I am with you always

 The Most Holy Trinity Year B - 30th May 2021

Gospel Matthew 28: 14–17

The eleven disciples set out for Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had arranged to meet them. When they saw him they fell down before him though some hesitated. Jesus came up and spoke to them. He said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, make disciples of all the nations; baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.’

Gospel Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

As I come to pray, I begin by relaxing my body and mind, breathing in God’s goodness and mercy. I place myself and my life in his hands and ask his Spirit to be with me.

Perhaps I ask God to help me enter into this great mystery of the relationship of the divine persons.

When I am ready I read the Gospel a couple of times.

I imagine the disciples setting out for Galilee.

What do they discuss on the way? What do they expect? Maybe I join them ... how do I feel?

As I wait, am I excited or fearful?

Jesus comes up ... how do I respond?

Perhaps in belief and adoration, or with doubt, confusion and uncertainty?

I take the time and speak to the Lord of how I feel.

Jesus does not dwell on the past, but immediately commissions his disciples, and me, to go out and baptise all nations.

In what ways can I do this? I listen to him.

I hear his promise to be with the Church always, until the end of  me. As I ponder, does this help me to be a more confident disciple?

It may help me to remember Jesus is with me now and always, whatever the situation or appearances, and no matter how I feel.

I rest quietly trusting in God my Father, and in the promise of the Son, allowing the Spirit to pray within me.

Click here to read or listen to a one-minute homily on this Sunday's readings!

The Spirit of truth

 Pentecost Sunday Year B, 23rd May 2021

Gospel 15: 26–7; 16: 12–15

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘When the Advocate comes,

whom I shall send to you from the Father,

the Spirit of truth who issues from the Father,

he will be my witness.

And you too will be witnesses,

because you have been with me from the outset. I still have many things to say to you,

But they would be too much for you now.

But when the Spirit of truth comes,

he will lead you to the complete truth,

since he will not be speaking as from himself

but will say only what he has learned:

and he will tell you of the things to come.

He will glorify me, since all he tells you

will be taken from what is mine.

Everything the Father has is mine;

this is why I said:

All he tells you will be taken from what is mine.’

Image from Parousia Press

Gospel Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

I prepare for prayer by deliberately slowing down, asking for inner stillness of mind, body and heart. I ask the Spirit of truth to enlighten my mind and lead me as I read today’s Gospel passage.

I gently permit Jesus’s words to sink in, maybe as if spoken directly to me. I may choose to stay with a particular word or phrase.

I talk with Jesus about the way I feel as I hear his words.

I read the text again. Perhaps I notice how Jesus speaks of the Father and of the Spirit, and am drawn to ponder the mystery of the Trinity.

How might God be inviting me into this relationship?

Perhaps I feel drawn and comforted by Jesus’s promise of the Advocate, who will ‘lead me to the complete truth’. I pray that the Holy Spirit will make this promise more profound and personal within my own heart.

I rest in prayerful silence, allowing the Lord to touch me as he wills. Trusting in his love, I share with him what arises.

I end my time of prayer asking for the gift of greater openness to the power of the Holy Spirit, who has already called me into life. Our Father ...

Click here to read or listen to a one-minute homily on this Sunday's readings!

That they may be one like us

 Seventh Sunday of Easter Year B - 16th May 2021

Gospel John 17: 11–19

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said:

‘Holy Father, keep those you have given me true to your name, so that they may be one like us. While I was with them, I kept those you had given me true to your name. I have watched over them and not one is lost except the one who chose to be lost, and this was to fulfil the scriptures.

But now I am coming to you and while still in the world I say these things to share my joy with them to the full.

I passed your word on to them, and the world hated them, because they belong to the world no more than I belong to the world.

I am not asking you to remove them from the world, but to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.

Consecrate them in the truth: your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world, and for their sake

I consecrate myself so that they too may be consecrated in truth.’

"Protect them..."

Gospel Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

I settle myself in the place where I will pray, perhaps lighting a candle to remind me of the Lord’s presence here with me. As I take a couple of deeper breaths, I breathe in the warmth of his welcome and let God take from me any burden I am carrying today.

I turn my attention to the text. Aware that the words are Jesus’s own prayer to his Father, I may like to move closer to Jesus in my imagination ...

so I sit beside him, and I listen.

Are there words or phrases that I want him to repeat for me?

Perhaps there are parts of the text I don’t really understand, and I ask him to explain them to me.

What do I feel as I listen to what Jesus asks of the Father? ... for the disciples he is soon to leave behind, and for me, seeking to find my way as his disciple in the troubled and perplexing world of today?

As I ponder, I may want to bring to mind where and what those gifts are in my own life.

As I think back over the weeks since we celebrated the Lord’s Resurrection, perhaps I can see afresh the signs of his life in me.

Giving thanks and praise for these, I may find myself drawn back to Jesus beside me. In my imagination, I kneel next to him as I make my own offering to go out into the world sharing my joy, trusting in his protec on and his truth.

Click here to read or listen to a one-minute homily on this Sunday's readings!

I call you friends

 Sixth Sunday of Easter Year B - 9th May 2021

Gospel John 15: 9–17

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my own joy may be in you and your joy be complete.

This is my commandment: love one another, as I have loved you. No-one can have greater love than to lay down their life for their friends.

You are my friends, if you do what I command you. I shall not call you servants any more, because a servant does not know their master’s business; I call you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father.

You did not choose me: no, I chose you; and I commissioned you to go out and to bear fruit, fruit that will last; and then the Father will give you anything you ask him in my name.

What I command you is to love one another.’

Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

How am I coming to this time of prayer? What is my mood like today? Sad, heavy, burdened? Joyful, light, hopeful? I take my time to move gently into prayer, aware of how I am feeling.

I read the Gospel slowly two or three times. There is no rush. Perhaps these words will help me to identify the grace I am seeking at this time.

If helpful, I could place myself in the scene, around the table of the Last Supper. Jesus is speaking directly to me, telling me of his love for me, how he has chosen me for friendship and for commissioning.

How does it feel to be called and chosen?

Union with Jesus leads to fruitful service and John is basically saying that love is a verb, not a noun. Love cannot exist apart from action and we see love most fully in the actions of Jesus.

How have I been loved in life ... ? What comes to mind and how does that make me want to respond?

How does the reality of God’s unconditional love help me to love even more?

I remain in God’s love for me and end my prayer slowly: Our Father ...

Click here to read or listen to a one-minute homily on this Sunday's readings!