St John the Evangelist

Email stjohntheevangelist@gmail.com

www.stjohnevang.co.uk

www.lpa24.org

0151 645 3314

Reg Charity 234025

Fr Frank Rice

Rev Philip White

1^st Sunday of Lent 21^st. February 2010

FAITH IN FOCUS: JUST TESTING

We tend to think of temptation in terms of a sin magnet. It’s the opposite pole to where we should be and like all magnetic opposites we’re attracted to it even though we know it’s wrong. The cake on the plate just seems to have a power that draws us; it attracts us because that’s what temptation does.

It surprises a lot of people that this is not really the meaning of temptation in the scriptures. The Greek word that we call temptation means something rather different. It means a “testing” or a “proving” of a person’s fidelity, integrity, virtue or constancy. So if I tempt you, I’m not simply trying to get you to eat the cake; what I am really doing is measuring your ability to remain faithful to your principles, seeing whether you really are the person you claim to be.

That’s what the devil did with Jesus in the desert. He put him to the test by first getting him to doubt himself (offering him greater status and power) and then getting him to be over-confident (jumping off the roof of the temple, sure that the angels would catch him).

The point of this episode is not that Jesus didn’t fancy jumping off. It’s that he didn’t allow himself to be deflected from being the person he knew he was. The devil tested him but Jesus didn’t budge.

In a strange way temptations can be constructive things because they can become growth points in our relationship with God and other people. I can “prove” my true qualities when I am offered the choice to reject God. Of course, it’s important to remember that no temptation, however repulsive to us, is ever a sin. In order to redeem us, as a human being Jesus was tempted at the roots of our human nature and yet he never sinned.

Temptation strengthened Jesus’ resolve to carry out the mission he received from the Father. As we begin our Lenten journey this week can see temptations either as a threat to us or else as moments when we can reaffirm our commitment to following Christ. Why not put it to the test?

WORD OF GOD

Jesus was led by the Spirit through the wilderness, being tempted thereby the devil for forty days. (Luke 4:1-2)

WORD FOR TODAY

Jesus was tempted in all the classic areas: for possessions, for power for status. We too suffer the same fate as he did and we have the same chance to keep our sights not on what is fleeting and fickle, but on what endures and enriches.

CHAIR OF PETER (February 22nd)

Dear brothers and sisters! The Latin liturgy celebrates today the feast of the Chair of Peter. It is a very ancient tradition, witnessed in Rome since the end of the fourth century, which renders thanksgiving to God for the mission entrusted to the apostle Peter and his successors.

“Cathedra” literally means the established seat of the bishop, located in the mother church of a diocese, which for this reason is called “cathedral”, and it is the symbol of the authority of the bishop and, in particular, of his “magisterium”, that is, of the gospel teaching that he, as a successor of the apostles, is called to guard and transmit to the Christian community.

When the bishop takes possession of the local Church that is entrusted to him, bearing the mitre and the shepherd’s crosier he sits on the cathedra. From that seat, as teacher and shepherd, he will guide the journey of the faithful in faith, hope and charity.

Therefore, to celebrate the “Chair” of Peter, as we do today, means to attribute to it a strong spiritual significance and to recognise in it a privileged sign of the love of God, the good and eternal shepherd, who wants to gather the whole of his Church and guide her along the way of salvation. (Pope Benedict XVI)

Christian holiness does not consist in being free from sin, but in seeking to fall as few times as possible, and then rising again after each fall. This is not so much the fruit of human willpower; rather, it is the result of co-operating humbly with the grace in our hearts. (Pope John Paul II)

Temptation is like a knife that may either cut the meat or the throat of a man; it may be his food or his poison, his exercise or his destruction. (John Owen)

T’is one thing to be tempted, another thing to fall. (William Shakespeare)

Please take your copy of the Bishop’s Pastoral letter. Sorry to say I misread the instructions and so it comes a week late- no less impressive for all of that!!!

Please pray for our sick and those who care for them

Marie Rooney, Frida Owens, Simon Donlan, Rev Richard Reid CSsR, Denis Welch, Pauline Doyle, Josie Cohen, Peter Williamson, Kathy Smith, Marjorie Hoey, Mrs H McCormack, Esther Roche, Eileen Sheehan, Fay Challoner, Sheila Stockley, Joan & Charles Reynolds, Mollie Dowling, Kath Holland, Sheila Clayson, Mary Bryden, Owen & Josie Toohey, Betty Kennedy, Helen Worth, Christopher Hadfield, Ivan Gregory, Betty Treacy Vincent Sarson, Kath Bassett , Pat Ronan, Christopher & Raymond McNally & Mark Harrison. Those in the parish who do not wish their illness to be made public but who also need our prayers

If you wish for individual confession then I am available ‘In the box’ from 4.45pm until 5.15pm on Saturdays or any other time /day by arrangement

Money Matters-Thank you

Sunday Offering £ 689 82p

Boiler £28 95p

Reconciliation (Haiti) £75

120 Club Winner No 100 Mrs McCormack £20-

This week’s Wednesday morning Lenten group is at Christ Church Port Sunlight. We will reflect on Psalm 1 being open to God

We meet at 10.30am for coffee and we have our input/discussion at 11am until 12md followed at 12md-1pm by our Lenten lunch of soup and roll. Any donations for Haiti. All welcome.

Shrewsbury Charismatic revival weekend retreat will take place from 12^th-14^th March at the Franciscan Priory of Pantasaph. The speaker will be Fr Chris Thomas. See poster for details or contact Ann Murray on 645 5514.

GOLDEN JUBILEE CAFOD FAST(February 26th)

Lent 2010 marks the fiftieth anniversary of CAFOD’S Fast Day. In 1960, four women were moved by a story of children dying on the Caribbean island of Dominica because of a lack of basic health care. They felt called to act and decided to raise much-needed funds for a mother and baby health programme. They rallied support from members of the Catholic Women’s League and the Union of Catholic Mothers and organised a national family fast day, sponsored by the National Board of Catholic Women. Their target was £500 but they actually raised over £6,000 – which equates to about £100,000 in today’s money.

This first fast day really marks the start of the work of CAFOD and CAFOD hopes that 2010 will be a bumper year for Fast Day involvement and fundraising. Envelopes are available at the back of church and may be collected in the next few weeks. Please be generous!

You will be sad to learn of the death on 18^th Feb. of Maureen Wood who has been a faithful member of St John’s all her life. She did the accounts here for many years besides being an active member in many aspects of community life here. Funeral TBA

First Week

When he calls to me, I will answer; I will rescue him and give him honour. (Psalm 90)

None of us can go through life without facing temptation. Sometimes people become disheartened by temptations but if we face them head-on then they can become stepping stones for growing in our relationship with God. Lent invites us to refocus on our choice for God.

Lord Jesus Christ, you took our human flesh and were tempted at your very roots so that you could know the depths to which we are prone to fall. Help me when I am tempted to betray my very self and to seek fleeting pleasure or false status. Make me strong in faith. Lord, by your cross and resurrection you have set us free!

Church Opening Rota

More volunteers make sessions less frequent

The Catholic Children’s Society is using the Charity Shop in Seaview Road Wallasey from Monday 22^nd – Friday 26^th February to raise funds for their work with the vulnerable and marginalised families in our Diocese. The shop will be open from 10am – 4pm and your support would be much appreciated by visiting the shop or donating good quality items for sale.

Margaret Mitchell and family would like to thank everyone for all their  love and support during Bills illness and to say that we have been  absolutely overwhelmed by all  Mass cards, sympathy cards, flowers and donations in Bill’s memory. Especially thanks to  Father Frank, Philip, Pat and Maria , and all who attended the vigil and funeral Masses for making them so very special and beautiful. Thank you all so much.

Just a few words about the Sacrament of the Sick. I believe that this is often a missed opportunity. This is not necessarily Viaticum (i.e. the Sacrament of the dying which has been associated with death bed Last Offices) but is to help and give strength to people who are ill or perhaps having an operation. Please ask me if you think there is someone who might benefit from this