Weekly Bulletin 11th October 2020

Today is the 28 Sunday in Ordinary Time:  Jesus compares the Kingdom of God like a great banquet that we are all invited to share. (Matthew 22:1-14) The famous Psalm known as “The Lord is my Shepherd” declares in today’s reading “You have prepared a banquet for me in the sight of my foes” (Psalm 23). In the first reading from Isaiah 25:6-10 God speaks to a people in exile through the prophet to tell them that there will be a rich banquet prepared for them.  God has blessings in store not only for the people of Israel but for all nations. The story from the Gospel has many strands to it. The image of God marrying his people is a deeply Biblical one. Hosea, the prophet speaks of God luring his people out into the desert and they responding with love to God’s seductions as they did when they were young. “When that day comes – it is the Lord who speaks -she will call me “My husband” (Hosea 2:19). Isaiah (54:5) declared “For now, your creator, will be your husband his name Yahweh Sabaoth”  Matthew in today’s Gospel tells us that we are all invited to the wedding banquet. However some say they will go but do not turn up. Here we have echoes of the responses of the authorities who lived in Jesus day to His presence and teaching. The invitation is thus opened to all of us and we are mixed bag of people. “They collected every one they could find, bad and good alike, and the wedding hall was filled with guests” (Matthew 22:10). This situation of the man who has not a wedding garment, did accept the invitation to the banquet, but within that calling he failed to undergo the conversion of life required for entrance into the final kingdom. The wedding garment that he is called to wear is the wedding garment of good works. St. Paul uses that same image of wearing clothes as a symbol of our life in Christ.  “All baptised in Christ, you have clothed yourselves in Christ and there are no more distinctions…” (Galatians 3:22) It challenges us not to be complacent about our inheritance of the kingdom of God. Jesus is not just a prophet, but the One who speaks and acts in the very person of God. Jesus is like a portrait of God –  the Creed says – “God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God.” One of the principal desires of God is to re-establish the sacred meal, to restore the fellowship and unity lost through sin. The sacred meal was central to Jesus work. The Eucharist that we celebrate today is the celebration and the promise of that unity that we share and always strive towards. Welcome to the banquet of life! 

Every child has known God, 

Not the God of names, 

Not the God of don’ts, 

Not the God who ever does “Anything weird”, 

But the God who knows only four words. 

And keeps repeating them, saying: 

“Come Dance with Me , come dance.”

— Hafiz                                                                                                                                                              *  **

Feasts of the Week: Thursday: St.Teresa of Avila (1515-1582). Patron of Spain. She renewed the Carmelite Order and wrote much on prayer and the spiritual life. Friday St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690) Visionary and she revived devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Saturday: St. Ignatius of Antioch – martyred in 107. Bishop of Antioch. He wrote letters, on his way to martyrdom,  to various Christian communities calling them to unity in and the through the Eucharist and around their local bishop. 

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Next Sunday 18th October is World Mission Sunday. The theme is “Together we can do more, Blessed are the peacemakers” All of next Sunday’s Collection, taken up at the Graan, will go towards the work of missionaries. Our oversea brothers and sisters know more hardship and suffering than we could ever imagine, and are crying out for this universal moment of solidarity. We know that you will be generous. 

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Thanks you for your generosity towards us in these difficult times. Thanks also to our ushers and ministers of the Eucharist and all who help to sanitise the Church seats after each Mass. Thanks also to the small group of people who helped clean the Church on Wednesday night, you know who you are and thanks for your excellent work. Your example and commitment is a blessing to all of us. Be assured of the prayers of this community.

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Graan Draw: Our tickets are available in the Church porches. The first prize is £5000  and the second prize is £1000 prize followed by prizes for £100. Because of Covid 19 regulations we will not be able to sell our tickets at our usual outlets. As a result we would appreciate if you could help to sell these tickets for us among your families and friends. The draw for the prizes will take place on the 8th December.  The Graan Dinner Dance has had to be cancelled this year. 

DUTY FOR THE WEEK:  Sun & Mon No Duty. Monday (12th)  evening Mass @ 7pm  – Arthur.   Tues (13^th Oct) – Charles.  Wed 14th – Arthur. Thurs 15^th – Charles. Oct –Fri 16^th – Anthony.

Sat 17^th Oct – Anthony.   

Shop Opening Hours: Mon to Sat: 9.30am – 7.30pm. Sunday – 9.30am – 5pm. Telephone 028 66322272.

Guild Mass Cards: We have a wide selection of cards including a new section of Christmas Mass bouquets. We value your support. Please visit our website to see our new range of Christmas Mass Bouquet cards.