The Feast of St Charles Lwanga and Companions | Friday 3 June 2022

Today is Friday the 3rd of June, the feast of Saint Charles Lwanga and companions, in the seventh week of Easter.

The monks of Glenstal Abbey sing Ubi caritas est vera, Deus ibi est. Wherever love is true, God is there. Take a moment to become still and aware of the presence of this God of love with you here…with you now.
Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.
Congregavit nos in unum Christi amor.
Exsultemus, et in ipso jucundemur.
Timeamus, et amemus Deum vivum.
Et ex corde diligamus nos sincero.
Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.
Simul ergo cum in unum congregamur:
Ne nos mente dividamur, caveamus.
Cessent iurgia maligna, cessent lites.
Et in medio nostri sit Christus Deus.
Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est.
Simul quoque cum beatis videamus,
Glorianter vultum tuum, Christe Deus:
Gaudium quod est immensum, atque probum,
Saecula per infinita saeculorum. Amen.
Where charity and love are, there God is.
The love of Christ has gathered us into one.
Let us exult, and in Him be joyful.
Let us fear and let us love the living God.
And from a sincere heart let us love each other (and Him).
Where charity and love are, there God is.
Therefore, whensoever we are gathered as one:
Lest we in mind be divided, let us beware.
Let cease malicious quarrels, let strife give way.
And in the midst of us be Christ our God.
Where charity and love are, there God is.
Together also with the blessed may we see,
Gloriously, Thy countenance, O Christ our God:
A joy which is immense, and also approved:
Through infinite ages of ages. Amen.


Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John.
John 21: 20-25
Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; he was the one who had reclined next to Jesus at the supper and had said, ‘Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?’ When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, what about him?’ Jesus said to him, ‘If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!’ So the rumour spread in the community that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, ‘If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?’
This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true. But there are also many other things that Jesus did; if every one of them were written down, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

Enjoy that final sentence; it’s rather like the ending of a children’s story. Yet the words are graced with the powerful comment of one convinced: “we know that his testimony is true”. Can you feel that conviction?
A very human, yet intimate, conversation with Jesus seems to be an important factor as John’s gospel draws to a close. What’s your reaction to the characters in today’s scene? What do you think made John describe himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved”? And what prompted Peter to ask that “what about him?” question?

Place yourself in the scene. Watch Jesus’ reaction. Of course Jesus loved both of them. He loved them for who they were, unreservedly, simply. As you hear the passage again, imagine the tone Jesus uses to speak to these, his friends.
Speak to the Lord, as one friend to another, about whatever is on your heart.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.