24.5.15 They were amazed and astonished.

Pentecost Sunday (Year B)

Welcome, once more, to a little liturgy.  This week we celebrate the feast of Pentecost, one of the occasions when the apostles experience the presence of God in a very powerful and public way.  

Liturgy of the Word

First Reading
Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11
The apostles were gathered in one room to celebrate a feast day when they heard a loud wind and saw tongues of fire.  They were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in foreign languages and started to preach about the marvels of God.  Everyone was amazed!  There were many people in Jerusalem to celebrate the feast and they all spoke different languages but everyone could understand what the apostles said.  

Psalm 103
Send forth your Spirit, O Lord, and renew the face of the earth.  

Second Reading
Letter to the Galatians 5:16-25
St Paul tells us to be guided by the Spirit and to avoid self-indulgence which, he says, leads to all sorts of bad results.  The Spirit gives us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control.  

Gospel
John 15:26-27; 16:12-15
Jesus tells the disciples that he will send the Advocate (Spirit) to help them be his witnesses.  The Sprit will lead them to the complete truth.  

Discussion

The readings this week are all about the Spirit.  After the Ascension, the apostles found it difficult to continue preaching without Jesus to advise and support them.  They were in much the same position as we are today.  However, God sent his Spirit to them to encourage them and give them strength.  This is demonstrated with the imagery of wind and fire.  The senses of hearing, touch and sight were all involved in this experience.  The apostles found strength and new talents and were able to preach to people and make them understand the marvels of God, even though they did not speak the same language.  
We can sometimes find it difficult to be Christians and communicate our faith to others.  However, we too have been given the Spirit to encourage and support us.  It does not always appear quite so dramatically as it did to the apostles; it could come as a kind word or thought from somebody or an idea that suddenly comes to us.  Many people speak of being "moved by the Spirit" or having a sense of what they should do that they cannot explain.  It is important that we are open to these experiences and think carefully about how we can live lives that are guided by the Spirit.  

Activity during Homily

The Church suggests that we can express God's love in us if we demonstrate certain qualities, traditionally known as the 12 fruits of the Holy Spirit.   They are based on what St Paul says in the reading we heard today.  Some have been jumbled up; try to work them out.  You can check with St Paul's list in the Second Reading if you are struggling!

voel
yjo
ecpae
ianeeptc
nknseids
goodness
generosity
stelgnesen
faithfulness (trustfulness)
modesty 
flse - ncotlor
chastity 

The Church also recognises the  7 gifts of the Holy Spirit.  They are based on a list from Isaiah 11, which describes these qualities as being the qualities of the Messiah.   Jesus made it possible for us to share these gifts when he gave us his Spirit.  They are:

wisdom
understanding
counsel (good advice)
fortitude (strength)
knowledge
piety (treating religion carefully and with respect)
fear of the Lord  (being amazed and awestruck by God)

Think about the people in your life.  Do they have these qualities? 

Other activities and resources

1.  As well as a list of positive qualities, St Paul gives us a list of negatives; many of these are the opposite of the positives and he explains them to be the result of "self indulgence".  They are:

fornication, gross indecency and sexual irresponsibility
idolatry and sorcery
feuds and wrangling
jealousy, bad temper and quarrels
disagreements, factions, envy
drunkenness, orgies

You may need to ask for some help to understand these.  Many of them are the opposite of modesty and chastity which appear in the Church's list of fruits of the Holy Spirit.  

2.  Investigate the Jewish feast that the apostles had gathered to celebrate called "Shavuot".  Some information can be found on the link below:

info about Shavuot

3.  You might also like to read the Old Testament story about how people came to speak different languages in the first place:

You tube Bible extract

4.  Click below to see map of countries represented in Pentecost account:

map

Have a good week!

Maria

Picture courtesy of fotographic1980 at free digital photos.net

17.5.15 Proclaim the Good News to all creation

The Ascension of the Lord (Year B)

Welcome again to a little liturgy.  This Sunday we celebrate one of the most important feasts of the church year - the Ascension.  It is as difficult for us to comprehend now as it was for the apostles who were left looking up into heaven.  I hope this week's activity will raise as many questions as answers!

Discussion

Since the time of Jesus, we have made scientific discoveries that prove that heaven is not just beyond the clouds.  We know that God is not looking down on us in a literal sense from a place up in the sky. We do not understand exactly where Jesus went on the day of the Ascension but we can say that he went to be with the Father.  We also know that he intended for us to receive the Holy Spirit as a guide and inspiration when he had returned to the Father.  

In today's readings, we see that the apostles were still expecting that Jesus was going to "restore the kingdom to Israel".  However, he is "lifted up while they looked on, and a cloud took him from their sight".  Imagine how amazed and frightened they must have been.  It may be helpful for us to consider their confused expectations of Jesus.  We too have expectations of what God is like and sometimes of how he should behave.  However, we cannot create an accurate image of him because he is beyond our understanding.  When he does not conform to our expectations or behave in the way we would like or agree with, we are left much like the apostles; confused and frightened.  The best definition of God to turn to at these moments is that God is love.  

Activity

Find the lines in the Creed that state our belief in the Ascension.  Write them here:



Now consider the line, near the start of the creed, that states that we believe that God is maker of all things "visible and invisible'.  

We say both of these phrases in the Creed and therefore state our belief that things exist that we cannot see.  Jesus frequently refers to a place that we cannot see.  For example:

1.  Jesus says "my kingdom is not of this world" (to Pilate).

2.  Jesus says (to the good thief) "today you will be with me in paradise".

3.  Jesus says "my Father's house has many rooms".  

Try to write a sentence for each of these statements to explain what you think he meant.  Then write a sentence explaining what you mean when you use the word "heaven".  

1.   

2.  

3.   

For me heaven is .........

The idea of heaven is certainly very difficult to understand and many people struggle to believe that there is such a place.  As Christians, we believe that Jesus shows us that our earthly death is not a final end but a beginning of a new life with him and the Father.  He also shows us that we can share in some of that new life here and now by loving God and loving our neighbour.  

Finally, reflect on the first lines of the "Our Father" written out below:

"Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven."  

When you pray these words how do imagine God in heaven?  


I hope you have found something thought-provoking this week.  

Maria

Picture courtesy of Salvatore Vuono at Freedigitalphotos.net

10.5.15 Remain in my love

Sixth Sunday of Easter

Welcome back to a little liturgy.

In a departure from the normal structure, we are looking at things Marian this week in order to celebrate the month of May.  

Discussion

The readings this week are all focussed on LOVE.  St Peter tells us that "God does not have favourites" and we hear that the Holy Spirit is "poured out on the pagans too."  John tells us that "anyone who fails to love can never have known God".  In the Gospel Jesus commands "Love one another as I have loved you."  

If we look at the life of Mary we see that it is a good example of loving God.  Throughout her life she accepted the events in Jesus' life and did her best to support him even though it was often difficult and she did not fully understand his ways.  

Activity

One of the most famous Catholic prayers is the Rosary.  The traditional form groups prayers into three "Mysteries".

The Joyful Mysteries

The Sorrowful Mysteries

The Glorious Mysteries

The Joyful Mysteries trace the early life of Jesus and celebrate Mary's role as his mother.  

1.  The Annunciation

2.  The Visitation

3.  The Nativity

4.  The Presentation
5.  Finding the child Jesus in the Temple.  

Write a number between each of the statements below to show which of the Joyful mysteries of the rosary they are associated with.   

Mary visited her cousin.
Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem to be counted for the census.  
Jesus was interpreting the scriptures at the temple.
Mary spoke with Simeon.  
Mary accepted her role as mother according to God's will.  
Joseph and Mary took an offering of doves to the temple.  
John the Baptist jumped in his mother's womb when she met Mary.  
Mary and Joseph took shelter in a stable.
Mary was greeted by an angel.  
Mary and Joseph were worried that Jesus was lost.  

Think about how each of these five mysteries might be joyful for Mary.  


Extra resources and activities

Find a rosary and sit down with someone who can explain it to you.  Try praying one decade of the Joyful Mysteries with them.  

Below is a useful link to help you understand and remember how to pray the rosary.

Explanation of the rosary

Many people suggest that it was St Dominic who first started praying with a rosary.  You may like to find out more about this.


I hope you find something helpful this week.  

Maria

3.5.15 I am the true vine.

Fifth Sunday of Easter (Year B)

Welcome to the Fifth Sunday of Easter.  This week we explore another beautiful metaphor used by Jesus to help us understand our relationship with him and the Father: the vine.  I hope that a little liturgy will assist the process of pruning!  Check out some great artwork for this topic over at: the kids bulletin

Summary of Liturgy of the Word

First Reading
Acts of the Apostles 9:26-31
Barnabas stands up for Paul (who used to be called Saul) and says that although he used to persecute the Christians, he is now one of them and bravely teaches Christ's word.  Paul tried to explain himself to the Hellenists but they would not listen and started to plot to kill him.

Psalm 21
You, Lord, are my praise in the great assembly.

Second reading
1John 3:18-24
St John says that we must show that we are Christians by our love and by keeping God's commandments.  These commandments are "that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ" and "that we love one another as he told us to".  

Gospel
John 15:1-8
Jesus uses the metaphor of the vine to describe our relationship with him:  "I am the vine, you are the branches".  If we stay attached to him we will bear fruit; if we leave his way we will be like withered branches that are collected and thrown on the fire.  He says that God the Father is like the vinedresser.


Discussion

Just as last week we explored the shepherd metaphor, this week we are asked to think about the vine. A key phrase to think about from the Gospel might be "A branch cannot bear fruit all by itself".  If we are the branches of the vine, we require the rest of the vine (Christ) to sustain ourselves and the Word of God to nourish and tend us.  It is also notable that vines begin to grow again after pruning and then produce grapes.  We should also think about the connection between Christ as the vine and the wine that we offer at Mass as a sacrifice which then becomes Christ's blood.  


Activity during Homily

1.  Draw a grape vine and label each branch with the name of someone you know who helps in your life.  Label the main stem as "Jesus".

2. Read the prayer below and listen out for it at Mass today.  You might like to wink discretely at who ever is with you when you hear it!

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation,
for through your goodness we have received the wine we offer you:
fruit of the vine and work of human hands,
it will become our spiritual drink.

3.  We also hear Jesus say:

"I am the light of the world"
"I am the bread of life"
"I am alpha and omega"
"I am the door"

For each of these symbols draw a picture and try to write one sentence to describe what this symbol is saying about Jesus.  


Other activities and resources

You might like to find out about different types of farming in Biblical times at:

Farming in Biblical times

Below is a beautifully illustrated hymn based on today's Gospel:

"I am the vine" youtube clip

I hope that a little liturgy has been fruitful for you this week!

Maria