The Bishops' Conference of Scotland

Gospel
Matthew 7:21-29
The house built on rock and the house built on the sand.

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord”, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?” And then will I declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.”
‘Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.’
And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

This Sunday, the Church in Scotland celebrates the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. As part of this celebration, the annual Peter’s Pence collection will take place in all Parishes this weekend.

Peter’s Pence is a worldwide collection that offers Catholics an opportunity to support the Holy Father in his ministry and the mission of the Church throughout the world. Your donation is a practical expression of unity with Pope Leo XIV and helps support the Church’s charitable, pastoral and evangelising work.

Jesus called John the greatest of all those who had preceded him: “I tell you, among those born of women, no one is greater than John….” But John would have agreed completely with what Jesus added: “[Y]et the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he” (Luke 7:28).

John spent his time in the desert, an ascetic. He began to announce the coming of the Kingdom, and to call everyone to a fundamental reformation of life. His purpose was to prepare the way for Jesus. His baptism, he said, was for repentance. But one would come who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. John was not worthy even to untie his sandals. His attitude toward Jesus was: “He must increase; I must decrease” (John 3:30).

John was humbled to find among the crowd of sinners who came to be baptized the one whom he already knew to be the Messiah. “I need to be baptized by you” (Matthew 3:14b). But Jesus insisted, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15b). Jesus, true and humble human as well as eternal God, was eager to do what was required of any good Jew. Jesus thus publicly entered the community of those awaiting the Messiah. But making himself part of that community, he made it truly messianic.

The greatness of John, his pivotal place in the history of salvation, is seen in the great emphasis Luke gives to the announcement of his birth and the event itself—both made prominently parallel to the same occurrences in the life of Jesus. John attracted countless people to the banks of the Jordan, and it occurred to some people that he might be the Messiah. But he constantly deferred to Jesus, even to sending away some of his followers to become the first disciples of Jesus.

Perhaps John’s idea of the coming of the Kingdom of God was not being perfectly fulfilled in the public ministry of Jesus. For whatever reason, when he was in prison he sent his disciples to ask Jesus if he was the Messiah. Jesus’ answer showed that the Messiah was to be a figure like that of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah. John himself would share in the pattern of messianic suffering, losing his life to the revenge of Herodias.

A joyful occasion for the Church in Scotland as the new chapel and monastery at Carmel Glasgow were blessed by Archbishop Leo Cushley.

The celebration brought together many of the Carmelite communities from across Scotland, alongside Fr Dermot OP, marking an important milestone in the life of the Carmelite family and their continuing mission of prayer and contemplation.

We give thanks for this new sacred space and pray that it may be a place of peace, prayer and encounter with God for many years to come.

Please keep the Carmelite community in your prayers. 🙏

"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." - Psalms 139

Visit our website to see more prayers on Day for Life. https://www.cbcew.org.uk/dfl26-prayers