More often than not we don’t like departures and goodbyes. There are many goodbyes through out our lives. They take different forms, the departure of a friend or relative after a visit; leaving school or college for the final time; broken relationships; the departure of bereavement. We are familiar with departures and the apprehension, even devastation, they can bring. This Sunday in the gospel Jesus talks of his departure. The context are the events immediately before His betrayal and death. Sunday’s gospel is part of a complex and deeply layered teaching, it is as though Jesus knows that events are moving very quickly and He has a lot He wants to get across in a short time. It is not surprising that at the time His friends cannot take it all in, and do not fully understand what Jesus is talking about. At the time it must all have seemed a bit of a jumble all of which was compounded by how events seemed to play themselves out with their desertion of Jesus, His crucifixion, and His death. Beyond Sunday’s gospel we see that after His resurrection, though Jesus spends time with His friends, things are still not clear and only come into sharp focus after Jesus leaves them at his Ascension. After this the promised helper, “the spirit of truth”, comes to them at Pentecost, where almost in a split second they understand the entirety of Jesus’ mission and are compelled to share it, regardless of the cost and circumstances. In Sunday's gospel Jesus’ promise to be with his disciples forever comes true perhaps not in a way that they anticipate or expect. The fulfilment of this “forever promise” is that His friends, including us, by our acceptance by God as his sons and daughters, are united in what God desires to be an unbreakable bond not only with Jesus, but also unity with the Father and the Holy Spirit. The only thing that can fracture this unity is sin. By our adoption by God through Baptism we are called to an unimaginable greatness and glory, sharing the life, unity and love of the Holy Trinity. What greater gift can God offer us? Why does God do this, He is complete in Himself in the life of the Trinity; God needs nothing. It is a gift offered through nothing but love of you. There is never a point in our lives, regardless of our circumstances, the events of our lives, who or what we are we are, when God does not love us as much as His own Son. God constantly looks for us and wants to embrace us in love, compassion and mercy. He desires to bind up the wounds of our heart and soul and to wipe the tears from our eyes. How can we respond to the immensity of God’s love and his ardent desire to share His life with us? The truth is that this side of eternity we can’t. We all know that we are frail and weak. Often our best intentions come to nothing. More often than not when we want to do the right thing it doesn’t work out that way. God understands this; we are told that Jesus was tempted in every way that we are but he did not sin. However the path to unity with God is simple, love of God and each other. This is a source of encouragement for us, but how we respond to God’s call in our lives is down to us. Jesus knows that we do our best to love him, presence at Mass gives witnesses to this. He knows that you love him and He loves you in return. As Jesus loves you so does the Father. You are loved by God – truly, madly, deeply. After all, remember that Jesus died for love of you. Always remember too that the Holy Spirit has been given to you – the helper, the advocate, the consoler in times of doubt and trouble. Invite the Holy Spirit to enter your heart, mind and soul. Invite the Holy Spirit to strengthen and transform you into the likeness of God, a likeness intended for you from the foundation of the world. Invite the Holy Spirit to restore and heal you throughout your life, particularly in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which is a sacrament of healing. Remember that the Lord Jesus is with you, yesterday, today, always, just as he promised. God bless and keep you over the coming week. Fr Chris

It is good to be back with you after my Pauline pilgrimage. As you can imagine I studied the life and writing of St Paul when training for the priesthood and my College in Rome was across the road from where he is buried. It was good to give all this some context by following in his footsteps – I managed to avoid his two shipwrecks though! Be assured that I prayed daily for your intentions, known and unknown, every day. I missed you all though and it is good to be back. St Paul, pray for us! God bless and keep you.  Fr Chris