Weekly Bulletin 25th October 2020

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Today is the Thirtieth Sunday of the Year:  A prospective convert to the Jewish faith went to a rabbi and asked him to sum up whole Jewish law while standing still on one foot. Hillel, the famous Jewish rabbi said; “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour. That is the whole Law; the rest is the explanation of this—go and study it!” The Gospel reading today is a summary given by Jesus of what it means to follow the law of God. It is about, loving the Lord with all your heart and soul and mind and your neighbour as yourself (Matthew 22:34-40). There were 613 Jewish laws that the people had to follow. A violation of one effectively meant a violation of the totality. In the light of these facts the question that is posed to Jesus in today’s Gospel seems reasonable. “Master, which is the greatest commandment of the law?” (Matthew 22:37). Jesus answers by combining two texts from the Bible

1. Listen Israel: Yahweh our God is one Yahweh, You shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, with all your soul and all your strength (Deuteronomy 6:5)
2. You must not exact vengeance, nor must you bear a grudge against the children of your people. You must love your neighbour as yourself (Leviticus 19:18)

Jesus puts into words the underlying structure of love that all law and prophecy is built on.   All of the law is summed up in these two commandments! We live out the first of these commandments by doing the second.  The first reading today from the Book of Exodus spells out how we must care for those on the margins of society. Three groups of people fitted into that category, namely the stranger, the widow and the orphan. Our actions must be guided by concern for the real good of others, and an awareness of their needs. We may notice that Jesus does not refer to the love he himself shows. It is not until the Gospel of John, with its profound reflection on the actions of Jesus, that we hear Jesus saying: ‘Love one another as I have loved you.’ (John 13:34) It is in his self-giving death on the cross that his love comes to a climax. This supreme act of love is the model for the love Christians must show. The love shown by the Son of God in going to his death, which is present for us in the Eucharist, draws us into deeper love, for God and for neighbour.

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Feasts of the Week: Wednesday: St. Simon and Jude names occur together in Eucharistic Prayer 1. (Roman Canon) They both preached the Gospel in Mesopotamia and Persia. Jude is the patron saint of hopeless cases. Thursday: St. Colman – one of the patron saints of the diocese of Galway. 

Collection for World Mission: Thank you for your wonderful generosity last weekend. We collected £3045 for this very worthy cause. That sum is a marvellous indication of your unselfish awareness of others who are in greater need than us. 

Graan Draw: Because of the regulations around the pandemic we are unable to sell our tickets at our usual outlets this year. We would appreciate it if you could take a book of tickets home and help to sell them among your friends and neighbours. The first prize this year is £5000 and the second prize is  £1000 followed by prizes of £100. The Graan Dinner Dance is cancelled this year. The draw however for the cash prizes will take place on the 8 December 2020.

Thank you: A little word of appreciation for your kindness to us during these unprecedented times. The beautiful quiet way you support us financially and by your prayers is truly a gift for us. Thanks to our ushers, collectors and Ministers of the Eucharist who help us especially by showing people to their seats and by sanitising the seats after every Mass. It is a demanding task and we notice how committed you are to this work. It is important that we follow government guidelines and wear a face covering while entering and leaving the Church. We need to look after each other.

Please return your November Dead List this week. The enrolled names will be left on the Altar during November and remembered at every Mass offered during the month of November.  

DUTY FOR THE WEEK: Sun & Mon No Duty. Monday (26th) Mass @ 7pm  – Charles.  Tues (27^th Oct) – Arthur.  

Wed 28^TH  –  Charles. Thurs 29^TH  Oct – Arthur. Fri 30^TH  Oct – Charles.   Sat 31^ST Oct – Charles / Arthur.   We have extra confessional duty on Sat 31^st Oct from 2pm – 6pm.  

The Shop has restocked for Christmas. There is a great selection of cribs on display as well as candles, diaries, cards and suitable gifts for Christmas. Christmas Mass Bouquets: We have a new selection of Christmas Mass Bouquets  which cost £2 / €2.50.  Enrolling your family and friends on our daily Mass Guild makes a special Christmas gift.

Guild Mass Cards: We have a wide selection of Mass cards. Go to www.thegraan.com. We value your support.