Weekend Masses

Dear Brothers and Sisters, I was listening to the Gospel last Sunday and heard the antics of James and John and the reaction of the other disciples and I asked myself as I have often done “how has the Church survived”. On a human level if you look at the Apostles and some of the leadership of Church throughout the centuries you would say it should never have survived. It is then that I think of the words of Jesus “Behold I am with you till the end of the world “God is with us on the Journey and constantly we are reminded that the Church is both human and divine. The apostles and disciples travelled with Jesus heard His message saw the miracles and still did not get the message and at times did not believe. Remember Thomas and the words Jesus said to him “Blessed are they who have not seen and yet Believe’. Constantly we need to pray the prayer of St Philip Neri “Lord I believe, help thou my unbelief”. Jesus himself was faced by a level of unbelief and mistrust. It is part of the journey of faith. Sometimes it is a gentle word or an action 3that lead people back to faith. Let us continue to give witness and not to react harshly when others are struggling. Remember James and John and their struggle . Remember Peter and his denial and pray” Lord I believe, help thou my unbelief. “ We continue that journey of faith knowing Christ is with us on the journey Pray for me as I pray for you, Fr Karl

Today is Mission Sunday. Every year during October we are reminded of the Missionary work of the Church and the need to support missionaries working in all parts of our world . Jesus tells his disciples to go out to the whole world and to baptize in the name of the Father and of the Sun and of the Holy Spirit. Stop and think for a moment , every time I make the sign of the cross I am proclaiming the message of Jesus and my belief in one God. Yes my belief in one God. I do not say in the names of.. I say in the name of, in the name of one God who is three persons the Trinity. As I say that prayer at Baptism at the beginning of my day, before Mass, before meals I am professing my Faith.