Baptism of the Lord

Webmaster • January 9, 2021

John the Baptist is a part of the stirring excitement of a new beginning of the Good News that Mark announces in the first verse of his gospel. He is the precursor, the one going before Jesus to prepare his way. Mark describes Jesus’ arrival from the humble and unimportant village of Nazareth, in Galilee, in case anyone is unaware of this. Although he is without sin (c.f. 2 Corinthians 5:21), Jesus puts himself in solidarity with the crowds and with sinful humanity. He bares his human body and at this, his first public appearance, chooses to go down into the waters of the Jordan to be baptised by John as a representative of our collective guilt. As he rises up, the heavens are torn open, and the action of God is manifested in the descent of the Spirit ‘like a dove’ and the voice addresses Jesus as ‘my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.’ In the person of Jesus, this is the beginning of a new age, a new relationship of earth and heaven, of the whole of creation and our human condition. As several scripture scholars have said: “God has ripped the heavens apart irrevocably at Jesus’ baptism, never to shut them again. Through this gracious tear in the universe, he has poured forth his Spirit into the earthly realm” (c.f. Mark 1 -8). Here is the answer to the cry of the exiles to God: “Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down” (Isaiah 64:1)! But, there is no mountain quaking, no violent cosmic disturbances in this rending; it is a gracious tear. The symbolism of ‘like a dove’ is perhaps a memory of the spirit/ wind of God that brooded bird-like over the face of the primeval waters at the first creation (Genesis 1:2). It is also a witness to the gentle action of God that descends upon Jesus to empower him, like the prophets, with gentle service of the poor (e.g. Isaiah 42:1-5; 61:1) and our humanity that is impoverished by our sinfulness. The word spoken by the Father at the baptism of Jesus is addressed to Jesus, not the Baptist or the crowd. He voice of God affirms Jesus as “my Son,” with memories of Psalm 2:7, a royal coronation psalm, and then as “the Beloved” upon whom God’s favour rests. In the humble setting of the Jordan River, a humble man from a humble Galilean village is baptised by the humble precursor and proclaimed by God as one with royal dignity. Three times in the testing of faith at Mount Moriah, Abraham refers to Isaac as his “beloved son” as Isaac and he face the sacrificial knife out of obedience to God (Genesis 22:2, 12, 16). The cost of Jesus allegiance to his Father as yet hovers only as gently as a dove; in the not too distant future it is the carrion crow of death that will descend upon Jesus before he is unbound in the resurrection because of his obedience. This gospel is a declaration of who Jesus is to Mark’s church, a statement of their selfunderstanding as disciples of the new messianic times who are all sons and daughters of the Father because they are baptised into the Spirit-filled and Beloved Son, and commissioned to serve in his name. Throughout Mark’s gospel. Those who follow Jesus will struggle to understand and accept the implications of accepting one who is Son and Beloved, to understand what is revealed to Jesus as he rises from the waters: that humanity, despite its sinfulness, is loved with the prodigal love of God. The first human being in this gospel who professes faith in Jesus as the Son of God and recognises the heavens torn open in the torn body of the crucified One is the Gentile centurion. We are caught up in this same struggle of faith. Baptism demanded everything of Jesus - as it does of us.

Cobham Foodbank

By Webmaster • June 13, 2025
OUR PARISH SUPPORTS THE COBHAM AREA FOODBANK Please can you help local people in crisis by purchasing items on the list below and placing them in the Foodbank’s collection point in the narthex when to come to Mass at the weekend? 

JUBILEE YEAR PILGRIMAGE TO ROME

By Webmaster • June 13, 2025
JUBILEE YEAR PILGRIMAGE TO ROME - 5 - 10 November (Cost £1,220 inc. travel, accommodation & half board; single supp. £188). Join two of our diocesan priests Fr Gus Campanello & Fr Nick Harden on pilgrimage to Rome. To find out more and book:-  sarah@tangney-tours.com or  01732 886666

St Alban . . .

By Webmaster • June 13, 2025
St. Alban was the first martyr of England. During a persecution of the Christians, Alban, although a pagan, hid a priest in his home. The priest made such a great impression on him that Alban received instructions and was baptised a Christian himself. In the meantime, the governor had been told that the priest was hiding with Alban, and he sent his soldiers to capture him. But Alban changed clothes with his guest, and gave himself up in his stead. The judge was furious when he found out that the priest had escaped and he said to Alban, “You shall get the punishment he was to get unless you worship the pagan gods.” The Saint answered that he would never worship those false gods again. “To what family do you belong?” demanded the judge. “That does not concern you,” said Alban. “If you want to know my religion, I am a Christian.” Angrily the judge commanded him again to sacrifice to the gods at once. “Your sacrifices are offered to devils,” answered Alban. “They cannot help you or answer your requests. The reward for such sacrifices is the everlasting punishment of Hell.”  Since he was getting nowhere, the judge had Alban whipped. Then he commanded that he be beheaded. On the way to the place of execution, the soldier who was to kill Alban was converted himself, and he too, became a martyr.

Missio red box appeal

By Webmaster • June 13, 2025
In 2024 Sacred Heart, Cobham raised a wonderful £4,093.02 through our Red Boxes and donations to Missio, the Holy Father’s own Missionary Society in England and Wales. Your support of Missionary priests enables people to come together to celebrate the Eucharist and to work together to improve the lives of many missionary communities. Thank you!

Church Mouse Update 15th June 2025

By Webmaster • June 13, 2025
The musings of one of God’s smallest creatures on events in and around the Parish over the past seven days . . . . Quite a busy time around The Presbytery this week as Fr D had several meetings that were not Parish based . . . . . Last Saturday morning Fr D had the final session before Communion Day with the parents and candidates on the First Eucharist Programme this year. This ‘slice of the cake’ was the penultimate one and covered the actual Communion Rite at Mass (how to receive Holy Communion). This Saturday the participants will practice receiving Holy Communion and ‘walk through’ what will be happening on Sunday when they celebrate their First Eucharist. After the 11.00 Mass on Sunday Fr D celebrated the Baptism of a young parishioner whose parents had been preparing for the sacrament over the past couple of months. On Monday Fr D was quickly off to Worthing where he was meeting with his Ministry to Priest’s Support Group. Being his old parish he was ‘spotted’ by some of his former parishioners and it took a little while to get from the car park into the church for their hour before the Blessed Sacrament! After celebrating Morning Prayer, Mass, and Exposition on Tuesday, Fr D picked up Fr Tony and headed off to Ewell where there was a Deanery Clergy Meeting that had been arranged outside of the normal pattern whilst Fr D was away last month at the Canon Law Conference (Deanery Clergy Meetings usually only take place between October and May!). The ‘cause’ for the meeting was a push by the diocese to move forward with the coming together of all the deanery parishes as one single parish, according to the bishop’s plan. The local clergy were all unanimous that we are not yet ready to move forward with this at this point in time and that things have to be done at our local speed not an external timetable. This decision will be taken back to the bishop at the next Council of Priest’s Meeting.  In the evening on Tuesday Fr D met with those younger members of our Parish who recently celebrated their confirmation by Bishop Richard down in Arundel Cathedral. This was the last formal meeting of this year’s preparation course and looked at how the Confirmation Service went and into the future as they start life as fully adult members of the Church. The youngsters will be helping at the First Eucharist celebration this weekend and will receive their Certificates of Confirmation along with our First Communicants on Sunday 29th June (09.00) . . . . . .

Who is Lady Wisdom . . . (Trinity Sunday Year C

By Webmaster • June 13, 2025
In the Christian tradition, we don’t often reflect on passages in scripture that personify a female element of the divine. Today’s reading from the Book of Proverbs does just that. This passage would have been well known to Jesus and his fellow Jews, as well as to the New Testament writers. Those authors sometimes drew direct and other times subtle connections be tween the central figure in the Proverbs reading, Lady Wisdom, with Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The voice in the passage is Wisdom, often referred to as Lady Wisdom by scripture scholars. In the Old Testament, this Wisdom figure is always personified as a woman, just as references to God’s spirit (which God breathed into the first humans) are feminine. Lady Wisdom seems to originate within God, not as a creation of God. “The Lord possessed me … I was poured forth … I was brought forth.” Such a description is similar to the phrase in our creed that describes Jesus as “begotten not made, consubstantial with the Father.” Lady Wisdom appears to be a co-worker with God in creation, a master craftsman (craftswoman!) reflecting herself in all of creation. So who exactly is Lady Wisdom? Is she equivalent to Jesus? John suggests this parallel in the first verses of his Gospel. At times Paul equates the two as well. “Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor 1:24). Or is Lady Wisdom the Holy Spirit because references to God’s spirit in the Hebrew Bible are feminine? There is no right or wrong answer. The concept of the Trinity is a mystery far beyond what our limited minds can imagine. What is important is that we don’t fall into the trap of identifying God as a male or female, but as possessing attributes of both.  Ultimately, the concept of the Trinity remains a mystery for our limited human brains. How is God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit? How is God the creator, the redeemer, and the sanctifier? Where does Lady Wisdom enter all of this? Scripture writers, like us, falter at trying to describe the indescribable, which is why we have so many different and sometimes conflicting images and metaphors for God. Questions of the week • If you think of God as the Trinity, which “person” do you most identify with and why: Father/ Creator, Son, or Holy Spirit? • Does imagining God with a feminine aspect change how you think of God? Why or why not?

A DAY OF REFLECTION FOR MUSICIANS

By Webmaster • June 13, 2025
21 June, 09.30-16.00 , St Dunstan’s, Woking, GU22 7DT. Musicians are invited to come to this day of reflection led by Mgr Kevin McGinnell of the Society of St Gregory, and Catherine Christmas our Diocesan Liturgy Adviser. Further details and bookings:  abdiocese.churchsuite.com/events/kzxkjy1e

‘DAY FOR LIFE’

By Webmaster • June 13, 2025
“Every year, the Church in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, jointly mark the ‘Day for Life,’ as a reminder of the constant need to respect and protect the inherent value and dignity of each and every human life. This year, it will be celebrated next Sunday (Trinity Sunday), the 15th of June . All Catholics are invited to join in prayer and promotion of the Day. Useful resources, including a message from the bishops, and prayers, can be found on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales’ website ( CBCEW.org.uk ).  There will also be a Retiring Collection for the Day for Life Fund. Every year, the fund allocates over £200,000 in grants, to organisations which promote the Christian respect for life from conception to natural death, in various ways. This has made a significant impact in local communities within England and Wales, by for example, providing mothers and children with necessary means. This would not be possible if it was not for your generous support to the fund, we therefore invite you to give as much as you can and encourage others to do so.”

CORPUS CHRISTI EXTENDED PERIOD OF EXPOSITION

By Webmaster • June 13, 2025
Each year ALL Catholic Parish communities are expected to have a period of extended Eucharistic worship. Many parishes throughout the world take the Opportunity of the Solemnity of Corpus Christi to do this, and for the past few years our Parish has held a period of Extended Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Accordingly we will be doing this from after the 11.00 Mass and ending with Evening Prayer and Benediction at 15.30 on Sunday 22 nd June. As always we will need to make sure that there are parishioners present in the church during this time and to this end there is a ’sign-up’ sheet at the rear of the church for parishioners to choose a twenty minute slot where they commit to being present. Please make a point of making sure that we are covered for the entire period on the day.

ECUMENICAL WALKING PILGRIMAGE 2025

By Webmaster • June 13, 2025
9-23rd August. Walking over the Surrey Hills and along the Sussex coast, this year’s route will visit every deanery in the Diocese, with pilgrims welcome to join for a day or two, or the whole 2 weeks. To find out more and book a place:-  thepilgrims.org.uk/book/home.php
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