Parish of Our Lady & Saint David, Cwmbran

Woman, you have great faith

Today is one of those occasions when, even though the second reading is not chosen to correspond to the theme of the Gospel and first reading, it does in fact fit very well. Indeed, much of the letter to the Romans is explained in this Sunday’s Liturgy of the Word: the whole theme is summed up in this: the Messiah came first of all to the people of Israel, to whom the promises were made in the past – but it could not remain there. The good news had to be taken to the ends of the earth, so that all peoples, indeed the whole of creation could welcome the Messiah and take a place in the Kingdom of God. All nations are welcome on God’s holy mountain: “Let all the peoples praise you, O God!”

20th WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME 2017 NEWSLETTER

Tell me to come to you across the water

How does God reveal himself to us? Most of the time, in precisely the way we do not expect! This is what happened to Elijah: we expect God – all-powerful, almighty – to appear in dramatic effects of nature; but no, God is in a gentle breeze. Similarly in the Gospel: the disciples do not expect Jesus to come towards them walking on the lake – but he does. And when God is revealed in the unexpected, he gives courage and strength: Elijah was afraid when he went to Horeb, but was strengthened by his encounter with God to continue his mission; in the same way the disciples are given courage and faith by the Lord who walks to them on the waters.

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The Transfiguration of the Lord on Mount Tabor came to strengthen the faith of the disciples, for trying times lay ahead: the Son of Man would be put to death and all that the human eye could see was weakness, humiliation and suffering. Beyond the shame of the cross, however, is the light and glory of Easter, and it is this that the Transfiguration reveals. It shows the disciples and us, Christ’s divinity – he who is Light from Light – anticipates the glory of Heaven.

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CONGRATULATIONS TO
FR PETER ON HIS ORDINATION
(29th July 2017)

Prayer for Vocations

LORD of the Harvest,

BLESS young people with the gift of courage to respond to your call.
Open their hearts to great ideals, to great things.

 INSPIRE all of your disciples to mutual love and giving—
for vocations blossom in the
good soil of faithful people.

INSTILL those in religious life, parish
ministries, and families with the confidence
and grace to invite others to embrace
the bold and noble path of a life
consecrated to you.

UNITE us to Jesus through prayer and sacrament,
so that we may cooperate
with you in building your reign of mercy
and truth, of justice and peace. Amen.

— Pope Francis
Adapted from the Message on the 51st World Day
of Prayer for Vocations.

17th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

He sells everything he owns and buys the field

What a gift it is, to be able to recognise the true value of things, and choose those which will last forever and bring us true happiness! Solomon, renowned for wisdom, is able to make the right choices when offered the chance to have anything he wants. What would we choose? The parable in the Gospel tells us that, in a sense, the choice is already before us: we can see the kingdom of heaven waiting for us: it is of greater value than anything else, and so all our hearts should be set on it. Nothing should stand in our way.

17th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 2017 NEWSLETTER

Let them both grow till the harvest

There is no room in a good field for weeds and rubbish: so in the Kingdom of Heaven, there is no room for all things that provoke offences, and all who do evil’. They must be got rid of, for the sake of the good wheat, for the sake of the good subjects of the kingdom. But this weeding out will not take place until harvest time – in case one piece of good wheat is destroyed with the weeds. This shows the mercy of God: everyone has chance after chance to prove that they are wheat, not darnel; there are no quick judgements in the kingdom of heaven, and things are never as black and white as we think. Only at the end of time will evil stand out clearly, so that it can be disposed of, and only the Son of Man can judge.

16th Sunday of Ordinary Time 2017 Newsletter

A sower went out to sow

The Gospel today is the beginning of a new section in Matthew, called ‘The Parabolic Discourse’ – a section of parables Jesus tells the crowd, which we will read over the next three weeks. A parable is a story with a hidden meaning: we can easily remember the story, and gradually the true meaning becomes clearer and clearer. Today is a famous example: the Parable of the Sower. In itself it is a story that would easily be understood by Jesus’s audience – people who lived in an agricultural economy. Jesus uses their understanding to make an important teaching about the message he has brought: it is like a seed that is thrown out and received in different ways – the ideal is when the seed finds good soil, and produces a crop that can be seen and harvested: so the ideal listener to the word is one who allows it to lodge in the heart, but also produces a visible result. What is the harvest we should yield, when we have heard the word?

15TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME 2017 NEWSLETTER

I am gentle and humble of heart

Today’s Gospel is an answer to a very simple question: who is this Jesus we follow? What is he like? He tells us himself: he is gentle, and humble of heart. There is simplicity about this Gospel which speaks very clearly to tired hearts. Indeed, it is often the case that we overlook the simplicity of the Gospel message – which is why it is valuable to be as children, constantly wondering and marvelling at the beauty and fascination of Jesus. How much God must love us: the message of salvation is so easy to receive, the promise is so welcome. This is a Sunday to wallow in the wonder of a God who is kind and full of compassion.

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Anyone who does not take his cross is not worthy of me. Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me.

The Gospel and First Reading this Sunday can be summed up in one word: “hospitality. But not hospitality in general – this is a very specific hospitality: welcoming the word of God. We must welcome the message of salvation into our homes and hearts, and show this by welcoming the messenger who brings us this good news. Perhaps when we consider the messages we allow into our homes nowadays this theme reveals its relevance to us: television, radio and newspapers are all welcome in our homes. Surely the Gospel tells us to keep our eyes peeled for the holy man who brings real news. This Gospel also tells us about our mission: if we are welcomed or rejected, we should neither be proud nor worry for ourselves, but for Christ, because it is Christ who is welcomed or rejected.

13th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 2017 NEWSLETTER

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body

Today’s Gospel turns our thoughts to the strange phenomenon of persecution: throughout the history of mankind, the truth has been a commodity that often leads to persecution: the prophets of the Old Testament were attacked because of their message, as was the Lord Jesus himself. For his followers, the same may be true. The point of the readings is not simply to face up to the reality of the opposition the Gospel may meet, but to remember where the truth of the Gospel comes from: the Father in heaven, who knows us and values us. So we can be confirmed in our mission to witness to the truth, not fearing those who merely kill the body.

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My flesh is real food and my blood is real drink

The Eucharist – the Body and Blood of Christ – is a mystery with so many layers and a depth that takes more than a lifetime to penetrate. It is not just a thing that we receive however reverently it is a person, a relationship, a belonging and a transformation that we consume, that becomes part of us: Receive what you are the Body of Christ. The readings invite us to reflect on how our celebration of the Eucharist brings Christ’s words to our reality: who eats my flesh and drink my blood lives in me and I live in him. The people of the Old Testament had God living in their midst, walking with them on their journey, feeding and nourishing them with the gift of manna from heaven. Jesus walks with us, not looking on from afar, journeying in communion with us living within us, as we eat and drink the gifts he extends from the Last Supper. And as Saint Paul reminds us, our communion with the One Christ is also a communion with each other God lives in us as the Church, as we become His Body.

Corpus Christi 2017 Newsletter