TAKEHOMENEWS SUNDAY 13 JULY 2025

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) 2025

The True Purpose of God’s Law

This Sunday’s readings invite us to rediscover the purpose of God’s law. The scriptures call it “God’s perfect law of freedom” (James 1:25), which revives the soul and enlightens the heart (Psalm 18:8-9). Moses reminds the people that God’s commands, written in our hearts, are the very means by which we turn to the Lord with all our heart and soul. (Deuteronomy 30:10-14). Obedience to God’s law then becomes our witness and exercise of our      relationship with God.

God’s Spirit teaches us the heart of God’s law, which preserves our freedom and empowers us to love fully and freely. In the Gospel of Luke (10:25-37), Jesus teaches a lawyer who views the law in a legalistic manner, illustrating through the parable of the Good Samaritan that the true heart of the law is love.

The priest and Levite, bound by the ritual law of purification, unfortunately failed to see the purpose of God’s law, which is mercy and love, and thus did not help the wounded man in this Sunday’s Gospel. Ironically, the Samaritan who was considered ungodly fulfils the purpose of the law by acting with compassion. We are reminded that love, not self-righteous     ritualistic observances, is the essence of the law. Therefore, the question is, does my obedience to God’s law make me more charitable, loving, welcoming, and gentle, or has it made me a faultfinder and uncharitable, all in the name of obedience to God?

O Lord, enlighten us by your Spirit. Through Christ our Lord. Amen

Happy Sunday   Fr. Chinedu

THANK YOU

To all who came and helped with the parish premises clean up.  Many hands did a great job.

Stella Maris

Today is Sea Sunday, when the Church prays for all those who live and work at sea. Seafarers and fishers play a vital role in all of our lives, but they often work in difficult, hazardous conditions. Today’s second collection is for Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea), the Catholic Church’s official maritime welfare agency. It supports seafarers both practically and spiritually. Stella Maris is dependent on voluntary donations, so please give generously. To donate, please visit www.stellamaris.org.uk/donate or text ‘SEA’ to 70460 to donate £5. Thank you.

OUR PARISH SUMMER FAYRE

We thank all who organised, volunteered, participated in and supported our parish's Summer Fayre. Events like this can only enrich our community life together and, without doubt, keep our faith community alive. May God bless you all.

USED STAMPS

If you have any used stamps please can you put them in the box in the porch. Just leave a border around them. They will go to the Royal National Institute of the Blind.

FOODBANK FOR THE COMMUNITY

Non – perishable food is required for the foodbank, please leave your donations in one of the marked boxes in the church porch.  This will run for the next 2 weeks and then resume again in September.  Many thanks for your contributions to help families in need.

ST. MICHAEL’S CATHOLIC GRAMMAR SCHOOL

Assistant Canteen Supervisor, 25 hours per week, Monday to Friday - 9am to 2pm Term-time only - 39 weeks per year Unified Reward Grade C– Actual salary £18,709 to £18,980.  Email: applications@st-michaels.barnet.sch.uk

                           BAPTISIM PREPARATION    

There will be no preparation session in August, September 7^th will be the next session at 4pm in the church.

 THE GOOD COUNCIL NETWORK NOTICES

“Please pray and fast for the end of abortion and euthanasia on Thursday 24^th July, the Vigil of the Feast of St James. These days seem quite dark, what with Parliament voting to partly decriminalise abortion and voting to legalise euthanasia. Please invite others to join us in praying and fasting for life, you can do so with this link, https://www.facebook.com/events/1419157822872567” 

 “The 15th Annual GK Chesterton Pilgrimage that will take place on Saturday 26th July 2025. As always there are several ways you can join in, either in prayer, or by joining us in walking a short section of the pilgrimage or even in walking the whole 27 miles! To be involved you can; Sponsor     Nathanael as he raises funds for Good Counsel’s life-saving work;  https://www.gofundme.com/f/helping-mothers-and-babies-with-the-gk-chesterton-pilgrimage Send prayer intentions for us to pray for along the way, we will not make the intentions public; catholicgkcsociety@yahoo.co.uk and find other details of the walk and the Mass here, https://www.facebook.com/events/1675870979701803”