Some thoughts for Sunday
"The major themes of the passage from today’s Gospel are rooted in the belief of a Messiah coming from the House of David. Here Jesus is confessed as both Christ and Son of God; he builds a church or temple, and he gives to Peter the keys to the kingdom of heaven. These are all Davidic motifs. The giving of the keys of the kingdom of heaven to Peter has its closest parallel in Isaiah 22:22, where God will place on Eliakim’s shoulder “the key” to “the house of David”, a term with messianic associations. With it he will open and none will shut, and he will shut and none will open. This text, which is applied to Jesus in Revelation 3:7, and here lies behind Jesus’ promise to Peter, is about the activity of a man second only to the king. When Peter confesses that Jesus is more than a prophet, that he is the Christ, the Son of the living God, Jesus pronounces over him (not the disciples as a group) a blessing. The new name, “Peter”, which he is given, meaning rock, marks him as a man with a unique role. His significance is like that of Abraham, who was also given a new name, whose faith is the means by which God brings a people into being. In Isaiah 51, Abraham is called a rock from which the people of God are quarried. This lends significance to Peter’s new name. But Peter has to learn the hard lesson that Jesus will suffer – the very next passage will speak of Jesus going to Jerusalem, where he will suffer – and that anyone following him will have to “renounce himself and take up his cross and follow [him]”. Peter is given a new authority and the role of leadership, but that will come at a price, as Peter will learn in due course. "
- Sr Margaret Shepherd
The Church is Open!!
The Cathedral will continue to be open every day this week from 12noon-6pm, and St Andrew’s Church in Ravelston will open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 10am-12noon. Find out what changes to expect in the church on the website. Welcome back!
Daily Confessions in the Cathedral
Confessions in English are Monday-Friday at 1pm-2pm, and on Saturdays from 12noon-2pm. There are also confessions in Polish from 5pm-6pm. To provide better ventilation, the Sacristy has been set up as a confessional with a screen to ensure anonymity.
“Rediscovering Catholicism” – A Short Course in Theology on Zoom - Wednesdays at 7pm
Over 80 people joined us for the first session in this series on Wednesday. It was a great success. If you would like to join in next Wednesday contact Fr. Jamie as soon as possible on frjamie@stmaryscathedral.co.uk.
Ongoing Repairs in the Cathedral
Just to let you know that we are continuing our efforts to maintain and improve the fabric of the Cathedral. The installation of the new Fire Protection System continues in both the Cathedral and the Cathedral House. The railings outside the Cathedral will be re-painted next week. And work on the floor in the Hall (which was ruined when someone left a tap on in the loos over night!) will finally begin next week beginning 6th July. Many thanks to all of you who have made donations to help with these works – either by cheque or by using the electronic giving devices in the Cathedral and on the website. We could not maintain the Cathedral without your generosity.
Cathedral Podcasts
You can now listen to sermons, talks and messages from the Cathedral as you jog, drive or do the dishes with our new podcast. You can download mp3 files here: https://stmaryscathedral.podbean.com/. You can also subscribe to receive updates automatically on Apple podcasts. Do you get your podcasts from another source? Let us know and we'll try to make ours available there too.
Online Safeguarding Training Sessions
We will be offering safeguarding training via Zoom for new volunteers (part 1 training) on Monday the 29th June and for existing volunteers that need to have a training update (part 2 training) on Monday the 6th July. All you need to take part in the training session is access to the internet and there will be a maximum of 10 volunteers at each session. To register, please email Chris McCabe at Chris.mccabe@staned.org.uk.
4 O’clock Prayer for Vocations
Priests for Scotland is promoting a new initiative to pray for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, called the 4 O’clock Prayer, with inspiration from the hour when Jesus called St Andrew in the Gospel:
Lord Jesus, at this hour, you called Andrew, our patron, and his companion to be your disciples. We pray that the men and women of our country may hear your call to discipleship at this same hour. May they respond to your call with generosity, confidence and enthusiasm. Inspired by the example of Mary Immaculate may they say ‘yes’ to service in the priesthood, the consecrated life and the diaconate.
Mary, Star of the New Evangelisation, pray for us.
Andrew, Patron Saint of Scotland, pray for us.
All Saints of our land, pray for us.
Read the newsletter for 28th June (pdf)
Read the newsletter for 28 June (doc)