Parish of Our Lady & Saint David, Cwmbran

Third Scrutiny

The Gospel of the Fifth Sunday is perhaps the deepest meditation on the mystery of Baptism and membership of the Church. It is a prelude to the events of Easter Sunday, when we celebrate the triumph of life over death. To be plunged into the waters of baptism is to be buried with Christ, only to rise with him from the waters. This paradox of life and death is the content of today’s readings. There is no more important part of our faith that the resurrection: that Christ rose from the dead is the very centre and heart of all that we believe – without it, our faith is useless. In the same way our belief in our own resurrection is vital: it is the most deeply needed gift that Christ gives us. This is why the climax of the instructions given to candidates for Baptism was this teaching: that Christ would give them life after death. Look ahead to the 3rd Sunday of Easter, where Saint Peter preaches to the crowds – what he teaches them is that life comes after death, as it did for Lazarus, and for Christ himself.

1^st Reading : Ezekiel 37: 12-14 

2^nd Reading: Romans 8: 8-11

Gospel Reading: John 11: 1-45

Psalm

Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord, Lord, hear my voice! O let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleading. If you, O Lord, should mark our guilt, Lord, who would survive? But with you is found forgiveness: for this we revere you. My soul is waiting for the Lord, I count on his word.   My soul is longing for the Lord more than watchman for daybreak. (Let the watchman count on daybreak and Israel on the Lord.) Because with the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption, Israel indeed he will redeem from all its iniquity.

Lenten Devotions

Stations of the Cross:

St David’s: Thurs at 10.00am

Our Lady’s: Friday at 9.30am

Second Scrutiny

When we get to Easter, there are two symbols of the resurrection that we use in Church: fire and light (the Easter Candle) and water (the Font). Last week we reflected on water, and this week there are passages all about light – true light, that defeats the blindness of sin. Again, this would have been offered to those preparing for Baptism, but speaks to all of us who have been baptised, inviting us to be renewed in the light of Christ at Easter. Remember that one of the oldest titles of the newly baptised was “neophyte”, which means “newly enlightened” There is a subtle link between the readings on this Sunday: in the first reading, David is anointed, and the Spirit of the Lord seizes on him. This anointing lights him along the right path – ‘no evil would I fear’ as the Psalm says. Then Paul tells us more ab the marvellous story of the healing (by being ‘anointed’ with spittle) of the man born blind. Jesus is the light of the world

1^st Reading : Samuel 16: 6-7, 10-13

 2^nd Reading: Ephesians 5: 8-14

 Gospel Reading: John 9: 1-41

Psalm

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. Fresh and green are the pastures where he gives me repose. Near restful waters he leads me, to revive my drooping spirit. He guides me along the right path; he is true to his name. If I should walk in the valley of darkness no evil would I fear. You are there with your crook and your staff; with these you give me comfort. You have prepared a banquet for me in the sight of my foes. My head you have anointed with oil; my cup is overflowing. Surely goodness and kindness shall follow me all the days of my life. In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell for ever and ever.

Lenten Devotions

Stations of the Cross:

St David’s: Thurs at 10.00am

Our Lady’s: Fridays at 9.30am

First Scrutiny

The Gospel of the third Sunday is the remarkable conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman by the well, the theme is water – which gives life, which cleanses, which is so necessary. This reading forms part of the catechesis given before Baptism at Easter: the candidates who would go into the water are invited to reflect on what that means. But more necessary than the water which gives life is the water which gives eternal life – the water of baptism, the water flowing from Jesus’ side on the cross. Even if your Church does not have any candidates preparing for Baptism, we will all renew our baptismal promises at Easter: we should take this opportunity to reflect on what baptism has given us, and what God has done for us in this gift.

1^st Reading : Exodus 17: 3-7

2^nd Reading: Romans 5: 1-2, 5-8

Gospel Reading: John 4: 5-42

Psalm

Come, ring out our joy to the Lord; hail the rock who saves us. Let us come before him, giving thanks, with songs let us hail the Lord.

Come in; let us bow and bend low; let us kneel before the God who made us for he is our God and we the people who belong to his pasture, the flock that is led by his hand. O that today you would listen to his voice! “Harden not your hearts as at Meribah, as on that day at Massah in the desert when your fathers put me to the test; when they tried me though they say my work.

Lenten Devotions

Stations of the Cross:

St David’s: Thurs at 10.00am

Our Lady’s: Fridays at 9.30am

Lent is a Season of preparation for the whole Paschal Triduum – Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday: not just a time to reflect on the Cross. Often our Lenten devotions can focus exclusively on the Cross, and the idea of Baptism can be lost. This is why the Church invites us to join the disciples in looking beyond the cross this Sunday: we see the glory of Easter, the glory of the resurrection and the glory of the baptised. We see all this in the Transfiguration: we are invited to recognise who Jesus is. It is the glorified Jesus, whom we will celebrate at Easter, who calls us to journey through Lent, just as God called Abram to journey far from his home. So the readings lead to us acknowledges that Lent is a very special ‘calling’, to follow the Lord of glory to the renewal of baptismal purity.

1^st Reading : Genesis 12:1-4

 2^nd Reading: Timothy 1: 8-10

 Gospel Reading: Matthew 17:1-9

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 hope in you.

In the Cycle of Sunday Readings, the oldest are those of Year A in Lent these Gospels have accompanied the Church for many centuries. We must realise why: Lent was originally the time of immediate preparation of candidates for Baptism at Easter (something which has been reintroduced to the Church by RCIA): those already baptised used it as a time to prepare for the renewal of Baptismal promises. This is why so much of the Scripture in Lent is about Baptism, New Life and Salvation. What is the new life of Baptism? What are we set free from? What is sin? We begin Lent by hearing about sin and temptation; the Gospel will tell us of Jesus’ own temptations, something he shares with us, though he did not sin. The other Scripture readings prepare us for the Gospel, in which Jesus, the new Adam, triumphs over temptation.

1^st Reading : Genesis 2: 7-9; 3: 1-7

2^nd Reading: Romans 5: 12-19

Gospel Reading: Matthew 4:1-11

Psalm

Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness. In your compassion blot out my offence. O wash me more and more from my guilt and cleanse me from my sin. My offences truly I know them; my sin is always before me. Against you, you alone have I sinned; what is evil in your sight I have done. A pure heart create for me, O God, put a steadfast spirit within me Do not cast me away from your presence , or deprive me of your holy spirit. Give me again the joy of your help; with a spirit of fervour sustain me. O Lord, open my lips and my mouth shall declare your praise.

“The leprosy left him at once and he was cured.”

Thankfully, we do not encounter leprosy in our culture. It can therefore be difficult to enter into the real depth of today’s readings. We have to understand that leprosy meant exclusion, rejection and the end of “normal” life. For your leprosy to be cured would be like being given a second chance at life. What is the cause of exclusion and rejection in our society – or even in the Church? Who are those who must “live apart”? And how can we put into effect in our day those most touching of the words of Jesus, when asked if he wants to cure the leper: “Of course I want to!”? Contemplating exclusion and rejection in our world can be hard work: Saint Paul guides the way: the Christian path is not to work “for my own advantage, but for the advantage of everybody else”.

1^st Reading : Lev. 13:1-2,44-46

2^nd Reading: 1 Cor 10: 31- 11:1 

Gospel Reading: Mark 1: 40-45 

Psalm

Happy the man whose offence is forgiven, whose sin is remitted. O happy the man to whom the Lord imputes no guilt, in whose spirit is no guile. But now I have acknowledged my sins; my guilt I did not hide. I said: “I will confess my offence to the Lord.” And you, Lord, have forgiven the guilt of my sin. Rejoice, rejoice in the Lord, exult, you just! O come, ring out your joy, all you upright of heart.

He cured many who suffered from diseases of one kind or another.

This world, as we know, is a fragile and fallible place, in which we encounter hunger, disease, sickness and death. Jesus proclaims, by his actions of healing, that there is another world, the Kingdom of God, which will be free from all such anxieties and afflictions. The story of Paradise and the Garden of Eden painted a picture of a world which was perfect, and free from all problems. Jesus came into the world precisely to offer us a return to Eden, if we follow him. Each of his miracles is also, in some sense, a parable or teaching, pointing out to us something of the lost happiness and perfection which he is restoring. This vision of Paradise is not Utopian or delusory, not just a vain hope to comfort us with, but the true manifestation of God’s love for us. Jesus could not cure every disease or sickness in the world then: but his miracles of healing are a sign that one day, when the Kingdom comes, sickness and disease will be wiped away for ever.

1^st Reading :Job 7: 1-4, 6-7

2^nd Reading: 1 Cor 9: 16-19, 22-23

Gospel Reading: Mark 1: 29-39

Psalm

Praise the Lord for he is good; sing to our God for he is loving: to him our praise is due. The Lord builds up Jerusalem and brings back Israel’s exiles. He heals the broken – hearted, he bind up all their wounds. He fixes the number of the stars; he calls each one by its name. Our Lord is great and almighty; his wisdom can never be measured. The Lord raises the lowly; he humbles the wicked to the dust

Where does authority come from? Why is one man regarded as a prophet, and another as a lunatic, and a third as a hypocrite? Jesus startles the crowds with a ‘new teaching’ today, but what amazes them so much is not the message but the authority behind it: they are convinced because what he does somehow adds credibility to what he says. It’s the old situation that we are all familiar with – we look through words to see the actions, which show us the real message. The scribes did not heal or work miracles, but simply talked about God. Jesus talks about the Kingdom of God, but also shows the people what it is – a Kingdom where all that damages human happiness is abolished. The other side to this is that we must listen to a prophet or teacher when they are backed by such authority; we may not “harden our hearts” and ignore the message when we have recognised that the messenger is sent by God. This is the hard part, because it demands that we too show, by our actions, that we have heard.

1^st Reading: Deuteronomy 18:15-20

2^nd Reading: 1Cor 7:32-35

Gospel Reading: Mark 1:21-28

Psalm

Come, ring out our joy to the Lord, hail the rock who saves us. Let us come before him, giving thanks, with songs let us hail the Lord. Come in; let us kneel and bend low; let us kneel before the God who made us for he is our God and we the people who belongs to his pasture, the flock that is led by his hand. O that today you would listen to his voice! “Harden not your hearts as at Meribah, as on that day at Massah in the desert when your fathers put me to the test; when they tried me, though they saw my work.”

Repent, and believe the Good News

Where does Jesus begin his ministry? Where John the Baptist left off – preaching a message of repentance, of change, to welcome the new Kingdom of God. There is a simplicity about this message, which is not compromised by anything – today’s Gospel has these simple words from Jesus, and then the story of his calling more disciples to follow him and share in the work of spreading this message. Repentance has had something of a bad press – we tend to think of it as an old-fashioned concept. But every age needs to hear this call: to look at what we do and say and assume, and realise that there are such things as right and wrong, and that sometimes we follow the wrong path. To follow Jesus, and to accept the Kingdom of God, demands that we make a radical choice, which might well change our lives

1^st Reading: Jonah 3:1-5,10

2^nd Reading: 1 Cor 7: 29-31

Gospel Reading: Mark 1: 14-20

Psalm

Lord, make me know your ways. Lord, teach me your paths. Make me walk in your truth, and teach me: for you are God my saviour. Remember your mercy, Lord, and the love you have shown from of old. In your love remember me, because of your goodness, O Lord. The Lord is good and upright. He shows the path to those who stray, he guides the humble in the right path; he teaches his way to the poor.

Peace Sunday – see www.paxchristi.org.uk

They saw where he lived and stayed with him.

What does it mean to be a follower of the Lord Jesus? Surely to listen and hear his voice, and to go where he leads us. Today, as we enter the ordinary season of the year, we begin our story of Jesus’s life and ministry with the calling of the first disciples. John fulfils his ministry – pointing to the Lamb of God – and the disciples follow where he points. His word to them is simple and inviting: “Come and see.” This echoes the calling of Samuel – a simple call, by name, which Samuel does not understand: discipleship is about trust, which Samuel shows simply by saying “Speak, Lord; your servant is listening. The Psalm also underlines this, as we (the disciples of the Lord) sing together: “Here I am, Lord! I come to do your will.” We hear his call, and we freely go to him, to listen again to the words of the Master.

1^st Reading: 1 Samuel 3:3-10,19

2^nd Reading: 1 Cor 6: 13-15,17-20

Gospel Reading: Jn 1:35-42

Psalm

I waited, I waited for the Lord and he stooped down to me. He heard my cry. He put a new song into my mouth, praise of our God. You do not ask for sacrifice and offerings, but an open ear. You do not ask for holocaust and victim. Instead, here am I. In the scroll of the book it stands written that I should do your will. My God, I delight in your law in the depth of my heart.

Your justice I have proclaimed in the great assembly. My lips I have not sealed;   you know it, O Lord.

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY

18^th -25^th January

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