GIVING UP?

What to give up for Lent....

Give up complaining——focus on gratitude.

Give up pessimism——become an optimist.

Give up harsh judgments——think kindly thoughts.

Give up worry——trust Divine Providence.

Give up discouragement——be full of hope.

Give up bitterness——turn to forgiveness.

Give up hatred——return good for evil.

Give up negativism——be positive.

Give up anger——be more patient.

Give up pettiness——become mature.

Give up gloom——enjoy the beauty that is all around you.

Give up jealousy——pray for trust.

Give up gossiping——control your tongue.

Give up sin——turn to virtue.

Give up giving up——hang in there!

I discovered this on a Franciscan Blog here. Lent in my opinion should be more about doing something positive than giving up sweets or beer, cakes or biscuits etc. but here are something's we could do well to give up.

The Thursday Mass at the Hospital Chapel

Yesterday I celebrated the regular weekly Mass at the Hospital Chapel. Work has been going on at the Chapel installing new electrics and refurbishing the coffee room dince the begining of last week.  As a result, we have been unable to have refreshments after Thursday Mass but at least now the heating is working. Last week we had very little except in the Sanctuary and no organ.but it was back in use today.In my sermon I talked about the three things we need to do if we want to “come after Jesus”  We need to deny ourselves, take up our cross and to follow Him.

ASH WEDNESDAY

 

Almighty and everlasting God,
you hate nothing you have made
and forgive the sins of all who are penitent:
Create and make in us new and contrite hearts,
that we, worthily lamenting our sins
and acknowledging our wretchedness,
may obtain of you, the God of all mercy,
perfect remission and forgiveness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

Today we begin the great season of Lent, a time of preparation for the Easter Festival. A wise old priest once said to me that only people who keep a proper Lent could celebrate a wonderful Easter. May you enjoy a wonderful Lent in preparation for the most wonderful season of the Christian Year, Easter.

WHY I DON’T GO TO THE CINEMA

WHY I DON’T GO TO THE CINEMA

1. The manager of the cinema never visits me.

2. I did go a few times but no-one spoke to me.

3. Those who go there are not very friendly.

4. Every time I go they ask for money.

5. I went so much as a child, I’ve had all the entertainment I need.

6. The people who go don’t live up to the high mortal standards of the films.

7. The performance is too long. I can’t sit for two hours.

8. I often disagree with what I see and hear.

9. I don’t think they have very good music.

10. The films are all shown in the evenings and that is the only time I have to be at home with my family.

Does this sound familiar?

I am grateful to Bishop David Chislett for this which appears on his blog

HELP OR EXPLOITATION?

Way back in the 1980’s unemployment was at a peek caused by runaway inflation. I can well remember calling to see a client and being greeted by a newly employed young lady on reception.The business owner explained to me that he had joined the new government initiative which meant that he could have a young person to work for him, funded by the government. If my memory is correct, the scheme only lasted for three months and then it was anticipated that the person would be offered a job. It was fairly obvious to me that a job existed. In fact the owner explained to me that he had sacked his previous receptionist to enable his company to have a receptionist for free. After three months he would sack the present girl and get another and that is what he did. I’m certain there must have been many others abusing the scheme.

Under a new Government initiative to bring down the unemployment figures amongst young people, the unemployed are being asked/told to work for companies for nothing except the job seekers allowance plus the cost of bus fares to the place of employment. As a result companies are able to save on wages and we, you and me, are subsidising these large companies and our young people are being grossly exploited. Although the Minister involved has denied it, I understand that if the young person refuses to take this unpaid employment they could loose their job seekers allowance.

I believe several companies have withdrawn from the scheme no doubt due to the detrimental publicity it has generated. Whilst it was something we didn’t know about it was OK it seems but know it has become known some companies are quickly withdrawing. What young people want and need are real jobs paying real salaries for real employers not this exploitative scheme.

Father John Studdard RIP

I met Father John Studdard when I was Rural Youth Development Officer for the Bishop of Colchester. At that time he was the Curate at Halstead Parish Church. Fr. Studdard only moved to Thornbury last summer after serving as Team Rector of Witham in Essex. His brutal murder continues to be investigated by the police.

May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

Child Poverty in India

In 2001 Ann and I achieved a long held ambition to visit India. We travelled first to Delhi and then went on the “triangle” visiting, amongst other places, the beautiful Taj Mahal. We stayed in quite luxurious hotels including one which had been a  Maharaja’s palace. We saw the new estate on the outskirts of New Delhi where all the banks have skyscrapers and there are lovely apartments for the people who work in them. Contrast that with the frequent abject poverty we witnessed.

India is a place of contrasts from the beautiful palaces of the Mahajas to the hovels of many of the people, from the limousines and top of the range cars to the three or four people attempting to travel on a moped. To the superb restaurants and hotels to the free food offered every evening by the Sikh's and Hindu’s to all who need food. Along many main roads are encampments of people living under sheets of plastic or w.h.y.

Interestingly there are more millionaires in India that in the UK. and what was once a very poor third world country is now flourishing financially. It is now an offence under Indian Law to give money to beggars who litter the streets everywhere you visit. Some have very badly damaged bodies which have been badly mutilated by relatives as this will make them better beggars! On one occasion alighting from a coach on which we were travelling we were surrounded by children. We initially thought they were asking for money but in fact they wanted ball point pens!

I suppose the worse thing you experience in India is child poverty- something we also saw quite a lot of in China. Many children live on rubbish tips making what ever money they can by recycling items thrown away by the public. Over 50,000 children are abandoned in the country every year. 11 million children live on the streets and there are more than 44 million child labourers in India in all.

India is a beautiful country and one I hope to visit again in the future. I really hope that something can be done to eradicate the child poverty so much in evidence. There is something very strange about observing the wealth and seeing the poverty in such close proximity. God bless India.