He practiced what he preached . . ..(Third Sunday In Ordinary Time Year A)
Webmaster • January 24, 2026
After Jesus’ baptism and temptation in the desert (a peak experience followed by a period of intense testing) he is primed to begin the work that he has prepared his whole life to be able to do. Jesus begins in the small, non descript town of Capernaum populated mostly by Gentiles (nonJews). Looking back in scripture, Matthew noticed that specific area had been promised a saviour who would bring light to their world of darkness. For all the Jews in his audience, Matthew makes the point that Jesus was the fulfilment of that promise from the prophet Isaiah hundreds of years earlier. Matthew is trying to show that Jesus came to live and minister to and among both Jews and Gentiles and to invite all of them to the fullness of life he was teaching.
Jesus begins his public ministry sounding like John the Baptist. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” We might interpret that now as “Get busy. Get serious. It’s time to start living in God’s way. There isn’t much time left.” Then Jesus calls Peter, Andrew, James, and John to be his helpers and companions as he gets busy healing the sick and proclaiming the Good News. If only everyone who preached repentance and the kingdom of God would get busy practicing what they preached!
Questions of the week
What leaders or spiritual teachers have you experienced to be exclusive in terms of who they are speaking or preaching to? What leaders or spiritual teachers have you experienced to be open and inclusive in the way they welcome and invite all to be a part of a larger movement?
Whom do you know who lives with integrity and regularly practices what they preach?
The musings of one of God’s smallest creatures on events in and around the Parish over the past seven days . . . . Once again a busy week in and around The Presbytery, with the last schools going back after their Easter holidays, and Confirmation looming up quickly . . . . . . On Monday morning Fr D celebrated Mass for the staff at Notre Dame School in the middle of their ‘in-service’ day just before the students returned on Tuesday. In The evening Fr D was down in Effingham for a meeting of the ‘shadow’ Parish Leadership Team who will be working with the clergy of Epsom Deanery when the Pastoral Plan for the diocese comes to fruition in this area. After Morning Prayer, Mass and Exposition on Tuesday Fr D had the diocesan IT engineer working on a few things to ‘tidy up’ the re-structured parish phone and broadband system (- rather than lots of pieces of equipment balancing on a small coffee table they are now housed in a specialist rack designed for the purpose). There are a few little bits to sort still and this will happen in late May. In the evening Fr D met with our own Parish Finance Team for the second quarterly meeting of the year. Our finances are broadly running as expected at this point, with the car park making a heavy contribution to our solvency as usual. Work is underway to facilitate a ‘secure door-entry’ system for Sarah as she is classified as a ‘lone worker’ and we need to have regard to her safety whilst at work. Following Morning Prayer and Mass on Wednesday Fr D was working hard on the Confirmation ceremony that will be taking place in the church on Saturday 9th May at our normal 18.00 Mass. As we do not have a Bishop for the foreseeable future Fr D has been delegated to celebrate the sacrament with our candidates this year. In the evening Fr D met with the Confirmation candidates to talk them through the ‘Lucenarium’ (Service of Light) that will be celebrated during our normal 11.00 Mass on Sunday 3rd May - the last Sunday Mass before Confirmation Day. This little rite is celebrated with the Parish community as a sending forth to the ceremony the following weekend; during the rite the parents of the candidates hand over each candidate’s Baptismal Candle (the sign of faith they were entrusted with at their child’s baptism) to their son or daughter (now to be nurtured and kept alight by themselves as they enter into adult membership of the community). The candidates were also able to ask Fr D any questions that they had ever wanted to know about the Church and faith in general - this led to some interesting discussions . . .
Richard Moth, Archbishop of Westminster, echoed Pope Leo’s calls for peace earlier on Monday, stressing the importance of combatting indifference in the face of war and suffering. “We continue to support [the Holy Father’s] unstinting calls for peace and reconciliation across all areas of conflict,” he said. “Humanity is marked, scarred, by warfare and injustice - often instigated by greed and misguided power - bringing harm and death to so many and often the most vulnerable. We must never become indifferent to war, violence and suffering. We pray for peace, justice and reconciliation across the world.” Pope Leo is four days into a Papal Visit to Africa, and arrived in Cameroon yesterday. Speaking to journalists while travelling to Algiers, the Pope responded to a number of scathing social media statements issued by US President Donald Trump on his Truth Social network. In a report on Vatican News, Pope Leo said: “I am not a politician, and I do not want to enter into a debate… I do not think the message of the Gospel should be abused as some are doing. I continue to speak strongly against war, seeking to promote peace, dialogue, and multilateralism among states to find solutions to problems. Too many people are suffering today, too many innocent lives have been lost, and I believe someone must stand up and say there is a better way.”
Give monthly. On the third anniversary of the war in Sudan, Kayode Akintola, CAFOD’s Head of Region for Africa, asks for your help: “So many of our sisters and brothers in Sudan are facing increasing violence, hunger, and disease. That is why today, I’m asking you to consider setting up a monthly gift to support families who are fleeing the violence – with food, safe water and other vital support. Monthly gifts are an act of steady love for our neighbours, a way of saying: we will not abandon you, we will stand with you until peace is restored.” Donate at: www.cafod.org.uk/StandWithSudan
‘CONFIDENT PARENTING IN A WORLD OF SCREENS’ - webinar - 29th April, 20.00 Hardly a day goes by without some headline highlighting the impact of smartphones and social media upon teenagers. They face a whole new level of complexity as they grow up in a digital world, but as parents and carers there are so many things we can do to help them navigate it well. CELEBRATE Trust has invited a speaker from Care for the Family, a national UK charity, to share how we can best support teenagers through the challenges of our digital world, and offer practical advice and principles to apply in our own unique families. This is the first of 2 webinars for parents and carers of teenagers. The second webinar will be on ‘Raising Teenagers in a Catholic Family’ with the Messy Family Project, a Catholic family ministry from the US on 2 nd June 2026, 20.00 To book: www.celebratetrust.org/faith-parenting
As we prepare for coming of Pentecost this year the Epsom Deanery will be holding an extended time of prayer for 24 hours. The event will take place in St Joseph's Church, Epsom, KT18 7JQ commencing with 10.00 Mass on Friday 22nd May and concluding with Mass at 10.00 Saturday 23rd May . This is a graced moment for us all to gather in prayer around the Lord in the Eucharist - to pray, to adore, to be silent, and to hold the brokenness of our world before the healing presence of Christ. The event will be divided into 1 hour slots to which parishioners from all across the Deanery are invited to commit to coming to the church and spending 1 hour in prayer. We need at least two people to commit to each hour (so that is a minimum of 48 people across the Deanery). If you are unable to offer an hour you can come at any time for as long or short a time as you can manage during the 24 hour period - and of course more than two people can sign up for any particular hour. Those who are sick or housebound and unable to attend are invited to send their prayer intentions (in writing and in good time) via their local Parish Office and these will be placed before the Blessed Sacrament. There will also be opportunities to pray the Rosary, celebrate Reconciliation, and join in communal prayer at specific times (more information to follow). Sign-Up Sheets will be available in all the Epsom Deanery Churches from next weekend (25 th & 26 th April). For those who would like to attend but do not have transport, it is hoped to coordinate lift-sharing through the Parish Offices of the church where you are registered. Once we have a clearer picture of who may require assistance and who is able to offer a lift, we can try to make the necessary arrangements. As St Theresa of Avila said in the 16th Century, 'the world is on fire' - how much more so today. May the Lord bless all our efforts and desires to bring His Peace into the world. Fr Simon Hall, Epsom, on behalf of the Deanery
11.00 SUNDAY MASS COFFEE Rota Currently we are looking for parishioners (especially those who use the 11.00 coffee session) to consider becoming new members of the Coffee Rota (like any rota, the greater the number of volunteers the less often the same names crop up). This role is ideal for younger families to take part in as well as others (married or single).
The first reading from the Acts of the Apostles tells the story of the joyous, loving, and radical community that formed among believers after Jesus’ resurrection. Their lives of love, generosity, and justice were so inspiring that they quickly attracted others to them. Their example of Christian community has in spired many others down through the ages who want to tap into that experience of unity and joy based on their faith in Jesus. If they could come together to lead such meaningful and fulfilling lives, can’t we? This Gospel reading, often called the “Doubting Thomas” story is an example of a common phenomenon that we still wonder about today. How is it that some people come to faith in Jesus/ God so easily, while for others it is a struggle that requires some sort of “proof”? There is no good answer to this question, but according to this story, the experience isn’t new. The disciples who were present when Jesus appeared among them for the first time rejoice and receive the peace he offers as soon as he shows himself to them. While they may have been surprised, a bit afraid, and con fused at first, they move quickly to accept his presence and are eager to spread the news of his resurrection. On the other hand, Thomas - like many of us - wants proof, and he is not shy about laying out the specifics of what he needs to see before he will believe. When Jesus appears to him in person a week later, he obliges and shows Thomas what he needs to believe. Jesus does not criticize Thomas for his doubts or ridicule him for wanting proof. Jesus doesn’t belittle doubters. He wants them to believe, but he will not force it. Jesus knows that he will not walk the earth for much longer, and he anticipates that many will have to come to believe in him without ever seeing him. Jesus blesses those people (us included!) “Bless ed are those who have not seen and have believed,” without shaming those like Thomas who just can’t come to belief so easily. Questions of the week Do you think of yourself more like Thomas or the other disciples in terms of how easily you lean toward belief in God’s work? Is there an area of your life now in which God might be inviting you to be more trusting?
Indifferent toward religion as a young man, Anselm became one of the Church’s greatest theologians and leaders. At 15, St Anselm wanted to enter a monastery, but was refused acceptance because of his father’s opposition. Twelve years later, after careless disinterest in religion and years of worldly living, he finally fulfilled his desire to be a monk at Bec in Normandy. He was elected prior 3 years later, and 15 years later, was unanimously chosen as abbot. Considered an original and independent thinker, Anselm was admired for his patience, gentleness, and teaching skill. Under his leadership, the Abbey became a monastic school, influential in both philosophical and theological studies. Against his will, Anselm was appointed the archbishop of Canterbury in 1093, at age 60. His appointment was opposed at first by England’s King William Rufus but later accepted. Rufus persistently refused to cooperate with efforts to reform the Church. St Anselm finally went into voluntary exile until Rufus died in 1100. He was then recalled to England by Henry I. Disagreeing with Henry over his insistence on investing England’s bishops, Anselm spent three more years in exile in Rome. Anselm’s care and concern extended to the poorest people. Opposing the slave trade, he obtained from the national council a resolution prohibiting the sale of human beings.
The musings of one of God’s smallest creatures on events in and around the Parish over the past seven days . . . . Having spent the week before out in Lourdes with special needs children Fr D arrived home on Sunday afternoon and was soon (as I predicted) messing about with the big white boxes in the utility room. He was very tired after the week of running around with the children, showing them the main points of the Lourdes story and answering countless questions (many several times). After he had eaten he sat down in front of the television and just fell off to sleep - waking later to take himself off to bed. Whilst he was away the annual service for the Air Source Heat Pump in the house was completed and was passed with flying colours. Also during the week the company that looks after much of the health and safety agenda in the Parish came and checked up on those items scheduled to be reviewed. Just before Easter ‘hit’ Fr D arranged for our next buildings survey to be undertaken in the autumn this year (these are required by the diocese every five years and inform our ongoing maintenance schedule). All these checks can sometimes be tedious but are part of the modern life that the Parish now finds itself to be a part of. On Monday evening this week Fr D went over to Banstead parish for a meeting of what he calls the ‘shadow finance team’ that will come into being when we are in a position to continue with the diocesan plan (merging all the present deanery parishes into one new parish). The participants are continuing to look at how the various constituent communities might work together to share resources and look for economies of scale in purchases and services. On Wednesday evening Fr D was meeting with our Confirmation candidates in the Parish Centre. This was a chance for him to make sure that he has all the correct paperwork, details of sponsors and confirmation names. Fr D was able to take the candidates through what will happen at the Confirmation Mass (9th May) which, because we are without a bishop, Fr D himself will be celebrating for them. Thursday Fr D was once gain down at the diocesan offices in Crawley where he completed the work on another case getting it ready for judgement. There were also many items in his ‘in-tray’ that had accumulated over Easter. He now has two more cases ready to call a judgement for in the next few weeks. Each judgement requires himself as the presiding judge and two more associate judges . . . . .
The musings of one of God’s smallest creatures on events in and around the Parish over the past seven days . . . . A very quiet week around The Presbytery; Fr D took off in the car on Easter Sunday evening to stay with a friend in Reigate before being picked up at 04.30 to be taken to Heathrow ready to catch a plane to Toulouse and from there by coach to Lourdes. Fr D was back looking after special needs children once more. However, he was also meeting up with the ‘Old & Bold’ group from last year (those are more senior adults who in the past were helpers in various groups before deciding that they were now too old to be going as helpers/wranglers for the children). They were able to join in with all of the Trust liturgies during the week but otherwise have a more sedate (and calm) time without children. Fr D has been a couple of times with this older group (perhaps he’s getting ready for when he could be classed as ‘Old & Bold’!). He should be returning to the Parish on Sunday evening when he will no doubt start messing about with the big white tin boxes in the utility room! Before leaving he did leave me with a schedule of what they’ve been doing during the week: • Monday - depart Heathrow for Toulouse, coach to hotel in Lourdes, relax at a local café before evening meal with the rest of the group and night prayers. • Tuesday - Mass at Sheepfold chapel (Fr D’s favourite), walk to see Grotto before lunch, rest before a ‘tour of town (Cachot, Boly Mill, Parish Church, Maison Paternelle) café stop, then back to hotel for dinner, before joining in Torchlight Procession. • Wednesday - Stations of the Cross on the Prairie before lunch, Coach to Hosanna House, Mass in Hosanna House Chapel. Fr D to join Old & Bold for late celebration lunch in a Bartres restaurant. • Thursday - Join Trust Mass in underground Basilica, Blessed Sacrament Procession, Torchlight Procession. • Friday - Mass in the St Frai chapel and shops (Fr D intends to buy the special crosses for our First Eucharist candidates), drinks at a Café overlooking the river Garve. • Saturday - Free time in Lourdes before catching coach to Toulouse airport and flight home (- to rest!)