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SCRIPTURE
READINGS
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Habakkuk |
1:2-3, 2:2-4 |
| Psalm |
94 |
| II Timothy
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1:6-8, 13-14 |
| Luke |
17:5-10 |
FAITHFUL TO GOD
"My Rabbi told me not to ask, "Why?" wailed one patient! And so began an unforgettable encounter in a New York hospital. Why had her daughter died? Why was her son now dying? About to outlive her son, she poured out her harrowing life story and her time in Auschwitz. "Why? Why?" As we held hands, giving her time and space, I listened and let her lament freely and long into the night.
Habakkuk (today's first reading) utters the same, "Why?" How long, O Lord? I cry for help, but you do not listen!... you do not intervene. Why do you let me see ruin; Why must I look at misery? Enduring questions! The evil prosper, the good do not. Evil flourishes and seems to overwhelm the just. Why? Yes, aren't we all puzzled? Why did my nephew die? He was thinking of the deaconate...! Habakkuk laments. There is no doubt whatsoever as to the prophet's attitude towards God.
Lament is a heartfelt religious moment. It is prayer in which we acknowledge our limits and God's power. In this extreme moment, we turn to God as did Christ on the Cross in utter dereliction. So, this prayer is a painful expression of hope! The Resurrection comes after annihilation. Habakkuk's despair is rooted in faith in God. He believed God would intervene and his faith is proved right.
Of course, in anguish, God may seem to have shut the door to both the Jewess and Habakkuk. God's silence is oppressive. "Pray that I may love God with a love with which He has never been loved before", Mother Teresa (Come be my light p.175). You all know what she undertook for God. Nonetheless she was not spared. ("Jesus is asking a bit too much" Ibid. p. 329). "If you only knew what goes on within my heart. -Sometimes the pain is so great that I feel as if everything will break. The smile is a big cloak which covers a multitude of pains" (Ibid. p.176). "Why had God abandoned her so totally? Why this darkness whereas in her early life she had been so close to God?" (Ft. Neuner SJ Ibid. Pg.209). "...it is so painful to be lonely for God" (ibid. Pg 222).
How does God respond to Habakkuk? God does not give an answer! God responds to Habakkuk with a vision that interprets events differently! There is no room for the conventional idea of worship which earns protection. Our relationship with God is not a bargain or contract. God's own reckoning is coming. In the eyes of God and to the eyes of faith, no situation is hopeless. If we have faith, we see our relationship to God in a new light. Without faith, life has no meaning. If we have faith, everything becomes clearer: the Cross, the Eucharist, death, our values. Just as a tree is rooted in the dark soil with its essential nutrients, so faith must plunge us into the deep of God. PERHAPS THE BEST WE CAN DO IS PRAY FEEBLY, "Lord, Increase our faith" or “Lord, help my unbelief". God meets us there and takes us to where we hope to be. The more we live by faith, the more faith will enlighten us. Our faith has to grow. It grows with use in the context of our daily life! Of course, faith and doubt go together. Our challenge is to remain faithful to God. We are called not to success, but to persevere! The person of faith will be victorious because he/she is in communion with God as was Christ. I cannot ever provide a satisfactory answer to the Why question for each of us has to wrestle with it in the context of our lives. May I recommend Mother Teresa's book, Come be my light.
Fr Lawrence Nam, SJ
CHILDREN AND YOUTH MINISTRY
Following on from the Senior Citizens survey our parish team would like to continue to grow and improve the support for our children and young people and would like to hear from you.
We are looking at what we offer, and how we can cater for more of the young people’s spiritual, liturgical and educational needs, how to help them take a role in the life of the parish and for them just to have fun in a safe and caring environment.
We would like to hear from children and young people, parents, and any members of the parish who would like to make a suggestion, contribution, volunteer or give us ideas that we can take forward.
So please spend a few minutes to complete the survey which is available at the doors of the church and in the hall, and you can hand them in to Patsy Cummings, Fr James or any member of the parish clergy. THANK YOU.
FIRST COMMUNION AND CONFIRMATION
Parents of children who wish to make their First Holy Communion or Confirmation next year, and are 7 or 14 years of age or above, respectively, should contact Patsy Cummings: see her after Mass or e-mail pcummings@rcdow.org.uk, to obtain the necessary forms.
FOR YOUR DIARY: FINAL VOWS
You are warmly welcomed to the Profession of Final Vows of Fr Dominic Robinson SJ on FRIDAY NOVEMBER 5th at 6pm in the church.
JESUS-CHRIST FULNESS OF LIFE
We welcome once again the wonderful musical skills and the prayerful input provided by JCFL this THURSDAY OCTOBER 7th at 7:30pm in the church. There will be an hour of worship and prayer followed by a social gathering. This is our monthly ecumenical event and we heartily invite you to come along for an inspiring experience. See the posters for details.
THE HOLY ROSARY
October is the month of the Rosary and a good time to return to this important Catholic devotion. The Rosary is a means of meditating on the mysteries of our Salvation, of praying for intentions in a peaceful way and of linking our prayer with the prayers of the Church. There will be Rosary in the church on weekdays following the 1:05pm and 6pm Masses. Do join in! And how about trying a decade of the Rosary in the home or with a friend?
CAFOD
The CAFOD appeal this time is on behalf of the thousands of children orphaned during the genocide in Rwanda. CAFOD has set up trauma counselling groups for the children, teenagers and young adults whose childhoods were smashed at that time – and has established cooperatives for them to grow and sell crops by way of earning a living. This has also helped them to find solidarity with one another, and the scheme has brought a measure of normality into their lives…! We will be giving out CAFOD envelopes this weekend and taking a collection next weekend. You can also return your donation over the next two or three weeks.
CONCERT
A concert will be held on MONDAY OCTOBER 4th at the Grosvenor Chapel, on South Audley Street, at 7:30pm. This concert is in support of Eagle Aid projects such as The Matumaini Care Home in Tanzania. The Minerva Ensemble will be performing pieces for Schubert, Ravel, Chopin, Brahms, etc.
FR WILLIAM
As Fr James Campbell is taking over the reins of the parish, Fr William Pearsall is heading towards France, Germany and Rome. We wish him a restful and fruitful sabbatical, supported by our prayers. Fr William writes: “I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for the many kind greetings and wishes on the occasion of my sabbatical leave and a special Thank You for your gift and the lovely whip-around you had for me. I shall be remembering you all in my prayers and at the Altar as I visit the pilgrim sites of Rome. See you in January – Happy New Year!”
SVP SPONSORED SKYDIVE
Fr Clive Lee, Parish Priest of St Thomas More, Manor House has very kindly agreed to do a sponsored tandem skydive from 10,000ft in aid of the St Vincent de Paul Society on FRIDAY NOVEMBER 26th. He would be very grateful for your support and your sponsorship! Please go to www.justgiving.com to donate on line or phone Siobhan Garibaldi on 0792 949 0090.
MASS INTENTIONS
The Mass is the “source and summit of Christian Life”. Each time we celebrate Mass Christ is present with us both in his Sacrifice on the Cross and his risen life in glory. The Mass therefore is the highest form of prayer and worship given to us. We invite you to bring your intentions to the Lord through this special means of grace. Mass intentions are a beautiful and efficacious way of remembering loved ones and of commanding ourselves to God on special occasions and for special needs. Please use the Mass Intentions envelopes available at the doors.
We apologise for the inconvenience caused by the building works in Mount Street. Completion date: January 2011.
MOUNT
STREET JESUIT
CENTRE
114
Mount Street , London W1
Bookings
and information:
Lynne
Galloway 020 7495 1673 lynne@mountstreet.info
PRAYER IN THE CITY
With team of trained Prayer Guides
Mondays at 6:30pm and Wednesdays at 5:15pm
If you would like to deepen your prayer life and your awareness of God and your journey home can bring you this way, do come and pause for about 40mins to join others in prayer and possibly discover new ways of praying. Each week will offer the experience of different forms of prayer. See leaflet.
ONE-DAY WORKSHOP: MANAGING STRESS
Led by Margaret Philpot
Friday 15th October from 10am to 2pm
During this workshop we shall explore both the negative patterns which cause us problems, and the energy and resources we all possess, to give us a more positive approach to the subject. For more information, see the leaflets.
ONE-DAY WORKSHOP: CREATIVE CONFLICT
Led by Kit Dollard
Saturday 23rd October from 11am to 4pm
This workshop aims to examine the root cases of conflict and see how we can make conflict creative by using developments in modern psychology such as the work of Kantor, Myers Briggs and Berne. It also aims to increase our understanding of ourselves and how we can handle conflict in our lives, how this understanding can help us to build our spirituality and so become more rounded, more complete, as God intended us to be. We also aim to enjoy ourselves! See leaflet for details.
ONE-DAY WORKSHOP: AUTHORITY
Led by Margaret Philpot
Saturday 30th October from 11am to 4pm
This workshop aims to reflect on the use and abuse of authority and hope to come to a fuller understanding and acceptance of the true meaning of the concept.
If
you would like us to put on a course or a one day
workshop on a particular topic of interest to you
now is your opportunity to make your requests.
Please
use Gift-Aid envelopes for your donations if you
are a UK
Tax-payer .
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