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Scripture Readings 14th July 2019, 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

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Deut 30:10-14; Ps 68(69):14-37; Col 1:15-20; Lk 10:25-37

The book of Deuteronomy, the “second law”, evolved over many centuries. It restates the Jewish Law and the covenant God made with Abraham. Our reading starts with an imperative, but this follows “if”: “you will prosper if” you choose to follow God’s law. And God’s Law is not difficult to find: it is written “in their hearts”. Put the covenant into practice, and so choose life, not death.

The psalm implores God to save him from unmerited suffering. The reference in an omitted verse to “vinegar to drink” and the expectation that “God will save Zion” led Christians to think of Messiah – Christ.

In this beautiful hymn from Colossians Paul spells out the awesome reality of Christ: “Christ Jesus is the image of the unseen God”. We know God through Jesus. Jesus is fully human in the way God intended all humanity to be, and so He shows us the way to God. But reconciliation comes with a proviso: “that you continue in the faith”.

Jesus has rejoiced and given thanks with the 70 disciples for their successful mission. He then responds to a sincere questioner by updating the Jewish Law to what was originally intended. Everyone is our neighbour. The priest and the Levite were more concerned with ritual purity than with love.

Psalm Response: Seek the Lord, you who are poor, and your hearts will revive.

(Deut 30:10-14; Ps 68(69):14-37; Col 1:15-20; Lk 10:25-37)

Scripture Readings 3rd February 2019, 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Jer 1:4-5, 17-19; Psalm 70(71); 1 Cor 12:31-13:13; Luke 4:21-20

In 626 BC Jeremiah was appointed by God to be his prophet during the forty troubled years before the exile. Israel had fallen away from God’s covenant, worshipping pagan gods. Jeremiah warned them that unless they turned back to the Lord, Jerusalem would be destroyed – as it was by Babylon. But the prophet’s life is not easy, even though sure of God’s support, and Jeremiah suffered much at the hands of his own people.

The psalmist implores the Lord’s help in affliction, confident he will be heard.

Paul has emphasised to the Corinthians that the different abilities of each member are essential to the work of the church. In today’s beautiful reading he contrasts these diverse skills with the overriding virtue of love, needed by everyone. And more important than the gift of tongues, which the Corinthians valued highly.

In Luke’s gospel Jesus continues from last week’s reading, saying the text he had read from Isaiah is being fulfilled as he is speaking. With these words He inaugurates the time of fulfilment of the Jewish Scriptures. But his words were seen as unexpectedly gracious for a mere carpenter’s son. He could work no miracles there in his home town. He tells them Gentiles will prove more receptive to the word of God. Jerusalem would be destroyed yet again.

Psalm Response: My lips will tell of your help.

(Jer 1:4-5, 17-19; Psalm 70(71); 1 Cor 12:31-13:13; Luke 4:21-20)

ROM MY HEART TO YOUR HEART – What I learned about God from my mechanic

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Some people think, and tell me, that I am a good driver. Usually they are kind people who like to make other people feel happy. And, I learned a long time ago, that the most special people in the world are those people who make other people feel special. Also I learned a long time ago that the most miserable people in the world are those people who make other people feel miserable.

Well… many people think, and tell me, that I am a good driver… except for my mechanic. My mechanic doesn’t think so, and he doesn’t tell me that I am a good driver. And the reason is because he is getting tired of replacing the clutch of my car! I get the impression that when he changes the clutch of my car he feels like he is ready to make the next appointment for the same kind of service. He knows that sooner or later I am calling him again.

This is what happened last week. I called him and informed him about the signs that I was getting while I was driving. The latest sign was that strange smell of a burning clutch.

I explained all the details, told him that I had the feeling that the clutch was in its final stage and, I finally asked him: «What should I do now»? His short answer was: «Nothing. Now you can do nothing. Now I am the one who is going to do the job».

I strongly believe that God talks with me through different ways. He talks with me through the Bible, through prayer and also through the events of my daily life. Through the answer of my mechanic I could see that sometimes God is telling me something like my mechanic. «Now you can do nothing. Just leave it up to me».

Sometimes we face problems in our lives that can be easily solved by ourselves. It just requires some more of our time, some more of our patience, some more of our effort or the help of a good friend.

But there are problems in our lives that when we cry to God in prayer saying: «Lord! What can I do now?» The answer from God will be: «Nothing. You can do nothing. Just let me do it for you. Now it is my job to fix what his broken. Just trust me.» “You are my son, the beloved; my favour rests on you”. Lk. 3: 22).

Love and Peace,
Fr. Bernardino Andrade

Scripture Readings 13th January 2019, Baptism of the Lord, Year C

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Isaiah 40:1-5. 9-11; Ps 103(104); Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7; Luke 3: 15-16. 21-22

Writing in Babylon about 540 BC, second Isaiah majestically consoles Israel in its exile. God tenderly commands his attendants to comfort Israel and to prepare a sacred way for them to return to Jerusalem. He will lead his people to freedom across the desert in a new Exodus. The coming of God’s rule should be announced to the whole world, shouted from the mountain-tops.

The psalm magnificently praises and celebrates God’s creative wisdom and power.

Titus worked with Paul and later administered the church in Crete. In this pastoral letter Paul advises Titus on setting up church structures and choosing suitable presbyters for each local church. All Christians, and especially Church leaders, are urged to lead godly lives. We should reveal God’s love to others in our good behaviour, while not disrupting the lives of others, in confident expectation of our redemption.

Luke saw us as living in a time of waiting, one of three phases he saw in salvation history. Luke’s time of promise, the period of Israel, ended when John was put in prison by Herod, after John the Baptist’s prediction that Jesus would baptise with the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ baptism begins the period when this promise is fulfilled. Luke’s Book of Acts describes his third phase, the beginning of the church.

Psalm Response: Bless the Lord, my soul! Lord God, how great you are.

Adopt a Family for Christmas

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The best gift we can give to the homeless and poor for Christmas is our Love.
The People Helping People charity from the Chapel of our Lady of Penha da França in Madeira has a long list of needy families in Madeira who need food and gifts for their children. Conrad and Manuela are member of the coordination and you can contact them by phone 96-29-28-026 or mail koen.manuela@gmail.com. You can mention your preference: You may want to know one of the families and donate personally, or to buy food or a special present.

Scripture Readings 9th December 2018, 2nd Sunday of Advent, Year C

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Baruch 5: 1-9; Ps 125(126); Phil 1: 3-6. 8-11; Luke 3: 1-6

The Book of Baruch, was probably written during the second century BC and attributed to Jeremiah’s secretary. It deals with problems of Jews permanently exiled in the diaspora. Today’s reading offers consolation for refugees, seeing hope for Jerusalem as the mother of all exiles. Realistically it insists that we must come to terms with life where we are. In all ages, families living in exile must find salvation from the living word of God.

The psalm is usually seen as Israel’s rejoicing after their return from exile. But it may be more consistently read as an intense visualisation of the future restoration of Israel by the Lord.

Paul wrote the Letter to the Philippians from prison between 55 and 63 AD, addressing it to the “saints, bishops and ministers” of the community. He prays lovingly that their love and knowledge of Christ may increase, so that they dare to proclaim the gospel fearlessly.

For these 3 weeks of Advent we hear from Luke’s gospel about preparations for the coming Messiah. Today John the Baptist is positioned in history, proclaiming a baptism of repentance and, like Baruch, quoting from Isaiah. Just as with Elizabeth’s greeting on the last Sunday of Advent, Luke firmly links the coming birth to the Old Testament, which it fulfills.

Psalm Response: What Marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad.

(Baruch 5: 1-9; Ps 125(126); Phil 1: 3-6. 8-11; Luke 3: 1-6)

Scripture Readings 25th March 2018, Palm Sunday, Year B

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Is 50:4-7; Ps 21(22); Phil 2:6-11; Mark 14:1 – 15:47

Second Isaiah was writing during the exile of the Israelites in Babylon after Jerusalem was destroyed. The people are discouraged, in despair, and tempted to give up their faith in God. In today’s ‘servant-song’ Isaiah offers consolation, recommending non-resistance and trust in the Lord.

Isaiah’s words express our horror at the way Our Lord was treated. But, trusting confidently in his Father, Jesus “sets his face like flint”, even though it is covered with spittle.

The Psalm moves from this mood to express unshaken faith, praising God for our redemption and the promised conversion of all peoples.

The hymn in Philippians rejoices that – unlike Adam – Jesus did not seek to be equal to God. But God raised him high, so that all creation should “acclaim Jesus as Lord, to the glory of God the Father”.

Jesus died just before Passover, when Jews celebrated their freedom from slavery. The soldiers, the Jewish leaders, the inscription on the Cross, all ironically give Jesus his true title of “King of the Jews”, the Messiah, who frees us from death. When Jesus dies, the first human being in Mark’s gospel to recognise Jesus as “Son of God” is a Gentile, the centurion. All the disciples had run away when Jesus was arrested. Only some women watched, and they saw where he was buried.

Psalm Response: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

FROM MY HEART TO YOUR HEART – The Least Compassionate People

– Brought to you by Fr. Bernardino Andrade (bernardinodandrade@gmail.com)

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Michael Slaughter in his book «Unlearning Church» tells us about a religion editor from a local newspaper who came to his Church to interview him about a conference they were having.

At the end of the interview, he asked if she (the editor) went to Church. He assumed she did since she was a religion editor. She replied: ” No, I am a Buddhist. I was raised in the Church, but about ten years ago I became interested in Buddhism because the highest value of Buddhism is the value of compassion.”

Michael Slaughter said that her next comment made him feel as if she had put her hand in his chest and squeezed his heart.

“The people I grew up around in the Church,” she added, “were some of the least compassionate people I ever knew.”

“Ouch!,” says Michael Slaughter, and then he adds “yet Jesus is compassion made visible.”

And he’s right. Jesus is compassion made visible. Having Jesus’ name, but not his heart is a dangerous combination. It can make us turn away people that Jesus is calling us to embrace.

* * *

Brian, a very good friend of mine, is Mormon. One day we were talking about two women who worked with me in two different Parishes. I will call them Harriet and Tammy (not their real names). Their main job was to make my life miserable and put people against people. I will never forget what Brian told me: «Wherever you go, Bernardino, you will always find a Harriet and a Tammy». And I have.

Mother Teresa used to say: «I prefer a person making a mistake with kindness than doing something right with rudeness».

I believe that these kind of rude and intolerant people in our Churches are the ones who are emptying them, transforming them into interesting museums where people have stopped joining other people to pray together and to worship together in order to build and heal relationships. Our church is about relationships. Our Church is the Body of Christ where people take good care of one another. This is the main reason why we come to church.

Love and Peace,
Fr. Bernardino Andrade

Festa do Senhor das Milagres in Machico (October)

One of the most important religious festivals on the island is the “Festa do Senhor das Milagres”, which is celebrated annually in October in Machico

The occasion commemorates the floods of October 1803, when the chapel of the Senhor das Milagres was destroyed and a precious image bearing the same name was lost out to sea. According to legend, the image was recovered three days later by an American fishing vessel and returned to the cathedral in Funchal.

IN 1813 after the restoration of the destroyed chapel the image was sent back to Machico, where it resides in the rebuilt chapel of “Senhor das Milagres”.

The festival is marked by a solemn procession of people bearing the image to the mother church in Machico where it resides until the following day. Thousands of people bearing candles and lighted torches quietly proceed through the streets and there is an absence of loud music and other festivities which are typical of feast days in Madeira.

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