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A blind man is walking down the street with his guide dog one day.  They come to a busy intersection and the dog, ignoring the high volume of traffic zooming by on the street, leads the blind man right out into the thick of the traffic.  This is followed by the screech of tires as panicked drivers try desperately not to run the pair down.  Horns blaring around them, the blind man and the dog finally reach the safety of the sidewalk on the other side of the street, and the blind man pulls a cookie out of his coat pocket, which he offers to the dog. A passer-by, having observed the near fatal incident, can’t control his amazement and says to the blind man, “Why on earth are you rewarding your dog with a cookie?  He nearly got you killed!” The blind man turns partially in his direction and replies, “To find out where his head is, so I can kick his rear end!”

This Sunday could be called “Power Sunday” because the theme of all three readings is that God is the Source of all authority. God shares His authority with elected civil rulers to serve the people and with the Pope and the other Church leaders for the material and spiritual welfare of His children. The first reading, from the prophet Isaiah, tells us how God hates unfaithful and selfish officials. In the Psalm, David thanks God for having raised him from lowly origins and given him authority as king over the people of Israel. In the second reading from Romans St. Paul praises God for the depth of His wisdom, knowledge, and correct judgments, asserting that He is the Source of all authority on earth and in Heaven.

We need to accept and experience Jesus as our Lord and personal Saviour: First, we should accept Jesus as the Son of God and our personal Saviour. Next, Jesus should become a living experience for us – protecting us and providing for us in our life’s journey, loving us, forgiving us, helping us, and transforming our lives. We must praise and thank God in all the events of our lives, both good, pleasant and painful, realising that God’s loving hands are behind everything. When we find the joy, the love, and the peace we find in Jesus, they must be reflected in the way we live our whole lives. Further, by giving humble, loving service to others we are giving the statement that Jesus is present in every person.  

In the Gospel Jesus asked the question “Who do you say that I am?” There were two parts to this question about his identity.  Jesus first asked “What is the public opinion?” The apostles’ answered, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. “The phrase “one of the prophets” suggested that Jesus had a ministry like that of the former prophets. When the people identified Jesus with Elijah and with Jeremiah, they were, according to their traditions, paying him a great compliment and setting him in a high place, for Jeremiah and Elijah were the expected forerunners of the Anointed One of God. When they arrived, the Kingdom would be very near. The second part of the question was: “What is your personal opinion?” Peter, speaking for the other disciples, declared publicly: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Peter was the first apostle to recognise Jesus publicly as the Anointed One. Peter said that Jesus is the Christ, the anointed one of God, Immanuel, the Salvation of God — God who became Man to save sinners!  Jesus was very pleased with Peter’s answer. Peter then received a special blessing: “Blessed are you, Simon son of John!”. He was the only disciple in the Gospels to receive a personal blessing. Jesus was quick to explain to the disciples that he was not a political Messiah. He was, rather, a Messiah who must suffer, die, and be raised to life again.

On the theme of “Who am I” there is this story: When Christian Herter was governor of Massachusetts, he was running hard for a second term in office. One day, after a busy morning chasing votes (and no lunch), he arrived at a church barbecue. It was late afternoon and Herter was hungry. As Herter moved down the queue, he held out his plate to the woman serving chicken. She put a piece on his plate and turned to the next person in line. “Excuse me,” Governor Herter said, “do you mind if I have another piece of chicken?” “Sorry,” the woman told him. “I’m supposed to give one piece of chicken to each person.” “But I’m starving,” the governor said. “Sorry,” the woman said again. “Only one to a customer.” Governor Herter was a modest and unassuming man, but he decided that this time he would throw a little weight around. “Do you know who I am?”he said. “I am the governor of this state.” “And do you know who I am?” the woman said. “I’m the Lady in Charge of the Chicken. Move along, Mister.” —This is a short, and simple, story about two people, Governor Herter and the Lady in Charge of the chicken, each trying to exert authority over the other by saying– ‘who I am.

The sun is scorching lots of plants that lovingly were sown, my runner beans have shrivelled up but they are not alone!
Hydrangea cuttings that I took were really doing fine, until the sun got very hot, now there is no sign.
But other plants are doing well my Malopes are amazing, growing tall along the wall as in the sun they’re lazing.
Geraniums are strong as well although they are in pots, their colours are so beautiful and there are lots and lots.
The asters that I grew from seed are coming into flower, jewel colours- mauves and pinks( well done that amateur grower)!
I’m cutting spinach now for meals I really will be stronger, I keep it watered everyday and hope it will last longer .
So as the crisis carries on still spreading all around us, we thank the Lord for all we’ve got and carry on regardless.
Keeping to the rules in place, we’re glad to be alive, being sensible as well should help us all to thrive!

Ros Burke, Poet Laureate of Polegate

This weekend we have the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady. This feast gives us the message of total liberation.  Jesus tells us in the Gospel that everyone who sins is a slave of sin, and St. Paul reminds us in his letter to the Galatians, that, since Christ has set us free, we should be slaves of sin no more.  This means that the Assumption encourages us to work with God to be liberated from the bondage of evil: from impure, unjust and uncharitable thoughts and habits, and from the bonds of jealousy, envy and hatred.

It is always an inspiring thought in our moments of temptation and despair to remember that we have a powerful heavenly Mother, constantly interceding for us before her son, Jesus, in Heaven. The feast of Mary’s Assumption challenges us to imitate her self-sacrificing love, her indestructible Faith and her perfect obedience.

Therefore, on this feast day of our heavenly Mother, let us offer ourselves and pray for her special care and loving protection in helping us lead a purer and holier life.‘ Try to perform acts of love for her this week without expectations of praise or a reward. 

Finally there is this story which reminds us to always look for the good in people: God is walking around Heaven one day and notices a number of people on the heavenly streets who shouldn’t be there.  He finds St. Peter at the gate and says to him, “Peter, you’ve been remiss in your duties.  You’re letting in the wrong sort of people.” “Don’t blame me, Lord,” replies Peter.  “I turn them away just like You said to.  Then they go around to the back door and Jesus’ mother lets them in.” 

Help Required:   We are looking for volunteers willing to put our knitted squares together to make the blankets we send to poor families in Eastern Europe (via the Mustard Seed). There are usually 36 squares making up one blanket.  You can work in your own time and at your own pace. Please phone Margaret (01323 483504) if you can help. Margaret can bring the squares to you and pick up the completed blankets).  Thank you.

Lost on a rainy Friday night, a priest stumbles into a monastery and requests shelter there.  Fortunately, he’s just in time for dinner and was treated to the best fish and chips he’s ever had.

After dinner, he goes into the kitchen to thank the chefs.  He is met by two brothers, “Hello, I’m Brother Michael, and this is Brother Francis”. 

I’m very pleased to meet you.  I just wanted to thank you for a wonderful dinner.  The fish and chips were the best I’ve ever tasted.  Out of curiosity, who cooked what?” 

Brother Michael replied, “Well, I’m the fish friar.”  Father turns to the other brother and says, “Then you must be ……..” “Yes, I’m the chip monk…..”

Have you ever said about something you have been asked to do: ‘What’s the point what difference will it make?’ Well, read the following story think about it, and perhaps take it to your heart!  May we try to bring joy and hope to everyone in need.  Help us to share not only our food and drink but also our joy and compassion.  May we always do what we can, even when we think our efforts add up to so little. One day in the middle of winter a robin and a dove were sheltering from the snow in a fir tree. There had been so much snow that the tree was almost completely covered.  After a while, the robin said to the dove: “Do you know how much a snowflake weighs?” The dove replied: “Almost nothing.” Then the robin said to the dove: “Earlier today, l was sitting on the branch of another fir tree when the snow started to fall. It wasn’t a violent blizzard, just gently falling snow. I had nowhere to go, and nothing better to do, so I decided to count the snowflakes that fell on the twigs and needles of my branch. I had counted up to 3,741,952, and then, when the next snowflake gently landed on the branch, a snowflake that as you say weighs almost nothing the total weight was so much that the branch broke.” Having said that, the robin flew away. The dove thought about this for a while, and then said to herself: “Perhaps there is only one person’s voice lacking for peace to come about in the world.”