A message from Fr John

Dear Friends

Good morning

Day 4

Today’s Gospel is Luke 10: 1 - 12

The commission that we’ve been waiting for in some form - Jesus sends the disciples out in pairs on the mission. They are to be missionary disciples. They are to go to all those places that he himself wants to visit. They are pathfinders.

The prayer of Jesus - “Send labourers to the harvest’, was/is the prayer of the UCM for vocations. It can be our prayer too.

The mission has changed slightly since those days - the resurrection and the gift of the Holy Spirit intervened.

The first principle of mission now is that wherever missionary disciples go, the Holy Spirit has been there before. The ‘job’ of the missionary (you and I) is to uncover the work of the Spirit in the lives of all those whom we encounter. The Spirit of God is a gift for all people and what a joy it is for us to recognise that; to know that all people are children of God - really and truly, even those we don’t like.

Cardinal Vaughan was very clear in his instructions to the first Mill Hill missionaries: they should always go out in pairs, two by two - not always the easiest of instructions, depending on who was to be one’s companion!

One of the things we might reflect on during our retreat is the Lord’s gift of our companions on our journey of faith.

Who first taught us about faith?

Who gave us the example of faith?

How did our faith grow?

Do we remember all the various milestones?

As we matured, who helped to cement that faith, possibly in the various promises we made?

Did we have any particular ‘spiritual experiences’ in prayer, in relationships, in different encounters?

Who helped us through any difficulties with our faith?

Or on the ordinary journey of life?

Did we ever feel that we were journeying on our own, maybe that God and others had left us?

What has given us most comfort on our journey of faith?

What has enabled us to keep hoping?

What has enabled us to keep loving?

Let’s give thanks with deep joy and gratitude

St Joseph, companion on our missionary journey, pray for us

EvEry blessing

Fr John

PS I went to see one of my nephews this morning - he works for a renowned baker and I came away with a marmite and cheese loaf. Yummy - what a treat with proper butter