St Richard, Haywards Heath Visitation of Our Lady 31 May 2023

 Why do we share our faith? 

Because of who we are – we are Christians, members of the body of Christ and so Jesus Christ is in our life.

You can’t share about Jesus unless you realise this and get yourself reminded regularly about it – which is why we pray, read the bible, come to church and keep our feasts.

In the Church calendar the last day of May is set apart as the Feast of the Visit of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth. 

When Jesus first came to earth he lived in the womb of Mary (Luke 1:35). Weeks after she became pregnant Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth. Even as she greeted her cousin, Elizabeth felt a touch of the Holy Spirit as Mary spoke, so that her own unborn son, John, leapt inside her. 

The words of Mary gained power from the depth of her being, where Christ dwelt. 

In the story of the Visitation which ends with her Magnificat song (Luke 1:46-55) we see an exuberant overflow of faith.

If Jesus is in our life we are like Mary joyous ‘Christ bearers’. 

We are gripped by a vision of truth, a purpose for living and a reason for dying. 

We hold inside us a boundless source of love lending us compassion in the face of human need. 

We gain enthusiasm, a spiritual power which serves to help us both in witnessing to the truth that is in Jesus and in demonstrating his love for the needy.

We share our faith because if Jesus is in your life it’s the way things go.

Let us reflect for a moment on Christ within us whose presence will shortly be renewed in his gift to us of Holy Communion.

Picture Abbey Church of Guîtres 12th century of Mary embracing Elizabeth with passion.

St John, Burgess Hill & St Richard, Haywards Heath Luke 1:39-45 21.12.22

 

In today’s Gospel of the Visitation Mary in her pregnancy visits her cousin Elizabeth, also pregnant with the Lord’s forerunner, St. John the Baptist.  As the holy women meet the children in their wombs greet one another. 

Their joy expands and bursts out later as Mary expresses it in the great canticle we call Magnificat which the Church uses daily at Evening Prayer – My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.

The shared joy starts with the greeting of Mary.  We read: Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Mary is the first evangelist. It is by her voice that John the Baptist and Elizabeth recognise the presence of Jesus.

I say Mary is the first Christian evangelist.  By that I mean her words communicated from her depths and her integrity the mystery of the Nativity soon to be revealed.  

As baby John heard Our Lady’s voice it was as if one depth sounded across to another, the joy in one being excited joy in another.

In his book ‘The Soul of the Apostolate’ (show), Dom Chautard appeals to his readers to live with God in order to be able to speak of Him, with the best results; the active life (of a Christian)…should be…the overflow of its interior life.

Mary’s words in today’s Gospel made an impact because of what was interior to her.  Our Lady is the model Christian – she models the indwelling of Christ and the priority of the interior life.

We are gathered here in a beautiful Church in a prominent place. It is a place we promote not least by opening our doors day by day. When people draw near to this building, which is so prominent, we should take care that they will be drawn by all they hear and see of those who worship here: Christ in us.

We can build lovely buildings in prominent places to honour God, but they only become instruments of his kingdom as the Lord’s presence sanctifies them through the Eucharist and through the indwelling of Christ in his people.

The subtitle of my book ‘Soul of the Apostolate’ is ‘Jesus must be the Life of my work. Otherwise…’ we are left to complete the otherwise.

There is no ‘quick fix’ for getting more of Jesus in your life. It requires dedication and determination, even if it is a grace from above.

Dom Chautard’s wisdom is timely.  Our apostolate, our sense of being ‘sent’ as Christians, will be utterly ineffective unless it comes as an overflow from what is being cultivated within.

What are we doing, here at St John’s/St Richard’s to cultivate the interior life? 

We welcome Jesus day by day in word and sacrament.  How are we savouring that gift in our daily prayer?  In our discipline of bible reading, Confession or of generous service to those in need?

Where people are meeting deep down with Jesus, the joy of  Jesus is taking hold of them so that all that they say and do will be permeated by that joy.

Jesus living in Mary - crown of Advent and Christmas - live in us!

St Bartholomew, Brighton Visitation of Our Lady 31 May 2022

 

In today’s Gospel of the Visitation Mary in her pregnancy visits her cousin Elizabeth, also pregnant with the Lord’s forerunner, St. John the Baptist.  As the holy women meet the children in their wombs greet one another.  Their joy expands and bursts out as Mary expresses it in the great canticle we call Magnificat which the Church uses daily at Evening Prayer – My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.

The shared joy starts with the greeting of Mary.  We read: Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Mary is the first evangelist. It is by her voice that John the Baptist and Elizabeth recognise the presence of Jesus.

I say Mary is the first Christian evangelist.  By that I mean her words communicated from her depths and her integrity the mystery of the Nativity soon to be revealed.  

As baby John heard Our Lady’s voice it was as if one depth sounded across to another, the joy in one being excited joy in another.

In his book ‘The Soul of the Apostolate’ (picture), Dom Chautard appeals to his readers to live with God in order to be able to speak of Him, with the best results; the active life (of a Christian)…should be…the overflow of its interior life.

Mary’s words in today’s Gospel made an impact because of what was interior to her. Our Lady is the model Christian – she models the indwelling of Christ and the priority of the interior life.

We have here in this place a beautiful Church in a prominent place. It is a place we promote not least by opening our doors day by day. When people draw near to this building, which is so prominent, we should take care that they will be drawn by all they hear and see of those who worship here: Christ in us.

We can build lovely buildings in prominent places to honour God, but they only become instruments of his kingdom as the Lord’s presence sanctifies them through the Eucharist and through the indwelling of Christ in his people.

The subtitle of my book ‘Soul of the Apostolate’ is ‘Jesus must be the Life of my work. Otherwise…’ we are left to complete the otherwise.

There is no ‘quick fix’ for getting more of Jesus in your life. It requires dedication and determination, even if it is a grace from above.

Dom Chautard’s wisdom is timely.  Our apostolate, our sense of being ‘sent’ as Christians, will be utterly ineffective unless it comes as an overflow from what is being cultivated within.

What are we doing, here at St Bartholomew’s, to cultivate the interior life? 

We welcome Jesus day by day in word and sacrament.  How are we savouring that gift in our daily prayer?  In our discipline of bible reading, Confession or of generous service to those in need?

Where people are meeting deep down with Jesus, the joy of  Jesus is taking hold of them so that all that they say and do will be permeated by that joy.

Jesus living in Mary - crown of this feast - live in us!