The Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) 26/27 August 2017
Fr Frank writes:
My Dear Friends,
Our Gospel reading today focusses on the response to a question put to the Apostles by Jesus. It is Peter, as undisputed leader, who responds on their behalf.
Peter always comes over as a real human being, warts and all. It’s interesting, isn’t it, that the Evangelists didn’t attempt to cover up the Apostles’ bad side. These were the leaders of the infant Church – you’d think the Gospel writers might have tried to build them up a little, cover up their faults – rather like a modern politician’s image consultant…….politicians who fear being found out, who don’t like to appear to be weak or foolish, who never like to be wrong. But no, we see the Apostles as they truly were – confused, foolish and sometimes weak. The Gospel writers deliberately avoid any cover up because they want us to see the transformation that God brings about in their lives.
Jesus knew he could safely found his Church on Peter, the rock, because he could see great potential in him.
We too are flawed, are subject to human weakness. But we can be transformed (you know this). Like Peter if we recognise our faults and repent we are assured of God’s forgiveness and of God’s power in our lives.
Never be afraid to stand up for your faith in Christ, the Son of the living God.
May the God of all good things bless you today and forever.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile:
A pastor fell out with his church community. After bitter arguments, he was forced to leave and took up a job as a prison chaplain. He preached his last sermon at the church on John 14:1. ‘I go to prepare a place for you.’
The Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)
Fr Frank writes:
My Dear Friends,
Our Gospel reading today shows the importance of Faith. Jesus uses the faith of the Canaanite women to make clear that his love and concern extends to all people of faith. Jesus says to the woman, ‘you have great faith’. May we too display this ‘great faith’ in our day-to-day lives and, in our turn, be commended, when we finally meet him, by our Lord and Saviour.
I am grateful, as ever, to the ministers who have provided services of Holy Communion during the past week, and to Fr Bill Nix and Fr Michael Rear who will be celebrating this weekend’s Masses at Frinton, I know you will give both these priests a warm welcome.
Fr Bill is taking a well-earned holiday from 20th: we wish him a good and happy time and look forward to his return on 11th September.
May our wonderful and generous God bless you always.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile:
The children were lined up in the dining room of a Catholic primary school for lunch. At the end of the counter was a large pile of apples. The headteacher had made a note which she had placed by the apples: ‘Take only ONE. God is watching’. Moving further along the lunch queue, at the other end of the counter was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies. A child had written a note: ‘Take all you want. God is watching the apples’.
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) 12/13 August 2017
Fr Frank writes:
My Dear Friends,
The 15th August is the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady (a Holy Day of Obligation). There will be two Masses in each parish – one in the evening and another in the morning (please see the Mass schedules in this Newsletter). The additional Masses are put on to enable us all to be at Mass on that important day.
Anne and I shall be away after the morning Masses on 15th to enable us to visit her mother and to celebrate, on Saturday 19th, with friends on the anniversary of their wedding. My gratitude, as ever, to the ministers who will provide services of Holy Communion in my absence. Fr Bill has kindly agreed to celebrate the Vigil at Frinton on 19th, and Fr Michael Rear the Sunday 8.30am Mass at Frinton on the 20th. I am grateful to these two priests for their generosity. I plan to be back in time for the 10.45am Sunday Mass at Harwich!
May our good God enrich your life beyond all measure.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile:
A teacher as giving a lesson on the circulation of blood. Trying to make the matter clearer, she said, ‘Now, class, if I stood on my head, the blood, as you know, would run into it, and I would turn red in the face.’ ‘Yes,’ the class said. ‘Then why is it that while I am standing upright in the ordinary position the blood doesn’t run into my feet? A little fellow shouted, ‘Because your feet aren’t empty.’
The Transfiguration of the Lord (Year A) 5/6 August 2017
Fr Frank writes:
My Dear Friends,
In today’s Gospel reading we hear of how Jesus was transfigured and appeared before the three chosen disciples in his ‘risen form’. This was to prepare them for the horrors which were to come. Flanking Jesus they saw Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and the Prophets : one on each side of the Messiah, the one who had come to fulfil both the Law and the Prophets. How hard it must have been for Peter, James and John to have to come down from the mountain after such a wonderful spiritual experience.
I’m sure, like me, those of you who joined the 3,000 or so pilgrims from our diocese at Walsingham on 22nd July rejoiced in a wonderful spiritual experience (similar to that of the disciples in today’s Gospel reading). And, like those disciples, found it hard to ‘come back to earth’. I wrote to Bishop Alan to thank him for inspiring us to celebrate our Diocesan Centenary in this way and to tell him that it made me feel truly part of a diocesan family. This is due, in large measure, to our bishop’s fatherly care and leadership. Do continue to pray for him now, and particularly as we approach a time of great change in our diocese, a change which will affect every parish. This is not an easy time to be a bishop!
May God richly bless you now and always.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile:
One day a little girl was sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly noticed that her mother had several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast on her brunette head. She looked at her mother and inquisitively asked, ‘Why are some of your hairs white, Mum?’ Her mother replied, ‘Well, every time that you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white.’ The little girl thought about this revelation for a while and then said, ‘Mummy, how come ALL of grandma’s hairs are white?’
DOUBLE EDITION: Sixteenth and Seventeenth Sundays 23/30 July 2017
Fr Frank writes:
My Dear Friends,
We are called in today’s readings to recognize that it is not for us to judge others. Our task is to think and judge for ourselves how we should live our own lives.
By weighing what we see, feel, and discern, in the context of community, we are given the chance to choose whether we will let grow in us what is good or what is evil.
Today we have a double edition of the Newsletter owing to Jane Dunbar taking a much needed holiday. Please make sure you keep this edition by you over the two weeks, and do take note of Masses during the week as Fr Bill is in Lourdes which will inevitably lead to changes across the two parishes. Also, there are some alterations to Mass times at OLQH owing to the Funerals of Eileen Benson, Patrick Judge and Martha Mackenzie. May they rest in peace. Please come along to these Funeral Masses if you are able.
We wish both Jane and Fr Bill a restful and uplifting time.
May our good and gracious God bless you today and always.
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile:
A catechist was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds. After explaining the commandment to ‘honour’ your Father and Mother, she asked, ‘Is there any commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?’ From the back, one little boy (the oldest of a family) answered, ‘Thou shall not kill’.
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) 15/16 July 2017
Fr Frank writes:
My Dear Friends,
Aware of the image from Isaiah of the word of God as rain and snow that nurtures a fruitful seed and does not return until its purpose is accomplished, Matthew wrestles with the ‘failure’ of the words of Jesus to produce the desired effect in the disciples.
We should never forget that this parable is not just about Jesus’ disciples of long ago, but that it is also about us. Maybe even our very favourite seed, our best, most self-sacrificing good deed, our smartest remark, our greatest insight, will end up on the path, or even fall among thorns. But that is not ours to control; it is not ours to worry about. In imitation of Jesus, we do not focus on the result of our action. We focus solely on the action that we must perform and leave the harvest to the Lord of the harvest.
What God will make of our efforts is more than we can ever imagine.
May God, who is gracious and just, bless you all
Frank ofs
Sunday Smile:
Priest talking at a school Mass: ‘What is grey, has a bushy tail and lives in trees?’
(Silence…..He asks three times before a young boy timidly puts up his hand.)
Boy: ‘Well, Father. I know the answer is Jesus, but it sounds like a squirrel to me.’
(thanks to Deacon Richard at St Benedict’s College)