South Cardiff Ministry Area

Big Questions

Saturday 22 April, 2023 | Saturday of the Second Week of Easter |Readings: Acts 6:1-7; Psalm 32 (33):1-2,4-5,18-19; John 6:16-21 (You can find these in full on the Universalis website – Click here)

In his little book about the Northern saints of England, Basil Hume wrote, “In every age there are stumbling blocks to receiving the gospel, but I still believe that there are people who are searching. They realise this when they are in crisis… the moments when you find yourself suddenly asking questions: “Well, what is life all about? What are we here for? Where is it all leading What happens after death?” Many of the saints whom Basil Hume wrote about had settled in secluded places such as the the Farne islands, the most famous being Lindisfarne, off the Northumbrian coast. They set out in faith, trusting in God, and riding the waves which carried them to safety.

In the gospel reading, the disciples have sailed for three or four miles on Galilee’s waters, as they set out for Capernaum. A storm rises and threatens their safety, made all the worse by the absence of Jesus who had still not re-joined them. On the midst of the storm, the vision of Jesus walking through the waves fills them with fear at first, but through the storm, his voice is heard, bringing words of comfort., “It is I. Do not be afraid.”

Perhaps we can relate to Basil Hume’s observations and think of a time of crisis or difficulty which has caused us to ask questions, to seek more meaning to our lives, to search for God when all around us seems stormy, chaotic or confusing. Likewise, too, we can create a space where others can ask those questions, accompany them along their journey, allowing them to express their fears, and share the big questions which have emerged in their life. Within the community of the church we can nurture a culture of seeking and searching, providing a space where people can grapple with the obstacles to faith, and begin to identify the presence of Jesus who is alongside us, speaking words of comfort, and leading us on through the difficulties of life.

MAKING CONNECTIONS

These posts are part of our endeavour each day to provide a short homily or reflection from the celebration of the Mass of the day. Links are posted on Twitter and Facebook, and you can also sign up for daily emails in your inbox by registering your email below:

MINISTRY AREA MASS

Mass today (Saturday 22 April, 2023) is celebrated at S Mary’s Church, Butetown at 11.30am preceded by Morning Prayer and Rosary at 11am. If you would like to send a prayer request then click on the ‘REQUEST PRAYER’ Button

Hope v Hopelessness

Friday 21 April, 2023 | Friday of the Second Week of Easter |Readings: Acts 5:35-42; Psalm 26(27):1,4,13-14; John 6:1-15 (You can find these in full on the Universalis website – Click here)

The world has known many great inventors who have created solutions to everyday problems but how do we respond to a problem or challenge? Some people, when faced with a challenge or crisis, may panic or simply complain about the situation in which they find themselves, cursing the darkness, rather than lighting one small candle. Others will be more creative and positive and look for solutions and perhaps engage in a little problem solving. Which one are you?

In the gospel reading, it is Andrew who seems to offer some hope as he looks to the bright side of a problem. Perhaps he can see a way forward to the situation they face. They are in an isolated place with thousands of people, and everyone is getting hungry, and there is no source of food. “There is a small boy here with five barley loaves and two fish,” he says. It seems quite an optimistic way forward. He has, at least, found some food. Perhaps he has ideas of his own or can see the possibilities. However, he soon undoes any signs of hopefulness with a rather hopeless appendix: “But what is that between so many?” He gives in to the crisis which lies ahead.

Meanwhile, the narrative gives us an important insight, for Jesus knows exactly what he is going to do. He receives the smallness of that boy’s contribution. He takes the bread and the fish, gives thanks, and then distributes them so that all are fed. There is more than enough food. Sometimes, we may fail to see the opportunities and possibilities which God provides, we overlook the gifts he gives because they seem so small or so insignificant. Nothing went to waste that day on the hillside. Twelve hampers of scraps were collected. Everything was valued. May we see with the eyes of faith, cherish what we have been given, and try to bring hope to hopeless situations through our faith in the Risen Lord.

MAKING CONNECTIONS

MINISTRY AREA MASS

Mass today (Friday 21 April, 2023) is celebrated at S Mary’s Church, Butetown at 10am. If you would like to send a prayer request then click on the ‘REQUEST PRAYER’ Button

Hiraeth

Thursday 20 April, 2023 | Thursday of the Second Week of Easter |Readings: Acts 55:27-33; Psalm 33(34):2,9,17-20; John 3:31-36 (You can find these in full on the Universalis website – Click here)

There has been some debate and controversy recently when the Brecon Beacons National Park decided to rebrand itself with the Welsh name, “Bannau Brycheiniog.” Comments came from far and wide with much opinion coming from the English Press. Even the Prime minister was drawn into the row. The name will remain, however, as will so many other Welsh place names! Whilst some of us may not be fluent in the language, there are many Welsh words and phrases which mean so much to us, and some words which have no direct English translation. Just think of the Welsh word ‘Hiraeth’ for example, which is loaded with meaning. It is a word we know and use to express a deep longing or yearning for our homeland.

For us, as Christians, our homeland is in heaven, although, of course, we have never been there. We believe that we have been made for Heaven. That is our hope and destiny. So for all Christians, Welsh or otherwise, our lives are characterised by this Hiraeth, this longing for our Heavenly Homeland. In the gospel reading today, John the Baptist, speaking about Jesus, said that “He who comes from above is above all others; he who is born of the earth is earthly himself and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven bears witness to the things he has seen and heard.” In coming from Heaven, Christ opens up the reality and possibilities of Heaven to us. He has come to lead us home.

Often, our daily responsibilities, tasks and chores can so often distract us from the life to which we are called. The Celtic Saints of Wales, who are remembered in so many place names, knew how to meet God in the ordinary and every day, in the familiar and seemingly mundane. They discovered God’s presence in the natural world and in the fabric of their lives. They discovered him in places of seclusion and isolation, but they also had a deep awareness of his presence in community. We are called to the life of Heaven, but God is never far from us as we make our journey through his world. As the psalmist prayed, “The Lord is close to the broken-hearted; those whose spirit is crushed he will save.”

MAKING CONNECTIONS

MINISTRY AREA MASS

Mass today (Wednesday 19 April, 2023) is celebrated at Ss Dyfrig and Samson, Grangetown at 9.30am, S Mary’s Church, Butetown at 10am, and St Saviour’s Church Splott at 5.45pm If you would like to send a prayer request then click on the ‘REQUEST PRAYER’ Button

From Darkness to Light

Wednesday 19 April, 2023 | Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter |Readings: Acts 5:17-26; Psalm 33(34):2-9; John 3:16-21 (You can find these in full on the Universalis website – Click here)

As he strove to build a more equal society, struggling against racism, Martin Luther King Jr, said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” The symbolism of darkness and light is deeply embedded in the human experience, and each has been used to express something about good and evil.

In the gospel reading, we witness Nicodemus seeking Jesus under cover of darkness. He wants to keep the encounter secret. As Jesus responds to his searching for the truth, he uses the symbolic experience of darkness in which they stand, drawing Nicodemus from his ignorance and lack of faith to enlightenment. “The man who lives by the truth comes out into the light,” said Jesus. In those words, he is inviting Nicodemus to leave the darkness of fear and ignorance, and to come closer to him.

Martin Luther King recognised the power of light over darkness, the power of love over hate. It is love and light which is at the heart of the Christian Faith. There is still much darkness in the world today, and so much hatred. But like Martin Luther King, we are to fight these not with an equal portion of darkness or hatred but with light and love. “God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son,” said Jesus, “so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost but may have eternal life.” How can we bring God’s light to a world of darkness? How can we bring God’s love into situations of hatred? How can we dispel fear?

MAKING CONNECTIONS

MINISTRY AREA MASS

Mass today (Wednesday 19 April, 2023) is celebrated at St Paul’s Church, Grangetown at 10am and S Mary’s Church at 11am. If you would like to send a prayer request then click on the ‘REQUEST PRAYER’ Button

The Great Listener

At Dusk, overlooking Cardiff from the Bay

Tuesday 17 April, 2023 | Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter |Readings: Acts 4:32-37; Psalm 92 (93):1-2,5; John 3:7-15 (You can find these in full on the Universalis website – Click here)

Every day, we use our phones and computers to communicate with one another. The experience of Lockdown meant that many meetings and conversations took place online, and much of this has continued. As beneficial as these platforms have proven to be, the importance of face-to-face conversations and encounters remains for they provide possibilities that are not easily present online.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “Christians have forgotten that the ministry of listening has been committed to them by Him who is Himself the great listener and whose work they should share. We should listen with the ears of God that we may speak the Word of God.” In the gospel reading, the conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus flows freely. There is question and answer, listening and speaking. He is seeking the truth and comes armed with many questions. Each is attentive to the other. As the conversation progresses, Nicodemus – sheltered by the darkness – is slowly enlightened by Jesus, the great listener.

Each of us is at different stages of the journey of faith and, at various times, we will have many questions, some of which we may grapple with for a lifetime. Having a living encounter with God through prayer and worship, bible reading and study, silence and stillness, is important. We are called to be attentive to the One who attends to us. We are called to listen to the One who himself is the ‘great listener.’ As fellow pilgrims along the way, we can also learn so much from one another – if we have an open ear and an attentive heart. How often do we fail to listen to others, or are inattentive to what is really being said – or wanting to be said? How can we ensure that each encounter provides a means through which we really listen to one another, and so in turn learn to speak the Word of God?

MAKING CONNECTIONS

MINISTRY AREA MASS

Mass today (Tuesday 18 April, 2023) is celebrated at St Saviour’s Church, Splott at 10am and S Mary’s Church at 7pm. If you would like to send a prayer request then click on the ‘REQUEST PRAYER’ Button

A New Creation

Monday 17 April, 2023 | Monday of the Second Week of Easter |Readings: Acts 4:23-31; Psalm 2:1-9; John 3:1-8 (You can find these in full on the Universalis website – Click here)

During these days of Easter, each day at Mass we have moved through the Acts of the Apostles and witnessed the growth of the Church in those early days after Pentecost. The disciples are transformed, changed. They speak boldly and with conviction. They face authority without fear and spread the message that Jesus is risen from the dead. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit has enlivened and transformed them. They are a new Creation.

This New Creation is at the heart of that secret conversation between Nicodemus and Jesus under cover of darkness when Jesus talks of the need to be born again through water and the Spirit. As the Spirit of God hovered over the waters of Creation bringing order from chaos so too he fills the hearts of believers, gives them a new birth. The Spirit of God shows us who Jesus is and leads us closer to him. The Spirit fills our hearts and lives, praying in and through us, like a deep sigh too deep for words.

The disciples have moved out from beyond the closed doors of that upper room into the streets of Jerusalem, but their journey has only just begun. Soon they will leave the confines of the city walls, move out into the country and beyond. Today, as Peter and John return to their brothers and sisters, we hear them pray, and join our prayer to theirs, as they raise their voices to say, ‘Master it is you who made heaven and earth and sea, and everything in them.’ Soon, they will cross boundaries and venture into other countries, to take the message far and wide around the world, and witness to a New Creation.

MAKING CONNECTIONS

MINISTRY AREA MASS

Mass today (Monday 17 April, 2023) is celebrated at St Mary’s Church Butetown at 6pm and Ss Dyfrig and Samson, Grangetown at 7pm. If you would like to send a prayer request then click on the ‘REQUEST PRAYER’ Button

What do we want here?

A journey from Cardiff by boat across the Bristol Channel to the island of Flat Holm raises the question, ‘What do we want here?’ Fr Dean reflects on a pilgrimage with Matt Batten

“There’s an easterly wind from Newport,” said the skipper as I enquired about the weather. I didn’t blame Newport. I don’t think they were responsible for the wind or the waves or the sickness that overcame Matt as his face became a pallid green half-way through the journey from Penarth to Flat Holm.

I had noticed a break in the excited chatter we’d exchanged since we met that morning for Mass at St Mary’s. The weather didn’t look good, but we were on an adventure, a personal pilgrimage, just the two of us, with the weather against us.

As we made our way across the waves of the Bristol Channel on board the Lewis Alexander, Matt had stopped moving around from taking videos of every moment and matter. He’s a ‘Comms Guy’ through and through, always looking for the angle, a new way of sharing something in a fresh way. For now, he had stopped. There was silence, apart from the chug of the boat, the sound of the sea.

As I turned away from my own view of the horizon and the grey sea which rose and fell and crashed against the boat, I saw him, sat there, looking, well, rather unwell, as grey as the sea. He rushed to the side of the boat and stayed there for some time. There, he had his own ‘private’ moment.

Afterwards, we chatted about the journey of St Cadoc all those years ago, back in the fifth century, and how his coracle must have crashed on the waves which made the journey difficult and dangerous. We marvelled at the faith and adventurousness of the Celtic Saints who pushed out from the familiar in search of something more. We always want more.

No wonder that when St Cadoc, after his own Flat Holm pilgrimage, sent his fellow pilgrim, Baruc, back to collect a forgotten prayer book, that Baruc succumbed to the waves. His body was washed up on the mainland, his name given to another island which welcomed his body.

That island, Barry Island, is now a playground for day trippers and holiday makers, armed with candy floss and popcorn, and whose fingers smell of the metal of money dropped into the slots of the arcade games. There, the only sickness comes not from the sea but by the fall and rise of Fairground rides as they look for excitement. We always want more.

We arrived at Flat Holm, and were greeted by a battalion of birds, gulls who gathered in great numbers as the boat chugged onto the shingled shore. I misinterpreted their cry as a welcome, a wing-flapped applause, an avian benediction. Instead, they said ‘Go home, stay away, leave us alone, this is our home. What do you want here?’

What do we want here?

At the water’s edge, we were welcomed by the new Warden of Flat Holm who began his job just four weeks earlier, and we spent much time with him.

We talked about the island and nature and the environment and the beauty of the island, the harshness of life here. But we also had conversations about the street and urban issues and young people. We talked about our backgrounds and our experiences. There, in seclusion and beauty, we talked about poverty and the lack of aspiration and opportunity, about politics and refugees and communities, about the direction of the country and how we all fitted in. A pilgrimage is never an escape from life. It’s an embracing of life, offers a new perspective.

From Flat Holm, we could see the city of Cardiff, from afar, across the rising grey waves. Even though there were the grim, grey clouds, pushed across by the easterly wind from Newport, we could see the tips of buildings, the eclectic gathering of steel and glass, the shape of the city.

What do we want here?

That’s the question, waiting for an answer. Whoever comes here is just dropping by as a visitor, a passer-by. Each of us needs to be respectful of the home into which we step, and those who live here – the wildlife – allowed a time, a place, to be at home, and thrive beyond the steel and glass of the city’s staggered life.

Here, on Flat Holm, nature takes priority. This is nature’s home, and we need to tread carefully with respect, with love, and to discover what it means to be at home in the world.

On the way back, as we gazed over the boat’s edge, I asked Matt what colour is the sea? He thought it brown. Yes, at times, it seemed brown, but then grey, and then the froth of broken waves which gave it a hope, an ambition to be a different colour, something new. We always want more.

The journey back was smoother. Perhaps Newport was kinder to us as we were homeward bound. It held back its wind, and we washed in through the Barrage from the flat tops of Flat Holm with a relative ease.

It had rained that day, across the island. We hadn’t noticed the rain, just the easterly wind along the journey. And the memory of the flat-topped island which welcomed us for a while, and asked us ‘What do you want here?’

If you’d like to join us for pilgrimage to Flat Holm then check out our pilgrimage pages at www.southcardiffministryarea.co.uk/flat-holm

Easter Saturday

Easter Vigil, South Cardiff Ministry Area, 2022

Readings: Acts 4:13-21; Psalm 117(118):1,14-21; Mark 16:9-15 (You can find these in full on the Universalis website – Click here)

Homilies often begin with an illustration from everyday life. But today, let’s get straight to the point, which is what St Mark does in the gospel reading today. In typical succinct tone, he sums up the resurrection appearances of Jesus. He begins with Mary of Magdala and how her message was met with unbelief. After this, he speaks of two other disciples who were travelling to the country and who also did not believe. At last, he showed himself to the Eleven while they were at table. Jesus ticks them off for not believing the witness of those who had seen him, and then gave them the commissions to ‘Go out to the whole world; proclaim the good news to all creation.’

Our faith in the Risen Lord is not operated by some imaginary switch, like a light bulb which immediately brings light to a room. Rather, it is often gradual, like the rising of the sun at dawn, when one is not quite sure if we are in light or darkness, but we soon sense that the darkness is gradually giving way to the brightness of the sun. Doubt is part of the pilgrimage of faith, as we grapple with the reality of God.

It is like Jacob wrestling with the angel at the River Jabbok. Or like Peter stumbling his way from the fire of denial in the courtyard when Jesus is on trial to the sands of Galilee’s shore and the fire that the Rosen Lord had kindled for them to ‘Come and have breakfast.’ At the end of the gospel reading today, the disciples are sent out. We see them doing this in the reading from the Acts of the Apostles. Filled with post Pentecost fire and with a firm faith in the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead, Peter says, ‘We cannot promise to stop proclaiming what we have seen and heard.’ Peter and the others have been on quite a journey. It is a journey in which we share, and to which we can perhaps relate, as our faith grows and is enlightened like the rising of the sun at dawn.

MAKING CONNECTIONS

MINISTRY AREA MASS

Mass today (Saturday 15 April) is celebrated at St Mary’s Church Butetown at 11.30am, preceded by Morning Prayer and Rosary at 11am. If you would like to send a prayer request then click on the ‘REQUEST PRAYER’ Button

Easter Friday

Readings: Acts 4:1-12; Psalm 117(118):1-2,4,22-27; John 21:1-14 (You can find these in full on the Universalis website – Click here)

Perhaps one of the many comforting things for us which come from the resurrection appearances of Jesus is the number of times those who had been closest to him, failed to recognise him. How does this resonate with us? How many times do we fail to recognise Jesus, have we not been aware of him or alert to him? How often have we allowed other things to get in the way? Perhaps, at times, both the highs and lows of life distract us.

In the gospel reading, after the catch of fish, the Apostles begin to recognise Jesus. He calls them to sit and eat with him. The invitation to do the same is always before us. The invitation to the Eucharist is free and open to all and yet so many people prefer not to accept this loving invitation. They may find other things to do that, for them, are more important and worthwhile. Perhaps at times our enthusiasm wanes, we get tired and disconnected, worn and weary, and we disconnect from the Mass.

‘Come and have breakfast,’ said Jesus to the Apostles. They bring some of the fish they have caught, fruits of their labours, gifts for the banquet. Jesus, in return, accepts these fruits, transforms them into a meal of which he is the host, and where he nourishes them with his Risen presence. At the Eucharist, we present the gifts of bread and wine, fruits of the earth and work of human hands, and they become for us the bread of life and the chalice of salvation. It is a banquet of Divine proportions.

MAKING CONNECTIONS

These posts are part of our endeavour each day to provide a short homily or reflection from the celebration of the Mass of the day. Links are posted on Twitter and Facebook, and you can also sign up for daily emails in your inbox by registering your email below:

MINISTRY AREA MASS

Mass today (Friday 14 April) is celebrated at St Mary’s Church Butetown at 9.30am

Easter Thursday

South Cardiff Ministry Area’s Easter Mass 2023 at St Mary’s Church

Readings: Acts 3:11-26; Psalm 8:2,5-9; Luke 24:35-48 (You can find these in full on the Universalis website – Click here)

As the two disciples from yesterday’s gospel share their Emmaus story with the other disciples, Jesus stands among them. They have been witnessing to his risen life with a personal testimony, speaking from their own experience, sharing their joy, telling their own story and, there, Jesus stands among them.

All that had happened had caused so much confusion, stirred up so many emotions, created so many tensions that it took some time to assimilate everything. Words such as ‘alarm’ and ‘fright’ enter the narrative. Jesus senses their agitation, discerns their doubts, and invites them closer to see and to touch him. He shows them his wounded hands and feet, the marks of love.. Jesus will for ever be associated with the sacrifice of the cross. He carries his wounds for ever.

Each of us has our own story of faith to tell. We may not think that our story is significant when compared to others, or we may find it difficult to put it into words or be confident to tell it. But we can be assured that when we share the good news of Jesus risen from the dead and reveal how his grace has moved our lives, he will be standing there with us. For our story of faith is not to draw attention to us but to reveal Jesus to others. He wants others to see the wounds that have come from his love. He desires others to draw near to him, to experience the peace he brings to the world.

MAKING CONNECTIONS

MINISTRY AREA MASS

Mass today (Tuesday 13 April) is celebrated at Ss Dyfrig and Samson, Grangetown at 9.30am | St Mary’s Church Butetown at 10am | St Saviour’s Church, Splott at 5.45pm