In our school this week it has been a time of celebration with the feast of the Ascension, St Bede’s feast day and the Jubilee of the Queen.
I was reflecting on all three and then it was during the mass on Thursday- listening to Father Sean – the word that came to mind that connected them was happiness.
Even in the moment of their friend Jesus leaving them again the Gospel describes the disciples as ‘full of joy’ – they knew that He was sending them someone to support and guide them and ten days later the Holy Spirit came leading to the birth of the Church.
St Bede totally gave his life to God and saw his purpose as spreading the Good News by writing and sharing his knowledge. He said about study, teaching that it has always been ‘my delight’ and, as the Guardian Angels so beautifully explained to the school on Wednesday it was his desire to tell everyone about the love of Jesus that made him like ‘a lantern shining in the church’, which we seek to echo in our school mission statement,‘ Shine like a lantern in the presence of the Lord’.
Watching different footage of the Queen this week from across her seventy year reign, including recent engagements over the last few weeks including a picture of a beaming smile talking to some young people, it is clear that she still has a great joy in her role and at the heart of this immense responsibility is her deep faith in Jesus.
And as it says in a new hymn composed for her Platinum Jubilee –
‘May the trust in Christ she has held so long be the truth that burns brightly on.’
The disciples, St Bede and our Queen’s joy come from their unwavering trust in Jesus – something we can learn from.
With the awful events in Texas, USA I ask that this weekend as a family you light a candle and say a prayer for all those families affected by this tragedy.
Prayers and Blessings
Mrs Mackie