Rejoice! Who are you? That is the question the Pharisees and the Jewish leaders ask John the Baptist in the Gospel this Sunday. They appear to be interested in his person, and rightly so. In the Gospel we had last week, we heard that “all Judaea and all the people of Jerusalem were making their way to him” and were allowing him to baptise them in the Jordan after confessing their sins. As leaders of the people, the least they could do is to inquire about the identity of this rather odd but successful preacher. We must not be fooled, though. In reality, the Pharisees, priests, Levites and other Jewish authorities did not have much personal interest in John. It is enough to note that they sent messengers rather than going there in person. But we also know from other passages of the Gospels that, for the most part, they did not take John seriously. From the gospel of Mathew we know that “When John saw a number of Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism he said to them, 'Brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming retribution?” About him, Jesus also said: “I tell you that Elijah has come already and they did not recognise him but treated him as they pleased.” And in another part, Jesus reproaches the Jewish authorities: “John was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for one hour in his light.” So, what was it exactly they were looking for and did not find in John? John left it very clear that he was not the Messiah. Instead, his mission was “to go before him to reconcile fathers to their children and the disobedient to the good sense of the upright, preparing for the Lord a people fit for him”. The Pharisees and other leaders, though, were not interested in the conversion and repentance that John offered. “The Pharisee stood there and said this prayer to himself, `I thank you, God, that I am not grasping, unjust, adulterous like everyone else, and particularly that I am not like this tax collector here´”. So, for them, John was an interesting character – at least for a while. But then he failed to meet their expectations because what they wanted was a Messiah, similar to Moses, who would save them once more from the oppression of the foreign powers. However, we are not reading these passages of the Bible to point a finger at people, but to ask ourselves: What about me? What Messiah am I waiting for? Do I need one who can save me from my sins, or would I rather skip that part, and find one who will simply make my life easier? The difference is that if we are waiting for someone to fix what we find uncomfortable and inconvenient, I suspect we will be waiting for a very long time. But if what we need is forgiveness, reconciliation, the capacity to change, the ability to bless God and find peace even in the most challenging situation… then we can rejoice today because, as John said, that Saviour is already among us and will manifest himself soon. Fr Daniel Herrero Peña News Items
1. Masses on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day All Masses on Christmas Eve and Day will be ticketed. (For Christmas Eve and Day we will not be using the online booking system) Please be in touch via e mail or telephone with the Parish Office to make a booking. Tickets will be available for individuals, households and family bubbles. You can only book to come to one Mass. All Masses will be live streamed from here For the Church throughout the world, Christmas Day starts on 24th/25th December and lasts until January 1st (the Octave of Christmas). Why not consider coming to Mass on any of those days rather than Christmas Day? You can join us online at any time. Thursday 24th December: Christmas Eve
Please note that the Church has to be cleaned after each Mass Friday 25th December: Christmas Day
Please note that the Church has to be cleaned after each Mass 2. A Sequence of Christmas Music and Carols Monday 21st December at 7.00pm. Free entrance We may not be allowed to sing. We can listen to those who can. The Choir of Our Lady of Victories under the direction of Timothy Macklin. Social distance and Covid protocols will be observed by the congregation and singers. A retiring collection will be taken for St Luke's mutual aid food bank and the Friends of the Holy Land. 3. Christmas Offerings: The Christmas Offerings envelopes are available. Christmas and Easter offerings along with Mass offerings and Stipends make up the income of the clergy. We are always grateful for your generosity.
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Our Lady of Victories Roman Catholic Church, 235a Kensington High Street, London, W8 6SA.
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