My dear parishioners

 

It is hard to believe that we are already in the month of July-approximately 3½ months since the lockdown began. Fortunately, England is slowly easing the lockdown restrictions, with pubs, restaurants and hairdressers reopening on July 4th.

Of course, the wonderful news is that public acts of worship are also able to resume on 4th July. As you all know, churches cannot open until the strictest measures are put in place so that everyone can feel safe and there is a limited risk of infection. Numbers attending mass will have to be limited.

Because of the structure of our church and the very strict measures that we have to follow, very few people would be able to attend mass in St Teresa’s. I have asked advice from the diocese and there is the possibility of having mass in the Walsingham Hall. But it has its challenges too.

Deacon Sean and I, along with the team of stewards, are looking very carefully at these different possibilities. Not every seat can be used and of course the two-metre rule for social distancing must be obeyed. The government has also asked to have a system of ‘Test and Trace’ in place. This will be possible, but challenging.

So I am sure you can appreciate that it will take us some time to work out the best way of managing this difficult situation. The safety of all our parishioners must remain our biggest priority. So I ask you all to be patient. In the meantime, the church remains open on Sundays and Wednesdays, 9:30 – 11:30, for private prayer.

I ask for your prayers for the repose of the soul of Michael Dwyer, one of our parishioners who died on Tuesday 30th June. His funeral will take place on Thursday 16th July. May the Lord receive him into his eternal Kingdom. Let us pray too that his family and friends will find comfort and consolation at this painful time.

This Sunday is the 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time. The Gospel is from Matthew 11: 25-30. I just quote from the last two verses. “Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.”
I think this passage has given help and consolation to millions of people- myself included. We all carry heavy burdens- burdens of failure, loss, pain, shame, guilt, illness, depression, hopelessness, worry and fear to name but a few! These burdens can overwhelm us at times, weighing us down, making us feel so tired and weary and robbing us of our peace and our joy.

In this gospel passage Jesus is saying to each one of us- Come, Come to me. It is such a beautiful invitation. An invitation for us to get in touch with our weariness, our heavy burdens and bring them to Jesus.

He comes to each one of us with such gentleness and humility. I have noticed that we often want to hide our real selves from the Lord Jesus. We want to appear perfect before him, as if we are ashamed to show him who we really are. I hope that reading this passage will encourage each one of us just to sit before the Lord and unburden ourselves. Then we will find peace, rest and the protection of God’s love- the joy of knowing that we are never alone.

It could be that the yoke Jesus is referring to in this passage is a double yoke used for pulling 2 oxen together. So it is that Jesus carries our burdens together with us. How comforting that is. Jesus does not promise that our lives will be without difficulties,

setbacks, hurts. But he does promise to be with us, a faithful, loving friend, a friend who will never let us down. So let us hear again that invitation- Come. And let us go to him, just as we are.

I want to share this lovely song with you. A friend of mine shared it with me and I really find the words so comforting and consoling. They fit in beautifully with the gospel and I think can help us just rest in the Lord’s arms. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mt5dDy4LX-0

Come as you are, that's how I want you.                                     I came to call sinners, not just the virtuous

Come as you are, feel quite at home.                                          I came to bring peace, not to condemn

Close to my heart, loved and forgiven.                                        Each time you fail to live by my promise

Come as you are, why stand alone?                                           .Why do you think I'd love you the less?

No need to fear, love sets no limits.                                             Don't run away, shamed, or disheartened

No need to fear, love never end.                                                 Come as you are, why stand alone?

Don't run away, shamed, and disheartened.

Rest in my love, trust me again.                                                  Come as you are, that's how I love you.

                                                                                                    Come as you are, trust me again.

                                                                                                    Nothing can change the love that I bear you.

                                                                                                    All will be well, just come as you are.

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Have a very blessed and joyful week, resting in the love of Jesus. Fr Lijo