3 March 2019 – Eighth Sunday Ordinary Time

We are at Mass in the Mass House at Osgodby, just three of us and Father Robert sings it in Latin for me, facing the altar.

In a shaken sieve the rubbish is left behind. So too the defects of man appear in his tail. (Ecclesiasticus 27, 5)

Monday 4 March

I am at Mass in the Cathedral at 10.30.

“Go and sell everything you own and give the money to the poor.”

This is what we are supposed to concentrate on but I prefer this phrase: “Jesus looked steadily at him and loved him.” (Mark 10:17-27)

He loves our lack of will and imperfections.

Tuesday 5 March

I go to Mass in the Cathedral.

“The Lord became my protector. He brought me out to a place of freedom. He saved me because he delighted in me.” (Entrance Antiphon)

I write a letter to the Pope – not something one does every day – and I imagine he gets rather too many letters.

Ash Wednesday 6 March

I go as usual to the 5:30 Mass in the Cathedral. There are various distractions. I worry if I am in someone’s seat but nothing can take away from Allegri’s Miserere. It’s lovely that Ben and Theo come to Mass.

As the priest says this is like any other 5:30 Mass just a little busier. Or is it?

“Sound the trumpet in Zion. Order a fast. Proclaim a solemn assembly.”

Friday 8 March

“Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?” (Matthew 9)

I think on my poor fasting!

Saturday 9 March

“It is not those who are well who need the doctor, but the sick.” (Luke 5:22)

It is good to think on this when debating who should receive communion.