Parish of Our Lady & Saint David, Cwmbran

The Son of Man came to give his life as a ransom for many.”

It’s often the case that the values of the Gospel contradict the values of the World sometimes to the extent that the one is the exact opposite of the other. Today is a typical example: greatness and prominence, success and victory, these are goals that the world has very clear ideas about. The Gospel, however, redefines them: Gospel success is Worldly failure: the Gospel’s way of greatness is the World’s life of service; and what the World sees as death and failure is in fact life and victory. It’s this contrast that we see in the Gospel reading today, where out of a possibly innocent (but possibly sycophantic) question, a debate emerges about prominence and greatness. Jesus makes it clear that his greatness is different to that sought among the pagans” ‑ he will give his very life, and so become the first of all. We should take his words about the worldly way of behaving” to heart: “This is not to happen among you.”

PSALM

The word of the Lord is faithful and all his works to be trusted. The Lord loves justice and right and fills the earth with his love. The Lord looks on those who revere him, on those who hope in his love, to rescue their souls from death, to keep them alive in famine. Our soul is waiting for the Lord. The Lord is our help and our shield. May your love be upon us, O Lord, as we place all our hope in you.

First Reading: Isaiah 53:10-11

Second Reading: Heb 4:14-16

Gospel Reading: Mark 10:35-45

29th Sunday of Ordinary Time 2015 Newsletter

“Go and sell everything you own and follow me.”

In today’s story of the rich young man, who comes to Jesus full of good intentions, there are some simple words that speak so clearly to our own age: when Jesus tells him to sell every­thing and give it to the poor, “his face fell at these words, and he went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth.”” How sad it is that such a keen (he runs up to Jesus), and by all accounts good young man (whom Jesus loves) could not free himself from the one thing that was holding him back – his dependence on money. Jesus’ words “How hard it is…” perhaps indicate his own sadness that the young man could not free himself from this. Jesus’ teaching was new ‑ as the disciples’ reaction shows. In Israel at the time, riches were thought to be a blessing from God. But as Jesus knew and taught, holding on to anything that passes away can distract us from holding on to things that are eternal.

PSALM

Make us know the shortness of our life that we may gain wisdom of heart. Lord, relent! Is your anger for ever? Show pity to your servants. In the morning, fill us with your love; we shall exult and rejoice all our days. Give us joy to balance our affliction for the years when we knew misfortune. Show forth your work to your servants; let your glory shine on their children. Let the favour of the Lord be upon us: give success to the work of our hands.

First Reading:  Wisdom 7:7-11

Second Reading: Heb 4: 12-13

Gospel Reading: Mark 10:17-30

28th Sunday of Ordinary Time 2015 Newsletter

“What God has united, man must not divide.”

Today we tackle the issue of marriage and divorce; Jesus is asked an awkward question about the legality of divorce. He lays down very clearly that what God intends for marriage is what is found in Genesis (where the “two become one” for all time) rather than the dispensation granted through Moses (permitting a writ of divorce) which was an exception, not the rule. Here it is clear that Jesus abrogates this Old Testament procedure ‑ a point emphasised when the disciples press him further on this issue on getting back home. While it is important for us to be sensitive and understanding towards those whose marriages have gone awry, we must be careful to let the teachings of the Lord speak for themselves.

PSALM

O blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways! By the labour of your hands you shall eat. You will be happy and prosper. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine in the heart of your house; your children like shoots of olive, around your table. Indeed thus shall be blessed the man who fears the Lord. May the Lord bless you from Zion in a happy Jerusalem all the days of your life! May you see your children’s children. On Israel, peace!

First Reading: Gen 2:18-24

Second Reading: Heb 2:9-11

Gospel Reading: Mark 10:2-16

27th Sunday of Ordinary Time 2015 Newsletter

“Anyone who is not against us, is for us.
If your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off.”

There is a peculiar type of pettiness that will not allow someone to do what others do (even if ‑ or perhaps especially if ‑ they are good at it) because they aren’t part of the group, or club, or circle. Unless you wear the uniform, the badge or tie, you can’t share in the work. When this is applied to doing good or following the Lord, it seems even more petty than ever: if someone does a good thing, does it matter that she or he is not a Catholic? The words of the Lord, “Anyone who is not against us is for us,” should be taken to heart this Sunday. Let us recognise anyone who helps the poor, serves peace and justice, does what the Lord Jesus wants as our co‑worker, whatever the ‘label’ they work under.

PSALM

The law of the Lord is perfect, it revives the soul. The rule of the Lord is to be trusted, it gives wisdom to the simple. The fear of the Lord is holy, abiding for ever. The decrees of the Lord are truth and all of them just. So in them your servant finds instruction; great reward is in their keeping.   But who can detect all his errors? From hidden faults acquit me. From presumption restrain your servant and let it not rule me. Then shall I be blameless, clean from grave sin.

First Reading: Numbers 11:25-29

Second Reading: Js 5:1-6

Gospel Reading: Mark 9: 38-43, 45, 47-48

26th Sunday of Ordinary Time 2015 Newsletter

“The Son of Man will be delivered. If anyone wants to be first,
he must make himself servant of all.”

The tone of the Gospel begins to grow darker: Jesus is now on his way to Jerusalem, where he will be arrested and killed. Despite this, both this week and next week, there is a lighter contrast in the children that Jesus welcomes and blesses. Perhaps this tells us something about Jesus and his mission: despite the gathering clouds, (and possibly even because of that) he is still the manifestation of God’s love for all his children, a love that will be most clearly displayed when he faces that death for our sake. There is one quite chilling phrase which links these together, in the first reading, where the plotters against the good man say “Let us test him with cruelty and torture, and thus explore this gentleness of his.” The cold calculation of this is not far removed from the plotting of those who saw in Jesus a threat to their positions ‑ with all his purity of worship and faith, with all his “reproaches for our breaches of the law”. There is indeed a storm gathering. But the last line of the first reading, though meant mockingly, will come true: “God will look after him ‑ we have his word for it.” And three days after his death he will rise again.

PSALM

O God, save me by your name; by your power, uphold my cause. O God, hear my prayer; listen to the words of my mouth. For proud men have risen against me, ruthless men seek my life. They have no regard for God. But I have God for my help. The Lord upholds my life. I will sacrifice to you with willing heart and praise your name for it is good.

First Reading: Wisdom 2:12, 17-20

Second Reading: Js 3: 16—4:3

Gospel Reading: Mark 9: 30-37

25th Sunday of Ordinary Time 2015 Newsletter

“You are the Christ.” “The Son of Man is destined to suffer grievously.”

As we follow through the Gospel of Saint Mark we come to an important turning point this week: after the preaching, the miracles and the journey so far, Simon Peter publicly recognises Jesus as the Messiah. But there is an important point, which is brought out by the choice of first reading today: this Messiah is a king who is destined to be rejected and killed. Jesus knows this very well, and rebukes Peter when he tries to lead him on a different path. From this point on, Saint Mark’s Gospel leads to the cross: Jesus himself accepts his own cross, and reminds all his followers that the cross is a part of following him.  If we are considering the question ”Who is Jesus?”, these scripture passages give us a deep insight into the mission of salvation that he accepts for us.

PSALM

I love the Lord for he has heard the cry of my appeal; for he turned his ear to me in the day when I called him. They surrounded me, the snares of death, with the anguish of the tomb; they caught me, sorrow and distress. I called on the Lord’s name. O Lord my God, deliver me! How gracious is the Lord, and just; our God has compassion. The Lord protects the simple hearts; I was helpless so he saved me.   He has kept my soul from death, my eyes from tears and my feet from stumbling. I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living

First Reading: Isaiah 50: 5-9

Second Reading: Js 2: 14-18

Gospel Reading: Mark 8: 27-35

24th Sunday of Ordinary Time 2015 Newsletter

“He makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak.”

What shows us the presence of God? In the Biblical world it was miracles ‑ signs, which pointed towards the emergence of a new Kingdom, the Kingdom of God. This had been prophesied from of old: it was said that One would come, and also that certain things would be associated with this Messiah which would display the perfection of the Kingdom God wanted to establish. Jesus, in both his preaching and his mira­cles, proclaims that the Kingdom of God is at hand, in his own person. He fulfils the prophe­cies of the past, as he displays to the people of his own time, and to us, the nature of Gods Kingdom: in it all diseases and afflictions are abolished: so opening the man’s ears and eyes tells us two things: first that Jesus is God, present in our midst, and secondly that he calls us into a Kingdom where all is perfect.

Psalm

It is the Lord who keeps faith for ever, who is just to those who are oppressed. It is he who gives bread to the hungry, the Lord, who sets prisoners free. It is the Lord who gives sight to the blind, who raises up those who are bowed down, the Lord who loves the just, the Lord, who protects the stranger. The Lord upholds the widow and orphan, but thwarts the path of the wicked. The Lord will reign for ever, Zion’s God, from age to age

First Reading: Isaiah 35:4-7

Second Reading: Js 2: 1-5

Gospel Reading: Mark 7:31-37

23rd Sunday of Ordinary Time 2015 Newsletter

“You put aside the commandment of God to cling to human traditions.”

We now return to Saint Mark, for the rest of the year. The Gospel brings out one of the central problems of all religion: the way in which peripheral laws and customs gradually take over the more fundamental command­ments, and the way in which “externalism” and a concern with superficialities gradually suffocates a true “internal” faith which is lived out. Here we see the angry Jesus: he calls them “hypocrites”, as he condemns their “worthless worship”. He teaches a central truth: it is what comes from within that determines whether we are clean or unclean, good or evil. The com­mandments of God, which Moses puts before the people with such great pride, become the source of justice when they are given a place in the heart. When other rules and regulations about how to wash and what to eat displace them, then they are stifled and justice is practised no longer.

PSALM

Lord, who shall dwell on your holy mountain? He who walks without fault, he who acts with justice and speaks the truth from his heart. He who does no wrong to his brother, who casts no slur on his neighbour, who holds the godless in disdain, but honours those who fear the Lord. He who keeps his pledge, come what may; who takes no interest on a loan and accepts no bribes against the innocent. Such a man will stand firm for ever.

Alleluia, alleluia! Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life: you have the message of eternal life. Alleluia!

First Reading: Deut 4:1-2,6-8

Second Reading: Js 1:17-18, 21-22,27

Gospel Reading: Mark 7:12-8,14-15,21-23

22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time 2015 Newsletter

“Whom shall we go to? You have the message of eternal life.”

Failure, rejection and isolation: these are the themes of today’s remarkable Gospel ‑ but they are not all. In the face of them we see persever­ance, fidelity and trust. Above all there is an adherence to the truth that is truly amazing. Jesus speaks the truth to all who will listen, and if they find that truth “intolerable” they are free to leave, just as they are free to believe. No one who reads this passage could accuse Jesus of being interested in fame or fortune or the simple accumulation of followers. He didn’t play the ‘numbers game’. Even more amazing is that when his followers seem to be down to their lowest ebb, he turns to the Twelve and gives them freedom to go as well. Peter’s reply, when he speaks of their belief, is the only answer that matters; it is spirit and life that replies, not the flesh, which has nothing to offer.

PSALM

I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise always on my lips; in the Lord my soul shall make its boast. The humble shall hear and be glad. The Lord turns his face against the wicked to destroy their remembrance from the earth. The Lord turns his eyes to the just and his ears to their appeal. They call and the Lord hears and rescues them in all their distress.   The Lord is close to the broken- hearted; those whose spirit is crushed he will save. Many are the trials of the just man but from them all the Lord will rescue him. He will keep guard over all his bones, not one of his bones shall be broken. Evil brings death to the wicked; those who hate the good are doomed. The Lord ransoms the souls of his servants. Those who hide in him shall not be condemned.

Alleluia, alleluia! Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life: you have the message of eternal life. Alleluia!

First Reading: Joshua 24: 1-2, 15-17, 17,18

Second Reading: Eph 5: 21-32            

Gospel Reading: John 6: 60-69

21st Sunday of Ordinary Time 2015 Newsletter

The Almighty has done great things for me, he has exalted the lowly.

This great feast is a twin to the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord. Then, if you recall, the preface of the Mass contained these words: “Christ is the beginning, the head of the Church; where he has gone, we hope to follow.” Today we celebrate the first of us to do just that, as we remember Mary following our Lord into heaven. She is the first to follow him – but not the last: this feast should help open our eyes to our final destination, heaven. So this feast pushes us right back to Easter, to thoughts of death and resurrection: it is the second reading which underlines all this. It talks of the “gradual” resurrection of the dead: Christ first, then “those who belong to him”.  Of these, the first is Mary, she who was without stain of original sin, she who was “most blessed of all women.” In her, today, we see the fulfilment of the vision of the first reading: the end of death and the victory of life in Christ.

PSALM

The daughters of kings are among your loved ones. On your right stands the queen in gold of Ophir. Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words: forget your own people and your father’s house. So will kings desire your beauty: He is your lord, pay homage to him. They are escorted amid gladness and joy; they pass within the palace of the king.

Alleluia, alleluia! Mary has been taken up to heaven; all the choirs of angels are rejoicing. Alleluia!

First Reading: Apocalypse 11:19, 12:1-6,10

Second Reading: 1Cor 15: 20-26

 Gospel Reading: Luke 1: 39-56

Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary 2015 Newsletter