The Feast of St Mary Magdalene~The Rev Frank Bellino,OPI

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Today, as we gather to celebrate the Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene, my heart is particularly full. For those of us in The Order of Preachers Independent, she is our beloved patron saint, a beacon of faith and perseverance. And for me, personally, Mary Magdalene has been a profound inspiration, long before I ever joined this holy order.

In today’s Gospel, we hear of Mary Magdalene, a woman often misunderstood yet profoundly loved by Christ. Her story is one of unwavering devotion, a story that unfortunately, for centuries, was obscured by a grievous error. For too long, a wrongful label, tragically perpetuated by a Pope, cast her as a “sex worker.” This singular, incorrect designation fueled wild rumors and misconceptions, diminishing her true significance in the early Church. It’s crucial for us to understand that this was a human mistake, a historical misattribution that does not align with the scriptural accounts of her life. Mary Magdalene was not the sinful woman; she was a woman of means who supported Jesus and his disciples, a devoted follower who stood at the foot of the cross when others fled.

It is true that Mary Magdalene, the one depicted in the Gospels, whom we honor today. She is rightly celebrated as the “Apostle to the Apostles,” a title she earned through her extraordinary fidelity and courage. While the male disciples were still grappling with fear and confusion, Mary Magdalene, driven by an unyielding love, did not sleep in. After the horror of the crucifixion, as soon as it was permissible, she went to the tomb. Imagine her grief, her broken heart, yet her determination to show one last act of devotion to her Lord.

She probably faced ridicule from the Roman centurions guarding the tomb. Perhaps they scoffed at her tear-stained face, her solitary vigil. But something, or someone—the Holy Spirit—was urging her to make history. And she said “yes.” She said “yes” to that inner prompting, “yes” to her deep love, “yes” to the unknown.

And because of that “yes,” because of her unwavering presence at the tomb, she was granted the most sublime privilege: she was the very first person to see the Risen Christ! Not Peter, not John, but Mary Magdalene. And not only did she witness the Resurrection, but Christ himself commissioned her to spread the good news. She became the very first evangelist, the first to proclaim, “I have seen the Lord!” She ran back to the disciples, her heart bursting with joy, to share the incredible, life-altering news.

What an example she is for us, especially for us Dominicans, members of The Order of Preachers Independent. Our calling is to preach the truth, to seek out those who are marginalized or misunderstood, and to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ with courage and conviction. Her importance to our church, The Order of Preachers Independent, lies precisely in this apostolic zeal and her unwavering pursuit of truth amidst misrepresentation. She embodies the spirit of inquiry and the courage to challenge falsehoods, which are hallmarks of our Dominican charism. Just as she sought the Risen Christ and proclaimed His truth against all odds, we are called to seek and preach the Truth of the Gospel, particularly to those who have been overlooked or misrepresented. Mary Magdalene teaches us that true apostleship isn’t about status or gender, but about a heart aflame with love for Christ, a willingness to go where others fear to tread, and the courage to speak the truth, even when it challenges prevailing narratives.

Let us ask Saint Mary Magdalene, the Apostle to the Apostles, our patron, to intercede for us. May her steadfast faith inspire us to seek Christ with an unquenchable desire, to embrace our own call to evangelization, and to courageously proclaim His resurrection in our words and deeds. May we, like her, always say “yes” to the whisper of the Spirit, making history in our own small ways for the glory of God.

Amen.

Who Ya Hangin’ With?~The Rt Rev Michael Beckett,OPI

Y’all………..Here lately there has been a lot of folks saying things like, “Play stupid games, win stupid prizes,” and “Hang with the dogs, yer gonna get fleas.”  And ya know, that sentiment has been around since time began.  Long about 406 BC, Euripides said, “Every man is like the company he is wont to keep.”  Aesop, that teller of fantastic fables said, “A man is known by the company he keeps.”  And from the Book of Proverbs we have, “He that walketh with wise [men] shall be wise. (Prov 13:20).  And then, from good ol’ Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good morals.” (1 Cor. 15:33)

So who ya hangin’ with?   I know in my heart of hearts that all of us want to be accepted by those around us.  It’s just who we are, and we are a social bunch.  I figure that’s why the Social Media industry is a multi-billion dollar thing.  But how far are we willing to go to be a part of this or that group?  Whatcha gotta do to be accepted into the “it” group, the most popular clique?

And maybe the group said to you, “Well, this is what you gotta do to be accepted,” and gave you a list of things you needed to work on. And, surprising as it may be, even God is like that.  It’s a pretty rare thing for me to skip the Gospel reading appointed for the day and jump into the Psalm, but today we are experiencing that rare thing and so here we are.  Today we get to get up close and personal with Psalm 15, written by everyone’s favorite shepherd turned king, David. 

A psalm of David

LORD, who may abide in your tent?*

Who may dwell on your holy mountain?*

Whoever walks without blame,

doing what is right, speaking truth from the heart;
Who does not slander with his tongue, does no harm to a friend, never defames a neighbor;
Who disdains the wicked, but honors those who fear the LORD;
Who keeps an oath despite the cost,
Who lends no money at interest, accepts no bribe against the innocent. Whoever acts like this shall never be shaken.

It takes no brilliant mind (which is a good thing, coz we know I ain’t that smart) to figure out what good ol’ Dave is sayin’ to us here.  If you wanna hang out in God’s tent/house/mansion/before the throne, then you gotta “straighten up and fly right,” as my momma used to say.  David explores the qualities of someone worthy to dwell in God’s presence. He outlines a path of integrity, truthfulness, and righteous conduct, emphasizing actions like speaking truthfully, treating neighbors well, and upholding commitments. Ultimately, he suggests that those who live by these principles will be steadfast and secure in their relationship with God, not easily moved by life’s challenges.

From the Hebrew scriptures to the Epistles we are told, over and over again, just how we should conduct ourselves.  We are taught in Paul’s letter to the Galatians that  things like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). 

And from his letter to the Ephesians: Brothers and sisters:  Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were sealed for the day of redemption.  All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice.
And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.  So be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.  (Eph 4:30—5:2)

I know, believe me do I know, in this age and period in our lives, how very difficult this is.  But we must persevere.  In the past few weeks, how many of us have said/posted/read/agreed with things that would most definitely not be considered Christ-like?   How many of us have let ourselves believe political statements that get in the way of acting like the “little Christ” we are called to be?  How many of us support, often  vehemently, opinions  and people are the antithesis of everything a Christian is called to be?  How many of us hang out with those kinda people?

It is up to us to see the Jesus in everyone, regardless of political belief, race, creed, color, sexual orientation, nationality, legal status, or anything thing else that can be used to divide us.  It is our job/duty/responsibility to remember that we are all of us HIS people, the sheep of HIS pasture, and we have far more in common than we do the things that divide us, if we truly identify as HIS.  We are to remain focused on the one thing that really matters in this world and the next:  Spreading and sharing the love of and for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.   We are called to love and to serve the Lord with gladness and singleness of heart.  We are called to care of each other, regardless of our politics.  We are commanded to ‘bless those who persecute us’ and we are called to ‘pray for our enemies.’  We are called to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, house the homeless. (Matthew 25:31-46). 

It’s been said, “When people show you who they are, believe them,”  and “What you see is what you get.”

What do folks see when they look at you?  Who are you showing folks that you are?  And so, I gotta ask, who ya hangin’ with?

Amen

Bein’ Neighborly~The Rev Frank Bellino,OPI

Today’s Gospel reading, Luke 10:25-37, presents us with one of the most powerful and
enduring parables Jesus ever told: the story of the Good Samaritan. As we reflect on
this passage here at St. Michael’s Catholic Parish, a part of the Unified Old Catholic
Church, let us consider how this ancient narrative speaks profoundly to our lives in
today’s complex world.
The passage begins with a seemingly innocent question from a lawyer: “Teacher, what
shall I do to inherit eternal life?” It’s a question many of us might ask, seeking the surest
path to salvation. Jesus, ever the master teacher, turns the question back to the lawyer,
“What is written in the law? How do you read?” The lawyer correctly answers, quoting
Deuteronomy and Leviticus: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and
with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor
as yourself.”
“You have answered correctly,” Jesus affirms. “Do this, and you will live.” But the lawyer,
perhaps wanting to justify himself, or to find a loophole, presses further: “And who is my
neighbor?”
This is the pivotal question, and it’s as relevant today as it was two thousand years ago.
In a world increasingly defined by divisions – political, social, economic, racial, and
religious – the question of “who is my neighbor?” is at the forefront of many hearts. Do
we limit our definition of “neighbor” to those who look like us, think like us, or worship
like us?
To answer this, Jesus tells the parable. A man is going down from Jerusalem to Jericho,
a dangerous road prone to robbers. He is attacked, stripped, beaten, and left half-dead.
Along comes a priest, a man of God, whose duty it would seem, is to show compassion.
But he passes by on the other side. Then a Levite, another religious official, also passes
by on the other side. Perhaps they feared ritual impurity, or perhaps they simply didn’t
want to get involved. Their priorities, whatever they were, overshadowed the immediate
human need before them.
But then, a Samaritan appears. Now, it’s crucial to remember the context: Samaritans
and Jews were bitter enemies. They despised each other. Yet, it is this Samaritan, this
outsider, this “other,” who sees the wounded man and is “moved with compassion.” He
doesn’t ask about man’s religion, his ethnicity, or his social status. He doesn’t debate
whether the man is truly his “neighbor.” He simply acts.
He bandages the man’s wounds, pouring oil and wine on them – acts of healing and
comfort. He puts the man on his own animal, takes him to an inn, and cares for him.
The next day, he gives the innkeeper two denarii, a significant sum, and tells him, “Take
care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.”


After telling this story, Jesus asks the lawyer, “Which of these three, do you think,
proved neighbor to the man who fell among robbers?” The lawyer, unable to even utter
the word “Samaritan,” admits, “The one who showed mercy to him.” And Jesus’ final
instruction echoes through the ages: “Go and do likewise.”
What does this profound story tell us about today’s world?
First, it redefines “neighbor.” Our neighbor is not just the person next door, or in our
pew, or in our social circle. Our neighbor is anyone, anywhere, who is in need. It
challenges us to look beyond the labels, the prejudices, and the divisions that humanity
constantly creates. In a world of increasing global connectivity, our “neighborhood” has
expanded dramatically. News of suffering, injustice, and poverty reaches us from every
corner of the globe. The parable compels us to consider how we respond to these
distant cries, as well as to the needs right in front of us.
Second, it calls us to radical compassion. The Samaritan didn’t just feel bad for the
man; he acted. Compassion moved him to inconvenience himself, to spend his
resources, and to risk his own safety. In a society that can often encourage
individualism and self-preservation, Jesus calls us to a selfless love that prioritizes the
well-being of others, even strangers, even enemies. This is particularly poignant today,
when many are quick to judge or dismiss those in need, rather than extending a helping
hand.
Third, it challenges our own prejudices. The priest and the Levite, figures of religious
authority, failed. The despised Samaritan excelled. This reminds us that true
righteousness is not found in religious titles, or in strict adherence to ritual, but in the
practical outworking of love and mercy. It pushes us to confront our own biases and ask
ourselves if we, like the priest and Levite, are sometimes passing by those in need
because of ingrained prejudices or a fear of stepping out of our comfort zones.
Finally, “Go and do likewise” is a direct and unambiguous command. It is not an
invitation for theological debate, but a call to action. It means getting involved, reaching
out, and actively participating in alleviating suffering and bringing healing to a broken
world. As followers of Christ, this parable
is our marching orders. It means volunteering, donating, advocating for justice, and
simply being present for those who are hurting.
My brothers and sisters, in a world often marked by indifference, division, and
selfishness, the parable of the Good Samaritan is a beacon of hope and a powerful
challenge. May we always remember that our “neighbor” is anyone in need, and may
we have the courage, the compassion, and the unwavering commitment to “go and do
likewise.”

Amen.

Sandals and Candles~The Rt Rev Michael Beckett,OPI

Y’all………..

It would seem that we are living in dark and discouraging times.  It would seem that it’s always a fight and back and forth between conservative and liberal, Democrat and Republican, right vs. left, this religious denomination vs. that religious denomination back and forth, my way or the highway.  It would seem that this fight has become a “good vs. bad” type thing.   It would seem that there are folks whom some of us respected, admired, and dare I say loved, who have shown themselves to be far different from what our perceptions of them have been.

Sometimes I just wanna scream STOP It!  Other times it’s a quiet “Why can’t we all just get along?”  More recently, my thoughts have been more like, “What the hell is wrong with you?”  I find it exhausting, this push and pull and continuous descension, and I find myself wondering, “What if?  Why?   How can we stop this madness?”

Well, Imma tell ya.  We can’t.  We simply can’t stop folks from doing what they’re gonna do and being who they’ve shown to us they actually are.  But, as he so often did, Jesus gives us a bit of direction that we can apply here.  In the Gospel reading appointed for today,   (Luke 10:1-12, 17-20, often called “The Great Commission,”)  Jesus is telling the twelve disciples what’s up, just how they’re supposed to proceed with the actually being disciples thing, and what they can expect.  And in the middle of this oral handbook he’s delivering, he includes this little zinger:  “Whoever will not receive you or listen to your words—go outside that house or town and shake the dust from your feet.”  To put a more modern spin on it, in the film “Frozen,” Elsa sings, “Let It Go.”

And that’s a hard thing to do and it goes against everything that those of us who are/were educators believe.  We try desperately to never, ever, give up on our students.  We find new and different ways to try to reach them.  And sometimes, we find new and different people (specialists) who have a better chance at getting whatever point across to some of these kids.  But sometimes, sometimes there are students/kids/folks who are just never gonna get it.  Never.  And that hurts.  But we persevere and keep working with the next batch of folks who are given to us to try to reach.  It’s what we do.

And going right along with that, it’s the same with those of us who preach and teach love continually.  Some folks are never gonna get it.  Some folks just refuse to be reached.  And that’s heartbreaking.  Even Jesus had to learn this lesson the hard way.  In Luke 19:41-44, Jesus wept over Jerusalem as He approached the city, knowing that its inhabitants would soon reject Him and face destruction.   His weeping highlights Jesus’s sorrow for the spiritual blindness and hardness of heart that would lead to their downfall. It also reveals His deep love and concern for the people of Jerusalem, despite their rejection of Him.

Ugh.  But Jesus kept right on doing what he was doing, and so do we.  But I’m gonna let ya in on a little secret.  Sometimes, no, actually ALL the time whilst I’m talking about this love stuff that Jesus was so adamant about, I’m also, in many ways, preaching to myself.  I have to continually police myself to not fall to the temptation to be a wee bit nasty, mean, hateful, or rude.  I love the story Anne Lamott relates “Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith.”

She writes about A.J. Muste, a life-long pacifist who, during the Vietnam War, stood in front of the White House night after night, for years, holding a lighted candle.  A one person protest, conducted near the end of his life.  One very rainy night, a reporter asked him, “Mr. Muste, do you really think you are going to change the policies of this country by standing out here alone at night with a candle?”

“Oh,” Muste replied, “I don’t do it to change the country, I do it so the country won’t change me.”

So we “shake the dust from our sandals” when we have to, and keep going, trying remind ourselves along with everyone else, to spread Jesus’s  message of love, of inclusiveness, of joy, of trying to be the (say it with me) the only Jesus some folks will ever see; the only Bible some folks will ever read.  And maybe, just maybe, to be that candle in the darkness for someone.

Doubt Within Faith: The Feast of St Thomas the Apostle~The Very Rev Lady Sherwood, OPI

Today, we come together as the Church to commemorate the Feast of St Thomas the Apostle, who is often referred to by the nickname of ‘Doubting Thomas’. This is because on Easter Sunday after Mary had seen Jesus, he went to the room where the disciples were gathered and suddenly he appears to them despite the doors being locked. Also, they could clearly see the wounds to His hands and side. Jesus tells them, “Peace be with you”. All of The disciples believed.

Thomas however, wasn’t with the other Apostles when Jesus had appeared to them, and when Thomas arrived after Jesus had left them, the other disciples informed Thomas about Jesus visiting them, but Thomas didn’t believe what he had been told, he told them, “Unless I see Jesus for myself, and that I can touch His wounds, I won’t believe.” I can easily imagine that Thomas may have thought the other apostles were teasing him; or why wouldn’t Jesus have stayed long enough until he had managed to arrive to be able to see him?

The next week however, the disciples are gathered together again, this time Thomas was with them. Jesus suddenly appeared and said to Thomas to put his hands on Him and to feel his wounds. Thomas does so, and Jesus asked Thomas, “Do you believe because you have seen me?” and he tells him, “Blessed are those who do not see yet believe.”

Can you imagine what it would be like to be mainly remembered by many because of our greatest moment of doubt? Haven’t we all doubted something at one time or another? I can tell you that I have once or twice. Thomas therefore, is the disciple to whom all of us can relate. Most of us have experienced what it is to live between faith and doubt at some point.

Most people tend to think that Faith and doubt are opposites, but in true fact, it is often a part of our faith journey. It is a stop, or a bump in the road of faith that most of us would’ve made more than once on our journey. This doesn’t make us bad Christians or bad believers. Indeed, rather, it can be seen as a sign that we take our relationship with God seriously that we allow ourselves to walk the journey of faith without knowing for certain through what situations we shall be travelling upon our journey.

Christian tradition tells us that Thomas set sail for India and indeed was the first to spread Christianity there. He is the Patron Saint of India.

The doubt that Thomas previously had, was what brought him faith and that faith was such that he brought the message of Christ to many.

We all have times of doubt, at least all of us that see faith as a true journey, not merely as a one=time stop gap. Doubt can actually propel us towards faith, and can be what gives us the shake up we may at times need. It can be what sends us out of our comfort zones and into a new and better world. Doubt can act like a ticket that starts us truly on our journey to a whole new life of faith. It can be a sign of not the absence of God as many may think, but rather one of God working within us to do something new.

Let us pray:

O Glorious St Thomas, your grief for Jesus was such that it wouldn’t allow you to to believe that he had risen until you saw him and touched his wounds. But your love for Jesus was equally great and it led you to give up your life for Him.

Pray for us, that we may grieve for our sins which were the cause of Christ’s sufferings. Help us to spend our lives in His service and so to be Blessed, which Our Lord Jesus applied to those who would believe in Him without seeing Him. Amen.

Different, But Parallel: The Feast of Sts Peter and Paul~The Very Rev Lady Sherwood, OPI

Today we both as a church and as Christian brothers and sisters, come together to commemorate The Apostles Sts Peter and Paul.

Many, when thinking about the early church, mistakenly believe that in the historical times of Peter and Paul,  that the church was only filled with love, respect and agreement; but in fact, it was Parallel in many ways to the experiences we have within our own churches even today.  It wasn’t all loving Christian actions, there was also turmoil, dissension, and disagreements.  In the times of Peter and Paul, it was even more difficult than we have it today to iron these things out, and to come to an agreement that it is for us today, as we have two thousand years of experience to assist us to deal with issues within the church.  In the time of Peter and Paul they didn’t have history to draw upon to assist them.

Let us look at Peter and Paul. Both Peter and Paul were very gifted church leaders,  however both came from entirely different backgrounds. They each had different educational backgrounds and distinct personalities.  Due to this, some of the churches,  mostly in Corinth, were divided into rival parties depending on whether they preferred Peter or Paul.

What made them so different from each other, these two  great church leaders and Apostles?

Peter was a person who had much less education than Paul.  He was a fisherman by trade and was married with a family. Peter had the blessed privilege of having both known and worked alongside Jesus during his earthly ministry. Peter was a simple man,  who our Lord Jesus chose to lead the other Apostles, but he was also a rather impulsive by nature and would often speak and act without thinking first.

Peter was passionately sincere in his love of our Lord, but seemed to find it difficult to put things into writing and this can be seen if you compare his letters with those of Paul.

Paul, by contrast, was a graduate of the universities of that day. He had been tutored by Gamaliel, who was a famous leader of a school of Rabbis.  Largely due to this, Paul knew the scriptures inside-out and was a person who lived strictly by Jewish law.  He was fluent in Greek,  and knew enough Latin to get by.  Paul had spent his early years persecuting Christians, so because of his experience, he was able to see things both from the Jewish and the Christian perspectives.

Because of their differences, Peter and Paul didn’t always get along of agree with each other and we know from Paul’s letter to the Galatians that the two had a major row in Antioch about the question of whether Jews who had converted to Christianity could eat separately from their Gentile brethren.

Paul was firmly in favour of the principle that both Jews and Gentiles should eat together, because he saw that unless this happened, it would lead to two separate Eucharists, one for the Jews and a separate one for the Gentiles in each church and that from there it would only be a short step to rebuilding the division which Our Lord Jesus, through his cross and resurrection had broken down.

Peter, however, felt differently. He felt sorry for the Jewish Christians because they were expected to leave behind the habits they had done all their lives upon becoming Christian. So, he agreed to eat with the Jews separately and even persuaded Paul’s friend, Barnabas to join him.

So although both Peter and Paul had the best of intentions, they both came to see each other as one who was letting the side down.

However, years later, both Peter and Paul were able to make up their differences.

Even in our churches today we see similar issues.  We have the people like St Peter, who are kind and generous, and who want the church to be a welcoming place where everyone gets on happily together, but in doing so, are a bit too lenient and cause the message of Christ’s salvation to be blurred.

Then we have people like St Paul, who realise that if the truth which is in Jesus is allowed to be obscured or rejected in the cause of kindness, generosity and inclusion, that the church could end up more like a club of kind  people and less like the living Body of Christ on earth, losing the message of salvation.

From their disagreement, we can see that, regardless of our personal beliefs, there are specific truths to which we must cling in order to fully serve the Lord.  As our Lord prayed, so do we:  That we all may be one, as Christ and the Father are One.

Both Peter and Paul were put to death in a great persecution that had broken out in Rome under the Emperor Nero, following a great fire in AD 64, which Nero probably started and blamed upon the Christians.

We know that before this, Peter had wrote his second letter and had come to realise the importance of Paul, just as Paul had also realised the importance of Peter.

Grant, we pray, O Lord our God, that we may be sustained by the intercession of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, that, as through them you gave your Church the foundations of her heavenly office, so through them you may help her to eternal salvation. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen

The Sacred Heart~The Rt Rev Michael Beckett,OPI

Y’all…..Those of you who know me well, or have just hung around with me for more than a hot minute, know that I’m easily confused and not always the sharpest knife in the drawer….  And here lately, I’ve become more befuddled, baffled, and bewildered than I think I ever have.

Ya see, June is the month the catholic (yes, little “c” coz there are more catholic churches than the Roman one)  churches of the world dedicate to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  In fact, 27 June is the Feast Day thereof.  (That’s today, y’all.)  The feast of the Sacred Heart is a day of devotion that especially emphasizes the unmitigated love, compassion, and long-suffering of the heart of Christ towards humanity.  In other words, it’s a day when we recognize, be thankful for, emulate, and show the world what Jesus and His love is all about.  And y’all know how often I preach and teach and rant about those of us who proport to be Christians who are supposed to be showing love….and this confuses me.

Now, I know y’all have seen those pictures of Jesus with his heart hanging out of his chest, complete with arteries and blood and stuff.  Or the ones where his heart is kinda glowing like some super religious valentine.  The bloody yucky ones always creeped me out as a kid, but anyway…………

Fun fact:  Did you know the phrase “bleeding heart” stems directly from this feast?  Atlas Obscura teaches us that before the 20th century, the phrase “bleeding heart” was popular in the religious-tinged oratory of 19th century America. Throughout the 1860s, it comes up often in poetry, essays, and political speeches, as an expression of empathy and emotion. “I come to you with a bleeding heart, honest and sincere motives, desiring to give you some plain thoughts,” said one politician in an 1862 speech. The phrase comes from the religious image of Christ’s wounded heart, which symbolizes his compassion and love.

Today, according to the dictionary, a person who is a “bleeding heart” is a person considered to be dangerously softhearted, typically someone considered too liberal in political beliefs. (Woke, anyone?)  In the 1930s a dude named Westbrook Pegler (Google him) was the first to use the term “bleeding heart” in reference to folks who were protesting lynching…coz he felt there was certainly nothing wrong with hanging random black folks.  Then in the 50s, Joe McCarthy hopped on the “bleeding heart liberal” name calling bandwagon and that’s kinda when the phrase came into common use as a way to crack on, denigrate, and make fun of folks WHO ACTUALLY TRY TO FOLLOW JESUS’S COMMANDMENTS TO LOVE.

And that’s the whole entire reason for my befuddlement.  We hear and read all these “good Christian folks” talking about the evils of immigrants, not helping the homeless, demanding the rights to discriminate against anyone they don’t particularly agree with, outlawing medical care for women and trans folk.  These “good Christian folk” think breaking the law is a good thing as long as it gets them what they want, and they whoop and holler, and celebrate when one of their good Christian politicians say something diametrically opposed to what Jesus stands for.  And then, they use the Bible as a basis for whatever-it-is that they believe, using any scripture they can find EXCEPT the words of Jesus to prove their point.  This makes them even more “Christian.” 

Now, I, personally, don’t believe any of that.  I believe that the words of Jesus (y’all remember those “red letter bibles?) supersedes any other words in da Bible.  I believe that anyone who wrote anything before or after Jesus, no matter what the circumstance, has to be read through the lens of what Jesus taught and did and if it doesn’t follow what Christ taught and did, then it doesn’t count.  And according to those good Christians, things like the Beatitudes no longer apply in the world today coz only “bleeding heart liberals” believe what Jesus said.  I believe that if we are truly followers of Jesus, then we must, most certainly, believe and live and breathe his commandments to love, love, and when yer finished loving, love some more, even if it’s hard, even if we don’t want to, even if it’s not popular, even if it’s dangerous (I mean, Jesus was crucified by the religious people of the day coz they didn’t agree with what he taught.  So there’s that.)

SO…..does this mean that I, and others who believe like me, aren’t Christian?  In its most basic definition, a Christian is someone who is a follower of Jesus Christ.  Now, I know better than most that words and phrases and language itself changes and evolves.  (It was drummed into my head in elementary school that the word “too” is ALWAYS offset with a comma before it.  Today not so much, but that’s a whole ‘nother rant…sorry.)  So, if “Christian” no longer means what it meant when it meant that a Christian follows what Jesus taught, then what the heck am I posta be called regarding my faith?  Is there some new label ain’t nobody told me about? 

Today, I believe more than any other time in recent history, we all of us need to focus on what it means to be truly Christian, to follow that Sacred, Bleeding Heart of Jesus.  Amen.

The Feast of The Nativity of St John the Baptist~The Very Rev Lady Sherwood,OPI

Today, we as come together as the church to commemorate the Nativity of St John the Baptist, who is often referred to as the ‘Forerunner’.

John was the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth. In the Gospel of Luke, we are informed that Zechariah was told beforehand about the birth, and that he was to be named John. The meaning of the name John is  “God is Gracious” (LK 1 :8=2:3).

John whilst still forming within his mother’s womb, instantly recognised the presence of Our Lord Jesus, who was also still in his mother’s womb, when Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth (LK 1 :41). John lept for joy in Elizabeth’s womb as soon as Mary and Elizabeth met, and this is when John was cleansed of original sin. This came to pass just as the Angel Gabriel had previously promised Zechariah in LK 1 :15.When John was older, he left the home of his parents and went to live in the desert. He wore only a garment made of camel skin and only had Locusts and wild honey to eat. John would preach in the desert (MK 1:6; Matt 3:4).

John went about preaching and proclaiming about the Kingdom of God and of a time of coming judgement. He invited those who wanted to repent, to accept him to baptise them as a sign of their repentance.

John, just like the prophets, disturbed the comfortable and gave much comfort to the disturbed. The message of John spread far and wide. The Gospel of Mark tells us that all peoples of both Jerusalem and Judea travelled to him and confessed their sins as John baptised them in the river Jordan (MK 1:5).

John clearly shows his humility because he never wanted attention for himself, he always directed people to Jesus. Some wondered if John was the Messiah, but John reassured them that indeed he wasn’t and he declared that his ministry was merely for to prepare for the coming of the Messiah. John said, “I have baptised you with water, but He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.” (MK 1:8)

Then Jesus himself came to John to be baptised and John immediately recognised Jesus as the Messiah and he declared, “This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world”. (JN 1 :29). This statement from John is still used in Mass prayer today, when the Priest holds up the sacred Host as we prepare for the Holy Eucharist, as the Priest says, “This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world…”.

It was after being baptised by John, that our Lord Jesus began his Earthly ministry. When John had been baptised by John, John again showed his humility as again, he turned his attention to Jesus, declaring, “He must increase, I must decrease”(JN 3:30).

St John the Baptist is an excellent example that we as Christians should take much notice of within our lives of faith. Just as John always showed his humility by turning his attention away from himself and towards our Lord Jesus, we too, also need to show this same humility if we are truly to serve and follow the Lord. We also, must turn attention away from ourselves and towards Jesus. Just as John himself declared, “He must increase, I must decrease”.

Let us pray:

O glorious St John the Baptist, greatest prophet among those born of woman, although you were sanctified in your mother’s womb and lived a most innocent life, nevertheless, it was your will to live in the wilderness of the desert, there to devote yourself to the practice of austerity, penance and humility;

Obtain for us by your intercession, the grace of the Lord to be wholly detached within our hearts, from earthly goods and self attention. Increasing our humility and service, by making ourselves far lesser and in the never ending increasing, to be ever greater within our hearts and lives.

Amen.

Do Not Enter!~The Rt Rev Michael Beckett, OPI

Have y’all seen those signs in front of many churches?  The one’s that say, “All Are Welcome,” or “We love everyone,” or “Come as you are!”   They’re pretty great, huh?

Not so much.

I continue to be amazed and appalled at some of the things that our “good Christian” brothers and sisters are saying and doing in our country, in our churches today.  No immigrants.  No Democrats.  No Trans folks.  No gay folks.  No black folks.  No Native American folks.  If you do not fit this exact profile, if you are not this exact kind of person, you are not allowed. 

Exclude.  Exclude.  Exclude.  Exclude. 

Today is a great Feast Day in the life of the liturgical church throughout Christendom:  The Solemnity of Corpus Christi.  This day is celebrated in recognition of the Eucharist, and everything the Eucharist is and means.  Today we celebrate, literally, the Body of Christ.  We all know that the Eucharist was instituted by Christ at the Last Supper.  We all know that Catholics believe that the bread and the wine become the body and blood of Our Lord.  We all know that our Protestant brothers and sisters believe that the bread and the wine are symbolic of the body and blood of our Lord.  We all know that wars have been fought over these two basic, yet entirely different, beliefs.  We also know that from many, if not most, of the liturgical pulpits in the world, today the Word will be proclaimed concerning the Eucharist. 

Today, however, I would like to put a different spin on Corpus Christi.  I would like for us to leave the upper room of Christ and the disciples, and jump ahead a few years to Corinth, and to listen to what the Apostle Paul had to say about “the body of Christ” in his first letter to the Corinthians:

12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into[c] one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many. 

We, the Church, we, the people of God, we, those of us who confess Christ as our Lord, puny imperfect people that we are, WE are the body of Christ.  Some of us dress funny.  Some of us talk funny.  Some of us have emotional issues.  Some of us just have issues.  But we, ALL of us, together, make up the body of Christ.  Warts and all.  Some of us are wildly and multiply talented.  Some of us are incredibly intelligent.  Some of us have been blessed with physical beauty.  Some of us have none of those things.  Some of us have been blessed with spiritual beauty.  Be we, ALL of us together, make up the body of Christ.

Because we are all of us different, it can be said that we make up different parts of the body of Christ.  We each of us have different gifts.  Some make up the head, some the heart.  Others are the feet and the hands of the body of Christ.  Granted there are parts of the body of Christ that we would rather keep hidden, under wraps (oh I want to be snarky here…  I’m really trying, y’all.)  But are these parts any less important?  Do these parts not serve a major and important function in the working of the body?  I believe that they do.

My point, here, folks, if I haven’t made it already is simply this:  WE, all of us, make up the body of Christ.  What one person brings to the table may not be of particular interest or value to another person, but there is someone at that table who needs just that.  Perhaps we feel that this person or that person isn’t quite what we would like to see in our church, or in our family, or in our lives, but to someone, somewhere, that person is exactly who is needed.  The very person whom we consider to be “less than worthy” to represent Christ and His church may just be the exact one who is needed in certain situations.

Can you imagine Jesus saying to anyone, “You’re not a member of the club.  You don’t belong here.” 

So, that drag queen you’re hating on?  That transman or transwoman?  That politician?  That bigot down the street?  That news anchor?  Those immigrants?  Yep.  God loves ‘em.  They are part of the body of Christ.

The music artist, John Michael Talbot, sums it up nicely:

One bread, one body, one Lord of all, one cup of blessing which we bless.

And we, though many, throughout the earth, we are one body in this one Lord.

Gentile or Jew, woman or man, no more.   Many the gifts, many the works, one in the Lord of all.

Grain for the fields, scattered and grown, gathered to one, for all.

One bread, one body, one Lord of all, one cup of blessing which we bless.  And we, though many, throughout the earth, we are one body in this one Lord.

So….who are you excluding?  Should you be?  Would Jesus tell ‘em no?

As we go along in our daily lives, let us remember the lessons of today, this Feast of Corpus Christi, that we all of us make up the One Bread, the One Body, the One Cup, that is the Body of Christ.  Amen.

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity~The Rev. Frank Bellino, OPI

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, gathered as we are within the embrace of the Unified Old Catholic Church, and in communion with the universal Body of Christ.

Today is a truly special day, as we gather on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, and for many, it also coincides with Father’s Day. How fitting it is that on the day we celebrate the profound mystery of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we also take a moment to honor the fathers and father figures in our lives, those who reflect, however imperfectly, the boundless love of our Creator.

The Trinity, for many, remains the most profound and perhaps the most perplexing mystery of our faith. We speak of one God in three Persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It’s a truth that defies simple logic, a reality that no human mind can fully grasp or contain within neat categories. And as a Dominican, an Order of Preachers, Independent (OPI), I can tell you that for centuries, holy men and women have wrestled with this very mystery, not to solve it like a riddle, but to plunge ever deeper into its depths, seeking not merely intellectual understanding, but profound encounter.

In a world that prizes clarity, certainty, and immediate answers, the Trinity stands as a divine paradox. Yet, it is precisely in this paradox that we find the most profound truths for our lives today.

Consider, first, God the Father, the source of all being, the Creator. Today, as we celebrate Father’s Day, our minds turn naturally to this ultimate Father. In our fragmented, often anxious world, many feel adrift, searching for meaning and purpose. We are bombarded by information, often contradictory, and sometimes feel disconnected from any fundamental grounding. The Solemnity of the Trinity reminds us that at the heart of all reality is a loving, generative force, a divine Parent who calls us into existence and sustains us with unwavering care. Our search for meaning begins and ends in this foundational love, a love that brought forth the universe and continues to call us into deeper relationship.

And this divine Fatherhood casts a beautiful light on human fatherhood. To all fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, godfathers, and those who serve as father figures in our lives, we acknowledge your vital role. You are called to reflect the patience, provision, protection, and unconditional love of our Heavenly Father. It is a sacred calling, one often marked by quiet sacrifice, steady guidance, and unwavering presence, even when unseen. We pray for all fathers, that they may be strengthened in their vocation, and for those who yearn to be fathers, and for those who have lost their fathers, as well as those that have no relationship or troubled relationships with their fathers that they may find comfort in God’s eternal embrace.

Then we encounter God the Son, Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, the perfect revelation of the Father’s love. Jesus’s life was a testament to His intimate relationship with “Abba,” Father. He showed us loving obedience, profound trust, and a boundless love that extended to all of humanity. In our world, where empathy often seems scarce or scorned, and divisions run deep – whether by politics, economics, or identity – Jesus stands as the ultimate reconciler. He walked among us, healed the sick, comforted the afflicted, challenged injustice, and ultimately laid down His life out of selfless love. Today, as we grapple with inequality, suffering, and the yearning for true justice, we are called to look to Christ. He shows us what it means to be truly human, truly divine, and truly in solidarity with one another. He calls us to build bridges, to advocate for the marginalized, and to embody compassion in every interaction, just as He did.

And finally, God the Holy Spirit, the breath of God, the Sanctifier, the bond of love between the Father and the Son, poured out upon us. In a society that often feels isolated, where true community can be elusive despite constant digital connection, the Holy Spirit is the principle of unity. The Spirit breathes life into our Church, into our hearts, and into our world. The Spirit empowers us to move beyond our limitations, to speak truth with charity, to love beyond our comfort zones, and to recognize the divine spark in every person. For us, as a Parish of the Unified Old Catholic Church, our commitment to inclusivity, to the dignity of all God’s people, and to actively living out the Gospel in the world, is truly animated by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit nudges us to open our doors wider, to listen more deeply, and to act more courageously for justice and peace, enabling fathers and families to flourish in grace.

My friends, the Most Holy Trinity is not just a theological formula; it is the very blueprint for abundant life. It is a divine dance of relationship, a perfect communion of love, self-giving, and mutuality. It is the model for what humanity is called to be: a community of people bound by love, seeking the good of one another, and participating in the divine life. This profound truth illuminates the sacred role of fatherhood or what fatherhood should be, inviting all fathers to participate in God’s creative and sustaining love.

So, on this Solemnity, and on this Father’s Day, let us not merely acknowledge the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity, but let us allow it to transform us. Let us pray that the Father’s love sustains us, that the Son’s example guides us, and that the Holy Spirit’s power empowers us to live as true reflections of divine communion in our world today, honoring the fathers who strive to embody that divine love in their own lives.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.