I am away for some days. Back soon.

NOT OF THE DEAD, BUT OF THE LIVING

PRAYER PAUSE  

Sarurday 25 November 2017

NOT OF THE DEAD, BUT OF THE LIVING

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “Now he is God, not of the dead , but of the living; for to him all are in fact alive.”  (Luke 20:27-40)

Reflection. In the accompanying reading, from 1 Maccabees 6, King Antiocus realises at the end of his life he got it all wrong. He was thinking on another level. In this gospel “some Sadducees” also get it all wrong in their trick questions about life after death. Jesus cuts through their useless posturing. To God “all men and women are alive” whether they are “dead” or not. That is a traditional belief anyway in this part of the world where we speak of the “living dead.” The difference Jesus makes is to embue these living dead “who are judged worthy of a place in the other world” with joy and peace in a way we cannot now imagine. All fear is over and the triumph of God in men and women is complete.

Prayer. Lord, help us to have your mind and to see with your eyes. Amen.

HE WEPT OVER IT

PRAYER PAUSE  

Thursday 23 November 2017

HE WEPT OVER IT

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “As Jesus drew near Jerusalem and came in sight of the city he wept over it and said, “If you had only understood the message of peace.”  (Luke 19:41-44)

Reflection. God weeps over our follies and cannot save us from the consequences. Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed. Zimbabwe was “destroyed” by years of folly and neglect. And we know that in our own lives there are many things we have only slowly come to understand. Jesus wept over the city and Christians later built a small chapel to mark the spot. It is simply called Dominus Flevit, the Lord wept. God weeps over our sad world. But, like every mother who weeps for their children, he does not despair of us. There are always new moments – like in Zimbabwe this week- where we can begin again, and again and again. Seventy times seven. We will get there in the end. “All will be well.”  

Prayer. Lord, help us to be keenly aware. Help us not to miss our opportunity. Lord, that we may see! Amen.

BECAUSE HE WAS NEAR JERUSALEM

PRAYER PAUSE  

Wednesday 22 November 2017, St Cecilia

BECAUSE HE WAS NEAR JERUSALEM

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “Jesus went on to tell a parable because he was near Jerusalem and they imagined that the kingdom of God was going to show itself there and then.”  (Luke 19:11-28)

Reflection. For Luke Jerusalem is key. His gospel starts there and ends there. As early as chapter nine the focus is set towards the city. It was to be the place of Jesus’ manifestation and only Luke has all the Resurrection appearances in or near (Emmaus) Jerusalem. But the kingdom would not be revealed as people imagined it would. Jesus uses the image of a corrupt would-be ruler, and the cooperation of some of his cronies, to show that the time for action had come. ‘If people in politics and business are so engaged the “children of light” should be even more committed.’ But do we grasp the urgency of this?

Prayer. Lord, we know “the kingdom of God is among us.” Help us to lay our hand to the plough and engage in revealing that kingdom to all among whom we live. Amen.

WHO IS MY MOTHER?

PRAYER PAUSE  

Tuesday 21 November 2017, Presentation of Mary in the temple

WHO IS MY MOTHER?

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “Your mother and brothers are outside and want to speak with you.” But Jesus replied, “Who is my mother?... Anyone who does the will of my Father.”  (Matt 12:46-50)

Reflection. At first Jesus’ words shock us. He ignores his mother and family in preference to those he is speaking to. But we know he takes opportunities to shock; to wake up his hearers, and us, to realise that the kingdom comes first – even before family. He knew that his mother had embraced the kingdom from her earliest years when she was presented in the temple by her parenst according to Jewish custom. She was the one who did the will of God above all others. The incident inspires us to look at our values: what we put first.

Prayer. Lord, we rejoice in the gift of Mary, your mother and ours. We ask that she may lead us to put the values of your kingdom before all else in our lives. Amen.

WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT?

PRAYER PAUSE  

Monday 20 November 2017

WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT?

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “When the blind man heard the crowd going past he asked what it was all about, and they told him that Jesus the Nazarene was passing by.” (Luke 18:35-43)

Reflection. Curiosity is a great gift. It has driven explorers and inventors. It is a force and an energy that carries us forward. Jesus could have just passed by and an opportunity would have been missed. But the blind man is curious and asks what is happening. When he hears he acts. And he is not put off by those who say ‘you are disturbing us’ He insists. And it is his curiosity that leads to his faith and to his healing.

Prayer. Lord, help us to search that we may find, ask that we may receive and knock that you may open the door to us. Amen.

A DEFINING MOMENT

A DEFINING MOMENT

Forty nine years ago I was twenty four months into my new life, teaching history at St Ignatius College, Chishawasha, when a serious effort was made to resolve the then “Rhodesian problem.” Harold Wilson, Prime Minister of “Britain”, as he called it, was negotiating with the unconstitutional leader of Rhodesia, Ian Smith, who had led his followers into a Unilateral Declaration of Independence three years earlier. They could find nowhere to meet on dry land – a sign in itself – and so opted for a ship at sea.

Between classes we hurriedly checked the news and after a few days they hammered out some kind of an agreement. From the African point of view it was flawed as it effectively left power with the whites for a considerable time ahead. But from the point of view of hard liners in Smith’s coterie, it went too far in hinting at majority rule albeit in the distant future. It was rejected.

So as we wait now, nearly fifty years on, I seem to be having a déjà vu experience as we await the outcome of the present talks. Sometimes I wonder if we have ever had a moment of “normality” since the days the Rhodesians skewed the country in their own interests. There was a brief honeymoon in 1980 but after barely two or three years, the balance of interests vanished and we have lived with the consequences until Tuesday last.

This 14^th of November will, we hope, go down as a turning point or, if you will, a tipping point. Tough negotiations are in progress and it seems hard to imagine that, after all we have been through, the different sides will fail to come up with a solution that is just to all sides. The image of two school children, one back and one white, nonchalantly walking past an army tank in the Harare says much for the calm, absence of threat and hope in our new situation.

There is a torrent of talent, damned up over the past twenty years, ready to burst into the civic, social, economic and cultural life of Zimbabwe. Our earnest prayer and longing goes with all those who are in a position to facilitate the change we want. We are ready, not just for a government of all the talents, but a country where each one can use his or her gifts for the benefit of others and, in consequence, of themselves.

Generations yet unborn expect this of us. Let us pray that our present leaders will rise to the occasion.      

19 November 2017                 Sunday 33 A

Proverbs 31:10 … 31              1 Thess. 5:1-6              Matt 25:14-30

AS THE LIGHTENING FLASHING

PRAYER PAUSE  

Thursday 16 November 2017

AS THE LIGHTENING FLASHING

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “For as the lightening flashing from one part of heaven lights up another, so will be the Son of Man when his day comes.” (Luke 17:20-25)

Reflection. The Pharisees were on a different page when they kept asking about the coming of the kingdom of God. Their minds were not disposed to understand what Jesus was saying. When he said “the kingdom of God is among you,” they had no idea what he was talking about. Do we? There is this constant tension between the future that will be revealed and the fragments of the future that are already revealed. These fragments are like the flashes of lightening that illuminate the heavens for a moment. We have moments – beautiful moments of reconciliation, healing and peace – that flash across our lives. They light up our world for a moment and indicate,  in passing seconds, what the full revelation of the kingdom will be.

Prayer. Lord, may we yearn for the coming of the kingdom and work for its coming in the place and time where we find ourselves. Amen.

THE OTHER NINE?

PRAYER PAUSE  

Wednesday 15 November 2017, Albert

THE OTHER NINE?

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “Were not all ten made clean? Where are the other nine? It seems no one has come back to give glory to God, except this foreigner.” (Luke 17:11-19)

Reflection. So, one out of ten said, “Thank you!” The rest took it for granted. That in itself makes us pause. But then what does saying “thank you “ do? It acknowledges a relationship, a dependency. And it softens the heart. It says, “you have helped me and I am grateful.” It is like accepting forgiveness. It softens the heart. It makes us willing to forgive others because we have had an expereinceof being forgiven. To be ungrateful, unforgiving, is to refuse to accept that we “live at one another’s expense” (W.H Auden). We need each other. It is not a sign of weakness to accept that. It bonds us. It softens us. It breaks through the fear we have of being indebted to others. “I don’t need others. I can manage on my own” Can we?   

Prayer. Lord, may we learn to be truly grateful. May our hard hearts be broken. Our hearts of stone become hearts of flesh. May we learn to be open – one to the other. Amen.

MERELY SERVANTS

PRAYER PAUSE  

Tuesday 14 November 2017

MERELY SERVANTS

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “We are merely servants, we have done no more than our duty.” (Luke 17:7-10)

Reflection. We do not see the total picture. We see our little part. We have our place and our joy is to do what we can, the best that we can. We are there “to swell a progress, start a scene or two.” (T.S.Eliot). No more. We have built on the foundations laid by others and others will take the task on after us. So there is no need to worry. God is working on the total picture. We will see it one day. For now, my concern is today and this place.  

Prayer. Lord, protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for your coming. Amen.

WISDOM, OUR FRIEND

PRAYER PAUSE  

Monday 13 November 2017, Stanislaus Kostka

WISDOM, OUR FRIEND

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “Wisdom is a spirit, a friend to men and women.” (Wisdom 1:1-7)

Reflection. The last book of the Old Testament treats of wisdom as a person and prepares the way for Jesus, the personification of wisdom. At some stage later in the book it will say, “wisdom makes its way into willing hearts.” Stanislaus Kotka was a sixteen century teenager from Poland who found within himself a great desire to join the newly founded Society of Jesus (Jesuits). He met incredible opposition from his family and literally fled across Europe to escape his realtives. He ended up in Rome and was received into the Socirty but in the course of his time as novice fell ill and died. He made such an impact on the imagination of people at the time  that he was made a saint almost before Ignatius. Though a fragile youth his singlemindedness overcame all obstacles. Wisdom indeed!

Prayer. Lord, we pray for the clarity wisdom gives to see our way and have the courage to do what is in our heart. Amen.

THE WEDDING

THE WEDDING

It is quite clear on the map. You go to the first traffic lights and turn left; then you go on to the next lights and turn right. Simple! But I did not look at the map! I forgot the old saying; ‘Time spent in reconnaissance is seldom wasted!’ We got lost and spent valuable time in the maze that is Kanyama and were late for our appointment with the inmates of Mwembeshi Open Prison. It was an omen for the day! On our way back the car would not start and we had to be rescued and towed the 40kms back to Lusaka, arriving seven hours late.

So I feel sympathy for the five young ladies who did not bring oil for their lamps. They had to run around shopping at night time and by the time they got back the doors were locked. They hadn’t prepared the event. They just presumed things would work out for them. They were too casual. The parable, a homely prelude to a wedding, is used by Jesus to teach a crucial lesson. It may not be a big deal in normal weddings. But this is no ordinary wedding.

A wedding, a marriage feast, was used by the prophets as a symbol of the joyful completing of the plan God has for his people. The day will come when he will gather them for a “wedding” which will celebrate the union, the “marriage” of God and his Church. “Church” means all those who have lived their lives in harmony with the will of God (Matt 25:31-46), whether they are explicitly aware of trying to do so or not. As the year ends, it will be Advent in a few weeks, the theme our readings hammer is: “Be ready!”

It is Saturday morning and people everywhere are making, or have made, choices for the week-end. What informs these choices? What attitudes do we have that will influence us as we make them? What “usual” activities are we planning? Is there any kind of “transcendent context” to what we will do – insofar as we are free to choose? What I mean is: are our choices informed by simple immediate impulses of self-gratification? Or are they in some way made in the interest of others?

We need to unpack what Jesus means by “Watch!” “Be prepared!” He is calling us to choose, to use our freedom – the greatest gift we have – to go beyond ourselves and so find ourselves (Luke 9:24). He is saying this in the context the promised wedding – “I shall betroth you to myself forever (Hos 2:21) - which is now here, begun by his coming. He is the bridegroom who has come. There is an abundance of bread (Mark 6:30-44) and wine (John 2:1-12). Get ready and come! 

12 November 2017                              Sunday 32 A

Wisdom 6:12-16                                  1 Thess 4:13-18                                   Matt 25:1-13     

MY GREETINGS!

PRAYER PAUSE  

Saturday 11 November 2017, Martin

MY GREETINGS!

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “Greetings to Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers on Christ Jesus” (Romans 16:1-8)

Reflection. Our last exerpt from Romans is a list of greetings to all those in Rome whom Paul knew and worked with. There is a warm bond of affection he has discovered and enjoyed over many years with these “fellow workers”. They are his new family, reminding us of Jesus’ reaction to those who told him “Your mother and brothers are looking for you.” He replied, “Who are they? My mothers and brothers are these who are doing the will of my Father.” They are bonded with me “in the revelation of a mystery kept secret for endless ages but now clear … and it is to be broadcast to bring all to the obedience of faith.”

Prayer. Lord, we give thanks for all those who journey with us in faith and for the way we share our interests, hopes and disappointments. Give us joy and courage as we continue on the road. Amen.

THE MASTER PRAISED THE DISHONEST STEWARD

PRAYER PAUSE  

Friday 10 November 2017, St Leo

THE MASTER PRAISED THE DISHONEST STEWARD

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “The master praised the dishonest steward for his astuteness. For the children of this world are more astute in dealing with their own kind than are the children of light” (Luke 16:1-8)

Reflection. At first sight it is puzzling that “the master” praises dishonesty. But the parable is not so much about the morality of the man; the point is he took action. He saw his situation and did something about it. Jesus is trying to shake up his contemporaries. “You are in a tight situation. Do something about it. The kingdom of God has come among you. Act! If you don’t it will pass you by and you will end in disaster.” We can look around at our situation today. There are issues crying out to be addressed – in climate change, in the way we do politics, in social justice, in our personal relationships and in our life in the Spirit. They cry out for courage and imagination. We cannot just sit on our hands. At least the dishonest steward did something. We don’t have to agree with his morality but we can be inspired by his “get up and go.”  

Prayer. Lord, give us light to know what we can do and the courage to do it. Amen.

THE SPIRIT LIVES IN YOU

PRAYER PAUSE  

Thursday 9 November 2017, St John Lateran in Rome

THE SPIRIT LIVES IN YOU

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “Didn’t you realise that you were God’s temple and that the Spirit of God was living in you?” (1 Cor. 3:9-17)

Reflection. Why do we suddenly celebrate the consecration of a church built on the Lateran Hill in Rome in 320? Well, the Church has a long memory and that was the time she was emerging from persecution and this was the first great church built. It was the pope’s church. The Romans flocked there to celebrate Holy Week and through the ages to today the pope celebrates Holy Thursday there. We remember it because it is a symbol of our unity. Further, it was a holy place, like the old temple in Jerusalem where God “lived among” his people. At the same time it is inadequate to express the new reality of God’s presence. God dwells within each baptised person and indeed in those whose lives show that they are servants of Christ’s mission even if they do not formerly acknowledge it by seeking baptism.  

Prayer. Lord, we celebrte your presence among us. You live in our hearts. May we rejoice in this and so live that our light may shine and draw others to you. Amen.

IF ANYONE COMES WITHOUT HATING

PRAYER PAUSE  

Wednesday 8 November 2017

IF ANYONE COMES WITHOUT HATING

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “If anyone comes to me witout hating his father, mother, wife, children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life too, he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:25-33)

Reflection. Jesus shocks and provokes. His language seems exaggerated. But he makes a radical call. The kingdom comes first. Eveything else – even my life – comes second.  I am reading the life of John Bradburne by Didier Rance. John was killed in 1979 near Mutemwa in Zimbabwe where he lived with people with leprosy. It is clear his whole life was a desire to live out this call of the gospel. John went far beyond what most of us can do but he is given to us as a compass bearing. This is the way. One way or another the call to Abraham right down through the ages to each of us living today remains as the only path to human happiness.

Prayer. Lord, help us to desire to mould our life to the call you place in our hearts. Help us to see with rinsed eyes where our true happiness lies. Amen.

ONE BODY

PRAYER PAUSE  

Tuesday 7 November 2017

ONE BODY

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “All of us, in union with Christ, form one body.” (Romans 12:5-16)

Reflection. As he moves towards the end of his letter to the Romans Paul draws out the implications of the Spirit’s action in our lives which he has described at length. We are bound together, one to another, because Jesus has united us in union with him. We are givcn different gifts but they are all to build up the one body, celebrated each day in the Eucharist – This is my Body. This has profound consequences, above alll; to love one another. What a contrast this reading is to the accompanying gospel for today (Luke 14:15-24) where those invited to the celebration of unity make excuses and stay away. The host turns to the poor and the outcasts, and so it is today

Prayer. Lord, help us to build your community, your body. May we reach out to those we may be inclined to ignore. We are all invited to the celebration of life. Amen.

INVITE THE POOR

PRAYER PAUSE  

Monday 6 November 2017

INVITE THE POOR

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “When you give a party, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind.” (Luke 14:1…11)

Reflection. When the vote for the new pope moved towards Jorge Bergoglio, the cardinal next to him whispered “remember the poor!” Bergoglio, it seems, hardly needed reminding. His whole ministry to that time focused on the poor and so he took the name Francis, the poor man of Assisi. In the kingdom of God we know the poor will have an exalted place. We also know that many today struggle on behalf of the poor. Perhaps the struggle for justice in the world has never been greater and the momentum is gathering. But what a long way there still is to go! What suffering there still is for migrants and marginaised people everywhere!

Prayer. Lord, help us to remember the poor and do what is in our power to “invite” them to share in the fullness of life. Amen.

THE ONE WHO HUMBLES THEMSELF

PRAYER PAUSE  

Saturday 4 November 2017, Charles Borromeo

THE ONE WHO HUMBLES THEMSELF

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 14:1…11)

Reflection. When Pope Francis went himself to pay his hotel bill after his election it was world news. Leaders don’t do that sort of thing. It was a simple gesture, the first of many, but it sent a signal. Francis wanted – in the words of Jesus – “to serve, not to be served.” Humility is not big news  but it is recognised when it is seen. If someone is chasing status, titles, letters after their name, it could be that they yearn for recognition. There is a danger that the outside becomes more important than the inside, how they appear takes over from who they are. The truth is more simple. Recogniion is ephemeral. What counts is substance – whether it is recognised or not. Georges Bizet wrote the most famous opera of all time – Carmen. But when it was first performed it got a poor reception and he died without recognition. But now we know.

Prayer. Lord, teach us humility – a readiness to see things a they really are. Amen.

MY MENTAL ANGUISH IS SO ENDLESS

PRAYER PAUSE  

Friday 3 November 2017

MY MENTAL ANGUISH IS SO ENDLESS

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “What I want to say is my sorrow is so great, my mental anguish so endless, I would willingly be condemned and cut off from Christ if it could help my brotehsr of Israel, my own flesh and blood.” (Romans 9:1-5)

Reflection. After the soaring sentimentys of chapter eight, Paul now feels the pain that his own flesh and blood of Israel do not share in the promises he has described. They are the very ones who receved the special favour of God as the forerunners of the gospel, And yet here they are, at the end of the day, cut off. So the pain of division is very real. God, of course, has never abandoned Israel and has shown a kind of favouritism, nepotism?!, towads them. Some of our greatest scientists (Einstein), musicians (Barenboim) and philosophes have been Jewish – highly gifted people. Still, the pain of division – played out in Isarel and Palestine today – is painful. And, what is more, we are remembereing the Balfour Declaration these days – a moment of joy for the Jews and agony for the Palestinians.

Prayer. Lord, we share the sorrow of Paul and pray for our Jewish brothers and sisters. May we all move towards the unity and reconciliation for which your heart aches. Amen.

HE WILL DESTROY DEATH

PRAYER PAUSE  

Thursday 2 November 2017, All Souls

HE WILL DESTROY DEATH

Pause. Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “On this mountain he will remove the mourning veil covering all peoples, and the shroud enwrapping all narions, he will destroy death forever.” (Iasaih 25:6-9)

Reflection. We saw yesterday that All Saints and All Souls are connected in the mind of the Church as in the minds of people of all times. People have sensed the intimate link between the dead and the living. In the eyes of the Church it is the “communion of saints” – a phrase found in the Apostles’ Creed but, curiously, dropped in the Creed of Nicea that we say or sing every Sunday. Death is a time to mourn but in the Christian life it is also a time to rejoice and ceklebrate the life of someone has attained their goal. On this day we remember all who have died, especially those known to us, and we pray that they enter into the joy and rest of the Lord.

Prayer. Eternal rest grant to them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. Amen.