Bulletin for 30th September 2007
Readings for Today: 26th Sunday of the Year C
1st 
Amos 6:1; 4-7
2nd Tim 6:11-16
Gospel Luke 16:19-31
WORD FOR TODAY:
St Luke continues week after week to prod our consciences about how generous or forgiving we are, and about how we use material wealth at the service of the gospel. The man called Lazarus, lying at the doorway of the rich man's house, is no mere fictional character. He is one of many who sleep on the streets of our cities each night.
FAITH IN FOCUS:LAZARUS ON OUR DOORSTEP
It's usually Luke's gospel that gets preachers into trouble. That's because it's not really possible to read Luke's gospel and at the same time to maintain the status quo. The message is a call to social change because Jesus' words call us to constant care of those who are getting a raw deal. And when preachers preach this message they are usually attacked or shunned since people find it too uncomfortable to hear.
Jesus actually borrowed the story of the poor man Lazarus. It is found in Jewish and Egyptian tales. But he gave it a new twist. The truth is that there are lots of people like Lazarus in our society today. They are the underprivileged, the abused, the cheated members of our society. They are the people who have no real voice. When we see them on our streets or on our television screens we can keep our distance from them or we can get involved.
Most of us keep our distance. Just like the rich man. But Jesus is making two points in his story. The first is that after death we will have no chance to pretend that we were unaware of those around us in need. Now is the time for us to be listening out for God speaking to us and calling us to act. Sometimes we can protect ourselves from the harsh realities of life by surrounding ourselves with possessions, with like-minded friends, with small luxuries, with distractions. The more affluent we become the easier it seems to be for us to miss God's promptings.
Those who are poor. who are not entangled in all the consequences of wealth, position, pride, status etc. can hear more clearly. If Jesus' first point is that we must be more aware, more ready to hear God in the circumstances of daily life, then his second point is obvious. We must do something about it. Conversion is not just some religious idea or something which we do once and then forget about. Conversion is a lifetime job which we have to apply ourselves to every day.
There are no season tickets on the train which leads to salvation. When our life comes to an end we will not be able to say that we never really appreciated the demands of the gospel. They are around us now at this very moment. Lazarus is on our doorstep.
Loop system: Turn hearing aids to "T" whilst in Church.
Bonus Ball Winners: Check it out on ceefax pg 555f
Please Pray For: All the sick, the housebound and all those whose Anniversaries occur at this time.
Children’s Liturgy:Every Week in our three Parish Churches. School Aged children.
Notices for St Joseph’s Parishioners
Mass Book Pg 72
Sanctuary Candle: 40. Harold Jennie Lowe Family
Coffee Afternoon: Every Thursday 1.30pm-3pm All Welcome!!!
Notices for St William’s Parishioners
Missal pg 373
Sanctuary Candle:40. Arthur Dickinson & Dickinson Family
Notices for St John Fisher’s Parishioners
Mass Book pg 80
Sanctuary Candle: 40. Maureen Wharton
Church Cleaning:Eleanor Maddison & Barbara Little
PLEASE CONTACT Fr Caden on 01740 620405 for any urgent matters that may arise.
Next Friday, is CAFOD's Fast Day. As you know, CAFOD works with communities most in need, ranging from self-help projects in the Third World to working at home with parishes through fundraising, liturgical and educational resources. Any money saved through self-denial on Friday can be handed in at Church next Sunday.
SPIRITUALITY WATCH The Sign of the Cross : Christians have always used signs and gestures to express their faith. Sometimes these were secret and known only to the insiders, like the fish sign. On other occasions they were more public and visible, like the cross. Today we have to remember that the cross was not just some sort of logo, it was a statement of faith that Jesus had triumphed over death. A Christian trying to lead a life of faith might invoke the cross at many significant points in the daily routine. So as early as the second and third centuries we have evidence of Christians "signing" people and certain objects. Tertullian (160-220AD) says:
At every step and movement, when we go in or out, when we dress or put on our shoes,
at the bath, at the table,
when lights are brought,
when we go to bed, when we sit down,
whatever it is which occupies us,
we mark the forehead with the sign of the cross.
This gesture was a prayer. It asked that whatever we do should be done in the name and the power of the Trinity. Much later, in the 13th century, Pope Innocent III decreed that the "Sign of the Cross" should be made on certain occasions, using three fingers from head to chest and from left to right shoulder. Later the whole hand was used. In the Eastern Church the Sign of the Cross is made in the same way but from right to left shoulder.
Here is one I made earlier: Please note this bulletin is subject to alteration. Any alterations will be made by the Priest at Mass today.
