“Yes” said the boy, “but you make a huge difference.”
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” asked the mole. “Kind” said the boy.
“I wonder if there is a school of unlearning?”
“Most of the old moles I know wish they had listened less to their fears & more to their dreams.”
“Imagine how we would be if we were less afraid.”
“I’ve learned how to be in the present” said the mole.
"How?” asked the boy. “I find a quiet spot & shut my eyes & breathe” said the mole. “That’s good, & then? asked the boy. “Then I focus.” “What do you focus on?” asked the boy. “Cake” said the mole. (from “the boy, the mole, the fox & the horse” by Charlie Mackesy) A book presented to me from the staff & children of St Benedict’s Primary School in this Temple at the School “Carols round the Tree” 19th December 2019.
The Bishops of England & Wales designated last weekend as the “Sunday of the Word” in this Year of the Word which began on the first Sunday of Advent. The logo of the year is “The God Who Speaks….” You can read about it in Pope Francis’ letter “Aperuit Illis” and to mark the moment we blessed & gave a copy of St Matthew’s Gospel to each family in the Parish, for them to take home & read regularly, possibly weekly & as a family, the evangelist’s account of the life & teaching of Jesus Christ. It offers a wonderful opportunity to read the story unabridged, rather than listening to the sound bites we are offered each Sunday during this year of Matthew’s Gospel. To sharpen our awareness of the importance of the Word of God, where the Liturgy of the Word is offered to us in the first half of the Mass, up to the conclusion of your bidding prayers, after which the second half of the Mass, the Liturgy of the Eucharist begins, we will process in at the beginning of Mass carrying the Book of the Gospels, which will be displayed, underlining the importance of the Divine Word being among us, to be proclaimed, heard, digested & taken home within our hearts & minds, alongside the Body of Christ to be shared with all those we meet in family, in locality & at work in the coming week. As St Leo said as he gave Communion at Mass “become what you receive, the Body of Christ”, as indeed we receive the real presence of Christ both in his Word spoken & received in Communion. We also had a Rite of Rededication of our Ministers of the Word, an opportunity for us to offer our spiritual thankfulness to then for all they do. Please also remember today, & throughout this Special Year, our Community in Zimbabwe at the Monastery of Christ the Word. This weekend, with our Vigil Mass at OL&HA in Gilling, will be the opportunity for us to celebrate that special right in blessing & distributing the Gospel & rededicating our Ministers of the Word there, as well as blessing the candles for the coming year on the Feast of Candlemas.
Living God, you walk alongside us & speak to us throughout the Scriptures. Your Son, Jesus Christ, listens to our hopes & fears & shows us how to live for one another. Send us the Holy Spirit to open our hearts & minds so that we may be your witnesses throughout the world. Amen. V. Your word is our path & your truth is our light. R. This day & every day. (Prayer of the Word for the Year of the Word)
Our initial meeting with the parents of our First Holy Communion candidates is to be held this coming Wednesday 5th Feb at 7pm in the Parish Hall. If you are aware of any child of similar age at schools other than SBPS who would like to receive their First Communion & join with our preparation course, which will begin later this month, please ask their parents to be in touch with me very soon. With my love & prayers Fr Bede.