Saturday 6 May, 2023 | Fourth Week of Easter |Readings: Acts 13:44-52; Psalm 97(98):1-4; John 14:7-14 (You can find these in full on the Universalis website – Click here)
In his poem called ‘Message,’ RS Thomas writes: “A message from God /delivered by a bird / at my window, offering friendship. / Listen. Such language? / Who said God was without / speech? Every word an injection / to make me smile.” In that poem, we gain an insight into God’s revelation of himself in and through his own Creation, as the writer converses with God, and receives a revelation of who he is. In reading the poem we are allowed to glimpse a brief moment of joy wrapped in the Divine Mystery.
In the gospel reading today, the conversation continues between Jesus and his disciples, like lines of a poem, back and forth. Philip is given a voice to express his longing to see God. ‘Have you been with me all this time, Philip,’ asked Jesus, ‘and you still do not know me. To have seen me is to have seen the Father.’ Only then does Philip begin to see how Jesus reveals God. There and then, he is given deeper insight into the Mystery of God, drawn into the intimate relationship between the Son and the Father. It is a moment of profound revelation which comes after being with Jesus for such a long time.
R.S Thomas’s poem continues the poetic conversation, “I gave you the x-ray / eye for you to use not / to prospect, but to discover / the un-malignancy of love’s growth.’ Our life with God is rarely filled with dramatic moments. Just as with Philip, it is about spending time with Jesus, living life in his presence, listening to him speaking, and being open to those moments of revelation which come from a prayerful and patient attentiveness to God as we seek truth and beauty. We must look with the eyes of faith, seek with an open heart, and yearn to be drawn into God’s loving embrace.
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Mass today (Saturday 6May, 2023) was celebrated at St Mary’s Church, Butetown at 10am | If you would like to send a prayer request then click on the ‘REQUEST PRAYER’ Button. You can discover more about Worship across the Ministry Area on our Worship page
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