“If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away.” Matthew 5:29-30a
Does Jesus really mean this? Literally?
We can be certain that this language, which is shocking, is not a literal command but is rather a symbolic statement commanding us to avoid sin with great zeal, and to avoid all that leads us to sin. The eye can be understood as a window to our soul where our thoughts and desires reside. The hand can be seen as a symbol of our actions. Thus, we must eliminate every thought, affection, desire and action that leads us to sin.
The true key to understanding this passage is to allow ourselves to be affected by the powerful language that Jesus uses. He does not hesitate to speak in a shocking way so as to reveal to us the calling we have to confront with much zeal that which leads to sin in our lives. “Pluck it out…cut it off,” He says. In other words, eliminate your sin and all that leads you to sin in a definitive way. The eye and the hand are not sinful in and of themselves; rather, in this symbolic language they are spoken of as those things that lead to sin. Therefore, if certain thoughts or certain actions lead you to sin, these are the areas to target and to eliminate.
Regarding our thoughts, sometimes we can allow ourselves to dwell excessively upon this or that. As a result, these thoughts can lead us to sin. The key is to “pluck out” that initial thought that produces the bad fruit.
Regarding our actions, we can at times put ourselves in situations that tempt us and lead to sin. These occasions of sin must be cut off from our lives.
Reflect, today, upon this very direct and powerful language of our Lord. Let the forcefulness of His words be an impetus for change and avoidance of all sin.
Lord, I am sorry for my sin and I ask for Your mercy and forgiveness. Please help me to avoid all that leads me to sin and to surrender all my thoughts and actions to You every day. Jesus, I trust in You
Today is the Memorial of St Boniface, Bishop and Martyr
At the end of today’s Gospel- Jesus just gave a teaching to the crowd and they listened to it “with delight.” Jesus’ teaching produced much pleasure in their souls.
This is a common reaction to the teaching and presence of Jesus in our lives. The Psalms are filled with images like this. “I delight in the Lord.” “How sweet are Your words.” “I delight in Your commands.” These and many other references reveal one of the effects of Jesus’ words and presence in our lives. His word and His presence in our lives is extraordinarily pleasurable.
This fact begs the question, “Do I delight in Jesus’ words?” Too often we see the words of Christ as a burden, restriction or limitation to what we want in life. For that reason, we can often see the will of God as something difficult and burdensome. Truth be told, if our hearts are rooted in sin or in the pleasures of the world, then the words of our Lord may sting and feel like a burden to us. But that’s just because we find them in contradiction to the many unhealthy things to which we have become attached.
If you find that the Word of God, Jesus’ words, are hard to hear, then you are starting to head down the right road. You are starting to let His Word “do battle,” so to speak, with the many other lures and enticements that ultimately only leave us dry and empty. This is the first step to being able to delight in the Lord and His words.
The good news is that if you can allow His Word to cut through the many unhealthy attachments you have in life, you will begin to discover that you greatly love His Word and delight in His presence in your life. You will begin to discover that the pleasure and delight you experience from His presence in your life far outweighs any other passing attachment or pleasure you may have. Even sin can produce a false sense of satisfaction. In that case, the satisfaction is more like a drug that soon wears off. The delight of the Lord is something that continually draws you higher and fulfills you more deeply every day.
Today
Spend time, today, pondering whether or not you truly do allow yourself to be filled with delight in the Lord’s presence and His words. Try to taste their sweetness. Try to let yourself be drawn in. Once “hooked,” you will seek Him all the more.
Pray
Lord, I desire to delight in You. Help me to turn away from the many attractions and enticements of this world. Help me to seek You and Your Word always. In the discovery of Your Word, fill my soul with the greatest delight. Jesus, I trust in You.
St Edmund’s staff and students proudly support the Bishops of England & Wales in their message of solidarity to the US.
We stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers in the USA as they challenge the evil of racism and the brutal killing of George Floyd. As the US Bishops made clear: “we cannot turn a blind eye to these atrocities and yet still try to profess to respect every human life. We serve a God of love, mercy, and justice.”
Systemic racism is embedded in our own society. The disproportionate harm suffered by BAME people throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted profound inequalities, marginalisation and injustice here in the UK. The peaceful Black Lives Matter protests taking place in our towns and cities this week reflect the understandable anger that so many people feel about this.
As Catholics we recognise that racism is an evil which must be opposed; we all have a responsibility for actively promoting racial justice. Whenever we ignore racism or dismiss BAME people’s experience of it, we are complicit in violations of human dignity. We pray for God’s help to overcome racism in all its forms and that we might protect everyone who suffers its consequences. We are all made in God’s image.”
Bishop Declan Lang
Lead Bishop for International Affairs
Bishop Paul McAleenan
Lead Bishop for Racial Justice
Lourdes to Brum Pilgrimage 2020
Tomorrow would have been the day students from St Edmund’s, St Chad’s and others schools would have been travelling to Lourdes for the Birmingham Diocese Pilgrimage.
You are ALL invited to a Virtual Pilgrimage starting with the opening Mass on Sunday 24th May at 3pm- from St Chad’s Cathedral.
To all 6 formers please take a look, and if you are interested in going next year let me know.
You can take part in a daily programme of Masses, Liturgy and Prayer for the week that we would have spent in Lourdes so, like Bernadette; we can make a spiritual pilgrimage:
‘Every day I go in Spirit to the Grotto. I make a pilgrimage there’.
The link to the programme and live streams are on
www.birmingham.or.uk/lourdes-pilgramage
also you can follow Facebook for special extra content on
# Lourdes2Brum
A hope you can join us
Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray for us
Saint Bernadette, Pray for us
St Edmund pray for us
St Chad pray for us
SEND-OFF
“Then, after they had fasted and prayed, they imposed hands on them and sent them off.” —Acts 13:3
When the early Church gathered for prayer, they did something before and something after. They fasted before praying. This freed them, “releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke” (Is 58:6). They were free to hear the voice of God, pray the prayer of faith, go up prayer-mountain, and move the mountains of the evil one (Mt 17:20-21). After they prayed, it was not that the people just went off; rather, they were sent off (Acts 13:3).
The assembly at prayer should be a launching pad, shooting Spirit-filled, empowered, commissioned believers into the world. Propelled by the community’s prayer and fasting, we rescue people from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light (Col 1:13) and attack the gates of hell that cannot prevail against us (Mt 16:18).
The Catholic Church has traditionally emphasized fasting, praying, and sending. Before receiving Holy Communion, we are to fast for at least an hour. I recommend we fast for a significantly longer period of time. After Holy Communion, we are sent out with the final blessing. This is what the word “Mass” means: “sent.” Fasting, praying, and sending launched the first missionary journey, and will certainly begin the final one.
PRAYER: Father, during this Easter time, launch me into full-time missionary work.
PROMISE: “The Father Who sent Me has commanded Me what to say and how to speak.” –Jn 12:49
PRAISE: Praise those who ‘Lay their hands’ on other to give love, care and hope.
CLUED IN TO THE SPIRIT
“As I began to address them the Holy Spirit came upon them.” —Acts 11:15
Peter, a Christian and a Jew, took the unprecedented step of entering the house of a Gentile, Cornelius (Acts 10:25). Gentiles, that is, non-Jews, were excluded from the company of Jews. However, the Holy Spirit made it crystal-clear to Peter that he was to enter Cornelius’ house (Acts 11:5ff; 11:12).
The Spirit hadn’t yet instructed Peter what to say to the assembled Gentiles. So Peter “proceeded to address them” with a standard witness to the risen Lord (Acts 10:34ff). Then Peter brought up the subject of sin (Acts 10:43). Based on his previous preaching in Acts, it’s quite possible that Peter’s next words would have involved accountability for sin and the need for deep repentance. Theologically this makes good sense, but the Holy Spirit had a different subject in mind, for the Spirit took over from Peter. “Peter had not finished these words” about forgiveness of sins “when the Holy Spirit descended upon all who were listening to Peter’s message” (Acts 10:44). Although Peter’s Jewish Christian companions were surprised at this turn of events (Acts 10:45), Peter followed “the Spirit’s lead” perfectly (Gal 5:25). Rather than trying to take the floor back from the Holy Spirit and finish his sermon, Peter “gave orders that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 10:48).
Let us hear the voice of Jesus (Jn 10:16) and thereby learn the voice of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit knows exactly what is the right word at the right time (see e.g. 1 Cor 2:10ff). Like Peter, let us “live by the Spirit” and “follow the Spirit’s lead” (Gal 5:25).
PRAYER: Father, I will serve You not by my own intelligence or wisdom, but by Your Spirit (Zec 4:6).
PROMISE: “I am the Good Shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me.” –Jn 10:14
PRAISE: Give thanks to those who lead you and think of how you can lead others along the right path
Jessica, Bhavesh, Elizabeth, Hajrah and Owen learnt some basic first aid skills today. They learnt about DR ABC, the Primary Survey, which is used by St. John Ambulance.
Mrs Beech, who used to be a paramedic in the Navy and currently volunteers with St John Ambulance, shared her real life experience with the group.
The session began with looking at hazard and risk in real life scenarios, everyone critiqued the situation well and recognised the potential hazards. The students justified the correct contents for a first aid kit and when they should be used.
We then discussed how to assess a casualty, looking for evidence and clues. This included inhalers, Epipens, Insulin pens, medic-alert tags, prior knowledge etc.
We complicated the situation to include an unconscious casualty, everyone tested their new skills to assess the situation and their casualty using D (danger), R (response), A (airway), B (breathing) and C (circulation) using the Resusci Annie. They then went on to roll each other into the recovery position and learn the importance of maintaining a casualty’s airway.
We are seeking to appoint a number of Exam Invigilators, to work under the supervision of the Examinations Officer, to ensure the smooth running of both external and internal examinations.
Good numeracy and literacy skills required together with the ability to be flexible and to be able to relate to children and adults.
Permanent Casual Contract – £9.55 ph
Hours: To meet the needs of the Academy during Examination Periods (no guaranteed hours)
Closing Date
16 March, 2020 09.00
Interview Date
W/C 23/03/20
For more information please click on the link below.
