St John’s RC Cathedral Newsletters

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With all good wishes and an assurance of my prayers,

In Corde Iesu,
Bishop Philip of Portsmouth

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Tuesday 14th January 2020	259	Read it here
Tuesday 7th January 2020	258	Read it here
Tuesday 24th December 2019	257	Read it here
Tuesday 17th December 2019	256	Read it here
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CHRISTIAN MORNING MEDITATION:A Disciple of the Lamb of God 19 January 2020Second Sunday in Ordinary TimeJohn 1:29-34 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’ I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.” John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”Opening Prayer: Lord Jesus, who am I to receive such a gift as new life in you through baptism? Help me to renew my baptismal promises with a deeper conviction and commitment to discipleship.Encountering Christ:1. Behold the Lamb: John refers to Jesus the Lamb, giving allusions to the paschal lamb slaughtered on Passover (Exodus 12). The blood of the lamb, spread on the door lintels, was as a “pass” from the angel of death. They consumed the lamb as nourishment as they fled from their state of slavery under the Egyptians. The lamb could also conjure images of the suffering servant in Isaiah 53 that was led to slaughter as an offering for the sins of the people. John’s reference makes clear that Jesus is the one who will bring a new freedom from sin through a baptism that only he can perform. That baptism will be one of fire. Thank you, Lord for being the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”2. Baptism of Fire: John points to Jesus as the one upon whom the Spirit came down. And he makes the distinction between his baptism with water and Jesus’s baptism with the Holy Spirit. In this passage, the Holy Spirit is manifest as a dove, a symbol of peace. True peace comes only from a life lived fully in God, which implies a turning away from sin and a turning to God. It is the path of repentance and purification. The Holy Spirit is also manifested as fire, reflecting the purifying power of God that sets our hearts ablaze with His love. It is no wonder that Jesus expresses his intention to bring fire upon the earth (Luke 12:49). But he would never put us through what he himself did not endure first. Hence he proclaims, “I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! (Luke 12:50).3. A True Disciple: John the Baptist reveals qualities of a true disciple: faith, humility, and witness. John testifies that he did not know Jesus, and yet his entire life was oriented towards preparing the way. He walked in the darkness, but for the conviction of his faith. His faith was strong because he knew who he was in relation to Jesus: the one “unfit to unstrap his sandals.” Humility was the foundation of all his other virtues, bearing fruit in a powerful witness to the Savior of the world, even to the point of death. We can pray for John’s kind of humility to live as a true disciple.Conversing with Christ: Jesus send your Spirit upon me. Renew my faith and deepen my love for you. How can I thank you for the gift of the baptism that you endured so that I might have eternal life in you, the Father, and the Holy Spirit?Resolution: Lord, today by your grace, I will renew my baptismal promises and make of them a prayer of thanksgiving.stswithuns.org.uk/newsletter-NL_19122020 ... See MoreSee Less

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He found out something which we can't still believe it is possible, that we are worthy of it - that Jesus Christ is not only Messiah, but this boy, he has played with and had a fun in the childhood with, He is is The True God, who became True Man, because He loves us so much. Even Devil, fallen Angel, could not believe that God really loves us so much.... I'm preaching about it today, so Pam You are very welcome😀😁

I’ve never understood how John the Baptist says here that he didn’t know Jesus before he appeared before him to be baptised. He was his cousin; surely if Our Lady had made the trip down to see Elizabeth after the Annunciation, they would have seen each other at some point in the following 30 years, apart from the fact that on hearing Mary’s voice, John had stirred in his Mother’s womb??? Anyone else have an opinion? And after this Revelation, John sends his disciples when he’s in prison to ask Jesus if he really is the Messiah! I understand that he had probably thought a ‘Messiah’ might act differently to how Jesus was behaving ie preaching not raising an army, but with all the history between them, one would have thought, he would not have questioned Jesus in this way surely? Or was he just his father’s son???

stswithuns.org.uk/newsletter-NL_19012020Keep up to date with what's going on in our Parish Mass Time Our Lady of Lourdes for 6pm Mass on Saturdays for Sunday Mass at St Swithun's RC Church Southsea. Mass Times at 8:30am , 10:15am (family mass ) and 1pm (Mass Polish)We wish you all a blessed and peaceful weekend - Father Marcin and the Parish Team ... See MoreSee Less

Newsletter:19th January 2020 - 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

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23 hours ago

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stswithuns.org.uk/school-newsletter-17012020Ww wish everyone involved with our local primary St Swithun's a very happy new Year as we start 2020.keep up to date with what's happening in our catholic primary school. Lots of exciting events happening in our local catholic school. We continue to pray for all the pupils, teachers and staff for the coming year. - Father Marcin and all at the parish team. ... See MoreSee Less

St Swithun's Primary School Newsletter - January 17th 2020

stswithuns.org.uk

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CHRISTIAN MORNING MEDITATION:Lectio Divina: Mark 2:13-17Saturday, January 18, 2020Ordinary Time1) Opening prayerFather of love, hear our prayers.Help us to know Your willand to do it with courage and faith.We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,one God, for ever and ever. Amen.2) Gospel Reading - Mark 2:13-17Jesus went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them. As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. Jesus said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed Jesus. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?" Jesus heard this and said to them, "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."3) Reflection• In yesterday’s Gospel, we saw the first conflict which arose concerning the forgiveness of sins (Mk 2:1-12). In today’s Gospel we meditate on the second conflict which arose when Jesus sat at table with the sinners (Mk 2:13-17). In the years 70’s, the time when Mark wrote, there was a conflict in the communities between Christians who had been converted from paganism and those from Judaism. Those from Judaism found it difficult to enter into the house of converted pagans and sit with them around the same table (cf. Acts 10:28; 11:3). In describing how Jesus faces this conflict, Mark directs the community to solve the problem.• Jesus taught, and the people were happy to listen to Him. Jesus goes out again to go near the sea. People arrive and He begins to teach them. He transmits the Word of God. In Mark’s Gospel, the beginning of the activity of Jesus is characterized by teaching and by acceptance on the part of the people (Mk 1:14,21,38-39; 2:2,13) in spite of the conflict with religious authority. What did Jesus teach? Jesus proclaimed the Good News of God (Mk 1:14). He spoke about God, but He spoke in a new way. He spoke from His experience, of the experience which He himself had of God and life. Jesus lived in God. Surely He had touched the heart of the people who liked to listen to Him (Mk 1:22,27). God, instead of being a severe Jew who threatens from afar with punishment and hell, becomes a friendly presence and a Good News for the people.• Jesus calls a sinner to be a disciple and invites him to eat in His house. Jesus calls Levi, a tax collector and he immediately leaves everything and follows Jesus. He begins to be part of the group of disciples. The text says literally: While Jesus was at table in His house. Some think that in his house means the house of Levi. But the most probable translation is that it was a question of the house of Jesus. It is Jesus who invites all to eat in His house: sinners and tax collectors, together with the disciples.• Jesus has come not for the just, but for sinners. This gesture or act of Jesus causes the religious authority to get very angry. It was forbidden to sit at table with tax collectors and sinners, because to sit at table with someone meant that he was considered a brother! Instead of speaking directly with Jesus, the scribes of the Pharisees speak with the disciples: How is it that He eats and drinks together with tax collectors and sinners? Jesus responds: “It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick. I came to call not the upright, but sinners! As before with the disciples (Mk 1:38), it is the conscience of His mission which helps Jesus to find the response and to point the way for the proclamation of the Good News of Jesus.4) Personal questions• Jesus calls a sinner, a tax collector, a person hated by the people, to be His disciple. What is the message for us in this act of Jesus?• Jesus says that He has come to call sinners. He provides a path to forgiveness. How do we act once we have His forgiveness? Do we consciously try to avoid sin?5) Concluding prayerMay the words of my mouth always find favor,and the whispering of my heart, in Your presence,Yahweh, my rock, my redeemer. (Ps 19:14)stswithuns.org.uk/newsletter-NL_18122020 ... See MoreSee Less

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CHRISTIAN MORNING MEDITATION:Lectio Divina: Mark 2:1-12Friday, January 17, 2020Ordinary Time1) Opening prayerFather of love, hear our prayers.Help us to know Your willand to do it with courage and faith.We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,one God, for ever and ever. Amen.2) Gospel Reading - Mark 2,1-12When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home. Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them. They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him, "Child, your sins are forgiven." Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves, "Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?" Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, "Why are you thinking such things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, pick up your mat and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth" –he said to the paralytic, "I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home." He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this."3) Reflection• In Mark 1:1-15, Mark shows how the Good News of God should be prepared and spread. In Mark 1:16-45, he describes the objective of the Good News and the mission of the community. Now, in Mk 2:1 to 3, 6 there is the effect of the proclamation of the Good News. A community faithful to the Gospel lives values which can be in contradiction to the interests of the unjust society which surrounds it. This is why one of the effects of the proclamation of the Good News is the conflict with those who defend the interests of the unjust society. Mark gathers together five conflicts which the proclamation of the Good News brought to Jesus.• In the year 70, the time when he wrote his Gospel, there were many conflicts in the life of the communities, but they did not always know how to behave before the accusations which they received from the Roman authorities and from the Jewish leaders. This series of five conflicts found in Mk 2:1 to 3, 6 served as a guide to the communities, those of the past as well as those of today. Conflict is not an incident along the road, it forms part of the journey.• The following is the outline of the five conflicts which Mark presents in his Gospel: Texts conflict: 1st conflict: Mk 2:1-12 2nd conflict: Mk 2:13-17 3rd conflict: Mk 2:18-22 4th conflict: Mk 2:23-28 5th conflict: Mk 3:1-6 Adversaries of Jesus: The scribes The scribes of the Pharisees The disciples of John and the Pharisees The Pharisees The Pharisees and the Herodians Cause of the conflict: Forgiveness of sins To eat with sinners The practice of fasting Observance of Saturday To cure on Saturday• The solidarity of the friends of the paralytic obtains the forgiveness of sins. Jesus is returning to Capernaum. Many people gather before the door of the house. He accepts everybody and begins to teach them. To teach, to speak of God, was what Jesus did the most. A paralytic, carried by four friends, arrived. Jesus is their only hope. They do not doubt about going up and they make an opening in the roof over the place where Jesus was. It must have been a poor house, with the roof being just mud covered with leaves. They lowered the stretcher with the man to Jesus. Jesus, seeing their faith, says to the paralytic: your sins are forgiven you. At that time people thought that physical defects (paralytic) were a punishment from God for any sin that had been committed. The Doctors of the Law taught that the person remained impure and therefore, incapable of getting close to God. For this reason, the sick, the poor, the paralytics, felt that they were rejected by God! But Jesus did not think this way. Such a great faith was a sign that the paralytic was accepted by God. And for this reason, He declares: “Your sins are forgiven you!” With this affirmation Jesus denies that the paralysis was a punishment due to the sin of the man.• Jesus is accused of blasphemy by those who held power. The affirmation of Jesus was contrary to the catechism of the time. It was not in accordance with the idea that they had of God. And because of this they react against and accuse Jesus: He blasphemes! According to them only God could forgive sins. And only the priest could declare someone forgiven and purified. How could it be that Jesus, a man without studies, a lay person, a simple carpenter, could declare people forgiven and purified of their sins? There was also another reason which pushed them to criticize Jesus. They had thought: “If it is true what Jesus says, we will lose our power! We will lose our source of income”.• By curing, Jesus shows that He also has the power to forgive sins. Jesus perceives the criticism. This is why He asks: “Which of these is easier to say to the paralytic: Your sins are forgiven you, or to say, get up, pick up your stretcher and walk? It is easier to say: “Your sins are forgiven you”. Because nobody can verify if the sins have truly been forgiven or not. But if I tell him: “Get up and walk!”, there, all can see if I have or don't have the power to heal. In order to show that He had the power to forgive sins, in the name of God, Jesus says to the paralytic: Get up, take up your stretcher and go off home! He cures the man! The leaders were confronted with a dilemma. Either their teaching was wrong and sickness is not related to sin, or Jesus had the power to forgive sins, proven by their own teaching! Thus, through a miracle, He taught that the paralysis of the man was not a punishment from God, and He showed that the faith of the poor is a proof that God accepts them in His love.• The message of the miracle and the reaction of people. The paralytic gets up, he takes his stretcher, and begins to walk, and all say: “We have never seen anything like this!” This miracle reveals three very important things: a) The sicknesses of people are not a punishment for sins. b) Jesus opens a new way to reach God. What the system called impurity was no more an obstacle for people to get close to God. c) The face of God revealed through the attitude of Jesus was different from the severe face of God revealed by the attitude of the doctors.• This reminds us of what a drug addict said once he had recovered and who is now a member of a community in Curitiba, Brazil: “I grew up in the Catholic religion. I abandoned it. My parents were good practicing Catholics and wanted us, their children to be like them. People were obliged always to go to Church, every Sunday and every feast day. And when one did not go, they would say: “God will punish you”. I went because this was imposed upon me, and when I became an adult, I no longer went to Mass. I did not like the God of my parents. I could not understand that God, the Creator of the world, could extend over me, a small child, threatening me with the punishment of hell. I liked much more the God of my uncle who never went to Church, but who every day, and I repeat, every day, bought twice as much bread than what he ate, in order to give to the poor!”.4) Personal questions• Do you like the God of the uncle or the God of the parents of the ex drug addict?• Which is the face of God that others discover in my behavior?5) Concluding prayerWhat we have heard and know,what our ancestors have told uswe shall not conceal from their descendants,but will tell to a generation still to come:the praises of Yahweh, His power,the wonderful deeds He has done. (Ps 78,3-4)stswithuns.org.uk/newsletter-NL_17122020 ... See MoreSee Less

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I struggle to understand this account and reasoning. The paralytic man is cured when Jesus forgives his sins. So, how is it that his paralysis is not a punishment from God for sins the man had committed?

My mother's favourite 🙂

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