St Teresa & St John Southworth Churches, Cleveleys
Fr Chris Cousens—Phone: 853340
Rev Bernard Ward (Deacon) (Tel: 858346)
Enquiries for St John Southworth: Phone: 853340
9 June 2024
http://www.st-teresas-church.co.uk
Email: st.teresas.cleveleys@gmail.com
Lancaster Roman Catholic Diocesan Trustees Registered Charity Number 23433
Sunday : 10th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Contents: Gospel
Notices
Reflection
Gospel: Mark 3:20-35
Jesus went home with his disciples, and such a crowd collected that they could not even have a meal. When his relatives heard of this, they set out to take charge of him, convinced he was out of his mind.
The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying ‘Beelzebul is in him, ‘It is through the prince of devils that he casts devils out.’ So he called them to him and spoke to them in parables, ‘How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot last. And if a household is divided against itself, that household can never stand. Now if Satan has rebelled against himself and is divided, he cannot stand either – if it is the end of him. But no one can make his way into a strong man’s house and burgle his property unless he has tied up the strong man first. Only then can he burgle his house.
‘I tell you solemnly, all men’s sins will be forgiven, and all their blasphemies; but let anyone blaspheme against the Holy Spirit and he will never have forgiveness; he is guilty of an eternal sin.’ This was because they were saying, ‘An unclean spirit is in him.’
His mother and brothers now arrived and, standing outside sent in a message asking for him. A crowd was sitting round him at the time the message was passed to him. ‘Your mother and brothers and sisters are outside asking for you.’ He replied, ‘Who are my mother and brothers?’ And looking round at those sitting in a circle about him, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of God, that person is my brother and sister and mother.’
Gospel Reflection : Who are my mother, and my brothers and sisters?
We live our lives in the circle of many relationships, connections, friendships and loves; people close to us now, people who have died, people who were once part of our lives, but from whom we have drifted. And we live in the circle of God’s love.
Maybe we wonder how central to our whole lives our special people are. What can be more central than family relationships? Yet Jesus says to us that our relationship with God is more central. We are united in human bonds, that beautiful web of support we all want, hope for and try to give.
But, there is another bond which is our deepest unity in God. We are all children of God, and living within the love the gospel gives us, we are brothers and sisters of Jesus, which is how he wants it to be.
We Remember In Our Prayers Christine Cook whose Funeral was last week, Doreen Wadland whose Funeral Mass is at St. Teresa’s on 17th June at 12 noon, and Ken Dugdale whose Funeral Mass is at St. John Southworth church on Thursday 20th June at 11.45 am and Eva Dunhill whose Funeral Service is at St. Teresa’s, on Wednesday, 26th June at 11.15 am. We remember them and their families, and those whose anniversaries are at this time. May they all be in God’s peace.
We Welcome Into The Family of the Church Rita Amy Elizabeth Coates and Nancy Amy Jai Coates whose Baptisms take place this Sunday at St. Teresa’s.
The SVP and CAFOD Are Working Together In The Run Up To The General Election In July: As Catholics, we know that tackling poverty and injustice are among the most important issues politicians should act on. The national St. Vincent de Paul Society and CAFOD have produced a guide for Catholics for the General Election, with suggested questions to ask the candidates. Please see cafod.org.uk/encounter or svp.org.uk/encounter for more information.
Social Event: There will be a Parish/Community Summer Night in the Church Hall on Saturday, 20th July. This will involve music, games and a little entertainment.
The Food Pantry, situated at the back of church at St. Teresa’s, is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 10.30 am – 12 noon, and on Wednesdays, 2.30 pm – 4 pm. We are so grateful for all the volunteers who work in the Pantry, and all those who donate contributions.
There Is A Day of Renewal at St.,Clare’s Church/Parish Hall, Sharoe Green Lane North, Fulwood, Preston, 10 am to 4 pm, starting with Mass at 10 am, on Saturday, 22nd June. The Day is being led by Maria Heath, Director of Mission Northampton, and has the title “Come Holy Spirit.”. Please bring a packed lunch. Tea and coffee are available.
Gifts and Talents Update : The Parish Council would like to thank the parishioners who volunteered to help the parish by putting their names forward at Pentecost. We had a good response, and it is hoped that all volunteers will be contacted in the next couple of weeks. If anyone else would like to volunteer please speak to one of the parishioners at the back of church at Sunday Masses. Thank you so much.
A Journey Through Mark’s Gospel : A group of people from the Fylde coast meet online each week to discuss the Sunday readings.If you would like to join in (Thursday, 7.30pm) please contact martwinben@gmail.com for details. You can also receive weekly notes by subscribing (for free). Just go to martinbennett.substack.com We are very grateful to Martin for offering all this spiritual support.
A Pathway To Peace This Summer
To be glad of life,
because it gives us a chance
to love and to work and to play,
and to look up at the stars;
To be satisfied with your possessions,
but not contented with yourself
until you have made the best of them.
To be guided by what you admire and love,
rather than by what you hate.
To envy nothing that is your neighbour’s
except their kindness of heart
and gentleness of manners;
And, to think seldom of your enemies,
often of your friends,
and every day of Christ.
These are the little signposts on the footpath of peace;
And the person who seeks God in this way
has already found him.
Daily Reflections for this week
Monday (Oscar Romero)
Do you want to know if your Christianity is genuine? Here is the touchstone: Who do you get along with? Who are those who criticise you? Who are those who do not accept you? Who are those who flatter you? Know from that what Christ said once: “I have not come to bring peace, but division.” There will be division because some want to live more comfortably by the world’s principles. But others have embraced the call of Christ and must reject all that cannot be just in the world.
Scripture (Psalm 69:7-9,13,32-33)
It is for you that I suffer insults, that shame covers my face, that I have become a stranger to my brothers. I burn with zeal for your house and insults against you fall on me. This is my prayer to you, my prayer for your favour. In your great love, answer me, O God, with your help that never fails: Lord, answer, for your love is kind; in your compassion, turn towards me. The poor when they see it will be glad and God-seeking hearts will revive; for the Lord listens to the needy and does not spurn his servants in their chains.
Tuesday (Martin Luther King, spoken the night before he died)
The question before you tonight is not, “If I stop to help someone in need, what will happen to me?” The question is, “If I do not stop to help what will happen to them?” That’s the question.
I got into Memphis and some began talk about the threats that were out. What would happen to me from some of our sick white brothers? Well, I don’t know what will happen now. We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn’t matter with me now, because I’ve been to the mountaintop. And I don’t mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land! And so I’m happy, tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man! Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!!
Scripture (Matthew 10:27-29,31-33)
What I say to you in the dark, tell in the daylight; what you hear in whispers, proclaim from the housetops. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul: fear him rather who can destroy both body and soul in hell. Can you not buy two sparrows for a penny? And yet not one falls to the ground without your Father knowing. So there is no need to be afraid: you are worth more than many sparrows. So if anyone declares themselves for me in the presence of humans, I will declare myself for them in the presence of my Father in heaven. But the one who disowns me in the presence of humans, I will disown in the presence of my Father in heaven.
Wednesday (A Carthusian)
Happy are those who know how to put their whole soul into all that they do. Because they are giving themselves, they will be able to bear much suffering, but their happiness will exceed their suffering, since the gift of self is the source and condition of life, and therefore of spiritual growth and joy. Go on, then, giving yourself: go on suffering…. seek your joy in that precious suffering that the gift of self entails. God who became man knew no more excellent way than this when he was on earth.
Scripture (Psalm 42:8-11; 43:3-4)
In the daytime God sends his faithful love, and even at night; the song it inspires in me is a prayer to my living God. I shall say to God, my rock, ‘Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go around mourning, harassed by the enemy?’ My enemies taunt me, all day long they ask me, ‘Where is your God?’ Why so downcast? Why all these sighs? Hope in God! I will praise him still, my Saviour, my God. Send out your light and your truth; they shall be my guide, to lead me to your holy mountain to the place where you dwell. Then I shall go to the altar of God, to the God of my joy.
Thursday (Traditional prayer: “Soul of Christ)
Jesus, may all that is you flow into me.
May your body and blood be my food and drink.
May your passion and death be my strength and life.
Jesus, with you by my side, enough has been given.
May the shelter I seek be the shadow of your cross.
Let me not run from the love which you offer,
but hold me safe from the forces of evil.
On each of my dyings shed your light and your love.
Keep calling me until that day comes when, with your saints,
I may praise you forever. Amen.
Scripture (Hebrews 10:32-36)
Remember the great challenge of sufferings that you had to meet after you received the light, sometimes by being publicly exposed to humiliations and violence, and sometimes as associates of those who suffered humiliation and violence. You accepted with joy being stripped of your belongings, knowing that you owned something better and lasting. Do not lose your fearlessness now, then, since the reward is so great. You will need perseverance if you are to do God’s will and gain what he has promised.
Friday (Henri Nouwen)
When Jesus says “Can you drink the cup I am to drink?” without offering the reward we expect, it is the great challenge of the spiritual life. It breaks though all human calculations and expectations. It defies all our wishes to be sure in advance. It turns our hope for a predictable future upside down and pulls down our safety devices. It asks for the most radical trust in God, the same trust that made Jesus drink the cup to the bottom. The intimacy between Jesus and his Father is an intimacy of complete trust in which there are no advanced guarantees. That same intimacy Jesus wants to give us so we can drink our cup.
Scripture (Romans 8:35-39)
Can anything cut us off from the love of Christ – can hardships or distress, or persecution, or lack of food and clothing, or threats of violence? No; we come through all these things triumphantly victorious by the power of him who loves us. For I am certain of this: neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor any power …. nor any created thing whatever will be able to come between us and the love of God.
Martin Bennett