Category: Deacon Tony reflects

As a deacon I am very aware of the readings which mention St Stephen; one of the first deacons and the patron saint of deacons. In today’s first reading we hear again of how he was martyred and can see parallels with Jesus’ crucifixion. How he asked God to forgive his persecutors, how strong his faith was.  I find myself asking if I could forgive under those circumstances or if I could endure the trial he did.  The answer for me and no doubt for many of you, is that we do not know until we are put into that position.

What is it that gives martyrs that resolve and where can we receive it?  One answer is in Holy Scriptures; and one of the great sources has been accompanying us on our journey these past few weeks during Eastertide. The book of Revelations or the Apocalypse as it is otherwise known, gives us an insight of what is to come in the next life. St John was given visions to share with the world, and he uses provocative language; some of it beautiful some of it terrifying.  The book is filled with promise as we hear that God will protect and save all those who trust in Him.  It is this promise that gives true believers like St Stephen the courage to stand up to their persecutors in full recognition that we are more than just our earthly bodies.

In the Gospel this week we hear Jesus pray for his disciples and those who will follow them. This includes us. Jesus prays for all of his followers to be one. This is something which really concerned Jesus because during this prayer He asks for this oneness four times. Some scholars nowadays will say this is about Christian Unity, and I think there is an element in there where the churches must come together; something which we must all pray for.  But this is about far more than that. We as Christians need to be one with each other, that includes within families, within Parishes, within Dioceses, within Countries. Two weeks ago, during the same prayer we heard Jesus tell us that the love we have for one another will allow everyone to know that we are his disciples.  How is that working for us at the moment?

Do others see us as a loving community? Do we look out for one another? Do we see ourselves as a loving community?  Does the love we have for one another reflect the love Christ has for the Father? In His prayer, Jesus says that He wants those the Father has given Him to be where He is, so that we can always see His glory. Are we helping each other as we accompany one another towards that goal? Do we always speak lovingly of our brothers and sisters? Do we listen to gossip or when we hear others start to share things do we encourage them to speak well of people? Or worse still do we start gossip? Do we criticise our brothers and sisters or do we give them the benefit of the doubt? Do we encourage those amongst us who are struggling, do we join in the criticism or let them go on struggling?

We are called to be one. One body; the Body of Christ. If we are not one, then the enemy is winning. By being one, the world will see that we are His disciples. By living as disciples then others will recognise that Jesus is Lord and that He was sent by the Father.

Next Sunday we will be celebrating Pentecost. Please join me in asking God, that this Pentecost will bring the Peace of Christ to the whole world.  That people throughout the world will recognise that we are all part of the same one human race.  That by living in peace, we can work together to tackle the challenges of climate change, poverty and inequality.

This is the prayer of Jesus, this is His call that we are all one, as He is one with The Father.

Further Reading

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

CCC 521: through Christ we live in communion with Father
CCC 787-790, 795, 1044-1047: the Church is communion with and in Christ

Please keep in your prayers this week

• The children making their First Holy Communion at St Oswald’s this week and all the other children who have celebrated the Eucharist for the first time recently. May they all have such a love of Christ that they will desire to receive Him frequently.
• Those who are sick, housebound or in hospital, that the care they receive matches all of their needs.
• All the pupils and staff of our schools as they return after the half-term break, we also remember those who are in the throws of exams at our schools, colleges and universities.
• Those waiting for the results of medical tests, examinations or scans, that the results can pinpoint the treatment they may need or alleviate their fears.
• Our Pastoral Area as we take the first steps towards moving from Maintenance to Mission.

Deacon Tony

30^th May 2025.

[Acts 15:1-2,22-29; Psalm 66; Revelation 21:10-14,22-23; John 14:23-29]

When I take Holy Communion to people who are housebound or sick, I have a choice of Gospel reading to use from the little prayer book I use. When I go into where the person is I often have a chat with them prior to the Communion service. It is during this chat that I am listening to determine which Gospel reading to use. Recently the most common reading I have been using is from John 14:27 “Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you, a peace the world cannot give, this is my gift to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” This is part of our Gospel reading today.

Often the people who are housebound or sick, have very few visitors, they see the news on TV or hear it on the radio, and it can trouble them. Having few visitors means that they have more time to think about what they are hearing and seeing, and they are given the gift of seeing how serious some of the situations in the world actually are. Those of us who are rushing around in our own busyness do not have that opportunity, which means some of the news items which are particularly serious pass us by; as we believe it doesn’t affect us.

We have been hearing about the troubles in the Middle East for decades and the conflict in Ukraine for more than 3 years now, and these news stories, whilst we accept them as serious issues, can almost appear to be on a continuous loop where we hear of 100 people killed overnight or so many drones attacking on another night. We hear of these atrocities so often they are no longer shocking, as we are in danger of becoming desensitised to them. Meanwhile, we get on with our busyness. These conflicts are far away, we may think that they do not affect us, our daily life can continue almost as if we live in a different world.

In today’s Gospel we also hear Jesus give three important messages: the first is that if we love Him, we will keep his word. The second is that when He is no longer with us, He will send the Holy Spirit to teach us and remind us of what He taught us and the third thing was that He would give us His peace; adding that His peace was not the type of peace the world gives. I would like to suggest that in our country, we have the type of peace the world gives. Most of us live in a world free of violence, however, that is not true for everyone. Some people may see freedom from violence as peace, but it is much more than that too. The peace Jesus gives us is peace in our hearts and in our minds, it is a taste of what heaven will be like, because it is only when we reach the promised land that we will reach eternal peace where nothing or no-one can cause us any sort of trouble or anxiety again. The peace that Jesus gives isn’t just about peace for us, but it is knowing that all of our brothers and sisters are living in peace too. In offering us this gift of peace, Jesus is fulfilling yet another prophecy from the prophet Isaiah, who said in chapter 26 verse 12 ‘O LORD you will ordain peace for us, for indeed, all that we have done, you have done for us.’

When we offer each other the sign of peace at Mass, today, let us remind ourselves that, it is this peace, the Peace of Christ, we are sharing. We are saying to those we greet, in a very conscious way, that we want their hearts to be filled with Christ’s love so that their hearts are no longer troubled and that they will have nothing to be afraid of.

These words spoken at a time when Jesus must have been anxious, are a comfort to all who suffer.  Jesus knew that He was about to be taken and brutally killed, and yet He was telling the apostles ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.’ Jesus continued to teach right up until His dying breath and just in case we forget anything; He has given us the Holy Spirit to help us remember and to continue teaching us.

We heard in the 1^st reading from the Acts of the Apostles, that there was great debate around certain practices from the Hebrew Faith and whether they should be continued in the early Christian Church.  The decision taken by the early leaders of the Church, following a period of discernment and prayer to the Holy Spirit and conveyed to the Christians in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia, confirmed that the Christian Church still had its roots in the Hebrew Faith; but that through the New Covenant some of the traditional customs and practices were no longer necessary for people to be saved.  Through the Paschal mystery the roots of the faith remain, but now it would be taking a different direction.  Now all mankind can be saved; not just the Jews, now everyone could become part of the Chosen people.

Note that these decisions were not taken by the men alone; they invoked the Holy Spirit. This same Holy Spirit promised by Jesus as our Advocate to the Father.  The account given in the First Reading is one of the earliest examples of this Advocacy in action.  The apostles trusted completely what Jesus had told them throughout his Ministry and because they trusted Him and loved Him they were able to build His Church.

We also hear in the 2^nd reading a continuation of the description of the New Jerusalem, the bride of Christ begun in last week’s reading. It is a vast place, bejewelled with precious stones, it is a place with no need for a temple, nor sunlight nor the light of the moon because it is basking in the glory of God the eternal goal for the whole of creation to return to the Creator. This is the place where true and lasting peace can be found, this is the place where love dwells and where we all hope to see God face to face.

Further Reading

Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)

Sixth Sunday of Easter

CCC 2746-2751: Christ’s prayer at the Last Supper
CCC 243, 388, 692, 729, 1433, 1848: the Holy Spirit as Advocate/Consoler
CCC 1965-1974: the New Law fulfills the Old
CCC 865, 869, 1045, 1090, 1198, 2016: the heavenly Jerusalem

Please keep in your prayers this week

• The sick and housebound, those who are dying and those who are grieving.
• Father Jean-Patrice that he makes a full recovery.
• The continued fight to protect all life from conception until natural death.
• Lemachi, who will be baptised at St Bede’s this weekend.
• The safety of all of those on a half-term break from our schools

Deacon Tony, 24^th May 2025

In the 2001 film ‘Captain Corelli’s Mandolin’, based on the novel by Louis de Bernières, the actor John Hurt delivers a memorable monologue to his daughter who is caught between her love for a local partisan and an Italian soldier who is occupying her homeland during World War 2. This monologue describes love, and when I first heard it, I was really struck by it, so I would like to share it with you.

“Love is a temporary madness; it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part.

Because this is what love is.

Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, it is not the promulgation of promises of eternal passion. That is just being in love, which any fool can do.

Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident.

Those that truly love have roots that grow towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossoms have fallen from their branches, they find that they are one tree and not two.”[1]

This is a reading which is often used at secular weddings, to describe the love a couple have for each other. But there are elements which we, as Christians need to be aware of. The first thing is that love is not a feeling; it is a decision. We decide when and whether to love those in front of us. Whether it is in our family relationships or in the people we meet. We constantly make decisions as to how we demonstrate our love. The second element is that those who truly love, have roots that grow towards each other underground. In the Gospel today, Jesus tells us that ‘all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another’. We form the Body of Christ. Using the analogy from the monologue, if we truly love, then our roots grow together and we are no longer several different individuals, but we become one, which is the Body of Christ.

This ‘new commandment’ given to us by Jesus is supported by the other scripture readings we have today. Notably in the psalm used we hear ‘The Lord is kind and full of compassion… abounding in mercy….good to all….compassionate to all his creatures.’ The psalm continues ‘your works shall thank you, O LORD, they shall speak of the glory of your reign and declare your mighty deeds.’ Remembering that Jesus said people will know His followers by their love, the psalm continues ‘ to make known your might to the whole human race, and the glorious splendour of your reign.’

Jesus is telling us that our faith is not a theoretical faith, we are called to love, in other words to make the decision to love others. Our Church is not confined by the walls of any building. We have to go beyond the walls, we are called to search for the lost and the lonely, we are all called to be missionary. In his first public remarks as pope, His Holiness Leo XIV offered one piece of his vision for the Church: “We must seek together how to be a missionary Church, a Church that builds bridges (and) dialogue, always open to receive (people), like this square, with open arms – everyone, all those who need our charity, our presence, dialogue and love.”[2] In 2023, on his transfer from Peru to Rome he said “I still consider myself a missionary. My vocation, like that of every Christian, is to be a missionary, to proclaim the Gospel wherever one is.”

Pope Leo is telling us that to be a Christian is to be a Missionary and that to be a Missionary we do not have to travel very far. There are poor and lonely people probably sitting amongst us in our congregation today and there are people in need in our communities; we are all called to help them.

Jesus tells us today, ‘people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.’ So how do we measure up in our Pastoral Area in 2025?

In our neighbourhood and across the Pastoral Area, would they recognise us as followers of Jesus by our love? How do we as the Catholic Community in this Pastoral Area demonstrate our love for one another and our neighbour? We all need to ask ourselves, how do I as an individual express my love for other people?

We all know that when things are good, showing our love for others can be quite easy…it’s in those difficult and challenging times when the decision to love comes into its own. I experienced a real challenge in the middle of writing this. I had already struggled to return some items to a well-known DIY shop; only to be told that I needed to go through a 3^rd party to agree the return; on speaking with them, I experienced real frustration, not only as a result of waiting 25 minutes to get through to them on the phone, but that the advice they gave me seemed to be a waste of time. When the lady on the phone asked me if there was anything else she could help me with, I replied that she hadn’t helped me at all, and I put the phone down. I then found myself feeling really disappointed at myself and wondering how I could treat another human being in this way. Had it not been for the length of time it took me to get through to her in the first place, I would have called back again and apologised. I know that I need to stop allowing my emotions get the better of me and try to understand things from the other person’s perspective too. Only then will I be able to demonstrate to myself that I am loving as Jesus is loving.

Further Reading

Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)

Fifth Sunday of Easter

CCC 2746-2751: Christ’s prayer at the Last Supper
CCC 459, 1823, 2074, 2196, 2822, 2842: “as I have loved you”
CCC 756, 865, 1042-1050, 2016, 2817: a new heavens and a new earth

Please keep in your prayers this week

• The sick and housebound, those who are dying and those who are grieving.
• Father Jean-Patrice that he makes a full recovery.
• The continued fight to protect all life from conception until natural death.
• The 11 families completing the Baptism Preparation sessions this Sunday at St Bede’s.
• The children who made their First Holy Communion at St Bede’s this weekend and all those preparing for their First Holy Communion in the Pastoral Area in the next few weeks.

Deacon Tony, 16^th May 2025

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[1] Louis de Bernières, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, [Vintage Books, 1998]

[2] Quotes on Mission from Pope Leo XIV | Congregation of Holy Cross

[Acts 13:14,43-52; Psalm 99; Revelation 7:9,14-17; John 10:27-30]

This has been a momentous week for the Church. A new Shepherd has been chosen to take up the Commission given to Peter by Jesus Christ. As we waited with bated breath, my wife and I both shrieked in delight as we heard the name of the new Pontiff. Earlier this year, whilst we were in Rome for the Jubilee of Deacons, we were hosted by Cardinal Prevost for a catechesis and sharing of experiences on the “Concrete signs of hope in the ministry of deacons.” He came across as a very capable man, a man without airs and graces. He was prepared to make himself vulnerable by holding a question-and-answer session with all present. We also had a brief chat with him afterwards. From the brief time we spent with him we are filled with hope, that he is the right man to shepherd the Church going forward.

The shepherd-sheep relationship symbolizes trust, dependence, and the need for guidance. Sheep are known for their vulnerability and tendency to stray; necessitating a shepherd’s constant care. This dynamic reflects the spiritual reality of humanity’s need for divine guidance and protection.[1] The Gospel this week is a fitting one to follow on from last week’s when Jesus asked Peter to ‘feed my lambs, look after my sheep and to feed my sheep’ Today we hear Jesus state that His sheep hear His voice, and they follow Him. Leo XIV is the successor of Peter, and he now has to take up this commission; to tend the flock given to him by God.

This Sunday we are encouraged to pray for vocations, especially vocations to the priesthood, the diaconate and the religious life. My ministry, whilst challenging at times gives me the opportunity to serve people. Many of whom I would never encounter, if it wasn’t for my ministry. I have had many joyful times with people as well as accompanying them at some of the saddest times of their lives. I have met some extraordinary people who share aspects of their lives with me, a stranger. I have sat with people when they are scared and try to find the words to reassure them. I couldn’t do any of this without the help of God. I know that God is with me when I go out to visit people in their home or in hospital.

On his visit to Ireland, Pope St John Paul II, said in an address to the priests at Maynooth “Your first duty is to be with Christ. You are each called to be a witness to his Resurrection. A common danger with priests, even zealous priests, is that they become so immersed in the work of the Lord that they neglect the Lord of the work. We must find time, we must make time, to be with the Lord in prayer. What the people expect from you, more than anything else, is faithfulness to the priesthood.” The Pope then turned to those in contemplative life and said “Never was the contemplative vocation more precious or more relevant than in our modern restless world.” The Pope then pleaded for many more young people to be “called to the contemplative life, at this time when the future of the Church and the future of humanity depends on prayer.” The Pope concluded “This is a wonderful time in the history of the Church. This is a wonderful time to be a priest, to be a religious, to be a missionary for Christ. Rejoice in the Lord always. Rejoice in your vocation.”

There are currently 11 men in formation for the priesthood for our diocese, one of them from St Bede’s Parish. There are also 8 men in formation for the Permanent Diaconate with another 3 due to start in the next year. Three of these men are from this Pastoral Area. God willing, there are two men due to be ordained priest and another two men due to be ordained as Permanent Deacons this summer.

Please keep all of these men and their families in your prayers. Please keep all of our priests and deacons in your prayers.

Further Reading

Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)

Fourth Sunday of Easter

CCC 754, 764, 2665: Christ the Shepherd and Gate
CCC 553, 857, 861, 881, 896, 1558, 1561, 1568, 1574: Pope and bishops as shepherds
CCC 874, 1120, 1465, 1536, 1548-1551, 1564, 2179, 2686: priests as shepherds
CCC 60, 442, 543, 674, 724, 755, 775, 781: the Church is made up of Jews and Gentiles
CCC 957, 1138, 1173, 2473-2474: our communion with the martyrs

Topical Bible: The Relationship Between Shepherd and Sheep

Please keep in your prayers this week

• The sick and housebound, those who are dying and those who are grieving.
• Father Jean-Patrice that he makes a full recovery.
• The continued fight to protect all life from conception until natural death.
• The new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, that he may look after the flock given to him by God.
• The families starting the Baptism Preparation sessions this Sunday at St Bede’s.
• The children who made their First Holy Communion at St Bede’s this weekend and all those preparing for their First Holy Communion in the Pastoral Area in the next few weeks.

Deacon Tony, 10^th May 2025

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[1] Topical Bible: The Relationship Between Shepherd and Sheep

[Acts 5:27b-32, 40b-41; Psalm 30; Revelation 5:11-14; John 21:1-19]

Now, there is an empty seat in Rome. We don’t know who will fill it, for the moment, only God knows for sure. The men charged with identifying the next successor of Peter would do well to look at the Gospel used today; for within this Gospel is the job description for the Pope.

Firstly, he is to be a man who obeys the Lord; despite having an unsuccessful night fishing, Peter still obeyed when Jesus said, ‘cast the net on the right side of the boat’. Next, he will have to get out of the boat occasionally, step away from his comfort zone. When Peter was made aware that the stranger on the shore was Jesus, he made himself presentable and stepped out of the boat making his way to the Lord.

Next the new Pope will have to bring new people to the Lord; as Peter was made a fisher of men, so too will the new Pope be expected to bring his catch to the Lord; neither should he be afraid of overfilling the net, the Lord will make sure there is enough room for everyone. God’s net will never burst.

The new Pope should be a man who has experienced God’s forgiveness; for by receiving God’s forgiveness, he will be more grateful of God’s mercy and become a dispenser of that same mercy. When Jesus asked Peter three times ‘Do you love me?’ He was forgiving Peter’s three denials during the Passion of the Lord. Not only that, but He was also commissioning Peter to look after the flock chosen by God and put into his care. Peter was being chosen to be Christ’s shepherd and with that came responsibility. So, the new man will need to be a good shepherd; feeding the lambs, those young in faith and those young in age; tending the sheep, those who are already part of the flock need to be looked after; and, feeding the sheep, a recognition by Jesus that we all need to be fed. The new Pope will be expected to provide a rich diet to suit most pallets, whether they are seen as Liberal or Conservative within the Church. Peter was tasked to lead one flock and make decisions for the common good. The new Pope will be a voice for the whole world, a man who seeks peace and who speaks up for those whose voice goes unheard.

Like Peter, the new Pope will be giving up his freedom. He may have to go to places he would rather not. He will most probably have to speak with people he would rather not as well; as Peter’s successor, this is all part of the role. But the last words in today’s Gospel spoke loudly to Peter and the disciples and should speak loudly to us as well. They are quite simply to ‘follow me’. As a sheep knows and listens to its master’s voice and follows that voice, so too, should we listen for our Master’s voice and follow.

At this time when the Chair is empty, we all need to pray for those charged with identifying the next Pope; that they will be guided by the Holy Spirit, and we need to pray that whoever emerges on the balcony to the words of Habemus Papam, is a man of prayer, a man of service, a man of love and a good shepherd.

Further Reading

Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)

Third Sunday of Easter

CCC 642-644, 857, 995-996: the apostles and disciples as witnesses of the Resurrection
CCC 553, 641, 881, 1429: the risen Christ and Peter
CCC 1090, 1137-1139, 1326: the heavenly liturgy

Please keep in your prayers this week

• The sick and housebound, those who are dying and those who are grieving.
• Father Jean-Patrice that he makes a full recovery.
• The continued fight to protect all life from conception until natural death.
• The Cardinals of the Church that they will make all decisions related to the new Pope in a prayerful way and that they can discern the will of the Holy Spirit.

Deacon Tony, 3^rd May 2025

Divine Mercy Sunday

[Acts 5:12-16; Psalm 117; Apocalypse 1:9-13,17-19, 5:7-9; John 20:19-31]

It was with great sadness that we heard of the death of Pope Francis on Easter Monday. Although he had been ill for some time, he appeared to have rallied and was able to go out into the crowds one last time on Easter Sunday. As I sat down to prepare for this week’s reflection, I thought I would look back at what Pope Francis preached the last time these readings were used in 2022.

He highlighted that Jesus had used the phrase ‘Peace be with you,’ three times and that each time the phrase was used it was for a different purpose.[1] Pope Francis said that “these words first give joy, then grant forgiveness and finally offer comfort in every difficulty.”

He highlighted that when Jesus entered the room; where the door was locked, out of fear of the Jews; the disciples must have felt like failures. They had abandoned their Master when He was in trouble, Peter had denied Him three times, and it was one of their own who had betrayed Jesus. Now they were hiding, afraid for their own lives and feeling totally despondent and bewildered at what had been going on.

That first, ‘Peace be with you’, brought them joy on two fronts, firstly, Jesus had risen from the dead and secondly, He still offered them His peace. Pope Francis highlighted how we can often feel like failures when we lapse into sinful behaviours and can ask ourselves if we are worthy to be called Christian. I know there are times when I doubt myself, allowing my faults to define me instead of the times when I have followed Christ more closely. The Holy Father said that the joy felt by the disciples is similar to the joy we feel whenever we experience His forgiveness. Pope Francis encouraged us to ‘put the memory of God’s warm embrace before the memory of our own mistakes and failings. In this way, we will grow in joy. For nothing will ever be the same for anyone who has experienced God’s joy! It is a joy that transforms us.’

Jesus repeated the words ‘Peace be with you’ and then commissioned the disciples to become not just people who receive God’s mercy; but people who dispense God’s mercy. The Pope then outlined some advice for the priests who celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation. They first of all should have experienced God’s mercy for themselves; they are not to look upon this as something which gives them power over the penitent, but as a channel of God’s mercy, which has been given to them; through the grace of Christ.

Pope Francis also highlighted that it is not just the priests who have to show mercy, we are all called to dispense Christ’s mercy. Sure, the priest has the faculties to hear Confession and absolve the sins of penitents. But we are also to be merciful, within our families; as husbands, as wives, as parents; we are called to share God’s mercy with those we live with, those we work with, those we argue with, and even those who offend us. Pope Francis left us a legacy of the Church being like a field hospital dispensing Christ’s mercy to the poor, the vulnerable and the marginalised. There are many people like this in our communities, and we are called to support them. I have met many wonderful people through my links with the Foodbank, the Night Shelter and hospital chaplaincy work. There is a lot of great work going on in our community, but there is always more needing to be done.

The third time Christ says ‘Peace be with you’ is when He returns a week later to greet Thomas, who had not been present the week before. Christ doesn’t scold him for his disbelief, but instead gently invites him to touch the wounds, to prove to himself that Jesus had risen. Thomas acknowledging Jesus as risen no longer needs to touch the wounds, he sees, and he believes. Again, he is a beneficiary of Christ’s mercy. Thomas didn’t have to feel the wounds, because he felt the power of Christ’s mercy there and then. Pope Francis tells us that sometimes we are all like Thomas; when we are troubled or find it hard to believe in the Risen Lord or shut ourselves off from our community for fear of judgement or shame. These are the times when we need to allow Christ to enter our space and accept His peace.

The Pope tells us that when we are faced with the ugliest of our sins, Jesus does not come to us triumphantly, scolding us or condemning us. No, Jesus comes quietly, humbly and offers us His wounds, because His wounds are stronger than sin.

Pope Francis concluded his homily, by telling us that often when we are in the midst of our own crisis, we encounter others who we judge have more pressing needs than we do. By coming to the aid of our neighbour we find that we are touched by Christ’s mercy. He then challenged his listeners to think of when we last came to the aid of someone in crisis.

Are we Christians who put our faith into action or do we walk along on the other side of the road?

I am very aware that I can’t help everyone all of the time. There aren’t enough hours in the day, and I don’t have limitless resources to be able to help everyone. But by helping when I can, joining with others in organised support or helping when I see someone in need, I can be a dispenser of Christ’s mercy, working in the field hospital which was Pope Francis’ dream for our Church.

Further Reading

Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)

Second Sunday of Easter

CCC 448, 641-646: appearances of the risen Christ
CCC 1084-1089: sanctifying presence of the risen Christ in the liturgy
CCC 2177-2178, 1342: the Sunday Eucharist
CCC 654-655, 1988: our new birth in the Resurrection of Christ
CCC 976-983, 1441-1442: “I believe in the forgiveness of sins”
CCC 949-953, 1329, 1342, 2624, 2790: communion in spiritual goods
CCC 612, 625, 635, 2854: Christ the “Living One” holds the keys of death

Holy Mass on the liturgical feast of Divine Mercy (24 April 2022) | Francis

Please keep in your prayers this week

• Maria, Mario and Pierina who will be baptised at St Bede’s this Sunday.
• The sick and housebound, those who are dying and those who are grieving.
• Father Jean-Patrice that he makes a full recovery.
• The continued fight to protect all life from conception until natural death.
• The Holy Father as he is laid to rest.
• The Cardinals of the Church that they will make all decisions related to the new Pope in a prayerful way and that they can discern the will of the Holy Spirit.

Deacon Tony, 25^th April 2025

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[1] Holy Mass on the liturgical feast of Divine Mercy (24 April 2022) | Francis

[Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12; Psalm 30; Hebrews4:14-16, 5:7-9; John 18:1 – 19:42]

When Pope Francis declared 2025 as the Year of Hope, he said “May the Jubilee be a moment of genuine, personal encounter with the Lord Jesus, the ‘door’ (cf. Jn 10:7,9) of our salvation, whom the Church is charged to proclaim always, everywhere, and to all as ‘our hope’ (1 Tim 1:1),” 

When we think of the Passion of Our Lord it might be difficult to see hope in this part of Scriptures. Fortunately, St John’s Passion; which we read every Good Friday; portrays a journey of triumph – where Christ, through being lifted up on the Cross; will draw all people to himself.

By drawing us to Him, Jesus, again defies all human logic. He, who the Jews and the Romans looked upon as hopeless whilst hanging on the Cross; is the source of hope for all mankind. Jesus told us that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

In this Holy Year, we are encouraged to be pilgrims of hope acknowledging Jesus, our Crucified Christ; as the door of salvation.

As Catholic Christians we should not allow this year to pass without making the time to do something special to improve our personal relationship with Christ; for we know that the Crucifixion was not the end, but necessary, to allow Jesus to conquer death; when He rose from the dead on the first Easter Sunday.

This year the Church have given us symbolic doors to walk through, to enable us to decide to walk through and greet Jesus the door of our salvation.

Further Reading

Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)

Friday of the Passion of the Lord

CCC 602-618, 1992: the Passion of Christ
CCC 612, 2606, 2741: the prayer of Jesus
CCC 467, 540, 1137: Christ the High Priest
CCC 2825: Christ’s obedience and ours

Please keep in your prayers this week

• Polly and Audrey as they prepare to make their final preparations to come into the Church at the Easter Vigil.
• The sick and housebound, those who are dying and those who are grieving.
• Father Jean-Patrice that he makes a full recovery.
• The continued fight to protect all life from conception until natural death.
• All who are on holidays, that they may be kept safe and enjoy the opportunity to be refreshed.

Deacon Tony, 18^th April 2025

[Luke 19:28-40; Isaiah 50:4-7; Psalm 22; Philippians 2:6-11; Luke 22:14-23:56]

Last Sunday, for those who used Year C readings we had Jesus stop the crowd from stoning the adulterous woman by asking them to look at themselves first before they condemned the woman. This Sunday we have the Jerusalem crowds again. Initially they are greeting Jesus like a triumphant king as He enters the city. Then we have many of the same people who have been persuaded by the Jewish leaders to form a crowd to condemn Jesus when we enter into the Passion of Christ.

A reminder for us all, of how easy it is, to be caught up and carried by a crowd or by the popular view.

These crowds can serve as a mini summary of the mission of Christ. Firstly, He came not to condemn us, but to save us; just as He saved the adulterous woman. Secondly, He is our King, His entry into Jerusalem was greeted by the crowd in the manner which befits a king, however, He entered on a donkey, not surrounded by an army. His Kingdom is one of peace, not war. Thirdly, He surrendered His life for us. Jesus was not condemned to die by the Jews nor the Romans; they were only living out the path God had chosen for them since the sin in the Garden of Eden. Jesus chose to die, as the Word made flesh; the same Word, which brought the world into being; He could have chosen a totally different way; but He chose to die, for us.

As we start Holy Week, we are drawn into the Paschal Mystery of Christ’s life, death and resurrection. This is a special and solemn time for the Church. This is not something which we need to do, to get this week out of the way so that we can start rejoicing at the Resurrection. We are not just to experience this emotionally; this is an incredible time to deepen our faith. In this Year of Hope, we pray for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit so that we can experience every grace of this Paschal Mystery. This is not just a commemoration; in the liturgical celebrations this coming week we are plunged into the Paschal Mystery itself, dying and rising with Christ.

Further Reading

Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

CCC 557-560: Christ’s entry into Jerusalem
CCC 602-618: the Passion of Christ
CCC 2816: Christ’s kingship gained through his death and Resurrection
CCC 654, 1067-1068, 1085, 1362: the Paschal Mystery and the liturgy

Please keep in your prayers this week

• Polly and Audrey as they prepare to make their final preparations to come into the Church at the Easter Vigil.
• The sick and housebound, those who are dying and those who are grieving.
• Father Jean-Patrice that he makes a full recovery.
• The continued fight to protect all life from conception until natural death.

Deacon Tony, 11^th April 2025

[Isaiah 43:16-21; Psalm 125; Philippians 3:8-14; John 8:1-11]

In parishes where they have the final Scrutiny of the Elect this Sunday, they will have the story of Lazarus, which reminds us that Jesus wept when He saw how upset his friends were at the death of their brother and how he called Lazarus back from the dead; to restore him. We all journey in hope that we will rise from the dead with Christ on the last day. In other parishes, they have the readings listed above.

In the first reading we are reminded of the generosity of God who provides for all of our needs. There is emphasis that God provides, despite our previous wrongdoings; as long as we have repented, Isaiah tells us “remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.”  God rewards those who turn away from evil and who give Him praise.

There is often a temptation for us to live in the past, to allow our past to dominate our life. Jesus calls us to live today. When we are baptised, we become new creations. When we confess our sins, the slate has been wiped clean; yet we often allow the tempter to convince us that we are still condemned. St Paul tells us to “to forget what lies behind and strain forward to what lies ahead.” Like St Paul our goal is “the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

In the Gospel, Jesus tells the woman who had been condemned by her community, that He does not condemn her, nor does He condemn us. He did this after challenging her accusers to examine their own lives first before they even thought about what she had done. Jesus again asks us not to live in the past and not to keep a tally of the things which are behind us, because we cannot change the past. Neither should we accuse, blame or condemn one another. We are called to forgive one another; this gives hope to the whole community.[1]

The scribes and the Pharisees demonstrate an act of male conspiracy and coercion; where is the man who must have been involved in this act too? They are trying to trap Jesus in the same way that the woman had been trapped; [otherwise there would have been two accused persons]. If Jesus had gone with the lynch mob, He would have been in trouble with the Romans. If He had let her go, the Pharisees and the scribes would have accused Him of not following the law of Moses. They believe they have Jesus between a rock and a hard place.

Yet, Jesus puts their question back to them, asking them to look into their hearts and condemn her only if they had not sinned. The accusers one by one slink away, just like the serpent in the garden of Eden. They know they are sinners, but they are not prepared to accept a new life as forgiven sinners. Their preference is to hold others to account; and to cling on to any moral high ground they perceive exists. When Jesus looks up, He is left with the woman. Jesus tells her to sin no more, ‘anointing her with dignity’ according to Pope Francis.[2]

Pope Francis tells us that “mercy is divine and has to do with the judgement of sin. Compassion has a more human face. It means to suffer with, to suffer together, to not remain indifferent to the pain and suffering of others. It is what Jesus felt when He saw the crowds who followed him.” [3]With the woman in today’s Gospel Jesus was the face of compassion and mercy, This is the same in every confessional in the world; where the priest is in the person of Christ [persona Christi]; forgives our sins and asks not to sin anymore.

These readings call on me to forgive, they remind me not to judge or to accuse those I meet. This is often difficult. A recent example of this is when I met someone, who I know is homeless. He was being loud and was disturbing my peace. He came over to me and had obviously had a bit too much to drink. Inside I was thinking he can afford alcohol, why should I buy him some food? I then realised, it wasn’t up to me to judge him. His need at that time was not more alcohol, it was food; and I knew that if I could help, then I needed to. This is not easy, and there will be some people who take advantage of our good intentions; but we need to remember to let God judge them; just as He will judge us.

In this year of Hope, we are reminded that we are to be a sign to others. Whilst not always easy, we must; whenever possible, call on the Holy Spirit to help us do this.

Further Reading

Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)

Fifth Sunday of Lent

CCC 430, 545, 589, 1846-1847: Jesus manifests the Father’s mercy
CCC 133, 428, 648, 989, 1006: the surpassing wealth of knowing Christ
CCC 2475-2479: rash judgment

Please keep in your prayers this week

• Polly and Audrey who will undergo the third scrutiny at St Bede’s this weekend.
• The sick and housebound, those who are dying and those who are grieving.
• Father Jean-Patrice that he makes a full recovery.
• The continued fight to protect all life from conception until natural death.
• Fr John Chadwick, who is ill at this time.

Deacon Tony, 3^rd April 2025

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[1] Mike & Margaret Magee, I Am With You, Year C, [Two in One Flesh, Caterham, 2012]46.

[2] Maria Power and Raymond Friel, Pastoral Review Vol 21 Issue 2, [The Tablet Publishing Company, Twickenham, 2025] 78.

[3] Pope Francis, The Name of God is Mercy, [Bluebird books for life, London, 2016] 87.

Laetare Sunday

[1Samuel 16:1,6-7,10-13; Psalm 22; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41]

NB- Year A readings are used here because the Second scrutiny will take place at St Bede’s this Sunday.

Our readings today speak of light, of seeing and of blindness. In the first reading we hear that man does not see as God sees; when Samuel mistakenly thought that Eliab was being called to kingship instead of his youngest brother David. In the second reading we are reminded that once we were in darkness, but our Baptism brought us into the light. Through the Eucharist Christ gives us light, allowing us to take this light and shine it into the darkness of the world; hopefully bringing more people to Christ. The line in the second reading “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” sums up this link between Baptism, light and the Paschal mystery succinctly.

In the Preface used alongside these readings we hear “By the mystery of the Incarnation, he has led the human race that walked in darkness, into the radiance of faith, and has brought those born in slavery to ancient sin, through the waters of regeneration to make them your adopted children.” This illumination, begun in baptism, is enhanced each time we receive the Eucharist, a point underscored by the words of the blind man taken up in the Communion Antiphon: “The Lord anointed my eyes: I went, I washed, I saw and believed in God.“^[1]

If we look at the Gospel, we notice that the more the blind man sees, the more difficult it is for the Pharisees to accept what they have seen. The cured man begins by describing his healer as “the man Jesus“; then he professes that he is a prophet; and by the end of the passage he proclaims, “I do believe, Lord” and worships Jesus. The Pharisees, for their part, become increasingly more blind: they begin by admitting that the miracle took place, then come to deny that it was a miracle, and finally expel the cured man from the synagogue. Throughout the narrative, the Pharisees continue to profess confidently what they know, while the blind man continually admits his ignorance. The Gospel ends with a warning by Jesus, that his coming has created a crisis; in the literal meaning of that word, a judgment: he gives sight to the blind, but those who see become blind. In response to the Pharisees’ objection, he says: “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you are saying, ‘We see,’ so your blindness remains.”

Sometimes it is difficult for us to see what is in front of us. I have lost count of the number of times I have looked for something at home and asked for help only to be told the object I had searched for was ‘right in front of me’. How the Pharisees must have struggled, as Holy men they were waiting for the Messiah, they were responsible for helping to keep the people hungry for his coming. But Jesus did not fit their image of what the Messiah would look like, He was from the wrong town, He did not stick to their rules, He pointed out their hypocrisy. Their bias blinded them; which blind spots do we have?

Do we have images of perfection that we fail to live up to, that stop us from seeing Jesus in our lives or that stop us from accepting the love and forgiveness of Jesus in our lives?

Jesus offers to free us from our blindness. He is calling each of us to Him and asking those of us who believe, to recognise Him as our Saviour and to bear witness to Him in the same faith as the man who was cured of blindness. He recognised and bore witness to Jesus as a prophet, even though he had never seen Jesus.

In the first reading we hear that “the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward.” It is the same for us when we are baptised or confirmed or ordained. The Holy Spirit comes upon us and fills us, energising our gifts and charisms. However, as humans we are not perfect vessels, we leak; that is why we need to be topped up continuously through the other Sacraments. The graces we receive through the Sacraments of Reconciliation, the Eucharist and Sacrament of the Sick refill us with the Holy Spirit. The more frequently we receive these Sacraments, the less likely we are ‘to leak’ as we become closer to Jesus.

For me, I leak, when my prayer life feels dry or like going through the motions. These are times when I realise I need to spend some more time in front of the Blessed Sacrament, looking towards Jesus and recognising that Jesus is looking towards me. If that is not possible I will think of hymns which I find uplifting and maybe play them as I drive.

As we rejoice that we have two people in our Parish; and many thousands of others throughout the world who wish to join the Church at this time. I would like to encourage us all to pray for those who are joining the Church this Easter, ask the Lord for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit on them and on us. Help those journeying towards becoming full members of the Church to feel the love we have for them and the love that Jesus has for them. We also pray for the Catechists who are preparing them and their Sponsors, remembering that they do this work on behalf of us, The Body of Christ.

Further Reading

Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)

Fourth Sunday of Lent

CCC 280, 529, 748, 1165, 2466, 2715: Christ the light of the nations
CCC 439, 496, 559, 2616: Jesus is the Son of David
CCC 1216: baptism is illumination
CCC 782, 1243, 2105: Christians are to be light of the world

Please keep in your prayers this week

• The sick and housebound, those who are dying and those who are grieving.
• Father Jean-Patrice that he makes a full recovery.
• The continued fight to protect all life from conception until natural death.
• Fr John Chadwick, who is ill at this time.
• Polly and Audrey who will undergo the second scrutiny at St Bede’s this weekend.
• On Mothering Sunday, we remember all mothers, especially those no longer with us and those who have lost their children.

Deacon Tony, 29^th March 2025

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[1]Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments Homiletic Directory of the Catholic Church,[Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Rome, 2015] available from Homiletic Directory, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments accessed 29^th March 2025.