06/06/2026
My Dear Friends,
In the Gospel for this First Sunday after Trinity, Jesus calls a tax collector named Matthew to be his disciple. Jesus' invitation to Matthew, “Follow me,” is similar to Jesus' invitation to the first disciples: Peter, Andrew, James, and John. Like the first disciples, Matthew rises immediately and follows Jesus. Discipleship calls one to a new life, a new vocation. The fishermen leave their nets; the tax collector leaves his customs post.
After Matthew decides to follow Jesus as a disciple, he joins Jesus at a table with other tax collectors and sinners. The Pharisees observe this group of people and criticise Jesus for his choice of dinner companions. The Pharisees were known for their scrupulous observance of Jewish law, which stipulated that Jews who shared table fellowship with people who were ritually unclean would themselves be made unclean. Tax collectors were considered ritually unclean because their job required them to handle pagan coins. The Pharisees required that the unclean first become ritually pure before sharing table fellowship. Jesus, however, disobeys these strict purity rules by communing with tax collectors and sinners through the sharing of food.
Jesus explains that the healthy do not need a physician, before quoting the words of the Prophet Hosea by saying that he desires mercy rather than sacrifice.
This seemingly simple message that God loves us first, not because of what we do but simply because we are God's children, can be a difficult one for us to take to heart. We seem to want to make things more difficult by trying to prove our worth to God. Yet Jesus calls us even while we are sinners and welcomes us into the community of disciples.
With my love and prayer,
Fr. Richard
Intercessions
In peace let us pray to the Lord; for the peace that is from above, and for the salvation of all souls, saying:
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
For the life of For Christ’s body, the Church, that she may be firm in the confession of her faith. For Sarah Archbishop of Canterbury, for this Diocese of London, for Emma and Lusa our bishops, and for all the people of God:
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
For the life of the world, that your peace may be known and may prevail. For nations beset by violence, for all who yearn for freedom, in Iran, Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan, for this nation and for Charles our King:
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
For this community, for all who live, work or visit here, for our families, friends, colleagues and neighbours:
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
For the sick in body, mind or spirit, For the anxious, the lonely, the dying and the bereaved among them Kay, Bill, Joan, Nora, Cathy, Sacha, Sebastien, Chris, Jenny, Pauline, Rutti, Roy, Trish, Jemil, Nigel, Doug, Stephen, Damien, Anthony, Marjorie, Amber, Doug, Pat, Fleur, George, Michael, Marlene, Neri, Naheda, Okailey, Phoebe, Lynne, and Wieslawa.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
For those who have died, among them Andrea Cheek, Andrea Arthurs, recently departed and Max Wierzbicki, Joyce Wierzbicki, Agatha Thomas, Frederick Metcalfe priest, Oliver Ladwa, Francis Stone, Ada Burch, Dilys Boorman, and Beryl Dillon, whose anniversaries fall this week, that theirs may be the kingdom which is unshakeable:
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
As we invoke the prayers of Our Lady, and all the saints we commend ourselves and all for whom we pray to the love of God.
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
Our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
A prayer for peace in Iran
Ever-loving God, who hears us in our anguish and distress, and longs for us to be free. We pray for the people of Iran and the wider Middle East, at this time of fear and uncertainty. Be near to the anxious; bring comfort to the suffering. Guide those with power to make decisions, and lead them in the ways of wisdom, compassion and moderation: that people of goodwill would seek harmony and reconciliation. Join us with our Christian brothers and sisters in all places, in praying for peace with justice, through him who is the prince of peace, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
A prayer for peace in Ukraine
Lord of all the earth, be present with the people of Ukraine at this time of danger, fear, and conflict. Grant that wise and peaceable counsels may yet prevail and give to all suffering nations the freedom they desire and deserve. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Announcements
Church is open for private prayer and reflection. Please see separate sheet for opening hours and Mass times.
Refreshments are served after the 10.30 Mass on Sunday. Please join us in the Parish Hall.
Giving
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https://www.parishgiving.org.uk/.../ealing-christ-the.../
Thank you so much for your continued support and generosity in ensuring that Christ the Saviour continues to be a warm, welcoming, house of prayer here at the heart of Ealing Broadway.