Inside: Charles Gomez and Deacon Bernard on preserving the right to life for future generations of Gibraltarians International Charity thanks Gibraltar for £10,000 donation Out Now: Victor Francis new CD ‘Listen to Him’
Call of Duty: a reflection on the presentation of the child Jesus at the temple.
According to the UN Declara tion of Rights of th e Child 1959 …a child h as rights
“before as w
This Declara ell as after birth.” tion applies to Gibraltar The propos ed change to . the law wou abolish the ld existing righ t to life from conception for future ge nerations of Gibraltaria ns.
Editorial approved by Fr. Stuart Chipolina
Below:
Can we do …this Lent to heal the wounds of those who suffer?
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Speaking at Mass for the Epiphany last month, the Holy Father, Pope Francis proclaimed
When we do not worship God, we worship ourselves
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he Magi brought gold to the Lord to tell him that nothing is more precious than he, the Pope said. They offered him incense to tell him that only in union with him can our lives rise up to heaven, and healing myrrh to promise Christ aid to marginalized and suffering neighbours in whom he himself is present. “In worshipping, we too will discover, like the Magi, the meaning of our journey. And like the Magi, we too will experience ‘a great joy,’” Francis said. “Worship means realizing that you and God belong together to one another. It means being able to speak to him freely and intimately,” he said. “Worship means discovering that, in order to pray, it is enough to say: ‘My Lord and my God,’ and to let ourselves be pervaded by his tender love.” “Through worship, we discover
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that the Christian life is a love story with God,” the Pope said. “This is what the Church ought to be, a worshiper in love with Jesus her spouse.” Pope Francis said that worship is an act of love that transforms one’s life. “In worship, we allow Jesus to heal and change us … to kindle light amid our darkness, to grant us strength in weakness and courage amid trials.” “Once we lose the sense of worship, we lose our direction in the Christian life, which is a journey towards the Lord, not towards ourselves,” the Pope said. “This is a grave risk,” he said. “We use God instead of serving him … How many times have we confused God’s power, which is for serving others, with power of this world, which is for serving ourselves?” Pope Francis said that worship allows one to realize that faith
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is not simply a set of doctrines, but a relationship with a living person, Jesus Christ: “It is in encountering Jesus face to face that we come to see him as he is,” he said. “Worship means being silent in the presence of the divine Word, and learning to use words that do not wound but console.” “As we begin the New Year, may we discover anew that faith demands worship. If we can fall on our knees before Jesus, we will overcome the temptation to set off on our own path. For worship involves making an exodus from the greatest form of bondage: slavery to oneself,” Pope Francis said. “Worship means putting the Lord at the centre, not ourselves. It means giving things their rightful place, and giving the first place to God. Worship means making God’s plan more important than our personal time, our
A refugee camp in the grounds of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Monastery. Bangui, Central African Republic © ACNuk.org
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His Lordship asked for this letter from Aid to the Church in Need to be published, with thanks from ACN UK to the people of Gibraltar for their donations to his Lenten Appeal.
entitlements and our spaces,” he said. Following the Mass, Pope Francis prayed the Angelus prayer with pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square. “Here is the difference between the true God and the treacherous idols, such as money, power, success,” Pope Francis said in his Angelus reflection. “The Upon this Rock magazine is published monthly by EuropeAxess Media, Gibraltar. Editor: Fr. S. Chipolina: editor@uponthisrock. gi. Production Editor: A. Sargent: angela@ europeaxess.com. Upon this Rock magazine is entirely supported by advertising and donations. It is run in liaison with the Catholic Diocese of Gibraltar by EuropeAxess Media Ltd. as a not-for-profit project. For Advertisers: This magazine is hand-delivered to homes, churches, hospitals and many businesses around Gibraltar every month. To discuss your advertising requirements, or promote your church group or charity, call Tel: +350 200 79335 email: angela@europeaxess.com. Editorial is selected by EuropeAxess Media in liaison with the Catholic Diocese of Gibraltar. Neither of these parties is responsible for the accuracy of the information contained herein, nor do the views and opinions expressed herein necessarily reflect the views and opinions of either party. Advertisers are not endorsed by virtue of advertising in this magazine. EuropeAxess Media Ltd. reserves the right to refuse space to any submissions or advertisements. Efforts have been made to establish copyright owners of images, but if we have used your material, and have not credited you, please contact us to discuss restoration. The magazine is online at uponthisrock.gi. Cover: Background “The Presentation of Christ in the Temple” after Simon Vouet by Carlos De Leon Campos
difference is that idols bind us … The true God neither holds us back nor lets himself be held back by us: he opens up ways of novelty and freedom.” “We ask the Holy Virgin that we can become witnesses of Christ where we are, with a new life transformed by his love,” Pope Francis prayed. Courtney Mares/CNA 6 January, 2020
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Footnoted evidence presented by Rev. Dr. Bernard Farrell-Roberts
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he writings of nonChristians Tacitus, Josephus, and the Babylonian Talmud demonstrated in last month’s magazine that Jesus existed.*
Was Jesus God, Man, or Both?
They also testify to many events that indicate that Jesus is both God and man, something that the Sacred Scriptures also demonstrate. It is widely accepted by historians that the books of the New Testament do provide reliable evidence of historical events. So what can these tell us? God the Father revealed that Jesus was the “Son of God” at both his Baptism and his Transfiguration, by calling Jesus “my beloved Son”.1 The angel Gabriel at the Annunciation also declared Christ to be God: “the child will be called holy, the Son of God”,2 and later St. Joseph was told: “That which is conceived in her [Mary], is of the Holy Ghost”.3 Christ was clearly fully human, but also God. Jesus proclaimed Himself to be the Son of God on numerous occasions, for example to the man born blind;4 and before the two assemblies of the Jewish Sanhedrin on the night before his death.5 In St. John’s Gospel He stated: “I am the Son of God, 6 “I and the Father are one… the Father is in me, and I in the Father”,7 “You are from below, I am from above. You are of this world, I am not of this world” and in John 8:58 “Truly, truly, I
say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” By using God’s name for himself, “I AM” (Yahweh), Christ claimed to be God. In Matthew 16:15-17 Simon Peter revealed: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus also performed many miracles, demonstrating power over physical nature, power that only God has. There are 15 recorded examples of Christ’s healing, 7 exorcisms, and 3 accounts of people being raised from the dead. Christ pardoned sins in His own name: “Be of good heart, son, your sins are forgiven you”.7 Only God can forgive sins. Christ read the thoughts of pharisees, his disciples, and Zacchaeus. He foretold the destruction of Jerusalem, the betrayal of Judas, his own death on the Cross, and his resurrection.8 What about his Resurrection? Christ’s body was never produced, yet the authorities of the time had great reason to do so, as this would have stopped the spread of Christianity immediately! However, they didn’t! At the time of Christ there were many other messianic movements, yet in every case the followers scattered after their leader’s death, and the movements died. Christianity was the opposite; it grew quickly and became the dominant religion in the Roman Empire despite terrible persecution. If the
* Upon This Rock Issue 223 Jan 2020 1. (Matthew 3:17; Matthew 17:5) 2. (Luke 1:35) 3. (Matthew 1:20) 4. (John 10:30, 36) 5. (Mt. 26:63-64; Mk. 14:61-62; Luke 17:70) 6. (John 10:36)
7. (Matthew 9:1-3) 8. (Matthew 16:27) 9. (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). Photos: Deacon Bernard ©Jeanie Farrell-Roberts, Background, Palestine landscape: medium.com/@ Marco..Chimini, Jesus teaching: Tomas Ambt Kofod in Finding Faith in Christ (2003) IMDB
resurrection had not been true, would the apostles and disciples have willingly suffered the terrible deaths that they did? Jesus appeared to many witnesses after his resurrection: to Peter, to more than 500 people, to James, to the Apostles, and to St. Paul. Many witnesses were still alive when Paul was writing, so his accounts needed to be true.9 Paul commented that anyone who admitted seeing the risen Christ had everything to lose by doing so. For example a Jew risked both their place in the community, and their salvation, by doing so. Why would anyone risk all this if Christ’s resurrection was a lie? In summary: the written
testimonies of Tacitus, Josephus, & the Babylonian Talmud; the Gospels, the writings of St. Paul; the many witnesses who had nothing to gain but everything to lose; the evidence of the Resurrection; and the survival and growth of Christianity; together provide a strong argument in support of Christ’s divinity, as well as his humanity. Next Month: ‘The Shroud proof of resurrection’
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Our Lady of Lourdes
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3 - 11 February 2020 at 18:30 Daily Candle Lit Procession Tuesday 11th February
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Text: The Importance of the Nativity Scene from a booklet distributed by the Secular Franciscan Order before Christmas
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Excerpts from the Apostolic Letter
ADMIRABLE SIGNUM
of the Holy Father FRANCIS on the meaning and importance of the NATIVITY SCENE
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ith this Letter, I wish to encourage the beautiful family tradition of preparing the nativity scene in the days before Christmas, but also the custom of setting it up in the workplace, in schools, hospitals, prisons and town squares. The enchanting image of the Christmas nativity scene, never ceases to arouse amazement and wonder. The depiction of Jesus’ birth is itself a simple and joyful proclamation of the mystery of
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Schools Runner-Up Prior Park School the Incarnation. It is like a living Gospel rising up from the pages of sacred Scripture. As children, we learn from our parents and grandparents to carry on this joyful tradition. It is my hope that this custom will never be lost and that, wherever it has fallen into disuse, it can be rediscovered and revived. The origin of the Christmas nativity scene is found in the Gospels, though the tradition of our cribs began in the little Italian town of Greccio. There, fifteen days before Christmas, St. Francis of Assisi
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wanted “to bring to life the memory of that babe born in Bethlehem, to see as much as possible” with his own eyes Jesus’ “infant needs, how he lay in a manger, and how, with an ox and an ass standing by, he was laid upon a bed of hay” (Thomas
of Celano, First Life, 84) So, on the 25th of December, friars came to Greccio from various parts, together with people from the farmsteads in the area, who brought flowers and torches to light up that holy night. Continued page 10
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Images: Gibraltar Diocesan Crib Competition Judges
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Protect the right to life before birth for the Gibraltarians of tomorrow.
Have you considered these
Important Questions about abortion on demand? that we accept that her life began at conception?
3. Why are abortion laws based on viability outside the womb?
1. Why is there a clear double standard: society stays quiet about abortions, whilst mourning miscarriages?
I recently spoke to a couple who last year suffered the miscarriage of a 15-week-old boy. Both pro-life and prochoice friends mourned with them and consoled them for the loss of their child, supporting them. They then became aware of the existence of an inexplicable double-standard in society: miscarriages are met with flowers, cards and healing, while abortions on demand are swept under the carpet, hidden, and suffered in silence. Their conclusion – it is because abortions on demand are wrong. 2. Why do we fight to save the lives of disabled and premature babies?
How can we reconcile the fact that the same surgeon can be required to dispose of unwanted unborn children in a brutal fashion, and then perform seemingly miraculous surgery on equally young babies in order to save them? A hospital in California saved the life of a tiny 23-week old little girl. What made that girl’s life worth saving? Was it the fact that she now happened to be outside the womb? We speak of her as 23 weeks old - doesn’t that demonstrate
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The cut-off point of 24 weeks for healthy babies in the United Kingdom is based on whether the baby can survive on his or her own outside the womb. If not, the mother has the right to kill him or her. This “number of weeks” criteria changes from country to country, while all babies and many of the elderly or infirm are also highly dependent on the care of others. Dependency on others does not determine whether anyone’s life has value, so why is this arbitrary standard applied to an “approved killing age” for unborn babies? 4. Why is a woman’s body used as an argument against her baby’s life?
The right to life argument is often opposed by the claim of some women to govern their own bodies, but the unborn child is not part of the woman’s body. Science and our legal systems support this. If a pregnant woman is murdered, no matter how long the pregnancy, it is considered to be a double homicide. Both bodies are unique, have their own DNA, and are equally beautiful and valuable. That is why we fight for the rights of both babies and women. How can abortion be a central tenet of women’s rights when it causes women so much suffering and pain, and when over half the aborted babies in the world are female, over 20 million a year*? 5. Why isn’t it mentioned that many women suffer unbelievable regret and mental distress after having an abortion?
This is not mere anecdote. Many women have been very public and vocal about the
guilt and regret they have felt following an abortion. Whether or not this is categorised as a mental health issue is not the important thing here. Guilt signals something important to a person, and without guilt we lose our humanity. So why do we ignore the fact of guilt following abortions? Is it because an admission of guilt is an admission of wrongdoing? 6. Why is the pro-life movement vilified and bullied? Is it wrong to campaign to keep the right to life for the most vulnerable?
The pro-life movement is often portrayed as “entrenched in the past”, uncaring, and not representative of women’s views. Yet more women are opposed to abortion on demand than men! All human life is precious, equal, and all human beings have a right to life. This understanding makes all pro-life campaigners antislavery, anti-poverty, antidiscrimination, and pro all human life, even in the womb. 7. Why don’t you prefer adoption over abortion?
Why force women to make a choice between abortion and keeping the baby, when there is a beautiful third option: the childless couples out there who would do almost anything to have a baby of their own. Of course, there is pain involved in giving away a child, but isn’t that preferable to ending that child’s life? 8. Why do some people find it more acceptable to fight for the rights of animals than those of unborn humans? Vegan campaigners often base their argument on the personification of animals, with slogans like, “I’m ME not MEAT”. Vegans are considered to be compassionate, and their views and ethical beliefs are respected.
Why is it that animal rights campaigners are considered compassionate, whilst those defending children’s rights before birth are considered by some to be irrational and inconsiderate, and cruel?
9. What do you think our descendants will think of us?
Western society has been shown to be wrong on key human rights issues in the past – most notably slavery and racial prejudice. Future generations will be ashamed of those who promote and accept the painful and barbaric killing of our own children before birth, at a rate of more than 40 million a year*. Future survivors of such policies will find no justification for our actions to abolish the laws that protect humans before birth. 10. When does a person become a person?
The UN Declaration of the Rights of the Child says the child needs legal protection before and after birth.
But some people still ask when does a human person come into existence? When we were born? When we were viable outside the womb? Most people agree that we should protect the rights of all human beings, but when does a human person come into existence? When our hearts commenced beating? In the UK they say that an embryo becomes a human at 24 weeks exactly, or at birth if a child is disabled! Worldwide anything between 6 weeks and full term is used. Which of these is true? They cannot all be! The unborn child is human from the point of conception onwards. Recently the British Heart Foundation at the University of Oxford research suggests heart cells start beating as early as 16 days after conception. **
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Contributors Rev. Dr. Bernard Farrell-Roberts and Charles Gomez, Barrister. How have we allowed the convenience of parents to become more important than the right to life of their children? Women are worthy of protection and justice, and of the best support possible in pregnancy and beyond. Abortion on demand is simply not the way to support women.
It is time we question a culture that pits a mother against her baby, that offers no support to women in situations of unplanned pregnancy, that discriminates against people with disabilities and little girls in the womb, and that does not uphold the absolute right to life for all, including the most vulnerable in our society. It is time to be honest, and deal openly with these questions. * These are conservative figures, the real numbers may be much higher.
** www.ox.ac.uk/news/201610-11-first-our-three-billionheartbeats-sooner-we-thought
11. Would the proposed change in the law endanger the life of the child?
Current Gibraltar law protects the lives of Gibraltarians before and after birth. The proposed changes would abolish this right and risk decimating the country’s already small population year on year. The section 2 2006 of our Constitution acknowledges the right to life (as did its predecessor) mirroring the 1952 European Convention on Human Rights. www.gibraltarlaws.gov. Further more, by the UN Declaration of Rights of the Child 1959
…a child has rights “before as well as after birth.”
The 1959 Declaration applies to Gibraltar.
We aim to embody the Gibraltarian values of family, community and service by giving judgement free support for families in need, with a special focus on providing baby essentials and building a community support network for family needs.
Contact us on: 5406 7935
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The Importance of the Nativity Scene
Crib Competition
Continued from page 6 When St. Francis arrived, he found a manger full of hay, an ox and a donkey. All those present experienced a new and indescribable joy in the presence of the Christmas scene. The priest then solemnly celebrated the Eucharist over the manger, showing the bond between the Incarnation and the Eucharist. With the simplicity of that sign, the hearts of Christians are moved by how God the Creator of the universe is beautifully portrayed as lowering Himself to take up our littleness. Setting up the nativity scene in our homes helps us to relive the history of what took place in Bethlehem. The nativity scene has invited us to “feel” the poverty that God’s Son took upon Himself in the Incarnation, to follow Him along the path of humility, poverty and self-denial that leads from Bethlehem to the cross. It also asks us to serve Him
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by showing mercy to those in greatest need (cf. Mt 25:31-46). The dark starry sky, represents all those times in our lives when we have experienced the darkness of night. Yet even then, God does not abandon us; His closeness brings light where there is darkness and like the Guiding Star, shows the way (cf. Lk 1:79). The ruins that are sometimes found in nativity scenes are the visible sign of fallen humanity. Jesus, instead, is Life in the midst of an aging world. He came to heal, to restore our lives to their original splendour. The mountains, streams, sheep and shepherds are like all creation rejoicing at the coming of the Messiah.
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The angels invitation to the shepherds remind us that we too are called to set out to worship the Lord in humility and nothingness, for it is the humble who can adore the incarnate Lord. The presence of the lowly in the nativity scene remind us that God became man for the sake of those who feel most in need. We cannot let ourselves be fooled by wealth and fleeting promises of happiness, for they, like Herod’s palace in the background, make us become closed to the tidings of joy. From the shepherd to the blacksmith, from the baker to the musicians, from the women carrying jugs of water to the children at play: all this speaks of the everyday holiness, the joy of doing ordinary things in an extraordinary way, born whenever Jesus shares his divine life with us. The wise men from the East, teach us that people can come to Christ by a very long route. Men of wealth, they are not scandalized by the poor surroundings, but immediately fall to their knees to worship Jesus, who casts down the mighty and raises up the lowly. With their gifts they honour Jesus’ kingship, incense His divinity, with myrrh they offer ointment for Jesus’ sacred humanity that was to experience death and burial. St. Joseph, as guardian, tirelessly protects his family, full of devotion to Jesus and Mary. He is the faithful servant of God. Mary, the immaculate mother,
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Bishop Fitzgerald 6-A
contemplates her child and shows Him to every visitor. She is the one who gave this world the Saviour. When, at Christmas, we place the statue of the Infant Jesus in the manger, the nativity scene suddenly comes alive. God appears as a child, for us to take into our arms, revealing the greatness of His love: by smiling and opening His arms to all. This Franciscan tradition of the nativity scene helps to pass on the faith. It teaches us to contemplate Jesus, to experience God’s love for us. Like St. Francis, may we open our hearts to this simple grace, so that from our wonderment a humble prayer may arise: a prayer of thanksgiving to God, who wished to share with us His all, and to save us. FRANCISCUS Given in Greccio, at the Shrine of the Nativity, on 1 December in the year 2019 If you would like to know more about the Secular Franciscan Order in Gibraltar and learn about their spirituality, you can contact us at 20074455, or join us on Monday evenings at the Catholic Community Centre.
A new CD featuring the music of
Victor Francis O
n Friday 10th January Fr. Charlie Azzopardi presented a new CD produced by Chris Cortes with a compilation of songs by Victor Francis entitled ‘Listen To Him’ to invited guests at the Theatre Café, Main Street. After the 12 tracks were played, Minister John Cortes said ‘I entered here as a Minister for Culture and Heritage, but I stand before you as a proud uncle, in fact I am proud of all of them, for what they have achieved is greater than Victor’s music, greater than Chris’s production, greater than all the help our musicians, singers and production team have put into this highly professional project, proving what talent we have here in Gibraltar. Fr. Charlie protested jokingly that the Minister had said everything that he could say and more, and it was only left to him to inform us that the CD was the first of a series. As Victor Francis has such an extensive catalogue
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of music. He continued to say that there are so many more beautiful songs of praise and worship on the Rock that are part of our heritage, and they must not be lost. He hopes that this is only the first CD, and the team will produce more in time. More photos from the evening are on the Upon This Rock facebook page
O
n Wednesday 15th January Deacon Bernard FarrellRoberts gave the first of an eight module course designed to deepen the relationship of any Catholic with God. Fr. Charlie Azzopardi was also in attendance and between the two knowledgeable clerics, attendees’ queries were answered over tea and coffee during a discussion session. The course is progressive in the sense that each session is designed to build on the
knowledge taken on board in the previous sessions, however, each evening’s subject is also complete and stand alone, so attendees will benefit from any and all sessions they can attend. The course is run at the Catholic Community Centre, Gibraltar, on Wednesdays 6.30pm - 7.30pm. Although the course is free of charge, any donation towards costs is welcomed. For additional information please contact Deacon Bernard at: deaconbernardfarrellroberts @gmail.com
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We invite applications for funding from anyone who wishes to launch an evangelistic initiative or who needs support for an existing Christian missionary activity.
Please write to: The Chairman, Christian Mission Trust, 4 South Pavilion Road, Gibraltar.
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Anne Mesilio writes
Call of Duty
In the Middle Ages the Presentation of the Lord, or as it was more commonly known, The Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was a well observed feast day. Called the “Encounter” (when Simeon met Jesus) it was held with the solemn blessing and a procession of candles, giving rise to its popular name of Candlemas. Christ is the Light of the nations as the blessing of candles proclaim on this day. Until 1969 this ancient feast day, which incidentally is of Oriental origin, closed the Christmas season, forty days after the birth of Christ. It is now a Christian holiday celebrated each year on 2nd
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February. It is a celebration signifying renewal of hope and purification. According to an old Jewish custom a woman who gives birth will be considered unclean and therefore not allowed to worship in the temple but could be purified at Candlemas. February 2nd is exactly forty days after the birth of Jesus and in obedience to the old Law he was presented in the temple by Mary and Joseph. “And here he enters. Brought by the hands of Mary and Joseph. He enters as an infant, forty days old, in order to meet the requirements of Mosaic law. He is brought to the temple like so many other Israelite children: the child of
poor parents… This day is his feast; the feast of Jesus Christ, on the fortieth day of his life, in the temple of Jerusalem according to the provisions of the law of Moses. (Lk 2:22-24) Waiting in the temple were two elderly people, Simeon and Anna. They had dedicated their days to praying and fasting awaiting this hour. When Simeon held the child he knew it was the promised Messiah and cried out “A light to the revelation of the Gentiles and the glory of his people Israel”. Anna, looking at last on the Messiah, gave thanks to God. Mary and Joseph “marvelled” at the words uttered over their son but there was also a sombre
message for Mary foretelling of future sorrows. Mary and Joseph obeyed the Law to present Jesus in the temple and fulfilled their duty willingly. It would have been unthinkable to do otherwise. It shows respect for authority and it is morally right to do so. That of course had me sitting back having a think about how this applies today to everyone, everywhere. February 2nd falls in Spring when the earth is stirring from Winter sleep and the sweet snowdrop, (Candlemas bell), shyly peeps through. The clusters of bright white bell shaped flowers are a sight to behold as they gain ground and carpet woodlands, parks and gardens. They are an annual reminder of the wonder of nature on this lovely planet on which we live. However. What is happening to our duty of care to planet earth on which we live? It is the third planet from the sun and the only one
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known to sustain life. Pope Francis; “As stewards of God’s creation, we are called to make the earth a beautiful garden for the human family. When we destroy our forests, ravage our soil and pollute our seas, we betray that noble calling.” (Speech, Manila, Philippines, January 18, 2015). As I write (6th January 2020) Australia is burning. No, this is not being sensational it is a hard fact portrayed on our screens every day as raging fires fuelled by unprecedented high temperatures (50C) are burning out of control. Widespread devastation, not quantified as yet, and millions, yes millions of animals have perished, (It is contrary to human dignity to cause animals to suffer or die needlessly. #LaudatoSi), at least 23 human fatalities and this is nowhere near over yet. Surely this is a wake up call to action to save our planet, which we hold in trust for the next generation, it is something we all have in common, the only home we know, we all live here sharing the same home. A quick
Detail of La Présentation au Temple by Simon Vouet (1590–1649)
internet browse; Apply the three Rs: reduce, reuse and recycle. Plant trees. Take showers under 5 minutes. Turn off the lights after you leave a room. Drive with someone else to work or school, and, more importantly, talk to others about this topic and teach the little ones to take care
of our Earth. Greta Thunberg, Swedish school girl aged 16 years has mobilised millions of youth to demand action to save our planet. “Our common home is being pillaged, laid waste and harmed with impunity. Cowardice in defending it is a grave sin.” Pope Francis (Speech, Santa
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Cruz, Bolivia, July 9, 2015) These fires are a huge wake up call for ecological revolution, yes, do not fear the word, we are all called to do our duty, will you do yours? Reflect on the Presentation on this day as Joseph and Mary humbly did their duty, there is a message there for all of us.
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SAMUEL - God’s Special Gift
A Story by Manolo Galliano continues to be serialised
Chapter 8 continued
Samuel overhears news of Jesus’ arrest and when his fever breaks he creeps outside in search of his special friend…
After a while, and feeling quite exhausted, Samuel darted into a small alleyway and crouched on the steps of a darkened doorway. While he rested his aching feet, he closed his eyes tightly and considered what to do next. He could not concentrate for long due to the pounding of
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This is the story of Samuel, a child with a mental disability and his encounter with Jesus, Continuing from Issue 223 who became his very special friend. his heart under the damp tunic and he became alarmed as it slowly began to get louder and louder. The very next moment, he realised that it was not, in fact, the sound of his heart but that of approaching drums beating methodically nearby. He jumped up and ran back to the main thoroughfare, where the noise seemed to be coming from, curious to find out the meaning of the increasing crescendo. Standing among other passersby, on the corner of the mean little street, he craned his neck towards the source of the sound and saw the magnificent
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spectacle of a cohort of Roman soldiers, marching four abreast, their armour shining, keeping perfect pace to the tune of a huge kettledrum being played by a grim-faced giant of a man, draped with a strange animal skin. Suddenly, the air was punctuated by jeers and catcalls from many of those around him and this distracted him so much that he almost missed
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seeing the reason for this small procession winding its way towards the outskirts of the city. For a moment he had the impression that maybe some animals were being dragged forward by the soldiers, but then, to his great surprise, and subsequent shock, he realised that these
Story so far can be found at uponthisrock.gi were in fact three miserablelooking men, stripped to the waist and bearing, like so many oxen, huge crossbeams tied to their bloodstained shoulders. Just then, one of the prisoners stumbled under the weight of his enormous load and fell headlong with a loud thud in front of Samuel. As the soldiers kicked him and tugged on the rope tied around his neck, the man lifted up his face and stared directly at the frightened little boy. Samuel gasped and could hardly believe his eyes, for there before him, in that incredible degrading condition, was his very own special friend, Jesus, who he had been searching for all this time. He was almost unrecognisable due to the many bruises clearly evident on his tortured face, and this was further accentuated by a swollen black eye and cracked lips. His naked torso and back was punctured by what looked like a pattern of open wounds and flesh still oozing with blood and covered with clusters of buzzing flies. This chance
encounter, which lasted for only a few moments, seemed like an eternity to Samuel who immediately burst out sobbing, “Oh Jesus, you must be hurting so much!” As the guards, finally managed to drag their victim roughly to his feet again, Jesus replied
in between short gasps, “Little sparrow, do not cry! Very soon we will both be happy and free again.” The boy watched anxiously as the soldiers once again reformed into a compact formation and marched away, hauling their wretched captives through the throngs of wildly excited people. Samuel was tempted to return home as, by this time, he was very tired, but curiosity and a deep concern for his friend soon got the better of him and without further ado, he joined the tail-end of the masses of people following the military cortège. As he tried to keep up with the dense crowds winding their way through the busy streets, his legs began to ache and very soon he was left far behind. A huge mound of oranges displayed at one of the market stalls suddenly caught his eye and feeling very hungry and thirsty, he grabbed one of them. By bad luck, this happened to lie near the centre of the neat pile and soon the whole lot was rolling down the street in a never-ending golden cascade. The enraged shopkeeper rushed out from behind his stall, screaming, “Stop, thief! This little devil is stealing all my oranges!” Samuel did not wait around for a second longer. Clutching tightly his ill-gotten gains, he raced down a steep street and very soon had out-distanced his angry pursuer who had thought it more convenient to retrieve his scattered fruit than to chase after one solitary stolen orange. Realising that he was now quite safe, he flopped down under a shady tree situated at the corner of a sunny little square and greedily ate his orange. Once he had finished, he lay back against the warm tree trunk and was soon dozing off into a deep sleep, oblivious of the fact that by then his family would be frantic with worry over his long disappearance. To be continued…
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