The Patient Farmer

Sermon by Father Jonathan E Moore - LINK HERE

16th Sunday “Per Annum”                      The Patient Farmer

Patience is one of the “Fruits of the Holy Spirit”. It is important that a child learns early on that not everything can be had instantly. Some of us never finish learning that lesson. There is a famous story of a holy man praying: “God, give me patience … And PLEASE HURRY!”. Equally telling is the old proverb: “Patience is a virtue, find it where you can… Seldom in a woman, never in a man!” To be fair, I've heard that proverb reversed many times, and have met patient and impatient souls of both genders in pretty equal proportions! 

Today’s Gospel parable is usually known as “The Wheat and Tares”. It's important to remember that Our Lord Himself never gave these stories a title at all. Christians have come up with the titles over the centuries, and sometimes our understanding of the real depth of teaching in them can be limited by the titles themselves. The “Parable of the Prodigal Son” is one case of this - the story is about a Father with two sons, not one. It might better be called “The Father’s Forgiveness”, because that's really what the story is about.  

Today's parable also suffers from its title. At the heart of the Good News of Jesus Christ is the revelation of God as Loving Father. The story we have just heard doesn't focus on the weeds growing in a field of wheat, but on the patience of the farmer. His labourers want a “quick fix”, but the farmer is prepared to wait. We are often in a hurry, but God isn't - just like the farmer, (and the sower in last week’s Gospel). He has confidence in an abundant harvest. The sower was prepared to accept the wastage of three-quarters of the seed he sowed because the seeds which actually grew till harvest would yield many times more grains than had been lost. Today’s farmer is prepared to be patient and wait till harvest time. To be sure the weeds will take some of the nourishment from the soil, and will need careful separation at harvest time. Till then, however, patience is the best option: to wade into the field and try to rip out all of the weeds would do much more harm to the wheat than leaving the weeds in place. 

Here we have the heart of the parable. Again, Jesus invites us to try to lift our gaze from the ground immediately in front of us, and to try to see ourselves and our world as God sees it. 

The so-called “Problem of Evil” has unsettled many a Christian down the centuries. How can a good God allow such evil in the world? If the Creator looked at His work and “saw that it was very good”, where did that evil come from? Interestingly, Our Lord does not ask us to immerse ourselves in theological speculation as to the nature of evil. “An enemy has done this thing” is as much as He will say. From the point of view of the growing wheat, “up close and personal” with the weeds, their presence was both threatening and unwelcome. The farmer was not to blame - in the Book of Wisdom we read: “It is the wicked that have brought death on themselves, by word and deed of their own.” (Wis 1:16). A consequence of God’s wonderful gift of “Free Will” is that individuals can choose to be God’s enemies if they so wish - causing much suffering to those around them, and bringing their own selves to ultimate ruin. 

No, the presence of evil in the world is not the real focus of Our Lord’s teaching today. He wants us instead to concentrate on the Father’s patience, and to learn from it. Our human history shows countless examples of the disastrous consequences of trying to tear all the weeds out of the growing crops. So often the reformers and revolutionaries end up making things worse rather than better, failing even to tell the good plants from the bad. For just one recent example, think of Cambodia and the “Killing Fields” of the dictator Pol Pot. 

The Father, by contrast, is prepared to be patient. In the long term, the abundance of the harvest will more than compensate for any harm the weeds did. Yes, there will be a day of reckoning, with the weeds “tied into bundles to be burned”, and the grain stored safely away. In his Epistle, St. James warns against premature judgement. “There is only one Lawgiver and one Judge, and that is the One God” (James 4:12) Today’s Gospel also reminds us not to try to seek a quick solution by taking the law into our own hands. 

It is so easy to become completely focused upon the bad things in our lives, other people, and the world around us. There is a poem called “Desiderata” by Max Ehrlman which says: “With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.” 

The parable we have just heard is also an encouragement to that same positive mental attitude. Don't see only the ugly weeds, but also the beautiful harvest which is coming. There is a prayer from the Mass I often find myself saying during the day “Blessed are you, Lord God of all Creation”. Look at the world with hope, not despair. Another lovely Mass prayer prays that we might await the Lord’s coming “In joyful hope”. Pray for patient trust which rests on the firm conviction that evil will not prevail. In the end the weeds “go up in smoke” all that remains is the abundant harvest safe in God’s keeping.

One last thought: growing wheat and tares are quite hard to tell apart. In exactly the same way, we should never presume to judge who are the good and bad people in our world. Again, we must be patient and leave the judgement to God. I leave you with a little poem, both amusing and instructive:

I dreamt death came the other night

And Heaven’s gate swung wide.

An angel with a halo bright

Ushered me inside.

And there, to my astonishment

Stood folks I’d judged and labelled

As “quite unfit”, “of little worth”,

And “spiritually disabled”.

Indignant words rose to my lips

But never were set free,

For every face showed stunned surprise --

Not one expected me!

If Questions for the Soul

 

Book Review by Myra Guca - LINK HERE 

I adore questions! ... at least those which provoke Thought.
No wonder then, that I gravitated to, "If Questions for the Soul" by best-selling authors Evelyn McFarlane and James Saywell.

While I don’t go ‘round with the book in one hand and a virtual microphone in the other; I do find it therapeutic, in partnership with prayer, to exercise these old brain cells. Often times, the questions serve to put my mind in a more peaceful place just prior to sleep.

Today’s post isn’t intended to solicit anyone else’s (deeply personal) answers. That would be rude, wouldn't it? Perhaps, the publisher says it best:

The ultimate task we face in life is the process of finding and accepting our true selves, our souls. It’s often too scary, too overwhelming, or too time-consuming to begin the whole introspective process of self-discovery. So we often don’t look. But what we forget – or maybe never know – about soul-searching is that this process can be deeply rewarding.

Here’s but a sampling.

If you had to pick the most sacred spot you’ve ever seen, where would it be?

If you could have met one religious figure from history, who would you choose?

If you were to add an 11th Commandment, what would it be?

If you were to describe the time or activity that makes you feel most spiritual, what would you say it was?

If you could have prevented one religious event, which one would you pick?

If you were to make a religious site out a place that currently isn’t one, which would it be?

If you were to select the religious symbol that means the most to you personally, what would you choose?

If you could add one annual religious holiday, what would it be for and when would it be?

Watch

 

ARTICLE BY MARTHA JANE ORLANDO - LINK HERE

 Mark 13:37
"What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!'"

When I roll out of bed in the morning, I am neither alert nor awake. It isn't until I'm sipping on the second cup of coffee that the remnants of drowsiness are dispelled like a morning mist when greeted by blazing sunlight. In the hazy limbo between sleep and wakefulness, my thoughts are scattered and incoherent, and I'm certainly not watching for anything other than the weariness to fade. If the Lord chose this moment to return (or anytime in the night when I'm blissfully slumbering), I would be found delinquent and dilatory in following His command to "Watch!"; that is, of course, if Jesus meant for us to be physically prepared to meet Him. As He was wont to use hyperbole in His teachings, I believe Jesus was using corporeal illustrations to represent the urgent need for our spiritual readiness upon His return. Our souls, adorned like a bride awaiting her groom, should be ever mindful, ever anticipating, ever vigilant in each watch of the day or night.

No one knows the day nor the hour of the Lord's coming. In light of that, we should engage fully in every present moment, neither dwelling unproductively on the past nor projecting disproportionate scenarios for the future. While the one holds precious memories and the other fuels our hopes and dreams, the here and now is, essentially, all we have. We can choose to greet each moment, aware and awake, or we can drift away in dreamy detachment. I hope today you will decide to live in the moment by moment, wakeful, alert, aware, and watching, so you don't miss a minute of this life with which God has blessed you!

Amen!

Sower Seed and Soil

  

Sermon by Father Jonathan E Moore - LINK HERE

“Sower, Seed and Soil” -  a reflection on the Gospel for the 15th Sunday of the Year 2026

“A sower went out to sow." – in these words, Our Blessed Lord begins one of His timeless parables. He tells of some seed falling on the path, some on rocky ground, some among thorns, and some on rich soil where it yields an abundant harvest. At first glance, this may seem like a simple enough story of everyday life, but there’s more to it than that. Jesus here describes the superabundance of God’s grace, and also the complexity of the human heart.

The seed, as Jesus makes clear to His friends when explaining the parable, is the Word of God. God is extraordinarily generous. Notice that the sower spreads seed everywhere, even in places where growth is, to say the least, unlikely. He does not measure carefully or hold back. In just the same way, God continually scatters His grace, His truth, and His love into our lives. That good seed is sown in Scripture, sacrament, prayer, and, let’s  not forget the teachings of the Church. Then there is the example and witness of others. One way or another, God’s grace comes our way every single day. God is always speaking to us. 

This rather raises a question: if God’s loving grace is scattered so abundantly on our human race, how come we have so many problems, and how many people there are who find no place in their lives for God at all?

Those of you who, like me are very much into the “Third Age” may remember “Round the Horne”, a satirical radio show of the 1960s. Among those at whom this program poked gentle fun were the television and radio horticultural experts of the time, who often expressed views on matters far removed from their own sphere of expertise. In the character of Arthur Fallowfield, the late Kenneth Williams would frequently give a stock answer to every problem on which he was consulted, “The answer lies in the SOIL”. 

In a very serious way, however that answer is a very good one when we ask why God's good seed is not received or understood by so many people. The seed is always good, but the same cannot be said of the soil in which it is sown. 

As we see in the parable, some of the seed falls on the path, where it cannot penetrate the ground. Some human hearts have become hardened, perhaps through witnessing or experiencing great suffering or shattered hopes and dreams - what the “Catena” prayer of the Legion of Mary accurately described as “The crosses, toils and disappointments of life”. Pride, indifference or outright hostility can also make us resistant to God’s voice. Though folk may hear the Gospel, it remains on the surface and never takes root. Here, Jesus gives us the first part of what Saint Ignatius calls “the examen”, that honest appraisal of our relationship with God which is so essential to a deep and active spirituality. We must dare to ask if there are ways in which we shut out God’s word, are we really paying attention when the word of God comes to us? 

Then there is the seed which falls on rocky ground. It springs up quickly but withers because it has no roots. At times we are enthusiastic about our faith, full of good intentions, but when difficulties arise or sacrifices are needed, commitment diminishes. A healthy spiritual life, just like a little plant growing in the garden, needs roots—roots nourished by prayer, regular reception of the Eucharist, the Sacrament of Penance, and perseverance - day in, day out. 

Other seed falls among thorns. Our Blessed Lord explains elsewhere that these thorns are the cares of the world and the lure of riches. Many of us recognise this danger. Our lives are busy. Work, possessions, entertainment, and endless distractions can crowd out God's presence. The problem is not that these things exist, but rather that they can take first place in our hearts. A garden cannot flourish when it is overrun by weeds. Likewise, our spiritual lives need regular cultivation,  weeding and pruning. 

At long last, Jesus tells us that some seeds are welcome in good rich rich deep soil, where the whole plant may be nourished and yield a huge harvest, thirtyfold, sixtyfold, even a hundredfold. 

Here we find the open heart which gladly welcomes God's word with faith, humility, and perseverance. Though by no means a perfect heart, but rather a heart willing to be transformed. The saints were fertile soil not because they were flawless, but because they allowed God's grace to work within them. I often think that the best description of a saint is a person who got back up courageously after every fall and never stopped trying. 

There is a lot to challenge us in this parable, but there is also great encouragement. Soil  can be changed. A hard path can be broken up; rocky ground can be cleared: thorns can be removed. Through repentance and God's grace, our hearts can become more receptive. Every Mass, every confession, every sincere prayer is part of God preparing the soil of our souls. 

God’s greatest gift, the most perfect seed bearing His grace, is Christ Himself, especially in the Holy Eucharist. When we receive Him worthily, He enters the soil of our hearts. The Lord desires not merely a small harvest but an abundant one. He wants our lives to bear the fruits of holiness, charity, patience, forgiveness, and love. 

Can we pray for the courage to ask ourselves honestly, “What kind of soil am I offering to the Lord? Where is my heart hardened? Where are the rocks of inconsistency? Where are the thorns of distraction and attachment?” 

Then, let us pray for the grace to become rich soil, open to God's word and transformed by His love, so that our lives may bear abundant fruit for His glory and for the salvation of the world. 

Amen.

When circumstances owerwhelm

 

Recording by Victor S E Moubarak - LINK HERE

 When circumstances overwhelm

Are you ready?

 

.

 

I wish we'd all been ready.

The Prophesies about Jesus

 

Article by Victor S E Moubarak - LINK HERE 

Did you know that there are more than 300 prophesies about Jesus in the Old Testament that He fulfilled in His life?

Some prophesies He had no personal control over. 

 

Prophesies about where He would be born. The manner of His death and suffering, where He would be buried. The fact that on His death the Romans would not break His legs as they did to the other two crucified with Him. The fact that the Roman soldiers would divide His clothes amongst themselves and gamble for His robe whilst He hung from the Cross. And so on. 

 

The prophet Micah a contemporary of Isaiah, wrote some seven hundred years before Jesus was born (Micah 5:2): Bethlehem you are one of the smallest towns of Judah, but out of you I will bring a ruler for Israel, whose family line goes back to ancient times.

 

Isaiah 7:14 says: a young woman, (meaning virgin in the Greek translation), who is pregnant will have a son and will name Him Emmanuel.

 

Isaiah 9:6 reads: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

 

Psalm 41:9 (written by King David) predicts that Judas will betray Jesus in the words, "Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me."

 

The Psalms by King David were written some thousand years before the birth of Jesus. In fact King David predicted in details the crucifixion of Jesus one thousand years before His birth and six hundred years before the Persians invented this horrific method of execution.

 

Psalm 22 depicts aspects of crucifixion well before this method of execution was devised and used by the Romans.

 

In Psalm 22:16-17, it says: "Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me ... They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment."

In Psalm 22:8 King David says: "He trusts in the Lord, they say, let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him."

In Psalm 22 Verses 3-5 describe the man on the cross as more than a man. It address him as Israel’s God:

"Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; In you our ancestors put their trust ... ... ... "

The Psalm describes many physiological effects associated with death by crucifixion—asphyxiation and heart failure, along with extreme dehydration. 

See verses 14–15, 19):

"I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me. My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth ... ... ... All my bones are on display."

The fact that these effects of execution by crucifixion were predicted long before crucifixion was invented or employed makes the predictions all the more remarkable. 

Note also in verses 17–18:

"People stare and gloat over me. They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment."

And in verses 7–8:

"All who see me mock me; They hurl insults, shaking their heads. 'He trusts in the Lord,' they say, 'let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him. ' "

Here's another significant detail often missed. The Psalm identifies the executioners as Gentiles. The Jewish leaders had no authority to kill Jesus. Only the Romans (Pilate) had that authority. It is he who condemned Him to death. Note the word "dogs" in Verse 16. This was the term used by the Jews when referring to the Gentiles.  

Verse 16: "Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet."

Note also that the psalmist declares the means of execution: the piercing of the victim’s hands and feet.

Like so many of David’s psalms, this one turns from sorrow to joy. Verses 27–31 declare that people from all over the world will hear about the crucifixion and Resurrection. 

"All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before Him. Posterity will serve Him; future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!"

Isaiah too, seven hundred years before Christ, predicted: 

 ISAIAH 53 Verse 3 onwards (abridged) 

He was despised and rejected by men,

a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief.

Like one from whom men hide their faces,

He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.

Surely He took on our infirmities

and carried our sorrows;

yet we considered Him stricken by God,

struck down and afflicted.

But He was pierced for our transgressions,

He was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him,

and by His stripes we are healed.

We all like sheep have gone astray,

each one has turned to his own way;

and the LORD has laid upon Him

the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed and afflicted,

yet He did not open His mouth.

He was led like a lamb to the slaughter,

and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,

so He did not open His mouth.

... ... ... 

He was assigned a grave with the wicked,

and with a rich man in His death,

although He had done no violence,

nor was any deceit in His mouth.

Consider the mathematical odds or probabilities that Someone born many years after the predictions have been made would fulfill so many of them.

 

The probabilities must be millions to one. Unless this Man is truly the Son of God, as predicted, and the predictions were inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Yokes and Burdens

  

 Sermon by Father Jonathan E Moore - LINK HERE

14th Sunday “Per Annum” 2026                Yokes and Burdens

 Last week, Jesus told us of the necessity of the cross for His followers. Today He tells us: “My yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

I would like to begin our little meditation today by inviting you to journey back in your memory. Were you ever in the Scouts or Guides, or perhaps in the Armed Forces, or a member of a Climbing or Hiking Club? If you share any of those experiences, you will I'm sure also remember this. When preparing to walk a long distance, with waterproofs, food, cooking pots, water bottle, sleeping bag, first aid tin, tent - and in my own case a Mass Kit (!), the most important thing we learned was to pack the old rucksack in the proper way. First of all, you didn't take anything you didn't absolutely need - I've seen many unnecessary items left behind in Youth Hostels after the first day’s walking: books, cans of fizzy drink, the odd cine camera or chess set. One stiff day’s hiking, especially in the hills, changes one’s perception of what is really needed. Having sorted out anything not needed, the next important task was to repack the rucksack properly. Heavy and hard objects go at the bottom, with something soft between them and your spine, the lighter and softer items go higher up, ensuring that the shoulders and neck aren't irritated and blistered. One of the most rewarding things an experienced walker can do is to sort out the rucksack of a weary novice; you never forget the look of relief when they put it back on, often saying: “You're a magician - it only weighs half as much now!”. At times it may be necessary to carry quite a load, but with careful removal of unnecessary weight, and the proper distribution of the rest, the load is by no means insupportable.

My second thought is about “Yokes”. By the time I was growing up in rural Lincolnshire, although no longer used, yokes themselves were a common sight, hanging on the walls of barns and cowsheds. A few years later, the antiques dealers moved in and bought them all for next to nothing. The use of oxen to pull ploughs and carts was quite rare in Britain. In other parts of the world, however, it is a usual sight. The old dairy yokes, made for human shoulders, and the draught yokes made for animals, have this in common - they are beautifully made! The dairymen, farmers‘wives and milkmaids who regularly used yokes for carrying buckets would, if they were lucky, have a yoke made specially for them. The village carpenter would carve it out and fit it to the shoulder with the same skilled care as an expensive tailor fitting a suit. The end product would fit like a glove, smoothed out and adapted to the exact shape of the wearer, not digging in or chafing the skin anywhere. The less fortunate users had to be satisfied with a home-made cushion for their shoulders. In both cases the intention was to make the yoke as comfortable as possible. The purpose of a yoke was to make life easier, not harder. In the same way, a pair of oxen, properly yoked, would be able to pull their load for longer, day after day. The soldier or hiker with a heavy pack, the milkmaid carrying eight or ten gallons of milk at a time, the patient beasts pulling a plough, all had a burden they must carry, a load to haul. Without good packing, without careful fitting, their burden would be heavier, their work more exhausting.

So what did Our Blessed Lord mean when he said that His “Yoke was sweet and His burden light”? Last week, reflecting on the cross, we saw that suffering is the common lot of human beings. The greatest misfortune is not to have a cross to carry - everyone does.  No, the most unfortunate are those who “have the experience but miss the meaning”, who can see no deeper spiritual value, no eternal blessing, in what they endure. Jesus tells us that the cross is a necessary condition of discipleship. To shoulder the cross and follow in His footsteps is the sure path to paradise. Jesus, however, offers us more than a future promise, He also promises to help us here and now to bear the load. 

How is this done? First and foremost, Jesus gives very good advice about the way we pack our burden. It is all too easy to find ourselves trying to carry unnecessary weight. The greatest weight many people carry is one of guilt for past sins. Jesus tells us very clearly that we don't need to bear that weight at all. In the Gospel story we find Jesus meeting people with all manner of problems. How does He greet them? Mostly by saying “Your sins are forgiven”. As Catholics, we are particularly blessed in this regard through the gift of the Sacrament of Penance. When a priest absolves us after Confession, he says “May God grant you pardon and peace.” The burden of sin and guilt is one we can shed. Another needless weight is so often the memory of past hurts we have suffered from others. We humans have a tendency to hang on to these past injuries, and to allow them to feed a sense of bitterness and resentment within us. That is a dangerous condition to be in. Bitterness, resentment, the inability to forgive others, are the best possible breeding ground for anger, hatred, revenge and self-pity. A person who carries that load will never be far from evil. In the story of Cain and Abel, God warns the angry and resentful Cain that sin is “crouching like a lion at his door” (cf. Genesis 4:7). This is why Jesus tells us that we must pray to the Father: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Guilt and resentment: once free from their oppressive weight we find our burden many times lighter. St. Cyril of Jerusalem told those preparing for Baptism: “ If you are holding anything against anyone, forget it, let it go. You have come here to receive forgiveness of sins, so you must first forgive whoever has sinned against you.” (First Catechesis, P.G. 33) When you pray, have courage to share with Jesus all of the negative thoughts and feeling you have. Dare to “unpack” your burden with Him and let him take that weight from your life.

Then what of that “Yoke”? The Jewish people used to speak of the “Yoke of God’s Law”. In Psalm 18 we read “The precepts of the Lord gladden the heart. The Law of the Lord is perfect, it revives the soul”. The Lord’s “Easy Yoke” does not leave us free to please ourselves, but obedience to that Law in fact brings more joy to our hearts than we could ever find by doing whatever we wanted. You see, there is a paradox at work in our human condition: people who want to be free of any responsibility, at liberty to do whatever they wish, always find themselves wearing another yoke, and a heavier one by far than the Lord ever asked of them. God perfectly understands not only our human nature, but our own individual human personalities. There is an ancient Islamic prayer which begins “Lord, I thank you that you know me better than I know my own self.” The demands God makes of each and every one of us are exactly tailored to our own strength, ability and needs. As long as we are alive, we will wear one yoke or another, but none fits better than the one tailor-made by the Nazareth Carpenter!

Walk in the Light

 

“Feed My Lambs, Feed My Sheep”

 

Article by Father Jonathan E Moore - LINK HERE

“Feed My Lambs, Feed My Sheep” 

Three days ago, I found myself in conversation with a fellow cancer patient, a Muslim lady. We promised to pray for each other, and she shared with me her concern that after the major surgery she was facing, she would not be able to say her prayers properly whilst lying in bed. I reassured her, telling her that I was no longer able to kneel to pray, but I didn’t believe God minded in the circumstances. Before we parted, she said one more thing which greatly surprised me. She said “I greatly admire your new Pope. His priorities match the greatest needs of our world and it’s inhabitants.” I replied by telling her that all of our Holy Fathers  have that same gift through the Holy Spirit to be men of their own time. 

Reflecting on this encounter, and meditating on this weekend’s feast of Saints Peter and Paul, I was struck by a passage in St John’s Gospel (10:16) “And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd." (10:16, ESV). Throughout the long and venerable history of our Church, we find so many examples of the Holy Spirit directing individual Popes to minister, not only to members of their own flock, but also those sheep and other folds. This feast of Saints Peter and Paul gives us a great opportunity to thank God for the gift of the Papacy , which down the centuries has kept our Catholic Church together as a focus of unity and a safeguard against disintegration through individualistic interpretations of the Scriptures and personal preferences. God bless our Pope!

“Feed my lambs, feed my sheep.” These words, spoken by Jesus to Peter after His resurrection (John 21:15-17), are not directed to one individual, but rather should speak to every true Christian, bearing Christ’s own call to live out the heart of His  Gospel: love, compassion, and service. Far more than a simple directive, this phrase is a summons to share in Christ’s pastoral care for His people.

In the gospel reading for the Vigil Mass of today’s feast, Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” and follows each affirmation with “Feed my lambs,” “Tend my sheep,” then  “Feed my sheep,” the Lord wants more than a simple declaration of affection from Peter.  He links  love for Himself directly to action on behalf of others. Peter’s friendship for Jesus is realised, not in private sentiment, but in public mission. The risen Lord Jesus commits to Peter—and through him, us too—the ongoing care of God’s flock, and every single one of our worlds seven billion inhabitants is a child of God, just like you and me. This sacred  commission is ours, a task utterly impossible in our own strength, yet through the power of the Holy Spirit the work can be done.

When Jesus says “feed”, He means more than simply providing  physical sustenance. He means spiritual nourishment: sharing the Word of God, offering encouragement, and supporting others on their  faith journey. It is Saint Peter himself  (2 Peter 2:2) who identifies those lambs as the vulnerable, the young, the newly converted, who need  gentle guidance, patience, and a listening ear. The sheep—the mature members of the community—still  need ongoing formation, protection from spiritual danger, and reminders of God’s mercy. In responding to both, we imitate the Good Shepherd who knows each one by name.

How do we fulfil this call in daily life? First, by recognising those around us who hunger for hope, understanding, and compassion. Feeding Christ’s lambs might mean reaching out to someone who feels alone, offering a kind word or a helping hand. Feeding His sheep could mean supporting a friend through a difficult time, forgiving those who have hurt us, or praying for others’ needs. In parish settings, it might involve catechesis, voluntary work, administrative jobs, gardening, cleaning, or simply showing up for someone in times of trial.

The Good Shepherd laid  down His life for His sheep, unlike the cowardly hireling who made  himself scarce at the first sign of any trouble. The Christian is to shoulder their cross and follow in His footsteps, making that same self-giving love a lived reality in their own little corner of the Lord’s Vineyard, a love that is patient, enduring, and steadfast. The Eucharist, celebrated at every Mass, is both the ultimate act of feeding and the model we are called to imitate: Christ gives Himself wholly, and we are invited to do likewise in service to others.

Caring  for one another in the Good Shepherd’s flock is no easy matter, however. It demands patience, perseverance, humility,  unselfishness and a sense of humour - especially the ability to laugh at ourselves. We will frequently feel our own inadequacy, sometimes even overwhelmed, yet we must never forget God does not send us a cross to bear without also providing  the strength to bear it. His grace is ever-present  especially when we are at our weakest. Christ’s Church, which calls us to care, also gives us the means to find the strength to do it through prayer and the sacraments.

“Feed my lambs, feed my sheep” says Our Blessed Lord to you and me every day. Opportunities are never lacking, though sometimes Christ's call to care one for another is hardly heard above the noise and chatter of our oversensitised 21st century lives. Try to find a little oasis of calm within yourself, a place where you can wait on the Lord and listen to His voice before going out to meet Christ in others, and to be Christ for others.

Show me the way !

 

Article by Martha Jane Orlando - LINK HERE

 Acts 8:3
But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.

Zealous to maintain the status quo of the Jewish traditions, Saul leads violent assaults on those converted to "The Way", the appellation used by early Christians to describe their religion. He is a cold, unfeeling witness to the stoning of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. He instigates the fervent charge to round up and unmercifully imprison those he considers heretics. Later, in Acts 9:1-2, Saul, "still breathing threats and murder against the disciples", decides that persecuting them in Jerusalem just isn't enough. He petitions the High Priest for permission to travel to the synagogues in Damascus to warn them of this misguided, dangerous movement, and, while on his journey, capturing and sending back to Jerusalem any claiming to follow The Way. No one, least of all Saul, could have predicted the radical, miraculous transformation about to transpire in him along that fateful road when, in a flash of light that leaves him blinded, the Risen Christ confronts, convicts, and converts him.

I find it decidedly ironic that Paul (the Greek version of his name which he uses among the Gentiles), the most ardent, obsessive defender of the Jewish faith became the most passionate, devoted champion of Christianity. His conversion testifies to the fact that, with God, all things are possible. I believe the Lord saw through Paul's malevolent behaviors toward His people and recognized the qualities that would make Paul an indispensable apostle: determination, zeal, dedication, knowledge of the law, and devotion to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He simply needed his vision corrected. Jesus made that happen in a mighty way!

Have you ever known someone who experienced a dramatic conversion like Paul's? Was your own conversion one of out-of-the-blue magnitude, or was it, like C. S. Lewis', a quiet conviction within your soul? Is there a friend or acquaintance in your life for whom you wish there was a Damascus Road? Love them, pray for them, and witness through example. Believe that God can and will meet them at their crossroads; be prepared to take their hand and help show them The Way.

Amen!

The Christian Lounge

 

 

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