Focus on St Thomas More and St John Fisher

INTRODUCTION
Brief lives of Thomas More and John Fisher - can be found on web etc.

PRAYER
Father, you confirm the true faith with the crown of martyrdom. May the prayers of Saints John Fisher and Thomas More give us the courage to proclaim our faith by the witness of our lives. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, foe ever and ever. Amen.

Do not be afraid
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body
Do not be afraid of those who set traps for you
Do not be afraid of those who insult you or of those who come bearing arms...
Do not be afraid of those who twist everything to ensure that justice never triumphs.
Be afraid only of being afraid, like those who lie to survive.

Do not be afraid of those who threaten to kill you or to destroy your reputation.
Do not be afraid of the strong and mighty though they are armed, they tremble.
Do not be afraid of those who dictate the rules in order never to lose.
Be afraid only of being afraid, like those who keep silent and pretend not to see.

Do not be afraid of those who stand up in public and assert that all is well in the world.
Do not be afraid of those who declare, scornfully, that your ideas are impractical.
Do not be afraid of the prophet's role: the role of the prophet is to speak out.
Be afraid only of being afraid, like those who believe it is better not to sing.

Truth will liberate you.
Truth will set you free, free!
    - Sung in communities of Brazil in memory of Dom Helder Câmara.
 

What does it avail to know that there is a God, which you not only believe by Faith, but also know by reason: what does it avail that you know Him if you think little of Him?

                        - Saint Thomas More


GOSPEL     Matthew 7  (taken from The Message)
"Don't be flip with the sacred. Banter and silliness give no honour to God. Don't reduce holy mysteries to slogans. In trying to be relevant, you're only being cute and inviting sacrilege. "Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behaviour: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God's Law and Prophets and this is what you get.

Being and Doing
"Don't look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with sure fire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practised in your spare time. Don't fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life--to God!-is vigorous and requires total attention.

What follows are two writings, one from each of the saints being celebrated.  You may have them read quietly by the group - or aloud by readers.  Afterwards, give time for quiet reflection, and a sharing of the gospel and the saints' writings, leading to intercessory prayers.

REFLECTIONS
Finding the Narrow Gate
No matter how much the sinner is blinded by the devil's deceits, some spark yet remains in the soul that cannot easily be extinguished and quenched, which always strives against sin and as much as possible, if we are disposed to hear it and act accordingly, entices the body to do good. But there are many persons who give more attention to other vain things with which they are busily occupied and so forget themselves. Such people are rather present with those transitory things than with themselves. Saint Augustine says the mind and thought of a man is more where he loves than with himself. Would God the people disposed in this way would return at last, hear, see, and make due search of what is done in their consciences, as the prodigal child did, who after his offence came again to himself and knew all his misery.
    - Saint John Fisher

Letter from Prison
Although I know well, Margaret, that because of my past wickedness I deserve to be abandoned by God, I cannot but trust in his merciful goodness. His grace has strengthened me until now and made me content to lose goods, land, and life as well, rather than to swear against my conscience. God's grace has given the king a gracious frame of mind toward me, so that as yet he has taken from me nothing but my liberty. In doing this His Majesty has done me such great good with respect to spiritual profit that I trust that among all the great benefits he has heaped so abundantly upon me I count my imprisonment the very greatest. I cannot, therefore, mistrust the grace of God.

I will not mistrust him, Meg, though I shall feel myself weakening and on the verge of being overcome with fear. I shall remember how Saint Peter at a blast of wind began to sink because of his lack of faith, and I shall do as he did: call upon Christ and pray to him for help. And then I trust he shall place his holy hand on me and in the stormy seas hold me up from drowning.

And finally, Margaret, I know this well: that without my fault he will not let me be lost. I shall, therefore, with good hope commit myself wholly to him. But in good faith, Meg, I trust that his tender pity shall keep my poor soul safe and make me commend his mercy.

And, therefore, my own good daughter, do not let you mind be troubled over anything that shall happen to me in this world. Nothing can come but what God wills. And I am very sure that whatever that be, however bad it may seem, it shall indeed be the best.

    - letter written by Saint Thomas More to his daughter Margaret

PAUSE FOR QUIET REFLECTION AND SHARING

INTERCESSIONS

    - from the community


CLOSING PRAYER

    Our Father...

CLOSING HYMN:        We Will Drink the Cup (from CD, The Spirit of Malia, GIA)