The 16th Sunday of the Year
22nd July 2007

Monday - St Bridget of Sweden
Wednesday - St James the Apostle
Thursday - Ss Joachim & Anne

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Gospel Reflection:
Luke 10:38-42
Luke. 10:38-42 - Choosing the Better Part

"Don't just stand there gawping," we're told as children," .... do something!" we have grown up knowing that we all must pull our weight, and so when the overworked Martha complains to Jesus that her sister Mary has not helped with the meal, we get understandably hot under the collar when Jesus condones Mary's choice to sit at his feet in conversation. There is of cause a big danger in the story of Martha and Mary. The danger is that we feel the need to side with one sister, thereby judging the other wrong. In truth, both sisters have something to teach us.

Martha we are told, was concerned with many things, but we're led to believe that all of them were finite and transitory. If we took time to make a list of the concerns in our own lives we might find that we have a lot of Martha in us. We worry about work, we worry about money and we worry about how we are going to fit our chores in. If we look back at our anxieties of last year, or last month, or even last week, we might be forced to admit that most of those worries had no lasting significance, yet they still managed to dominate our lives and rob us of what was important. Mary on the other hand was only concerned with one thing, ... the Kingdom of God ... finite, ultimate and lasting. It is important to note that Jesus was not reproaching Martha, after all without Martha there would have been no meal on the table that night. Without the Marthas of the world nothing would get done. On the other hand, it doesn't matter how hard we work, without God at the centre of our lives, our actions are hollow. Mary chose 'the better part', but we all need a little of Martha too.

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Saints Joachim and Ann
Parents of The Virgin Mary - 26th July

The strong character of Mary in making decisions, her continuous practice of prayer, her devotion to the laws of her faith, her steadiness at moments of crisis, and her devotion to her relatives - all indicate a close-knit, loving family that looked forward to the next generation even while retaining the best of the past.

Joachim and Ann - whether these are the real names of Mary's parents or not - represent that entire quiet series of generations who faithfully perform their duties, practice their faith and establish an atmosphere for the coming of the Messiah, but remain obscure.

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THE NEWSLETTER

This is the final edition of the weekly newsletter until 2nd September.

Details of the beginning of the 1st Communion Programme for 2008 will be contained in that issue.

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For the Time:

From Robert Bolt's - "A Man for all Seasons." 1960

Roper: Et cum spiritu tuo, Excellencis

Spanish Ambassador: And how much longer shall
we hear that holy language on these shores?

Thomas More: Not holy Your Excellency; just old.

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RECENT APPEALS:

Sons of Divine Providence: (Last Weekend)
Father Malcolm Dyer writes: 'Dear Father Bernard and Parishioners of St. Theodore's, I would like to thank you for your warm welcome and generous donations for our parish at Kabarugi in the Kenyan Murang'a Diocese. The amount donated was £870.00. Thank you very much. God bless you all.