Stay awake

 First Sunday of Advent Year B - 29th November 2020

Gospel Mark 13: 33–37

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Be on your guard, stay awake, because you never know when the time will come. It is like a man travelling abroad: he has gone from home, and left his servants in charge, each with his own task; and he has told the doorkeeper to stay awake. So stay awake, because you do not know when the master of the house is coming, evening, midnight, cockcrow, dawn; if he comes unexpectedly, he must not find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake!’

Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

I come to my place of prayer. Perhaps I light a candle.

I take the time to relax my body and still my mind. I breathe gently, slowly becoming aware of being held in God’s presence.

I remain silent in his love for some time.

When I am ready, I read the text slowly a couple of times.

I reflect on what ‘the time’ means for me.

A time of grace ... of awareness of God working in my life ...

of reconciliation ... of an important insight ... of the unexpected ...? Or a time of something more momentous?

I ponder the occasions, people, events that have struck me this week. Perhaps I can give thanks for being aware of God’s presence there.

I consider the little parable and the role of the doorkeeper. How easy is it to stay attentive?

How do I cope with waiting, especially with delays and false alerts? In what way is my waiting a prayer in itself?

Maybe I pray to remain faithful and responsible. As doorkeeper, I open the door of my heart to the Lord.

In what ways can I encourage others to do likewise?

We wait together. I speak to the Lord of what this means in my life.

In my prayer perhaps I can watch with all those who wait in our world, enduring oppression of all kinds, those who struggle to work for solidarity and reconciliation.

Advent is a time of hope – the Lord will come. I end my prayer asking the Lord to deepen my faith and enable my hope to grow.

Our Father...

When did we see you?

 Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe Year A - 22nd November 2020

Gospel Matthew 25:31–46 (shortened)

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory ... he will take his seat on his throne of glory. All the nations will be assembled before him and he will separate people one from another as the shepherd separates sheep from goats ...

‘Then the King will say to those on his right hand, “Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take for your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you made me welcome; naked and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me.” Then the virtuous will say to him in reply, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you; or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome; naked and clothe you; sick or in prison and go to see you?” And the King will answer, “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these of mine, you did it to me.”

‘Next he will say to those on his left hand, “Go away from me, with your curse upon you, to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you never gave me food; I was thirsty and you never gave me anything to drink; I was a stranger and you never made me welcome, naked and you never clothed me, sick and in prison and you never visited me.” Then it will be their turn to ask, “Lord, when did we see you ... and did not come to your help?” Then he will answer, “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you neglected to do this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me.” ‘And they will go away to eternal punishment, and the virtuous to eternal life.’

Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

I begin by asking the Holy Spirit to help me reach the heart of this challenging gospel. I read it slowly and gently, remembering that the Son of Man (and King) is the one and same true shepherd.

I can trust his call, guidance, teaching and his judgements.

What is stirring within as I read? If I am feeling any fear or unease, I could ponder where this might be coming from. Or maybe, I am remembering times when I have received help, or been of help? I stay with these memories.

In the First Reading, Jesus, the true shepherd, has kept me within his gaze. Here, Christ the King desires to invite me to the feast.

How can I respond to this invitation in the here and now?

I ask to see, ever more keenly, Christ present to me in all circumstances. Perhaps I feel drawn to stay with Christ for a few moments, who appears to me both in glory and power ... but also, as one who is vulnerable and in need. When ready, I end with the sign of the cross.

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Well done, good and faithful servant!

 Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A - 15th November 2020

Gospel Matthew 25: 14–21 (abridged)

Jesus spoke this parable to his disciples: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a man on his way abroad who summoned his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to a third, one; each in proportion to their ability. Then he set out.

‘The one who had received the five talents promptly went and traded with them and made five more. The one who had received two made two more in the same way. But the servant who had received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money.

‘Now a long time after, the master of those servants came back and went through his accounts with them. The one who had received the five talents came forward bringing five more, saying. “Sir, you entrusted me with five talents; here are five more that I have made.” The master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have shown you can be faithful in small things, I will trust you with greater; come and join in your master’s happiness.”’

Gospel Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

After coming to some inner quiet in the way that works best for me, I read the shortened version of this well known parable several times. I may want to read the full version in my missal or bible at a later time.

What strikes me as I read the text? Perhaps there’s a phrase I haven’t ‘heard’ before? I stay with it for a few moments ...

I may want to consider my own ‘talents’. I notice that everyone has been given at least one talent. Can I name mine?

What have I done with my talents? ... What do I do with them? ... What will I do?

In what ways have others been affected as I use them? I ponder, and tell the Lord how I feel.

I listen to the Lord calling me his good and faithful servant, giving me his trust, and inviting me to share in his happiness.

How do I want to respond? With gratitude, disbelief, yearning ...?

In time, I slowly conclude my prayer: Glory be to the Father ...

Stay awake!

 Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A - 8th November 2020

Gospel Matthew 25: 1–13

Jesus told this parable to his disciples: “The kingdom of heaven will be like this: Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were sensible; the foolish ones did take their lamps, but they brought no oil, whereas the sensible ones took flasks of oil as well as their lamps. The bridegroom was late, and they all grew drowsy and fell asleep. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘The bridegroom is here!

Go out and meet him.’ At this, all those bridesmaids woke up and trimmed their lamps, and the foolish ones said to the sensible ones, ‘Give us some of your oil: our lamps are going out.’ But they replied, ‘There may not be enough for us and for you; you had better go to those who sell it and get some for yourselves.’ They had gone off to buy it when the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding hall and the door was closed. The other bridesmaids arrived later. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us.’ But he replied. ‘I tell you solemnly, I do not know you.’ So stay awake, because you do not know either the day or the hour.”

Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

This week, I ponder this parable. It may take several days to explore the richness of Jesus’s words. In whatever way I am drawn to pray, I allow the Holy Spirit to guide me.

I may like to picture myself as one of the bridesmaids, or perhaps as someone waiting with them. Noticing what happens as the story unfolds, allowing myself to be drawn into the events, I share my thoughts and feelings with the Lord as I am moved.

What does it mean for me to wait?

Am I patient and prepared for whatever may happen?

Or am I anxious, tending to give up, or to try to sort everything out in my own way? I talk with the Lord about these moments in my life.

What has the Lord to say to me?

What happens when I hear the cry, ‘The bridegroom is here!’?

I may visualise the joy, the agitation, the different reactions of the girls.

Am I ready to meet the Lord as he comes to me in my life?

Again, I speak with the Lord from my heart and listen to what he says to me.

I end my time of prayer asking the Lord for whatever grace I need. I thank him. Glory be ...

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