THE MOST HOLY TRINITY (Solemnity)

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“Baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

When the Church celebrates the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity, it is an attempt to sum­marise the whole mystery of our God into one day. This is not just a “theological feast” ` but a feast which should speak to us of this simple fact of faith: the Father loves us, has revealed that love in his Son, and has called into a relationship sustained by the Spirit. It is our joy that, as baptised members of the Church, we can somehow share in that divine life and love which is the Trinity~ becoming children of God. God has chosen us, and we are his own people, just as he chose the people of Israel long ago. The mystery of the Trinity is not meant to make this more difficult ‑ on the contrary it is to clarify and summarise all that our faith is about: that we are children ‑ with the Son, in the power of the Spirit ‑ of the one Father.

The 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. By his word the heavens were made, by his breath of his mouth all the stars. He spoke; and they came to be. He commanded; they sprung into being. 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: Deut 4: 32-34, 39-40

Second Reading: Romans 8:14-17

Gospel Reading: Matt 28:16-20

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PENTECOST SUNDAY

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“The Spirit of truth will lead you to the complete truth.”

We arrive at the fiftieth day ‑ the completion of the Easter Season, and the completion of the Paschal Mystery: the Lord has died, is risen, has ascended to heaven and now gives birth to his Church, by sending the Spirit upon the apostles. This feast of the gift of the Spirit is so significant for us, because it marks the handing on of Jesus’ ministry to the Church ‑ in the Church we are guaranteed the presence of the Lord, in his sacra­ments, in his ministers, in the Blessed Sacrament and in his Celebrated Word. It also marks the fulfilment of our thoughts about baptism throughout this season: the gift of the Spirit which we receive in Confirmation is the `seal’ of our baptism, guaranteeing and confirm­ing all that baptism achieves

The Psalm

Bless the Lord, my soul! Lord God, how great you are. How many are your works, O Lord! The earth is full of your riches. You take back your spirit, they die, returning to the dust from which they came. You send forth your spirit, they are created; and you renew the face of the earth. May the glory of the Lord last for ever! May the Lord rejoice in his works! May my thoughts be pleasing to him. I find joy in the Lord.

 

First Reading: Apostles 2:1-11

Second Reading: Gal 5:16-25

Gospel Reading: John 15: 26-27, 16:12-15

 

“In Jesus Christ, God himself was made man and allowed us, so to speak, to cast a glance at the intimacy of God himself. And there we see something totally unexpected:……The mysterious God is not infinite loneliness, he is an event of love…. The Son who speaks to the Father exists, and they are both one in the Spirit, who constitutes, so to speak, the atmosphere of giving and loving which makes them one God

Pope Benedict XVI,          Vigil of Pentecost 2006

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THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD

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Ascension in not just a feast that happens to fall in Eastertide: it is an integral part of the Easter mystery. Remember the Lord’s words at the Last Supper: “I am going to prepare a place for, and after I have gone and prepared you a place, I shall return to take you with me.” The resurrection presumes the Lord’s return to the Father. This is therefore a feast of hope: our hope in the Lord’s return, as he went. Our hope that he will take us with him, when our bodies are raised as his was. Our hope that we will take our place in heaven, where he sits on the Father’s right.

The Psalm

All peoples, clap your hands, cry to God with shouts of joy! For the Lord, the Most High, we must fear, great king over all the earth. God goes up with shouts of joy; the Lord goes up with trumpet blast. Sing praise for God, sing praise, sing praise to our king, sing praise. God is king of all the earth. Sing praise with all your skill. God is king over the nations; God reigns on his holy throne.

First Reading: Apostles 1: 1- 11
Second Reading: Ephesians 4:1-13
Gospel Reading: Mark 16: 15-20

 

Prayer for Vocations

Lord, Jesus Christ, Good Shepherd of our souls, You who know Your sheep and know how to reach the human heart. Stir the hearts of those people who would follow You but cannot overcome doubts and fears. You who are the Word of the Father, the Word which enlightens and sustains hearts, conquer with Your Spirit the resistance and delays of indecisive hearts.   Awaken in those whom You call the courage of love’s answer: “Here I am, send me.”

(Inspired by the writings of St John Paul ll)

 

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6th Sunday of Easter

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There are two obvious themes to today’s readings: Saint Peter summarises many of the ideas of Easter – baptism, the name of Jesus, the pouring out of the Holy Spirit; the other readings talk simply of love, both God’s love for us and our love for each other. Our Gospel is taken from the great discourse at the Last Supper, and has at its centre the New Commandment that Jesus gives his disciples – the commandment of love. This love has its origins in the love of the Father, manifested in the love shown by the Son (willing to die for his friends); we, like the disciples, are called to imitate the love we see in Jesus’s life and death – not because we are servants, but because we are friends.

The Psalm

Sing a new song to the Lord for he has worked wonders. His right hand and his holy arm have brought salvation. The Lord has made known his salvation; has shown his justice to the nations. He has remembered his truth and love for the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout to the Lord all the earth, ring out your joy.

 

First Reading: Acts of the Apostles 10: 25-26, 34-35, 44-48:   

Second Reading: 1John 4: 7-10

Gospel Reading: John 15:9-17

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5th Sunday of Easter

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Last week it was sheep: this week, the vine. Jesus offers us another (agricultural) image to explain the mystery of his offering of himself, and our belonging to him, our being part of him, which comes about through the sacrament of Baptism. This is, as was stated earlier, the period of Mystagogy, when the newly baptised are helped to see what life in Jesus Christ really means. Today this comes out strongly for all of us, with two of the three readings emphasising the moral aspects of life in Christ: it is not simply enough to “belong” to him: our belonging must be shown by the works we do, by the fruits we bear – while remembering of course that we cannot bear fruit except in him.

The Psalm

My vows I will pay before those who fear him. The poor shall eat and shall have their fill. They shall praise the Lord, those who seek him. May their hearts live for ever and ever! All the earth shall remember and return to the Lord, all families of the nations worship before him. They shall worship him, all the mighty of the earth; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust. My soul shall live for him, my children serve him. They shall tell of the Lord to generations yet to come, declare his faithfulness to peoples yet unborn: “These things the Lord has done.”

 

First Reading: Acts of the Apostles 9:26-31:

Second Reading: 1John 3: 18-24:

Gospel Reading: John 15:1-8

 

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4th Sunday of Easter

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GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY

This is traditionally called “Good Shepherd Sunday” because of the Gospel narratives (from John 10) read each year, in which Jesus talks of himself as the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for his flock. A general “theme” to the Scriptures is the person of Jesus and what he has achieved by the Paschal Mystery (his dying and rising): the first reading talks of his name, and the power of the name of Jesus to save: one of the results of the “power of this name” is that in him we are all God’s children, and are promised an eternal reward. All this is summed up in the Gospel, in which Jesus talks of himself as the real shepherd, who is prepared to do anything for his flock, even to the point of giving his life. This he said before his passion, but in Eastertide we read it with the benefit of hindsight. His words are true, and by his dying and rising he has truly saved his flock.

 

The Psalm

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love has no end. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in men: it is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust princes. I will thank you for you have given answer and you are my saviour. The stone which the builders rejected has become the corner stone. This is the work of the Lord, a marvel in our eyes.   Blessed in the name of the Lord is he who comes. We will bless you from the house of the Lord; I will thank you for you have given answer and you are my saviour. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; for his love has no end.

 

First Reading: Acts of the Apostles 4:8-12

Second Reading: 1 John 3:1-2

Gospel Reading: John 10:11-18

 

 

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3rd Sunday Of Easter

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We continue to think about the Resurrection this week, from three different perspectives: the Gospel gives us another story of Jesus appearing to his disciples – this time the beautiful story of the meeting in Jerusalem, when Jesus proves he is alive and no ghost by eating some grilled fish: he reminds the disciples that all he suffered and rise so the “repentance for the forgiveness of sins” could be preached to the whole world. The first reading shows us Saint Peter’s doing just that, as he addresses the crowd in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost: he takes them through recent events (fifty days earlier), highlighting the important point, that he and the disciples can witness to the raising of Jesus from the dead, and calling them to “repent and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out.” The second reading brings this into our lives: the resurrection is not just a historical event, which we remember. By baptism (which we renewed at Easter) we become part of Jesus in his dying and his rising, as he ‘becomes the sacrifice that takes our sins away. So all that Saint John tells us about the commandments and avoiding sin is our way of living the Resurrection.

The Psalm

When I call, answer me, O God of justice; from anguish you released me, have mercy and hear me! It is the Lord who grants favours to those whom he loves; the Lord hears me whenever I call him. “What can bring us happiness?” many say. Lift up the light of your face on us, O Lord. I will lie down in peace and sleep comes at once, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.

 

First Reading: Acts of the Apostles 3:13-15, 17-19

Second Reading:
1 John 2:1-5

Gospel Reading:
Luke 24:35-48

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2nd Sunday of Easter

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Eight days later, Jesus came.

After the joys and exuberance of Easter Sunday and Easter Week, we settle down into the longest Season in the Church’s Year – Eastertide. This period of fifty days is a time of sustained gladness, which comes through reading and reflecting on the Scriptures which describe the risen life of Jesus – not just his appearances to the disciples after the Resurrection, but the teachings from his ministry which reveal the risen life he now possesses. We also spend time hearing about how the Resurrection made a difference: how the timid and frightened disciples were able to leave Jerusalem and proclaim a message of life over death to the whole world, as we read through the book of the Acts of the Apostles. We also linger over the first letter of Saint John, which ties together so many of the themes of Easter: life, faith, baptism, the Spirit – all brought together in the person of the Lord Jesus, risen from the dead. On this second Sunday, we continue to track through real time, by hearing what happened in Jerusalem on the Sunday after the Resurrection with the Lord appearing to Thomas – strengthening his faith, and strengthening ours as we listen to the account.

 

First Reading: Acts 4: 32-35

Second Reading: 1John 5: 1-6

Gospel Reading: John 20:19-31

 

Psalm

Let the sons of Israel say: “His love has no end.” Let the sons of Aaron say: “His love has no end.” Let those who fear the Lord say: “His love has no end.” The Lord’s right hand has triumphed; his right hand raised me up. I shall not die, I shall live and recount his deeds. I was punished, I was punished by the Lord, but not doomed to die.   The stone which the builders rejected has become the corner stone. This is the work of the Lord a marvel in our eyes. This day was made by the Lord; we rejoice and are glad.

 

 

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Easter Sunday

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When the Word is proclaimed, it is real and active the Lord is present, and what is described is, in a sense, happening now. On certain days this is made more obvious by the selection of scripture that refers to a particular time or day. Such a selection occurs this morning, when we go with Mary Magdalene to visit the tomb, only to make with her a momentous discovery: the tomb is empty, HE IS RISEN

First Reading: Acts of the Apostles 10:34, 37-43

Second Reading: Colossians 3:1-4

Gospel Reading: John 20:1-9

Responsorial Psalm

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for his love has no end. Let the sons of Israel say: “His love has no end.” The Lord’s right hand has triumphed; his right hand raised me. I shall not die, I shall live and recount his deeds. The stone which the builders rejected has become the corner stone. This is the work of the Lord, a marvel in our eyes.

 

A Happy and Peaceful Easter to you all

from

Canon John and Deacon Peter

 

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Palm Sunday

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First reading: Isaiah 50:4-7  

Second Reading: Philippians 2: 6-11

Gospel Reading: Year B – St Mark’s Gospel

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

All who see me deride me. They curl their lips, they toss their heads. “He trusted in the Lord, let him save him; let him release him if this is his friend” Many dogs have surrounded me, a band of the wicked beset me. They tear holes in my hands and my feet. I can count every one of my bones. They divide my clothing among them. They cast lots for my robe. O Lord, do not leave me alone, my strength, make haste to help me! I will tell of your name to my brethren and praise you where they are assembled. “You who fear the Lord give him praise; all sons of Jacob, give him glory. Revere him, Israel’s sons.

 

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