To be blind must be a great physical disability. Yet some blind people I know are very positive. They often say "I see." meaning.........I understand!!!  Probably more important.  Why do we often say never discuss religion or politics? because you can discuss them forever.  Sadly, sometimes it is not a discussion, it is an exchange of opinions.  Your opinion----my opinion, is one as good as another?  That is an exchange of opinions. Self-referential? often not very enlightening.  This would be fine in a world without Jesus but Jesus came into the world because he loves us.

My favourite Gospel. I've got a beautiful carving, from Jerusalem,  of this scene. Here you have got a terrific encounter between two people.  Remember this took place two thousand years ago. look at the contrast:-

JESUS           THE WOMAN

a man              a woman

a Jew               a Samaritan

a rabbi             a sinner

God                 a human

And Jesus is at home in this scene. Shattering all our prejudices and isms -sexism, racism, sectarianism, nationalism, superiorism.  He sees his sister and he loves her, does not judge her.  How often am I guilty of judging and condemning rather than seeing the potential of another human being and a friend.  As Jesus says our worship needs to be in SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH, or as the Pope says, "For it is in togetherness that we follow Jesus. Together too, as a pilgrim Church in time, we experience the liturgical year and Lent within it, walking alongside those whom the Lord has placed among us as fellow travellers,"  The woman having met Jesus goes on to talk about him.

Jesus did not come to start another religion but to reveal God in us. Here today on the mountain we see this happening in an extraordinary way. There is this great event and all these people are appearing.  Words are spoken, clouds come down and there is a marvellous manifestation. Then all is quiet and the apostles see no one but Jesus.  The message has come true, they have received it, "They see no one but Jesus."  He is our point of reference, the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.  Peter, impetus as ever, wants to build three tents and stay with the experience.  But Jesus is very clear, no, you have seen, now go down the mountain and strengthen the brothers. Just our job, we know Christ so that we may share him with others.

The Garden of Eden.  What a beautiful place it was.  The clear message here is that God creates.  Six days or six million years.  Who knows?  No one and no one cares.  1. But what is important is that God did create. What the writer (probably Moses) is really trying to tell us is that God is crazy about us.  He gave us a wonderful, beautiful world to enjoy.  In short God creates.  2.  He created us to be happy.  That's why he gave us a beautiful place.  3, Adam (men) and Eve (women) they/we did something to upset the plan. They/we did not LISTEN  to God, in other words they did their own thing.  Every time we sin we ratify what they did.  So don't blame them.  We are all guilty.  4. God plans to restore the relationship. He is going to send his son Jesus Christ to undo what was done.  So let us now LISTEN to him and not continue to wreck each other and the universe.

We continue with chapter five of Matthew.  The new and higher law, that is the LAW OF LOVE.  We follow Jesus Christ out of love and not the fear of hell or punishment.  This, I believe, is where many of us Christian fall short....."What must I do."  What is the bare minimum I will get away with and scrape my way into heaven.  Have a heart of welcome and forgiveness.  A heart as big as the God who gave it to you.  A heart like his. Paul says be ambitious for the higher things.  In this kind of behaviour, we find our own identity, we find God, we find happiness now and we find eternal life eventually. In short, get a life.

Matthew 5 seems to be a very little quoted, or known gospel in relation to our faith.
Jesus makes it very clear the way things were and what was the right thing to do. As he says that was the way it was, and that was ok e.g. "an eye for an eye."  You killed my son now you will have to be killed.  Yes, we agreed with capital punishment for a long time.  You kicked me so now I can kick you back,"an eye for an eye. "BUT then… I (JESUS) SAY. "If you call your brother “Fool” you will answer for it in hell's fire." This is the thing, Jesus came and turned everything upside down.!  Third commandment says, "Go to Mass every Sunday."  So you have to. But Jesus says, "You love me so much that you want to come to Mass every Sunday, to meet me in your fellow brothers and sisters and to be fed by me at the altar. What a wonderful opportunity to meet God and be with Him.  I would not miss it for the world.

Fr Jack

A Good person is a light in the dark.

I think I would like that on my headstone.  Seems fairly basic, but then St Francis said,  "All that is necessary for evil to thrive is good people to do nothing.  "But good people who as Isaiah says, "share their bread with the hungry and shelter the homeless poor."  "Do away with the joke, the clenched fist and the wicked word.  "Your integrity will go before you.  There you have it.  "Do not protect your integrity but let your integrity protect you."  So, boast of your integrity or should I say like St Paul, the power of Christ within me.   Together all things are possible.

In today’s Gospel we hear how the crowds came from different parts of Israel to listen to Christ’s teaching.  They were excited and eager to see Jesus.  Isaiah says “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near”. Jesus taught them the meaning of happiness which enabled them to inherit the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore, the sermon of the mount requests us to identify our gifts and use them in an appropriate way to lead a happy life which then leads to Paradise.  Are you gentle? Are you merciful? Are you a peacemaker? Are you honest? Are you ready to be persecuted for the sake of the Gospel?  Who are we today? We are Christ’s soldiers who are called to lead our faith and defend it. May Almighty God grant us His Grace in the coming week!  Amen.

Jesus started His public ministry by proclaiming “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand”.  This profound message started ringing in the hearts of the people and they began looking for God’s forgiveness and mercy.  This key announcement of Jesus demonstrates the prophecy of Isaiah “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light” Jesus is the light of the world, his mission is reinstate God’s Kingdom among us, which was distorted by human disobedience of God’s commandments.  He enabled each one of us to see the true light out of His infinite love for us.  He gave us the freedom to walk through this everlasting light.  Now, it’s high time for all believers to let God guide and lead us.  When the light of Christ shines within us we shall clearly see the presence of God’s Kingdom in our midst.  In today’s Gospel, while Jesus was preaching by the sea of Galilee he called His first four disciples.  They were astonished by his words, they had never heard such powerful preaching, afterwards they left everything and followed him.  They recognised their master’s voice.  Let us drop our vested interests and engage and labour for the kingdom of God, He will reward us.

Last week we heard we are beloved sons and daughters.  Do I really hear it.  John today declared openly that Jesus baptised with the Holy Spirit.  He is the one who gives us the extra dimensions to our life. The one who empowers us.  The one who helps us, yes to engage, 

1. with ourselves 
2. with each other 
3. with God.

After 50 years in the priesthood, where I often blamed myself for the failures of the parish, I now think there is a very different dynamic at work.  Or should I say not at work.  Many of us do not want to engage.   Still very much on the personal salvation route.  Please consider do you engage with fellow parishioners, fellow brothers and sisters here in St James.  We are all on this journey together and if we travel together, it is so much more enjoyable.

Last week we heard we are beloved sons and daughters.  Do I really hear it.  John today declared openly that Jesus baptised with the Holy Spirit.  He is the one who gives us the extra dimensions to our life. The one who empowers us.  The one who helps us, yes to engage, 

1. with ourselves 
2. with each other 
3. with God.

After 50 years in the priesthood, where I often blamed myself for the failures of the parish, I now think there is a very different dynamic at work.  Or should I say not at work.  Many of us do not want to engage.   Still very much on the personal salvation route.  Please consider do you engage with fellow parishioners, fellow brothers and sisters here in St James.  We are all on this journey together and if we travel together, it is so much more enjoyable.

People of my generation and younger will have the memory of the church as a hierarchical institution. Pope at the top then cardinals, bishops, priests and people. Very much like a school head, deputy head, heads of year teachers assistant teachers and pupils.  But remember the most important people in the school are the children as in the church the people. This is the great shift to see the church as the PEOPLE OF GOD.  All on a level playing field, pope, bishops and people with Christ as the centre, certainly not the priest as we often think in our parishes.  "What does father say?"  My sacrament is a sacrament of ORDERS.  Special orders within the people of God. Through Baptism we are all equal.  All in need of redemption with Christ as the only Bridge Builder between heaven and earth. So when people ask me, “am on my own in Peckham?"  I usually reply, "Yes and a thousand people." Not forgetting that we are baptised with water and THE HOLY SPIRIT. The one who empowers us to be an active and living church, changing the face of society.  

POPE FRANCIS a few thoughts.

• There is no perfect family.
• We have no perfect parents, we are not perfect, we do not get married to a perfect person, neither do we have perfect children.
• The good of the family, Pope Francis said, “consists in sharing relationships of faithful love, trust, cooperation, reciprocity,” which brings about their happiness.
• “The family humanises people through the relationship of 'we' and at the same time promotes each person's legitimate differences.”
• Generally, without an annulment of their sacramental marriage, such a couple would not be able to receive Communion or absolution of their sins unless they promised to live as “brother and sister.”
• But every situation is different, the Pope said, which is why the church does not need new rules, but a new commitment on the part of pastors to provide spiritual guidance and assistance with discernment.
• Turning to those who believe allowing divorced and remarried Catholics to receive Communion waters down church teaching on the indissolubility of marriage, the Pope said, “we put so many conditions on mercy that we empty it of its concrete meaning and real significance. That is the worst way of watering down the Gospel.”

The incarnation, God becoming man is an amazing thought.  Why would God want to join us here on earth?  Are we so fantastic?  Yes, we are.  God wanted to bridge the gap between earth and heaven, He did not want to remain apart.  The greatest thing we can learn from it is the importance of us becoming one as a people.  Sharing our joys and sorrows, supporting each other, don't suffer alone. Talk to someone and feel connected and hopefully supported. Look for what unites us, what we share in common.  Don't look for the divisions, the differences. We are God's chosen people, he loves and we should love one another.  A sincere thanks to all the people who helped this parish through the last year.  Much goes on behind the scenes by many faithful, dedicated workers.  Feel appreciated, you certainly make my job less stressful.  You make this parish go round and spread the love of God.  Long may it live, make sure you are on board in the coming year. Happy Christmas and a Holy New Year to one and all.

FR Jack

Many people want more information about their faith and about Jesus.  Then they will go out and preach???????  The idea is not bad but.............Many people collect memorabilia about their heroes.  And a few are willing to pay the price to emulate and follow   them. Many kids will sweat their hearts out, and break their parents hearts in the process.  Trying to emulate Mbappe (French) or Messi (Argentinian) and be in World Cups of the future.  And when they don't make it there will be tears like you know who (sorry.) Olu in our shop sells a lot of memorabilia about Jesus and saints.  Sometimes it worries me because  Jesus does not  want admirers he wants followers not collectors of memorabilia.    Like the kid who is prepared to sweat his /her guts out to be like their hero.  And when he/she fails they cry.   Don't see too many Christians crying because of the failure of the Gospel or dare I say our failure.  Conceive of Christ in your hearts and he will become a reality in your life this Christmas.

FR Jack

Reading the prophet Isaiah, you can't but feel a great sense of joy.  The optimism and the looking forward to someone coming.  Someone who will bring great joy and freedom to the hearts of people.  Do you feel that joy in your life right now?  Do you experience anything, like the anticipation of a woman waiting for her first child to be born.  The hope that is in her heart, the anticipation the sharing with her partner.  This is their love personified. Living proof that we love each other. Our love on two legs.   Yes, I am a romantic at heart.  If we can't dream at the birth of a child, when can we dream? "What will this child grow up to be?"  (A book could follow on the responsibility to keep that love intact.  Sadly, some parents are only capable of giving physical birth.)The need for that child to grow up spiritually as a child of love.  A child who was conceived in love, out of love and FOR LOVE.Parents pray with your children everyday so that they may know whom they truly are as your children and as brothers and sisters of the Christ child.  Don't forget their search for God is their search for their own identity.  Which parents give their children.

Worthiness results in being loved not from just achieving.  I am wonderful because God is wonderful.  Today's readings are full of some powerful words. Check them again integrity, faithfulness, justice, peace,  tolerance, produce appropriate fruit.  When these virtues are in us people notice and we become the presence of God in our work place, in our schools and in our lives.  If they are missing or a bit dormant Advent is a great time to resurrect them again.Tuesday we have a penitential service here in our own church at 7pm.  Please use it to appreciate why Jesus came into the world. Then and only then will we be able to say with the mystic Julian of Norwich, "All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all shall be well.”

We come again to a new year, all the readings starting from today will be from Year 1. In Advent like in Lent the vestments are in purple this is because they are both penitential seasons.  Lent is the preparation for the Resurrection and Advent is the preparation for the birth of Jesus.  We have a good tradition of doing something special in Lent, we should also do something in Advent.  We know Christ is born – he came into history 2,000 years ago.  Is he now coming more and more into my life.  If Christ is to be born in me, I’ve got to make space in my heart, this means getting rid of any bitterness, jealousy, racism, lack of forgiveness, selfishness and so on.  It is said that prayer has two wings – fasting and alms giving.  So if our prayer is to be real we have to have fasting and alms giving.

We come again to a new year, all the readings starting from today will be from Year 1. In Advent like in Lent the vestments are in purple this is because they are both penitential seasons.  Lent is the preparation for the Resurrection and Advent is the preparation for the birth of Jesus.  We have a good tradition of doing something special in Lent, we should also do something in Advent.  We know Christ is born – he came into history 2,000 years ago.  Is he now coming more and more into my life.  If Christ is to be born in me, I’ve got to make space in my heart, this means getting rid of any bitterness, jealousy, racism, lack of forgiveness, selfishness and so on.  It is said that prayer has two wings – fasting and alms giving.  So if our prayer is to be real we have to have fasting and alms giving.