This week's news

As the Holy Father remains in hospital, we keep him close in prayer.

Almighty and Eternal God,
you are the everlasting health of
those who believe in you.
Hear our prayers for your sick servant Francis
for whom we implore the aid of your tender mercy,
through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Our Lady of Lourdes, Health of the Sick, pray for him.

NEW LENT FAITH FORMATION over 4 Saturday mornings.

Join us from 10am-12noon on 15th, 22nd & 29th March + 5th April in the parish hall.
Based on specific chapters in the publication “Your Faith”, but not exclusively, books will be provided for the morning.
We will work as a group supporting one another in asking questions and sharing experiences, although there is no expectation to speak in the group.
All are welcome to come along to one or all of the sessions.

Lenten Soup Lunches

Our sister Church, St Lawrence in Chipping Sodbury, are hosting Lenten Soup Lunches for our Parishes in Communion.

Each Friday in Lent, you can go along for a charity lunch, raising money to support several worthwhile causes.

Starting on 7th March, the lunches will be from 12.30 until 2pm in their parish hall on Chipping Sodbury High Street.

Mill Hill Novena

From 10-18 March the Mill Hill Missionaries are running their annual Novena Masses in Maidenhead. These Masses are all available to watch on zoom so everyone can take part - see their website for details of how you can join or for how to purchase their Novena prayer booklet.
https://millhillmissionaries.com/novena/

Defibrillator statistics

Have a look at the amazing stats, just released, from https://thecircuit.uk/ who register the network of defibrillators around the country, including ours at St Augustine's.

Fantastic to see so many life saving devices around the country.

Thanks, as ever, to Deacon Vincent

for his Reflections for Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

1st Reading from the First Book of Samuel 26: 2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23.

After David had killed the Philistine Champion, Goliath, his fame spread and Saul became fearful that David would take his crown, so Saul set about killing David. Saul had pursued David with 3,000 men and that night they all fall into a deep sleep. This enables David to creep in unnoticed into Saul’s camp and he has Saul at his mercy, but will not strike God’s anointed King, instead he takes his Spear and Bowl that was at Saul’s head and when he is far enough away he shouts waking the camp, and tells Saul that he could have killed him if he wished, but he is no threat to Saul. This is a wonderful picture of the mercy of David combined with the difficulties of leadership. Despite David’s illustration of his respect for Saul, the King will still pursue David because he is eaten out with jealousy and fear. We have before us two different ways of dealing with opponents; God’s way clearly illustrated by David and man’s way illustrated by Saul. Today we are still struggling to follow God’s way of merciful forgiveness, as illustrated by David.

Psalm 103(102): 1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13.

This psalm sings about the mercy of God and shows us exactly how David had followed God’s way in our first reading. God is merciful, “slow to anger, rich in mercy”, “as far as the east is from the west he removes our transgressions.” It is this wonderful mercy of God that we are challenged to follow.

2nd Reading from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians 15: 45-47.

Paul presents us with a vision of the Adam’s failure against Jesus, the Second Adam’s triumph. Adam’s failure led to death the Second Adam’s success leads us to life everlasting. As in Adam all mankind dies, so in Christ’s resurrection all mankind lives, because the second Adam is a life-giving spirit. Paul’s concentration is on the merits of the Resurrection of Christ for all of us. Through his acceptance of death, he has been raised to the heights and as his followers, so, we too are taken with him, as an offering to God.

The Holy Gospel according to Luke 6: 27-38.

Our Gospel today appears to be totally idealistic and unobtainable, yet we have seen by our first reading that David shows just this type of behaviour to Saul who is trying to kill him. We also see that the opposite eats out Saul’s heart and leads to his own destruction. God loves us unconditionally. Jesus says in one point, “See how your Father lets the sun shine on the good as well as the bad.” The love Jesus is talking about is that type of love that wishes the person “No Harm”. We are not required to like, or fall in love with our enemies, just not wish them harm. Thomas More says, “I wish none harm,” at his trial. This Gospel wish for us is not impossible, it is challenging certainly and causes us a lot of soul searching, but God is not asking the impossible of us, only to act as God acts with us. Jesus will give us the great prayer, “The Our Father”, and it contains within it, this same theme of, “love others as we wish to be loved”. The measure we give will be the measure we receive, but the measure God gives is full to overflowing.

Let us then, change the world by really trying to live as God wants us, full of love and respect for everyone.

God give us the courage to love without barriers.

Deacon Vincent.