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Thank you Deacon Vincent for you reflections for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

1st Reading from the book of Wisdom 9: 13-18.

This section is written as if by Solomon, who was greatly admired for his wisdom, as a means of persuading the people how important God’s Wisdom is to both mankind and the individual in working out how we should live. Day by day we must make choices and we need God’s wisdom to be able to discern the right way from the way that displeases Him. God in his wisdom has not hidden the right paths for us; he has taught us what pleases Him, and so we have been saved by Wisdom, God’s wisdom, not ours. We need to study Holy Scripture to discern God’s Wisdom, and not just learn it but also apply it in our daily lives. Doing this, will lead us to true happiness with God.

Psalm 89: 3-6, 12-14, 17.

A song to remind us of the shortness of life and following on from the first reading it encourages us to cultivate a knowledge of God’s Wisdom and so let the favour of the Lord be upon us and give success to the work of our hands.

2nd Reading from the letter of St. Paul to Philemon 9: 10, 12-17.

Here we see a very human side of Paul. This section has always been interpreted that Paul is asking the slave owner to be kind to the runaway slave, and not punish him as he deserves, but recently there have been another interpretation that Onesimus was loaned to Paul to look after him in prison and Onesimus wants to stay with Paul. Paul is sending him back trying by various methods to have Onesimus freed, thus permitting him to return to Paul. He stresses his old age, and the fact of his imprisonment in a bid for sympathy. Next, he tries a bit of word play. Onesimus means profitable, so he says that Onesimus is of worth to both Paul and his owner, Philemon. He wants Onesimus freed so he can refresh Paul’s heart, just like Philemon refreshes the hearts of the saints back home. Then a final push he stresses how he desires Philemon to be spontaneously charitable and let Onesimus come back to Paul, who is this poor prisoner in chains. Paul is not a cold-blooded person, he is flesh and blood and warm and kindly. He has absorbed God’s wisdom in his everyday life.

The Holy Gospel according to Luke 14: 25-33.

This is a very stark call to detachment in being a follower of Jesus. One cannot drag their feet; it must be a wholehearted giving of oneself to discipleship. It is important to know ourselves and make sure we know what we are doing and not have second thoughts later. The two parables are examples of a person knowing what he or she is about to take on and being sure they have taken stock of what is required, before going headlong into something you cannot cope with. Being a disciple will require sacrifice, hence the reference to taking up one’s cross and following him. But we have him in front of us leading the way, and if we keep our eyes focussed upon him, he will draw us ever closer to him, and teach us how to become true brothers and sisters on the journey to the Father. Luke has us on a journey again.

God Bless us all on our journey with Christ.

Deacon Vincent.

Season of Creation ~ a message from the Live Simply Team:

“Listen to the voice of creation” is the theme and invitation of this year’s Season of Creation, originally inspired by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The ecumenical phase begins on 1 September with the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, and concludes on 4 October with the feast of Saint Francis.

It is a special time for all Christians to pray and work together to care for our common home.

The burning bush is the Symbol for the Season of Creation 2022. Today, the prevalence of unnatural fires are a sign of the devastating effects that climate change has on the most vulnerable of our planet. Creation cries out as forests crackle, animals flee, and people are forced to migrate due to the fires of injustice.

On the contrary, the fire that called to Moses as he tended the flock on Mt. Horeb did not consume or destroy the bush. This flame of the Spirit revealed God’s presence. This holy fire affirmed that God heard the cries of all who suffered, and promised to be with us as we followed in faith to our deliverance from injustice.

In this Season of Creation, this symbol of God’s Spirit calls us to listen to the voice of creation.

In St Augustine's this month, we also invite you to share produce or plants from your gardens or allotments to raise money for CAFOD. Just bring to Mass and take and donate what you will.