This week
‘Jesus had compassion for them’ says the Gospel. He saw the crowds ‘harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd’, lost and aimless, not knowing where to turn, and he was moved, he could not pass by on the other side. Compassion is a key word in helping us understand who Jesus is and what he is about. He is never indifferent to our situation, that is why he came, that is what the whole Christ event is about. Jesus will never pass us by on the other side.
He could justify passing us by, sinners that we are, but as St Paul said, ‘God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us’. St Paul goes on to say, ‘we have now been justified by his blood... reconciled to God’. Note that it is a past event, it’s a done deal, we are justified and reconciled, though we don’t deserve it. It’s Jesus compassion for us that has done it, he sees us, sinners that we are and he has to act to help us. He is deeply moved by our plight.
I often think that so many of our problems arise because we don’t see ourselves as we really are, as Christ sees us, as sinners. If we see ourselves as sinners, wretched sinners was the term St Catherine of Siena used, then we realize that we are deserving of nothing. Everything is unearned, undeserved, pure gift, we have no right to anything, so we shouldn’t complain but just be thankful for what we’ve got. That was the attitude of the saints. I try to think when things go wrong that I deserve this, sinner that I am, so I shouldn’t complain. Of course, it’s not easy as we all like a good moan at times and are quick to take offence but a different approach could change things for the better. It could help to counter arrogance, anger and resentment.
The other week as I walked through Didsbury village, a man who seemed somewhat unbalanced, saw my clerical collar and stated to abuse me. A torrent of swear words and other offensive terms poured out of his mouth. I said, ‘you’re a bad man’ and walked on, comforted by the words of Jesus that came into my head, ‘Happy are you when people abuse you on my account, rejoice and be glad for your reward will be great in heaven’. Later I thought about that man and prayed for him. What experience had he had to make him react like that? We all know that some have used the clerical collar to use and abuse others. When Jesus suffered, he took it on the chin and died for us. Can we take it on the chin? Should we take it on the chin when abuse or trials come our way?
‘Jesus had compassion for them’ says the Gospel. He saw the crowds ‘harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd’, lost and aimless, not knowing where to turn, and he was moved, he could not pass by on the other side. Compassion is a key word in helping us understand who Jesus is and what he is about. He is never indifferent to our situation, that is why he came, that is what the whole Christ event is about. Jesus will never pass us by on the other side.
He could justify passing us by, sinners that we are, but as St Paul said, ‘God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us’. St Paul goes on to say, ‘we have now been justified by his blood... reconciled to God’. Note that it is a past event, it’s a done deal, we are justified and reconciled, though we don’t deserve it. It’s Jesus compassion for us that has done it, he sees us, sinners that we are and he has to act to help us. He is deeply moved by our plight.
I often think that so many of our problems arise because we don’t see ourselves as we really are, as Christ sees us, as sinners. If we see ourselves as sinners, wretched sinners was the term St Catherine of Siena used, then we realize that we are deserving of nothing. Everything is unearned, undeserved, pure gift, we have no right to anything, so we shouldn’t complain but just be thankful for what we’ve got. That was the attitude of the saints. I try to think when things go wrong that I deserve this, sinner that I am, so I shouldn’t complain. Of course, it’s not easy as we all like a good moan at times and are quick to take offence but a different approach could change things for the better. It could help to counter arrogance, anger and resentment.
The other week as I walked through Didsbury village, a man who seemed somewhat unbalanced, saw my clerical collar and stated to abuse me. A torrent of swear words and other offensive terms poured out of his mouth. I said, ‘you’re a bad man’ and walked on, comforted by the words of Jesus that came into my head, ‘Happy are you when people abuse you on my account, rejoice and be glad for your reward will be great in heaven’. Later I thought about that man and prayed for him. What experience had he had to make him react like that? We all know that some have used the clerical collar to use and abuse others. When Jesus suffered, he took it on the chin and died for us. Can we take it on the chin? Should we take it on the chin when abuse or trials come our way?
The Order of the Mass
In a new series of videos, Father Michael explains more about the Order of the Mass, covering the Introductory Rites, the Liturgy of the Word and Liturgy of the Eucharist and Concluding Rites.
In a new series of videos, Father Michael explains more about the Order of the Mass, covering the Introductory Rites, the Liturgy of the Word and Liturgy of the Eucharist and Concluding Rites.
|
|
|
|
|
|
To watch other videos about St Catherine's please see our Parish YouTube channel