3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, Shaftesbury

Neh 8:2-6.8-10; Ps 18; Lk 1:1-4; 4:14-21.
If I was to stand here and try and think about would be the most BORING thing I could possibly preach to you about then there would be a number of competitors for the post. But, pretty much top of the list would be the subject of the LAW. After all, you might say, who wants to be told about the importance of a bunch of things we cannot do and a bunch of things we must do? A worthy topic perhaps, but not an interesting one.
Now, if you look at this from a historical perspective, if you compare this to the attitude that the Jews of old had towards the Law, compare this to the attitude that the people living in and around Jesus would have had to the Law, it was all VERY different. To the Jews, the Law was EVERYTHING.

To the Jews, the Law gave them their identity. What gathered them and made them a people? What gave them a code of life and behaviour that set them apart from the gentile nations? It was the Law. God hadn’t just called them out of Egypt and given them the Promised Land, He had also given them a way to live. Without this they would have just blended into the nations and cultures around them.
So they delighted in the Law. To use a phrase we just heard from the Scriptures, a phrase that is probably rarely on OUR lips, the Law was something that "gladdened the heart": "The precepts of The Lord are right, they gladden the heart"(Ps 18).

Now, let us take a step back a second and think why it is that WE in our MODERN world think that law is such an awful thing.
Our modern world values freedom and individuality, thinks that it is abhorrent to have someone else tell you what to do or how to live. “You’re not the boss of me. I’m the boss of me” –as the saying goes.

What of the Jews then? Well, there is no reason to think that they particularly liked being told what to do. The point is this: it’s not that they liked being told what to do. Rather, it’s that they recognised the Law of God as being much more than a list of things they had been told to do. They recognised the Law of God as being WISDOM itself, as being God’s special gift to them –a gift that ultimately they would be called to proclaim to the gentile nations too.

Small wonder then that we find, as we heard in today’s Gospel, the Lord Jesus engaging in the practice of His fellow Jews and reading from the Scriptures, from the Law, on the Sabbath day in synagogue “as He usually did”(Lk 4:16). Those Scriptures, we know, He came to fulfil and complete. That text we heard Him read out from Isaiah was one of the classic texts that the Jews of old pondered as they considered what the promised Messiah would bring them. He fulfilled that text. He fulfilled the whole Law.
And, as we know, in many ways He changed the Law. A change that brought it to its completion, a change that fulfilled rather abolished it (Mt 5:17). The Law that Christ gave us does EVEN MORE TRULY what the Law of the Old Testament did:
To quote some phrases from today’s Psalm (18), the Law is:
“spirit and life”
“it revives the soul”
“it gives wisdom to the simple”
“it gives light to the eyes”
it is “truth” and “just” and “right”
No wonder then that “the precepts of the Lord… gladden the heart”.

'Same-Sex Marriage', 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C, Shaftesbury

Jn 2:1-11

Before I begin may I repeat my warning last Sunday and in the newsletter: I’m about to preach about ‘same-sex marriage’ and, while I’m not going to be explicit, you may feel that you’d rather your child was not present. If so you can take him/her to the childrens' liturgy in the dining room at the back of the hall.

I'm aware that our bishops, and I, have repeatedly asked you to write to our MPs to oppose the recent proposals to re-define marriage, however, I'm also aware that I've not spoken to you to explain any reasons WHY. I'd like to do so today.

Let me start by referring to the Gospel scene we just heard, of how Christ blessed and exalted marriage by choosing to work His very first miracle at a wedding. He chose to raise marriage to the dignity of a sacrament. Christians have thus always held marriage to be very important.

We can read in history, and in the Scriptures, that the Jews and the early Christians had a view of marriage that was very different from that of the ancient pagans. They also had a view of homosexuality that was different from that held by many of the ancient Greeks and Romans. Yet, we can also note, as a simple fact, that even in the pagan world there was never such a thing as 'homosexual marriage’ –marriage was always viewed as a different thing. It was always acknowledged that the committed heterosexual union of a man and a woman gave something to society that other unions could not. That society NEEDED marriage, needed this stable union of a man and a woman to be the place where new children would be brought forth and nurtured. [Ancient Greek and Roman literature contain a couple references to a man who married another man, but this is presented as a comic and aberrant act – an exception that shows that even though the Greeks tolerated homosexual behaviour they did not see it as equivalent to marriage.]

Sometimes these things are most clearly seen when we reduce them to simple straight questions. Sometimes children see this more clearly than 'sophisticated' adults. I can remember hearing a child's reaction to hearing about proposals that two men should be allowed to marry. The child said, "But that's silly. Who would have the babies?"
That simple question goes to the heart of what makes marriage different from other possible unions, namely, an orientation to children. Marriage is about family, or at least about an orientation towards it and a hope of it. This orientation is written into our nature, even at a bodily level.

To make that children's question (“Who would have the babies?”) into an adult one: “How would the babies come into being?” -that question focuses the issue: A homosexual union is inherently incapable of bringing forth life. In a homosexual union the only way a child can come about is with the addition, presumably transitory, of some third person of the other gender, with the intervention of someone OUTSIDE the union. Such an intervention is contrary to the whole nature of marriage, of an exclusive life-long union.
A key point follows: This intrinsic need for a third person is a sign that the type of union they have is NOT what has always been called 'marriage'. To re-label same-sex unions as ‘marriage’ is to remove this orientation to children from the nature of marriage, to divorce family and marriage.
[added after the homily, but not included in the homily, the 'third person' getting involved would be:
(1) in a man-man same-sex union: a woman as a surrogate mother would be needed to have a child;
(2) in a woman-woman same-sex union: a man would be needed to be a sperm donor;
(3) IVF variant: in the (near) future we can speculate that a woman-woman same-sex couple might be able to have a child that combines their DNA without a male gamete. Note, however, that while this wouldn't involve a third person to provide sperm it would involve a whole group of technicians in a laboratory who would thus be 'outside' the union, and thus indicate the the nature of the union was something that wasn't inherently able to bring forth life.]

What then is this thing that has always been called 'marriage'? It is a union of a man and a woman, an exclusive union, a committed union, for life. More than this it is a bodily union, a union with certain bodily acts that are more than just bodily, that are proper to love, and are inherently ordered to the procreation of children. This is what marriage is.
In addition, we can note that there are features of this union suitable not merely to procreating children but to RAISING children. There is the matter of it being a STABLE lifelong union, a feature standard across all sorts of cultures, histories and religions. More than this, and this is another key difference to a homosexual union, there is the innate difference and yet COMPLEMENTARITY of man and woman. A man and a woman are different, and bring different things to the union, and bring different things to parenting. A difference such that the two together make a whole. A difference such that there is a real lack when children, for all sorts of reasons, many of which are accidental and not blameworthy, when children lack a mother and father at home.

To bring this in to a conclusion: What does our modern secular society say to all of this? It emphasises individuality and freedom and self-determination. In contrast, our Christian Faith teaches us that there is something in our bodies, and with that in our gender, that defines us, that we are not ‘free’ to ‘liberate’ ourselves from. Our body is an essential part of us, gives us our identity. And we find our fulfilment in it. Of course, we know, there are people who in different ways do not ‘fit’ the norm, including those attracted to sexual acts that are not capable of being fruitful. To those who feel attracted to this behaviour we need to gently but firmly say that acting out on this will not fulfil them, will not be to their good.
And, for the good of our society, for the stability of the family that is its foundation, we need to say that marriage needs to be recognised as something for a man and a woman.

The January 2013 paper by the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy (UK) and be read by clicking here.

The recent letter to the Telegraph signed by over a 1000 priests (including me) can be read here. This letter was described by the Telegraph as "one of the biggest joint letters of its type ever written".

The Pope recently "issued a powerful critique of attempts to redefine marriage, and of the 'gender ideology' through which, he warned, 'the very notion of being--of what being human really means--is being called into question.' The full text of his speech can be read here.

The January 2012 paper by SPUC on same-sex 'marriage' can be read by clicking here.

Novena for Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 18-25th January 2013

Please join in the worldwide prayers for unity this week by making this short novena we'll be using here at St.Edward's, praying for the different daily intentions below. This novena prayer will be said after all Masses this week:

Daily Novena Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, You called Your Church into being, founded her on the rock of Peter's faith, and prayed that she might be one. Look down upon Your Church today as she stands buffeted by the storms of an unbelieving world and distressed within by the weakness of sin and division. As You prayed for her once as You sweated blood in Your Agony, pray for her now from Your position of power at the right hand of the Father. Send down Your Holy Spirit to heal her divisions, confirm her in that Truth which You are, and restore her to that unity which once she knew. We ask this of You who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, One God for ever and ever. Amen.
Followed by: Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be.


Pray Intention for Each Day of the Novena:
(1) Fri 18th Jan, For Christians across the world
(2) Sat 19th, For Bell Street Methodist/URC Church
(3) Sun 20th,For ‘Father’s House’ church
(4) Mon 21st, For St Peter’s, St James, St John’s Anglican Churches
(5) Tues 22nd, For the Society of Friends (Quakers)
(6) Wed 23rd, For St Edward’s Catholic Church
(7) Thurs 24th, For all Lapsed Christians
(8) Fri 25th, For all those of no particular Faith

Unity Week: Sermon to accompany Bishop Budd's pastoral letter for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

We have a pastoral letter from the Bishop about the coming Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. He's aware that he's written a number of letters (you've had one for each of the past two weeks) so he's said that I don't need to read this one -just make it 'available' to you. So, I have enclosed a copy of it in the newsletter, and, I intend to say a few words on the theme of his letter instead

The Bishop has written to us to draw our attention to the fact that the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will start during this coming week. And he wishes to encourage us to take part in it.

This ‘Week of Prayer for Christian Unity’ is something that has been going on for more than a century. There were, at first, somewhat characteristically of the divided era, a number of conflicting 'unity' weeks organised by different groups on different dates. However, as the movement and hope that there might be a real re-union of the different churches developed a number of things changed, and we now have one united unity week.

As many people have observed, much has changed in the relationship between the different churches over the past century, and also within the churches over that time.
Much of the initial progress seemed hopeful, but more recent decades have noted various seemingly irresolvable differences over ‘truth issues’ that make talk of re-union now seem more distant.

That said, we'd do week to remember the real progress that HAS been made over the past century. A century ago, and in the lifetime of many of our congregation, the relations between Christians of different denominations used to be characterised by mutual ignorance, mutual prejudice, and even sectarian violence in many parts of our country. That this was the case among those who profess to follow the same Christ was scandalous, literally so, in that it was an obstacle to others believing in Christ.

Christ wants His Church to be one, to not be divided. Christ prayed, as He sweated blood in the Agony in the Garden, prayed "that they might be one"(Jn 17:21). I remind you of this simple fact because even when Christian re-union might seem impossible, in reality nothing is impossible to God, and what He seeks we too must seek, work for, and pray for.

What prayers can we then engage in during this unity week?
Let me give three simple suggestions.
First, at home and here in our St Edward's prayers:
A novena, at the end of each weekday Mass. Or, for you to say daily in your homes. The novena I've suggestion on the sheet with the bishop's letter has a different intention each day.
Second, more directly and in a more inter-denominational manner, attendance at the events organised by our town's ecumenical body, 'Churches Together in Shaftesbury'.
Let me particularly commend the opening and closing services. The closing service is here at St Edward's. The opening service is at the Society of Friends, the Quakers, and for many of you might be, apart from anything else, an interesting exposure to a different sort of thing, with their prolonged silence -something that we commend in Catholicism, but don't always practice as we could.

To conclude, please read what the bishop says about the importance of praying for Christian Unity. And please DO pray for it. The text of the Bishop's letter will be available online at the Plymouth Diocese website.


Please join in the worldwide prayers for unity this week by making this short novena, praying for the different daily intentions below. This novena prayer will be said after all Masses this week:

Pray Intention for Each Day of the Novena:
(1) Fri 18th Jan, For Christians across the world
(2) Sat 19th, For Bell Street Methodist/URC Church
(3) Sun 20th,For ‘Father’s House’ church
(4) Mon 21st, For St Peter’s, St James, St John’s Anglican Churches
(5) Tues 22nd, For the Society of Friends (Quakers)
(6) Wed 23rd, For St Edward’s Catholic Church
(7) Thurs 24th, For all Lapsed Christians
(8) Fri 25th, For all those of no particular Faith

Daily Novena Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, You called Your Church into being, founded her on the rock of Peter's faith, and prayed that she might be one. Look down upon Your Church today as she stands buffeted by the storms of an unbelieving world and distressed within by the weakness of sin and division. As You prayed for her once as You sweated blood in Your Agony, pray for her now from Your position of power at the right hand of the Father. Send down Your Holy Spirit to heal her divisions, confirm her in that Truth which You are, and to restore her to that unity which once she knew. We ask this of You who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, One God for ever and ever. Amen.
Followed by: Our Father. Hail Mary. Glory Be.

Services During the Week:
(1) Opening Service: 7.30pm Fri 18th January, at the Society of Friends (Quakers), by the Hospital

(2) Closing Service: 7.30pm Fri 25th January, at St Edward’s Catholic Church, Sung Office of Readings

(3) Sunday 20th January: 10.15am, at “Father’s House”(formerly the ‘Shaftesbury Christian Centre’).
Note, however, that Catholics attending this service will still need to attend a Sunday Mass on either Saturday evening (5pm St Edward’s) or Sunday evening (6pm Marnhull). For this reason our Catholic Directory on Ecumenism notes, “Since the celebration of the Eucharist on the Lord's Day [Sunday] is the foundation and centre of the whole liturgical year, Catholics are obliged to attend Mass on that day and on days of precept. It is not advisable therefore to organize ecumenical services on Sundays, and it must be remembered that even when Catholics participate in ecumenical services or in services of other Churches and ecclesial Communities, the obligation of participating at Mass on these days remains.”(n.115)

No sermon text this week

There is no sermon text this week because there is a pastoral letter from Bishop Budd, the text of which is available from the Plymouth Diocese website.