The Feast of Ss John Fisher and Thomas More | Thursday 22 June 2023

Today is Thursday the 22nd of June, the feast of Saints John Fisher and Thomas More, in the 11th week of Ordinary time.

The nuns of Mary, Queen of Apostles, sing the hymn Jesu dulcis memoria. Sweet is the very thought of Jesus; giving true joy to the heart. But sweeter than the sweetest honey, is his very Presence.

Jesu, dulcis memoria,
Dans vera cordis gaudia:
Sed super mel et omnia
Ejus dulcis praesentia.
Nil canitur suavius,
Nil auditur jucundius,
Nil cogitatur dulcius,
Quam Jesus Dei Filius.
Jesu, spes paenitentibus,
Quam pius es petentibus!
Quam bonus te quaerentibus!
Sed quid invenientibus?
Nec lingua valet dicere,
Nec littera exprimere:
Expertus potest credere,
Quid sit Jesum diligere.
Sis, Jesu, nostrum gaudium,
Qui es futurus praemium
Sit nostra in te gloria,
Per cuncta semper saecula.
Amen.


Jesus, the very thought of Thee,
With sweetness fills my breast;
But sweeter far Thy Face to see
And in Thy presence rest.
Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find
A sweeter sound than Thy blest Name,
O Saviour of mankind!
O Hope of every contrite heart,
O joy of all the meek,
To those who fall, how kind Thou art,
How good to those who seek.
My tongue and words cannot express,
Their usefulness is low
But having felt is to believe,
sweet Jesus' love to know.
Jesus, our only joy be Thou,
As Thou our prize wilt be;
O Jesus, be our glory now
And through eternity.
Amen.

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.

In today’s reading Jesus’ words are full of warnings about false prophets, about wars, and of persecution of Christians. Find a word to describe how you felt as you listened to these words today.

A list of words and phrases will be read from our reading. As you hear them, turn your thoughts to prayer for the world as it is at present.

Wars and rumours of wars
Famine and earthquakes
Hated by all nations because of my name…

Hearing of such danger and persecution might be difficult to take in. We might perhaps prefer not to dwell on these words or take them too seriously.


Jesus’ words end with a promise: “But anyone who endures to the end will be saved.”

Take a moment to let these words encourage you.


As you listen to the reading again, imagine that you are sitting with the disciples of Jesus, noticing the mood and reaction of the group.

In these final moments of prayer, ask the Lord to fill you with His presence and peace as you watch and pray and endure the current sufferings of this world.

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.