NeuroDivine

Psalm 78:1–39 | Isaiah 13:1–13 | Matthew 9:1–17 | RB Chapter 43

Today’s readings remind us of God’s patience and mercy. Psalm 78 recalls how the Lord forgave and sustained Israel despite their forgetfulness. Isaiah warns of the collapse of pride when nations resist God’s purposes. And in Matthew, Jesus heals, forgives, and then unsettles expectations by dining with those considered outsiders, declaring that new wine needs new wineskins.

The Rule’s insistence on arriving at table together is not simply about punctuality. It is about communion: the shared rhythm of prayer, verse, and meal. To miss this through carelessness is to risk separation from fellowship. Correction is not punishment but a path back to belonging.

On this Saturday, without dialysis, there is space to breathe into that rhythm of belonging. And in Mullingar, the Pioneer Ministry gathering reminds us that the table is not confined to cloisters or parish halls. Communities shaped by Benedictine rhythm—living simply, praying faithfully, welcoming generously—are themselves a form of pioneer ministry. They carry the Gospel into new places, offering fresh wineskins for the enduring wine of mercy.

It is fitting that this day is also the feast of St Cecilia, patron of music. Her witness reminds us that song and prayer are inseparable, that harmony is both a gift and a discipline. Just as the Rule calls us to arrive together at table, Cecilia calls us to lift our voices together in praise. Music, like pioneer ministry, reaches hearts in new ways, carrying the Gospel beyond boundaries.

So the reflection for this Saturday is simple:

• Remember mercy: God’s patience is greater than our forgetfulness.
• Resist arrogance: Pride blinds, but humility opens the way.
• Receive new wine: The Gospel is always breaking open in fresh ways.
• Arrive together: Whether at the monastic table, the pioneer gathering, or in song, presence is itself a ministry.

In Mullingar today, on St Cecilia’s feast, the verse before the meal might be heard as a call to all: Come, sing, sit, share, and be made whole.

O God, whose mercy does not fail,
Though we forget Your ways,
You call us back, You set the board,
And fill our hearts with praise.

The proud shall fall, the humble rise,
Your kingdom shall be known;
New wine is poured, new songs are sung,
Your grace makes all our own.

Together now we take our place,
Arriving side by side;
In song and prayer, in feast and care,
Your love is magnified.

St Cecilia, teach our voice
To join the Spirit’s song;
In pioneer paths, fresh new ways,
God’s mercy makes us strong.