1 | Page SUNDAY REFLECTION: SO THAT NOBODY MAY GO HUNGRY Those who announce the word today run the risk of insisting too much on the miraculous aspect of the episodes presented in the first reading from the second book of Kings 4:42- 44 and in the gospel of John 6:1-15 and losing the more important message; the bread belonging to one must become the food for all. Brethren, let us observe that it was the charity of others to Elisha and the reserved food of the lad that they made available for the satisfaction of the needs of others. What would Elisha have used if the person did not give him those gifts? What would Jesus have used if the little boy did not make available his little food security to Jesus? Is it not possible that some people in that crowd reserved theirs for personal and selfish consumption? God needs us to do the miracle of saving and serving the other’s needs, would you resist him? Let there be people who are ready to give and there will be a God who will be ready to multiply just like to say If there are people who are ready to pray and there will be a God who will be ready to answer. Mother Teresa of Calcutta says, ‘never worry about numbers… it is not about the magnitude of our actions, but the amount of love that is put into it that matters…’ We can have a new world only when people renounce their selfishness and accept Jesus’ proposal of establishing the idea of sharing one’s goods. Brethren, some of us excuse ourselves that what we have is little and not enough to share but that is an escapist attitude. God makes abundant our insufficiency to become not only sufficient but abundant and overflowing. When with a good heart we allow God in our littleness and show charity, God of providence would surprise us by what he would do in our lives because as God lives, the oil shall never finish and the flour as well. St Paul advises us Christians to live a life worthy of our calling. Our first calling before the vocation we are in now and the profession we have embraced is first and foremost Christians and should be like Christ and do what he does. Of course, Some of us may as well ask, what shall we give? Some of our time, our talent, our material resources, perhaps. To share is not just for the rich. Poor or rich, we all have something to give. Whatever we give, though, should be something of ourselves, something that costs us. Jesus also teaches, when we give, we receive blessings from God in return. This is also the theme of the second reading which invites all Christians to unite as they form one body. Let us be charitable and then maintain the unity of the spirit given to us. We share one call, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father who is above all, through all, and is in all. May God make us aware of our duty and demands of our call as Christians. Lord our eyes look unto you and may you supply our needs in due time and may you be close to us whenever we call upon you so that we may speak of the glory of your reign and declare your mighty works in our lives, Amen. POPE’S PRAYER INTENTION FOR JULY: Social friendship. We pray that, in social, economic, and political situations of conflict, we may be courageous and passionate architects of dialogue and friendship. St Anthony of Padua, Oxford 115 Headley Way, Oxford OX3 7SS | Web: www.stanthonyofpadua.org.uk | www.facebook.com/saop.oxford Presbytery and office: 01865 762964 | Parish priest: 07484 271876 | Email: [email protected]17th Sunday of Ordinary Time. 25 th July 2021 Parish Priest: Fr Mark Odion, MSP Email: [email protected]Assistant Priest: Fr John Amana Okeme, MSP Email [email protected]The Parish is part of the Archdiocese of Birmingham: Registered Charity No. 234216
Transcript
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SUNDAY REFLECTION: SO THAT NOBODY MAY GO HUNGRY
Those who announce the word today run the
risk of insisting too much on the miraculous
aspect of the episodes presented in the first
reading from the second book of Kings 4:42-
44 and in the gospel of John 6:1-15 and
losing the more important message; the bread
belonging to one must become the food for
all. Brethren, let us observe that it was the
charity of others to Elisha and the reserved
food of the lad that they made available for
the satisfaction of the needs of others. What
would Elisha have used if the person did not
give him those gifts? What would Jesus have
used if the little boy did not make available his little food security to Jesus? Is it not possible that some people
in that crowd reserved theirs for personal and selfish consumption? God needs us to do the miracle of saving
and serving the other’s needs, would you resist him? Let there be people who are ready to give and there will
be a God who will be ready to multiply just like to say If there are people who are ready to pray and there will
be a God who will be ready to answer. Mother Teresa of Calcutta says, ‘never worry about numbers… it is
not about the magnitude of our actions, but the amount of love that is put into it that matters…’ We can have a
new world only when people renounce their selfishness and accept Jesus’ proposal of establishing the idea of
sharing one’s goods. Brethren, some of us excuse ourselves that what we have is little and not enough to share but that is an
escapist attitude. God makes abundant our insufficiency to become not only sufficient but abundant and
overflowing. When with a good heart we allow God in our littleness and show charity, God of providence
would surprise us by what he would do in our lives because as God lives, the oil shall never finish and the
flour as well. St Paul advises us Christians to live a life worthy of our calling. Our first calling before the
vocation we are in now and the profession we have embraced is first and foremost Christians and should be
like Christ and do what he does. Of course, Some of us may as well ask, what shall we give? Some of our time, our talent, our material
resources, perhaps. To share is not just for the rich. Poor or rich, we all have something to give. Whatever we
give, though, should be something of ourselves, something that costs us. Jesus also teaches, when we give, we
receive blessings from God in return. This is also the theme of the second reading which invites all Christians
to unite as they form one body. Let us be charitable and then maintain the unity of the spirit given to us. We
share one call, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father who is above all, through all,
and is in all. May God make us aware of our duty and demands of our call as Christians. Lord our eyes look
unto you and may you supply our needs in due time and may you be close to us whenever we call upon you so
that we may speak of the glory of your reign and declare your mighty works in our lives, Amen.
POPE’S PRAYER INTENTION FOR JULY: Social friendship.
We pray that, in social, economic, and political situations of conflict, we may be courageous and passionate
Latest guidance from the Catholic Bishop’s Conference (as of 19th July 2021). In summary:
NOT CHANGED:
• Hand sanitising and face coverings are still strongly recommended in church.
• The individual desire for social distancing still needs to be respected (see below).
• Holy water fonts are to remain unfilled.
• The sign of peace remains suspended and Holy Communion will continue to be under one kind and
it is recommended that it is received in the hand.
CHANGED:
• The church will be open for private prayer from Monday 26th July.
• Votive candles will be available to light (30p per candle).
• The offertory collection is to be resumed but online and contactless giving is encouraged.
• Congregational singing is to be reintroduced. Those who want to join in with the singing should
wear a mask at this time.
• Stewards should no longer be necessary but we would hope that people would continue to exercise good responsible behaviour especially when moving to receive Holy Communion and should avoid getting too close to each other.
• The one way system will no longer be enforced
Those who wish to socially distance will be allowed to do so.
St Anthony’s will accommodate this by designating the Lady Chapel as an area where 1m+
social distancing will be maintained. We suggest that parishioners who want to use this
facility enter and leave the church by the side door.
Mass intentions or the names of those for whom you would like us to pray should be sent to the Parish Office
address by email or phone (01865 762964 or 07484 271876) by 10am Sunday one full week in advance for
guaranteed inclusion.
Please pray for the sick and housebound of the parish: Ann Ashfield, Fr John Baggley, Pat Hodgson,
Elizabeth Johnson, Frank and Helen Kennedy, Margaret Wipp, Maureen O’Sullivan and Gordon Robson.
Please pray for those who have recently died … Elise Sikaping and Roddy McNally.
… and for those whose anniversaries occur in July: Donald Holifield, Billy Mundesley, Eileen McNally,
Billy Munnelly, Bob and Peggy Clarke.
Memorial list: If you would like a deceased family member or friend to be remembered in the bulletin during
the month of the anniversary of their death please email their name and date of death (day and month) to
ST ANTHONY OF PADUA FEAST DAY CELEBRATIONS: Further to the delay in the date for “Freedom Day”, sadly we have had to postpone our feast day celebrations until September. However, we hope to have a post lockdown event (coffee and cake or a park picnic) in July. Watch this space!
LOVE MARSTON LOVE LIFE EVENT: Sunday 5th September at 3pm Mortimer Hall Park. Tim Howles is the main speaker and there will be a 'Caring for God's planet' theme to the whole event with a number
of community stalls. Please direct any community groups to the Love Marston Love Life website (lovemarstonlovelife.wordpress.com) for details of how to book a stall.
