This is my Son, the Beloved

 Second Sunday of Lent Year B - 28th February 2021

Gospel Mark 9: 2–10

Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone by themselves. There in their presence he was transfigured: his clothes became dazzlingly white, whiter than any earthly bleacher could make them. Elijah appeared to them with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus. Then Peter spoke to Jesus. ‘Rabbi’, he said, ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; so let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He did not know what to say; they were so frightened. And a cloud came, covering them in shadow; and there came a voice from the cloud, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.’ Then suddenly, when they looked round, they saw no one with them any more but only Jesus.

As they came down the mountain he warned them to tell no one what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. They observed the warning faithfully, though among themselves they discussed what ‘rising from the dead’ could mean.

Gospel Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

As I come to spend some  me with the Lord, I gather my thoughts.

This is the Second Sunday of Lent, which always tells of Jesus’s transfiguration. What comes to my mind? Perhaps I remember other years when I’ve read this text, and I recall what I experienced then.

But today I try to read the text as if it is new to me. I stay with whatever draws me.

Jesus and the disciples go to a high mountain to be by themselves. Where do I go when I want to be alone? Perhaps I imagine Jesus and his friends going there with me too.

I try to imagine us settling together and an easy conversation starting. What happens next? What is it like?

How do I react? How do I feel?

‘You are my Son, the Beloved, listen to me’. A beloved child ...? Me ...?

I turn to the Lord and ask him to help me understand what has just taken place. I listen and trust him.

Eventually, we come home. I let Jesus and his friends go, thanking them for having been with me. Like the disciples, I may want to speak with others and discuss what it all means, but for now I go ‘In the name of the Father ...’

‘The time has come’

 First Sunday of Lent Year B - 21st February 2021

Gospel Mark 1: 12–15

The Spirit drove Jesus out into the wilderness and he remained there for forty days, and was tempted by Satan. He was with the wild beasts, and the angels looked after him.

After John had been arrested Jesus went into Galilee. There he proclaimed the Good News from God. ‘The time has come’, he said, ‘and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent and believe the Good News.’

Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

As I begin my prayer, I relax my body and clear my mind so as to be fully present to my God. I put aside my concerns for this moment, breathing in God’s love and goodness. I know he loves me just as I am, and I may ask for the grace to respond.

When I am ready, I take up the Gospel passage and read it slowly. I then read the first paragraph again. I imagine Jesus, immediately following his baptism by John, inspired by the Spirit as he goes out into the wilderness.

Jesus is ‘driven’ by the Spirit. What is this force?

He goes out into solitude, into silence. Why?

I may wish to consider the importance of the Spirit and the role of silence in my own life.

God keeps Jesus safe – the angels look after him. Yet he is tempted by Satan and surrounded by wild beasts.

As his disciple, I will not be protected from fear and temptation.

How can I remain trusting and faithful in these times?

At his baptism, the Father spoke to Jesus: ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you’. Can I hear these same words spoken to me too, as God’s beloved child?

It is after this time of testing, of clarification, that Jesus begins his ministry. As I begin this season of Lent, I may pray to the Spirit that it be a time of revelation for me, my community, my world ...

What is my desire for this time?

I speak to the Lord, I listen to him.

I end my prayer in thanksgiving, 'Glory be ...’

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

‘Of course I want to!'

 Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B - 14th February 2021

Gospel Mark 1: 40–45

A leper came to Jesus and pleaded on his knees: ‘If you want to,’ he said, ‘you can cure me.’ Feeling sorry for him, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him. ‘Of course I want to!’ he said. ‘Be cured!’ And the leprosy left him at once and he was cured. Jesus immediately sent him away and sternly ordered him, ‘Mind you say nothing to anyone, but go and show yourself to the priest, and make the offering for your healing prescribed by Moses as evidence of your recovery.’ The man went away, but then started talking about it freely and telling the story everywhere, so that Jesus could no longer go openly into any town, but had to stay outside in places where nobody lived. Even so, people from all around would come to him.

Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

I come into the presence of the Lord attentively, deliberately, meaningfully. Like the leper, I might be coming with a purpose, maybe even with a sense of urgency. Therefore, if I can, it may help to approach, like him, on my knees.

However I draw near, I could ponder the reason for my prayer.

Am I coming to praise, to ask, to plead or, perhaps, simply to be with?

As I read and reflect upon the Gospel, to where am I finding myself drawn?

What am I noticing about the leper and about Jesus’s response to him?

Jesus is not afraid to violate the law as he reaches out to touch the man. And the miracle of his touch reveals something about what Jesus considers ‘clean’ and ‘unclean.’

What does Jesus’s acceptance of the leper teach me? And, as I reflect on my life, what does Jesus’s acceptance of me tell me about myself?

The man then goes off to tell everyone about his story – he cannot contain himself. In what ways do I share his enthusiasm to make known God’s goodness in my own story?

I end my prayer by asking for the grace always to try to reach out to those whom society cuts off, and I pray for a spirit of compassion.

Our Father ...

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

'That is why I came'

 Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B - 7th February 2021

Gospel Mark 1: 29–39

On leaving the synagogue, Jesus went with James and John straight to the house of Simon and Andrew. Now Simon’s mother-in-law had gone to bed with fever, and they told him about her straight away. He went to her, took her by the hand and helped her up. And the fever left her and she began to wait on them.

That evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and those who were possessed by devils. The whole town came crowding round the door, and he cured many who were suffering from diseases of one kind or another; he also cast out many devils, but he would not allow them to speak, because they knew who he was.

In the morning, long before dawn, he got up and left the house, and went off to a lonely place and prayed there. Simon and his companions set out in search of him, and when they found him they said, ‘Everybody is looking for you.’ He answered, ‘Let us go elsewhere, to the neighbouring country towns, so that I can preach there too, because that is why I came.’ And he went all through Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out devils.

Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

In the same way that Jesus would go off to a lonely place to pray, I go to my own place of prayer, and in the silence of my inner being I bring myself into the presence of our loving God. It may help to focus on a candle or holy image, or perhaps I simply follow the movement of my breath within me.

When I feel ready, I read the Gospel passage slowly. What am I drawn to after my first reading?

Reading the Gospel as many times as I need, I use my imagination to try to enter more deeply into the events unfolding in Galilee. I may choose to be a disciple ... or someone in desperate need of healing.

What would it be like to receive the compassion of Jesus so directly?

Can I imagine how Jesus himself might have been feeling among so many people in need of his healing presence?

What do I see in Jesus as he goes off to pray alone?

I share with him all that has come up in my prayer, and listen to his wisdom. I bring my prayer to a close making a slow sign of the cross.

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

Here is a teaching that is new

 Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) 31st January 2021

Gospel Mark 1: 21–28

Jesus and his disciples went as far as Capernaum, and as soon as the sabbath came, he went to the synagogue and began to teach. And his teaching made a deep impression on them because, unlike the scribes, he taught them with authority.

In their synagogue just then there was a man possessed by an unclean spirit and it shouted, ‘What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus said sharply, ‘Be quiet! Come out of him!’ And the unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and with a loud cry went out of him. The people were so astonished that they started asking each other what it all meant. ‘Here is a teaching that is new,’ they said, ‘and with authority behind it: he gives orders even to unclean spirits and they obey him.’ And his reputation rapidly spread everywhere, through all the surrounding Galilean countryside.

Christ the Teacher monasteryicons.com

Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

I settle in my chosen place of prayer, and let myself become still. In the

quiet of the moment I feel God’s loving gaze and let his presence enfold me.

I read the text of the Gospel. Perhaps I can imagine myself sitting there in

the synagogue listening to Jesus.

Although I don’t have the words that Jesus uses, I notice how he speaks.

What strikes me most about Jesus here? Perhaps his conviction ... his quiet authority ... or something else?

As I look around the synagogue, what do I see reflected in the faces of those with me? How do I feel as the power of this teaching touches me?

What do I find myself thinking and feeling as the mood changes and I watch the scene unfold?

When I am ready, I look back on the scene and ponder what it means for me to acknowledge Jesus as the ‘Holy One of God’.

What difference does this make to me?

In what ways do those around me recognise the message of Jesus in the way I live my life?

I share with the Lord what is in my heart, and offer my prayer that God will continue to deepen his life in me.

Bringing my time of prayer to a close, I thank the Lord for the gift of his love, and ask that I may see him more clearly, love him more dearly and follow him more nearly, day by day.

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

Follow me

 Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (The Sunday of the Word of God) Year B - 24th January 2021

The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time marks the Sunday of the Word of God, instituted by Pope Francis in 2019 as an annual celebration of the gift of Scripture. It encourages us to grow in our knowledge and love of the Scriptures and of the risen Lord, shaping how we are called to live and to relate to each other.

In the same way, the readings for this Sunday call us to follow the Lord’s ways. This may involve some change of priorities and direction for us as we seek to move towards the Kingdom of God ourselves.

Gospel Mark 1: 14–20

After John had been arrested, Jesus went into Galilee. There he proclaimed the Good News from God. ‘The time has come’, he said, ‘and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News.’

As he was walking along by the Sea of Galilee he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net in the lake – for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you into fishers of people’. And at once they left their nets and followed him.

Going on a little further, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John; they too were in their boat, mending their nets. He called them at once and, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the men he employed, they went after him.

Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

As I come to pray this Gospel, I take time to notice how I am feeling.

I slowly read and re-read the text. Jesus is beginning his public life and ministry, telling the people to believe in the Good News. It is Christ himself telling me about the kingdom of God.

I stay with any word, phrase or image that touches me. I allow myself to be drawn to what moves me.

Maybe I notice how quickly the disciples respond to Jesus’s call? I marvel at their trust.

If I find it helpful, I may like to place myself in the scene, perhaps as one of the main characters or as an onlooker.

I hear Jesus calling me – how does his voice sound?

How do I wish to respond? Can I place myself entirely into the Lord’s hands? Maybe I ponder if there is anything holding me back ... anxieties, fears, personal attachments or ambitions ...?

I can talk it through with Jesus, speaking deeply from my heart, just as I would with a dear friend.

I listen to what Jesus may have to say to me.

When I am ready, I express my thanks for this time spent with the Lord, and end with Our Father ...

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

‘Come and see’

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) 17th January 2021

Gospel John 1: 35–42

As John stood with two of his disciples, Jesus passed, and John stared hard at him and said, ‘Look, there is the lamb of God.’ Hearing this, the two disciples followed Jesus. Jesus turned round, saw them following and said, ‘What do you want?’ They answered, ‘Rabbi,’ – which means Teacher – ‘where do you live?’ ‘Come and see’, he replied; so they went and saw where he lived, and stayed with him the rest of that day. It was about the tenth hour.

One of these two who became followers of Jesus after hearing what John had said was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. Early next morning, Andrew met his brother and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ – which means the Christ – and he took Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked hard at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John; you are to be called Cephas’ – meaning Rock.

"Come and see..."

Reflection from St Beuno's Outreach

As I come to prayer, I slow down my inner and outer being in my own way. I become aware of the God who desires me and seeks my company right now ... conscious of his loving gaze on me in this moment.

I invite the Holy Spirit to deepen my attention on Jesus.

When I am ready, I read the text a few times, slowly, receptively.

It may help to imagine the scene ... joining John as he ‘looks hard’ at the Lord. What do I myself notice about Jesus ... and about my own reaction to the sight of him ...?

How do I feel as Jesus looks at me lovingly, asking ‘What do you want ...?’

I wonder what I desire most deeply from my friendship with Jesus ...? Perhaps Jesus, too, wants to share with me what he himself wants from our relationship? I linger in his loving attention ...

I read the text again. Perhaps I join the disciples in spending the rest of the day with Jesus ... savouring his hospitality, his presence, as we come to know one another better. I may speak to him about my calling, my discipleship ... asking how I can work with him to share his Good News ...

Like Andrew, do I (could I?) reveal my knowledge of the Lord to others, whether through my words, my actions, my relationships, my prayers ...?

I share whatever has arisen in my prayer with my Lord.

As I come to the end of this time, I sit quietly in Jesus’s presence, allowing his rich hospitality to flow through me.

I end with a prayer of praise to my God ...

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