Welcome to e-News

Bishop Philip writes…

Welcome to this week’s e-News, the Third Week of Advent 2024. We have now entered the last lap leading up to Christmas Day next week. This is always a busy time and if you dare to go out shopping, the pace and the bustle can be overwhelming. The ‘world’ is having its Christmas now, with season-themed TV shows, people wearing Father Christmas beanie hats, works’ parties, the exchange of gifts and a lot of last minute spending. It may all be good fun. But spare a thought for those without the resources, human and financial, to do this. And spare another thought. For, as Catholics, the Liturgy of these next days is inviting us to join the shepherds and the Three Kings making their way to Bethlehem. Let us join them in prayer. People when they look at the world these days and the bleakness of the news often ask: Where is God? Why doesn’t God do something? Why doesn’t God intervene and sort things out? In fact He has! He has intervened. That is why we go to Bethlehem. He has sent us His Son in the flesh, Who has come to save us, to change things, to lift things up, to make things better and to make things right.

Over these next days, let’s do our best to find some time and space for prayer and reflection. Say the Angelus each day. Go to Confession. Read the Gospel readings from your Missal. Get to Mass. Let us prepare our hearts to receive the Christ and all that He promises to give. If as His disciples we open our hearts to the Holy Spirit and renew within us the meaning of Christmas, then surely our light will shine out for others to see. In this way, let us pray that through the gift of the Spirit and our holiness of life, we will bring many more people to Jesus Christ through His Church.

In Corde Iesu

+ Philip

Bishop of Portsmouth

You can read this week’s issue in full here.

[Image: Christianity]

magi following star

Editions

Donate