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!

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!

I am the vine, you are the branches

 Fifth Sunday of Easter Year B - 2 May, 2021

Gospel John 15: 1–8

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.

Every branch in me that bears no fruit he cuts away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes to make it bear even more.

You are pruned already, by means of the word that I have spoken to you.

Make your home in me, as I make mine in you. As a branch cannot bear fruit all by itself, but must remain part of the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty; for cut off from me you can do nothing.

Anyone who does not remain in me is like a branch that has been thrown away – they wither; these branches are collected and thrown on the fire, and they are burnt. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask what you will and you shall get it.

It is to the glory of my Father that you should bear much fruit, and then you will be my disciples.’

Gospel Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

I may like to pray this Gospel outdoors or where I can look through the window. I notice anything I can see growing around me. Becoming still, I entrust myself to the Lord’s care as I prayerfully read the Gospel, pausing wherever I feel moved.

Just as a gardener comes very close to and looks at the plant he is about to prune, perhaps in my mind’s eye I picture God coming close to me and examining me to see where I am producing fruit. I sense the warmth and tenderness, the closeness of God’s love.

Knowing that warmth of God’s love for me, maybe I reflect on times when I’ve been able to bring some of that love and warmth into the lives of others.

Being pruned brings me closer to the main vine, to Jesus, and enables new growth. I ponder if there is anything that I would like pruned within me, or in my life? Maybe I’m getting carried away by concentrating too much on something that diverts my energy and attention, preventing new growth within my life, my work, my community ...?

I talk to Jesus about this, just as a really good friend does to another, asking him to show me and help me respond.

When ready, I end my prayer with ‘Glory be to the Father ...’

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

I am the good shepherd

 Fourth Sunday of Easter Year B - 25th April 2021 (Good Shepherd Sunday)

Gospel John 10: 11–18

Jesus said:

‘I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd is one who lays down his life for his sheep. The hired man, since he is not the shepherd and the sheep do not belong to him, abandons the sheep and runs away as soon as he sees a wolf coming, and then the wolf attacks and scatters the sheep; this is because he is only a hired man and has no concern for the sheep.

I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for my sheep.

And there are other sheep I have that are not of this fold, and these I have to lead as well. They too will listen to my voice, and there will be only one flock, and one shepherd.

The Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me; I lay it down of my own free will, and as it is in my power to lay it down, so it is in my power to take it up again; and this is the command I have been given by my Father.’

Gospel Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

I prepare to pray slowly, with care, love and attention.

When I feel ready, I read the Gospel with the same loving care and attention.

Jesus purposefully uses rich imagery to teach and to reveal.

It may help my prayer today to imagine being held, contained, and protected by Jesus, the Good Shepherd. I rest for a while in this image.

The idea of the Good Shepherd that Jesus shares here is perhaps very familiar to me. I ask for the grace to listen to him now, with the curious ears of a child.

I ask Jesus my loving Shepherd to guide me in my prayer, and to reveal what he wants me to hear today.

I wait upon the Shepherd ... I listen to the Shepherd ...

I place all my needs and deepest desires before the Good Shepherd of my life.

Without any haste, I close my prayer, joining Jesus in praying ‘Our Father ...’

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