Dear Brothers and Sisters

In the Rules of St. Benedict there is a chapter on the 12 degrees of humility. Novices think they are already living them – not much room for improvement then! A wiser and older monk assured me that most monks hardly get beyond the 4th degree of humility. A lot of room for improvement . . . !

At the heart of our vocation as Christians is SERVICE. We hardly begin to scratch the surface of Christian Service in reality. What is the height of Christian service? Jesus Himself, in order to save us, sacrificed Himself, so that He could take upon Himself the burden of our sins; in doing this we are healed and made worthy to call God, our Father in the midst of the church.

Do you think you’ve reached this level of service yet? Probably…NOT.

Still, have a good week,

Fr. Richard

Dear Brothers and Sisters

Jesus always speaks to the Jewish people of His time as though they somehow belonged to one another. He speaks to us as Christians as though we belong to one another. He also asks us to treat every human being as a loved child of God.

You can imagine that for Jesus there was an urgency to His messages. He knew He only had limited time here on earth. Part of His message is that He wants us to wake up (and smell the coffee) as New Yorkers would say. We have to take some kind of responsibility for one another.

Justice and Peace go together. No justice, no peace. Loving includes being just and fair.

Have a good week,

Fr. Richard

Dear Brothers and Sisters

We are not all called to be ‘great’ as this world would call us great, but I do think we are all called to enrich one another out of the riches that God gives us. Those riches begin when we truly believe in His love and esteem for us . . . we can then learn to believe in and have esteem for others.

It is not at all easy; you see…… Jesus sacrificed himself in order that we would have all we needed. We too, in one way or other ought to be sacrificing ourselves for others . . . building up treasure in heaven.

Have a good week,
Fr. Richard

Dear Brothers and Sisters

I think many people do not believe in God, because their image of God is not very attractive.

To some He is distant, to others harsh or even cruel. No wonder they do not believe in this kind of God; and they are right. Our God as revealed by Jesus Christ, is a Father who loves and cares for us His children, and who wants to do the same for our brothers and sisters. He is the God revealed in the parable of the Good Samaritan. A God of mercy and compassion; a God of tenderness and love.

May our God revealed so perfectly in Jesus Christ, draw us closer to Him and to one another.

Have a good week,
Fr. Richard

Dear Brothers and Sisters

I am sure that we would all agree that our fundamental option in life must be to pursue the good rather than the evil, to choose life rather than death, to seek to love one’s neighbour rather than hate. The Christian must seek to be formed by Christ rather than the ideologies of our age.

The sentiments of the prayer of St. Richard of Chichester express this quite well:

Thanks be to You, our Lord Jesus Christ,
for all the benefits which You have given us,
for all the pains and insults which You have borne for us.
Most merciful Redeemer, Friend and Brother,
may we know You more clearly,
love You more dearly,
and follow You more nearly, day by day. (1197 - 1253)

Have a good week,
Fr. Richard