Twenty-second Sunday
Published
Welcome back! All those people who have been away during the summer break, also we pray for the children of the parish who will be starting school this week.
Scripture Commentary Comparing the conversation between Jesus and Peter in today’s Gospel (Matt 16:21-27) with the conversation between Jesus and the devil during his temptations in the desert (Matt 4:1-11) is disturbing. Peter took Jesus aside in today’s Gospel (Matt 16:22) and the devil took Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple (Matt 4:5) and took Jesus to a high mountain to tempt him (Matt 4:8). Jesus dismisses Peter with the same word (ὕπαγε in Matthew’s Greek in 16:23) as he dismisses the devil at the end of his temptations in the desert (Matt 4:10). Just before today’s Gospel, Jesus declared Peter to be the Rock (Matt 16:18) and now he declares Peter to be an obstacle (Matt 16:23). In the Greek in which Matthew wrote, Jesus uses the word skandalon (σκάνδαλον) to describe Peter. That word means a trap or small stone one trips over. So Peter the Rock is now a stone one trips over when going on one’s journey. He is a hindrance to Jesus on the road to his Passion in Jerusalem. Jesus must face his Passion and endure it for our salvation. What has changed? When Peter proclaimed Jesus to be the Messiah, he was acting under divine inspiration; Jesus told Peter it was his heavenly Father who had revealed it to him (Matt 16:16-17). When Peter takes Jesus aside to try to dissuade him from his Passion, he was not under divine inspiration but acting out of his impulse and his own thinking, believing he knew better than Jesus. That may sometimes be our failing also; sometimes we too think we know better than God. We cannot understand why we have a cross. Sometimes we may be like Peter or do not want Jesus to impinge on our lifestyles or we want an à la carte Jesus on our terms. Peter wanted Jesus but not the cross and sometimes we also would like to avoid the cross. Jesus’ response would surely be “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.” (Matt 16:23), Fr Philip
TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY (A)
| Day / Date | Time | ChurchCh | Intention |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT 29th AUG | 6.00pm | CC | Patrick Duddy RIP (Liam Collins) |
| SUN 30th AUG | 8.30am | SJ | John snr, Mollie & Gerard Murphy RIP(Jacinta Goldup) |
| SUN 30th AUG | 10.00am | CC | Margaret Collins RIP (Tina Kirk) |
| SUN 30th AUG | 12noon | SPH | For the People of the Parish |
| MON 31st AUG | 10.00am | CC | Margaret Collins RIP (Liam Collins) |
| TUE 1st SEP | 10.00am | SJ | Theresa Pereira RIP & family (Eileen Jennings) |
| WED 2nd SEP | Priest celebrates Mass privately | ||
| ST GREGORY THE GREAT, POPE AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH | |||
| THU 3rd SEP | 10.00am | CC | Joseph RIP Neena Antony RIP (Lovely Joseph) |
| FRI 4th SEP | 10.00am | CC | Intentions Fr Bibin (John & Jean Smallcombe) |
| FRI 4th SEP | 12noon | CC | Requiem Mass Patrick Duddy |
| FRI 4th SEP | 6.15pm | CC | Mass (Latin) Holy Souls |
| FRI 4th SEP | 10:00pm | CC | All Night Vigil |
| SAT 5th SEP | 10.00am | CC | Keith & Eileen Hutton RIP |
| SAT 5th SEP | 6.00pm | CC | Marie & Tony Reid RIP (Eleanor Smith) |
| TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY (A) | |||
| SUN 6th SEP | 8.30am | SJ | Vera & Philip Weston RIP / Steve Pickard RIP (Marie Marriott) |
| SUN 6th SEP | 10.00am | CC | For the People of the Parish |
| SUN 6th SEP | 12noon | SPH | Intentions Fr Philip (John & Jean Smallcombe) |
Are you in year 7-13 and would like to come and join us for pizza, fun and games? We would love to see you at our meeting in Fisher Hall after Saturday 6.00pm Mass– Stefano. Now on a a break for the Summer.
Parish Bereavement Support: Please see our new leaflets with full details, at the back of each church.
MUMS/DADS NIGHTS Taking time to feed our own faith by exploring an aspect of Christianity with other parents in the parish. We meet in someone's home, watch some input to get us thinking and chat over pizza and drinks. All are very welcome. Contacts Isabel (07851062232 or Nick (07851609097)
COMMUNITY STOREHOUSE, PADDOCK WOOD Please continue with your much needed donations, which can be left in the Narthex at St Justus. Online bank transfer: Community Storehouse, HSBC Bank Sort code: 40-36-35Acc No: 11298410 Ref: St Justus member. Waitrose and Tesco gift cards are welcome as an alternative.
ST VINCENT DE PAUL would like to thank everyone for the generous support given to their charitable work. Presently baby food, toiletries and non-perishable food would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks.
WAITROSE TONBRIDGE ‘COMMUNITY MATTERS’ programme will be supporting St Vincent de Paul (SVP) from 1 July - 30 September. Please support the SVP by shopping at Waitrose and place green tokens which are available at the checkouts into our charity box to help us raise vital funds.
CHURCH CLEANERS FOR CORPUS CHRISTI More help is needed to keep our lovely church clean and tidy. If this is something you could help with, please contact Fr Philip or the parish office. Thank you.
TONBRIDGE Hall Bookings: Please contact the parish office during office hours 01732 353984 or by email. Not in the evenings or week-ends
THE ANNUAL RIDE & STRIDE for churches is on Saturday 12th September 10.00am – 5.00pm. There are some sponsorship forms at the Narthex in Corpus Christi plus a sign-up list to look after the cyclists & walkers when they arrive. Half the sponsorship money raised comes to the parish. Neil Mardon, who has organised this for the parish for many years is stepping down – any volunteers to take it over?
HOLY FACE DEVOTION There will not be a prayer meeting on Saturday 29th August at Corpus Christi, nor on the 1st Tuesday of September which will be replaced by a meeting on the following Tuesday 8th September at St. Justus.
STANDING ORDER PAYERS (CC) There are still second collection envelopes left in the Narthex, please pick yours up as you will be needing them!
PRESBYTERY PARKING The parking space at the side of the presbytery is for clergy and office only. Parishioner’s parking is the Fisher Hall car park, if it is full at Mass times, then you might have to double park.
THE FUNERAL of Sandra Thomas will take place at Tunbridge Wells Crematorium at 1pm on 7th. September followed by refreshments at Poult Wood. So that we can finalise the numbers for catering could you please let me know as soon as possible if you will be attending either or both. Thanks. Richard Thomas 01732 350021 or rgtandsft@btinternet.com.
ASSISTED DYING BILL has a second reading on 11th September. There are some cards available to send to your MP to vote against the Bill. A stamp is required.
NB The Parish Office is closed Tuesday 1st September.
Congratulations to Augustine who was baptized this weekend and to his parents and godparents.