Category: Deacon Tony reflects

As I sit to write these words, I have sunshine outside and I can here the trickling water of a splash pool outside my hotel bedroom in Malta. I am currently less than an hour’s walk from where St Paul was shipwrecked and I attended Mass this morning, in a place where legend says St Luke painted a Madonna and child on a cave wall. This is a place of pilgrimage, where for nearly two thousand years people have travelled to pray and ask for the intercession of Our Lady to help them. As we know Our Lady is a vessel to help bring Christ closer to His people, just as she brought Him into the world on that first Christmas morning.

Being in a Catholic country, it highlights how much more secular our own country has become. The majority of the Christmas decorations in Malta, show images from the Nativity, whereas in our own country, there are more secular focuses, things like Father Christmas, snowmen, holly or post boxes covered with snow. But with this secularisation, comes a challenge and an opportunity.

The Gospel today speaks of a voice that cries in the wilderness, as we are introduced [again, this time by St John the Evangelist] to John the Baptist. In some ways the Gospel of John is laid out like a report into a criminal trial. He speaks of signs and not miracles, he introduces St John the Baptist as a witness; although from the interactions between John and the priests and Levites we hear today, he appears reluctant to witness for Christ during their interrogation. Listen again to his words – “I am not the Christ”, “ I am not”, “No”.  

He then of course tells them that he is the one foretold by Isaiah as being “a voice crying in the wilderness: Make a straight way for the Lord” and then “There is one standing among you whom you do not know, and I am not fit to undo his sandal strap.” 

Today, in the world we are Christ’s witnesses, it is us who are called to prepare a way for the Lord by the way we interact with those around us. 

If we take a long hard look at ourselves, and try and see ourselves as other do, would they see us as followers of Christ? 

Or have we entered into the ‘spirit of secularism’ so much that we tend to hide our Christianity? 

For example, there are times when I feel very self-conscious, if I am having a meal at a restaurant and say grace; worried what people will think. My concern should be more about what Jesus will think if I don’t acknowledge that I get to eat today through His benevolence.

In our first reading today, we hear about the spirit of the Lord being sent to Isaiah, and a message there which is also relevant for us today. Through our Baptism and Confirmation, we received this same Spirit, we have the same call to bring good news to the poor, to heal broken hearts, proclaim liberty to captives, to proclaim freedom and a year of favour from the Lord. We are called to rejoice, this Sunday is Gaudete Sunday, Gaudete, meaning Rejoice in Latin. The entrance antiphon sings out “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say rejoice. Indeed the Lord is near.” Does the Lord feel near to us? If I answer that question and the answer is no, then it is me who needs to change, because Jesus is always there, He never moves away from me, because He cannot move away. It is me who needs to change, because Jesus does not change, He is the same forever.

St Paul, in his letter to the Thessalonians; used today in our second reading; asks us to be happy always and to keep praying, thanking God for everything we have. We are to rely on the Holy Spirit, never try to suppress it, think before we act, avoid evil, ensure we are ready when the Lord comes again. Be sure that we realise, recognise and acknowledge that Jesus Christ Our Saviour is coming again and that He wants to see a faithful Body of Christ when He returns. We are part of that Body and we are called to maintain that Body while we are here on earth; and to make sure that we continually pass on our faith to those who will be here after us.

There is a very powerful message coming from the Church in Bethlehem, this Christmas. It says that all Christmas celebrations have been cancelled, and instead there is a time for prayers for peace. The image they are using is of the infant Child Jesus in the midst of rubble; symbolising the rubble found when a Palestinian home has been destroyed and the babies who have been pulled from the rubble. This is the reality of Christmas in Palestine, in Bethlehem in 2023. Families are being displaced, their homes destroyed, in what at times is indiscriminate destruction, while the world looks on and celebrates the birth of Our Saviour.

We pray that the people in war torn countries may be abler to rejoice again one day, when peace is restored to the whole world and all of mankind can recognise that we are all brothers and sisters from different parents, we are all friends who we have not gotten to know yet and that Jesus Christ came to save the whole human race, not just a chosen few.

Further Reading 

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

Third Sunday of Advent

CCC 30, 163, 301, 736, 1829, 1832, 2015, 2362: joy
CCC 713-714: characteristics of the awaited Messiah
CCC 218-219: God’s love for Israel
CCC 772, 796: the Church as the Bride of Christ

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 innocent people caught up in wars and conflicts around the world, but especially those in Palestine, Israel, Ukraine and Russia.

This is a time of year with many distractions; there tends to be more shopping for a start. If we switch on the TV, the adverts are sometimes more entertaining than the programmes; as those who wish to sell us things invest heavily trying to entice us to spend. At work, for many, projects are coming to an end or people are trying to get so much completed before the Christmas break. In homes with children, there’s lots of excitement as children prepare notes for Father Christmas or ask parents [at the last minute] to get their costume ready for the Nativity at school. Others are more concerned about how they can heat their house or feed their families. Meanwhile outside of our own ‘bubbles’ there are still wars going on in The Holy Land and Ukraine, with innocent civilians being killed in amongst those who are fighting.

All of these things can take our thoughts away from what this season is about; which is getting ourselves ready to greet The Lord when He comes again. In our readings today we hear Isaiah say, ‘Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight.’ This phrase is repeated in mark’s Gospel. All of these distractions; while unavoidable for some; take us away from the ‘straight path.’ We try to get everything temporal [things of this world] ready for Christmas, but how are our spiritual preparations going?

In last week’s Pastoral Letter, Bishop Philip reminded us of the 6 Holy Habits, emphasising the first Holy Habit of keeping Sunday as a rest day, keeping it special. This will help us physically and spiritually, allowing us to recharge our inner batteries. As Bishop Philip also reminded us, Catholics in this country had to attend Mass in secret to avoid persecution, now that we can freely attend many are falling away from this obligation. For whatever reason they choose to not attend, they are not following the straight path advocated in today’s Scripture readings, our focus has to be on our redemption; which will be achieved through love of God and love of our neighbour.

Our Scriptures tell us that St John the Baptist made such an impact on the people that ‘all of Judaea and all the people of Jerusalem made their way to him.’ What was it about St John the Baptist that had such an impact? He preached repentance and baptised people; he was not removing any of the traditions handed down by other leaders or prophets. In hindsight, he was forming a bridge between the Old Testament and the New Testament. He was the first to announce that the Messiah’ promised in the Old Testament, was coming after him, and he, a man all of Judaea and Jerusalem thought worthy to go and listen to; would not be fit to kneel down and undo the strap of his sandal. John the Baptist, knew his limitations and the difference between himself and Jesus, we also remember that Jesus said no better man ever lived than John the Baptist.

Before ordination to the Diaconate, the Bishop asks the presenting priest if the candidate has been found to be ‘worthy’, like many of my brother deacons, I found these words to be very powerful, because the enormity of what we were about to commit to, meant that we knew that none of us are truly worthy to take on this ministry. When I think about those words, I remind myself of my limitations and of the balancing act I need to perform between my role as a husband, my family life, my employment and the Diaconate. I know that I don’t always get it right and that can cause upset, and on occasions calendar clashes; where I may have committed to be in more than one place at the same time. I haven’t been given the gift of co-location, so I need to get better at managing my time and putting things into my diary.

Touching back to our busyness, and what seems like an endless list of things to achieve before Christmas, just think for a moment, John the Baptist was chosen by God to baptise people with water in a desert. All we are asked to do is love God and love our neighbour.

At this time of the year we can be so busy that we neglect our prayer life. Please set a time aside to pray, if possible, read the readings of the day from the Missal, sit and think; allow yourself the luxury of a few minutes with God every day. Take time out from the busyness and treat yourself to that blessing of time with God. You will probably find that your list of tasks becomes easier, because you are no longer trying to do everything under your own power. But that time out with God allows you the space to see things more clearly and may allow you to prepare a path that is straight and clear of obstacles.

Further Reading

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

Second Sunday of Advent

CCC 522, 711-716, 722: the prophets and the expectation of the Messiah
CCC 523, 717-720: the mission of John the Baptist
CCC 1042-1050: a new heaven and a new earth

Six Holy Habits

First, to keep Sunday special, as a family day, by attending Mass, the ‘source and summit’ of the Christian life, supporting your parish community. 

Second, to resolve to spend at least five minutes a day in prayer, at whatever time you find best, using the Scriptures, maybe the Gospel of the day. 

Third, to keep Friday as a day of penance in honour of the Lord’s Passion, intentionally serving the poor and needy. 

Fourth, at least once a fortnight, to pay a private visit to church for a short period of prayer before the Tabernacle. 

Fifth, to go to Confession once a month or so, like a spiritual check-up when you can personally experience God’s love and mercy.

Sixth, to join a small group for formation, prayer and fellowship, where you can share with others your own experience and hear what God is doing in the lives of others. 

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.

When I was a little boy, getting ready for Christmas meant looking through the pages of toys in the catalogue my mum had and trying to choose something that we thought we would like. My two brothers and I used to spend hours going through the pages and comparing notes. Come Christmas morning my middle brother always seemed to have chosen the better gift. As we got older, we started drifting into choosing clothes; Christmas was one of maybe three times in the year when new clothes appeared in our house.

As Altar boys we also got involved with Midnight Mass and this meant going to the odd practice and being encouraged to go to Confession. There was also the school play, which in my earlier days at school tended to be a Nativity, but towards the end of primary school there was a move towards finding roles for everyone and some of the Christmas message was starting to be diluted. In Scotland, Christmas was a time for the children and New Year was time for the adults. It was a time for lots of food and drink, and a time when lots of traditions came to the fore. It was also a time to learn as older generations passed on some of the traditions and methods of food preparation to their younger relatives. I remember my gran showing us how she prepared tongue meat from scratch, not something many people would do nowadays. Most of our preparations were centred around family activities, in those days Advent calendars were unveiling pictures which told the Christmas story, with no chocolates inside.

In our first reading today, there is a sense of their being great distance between God and the people. Isaiah is stating that the people have abandoned God, they have strayed from the path laid out by the prophets and found laws to suit their own purpose. Isaiah pleads with God to “tear the heavens open and come down.” Isaiah states that God is our creator, he is the potter, and we are the clay. We have been moulded into the image of God, crafted to be like Him and given a heart to love like Him.

As we look towards Christmas when we remember the first coming of Christ, we also remember that Jesus said He will return, and we need to prepare for that second coming. The psalm urges God to help us return to the true path, asking God to bless us so that we can be saved. This time of preparation encourages all of us to look at where we put obstacles between God and ourselves, asking ourselves what we need to do to be closer to God.

In the second reading St Paul is reminding the Corinthians of all of the blessings they have received and urging them to remain faithful until the last day, encouraging them to use the gifts they have received from the Holy Spirit, like the Corinthians we need to be aware of the gifts we have received and use them to stay on the right path. Jesus speaks about this Himself in the Gospel, reminding us to be ready, stay awake, something which if we remember the agony in the garden the disciples were unable to do at that particular time.

As we enter into Advent, what are we going to do to help us prepare for Christmas? Our Bishop has been urging us to take up the 6 holy habits¹. How are we getting on with them? Looking at them I know I need to work harder to develop these habits, which is really disappointing for me. In the past I would have been quite comfortable with at least 5 of them, at the moment I can probably only be happy with my response to three of them.

So, for me, this Advent is a time for me to work at being ready, by re-focussing on these 6 Holy Habits I hope I can be awake, should the Master decide to come I hope He will find me ready.

Further Reading

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

First Sunday of Advent

CCC 668-677, 769: the final tribulation and Christ’s return in glory
CCC 451, 671, 1130, 1403, 2817: “Come, Lord Jesus!”
CCC 35: God gives humanity grace to accept Revelation, welcome the Messiah
CCC 827, 1431, 2677, 2839: acknowledging that we are sinners.

Six Holy Habits

First, to keep Sunday special, as a family day, by attending Mass, the ‘source and summit’ of the Christian life, supporting your parish community. 

Second, to resolve to spend at least five minutes a day in prayer, at whatever time you find best, using the Scriptures, maybe the Gospel of the day. 

Third, to keep Friday as a day of penance in honour of the Lord’s Passion, intentionally serving the poor and needy. 

Fourth, at least once a fortnight, to pay a private visit to church for a short period of prayer before the Tabernacle. 

Fifth, to go to Confession once a month or so, like a spiritual check-up when you can personally experience God’s love and mercy.

Sixth, to join a small group for formation, prayer and fellowship, where you can share with others your own experience and hear what God is doing in the lives of others. 

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.
• Cassian, who was baptised earlier this week.
• Those attending the RCIA at St Bede’s next Wednesday.

1 The Six Holy Habits – Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth (portsmouthdiocese.org.uk)

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.