‘Blessed be the Lord your God who has granted you his favour, setting you on the throne of Israel!’

It is all too easy, when we see something of beauty, to admire and praise its beauty and stop there.  It is all too easy to admire a person’s talents, to praise the person and stop there.  It is also easy to accept praise or admiration from another, of ones own talents or beauty and let that praise or admiration rest on oneself, rather than letting it reflect back to the One who made us and to whom we – with all our talents and beauty – belong.  Dom Augustin Guillerand puts this very clearly in his book ‘The Prayer of the Presence of God‘ (ch. 2):

“Instead of pointing to the Creator and leading us to Him, things show only themselves, with the result that we stop at them… Beyond their attractive forms we no longer seek the beauty they reflect, but merely the pleasure and satisfaction they are able to offer us.”  

Let us learn, then, from that breathless queen of Sheba, and always remember to praise the One to whom praise is ultimately due; to adore the Creator for the wonders of his creation.

“Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace, just as you promised; because my eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared for all the nations to see, a light to enlighten the pagans and the glory of your people Israel.”           (Luke 2: 25-32)

What was it about Simeon?  Yes, he was upright and devout but so, I’m sure, were many others.  Why did the Lord single out Simeon and give him that certain promise?

I wonder how Simeon would have answered that question?  A lesser person might have claimed that such a promise was a reward for being good.  I’m sure that Simeon, however, would have seen beyond himself to the One who gave him the promise: ‘I do not know why the Lord has made me this promise;’ he might have said, ‘I do not pretend to know his thoughts.  I do know that I am not worthy of such a great gift but in humility I accept it from him and wait in hope for its fulfilment.’

A lesser person might have kept the promise to himself and, upon seeing the Christ child in the Temple might simply have thought, silently, ‘the Lord promised that I’d see Christ before I die and now here he is.  Wow.  He must love me much more than these others because they don’t notice anything special about him at all’.

… but not Simeon.  Simeon, ‘an upright and devout man’, began there and then to praise God, letting the Light begin to give glory to Israel by enabling many others to recognise Christ the Lord in this tiny child, who until that moment was presumably was not attracting second glances from the others in the Temple.  Although the promise had been made only to Simeon, its fulfilment affected many others and brought glory to God.

Christ our Light lives on in you and me.  The choices we make every day can either ensure that it is kept hidden, with only just enough fuel to keep alight, or ensure that we show Christ’s salvation to the nations in a blazing fire of charity.

 ‘My grace is enough for you, Paul; my power is made perfect in weakness.’

This is taken from the Lord’s response to Paul (in 2 Cor 12) when he pleaded with the Lord to take from him ‘a thorn in the flesh’, which he had been given to stop him getting too proud.  Remembering those words must have been very comforting for Paul when he was experiencing his extreme hardships and setbacks.  As Paul explains, those words of the Lord’s enabled him to endure cheerfully the ‘insults, hardships, persecutions, and the agonies I go through for Christ’s sake.  For it is when I am weak that I am strong’.  

It was the use of the Apostle’s name, however, that made that Antiphon really stand out for me.  This insertion of Paul’s name into the biblical quotation really brought home to me the fact that God was speaking to him personally, individually.   We know, but perhaps often forget, that Christ speaks to us personally through the scriptures.  Inserting ourselves into the text as we read (something which we have explored in greater depth here) can help us to listen more actively to the scriptures.  And remembering that God calls us by name each and every time we read the scriptures will help us respond to His call.

Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by your name, you are mine.

Isaiah 43:1

‘The time has come.  The Kingdom of God is close at hand.  Repent, and believe the Good News’ (Mk 1:14-15).

Let’s reflect on those statements in reverse order.

 ‘Repent, and believe the Good News.’

Jesus does not try to form his will-be followers all at once but is content with simply asking them to make a start.  Repentance, then, is the first step, and one which is not true if it is not joined with a determination to mend ones ways.  Turning away from sin is a life-long struggle, but we are not without help, because we have the mercy and grace of God always available to us in the sacrament of reconciliation.

A true belief in the Good News means responding generously to whatever it means for us, now, in our lives.  Each time we read or listen to the Gospel, we should ask ‘what does it mean for me to believe this Good News?  How is God calling me to respond?’  It can be hard to trust that God will not ask of us something that is too difficult.  However, the God who made us (and knows us better than we know ourselves) knows what is good for us and will not ask for more than we can give.

‘The Kingdom of God is close at hand’

…it is if we co-operate with God’s will.  Otherwise, we can let it slip through our fingers as we miss those grace-filled opportunities to make him known, loved and glorified.  We need to ensure that we are aware of the proximity of his Kingdom every day and pray for the grace to do what we can to make ‘Thy Kingdom come’.

 ’The time has come’

The time has come for what?  For repentance, primarily.  It is so easy to avoid our daily examination of conscience and so easy to come less frequently than is good for us to the sacrament of reconciliation.

The time has come for us to respond generously to whatever God is asking of us, confident that he will supply us with the requisite grace, strength and courage and that he will not ask of us more than we can give.

God will never be outdone in generosity.  The time has come – why wait?

Group Member Jane Critten explains more:

Lectio Divina: ‘What?’ ‘So what?’ & ‘Now what?’

What?

The term ‘lectio divina’ simply refers to the time-honoured method – practised by monastics since their beginning – of prayerfully reading the scriptures.

Whilst understanding scripture – as theology, literature and history – is important, lectio divina is not as concerned with exegesis as it is with learning to listen in the context of prayer to what scripture has to say to us and to respond prayerfully to what we hear.  As Pope Paul VI wrote so eloquently,

‘Prayer should accompany the reading of Sacred Scripture, so that God and man may talk together; for “we speak to Him when we pray; we hear Him when we read the divine saying”.’[1]

To practice lectio divina, we need to set some time apart for this prayer and establish external and internal peace.  Then, asking the help of the Holy Spirit, we begin the first stage:  we read our passage of scripture.  At this stage, lectio, what concerns us is what the passage is saying of itself.  Without paying attention to scripture at this level, there is a danger that we simply manipulate the text to our own purposes, rather than letting God speak through his scripture.

The second stage of the process is meditatio: we listen to what the scripture passage is saying to each of us.  This stage is deeply personal.  This is not a search for something original or clever to say about the text, nor is it a quest for identifying the most objectively important message of the passage.  It requires a listening of the heart: which word or phrase ‘jumps out’?  There is no need at this stage to analyse the reasons for it (indeed there is a risk that if we do so, we may suppress a challenging or otherwise unexpected response to the scriptures), but simply acknowledge that it is there.  Having acknowledged its presence, we go further into our meditation and, through reading the passage again, we ask what that word or phrases means to us.

Having meditated attentively upon the Lord’s word, we move on to the third stage of lectio divina: oratio, or prayer.  What do we say to the Lord in response to his word?

The fourth stage of the lectio divina structure is contemplatio.  As we spend this time in wonder, we pray for the grace to see as God sees and for the wisdom to discern God’s will for us.  David Foster compares this stage of contemplation – or ‘wonder’ – with lingering after sharing a meal with a friend:

We sit and take time to enjoy the food shared, and especially to enjoy the company in which we have shared the food and drink. It is a time for gratitude, humour and togetherness.  So it is good not to hurry out of the presence of God we have savoured in our time of prayer… this is a time just to let God be God, and to let God be God for me. Our own self-offering to God will come naturally out of that.’[2] 

Reading, meditation, prayer and contemplation are the four stages of lectio divina but of course, there is always actio,  for as St Paul says, ‘the love of Christ urges us on’ (2 Cor 5:14).  The impact of our lectio divina in our lives – the caritas (or charity) it inspires – is the true completion of the process of lectio divina.

So what?

Last year, John Huntriss came to St Bernadette’s to give us his lecture series on scripture, ‘The Diary of God’.  A natural follow-on from learning about scripture is learning to pray with scripture.  To that end, Fr Christopher invited Caroline Price to help form a group of seven parishioners in the ways of lectio divina.  The hope is that the group will open up to those who would like to make use of the formation they have received and the seven will take it in turns to facilitate a lectio divina group at St Bernadette’s.

At the prospect of facilitating a prayer group, there was – as you might imagine – a strong sense of ‘we’re not worthy’ among the group, coupled with a fear of coming across as ‘holier than thou’.  However, having journeyed through the formation process under Caroline’s gentle guidance, I am relieved to find that facilitating such a group does not require great knowledge or even holiness.  All we are called upon to provide is an opportunity for a group to read the scriptures in this prayerful manner, handing on what we ourselves have learned.

One might wonder why we bother to meet up to read the scriptures in this way when it is a process that one can readily make use of on ones own.  The answer to this will be evident to anyone who has taken part in the process.  Each week we shared one passage of scripture. Each week, we shared what ‘jumped out’ at us (though please note that sharing is not compulsory – there may be times when sharing would make you cry, or feel uncomfortable in some other way. That is understood and respected).
Sometimes, two or even three of us would have been struck by the same word or phrase, but even so, each person’s response to those words or phrases was always markedly different (this is not surprising when you think about it, because we are all individuals and the scripture passage provides only one side of the conversation!).  For me, listening to those insights from the other members of the group has demonstrated the great value of sharing the scriptures in a group.

Now what?

We are very grateful to Caroline, who has been leading us through our formation process with her beautiful gentleness and humility, and we are now nearly at the end of our formation process.  In the New Year, we hope to open the group up to the wider parish.  I have been challenged, surprised, delighted and have received many unexpected graces through my participation in the group and would highly recommend it!  Don’t just take my word for it, though: Pope Benedict XVI has said of lectio divina,

‘If it is effectively promoted, this practice will bring to the Church – I am convinced of it – a new spiritual springtime.’[3]

I warmly invite you to come and share in what we have had the good fortune of receiving.

Jane Critten

We have the whole year to enjoy discovering the Jesus revealed to us through St Mark’s writing… but we would really benefit from reading the whole Gospel over the next few days.

In reading the Gospel swiftly, like a novel, we gain a good overview of its style and content and so many aspects of it will show themselves – like themes running through several chapters – which would remain hidden if we only ever approached the Gospel slowly and in small chunks.

Through reading a whole Gospel, we come to know the Evangelist (and St Peter, in this Gospel) much more intimately than we do when reading short passages.

There are only 16 chapters: come on, let’s dive in!

He is like a tree that is planted

Beside the flowing waters,

That yields its fruit in due season

And whose leaves shall never fade;

And all that he does shall prosper.

When we plant a tree, we do so in the knowledge that it is a long-term investment – ‘pears for your heirs’.  We plant and tend the tree, trusting that it will bear fruit but knowing that we may never pick it ourselves.

The blessed man of Psalm One is rooted in the Lord, not looking for any quick fix of happiness, but committed to Him for the long haul, with eyes on his eternal goal, trusting that his life will bear ‘fruit in due season’.  As the tree is fed through its roots by the abundant flowing waters, so too does the blessed man draw his strength from The Source through his hidden life of faith.  As St Paul says, ‘true, I am living here and now this mortal life, but my real life is the faith I have in the Son of God‘ (Gal 2:20).

We need to trust the Lord like that – we must persevere in our Christian lives without looking for any reward now, but with well-founded hope and the quiet confidence that comes from knowing that the Lord keeps His promises.

Jesus, of course, had called the right tax collector to follow him. He wanted Matthew because he was Matthew. Time and again in the Gospels, Jesus ‘sees’  people not only for who they are now but for who they can become.

This brings to mind the words of Blessed John Henry Newman’s prayer,*

God knows me and calls me by my name…

God has created me to do Him some definite service;

He has committed some work to me

which He has not committed to another.

I have my mission – I may never know it in this life,

but I shall be told it in the next.

I don’t suppose St Matthew thought of himself as being terribly impressive or clever when he invited tax collectors and sinners to that banquet.  He was just being him; being true to himself… and that was precisely what Our Lord wanted.  Similarly, for the vast majority of us, that ‘definite service’ for which we were created is not going to be something impressive that will make even a column inch, let alone grab the headlines of the smallest free, weekly newspaper.

But that work, ‘which He has not committed to another‘ is the most important work of our lives, so let’s ask St Matthew to pray for us, that we, like him, will be true to ourselves and true to our Christian calling.

St Matthew, pray for us!

_____________________

*You can find the whole of Newman’s prayer here.

THIS SUNDAY: Jesus tells a dramatic story in the Gospel, to make a very important point: the desperate need in our world for forgiveness and reconciliation. How many chances do we give each other ? As many as seven ? How often do we shut doors on people, even family and friends, saying “That’s it; you’ve just gone too far this time: never again”? When Jesus says that we must forgive ‘seventy-seven’ times, he implies that we never stop forgiving, whatever happens. He doesn’t just say this, however: even when they do the worst thing that could be done to him, nailing him to a cross, Jesus puts these words into practice: “Father, forgive them…”  As his disciples, we must do likewise.

NEW TRANSLATION OF THE ROMAN MISSAL: Mass cards will be used each week to ease us into these new prayers that we pray and we listen to. We’ll also start to get to grips with the music affected by the new translation, too. This is a great opportunity for us to think and reflect upon what we are saying and praying. Please leave the Mass cards behind after Mass so that they can be used again.

ONE YEAR ON EXHIBITION: The stunning images of the papal visit from the papal photographer, Marcin Mazur, are at the Grant Bradley Gallery, Bedminster Parade – Monday to Saturday 10.00 am to 5.00 pm. It’s a wonderful setting to pop into and you can get free parking at Asda behind the gallery. Entrance to the gallery is free and there’s a wonderful café there, too. Exhibition ruins until 1 October.

PAPAL VISIT – ONE YEAR ON: In celebration of the first anniversary of the visit of the Holy Father this September, Ann Widdecombe is coming to St John’s, Bath, to reflect upon the impact and legacy on the historic visit of Pope Benedict last September. Wednesday 21 September at 7.30pm. Pop the date in your diaries and go along. It is set to be a most informative, reflective and interesting evening.

THE NEW MISSAL DONATIONS: The list of names in whose memories the Missals will be inscribed is on the notice board – please check the spelling in case of typos! Thanks for your kindness.

CLOW TRAINING: Sr Jackie Brain is leading a formation morning on 24 September at Christ the King from 10.00am – 12.30pm. Open to all those who are engaged with Children’s Liturgy, it should be a great opportunity for resources and ideas. Please get in touch with Sr Joanna in Filwood Broadway if you intend to go along by 12 September. You can contact Sr Joanna on 0117 966 4854.

FRIDAY FASTING AND PENANCE: Tied in with marking the first anniversary of the Holy Father’s visit last September, our bishops are inviting us to take up, once again, the practice of Friday fasting and abstinence beginning 16 September (this Friday). They are inviting us re-establish the discipline of not eating meat on a Friday as a sign of penance and witness to our faith, giving Fridays back that characteristic of penance so that just as each Sunday gives us a glimpse of Easter, so each Friday give us a glimpse and a reminder of Good Friday and the sacrifice he made out of love for us. This gives us as a national Catholic community a chance to re-capture the opportunity to reflect our faith in life.

FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH: Tied in with our Friday witness and penance, each first Friday the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed after the morning Mass until midday giving those who want to the chance to spend a little time in Church, and also allowing us to keep our Church open a little longer than usual. Do make use of this valuable opportunity to deepen prayer before the Lord.

THE DIARY OF GOD: This simple and uncomplicated series delving into the Scriptures is being hosted by Sacred Heart, Westbury-on-Trym, and St Paul’s, Yate. Both courses begin in November and run over eight sessions. There is a poster in the narthex giving you full details. If you want a booking form, do ask FrC.

READERS PREPARATION EVENING: Our readers are invited along to their annual get-together on Tuesday 4 October at 7.00pm here in the Church and the hall. The new translation to the Missal gives us an opportunity to reflect, once again, upon the ministry of reading in Church. All are readers are asked to come along for this hour together.

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS: Our ministers of Holy Communion come together for their annual formation session On Wednesday 12 October at 7.30pm – after the evening Mass. We only come together once in the year so please do make a note in your diaries.

CONGRATULATIONS to Angela Russell and Kevin green who were married here this weekend, and to Ellisa Binoy who was baptised here at St Bernadette’s.

200 CLUB NEWS: Congratulations to Mr O’Connor who collected the August £25 prize cheque.

FIFTY YEARS ON – VATICAN II: Beginning this October our diocese is hosting a series of seven talks/lectures inviting us to re-engage with the teachings and the documents of the Second Vatican Council which began October 1962. Starting on Tuesday 18 October, Bishop Declan opens the series. The talks take place at the Cathedral and start at 7.30pm. Have a look at the Adult Education and Evangelisation newsletter on the narthex notice board. There is also be a poster on the board giving full details

PIZZA EXPRESS have kindly given us ‘new’ sturdy seating for our hall from the refit of their Clifton restaurant.

RETIRING COLLECTION: Apologies for the lack of warning and preparation, but this Sunday’s retiring collection is the annual Bishop’s charitable collection. So many charitable causes and individuals approach our bishop and this fund allows him to be generous in his outreach on our behalf. Please be as generous as you can.

Here it is:

My soul is longing and yearning,

is yearning for the courts of the Lord.

My heart and my soul ring out their joy

to God, the living God. 

 

The sparrow herself finds a home

and the swallow a nest for her brood;

she lays her young by your altars,

Lord of hosts, my king and my God.

 

They are happy, who dwell in your house,

for ever singing your praise.

They walk with ever-growing strength,

they will see the God of gods in Zion. 

 

One day within your courts

is better than a thousand elsewhere.

The threshold of the house of God

I prefer to the dwellings of the wicked.

However, after considering the wisdom of Solomon last Sunday, it’s easy to imagine these sparrows and swallows nesting in the Ark’s more permanent home: the Temple of Solomon.  ‘All the kings of the earth sought audience with Solomon’ (2 Chron. 9:23) and each brought gifts to add to the riches that already outdid them all…

… and yet Jesus (who in John chapter 2, remember, speaks of his own body as a ‘temple’ or ‘sanctuary’) declares, ‘here, I tell you is something greater than the temple’ (Mt 12:6) ‘and there is something greater than Solomon here’ (Mt 12:42).  As is so often the case, the psalms reveal the hidden Christ and reflect for us now something of our relationship with him.

Our souls are constantly ‘longing and yearning’.  As St Augustine famously reflected, ‘You have made us for yourself  Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find their home in you’.  Those sparrows were welcome to nest in the temple, even though they were ‘two a penny’ (in Matthew, but five for tuppence in Luke!).  Similarly, we – though unworthy – are we invited to make our home in Christ.

Let us pray that we chose wisely each and every day to dwell in the courts of the Lord and forever sing his praise.