An online Community for Prayerful Scripture Reflection.
During this time, when many of our usual ways of expressing our Faith have been removed, and we can no longer gather together due to the Coronavirus, it is all the more important that we find ways to invest in our relationships with God and each other.
Here is one small way that we can communicate our faith and support each other whilst encouraging daily prayer with a Scriptural focus. It is also a great way for people who are usually involved with Metanoia Project groups and events to keep in touch and continue to feel part of the Metanoia family as well as the wider Church community.
God wants to speak to us all and has given us His Word as a constant source of life and relationship with Him. The aim of this group is to encourage each other to spend time each day praying with Scripture and allowing God to speak to us. Please then share your thoughts, questions and reflections to help us all hear from our Loving Father.
Metanoia Project ‘The God Who Speaks’ Scripture Reflection Group
**Gospel for Tuesday 24th November: Luke 21:5-11**
When some were talking about the Temple, remarking how it was adorned with fine stonework and votive offerings, Jesus said, ‘All these things you are staring at now – the time will come when not a single stone will be left on another: everything will be destroyed.’ And they put to him this question: ‘Master,’ they said ‘when will this happen, then, and what sign will there be that this is about to take place?’
‘Take care not to be deceived,’ he said ‘because many will come using my name and saying, “I am he” and, “The time is near at hand.” Refuse to join them. And when you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened, for this is something that must happen but the end is not so soon.’ Then he said to them, ‘Nation will fight against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes and plagues and famines here and there; there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.’
**Gospel for Monday 23rd November: Luke 21:1-4**
As Jesus looked up, he saw rich people putting their offerings into the treasury; then he happened to notice a poverty-stricken widow putting in two small coins, and he said, ‘I tell you truly, this poor widow has put in more than any of them; for these have all contributed money they had over, but she from the little she had has put in all she had to live on.’
Comment on Facebook **Gospel for Monday ...
Jesus encourages His disciples to give up all that they have to follow Him and serve has humble men to all His flock.
Tonight at 22.00 Monday The Joyful Mysteries. Praying for our front line workers to keep them safe from the virus and for the sick that they may be healed. For our brothers and sisters in Christ and for all the lost Sheep that they may come to know God. For all those who have died from the virus and their families. For the homeless that they are kept safe from the virus and from the evil that wonder the streets.
From Bishop Robert Barron's reflection. Monday, November 23, 2020 THIRTY-FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME LUKE 21:1-4 Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus praises the widow who gave all her resources to the treasury: "I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood." She is a model of detachment for us. If the spiritual life is essentially about love, and love is the gift of self, then possessions are a problem. This means that the game of filling up the empty ego with the goods of this world is not the way forward; rather, giving one’s life away is the way forward. Once you let go of the world in a spirit of detachment, once you remove the things of this world from your grasp and see them without distortion, you will really have them. They will appear as they are, as God intended them. They will no longer be objects for your manipulation or possession, but beautiful realities in themselves. G.K. Chesterton insisted that only when he realized that the things of this world would not make him ultimately happy did he find real joy in them.
Hiya! We continue with our new contributors for the Sunday Reflection. This week's reflection is from Christine - thanks Christine!
**Gospel for Sunday 22nd November, Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ King of the Universe, Year A:** **Matt 25:31-46**
**As it is Sunday, after the Gospel passage you will find some commentary. We hope you will find it useful!**
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, escorted by all the angels, then he will take his seat on his throne of glory. All the nations will be assembled before him and he will separate men one from another as the shepherd separates sheep from goats. He will place the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left.
‘Then the King will say to those on his right hand, “Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take for your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you made me welcome; naked and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me.” Then the virtuous will say to him in reply, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you; or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome; naked and clothe you; sick or in prison and go to see you?” And the King will answer, “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.”
‘Next he will say to those on his left hand, “Go away from me, with your curse upon you, to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you never gave me food; I was thirsty and you never gave me anything to drink; I was a stranger and you never made me welcome, naked and you never clothed me, sick and in prison and you never visited me.” Then it will be their turn to ask, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, a stranger or naked, sick or in prison, and did not come to your help?” Then he will answer, “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you neglected to do this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me.”
‘And they will go away to eternal punishment, and the virtuous to eternal life.’
**Reflection:**
Today we celebrate the feast of Christ the King. In the gospel we hear how Jesus takes his seat on the throne of glory and separates the sheep from the goats. Here he identifies himself as a shepherd – the one who cares, protects, guides and loves. Sheep and goats may look similar but they are quite different. Goats have huge appetites, they are motivated by their desires and love doing what they want more than they love pleasing the shepherd. The sheep require help to stay alive. If one falls on its back it needs help to get up. They get scared easily but feel calm when the shepherd is around and they follow him because they trust him. They know the shepherd is the one who cares for their needs and they are helpless without him.
Jesus compares the virtuous to sheep. The ones who know the shepherd – the ones who trust him and know they are cared for and loved. Jesus is our King but not like any earthly king. He didn’t just tell us that He loved us but he came to earth and demonstrated that love by dying for each one of us. He humbled himself so we could have relationship and eternal life with Him – that’s how much he loves us. He even calls the least in the world’s eyes his brothers “whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did it for me”. All we need to do is respond to Jesus. To make him King of our lives, to give him reign over us, to receive his forgiveness and love. When we know how much Jesus loves us and how much He did for us on the cross, we overflow with love. The amazing thing is that it’s His love that comes from us.
Jesus tells us how he judges – not by the great things we have done or the amount we have accumulated but by the love we show. The people Jesus called virtuous didn’t even realise what they were doing “when did we …” but in showing love to others they were actually showing love to Jesus, who identifies with the poor, the hungry, the imprisoned, the sick, the lonely. They weren’t doing it to make Jesus love them more or to earn some merit. They did it because they loved and it naturally flowed from them. Jesus said “whatever you do” – it doesn’t have to be big things but the small things we do make a difference – the phone call, the visit, a smile, helping someone in need or giving clothes to the drop in. Mother Theresa said “not all of us can do great things but we can do small things with great love”.
**What does this mean to me today?**
I still have a long way to go and recognise my inadequacy to love and my indifference at times. But relationship with Jesus is recognising our need of him and coming each day to receive from Him - allowing Him to reign in our lives as King. It’s a constant coming, receiving and giving out. Being faithful in the small things. Let us all worship our King today and thank him for all he has done in our lives.
Comment on Facebook Hiya! We continue ...
Tonight at 22.00 Sunday The Glorious Mysteries. Praying for our front line workers to keep them safe from the virus and for the sick that they may be healed. For our brothers and sisters in Christ and for all the lost Sheep that they may come to know God. For all those who have died from the virus and their families. For the homeless that they are kept safe from the virus and from the evil that wonder the streets.
From Bishop Robert Barron's reflection. Sunday, November 22, 2020 THE SOLEMNITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, KING OF THE UNIVERSE MATTHEW 25:31-46 Friends, today’s Gospel tells of Christ the King administering the final judgment. To those on his right he will say: "Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me." And to those on his left: "Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me." Much of Mother Teresa’s day was taken up with prayer, meditation, Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, and the Rosary, but the rest of her time, as we well know, was spent in the grittiest work among the poorest of the poor, practicing the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Father Paul Murray, the Irish Dominican spiritual writer and sometime advisor to Mother Teresa, relates the following story. He was one day in deep conversation with Mother, searching out the sources of her spirituality and mission. At the end of their long talk, she asked him to spread his hand out on the table and, touching his fingers one by one as she spoke, she said, "You did it to me."
Readings: Ezekiel 34:11–12, 15–17 Psalm 23:1–3, 5–6 1 Corinthians 15:20–26, 28 Matthew 25:31–46 The Church year ends today with a vision of the end of time. The scene in the Gospel is stark and resounds with Old Testament echoes. The Son of Man is enthroned over all nations and peoples of every language (see Daniel 7:13–14). The nations have been gathered to see His glory and receive His judgment (see Isaiah 66:18; Zephaniah 3:8). The King is the divine shepherd Ezekiel foresees in today’s First Reading, judging as a shepherd separates sheep from goats. Each of us will be judged upon our performance of the simple works of mercy we hear in the Gospel today. These works, as Jesus explains today, are reflections or measures of our love for Him, our faithfulness to His commandment that we love God with all our might and our neighbor as ourselves (see Matthew 22:36–40). Our faith is dead, lifeless, unless it is expressed in works of love (see James 2:20; Galatians 5:6). And we cannot say we truly love God, whom we cannot see, if we don’t love our neighbor, whom we can (see 1 John 4:20). The Lord is our shepherd, as we sing in today’s Psalm. And we are to follow His lead, to imitate His example (see 1 Corinthians 1:11; Ephesians 5:1). He healed our sickness (see Luke 6:19), freed us from the prison of sin and death (see Romans 8:2, 21), welcomed us who were once strangers to His covenant (see Ephesians 2:12, 19). He clothed us in Baptism (see Revelation 3:5; 2 Corinthians 5:3–4), and feeds us with the food and drink of His own body and blood. At “the end,” He will come again to hand over His kingdom to His Father, as Paul says in today’s Epistle. Let us strive to follow Him in right paths, that this kingdom might be our inheritance, that we might enter into the eternal rest promised for the people of God (see Hebrews 4:1, 9–11). Yours in Christ,
**Gospel for Saturday 21st November: Luke 20:27-40**
Some Sadducees – those who say that there is no resurrection – approached Jesus and they put this question to him, ‘Master, we have it from Moses in writing, that if a man’s married brother dies childless, the man must marry the widow to raise up children for his brother. Well then, there were seven brothers. The first, having married a wife, died childless. The second and then the third married the widow. And the same with all seven, they died leaving no children. Finally the woman herself died. Now, at the resurrection, to which of them will she be wife since she had been married to all seven?’
Jesus replied, ‘The children of this world take wives and husbands, but those who are judged worthy of a place in the other world and in the resurrection from the dead do not marry because they can no longer die, for they are the same as the angels, and being children of the resurrection they are sons of God. And Moses himself implies that the dead rise again, in the passage about the bush where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Now he is God, not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all men are in fact alive.’
Some scribes then spoke up. ‘Well put, Master’ they said – because they would not dare to ask him any more questions.
Comment on Facebook **Gospel for ...
This is really hard to write and put into words. When we depart from this world our marriage ends has we know from our wedding vows. Until death do we part. We serve God in our marriage to love our partners and encourage them in faith and to increase the Christian church with our children. We are resurrected in the Body to join the Angels in continual worship of God.
Tonight at 22.00 Saturday The Joyful Mysteries. Praying for our front line workers to keep them safe from the virus and for the sick that they may be healed. For our brothers and sisters in Christ and for all the lost Sheep that they may come to know God. For all those who have died from the virus and their families. For the homeless that they are kept safe from the virus and from the evil that wonder the streets.
From Bishop Robert Barron's reflection. Saturday, November 21, 2020 MEMORIAL OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY LUKE 20:27-40 Friends, today’s Gospel reports a conversation Jesus had with some of the Sadducees, who held that there is no life after death. We could practically hear their speech on the lips of secularists today. But Jesus is having none of it. The dead shall indeed rise, he says. Otherwise, how could Moses have spoken of God as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, all of whom were long dead by Moses’ time? But their risen existence, though in continuity, even bodily continuity, with what has gone before, will be transformed, transfigured, raised up. Those who hold to the resurrection of the body are those who are most effective at working for justice and peace in this world. If you are a complete materialist and secularist, you hold that everything and everybody, in the end, just fades away. But if you believe in the resurrection of the body, then everything in this world is destined for redemption. Everything matters.
**Gospel for Friday 20th November: Luke 19:45-48**
Jesus went into the Temple and began driving out those who were selling. ‘According to scripture,’ he said ‘my house will be a house of prayer. But you have turned it into a robbers’ den.’
He taught in the Temple every day. The chief priests and the scribes, with the support of the leading citizens, tried to do away with him, but they did not see how they could carry this out because the people as a whole hung on his words.
**Gospel for Thursday 19th November: Luke 19:41-44**
As Jesus drew near Jerusalem and came in sight of the city he shed tears over it and said, ‘If you in your turn had only understood on this day the message of peace! But, alas, it is hidden from your eyes! Yes, a time is coming when your enemies will raise fortifications all round you, when they will encircle you and hem you in on every side; they will dash you and the children inside your walls to the ground; they will leave not one stone standing on another within you – and all because you did not recognise your opportunity when God offered it!’
Comment on Facebook **Gospel for ...
Good Morning, just thought I’d share a few thoughts on today’s gospel with you 🙂. Jesus weeps over Jerusalem and says. a time is coming when your enemies will raise fortifications all round you, when they will encircle you and hem you in on every side; they will dash you and the children inside your walls to the ground; they will leave not one stone standing on another within you – and all because you did not recognise your opportunity when God offered it!’ 40 years later Jerusalem is destroyed, not one stone is left on another, but what he is saying could also relate to us. “You did not recognise your opportunity when god offered it to you.” Jesus is that opportunity through him we can be saved. Without him only destruction. It’s very vivid imagery, “not one stone will be left on another within you.” It brings to mind the image of a house in a storm, if the walls are strong and cemented together the storm stays outside we are protected from the elements. We are safe and comfortable. But if there are stones missing the walls become unstable the wind and the rain gets in through the cracks we are no longer protected, we are no longer safe. The house is Jesus and the stones are our faith, without the stones the ways of the world anger, greed, hate and selfishness can get in, we need to live by the stones of the commandments , the stones of morality. Without them the storm can get in, we can become buffeted in all sorts of directions Without them we will be swept away and Jesus will weep over our loss. So be strong, stay firm In the faith make sure the walls of our spiritual house are strong enough to withstand the storms of the world. It’s only then that we will be safe and secure in Jesus. Amen
Man has become that blind to his own sins that the world does not recognize the sins of the world. Therefore man does not remember what sin is or even if he has sinned against our God. He no longer believe in our salvation that has already happened here on earth through the act of our Lord Jesus Christ. We must bring back their knowledge of God and man's salvation from his sins.
Tonight at 22.00 Thursday The Misteries of Light. Praying for our front line workers to keep them safe from the virus and for the sick that they may be healed. For our brothers and sisters in Christ and for all the lost Sheep that they may come to know God. For all those who have died from the virus and their families. For the homeless that they are kept safe from the virus and from the evil that wonder the streets.
From Bishop Robert Barron's reflection. Thursday, November 19, 2020 THIRTY-THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME LUKE 19:41-44 Friends, in today’s Gospel passage, Jesus laments over Jerusalem because it failed to acknowledge him. He said, “They will smash you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another within you because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.” This is a thunderclap, a shock, a highly subversive thing to say. I know I’ve said it to you before, but I will say it again, because it belongs to the heart of the Gospel and it is repeated by Jesus over and over again: nothing in this world lasts. Nothing in this world should, therefore, be the object of our deepest longings or of our most powerful commitments. The temple represented all of the glitter and glamor of this world, the best it can offer; and the people standing there, entranced by it, stand for all of us down through the ages who stand staring up at the goods of this world. So we must free ourselves from worldly attachments and live for God alone. Word on Fire Catholic Ministries, PO Box 170, Des Plaines, IL 60016, United States Manage Your Email Preferences .
Gospel for Wednesday 18th November: Luke 19:11-28
While the people were listening, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and they imagined that the kingdom of God was going to show itself then and there. Accordingly he said, ‘A man of noble birth went to a distant country to be appointed king and afterwards return. He summoned ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds. “Do business with these” he told them “until I get back.” But his compatriots detested him and sent a delegation to follow him with this message, “We do not want this man to be our king.”
‘Now on his return, having received his appointment as king, he sent for those servants to whom he had given the money, to find out what profit each had made. The first came in and said, “Sir, your one pound has brought in ten.” “Well done, my good servant!” he replied “Since you have proved yourself faithful in a very small thing, you shall have the government of ten cities.” Then came the second and said, “Sir, your one pound has made five.” To this one also he said, “And you shall be in charge of five cities.” Next came the other and said, “Sir, here is your pound. I put it away safely in a piece of linen because I was afraid of you; for you are an exacting man: you pick up what you have not put down and reap what you have not sown.” “You wicked servant!” he said “Out of your own mouth I condemn you. So you knew I was an exacting man, picking up what I have not put down and reaping what I have not sown? Then why did you not put my money in the bank? On my return I could have drawn it out with interest.” And he said to those standing by, “Take the pound from him and give it to the man who has ten pounds.” And they said to him, “But, sir, he has ten pounds…”. “I tell you, to everyone who has will be given more; but from the man who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
‘“But as for my enemies who did not want me for their king, bring them here and execute them in my presence.”’
When he had said this he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
Comment on Facebook Gospel for Wednesday...
This is the same as the parable of the Talents. Where Jesus is telling us we must look after His Church and continue to build it up while He is away untill He returns. Fear of man and his ways of the world are no excuse not to continue with our duties to God and to continue to build His Church.
Tonight at 22.00 Wednesday The Glorious Mysteries. Praying for our front line workers to keep them safe from the virus and for the sick that they may be healed. For our brothers and sisters in Christ and for all the lost Sheep that they may come to know God. For all those who have died from the virus and for their families. For the homeless that they are kept safe from the virus and from the evil that wonder the streets.
From Bishop Robert Barron's reflection. Wednesday, November 18, 2020 THIRTY-THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME LUKE 19:11-28 Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus tells a parable that demonstrates the significance of a life of goodness and faithfulness. How do we make the all-important judgment about the quality of our life, one that touches not simply on what we are to do but on who we are to be? How do we know? In another place, Jesus had said that a tree is known by its fruits. And Paul makes this very specific. He tells us that the fruit of the Holy Spirit is “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” He implies that the Spirit’s presence in one’s life can be read from its radiance in these soul-expanding qualities. I have often spoken of the magna anima (the great soul) of the saint in contrast to the pusilla anima (the cramped soul) of the sinner. And the fruit of the Spirit can make the difference. Love is willing the good of another; patience bears with the troublesome; faithfulness is a dedication to a partner or friend; self-control restricts the havoc that the ego can cause; and so on. All of the fruits of the Spirit are marks of an expansive and outward-looking magna anima.
Our wonderful Young Leaders decided that we needed a summer ball so they set about planning and organising an extravaganza with music, food, an impossible quiz (thanks Anto), games, decorations and even a photo booth. The ball was for all our young people aged 14+ and included some of the gang who were back from University too. It was a brilliant night with lots of fun and I was struck by the love the young people have for one another with younger members immediately included in their family. Special mention and thanks go to Tushar who carried the vision and made it happen. I think the video of unedited pictures captures the evening quite well…
We’ve had a wonderful year with our Seekers, Anointed and Sent youth groups who continue to astound us with their dedication, eagerness to seek God, love for one another and openness to all Jesus wants to
In May we started a second Seekers group based in a different Parish – St Andrew’s in Cottam. It is early days and it has had a bit of a slow start but we are hopeful that when we return in September it will go from strength to strength. We’ve loved getting to know the new children who attend and look forward to walking with them in the years ahead.
We had a fantastic time in June with 8 Primary School afternoon visits and a whole day with around 60 Year 3s from the Small Schools Cluster. We explored themes from trusting in God to following Jesus to the Eucharist! The children loved their sessions and joined in so well. They had some amazing ideas and answers too. Our Yoke 
Young Leaders helped us to lead the days which added a boost of energy too. These sessions were so successful that we are now looking at setting aside regular time each week to work with Primary Schools. 
There has been so much going on over the past few months that there has been no time to write about any of it!! A huge bit of brilliant news though is that Nora Lord joined our team here in April as Children and Families Coordinator. We are very blessed to have her with us and to receive the benefit of her enthusiasm, joy and hard work. There are already a few new plans in the pipeline and we can’t wait to see the impact Nora has on our ministry. Please keep her (and all of us) in your prayers.