Dear Friends in Christ

During these weeks of Ordinary Time between after the Epiphany and before Lent, we hear from the Sermon on the Mount during Sunday Mass. This Sermon contains the pivotal teachings of Our Lord, especially about the way Christians should live in the world. It is addressed us to, His disciples, and to all people of good will. This teaching contains the blueprint for our pilgrimage on earth and the essence of our happiness as we move towards Heaven. We can reflect on these counsels given us, in the light of the Ten Commandments: Jesus, in His very person, is the fulfilment of all the Laws of the Old Covenant and is their perfection. He comes not to abolish what God established for previous generations, but is the culmination of Revelation. The Twelve Apostles constitute the New Israel and are in themselves the twelve foundation stones of the Church, which is the New Israel.

This Saturday, 22nd February, is the celebration of the See of St Peter, sometimes called the Chair of St Peter. This feast celebrates the fact that Jesus constituted His Church on the faith of the Apostles and gave to Peter the primary responsibility of feeding and sustaining the flock of His followers. Throughout history it is the Pope who has provided the centre of unity in Faith for the body of believers. Peter is the the guarantee of unity with the rest of the Church. With Peter, and under Peter - the Pope - we are sure of belonging to the Church Christ founded and which we profess in the Creed as One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic.

I would remind us all that Lent begins in just around ten days time; we could begin to think about how we are going to live Lent this year…and may God bless you!

Msgr Kevin Hale

Priest@LourdesLeigh.org ✚ 01702 478078
The Sunday Homily is available as a podcast at LourdesLeigh.org