Today is the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. In the letter to the Hebrews the author says “Let mutual love endure, and remember always to welcome strangers, for by doing this, some people have entertained angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:1) Hospitality has always been integral to the story of God’s people. Abraham set the agenda when he offered three strangers water for their feet and food for their bodies. In so doing he entertained God himself and received afresh the promise (Genesis 18:1-18). The New Testament speaks frequently of the need to be hospitable. For example –Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality(Romans 12:13) “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling” (1 Peter 4:9) Today’s Gospel (Matthew 10:37-42) states clearly “Whoever receives you receives me and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. (Matthew 10:40). Hospitality involves welcoming, creating space, listening, paying attention and providing. St. Luke’s Gospel is known for being a gospel with the theme of “hospitality” right through it. Jesus in this Gospel is either coming from a party celebration or going to one! Meals slow things down. Some of us don’t like that. We like to get things done. But meal forces you to be people-oriented instead of task-oriented. Unresolved conflict cannot be ignored when we gather around the meal table; you cannot eat in silence without realising there is an issue to be addressed. Paul uses hospitality as a metaphor of reconciliation when he says in the second letter to the Corinthians: “Make room in your hearts for us…We have wronged no one!” (7:2). We enjoy food not just because of the taste but because of the companionship and welcome it expresses. “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is than a fattened ox with hatred with it” (Proverbs 15:17). The monks of old got it right. For upwards of 700 years the monastery was notably the centre of culture and civilisation but also of mission. Only monasticism saved the medieval church from acquiescence, petrification and the loss of its vision and the truly revolutionary character of the Christian faith. The monks kept the door of hospitality to the stranger and alien open! “Where is the dwelling place of God?” a Rabbi once asked a group of learned men “What a question to ask,” they said. “Is not the whole world full of God’s glory?” Then the Rabbi answered his own question, “God dwells wherever people let Him in”. This is our ultimate purpose: to let God in. When all the world is about “doing”, our prime concern as people of faith is about “letting” – letting God in, letting God do. One of the words that we need to take away from these readings today is the word ‘hospitality!” Dictionary definition: a. “Welcoming guests with warmth and generosity. b. Well disposed towards strangers. c. Having an open and generous mind. d. Promoting well-being, agreeable
Feasts of the Week: Monday: St. Thomas – Apostle. He is said to have preached the Gospel in India where he was martyred. Thursday: St. Maria Goretti (1890-1902). She is honoured as one of the first Passionist martyrs. On 5 July 1902, at the age of 12, Maria who had made her First Communion at the nearby Passionist church was attacked by Alessandro Serenelli. When she would not submit to his advances, he stabbed Maria fourteen times. We have a shrine in honour of St. Maria Goretti here in the Graan to the left of the main altar.
Thank you for the collection last weekend. It came to £1760. A word of thanks also to our Ushers, Readers and Ministers of the Eucharist for their wonderful help during the liturgy at the weekend.
Exposition: Continues each Friday from 10am – 2pm. Friday next is the First Friday of the month.
Mass @ 7pm.
Shop: Monday to Saturday – 9.30 – 7pm. Sun 9.30pm – 4pm.
Guild Mass Cards: Our selection includes Deceased, Get Well, Wedding, Birthday, Exams, Wedding etc. Cost £2.
Sun & Mon no duty. Mass Mon 3rd July @ 7pm – Charles. Confessions: Tues to Fri 2pm – 5pm.
Sat 5pm – 6pm.
Mass: Tues – Fri @ 7pm. Tues – Brian. Wed – Victor. Thurs – Charles. Fri & Sat – Arthur.
July’s Church Cleaning group will meet on Wednesday 5th July next.
Gluten-Free Hosts: If you are Coeliac and you wish to receive communion please come up to the altar and stand beside the Eucharistic Minsters where you will receive the gluten-free host.
Recently Deceased
Kenny Slevin, Killyvilly, Enniskillen
Moira Carleton, Ashwoods Road, Enniskillen
Catherine Teague, Lisnaskea
Anniversaries
Thomas Farmer, Drumgamph, Boho
Kay Seddon & the Seddon family, Bristol
Brigid & Edward Dolan, Dublin Rd, Enniskillen
The Bannon & Dolan families, Lisbellaw
Mary Cassidy, Cranny, Fintona
Catherine Mc Dermott, Rathfraggan, Fintona
Denis & Mary Maguire, Letterbreen
Sean Owens, Coventry
Kevin Mc Mahon & the Mc Mahon family, Roslea
Mary (Cissie) Farmer, Brian Farmer & the Farmer & Keown families, Mullaghdun
The Creegan Family, Forthill Rd, Enniskillen & Dublin
The Murphy Family, Queen Street, Enniskillen & London
Sheila O Donnell, Derrin Rd, Enniskillen
Terry Carty, Garrison
