Theme of the Mass: God’s burning love for humanity

God, who in generous mercy sent the Holy Spirit upon your Church in the burning fire of your love: grant that your people may be fervent in the fellowship of the gospel that, always abiding in you, they may be found steadfast in faith and active in service; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Readings at Mass

1st Reading. Jonah 3:10-4:11. Jonah needs to comprehend God’s gratuitous mercy and compassion.

2nd Reading. Philippians 1:21-end. Writing from prison, Paul is thinking about his death and longing for complete union with Christ, the perfection of that loving communion with God for which we are made.

Gospel. St Matthew. 20:1-16. The parable of the workers in the vineyard teaches about the total generosity of God’s love, which soars above human standards and expectations.

Reflection

The gift of life, the gift of ourselves, is given to us by the God who asks: ’Do you begrudge my generosity?’ This, then, is our great life’s work: to accept ourselves as the mysterious and gradually revealed gift of the eternal generosity of God. For everything that we are and have, even the painful and mysterious, is God’s generous gift; we must not grumble at it but must accept it in the knowledge that when we do so God gives himself with his gift – here again the parable falls short of the reality – and so gives us everything that we could receive. To do this is the wisdom and the chief work of a Christian life. If we look into our own lives we will find that we have not always done it. All of us, young and old alike, are really latecomers. And yet God is willing to give us everything if we will only accept it-ourselves and himself and life without end (Karl Rahner SJ).

Daily Prayer

Let’s continue to join together each day in a fellowship of prayer in union with Christ our Lord who unites us to him and to one another wherever we are.

Every day at St Gabriel’s:8am Morning Prayer; 6pm Evening Prayer. Join with us at these times or any time that works for you.

You might like to begin your Morning Prayer with:

The night has passed and the day lies open before us; as we rejoice in the gift of a new day, so may.

And your Evening Prayer with:

As our evening prayer rises before you O God, so may your Christ banish all darkness from our hearts and minds and set us free to sing your praise, now and for ever. Amen

Intercessions

In your intercessions please remember and pray for John our Archbishop and those to be ordained to the Diaconate and to the Priesthood at Brecon cathedral at Michaelmas.

For those to be Ordained to the Priesthood on Saturday September 26th:

Sam Aldred; Peter Letson; Meinir Ronicle; Janet Day; Gill Todd; Sister Marian; Sally Rees; Samuel Patterson.

and those to be Ordained Deacon on Sunday September 27th:

Sue Northcott; Sue Waite; Annabelle Elletson; Biddy Wigley; Lucy McKeown; Jon Howard

Most gracious God, lovingly heed our prayers and enlighten the hearts of those whom you have called. Enable them to minister worthily to your mysteries, to love you with an everlasting love and to attain joys without end; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Eternal God, shed your light on us who watch for you, that our lips may praise you, our hearts bless you, and our lives glorify you; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen

News

Any news or items you want included in our bulletin please send to Paul Reynolds. Many thanks.

Sunday Mass

St Gabriel’s is now open for Mass each Sunday at 9.30am. Numbers are limited due to the need for social distancing. If you want to attend please contact Keith Rogers – tel 578097 or by email

Please remember the need to maintain social distancing outside the church building before and after Mass … and please remember too that face masks are now required.

Theme of the Mass: Forgiveness

Almighty God, whose only Son has opened for us a new and living way into your presence: give us pure hearts and steadfast wills to worship you in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

Readings at Mass:

1st Reading. Genesis 50:15-21. Joseph’s forgiveness of his brothers for the wrong they did to him brings about reconciliation and a new start.

2nd Reading. Romans 14:1-12. Faulty human judgement can lead to resentment, hatred and grudge bearing; the final judgement belongs only to God who is all-compassionate and all-merciful.

Gospel. St Matthew 18:21-35. We must be willing to extend to others the generous forgiveness God has extended to us.

Reflection

The parable of the Unforgiving Servant in today’s Gospel uses exaggeration to good effect. The king in the parable is a despot who owns many slaves and is willing to have them tortured and beaten if they do wrong. Despite his power and tyranny he forgives the slave who owes him a vast amount of money – 10,000 talents was infinitely more than the slave would earn even in his entire lifetime. The point Jesus is seeking to make is the sheer magnitude of God’s mercy and compassion: if the tyrant – king in the parable – was able to forgive his slave, how much more does God have mercy and compassion upon his children? If the tyrant-king was able to pour mercy on his slave, God’s love and mercy is a tidal wave beyond height.

But the main point of the parable is not this. It is that there is a fundamental relationship between God’s forgiveness and our readiness to forgive. The nature of this relationship is contained in the Lord’s Prayer: ‘Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us’ – not ‘if we forgive’ but ‘as we forgive’. As I forgive I find that I am forgiven; as I am forgiven, I find that I forgive. This is not a soft option or an expression of weakness but sometimes will demand a great deal and will be costly and hard but it is possible because of the love in which God enfolds us: this circle of being forgiving and being forgiven is generated by this love.

We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. (Martin Luther King)

Daily Prayer

Let’s continue to join together each day in a fellowship of prayer in union with Christ our Lord who unites us to Him and to one another wherever we are.

Every day in St Gabriel’s; 8am Morning Prayer; 6pm Evening Prayer. Join with us at these times or any other time that’s possible.

You might like to begin your Morning Prayer with:

The night is passed and the day lies open before us; as we rejoice in the gift of a new day, so may the light of Christ set our hearts on fire with love for you O God, now and for ever. Amen

And your Evening Prayer with:

As our evening prayer rises before you, O God, so may your Christ banish all darkness from our hearts and minds and set us free to sing your praise now and for ever. Amen.

Any news or items you want included in our bulletin, please send to Paul Reynolds. Many thanks.

Sunday Mass

St Gabriel’s is now open for Mass each Sunday at 9.30am. Numbers are limited due to social distancing. If you want to attend please contact Keith Rogers tel 578097 or email keithincockett@gmail.com

Please remember it is important to maintain social distancing immediately outside the church building before and after Mass, particularly if facemasks/coverings are not being worn.