Why me, Lord?

 

 

CLIFF RICHARD

 

 

Seeing things God's way

 

SERMON BY FATHER JONATHAN E MOORE - LINK HERE

22nd Sunday of the Year 2026         

Seeing things God’s way 

 

“Try to see it my way,

Do I have to keep on talking till I can't go on?

While you see it your way,

Run the risk of knowing that our love may not last long.”

The opening lyrics of the Beatles’s hit: “We can work it out” came into my mind as I meditated on this Sunday’s Gospel. I would, however, rather change the first line to: “Try and see it GOD’S way” because that is what the reading teaches us.

Poor old Peter! He had a talent, both for getting things very right, but also getting them completely wrong shortly afterwards. He could walk on water as long as he had eyes only for Jesus, but as soon as he gave way to his human fears and uncertainty he went under. Last week, he got things spectacularly right in identifying Jesus as the Son of God and Messiah. Jesus praised him greatly for being open to what the Father had revealed to him,  naming Peter the Rock on which He would build His Church.

Today, however, we have quite a different story. Jesus begins to speak of His coming Passion and Death. Peter is horrified, and tries to dissuade Our Lord, who now speaks words, not of praise, but of severe reproof: “Get behind me, Satan, the way you think is man’s, not God’s!”

God spoke similar words to a young man by the name of Augustine in North Africa four centuries later. Augustine’s mother, St. Monica, did her very best to bring him up in the Catholic faith, but as a young man he broke his Mum’s heart by his immoral behaviour and also by leaving the Catholic Church and joining a weird religious sect. Monica never gave up on him, and kept praying that her son might return to Catholic belief and behaviour. Her prayers were answered, she lived to see Augustine return to the Church in adult life, and he ended his days as a greatly-respected Bishop. In his “Confessions”, St. Augustine is painfully honest about the kind of life he lived when he had left the Church and tells the story of the struggle he had later on trying to find his way back to true faith and good living. One of the key moments he describes came when God guided him to understand the meaning of prayer. Then as now, many people mistakenly believed that prayer meant “controlling God”, and that anyone who “got the magic right” should be able to bring God round to their way of thinking. Augustine describes the moment when he heard the voice of God within his own self say:

“You will not change me into yourself, but you will be changed into me” (Augustine, Confessions, Book 10)

He understood then that, far from bringing God round to our way of thinking, prayer is the way we learn to see and accept things the way God intends them to be. This deep and fundamental understanding of prayer has been given many names down the centuries: Self-abandonment and Unitive Prayer being just two of them. They all amount to the same thing: learning, often the hard way, to unite ourselves with Our Saviour’s prayer in Gethsemane: “Father, not my will but thine be done”.

Our readings today all guide us towards that true way of praying. Jeremiah finds that sticking to God’s path brings him nothing but “insult, toil and derision” from those around him, but he is willing to put up with all of these hardships, knowing that he is there to serve God, not public opinion. We heard St. Paul telling the early Christians in Rome:

“Think of God’s mercy, my brothers, and worship him, I beg you, in a way that is worthy of thinking beings, by offering your living bodies as a holy sacrifice, truly pleasing to God. Do not model yourselves on the behaviour of the world around you, but let your behaviour change, modelled by your new mind. This is the only way to discover the will of God and know what is good, what it is that God wants, what is the perfect thing to do.” (Romans 12:1-2)

Of course, when Jesus told Peter off, He was not telling Peter he was the absolute devil though. The word “Shatan” in the language used by Jesus and those around him really meant “obstacle” or “stumbling-block”. It came to be applied to the Evil One because we are so often tripped up by temptation, and find our sins a real barrier to spiritual growth.

But while not saying Peter was literally the Devil, the reprimand was bad enough. Peter was jolted back to reality: if he thought he could lead Jesus along, he would certainly fall over, and become a barrier that those behind him would fall over too. “Get behind me!”, Jesus told him - “Know your place, man!”. Jesus must always lead, and everyone else - Peter included – has to learn to follow.

The readings today are so very important because every one of us here is in the process of learning exactly the same lesson. It is a hard lesson, and one that takes a lot of learning. People who believe themselves to be perfectly resigned to God’s will one day very often find themselves in open rebellion the day after. Life brings many changes, not a few of which are unpleasant and unwanted. Our natural human inclination is to try and avoid these things, and  think that a loving God would spare us. I've known sadly too many people who “broke off diplomatic relations” with God when they didn't get their own way.

Fortunately, the Father loves us far too much to abandon us, even though sometimes we may abandon Him. He never ceases to call out to us, just like the wayward Augustine, and to remind us “You will not change me into yourself, but you will be changed into me”.

And that, really and truly is the choice we face. Could anyone seriously want to reduce God to the level of human behaviour, with all its attendant anger, violence, spitefulness and selfishness? Surely it would be infinitely preferable to be lifted up into the blessedness of God!

Seeing things God’s way takes a lot of learning, but it’s worth the effort because coming to see things God’s way ends with ourselves seeing God Himself in the glory of heaven. 

 

The Beatles 

Abortion

 

 

 

 

SONG SAVES TWENTY BABIES 

 Some years ago Father Francis recorded a Pro-Life song entitled A Cry from the Heart. 

The song has saved many babies from abortion. Their pregnant mothers heard the song and decided not to proceed with abortion. 

 

 

 Mommy keep me safe, mommy keep me warm

Handle me with care, mommy help me to form.

I am ten weeks old, and I know the time will come
when you will give birth to me.

The gift you gave to me are a pair of bright blue eyes
So some day I will see you smile and love me.

I’ve already got my arms and a little podgy nose,
And at the end of my feet I’ve got five little toes.

I look forward to my life, ice cream and slimy snails,
teddy bears and little fairy tales.

Going for walks in the park
Running home before it’s dark.
And being tucked into bed with a kiss.

Where are we going today?
Am I in a boat or bus?

Why are we lying down?
Being drawn on four wheels?

And we go through the door
and there’s people dressed in green.
Everything seems so strange and so clean.

Mommy if they hurt you just let out a scream
and I know someone will come to help you and me.

Mommy what’s going on I am starting to cry
Come quickly they are forcing me to die.

They are killing me mommy, they are pulling me apart
My arms and my legs and now they’re at my heart.

And I won’t see the sky, or the grass or the trees.
and I won’t see the moon, or feel the breeze.

I love you mommy dear, you know I really do
But I only wish you could have loved me too!

 

 

 

FATHER FRANCIS MAPLE

 

WEBSITE CLICK HERE

 

FATHER FRANCIS BOOKS

 

ON AMAZON HERE 

Walk On

 

 

Father Francis Maple - LINK HERE 

 

Faith is not enough

FAITH IS NOT ENOUGH ...

 

 In Hebrews Chapter 11 we read: To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see.

But what does that really mean? What is it like to have faith, and not only to believe in a living God, Creator of all and everything, but also to be certain in that belief? Without any proof, or evidence whatsoever.

It’s as if to have faith is to believe when your common sense tells you not to.

Often Jesus said to people He has healed: Your faith has healed you. Your faith has saved you.

He taught that if we had faith as small as a mustard seed we could perform miracles.

We read in Mark 9:24 that when a father asked Jesus to heal his son, he said: I believe, Lord; help my unbelief. Jesus took pity on him and realised that the man had some faith, perhaps not enough, but at least he had some; so Jesus healed the man’s son.

This leads us to ask: Is faith enough?

We may have faith, to varying degrees, depending on who we are. But is this enough?

After all, even the devil has faith. He believes in God all-right. He even tried to tempt Jesus often enough. This proves that he has faith, and believes in God. Perhaps more than we do.

So, if faith is not enough; what is missing in our relationship with God?

Trust.

Let us consider trust for a moment. A little child does not question whether his parents care for him or not. It is intrinsically part of his nature to take it for granted that his parents love him and will take care of him. When he asks them for bread they will not give him a stone, and when he asks for fish they will not give him a serpent.

The child trusts his parents and will continue to do so as he grows up; until one day someone may betray that trust and then he’ll become more wary of those around him.

So how about us? Is our faith in God matched with an unshakeable trust that He cares for us, and no matter what happens, no matter how bad things are in our lives, He is there, beside us, all the time caring for us and ready to see us through whatever crisis we face.

Can you imagine the amount of self-control and concentration of thought we should have to believe, really believe, that not matter what happens, we trust that God loves us and cares for us enough to protect us from all evil?

Such level of trust may well be beyond what many of us can achieve; but it should not stop us from trying. Through gritted teeth even. We should pray, over and again, that we trust God that He will see us through this dark period in our lives.

Faith, no matter how great or small, as much as half a mustard seed even, may not be enough. It needs to be accompanied by an unfailing trust that our loving God will never ever let us down.

It is no point having faith in a Master who walks on water if we do not trust Him enough to follow Him.

Faith, the “Pearl of Great Price”

 

 

Sermon by Father Jonathan E Moore - LINK HERE

17^th Sunday of the Year 2026

Faith, the “Pearl of Great Price”

Our Sunday gospels just now are from the part of Saint Matthew's Gospel which is known as the “Parables of the Kingdom”. We herd rather long parables in the previous two weeks, but in contrast today there are two very short ones, that of the “Pearl of Great Price” and that of the “Dragnet”. I intend to concentrate on the first of these, because although a very short story, it can draw us into the very depths of our Christian Faith.

Jesus uses the image of the  “Pearl of Great Price” to illustrate the value and  nature of the Kingdom of Heaven. I find this image both evocative and challenging. Now  I invite you to spend just a few moments, delving into the meaning of that “Pearl of Great Price”, and seeing how this little story can challenge, inspire, and shape our faith journey. The Pearl, precious and matchless, signifies not only the Kingdom itself but also our personal faith relationship with our Blessed Lord - the heart of all true discipleship.

The Lord says: “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.” (Matthew 13:45–46).

Perhaps at first glance, this is a simple tale of trade and discovery, but its depths are profound. The merchant represents each believer, who seeks something of true worth. Upon discovering the Pearl, he recognises that it is truly beyond price, cannot be equalled by anything else in the world, and so worth surrendering  everything for its sake.

The parable, however is not just about material sacrifice but about a radical reorientation of one’s life towards God. It symbolises not only the Kingdom of Heaven, but even more importantly Our Lord Himself. To possess the pearl is to know and love Jesus Christ, to live in His grace, and to enter into the fullness of communion with God.

The merchant’s quest mirrors the journey of faith. Faith is not static but dynamic. It is a pilgrimage, a seeking after God, often through uncertainty, questioning and challenge. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that faith is a gift, yet it also demands a response: “Faith is first of all a personal adherence of man to God. By ‘faith’ we completely submit our intellect and our will to God.” (CCC 143).

The search for the pearl is the search for meaning, truth, and ultimately for God. Many are content with lesser pearls—comfort, status, achievement—but faith urges us to seek the one true Pearl, Christ, who alone satisfies the deepest longings of the human heart.

One of my favourite hymns is “As the deer pants for the water”, especially the second verse :

“I want you more than gold or silver, only you can satisfy.

You alone are the real joy giver and the apple of my eye.”

It is only through faith that we come to recognise the value of the Pearl; without faith, its beauty and significance remain hidden.

The merchant’s willingness to sell “all that he had” is a profound image of surrender. In our rich  treasury of spirituality, faith often involves letting go of attachments and placing God at the centre. “Giving all in order to possess All” is a spiritual paradox rooted in letting go of ego, material attachments and self-sufficiency in order to gain a deeper  purpose and truth, what we would call, “a state of grace”. It is only by completely surrendering what we cling to that we open ourselves up to receiving true abundance of life . This echoes our Lord’s own call to discipleship:

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24).

Gaining the Pearl of Great Price means giving the Kingdom first place, with no exceptions. It is a call to radical trust and obedience. For some, this may mean literal renunciation, as with religious life or missionary work; for most, it means daily choices to live for Christ, to love others, and to grow in holiness. The merchant’s action is not forced upon him, but entirely voluntary; the discovery of the pearl fills him with joy, making the sacrifice not burdensome but liberating.

Catholic faith is relational. The Pearl of Great Price is not an abstract treasure but a person: Jesus Christ. Faith is the encounter with Him, inviting us into personal friendship and communion. The sacraments, especially the Eucharist, are ways in which we encounter the living Christ, the Pearl made present and accessible.

Faith is not just relational, but transforming. St. Paul wrote, “I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” (Philippians 3:8). To have the Pearl is to know Christ, to love Him, and to allow Him to shape every aspect of our lives. The joy of the merchant reflects the joy of the Christian who finds Christ, a joy that is deeper than any earthly pleasure.

True faith is also radical , challenging conventional notions of value. The world prizes wealth, power, and security; the Kingdom values humility, mercy, and self-giving love. To have the Pearl of Great Price means embracing values that may seem foolish or impractical to others. It is a counter-cultural witness, a sign that true happiness is found not in possessions but in relationship with God.

This is especially relevant in contemporary society, where faith is so often confronted with incomprehension, suspicion and even outright hostility. In the face of this, we are called to bear witness to the value of the Pearl, living lives that point to Christ and His Kingdom. This witness may involve suffering, misunderstanding, or persecution, but it is sustained by the hope and joy of the Gospel.

Faith, let us remember, is not only personal but also communal. The Church, as the Body of Christ, is the context in which the Pearl is found, cherished, and shared. We Catholics are called to seek the Pearl together, supporting each other in faith, and sharing the treasure of Christ with the world.

Through prayer, liturgy, and service, the Church helps believers to recognise and value the Pearl. The saints are examples of those who gave everything for Christ, inspiring us to follow their example. The Church’s teaching and tradition guide us in discerning what is truly valuable and in responding to the call of Christ

To seek that “Pearl of Great Price” is to recognise Christ as the ultimate treasure, to seek Him with all our heart, and to surrender everything for His sake. It is to live with joy, hope, and courage, knowing that the Kingdom of Heaven is worth every sacrifice. The parable invites us to examine our own values, to ask what we are willing to give for the sake of Christ, and to trust that in Him we find life in abundance.

Finally, we are called to renew our faith daily, to seek the Pearl, and to share its beauty with others. May we, like the merchant, recognise the surpassing worth of Christ and respond with generous, joyful hearts. The Pearl of Great Price is offered to all; may we have the faith to seek, find, and cherish it, now and always.

Colours of day

 

 

 

Children's Homilies

 

 

Father Francis Maple - LINK HERE 

 

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AMAZON LINK HERE 

 

When circumstances owerwhelm

 

Recording by Victor S E Moubarak - LINK HERE

 When circumstances overwhelm

Are you ready?

 

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I wish we'd all been ready.

Walk in the Light

 

Here I am Lord

 

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:19

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Father Francis Maple

LINK HERE 

Shine Jesus Shine

 

Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God

 

Who is the greatest?

 

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Who is the greatest?

by

Victor S E Moubarak

 

Link HERE 

Me and my friend Jesus

 

God's Glory

 

Introducing a wonderful song sang by Martha and Danny Orlando - Link HERE

God's Glory 

I've gone where the hopeless go, the dead end of a broken road
And I've learned there's a place so low you can't see your way out
Been stuck in a ditch so deep, thought it might be the end of me
But I'm still here and there could only be one way how

My life is a God story
Gotta tell the world what He's done for me
Miracle on miracles that only He could do
I'm proof that we're all only one prayer away from a testimony
There's only One getting all the glory
My whole life is a God story (God story)

From beginning to the end, from who I was to who I am
I can see His fingerprints on every single page
Now the story I love to tell
Is the story of the One who brought me back from hell
From "all wrong" to "it is well", and all I can say

Is my life is a God story
Gotta tell the world what He's done for me
Miracles on miracles that only He could do
I'm proof that we're all only one prayer away from a testimony
There's only One getting all the glory
My whole life is a God story, God story

From death to life, from blind to sight
This is my God story
From lost to found, from then to now
I'll tell you how, God story
Who brought me through from old to new
It's a true God story
Ain't hard to see the change in me
Could only be a God story

My life is a God story
Gotta tell the world what He's done for me
Miracles on miracles that only He could do
I'm proof that we're all only one prayer away from a testimony
There's only One getting all the glory
My whole life is a God story

Presentation of Jesus at the Temple

 

 

FATHER JONATHAN E MOORE

RETIRED PRIEST

NOTTINGHAM DIOCESE UK

 

LINK HERE 

 

Sermon about the Presentation of Jesus

at the Temple.

 

Candlemas 

Be of good cheer

 

Worry

 

Article by Victor S E Moubarak - Link HERE

Did you know that about 90% of the things you worry about do not happen anyway? Which statistically speaking, it means that worry is good for you. You can worry about many things and they won't happen. Isn't that great?

I often worry that with all the windmills, (wind turbines), we have in the world one of these days the whole planet will take off and fly in any direction it wants. But a scientist I know tells me I'm worrying unduly. What do you think?

My medic friend tells me that worrying does a lot of bad things to you both physically internally and mentally. People can become paranoid about it apparently. I asked the librarian if she had a book about paranoia and she said, "It's behind you!" That gave me quite a fright, I tell you.

But let's get back to worrying. What does it mean spiritually?

Simply put, it means you do not trust in God.

Jesus said, "Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me." John 14:1

Worrying means that to you, Jesus is a liar. 

I'll go as far as saying that worrying is a sin.

Never mind what worry does to you medically speaking. Consider for a moment what it does to your eternity!

Did you know that the words "Fear not" or other variations like "Do not be afraid" appear over 300 times in the Bible - at least once for every day of the year.

Makes you think, doesn't it? 

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DO NOT BE AFRAID

 

Father Francis Maple

website link HERE