Category Archives: Newsletter

Scripture Notes – Sunday 23rd January 2022

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Jesus said, Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing

Sunday 3C is dedicated to the Word of God. Already in the Reformed tradition, Bible Sunday celebrates the importance of the Scriptures (usually on or near Reformation Sunday). Pope Francis established this Sunday in 2019, to mark the 16th centenary of the death of St Jerome, the brilliant, hard-working, holy and irascible bible scholar. More importantly, it serves to underline the place of the Scriptures in our lives as disciples of Jesus Christ.

The third Sunday in Ordinary Time is a suitable day because on this Sunday we start reading the Gospel for the year from the start. In 2022, this means we are reading from Luke: the opening dedication (1:1-4) and the opening scene of the ministry in the synagogue in Nazareth (4:14-21). The Nazareth story continues next Sunday with the remaining verses (4:21-30). Today’s reading contains the words: ‘This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen,’ something we aspire to every Sunday.

The Sunday of the Word of God presents an opportunity to reflect on the place of the Scriptures in our lives as individual believers and as part of the community of faith. There are plenty of resources: Vatican II documents; the publications of the Pontifical Biblical Commission (up-to-date position papers); the writings and reflections of Pope Francis. See alsoBible+, on my own website. Here are a few sample links:

This year, it becomes especially important because we are embarking on the substance of the synodal pathways. There are many dimensions to the regeneration of faith today. There is no doubt, however, that this regeneration can have no other genesis than in the Word of God.

The Readings

Some Inspiration

Lord, inspire me to read your Scriptures and to meditate upon them day and night. I beg you to give me real understanding of what I need, that I in turn may put its precepts into practice. Yet, I know that understanding and good intentions are worthless, unless rooted in your graceful love. So I ask that the words of Scripture may also be not just signs on a page, but channels of grace into my heart. Amen.

To buy a copy online, click on the image.

Grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Kieran J. O’Mahony OSA

Scripture Notes – Sunday 9th January 2022

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 ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you.’

Welcome

From a calendar point of view, the Christmas season is over. Nevertheless, the continuous reading from Luke does not start until the third Sunday of the year (19 January 2022). We pause for an extended Epiphany season. This started with the Epiphany proper on the 6th of January. The following Sunday is dedicated to the Baptism of the Lord, also considered an epiphany. Not only that but the Sunday after that is dedicated to the Wedding Feast of Cana — yet another epiphany of sorts. These are rich feasts and the readings invite deep reflection. You may find the extra Gospel exploration (below) useful in that regard.

The Readings

Some inspiration

Contemporary Icons of the Baptism of Christ: clickhere. Very interesting evolution of the tradition — to be taken slowly!

I’ve just come across this website: Breaking open the Word. It brings together meditation, contemporary art and contemporary music, in an understated way.

You may like to sample an album of Winter Songs by Ola Gjeilo.

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord let face shine upon; may the Lord give you his peace.

Kieran J. O’Mahony OSA

Scripture Notes – Christmas Season 2021 (to 9th January 2022)

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All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

 

This is our second Covid Christmas, but it doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the feast. The readings are inspirational and it is a great season for music. To adapt a prayer of St Augustine:

You have spoken, O God, and shattered our deafness and we can hear you in one like ourselves. Let celebrate the feast, then, in love and great joy. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Readings

The Christmas weekend offers a rich selection — four sets of readings for Christmas Day and one for the feast of the Holy Family. To keep things simple, it seemed better this time to give the link to the relevant webpage on tarsus.ie, where all the material can be found. For the PDFs etc., click here.

Visual resources

  1. There are talks specifically on the Christmas gospels at www.tarsusscriptureschool.ie (if you haven’t already registered). There are six presentations in all.
  2. For the prologue of John, there’s a meditation (free) on www.tarsusscriptureschool.ie.

Some inspiration: musical and poetical

For a bit of musical fun, you might like The Canadian Brass “take” on the Twelve Days of Christmas.

To hear Guite read the poem himself, click here.

A Happy Christmas to all and every blessing in 2022.

Kieran J. O’Mahony OSA

Exploring the Bible

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Exploring the Bible

 

Since 2012, a group of parishioners has been meeting each week, to explore the Bible and to ask ourselves, how it might relate to our lives today. Before the Pandemic, we met in Shalom, beside St Mark’s church, each Monday. Some people come weekly, others less frequently. All are welcome!

 

When the Pandemic hit, we had a gap of a few weeks. However, we discovered that we missed our connection and the chance it gave us to prepare for Mass each Sunday. By introducing us to the readings beforehand, we had the

opportunity to read and reflect on what each reading might mean for us today.

 

Although none of us was very good with technology, we learned how to set up and connect to a Zoom meeting. In this way we were able to see each other and continue the reflection that we had in Shalom.

 

Each week a group of between six and eight of us meet on Zoom to share our thoughts, insights and questions on the readings for the following Sunday’s mass. We invite you to join us!

 

No previous knowledge of the Bible is required. What each of us brings to the

meeting is a desire to explore the faith that has guided our lives and to learn to understand and appreciate it more fully.

 

We don’t have easy answers to the hard questions of life, but we do share our faith and hope in Jesus and in the power of God’s Word. We also help each other toward a better understanding of what it means to be a believer in today’s world.

PLEASE EMAIL TO THE PARISH SECRETARY TO RECEIVE A ZOOM LINK for Monday evening meetings: saintmarksparishchurch@gmail.com

Peace,

Valerie Warren on behalf of the ‘Exploring the Bible‘ group