Reflection –
Sermon four of five from Matthew’s gospel provides today’s gospel. This is directed to the community. What is to be done regarding a wrongdoer? We can almost hear echoes of an early Christian debate! Jesus teaches that on the one hand, the community must be saved from damage at the hands of wrongdoers, but on the other, every compassionate effort must be made to help the wrongdoer undergo a change of mind and behaviour.
Mass readings.
23rd Sunday of the Year -Year A, 5th & 6th September 2026
1st Reading: Ezekiel 33:7-9
Responsorial Psalm. O that today you would listen to his voice! ‘Harden not your hearts’.
Second Reading: Romans 13:8-10
Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia, God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.………… Alleluia
Gospel: Matthew 18:15-20
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PARISH UPDATES:
Mass Bookings. We invite mass bookings for special intentions, wedding anniversaries, Birthdays, Death anniversaries of our loved ones and general prayers. The mass stipends (Donations) are part of our contribution towards the good of the church and support of our priest. Please use the envelopes at the back of the church and fill out all detals. A minimum of one week’s notice is advised, earlier if possible so we can include in the weekly newsletter on time.
Artwork – The image for today’s newsletter was drawn by parishioner Jorge Kerr. If you would be interested in providing your own artwork for future newsletters appropriate to the reading for a particular week, please get in touch with the communications group at the office e-mail, office.stcuthbertsedinburgh@staned .org.uk
Catechesis – Parents with children who don’t attend catholic school and would like them to receive the sacraments during school term times 2026/27, please register them for catechesis asap using the form at the back of the church. This is applicable to P3 children for Reconciliation, P4 for First Communion, and P7 for Confirmation.
Catechism classes will start soon on Saturdays afternoon, according to demand. Also, if you’d like to join the catechist team please let us know on office.stcuthbertsedinburgh@staned.org.uk.
Publications – There are some back copies of the International Catholic Weekly, (The Tablet) in the porch. Feel free to help yourself to a copy. There are also a small number of Mass cards in the porch for sale.
Parish Council meeting – The next Pastoral Parish Council (PPC) will be held on Tuesday 13 October. Parishioners are encouraged to contact the PPC Secretary (Gerry Higgins) or any member of the Parish Council if they have any issues they would like to be discussed at the PPC meeting. Minutes of the meeting will be posted on the church notice board and also posted on the parish website.
Sacristans & Passkeepers – Due to illness we are currently very stretched on the Sacristan and Passkeeper teams. We are also looking for a new coordinator for the Passkeeper rota. If you are able to help by joining the team please speak to Fr Francis or drop a message to office.stcuthbertsedinburgh@staned .org.uk
Coffee Morning – Next Sunday, 13th September there will be Teas & Coffees after Mass
Archdiocese Updates
Pastoral Letter on Assisted Suicide – Bishop John Keenan, President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland’s Marriage, Family and Life Office, has issued a pastoral letter ahead of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill returning to the House of Commons on 11 September. He urges you to contact your MP and ask them to vote against the Bill, while also encouraging prayer and support for those who are seriously ill, their families and carers. The full pastoral letter can be read online at archedinburgh.org/news
Volunteer to Support Children with Special Needs in Edinburgh – Three new adult volunteers are needed for the newly forming Children SPRED (Special Religious Development) group meeting at George Square in Edinburgh on Fridays from 3pm-4pm. The spiritual programme for children with special needs fosters communion with Jesus Christ within the Catholic community of faith. Please contact Sister Mary Benedicta Maier, RSM (srmary.benedicta@staned.org.uk) if you are interested in learning about becoming a SPRED volunteer catechist for this new Edinburgh children’s group.
Children’s Liturgy Leaders’ Morning – A morning of prayer and reflection for Children’s Liturgy leaders will be held on Saturday 12 September, from 9:00am-midday, at The Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1EE. The event will begin with Mass in St Margaret’s Chapel, celebrated by Fr Adrian Porter SJ, followed by sessions on reading and reflecting on the Gospels and on personal prayer. Register now at bit.ly/kidliturgyevent
Venerable Margaret Sinclair Pilgrimage – This year’s pilgrimage takes place on Sunday 20 September at St Patrick’s Church in The Cowgate, Edinburgh. Schedule: 12:30pm – Sale of candles & goods, refreshments; 1:30pm – Holy Hour (exposition and benediction); 3:00pm – Reflection from Canon Jock Dalrymple; 4:30pm – Mass celebrated by Archbishop Cushley (Homilist: Fr Michael John Galbraith).
National Youth Pilgrimage -The National Youth Pilgrimage (for ages 18–35) will take place on Saturday 26 September at Pluscarden Abbey. This year’s focus is on religious and monastic life and will include a tour of the Abbey, a Q&A with the monks, talks on vocation, and a Vigil Mass with Archbishop Cushley. Young people are invited to travel with the Archdiocese. To register please contact youth.office@staned.org.uk.
£15 leadership event offer for young adults – Young people aged 17–35 are invited to attend The Revival and The Calling at the SEC Armadillo, Glasgow, on 1–2 October. A limited number of tickets, normally costing around £125, are available for just £15. The events offer an opportunity for Christian worship, prayer and leadership development. To request a ticket, email gensec@bcos.org.uk by Friday 4 September. Places are first come, first served. More information: thecalling.scot
Poverty in Scotland – can we do more? – An event to dive into the reality of poverty in Scotland. We’ll hear from a range of speakers working on the frontline, discuss what’s being done and explore ways we can do more to help. It’s a chance to connect, share ideas, and spark change. It takes place on Saturday 3 October, 10:30am-4:00pm at, The Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1BB. Register at bit.ly/povertyinscotland
Archdiocesan events – Events are listed at archedinburgh.org/events
Our Lady’s Offertory Collections.
Last Sunday’s collection: £212
Month total collections (Bank & Cash) £1.077
Special Collections: £248
Bank Total (month) £820
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, September 9th, 10.00am
-Helen Gardiner
- Ida Dudgeon
Friday September 11th, 10.00am
- David Scott - RIP
- Louise Lundberg - RIP
- Frances & Billy Whelan
- Margaret
Sunday, September 13th, 11.30am
- Breedge & Kenneth Pritchard
- Lisa & Aongus McCarthy
Blessings to you, your families and those who are dear to you in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Go and tell him his fault
Matthew 18:15-20
At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.’
Reflection on the painting
We all take a wrong turn from time to time. We say or do things that cause hurt or harm, whether we intend to or not. In such moments, it can be truly helpful if someone we know and trust has the courage to gently tell us where we may have gone astray. It isn’t easy to do; it takes bravery to speak up, and it takes humility to listen and accept that the other person might be right.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks about the need, at times, to confront someone over a fault — not harshly, but with love. He saw this as part of the responsibility we bear for one another: to guide and encourage each other in living rightly. We are called to support each other in striving to do God’s will. But this call must be balanced with what Jesus says elsewhere: before we try to remove the speck from someone else’s eye, we should first take the plank out of our own. In other words, we must always be more aware of our own failings than the faults of others. If we ever need to correct someone, we do so with a real awareness of our own weaknesses, and always in a spirit of compassion and shared struggle.
Sandro Botticelli’s The Calumny of Apelles is a powerful counter-example to the kind of fraternal correction Jesus speaks of in the Gospel. Instead of humble truth-telling grounded in prayer and love, this painting shows the destructive opposite: slander, pride, and rash judgment. On the far left stands Truth, nude and pointing upwards to heaven. The ‘naked truth’ as we sometime say. Beside her is Repentance, clothed in black, solemn and withdrawn. At the centre of the painting lies the innocent victim, half-naked and helpless on the ground, being dragged by the hair by Calumny (Slander), a richly dressed figure in white and blue who brandishes a flaming torch, symbolising the dangerous allure and spread of lies. Just behind her, Fraud carefully arranges Calumny’s hair, while Conspiracy, clad in red and yellow, looms over the victim, reinforcing the atmosphere of betrayal. To the right stands Envy, a dark, hooded figure, who extends his hand towards the eyes of the king, literally clouding his vision. The king, seated on a throne and wearing the donkey’s ears of King Midas (a symbol of foolishness) is flanked by Ignorance and Suspicion, who whisper into his ears and hold them tightly, steering his judgment. The scene captures the devastating power of false judgment and manipulation, warning against the danger of correcting others without humility, prayer, or a clear view of the truth.