A message from Fr John

Dear Friends

I was listening to ’Something Understood’ this morning; it was about darkness in its various forms. The presenter drew on different sources which is usual on the programme and he played a song of Johnny Cash, a country and western singer who had known his share of darkness. As with all such songs and poems there is plenty of room for interpretation but I thought it might help us to focus our faith in a practical way.

Well, you wonder why I always dress in black,
Why you never see bright colors on my back,
And why does my appearance seem to have a somber tone.
Well, there's a reason for the things that I have on.

I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down,
Livin' in the hopeless, hungry side of town,
I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime,
But is there because he's a victim of the times.

I wear the black for those who never read,
Or listened to the words that Jesus said,
About the road to happiness through love and charity,
Why, you'd think He's talking straight to you and me.

Well, we're doin' mighty fine, I do suppose,
In our streak of lightnin' cars and fancy clothes,
But just so we're reminded of the ones who are held back,
Up front there ought 'a be a Man In Black.

I wear it for the sick and lonely old,
For the reckless ones whose bad trip left them cold,
I wear the black in mournin' for the lives that could have been,
Each week we lose a hundred fine young men.

And, I wear it for the thousands who have died,
Believen' that the Lord was on their side,
I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died,
Believen' that we all were on their side.

Well, there's things that never will be right I know,
And things need changin' everywhere you go,
But 'til we start to make a move to make a few things right,
You'll never see me wear a suit of white.

Ah, I'd love to wear a rainbow every day,
And tell the world that everything's OK,
But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back,
'Till things are brighter, I'm the Man In Black.

Or as Karl Rahner put it, ‘When we gaze upon the crucified Jesus, we should realise that we are to be spared nothing’.

Can we please remember in our prayers all our parish family, especially those who are part of the frontline, doctors, nurses, carers and essential workers of all kinds:

Joseph, Lisa, Patrick, Chris, Catherine, Anne, Terry, Mark, Theo, Clare, Richard, Anthony, Jane, James, Andrew, Mary, Francis, Ruth, Tony, Sue, Dan, Fiona, Katy. Ian & Bethany - and, of course, we pray for our teachers and school staff who are beginning a much needed break after a very testing time

I don’t want to burden you but can I remind you that Cafod and Missio are appealing for support as they reach out to help those countries which are suffering most from the pandemic. Details of how to donate are on their websites or, if you wish, you can put a cheque payable to the charity through the presbytery door at Christ the King.

St Joseph, pray for us

Every blessing

Fr John

Poetry Evening tomorrow at 7.00pm