Do not be afraid; only have faith

 13th Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B - 27th June 2021

Gospel Mark 5: 21–24; 35–43

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered round him and he stayed by the lakeside. Then one of the synagogue officials came up, Jairus by name, and seeing him, fell at his feet and pleaded with him earnestly, saying, ‘My little daughter is desperately sick. Do come and lay your hands on her to make her better and save her life.’ Jesus went with him and a large crowd followed him; they were pressing all round him. [...]

Some people arrived from the house of the synagogue official to say, ‘Your daughter is dead: why put the Master to any further trouble?’

But Jesus had overheard this remark of theirs and he said to the official, ‘Do not be afraid; only have faith’. And he allowed no one to go with him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. So they came to the official’s house and Jesus noticed all the commotion, with people weeping and wailing unrestrainedly. He went in and said to them,

‘Why all this commotion and crying? The child is not dead, but asleep.’ But they laughed at him. So he turned them all out and, taking with him the child’s father and mother and his own companions, he went into the place where the child lay. And taking the child by the hand he said to her, ‘Talitha, kum!’ which means, ‘Little girl, I tell you to get up’. The little girl got up at once and began to walk about, for she was twelve years old. At this they were overcome with astonishment, and he ordered them strictly not to let anyone know about it, and told them to give her something to eat.

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Gospel Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

Settling in the place in which I have chosen to pray, I spend a moment becoming aware of God’s welcoming presence.

As I read through the Gospel, I notice what draws me in. Maybe it’s the complete faith that Jairus has in Jesus?

Are there aspects of my life now where I could show my faith in the Lord more than I have done thus far?

Perhaps I’m conscious of my desire to express the depth of my faith, but there is something that is getting in my way.

I share my innermost thoughts with the Lord, my loving friend. Witnessing the wonder and joy of the little girl’s parents, I bring to mind those times in my own life when I truly knew the comfort and support of the Lord.

In time, and trusting that he is always with me, especially through the hard times, I give thanks in my own words.

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Who can this be?

 Twelfth Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B - 20th June 2021

Gospel Mark 4: 35–41

With the coming of evening, Jesus said to his disciples,

‘Let us cross over to the other side.’ And leaving the crowd behind they took him, just as he was, in the boat; and there were other boats with him. Then it began to blow a gale and the waves were breaking into the boat so that it was almost swamped. But he was in the stern, his head on the cushion, asleep. They woke him and said to him, ‘Master, do you not care? We are going down!’ And he woke up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, ‘Quiet now! Be calm!’ And the wind dropped, and all was calm again. Then he said to them, ‘Why are you so frightened? How is it that you have no faith?’ They were filled with awe and said to one another, ‘Who can this be? Even the wind and the sea obey him.’

Gospel Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

Taking note of how I am feeling, I move gently into prayer. I pay attention to what I can hear around me – perhaps there is a gale blowing, or maybe all is calm. What can I ‘hear’ within myself?

Do I feel unsettled, agitated? I ask for the Spirit’s help and, perhaps, for the grace to trust or for the gift  of faith.

I read this very familiar gospel slowly, two or three times. I stop wherever I feel drawn. What am I particularly noticing today?

Are there any questions surfacing for me? Perhaps I am struggling with a particular storm in my life at the moment. Or is there something I am afraid of? I ponder....

Jesus questions the disciples’ fear and their lack of faith. What might he be asking of me today? How does this make me feel?

As I continue to pray, I ask: How might this gospel account apply to me? Do I feel that the Lord is asleep sometimes, and I need to wake him? Can I be honest with him?

In the calm following the storm, the disciples are filled with awe. This leads them to a question of their own: ‘Who can this be?’

Perhaps I ponder their question myself.

Can I recall times when struggles have led me to a greater realisa on of God’s presence? ... a deeper understanding of who the Lord is?

I remain alongside the Lord, in the calm and the quiet, happy to be with him. When ready, I end with a sign of the cross.

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!

What the Kingdom of God is like

 Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B - 13th June 2021

Gospel Mark 4: 26–34

Jesus said:

‘This is what the Kingdom of God is like. A man throws seed on the land. Night and day while he sleeps, when he is awake, the seed is sprouting and growing; how, he does not know. Of its own accord the land produces first the shoot, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the crop is ready, he loses no time: he starts to reap because the harvest has come.’

He also said, ‘What can we say the Kingdom of God is like? What parable can we find for it? It is like the mustard seed which at the time of its sowing in the soil is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet once it is sown it grows into the biggest shrub of them all and puts out big branches so that the birds of the air can shelter in its shade.’

Using many parables like these, he spoke the word to them, so far as they were capable of understanding it. He would not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything to his disciples when they were alone.

Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

After settling myself into a calm prayerful state of mind and body, I read this Gospel passage with love and care.

Taking each parable at a time, I let the images and the messages they convey bring light and truth to the concerns of my life and to the expression of my faith.

Where do I see the Kingdom of God slowly but steadily growing in the world today?

What is my relationship with the Kingdom of God?

Jesus mostly used images of the natural world to explain deep truths about the Kingdom. I ponder what this means for my relationship with God, with the environment, with my fellow creatures and the people around me.

I share my pondering and deepest longings for the world and for God’s Kingdom with Jesus as I would with a beloved friend.

When I am ready, I close my prayer by saying ‘Glory be to the Father...’

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This is my Body

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) Year B - 6th June 2021

Gospel Mark 14: 12–16; 22–26

On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was sacrificed, his disciples said to Jesus, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?” So he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go into the city and you will meet a man carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him, and say to the owner of the house which he enters, “The Master says: ‘Where is my dining room in which I can eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large upper room furnished with couches, all prepared. Make the preparations for us there.” The disciples set out and went to the city and found everything as he had told them, and prepared the Passover.

As they were eating he took some bread, and when he had said the blessing he broke it and gave it to them. “Take it,” he said, “this is my body”. Then he took a cup, and when he had returned thanks he gave it to them, “This is my blood, the blood of the covenant, which is to be poured out for many. I tell you solemnly, I shall not drink any more wine until the day I drink the new wine in the kingdom of God.”

After psalms had been sung they left for the Mount of Olives.

Gospel Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

I settle myself, and place any concerns and desires into the Lord’s hands so that I can focus all my attention on this time with him. I ask for the guidance of the Spirit as I read the Gospel passage slowly a few times.

If it helps, I may like to place myself in the scene; either as one of the disciples, sitting at the table with Jesus, or as a bystander looking on, curious to see what is happening.

I notice the table set for the Passover meal and smell the aroma of the food. I watch as Jesus blesses, then breaks, the bread and see him share the bread and wine with everyone there.

I imagine Jesus speaking directly to me as he says: ‘Take it, this is my body ... this is my blood’. I notice the tone of his voice and the look in his eyes as he offers it to me.

Perhaps I ponder what his words mean. I notice how I am feeling.

What might I want to say to Jesus, to the one who freely offered his life for me, for every one of us? I speak to him now from my heart.

When I feel ready, I finish with a prayer of my choice.

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