

Our Lady, Mary Immaculate:  Pray for us.

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A

Today’s readings invite us to reflect on our faith in the midst of fear and uncertainty.  We are reminded that God is always present, however, not often where we expect him to be, and that the great challenge of the Christian life is to trust him when the winds are against us.

In the first reading, Elijah is exhausted, discouraged, and fearful.  He has done God’s work faithfully, yet everything seems to be falling apart.  Standing on Mount Horeb, he experiences wind, earthquake, and fire.  These are dramatic signs, but the Lord is not in them. Finally, Elijah hears a tiny whispering sound, a still small voice, and there he encounters God.

How often do we look for God in the big and dramatic scenes of life. Yet more often God comes quietly.  He speaks to us through prayer, through Scripture, and through the Sacraments.  The problem is not that God is silent.  The problem is that we need to be silent through the busyness of our daily lives.

In our Gospel today, we hear Jesus walking on the water.  A dramatic encounter with God involving an intensive manifestation of Jesus’ divine power.  The disciples came face to face with the divine person of Jesus, the shroud of mystery briefly pulled back to reveal his true identity.

We hear Jesus didn’t not accompany his disciples in the boat.  Instead, he sends them off ahead to the other side, while he stayed behind.  Jesus wanted his quiet moment of prayer and solitude up the mountain, to pray to His heavenly Father. 

Meanwhile the disciples were fighting for their lives against stormy weather for much of the night, the wind blowing hard against their boats, churning up big angry waves upon the sea of Galilee. 

Galilee sits about 210 metres below sea level, making it one of the lowest freshwater lakes in the world.  The lake is surrounded by hills and mountains, especially on the eastern side.  Cold air rushing down from these heights collides with the warm air over the lake, creating sudden and violent storms.

With the surrounding terrain, that contains many ravines that act like wind tunnels, strong winds descend through these gaps, and they can strike the lake with very little warning, whipping up large waves very quickly.

The disciples managed to get close, a few miles from shore, during the 4^th watch of the night, which is around the hours of 3 – 6am. 

Suddenly they see Jesus walking towards the boat.  Their first reaction was terror, as they thought it was a ghost.  However, Jesus responds, ‘It is I’, hoping to calm their fears. 

As we know, Peter asks to join him on the water, at first things start to go well, as Peter begins to stride across the waves, every step supported by a miracle of God.  Peter shows himself being courageous towards his fellow disciples. 

However, the situation quickly changes.  Peter seeing how strong the wind was, let fear overpower his faith, Peter, took his eyes off the Lord, and he began to sink.  All Peter could do, is to cry out, saying:  Lord, Save me!

How many times do we panic and all we can do, is to cry out in desperation saying:  Lord, Save me! 

We can all find ourselves in stormy situations, sometimes we prevail and grow stronger, sometimes we falter.  It is in these times of testing that can show us where our spiritual development is and where we need improvement, and to grow in our Christian maturity.

The heart of this Christian message, is salvation cannot be earned by having a perfect faith or being flawless in discipleship.  We all need saving through the outstretched hand of Jesus on the cross. 

As we gather around the altar today, we bring with us our own storms. Some may be visible; others may be hidden.  Some of us may feel more like Elijah, exhausted and searching for God.  Others may feel like the disciples, fighting against a headwind.  Others may feel like Peter, sinking beneath the waves of fear or doubt.

Today’s message is simple:  listen for the Lord’s voice, keep your eyes fixed on Christ, and never be afraid to cry out for help.  God, who spoke to Elijah in a whisper, and God who grasped Peter by the hand, is the same Lord and God, who comes to us today in the Eucharist.  When the storms rage around us, may we hear his words in our hearts:  “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”  Amen.

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A

Today’s first reading from the prophet Isaiah and the Gospel about the feeding of the five thousand are united by a beautiful theme:  God is generous beyond all expectation.  He is not a God who gives sparingly, but a Father who delights in satisfying the deepest hunger of his people.

Through Isaiah, the Lord speaks to a people who are weary, disappointed and tempted to look elsewhere for fulfilment: “Come to the water all you who are thirsty.”  God invites everyone, especially those who have nothing to offer in return.  His grace is not for sale,  His love cannot be earned, His gifts are always freely given.

Isaiah asks a question that remains relevant to us today: “Why spend money on what is not bread, or your wages on what fails to satisfy?” How often we search for happiness in possessions, success, or entertainment.  Yet even when we obtain these things, we can still feel empty.  The human heart has a deeper hunger, a hunger for meaning, communion, forgiveness, and love.  Only God can satisfy that hunger.

In the Gospel, we see this promise fulfilled in Jesus.  The crowds follow him into a deserted place.  They are hungry, both spiritually and physically.  The disciples see only the visual problem at hand, having only five loaves and two fish, which seemed hopelessly inadequate.  Their solution was practical: “Let’s send the crowds away.”

However, Jesus responds differently.  He says, “Give them something to eat yourselves.”  The disciples focus on what they lack; Jesus focuses on what they have.  The little food they had placed into Jesus’ hands becomes more than enough for everyone.

This miracle teaches us something important about the Christian life. Very often we feel inadequate, we look at our limitations, our weakness, our lack of resources, and we conclude that we can only do very little.  However, Jesus simply asks us to offer what we do have. A little faith, a little generosity, a little time, a little compassion.  When these are placed in His hands, they become instruments of grace and love.

The feeding of the five thousand is also a sign pointing towards the Eucharist.  Notice the actions of Jesus: he takes the bread, looks up to heaven, says the blessing, breaks the bread, and gives it to the disciples for distribution.  These same actions are repeated at the Last Supper and continue at every Mass.  The miracle in the wilderness foreshadows the greater miracle of Christ giving himself as the Bread of Life.

The people ate and were satisfied, this is an important detail.  God does not merely keep us alive; he desires to fill us with the abundance of his life.  The twelve baskets left over remind us that God’s generosity always exceeds our expectations.  There is more than enough grace, more than enough mercy, more than enough love to go around.

As we reflect on these readings today, we might ask ourselves:  What hunger do I bring to the Lord today?  Am I seeking satisfaction in things that cannot truly nourish my soul?  And what are troubles and difficulties that I need to place into the Lord’s hands?

The Good News is that Jesus will always gather his people, and continues to feed them with His Words and His Body and Blood.  He transforms what seems small into a blessing for many.

May we hear anew Isaiah’s invitation: “Come to the water, all you who are thirsty.”  May we draw closer to Christ with humility, bringing before him the hunger of our hearts, as we receive the Eucharist.  Then nourished by his Body and Blood, may we be satisfied by the love and grace of God, that was poured out for the life of the world, through Jesus Christ in His saving sacrifice on the Cross.  

Renewed in faith and confident, knowing that God’s grace is always enough for us, let us be ready to share the compassion, hope, and abundance of love we ourselves have received with others.

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A

No Homily – Week in Lourdes – Prayers said for you all.

16th Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year A

Last Sunday, we heard the Parable of the Sower.  Jesus told us that God’s Word is like a seed scattered generously, and the fruit that is  produced depends upon the condition of the soil. Today, Jesus continues that teaching.  The seed has been sown, but now we discover that weeds have started to appear among the wheat.

The servants are confused.  “Master, did you not sow good seed in your field?  Where have the weeds come from?”  It is a question people still ask today.  If God is good, why is there evil in the world? Why is there suffering, sin and injustice?

Jesus tells us that the weeds have been planted by an enemy.  Evil does not come from God. But what is striking is the master’s response, since the servants want to pull up the weeds immediately.  The master says no. “Let them both grow until the harvest,” because pulling up the weeds might uproot the wheat as well.

This tells us something important. That God is patient and kind.  He does not rush to judgement.  He gives people time to change, time to grow, and time to return to him.

That is good news for us, because none of us is perfect.  It is easy to look at other people and see their faults.  It is much harder to recognise our own.  The truth is that there is a mixture of wheat and weeds in every human heart.  We all have good qualities, and we all find it difficult with our weaknesses and sin.

However, God sees both good and bad inside us.  Yet he does not give up. Instead, he works patiently in our lives, helping the wheat grow stronger than the weeds.  Every time we pray, receive the Sacraments, forgive someone, or choose what is right, God’s grace is at work.

Jesus then gives us two more parables.  The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed, the smallest of seeds, which grows into a large bush.  It is also like yeast mixed into dough until the whole batch rises.

Both images remind us that God’s work often begins in small ways. We sometimes expect big results and dramatic changes.  But God’s Kingdom usually grows quietly.  A simple prayer each morning;  a kind word to someone who is finding life difficult; or a visit to a sick person.  These may seem small, but God can do great things through small actions.

Holiness takes time and is tested through fire, it is built through small acts of faithfulness day by day.  Like the mustard seed parable, those small acts slowly transform our lives, families and communities.

So today, let us be patient… Be patient with others, patient with yourself.  God is still at work.  He has not finished with any of us just yet.

Secondly, never underestimate small beginnings.  The smallest act of faith, hope or love can become something far greater than we could ever imagine when it is placed in the hands of God. 

As we reflect upon our scripture readings today and last week, let us ask the Lord to make us grow in good soil, help the wheat within us to be strong, and give us the trust in God’s patience and loving kindness.

The Lord who has planted these many seeds, is also the Lord who will bring in the harvest, of the glory of the Kingdom of Heaven.

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sea Sunday

Day for Prayer for the Stella Maris Catholic Organisation

On this Seafarers Sunday, the readings for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time invite us to reflect on God’s faithful presence.  Isaiah reminds us that God’s Word is like the rain that waters the earth and never returns empty, always accomplishing the purpose for which it is sent.

In the Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the sower, teaching that God’s Word is scattered generously and can bear abundant fruit in hearts that are open to receive it.  The image of Jesus teaching from the water makes this a particularly fitting Gospel for Seafarers Sunday.  It reminds us that the sea is not beyond God’s reach; it can be a place where people encounter Christ and hear his call.

Today we give thanks for seafarers and all the hard work that the Catholic Organisation of Stella Maris do around the world.  Chaplains who dealing with the many hardships of our Fishers & Seafarers, who work in very challenging conditions, bearing the burden, for our benefit, bringing food and goods into the UK.

There are many reports that crew members are getting only a few hours of sleep per night, due to stress and being overworked.  This is making their safety vulnerable because they are completely exhausted.  Stella Maris, are able to ground ships, allowing the crew to get some much needed rest.  They also provide warm dry clothes and phone cards to many who are feeling homesick.   

The work of Chaplains in our ports provide support in emergencies, and give spiritual and emotional support to Seafarers all around the world. 

May the Lord continue to provide them with the grace and support that they need to carry the ‘yoke’ of their ministries, as they administer to God’s faithful people out at sea.

On this day, I always remember the movie Titanic.  The big sea disaster, about a ship that was said to be unsinkable, hitting an iceberg on its way to America.  In the movie, you may recall, if you’ve seen it, a group of musicians, who sacrificed their lives to bring peace and harmony during the time of the disaster, by playing hymns and classical music, while the Titanic was sinking.

It sank on the 15^th April 1912, and 1,503 souls were lost in the icy waters.  Onboard the Titanic was a 42 year old priest called Fr Thomas Byles, and he is known for his heroic actions during the sinking.  On this 10^th anniversary of his Priesthood, he decided to visit his brother in New York, so he bought a 2^nd class ticket for the Titanic. 

While onboard he would celebrate Mass for the 2^nd and 3^rd class passengers, and during his last sermon on the boat, he explained that the prayers and Sacraments of the Church were our spiritual lifeboats, to use when we are in danger from our spiritual shipwrecks of temptation.

According to eyewitnesses, Fr Thomas was out on deck praying his breviary shortly before midnight, when the ship hit the iceberg. 

When the captain ordered the launching of the lifeboats, Fr Thomas made his way down to help people navigate the stairwells to the upper deck, but many found themselves trapped behind locked iron gates.  Fr Thomas calmly led the third-class passengers to where the lifeboats were located. 

When the ship was going down Fr Thomas was with people from all different religions, resighting the rosary together, while Fr Thomas was praying for the repose of their souls, as he administered the Last Rites, giving them general absolution for their sins. 

Fr Thomas was an extraordinary man, who gave his life for others, and his actions were praised by Pope Pius X. 

So today, may we keep the work of Sea chaplains in our prayers, and the support the Stella Maris Catholic Organisation.  May the Lord watch over all the faithful departed who have been lost at Sea and bring them into eternal life.  Amen. 

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A

“Shoulder my yoke and learn from me.  Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.”  As I was reflecting upon the Gospel in preparation to write this homily, this line stood out to me.  Especially, in light of this Saturday morning’s Permanent Diaconate Ordinations at the Cathedral, and also being the month of July where many Priestly Ordinations will happen all around the UK including many priestly anniversaries, mine in only a couple of weeks away. 

Today we hear Jesus saying, ‘my yoke is easy and my burden light’.  However, It is?  I thought to myself.  Since my ordination four years ago, it has been very challenging, and I am sure that all the newly ordained during the coming months will soon see the true extent of the demands upon clergy shoulders. 

However, as seminarians we knew this from the very beginning, that this would be the case.  Every time a priest prepares himself for Mass, he brings to mind the ‘yoke’ that has been given to him.  As I place my vestments on, there are special prayers to be said for each item.  One of these prayers are:

“O Lord, who said: My yoke is sweet and my burden light: grant that I may carry it, so as to obtain your grace.”

As you may know, a Priest and a Deacon wear the stole in two different ways, the priest wears it around his neck over both shoulders, where the Deacon only wears it over the left shoulder, and fastened together just below the waist. 

It shows that the Priest has to bear the full ‘yoke’ of responsibility to serve Jesus’ flock, while the Deacon only bears half this responsibility.

Perhaps, the key to understanding Our Lord’s words is found in what a yoke actually does.  A yoke is not something that makes work disappear; rather, it helps us to carry the weight.  It distributes the burden and enables the one wearing it to move forward without being crushed beneath the load.

Jesus never promises us a life free from difficulties.  The saints certainly did not experience that.  All of us, in some way will face trials and sacrifices in life. What Jesus promises is that we never carry those burdens alone.  When we accept His yoke, we are joined to Him.  He walks alongside us.  He help bears the weight of our problems.

This is why in the Gospel Jesus first describes Himself as “gentle and humble of heart.”  The Lord who invites us to follow Him is not a harsh taskmaster.

He is the Good Shepherd who knows our weaknesses, understands our difficulties, and patiently leads us forward one step at a time.

We see this same humility reflected in the First Reading from the prophet Zechariah.  The long-awaited king does not arrive on a mighty warhorse surrounded by armies.

Instead, he comes humbly, riding on a donkey. God’s way is very different from the way of the world.  The world admires power, status, and success; however, Christ teaches humility, service, and self-giving love.

St Paul, in our Second Reading, reminds us that we are called to live not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.  Left to our own strength, the Christian life can seem impossible.  But with the Holy Spirit dwelling within us, we receive the grace necessary to live as faithful disciples.

As we pray today for our newly ordained clergy, and for all Priests, Deacons celebrating their anniversaries, and for vocations, let us remember that every vocation is ultimately a sharing in Christ’s own yoke.  It is not always easy, but it is always blessed.  And when Christ is at the centre of our lives, even the heaviest burdens can become light, because they are carried with Him, who is gentle, and humble in heart.  Amen.

Solemnity of Saints Peter & Paul

Today we remember two great Apostles, two pillars of the Church, St Peter and St Paul.  At the heart of their stories we hear an encounter with Jesus that changed their lives.  They both received the love that healed them and set them free.

As we know Peter was a very skilled fisherman from Galilee, but we hear in the Gospels, that many times, he tasted the bitterness of frustration, especially when he hadn’t caught anything all night.  He was tempted to pull up his oars and give up.  Nevertheless, Jesus loved Peter and encouraged him not to give up, asking him to lower his nets once more, or maybe joining him to walk on the water, or finding the strength to accept his own frailty, and giving his life for his friends by becoming a ‘shepherd of the flock’.  In this way, Jesus sets Peter free from fear and all worldly concerns.  He gave him the courage to risk everything and the joy of becoming a fisher of men, by coming the first Pope of the Catholic Church.

When Peter denied Jesus three times, in the courtyard at Jesus’ trial, while keeping warm over a charcoal fire, he rejected his relationship with Jesus, by saying: ‘he didn’t know the man.’  After the Resurrection, Jesus gives Peter the opportunity to undo that rejection.  Through Jesus’ great love and mercy he invites Peter to repent and return to him by professing his love for him three times, this act undoes the threefold denial in the courtyard, and so restores the relationship between them both. 

Jesus’ mercy is so complete, that he does not hold anything against Peter, but instead, gives him the honour and the responsibility of serving him as the ‘Shepherd of his people’.

St Paul also experienced the freedom that was brought by Jesus.  He was set free from the slavery of himself.  From Saul he became Paul, and moved away from being a zealous defender of his ancestral traditions, into a zealous defender of the Faith in Jesus Christ.    

He became open to the love of God and was given the mission to evangelise to the Pagans.  The strain of his physical health, the violence and persecution towards him, being shipwrecked several times, the daily pains of hunger and thirst, and finally in his own words: the painful thorn in the flesh, didn’t make him give up. 

St Paul came to realise that God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, and we are able to do all things through Jesus who strengthens us and nourishes us, since nothing can ever separate us from the love of the Father.

The Church looks towards these two giants of faith and sees two Apostles who were set free by their encounter with the Lord.  Jesus did not judge them, instead he shared their life with affection and closeness.  He supported them by his prayers, and at times reproached them to make amends.  To Peter, Jesus said gently ‘I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail.’  And to Paul he said, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’

Jesus speaks the same with us, but re-assures us of his closeness through prayer by interceding on our behalf before the Father. 

May we continue to mould ourselves closer to the Lord’s Love, making us holier in his sight, by the receiving of the Most Holy Eucharist.  When times are tough, may we never give up, asking the Lord for strength and guidance. 

We are the Children of God, united together in the ‘Body of Christ’ within the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, with St Peter as our Rock and St Paul as our zealous defender of love and faith. 

May we call on their intercession today, to encounter the Lord in our own lives bringing us joy, happiness and peace.

St Peter & St Paul – pray for us.