Dear family members and friends, Love demands love. Jesus loves us and he demands love from us. It is very important to listen to what Jesus says: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” We cannot simply say in words that we love Jesus. The proof for our love is whether we keep His commandments. And to those who love Him and keep His commandments, Jesus promises to give them another Helper, the Holy Spirit.
Again, Jesus promises that He will not leave us as orphans, but He will come again to those who believe in Him and love Him. There will be a very close relation between the Father, Jesus and ourselves, a relation of indwelling love: Being in Jesus and Jesus being in the Father, we become one with the Father because the Father will love those who love Jesus. Amen
Dear family members and friends, In today’s Gospel we see 4 important messages from Jesus which strengthen our faith in order to remain closer to him. First Jesus gives us great hope saying, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.” Secondly Jesus tells the most famous statement, “I am the way, and the truth and the life” and reveals himself as the only way to the Father. Thirdly, Jesus says “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” Fourthly, Jesus speaks about the spiritual power we have through communion with Him, “whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these he will do.” Let us remain with Jesus in faith and work for Him. St. Peter reminds us today, “You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” Amen.
Please consider remembering our church or the Priesthood in your Will. Find out more: www.rcaos.org.uk/donate/leave-a-legacy or pick up one of the leaflets on the newsletter table.
Dear family members and friends, The very famous image of Jesus as Good Shepherd is of great hope and confidence for us. Jesus speaks about the difference between a shepherd and a thief. The shepherd enters through the door and the sheep hear his voice and follow him. The thief is the one who enters the sheepfold through some other way. The thief enters to steal, kill and destroy. But Jesus as the good shepherd has come to give life and that in abundance. There are some people who come to us pretending to help us and guide us. But they are like wolves in sheep’s skin. Let us try to identify the true shepherds and false ones and follow only the true one who lays his life for the sheep as Jesus did. Amen
Archbishop John Wilson is calling on all of us to join him in praying the Rosary for Life this May (Month of Mary). Together, we will pray through the Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious and Luminous Mysteries, each one offered for the most vulnerable facing growing threats to life: unborn children at risk of abortion, victims of war and persecution, people with disabilities, and the elderly and vulnerable. For video, audio and written versions of the Rosary for Life, visit rcaos.org.uk/rosaryforlife. Pray the Rosary. Encounter Christ. Defend life.
St. Simon Stock Catholic Church 
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