News of great joy

 ⭐️The Nativity of the Lord, 25 December 2022 ⭐️

Gospel Luke 2: 8–14

In the countryside close by there were shepherds who lived in the fields and took it in turns to watch their flocks during the night. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone round them. They were terrified, but the angel said, ‘Do not be afraid. Listen, I bring you news of great joy, a joy to be shared by the whole people. Today in the town of David a saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. And here is a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly with the angel was a great throng of the heavenly host, praising God and singing:

‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace to all who enjoy his favour’.

Adoration of the Shepherds, Domenico Ghirlandaio

Gospel Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

I come to spend some quiet time with the Lord. Maybe I have the luxury of a candle and a crib to help me visualise the events of that special night.

Or maybe I rely on my imagination and my memories of previous years.

I read the text above, perhaps several times, before putting it aside.

I may find myself being present in the scene, next to the shepherds.

I look around, what do I see?

I smell the grass, the sheep. I feel the roughness of the shepherd’s staff. I hear the shuffling of animals, the barking of dogs.

Then suddenly, I see the angel of the Lord and the light changing in the sky. How do I react? Am I fearful, like the shepherds, or amazed, or ..?

I hear the angel’s comforting words, news of peace and joy.

As I pause for a moment to take this all in, the singing starts. What is it like? Perhaps it’s a tune I know well, or one I’ve never heard before.

I focus again on the angel’s words: a baby, in a manger, a Saviour, Christ the Lord. Could it be that God has chosen to come to earth in disguise, where we least expect him?

Can he really have come in such simple surroundings, as a helpless baby, he who is so Almighty?

In what way is this a joyful event? I ponder...

Eventually, I come back to the here and now, still carrying all these events in my heart, thankful that I was there, with the shepherds and the angel, perhaps better able now to share this great joy with all around me.

‘Glory to God in the highest ...’

Click here to read or listen to a One-Minute Homily for Christmas from the Jesuit Post

⭐️🎄Wishing you a joyful, peaceful and blessed Christmas!🎄⭐️

He is the one who is to save his people from their sins

 Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year A - 18th December 2022

Gospel Matthew 1: 18–24

This is how Jesus Christ came to be born. His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph; but before they came to live together she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a man of honour and wanting to spare her publicity, decided to divorce her informally. He had made up his mind to do this when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son and you must name him Jesus, because he is the one who is to save his people from their sins.’ Now all this took place to fulfil the words spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son And they will call him Emmanuel,

a name which means ‘God-is-with-us’.

When Joseph woke up he did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do: he took his wife to his home.

Gospel Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

With Christmas so near, I may be caught up getting things ready.

Perhaps I’m looking forward to being with family and friends. Or perhaps I struggle with loneliness, or a sense of emptiness as I remember a loved one.

Whatever time I have to spare, I settle gently into prayer. I try to let any chatter occupying my mind slow down. I place any concerns into the Lord’s gentle, caring hands, aware that I am in his loving presence.

I invite God’s Spirit to guide my prayer, opening my heart and mind to whatever it is the Lord may want to show me...

In time, I read the passage through, mulling over any word or image that particularly catches my attention.

Maybe I find myself thinking of Joseph in this difficult situation.

How might he be feeling? Sad ... afraid ... angry ... humiliated ... helpless ...?

Perhaps I picture him praying to God for guidance; searching for comfort. What might I do in his shoes? Where do I place my trust when I feel caught up in my own struggles? Do I rely on my own self-knowledge?

Or am I willing to accept things beyond my own understanding?

Joseph listens carefully to God. Might there be something distracting me from God’s call?

In my own words and from my heart, I share my feelings with the Lord. Perhaps there is a grace I wish to ask for.

I may think of the messengers in my own life, those ‘angels’ who have guided and helped me. I give thanks for them.

I may like to end with the old Opening Prayer for this Sunday (below), perhaps praying it in the first person: ‘Lord, fill my heart with your love ...’

Let us pray, as Advent draws to a close, 

that Christ will truly come into our hearts.

Lord, fill our hearts with your love, and as you revealed to us by an angel the coming of your Son as man,

so lead us through his suffering and death to the glory of his resurrection.

Click here to read or listen to a One-Minute Homily on today's Gospel from the Jesuit Post 

Gaudete - Rejoice!

Third Sunday of Advent, ‘Gaudete’ Sunday, Year A - 11th December 2022

Gospel Matthew 11: 2–11

John in his prison had heard what Christ was doing and he sent his disciples to ask him, ‘Are you the one who is come, or have we got to wait for someone else?’ Jesus answered, ‘Go back and tell John what you hear and see; the blind see again, and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised to life and the Good News is proclaimed to the poor; and happy is the one who does not lose faith in me.’

As the messengers were leaving, Jesus began to talk to the people about John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the breeze? No? Then what did you go out to see? Someone wearing fine clothes? Oh no, those who wear fine clothes are to be found in palaces. Then what did you go out for? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet: he is the one of whom scripture says: Look, I am going to send my messenger before you; he will prepare your way before you.

I tell you solemnly, of all the children born of women, a greater than John the Baptist has never been seen; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is.’

Today is Gaudete (Rejoice!) Sunday, sometimes called Rose Sunday

Gospel Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

It may help me to prepare to pray by focusing on some image that speaks to me of Advent: perhaps an Advent wreath, or a candle. Or I may like to find an Advent carol or some other music that brings me a spirit of watching ... of longing ... of waiting ... of light shining in darkness.

I take time to settle my mind and body in whichever way suits me best. I gently notice any distractions that come to mind, and with compassion place them before God and guide my attention back to my prayer focus.

I wait ... in silence ... and in stillness.

When I feel ready, I slowly read the Gospel as many times as I need. I may like to use my imagination to enter into the scene.

Maybe I am a disciple of John who has been sent to meet Jesus?

Or perhaps I see events unfolding as a bystander, and listen to Jesus as he teaches the people.

Where does this meeting take place?

What do I see, and what do I notice about the followers of John and the people who have come to hear Jesus? What are they seeking?

What am I seeking?

How do I feel as I listen to Jesus’s response to the disciples?

The prophets, the psalmist, and the actions and words of Jesus are all teaching and preparing me ... but for what?

I share with Jesus my thoughts and feelings about all that has arisen for me during my time of prayer, as I would to a dear friend ... and I listen to him. When I am ready, I close my prayer with my own words of gratitude.

Click here to read or listen to a One-Minute Homily on today's Gospel from the Jesuit Post

Prepare a way for the Lord

 Second Sunday of Advent, Year A - 4th December 2022

Gospel Matthew 3: 1–11 (abridged)

In due course John the Baptist appeared; he preached in the wilderness of Judaea and this was his message: ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.’ This was the man the prophet Isaiah spoke of when he said: 'A voice cries in the wilderness: Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight.’

This man John wore a garment made of camel-hair with a leather belt round his waist and his food was locusts and wild honey.

Then Jerusalem and all Judaea and the whole Jordan district made their way to him, and as they were baptised by him in the River Jordan they confessed their sins. But when he saw a number of Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism he said to them, ‘Brood of vipers, who warned you to fly from the retribution that is coming? But if you repent, produce the appropriate fruit, and do not presume to tell yourselves, “We have Abraham for our father,” because, I tell you, God can raise children for Abraham from these stones. Even now the axe is laid to the roots of the trees, so that any tree which fails to produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown on the fire.

I baptise you in water for repentance, but the one who follows me is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to carry his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.’

The axe is laid to the roots of the trees

Gospel Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

As I prepare to celebrate the Lord’s coming, I am grateful to find a few moments to spend with him. Wherever I am, I acknowledge his presence, and tell him about my mood and why I feel the need to be with him today.

After spending some time coming to inner quiet, I read the text several times to become really familiar with it so I can put it aside.

What are you going to show me today, Lord?

I may want to imagine myself by the River Jordan, with John the Baptist’s followers. I look at him, listen to him, and reflect.

John calls me to repentance – that is to a radical change of path. In what ways do I need to change within myself, in my dealings with my family, my colleagues, my community?

Perhaps I find myself among the Pharisees and Sadducees. How do I feel when John addresses us? Maybe I see in myself some of the complacency John objects to. I ponder ... and then tell the Lord what is in my heart.

He knows, he understands. I listen to him.

As I wait for the coming of the One who follows John, I look ahead. What can I tell him of my desire to be of service to others, to help bring about a better world?

When I am ready, I close my prayer with my own words of thanks.

Click here to read or listen to a One-Minute Homily on today's readings from the Jesuit Post.