+ Tues 31st – Scripture, homily reflection and another street sign!
31 March 2020
Dear friends – (sorry I missed my midday posting time by 15 mins!! Here it is at 12.15pm) – Hope you’re well on this Tuesday 31st March. I’m mixing up the style of posts each day in the Parish Blog space – thought a bit of variety might be an idea – but keep feeling welcome to feed back about what’s helpful or about suggested changes. My email contact is [email protected]
So, today – another street sign??? plus today’s readings from daily Mass and I thought I’d record another brief homily to share with you today too
The Warring Ave street sign – another simple reminder of each other in all the different streets – Thanksgiving for the many ways people are connecting with each other. And a reminder too of our being in union with people in streets all over the world. My own personal contacts in the lower Himalayan Mountains told me last night of the first COVID-19 death in their community – a lady aged 44 named Sunita Singh – May God embrace Sunita and bless her family – as well as unite the people in all of their local ‘streets’, towns and villages.
Here are today’s readings from Mass and a recorded homily below
1st Reading
A Reading from the Book of Numbers (21:4-9)
The Israelites left Mount Hor by the road to the Sea of Suph, to skirt the land of Edom. On the way the people lost patience. They spoke against God and against Moses, ‘Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die in this wilderness? For there is neither bread nor water here; we are sick of this unsatisfying food.’
At this God sent fiery serpents among the people; their bite brought death to many in Israel. The people came and said to Moses, ‘We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you. Intercede for us with the Lord to save us from these serpents.’ Moses interceded for the people, and the Lord answered him, ‘Make a fiery serpent and put it on a standard. If anyone is bitten and looks at it, he shall live.’ So Moses fashioned a bronze serpent which he put on a standard, and if anyone was bitten by a serpent, he looked at the bronze serpent and lived.
The word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm
(Psalm 101(102):2-3,16-21)
Response > O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you
O Lord, listen to my prayer
and let my cry for help reach you.
Do not hide your face from me
in the day of my distress.
Turn your ear towards me
and answer me quickly when I call
O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you
The nations shall fear the name of the Lord
and all the earth’s kings your glory,
when the Lord shall build up Zion again
and appear in all his glory.
Then he will turn to the prayers of the helpless;
he will not despise their prayers
O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you
Let this be written for ages to come
that a people yet unborn may praise the Lord;
for the Lord leaned down from his sanctuary on high.
He looked down from heaven to the earth
that he might hear the groans of the prisoners
and free those condemned to die
O Lord, hear my prayer, and let my cry come to you
Gospel Acclamation
(Jn8:12)
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless glory!
The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower;
all who come to him will live for ever.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, king of endless glory!
Gospel
A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to John (8:21-30)
Jesus said to the Pharisees:
‘I am going away;
you will look for me
and you will die in your sin.
Where I am going, you cannot come.’
The Jews said to one another, ‘Will he kill himself? Is that what he means by saying, “Where I am going, you cannot come”?’ Jesus went on:
‘You are from below; I am from above.
You are of this world; I am not of this world.
I have told you already:
You will die in your sins.
Yes, if you do not believe that I am He,
you will die in your sins.’
So they said to him, ‘Who are you?’ Jesus answered:
‘What I have told you from the outset.
About you I have much to say
and much to condemn;
but the one who sent me is truthful,
and what I have learnt from him
I declare to the world.’
They failed to understand that he was talking to them about the Father. So Jesus said:
‘When you have lifted up the Son of Man,
then you will know that I am He
and that I do nothing of myself:
what the Father has taught me is what I preach;
he who sent me is with me,
and has not left me to myself,
for I always do what pleases him.’
As he was saying this, many came to believe in him.
The Gospel of the Lord.
HOMILY
Welcoming peace
Lord Jesus Christ,
who said to your Apostles:
Peace I leave you, my peace I give you,
look not on our sins,
but on the faith of your people – your Church,
and graciously grant us peace and unity
in accordance with your will.
Who live and reign for ever and ever.
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
Final Prayer from today’ Mass
Let us pray.
Grant, we pray, almighty God,
that, ever seeking what is divine,
we may always be worthy
to approach these heavenly gifts.
Through Christ our Lord.
See yesterday’s post in the Parish Blog if you haven’t caught up on the parish outreach idea for anyone who is feeling (or who you know might be feeling) a bit stuck regarding shopping and supplies.
I wish you and loved ones a good and hope-filled day! See you in the next post.
