Parish of Our Lady & Saint David, Cwmbran

“I give you a new commandment: love one another.”

We are now closer to Ascension and Pentecost than Easter, but we are still in the Easter Season. The readings this Sunday begin to move us along too, as once more we hear the Lord at the Last Supper preparing his disciples for his departure: he does this by giving them a rule to live by, a new commandment. This commandment, love one another, is to be the guiding light of the community of believers after Pentecost (check the first reading for the Second Sunday of Easter) it is the risen Lord’s parting gift to his Church.

PSALM

The Lord is kind and full of compassion, slow to anger, abounding in love. How good is the Lord to all, compassionate to all his creatures. All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord, and your friends shall repeat their blessing. They shall speak of the glory of your reign and declare your might, O God, to make known to men your mighty deeds and the glorious splendour of your reign. Yours is an everlasting kingdom; your rule lasts from age to age.

First Reading: Acts 14: 21-27

Gospel Reading John 13: 31-35

5th Sunday of Easter 2016 Newsletter

World Day of Prayer for Vocations

“I give eternal life to the sheep that belong to me”

This is traditionally known as Good Shepherd Sunday, and is part of the continuing journey of Easter – remember that Jesus is the Good Shepherd who both gives his life for his sheep and takes it up again. His relationship with us, after the resurrection, is closer than we can imagine: through his dying and rising, Jesus fulfils the promise he makes in today’s Gospel: “I give them eternal life, and they will never be lost.” This Sunday is another opportunity for us to consider the consequences of the Resurrection how we live the Easter Story

PSALM

Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing for joy. Know that he, the Lord is God. He made us, we belong to him, we are his people, the sheep of his flock. Indeed, how good is the Lord, eternal his merciful love. He is faithful from age to age.

First Reading: Acts 13: 14, 43-52

Second Reading: Apoc 7: 9, 14-17

Gospel Reading John 10: 27-30

4th Sunday of Easter 2016 Newsletter

“Jesus stepped forward, took the bread and gave it to them,
and the same with the fish.”

The rest of the world has settled “back to normal” after Easter holidays now, but we continue to dwell on the resurrection of Jesus and the growth of the Church. Today’s Gospel, which many people consider the most beautiful of the resurrection stories, has many themes: the failed fishing trip, the inability of Peter to recognise the risen Jesus, the miracle of the 153 fish and the simple, powerful reassuring words of Jesus to his confused disciples: “Come and have breakfast.” We can all find ourselves a place in this Gospel story, as we continue to wonder at the resurrection.

PSALM

I will praise you, Lord, you have rescued me and have not let my enemies rejoice over me. O Lord, you have raised my soul from the dead, restored me to life from those who sink into the grave. Sing psalms to the Lord, you who love him, give thanks to his holy name. His anger lasts but a moment; his favour through life. At night there are tears, but joy comes with dawn. The Lord listened and has pity. The Lord came to my help. For me you have changed my mourning into dancing; O Lord my God, I will thank you for ever.

First Reading: Acts 5:27-32, 40-41

Second Reading: Apoc 5:11-14

Gospel Reading John 21: 1-19

3rd Sunday of Easter 2016 Newsletter

“Eight days later, Jesus came.”

This week the Gospel is chosen because it relates “what happened today” – eight days after Easter, Jesus comes again to his disciples. The story of Thomas’s doubt and faith leads us to think about our doubts and faith but always in the context of being part of the family of the Church. Remember last week, and the baptisms you may have witnessed, or the renewal of your own baptismal promises: “this is the faith of the Church, the faith in which we are baptised.”

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 stone which the builder 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. O Lord, grant us salvation; O Lord, grant success. Blessed in the name of the Lord is he who comes. We bless you from the house of the Lord; the Lord God is our light.

First Reading: Acts 5: 12-16

Gospel Reading John 20: 19-31

2nd Sunday of Easter 2016 Newsletter

“Christ our Passover has been sacrificed; let us celebrate the feast then, in the Lord.”

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!

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 builder rejected has become the corner stone. This is the work of the Lord, a marvel in our eyes.

First Reading: Acts 10:34, 37-43

Gospel Reading John 20: 1-9

Easter Sunday & 2nd Sunday of Easter 2016 Newsletter

Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord

On Palm Sunday the long reading of the Passion dominates the celebration, and in a sense its meaning is obvious. Do not allow this, however, to detract from the other readings, which give the vital context necessary for understanding the Passion as more than just a long story. It is our story of the tale of how God achieved OUR salvation by the supreme sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

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.” May 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.

Today’s Readings

1^st Reading: Is 50: 4-7

2^nd Reading: Phil 2: 6-11

The Passion according to Luke: 22: 14-23: 56

Palm Sunday 2016 Newsletter

“If there is one of you who has not sinned, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”

There is a logical development in the readings this Sunday: in the Old Testa­ment, God asks us to look forward to the “new deed he will do”, when he will put “water in the wilderness”; we then see the new deed, which Paul talks about, to be the “supreme advantage of knowing Christ Je­sus”, and sharing the “power of his resur­rection”; so who is this Jesus, and how is he “water in the wilderness”? It is because he brings hope for the future and forgiveness of our sins, as the Gospel story relates. This Sunday’s readings are there for our encouragement, to help us look forward to Easter, and the meaning of Jesus’ Pas­sion, Death and Resurrection: that meaning is Reconciliation and a new creation (as we heard last week). We are driven on through Lent by a vision of the marvels that God has worked, and that God will work for us.

PSALM

When the Lord delivered Zion from bondage, it seemed like a dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, on our lips there were songs. The heathens themselves said: “What marvels the Lord worked for them!” What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad.

Deliver us, O Lord, from our bondage as streams in dry land. Those who are sowing in tears will sing when they reap. They go out, they go out, full of tears, carrying the seed for the sowing: they come back, they come back, full of song, carrying their sheaves.

1^st Reading: Is 43: 16-21

2^nd Reading: Phil: 3: 8-14

Gospel: John 8: 1-11

5th Sunday of Lent 2016 Newsletter

“Your brother here was dead and has come to life.”

As today we hear the familiar para­ble of the Prodigal Son (or the Forgiving Father), the message is Reconciliation – the making new of relationships, the healing of past wrongs and the opening of ourselves to the “new creation”. This is just as the Is­raelites opened themselves to the New Cre­ation of the Promised Land, when under Joshua they ended their sojourn in the wilderness after forty years of hardship, and began to eat of the produce of the country. It is all God’s work: it is God who calls us back, and God who welcomes us into the Promised Land of his mercy when we re­turn. So today, let us think not so much of sin and offences, as the new creation God offers us, if we but turn back to him and embrace him as our Father.

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. Glorify the Lord with me. Together let us praise his name.   I sought the Lord and he answered me; from all my terrors he set me free. Look towards him and be radiant; let your faces not be abashed. This poor man called; the Lord heard him and rescued him from all his distress.

Readings

1^st Reading: Joshua 5:9-12

2^nd Reading: 2Cor 5: 17-21

Gospel: Luke 15: 1-3, 11-32

4th Sunday of Lent 2016 Newsletter

“Unless you repent you will all perish as they did.”

“The man who thinks he is safe must be careful he does not fall.” This is the theme of this Sunday: it underlines the need for repentance, which is the focus of our Lenten journey in Year C. Jesus, in the Gospel, uses two recent events in order to illustrate his point about sin and repentance – there is a price to be paid for sin, but there is a way of avoiding it: if we repent, we will have salva­tion and a new and real freedom. This idea is emphasised in the parable, where we see a tree not being condemned immediately, but given a chance to change and produce fruit. So are we. This links in with the two other readings, which also talk about escape – the escape of Israel from Egypt. This is to be a warning for us, as Saint Paul says: if we are Christians, we must live as Christians, and be aware of the need to watch our lives and the direction they are taking.

PSALM

My soul, give thanks to the Lord, all my being bless his holy name. My soul gives thanks to the Lord and never forget all his blessings. It is he who forgives all your guilt, who heals every one of your ills, who redeems your life from the grave, who crowns you with love and compassion. The Lord does deeds of justice, gives judgement for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses and his deeds to Israel’s sons. The Lord is compassion and love, slow to anger and rich in mercy. For as the heavens are high above the earth so strong is his love for those who fear him.

1^st Reading: Exodus 3:1-8, 13-15

2^nd Reading: 1Cor 10:1-6,10-12

Gospel: Luke 13:1-9

3rd Sunday of Lent 2016 Newsletter

“As Jesus prayed, the aspect of his face was changed.”

Every year, on the Second Sunday of Lent, we hear about the Transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain top. Why? Jesus revealed his glory to the three apostles in order to strengthen them for the journey ahead – the journey to Jerusalem, Gethse­mane and Golgotha. The same vision is today offered to us, to strengthen us in our Lenten Journey of Faith. Last week we heard about tempta­tion: this week we are driven onwards by a vision of glory that will be ours – the goal of our lives of faith and all that we do as Christians. The transfiguration represents the final destination of our lives, if we are faithful in resisting temptation and living each day as faithful members of Jesus Christ. In our journey of renewal and new commit­ment through Lent, we are spurred on and encouraged by today’s vision to see why the effort is worth it.

PSALM

The Lord is my light and my help; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; before whom shall I shrink? O Lord, hear my voice when I call; have mercy and answer.   Of you my heart has spoken: “Seek his face.”

It is your face, O Lord, that I seek; hide not your face. Dismiss not your servant in anger; you have been my help.

I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living. Hope in him, hold firm and take heart. Hope in the Lord!

1^st Reading: Genesis 15:5-12,17-18

2^nd Reading: Phil 3:17-4:1

Gospel: Luke 9:28-36

2nd Sunday of Lent 2016 Newsletter