Dear friends in Christ
The Gospel of this Sundays Mass tells of the memorable occasion when James and John ask for places of honour in the Kingdom of Jesus. The two brothers seem not to have grasped anything Jesus had taught them up to that point. In fact we know that the disciples hadn’t grasped the meaning of the Cross and Passion: the reality of what was to come was so far from their consciousness that they could only think in worldly terms. James and John ask for honours in the new kingdom and Jesus talks to them about redemption—the Cross and Passion. In semitic thought, the drinking of the cup of another was a sign of deep friendship and readiness to share a common destiny. It is to wish to follow Him. To participate in the glorious resurrection one has to share the Cross with Him. Jesus asks if they are ready to drink this cup; He asks if we are ready to drink of that chalice too! In fact, James died some years later, beheaded by order of Herod Agrippa. John underwent innumerable sufferings and persecutions for the love of His Lord. In their footsteps, let us be ready to serve, rather than be served, and give our lives, like Jesus, for the sake of humanity. In this way, we would live like God, who continually pours out His life for the sake of the world.
I wrote last week about the imminent use of the New Lectionary for the Scripture Readings at Mass. These are now with us and although they only become obligatory for use from the First Sunday of Advent, we could start using the translations at weekday Masses in the coming week; hopefully this won’t cause too much difficulty for those who will be following with the older translation!
Last week we began the remote preparation for our Parish Mission next Lent (15th-21st March) which is during the Holy Year and also the Centenary of the opening of our church. We are praying the Mission Prayer at the end of the Bidding Prayers each Sunday at Mass and this weekend we shall start to pray for everyone who lives within in the Parish, street-by-street!
May God bless you!
Msgr Kevin Hale