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SCRIPTURE
READINGS
|
Isaiah |
62:1-5 |
| Psalm |
95 |
| I
Corinthians |
12:4
-11 |
| John |
2:1-2 |
Christmas
is over. Or is it? This week I visited our neighbours
at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Duke Street
and what did I find? Christmas trees, Christmas
lights and the Christmas crib all freshly put on
display. For Christians of the eastern rite, Christmas
is just beginning. How wonderful it must be to celebrate
Christmas only yards from the busiest shopping street
in London without any competition from the culture
of consumption, to celebrate it in homes where no
reference to the “holiday season” will be found
in the media. The eastern calendar offers the possibility
of reclaiming the birth of Christ and keeping its
celebration holy.
As
we follow our western liturgical calendar over the
last few Sundays, we too we can prolong the Christmas
spirit if we continue to reflect on the meaning
of this text: “The Word became flesh and lived among
us and we beheld his glory… And of his fullness
we have all received, grace upon grace.” Christ
comes into our world in a way that is at once hidden
and revealed. The heavens declare his glory: “And
there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly
host singing Glory to God in the highest”; “We beheld
his star rising in the east and have come to do
him homage”, yet the earthly reality is marked by
obscurity and lowliness: “They found the babe lying
in a manger”. The arrival of the Magi signifies
the revelation of Christ to the nations, yet this
epiphany is lost or
its meaning forgotten until the Gospel breaks upon
the world many years later. And when Christ takes
upon himself the sins of his people as he goes down
into the waters of the Jordan, his glory is glimpsed:
“This is my Son, the beloved; listen to him”, yet
his public ministry provokes criticism and even
scorn among the high-minded: “This man eats with
sinners”; “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”
Today
we celebrate a third epiphany: the wedding at Cana
, the first of his “signs”. Scholars love to dwell
on the rich symbolism of this event and John certainly
loves to use symbols. Yet there is at the heart
of the story something very down-to-earth: the joy
of married love, the union whereby two persons become
one flesh. There is a party (it would have lasted
many days) with all the family and friends and villagers.
The “Word made flesh” is in their midst. This is
a feast which looks to the future, a festival of
hope, yet the wine has run out. Christ remains in
the background until his Mother intercedes. “Woman”,
he replies, “what has this to do with you or me?
My hour has not yet come.” The formality of this
term of address is echoed towards the end of the
gospel when Christ speaks from the cross, commending
the Beloved Disciple: ”Woman, behold your son”.
This is the “hour” which is to come; the Hour of
his Glory. Yet it has come already. Mary speaks
to the servants: “Do whatever he tells you”. The
servants obey. The empty vessels used for ritual
ablutions are filled with water. The miracle happens
before it can be seen. The wine is tasted. “You
have kept the best wine till now”.
All
this is rich in symbolism but above all here is
the “grace upon grace” which we receive from his
fullness. It is in receiving this grace – this free
gift – in all its abundance that his disciples,
then and now, come to believe in him. We behold
his glory, a glory both hidden and revealed. This
will be the pattern right through his life on earth
and through his death on the cross and indeed throughout
his risen life in the Church. We enter into that
mystery now at this Eucharist. The guest has become
the groom; his bride is the Church. The wine at
the feast is his blood - his divine life - given
to us in all its abundance. Come, let's join in
the feast!
Fr
William Pearsall, SJ
WEEK
OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY
This
annual ecumenical occasion begins today with a pulpit
swap at the 11am
Mass. Canon Mark Oakley from the Grosvenor Chapel
will be preaching her and Fr William will be preaching
there. On Sunday 24 th , our guest preacher will
be the Reverend Roddy Leece from St
George's Hanover Square .
Everyone is invited to an ecumenical celebration
at the Methodist Central Hall near Westminster Abbey
on Thursday 21 st January at 7pm
.
CORRIDOR
During
the period of refurbishment in the basement rooms
at 114
Mount Street ,
the ground floor will house the kitchen and dining
facilities for the Jesuit Community. For reasons
of safety, we will be obliged to close off the corridor
on Sunday mornings and we apologise for this inconvenience.
The work is due for completion by Easter.
ANN
WIDDECOMBE
The
Annual General Meeting of Churches Together in Westminster
takes place on Monday January
25 th at Methodist Central Hall at 6.30pm
. The guest speaker will be
Ann Widdecombe who is now retiring after many years
in Parliament. She will be speaking on her experiences
as a Christian (Anglican and Catholic) in public
life. There is a buffet afterwards. All are welcome.
No tickets needed. Please let Father William know
if you wish to come.
WELCOMING
One
of the reasons people give for coming to Farm
Street is the welcome they
receive. Help us to be a welcoming church. If you
would like to be a greeter at the doors or a helper
at morning coffee, please see Fr James Campbell.
Schedules can be arranged to suit your availability.
Even if you are not an official volunteer, you can
still contribute to our welcome!
HAITI
There
will be a special collection at the doors today
after each Mass for the relief of the earthquake
victims in Haiti .
We thank our Justice and Peace group for organising
this. Your donation will go directly to Jesuits
working in the region. Please keep Haiti
in your prayers.
PEACE
SUNDAY
Today
is Peace Sunday promoted by Pax Christi, an international
Christian movement based on Gospel values of non-violence,
reconciliation and justice. www.paxchristi.org.uk
. Let us pray especially today for peace in
the world, peace in our homes and peace in our hearts.
There
will be no rehearsals of the Children's Choir until
after Easter
THE
GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST PAUL
An
Introduction to the Letters of Paul
A
five week course on Mondays: 18 th January – 15
th February 7-8.30pm
Presented
by Brian Purfield, a member of the MSJC team. This
short course focuses on Paul's letters and seeks
to understand the man, his mission and his message.
WOMEN
OF FAITH: THIRSTING FOR GOD
(FOR
WOMEN)
A
one day workshop on Saturday 23 rd January 11am
– 4pm
Lead
by Kate Stogdon, this day draws on the work of Nicola
Slee on women's faith development.
Please
use Gift-Aid envelopes for your donations if you
are a UK
Tax-payer .
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