The Feast of Ss John Fisher and Thomas More | Wednesday 22 June 2022

Today is Wednesday the 22nd June, the feast of Saints John Fisher and Thomas More.

The community of Taizé sing Fiez-vous en lui: “Trust in Him and do not fear. The peace of God will protect your hearts. Alleluia.”

Fiez-vous en Lui, ne craignez pas.
La paix de Dieu gardera vos coeurs.
Fiez-vous en Lui. Alleluia. Alleluia.


Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 24:4-13

Jesus answered them, ‘Beware that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, “I am the Messiah!” and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs.

‘Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. Then many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. But anyone who endures to the end will be saved.

The lives and deaths of Saints John Fisher and Thomas Moore remind us of the cost of following Jesus. Yet they simply obeyed the logical consequences of their beliefs to the end. Friendship was important to both of them and Moore wrote once: “We need people in our lives with whom we can be as open as possible. To have real conversations with people may seem like such a simple, obvious suggestion, but it involves courage and risk.” You might like to give thanks to God for a friend and recall some of the deep conversations you have had with them.

In today’s Gospel there is a warning that love grows cold when it is confused by lawlessness, falsity and betrayal. How can you help to keep love warm among your friends, in your family, or in your local community?

As you listen again to the reading, notice that a new springtime is waiting in the shadow hardship: The true messiah will lead us to the right path, the birth pangs of nature will lead to new life, God will warm the love of the faithful. What is your vision of a world brought into being through faith?

As we draw to a close, you might like to share that vision with the Lord. Tell him about the difficulties you face in following him. Share with him the hope that you hold for a new springtime filled with hope.

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.