Mission Sunday.  Today is Mission Sunday and the Holy Father invites Catholics all over the world to contribute to a special collection. A second collection is normally taken up at all Masses this weekend as we support missionary activity abroad through our prayer, sacrifice and financial contributions. The funds collected help Churches who need financial support and are directed towards communities in need, both spiritually and materially.  In recent years year Irish Catholics have contributed more than €1.6 million on Mission Sundays, and this collection was distributed to more than 1,000 young Churches in need. Contributions are used to build simple mission churches, to educate seminarians and female religious novices, and for the formation of catechists and lay leaders. We remember the work of missionaries throughout the world including more than 1,000 Irish missionaries.

MISSION SUNDAY IS ONLINE THIS YEAR BUT NEEDS ARE GREATER

The annual Mission Sunday collection for the support of the young churches in the other side of the world cannot be taken up in our churches this year.  However, the Donate button on the Cork and Ross website can be used to make a secure donation for Mission Sunday.

To learn about some of these young churches have a look at the short video from World Missions Ireland on the Cork and Ross website.

NOVEMBER REMEMBRANCE OF OUR DEAD

Remembrance Weekend.  All Masses on weekend 31^st October – 1^st November will be offered for our dead, especially those who died during the past year. Due to the Covid-19 restrictions, prayers and blessings of graves in our cemeteries cannot take place this year, but all our dead will be remembered in Masses throughout November.

The Annual Novena of Masses for the Holy Souls will be celebrated from Monday 2^nd November to Tuesday 10^th November.   Envelopes for those who wish to have their dead remembered at the Novena are available in the church.  These may be placed in the box at the alter rails.

COVID-19 Restrictions

 Arrangements are as follows:

Christ the King

Open for Private Prayer

11.00 am – 6.00 pm

 Monday-Saturday

Live Streamed Masses:

10.00 am Monday-Saturday

6.00 pm Saturday (vigil)

10.00 am and 12.00 noon on Sunday

BROTHERS AND SISTERS ALL

On the 3^rd October, the eve the feast day of St Francis of Assisi, Pope Francis made his first trip outside Rome since the Covid-19 pandemic to sign his third encyclical letter at the tomb of St. Francis.  The document in Italian has the title “Fratelli Tutti” and Pope Francis says he chose the title because “with these words, Saint Francis of Assisi addressed his brothers and sisters and proposed to them a way of life marked by the flavour of the Gospel.”

God is love, and sharing in that love, being part of it, we are called to be open to open to everybody, brothers and sisters to all.  Thus, there are no “others,” no “them,” only “us!”  With God we want an open world, a world without walls, without borders, without rejected people, without strangers. To achieve such a world, we must have an open heart prepared to be friends, to seek what is morally good, to seek justice for everyone, so we can truly be brothers and sisters.

There are shadows over our world leading to confusion, loneliness, and desolation. When we come upon ​a hurting stranger, we can pass by or we can stop to help. Whether we include or exclude the injured stranger tells what kind of person we are, and to what kind of social, religious or other group we really belong.  Faced with those injured by the shadows of our sadly closed world, Pope Francis invites us to share the world’s deep desire for solidarity, starting with the recognition that we are created to be “​Fratelli  Tutti,” ​brothers  and  sisters all.

OCTOBER, MONTH OF THE ROSARY

It’s probably fair to s ay that for many younger Catholics, the rosary is associated with an older generation. However, at this time every year we are all encouraged to use the rosary to reflect on different aspects of the life of Jesus. This ancient and Bible based prayer invites us it to think about the principal parts of Christ’s life and the way in which we are is called to follow him. Some years ago Pope Benedict XVI commented on the month of the rosary saying: “It is as if every year Our Lady invited us to rediscover the beauty of this prayer, so simple and so profound.”

Ennismore Retreat Centre

Online Retreat with Fr. Peter McVerry

Jesus – “destined to be a sign that is opposed.” Luke 2, 34

Online event via Zoom

Saturday 24^th October, 10:30 am – 4.00 pm, cost €45

Limited places available, to register email info@ennismore.ie

Registration closes Friday 23^rd October at 2.00 pm.

For further information call 085 8080218

LEVEL 3

Government Plan for Living with COVID-19

 Arrangements during Level 3 restrictions are as follows.

Christ the King

Open for Private Prayer

11.00 am – 6.00 pm

 Monday-Saturday

       Live Streamed Masses:

            10.00 am Monday-Saturday

            6.00 pm Saturday (vigil)

            10.00 am and 12.00 noon on Sunday

TWO BANQUETS

In the first reading for this Sunday, Isaiah uses the image of a rich banquet on God’s holy mountain to describe the fulfilment of God’s promise of salvation.  A promise of joy and everlasting happiness where every tear will be wiped away and death will be no more.  The gospel reading also speaks of a banquet, a wedding feast representing the kingdom of God.  This is the third parable of rejection in St. Matthew’s Gospel, those invited refused to come.  Some were busy, preoccupied with farm and business, others were hostile.  The messengers were then sent to the crossroads to invite whoever they met to come to the wedding feast, an open invitation to all. We sometimes refuse God’s invitation.  We may be too busy, or having value systems or lifestyles at variance with the Christian ideal we may not want to hear the message. The guest who did not wear a wedding garment represents those who pay lip service to the Christian life but are not in practice prepared to take it seriously.

The banquet is at the end of time, but the invitation is now and the response is now.  We pray that we will say yes to God’s invitation, and yes to God’s promise, that we will say yes to God’s love.  May we bring that invitation to others, even at the risk of rejection, as we try to give witness to our faith by our lifestyle and by our joy in the Lord.

BROTHERS AND SISTERS ALL

On the 3^rd October, the eve the feast day of St Francis of Assisi, Pope Francis made his first trip outside Rome since the Covid-19 pandemic to sign his third encyclical letter at the tomb of St. Francis.  The document in Italian has the title “Fratelli Tutti” and Pope Francis says he chose the title because “with these words, Saint Francis of Assisi addressed his brothers and sisters and proposed to them a way of life marked by the flavour of the Gospel.”

God is love, and sharing in that love, being part of it, we are called to be open to open to everybody, brothers and sisters to all.  Thus, there are no “others,” no “them,” only “us!”  With God we want an open world, a world without walls, without borders, without rejected people, without strangers. To achieve such a world, we must have an open heart prepared to be friends, to seek what is morally good, to seek justice for everyone, so we can truly be brothers and sisters.

There are shadows over our world leading to confusion, loneliness, and desolation. When we come upon ​a hurting stranger, we can pass by or we can stop to help. Whether we include or exclude the injured stranger tells what kind of person we are, and to what kind of social, religious or other group we really belong.  Faced with those injured by the shadows of our sadly closed world, Pope Francis invites us to share the world’s deep desire for solidarity, starting with the recognition that we are created to be “​Fratelli  Tutti,” ​brothers  and  sisters all.

MISSION

Reflection for 28^th Sunday in Ordinary Time from Fr Donal Neary SJ (dneary@messenger.ie).

I remember people whose houses were shrines of hospitality, a sort of gathering place for the neighbours. A sandpit in our back-garden years ago was the play point for dozens of neighbourhood children. All were welcomed and kindly looked after.

The outreach in today’s gospel is for all sorts of people: the invited guests had turned down the invitation to a king’s family wedding, so every ‘Tom, Dick and Mary’ was invited.  The parable is about God and God’s generous invitation of love to all of creation.

This is the message of Mission month, when we remember people, many of whom we know, who have left home to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ in word and action.  It reminds us of the September month of the earth where the love of God is for all creation, including all that lives on earth.  We allow the gospel this week to tell us again and again of the generous God, who prepares a great menu for his people and invites anyone God thinks of (First reading).

That’s what God is like.  He is glad when his hall is full; all God wants is our love in return.

Thank you, o Lord, for your great love for all of us.

OCTOBER, MONTH OF THE ROSARY

It’s probably fair to say that for many younger Catholics, the rosary is associated with an older generation. However, at this time every year we are all encouraged to use the rosary to reflect on different aspects of the life of Jesus. This ancient and Bible based prayer invites us it to think about the principal parts of Christ’s life and the way in which we are is called to follow him. Some years ago Pope Benedict XVI commented on the month of the rosary saying: “It is as if every year Our Lady invited us to rediscover the beauty of this prayer, so simple and so profound.”

The Parish Assembly:  Zoom meeting this Monday 11^th October at 8.00 pm, invitations by email will be issued at 7.45 pm.

Deaths:  We pray for Mary O’Connor of Capwell Road who died recently.  We extend our sympathy to her family.

The Vineyard of God

 The Christian message stands in stark contrast to the consumerism and selfish individualism of modern Irish culture.  There are positive and good aspects of present-day Irish life, generosity to those in need, a sense of humour and of fun, but we may also notice a certain coarseness in life, a lack of respect for values that was not there before, and at the moment a pervasive anxiety. 

In the Gospel parable the custodians of the vineyard are the religious leaders of Israel.  God’s message was rejected and those he sent were rejected, and God himself was rejected in Jesus. We must ask ourselves if we also reject God at times. The teachings of Isaiah and of Jesus make it clear that there are consequences when we reject faith, when we reject God’s grace. 

This raises the question of how to we respond to the situation in our own lives and to the situation in our culture. A key is given in the psalm included in today’s readings, the plea: God of hosts bring us back, let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.  We turn to prayer, a prayer that includes an admission of guilt, an acknowledgement that it is we who have forsaken God, and a promise that we will try not to forsake him again. 

St Paul sets prayer as a sort of polar opposite to worry.  He advises us to fill our minds with all that is good, true, noble and turn to God in prayer, placing all our needs before him. Then the God of peace will be with us and fill our hearts with that peace of Christ which is beyond all human understanding.  That peace will answer all our anxieties.

Pray for our Planet, our Common Home

The Season of Creation ends today, a time set aside by Pope Francis to reflect on our place within creation and our responsibility to care for our common home.

Pope Francis comments that the Eucharist is an act of cosmic love. Even when it is celebrated on the humble altar of a parish church, the Eucharist is celebrated on the altar of the world. The Eucharist joins heaven and earth: it embraces and penetrates all creation as the world which came forth from God’s hands returns to him in blessed and undivided adoration. In the bread of the Eucharist, creation is projected towards unification with the Creator himself (cf. Laudato Si’ .

OCTOBER, MONTH OF THE ROSARY

It’s probably fair to say that for many younger Catholics, the rosary is associated with an older generation. However, at this time every year we are all encouraged to use the rosary to reflect on different aspects of the life of Jesus. This ancient and Bible based prayer invites us it to think about the principal parts of Christ’s life and the way in which we are is called to follow him. Some years ago Pope Benedict XVI commented on the month of the rosary saying: “It is as if every year Our Lady invited us to rediscover the beauty of this prayer, so simple and so profound.”

                       Turner’s Cross Confirmation                           and First Holy Communion  

Confirmation ceremonies will be held on Wednesday  7^th October, and Wednesday      14^th October, at 12.00 noon.

Our First Holy Communion Masses will take place on Saturday 17^th October, at 10.00 am and 12.00 noon.

There will be no public morning Mass on Saturday 17^th October.

Because of Covid-19 restrictions the number of people present in the church for each ceremony will be limited to the pupils receiving the sacrament, their parents and one other person only for each family.

Vocations

Thirteen new seminarians begin their formation and studies in Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, in Rome and in the Redemptoris Mater Seminary, Dundalk.  Others are starting a pre-seminary programme in other locations in Ireland and abroad.  This brings to 72 the total number studying for the priesthood for Irish dioceses.  We pray that men and women will be open to the call of the Lord, asking them to serve him as a priest or in the consecrated life.

Deaths: We pray for Jeremiah (Jerry) O’Leary, Curragh Road and Marie Bowen, Deerpark Mews, who died recently, and offer our sympathy to their families.

GOUGANE BARRA SUNDAY

Our diocesan pilgrimage to Gougane Barra in honour of St. Finbarr is normally held on the last Sunday in September. This year due to the Covid-19 pandemic we cannot travel and everyone is invited to join ONLINE in prayer with Bishop Fintan Gavin as he celebrates Mass at the Oratory in Gougane on this Sunday 27^th September.

Rosary at 2.45 and Mass starts at 3.00 pm

Connect through the diocesan website www.corkandross.org

Pray for Our Planet, Our Common Home

We begin the last week of the Season of Creation, that time set aside by Pope Francis for all of us to reflect on our place within the story creation and to accept our individual and collective responsibility to care for our common home. The Season of Creation offers us an opportunity to renew our vocation to become stewards of God’s creation.

Our commitment to the care of our common home is not some kind of add-on to our faith or optional extra; instead as Pope Francis continually reminds us the care of God’s creation is at the centre of our Christian faith. This year as well as the environmental crisis we are also in the midst of an international health crisis, as we pray for God’s protection of his people and of all his creation.

PARABLE OF THE TWO SONS

The parable of the two sons in today’s gospel reading challenges us. In response to their Father’s invitation to work in his vineyard: one says no, but then goes; the second says yes, but then doesn’t go. There is a big difference between them, the first is lazy, but the second is a hypocrite. The invitation of his father remained in in the heart of the first son and even after he said “no,” the memory of his father’s voice drew him from his laziness.  Although the second son knew what was good, he did not do it and he broke his word.  For him the father’s voice was buried. Without any problem he ignored his conscience, ignored the voice of God in his heart.

We are not always willing to do what is right, because we are sinners. But maybe we can choose what kind of sinner to be, whether to be sinners on the journey of life, who try to listen to the Lord, and when we fail, repent and try to do better, like the first son, or whether to just say the right thing and then go our own way, always  ready to  justify ourselves with words according to what suits us.

May we have hearts that seeks the Lord, that struggle every day and repent when necessary, and return to Him. May we be pure of heart, rather than pure “on the outside.”

The Annual Collection for the Education of Students preparing for Priesthood & Diaconate takes place at all Masses this weekend. This collection is the principal source of funding.

Ballinlough Parish

Confirmations ceremonies in the Church of Christ the King at 2.00 pm and 4.00 pm on Wednesday 30^th September  and at 2.00 pm on Thursday 1^st October, attendance limited to named family members.

Ballinlough First Holy Communion on Saturday next 3^rd October at 11.30 am, attendance again limited to named family members.

Turner’s Cross First Holy Communion and Confirmation

Confirmation ceremonies will be held on Wednesday 7^th October, and Wednesday 14^th October, at 12.00 noon.

Our First Holy Communion Masses will take place on Saturday 17^th October, at 10.00 am and 12.00 noon.

Because of Covid-19 restrictions the number of people present in the church for each ceremony will be limited to the pupils receiving the sacrament, their parents and one other person only for each family.

There will be no public morning Mass on Saturday 17^th October.

Covid-19 Safeguards Our existing arrangements comply with Level 2 of the Government Resilience and Recovery Plan for Living with Covid for public worship. We will continue to work closely with our volunteer stewards to ensure that all precautions are in place.  These include the following:

Clear signage in relation to arrangements

Hand sanitizing available as people enter and leave the church

Social distancing guidelines implemented

The churches is subdivided into two distinct sections or pods with not more than 50 persons in each pod.

Each pod must have its own entrance/exit route

There must be four metres between pods

People are asked to wear a face covering for public worship.

Help Needed Those who wish to volunteer as Parish Stewards are asked to give their names to one of the priests.

Anam Cara: Evening for bereaved parents on Wednesday 7th October at 7:20pm in the Clayton Hotel, Cork City. This free event is open to all bereaved parents. regardless of the age your child died, *Subject to change in accordance with government advice*

The Season of Creation is a time set aside by Pope Francis for all of us to reflect on our place within the story creation and to accept our individual and collective responsibility to care for our common home. The season of creation offers all of us a unique opportunity to renew our vocation to become stewards of God’s creation. Our commitment to the care of our common home is not something optional, or some kind of add-on to our faith, or some kind of extra; instead as Pope Francis continually reminds us, the care of creation is at the centre of our Christian faith. Our theme this year is Cultivating Hope. We are aware that alongside the environmental crisis we are also in the midst of an international health crisis.

A PARABLE OF MERCY

Jesus’ parable of the workers in the vineyard tells us of God’s goodness to those who do not deserve it.  At times, we may have something of the attitude of the workers who worked a full day, the attitude of the elder brother of the prodigal son. God’s goodness to others, to repentant sinners who in our estimation certainly do not deserve the same treatments as us, will only be a source of envy if we don’t really know God. We are called to have the Father’s attitude of love. We don’t earn our salvation, we just accept it as God gives without limit.   The master of the vineyard gives us an example of God’s ways, which are not our ways.  In the first reading of today’s Mass we read: “for my thoughts are not your thoughts, my ways not your ways – it is the Lord who speaks.   Yes, the heavens are as high above earth as my ways are above your ways, my thoughts above your thoughts.”

The parable of the vineyard is a parable of God’s goodness, of his grace. The Kingdom of Heaven is the kingdom of the new commandment of love.  If we try to live in accordance with that commandment and to seek to know the Lord when he is still to be found, we will indeed find him, and know that peace of Christ which is beyond all human understanding.

First Holy Communion and Confirmation

Confirmation ceremonies will be held on Wednesday 7^th October, and Wednesday 14^th October, at 12.00 noon.

First Holy Communion Masses will take place on Saturday 17^th October, at 10.00 am and 12.00 noon.

Because of Covid-19 restrictions the number of people present in the church for each ceremony will be limited to the pupils receiving the sacrament, their parents and one other person only for each family.

Ballinlough Parish Confirmation and First Holy Communion ceremonies will be  celebrated in the Church of Christ the King this autumn at dates from Wednesday 30^th September to Thursday 22^nd October.

Parish Dues

The weekend Mass offertory collection is for the upkeep and day to day running costs of the Church and payment of staff other than priests.   The Priests’ income consists largely of the Spring and Autumn Dues together with the Christmas Day and Easter Sunday collections, and Frs. Billy and Kerry are very grateful for your consistent financial support over the years.

Because of the Covid-19 closure of churches the normal Spring Dues and Easter Sunday collections did not take place.  Some parishioners contributed directly, and this is very much appreciated.  This year we will only have one Dues collection and parishioners are now invited to contribute their Autumn Dues. Dues envelopes are being posted to those contributors for whom we have a postal address.  Those who have not had an opportunity to make a Spring dues and Easter contribution may increase their Autumn dues, but only if they are in a position to do so comfortably.  We are grateful for your continued support. 

Help Needed

The generous work of our Parish Stewards at every weekend Mass makes it possible to keep the church open for public Mass during this time of continuing Covid-19.  We would be grateful for more help, so if you would like to serve the mission of the parish please consider volunteering as a Steward.  This involves a commitment to be part of a team for one of the weekend Masses.  At present the stewards attend every week when they can, a larger number would make it possible to have a less demanding roster. Those interested may give their names to one of the priests.

13^th September, 2020

 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Second Sunday of the Season of Creation

SEASON OF CREATION

Pray for our Planet, our Common Home

Pope Francis on Caring for Our Common Home

We need to strengthen the conviction that we are one single human family.

The Earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth. In many parts of the planet, the elderly lament that once beautiful landscapes are now covered with rubbish.

Never have we so hurt and mistreated our common home as we have in the last 200 years.

We are not God. The Earth was here before us and was given to us.

The idea of infinite or unlimited growth, which proves so attractive to economists, financiers and experts in technology … is based on the lie that there is an infinite supply of the earth’s goods, and this leads to the planet being squeezed dry at every limit.

Yet all is not lost. Human beings, while capable of the worst, are also capable of rising above themselves, choosing again what is good, and making a new start.

SCHOOLS

As our schools reopen after such a long period of closure our thoughts and prayers are with pupils and their families, and with teachers, support staff and management as they work to maintain a safe school environment.

Leaving Certificate

We ask God’s blessing on our 2020 Leaving Certificate Students who received their results during the week. We pray for them and their families and wish them well as they face the challenge of the next phase of their lives in this most difficult of years.

First Holy Communion and Confirmation

The Sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation for the pupils of Bunscoil Chríost Rí were deferred to the autumn because of the Covid-19 closure.

Confirmation ceremonies will be held on Wednesday 7^th October, and Wednesday 14^th October, at 12.00 noon, and First Holy Communion Masses will take place on Saturday 17^th October, at 10.00 am and 12.00 noon.

Because of Covid-19 restrictions the number of people present in the church for each ceremony will be limited to the pupils receiving the sacrament, their parents and one other person only for each family.

Trocaire Lent Campaign

Our 2020 Trocaire Lent Campaign was interrupted by the school and church closures in March, Trocaire Boxes may still be returned to the Church, and we will facilitate completion of the Lent campaign in October.

COLLECTION FOR THE HOLY PLACES

The Annual Collection for the Holy Places in the Holy Land will be taken up this weekend 12^th/13^th September.

FACE COVERINGS should be worn in Church for all Masses and other liturgical celebrations to create as safe an environment as possible in our churches and minimise the possibility of spreading the virus.  Children under 13 years of age and people who have received medical advice to not wear a mask are of course exempt.

DUTY TO GO TO MASS

Catholics continue to be dispensed from attending Sunday and Holy Day Masses until further notice. Those over 70 years and those with underlying health conditions should follow health regulations and remain at home where appropriate. Anyone who feels uncomfortable or nervous about returning to Mass at this time has a legitimate reason to remain at home. Anyone who has symptoms of any sickness (even mild symptoms) should not attend the public celebration of Mass

Deaths:  We pray for Msgr. Leonard O’Brien, retired parish priest of Clonakilty and former Vicar General of the Diocese, and for Mary Buckley, Capwell Road, who died recently.  We extend our sympathy to their families.

Society of Saint Vincent de Paul: September Church Gate Collection outside the church at all Masses next weekend 5th/6th September.

Face Coverings

Bishop Fintan has asked us to wear face coverings in Church for all Masses and other liturgical celebrations to create as safe an environment as possible in our churches and minimise the possibility of spreading the virus.  Children under 13 years of age and people who have received medical advice to not wear a mask are of course exempt.

DISCIPLESHIP

Jesus tells his disciples that he must suffer and die. Peter protests and receives a strong rebuke from the Lord.  We are shocked by the force of that rebuke: “get behind me, Satan!”  There is danger ahead, and Jesus and his followers are going to walk straight into it.  This was hard for Peter and the disciples to take, and is hard for us.  Like the disciples, we must follow Jesus on the road to Jerusalem and take up our cross every day, and anything that gets in the way is not of God.

If as disciples, following Jesus becomes the most important priority in our lives, then we will begin to really live. Following Jesus is not a walk in the park, or a pleasant walk by the Sea of Galilee, but a walk into danger and possibly suffering.  It’s not easy, but it is the only way to go.

Deaths:  We pray for Nora Royal, O’Connell Avenue who died recently.  We extend our sympathy to her family.

Face Coverings

In light of revised government guidance issued last Tuesday, Bishop Fintan asks people to wear face coverings in Church for all Masses and other liturgical celebrations so that we can create as safe an environment as possible for those who come to Church and minimise the possibility of spreading the virus.  Children under 13 years of age and people who have received medical advice to not wear a mask are of course exempt.  Bishop Fintan thanks all those who have worked so hard to implement measures so that people may participate in Mass and public worship in a safe manner and asks our support to ensure that such measures will be implemented.

Prayer for our times

In cleansing my hands, wearing my mask,

socially distancing.  I pray Lord,

That I and all I remember at this time

may be kept safe from the present virus;

I remember those who are ill that they may recover,

And those who care for them,

and a vaccine be quickly found.

Amen

Beginning of School Year

Lord bless us as we start this new School Year with our friends and teachers.

Help us to make the most of every chance to start afresh. May we

show love and care for all.

May the new beginning remind us that that You give us chances

over and over again.

Help us to forgive others. Help us to learn and work together.

Help us to listen when we should and to know the best words

when to speak and when it is better not to speak.

May Our Lady protect us and help us to live as well as we can in

these difficult times.

Giving thanks and glory to God as She did.   

Amen

POPE FRANCIS SAYS

Pope Francis talks today’s gospel in which Simon professes his faith in Jesus as “the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus joyfully recognises Simon’s faith as a special gift of the Father and calls him “blessed,” and tells him: “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church,” that is, all of us, a people founded on faith, which means on relationship with Jesus, a relationship of love and trust. The Church is built on our relationship with Jesus, and Jesus gives life to his Church.

Pope Francis adds: “Today’s Gospel passage also asks each of us, is your faith good? Each one answer in his or her heart. Is my faith good? How does the Lord find our hearts? A heart that is firm as a rock, or a heart like sand, that is doubtful, diffident, disbelieving?”

Let us pray to God the Father, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, for the grace to say with a sincere heart to Our Lord:

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Deaths:  We pray for Willie O’Mahony, Congress Road, Joe Cotter, Mount Pleasant Road and Mary McConville, Bantry Park Road, who died recently.  We extend our sympathy to their families.

POPE FRANCIS SAYS

Commenting on today’s Gospel, Pope Francis says it presents us with a unique example of faith as the Canaanite woman, a foreigner to the Jews, begs Jesus to heal her daughter.

Jesus points to this humble woman as a model of unwavering faith. Her persistence in beseeching Christ’s intervention is incentive for us not to become discouraged, not to despair when we are burdened by life’s difficult trials. The Lord does not turn away in the face of our needs and, if at times he seems insensitive to our requests for help, it is in order to put to the test and to strengthen our faith. We must continue to cry out like this woman: “Lord, help me! Lord, help me!” with perseverance and courage.

This Gospel episode helps us to understand that we all need to grow in faith and fortify our trust in Jesus. He can help us to find our way, when we have lost the compass of our journey; when the road no longer seems flat but rough and arduous; when it is hard to be faithful to our commitments. It is important to nourish our faith every day, by carefully listening to the Word of God, with the celebration of the Sacraments, with personal prayer as a “cry” to him — “Lord, help me!” — and with concrete acts of love toward our neighbour.

Let us entrust ourselves to the Holy Spirit, so that he may help us to persevere in faith. The Spirit instils courage in the heart of believers; he gives our life and our Christian witness the power of conviction and persuasion; he helps us to overcome scepticism toward God and indifference toward our brothers and sisters.