Newsletter

St James the Great Weekly Newsletter

pdf NEWSLETTER Mon 6th Nov Sun 12th Nov 2023 Popular

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A few weeks ago Paul told us that when the word came among us it came,"as power, the Holy Spirit and utter conviction." Today Paul tells us that "God's message is God's message and not some human thinking; and it is still a living power among us who believe it. When we hear the word on Sunday and the reader ends, "This is the word of the Lord."  We should shout out, "Thanks be to God" with power and utter conviction. That God has truly spoken to us.  God Himself, it is an awesome thought and we really need to get into it and feel it, Yes God has spoken to us. The word of God is alive and active. The key answer to all of this is humility.

pdf NEWSLETTER Mon 30th Oct Sun 5th Nov 2023 Popular

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Amazing to think that the Book of Exodus written 27 centuries ago, could still be so relevant and important today.  And we still need to talk/preach about it.

So simple we could miss it:-

Do not molest or oppress the stranger.

Do not use harsh words with the widow or the orphan.

Do not demand interest.

If you borrow someone's cloak, give it back before sundown.

We do not have an eternal home, we are all passing through, getting off at the next stop.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE US TO LEARN?

pdf NEWSLETTER Mon 23rd Oct Sun 29th Oct Popular

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Which do you prefer?

The power of love or the love of power.

On my phone profile I have written

Love Changes Everything"

And I truly believe this. Start from a loving point and end on a loving note.

It has all kinds of benefits. Lower blood pressure, nicer person, less hassle. more accommodating and the list goes on.

Why did Jesus advocate it so much?  He knew the way forward, He knew what was good for us.

Paul even nails it in today's second reading.  "the Good News came to you not only as mere words , but as power and as the Holy Spirit and as utter conviction."

Take the power of love to your heart  and do not be emotionally numb  but emotionally alive.  (Last week’s homily.)

pdf NEWSLETTER Mon 16th Oct Sun 22nd Oct Popular

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Today Isaiah talks about the great banquet in heaven.  It is a usual reading for a funeral.  Sadly people usually forget the reading before it, which we had last week, about the beautiful vineyard (the world) that the land owner leased out to tenants.  They failed to produce fruit and so they were thrown out of the vineyard.  The vineyard was leased to others.  The vineyard is the church/world and everything was provided.  But they did not cooperate with the generosity of God.  We have got to cooperate with the graces (church, sacraments, prayer, love of all etc.)  God has given us.  When we cooperate with these graces we flourish.  When we don’t we turn in on ourselves.  In hope we pray for the salvation of all but we can’t be presumptuous..

pdf NEWSLETTER Mon 9th Oct Sun 15th Oct Popular

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"Those to whom much is given, much will be expected." We have been given the best of everything.  The truth of the Gospel given to us by God Himself.

Used properly we certainly should get to heaven. The labourers in the vineyard were given everything to produce a great harvest.  But sadly they failed.  Don't be like them.  Paul as ever spells out a receipt for happiness in life.  "Finally brothers and sisters fill your minds with everything that is true, everything that is noble, everything that is good and pure, everything that we love and honour, everything that can be thought virtuous 

or worthy of praise. Then the God of peace will be with you."  The power of positive thinking.

pdf NEWSLETTER Mon 2nd Oct Sun 8th Oct Popular

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Good to go away and have a break and The Gospel today is so obvious that we almost ignore it.  Our life as Christians is about what we do and not what we say.  This is why Jesus is promoting the tax collectors and sinners.  They may not profess much by the way of faith but often by their actions they may be streets ahead of us.  Any wonder then that Jesus had so much time for tax collectors and sinners.  Not the Pharisees who always felt superior by their attitude but their actions do not confer.  Paul gives us a great guide and tells us be united....in your love, in your common purpose and in your mind.  Just like Jesus' prayer...."May they be one as we are one."   so that the world may believe.

pdf NEWSLETTER Mon 2nd Oct Sun 8th Oct Popular

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Good to go away and have a break and The Gospel today is so obvious that we almost ignore it.  Our life as Christians is about what we do and not what we say.  This is why Jesus is promoting the tax collectors and sinners.  They may not profess much by the way of faith but often by their actions they may be streets ahead of us.  Any wonder then that Jesus had so much time for tax collectors and sinners.  Not the Pharisees who always felt superior by their attitude but their actions do not confer.  Paul gives us a great guide and tells us be united....in your love, in your common purpose and in your mind.  Just like Jesus' prayer...."May they be one as we are one."   so that the world may believe.

pdf NEWSLETTER Mon 25th Sept Sun 1st October 2023 Popular

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Let's be clear .... many of us find today's gospel hard to stomach.  Probably downright disagree with it.  We often do not find such generosity and when we see it we consider it downright reck-lessness. Why should we help all those immigrants, other brothers and sisters by another name? You can't see a doctor, the NHS is clogged up, can't get an appointment. Yes, "Our thoughts are not your thoughts. Your ways not our ways.  (Isaiah)  All very difficult to take.

But thank God, you are reckless.  Here in the UK, a beautiful country, great climate, (we complain), plenty of food, security, we live in peace, sadly some people do not appreciate it.  So putting it simply, as Paul does:

"Is God glorified in you."

or

are you a miserable selfish complaining

_____?______ ?

pdf NEWSLETTER Mon 18th Sept Sun 25th Sept 2023 Popular

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"Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."

We may say the above prayer many times a day but still think we can go on not forgiving.  "Well, it is only one person," I hear you say.  Thank God you are not fighting with the whole world. But that is the one person you are meant to forgive.  Jesus did not say forgive most people. He meant everyone and that is a recipe for heaven.  But also very important, if I don't forgive, I may get a heart attack, probably shorten my life with the weight of the burden or guilt.

 Forgive and let go.

Enjoy the freedom of God's children

pdf NEWSLETTER Mon 11th Sept Sun 17th Sept 2023 Popular

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Forgiveness seems to be paramount in the ministry of Jesus.  In the Our Father when he teaches us to pray he tells us to forgive others if we want to be forgiven.

So forgiveness is a must.

I don't understand why people fall out in the first place.  Often when I am in a difficult situation, I find a great help is to say:-”I feel upset by what you said."

At least that gives the other person an opening.  But if I attack and say, "Why did you say that...."    Well then communication has broken down.

Of course this communication works both ways. If you have a quick/sharp temper pray hard.

pdf NEWSLETTER Mon 4th August Sun 10th Sept 2023 Popular

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NEWSLETTER Mon 4th August Sun 10th Sept 2023

Fr Jack

Good to go away and have a break and meet many friends.  A change, a rest, time for prayer and to view things from another angle.  always refreshing.  I hope you also got an opportunity to rest and be with loved ones.

Now good to be back with the familiar and with my family of St James again.  No deaths while I was away, Thank God.

Thanks to Fr Boniface for his work and you for taking care of him. He seems to have put on weight!!

Now back to all the usual.

If anyone would like a visit, or to come and discuss anything, you know where I am.

Today's Gospel challenges us to make decisions.  "If you want to be a follower................"

Not making, or not being able to make decisions in life can be very frustrating.  Because quicker than you expect things begin to  mount up and you can feel overwhelmed. This can be very frustrating, debilitating and annoying.  As I get older I find I am slowing down a bit.  But then the holiday gave me time to recharge.

Also with the Gospel.   We can drift on saying our prayers being good and never heading anywhere in our Christian life.  Make decisions about your faith and you will find it much more empowering.  As we start back the new academic year, find time every day, if only for 10 minutes to be quiet in the presence of God.

pdf NEWSLETTER Mon 28th August Sun 3rd Sept 2023 Popular

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Fr Boniface

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Today Jesus reveals to His disciples His mission, which entails suffering grievously, dying and rising after the third day, something that Peter could not stomach. He calls Jesus aside and remonstrate with Him, telling him "God forbid, this cannot happen to you ". Peter completely misunderstands the mission of Christ, as perhaps could some of us. He cannot  accept a saviour who is weak, who will be humiliated and die, rather he expects the Messiah to be as powerful as the Roman rulers of that time, and he would be among the powerful ones since he is within the inner cycle. This expectation of Peter is the human way of thinking, not God's, who sacrificed His only Son Jesus Christ to suffer and die for us on the cross, a shameful death, and because of that human way of thinking Jesus called him satan.  Dear friends,  God has chosen a different path to save us and we can only share in carrying His cross in order to share in His glory, as the saying goes "there is no resurrection without good Friday". We have not to avoid the cross but rather to embrace and  carry it here on earth, losing our earthly selves in order to gain our true lives in heaven. So when suffering comes to us in different forms: sickness; death; loss of jobs, homelessness, wars and others,  let us accept them in faith aware that our master underwent the same. Endured in faith, the end shall be Joy in ChristJesus who endured a lot of suffering for our sake. May Christ Jesus continue to  strengthen us in carrying our daily crosses.  Secondly let us strive to offer ourselves as living sacrifices to God and do before Him what is good, what is pleasing and what is perfect, total self giving to Him, that He welcomes us in His heavenly kingdom, Amen.

pdf NEWSLETTER Mon 21st August Sun 27th August 2023 Popular

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NEWSLETTER Mon 21st August Sun 27th August 2023

Fr Boniface

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

in the Gospel reading of today, Jesus asks his disciples who people know him to be, and the disciples mentioned the names of three very popular personalities at that time: John the Baptist, Elijah and Jeremiah. These are all mistaken identities based on their popularity. He then went on to ask the disciples themselves, who they know him to be, and Peter gave the true identity of Jesus, "you are the Christ, the son of the Living God", an answer for which Jesus was very happy and called Peter blessed because of this divine revelation. And because his strong faith has led him to know Jesus as the Saviour, Jesus would then leave in his hands the keys to the gate of heaven. True faith becomes the bed rock, the foundation on which the Church of Jesus Christ is built, a pathway to heaven.

Dear friends in Christ, our true identity of Jesus as the Messiah shall lead us to enter into heaven, for this divine revelation strengthens our faith and makes us live according to the Will of God. Jesus is indeed asking each one of us today the very same question "who do you say I am"?  The answer is deep in your heart! To me, Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God. He is a friend with whom I want to be at all times, He is a perfect example for me to follow, a bridge between me and God the Father, Jesus is my whole.

Let us strive in faith and prayer to discover who Jesus really is in our lives: the Christ, the son of the living God, so that discovering this divine truth leads us to be with Our Father in heaven. Amen.

pdf NEWSLETTER Mon 14th August Sun 20th August 2023 Popular

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Fr Boniface

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

The gospel reading of today encourages us not to get discouraged when our prayers are not instantly answered, but rather to continue seeking help from God, till our prayer’s intentions are met. The Canaanite woman in the gospel of today has little in common with the Jews, and yet she knows Jesus as the Messiah, the Saviour of the world. She knows through faith in Him, Jesus shall heal her daughter who was sick.

Jesus, to test the depth of faith in her, first seems not to pay attention to her plea to heal her sick daughter. Secondly, he categorically tells her he was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel, referring to the Israelites, but the woman, determined to get what she wants from Jesus, challenges him "even dogs eat the scraps of food that fall from the master's table", and because of this strong faith she showed, Jesus granted her, her heart's desire.

Have you been praying for something and have not received it yet - a job, a stable family, justice to be done to you, immigration challenges, a brighter future and so on, continue. With faith in God, you shall get the answers to your prayers at the appropriate time, do not be discouraged by those who don't believe in the goodness of God.

pdf NEWSLETTER Mon 7th August Sun 13th August 2023 Popular

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POPE FRANCIS

ON THE TRANSFIGURATION.

Brothers and sisters, this Gospel traces a path for us too. … In fact, it is by staying with [Jesus] that we learn to recognize on his face the luminous beauty of love he gives us, even when it bears the marks of the cross. And it is in his school that we learn to glimpse the same beauty on the faces of the people who walk beside us every day — family, friends, colleagues who take care of us in the most varied ways. How many bright faces, how many smiles, how many wrinkles, how many tears and scars reveal love around us! Let us learn to recognize them and to fill our hearts with them. And then let us set out in order to bring the light we have received to others as well, through concrete acts of love (cf1 Jn 3:18), diving into our daily affairs more generously, loving, serving, and forgiving with greater earnestness and willingness. The contemplation of God’s wonders, the contemplation of God’s face, of the Lord’s face, must move us to the service of others. 

pdf NEWSLETTER Mon 31st July Sun 6th August 2023 Popular

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POPE FRANCIS

The Kingdom of Heaven is the opposite of the superfluous things that the world offers; it is the opposite of a dull life: it is a treasure that renews life every day and leads it to expand towards wider horizons. Indeed, those who have found this treasure have a creative and inquisitive heart which does not repeat but rather invents, tracing and setting out on new paths which lead us to love God, to love others, and to truly love ourselves. The sign of those who walk this path of the Kingdom is creativity, always seeking more. And creativity is what takes life and gives life, and gives, and gives, and gives. ... It always looks for many different ways to give life.
Jesus, who is the hidden treasure and the pearl of great value, cannot but inspire joy, all the joy of the world: the joy of discovering a meaning for one’s life, the joy of feeling committed to the adventure of holiness.

pdf NEWSLETTER Mon 24th July Sun 30th July 2023 Popular

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Jesus spoke to the people in parables because they are timeless.  Whether in the time of Christ or today, the parables are always fresh and always new.  We reflect and every generation will find something relevant.  Today is no different but in the three parables there are some eternal truths.  Evil is a fact of life and there are people who work hard at being evil.  Maybe not me, but do I contribute my bit even if little? Because God is tolerant, he lets good and bad travel side by side.  Obviously, we need to try to eradicate the bad.  The church had small beginnings but it should be growing. We are all called to do our bit.  Again, for many of us, do you seriously teach your children and those you meet?  Finally, the church should be making a difference in society, being the leaven and helping people to rise up and have a better quality of life.

pdf NEWSLETTER Mon 17th July Sun 23rd July 2023 Popular

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As a farmer's son, today's parable speaks volumes to me. In November you ploughed the land, spread fertilizer, later on ploughed again, harrowed, rotavated and then you were ready to plant six months later. Beautiful soil well broken and land fertilised to receive the golden grain.  My father would lift it up and let it flow through his hand like dry sand blowing in the wind. Beautiful. In Ireland with rain and sun you could look forward to a good harvest.  Still more work to be done with spraying and keeping the birds away with scarecrows. Most of the work was done in preparing the landNo preparation and the planting was a waste of time and certainly no harvest.  Do you understand me?  Are you hearing me?  If we do not prepare for our mass/readings then even the greatest of preachers are wasting their time.  Yes, many people will say great sermon, Fr Jack, but by the time they get home the cares of the world take over.

Read the readings again and make them their own.

NO PREPARATION, NO RESULTS

pdf NEWSLETTER Mon 10th July Sun 16th July 2023 Popular

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Fr Jack

Paul in the second reading makes what I think is a massive assumption.  "Our interests are only in spiritual things."  May be true for some people but not all.  If we were all interested in the spiritual things only we would be living in a different world.  Yes I believe it is possible.  "Jesus says his yoke is light."  Yes, anything we grasp with both hands and put our heart into is light and easy and very possible. But for many their faith is routine, tired and boring and I agree, because our heart is not in it.  We need to appreciate what God has done for us and is still doing.  The times he has protected and brought us through.  I remember several times when God positively intervened in my life. And yes I believe he has even greater things in store for me and all of us.  Make sure you enjoy the journey by sorting out your priorities.

pdf NEWSLETTER Mon 3rd July Sun 10th July 2023 Popular

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Those of us who are baptised should consider ourselves dead to sin and alive with the life of Christ.  Jesus talks about giving a person a cup of water. Seems simple enough in our western world where water is available at the turn of a tap.  But for three quarters of the world's population water is like gold.  As Pope Francis says:- "Access to safe drinkable water is a basic and universal human right, since it is essential to human survival and, as such, is a condition for the exercise of other human rights. Our world has a grave social debt towards the poor who lack access to drinking water, because they are denied the right to a life consistent with their inalienable dignity. This debt can be paid partly by an increase in funding to provide clean water and sanitary services among the poor.