Dear Friends,

Today’s readings are food for thought indeed! They help us to see the world in a new and bigger perspective. In particular they see God, not as some great force or distant deity, but as one who is intimately involved in everything through a commitment to love – a love that is realised in total self-giving. This is revealed in the cross of Christ because this is ‘how I have loved you’.

 

This is what St Peter is beginning to realise – that ‘anybody who fears God and does what is right is acceptable to him’. He needed to be shown that ‘God does not have favourites’. Salvation is for all peoples and this is true for us today. The missionary outreach of the Church has its roots in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the very early days of the Church. As we look towards the feast of Pentecost we too pray that that same Spirit will continue to inspire the Church to proclaim the Good News.

 

St John, in today’s second reading, tells us: ‘Anyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God….because God is love’. For Jesus the one thing needed, the most important commandment, is ‘love one another as I have loved you’.

 

The CAFOD appeal for Nepal is still open and you can make donations by cash or cheque (Please make these out to ‘Sacred Heart Parish’ rather than to CAFOD). If you are a taxpayer you can also gift-aid your offering.

 

The Annual General Meeting of the whole parish will take place at North Walsham on Monday, 18th May at 7.00 pm. Every member of the parish is invited. We need to have some idea of numbers for the meal so please add your name to the list.

 

God bless you all,

 

Father James

 

Food for thought: ‘I used to eat a lot of natural foods until I learned that most people die of natural causes’.