Fifth Sunday of Easter (06th /07th May 2023)

Dear Parishioners,

Today’s Gospel is very familiar to us. It is a favourite reading at funerals. The reason being, it records the comforting words of Jesus promising a special place in His Father’s house – Heaven. There is the invitation to TRUST in his love and compassion. But it goes on much further. At the funeral of a loved one, we may ask: “where are they now?” While the body is still present to us, we are told by Jesus: “I am going now to prepare a place for you … I shall return to take you with me; so that where I am, you may be to”.

This is a very clear statement from Jesus. The person we are mourning and have loved is with Jesus. There are ‘many rooms in my Father’s house’. When we try to follow Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life, how consoling is it that we have a pre-booked accommodation waiting for us! Our ‘email’ reserving a place in heaven is secured by the way we live. It’s as difficult and easy as that.

While we can’t presume anything, we need to take Jesus’ word for it. He is calling us to follow in his footsteps of love and service to God and neighbour. How many times has he told us that we cannot say we love God, if we don’t love one another – our neighbour.

St Peter, in the second reading gives us further encouragement: “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a people set apart to sing the praises of God who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light”.  Yes, we are privileged people who try to serve the Lord Jesus. We may well keep in mind, the words of Jesus we heard during the week, ‘whoever believes in me will perform the same works as I do myself, they will perform even greater works, because I am going to the Father …’

Finally, a word on the first reading. Numbers in the early church began to build up and things changed. So, the Apostles thought, we will have to do something about what is happening so that we can serve the growing community of Christians. They gathered together and prayed and debated what to do in the light of the Holy Spirit. They elected eight more disciples to helping their ministry. Do we learn, could we learn anything from the early church? When it comes to serving the whole people of God? Are we brave enough to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us into new ways of serving? The forthcoming synod is a sign of hope in this matter. Let us pray for the needs of all God’s peoples.

CONGRATULATIONS: [1] To the children who received their First Holy Communion on Saturday. We will continue to keep them and their families in prayers.

[2] To King Charles III on his coronation yesterday, may God continue to guide him in serving the people entrusted in his care.

Have a blessed week,

Fr Joe