Category: Deacon Tony reflects

[Zephaniah 2:3,3:12-13 Psalm 146; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31; Matthew 5:1-12a]

Most of you know that I am a big football fan, in particular Celtic. A few years ago we had a manager called Ange Postecoglu, he was very successful with Celtic, before winning a European Trophy with Spurs and then having a miserable time with Forest. His main philosophy in football was to never give up, he said, ‘let the others give up if they want to, we keep going right to the end’; this encouraged a zeal in his players to win the ball back quickly and to play right up until the final whistle in every game. The Beatitudes also tell us not to give up. Jesus is saying that whatever life throws at us we are to think of him, think about our end goal and to persist in our journey to heaven.

Our readings today, point us towards Jesus’ message in the Gospel. The first words used in our reading from the prophet Zephaniah tell us to ‘seek the LORD, all you humble of the land’. When we consider these words and read the Gospel we are reminded to keep the LORD ever in our mind, and to trust in God.

The psalm, is a psalm which oozes mercy, reminding us how merciful God; is towards us and setting the example of how we are to be merciful towards each other. This reminds us of the Jesus’ promise that if we are merciful then we shall receive mercy.

In his first letter to the Corinthians, St Paul is telling us that Jesus did not choose the people we would automatically choose to spread the Good News. He did not choose priests, or teachers or people with high profiles. Jesus chose fishermen to become fishers of men. Jesus chose sinners who had received His forgiveness to speak about how wonderful the mercy of God is; and Jesus has chosen us to be part of His Body, the Church. When St Paul says that ‘God chose the weak in the world to shame the strong’, he is saying in another way ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.’

Looking at the Beatitudes in turn, Jesus said

‘Blessed are the poor in spirit…’, who are the poor in spirit? These are the people who know they need God’s forgiveness, they are actively seeking out God, yearning to love God more, not happy to settle for mediocrity in their faith, never giving up in their search for God. ‘…for theirs is the kingdom of heaven’.

‘Blessed are those who mourn….’  we have all mourned at some time or another, when we lose a loved one we pray for their soul, we ask God to comfort us and others who mourn. Jesus is telling us not to forget the dead and to have hope that He has taken them to a better place; the same place He is preparing for us. When we weep for a loved one we are crying out to Jesus, who knew what it was like to weep out of grief. In Him, we have that hope and we can find comfort. ‘….for they shall be comforted.’

‘Blessed are the meek….’ it often seems that only those with loud voices or the proud get heard, Jesus turns that on its head. If you think you have everything in this life and don’t use it to help others, then you will lose your inheritance; however, if those with the quiet calm still voices persist and use the stillness, they will hear the voice of God and ‘they will inherit the earth.

‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness…’ As Christians we are not supposed to be passive when we see others being wronged. We are supposed to speak up, use the voices and the intellect God has given us and to say to those who are being unjust, or who are proposing an unjust law, ‘this is not right’. We must never sit idly by and allow harm to come to others without getting involved. Never giving up in the fight for what is right, because Jesus promised ’they shall be satisfied.’

‘Blessed are the merciful…’ some cultures urge their followers to show no mercy, that it is seen as a sign of weakness. Jesus teaches us that showing mercy is a strength and that when we offer others mercy then we ‘shall receive mercy’.

‘Blessed are the pure in heart…’ purity comes from God. When Adam and Eve ate the fruit of the tree, they took away the purity which God intended for us. Those who seek to be pure in heart; looking to love when it is time to love and abstain when it is time to abstain truly seek God, for those Jesus’ promise is that ‘they shall see God.’

‘Blessed are the peacemakers….’ This is not just the politicians looking to win a Nobel prize or some made up award to boost their already inflated ego. Peace starts in our homes; do we truly seek to make peace with those we live with? Do we try to live a peaceful life? Do we really mean it when we offer each other the sign of peace at Mass? If we do, then Jesus is promising us that we ‘…shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake…’ Jesus is asking us again, to trust in him. We are to be prepared to put everything on the line and speak up for what is right, to hold true to the teachings of the Gospel no matter what it costs. Jesus is saying that no matter what happens, we are to keep going, persevere and never give up we must keep going and we will reach our goal ‘ the kingdom of heaven.’

‘Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account…’ Jesus is basically saying that if people are doing this, then you are living out all of His commandments. You are putting into action the faith which He has given us. If these things are happening to you, it means you are on the right road and that you must ‘..Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.  Notice Jesus does not say your reward will be, He says your reward is great in heaven.  This is the promise the martyrs held onto, which strengthened their resolve.

The Beatitudes are our encouragement to stay close to Jesus in this world; which if we can live up to them, guarantees that we will be with Jesus in the next.

At a recent RCIA session, one of the participants referred to these simply, as the Be attitudes…I couldn’t have put it any better myself. Have a great week.

Further Reading

Catechism of the Catholic Church

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

CCC 459, 520-521: Jesus a model of the beatitudes for followers
CCC 1716-1724: call to beatitude
CCC 64, 716: the poor and humble remnant bear hope of Messiah[1]

What The Eight Beatitudes Mean For Our World Today | Jocelyn Soriano

Please remember in your prayers

• All those who are sick, either at home or in hospital, especially those who have very few or no visitors.
• Those who have died and those who grieve for them.
• All people affected by war and that international treaties for the protection of non-combatants and civilians are respected and adhered to.
• Those attending the RCIA programmes.
• Those attending the Youth Alpha programme which is a prerequisite for the Confirmation programme in our Pastoral Area.
• The success of the Pastoral Area Mission Plan.

Deacon Tony

31^st January 2026

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[1] Homiletic Directory, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments

[Isaiah 9:1b-4; Psalm 27; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13,17; Matthew 4:12-23]

As a Scot, the 25^th January has a special significance, as we join millions around the world and celebrate Burns Night. Robert Burns was a farmer and an excise man who was born on this date in 1759[1]. He is however famous for writing over 700 poems and is Scotland’s National Bard (poet). On this date haggis is eaten (along with ‘neeps & tatties’ {turnip/swede & potatoes}) accompanied by a wee dram; and in formal settings his poems are recited. In modern day terminology, Burns may be regarded as a wordsmith. Someone who was clever with words and could put them together well to bring the words on the page to life for the reader.

In 2026 the 25^th January is also the 7^th year we will celebrate the Sunday of the Word of God[2]. Whilst Burns brought words to life for his readers, the Word of God offers the opportunity of eternal life for those who read and follow.

So, what is the Word of God saying to us this Sunday?

Today’s readings offer us a theme or a melody; what Isaiah spoke of as prophesy, St Matthew repeats as history[3] highlighting that Jesus, the great light, has dawned.

I think there is also a strong message in the Gospel to us, in who Jesus calls to be his first disciples. He calls two sets of brothers, most brothers will have each other’s back, looking out for each other based on a family bond of love which has been nurtured from their earliest days. In calling brothers, Jesus is telling us that as His disciples, we need to develop that brotherly love, looking out for one another, protecting one another, loving one another.

When Jesus formed His Community, He wanted people who would be loyal to Him, he wanted people He could trust to look out for the weaker members of the Community. He didn’t want the Community to break into factions, but sadly over the years that is what has happened. In the second reading today, St Paul is warning the Corinthians against this. We are not supposed to separate into different parts because we are all part of the Body of Christ.

As Christians we are obliged to keep Christ at the centre of our lives; everything else is secondary. The love we have for our friends and family is only possible because Our Creator is Love and we are made in His image and likeness. The love we have for our families is multiplied when we love Jesus, because the love we have for Jesus reflects out into every other relationship we have.

Today also marks the end of the Octave of Prayer for Christian Unity. The theme this year has been One Body, One Spirit, with a reminder to work for peace for people everywhere.[4] Within this area Christians of various denominations do great work together, the Foodbank, Food Pantries, Street Pastors, Town Centre Chaplains, the Night Shelter and Hospital Chaplaincy are just a few examples where Christians serve the local community and reach out to those of all faiths and none, taking Jesus to them. Without the services these groups provide, many people in this area would be left cold, hungry and vulnerable in a secular world which seems to only value people when they have something to give and shuns them when they are in need.

What will you do with what you have heard in scriptures today?

Could it make a difference to you or others?

How will you make this happen?

Further Reading

Catechism of the Catholic Church

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

CCC 551, 765: the call of the Twelve
CCC 541-543: Reign of God calls and gathers Jews and Gentiles
CCC 813-822: unity of the Church[5]

Please remember in your prayers

• All those who are sick, either at home or in hospital, especially those who have very few or no visitors.
• Those who have died and those who grieve for them.
• All people affected by war and that international treaties for the protection of non-combatants and civilians are respected and adhered to.
• All those attending the RCIA programmes.
• Those attending the Youth Alpha programme which is a prerequisite for the Confirmation programme in our Pastoral Area.
• The success of the Pastoral Area Mission Plan.
• For Gabriella, Robert, Oluwatamilore, & Oluwafikayomi who are being baptised at St Bede’s this weekend.

Deacon Tony

24^th January 2026

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[1] Robert Burns – Search

[2] Liturgical and Pastoral Handbook

[3] Placid Murray, 100 Liturgical Homilies, [The Columba Press, Dublin, 1988] 67.

[4] Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2026 – One Body One Spirit – Churches Together in England

[5] Homiletic Directory, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments

[Isaiah 49:3,5-6; Psalm 40; 1 Corinthians 1:1-3; John1:29-34]

‘Behold, the lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world’, these words from John the Baptist and repeated at every Mass draw our attention to Jesus. In the times before Jesus, lambs would be sacrificed in the temple as a sin offering to re-establish relationship with God [Lev 32-35]. Jesus is the lamb of God; he frees the temple animals [Jn 2:13-22] as they are no longer needed. Jesus once and for all takes away the sin of the world by his death and resurrection.[1]

John the Baptist had one key role in life and that was to point towards Jesus, to let the people know that the Messiah had come. As Baptised Christians, we share that role, we have a duty, through our Baptism to point people towards Jesus. We do this through what we say and what we do. It is not enough for us to turn up at Mass each week, listen to the Word of God, receive Jesus in the Eucharist then go home and get on with our life. This is not good enough. When we hear the Word of God, we need to let it enter into our hearts and move our hearts into action. This action is to love God and love our neighbour by sharing God’s love with them. By receiving the Body of Christ in the Eucharist we receive God’s grace which gives us the Spiritual energy, the courage and the confidence to do God’s work. John the Baptist had this grace in abundance through the power of the Holy Spirit; he even had it in his mother’s womb.

There are times in life when I feel called to do something or when I am asked to do something which troubles me, when I am way out of my comfort zone. I judge that these are times when my natural gifts are suited elsewhere or when I come away thinking I have wasted my time. Often forgetting that I do not see the big picture in those instances and that if I do God’s will, He knows what difference I have made.  I wonder if John the Baptist ever felt like that? If he did, then surely his encounter with Jesus by the River Jordan at Bethany, dispelled all of those negative feelings. His mission was realised that day! He had been told that the one on whom the Holy Spirit descended and rested that He is the Son of God. John saw this and bore witness to the fact that Jesus is the Son of God.

Above the alcove where the tabernacle is in St Bede’s Church, there are the words Ecce Agnus Dei; Behold the Lamb of God. Every time we enter the church we are reminded of those words of John the Baptist. Jesus[2] is present with us in the Eucharist just as He was present for John the Baptist at Bethany. Our mission is to bring more people to Him, to point to those words and tell people that Jesus is with us, just as He promised us that He would be – until the end of time [Mt 28:20].

Further Reading

Catechism of the Catholic Church

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

CCC 604-609: Jesus the Lamb of God who takes away sins of all
CCC 689-690: mission of Son and Holy Spirit[3]

Please remember in your prayers

• All those who are sick, either at home or in hospital, especially those who have very few or no visitors.
• Those who have died and those who grieve for them.
• All people affected by war and that international treaties for the protection of non-combatants and civilians are respected and adhered to.
• All those attending the RCIA programmes.
• Those attending the Youth Alpha programme which is a prerequisite for the Confirmation programme in our Pastoral Area.
• The success of the Pastoral Area Mission Plan.
• For the families completing the Baptism Preparation Programme at St Bede’s this weekend.

Deacon Tony

17^th January 2026

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[1] Maria Power & Raymond Friel, Pastoral Review Vol 22 Issue 1, [The Tablet Publishing Company Limited, London, 2025] 75.

[2]

[3] Homiletic Directory, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments

[Isaiah42:1-4,6-7; Psalm 29; Acts 10:34-38; Matthew 3:13-17]

When we were Baptised, we were baptised in the Name of The Father, and of The Son and of The Holy Spirit, in today’s Gospel we hear The Father speak at the Baptism of The Son with the visible presence of The Holy Spirit. This day two thousand years ago, when the Trinity show their eternal unity and Jesus gives us an example of how we can enter into his family and become his adopted brothers and sisters.

We know that Jesus did not need to be baptised. By convincing John to Baptise him, Jesus was standing in ‘solidarity with sinners.’[1] Jesus, as true God did not need Baptism. Jesus, as true man, needs us to take up Baptism and follow him allowing us as mankind, to journey towards our Father’s eternal home.

The words we hear today from Isaiah in our first reading would have been very familiar to Jesus. He would have heard them growing up, he would possibly have read them out in the Synagogue. In fact, those at Mass yesterday would have heard, in Luke’s Gospel, Jesus reading from another similar section of Isaiah, where there is also mention of the blind recovering their sight and prisoners being set free. Jesus knew Scriptures and realised that He was on earth to fulfil them.

The response to the psalm is very much needed in our days too. ‘The Lord will bless his people with peace.’ With all that is going on; remembering that what we see in the news is only a fraction of what is going on. The conflicts in Africa, barely get a mention, and yet if we read the latest information from Cafod, we see that there has been fighting in Sudan for over 1000 days now, causing millions to flee; seeking a place of safety. This has put pressure on the aid agencies and on the neighbouring countries.[2] When we pray that psalm this Sunday let’s remember all of those who are affected by conflict, and ask God to bring peace to our world.

In the second reading, from the Acts of the Apostles, we hear St Peter, in the house of Cornelius, who was a Roman centurion, recognising that God was extending His call to those outside the Jewish faith. It is noticeable how Peter describes Christ’s message as being ‘the good news of peace’. As Christians we need to be advocates of peace, very easy when we live in a country which is for the most part peaceful; but for our brothers and sisters who are being persecuted this must seem like a forlorn hope.

The Baptism of the Lord marks the start of the public ministry of Jesus, one of His final messages to the disciples was to instruct them to go out to the whole world and Baptise in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, demonstrating how important Baptism is for the Salvation of mankind.

When I celebrate a Baptism service, I usually state that this is the start of a journey and that the parents, godparents and all those present, are witnesses to the start of the journey. But that is not where their part in the journey ends. Those present are called to witness to the child being baptised the teachings of the Lord, to be good role models, to help the parents to bring the child up in the Faith which we all profess. We may not be able to hear it the way those present at the Baptism of the Lord heard it, but at every baptism the voice of God is saying, this is my beloved, with whom I am well pleased. If we teach the child well enough and the child grows up living a life in Faith then at the end of the journey, they will hear the voice of God saying, ‘Well done true and faithful servant, come in, I have a place prepared for you.’

Further Reading

Homiletics Directory of the Catholic Church

E. The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

131. The feast of the Baptism of the Lord, a dimension of Epiphany, closes the Christmas season and opens it outward into Ordinary time. When Jesus is baptized by John in the Jordan, something enormous happens. The heavens are torn open then, the Father’s voice is heard, and the Spirit is seen coming down in visible form upon Jesus. This is an epiphany of the mystery of the Holy Trinity. But why does such a vision occur in the moment when Jesus is baptized? The homilist must give some answer to this question.

132. The explanation lies in Jesus’ purpose in coming to John and being baptized by him. John is preaching a baptism of repentance. Jesus wants to make this sign of repentance together with the many others who were coming to John. At first John tries to prevent him, but Jesus insists. And his insistence expresses what he intends: he means to stand in solidarity with sinners. He means to be where they must be. The same thing is expressed by the Apostle Paul using a different kind of language: “He who knew no sin became sin for our sake” (2 Cor 5:21).

133. And it is precisely in this moment of intense solidarity with sinners that this immense trinitarian epiphany takes place. The Father’s voice thunders from heaven, declaring, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” And we must understand that what pleases the Father is precisely the Son’s willingness to stand in solidarity with sinners. In this way he shows himself to be the Son of this Father, this Father “who so loved the world that he gave to it his only Son” (Jn 3:16). In the same instant, the Spirit appears like a dove, descending upon the Son, functioning as a sort of accreditation or authorization of the whole unexpected scene.

134. The Spirit who shaped this scene and indeed prepared for it through the long centuries of Israel’s history – “Who spoke through the prophets,” as we profess in the Creed – is present to the homilist and his hearers, opening their minds to an ever deeper understanding of the scene. The same Spirit accompanied Jesus in every moment of his earthly existence, shaping each of his actions into a revelation of his Father. Thus, we can hear this morning’s text from the prophet Isaiah as an expansion within the heart of Jesus on the Father’s words “You are my beloved Son.” Their loving dialogue continues: “You are my chosen one with whom I am well pleased, upon whom I have put my Spirit … I the Lord have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations.”

135. The responsorial psalm on this feast seizes on the words of Psalm 29, “The voice of the Lord is over the waters.” The Church sings this psalm as a celebration of the words of the Father which we are privileged to hear and the hearing of which, is our feast. “Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased!” – this is the “voice of the Lord over the waters, over the vast waters. The voice of the Lord is mighty. The voice of the Lord is majestic” (Ps 29:3-4).

136. After Jesus’ baptism, the Spirit sends him out into the desert to be put to the test by Satan. Then Jesus, still and ever guided by the Spirit, appears in Galilee proclaiming the Kingdom of God. In the course of his spellbinding preaching and his wonderful miracles, Jesus once said, “There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished” (Lk 12:50). With these words he referred to his coming death in Jerusalem. In this way we learn that Jesus’ baptism by John was not his ultimate baptism but an acting out in symbolic fashion of what he would accomplish in the baptism of his final agony and death on the cross. For it is on the cross that Jesus shows himself, not merely in symbol but in very deed, in complete solidarity with sinners. There he “became sin for us” (2 Cor 5:21), there “he was made a curse for us” (Gal 3:13). There he went down into the chaos of the waters of the underworld and drowned our sins forever. But from the cross and from his death, Jesus is also brought up from the waters, called to resurrection by the Father’s voice which says, “You are my beloved Son. In you I am well pleased. Today I have begotten you” (Heb 1:5). This scene of death and resurrection is the masterpiece of the Spirit’s writing and direction. The voice of the Lord over the mighty waters of death raises his Son from the dead, majestic and mighty. “The voice of the Lord is mighty. The voice of the Lord is majestic.”

137. Jesus’ baptism is the pattern also of ours. In baptism we go down with Christ into the waters of death, and our sins are drowned in those waters. And because we have gone down with Christ, we also come up from the waters together with him and hear – mighty and majestic – the Father’s voice directed to us as well. It pronounces a new name for each of us, in the depths of each of our hearts: “Beloved! In whom I am well pleased.” We hear this name as ours not because of any good deeds we have done but because Christ in his overflowing love willed to share his relationship to his Father with us.

138. The Eucharist that is celebrated on this feast deepens all the patterns of this story. The Spirit appears hovering over the gifts of bread and wine which the faithful bring. The words of Jesus – “This is my body, this is my blood” – announce his intention to receive the baptism of death for our sake. And the assembly prays, “Our Father” together with the Son because it has heard the Father call it “Beloved” together with him.

139. Jesus once said in the course of his ministry, “Whoever believes in me, as scripture says, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from within him.’” Those living waters began to flow within each of us at our baptism, and they become an ever stronger river with every celebration of the Eucharist.[3]

Please remember in your prayers

• All those who are sick, either at home or in hospital, especially those who have very few or no visitors.
• Those who have died and those who grieve for them.
• All people affected by war and that international treaties for the protection of non-combatants and civilians are respected and adhered to.
• All those attending the RCIA programmes
• Those attending the Youth Alpha programme which is a prerequisite for the Confirmation programme in our Pastoral Area.
• The success of the Pastoral Area Mission Plan.

Deacon Tony

10^th January 2026

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[1] Homiletic Directory, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments

[2] Sudan Crisis Appeal

[3] Homiletic Directory, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments

[Sirach 24:1-2,8-12; Psalm147; Ephesians 1:3-6,15-18; John 1:1-18]

Happy New Year!

The secular world tells us that Christmas is over, some people returned to work after the Christmas holiday last Friday, others will return on Monday. The shops have already started selling Easter eggs and Hot Cross buns and the TV adverts are trying to sell us holidays to places much hotter than England in January. But, for us as Christians we still have Christmas. The Maji have still to come, our Nativity is not yet complete.

Today we celebrate the second Sunday after the Nativity and in the first reading from the Book of Ecclesiasticus [or Sirach] we hear Wisdom boast “From eternity, in the beginning, he created me, and for eternity I shall not cease to exist.” Wisdom, one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit existed in the beginning and will exist forever; that means it will always be available to those who seek the Spirit.

In our second reading we hear why God created us, quite simply because He loves us. Our God, who is love, created us in his image and likeness, for God to love us and for us to love Him. We also hear that God chose us and adopted us; because of this we should be “holy and blameless”.  I don’t know about you, but I struggle to think of myself as holy and blameless. I know a lot of my faults and I have very dear family and friends who are quite happy to remind me of the ones I miss from my list.

How can we be holy when the world is such a mess?

The late Canon Frank O’Sullivan said that holiness is not about being perfect, it is about being loving. We show our love for one another, in the things we do for one another, the times when we are there to share joys and pains, the times when we just sit and listen to someone who needs to vent.[1]

The Gospel is that wonderful prologue from St John, which takes us back to the beginning of time, reminding us that Jesus, as the Word of God, was present at the moment of Creation. This same Word became flesh and dwelt among us. His own people did not recognise Him.

I struggle to think of the number of times I have looked for something, sometimes something I am desperate to find, and I fail to see it. I then ask for help and someone says it’s right there in front of you. Is this how it was for the Jewish people living around the time of Jesus? They were so desperately waiting and looking for the Messiah, that they failed to see Him; despite Jesus fulfilling so many prophecies from their Sacred Scriptures.

Today’s Gospel also introduces us to John the Baptist. John is a reminder to us that God has a mission for each of us. We might never know what our mission is and it will probably never be as important as John the Baptist’s mission. His mission made a difference to uncountable numbers of people. Our mission might make a difference to just one person. But to that one person it makes an incredible difference which is impossible to value.

Further Reading

Catechism of the Catholic Church

Second Sunday after the Nativity

CCC 151, 241, 291, 423, 445, 456-463, 504-505, 526, 1216, 2466, 2787: John’s Prologue
CCC 272, 295, 299, 474, 721, 1831: Christ the Wisdom of God
CCC 158, 283, 1303, 1831, 2500: God gives us wisdom[2]

Please remember in your prayers

• The success of the ‘seeker’ day with the Bishop
• All those who are sick, either at home or in hospital, especially those who have very few or no visitors.
• Those who have died and those who grieve for them.
• All people affected by war and that international treaties for the protection of non-combatants and civilians are respected and adhered to.
• All those attending the RCIA programmes
• Those attending the Youth Alpha programme which is a prerequisite for the Confirmation programme in our Pastoral Area.
• The success of the Pastoral Area Mission Plan.
• Those for whom the festive season is difficult.

Deacon Tony

3^rd January 2026

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[1] Canon Frank O’Sullivan, I Am With You, Year A, [Two in One Flesh, Caterham, 2013]30.

[2] Homiletic Directory, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments

Today’s Gospel tells the story of why St Joseph took the Child Jesus and the Blessed Virgin away from Bethlehem to the relative safety of Egypt. Remembering they were already far from home, having travelled there for the census and now they couldn’t return home because of the threats to Jesus by a jealous king.

In 1952 Pope Pius XII issued an encyclical, Exsul Familia which starts with the following – 

“The émigré Holy Family of Nazareth, fleeing into Egypt, is the archetype of every refugee family. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, living in exile in Egypt to escape the fury of an evil king, are, for all times and all places, the models and protectors of every migrant, alien and refugee of whatever kind who, whether compelled by fear of persecution or by want, is forced to leave his native land, his beloved parents and relatives, his close friends, and to seek a foreign soil.” [1] Note, His Holiness says that any reason one feels compelled to leave their homeland makes them a refugee.

In recent years, in a similar way to the 1930’s, politicians and the media have pointed towards refugees and migrants as being the source of domestic problems, with the effect of turning public opinion against those who seek a better or safer life by moving with their family to another land. The advent of social media allows fake news to spread quickly and has on occasion, resulted in mobs surrounding places where refugees should be able to feel safe, becoming a scene of violence and intimidation. This reflection is not meant to be political, as I believe none of the political parties have found the solution to the current migrant/refugee challenges; allowing extremists to make their voices heard and influence people.

As Christians we are meant to see in the refugee the faces of Jesus, Mary and Joseph; through our knowledge of the Bible, we know why they had to flee their homeland and find a place of safety. We thank God that they did, and this allowed Jesus to fulfil his mission which is to save all of mankind. Along the way, the Holy Family must have encountered other people during their exile, whose emotions would range from hostility and suspicion to genuine welcome and support; all of this while fearing for their lives.

How do we treat refugees today?

Do we see how vulnerable they are or do we fear them?

Do we suspect their motivations for being here?

Whatever our answer, we are encouraged to see the Holy Family in them, whatever their religion.

The Scriptures today encourage us to think of family. The first reading from the Book of Sirach encourages us to remember the importance of family for the entirety of life. I remember asking for this reading at my Grandad’s funeral, the priest tried to persuade me to use another reading, but I insisted. For me this reading speaks loudly of how relationships within a family should be; respectful and loving. The reading talks about the circle of life, reminding us that as one generation starts to weaken another becomes stronger, the role of protector may change, but has to be done respectfully aware of the feelings of all.

St Paul, in the second reading also gives advice on family life, which is useful for living as a community too. A Christian home should be one based on love; we are called to be holy, compassionate, kind, humble, meek and patient, we are called to forgive.

Is this a good reflection of how our homes have been, during interactions with family this Christmas?

Pope St John Paul II said of this feast day “If we aspire to a deeper understanding of Jesus’s life and mission, we must draw close to the mystery of the Holy Family of Nazareth to observe and listen. Today’s liturgy offers us a providential opportunity to do so. For every believer, and especially Christian families, the humble dwelling place in Nazareth is an authentic school of the Gospel. Here we admire, put into practice, the divine plan to make the family an intimate community of life and love; here we learn that every Christian family is called to be a small ‘domestic church’ that must shine with the Gospel virtues. Recollection and prayer, mutual understanding and respect, personal discipline and community asceticism and a spirit of sacrifice, work and solidarity are typical features that make the family of Nazareth a model for every home.”

As we prepare to enter 2026, I encourage us all to try and be more like the Holy Family. If we can all do our best, it will make our homes and our Parish truly wonderful places to be.

I wish you all a Happy and Peaceful New Year.

Further Reading

Catechism of the Catholic Church

The Holy Family

CCC 531-534: the Holy Family
CCC 1655-1658, 2204-2206: the Christian family, a domestic Church
CCC 2214-2233: duties of family members
CCC 333, 530: the Flight into Egypt[2]

Please remember in your prayers

• All those who are sick, either at home or in hospital, especially those who have very few or no visitors.
• Those who have died and those who grieve for them.
• All people affected by war and that international treaties for the protection of non-combatants and civilians are respected and adhered to.
• All those attending the RCIA programmes
• Those attending the Youth Alpha programme which is a prerequisite for the Confirmation programme in our Pastoral Area.
• The success of the Pastoral Area Mission Plan.
• Those for whom the festive season is difficult.

Deacon Tony

28^th December 2025.

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[1] Pope Pius XII, Exsul Familia, available at Exsul Familia Nazarethana – Papal Encyclicals accessed 27^th December 2025.

[2] Homiletic Directory, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments

Pope St John Paul II highlighted how St Matthew’s Gospel describes Joseph as a “just” man and stated that this ‘emphasises his unreserved devotion to fulfilling God’s will.’ Under Jewish laws at the time, Joseph was permitted to divorce Mary and subject her to the full weight of the law, which could have meant she would have been stoned. Joseph put aside his own feelings and instead was willing to divorce Mary quietly. This was until God’s angel spoke to him in a dream.

Joseph, as well as being ‘just’ was a man of faith. He had faith in God and faith in Mary, his betrothed. A betrothal, in the days of Mary and Joseph was similar to what we know as engagement, except that it was legally binding. There was a strict ceremony, with the signing of legally binding contracts, exchanges of gifts, agreement on a dowry and the setting of a date for marriage, which was usually around a year after the betrothal. The bride and groom would then be known as husband and wife but would not stay together nor have any conjugal relations. The bride would stay with her parents, and the husband would start to prepare the marital home to get it ready for them to move in together after the wedding. A betrothal could only be broken by divorce or death.

Thankfully, for our Salvation, Joseph listened to the angel and accepted that all Mary said had happened was true, and so he became the foster father of Jesus.

In the second reading today, St Paul emphasises that Jesus is true God and true man. He is not a man who became a god; as per some of the Roman and Greek traditions. He is fully man and fully God. His humanity can be traced through the lineage of Joseph, placing Him into the House of David. His divinity is found by the fulfilment of the prophesy of Isaiah ‘the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,’ which we hear in our first reading today.

Today’s Gospel also tells us how the virgin conceived; by the Holy Spirit; the third person of the Trinity, the breath of God, the same breath which created the world.

St Joseph is a model for all men. He protected his family, he listened for the word of God, he was faithful despite some extraordinary circumstances and he trusted in God. When the angel told him, ‘do not fear to take Mary as your wife,’ he overcame his fears and trusted.

As we approach Christmas day, I pray that we can journey in our faith in the same way that  Joseph journeyed to Bethlehem. He was steadfast, he knew he had to get there, he travelled with Mary and Jesus close by his side and he didn’t allow a personal set back to get in the way.

Further Reading

Catechism of the Catholic Church

Fourth Sunday of Advent

CCC 496-507, 495: Mary’s virginal motherhood
CCC 437, 456, 484-486, 721-726: Mary the Mother of Christ by the Holy Spirit
CCC 1846: Jesus as Saviour revealed to Joseph
CCC 445, 648, 695: Christ the Son of God in his Resurrection
CCC 143-149, 494, 2087: the “obedience of faith”[1]

Joseph’s Response to Mary’s Pregnancy – by John Haughom

Joseph, Betrothed “Just Man,” Husband of Mary – Oblates of St. Joseph

Joseph A Just Man – His Reaction To Mary’s Pregnancy

The betrothal of Mary and Joseph – The Catholic Leader

Please remember in your prayers

• All those who are sick, either at home or in hospital, especially those who have very few or no visitors.
• Those who have died and those who grieve for them.
• All people affected by war and terrorism and that international treaties for the protection of non-combatants and civilians are respected and adhered to.
• All those attending the RCIA programmes and especially our Advent session this weekend.
• Those attending the Youth Alpha programme which is a prerequisite for the Confirmation programme in our Pastoral Area.
• The success of the Pastoral Area Mission Plan.

Deacon Tony

20^th December 2025.

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[1] Homiletic Directory, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near.” These are the words in the Entrance Antiphon today and the Latin version gives us the name Gaudette Sunday. We are getting closer to Christmas Day. Advent is a time when we look back at the first Christmas Day and make sure we are preparing for the day when Jesus will return to earth in glory.

In our first reading, the prophet Isaiah; writing in dark times for the Israelites; is full of promise and optimism. In this darkness, he is offering light, because he is announcing that God is coming to deliver the Chosen people from their despair. Notice he talks about the eyes of the blind being opened, the deaf having their ears unblocked, the lame leaping for joy and the mute singing praises.

The psalm pleads for the Lord to come and save us, feeding the hungry, giving justice to the oppressed, setting prisoners free. Again, we hear about the blind having their sight restored and the Lord reversing the status quo, lifting the downtrodden, looking out for the stranger and those in need.

In the second reading we hear from St James, who encourages us to be patient. His words are comforting in that he uses homely words to encourage our patience and also discomforting reminding us that the judge is waiting.

The Gospel tells us about the time when John the Baptist is imprisoned. He sends his followers to ask Jesus if he is The One. Jesus, very aware of the prophecies of Isaiah, tells them to report back what they have seen – the blind see, the lame walk, the deaf hear, the mute speak and the dead are raised up. Think how John must have felt when he heard this. Although he was in jail, he must have been thrilled to learn that the Messiah was here, that God had delivered on his promises and that he had indeed prepared the way of the Lord.

Now in 2025, how do we prepare for the Lord? There are so many people blind to the ways of Jesus, how can we help them to see?

There are others who are deaf to the sound of God’s voice; including members of our own families. How can we help to open their ears to hear?

There are lots of hungry people in the world, some desperate for food, others desperate to be fed by the Word of God, how are we helping to feed them?

At the end of the day we will all die.

What are we doing to make sure that we and our loved ones are among those who will rise again in Christ?

Happy Gaudette Sunday!

Further Reading

Catechism of the Catholic Church

Third Sunday of Advent

CCC 30, 163, 301, 736, 1829, 1832, 2015, 2362: joy
CCC 227, 2613, 2665, 2772: patience
CCC 439, 547-550, 1751: Jesus performs messianic signs[1]

Please remember in your prayers

• All those who are sick, either at home or in hospital, especially those who have very few or no visitors.
• Those who have died and those who grieve for them.
• All people affected by war and that international treaties for the protection of non-combatants and civilians are respected and adhered to.
• All those attending the RCIA programmes and especially our Advent session this weekend.
• Those attending the Youth Alpha programme which is a prerequisite for the Confirmation programme in our Pastoral Area.
• The success of the Pastoral Area Mission Plan.
• The Pastoral Area Reconciliation Service on 19^th December at St Joseph’s Basingstoke.

Deacon Tony

12th December 2025.

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[1] Homiletic Directory, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments

Last Thursday I was at the School Reconciliation Service at St Anne’s School in South Ham, Basingstoke. For those that don’t know the school it is a lovely little school, which puts Christ at the centre of everything it does. During the service we used an abridged version of the Gospel we use today, and Fr Paul Leonard asked the children some questions to help ensure they understood the message behind the Gospel. As a clergy team we were impressed by the quality of the answers.

In that Gospel we hear St John the Baptist cry out to us all ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’ The children at St Anne’s were preparing by attending the Reconciliation Service, with the older children celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation with our Pastoral Area priests. I’ve said many times before, that we are called to have a childlike faith. With that in mind:

How are we preparing?

What are we doing to make His paths straight?

The first reading today, from Isaiah, gives us an image of what heaven will be like. It is a place where all of God’s creatures are safe. We struggle to visualise this; as in our human state we cannot imagine, for example allowing a child to play next to a snake. Our God given instinct would not allow us to trust the snake’s God given instinct. But Isaiah is telling us that heaven is different. In heaven we are different too. In heaven we become new creations.

St Paul tells us that what we read in Scriptures and the things we have been taught are so that we might have hope. If we could use one word to describe Advent, it is hope. Our hope is not just blind optimism, our hope is that we believe in the promises Jesus made to us that He will always be with us, and that He will come again.

I watched a video recently where a priest in the USA, Fr Joseph Krupp, described our journey to heaven as being like when we set off for a location we do not know and we need to use our Sat Nav. The Sat Nav to heaven is Holy Scriptures, our Catechism, the teachings of the Fathers of the Church etc. Now when I set off on a journey from home to a place I don’t know, I often believe that I know the local roads better than my Sat Nav, so I will use the short cuts. In the early days of Sat Navs, before I started using my mobile phone the display would pause and say ‘recalculating’ and the device would work out another route and calculate the distance and the new arrival time. On our journey to heaven, we often think that we know a better way, or we get distracted and go down the wrong path, this is when the Holy Spirit starts to recalculate how we get back on to the right road, because God wants us to reach heaven, He doesn’t want us to get lost. The thing here is, are we listening to the ‘recalculated route’ or are we so intent on doing our own thing, that we miss some wonderful opportunities? Fr Joseph said that the reason God doesn’t want any of us to be lost, is that God doesn’t see us the way we see ourselves when we look in the mirror. God sees us as the new creations He will make us into, when we reach our Eternal Home.

Advent, in a similar way to Lent, allows us to look at ourselves in the mirror and be honest with ourselves. There are things in our life that we are not proud of, we all make mistakes, we all take wrong turns. But these Church seasons give us an opportunity to reconnect with God, to allow us to listen for that small voice to say ‘recalculating’ and to follow the route back to our promised destination. Today, we need to ask ourselves are we taking the time we have been given to ‘recalculate’? Are we learning from our mistakes?

Where is God guiding me?

In all of our busyness`, the true reason for Advent is being drowned out by the sound of cash registers and Christmas music in the shops. Whilst celebrating this wonderful season is important, let’s not get carried away with the secular empty promises and let’s set our direction on making this is the best preparation time we’ve ever made.

Further Reading

Catechism of the Catholic Church

Second Sunday of Advent

CCC 522, 711-716, 722: the prophets and the expectation of the Messiah
CCC 523, 717-720: the mission of John the Baptist
CCC 1427-29: conversion of the baptised[1]

Please remember in your prayers

• All those who are sick, either at home or in hospital, especially those who have very few or no visitors.
• Those who have died and those who grieve for them.
• All people affected by war and that international treaties for the protection of non-combatants and civilians are respected and adhered to.
• All those attending the RCIA programmes
• Those attending the Youth Alpha programme which is a prerequisite for the Confirmation programme in our Pastoral Area.
• The success of the Pastoral Area Mission Plan.
• Success of the last session of the Pastoral Area Course “Mary – A Biblical Walk with the Blessed Mother.”
• The Pastoral Area Reconciliation Service on 19^th December at St Joseph’s Basingstoke.

Deacon Tony

5^th December 2025.

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[1] Homiletic Directory, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments

The Gospel used today, to explain the Kingship of Jesus marks the return of Satan at the end of Christ’s Ministry. We are very aware of how Satan tempted Jesus at the beginning of His ministry, when after forty days there were the three temptations, one of which was to make Jesus the King of all the world if He would only swear allegiance to the tempter. In today’s Gospel we have the three mockings.  The first is the rulers, who fail to see the Crucifix as the throne it has become as they scoff ‘If he is the Christ of God let him save himself.’ The soldiers’ parody the royal cup bearers offering Jesus sour wine saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself.’ Even one of the other criminals on the cross next to Him, had a go ‘Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us.’ There was also the mocking notice pinned to the cross stating ‘This is the King of the Jews.’ This notice was meant to demonstrate the power the Romans exercised throughout their empire; where they slaughtered existing rulers and put their own puppets in place. If they would do this to a king, what would they do to anyone else who wanted to challenge their authority.

As Jesus said during his interrogation by Pilate, His is not a kingdom of this world. The other criminal was inspired by the Holy Spirit to recognise this and asked Jesus to remember him when He came into his Kingdom. Jesus gave the criminal the reprieve of all reprieves. He started the day a condemned man, he finished it with an assurance that he would join Jesus in paradise.

This encounter has been described as ’the moment of revolution in human history. The moment of revelation, when we see the sin of the world in all its sneering thuggery doing its best to crush love and we see at the same time the forgiveness of God offered to humanity.’[1] What looks like the man Jesus being executed on the Cross, is at the same time the Divine Jesus conquering death. The serpent’s head is being crushed. Jesus is not like an earthly king. He is the Universal King; He is the Word who brought the Earth into being. Now as He hangs on the Cross, He asks His Father to forgive those who are killing Him. Right to the end of His life, Jesus is showing us how to live. In the prayer He gave us, He said ‘Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven…. forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.’ As He prepared to go to His Father’s Kingdom, He was still forgiving.

In the second reading, St Paul tells us that Jesus is the first born of all creatures and is the image of the invisible God. He highlights that Jesus’ ministry was all centred around love and the forgiveness of sins. The Cross is the ultimate sign of Christ’s love for us.

During a discussion at RCIA recently one of the participants relayed a conversation they had around what Jesus was thinking in the Garden of Gethsemane. If you remember this was a time when He sweated blood, knowing what He was about to go through. The answer really hit home for me when he said, during the Passion, Jesus was thinking about you and me. He disregarded the pain He was going to suffer; all of His focus was on fulfilling the wishes of His Father to save you and me. So that we can become like Him and enter His Kingdom.

In the Preface for today’s Mass we are told what His Kingdom is like, ‘a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and peace.’ This is a kingdom which we are all called to build up in this life before we reach fulfilment in the next. The Gospel today tells us that the Cross was not the end for Jesus. Jesus turned the world upside down, the Cross became His throne, something we need to remember, be grateful for and be prepared to accept the crosses we are asked to carry. The crosses we carry are our route to heaven, we need to carry our burden obediently just as Jesus did; and fulfil the will of the Father.

Further Reading

Catechism of the Catholic Church

Solemnity of Christ the King: Christ the origin and goal of history

CCC 440, 446-451, 668-672, 783, 786, 908, 2105, 2628: Christ as Lord and King
CCC 678-679, 1001, 1038-1041: Christ as Judge
CCC 2816-2821: “Thy Kingdom Come”[2]

Please remember in your prayers

• All those who are sick, either at home or in hospital, especially those who have very few or no visitors.
• Those who have died and those who grieve for them.
• All people affected by war and that international treaties for the protection of non-combatants and civilians are respected and adhered to.
• All those attending the RCIA programmes
• Those attending the Youth Alpha programme which is a prerequisite for the Confirmation programme in our Pastoral Area.
• The success of the Pastoral Area Mission Plan.
• Success of the Pastoral Area Course “Mary – A Biblical Walk with the Blessed Mother.”
• The souls in Purgatory, especially those with no one to pray for them.
• Craig & Bob who will be Confirmed in the Catholic Church this Sunday at St Bede’s.
• Santiago, Natalia and Uriel who will be baptised at St Bede’s Church this Sunday.

Deacon Tony

22^nd November 2025.

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[1] Maria Power and Raymond Friel, Breaking the Word Sundays, The Pastoral Review Vol 21 Issue 4. [The Tablet Publishing Company, London 2025]81.

[2] Homiletic Directory, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments