Parish of Our Lady & Saint David, Cwmbran

“He will gather his chosen from the four winds.”

As always at this time of year, we begin to contemplate the end of the world ‑ a theme that carries us over next Sunday’s feast (Christ the King) and so into Advent. Such a contemplation is not gloomy or morbid: throughout the ages (and especially in the early days) Christians have been utterly posi­tive about the coming end of all things, because we know what will happen, and in fact we earnestly desire it to come: the phrase that gives this away is in the Gospel: “Then… he will send his angels to gather his chosen from the four winds.” This gathering of God’s children to­gether will be a truly wonderful event, when we will all be completely enfolded in that love of God that we talk so much about.

PSALM

O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup; it is you yourself who are my prize. I keep the Lord ever in my sight: since he is at my right hand, I shall stand firm. And so my heart rejoices, my soul is glad; even my body shall rest in safety. For you will not leave my soul among the dead, nor let your beloved know decay. You will show me the path of life, the fullness of joy in your presence, at your right hand happiness for ever.

First Reading: Daniel 12: 1-3

Second Reading: Hebrews 10: 11-14, 18

Gospel Reading: Mark 13:24-32

33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time 2015 Newsletter

“This poor widow has put in more than all.”

God does not have favourites”, Saint Paul tells us, but God always makes a special place for the poor, and those whom society would push into second place. In the traditions of Israel God invited the people to have special care for the “widows and orphans” – so the story we hear in today’s Gospel would have a particular resonance. The paradox of Christian faith is this: in giving, we receive. Christ gave everything, sacrificing his very life, and in return received a new and unending life. The widow in the first reading gave her last food for the prophet Elijah, and in return received an endless supply. This is a challenge to us in our turn: what are we invited or asked to give, and in what spirit will we do so, and what will be our reward?

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.   It is 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: 1 Kings 17:10-16

Second Reading: Hebrews 9:24-28

Gospel Reading: Mark 12:38-44

32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time 2015 Newsletter

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven!”

“A huge number, impossible to count” – that is the picture this Solemnity creates. In every age there have been men and women who have followed the Lord faithfully, and who now rejoice in the Liturgy of Heaven, as they stand before the throne of the Lamb. These are the “anonymous” saints, whose names we don’t remember ‑ but even though their names are not on our lips, their memory, inspiration, example and prayers are set before us today, so that we too can be encouraged in our own “journey of perfection”. What does it take to be a saint? Surely the Gospel that is appointed for today (the Beati­tudes) shows us that it is in the small things that we triumph: gentleness, mercy, making peace, faithful mourning, purity of heart, poverty in spirit ‑ these are not grand, public ways to sanctity. They are domestic, and homely, to be practised and perfected with those closest to us. We sometimes exalt the “named” saints to the degree that we can feel they are distant from us. Today’s feast, as well as celebrating the memory of the many whose name we do not know, also prompts us to see holiness as within our grasp.

PSALM

The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness, the world and all its peoples. It is he who set it on the seas; on the waters he made it firm. Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord? Who shall stand in his holy place? The man with clean hands and pure heart, who desires not worthless things. He shall receive blessings from the Lord and reward from the God who saves him. Such are the men who seek him, seek the face of God of Jacob

First Reading: Apocalypse 7:2-4.9-14 

Second Reading: 1 John 3:1‑3 

Gospel Reading: Mark 5:1-12

The Solemnity of All Saints 2015 Newsletter

“Master, let me see again.”

All of Jesus miracles can be read in many different ways: there is always a message almost a parable behind each one, that tells us something about God, about his care for his people, about Jesus and about the promises God has made to us, his children. Today is no excep­tion: on the simplest level, we see Jesus offering the greatest gift he could give to Bartimaeus ‑ the gift of sight. It shows us Jesus ’’love and care for those who suffer. But that alone is not the whole meaning of this story, as the first reading makes clear: there, through Jeremiah, God promises to gather his children into a new and perfect Kingdom, washing away the tears and restoring comfort. So Jesus appears as a fulfilment of this prophecy, as the One who brings this Kingdom into the world. But it doesn’t end there: in our own age we still have the blind, and those who suffer: there are still tears to be washed away – Jesus’ work is begun, but not completed. God’s promises extend to us as well. As followers of Jesus, we should imitate him in doing what we can to bring that comfort which is the Kingdom of God to all in need.

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 seed for the sowing: they come back, they come back, full of song, carrying their sheaves.

First Reading: Jeremiah 31:7-9

Second Reading: Hebrews 5:1-6

Gospel Reading: Mark 10: 46-52

30th Sunday of Ordinary Time 2015 Newsletter

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