Author Archive: Archdiocese of Cape Town

Prayer and Reflection by Bishop Sylvester David OMI

Auxiliary Bishop Sylvester David offers his prayer and reflection for the people of the Archdiocese of Cape Town for today, Friday 17th April 2020, during this time of the coronavirus pandemic. It is also available on the Archdiocese of Cape Town’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. Please also see below the text of his reflection, primarily for the deaf.

Easter Friday: 17th April 2020

This is Friday in the Octave of Easter and I wish you a blessed Easter Octave. Easter this year is most unusual and we have been forced to develop a meaningful notion of Church. The Church exists at four levels. Firstly, there is the Universal Church with the headquarters in Rome. Secondly there is the local Church with the headquarters at the Chancery. Thirdly, there is the Parish Church, with the headquarters at the Parish Office. Fourthly, there is a level of Church that so many people overlook and at times even neglect – the Body of Christ in the home. In Matthew 18:20, Jesus reminds us that where two or three are gathered in his name he is there. And where the Head is, the Body is also there. And where Christ is there too will be the Father and the Holy Spirit. Just by coming together in the name of Christ, we have an opportunity to engage with the Divine. Notice this does not take place in any special destination but on the ordinariness of our lives. Covid-19 has forced us to look inwardly and so we gaze at the Church in the home.

The Gospel passage for today’s Mass is from John 21:1-14 and offers us many useful bits of information that can enrich our meditation on the Church. [Please read the text and see for yourselves]. Peter, impetuous as always decides to go fishing. This was no ordinary Sunday afternoon fishing trip. The word in the original text indicates an on-going activity. He was a fisherman before his encounter with Jesus and now he was going back to his old way of life. And so he gets into his boat with six others. They were afraid of what a cross-centred life meant and wanted to go back to business as usual. Is there any wonder that they caught nothing? Whenever we turn away from what the Lord calls us to do we end up with nothing.

The early Church Fathers used the boat as a symbol for the Church. This was not an apostolic thumb suck, for these people knew the Scriptures. They knew for example that the Hebrew word for Noah’s ark (Genesis 6:14) was the same word used to describe the little basket in which Moses was found on the waters of the Nile (Exodus 2:3). The word indicates the way in which God saves his people. Note that this salvation occurs through water. In the New Testament we read that Jesus got into the boat – and it was Peter’s (Luke 5:3). Jesus sits in the boat and teaches the crowd from there. When a Jewish rabbi sits it is an indication that he is about to announce an authoritative teaching. We still have that in the Church today, for whenever the Pope makes a definitive statement about faith or morals he does it ‘ex cathedra’ i.e. from the Chair. That in fact is the difference between a parish church and a Cathedral. The Cathedral has the bishop’s chair. 

Another interesting bit of information is that in Luke 5, when Jesus instructs them to cast their nets into the deep they catch many fish, so much so that their nets (plural) began to tear. But in John 21, in spite of there being so many big fish the net (singular) did not tear – an indication that in spite of what it seems the Church will not fail. Just as his physical body was torn and bleeding on the cross but not one of his bones was broken, so too with his mystical body; it is torn and wounded by division, lack of fidelity, and scandal but it will always be intact! Also whereas there were two boats in Luke 5, now after the resurrection in John 21 there is only ONE boat and Peter is the captain. Whereas the adjective describing the many fish in Luke 5 indicates many of the same type of fish, the adjective in John 21 describes several fish of different types. Yes indeed, the Church comprises many of us – of many tribes and tongues and peoples and nations. As promised in Luke 5:10, they had now become fishers of people. Lastly, it should not escape us that Peter drags the net ashore. Jesus told him earlier (Luke 22:32) that he had prayed for him and that when he recovered he must strengthen his brothers and sisters. That in fact is the ministry of Peter – to take care of his brothers and sisters. What better way to strengthen them than to take them to Jesus.


I wish you a joyful reflection on the Church of Christ bathed as she is in the light of the Easter candle – even as she battles against the dreaded Coronavirus. 

Let us pray: Lord, we give you grateful thanks for the gift of the Church, and although we cannot worship as we normally do in our Parish churches, you still empower us to encounter you right where we live, to share food, to share love and to share forgiveness. We ask for blessings upon our homes and families, especially those homes that have to cope with the difficulties of addiction and violence. Strengthen us all with the gift of hope. We ask this through Christ our risen Lord. Amen!

  
+Sylvester David OMI
VG: Archdiocese of Cape Town.

Prayer and Reflection by Bishop Sylvester David OMI

Every Friday, for the duration of the lockdown in South Africa, Bishop Sylvester David will present a prayer and reflection for the people of the Archdiocese of Cape Town (and beyond). Here is his reflection for today, Good Friday 10 April 2020. It is also available on the Archdiocese of Cape Town’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.

The text of his message is added below, primarily for those who are deaf.

Reflection for Good Friday — 10th April 2020. Day 15 of the National Shutdown

This is a most unusual Easter Triduum and today being a Friday during the shutdown (and Good Friday at that), it is up to me to offer a reflection. 

With the uncertainty surrounding us with the Coronavirus pandemic, the decline in the economy, the fear, and the discomfort of not even being able to take a walk we can easily see a cross planted in our midst right now. In addition many people have relationship issues and from time to time one hears such comments as: ‘that spouse is my cross’ or ‘my neighbour, colleague, employer, etc. is my cross’. Undoubtedly many circumstances are painful and many suffer needlessly through the drunkenness or cruelty of those with whom they live, work and share the neighbourhood – but to limit the cross only to these situations is not to benefit more fully from the mystery of Calvary. 

How and where do we encounter this mystery? What do the scriptures say? Well St Paul informs us that through his bodily suffering he shared in the cross of Christ. The implication is that when we suffer or take care of the sick and infirm, we actually touch the cross. Why do we not see it like that? One reason is that we have domesticated the cross and only look for it in antiseptic places. Gilt edged crosses are only found in jewellery stores. The real cross was not perfumed but was covered with dust, blood, sweat and tears. So when we have to contend with sickness and impending death in the family we actually lift the cross out of the rocks of calvary and plant it firmly in our homes and it is through the Cross that we have salvation.

Another place to find the cross is on our altars every day. St Paul, in his teaching on the Eucharist tells us that whenever we carry out the Eucharistic injunction, we celebrate the Lord’s death until he comes. Look at your missals and pay attention to the first two acclamations of the mystery of faith whenever we celebrate Mass. Once again we lift the Cross from the rocks of Calvary and plant it firmly wherever Mass is celebrated. This is why during the shutdown we continue to celebrate Mass on a daily basis – and that is why those who cannot attend Mass need to develop in their hearts a longing for the celebration so that we will never take so great a gift for granted anymore.

I wish you a deep union with Jesus who died as a lonely outcast on a hill. In this time of shutdown and the threat of death all around us, you might be tempted to ask: ‘Where is God in all this?’ The answer of course is that God is still in the same place that he was when his Son was hanging on the Cross. That is why in the life of Jesus, death was not the last word. God raised him on the third day. While I cannot wish you a happy Easter, I can and do wish you a meaningful Easter. 

Let us pray:  Lord we ask for blessings on your people who honour the death of your Son, not in their parish churches this year, but in their homes. In this time of shutdown with the threat of illness and infection, and with all the uncertainty and fear that this situation brings, give them hope and empower them to reflect meaningfully on the redemption which the death and resurrection of Christ has won for us. We ask this through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

God bless you.

Prayer and Reflection by Bishop Sylvester David OMI

Every Friday, for the duration of the lockdown in South Africa, Bishop Sylvester David will present a prayer and reflection for the people of the Archdiocese of Cape Town (and beyond). Here is his reflection for today, Friday 3 April 2020. It is also available on the Archdiocese of Cape Town’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Reflection for 3rd April 2020: Day 8 of the National Shutdown. 

Topic for reflection: Jerusalem

Lent seems to have moved on very quickly and we will celebrate Palm Sunday in two days. Liturgically we are standing at the threshold of the theatre of our salvation viz. Jerusalem. Because the liturgy makes real what it signifies, we will enter Jerusalem with Jesus. What does Jerusalem mean? A popular notion is that it means the city of peace. I guess that comes from the “salem” part of the word – but the meaning is deeper that that. The first part of this composite word in Latin, Greek and Hebrew refers to priesthood, Temple, holiness and sacrifice. It is the place of the crucifixion and resurrection. It is the place of the upper room, the place of the Eucharist and the place where the Holy Spirit descended. It is the place from where the Apostles were sent. That is why we need to return to Jerusalem over and over again. 

In the OT Jerusalem is non negotiable to the faithful Jew. That is what Psalm 137 is all about. “By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept” because they wanted us to sing the Lord’s song in a strange land – outside of Jerusalem. Does this lament not reflect our own alienation from community and sacrament at this time? This psalm is very relevant. The psalmist continues, “if I forget you Jerusalem, may my right hand wither, may my tongue cleave to my mouth”. The right hand is the hand with which the person nourished him or herself. If that hand was withered the person was doomed. If the tongue cleaved to the mouth, the person could not speak. In other words, if I cannot speak of Jerusalem I might as well be silent.

This is the week of the two most famous foot washings in history. Prior to Jesus washing the disciples’ feet in John 13, his own feet were washed with the tears of a penitent woman and anointed at Bethany where Lazarus and his two sisters lived. This was an honorific anointing with very costly ointment. Judas realising that this was no ordinary perfume put up resistance calling it a waste – wanting instead to use the money for the poor. John tells us that he was not interested in the poor at all. He was a thief and helped himself from the common fund (Jn 12:5-6). Oscar Wilde, in a play called Lady Windemere’s fan, reminds us that a cynic is someone who knows the price of everything but the value of nothing. And so Judas fixed a price on the ointment as he would later fix a price on the Lord – selling him for the price of a slave. 

Now what else would happen in Jerusalem during holy week? Let us recall past liturgies. Oil will take on a new meaning as will water and fire. Bread and wine will also be imbued with new meaning. If all these elements take on a new significance what a pity it will be if we ourselves do not become renewed and be able to sing a new song. St Augustine teaches that it is only a new person that can rightfully sing a new song. The new song, the new testament, the new covenant and the new person all go together. I wish you a meaningful remembrance of the Lord’s passion.

Prayer and Reflection by Archbishop Brislin

Every Wednesday, for the duration of the lockdown in South Africa, Archbishop Stephen Brislin will present a prayer and reflection for the people of the Archdiocese of Cape Town (and beyond). Here is his reflection for today, Wednesday 1st April 2020. It is also available on the Archdiocese of Cape Town’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.