In the first reading, Jeremiah describes the difficulties preaching the word brought to him.  He was mocked and ridiculed.  His faith in God and his word gave him strength to carry on.

Paul talks of his belief that we must offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to God.  He stresses that we should not follow the crowd and its ideologies but follow the teaching of Jesus.

Jesus himself warns of the suffering discipleship will demand if we are true disciples.  He foretells his own suffering and death and stresses his disciples will need to follow his example.

The first reading is from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians.  He continues his teaching on faith.  He has been reminding the Corinthians that they must not rely on the language of philosophy.  A crucified Christ to many is completely illogical.  To the follower of Christ it is not.

For the rest of the year the Gospel comes from St. Luke. Today’s passage is about the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry.  He is sad because he is not accepted by his own people.

St. Paul continues his great reflection on faith.  He reminds the Corinthians that they can never know God by depending on human philosophy.

Away from his own town, Jesus is amazed to find more faith in the people.  They listen to him and were astonished at the great things he did.

Gregory was born in 540 and came from an educated family in Rome.  He lived in the sixth century and died in 604.  Rome was under attack by barbarians.  There were plagues and earthquakes.  When his father died, Gregory distributed his estate among the poor of Rome and turned the family home into a monastery.  He became a deacon, serving the Pope and became his emissary.  When he became Pope he made sure everyone was treated with Justice.  He took as one of his titles 'the servant of the servants of God.'  Gregorian chant dates back to him, as does the calendar we use today.  He is regarded as the Apostle of the English and sent St. Augustine of Canterbury to England to bring about its conversion.

Today is the Feast of St. Cuthbert, the patron saint of our parish.  He was born in 635 and entered the monastery in Melrose when he was 17.  He became known as a preacher and teacher and travelled around the borders and northeast England.  He settled in Lindisfarne (Holy Island) but spent time on Inner Farne, living as a hermit.  He became Bishop if Hexham but was unhappy in this role and returned to Lindisfarne where he died.  Initially he was buried there but because of the fear of his grave being vandalised, the monks moved his body.  His final resting place is Durham Cathedral.

St Paul reminds us that we are all entrusted with the mysteries of God.  We are all his servants. Therefore we should lives that reflect that. This is how God will judge us.

Once more, in the Gospel, the scribes and the Pharisees are trying to Jesus out.

Paul again criticises the Corinthians for abandoning the teachings he had passed on to them. He reminds them to be wary of the false prophets.  They are to be fools for Christ. This may bring hardship.

In the Gospel Jesus continues his attack on the Pharisees who were abusing the Law and the Sabbath.  The Sabbath was made for people, not the other way round.