Our Lady and St. Benedict
  • Home
    • Church History
  • Mass Times
  • Homilies
    • First Sunday of Lent
    • Ash Wednesday
    • Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
    • Third Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Second Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Baptism of Our Lord
    • Epiphany of the Lord
    • Homily; 1 Jan 2021; Mary Mother of God
    • Christmas Midnight Mass
    • Fourth Sunday of Advent
    • Third Sunday of Advent
    • Homily 2nd Sunday of Advent
    • Homily; 1st Sunday of Advent
    • Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
    • Thirty-third Sunday
    • Thirty-second Sunday
    • All Souls
    • All Saints
    • Thirtieth Sunday
    • Twenty-ninth Sunday
    • Twenty-eighth Sunday
    • Twenty seventh Sunday
    • Twenty-sixth Sunday
    • Twenty-fifth Sunday
    • Twenty Fourth Sunday
    • Twenty-third Sunday
    • Twenty-second Sunday
    • Twenty-first Sunday
    • The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
    • Nineteenth Sunday
    • Eighteenth Sunday
    • Seventeenth Sunday
    • Sixteenth Sunday
    • Fifteenth Sunday
    • Fourteenth Sunday
    • St Peter & St Paul
    • Twelfth Sunday
    • Trinity Sunday
    • Pentecost Sunday
    • Homily for Tuesday Wk 6 Easter
    • Seventh Sunday of Easter
    • Sixth Sunday of Easter
    • Fifth Sunday of Easter
    • Fourth Sunday of Easter
    • Third Sunday of Easter
    • Second Sunday of Easter
    • Easter Sunday
    • Holy Saturday
    • Good Friday
    • Maundy Thursday
    • Palm Sunday
    • Fifth Sunday of Lent
    • Fourth Sunday of Lent
    • Third Sunday of Lent
    • Second Sunday of Lent
    • Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • The Presentation of the Lord
    • Third Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Holy Family
    • Mary Mother of God
    • Second Sunday of Advent
    • First Sunday of Advent
    • Remembrance Sunday
    • Thirty-first Sunday
    • Twenty-fourth Sunday
    • Twentieth Sunday
    • Eighteenth Sunday
    • Seventeenth Sunday
    • Sixteenth Sunday
    • The Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ
    • The Most Holy Trinity
    • Seventh Sunday of Easter
    • Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Thirteenth Sunday
    • St John the Baptist
    • Eleventh Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Tenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Transfiguration of the Lord
    • Cemetery Mass
  • Newsletters
    • First Sunday of Lent
    • Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
    • Third Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Second Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • The Baptism of the Lord
    • Second Sunday after the Nativity
    • The Holy Family
    • Fourth Sunday of Advent
    • Third Sunday of Advent
    • 2nd Sunday of Advent
    • 1st Sunday of Advent
    • Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
    • Thirty third Sunday
    • Thirty second Sunday
    • All Saints
    • Thirtieth Sunday
    • Twenty-ninth Sunday
    • Twenty-eighth Sunday
    • Twenty-seventh Sunday
    • Twenty-sixth Sunday
    • Twenty-fifth Sunday
    • Twenty Fourth Sunday
    • Thirty-third Sunday
    • Twenty-second Sunday
    • Twenty-first Sunday
    • The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
    • Nineteenth Sunday
    • Eighteenth Sunday
    • Seventeenth Sunday
    • Sixteenth Sunday
    • Fifteenth Sunday
    • Fourteenth Sunday
    • St Peter & St Paul
    • Twelfth Sunday
    • The Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ
    • Trinity Sunday
    • Pentecost Sunday
    • Seventh Sunday of Easter
    • Sixth Sunday of Easter
    • Fifth Sunday of Easter
    • Fourth Sunday of Easter
    • Third Sunday of Easter
    • Second Sunday of Easter
    • Easter Sunday
    • Palm Sunday
    • Fifth Sunday of Lent
    • Fourth Sunday of Lent
    • Third Sunday of Lent
    • Second Sunday of Lent
    • Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • The Presentation of the Lord
    • The Baptism of the Lord
    • The Epiphany of the Lord
    • Fourth Sunday of Advent
    • Second Sunday of Advent
    • First Sunday of Advent
    • Thirty-first Sunday
    • Third Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Twenty-fourth Sunday
    • Twenty-third Sunday
    • Twentieth Sunday
    • Eighteenth Sunday
    • Sixteenth Sunday
    • The Most Holy Trinity
    • Sixth Sunday of Easter
    • Fourth Sunday of Easter
    • Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • St John the Baptist
    • Eleventh Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Tenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
  • Coronavirus
    • Caritas Middlesbrough helpline
    • Live streaming
    • Home Prayers
    • Our Advent Journey to Christmas sheet
    • Blessing of Advent Wreath
    • O Antiphon thought for each day
    • The Tablet
    • Seized by the Holy Spirit by Abbot General
    • Letter to Daniel
    • Joyce Rupp reflection
    • The Rev Julie Nicholson
    • Noah's Ark story part 1 >
      • Noah's Ark story part 2
      • Noah's Ark story part 3
      • Noah's Ark story part 4
    • Wind beneath my wings; Bette Midler
    • Lockdown poem
    • Our Lady and the child Jesus
    • Pope Francis Rosary
    • Seven gifts sheet
    • Women & the post-covid church
    • Jesus images
    • Ark
    • Why I'm not opening church's yet
    • Abbot primates five blessings
    • Holy Spirit
    • Angelus & Come down O Love divine hymn
    • Simon & Garfunkel song
    • Trasna Poem
    • The seven I am titles of Jesus
    • Noah's Ark on Mount Ararat by Simon de Myle
    • Angels Unaware
    • Be still and know that I am God
    • Extraordinary moment of prayer
    • Halik
    • Don't be fooled
    • Home picture
    • The Last Supper
    • Iona Gate
    • Caravaggio 1
    • Caravaggio 2
    • Poems 1
    • Poems 2
    • School
    • Leeds
    • 5th Station, Simon of Cyrene carries the Cross
  • Hospitality & Outreach
    • Middlesbrough Food Bank
    • The Sick and the Unwell
    • The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP)
    • ​Together Middlesbrough and Cleveland (TMC)
    • Zimbabwe missions appeal >
      • Mashambanzou Bulletin September 2020
  • Gallery
    • Bernard's bench 2020
    • Cherry tree in blossom 2020
    • 2016 in our Church
    • Church Photos
    • Historical Photos
  • Contact us
  • Caristas Newsletter
  • 100 Club Winners
  • GDPR - Privacy Notice
  • Justice & Peace
  • Knitting for Refugees
  • Parish Hall for hire
  • Rosa Ampleforth
  • Safeguarding
  • Useful Links

​ 
Adam & Eve in the garden of Eden were caught red-handed..
eating from the very tree among many in orchard that God had asked them to leave alone
& having been “outed” we know well enough from our life..our poor life choices..Adams reaction..”it was the woman you put with me”..
..& Eve threw hot potato into familiar territory “the serpent tempted me & I ate..”
..poor me , always the victim never the perpetrator
 
.. a moment now, & not a moment too soon, to wise up, come clean & admit to it..our fingerprints all over the 30 silver pieces , our teeth marks on the apple..
 
“I heard the sound of your voice in the garden” [the gardeners voice of blame or mercy? ]
                                                                                                                          ; Lord have mercy
“I was afraid because I was naked” [ stripped of pretence ]                  ; Christ have mercy
“the serpent  tempted me & I ate”   [ third party theft ]                           ; Lord have mercy
May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins & bring us to everlasting life. Amen.                                
 
 
“do you believe in the devil?” an evil being, a fallen angel, who instigates badness, infects each of us with virus far more threatening than ebola..incurable & aggressive..
imagine for moment how distraught you’d  feel if you knew there was an innoculation
which would have prevented you from being infected, & you chose not to ask for it..
“it could never happen to me could it?” & it did & tragically you infected others in your family who gradually realised they too had a terminal illness..is this not like our spiritual ailment/disease called sin? I’d like to suggest it isn’t given to us by the devil/ fallen angel
but through our poor choices in the orchard or our indifference/apathy in doggedly avoiding all talk of an orchard..when we’ve been taught lovingly caringly carefully how to live life & faith healthily appropriately wholeheartedly, & we’ve chosen to eat very apple we’ve been cautioned to avoid..the misuse of free will..no woman nor devil to point finger towards but my own misappropriation of Gods gift to me & us, to live learn & to grow in a weave of life love & truth in an orchard, in this orchard called paradise..leave scribes & temple devotees to debate with David Dimbleby on Question Time about bogey men & burglars who steal property & identity..we are party to a faith that has gifted us self certificating responsibility..of standing up to be counted when we get it wrong instead of childishly waiting to be discovered found out..if I can make a confession now ; in my mis spent youth  I was a keen trainspotter..vivid memories of smokey grimy marshalling yards full of lines of coal trucks & daubed roughly on side of many, in white paint one word “condemned” no longer fit for purpose..& now thankfully maturely honestly admitting to our own internal grimyness, many of us presently unfit for purpose, & self surrendering into the person & heart of Chrst, when we realise effects of our poor choices/infidelity on ouir loved ones, ourself & on Jesus..& we come home down road from spiritual equivalent to Donald Trumps rust belt, remorseful penitent, realising at last just what I put in jeopardy through my misbehaviour, leaving myself susceptible to deadly virus called sin..to come home to my spiritual companion Jesus, who was there alongside me/you each time we ate/tasted the forbidden fruit..& in guilt, self pity, low self esteem, gave way & fell into sourness, a slippery practitioner of blame game..”it was the woman you put me with”& this is the revelation best of good news..that Jesus loves us even more deeply because of it..in our human weakness, a one to one relationship ; him to you & no third party, & certainly no devil..
..hence the wonderful ending of gospel where, if you read it with your spec saver varifocals spectacles on, it reads as if Jesus is putting down, humiliating, his mother brother & sister, keeping them at a distance sidelined & then publically voicing fact..as if the devil has got into him..however, read translate it with your divine spectacles on..he is trying to tell you & me we are as important to him as his mother brothers & sisters..we are not possessed by a devil, we are possessed by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, that makes us children of God, not slaves to a fallen angel..& “where’s the catch?” you ask suspiciously because nothing’s for free is it?..raised taught conditioned into a religion of compliance rather than a spirituality of protection..not data protection, which some are quick to ridicule, but person protection “I have called you by your name, you are mine..
you are precious in my eyes & I love you..you are the apple of my eye” an orchard called paradise & an apple to die for..you..& why haven’t you heard this fantastic news before?..
go home, forgiven encouraged empowered by the Holy Spirit,to live & enjoy life & faith with parity of esteem; Mary, the disciples, Mary Magdalen & you, equally loved needed & belonging..in phraseology of orchard & paradise, you are very best of crop varieties..a Yorkshire russet, randomly shaped, rough skinned but with flavour to die for..nothing like a Waitrose perfectly shaped unblemished tasteless golden delicious..leave Dimbleby scribes & devil to gripe on..sour in taste, slippery skinned, & sadly still some peoples choice..for us? “taste & see that the Lord is good”..very good..                                                                                                                                                                                                                     [10thSunYrB;Mk3;20-35]
Website by Gabriel Media Limited
  • Home
    • Church History
  • Mass Times
  • Homilies
    • First Sunday of Lent
    • Ash Wednesday
    • Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
    • Third Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Second Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Baptism of Our Lord
    • Epiphany of the Lord
    • Homily; 1 Jan 2021; Mary Mother of God
    • Christmas Midnight Mass
    • Fourth Sunday of Advent
    • Third Sunday of Advent
    • Homily 2nd Sunday of Advent
    • Homily; 1st Sunday of Advent
    • Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
    • Thirty-third Sunday
    • Thirty-second Sunday
    • All Souls
    • All Saints
    • Thirtieth Sunday
    • Twenty-ninth Sunday
    • Twenty-eighth Sunday
    • Twenty seventh Sunday
    • Twenty-sixth Sunday
    • Twenty-fifth Sunday
    • Twenty Fourth Sunday
    • Twenty-third Sunday
    • Twenty-second Sunday
    • Twenty-first Sunday
    • The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
    • Nineteenth Sunday
    • Eighteenth Sunday
    • Seventeenth Sunday
    • Sixteenth Sunday
    • Fifteenth Sunday
    • Fourteenth Sunday
    • St Peter & St Paul
    • Twelfth Sunday
    • Trinity Sunday
    • Pentecost Sunday
    • Homily for Tuesday Wk 6 Easter
    • Seventh Sunday of Easter
    • Sixth Sunday of Easter
    • Fifth Sunday of Easter
    • Fourth Sunday of Easter
    • Third Sunday of Easter
    • Second Sunday of Easter
    • Easter Sunday
    • Holy Saturday
    • Good Friday
    • Maundy Thursday
    • Palm Sunday
    • Fifth Sunday of Lent
    • Fourth Sunday of Lent
    • Third Sunday of Lent
    • Second Sunday of Lent
    • Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • The Presentation of the Lord
    • Third Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Holy Family
    • Mary Mother of God
    • Second Sunday of Advent
    • First Sunday of Advent
    • Remembrance Sunday
    • Thirty-first Sunday
    • Twenty-fourth Sunday
    • Twentieth Sunday
    • Eighteenth Sunday
    • Seventeenth Sunday
    • Sixteenth Sunday
    • The Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ
    • The Most Holy Trinity
    • Seventh Sunday of Easter
    • Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Thirteenth Sunday
    • St John the Baptist
    • Eleventh Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Tenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Transfiguration of the Lord
    • Cemetery Mass
  • Newsletters
    • First Sunday of Lent
    • Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
    • Third Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Second Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • The Baptism of the Lord
    • Second Sunday after the Nativity
    • The Holy Family
    • Fourth Sunday of Advent
    • Third Sunday of Advent
    • 2nd Sunday of Advent
    • 1st Sunday of Advent
    • Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
    • Thirty third Sunday
    • Thirty second Sunday
    • All Saints
    • Thirtieth Sunday
    • Twenty-ninth Sunday
    • Twenty-eighth Sunday
    • Twenty-seventh Sunday
    • Twenty-sixth Sunday
    • Twenty-fifth Sunday
    • Twenty Fourth Sunday
    • Thirty-third Sunday
    • Twenty-second Sunday
    • Twenty-first Sunday
    • The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
    • Nineteenth Sunday
    • Eighteenth Sunday
    • Seventeenth Sunday
    • Sixteenth Sunday
    • Fifteenth Sunday
    • Fourteenth Sunday
    • St Peter & St Paul
    • Twelfth Sunday
    • The Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ
    • Trinity Sunday
    • Pentecost Sunday
    • Seventh Sunday of Easter
    • Sixth Sunday of Easter
    • Fifth Sunday of Easter
    • Fourth Sunday of Easter
    • Third Sunday of Easter
    • Second Sunday of Easter
    • Easter Sunday
    • Palm Sunday
    • Fifth Sunday of Lent
    • Fourth Sunday of Lent
    • Third Sunday of Lent
    • Second Sunday of Lent
    • Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • The Presentation of the Lord
    • The Baptism of the Lord
    • The Epiphany of the Lord
    • Fourth Sunday of Advent
    • Second Sunday of Advent
    • First Sunday of Advent
    • Thirty-first Sunday
    • Third Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Twenty-fourth Sunday
    • Twenty-third Sunday
    • Twentieth Sunday
    • Eighteenth Sunday
    • Sixteenth Sunday
    • The Most Holy Trinity
    • Sixth Sunday of Easter
    • Fourth Sunday of Easter
    • Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • St John the Baptist
    • Eleventh Sunday of Ordinary Time
    • Tenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
  • Coronavirus
    • Caritas Middlesbrough helpline
    • Live streaming
    • Home Prayers
    • Our Advent Journey to Christmas sheet
    • Blessing of Advent Wreath
    • O Antiphon thought for each day
    • The Tablet
    • Seized by the Holy Spirit by Abbot General
    • Letter to Daniel
    • Joyce Rupp reflection
    • The Rev Julie Nicholson
    • Noah's Ark story part 1 >
      • Noah's Ark story part 2
      • Noah's Ark story part 3
      • Noah's Ark story part 4
    • Wind beneath my wings; Bette Midler
    • Lockdown poem
    • Our Lady and the child Jesus
    • Pope Francis Rosary
    • Seven gifts sheet
    • Women & the post-covid church
    • Jesus images
    • Ark
    • Why I'm not opening church's yet
    • Abbot primates five blessings
    • Holy Spirit
    • Angelus & Come down O Love divine hymn
    • Simon & Garfunkel song
    • Trasna Poem
    • The seven I am titles of Jesus
    • Noah's Ark on Mount Ararat by Simon de Myle
    • Angels Unaware
    • Be still and know that I am God
    • Extraordinary moment of prayer
    • Halik
    • Don't be fooled
    • Home picture
    • The Last Supper
    • Iona Gate
    • Caravaggio 1
    • Caravaggio 2
    • Poems 1
    • Poems 2
    • School
    • Leeds
    • 5th Station, Simon of Cyrene carries the Cross
  • Hospitality & Outreach
    • Middlesbrough Food Bank
    • The Sick and the Unwell
    • The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP)
    • ​Together Middlesbrough and Cleveland (TMC)
    • Zimbabwe missions appeal >
      • Mashambanzou Bulletin September 2020
  • Gallery
    • Bernard's bench 2020
    • Cherry tree in blossom 2020
    • 2016 in our Church
    • Church Photos
    • Historical Photos
  • Contact us
  • Caristas Newsletter
  • 100 Club Winners
  • GDPR - Privacy Notice
  • Justice & Peace
  • Knitting for Refugees
  • Parish Hall for hire
  • Rosa Ampleforth
  • Safeguarding
  • Useful Links