A very real presence (Bread for the Journey 2)

 

January 2

Today while turning compost in our little garden I wondered about a reading for the day.  ‘Who are you?’ the people asked in today’s Gospel reading from the Mass. Every time we break the bread of God’s word we are challenged by the question asked again and again ‘Who is Jesus for me?’. In between celebrations of the eucharist we have a unique privilege to revisit the mass in various ways as we might be able to. This might include a time of prayer and petition based on the scripture readings for the mass of the day.  It might also entail a visit to the Blessed Sacrament in a church that is not locked up.  There, we can find refuge in the wings of the Lord’s eucharist presence. In psalm 46:1 we hear this, “God is our refuge and strength,  a very present help in trouble.”  One of the great consolations of our religion is that we can, on occasions, seek a very real refuge in the very real presence of Christ in the Tabernacle.  Not everyone is able to accept this truth. It is difficult to explain.  It is enough to be present and still and murmur the words, “‘I believe; help my unbelief!’” (Mark 9:24).

Keep turning these words over - like compost.

Write you own obituary!

 

Sunday 4 January 2026

 

Lectio Divina:*

Sirach 24:1-12

Psalm 147

Ephesians 1:3-18

John 1:35-42

 

Meditatio:

“What are you looking for?” (John 1:38)

 Commentary:

When did you last read an obituary (or hear a funeral eulogy) that went something like this:

‘He was a much revered person who worked all the hours God gave to become the head in this industry and organisation. He put in long hours, cut deals, fought off competitors and saved the organisation on more than one critical moment. He received numerous honorary doctorates and one real one while he wrote eight books, 40 journal articles and served on many commission and boards. He had many friends and contacts but none terribly close. He did make time for family life and local rotary club activities.  He will be missed but life goes on and things change. It was sad to see his health deteriorate in his final years.  He did recognise the few who visited him in the very final months at St Fachtna’ Nursing Home.  His farewell was an occasion of some sadness.’

Not often, I suggest. Not at all, in fact!

Write your own obituary or, better still, live in such a way that others will write an obituary that you can be justly proud of because you were a caring, loving, truthful and fair person in whatever role or responsibility was entrusted to you.

Every so often we need to stop for a few minutes, or hours or even days and ask the hard question that Jesus asked the two disciples: ‘what do I want?’ What do I seek?  Above and beyond the daily toils and struggles what is my purpose and aim in life? Truly?

Sometimes there are no immediate or clear answers. It may involve some trial and error. ‘Come and see’ was Jesus’ reply when asked ‘where are you staying?’

Oratio

Collect

 O God, whose Son is revealed as the Lamb who calls us by name, grant that, like Andrew and the first disciples, we may hear His invitation, follow where He leads,
and bring others into the joy of His presence.  Draw us to remain with Him, that in His light we may discover our true vocation and bear witness to the One who is our Teacher and our Lord, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

A new day (Bread for the Journey 1)

 

January 1

A new year arrived – thank God.  It is a bright and sunny new year’s day.  On my way back from giving a lift I dropped into a local church for my first mass of the year.  I was pleasantly surprised to find a much larger than usual weekday congregation along with a very talented folk group that added to the celebration through song. Sing once and pray twice, as the saying goes. The readings were about peace, blessing and birth.  The gospel reading contained a reference to the circumcision of Jesus (“After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb” – Luke 2:21).  It reminded me that the Christian religion owes its origin to the fleshly, human, Jewish real-world in which Jesus Christ was conceived and born.  Here, in the house of bread, which is what Bethlehem means we are renewed, fed and send out as a eucharistic community to live and work to the praise of God’s glory.  Ite, missa est – go forth the mass is ended. Thanks be to God for a new day, another opportunity to repent, to believe, to turn again to be sent out again and again until our time is called.