THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT – Year C
The two R’s
One of the great Lenten themes emerges strongly in the readings this week: Repentance. It is urged on us by Jesus in the Gospel twice, in language quite plan and unambiguous: ‘unless you repent you will all perish…’ We might wonder if this is where we get the idea of the ‘God who punishes’ which older people sometimes claim is all they were ever taught about at school. Well actually the Lord isn’t threatening anybody in these lines he’s saying ‘if you don’t change your ways you’ll perish’ as one might say if you drive at 100mph on the M63 in the wrong direction you could do yourself lot of harm. The lord is issuing a health warning, not a threat.
The point is important. In the battle against sin God is not standing over us waiting to see whether we’re going to repent otherwise he’ll send suffering as a punishment and ultimately eternal death. God is with us. He wants to help us, he wants to redeem us. The plain fact is that none of us can save ourselves. The damage of Original Sin is too great and the accumulative damage of personal sins only adds further weight to the impossibility of us becoming good by our own efforts. The people of the Old Testament had been shown this. ‘I mean to deliver you…’ said God to Moses. ‘I have seen the miserable state of my people’. Their slavery in Egypt was merely an outward sign of their deeper slavery to ungodly ways. Their repentance was only a part of the far greater work of God of redemption. It is exactly the same for us.
So another way of saying ‘Will you repent of your sins? is to say ‘Will you allow God to redeem you?’ Contrition/repentance, confession and then divine absolution is all part of this work of redemption. There is no good alternative to the happiness and blessing of redemption. The only alternative is to perish.
TODAY’S LITURGY
First Reading: Exodus 3:1-8.13-15 A significant stage in the salvation history of Israel. Moses is called by God from the heart of a burning bush. He is to deliver the people from their slavery in Egypt where they have been for over 400 years since Joseph led them there. God reveals his name to Moses: “I am who I am”. It means something like ‘I am the living God who is there for you’.
Second Reading: Letter of St Paul to the Corinthians 10: 1-6.10-12 St Paul recalls the events of Exodus which followed on Moses’ calling (see first reading). He reminds the early Christians that in spite of God’s care for the Hebrew people during their flight from Egypt and wandering through the desert, many gave way to sin and died. So St Paul warns that Christians, in spite of their baptism, are not immune against temptations, ‘wicked lusts for forbidden things’. We should beware of falling.
FEASTS THIS WEEK
No feasts this week
LENT
There are Lent Lunches every Monday in St Joseph’s Hall at 12.30pm
Daily Mass in the West Hull Parishes – Stations of the Cross on Friday evenings at St Wilfrid’s at 7pm and on Tuesdays at Corpus Christi at 9.30am.
A Lenten Journey of Prayer for 2010
‘Walk With Me’
Costs only £1 available at the back of Church
This week we welcome Fr Frank Graham who is appealing on
behalf of Missio – APF Red Mission Boxes.
Next week there will be an appeal on behalf of the SVP
MASS TIMES & INTENTIONS FOR THIS WEEK
Saturday for Sunday 5.00pm Corpus Christi
Sunday 9.30am St Joseph’s People of the parish
11.00am St Wilfrid’s Kath Gray RIP
5.00pm St Wilfrid’s (Polish)
Monday 10.00am St Wilfrid’s
Tuesday 10.00am Corpus Christi
Wednesday7.00pm St Joseph’s Fred & Margaret Siddle
Thursday 7.00pm St Wilfrid’s
Friday 10.00am Corpus Christi Special Intention
Saturday for Sunday 5.00pm Corpus Christi
Sunday 9.30am St Wilfrid’s
11.00am St Joseph’s
CONFESSIONS:
First Saturday of the month St Joseph’s - 11am-11.30am -
Second Saturday of the month Corpus Christi - 11am-11.30am – 13th March
Third Saturday of the month St Wilfrid’s – 11am-11.30am – 20th March
West Hull Parish Youth – will resume next Friday 12th March see Michelle for more details.
West Hull Parishes ‘100 Plus Club’ Winners: Week No: 11 No. 30 K Clark (£10)
No. 37 A Beach (£50).
New members are welcome to join the WHP 100 Plus Club. Existing members may increase the number of their shares, up to a maximum of 4. Please contact Sandra 653522 or John 650415 for more information. Subs are now due. Cost per share £14.56 per year + 10p admin costs. May be paid weekly, monthly, quarterly, yearly.
Say a Prayer & light a candle – St Wilfrid’s on Monday 8th March at 10.30am-2.30pm and Corpus Christi on Friday 12th March 10.30am to 1.00pm. More volunteers are needed please sign up at the back of church.
EWTN –March programme is now available at the back of church.
Chrism Mass at Middlesbrough Cathedral on 30th March 2010. There is a list up at the back of church for those who wish to go. Costs £10 an adult, £5 per child, if we have a full coach. We could have lunch at St Francis of Assisi Social Club. Deposits of £5 required please. It is important that we know within the next two weeks so we can reserve seats in the cathedral.
Music Practice at St Wilfrid’s on the third Saturday of each month 11am-12noon.
Learn some new music. Everyone welcome.
The next Malayalam Mass is on Saturday 13th March at St Joseph’s Church at 7pm.
Hull Faith Forum next meeting on Monday 15th March at Endsleigh Centre at 7.30pm. Theme: Year of Priest. Speaker: Fr Sean Riley. Subject: Life & Work of a Priest
Faith Youth Day – on Saturday 27 March at St Edward’s, Avenue Victoria, Scarborough 10am-4pm. See Michelle or Ella if you wish to go.
Oscar Romero – 30th Anniversary of his Martyrdom. Ecumenical service of Commemoration at York Minster 11.00am-12.30pm on Saturday 20th March 2010.
Presider: Cardinal Keith O’Brien, Archbishop of Edinburgh. Preacher: Rev Dr. John Sentamu, Archbishop of York. Notice at back of church.
The SVP invite you to join them for their Lenten Afternoon of Prayer and Reflection ‘Changing Lives for the Better’ led by Fr Peter Corcoran SM on Sunday 21st March 2pm-4pm at the Endsleigh Centre. Everyone very welcome members of the SVP and non-members.
Pope Idol 2010 – this annual event will take place on March 13 at Middlesbrough Theatre. St Mary’s Hull is taking part. See notices at back of church.
Caritas in Veritate- Bishop Terry invites the young people of the diocese and adults alike to join together in a special project for Lent. It is entitled “Love and Truth”.
Saturday 13 March – whole Diocese at English Martyrs, York 10am – 1pm. See notice and leaflets at back of church.
Coffee Morning – on Saturday 13th March 2010 at the Endsleigh Centre 10.00am-12noon. Cake & Book stalls. Raffle Tickets £1. In aid of the Parish Link Newsletter.
Notice and tickets at back of church.
CORPUS CHRISTI
Many thanks for last Sunday’s collection £330.92
Thank you for last week’s collection for KISS Uganda £35.80
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament from 9.15am on Fridays
Morning Prayer before Mass at 9,45an.
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ST WILFRID’S
Many thanks for last Sunday’s collection £245.30
Today is our monthly collection for CAFOD water Appeal
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament from 9.15am on Thursdays
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ST JOSEPH’S
Many thanks for last Sunday’s collection £325.80
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament from 6.30pm on Wednesdays
For Hall bookings contact: Colin Bainbridge
A new contact is needed to take Hall bookings, can you help please?
