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Deacon Wayne's Homily on Peace on 14 January 2024 . Freely share for any non commercial purpose
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21 April 2024: 4th Sunday of Easter (Cycle B)
Parishioner's Gospel
Contributor: A Parishioner
John 10:11-18
Can you choose simple words to describe Christ’s resurrection and preceding crucifixion and death? It seems a huge challenge! But here John presents Christ doing just this for his listeners. He outlines the events that will occur in plain, understandable phrases:
‘I lay down my life in order to take it up again.’ (v 17).
Despite the simplicity of the wording His listeners may well have been deeply puzzled by the phrase ‘in order to take it up again’. If they, and indeed ourselves, don’t quite grasp the meaning it is perhaps because the nature of the process of the resurrection itself is a divine mystery, even now, after it has occurred. As St Paul writes: ‘Now I know only in part; then I will know fully,...’ (1 Corinthians 13:12.)
Christ elaborates further, making it clear that He has chosen of his own free will to give his life for us, saying, ‘No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again.’ His death and resurrection occur solely because he has freely accepted and submitted to them. There is no coercion involved to which he does not accede.
And Christ reveals something else striking as well; He does it because he is completely at one with and obedient to his Father, who loves us immeasurably- ‘I have received this command from my Father.’
From this we gain an insight into the nature of the relationship between the Father and Son, and how the relationship between ourselves and the Father should be too. We should obey the Father because we trust and love Him completely, and Christ who is one with Him. For only He leads us along the right path, just as the good shepherd loves, guides and serves his flock unconditionally.
In Christ’s words in this deceptively straight-forward Gospel passage there is a great deal to pray about and to ponder. It’s worth spending time with it this week if you can.
*[Picture from: from https://johntsquires.com/2022/05/03/the-father-and-i-are-one-john-10-easter-4c]
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28 April 2024: 5th Sunday of Easter (Cycle B)
Parishioner’s Gospel
Contributor: Branwen Jones
John 15: 1-8
Jesus drew his analogies from everyday life – in this instance, the vine. Vineyards were a familiar sight in the Middle East and throughout the Mediterranean. However, to a first century Jew THE vine was Israel itself. (Psalm 79: 14-15: Turn again, O God of hosts, look down from Heaven and see; have regard for this vine, the stock your right hand has planted.) The front of the temple in Jerusalem was decorated with a large golden vine, symbolizing Israel.
But now Jesus tells his disciples, ‘I am the true vine.’ And again, ‘I am the vine, you are the branches.’ Obviously, a branch cannot live and bear fruit separated from the vine and so Jesus exhorts us to remain in Him or we will wither and die. He invites us to participate in His life, to allow His life blood to flow from Him into us. In this way we will bear fruit. Just how do we remain in Him, what exactly does it mean? It means being consistent and constant in prayer and in studying the Scriptures, also being involved in the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. But, most importantly, it means participation in the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist, where we receive the Body and Blood of our Saviour. Here we remain in Him and He remains in us.
Jesus refers to the Father as the vinedresser. Any branch that bears no fruit is useless and is cut away. These dry branches are collected and burned. This image reminds us of the end of time, when the angels gather up the chaff to be thrown into the everlasting fire.
But even those branches who remain connected to Christ and bear fruit, will be pruned. The pruning of vines involves getting rid of redundant foliage and excess growth. The maximum amount of fruit is only achieved by extensive cutting back. A rather painful idea but as the modern saying goes – ‘There’s no gain without pain.’ These pruned branches bear an even greater number of healthy bunches of grapes.
Finally, Our Lord gives his audience encouragement by stating: ‘If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask what you will and you shall get it.’
Being faithful to Jesus’ teachings are the hallmarks of the true disciple, who has internalized Christ’s words and made them their own.
Deacon Wayne's Homily on Peace on 14 January 2024 . Freely share for any non commercial purpose
********************************
21 April 2024: 4th Sunday of Easter (Cycle B)
Parishioner's Gospel
Contributor: A Parishioner
John 10:11-18
Can you choose simple words to describe Christ’s resurrection and preceding crucifixion and death? It seems a huge challenge! But here John presents Christ doing just this for his listeners. He outlines the events that will occur in plain, understandable phrases:
‘I lay down my life in order to take it up again.’ (v 17).
Despite the simplicity of the wording His listeners may well have been deeply puzzled by the phrase ‘in order to take it up again’. If they, and indeed ourselves, don’t quite grasp the meaning it is perhaps because the nature of the process of the resurrection itself is a divine mystery, even now, after it has occurred. As St Paul writes: ‘Now I know only in part; then I will know fully,...’ (1 Corinthians 13:12.)
Christ elaborates further, making it clear that He has chosen of his own free will to give his life for us, saying, ‘No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again.’ His death and resurrection occur solely because he has freely accepted and submitted to them. There is no coercion involved to which he does not accede.
And Christ reveals something else striking as well; He does it because he is completely at one with and obedient to his Father, who loves us immeasurably- ‘I have received this command from my Father.’
From this we gain an insight into the nature of the relationship between the Father and Son, and how the relationship between ourselves and the Father should be too. We should obey the Father because we trust and love Him completely, and Christ who is one with Him. For only He leads us along the right path, just as the good shepherd loves, guides and serves his flock unconditionally.
In Christ’s words in this deceptively straight-forward Gospel passage there is a great deal to pray about and to ponder. It’s worth spending time with it this week if you can.
*[Picture from: from https://johntsquires.com/2022/05/03/the-father-and-i-are-one-john-10-easter-4c]
********************************
28 April 2024: 5th Sunday of Easter (Cycle B)
Parishioner’s Gospel
Contributor: Branwen Jones
John 15: 1-8
Jesus drew his analogies from everyday life – in this instance, the vine. Vineyards were a familiar sight in the Middle East and throughout the Mediterranean. However, to a first century Jew THE vine was Israel itself. (Psalm 79: 14-15: Turn again, O God of hosts, look down from Heaven and see; have regard for this vine, the stock your right hand has planted.) The front of the temple in Jerusalem was decorated with a large golden vine, symbolizing Israel.
But now Jesus tells his disciples, ‘I am the true vine.’ And again, ‘I am the vine, you are the branches.’ Obviously, a branch cannot live and bear fruit separated from the vine and so Jesus exhorts us to remain in Him or we will wither and die. He invites us to participate in His life, to allow His life blood to flow from Him into us. In this way we will bear fruit. Just how do we remain in Him, what exactly does it mean? It means being consistent and constant in prayer and in studying the Scriptures, also being involved in the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. But, most importantly, it means participation in the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist, where we receive the Body and Blood of our Saviour. Here we remain in Him and He remains in us.
Jesus refers to the Father as the vinedresser. Any branch that bears no fruit is useless and is cut away. These dry branches are collected and burned. This image reminds us of the end of time, when the angels gather up the chaff to be thrown into the everlasting fire.
But even those branches who remain connected to Christ and bear fruit, will be pruned. The pruning of vines involves getting rid of redundant foliage and excess growth. The maximum amount of fruit is only achieved by extensive cutting back. A rather painful idea but as the modern saying goes – ‘There’s no gain without pain.’ These pruned branches bear an even greater number of healthy bunches of grapes.
Finally, Our Lord gives his audience encouragement by stating: ‘If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask what you will and you shall get it.’
Being faithful to Jesus’ teachings are the hallmarks of the true disciple, who has internalized Christ’s words and made them their own.