Category: Deacon Tony reflects

Today we are given the image of the Good Shepherd in both the first reading and in our Gospel. The Good Shepherd tends to his sheep, ensuring they stay together, that they are well pastured and watered; he ensures the ones who are sick or injured are not left behind. However, in these readings, the Good Shepherd also comes to judge as the Son of Man.

The parable in the Gospel is like an instruction manual for us as Christians, if you notice both the sheep and the goats call the Son of Man ‘Lord’. The message from Jesus is quite simple, it is not enough to call Him ‘Lord’, we need to put our faith into action and go out of our way to love.

God, our Creator, wants us to care for everything and everyone that He has created, good intentions are not enough, God wants action. When we hear this parable about how we will be judged, it should prompt us to do a bit of self-reflection. But not as a bit of a tick list. This is not about keeping score, we can’t afford to say well I visited so and so in hospital last year, so that is done for now, and I donated to the foodbank last week. No, the message is that we should never walk by. Jesus tells us whenever we do this for the least of my brothers then you do this to me and this works both in the times when we show those in need love and in the times when we fail to love them.

In the second reading St Paul reminds us that our salvation comes from Christ and that Jesus has destroyed death. In our baptism we go down into the grave with Christ, through His resurrection we have the hope of eternal life; all we need to do is love God and love our neighbour.

This week, may I suggest that we all review how much we actually put our faith into action.

Do we adopt a tick list approach? Marking off in our mind when we help those in need.

Do we reach out to the sick, the lonely, the poor? Do we see them as our brothers and sisters?

Do we ever give up on those who we try to help, who just seem to always be in need?

The times when we feel put upon or exasperated are the times when we need to decide to love. It is only through loving our neighbour that we can fully encounter Christ. The more in need our neighbour is, the more we need to love. This week Jesus is pleading with us to see His face when we look at those in need, if we see Jesus and reach out to help, then we have hope of eternal life, but if we fail to see Jesus or choose not to help; then we risk eternal damnation. Put simply, do you want to be a sheep who belongs to the Good Shepherd or a goat who doesn’t?

Further Reading

The 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”.

Please keep in your prayers this week

• Those who are sick, those recovering from surgery, those who are dying, the recently deceased and those who mourn.
• All those struggling to feed their families at this time.
• Those working to help others who are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.
• Those discerning a vocation and those considering coming into the Catholic Church.
• The success of the Diocesan Diaconal Conference which takes place this weekend in Marwell.
• Sebastian, Aria and Vienna, who were baptised last week in St Bede’s.

Every one of us have been entrusted with gifts from God. However, for some, when we are troubled or uncertain about ourselves, it can be difficult to identify what these gifts are or even acknowledge that they exist. But every single person ever conceived has been given gifts by God. This is one of the reasons life is so important, life is precious. We are made in the image and likeness of God and every one of us has a purpose; we are all here for a reason. We may never find out what our purpose is, but as St John Henry Newman said

God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons.

He has not created me for naught. I shall do good; I shall do His work. I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it if I do but keep His commandments.

Therefore, I will trust Him, whatever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him, in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him. If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends. He may throw me among strangers. He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me. Still, He knows what He is about.”¹

When read alongside the parable in today’s Gospel, is it any wonder that the master in the parable; who represents God; was angry with the servant who had wasted the talents given to him. Everything we receive from God is meant to be used; we are not meant to keep anything for ourselves.

Do we recognise the talents God has given us?

Do we use them, or do we bury them so that no one else would know we have them?

Do we recognise that we are ‘a link in a chain’, as St John Henry Newman said?

For parts of my life, I tried to convince myself that I had little in the way of talents [some of you may agree, lol], but when I consider those times, I was being like the lazy servant; not prepared to risk in case I lost what I already had. At times I have been paralysed into inaction by a kind of ‘imposter syndrome’, failing to recognise that I have something to offer; scared in case people find out that I am not the person they think I am.

Burying the talents we have is not the answer; God has given us our gifts, our talents for a purpose. We need to use them to build up God’s kingdom and to support those around us. As Christians our Christianity is not meant to stop when we go out the doors of the church building, we are meant to take the Church out into the world; other people are meant to know we are Christians by our love. The more we use the talents God has given us, the more joy we will have because we are doing the will of the Father.

One way of taking our joy out into the world is by looking after the most vulnerable in our society. I was saddened this week to hear that the planned Night shelter in Basingstoke will not be happening this winter. There may well be other initiatives to support homeless people; hopefully the Local Authority will be able to house them for at least the coldest months. But please look out for these brothers and sister on the streets and if you can buy them a hot drink or a hot snack then please do. If you don’t have the resources to do this, then please just say hello to them; don’t walk past them; acknowledge them.

It would be remiss of me; as a married man; not to touch on the first reading where we hear about the perfect [or in some translations, the capable] wife. This beautiful piece of prose from the Book of Proverbs highlights some of the things a wife brings to a marriage. I am reminded of a quote by Archbishop Fulton Sheen when speaking about the Sacrament of Marriage “The man is the “head” of the wife, as Christ is the Head of the Church. What did Christ do for the Church as her Head? He died for it. Hence, husbands must show love to their wives. The “headship” is not overlord-ship, but love unto sacrifice. The wife, in her turn, will show to the husband the devotion and love the Church does to Christ.”² Marriage is a gift from God; which allows men and women to show others the love God has given to all, this is a sacrificial love, of putting the other first. For those of us who have been given the gift of a good spouse, we thank the Lord.

A couple of weeks ago, I was at the Vigil Mass at Tadley on the 4^th November, as Fr Patrick was celebrating that Mass, we could hardly hear ourselves for the noise of the fireworks going off all around the area. Afterwards we both said that it was like a war zone. We are fortunate, we know that these loud bangs; whilst a nuisance; are only fireworks. Our thoughts went out to the people in war torn areas like Palestine, Israel, Ukraine and others, where similar noises mean they are under attack. One of the greatest gifts we have been given by God is the gift of prayer. We need to redouble our efforts to pray for peace. As a species we have become very good at killing one another. As I said earlier; every life is precious; no human has the right to end the life of another. May God bring peace to the world and change the hearts of all who do evil.

Further Reading

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time

CCC 2006-2011: our merits for good works come from God’s goodness
CCC 1038-1041: our works manifested at the Last Judgment
CCC 1048-1050: keeping busy as we await the Lord’s return
CCC 1936-1937: diversity of talents
CCC 2331, 2334: dignity of woman
CCC 1603-1605: marriage in the order of creation

For more information on Money Coaching Money coaching | CAP UK | CAP UK

Please keep in your prayers this week

• Those who are sick, those recovering from surgery, those who are dying, the recently deceased and those who mourn.
• All those struggling to feed their families at this time.
• Those working to help others who are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.
• Those discerning a vocation and those considering coming into the Catholic Church.
• The success of the Money Coaching sessions, which finishes next Thursday at St Bede’s.

1 Quote by John Henry Newman: “God has created me to do Him some definite serv…” (goodreads.com)

2 Fulton Sheen on the Sacrament of Marriage – SpiritualDirection.com

Growing up, one of my great aunts used to visit lots of different shops to buy various groceries. When asked why she didn’t just get them all in the one store she said that in that store the vegetables were cheaper and in another the tins were cheaper and in another the meat and cheese were cheaper, she also kept an eye on the quality of what she bought ensuring not only that she bought cheaply, but that she bought wisely. In her mind there was no point in buying something cheap if her family did not eat it. Some of her neighbours and some of our relatives would tease her about her habits and suggest she could buy everything under the one roof and save time; but she preferred to use her time making her money go further.

Wisdom comes in many guises. In today’s scriptures we hear that wisdom is available to all who look for it and that Wisdom [with a capital W] actively looks for those who seek it. This Wisdom, is the Wisdom of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit. As Christians we know that God is constantly loving us and seeking us and wants us to do the same for Him.

Today’s psalm is one of my favourites, ‘for you my soul is thirsting. My body pines for you like a dry, weary land without water. So I gaze for you in the sanctuary to see your strength and your glory. For your love is better than life.’ So descriptive, so powerful, so revealing; the words paint a picture, a landscape where we seek God, this is not our Eden, this is in a desert land where we seek God earnestly trying to get closer to Him and trying to understand our purpose.

In the second reading, St Paul urges us not to grieve when we lose a loved one; but to remember that as followers of Christ we have that hope that we will rise like Christ and be with our loved ones again; but this time in Christ’s presence. Think about that for a moment, to be reunited with loved one’s who we cannot see now, but God willing, we will see again, in the presence of our Lord and Saviour. How reassuring is that?

In the Gospel we hear another parable about the Kingdom of Heaven. Growing up I always thought that the Christian thing to do would have been for those who had oil to share what they had with those who did not. However, having the oil is a metaphor for being ready. Those who brought along the extra oil, had prepared properly; these are those among us who are ready to meet the Lord. We may take example from them and try our best to be like them. As Jesus says we do not know the day or the hour when we will be called.

When I was an apprentice, many years ago, I was always impatient to get to the parts of the job that were fun or challenging. The bits where I could use my blowlamp or start fitting new appliances; probably the parts that people would notice. An old tradesman told me that 80% of what we do is preparation, and only the smallest part is in the doing. I would often rush the preparation, only paying it lip-service, and inevitably I would encounter problems because I was ill prepared. There are times in my life now that I find I still don’t prepare properly [Pam says it is most of the time]. Jesus is warning us against doing this in the most important task we have in our life; getting back home to the Father.

At the end of each day, we are encouraged to reflect on the day we have just experienced – have I made good choices?

When I prayed, was I really in touch with God, or did I drift away, not fully understanding the words I said or read; not truly experiencing a relationship with Jesus?

Did I miss any opportunities to love my neighbour?

And, if God spares me, what will I do differently tomorrow?

By reviewing our day, we are seeking the Wisdom available to us, which was mentioned in the first reading, and as Jesus has told us if we seek then we shall find [Mt 7:7]. By doing this last thing at night we can fulfil the words of the psalm used today ‘On my bed I remember you, on you I muse through the night.’ By doing this preparation and putting our plans for the next day into action, we may then be counted among the wiser bridesmaids, who prepared properly and could go out to meet the bridegroom and enter into the banquet.

Further Reading

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

CCC 671-672: we wait for all to be made subject to Christ
CCC 988-991: the just will live forever with the risen Christ
CCC 1036, 2612: vigilant waiting for the Lord’s return

For more information on Money Coaching Money coaching | CAP UK | CAP UK

Please keep in your prayers this week

• Those who are sick, those recovering from surgery, those who are dying, the recently deceased and those who mourn.
• All those struggling to feed their families at this time.
• Those working to help others who are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.
• Those discerning a vocation and those considering coming into the Catholic Church.
• The success of the Money Coaching sessions, which have started at St Bede’s.
• Those preparing for the Winter Night Shelter this year.

I have been blessed to have celebrated many baptisms in my short time in Ministry. Pam and I also co-ordinate the Baptism Preparation Programme for Holy Ghost Parish with support from other parishioners. One of the key things we try to get across during our sessions; and also, during the Baptism Service; is that the parents and Godparents have to lead by example as they teach their youngsters in the ways of the Faith.

The readings today are a reminder for all with responsibilities in the Church that we must live our life in Christ. In our first reading the priests in the days of Malachi are warned that they must glorify God and not seek glory for themselves. They are also reminded of their responsibilities and the harsh punishment that awaits them if they lead anyone away from God.

The psalm is a beautiful psalm to pray during this month of November. What a lovely thought to have our soul resting in peace in the presence of the Lord. We remember all of our loved ones who have gone before us; hoping and praying that their souls are resting in His presence.

In St Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, we hear St Paul, like a proud parent, reminiscing on how the Thessalonians were nurtured and how that nurturing allowed them to grow in Faith. He is so thankful that they listened and accepted what they were taught as coming from God, allowing God’s message to be a powerful presence in their lives.

How does God’s presence influence or guide our lives?

Would the person [or people] who taught us about God be able to recognise that we have accepted the Good News; as coming from God?

If I am honest, there are often times when I try to get by under my own power, and then I wonder why I struggle. These are the times when I need to remember that I am an adopted Son of God and that by communicating with my Father in Heaven I can achieve far more than trying to do things by myself. There are also times when I let my frustrations get the better of me and those around me would fail to recognise that I am a man of God; accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour.

In today’s Gospel, we hear Jesus criticise the scribes and Pharisees again. This time it is in their attitude to the people they serve. Jesus identifies that these men were ‘Lording it’ over the people, giving them additional rules to follow and doing things just to be seen. To attract attention, making themselves the focus of the people’s attention and not God.

Pope Francis has spoken out several times during his Pontificate about Clericalism being a great danger to the Church. Clericalism – defined as ‘an effort by clergy to enhance their influence in non ecclesial affairs; an approach to pastoral and theological problems that seeks to concentrate everything in the hands of the clergy.’¹ Clericalism endangers the relationship between the clergy and the laity. As a deacon I am called to serve; I don’t always get it right, but I try to reach out to the people I am called to serve and be with them.

As a member of the clergy, I need to consider if there are ever times when I ‘Lord it over’ the people I am asked to serve or do I ever put on an air of superiority rather than love my neighbour? For me, I hope I never find myself in this position, and today’s readings are a reminder for me that I should never put myself above the people I am called to serve.

Of course, these are not just questions for the clergy, we all need to ask ourselves –

Are there times I Lord it over other people? And

Do I ever see myself as superior to the people in need I am called to serve?

One of the ways I can be with the people I am called to serve is in the way we have partnered with Christians Against Poverty. Last Thursday night we started the four-week coaching sessions on managing money. I was delighted with the turnout for this initiative and thankful that St Bede’s have begun hosting such an important event, reaching out to help empower people who need a little bit of support. There are more sessions planned in the New Year and if you know anyone who would like to manage their money better, then put them in touch with Christians Against Poverty through the link below or email me on adarroch@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk

Further Reading

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

CCC 2044: moral life and Christian witness
CCC 876, 1550-1551: priesthood for service; human frailty of leaders

For more information on Money Coaching Money coaching | CAP UK | CAP UK

Please keep in your prayers this week

• Those who are sick, those recovering from surgery, those who are dying, the recently deceased and those who mourn.
• All those struggling to feed their families at this time.
• Those working to help others who are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.
• Those discerning a vocation and those considering coming into the Catholic Church.
• The success of the Money Coaching sessions, which have started at St Bede’s.

1 Gerald O’Collins SJ & Edward Farrugia SJ, A Concise Dictionary of Theology, [T&T Clark, London, 2000]45.

Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God.

These words, used by Jesus to the disciples of the Pharisees are a perfect answer to the trap they were trying to set. If Jesus had advised against paying taxes, he would have been denounced to the Romans as a rebel rouser. If He had said outright that the Jews were permitted to pay taxes to the occupying forces, He would have been denounced as being a Roman sympathiser. But these words also speak loudly to us. With these words we are being informed that we must contribute to society. The religious freedoms we enjoy come at a cost, the cost is paid for us through our taxes.

But our forefathers in faith paid for our religious freedoms with their lives. When we pay our taxes, we are buying peace, we are buying stability, we are buying good order, including the justice system to try and keep us safe, and the armed forces to keep our borders safe and contribute to keeping the world safe. In turn we elect a government to decide how and when our money should be spent. This is all for the common good.

The government, elected by the people, are there to represent the people and the people’s interests. For most people our involvement in politics is to turn up and use our vote when election time comes around. This vote, for the common man and woman was hard fought for; with some people losing their life in the fight to win the vote for everyone. We have a moral duty to honour those who fought for this right; to use our vote, and as Christians we have a moral duty to use our vote according to our conscience.

As Christians apathy should never be in our DNA; apathy is a tool of the enemy. As Christians we care about ourselves and those around us. That is because we belong to God. The second part of what Jesus says was “give to God what belongs to God.” Just as the coin had the image of Caesar and so belonged to Caesar, so we who are made in the image of God, belong to God. This was confirmed at our baptism when we became adopted children of God, and one day hopefully will return to God.

In the first reading we hear Isaiah tells us that God calls us by our name, giving us a title even though we do not know Him yet. He continues that God is with us every day and “apart from God, all is nothing.” As Christians we are taught to respect authority, but respect does not mean that we should allow that authority to rise roughshod over what we believe in or allow them to impose laws which are unjust or discriminatory. When we see this, we need to exercise our conscience and speak out either verbally or in writing to oppose injustice.

The psalm today reminds us to give praise and glory to God and one of the options for the dismissal at the end of Mass uses the words “Go in peace, glorifying the Lord with your life.” If we do glorify God with our lives, then others will notice and hopefully be drawn towards God through our actions.

In the world today there are great injustices being carried out and innocent people including children and the elderly are being indiscriminately killed or displaced. These include Christians, Jews and Muslims. Every death through violence is wrong regardless of who commits it or who the victim is. We hear the numbers on the news, and they label them as so many Israelis killed on such and such a day and so many Palestinians killed in this attack. Every one of these horribly high numbers was a person, with a family and a life has been cut short. The people who espouse violence and hatred do not come from God; regardless of what they claim. This war, in the land where Jesus walked, is a human tragedy on a Biblical scale. Good governments work tirelessly to bring peace for the people who elect them, indiscriminate killing of a whole people for the acts of a few of them fuels the spiral of destruction giving the terrorists new political energy and eager recruits.

I would urge everyone to extend the words of Psalm 122 which calls for us to ‘Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem’ to extend those prayers to the whole Holy Land and that all peoples can live in peace and harmony. Pope Francis has called for a Global Day of Prayer and Fasting on Friday 27^th October¹ to bring an end to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Maybe those of us who fast can donate any money we save as a result to the Missio collection next week, helping people less fortunate than ourselves.

Like many people, in the early years of our marriage we struggled financially, sometimes getting extremely fed up that just after pay day we knew we had very little; if anything; to see us through to the next pay day without having to go into the overdraft or use a credit card. For many this is still the case. I wish that back then we had access to something like the Money Coaching sessions which are on offer from Christians Against Poverty [CAP]. These are available at St Bede’s Church on the 2^nd, 9^th, 16^th and 23^rd November at 7pm, all are welcome, but booking is essential, please book at Get to grips with your finances | CAP UK, booking helps us to allocate you a space and helps us with catering. The sessions are FREE and start with a FREE MEAL. If you would like more information before committing to this please email me on adarroch@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk.

Further Reading

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

CCC 1897-1917: participation in the social sphere
CCC 2238-2244: duties of citizens

For more information on Money Coaching Money coaching | CAP UK | CAP UK

Please keep in your prayers this week

• Those who are sick, those recovering from surgery, those who are dying, the recently deceased and those who mourn.
• All those struggling to feed their families at this time.
• Those working to help others who are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.
• Those discerning a vocation and those considering coming into the Catholic Church.
• The success of the Money Coaching sessions, which are coming to St Bede’s.
• Those attending the Called and Gifted session at St Bede’s this weekend.
• Those attending RCIA at St Bede’s next Wednesday.

1 Pope Francis calls for global day of fasting and prayer for peace in Israel-Hamas conflict (christiantoday.com)

The scriptures today speak of banquets and riches, and of how the Lord will prepare a feast for those who will dwell on His Holy Mountain. How the Lord will remove all sorrow and destroy Death for ever. This will result in people praising God as never before, because on that day, they will see His power, as they have never seen it before. These last few weeks we have heard Jesus tell the chief priests and the elders about the kingdom of heaven. In each of the parables He has described these leaders of the Jewish people and pointed out to them the errors of their ways. Jesus gives them every opportunity to change their ways, but these stubborn people refuse and instead go on to plot the destruction of Jesus; just as Jesus predicted in the parable we heard last week.

This week, we hear of a lavish wedding feast, a feast that the very wealthy are initially invited to. But these people are either too busy looking after their land or their business or they attack the messengers, killing them. The king, furious with them dispatches his soldiers to wipe them off the face of the earth; killing all those who live there. This leaves the king with a predicament; he still wants to have the lavish banquet, so he asks his servants to find others to invite. The hall fills and the king enters the banquet hall but finds one guest who is ill prepared, he has come without the necessary attire. The king approaches him, calling him friend, and asks “where is his banquet dress?” The guest stays silent, unable to reply; his lack of preparation sees him thrown out of the banquet; suffering the same fate as those originally chosen as guests.

The message for us; is to put God first. Those who tended their farm in the parable, only had a farm because it was God’s will; those with a business, again using talents and resources provided by God; those who attacked God’s servants only had power because it was God’s will. None of these people in the parable were putting God first; they were all serving their own interests. The person who was called unexpectedly is an example for us too; we may be willing to go to the feast but how well prepared are we?

How is our wedding garment looking? This is not about wearing the right clothes. Our wedding garment, for the ‘eternal banquet,’ is sown together by all of the little acts of kindnesses which we perform throughout our lives; from sharing our toys as children, giving to the poor, by giving our life for another in Matrimony or Holy Orders, by all of the things we do to love God and our neighbour. All of these acts of kindness, all of the times when we decide to love instead of being selfish; these bring together our wedding garment.¹

At times my wedding garment can become a bit frayed as I drift into selfishness. Some of the loving things I have done become undone, as my selfish acts pulls at the threads of my wedding garment. The times when I pray in a robotic way instead of putting my heart and soul into my prayers are times when I am not loving God; I am paying Him lip service, these times also pull at the threads of my wedding garment. If I really want to enter the eternal banquet and be permitted to stay there, I have to lose any notion that I, as a Christian, have automatic right of entry, because the original Chosen people rejected Christ, I can be thrown out in the same way that they have been excluded.

In the second reading we hear today, St Paul says that we are all empowered to endure any trial if we fully trust in Christ. The image of the banquet is a lavish one; it is there for all of us. Trust in Jesus and we can rightfully take our place there, but only if we love God and our neighbour in the ways we act.

[Just a reminder that we are partnering with Christians Against Poverty to bring Money Coaching sessions to St Bede’s Church on the 2^nd, 9^th, 16^th and 23^rd November at 7pm, all are welcome, but please book at Get to grips with your finances | CAP UK, booking helps us to allocate you a space and helps us with catering. The sessions are free and start with a free meal. If you would like more information before committing to this please email me on adarroch@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk or call Pam on 07833059529.]

Further Reading

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

CCC 543-546: Jesus invites sinners, but demands conversion
CCC 1402-1405, 2837: the Eucharist is the foretaste of the Messianic Banquet

For more information on Money Coaching Money coaching | CAP UK | CAP UK

Please keep in your prayers this week

• Those who are sick, those recovering from surgery, those who are dying, the recently deceased and those who mourn.
• All those struggling to feed their families at this time.
• Those working to help others who are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.
• Those discerning a vocation and those considering coming into the Catholic Church.
• The success of the Money Coaching sessions, which are coming to St Bede’s.
• The families completing the Baptism Preparation Course this Sunday at St Bede’s.
• The forthcoming Called and Gifted Programme.

1 Maurice & Margaret Magee, I am With You, Year A, [Two in One Flesh, Caterham, 2013]118.

The imagery of the vine and vineyard is a recurring theme throughout Scriptures, as can be seen today from Isaiah, the psalm and the Gospel and it always refers to God and his people Israel. This link between the vineyard and the Jewish people would have been very familiar to the chief priests. The Gospel passage we hear today comes straight after the criticism of the chief priests and elders we heard in last week’s Gospel. Last week we heard Jesus criticise these leaders of the Jewish people for not reading the signs God had given; for not listening to John the Baptist nor to Jesus and for not repenting.

Today again, there is a fresh warning to these leaders; as Jesus lists the crimes of their forefathers and also predicts their own crimes stating that the ‘tenants’ [those charged with looking after the vineyard] would kill the Son of the landowner. Jesus makes it quite clear to them that these tenants, will be replaced by new tenants who will bear fruit. The chief priests and the elders were so focused on the rules they had imposed upon the people, that they failed to hold a mirror up to themselves. This focus also meant that they were unable or unwilling to change. These same leaders were only too happy to criticise and condemn, and their condemnation bounced straight back at them as Jesus said they would lose their ‘tenancy’.

If we believe that this message was purely for those chief priests and elders; then we are in line to suffer the same fate as they did. They pointed their fingers at others, accusing them of being sinners, forgetting that they too were sinners. Jesus calls all sinners to repent, to turn away from sin and to live according to His teachings. It is only through doing this that true happiness can be found.

I have often quoted from the late Benedictine priest Dom Placid Murray; in a Homily for this Sunday a few years ago he challenged the people [and himself] with these words – “How many messengers have we rejected: perhaps a father’s entreaties, a mother’s tears, a sister’s kindness, a teacher’s warning, a priest’s advice. How short of a harvest are we when the Lord comes to collect his produce?” ¹

When I think of these questions I can remember my mum’s tears, as she urged my brothers and I not to make some of the same mistakes our Dad had made, I can remember the headteacher who warned me to be careful who I chose to call friend’s as some of the friend’s I had chosen would get me into trouble and I can remember good people at work who mentored me; encouraging good behaviours, a good work ethic and to treat people the way I would want to be treated. At times these messengers were heeded, but at other times I have turned away from some of these good principles and had to find a way back.

This was not easy, looking back I am very grateful to those who accompanied me, there are various people who I have mentioned in previous reflections who challenged me and made me think that I was not on the right path; these people were voices crying out to me in my wilderness prompting me to change my ways.

Within our Faith we have the Sacrament of Reconciliation, where we can confess the times we have failed to live up to the message of Christ, there we seek absolution from Jesus through His priest who at that time is there present in the person of Christ. In fact, the Catechism states –

When he celebrates the sacrament of Penance, the priest is fulfilling the ministry of the Good Shepherd who seeks the lost sheep, of the Good Samaritan who binds up wounds, of the Father who awaits the prodigal son and welcomes him on his return, and of the just and impartial judge whose judgement is both just and merciful. The priest is the sign and the instrument of God’s merciful love for the sinner.

CCC 1465

When we hear the way Jesus criticises the chief priests and the elders, we can think that Jesus was condemning them, in fact Jesus was very frustrated with them, if only they could have listened with their heart to the words of Jesus, then they too could have been saved. Jesus calls everyone to turn away from their wrong doings and to turn to Him.

This may be a good time for us to ask ourselves, what messages from God do I fail to listen to?

What is God trying to tell me? What do I need to do to produce the harvest God requires of me?

Our answers to these questions could have a profound effect on our own eternal future and the future of those God intends us to help to bear fruit.

[Just a reminder that we are partnering with Christians Against Poverty to bring Money Coaching sessions to St Bede’s Church on the 2^nd, 9^th, 16^th and 23^rd November at 7pm, all are welcome, but please book at Get to grips with your finances | CAP UK, booking helps us to allocate you a space and helps us with catering. The sessions are free and start with a free meal. If you would like more information before committing to this please email me on adarroch@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk or call Pam on 07833059529.]

Further Reading

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

CCC 755: the Church as God’s vineyard
CCC 1830-1832: gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit
CCC 443: prophets are the servants, Christ is the Son

For more information on Money Coaching Money coaching | CAP UK | CAP UK

Please keep in your prayers this week

• Those who are sick, those recovering from surgery, those who are dying, the recently deceased and those who mourn.
• All those struggling to feed their families at this time.
• Those working to help others who are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.
• Those discerning a vocation and those considering coming into the Catholic Church.
• The success of the Money Coaching sessions, which are coming to St Bede’s.
• The families starting the Baptism Preparation Course starting this Sunday at St Bede’s.
• Those attending the RCIA next Wednesday.
• The forthcoming Called and Gifted Programme.

1 Dom Placid Murray OSB, 100 Liturgical Homilies, [The Columba Press, Dublin, 1988]81.

In the past, I often struggled with today’s Gospel, I thought, wrongly that Jesus was criticising the chief priests and the elders for getting the answer to his question on the two brothers wrong. However, Jesus is not criticising their answer for being wrong, He is criticising them because they get their words right; but their actions wrong. Today’s parable is aimed at these same ‘chief priests and elders of the people.’ They did not listen to John the Baptist who preached the coming of the kingdom, and thus did not respond; whereas ‘the tax collectors and prostitutes’ did listen and did respond. Like the words of Ezekiel; in the first reading; addressed to the leaders of Israel, Jesus insists that only an honest acceptance of the call and a response of conversion is adequate.

We also hear in the passage from Ezekiel, that this response will always be accepted; , regardless of the delay or the history of those called. The son who refused to go into the vineyard; like the hated tax collectors and despised prostitutes; in the end did accept the call and respond. The condemnation of the elders is both that they did not listen to John, nor did they allow the witness of repentance of sinners make them ‘think better of it’ and change their minds -which is what repentance means.¹

The message is clear for all of us, Jesus is more interested in what we do than what we say.

Do we come to Mass each week praising God, and then with the same lips, create havoc in our household saying one thing and doing another?

Do we to come to God’s Altar to receive the Eucharist, but fail to share a meal civilly with our family at home?

I know that it can be difficult living in a family, I often joke that I would hate to live with me. I can be moody and self-centred, demanding my own way and not prepared to listen at times. This can either lead to stony silence or periods of challenge, where I am left in no doubt that I have been selfish or moody and need to remember that things are not ‘all about me’, at these times I need to decide whether I want to live out the Gospel, which I proclaim, or live life to my own agenda. [Another example of saying one thing and doing another]

Jesus is asking us to only talk the talk but to also walk the talk. If we are followers of Jesus, He is asking us to always follow Him; not just when we are at Mass or when we feel like it. Just like the parable today, Jesus is asking us to follow the will of the Father. He gave us the greatest example of this just before He was taken prisoner the night before He died when He said “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet not my will but yours be done.”

The words in the second reading are beautiful, St Paul, writing to the followers in Philippi, asking them to put others first, to be self-effacing, consider the other person better than oneself, asking us to be the same as Jesus, putting ourselves at the service of others, humbly bearing whatever we are asked to bear. If we can do that then God will raise us high because we have bent our knee at the name of Jesus and acclaimed Him as Christ the Lord by our words and by our deeds.

We are all aware that these are difficult times, for many the cost-of-living crisis has hit hard, some people are struggling and we are all called to try and help where we can. We have invited an organisation called Christians Against Poverty to come to St Bede’s Church to provide Money Coaching Sessions on how to manage money. This is not just for those who are struggling, but for anyone who would like to know how to make their money go further. The sessions are free and each session will start with a free meal. They will be held on Thursday evenings starting on the 2^nd November with follow up sessions on the 9^th, 16^th and 23^rd. Spaces are limited, so, we are encouraging people to book their place early. There are leaflets available after Mass at St Bede’s this weekend and posters in the entrance for more information. Or you can have a chat with me or Pam after Mass. [Places can be booked at Get to grips with your finances | CAP UK]

Further Reading

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

CCC 1807: just person distinguished by habitual rectitude toward others
CCC 2842: only Holy Spirit can give us the mind of Christ
CCC 1928-1930, 2425-2426: the obligation of social justice
CCC 446-461: the Lordship of Christ
CCC 2822-2827: “Thy will be done”

For more information on Money Coaching Money coaching | CAP UK | CAP UK

Please keep in your prayers this week

• Those who are sick, those recovering from surgery, those who are dying, the recently deceased and those who mourn.
• All those struggling to feed their families at this time.
• Those working to help others who are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.
• Those discerning a vocation and those considering coming into the Catholic Church.
• Black History Month, which starts today, may the focus on what has happened in the past lead to a brighter future for race relations.
• The success of the Money Coaching sessions, which are coming to St Bede’s.

1 Robert Draper, Breaking the Word Sundays, Pastoral Review Vol 19 Issue 4, [The Tablet Publishing Company, London, 2023]75.

I was speaking with someone last week who was complaining about the number of migrants and refugees being allowed to settle in their country. They were saying that there was insufficient infrastructure, that housing costs were spiralling out of control and that their children will never be able to afford a house. I pointed out to him that many of the people working in our hospitals and in care homes were migrants and that we rely heavily on them to keep people safe and to help treat people who are ill or elderly. He would not be moved on this and still complained. I then pointed out to him that he was actually a migrant having moved to the country 30 years earlier. He started his next sentence with the word ‘but’ indicating that his migration was somehow different to those arriving nowadays.

There are similarities between my conversation and today’s Gospel. Those who had arrived earlier expected more than those who arrived later, and both are looking for fairness. However, the Gospel is more about how God addresses need. In the currency used back then, a denarius was the wage a labourer needed to maintain their family; so all of the labourers had a similar need. The landowner needed the work done in his vineyards and agreed to pay the daily rate.

The way mankind has set up our economies is a sort of tit for tat methodology. You have something I need, so you give me what I need, and I replace it with something you need. In this case the work gets done in the vineyard and the labourers get paid. However, we also look for equity. As humans we often believe that if we put in more effort than someone else then we should get more benefit than the other person. Jesus is telling us, yet again, that God’s ways are not [hu]man’s ways. If we come to the Lord late in life, we can inherit the same Kingdom as someone who has been a believer for 100 years; after all there is only one God and one Kingdom. Jesus gave a great example of this on the cross when He said the thief who was being executed beside Him, would be with Him in His Kingdom that very day.

Where in our lives do we think we deserve more than other people?

Is it when others seem to have better ‘luck’ than us in work? Maybe we don’t see what the bosses see. Is it when we see someone with a better house than us or a better car than us? But we don’t know what they have had to do to have those things or how much stress they may have caused themselves to get them. In the past I would often whinge that others seemed to be getting ahead of me at work, but when I look back now; I can see that they put in more effort and were prepared to risk; whereas I was too worried about failing to even apply for promotions.

The first reading today from Isaiah fits perfectly with the Gospel, where Isaiah relays the words of God “for my thoughts are not your thoughts, my ways are not your ways.” As he urges us all to change our ways and turn back to the Lord.

In the second reading we hear the torment St Paul puts himself through as he wrestles with his thoughts on whether he wants to be with the Lord now or whether he should carry on the mission God gave him; he concludes that he needs to leave these worries in the hands of God.

As Christians we are called to follow Christ. We are to treat people as Jesus did, we are not to worry about things we cannot change; we are to seek God’s graces in everything we do and when we see Christ face to face on the last day we hope to hear the words “welcome good and faithful servant, I have a room prepared for you in my father’s house.”

Today is the 109^th World Day for Migrants and Refugees; in his message to mark this day¹ Pope Francis reminds us that the Holy Family were refugees and that several times in Holy Scriptures we read about people fleeing famine or persecution to look for a place of safety for them and their families. In his briefing headed, ‘Free to choose whether to migrate or to stay,’ Pope Francis states that it requires international efforts to allow people to have the opportunity to live and raise their families within their own lands so that they still have a choice whether they wish to stay where they are and prosper or to seek a better life elsewhere. He adds that as Christians we are expected to help those in need wherever they are, quoting Matthew 25:35-36, where Jesus uses the parable of separating the sheep and the goats to highlight how God will separate those who loved their neighbour from those who neglected that duty.

When I started, this reflection I highlighted a recent conversation on immigration. Where we live has many factors and involves countless decisions made by our ancestors down throughout the centuries, however, it may involve a decision that we have made ourselves. Regardless of how we got here, we still have a duty to look out for those who are vulnerable, may we see them as Jesus sees them and tend to their needs, just as He tends to our needs.

Further Reading

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

CCC 210-211: God of mercy and piety
CCC 588-589: Jesus identifies his compassion to sinners with God’s

Please keep in your prayers this week

• Those who are sick, those recovering from surgery, those who are dying, the recently deceased and those who mourn.
• All those struggling to feed their families at this time.
• Those working to help others who are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.
• Those discerning a vocation.
• Those completing the Baptism Preparation Course this Sunday at St Bede’s
• Charlotte, Maximilian & Mia-Rose, who will be baptised at St Bede’s this Sunday.
• The success of the new Pastoral Area formation programme which starts on Monday 25^th September.
• The success of the RCIA programme which starts on Wednesday 27thth September in St Bede’s Hall.

1 Message for the 109th World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2023 | Francis (vatican.va)

A few years ago, I was approached on social media by a man I had been at school with. For a few years at school, he had bullied me. Merely seeing his name took me back to the pain and misery he caused me at that time and made me feel like the frightened little boy I was back then. I didn’t want anything to do with this approach, but I shared with Pam that he had approached me, and she advised me that maybe he wanted to say sorry for what he had done. I said, there’s no way that would be the case, that she did not know him or what he had put me through. I saw his approach as a way of him being able to get to me again and I refused to have anything to do with him.

Around six months after his approach, I heard through some school friends that he had died and I wondered; in fact I still wonder to this day, if Pam had been right. Was he aware of whatever it was that was killing him and did he want to reach out to say sorry or maybe even ask for forgiveness? The little boy in me still says ‘no way’, but the man I am now says maybe I missed an opportunity to forgive him. This is a regret that, because I did not give him the opportunity, I need to live with and pray about.

Our readings today tell us that if we expect God to forgive us then we really need to forgive those who offend us. In the parable Jesus uses in the Gospel, He relates sins to debts. Money is something people can relate to. Jesus asks us to be like the man who owed the thousand talents in the way that he asked for forgiveness; but not to be like him in the way that he dealt with his fellow servant; when he was asked to forgive. How can we, approach God and ask for forgiveness when we hold resentment in our heart for another person?

In the first reading, from the Old Testament, we hear the words “resentment and anger, these are foul things, and both are found with the sinner.” A little later in the same reading we hear “Forgive your neighbour the hurt he does you, and when you pray your sins will be forgiven.” The message Jesus was giving was not something new, Jesus was confirming the words from the Old Testament and fulfilling the words of the prophets.

In the psalm, we hear that God does not treat us according to our sins; perhaps it’s just as well, as only we know what sins we have committed and the possible harm they may have caused both to ourselves and others.

In the second reading St Paul reminds us that the way we live influences those around us.

If we call ourselves Christians, how will those around us know that we are Christians?

Is it because we come to church each Sunday, or is it the way we care for those we encounter?

Do we only love the people who love us, or do we share God’s love; even with those who persecute us?

I will never know in this life whether I missed an opportunity to forgive my bully, but I will always wonder. I know first hand how that wonder can; every now and again; catch me out and give me feelings of regret. The message in today’s Gospel is to forgive and avoid having this type of regret. Our forgiveness may lead to something wonderful, or it could lead to other situations where we need to forgive again. We are not called to second guess the future or the motivation of the other for asking for forgiveness; we are called to forgive as Our Father in Heaven forgives.

[As part of my preparation for this reflection, I checked what I had written three years ago for the same scripture readings. I see from my reflection then that we were still under restrictions for Covid-19 and I was recommending a song which I am very fond of; Matthew West’s Forgiveness¹. I clicked the link to hear it again and found that the link has been played over 6 million times [not as a result of me posting the link] imagine if each of those 6 million plays resulted in someone being able to forgive another, wouldn’t that be wonderful!]

Further Reading

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

CCC 218-221: God is love
CCC 294: God manifests his glory by sharing his goodness
CCC 2838-2845: “forgive us our trespasses”

Please keep in your prayers this week

• Those who are sick, those recovering from surgery, those who are dying, the recently deceased and those who mourn.
• All those struggling to feed their families at this time.
• Those working to help others who are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.
• Those discerning a vocation.
• Those attending the Baptism Preparation Course starting this Sunday at St Bede’s
• Francesca, who will be baptised at St Bede’s this Sunday.

1 Matthew West, Forgiveness, available from https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/matthewwest/forgiveness.html#:~:text=%22Forgiveness%22.%20It%27s%20the%20hardest%20thing%20to%20give%20away.,you%20have%20just%20to%20say%20the%20word%E2%80%A6.%20Forgiveness. Accessed 15^th September 2023