Today we welcome Fr Brian Oswald MHM to promote the RED BOX. Many families have one, but many more I am sure will be very happy to help. I have no doubt you will give him a fantastic St James’ welcome.
Together we are helping missionaries share the love of Jesus overseas For almost 200 years, we have been supporting world mission, providing missionaries with the spiritual and material support they need to enable local people to build and sustain their own faith communities. Today we continue to empower the Catholic Church globally, showing the love of Christ to everyone, and especially to those in need. We achieve this with our partners, the Mill Hill Missionaries, and your generous Red Box donations.

Jesus, in protecting Mary in today's reading, is protecting all women. In many parts of the world today women are forbidden to go to school.  "Girls do not need education, they are for bearing children and manual work!" The reason for manual work is not a reason for a woman to give up her heart’s desire. Martha understood the place of women in their society. They were to clean the house and cook like Martha was doing, and there was no need for them to have education. Their husbands would see after them???? No wasting time like Mary was doing. Martha demands that Mary be made to ‘play the woman,’ and as ever Jesus will not go along with the stereotype: “Mary has chosen the better portion and she shall not be deprived of it.” How much women have suffered over the world, over the centuries, because of the perception of their "proper role!"  Dare I say as defined by men?????????? Like Sarah in the first reading, they are for cleaning the house and cooking food.

Probably the best short story ever told and the best known world-wide by all religions: The Good Samaritan.  We know it by heart, we have heard it a thousand times, we even use the phrase, "be a good Samaritan."  We all know what it means.  You could even say we are quoting scripture, but the call to be a GS is something else. We are all good from time to time and help now and again.  But we say there is a limit. This, I believe, is the difference between a Christian and a non-believer. The non-believer may get tired. A Christian never gets tired. You go on and on.  As Jesus says to give without counting the cost, now there is a challenge. When you start to count you have lost the plot.  Jesus gave the last drop of blood, we are called to do no less, giving a bit here and there. Yes, you're a good person, even a nice person, but as Paul says: - "Even the pagans do as much, do they not?" So being a GS demands sacrifice.  Now there is a word you don't hear too often, S.A.C.R.I.F.I.C.E. By and large we do not like making sacrifices, going to mass is a sacrifice, spending time with people we may not like is a sacrifice, giving up something for the benefit of another is a sacrifice. And that is the call of the gospel, going the extra mile.

I believe that St Francis’s message is even more important in light of this most recent pandemic. Francis—and his spiritual sister, Clare—remind us we are all connected. The paths of greed, consumerism, individualism, and nationalism endanger the planet and its peoples. In the spirit of Francis, we need to break down barriers of friend and stranger, citizen and immigrant, rich and poor, if we are to survive in this increasingly interdependent world. Nations need to see patriotism in terms of world loyalty as well as self-affirmation.

I often worry about what I write here and what I preach. Why? My mother used to bake brown soda bread and it was beautiful. Many other women bake brown soda bread, even here in the parish. But none of them make it quite like my mother. It is a very personal experience. You see, I could give you a recipe here for a wedding cake.  All the best quality ingredients, quantities and how to put them together.  But no way does that compare to the sheer joy of eating/sharing a wedding cake and a glass of champagne with the happy couple. Reading the scriptures and doing what Fr Jack suggests, no way compares to the sheer joy of knowing Christ. You've got to sit down and spend your own time with the readings/ingredients and hopefully that will bring you to knowing the person of Christ in a very personal way. "I live now, not I but Christ lives in me." This is the freedom that Paul talks about in the second reading. The freedom of being in love.

I am not often stuck for words, but last week must go down as the mother and father of all parish days. Just shows you what can be done with everyone pulling their weight and everybody contributing. You did me proud, everybody was impressed and I believe enjoyed themselves as well.  And God, himself was not to be outdone in generosity. A day to be remembered. But I fear for who can organise next year. The obvious answer is we keep the DQ on. Do I hear you say yes? The food, the music, the barbecue, the drinks, the planning, the organization, the clean-up, just everything. My family and friends were delighted, but now no longer feel sorry for me. In fact, they envy me. And I also hope you feel very proud and happy to belong to St James’. This is faith in action. "LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING." One priest had the audacity to ask me when I was retiring.  And he was not thinking of my well-being???. To one and all, big hugs and kisses, all around. Let's continue to build.   Proud and happy to belong to St James' and for your very generous gift.  Be blessed.

The beauty of God is in relationship. Not the father implementing draconian laws or the son being a proud know it all, because of his pedigree. No, it is in their unity of spirit and purpose which ironically is us.  Creating a wonderful world for us and showing us how to treat each other.  The more we listen and act the more we become like them' creating a beautiful world for the better of all people. Creating a spirit and atmosphere of love which is nothing other than God himself in the person of the Holy Spirit. You see Jesus became man in order to participate in our human condition and transform it from within. And the father’s only desire is that we share his happiness. But we have got to make his words our own. As Paul says; - "I live now, not I, but Christ lives in me."  And it is only when we make it our own will it become the driving force in our life.   Because happiness is an internal job and we can only enjoy it in relationship.

Happy birthday. Yes, today is our birthday. The church was born from the side of Christ. Blood and water flowed out, meaning Christ is dead and the way is now open for the Holy Spirit to come. So, his arrival today is the beginning, since the Ascension of Jesus they are locked in the upper room, AFRAID. But today they get the Holy Spirit and get courage to go out and preach, go out and preach to the point of death. Around the world millions of people are prepared to die for their belief.  Here in the UK, we will never be asked to die for our faith.  But we are continually asked to stand up for our faith, speak out when you see wrong doing etc. The 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, council, fortitude, knowledge, piety and the fear of the Lord. The Twelve Fruits of the Holy Spirit: 1. Charity 2. Joy 3. Peace 4. Patience 5. Kindness 6. Goodness 7. Generosity 8. Gentleness 9. Faithfulness 10. Modesty 11. Self-Control 12. Chastity. When some or all of the 12 fruits of the Holy Spirit are present, then you know God is around. QUESTION:  How alive is the Holy Spirit in your life?

Whether it be marriage, a school, an office, or family, a country or institution, unity is the key to happiness. All people working and pulling together under the leadership of the boss/head, trusting they are a good leader.  Jesus knew that so well. His departing words were, "That all would be one."  The breakup of the Christian churches into thousands, yes thousands, many vying for position, must surely go down as the greatest scandal of our time. The result is a very weakened church, lack of conviction and a failure to preach the gospel message of PEACE.   A failure to change the face of society. At the moment, if we are trying to hold the church together, it must be as an instrument of peace and not preserving it for its own sake. The dying prayer of Jesus was: - "That all may be one."  "Father may they be one as we are one. May they be one, with me in them and you in me, may they be so completely one that the world will realise it was you who sent me." 

The arrest of Cardinal Joseph Zen by the Hong Kong government this week is bad news for the Vatican. It's true that the 90-year-old cardinal, who is in poor health, has been released, but he is out on bail and will face a trial. By targeting the man who has been nicknamed the "conscience of Hong Kong" and who has been a tireless defender of human rights on the island, Beijing is conveying to Pope Francis all the fragility and ambiguity of the rapprochement it initiated in 2018 with the Vatican. Moreover, it is a rapprochement that Cardinal Zen has criticized. He has always seen it as the pope compromising with an increasingly harsh regime. Therefore, it's no coincidence that the Holy See, contrary to its usual practice, raised its voice immediately and strongly protested the cardinal's arrest. This is also bad news for China. By inaugurating his mandate as chief executive of Hong Kong with the condemnation of a Catholic figure respected throughout the world, John Lee is giving proof that he intends to continue Beijing's takeover of the island. After attacking political and economic opponents, the regime is now targeting religious leaders. This heralds difficult years for Catholics in Hong Kong. And beyond that, for all those on the mainland.

"After Paul and Barnabas had proclaimed the good news to that city and made a considerable number of disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch. They strengthened the spirits of the disciples
and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying, “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” They appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord in whom they had put their faith." This reading today from Acts, is a very good model of how the church could/should work in any/this parish. People who will agree to take responsibility for different ministries and will be faithful. Great things happen in this parish because of a few people.  Just imagine how much more effective it would be with everybody doing something. Are you up for it?

Today is Good Shepherd Sunday. We all love the image of Jesus carrying a sheep around his neck and carrying him back to the fold. Just imagine yourself with that closeness. The Good Shepherd Jesus himself taking care of you. I hope after 50 years I have reflected some of that love in my parishes. Pretty demanding trying always to keep the bright side out.   But a man can only do their best.  I am sure there were many shortcomings and for that I trust in the mercy of God. The grace of God is a wonderful thing.  How do I describe it?   50 years ago, I put on my souvenir card, "By the grace of God." Not sure what I really meant then, but now I know. That grace which has kept me faithful to the job for 50 years and close to the Good Shepherd. To God be the glory.

Today is a beautiful homily story. The apostles dejected, no fish to sell, no money to buy food for their family, not even a fish. Can you imagine them going home, the children running with excitement, "Daddy, Daddy what have you got?" Sorry children, not even a fish, not to mention the bread and sweets they would have bought with the fish they sold. The pain of a father watching his children go hungry.  The sense of failure.  Cold, dejected, and hungry after a long night. Jesus, a non-fisherman telling them what to do.  Fishing in the daytime, never heard of. Then the success and the bar-b-que on the beach.  I've done it many times.  Wonderful. Then the challenge to Peter, "do you love me."  The pain of being asked and asked and asked again. But no doubt in Peter's heart. Despite what he had done.  He knew his Lord and master.

The reality of life is death.  And not death to be avoided but death transformed. This is the great news of the Resurrection. The only trustworthy pattern of spiritual transformation is death and resurrection. As Christians we must carry our cross.  Death and life are two sides of the same coin; you cannot have one without the other. Each time you surrender, each time you trust the dying, your faith is led to a deeper level and you discover a Larger Self underneath. You decide not to push yourself to the front of the line, and something much better happens in the back of the line. You let go of your narcissistic anger, and you find that you start feeling much happier. You surrender your need to control your partner, and finally the relationship blossoms or ends. Yet each time it is a choice—and each time it is a kind of dying. It seems we only know what life is when we know what death is. Or try Paul’s famous one-liner: “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). Things change and grow by dying to their present state, but each time it is a risk. (R. Roher) As spring follows winter and summer follows spring = dying, budding and blossoming. May you blossom this Easter in the knowledge that Christ is risen and alive in you.  "I live now, not I, but Christ lives in me."

Thanks for all your good wishes and prayers. I hope you have a wonderful Easter and that the Lord shines in your heart. Amen HAPPY EASTER

A Happy Easter to one and all!

I love today's gospel: A very angry crowd. A very calm Jesus. That's how to do it. Jesus bends down, He doesn't want to look the woman straight in the eye and embarrass her. Such consideration. And then the finger of God writing on the dust just as it had written the 10 commandments on the tablets of stone earlier. He is the author of the law and as such he must respect it. The people thought they had him over a barrel. As ever Jesus is not out done and he puts the challenge back to the angry crowd. He challenges their own sincerity. It is easy for Christians to take a self- righteous attitude towards the world.  It is much more difficult to take Jesus's attitude. "Neither do I condemn you.  Go and sin no more."  All of us have contributed to the darkness of the world, none of us can cast the first stone. If I have mis- judged you, please let me know.

The wasteful son. We know it backwards. One of Jesus' most famous stories. Often the problem we have in hearing it, is we tend to compare:  The older son, the younger son, the father.  The good, the bad and the kind. Useless exercise.  If you want to compare, compare yourself with Jesus. Jesus, as ever, turns religion on its head as it should be. I hate the word. (religion) The ones who do wrong are forgiven, transformed and rewarded. And some of us good Christians do not like that. Some situations we cannot fix, understand or control.  Up to that moment it has only been religion. Now faith has to take over. "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me," A similarity of life. At that moment Jesus fell totally into the hands of the Father. That is faith/trust. And that is resurrection. (Comment is welcome)

God is a wonderful gardener. Just look at the world he has given us and he also takes care of it. Some of us do a bit. I prefer God's Garden. Ours tend to be a bit too manicured.  The joy of the forest, the variety of trees, plants and shrubs.  Interconnected, feeding of each other, supporting each other and at times destroying one another.  All part of nature and God's way. Not to mention the home it provides for millions of insects, animals. The roots holding water and avoiding floods and landslides. The music in the wind and the birds and the bees. Don't you feel truly blessed? And it runs in the family. It seems his son is an equally good gardener. Today he does not want to cut down a "useless" fig tree. Give it another chance. Don't you feel doubly blessed? Because He is talking about you and I. He gives us a million chances to find happiness and life. But we often do not want to appreciate what He is doing/has done. We still want to do it our our way. Frank Sinatra will never be dead. (only for the over 50's)

The transfiguration of Jesus Christ was a powerful demonstration of His divine nature and manifestation of His glory.  The transfiguration of Jesus was quite a dramatic event. We may not be capable of transfiguration but we can be transformed. Again, let Paul be our guide. In his letter to the Philippians, he says: - “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:  even though he is God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped......"  But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of all men: And being found in human form, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death on the cross. Or again: -  "I live now not I, but Christ lives in me." "Him in whom I live, move and have my being. Yes, we are being continually called upon to be of the same mind as Christ.  Through reading his word we form the mind of Christ in us, so the transformation at death will, I hope, be easier, but then again, "no eye has seen or ear heard what God has prepared for those who love him." Sounds spectacular. I pray and trust we have a wonderful future.  Enjoy it in embryonic form here and now.  Stay close to God.