Bulletin

Dear sisters and brothers,

Today we begin the third week of Easter. This is our collect: May your people exult forever, O God, in renewed youthfulness of spirit, so that, rejoicing now in the restored glory of our adoption, we may look forward in confident hope to the rejoicing of the day of resurrection.

Dear sisters and brothers,

Aware as we are of the death of Pope Francis today we celebrate the Risen Lord during the octave of Easter.

This the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad!

 The Resurrection is the beginning of a joy so great that fills the next fifty days and all our lives. It is eternal life.

Dear sisters and brothers,

Today we begin Holy Week. We recall Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem where we join the crowd in proclaiming, ‘blessing to the king’. The second part features an extended reading of the Passion of the Lord where we come to see what being a king is for Jesus. He is one who lays down his life for all humanity.

Dear sisters and brothers,

The third scrutiny is celebrated today that our elect may have ‘their spirit filled with Christ the Redeemer, who is the resurrection and the life’ and they are also presented with the Lord’s Prayer.

Dear sisters and brothers,

Collect O God, who through your Word reconcile the human race to yourself in a wonderful way, grant that with prompt devotion and eager faith the Christian people may hasten toward the solemn celebrations to come.

Dear sisters and brothers,

Collect: O God, author of every mercy and of all goodness, who in fasting, prayer and almsgiving have shown us a remedy for sin, look graciously on this confession of our lowliness, that we, who are bowed down by our conscience, may always be lifted up by your mercy.

Dear sisters and brothers,

Do you sometimes lose energy and trudge along without much hope or joy? What keeps you hopeful? What have you to look forward to? As a Carmelite I am not in control of my own life-direction.

Dear sisters and brothers,

Collect: Grant, almighty God, through the yearly observances of holy Lent, that we may grow in understanding of the riches hidden in Christ and by worthy conduct pursue their effects. The word Lent arises from the ‘lengthening’ of the days of the northern hemisphere, it evokes Spring and hope for better weather with more sunshine.

Dear sisters and brothers,

Today’s Gospel (Lk 6:39-45) is from Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain. Last week we heard the section concerned with action towards others (‘love your enemies’) today Jesus speaks of the heart as the wellspring of action.