That inner Word

As the years pass, I am very aware of the power of those inner promptings of the Holy Spirit which have moved me at so many moments of my life to take life-changing decisions, and today’s Office of Readings particularly touches me.  For example the decision to go to the meetings of my Secular community, the decision to keep on going, the decision to ask for formation and then to ask for the Promises, all of these prompted by the Spirit.  In today’s Office of Readings I find these words: ‘When this word is preached, the voice of its preaching which is heard outwardly calls forth a voice of power that is heard inwardly, that voice by which the dead are restored to life and their praise raises up sons for Abraham. So this word is alive in the heart of the Father, alive in the mouth of the preacher, and alive in the hearts of those who believe and love. If a word is alive in this way, how can it not also be active? The word is active in creating, active in guiding the world, active in redeeming the world. What could be more active? What could be more powerful? Who shall tell of his powerful deeds? Who shall proclaim the praises of the Lord? It is active when it works, it is active when it is preached. For it does not come back empty-handed: wherever it is sent, it prospers.’  I derive added pleasure from these words from the knowledge that they were written by a fellow Englishman, the little-known Bishop Baldwin of Canterbury.  In spite of the name, he was actually a Devon man who died in the Holy Land in 1190.

Intercessions:

Cancer: Brian Davis, Bernard (and wife Angela caring for him), Jacqui, Theresa K, Fr Jon B, Catherine

Siena, Elara – sick children

Wojtek – massive heart attack leaving him incapacitated

David OCDS – housebound

Sophia – blind infant

Joy Smith OCDS – in hospital

Grace – troubling ailments, job difficulties, family (deceased mother and health of father)

Lucia – Overwhelmed by weariness

Mark – brain infection

Joy Smith – in hospital

Defence of the unborn and the elderly

 RIP Martin Gilham, Sue Burton, little Matthew (six years old, died of cancer)