Surviving the summer holidays
August is a strange month - those of us with children are desperately trying to juggle working with looking after (containing) our children, possibly going on holiday, which, in itself, can be quite stressful, and just keeping things together.
This week we celebrate the most famous parent of them all. We have the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Mary who was there at the beginning of Jesus’ earthly life and was there at the end, when most of the others had run off. She was steadfast, she was constant, she was faithful. Throughout it all she always looked to God, even though what was happening was confusing, disturbing and difficult.
Her good relationship with God is a model for our own. When overcome by anxiety, frustration, dissatisfaction and sadness, it is our relationship with God that gives us strength and hope. Instead of engaging with those feelings, unhelpful thoughts or promptings, where we will probably lose the battle, we should try to return calmly into God’s presence. As the Book of Exodus says, “The Lord will fight for you, you only need to be still”. (Exodus 14:14).
The light of Mary grew only more intense with time, and at her Assumption, it drew her upwards, where her spirit already soared, so that she could sing her beautiful Magnificat in gratitude for God for ever.
I now just have to get through this holiday with the kids.
Rev’d Mark
Readings for this week
Sunday 14th August (Maximilian Kolbe)
Galatians 4 : 4-7
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our[b] hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir through God.
And Mary said,
“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,for he has looked with favor on the lowly state of his servant.Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed,for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name;indeed, his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.He has brought down the powerful from their thrones and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good thingsand sent the rich away empty.He has come to the aid of his child Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
Monday 15th – (Blessed Virgin Mary) – Isaiah 61:10-end, Luke 1:46-55
Tuesday 16th – Psalm 107: 1-3, 40, 43, Matthew 19: 23-end
Wednesday 17th – Psalm 23, Matthew 20: 1-16
Thursday 18th – Psalm 51: 7-12, Matthew 22: 1-14
Friday 19th – Psalm 107: 1-8, Matthew 22: 34-40
Saturday 20th – (Bernard of Clairvaux) – Psalm 85: 7-end, Matthew 23: 1-12
