Every scribe who becomes a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out from his storeroom things both new and old. Mt.13: 53

What does this phrase of Jesus bring to mind? The context is Jesus speaking to the crowds about the kingdom of heaven. He compares it to a fishing-net which is thrown into the sea. In the net when it is dragged ashore there are fish good for eating and a lot of rubbish to be thrown away, fish that are inedible, weeds, ‘flotsam’ and ‘jetsam’ of all kinds. This will happen at the end of time and the angels will be involved. These angels on the last day will do the separating of the wicked and the just; and the wicked – says Jesus – will be thrown into the blazing furnace where there will be “weeping and grinding of teeth”. This sounds either harsh, in that it does not reflect the usual mercy of God, or rather far fetched. Yet it is there in the passage of Matthew’s gospel. It is best not to ignore Jesus’ words.

In a way it is like the parable of the good wheat and the rotten weeds in the field.  At harvest time the good wheat is kept and the weeds are thrown away to be burnt. He asks the people if they understand about the fishing net and the people say they do. I wonder? I was asked if I wanted to be a monk, when I made my first profession of vows, and I said I did; it wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t fully true.  Then he adds the phrase above.

Every scribe who becomes a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out from his storeroom things both new and old. Mt.13: 53

I write these few words from mid Wales where about 500 people of all ages and all denominations or none, of all social classes, many from other countries including a fair number from Africa, are having a kind of “retreat”. As there are also non-believers among us it is best to understand that word “retreat” in a different, “new” way. There is a lot of talk about “Jesus (Love who is God) living among us”. We plan each day what kind of intentions we should use for the three different kinds of worship, Catholic Mass, Anglican Eucharist and a Free-Church prayer service. The word of God, for Thursday 1st of August, includes this passage from St Matthew.

We are experiencing both new and old. Perhaps all of us from the main stream denominations could be likened to the “Scribe” mentioned by Jesus. We are often deeply rooted in our Church ways, as the Jewish scribes were in the “Jewish ways” in Jesus’ time. Precisely the presence of such a diverse group of people is something new. Yet most people present are having an experience of the Kingdom; it is a “retreat” that is meant to bring you closer to the Word of God, Jesus, and that is happening. Who would go on a retreat with “atheists”?

We have learnt about other new things, old and new in the fields of education, politics, art, medicine, parish life and so on. Above all, many of us, and certainly myself, have learnt what it might be like to be a “new” person. Let us thank God that the Spirit of God is always alive and hope is not meaningless; there are people all over the world, maybe small in number, but united in a new vision of God, and society, quietly and without fuss, being changed and bringing about change; in God, we can be confident that it can, and will, come about.

Despite everything we can say ‘No’ to cynicism, ‘Yes’ to hope!

Father Jonathan

 The photos show some of the people at our “retreat” called Mariapolis, the City of Mary who gives birth to the Word of God.

Photo Gallery

Some of the many people attending the Mariapolis 2013

      (1) Some young people at their singing (2) people getting to know each other                 

 (1) A young man shows the Welsh Connection (2) Some of the Leylanders attending

 James gave me the following poem when I told him I met a Religious Brother with his same name. Both James Hayes were interested in this fact. At the Mariapolis he got very ill and without being taken to Shrewsbury hospital he might have begun his rest in the arms of the one who loves him. I suspect his greatest friends in this world are those of the UK Focolare Movement.

This Life of Mine:

This life of mine

Will soon end

So this message

To my friends I send.

I thank you for the kind

Support you have given me

Thank you for all your support

And the love you’ve given me

You loved me from the very start

You loved me with all your heart

You loved me of your own free will

And I know that you love me still.

For a new commandment was given to you

“Love one another as I love you.”

The love God gave you was free

This is why I know you still love me.

I did the best that I could do

In the allotted time

That time is now over

Now I’ve crossed the finishing line.

The journey is now over

And so now I can rest

In the arms of the one who loves me

And who knows I did my best.

James Hayes