The Gospel reading picks up on images of keys and a key holder from the first reading from Isaiah. Keys signify ultimate power over the palace; the one with the keys has the authority to decide who is allowed in and who is kept out. When Jesus promises Peter the “keys to the kingdom of heaven,” he raises him to a place of high authority as well. This is the Gospel passage that gives us the image of St. Peter guarding the “pearly gates” and controlling access to heaven. Matthew, Mark, and Luke all include this Gospel story of Jesus asking his disciples who the people think he is. They all include Peter’s correct answer that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God. It is only Matthew’s Gospel that incorporates the next few verses upholding Peter as the foundation of the church and the “keeper of the keys” to the kingdom of heaven. Catholics look back to this story as the basis for their belief in Peter as the first pope and the idea of apostolic succession. Traditionally it has been understood that in this exchange, Jesus made Peter the primary apostle. Later, Peter transferred his authority to another man, who transferred it to another, and so on, down through all the bishops of Rome, the successive popes. Other Christians do not accept Peter’s primacy or the idea that the pope’s authority can be traced back in an unbroken line to Peter. Regardless of whether one believes in the idea of apostolic succession, it is good to note the play on words in the nickname Jesus gave to Simon. Peter in Greek is Petros, which is related to the word petra “rock.” This story suggests Peter’s ability to be a rock-solid foundation for the church.  Just a few verses after this reading, though, Jesus orders Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me” (Mt. 16:23), another play on Peter’s “rock” nickname. So Peter, like all human leaders, has the potential to be a solid foundation for God’s kingdom in the world, and the potential to be in opposition to that kingdom. Even though Jesus praises Peter in this story, Peter will always remain human. The same can be said for every pope we have ever had. Questions of the Week • If Peter had a “rocky” nature that had the potential for greatness, but also could pose as a stumbling block, what characteristic(s) do you have which have potential for good but also for harm? • In thinking of church leaders in your lifetime, who has demonstrated the ability to be a strong foundation for you and the greater church? How so?

Application Forms for next year’s 1st Reconciliation and 1st Eucharist Programmes are now available from the Sacristy after our weekend Masses. Prospective candidates: • need to have been born before 31st August 2019, • be in at least Year 3 when schools re-commence in September, • and, of course, be attending our weekend and Holy Day Masses along with their family. It is very difficult to imagine that someone who is not presently attending our community on a regular basis could possibly be prepared and ready to receive a sacrament within the next year. Parents only (not grandparents or friends) should collect the application which needs to be completed and returned by 18.00 on 31st August 2026 (sorry, no late applications can be accepted).

DREAMS FOR HOPE - a local charity run by one of our parishioners (Jim Vizzini), provides beds for children in and around the Borough of Elmbridge who are suffering from bed poverty. Our local Waitrose in Cobham have chosen the ‘Dreams for Hope’ charity to take part in the Community Matters Scheme, one of only three charities to have been picked. The scheme runs from July 1st to September 30th and you can help by dropping a token into the "Dreams For Hope" box when you exit the store.  When Fr D was dropping off his tokens after a shop this week he thought that parishioners may have forgotten about the scheme - more tokens needed ! ! !

People from across our family of faith have welcomed comments made by the new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, on the Terminally Ill Adults End of Life Bill. The Bill - which was re-introduced to Parliament by Lauren Edwards MP in June - is due to be voted on in the House of Commons on Friday 11 th September despite strong opposition from Christian, Muslim, and Jewish groups, and significant ethical and medical concerns raised by organisations including the British Geriatrics Society, The Association of Palliative Medicine, Disability Rights UK and The Royal College of Psychiatrists. The Prime Minister affirmed his view that the funding of palliative and social care should be "fixed" before a change in the law to allow Assisted Dying (also referred to as Assisted Suicide) is considered, highlighting his belief that: “it is very challenging to introduce [the] wider debate in a context of people not receiving that care and having peace of mind about that care.” It is thought that the Government will hold a neutral position on the Bill, with people of all faiths and none who oppose the legislation urged to contact their MP before September’s parliamentary vote. Archbishop John Sherrington (lead Bishop for ‘Life issues’) said: “It is highly significant that the Prime Minister has confirmed his position about the need for proper palliative and social care ahead of the Second Reading of the fundamentally flawed Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill in September. People who are dying are vulnerable and need compassionate care and spiritual accompaniment until their last breath.”  Among the several problematic issues identified in the draft legislation: “The Bill leaves many matters unresolved regarding its practical application and its profound implications for those who are disabled or vulnerable. Rather than any consideration of assisted suicide, our society should surely be addressing the need to establish and resource a universal provision of palliative care across the country.”

Christian greetings and the Peace of our Lord be with you always. We would love to thank you by allowing our group to come to your church and sell our olive wood religious articles, the result of which was very beneficial and rewarding for our needy Christian families in Bethlehem. We raised a magnificent £ 2,742 . Your help is a great support for us, and for our Christian families in the Holy Land. There are not enough words to thank Fr Daryl and the parishioners of the Sacred Heart, be assured that you are always in our prayers. If anyone has missed the carvings display, it is possible to place an order online directly at www.tbng.co.uk God bless you all. Love and blessings from The Bethlehem Nativity Group

St John Vianney, also known as the Curé d’Ars, is considered the patron saint of parish priests. He is known for his deep devotion to the Church and his dedication to the sacrament of confession. His life inspires all priests, as he exemplified a genuinely holy priest through his humility, selflessness, and unwavering faith. Situations calling for “impossible” deeds followed him everywhere. As pastor of the parish at Ars, St John encountered people who were indifferent and comfortable with their style of living. His vision led him through severe fasts and short nights of sleep. John spent much of his time in the confessional, hearing the confessions of countless penitents. His understanding of human nature and compassion for sinners made him an effective confessor, and many experienced spiritual conversions through his guidance and prayers. He established La Providence, a home for girls. Only a man of vision could have such trust that God would provide for the spiritual and material needs of all those who came to make La Providence their home. Many miracles were also attributed to St John during his lifetime and after his death.  He became a popular figure in France and beyond, with many seeking his prayer for healing and other spiritual needs. One of his famed miracles was the ability to read parishioners solus and offer them the perfect penance for their sins.

The musings of one of God’s smallest creatures on events in and around the Parish over the past seven days . . . . Finally, it would appear that things are slowing down for the summer period and Fr D can start playing a bit of ‘catch-up’ and planning for the future . . . . . . Last weekend at all of our Masses we were fortunate to have someone from the ‘Bethlehem Nativity Group’ to explain something of the present situation for Catholics in the Holy Land and to display and sell some of their olive wood carvings in the Parish Centre afterwards. On Monday morning the electrician came to install an unswitched fused spur in the Parish Office ready for the security engineers on Wednesday. We are very lucky to have discovered a really good electrician who is able to complete all of these small (but important) jobs for us as we make sure that our Parish ‘plant’ is up to date and safe - keeping the wolves of Health and Safety well away from us! Having celebrated Morning Prayer, Mass, and Exposition Fr D was once more off down to the diocesan offices in Crawley to get on with his commitments at the Tribunal. At present he has two cases waiting for a judgement session that has been booked, another two cases that he is working on with a view to booking judgements, and an interview with one of his clients booked in. Early on Wednesday morning the security engineers arrived at the Parish Centre to fit a new system for access to Sarah and the Parish Office. This is necessary because Sarah is classified as a ‘lone worker’ and as such needs to control who gets into the office whilst she is working. We have been looking at these works for over a year now and have looked at several different solutions, the chosen solution consists of an electric door lock that Sarah can open from inside the office after a video conversation. Once again, this should keep the Health and Safety wolves away from us! At lunchtime Fr D was meeting Fr Ruslan (Walton-on-Thames) for their monthly lunch - a chance for them both to catch up with the latest goings on in the diocese. After Morning Prayer and Mass on Thursday Fr D spent time preparing for the funeral of a parishioner that he was celebrating on the Friday. He was also on a mission to get the newsletter started as Sarah was having a day off on the Friday.  On Friday morning Fr D celebrated a requiem Mass in the church followed by a burial at Cobham cemetery . . . . . . .

Poor Jesus can hardly get a break for some time to himself. When he hears that Herod beheaded his good friend and relative John the Baptist, Jesus tries to get away for awhile by heading off in a boat to a deserted place. He steps back onto land only to dis cover that the crowds have followed him. Jesus could easily be impatient and short with them in his sadness and grief, but instead, his instinctive response was to be moved with compassion for them. After he cures the sick, his next compassionate response is to keep them safe and feed them, rather than sending them off in the dark from a deserted place. Jesus knew that many, probably most, of the people who flocked to him were poor people, and this crowd would have been no different. Although the disciples suggest he send them away to “buy food for themselves,” Jesus knows many of them wouldn’t have spare change for food. His sensitivity to their situation sparks more compassion, and he feeds them until they are all satisfied.  Early followers of Jesus would have connected that miraculous feeding with the passage from Isaiah in the first reading today. “All you who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come, receive grain and eat; come, without paying and without cost (Isa 55:2). In this case, the crowd eagerly accepts Jesus and his teaching, unlike sometimes when Phari sees or other religious leaders argue and try to pick fights with Jesus. The crowd here mirrors those in the Isaiah passage. They come to Jesus, they listen to him, and they heed him. In return, they are well-fed, and they receive life (Isa 55:3). Questions of the week  Jesus experienced all the human emotions we experience. What do you imagine he was thinking and feeling when he heard John was killed?  Have you ever witnessed or heard of someone able to respond with compassion to others even in a time of their own grief? Please share.

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?