Fourth Sunday Year A

The Collect for the Fourth Sunday of Year A reads as follows:

''Grant us Lord our God,

that we may honour You with all our mind.

and love everyone in truth of heart.''

 

In making this prayer tangible for during the week,  the following reflections questions emerged:

 

1. What does it mean to me to honour God?
2. How do I honour God with all my mind?
3. What steps do I need to take to renew, refresh, revitalize my whole mind?
4. What does the phrase ''in truth of heart'' mean to me?
5. How do I learn to love myself in truth of heart this week?
6. How will I love others in truth of heart this week?

Today's Gospel from Matthew is from Chapter 5 Vs 1-12.

chapter 5:

Verses 1-2: Teaching with Authority and the impact on his listeners

We are told that Jesus went up the hill and taught. High places were important to Jewish people in that it was a representation of ‘God, Heaven, the Creator and such like’.  So Jesus going up the hill to teach is an important phrase.  It is also important when it is compared to Chapter 7:28-29, when we are told that Jesus taught with Authority not like the Scribes and Pharisees. Chapter 8:1 is important because it tells us that not only did Jesus come down the hill, but also great crowds followed.  In other words, his teachings had a great impact on those who listened to Him.

 

 

Then from vs 3-12 we hear what is known as The Beatitudes.  If you look in my Scripture series of Matthew, you will already find I have written on the Beatitudes. 

 

However my suggestion for this week is this.  Why not find a place of height and take your bible with you- go up a hill somewhere.  If you are not able to physically go up a hill, then why not ''Google'' a mountain scene and visualise yourself there.  Read this gospel again slowly and meditatively.
What has great impact for you right now?  All of the Beatitudes are important obviously but which one impacts on you as you read and ponder?  Then as you are guided by the Holy Spirit through your senses, choose one of them and decide on your action plan of how you can live it out this week. Perhaps these setting of the beatitudes   or  the beatitudes may add to your sensory choice.

 

There may occasions during the coming week where the beatitude you have chosen does not seem appropriate.  Is it the way we are thinking about it?  Does it need to be re-framed in our mind to be able to put it into action in this particular circumstance. Perhaps we are called in this situation to apply another of them.  Become familiar and use all of them as this is what we are called to do, but choosing one and applying it in your life this week may indeed be helpful to yourself and to others.  You will be putting the Collect of today's Mass into action.

 

The beatitude is indeed the attitude of the Christian- God's blue print for our attitude.

 

Will YOU embrace God's blueprint this week?

 

 

 





Third Sunday Year A

The Collect for the Third Sunday of Year A reads as follows:

 

"Almighty and ever-living God,

direct our actions towards Your good pleasure,

that in the name of Your beloved Son,

we may abound in good works."

 



In making this prayer tangible, the following reflection questions emerged:

1. What does the word action mean and how does that affect  the direction of my actions.

2. What actions will I direct towards God's good pleasure this week?

3. What attitude might I adopt when I direct my actions towards God's good pleasure?

4. What does  God's good pleasure mean to me?

5. What does scripture say about faith and good works?

6. What can I do about actions I have done previously that were not totally directed towards God?

The second half of chapter 4 relates to Jesus' mission. You will note that Jesus fasted first, then was tempted  by the devil (vs 1-11). This may not be read at Mass at the Gospel but it is important to know.  Why because Jesus then  began to preach 'Repent for the kingdom of God is close at hand'. After preaching this simple but powerful message, He then began to call the disciples, the two pairs of brothers-Simon and Andrew, and James and John.  You notice that the word Repent is in the present tense.  It means for us that we are continually needing to repent. It is an ongoing process.
Just this command of Christ's teaching is worth serious meditation during the week.

As His fame became known, He also ministered to the people in need of healing from all kinds of diseases. In other words, Jesus prepared himself for His ministry by fasting and prayer, and experiencing temptations of the devil. We too need to strengthen our resolve in the ministry that Jesus has asked of us to be ready to serve by appropriate preparation.

ACTION PLAN FROM CHAPTER 4
This week as we reflect on chapter 4, we may wish to:

• Consider how the devil tempts us and how we reject his invitation to sin.
• Consider our ability to fast to strengthen our souls. It is important to take on what is practical, since not everyone is physically able to fast from food without becoming sick. If you know, like myself that fasting from food is impractical for health reasons, then consider other ways of fasting.
• Consider marking off in the diary time for a retreat. Even a retreat at home is possible if time is set aside and family respect and are supportive of our needs.
• Consider our vocation and what Jesus has called us to do.  How do we encourage others to follow Jesus?
• Consider how we can bring the ministry of healing to others whether through intercessory prayer and/or through the gift of healing that we may possess. How can we continue the healing mission of Jesus?

How does our action plan compare with Jesus?  May Chapter 4 inspire us to consider how we are continuing the ministry of Jesus and to follow His action plan-preparation of soul through fasting, experience trials and temptations of the devil, before preaching the Good News and engaging in ministry of healing

 

 

                                            How will this Gospel affect your life this week?



Behold the Lamb of God-2nd Sunday of Year A Collect

The Collect for the 2nd Sunday of Year A reads as follows:

Almighty ever living God.

who governs all things,

both in Heaven and on earth,

mercifully hear the pleading of Your people,

and bestow Your peace on our times.

We make this prayer through Christ our Lord.

 

In making this prayer tangible, the following reflection questions emerged.

 

 

1. What does the phrase Almighty ever living God mean to me?

2. How might I use this phrase as prayer, affirmation, consolation during this week?

3. As Almighty ever living God governs all things, then this means everything about me too.  How might this reality change the way I respond to God this week? Does it change the way I feel (eg if I am feeling anxious, worried, depressed).o

4.What is my image, thoughts,  experience, understanding of a merciful God?

5. Do I believe in the power of my prayer to God?  Am I persistent and relentless as I plead for my needs and the needs of others and the world?

6. What does God's peace mean to me? 

Perhaps I might offer this prayer during the week'' bestow your peace on our times"  on the train, at my workplace, parish, in the car, with the family at meal times. Wherever you are, why not ask God to ''bestow Your peace on our times".

 

You would think that as today is the Second Sunday of Year A that our Gospel would be from Matthew, as this will be the synoptic Gospel from which we will be reading most of the year.  But no, the Church provides us with part of chapter 1 from John's Gospel.  Why?

 

Today's verses from Gospel of John follow on from the Baptism of Our Lord, which we celebrated last week.

Today John the Baptist points out Jesus ''Behold the Lamb of God". He testifies and gives witness to the truth that Jesus is the Son of God. He provides the evidence of what he saw and heard. Unlike Herod with the visit of the 3 Kings, John the Baptist was not afraid that he would lose his power or identity as a prophet or that he could lose some of his followers.  He spoke for the truth and pointed out Jesus, living out the mission that was given him- to point the way to Jesus.

 

When I hear this Gospel I think of the chorus Behold the Lamb of God from Handel's Messiah.  You might like to listen to it as you ponder this Gospel.  The other piece of music that comes to mind is Bizet's Lamb of God.  Here are the links to both pieces of music.

 

So the question arises Am I like John the Baptist and point out Jesus to others?  If not, what are the hesitations/blocks in doing so?  Often we do not want to come across as a ''bible basher'' or perhaps worse seen as mentally ill.  Perhaps, we feel that we would like to do more but feel that society has silenced our voice.  We only silence our own voices if we do not open our mouths.  Think about it for a moment.  No sound comes out if we do not open our mouths.

 

We also can point others to Jesus by our lives and how we lead them.  Using words is of course one way- an important way, but at the right time for the listener.  Just like anything else, it is about timing. We need to trust God and keep planting the seeds-the seeds of our words, our way of being, way of life. Can others distinguish something different about us? We must not let fear, reputation and the ways of the world hinder our efforts.  As the Collect says God governs everything in Heaven and on earth.  He will govern our faltering efforts, our inappropriate timing for the listener if we are sincerely desiring the good for the other person and love Jesus.

 

Perhaps we would like to do more but feel we do not know the answers to our faith.  Perhaps we feel silly if we were asked some questions and we could not answer them.  Why not think of these questions this week and think about what would you say if someone asked you them. 

The key is to start or restart afresh.  There is always more with God.

 

So, who will you point to Jesus this week?

 

 

 

 



Solemnity of Epiphany

The Collect for the Solemnity of the Epiphany reads as follows:

O God, who on this day

revealed Your only begotten Son to the nations

by the guidance of a star,

grant that in Your mercy,

that we, who know You already by faith,

may be brought to behold the beauty of Your sublime glory.

 

 

In making this prayer tangible,  the following questions emerged:

 

 

1. How does God reveal Himself to me?

2. How does God give me guidance?

3.What does  the guidance of a star mean for my life during this week/year?

4. What does my faith mean to me?

5.  Reflect on what it might mean to behold the beauty of Your sublime glory.

 

 

 The Magi were most likely wise men from Syria who made a special study of astrology. Due to this they were believed to have knowledge beyond that of humans. Later, they became portrayed as Kings. In the adoration of the Magi, the prophecies foretelling the honour which the people would give to the God of Israel were fulfilled . In the Magi, the Fathers of the Church saw in their gifts symbols of Christ's royalty  Gold, Incense-divinity and Myrrh- Passion.The Feast of the Epiphany is the manifestation of the Son of God made man.

 

The Magi however stayed focused on what they came to seek- they were guided by the star, which filled them with delight because it helped them find what they came to seek- Jesus, Mary and Joseph in the manger. They were able to do him homage and offer their gifts.  It is interesting to note the reaction of Herod who was governed by power and who

• felt threatened at the possibility there may be another king ( someone to threaten his job), 
• played the game pretending he wanted to worship also ( sought out information about the threat and how he might overcome the enemy).

Who do we identify in this Gospel? Are we like the crowd who were perturbed?  Do we become perturbed when we do not understand a new situation?   Is there a Herod in our personality? If so, what might we do about this aspect of our personality?  Are we like the  3 Kings, enquirers of the faith? Do we continue to enquire and deepen our faith?  What would Joseph and Mary thought about their 3 kingly visitors to the manger? I wonder what they thought about it all.  We do know that Mary pondered all these things and treasured them in her heart. What would the babe experienced?

 We too need to stay focused and to give the Christ child homage- let us bend our knees and offer our gifts to Him.

Let us stay focused and be guided by the light of the star of faith

during this Christmastide and throughout 2017.