18 Sunday OT 2008

You will have noticed that I was away last weekend from the parish, not on holiday but on pilgrimage to Lourdes. A group of our own parishioners joined 700 from Motherwell Diocese, the largest pilgrimage in recent years from our Diocese to the shrine in France. It joined very many large pilgrimages over this year in which we are celebrating 150th anniversary of the apparitions. Lourdes is full of people from all over the world, even Pope Benedict will go there in September.

150 years ago a young girl called Bernadette Soubirous went to the river Garve to collect wood for the fire. She was from a very poor family that had fallen on hard times and she herself was very sickly. It was at the grotto of Masabeillies, outside her town that the apparitions began over a number of weeks. Some believed her and others didn’t. The apparitions that she received was of a woman, or rather a young girl who identified herself as the Immaculate Conception. Further the Lady asked that a Church be built there and people should come in procession, wash for healing and change their life.

Looking around that reality has come about. The Church is built, people come in procession, many come for healing and a change in their life. It is a quite special and unique atmosphere. It is difficult to describe of you have not been there: it is not sweet and sugary, it is profound. As the days move on, it is as if you are being drawn more and more into it. Sick people are given first place. People walk but it as of they are walking by the light of faith.

In the Gospel of today’s Mass Jesus from all a small amount feeds a huge crowd. There I something of that experience at Lourdes, it is as if a huge crowd of people with all sorts of needs are being fed, nourished, healed strengthened. People come with questions that they need an answer to; they come with all sorts of heavy burdens that they need help to carry; they come with illnesses that need healing. The Lord feeds them and in the end there is more left over.

At Lourdes you cannot help thinking of Bernadette. That God should choose this sickly child, that he should choose this remote place to do such a great thing. Is that not what God often does: he raises the lowly and casts down the mighty from their thrones. That he continues to feed the hungry. That he continues to lift up people who are laid low.

Prayers of the Faithful 18th Sunday in OT

Priest

God is ever faithful and true. In the Mass in which he offers himself as the Bread of Life we ask him to listen the needs of His people.

Intercessor

For the Church, that she may fulfil her role to bring the Gospel to the nations – especially to people who have not known the one true God.

Lord hear us

For people who are victims of random acts of violence: young people in cities, holiday makers abroad, people caught up in wars.

Lord hear us

For those on holiday at this time for safety when they travel and for peace and rest when they are away.

Lord hear us

For those who are pilgrims to Lourdes and other holy places – that they may live the peace, the faith and hope that they have found in these places.

Lord hear us

For all who have died, especially our relatives and friends and for all those that we remember in prayer.

Lord hear us

Priest

You give us bread for our daily lives, the thing that sustains us. Give us a deeper trust in your holy Eucharist, which is bread come down from heaven and which is the thing Top Comment on this Homily