In today’s reflection on the daily mass readings, Fr Richard considers how God’s hope is often revealed through difficulty and trials, rather than perfection

Readings for 18 December: Jeremiah 23.5-8; Psalm 72.1-2, 12-13, 18-19; Matthew 1.18-24. Text of readings can be found here.

You can blame it on Christmas movies, the John Lewis TV advert, scenes on Christmas cards and chocolate boxes, and nowadays social media as well. There is an image in the public mind of what constitutes the perfect Christmas: the turkey perfectly cooked with all the trimmings; the tree looking immaculate with beautifully wrapped presents beneath; and the house full of happy and harmonious family members. Often, the truth can be a long way short of this, and we have all heard of (or experienced) a Christmas that’s less than perfect.

In our readings today we see a God who is not concerned with a chocolate-box image of perfection. Indeed, it seems that it is disaster, difficulty and vulnerability that God prefers to work through in order to show forth his hope. Jeremiah was writing to a people whose very nation had been destroyed; Israel had been conquered and the people sent off into exile in a foreign land. Yet out of these ashes God promises to raise up “a virtuous branch for David”, a king who will rule with integrity, and restore the nation.

In the Gospel, God is working out his purposes for the salvation of all through an ordinary, lowly family, the couple’s very relationship threatened by this unexpected pregnancy. It is through these less-than-perfect circumstances that God enters into our less-than-perfect world, in order to draw it back to him.

As Christmas approaches, with all its expectations, let us be on the lookout for God’s hope manifesting itself through the struggles, the disappointments and the difficulties – for that is where his hope is most often to be found.

Mass today (Thursday 18 December) is at 10am in St Dyfrig & St Samson, Grangetown.

If you’d like more resources for daily prayer then check out our Day By Day pages.

In today’s reflection on the daily mass readings, Fr Richard considers what it means truly to accept God’s way for our lives.

Readings for Tuesday of the third week of Advent: Zephaniah 3.1-2, 9-13; Psalm 34.2-3, 6-7, 17-18, 19, 23; Matthew 21.28-32. Text of readings can be found here.

One of the many banes of modern life is having to scroll through pages and pages of terms and conditions before signing up to some service or other, then ticking the box which says “I Agree” right at the end. Which person actually reads (or could understand) every word before agreeing? Most of the time this has no consequences, but occasionally we might come a cropper for some reason, and the reply from officialdom would be “well, it was in the terms and conditions you agreed to”!

Our readings today highlight this difference between blithely agreeing to something, and understanding deep within ourselves the implications of that decision. In our first reading tonight we have the first two verses from Zephaniah chapter 3, then a gap, followed by five more verses. In the first part, God is condemning the people for their rebellion and lack of trust in him. Outwardly they claimed to be his people, but their lives did not match this rhetoric. They had clicked “I agree” without understanding what that meant in practice. In the second part of the reading, however, God promises to purify the people, to bring about a conversion of hearts and minds. 

A similar theme is present in today’s Gospel. Jesus uses the parable of the two sons to illustrate the contrast between the chief priests and the elders, those who claim to be true followers of God, and the tax collectors and prostitutes. The former show by their attitude that they haven’t really understood what God demands. The latter, though their lives might be outwardly chaotic, have understood and are making that inner conversion. That is what we are all called to. It is the harder way than simply ticking “I agree”, but God promises to accompany us on that journey, and help us.

Mass today (Tuesday 16 December) is at 6.30pm in St Mary’s, Butetown.

If you’d like more resources for daily prayer then check out our Day By Day pages.

In today’s reflection on the daily mass readings, Fr Richard considers the importance of making up our minds in relation to the things of God, even when this is difficult.

Readings for Monday of the third week of Advent: Numbers 24.2-7, 15-17a; Psalm 25.4-5, 6-7, 8-9; Matthew 21.23-27. Text of readings can be found here.

It was once said of a famous Anglican bishop, “on every important issue, he nails his colours firmly to the fence”. Sometimes, perhaps, once can be forgiven for hedging one’s bets, and not firmly deciding one way or another on a certain issue. We might be concerned about upsetting one side or another, or the matter may genuinely be a hard one to decide upon. On other occasions, however, we are called to be decisive: are we in favour of something, or are we against it?

The chief priests and elders in today’s Gospel tried nailing their colours to the fence when Jesus challenged them about John the Baptist’s authority, after they asked him about his own authority. They were afraid of being seen either as hypocrites, or antagonising the people, who believed in John. And so they replied, “We do not know”.

An altogether different approach is shown by the prophet Balaam in our first reading. Previously, the local king Balak had sent Balaam to curse Israel as they passed through his land on their way to the Promised Land. On his way to carry out this mission, Balaam, riding his donkey, had his way blocked by an angel. Famously, the donkey began speaking to tell his master what was going on. Then Balaam’s eyes were opened, and he realised that he must bless Israel, not curse them. This he proceeds to do in today’s passage, much to the annoyance of King Balak. Faced with a decision, Balaam chose the right course, even if it was one which would get him in trouble with his master.

When it comes to the things of God, we cannot be neutral. Proclaiming God’s truth in a hostile world may make us unpopular, but we must nail our colours to the mast rather than the fence, so that all people may behold that truth and be drawn to it.

Mass today (Monday 15 December) is at 6.30pm in St Dyfrig & St Samson, Grangetown.

If you’d like more resources for daily prayer then check out our Day By Day pages.

“Do we expect God to fulfil our expectations, or do we allow him to transform us, allowing his grace to work in our lives to receive what he wishes to give? Today’s reflection from the daily Mass.

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BIBLE READINGS: You can find the readings for Friday of the Second Week of Advent here (Universalis Website)

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Jesus’ opinion of children is well catalogued. “Unless you become like a little child you will not inherit the kingdom of heaven,” is just one of his teachings. He is also protective of them and tells us what comes to those who harm one of these little ones.

In today’s gospel, he gives a picture of children at play, calling to their playmates in the marketplace. Their playmates have not been playing according to the rules of the game. They played the flute they didn’t dance. They sang a dirge they didn’t mourn. They haven’t been playing the game. They are not happy with any of it. Likewise, when John the Baptist appears, his fasting is frowned upon. When Jesus appears, his feasting is likewise as unpopular. Neither can win. Jesus uncovers their fickleness, and the insincerity of their expectations.

It begs the question, what do we expect of God? Are we as fickle as those playmates in the marketplace? Or as disapproving as the crowd? Do we expect God to fulfil our expectations, or do we allow him to transform us, allowing his grace to work in our lives to receive what he wishes to give? As the psalmist sings, “Blessed indeed is the one whose delight is the law of the Lord, who ponders his law day and night “

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MASS TODAY

Mass today on Friday 12 December is at S Saviour’s at 10am

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DAY BY DAY

If you’d like more resources for daily prayer then check out our DAY BY DAY pages.

 

In today’s reflection from the daily Mass, we explore what it really means to be great!

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BIBLE READINGS: You can find the readings for Thursday of the Second Week of Advent here (Universalis Website)

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There is no end of votes and polls, award ceremonies and lists, which hail the greatest this or the best that. From actors to footballers, from teachers to writers, the list seems endless.

In the gospel reading today, Jesus sets out the values of the Kingdom expressed through the figure of John the Baptist. There is no one born of woman who is greater than him, he says. And yet, God’s Kingdom is not about greatness as the world sees it. The least in the kingdom is greater than John the Baptist.

The world is full of powerful people, some of them very rich indeed. There are many who excel in their field, whether that is entertainment, sport or business. Perhaps there are times when we wish we were more successful or had a different kind of life. But the kingdom of God is revealed through humble lives. He shows us this in so many ways but above all in Jesus who came not to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.

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MASS TODAY

Mass today on Thursday 11 December is at S Dyfrig and S Samson at 10am

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DAY BY DAY

If you’d like more resources for daily prayer then check out our DAY BY DAY pages.

 

In today’s reflection from the daily Mass, Fr Dean wonders what it’s like to have an adventurous spirit in the church.

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BIBLE READINGS: You can find the readings for Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent here (Universalis Website)

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How adventurous are you? How inquisitive? Are you the one to wander off to following your intuition, or are you more careful and calculated, watching what others do, going along with the crowd?

The parable of the Lost Sheep is a familiar one. There is an interesting difference between the version of the parable shared in Matthew’s gospel and the one we know from Luke’s. In Luke, the sheep is lost and the message of the story appears to be how Jesus associates with sinners. Whereas, in Matthew’s gospel from today’s Mass, the sheep has gone astray. The sheep is the adventurous type, who has broken away from the flock in search of new sights and sounds. It may seem pastorally inappropriate to leave the 99 others behind, but maybe it’s worth  leaving behind the safe, unadventurous types (after all—what can happen to them? They’re risk averse!) and seek out that adventurous, great-souled member of the community who, once discovered, can give us a fresh perspective and new possibilities.

The church is often criticised for being old fashioned, clinging to yesterday’s traditions. Whilst we need to treasure and be nurtured by the traditions and belief we have inherited, we are also called to have a bold, adventurous spirit. Sometimes, it only needs one person to show us that spirit, and chase the possibilities which are out there, beyond our usual trodden path.

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MASS TODAY

Mass today on Tuesday 9 December is at S Mary’s at 630pm (followed by our Advent Course at 7pm)

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DAY BY DAY

If you’d like more resources for daily prayer then check out our DAY BY DAY pages.

 

“For those of us who have decided to follow Jesus, each day presents opportunities to serve him.. Today’s reflection from the daily Mass.

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BIBLE READINGS: You can find the readings for Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary here (Universalis Website)

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Depending on how you define a decision, it is estimated that each person makes around 35,000 decisions a day.

These include major life decisons, and minor everyday ones from what clothes to wear, what to eat, or what social media post to like. Apparently, the vast number of decisions we take can lead to “decision fatigue,” where the quality of each choice can decline throughout the day.

In the gospel reading today, Mary has a choice to make. She has been hailed as blessed by the angel and now God’s designs are unfolded before her.  She has a major life decision to make. A decision that will not only affect her life but the life of the whole world. The whole of heaven hangs on her words as she utters her loving response, “Let it be to me according to your word.” Her decision is one that comes from a pure heart. A heart that is full of love for God and a desire to live according to his designs.

We may have many decisions to make, and some of them may appear to have very few major repercussions. For those of us who have decided to follow Jesus, each day presents opportunities to serve him. It could be the smallest gesture or a single word which, like a mustard seed, bears fruit behind our imagining.

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MASS TODAY

Mass today on Monday 8 December is at S Dyfrig and S Samson’s Church at 630pm

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DAY BY DAY

If you’d like more resources for daily prayer then check out our DAY BY DAY pages.

 

in today’s reflection on the daily mass readings, Fr Richard considers how God reaches out to us in love and helps us when we are in need.

Readings for Saturday of the 1st week of Advent: Isaiah 30.19-21, 23-26; Psalm 146.2-4, 5-6; Matthew 9.35-10.1, 5a, 6-8. Text of readings can be found here.

I remember once going through a particularly difficult time in my life, when it felt like the weight of the world was on my shoulders. A dear friend seemed to sense when I was feeling particularly low, and would invite me round for dinner. That kindly act didn’t take away all my troubles, but it did make the world seem a slightly brighter place.

In our readings today we see a God who, in a similar way, reaches out in love and compassion to those who are in need, but he is able to transform the fortunes of those who are suffering. Isaiah says this about God’s response to the people of Jerusalem: “He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you”. But God doesn’t just offer words of comfort, he acts as well. First, he tells the people the direction they should be going, and then promises that the land will be fertile. In the Gospel, Jesus has compassion on the crowd, “because they were harassed and helpless”. He too acts, by sending out the twelve to proclaim the kingdom, and bring healing in his name.

We know that whenever we are suffering or in need, God reaches out to us in love, but also brings the healing only he can offer. Likewise the church is called upon to carry out God’s work in the world, and so our mission ought to be seeking out the contemporary lost sheep, those harassed and helpless, weighed down by worries, problems and concerns. Yes, we can offer them compassion, a listening ear and a place of refuge. But we can also offer them the healing, restoration and salvation that comes only from God.

In today’s reflection on the daily mass readings, Fr Richard considers how we can trust in God’s promises revealed to us in the Bible.

Readings for Friday of the 1st week of Advent: Isaiah 29.17-24; Psalm 27.1, 4, 13-14; Matthew 9.27-31. Text of readings can be found here.

Fans of a lower-league sports team need to have a special kind of hope or optimism. Most weeks they see their team getting beaten, and they know deep down that they will never win any trophies. And yet they keep turning up, week after week, to cheer on their players and hope that one day they might somehow do something amazing. Is that dedication to be commended, or is it naive foolishness?

The cynic might ask the same question in relation to our first reading today. Isaiah seems to offer an impossible vision of the future where the deaf will be deaf no more, the blind will see and ruthless tyrants will be cut off. Yet we know from the rest of the Old Testament that God keeps his promises of renewal and restoration, such as rescuing his people from slavery in Egypt or bringing them back from Exile in Babylon. Isaiah’s vision, then, is one that we can trust in. And we see this vision beginning to be realised in and through the life of Jesus in today’s Gospel, as he heals the two blind men. Here, the key is faith – the blind men trusted in Jesus. But their faith was also about encountering Jesus – we are told they follow Jesus and cry out to him for help.

Our faith, then, is not simply wishful thinking, like those sports fans hoping something will turn up. We are able to trust in a God who always keeps his promises of transformation and renewal, and we are able to encounter Jesus, not least here in the Mass, who always responds to us when we cry out to him, and who, through our faith, is always ready to continue that work of building a new creation, his Kingdom.

In today’s reflection on the daily mass readings, Fr Richard considers the relationship between our words and actions. Which is harder, and which is more effective?

Readings for Thursday of the 1st week of Advent: Isaiah 26.1-6; Psalm 118,1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a; Matthew 7.21, 24-27. Text of readings can be found here.

Whenever a game of football or rugby is in full flow, especially when the Welsh national team are playing, you can be certain that those watching will offer their opinions, often forcefully, about the performance of the team. The spectators will often comment about a shot on goal that was missed, poor defensive work, or a badly executed line-out. The language used can frequently be interesting. One wonders, however, how well many of these people watching would fare if they actually entered the field of play themselves!

“Actions speak louder than words”, so the saying goes. It’s also true that taking action is a lot harder than just talking about something. This is the essence of Jesus’ message in today’s Gospel. What counts, he says, is not just speaking a form of words but actually doing the will of his Father. Acting on the Father’s commands, entering the field of play, is likened to the wise man who builds his house on the rock. Digging into solid earth is hard work indeed, but Jesus declares that it will be worth it when the storms come and the house is still standing afterwards.

We might liken this to a church which takes time to engage with its community, works to support the marginalised, and campaigns for social justice. It’s hard work, it takes effort, and often the results are not obvious. It would be much easier to stand on the side-lines and mouth platitudes, but this would be to build our house on sand. Doing the real work of the Gospel, carrying out the will of the Father, is challenging and never easy, but it represents that firm foundation which, with his grace supporting us, will endure and bear fruit.