Reflection –
Matthew, having taken us through the Sermon on the Mount, returns once more to Jesus teaching disciples. It is interesting that Jesus does this for the benefit of the crowds of people gathering round Jesus, who likens them to sheep who lack a shepherd. Jesus is the ultimate shepherd figure, but even he cannot shepherd all the sheep on his own, so he sets the twelve to share in that work. For Matthew, no one – not even Jesus – can shepherd on his own.
Mass readings.
11th Sunday of the Year – A, June 13th & 14th 2026
1st Reading: Exodus 19:2-6a
Responsorial Psalm. We are his people, the sheep of his flock
Second Reading: Romans 5:6-11
Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia…The kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel ………… Alleluia
Gospel: Matthew 9:36-10:8
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PARISH UPDATES:
Coffee Morning – The monthly Tea and Coffee morning will be after Mass today – please come along!
SSVP Social Event – Afternoon Tea/Coffee with Music/Quiz: We invite you to
come along to the Church Hall at Our Lady’s on Friday 19th June, 3:30 to
5:30pm, for a social get-together with live music and some quiz questions!
There may even be some prizes! Please let one of the members of the SSVP
know (or phone 0793 332 7051) if you plan to attend, so we can gauge
numbers, dietary requirements, and whether you require transport to/from the
hall that afternoon.
Encountering Jesus, Touching God – Are you a new Catholic, or simply wish to renew your faith? On Saturday 20 June come to a retreat day at The Gillis Centre,100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1BB. Special guest is Fr Lawrence Lew, global Promoter General for the Holy Rosary. This Archdiocesan event includes Mass, short talks, and time for prayer. Register at bit.ly/newcatholicsretreat
Consultation – Archbishop Cushley invites you to respond to consultation questions from the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland regarding the structures of the Church in Scotland. The consultation questions are online at bit.ly/archconsultation26. For context, please see the BCOS statement at bit.ly/bcosstatement. Responses must be submitted by Friday 26 June.
Day for Life Collection Sunday 21 June – The National Day for Life Collection is split 50/50 between the Archdiocese and the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland. The Archdiocesan share will be used to support pro-life work covering issues at the beginning and end of life: the unborn and their mothers, the disabled, the elderly and the dying. This may include support for advocacy, education, pastoral care and formation in these areas, particularly in response to current developments and needs. In recent years, the Archdiocese has supported work including opposition to assisted suicide, protection of the unborn, post-abortion support, and the formation of young pro-lifers. More details at bit.ly/dayforlife26
Mass for Married & Engaged Couples – Archbishop Cushley will celebrate Mass for Married and Engaged Couples at St Mary’s Cathedral on Friday 19 June at 7:00pm with a reception afterwards in Coffee Saints. All welcome!
A Tainted Legacy – A member of L’Arche reflects on the legacy of Jean Vanier at 7:30pm on Wednesday 24 June at Newington Trinity Church, 18 West Mayfield, Edinburgh, EH9 1TQ. Entry by donation (suggested £5). Organised by The Newman Association Edinburgh Circle.
Our Lady’s Offertory Collections.
Last Sunday’s collection: £200
Month total collections (Bank & Cash) £200
Special Collections: £-
Bank Total (month) £812
Mass Bookings.
We are reminded that the booking of mass for our special intentions, wedding anniversaries, Birthday thanksgiving, Death anniversaries of our loved ones and general prayers is highly recommended. The mass stipends (Donations) are part of our contribution towards the good of the church and support of our priest.
MASS TIMINGS
MASS INTENTIONS
MASS DONOR
Wednesday, June 10th, 10.00am
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Friday June 12th, 10.00am
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Sunday, June 14th, 11.30am
- Stuart Fergusson
- Mary & Roy Cook
Blessings to you, your families and those who are dear to you in Jesus’ name, Amen.
They were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd
Matthew 9:36-10:8
When Jesus saw the crowds he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.’
He summoned his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits with power to cast them out and to cure all kinds of diseases and sickness.
These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, the one who was to betray him. These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them as follows:
‘Do not turn your steps to pagan territory, and do not enter any Samaritan town; go rather to the lost sheep of the House of Israel. And as you go, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils. You received without charge, give without charge.’
Reflection on the painting
Pope Francis often speaks of the church as a field hospital. It is a very helpful image to think of our church as such. Pope Francis is thinking of the hospitals that are set up in the vicinity of a war zone where the wounded come to have their wounds tended to. It is a portrayal of the church that reflects the ministry of Jesus.
Jesus tended to the wounded in body, mind and spirit. Our Gospel reading today highlights that dimension of Jesus’ ministry: ‘cure all kinds of diseases and sickness…cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils’. Jesus proclaims the presence of the kingdom of God by attending to other people’s needs. He has compassion on the crowds who come to him and seem harassed and dejected like sheep without a shepherd. A response was needed. So Jesus sends out the twelve as labourers to a harvest, with authority to proclaim the closeness of God’s kingdom by curing all kinds of diseases and sicknesses. Hereby Jesus proclaims the the ministry of his disciples, the ministry of the church, is to be a continuation of Jesus’ own healing ministry.
The Lord, present in the community of disciples and our church, calls to us to come before him with our wounds of body, mind or spirit. We are invited into the field hospital and open ourselves to Christ’s healing presence. The healing ministry Jesus started two thousand years ago still continues to this day in our church. There will be times when we will be the ones coming in with our wounds; there will be times when we will be sent out as disciples to bring his healing presence to others who are wounded. We are always wounded healers!
Our painting by Jean Frédéric Bazille depicts the painter Claude Monet in bed recovering from a leg injury he had sustained in summer 1865. A small field hospital had been set up in Chailly-en-Bière, a small village just on the outskirts of the forest of Fontainebleau. The bed is untidy. The structure of the room is basic. Textiles walls and floor convey the field hospital. We can see the red, inflamed wound on Monet’s shin, while his face expresses his despondency at being immobilised in this way. The intimacy of the scene demonstrates the bonds of friendship between the our painter Bazille and his friend Monet.
