Who do you say I am?

Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Apostles Year A - 28th June 2020

Gospel Matthew 16: 13–19

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’

‘But you,’ he said, ‘who do you say I am?’

Then Simon Peter spoke up. ‘You are the Christ,’ he said, ‘the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So now I say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.’

Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

As I prepare to spend time in prayer, I make a conscious effort to relax my body and my mind so as to be alert and receptive to God’s word.

I breathe slowly, perhaps asking for a special grace for today.

When ready, I take up the text and take time to read it slowly.

Perhaps I can imagine myself with Jesus and the disciples walking quietly, away from Galilee and the crowds. I listen to the disciples as they answer Jesus’s question.

What do I think of their replies?

And then Jesus asks me personally ‘Who do you say I am?’

The disciples fade away and I am left with Jesus. How do I feel?

Maybe I stay with him and tell him what he means to me.

I speak to him and then remain with him as I listen to his voice, or rest quietly in his presence.

How do Peter’s words help me? I may wish to consider Jesus’s reply and then pray for his Church, for Peter’s successors, and for all leaders at this difficult time ...

I end my prayer in gratitude for all those in the service of leadership. Glory be ...

Worth more than hundreds of sparrows

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A, 21st June 2020

We're back in green for Ordinary Time this Sunday - the colour of life, growth and healing!

Gospel Matthew 10: 26–33

Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘Do not be afraid. For everything that is now covered will be uncovered, and everything now hidden will be made clear. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the daylight; what you hear in whispers, proclaim from the rooftops.

‘Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; fear him rather who can destroy both body and soul in hell. Can you not buy two sparrows for a penny? And yet not one falls to the ground without your Father knowing. Why, every hair on your head has been counted. So there is no need to be afraid; you are worth more than hundreds of sparrows.

‘So if anyone declares themself for me in the presence of others, I will declare myself for them in the presence of my Father in heaven. But the one who disowns me in the presence of others, I will disown in the presence of my Father in heaven.’

Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

I become aware of the God who desires me and seeks my company now... conscious of his loving attention in this moment.

I ask his living Spirit to pray in me, with me, through me...

I read Jesus’s teachings prayerfully, a couple of times.

Maybe I can sense his presence as I read? I listen to the qualities of his voice, and the words he uses as he instructs his disciples.

As I linger here, what responses in me arise? I try to find my own words ... or I may simply rest in deep shared silence with Jesus.

Perhaps I am conscious of my fears for myself and my loved ones; for the marginalised peoples of our interconnected world at this time of pandemic.

As a disciple of Jesus, can I open my heart to hear and pray his repeated words: ‘Do not be afraid (my name) ...’?

Or perhaps I find myself really struggling to trust in the promises of Jesus, and to have confidence in the Father’s intimate care?

Whatever arises within me, I take care not to judge. I can speak openly to the Lord about it. I ask him to help me trust in his universal power and care for us during these confusing and unpredictable days.

As I slowly end my prayer, I give thanks for my own worth as seen through God’s eyes. I ask the Spirit for the grace I need to be a courageous, faithful disciple.

Did you know that the words Do not be afraid appear in the Bible 365 times - once for every day of the year?

This is the bread come down from heaven

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi)  Year A -14 June 2020

First of all, apologies for somehow missing out Trinity Sunday! I'm not sure how that happened... But we're back on track this week.

Secondly, you'll notice a new page above - 'Parish Prayers'. This shows the names of those who have asked our prayers through the parish newsletter. Please pray for them.

Gospel John 6: 51–58

Jesus said to the Jews:

‘I am the living bread which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world.’ 

Then the Jews started arguing with one another: ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ they said.

Jesus replied: ‘I tell you most solemnly,

if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you will not have life in you.

Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood has eternal life, and I shall raise that person up on the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in him. As I, who am sent by the living Father, myself draw life from the Father, so whoever eats me will draw life from me.

This is the bread come down from heaven; not like the bread our ancestors ate: they are dead, but anyone who eats this bread will live for ever.’

Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

Wherever I am, I take a few moments to focus on my prayer, putting aside my daily concerns and inviting the Lord to 'make his home in me'.

When I am ready, I read these words of Jesus. I spend some time reflecting on their impact now, two thousand years or so after they were spoken.

Words can have a literal meaning or be understood at a spiritual level. I ponder and ask the Lord to open this text for me. In trust, I wait.

I may need to return to the text later. But in the meantime, Jesus’s words, living at the back of my mind, perhaps become clearer.

When I join my fellow Christians for the Eucharist, what is it like for me to hear these words spoken: 'the body of Christ' ... 'the blood of Christ'? What difference does this make in my daily life?

Perhaps I am drawn to reflect on their deeper meaning. Have they lost some of their impact through over-familiarity?

When the  me comes to conclude my prayer, I thank the Lord for being with me and for helping me to feel part of the body of Christ today.