2nd Sunday of Christmas

01 January 2005

Dear Brothers and Sisters

One of the cards I received this Christmas wished me a new year in which I would be able to dream many dreams. In the Scriptures dreams give people hope and direction. They are not make-believe. They are life giving.

As we begin this New Year, one of the hopes I have is that we will be a people whose faith in Christ continues to grow strong: whose awareness of God's presence in our lives deepens and whose commitment to live according to Gospel values develops. That dream can become a reality if it is grounded in the celebration of the Eucharist. We are a Eucharistic community and we always need to understand better the consequences of what that means in our daily lives.

Hearing the call of Pope John Paul, that this should be a year in which we reflect more deeply on the Eucharist, I would like each person and every community to consider the importance of the Mass in our lives as Catholics. Sometimes I think that some people do not understand why Sunday Mass is so important.

Sunday is a special day but in many ways it has become like the other days of the week. For Christians, Sunday, is the Day of Lord when we celebrate the presence of the risen Lord living in our midst. Jesus is Emmanuel – God with us. In the company of the risen Lord we discover both the mystery of God and the mystery of what it is to be human. Through the Eucharist, the Lord is truly present with his people in the Table of the Word and the Table of the Sacrament of his Body and Blood. Through the Mass, which is a sacrificial meal, Christ makes present to us anew the sacrifice offered once for all on Calvary which brought freedom and new life to the world. In the Eucharist the Saviour, who took flesh in Mary’s womb and was born in Bethlehem twenty centuries ago, continues to offer himself to humanity as the sources of divine life.

During this coming year I would like parishes to provide good catechesis on the meaning of the Eucharist. This can be done through preaching and teaching and through the way we prepare people, both young and old, for the Sacraments. The way in which we celebrate Mass is also important. Essentially the Eucharist is an action of the Church in which the Church makes the Eucharist and the Eucharist makes the Church. The Mass is not a private devotion but an action of the community, celebrating the presence of Christ, the Light of the World.

To help people contemplate the presence of Christ in the Eucharist, I would like all our parishes to have some regular time for Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament which will provide an opportunity for quiet reflection. Many parishes already do this and I would encourage others to follow this practice.

To contemplate the face of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament should enable us to enter more fully the mystery of the Eucharist which is about dying to selfishness so that we can live in a new way with God and with one another. The Eucharist is about creating communion and bringing about reconciliation. The Eucharist calls us to transform the world of which we are part and to have a sense of solidarity with the rest of the human family, especially the poor, the forgotten and the marginalised.

As Pope John Paul said, the concern we have for others and the way in which we act with and for them, especially the poor of society, "will be the criterion by which the authenticity of our Eucharistic celebrations will be judged". In this coming year, I would ask that we have awareness of the needs of those who are refugees and asylum seekers. They have often lived through very traumatic experiences. Though they may not always be allowed to stay in this country, while they are here we should be concerned that they are given respect and compassion. They are sometimes treated as if they are criminals and their human rights are not always acknowledged.

I would also want us to be vigilant concerning the human rights of those who are ill or disabled especially when they are approaching death. In our Catholic teaching we uphold the dignity and value of the human person. Though we do not believe that a person's life must be preserved at all costs, nevertheless we cannot agree with any legislation that would permit euthanasia or assisted suicide. We must ensure that the law gives the necessary protection for vulnerable people.

As we enter this new year: May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord let his face to shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord uncover his face to you and bring you peace.

With my best wishes and prayers
Bishop of Clifton

To be read and / or made available in all Churches and Chapels in the Clifton Diocese on the 2nd Sunday of Christmas 1 & 2 January 2005