Dear friends in Christ

The thread that runs through the Readings of the liturgy this Sunday is the desire for virtue; that is, the desire for the habits of a godly life. The Bible uses the word righteous to describe a person who is living a virtuous life. The liturgy applies this description to the person of Jesus Christ who, even though He was perfect God and perfect Man, lived, suffered and died rejected by the world. In the Gospel, Saint Mark relates the moment when Jesus teaches His disciples how they should live: He takes a child and places the child before them and tells them: Whoever welcomes a little child like this welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me, welcomes not me but the One who sent me. In Jesus Christ we have the model of all the virtues, the model of THE righteous Man. But Jesus is more than just a virtuous person: He is the Son of God, Second Person of the Blessed Trinity and God incarnate. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life and the unique Way to God the Father. Jesus is also the sole Saviour of mankind; no one can be saved except in and through Him. In these days of religious pluralism and confusion, we have the assurance given us by Jesus that through our incorporation into Him, we have the guarantee of salvation. It is this belief that has brought countless souls to Christ’s Church down the ages—and ourselves—so that we can experience life in all its fullness in Him, together with the graces we need to live righteous lives on earth, and so attain the life of Heaven.

This Monday we recommence The Journey of Faith—RCIA—which is primarily intended for those who are seeking to enter the life of the Church through the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and The Blessed Eucharist. Do encourage anyone of your family or friends who might be a ‘Searcher’ to come along at 8pm to the Parish Centre. Above all, please keep in your prayers those who will be embarking on this Journey of Faith.

God bless you and keep you in the ways of holiness and salvation!

Msgr Kevin Hale