Recent Reflections and Homilies, By Fr Paul

Paul's Reflections 29th January, 2012. 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time. YEAR B

2012-01-28T18:16:00.001+10:00

Homily 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time. YEAR B 29th January, 2012

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Jesus, (in this weekend’s gospel) is described as “speaking with authority” that deeply impresses those who hear him. An authority that is so different from what they are used to experiencing from their usual religious leaders, who should be inspiring and speaking with authority too.

It goes to show, there are two types of authority; one that derives from the office that a person holds (the authority and respect due to the position a person holds) and then there is the personal authority that speaks powerfully of the inner integrity, vision and values of the person themself. When both are found together, then history has before them a great and impressive leader….

Jesus never had a formal office in his society (other than being rightly described as Rabbi or teacher; however his authority was absolute. Deep within the truth of who he is, (firm in his relationship to the heavenly Father); -- Clear of vision and consistent in action and word… // Unlike those who are just mouthing the words, and just going through the motions, but who (at the same time) don’t KNOW spirit of the gospel, nor do they know the person who embodies it perfectly…(Jesus himself).

We too can only speak with authority to the extent we stay connected to Christ who is THE authority. We cannot hope to speak or act with any kind of effectiveness, authority or success unless we speak Gods words, God’s values and God’s vision.

Sadly, in this day and age, just as in Jesus’ time, there are many who profess to be speaking God’s words and being faithful to God’s ways, but they are far from him. It is a danger, and it is sad to see, but it is possible to be a ‘cliché Christian’ and a ‘shorthand disciple of Jesus’. This is when one replaces the vibrant, integrated and person-centred message of Jesus with a cut down, legalistic, fearfilled, unloving paraphrase of what Jesus was on about. This is what the Pharisees and the scribes were doing in Jesus time. They were saying, “we have the message, we are the representative’s and keepers of God’s laws,” yet they were being hypocritical, unloving, unforgiving, unjust, hollow and (worse still) ‘missing the forest for the trees’ by focusing on the loveless ‘letter of the law’ and missing the whole point of it. The true test of their faithfulness to God was how they responded to the embodiment of God (in Jesus). These so-called faithful followers of God failed miserably in this test, because they rejected him and opposed his vision.

The danger of this continues for us today. This is not just a cautionary tale for people 2000 years ago. We must stay very close to the person and message of Jesus and learn from him and feel and experience his compassion and love for all people (because this is what motivates his mission). Without that, we too could fall into the trap of living the outward appearance and missing the point inside.

In the gospel, we see an incident of Jesus ‘casting out an unclean spirit.’ - in this day and age, this seems a confusing and rather uncomfortable concept. We don’t quite know what is going on. Yet in Jesus’ time this was a clear sign of the authority of Jesus – he not only speaks, he acts and everyone listens and obeys… even the evil spirits know who he is and shrink as his presence and obey his commands. The idea of evil and evil spirits is one that sits uneasily in modern language. Yet, the world has (throughout its history) witnessed what can only be described as acts of great evil and people so filled with hatred and malice, that they have become infected with evil. It is not a coincidence that the devil in the scripture has been described as the ‘father of all lies” because falsehood and lies and deception are the tools of trade of people who do great evil.

It is ironic, that Jesus was unable to cast out the evil of malice and deception that was in the hearts of his opponents, who lied and deceived in order to wrongly accuse him of sedition in order to have him crucified. But, they were too wilful. They were deliberately and stubbornly cooperating with evil in their hearts and choosing to oppose Jesus; and so Jesus had to die and rise agin in order to break their power.

At one time or another we have probably all witnessed what we can described variously as deeply undermining, deeply destructive and shockingly malicious actions, attitudes and events – things that reveal an attitude or position by a person or persons who are diametrically opposed to the values, person and message of Jesus.. and quite frankly.. that can be quite evil.. and it can take your breath away… I have seen it… and it is so shockingly ordinary.. you can hardly believe it’s happening.. or being said… or done.. but there it is… we are called to name it and cast it away.. so that it does not infect our lives and values…

We are called by Christ to cast out (with his help) all that is destructive, hate-filled, deceptive, unjust and unloving in our lives and hearts and in the hearts of others. We do it by prayer and by reflection and by staying very close to the Lord. We must not allow ourselves to be distracted our service of God’s Kingdom and the values of the gospel…. (as St Paul is really saying in the second reading). Whether that is through the married vocation or through celibacy.. at the service of the kingdom……..(for both have their place in God’s vision when placed at the service of God’s vision. We are to be single-minded in God’s service through various wonderful vocations and callings…… so, what really counts is listening to what God wants of us here and now. Married or single, with God’s help, let us strive to live that vocation well.

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REFERENCES:

Homily of the Abbot – Monastery of Christ in the Desert
FR. PAUL W. KELLY
MISSION 2000 – PRAYING SCRIPTURE IN A CONTEMPORARY WAY. YEAR B. BY MARK LINK S.J.

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Paul's Reflections 22nd January, 2012. Third Sunday of the Year -B

2012-01-21T08:35:00.002+10:00

Homily Third Sunday of the Year -B.– 22nd January, 2012

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Jonah 3:1-5, 10 Nineveh repents wholesale at a warning from the prophet of Israel.

Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 The wise will seek instruction in the ways of the Lord and be guided by them.

1 Corinthians 7:29-31 The time to do the right thing is running out, Saint Paul warns, for the present world is passing.

Mark 1:14-20 Jesus calls two sets of brothers, who leave their business and families to follow him.

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Our first reading this weekend is from the wonderful Book of Jonah. This delightful and very short book of the bible is well worth reading in its entirety…

http://www.esvstudybible.org/images/excerpt-jonah.pdf

We only get a taste of the main result in today’s text. Prior to this, God has told Jonah to preach repentance to the people of the great city of Nineveh. But, Jonah hates the people there and doesn’t want to go and preach repentance because they are his enemies and he is worried they might turn and repent and be saved; and that would not be good (according to Jonah).

Jonah seems happy to have everything just the way it always was.. him and his people in the good books with God and his enemies in the bad books with God, and eventually turned into pillars of salt! If his enemies were to change and become brothers and sisters of Jonah..... That would require a whole new way of thinking, relating and acting.

Too much!! So, Jonah runs away in the opposite direction. But we all know that you can’t run away from God. God pursues him and continues to call on him to deliver God’s message of love and invitation to repent.

Jonah does not have a vested interest in them; but God does. God created the Ninevites as much as God created Jonah. God loves them and cares for them and wants them to turn away from sin and be saved.

If we were perfectly content to let all things stay exactly the way they are now,. …. And if, (like Jonah), we don’t want to see change or surprise… and people were to want their enemies and rivals to stay the way they are, because at least then we know what category to put them into….. well, then we are in for a lot of frustration and upheaval and stress…

For, change is constant… the only thing that stays the same is change………… The slow but sure emerging of the Kingdom of God means change and transformation… and that is painful and challenging and at times very unsettling; because it means a re-ordering of values and changing of relationships. It means inviting”in” those who are outside, and possibly finding those “outside” were those who used to be “in”. God has a way of turning things on their head.

We are very familiar with the oft said line “these are God’s ways which are not like human ways.” But at times I don’t think we truly appreciate how very different God’s ways are and what that means for us who are disciples of Christ.

Just think of some of those blockbuster movies… The baddies… (the enemy) usually get blown up at the end… (wholly unrepentant). This makes for a spectacular ending to a movie. Occasionally (in action movies), a baddie will repent and change and help the heroes at the end,… but most times they have to die doing it, (almost as if that is the price for redemption that they must pay, even after they have changed their ways!). In movie making this may be a convenient plot device….. but in real life it is not often the case…

If the baddie repents but then dies, well, we don’t have to worry about what kind of new challenges and ways that would mean. We will need to restructure our ways of relating and we may have to deal with legitimate differences and disagreements that offend each other that are in goodwill. Things in real life are not black and white…

You could imagine the half-hearted, soft "calling-out" of Jonah as the preaches “repent now or in forty days Nineveh will be destroyed!.” Only to find the people saying.. “oh, okay. We repent. We will change immediately. Thank you for this warning, we will heed it. Quickly everyone, proclaim fasting and penance!”

Jonah was appalled and horrified. They have changed. They will be saved! They are now his friends (not his enemies) if that suits him, (which is clearly doesn’t). So Jonah goes off sulking and is mortally offended with God. But, isn't God right to care about his people???

Today’s readings are all rather striking!

Each of them shows a response which is immediate. That is wonderful.

Jonah preaches. the Ninevites repent and change Immediately.
Paul calls upon everyone to live in the immediate moment, for the day of the Lord is imminent.
Jesus calls his disciples and they leave IMMEDIATELY !

I think of pale modern examples which unwittingly and pathetically imitate the dynamic of Jesus calling his disciples who drop everything and follow him. I think of poor comparisons such as one of those television advertisements where a person walks past and everyone drops everything they are doing (even really important things) and follows… except it is something that shows how consumerist our modern values have become... because people are shown dropping everything to follow someone offering them a new "free-to-air television channel" or an "exclusive shopping opportunity", or a new bank. !

But, with Jesus it is much more significant than something so trivial. Jesus' call is offering a whole new world, a new vision and a new set of relationships. The values of the gospel are revealed in their fullness.

If the disciples paused and thought about what they were doing, they could have dreamt up heaps of reasons why they shouldn’t go… their business, the risks, the insecurity, and so on…. But they did not let these things get in the way. Thank goodness, they responded to the call straight away. This is not encouraging recklessness.. because surely Jesus called people after a lot of prayer and discernment and he called disciples whom he had observed were already living in a way that showed their longing for the values of the Kingdom to be established in its fullness.. And then – along comes Jesus… - "the time has arrived.. come… follow me…." (and they DO. IMMEDIATELY)

In our lives, Jesus calls each one of us, in big and small ways in the daily events and people of life. In our words, actions and priorities, let us respond immediately and with trust.

· FR. PAUL W. KELLY

Paul's Reflections 15th January, 2012. Homily Second Sunday of the Year - B

2012-01-14T13:56:00.002+10:00

Homily Second Sunday of the Year - B 15th January, 2012

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v FIRST READING. 1 Samuel 3:3b-10, 193:3b-10, 19

v SECOND READING. 1 Corinthians 6:13c-15a, 17-20

v GOSPEL Cycle B. John 1:35-42

I noticed something unusual about the gospel this weekend. There is something a little unclear about it. John is speaking with two of his own disciples and says: LOOK, THERE is the Lamb of God ! (Which, we now know is short-hand for… Look!...There is the one who is was to come; and who will be the perfect, unblemished sacrifice to take away the sins of the world and restore our right-relationship with God as not only God’s people, but as sons and daughters of God).

The two disciples immediately take off and follow Jesus and he invites them to stay with him. To really become disciples and followers of Jesus, we have to be close to him, and live with him, and learn from him; how he thinks, what he values, what he does not approve of, and so on. We need to walk his walk and not just talk his talk. It took years of walking and living in Jesus’ community, for the disciples to even begin to understand who he was and what his message was about. They often got it wrong or half-right, and thank goodness they had Jesus there, as the teacher, to sr them straight and deepen their learning.

What I find intriguing is that one disciple definitely follows Jesus, but the other… what becomes of the second. Perhaps he followed Jesus too, but the story isn’t about him. OR perhaps he saw where Jesus lived and went back to John. It would seem hard to comprehend to us that someone might see what Jesus has to offer and not accept it, but there were many people in Jesus’ time who were affronted by Jesus and rejected him because his message was too challenging and too radical and at other times, not what they expected the messiah and the chosen one to be LIKE. So, it’s a reminder, many are called, but few are chosen. Many ae invited but not all accept. Jesus understood this difficulty because he witnessed people stopping following him. He warned his followers to count the cost of their discipleship and not be wishy-washy, because there is no time to “umm and ahhh” when the work of the Kingdom is urgent!!

Jesus calls us all to the primary vocation of being servants and disciples of Christ in our daily lives and work. We achieve this by staying very close to Jesus in prayer, in scripture reflection, in reading about the teachings of Christ, in worshipping regularly at church and learning from the teachings of our church too. Christ must live in and with us, as we with him! It is that deep a connection that we are called into.

Each one of us is still called by Jesus. And our response, like Samuel, is ‘here I am, Lord, I come to do your will!”

The Church, obedient to the message and gospel of Jesus, is such a challenging and insightful teacher for us and for the wider community in this age as in ages past. As Jesus’ message was challenging and instructive of God’s ways and not merely human ways, so too the church and its members also seek to follow. In this day and age, the message of Christ is needed more than ever, and yet in some ways, it is so different and foreign to some of the values and ways of looking at things. It is not an easy job to explain the complexity and radicalness of Jesus message; yet, in other ways it is; ultimately it is about faithfulness to God’s will in the world, which is to build up a people who live and breath God’s unconditional love and care for all people and for the world we live in. People who aren’t about ‘me first’ or ‘what’s right for me’ but rather, ‘what’s right for God and what’s best for all.”

Just as Jesus received opposition and misunderstanding and rejection, so too the church can expect the same. But it keeps persisting in the message.

Christ and his church, have a rather powerful and different view of the human person and the human body, than does the “modern” thinking of some sectors of the world. St Paul sums up this gospel-focused understanding: The body is not meant for fornication; it is for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. ……You know, surely, that your bodies are members making up the body of Christ; anyone who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him. Keep away from fornication. All the other sins are committed outside the body; but to fornicate is to sin against your own body. Your body, you know, is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you since you received him from God. You are not your own property; you have been bought and paid for. That is why you should use your body for the glory of God.

So it is a positive and encouraging teaching. To put ourselves: mind, body and Spirit, at the service of God. Our lives are to be lived with attention to not so much ‘rights’ but ‘responsibilities.’ I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that this world makes too much of things such as sexual relations, to the point where they are removed out of their proper context of the marriage (and of fostering love between husband and wife), and in creating and nurturing families. To some values of the world, it is something recreational and disconnected from the holistic picture presented in the gospel. Physical relations, in the Christian vision are not described in terms of a human right of all people to do “this or that” or “to do as I please, for it’s my body”, but rather the gospel vision is of a carefully treasured gift and responsibility to be exercised within the proper context. Why? Because, our lives are now lived IN CHRIST and our lives, our work, our bodies, our thoughts and actions are all for the Lord; and part of the body of Christ. This becomes a precious moral compass, whenever we are faced with any challenging moral questions. What can I do, what ought I do, what do I really NEED to do, as opposed to what do I WANT to do? All are called (in situations where there is a moral dilemma), to lovingly and faithfully avoid anything that is not necessary for the building up of the Body of Christ and the building up of God’s Kingdom. This is only being truthful to the profound reality that we are truly temples of the Holy Spirit.

Paul's Reflections Epiphany of the Lord. Year B

2012-01-07T18:16:00.001+10:00

Homily 8th January 2012 Epiphany of the Lord. Year B

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This feast of the Epiphany, and the accompanying readings for this weekend, reveal Jesus Christ to be the King of all heaven and earth, and the “light” to all nations and cultures. The Magi represent the Gentiles, and so… they represent all of us from far and wide, from different nationalities, who have come to know Christ from outside of Jewish religious membership.

“Jesus is a path for the lost.

He is a bread to the spiritually hungry.

a hand of support for the weak.

a companion to the lonely.

And a beacon of hope for all.”[i]

“Epiphany is a Greek word meaning "manifestation." In ancient times, the term referred to an official visit by a king or queen;…. a public showing to the people. As God is shown to us through Jesus on this day, so we are to “show the presence of God” to others by our own lives…. To everyone we meet we are to reflect the “light of Christ”. We are to be an “epiphany” (or “showing” of Christ) for others so that together we can honour Jesus as our king.”[ii]

“Early Christians considered the gifts of the Wise men to be highly symbolic. Gold is symbolic of Jesus' kingship. Frankincense is used in worship and is, therefore, symbolic of Jesus' divinity – (Jesus is God). Lastly, myrrh is used in burials and is symbolic of Jesus' humanity” and his future suffering to save us all.[iii]

The qualities of Jesus the King are the divine qualities foretold by the Scriptures from ancient times, and now revealed wondrously (but also in a surprising way: in unexpected circumstances). For the King…. is Jesus, …..born in a humble stable.

According to our first reading……The qualities of the Diving King are ……Justice, right-judgement, care for the poor, “giver of peace”, concern for the needy…. Compassion for the weak, saver of the lives of the poor.

The second reading reminds us that Jesus reveals that we are ‘sharers in the same inheritance’ through the Holy Spirit, which makes us sons and daughters of God and members of the one body in Christ… And that this invitation is for all people, regardless of nationality or culture.

When we look at the gospel……..(Not every King got a “present” in today’s story… not every king got what they wanted…. But they all got what they deserved…..)…..there are two kings featured in the gospel this weekend… Christ… and Herod…….. and really there is no comparison!!! But, if we try to compared them, Herod comes out as a complete failure…… / the wise men: ‘listened to what the King had to say….. but (through inspiration and openness) they did not give King Herod what he wanted but rather, they returned to their own country by a ‘different way’. We are all called to listen and reflect and ponder and then, with God’s inspiration discern what is the right thing to do. Sometimes the right thing to do is to NOT give someone what they ask.

In this feast today, we have the Revelation of Christ as the true King, who is a ‘shepherd of the people’. A true King, according to the God’s ways, is one who shows true concern and care for the needs of the people, (first and foremost).

In relation to this feast of the Epiphany, “Our sisters and brothers in the Eastern Churches spend a lot of time reflecting on the clash between what was expected and what actually happened. It is a wonderful gift to recognize that Christ comes as king, but not the type of king that we expected. Christ comes to free His people, but the free is interior and not exterior. Christ comes to save us all, but comes as a baby, born in time and subject to the Law. All of this is the stuff of poetry and love.”[iv]

Like the wise men, who gave him gifts representing aspects of Christ’s mission; If I were to give Jesus one gift to symbolize the role I'd like him to play in my life—what might that gift be?

//(pause to reflect)// what gift would you give Jesus… to symbolise what he represents to you……????

Perhaps I would present to the Lord a dove… // to symbolise not only his giving of the Holy Spirit, but his gift of gentle, compassionate, loving peace to the world…….. (Something we all dearly long for).

Let us reflect in the coming week upon anything that keeps us from letting Jesus play that role more fully.

In what ways can you and I SHOW Jesus to others by our lives, our actions and our words?

In what ways can we be a light of Christ to those we meet?

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REFERENCES:

· FR. PAUL W. KELLY

· MONASTERY OF CHRIST IN THE DESERT. ABBOT’S HOMILY.

· Celebrating the Gospels. By Gaynell Cronin.

· Vision – Praying Scripture in a contemporary Way. Year A. Mark Link S.J.

[i] Vision – Praying Scripture in a contemporary Way. Year A. Mark Link S.J., 55

[ii] Celebrating the Gospels. By Gaynell Cronin, 2.

[iii] Vision – Praying Scripture in a contemporary Way. Year A. Mark Link S.J., 55

[iv] Abbot Philip: Monastery of Christ in the Desert. http://christdesert.org

Paul's Reflections New Year's 2012. Feast of Mary Mother of God. Year B

2011-12-31T18:15:00.001+10:00

Homily 1st January, 2012 Mary Mother of God. Year B

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Even though the church year starts at Advent.

The start of the calendar year is still an important milestone. It is the year of Our Lord 2012. Another year which we dedicate to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

And to which we dedicate our work, effort and prayers to being servants and disciples of Christ.

It is perfectly fitting to celebrate the end of one calendar year and the start of another by the feast of Mary the Mother of God. Mary is so inspiring. Mary is the patron saint of our parish and our schools. And Mary is a wonderful inspiration for us.

To help (in any and many ways that God asks of us).. to establish God’s kingdom in the places we live and work and socialise.

As with Mary, it’s not so much a time of revelry and late partying.. but rather a wonderful chance to treasure all these things in our heart… to ponder everything that has happened to us this last year….. and to prayerfully and quietly reflect on the year ending and the new one beginning.

It is good for us, over the next days, to reflect back and remember all the wonderful gifts and blessings God has enriched us with…. And also remember all the people and event for which we are truly and deeply grateful…. Including our families, our friends, our brother and sister parishioners, our wider community.. our nation…. Which is blessed with so many natural gifts and the gift of relative peace and freedom….. and the gift of our Church too…. and the gift of our faith, which makes us beloved daughters and sons of God…. I reckon as part of our regular prayer its important to keep a prayer diary that keeps a list only of the gifts and graces and blesseings we have received, and all the things we give thanks for … (nothing else… just the positives….).. it won’t take long to fill that book.. I am sure of that… perhaps even in a couple of days, the book could be overflowing… for we are surrounded by so many gifts and blessings.. so much to be grareful for.. that we often can’t comprehend or recall them all….

It is so important to have a grateful, remembering heart. Mary did… even when… (especially when) things were going terribly wrong and didn’t make the slightest sense.. Mary pondered, prayed, cherished…. and trusted in God….

In this mass, (dedicated to Mary the Mother of God), who is the first and most perfect disciple of Jesus…. We present our discipleship and prayers../

We offer up prayers for the year that is ending //…

We offer up all the good we have done to god…. May God transform it for his purposes…

and

we offer up any mistakes and sins of the past year… may God forgive us and heal us….

We think of our loved ones, friends and parishioners who have passed away this year, and pray that they are now enjoying the peace and reward of God’s eternal kingdom.

And we offer up prayers for all our loved ones, friends and parishioners, that God may hold them in the palm of his hand this coming year.

For the new year.. beginning… we ask God to bless and make fruitful our words, our actions and our work…. And help us to live the witness to the good news…

May God bless us and keep us in love, faith, hope and health in this (coming) new year 2012 and beyond…

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REFERENCES:

· FR. PAUL W. KELLY

Paul's Reflections The Feast of the Nativity of the Lord. Year B. Homily 25th December, 2011.

2011-12-24T19:00:00.001+10:00

Homily 25th December, 2011. The Feast of the Nativity of the Lord. Year B

(This is an extended version of the homily; a combination of the various versions given at different masses, with some additional passages for deeper thought and reflection)

(painting in a chapel in Bethlehem) other nice holy land photos here: (click)

Children's Prayer and placing of Baby Jesus:

R/ we thank you Jesus.

• On this Holy, peaceful Christmas night,

• R/ we thank you Jesus.

• Lord, for becoming human like us..

• R/ we thank you Jesus.

• For sharing our joys and sorrows,

• R/ we thank you Jesus.

• being born to save us all

• R/ we thank you Jesus.

• For making us all God's children

• R/ we thank you Jesus.

• For bringing your peace to the world.

• R/ we thank you Jesus.

• For giving us the example of how to live with kindness and love for others.

• R/ we thank you Jesus.

• For our families, our friends, and our church and wider community.

• R/ we thank you Jesus.

• For the many blessings we have received.

• R/ we thank you Jesus.

• For you Jesus, who are the perfect gift to the world….

R/ we thank you Jesus.

We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Catholic writer, Fr William Bausch says that the stories we tell and keep re-telling, say a lot about our values and priorities. that includes the true historical stories that we remember, such as the stories of the birth of Jesus.

Our shared stories, "unite us in a complete and holistic kind of way . Our shared story is the "bridge to our culture, and our origins…/ Our ability to remember and re-tell our stories, connects us to all of humanity, to the universal human family. "…story telling doesn't give answers to life, but reveals life's meaning. The human experience is in many ways like one big story…. "narrative in form"//… as our lives are played out in -stories , journeys, chapters, myriad paths and roads… some short-cuts.. and some tourist-drives….. and shared memories…… The shared and remembered stories that you will surely be engaging in over the next few days as you catch up with family and friends… are what binds, unites, strengthens, expresses, heals and strengthens your bonds and identity. When people tell seemingly opposing and incompatible stories… there can be conflict… but the sharing of stories also provides so many opportunities to go deeper and find common ground, with feelings, thoughts and memories that we have in common….. Even unfamiliar stories, can connect us through common elements, reactions and emotions…..

That's because all stories replay humanities oldest story….: that of the journey. We all have a beginning, a middle and end. Stories recount that always. Stories are real. Stories are who we are !!!.

Everyone here (tonight/today) gets the literal meaning of Christmas…. This is what the season is all about……. For the Mass of Christ's nativity Christ'sMass (Christmas) is the centre and highpoint of the season. Here we gather as one big family, (and also with close family and friends)… and celebrate Christ…. And give thanks for God's many blessings. And we re-tell the ancient story of our salvation.

The Christmas story "is a wonderful account of what this child, Jesus, truly meant (and still continues to mean) to all of humanity. The story of Jesus is about a person who has made an incredible, unique and enormous difference in the world and throughout human history !... Only the language of poetry and story could hope to try and convey the incredible enormity of the meaning of Jesus birth and his life……. to all of us….

As Christians, we gather again on this annual Feast, to remember and treasure and renew the true Christ and his significance to us. To recall and cherish his birth in our lives and in the life of the world…. And to foster the Word of God, so Jesus can be born time and time again into our daily lives and actions.

Jesus is God made human, God made flesh, who came into the world to share our joys and our sorrows, our graces and temptations… and to make holy all the ordinary, everyday and important events of life and make them opportunities for building up God's Kingdom and peace, love, kindness, charity, forgiveness and inclusion.

If the stories we tell and remember, and re-tell form us in our values and unite us as one human family, then sometimes I wonder… if the world leaders and their people made decisions and shared a story of a positive vision for humanity (like the Nativity story always does)…. narratives that enriched the human story….. then we might not be fighting over

whose national rights take precedence over others… fighting over which national area or interest-group has the greater claim or the better right to something… maybe we wouldn't be measuring out how much we shouldn't be giving to others in need because my needs come first…. the world is crying out in need for people who share in the positive, inclusive and life-giving story of the gospel… which we celebrate this Christmas.

It is so wonderful to be here. Christmas is about celebrating and giving thanks for the gift of family and friends… and giving thanks to God for the most perfect gift anyone can give to the world… Jesus… who gave the gift of himself and his life and his love… to save us and walk with us through our life story.. our life journey…..

This Christmas, let us take time to really and truly remember and give thanks for the gift of our families… our friends… and the many countless blessings we receive in our daily life and throughout our life journey. We are so grateful, Lord, for our family, friends, and our faith community…and the wider community.. which is a commonwealth established for the common good of all people….(today/tonight) we remember and are deeply grateful for the gift of eachother / each one of you here.. and all we love and hold dear are priceless, irreplaceable gifts from God… and Jesus always reminds us … all people everywhere are priceless, cherished and loved children of God. The world would truly be a different place… a loving, caring, forgiving and gentle place… (not a brutal and intolerant place) if the world truly embraced the truth of this and the true meaning of this feast-day … we are all (all people) unconditionally loved children of God…. even the most forgotten, the most broken.. – especially them… Jesus was born for ALL….. that we might all be saved… all included

I do hope it's a time to catch up with family and friends and show how much we appreciate them.

I HOPE THIS IS A HAPPY, JOYFILLED, DELIGHTFUL TIME FOR EVERYONE here….. … And for those who are not experiencing joy and peace at this time…. this season is just as much for you too….. for Jesus was born into the world because we NEEDED saving… because everything was not going right at all… and the values of the world had gotten distorted…. so Jesus was born right in the middle of the messiness and tragedies of human experience.. to share and walk with us in them….

The greatest gift we can give this Christmas is one that reflects the gift of God to the world in Jesus…… a gift that will keep giving all year around…. The gift of ourselves. When we share with a friend or family member, we are giving them a beautiful gift of caring. When we listen (really being "present-to") someone with our mind and heart, we are giving them the beautiful gift of really listening. When we give our gift of time by visiting someone who is sick or lonely, we are giving them a beautiful gift of yourself. These are among the greatest gifts that we can give to each other. Gifts to show how much we really care. Gifts that show how well we have been following the example of Jesus, the greatest gift ever.

It is beautiful and a wonderful gesture of the Christian season when many people are out there tomorrow….helping out at a various Christmas luncheons and other once-a year Christmas themed acts of charity….. (many of those involved are the same people who tirelessly help out in similar charitable activities all year round too……) that is wonderful… //But you know, sometimes I think our modern secular society gets things a little bit confused.. //gets a bit too strictly literal…. // and tends to cast Christianity and the meaning of Christmas into a rather narrow slot……/// and doesn't see the forest for the trees..// …. can't see the much more subtle message and invitation of Christmas as well… and to me, the subtle message is like this.. there are others who are taking off Christmas day to rest and be with family and friends and spend some valuable down-time with loved ones… and reviving……. and then …..after Christmas ….they will go back to work doing charitable work at St Vinnies and at Anglicare, and at the Salvos… (and the like)….. and helping in the local weekly Soup Kitchen and sewing wonderful things for PNG school children and visiting the sick in hospital and at homes… and helping the next door neighbour with some errands…. And fostering graciousness and care in one's home and the workplace and social settings….…and visiting those who are mourning….. and so on and so on…. and That.. (to me) is the true message of Christmas… (the miracle of Christmas experienced every day of the year)…// and not everyone in society.. even those vaguely familiar with the season… not everyone sees that…

May we give the gift of our-self by how we show love and care to everyone around us today and the 366 days of the coming year….

May the Christ-child… who shows us that God is with us along the story of each of our lives…. bless you deeply this Christmas, with peace and love… and may that blessing flow out to everyone you meet and fill the world with his heavenly peace….

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REFERENCES:

• FR. PAUL W. KELLY

• William Bausch,

• Cathy Whannell.

• James F. Colaianni Jr.

Paul's Reflections 4th Sunday Advent. Year B

2011-12-17T18:00:00.000+10:00

Homily 18th December, 2011 4th Sunday Advent. Year B

 Save a tree. Don't print this e-mail unless it's really necessary

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How to keep up-to-date with parish news.

Have you signed up to receive the various St Mary's, Maryborough Parish emails? A fast way of keeping up-to-date

For more info, please visit: http://stmaryextras.blogspot.com/2011/08/have-you-signed-up-to-receive-various.html

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- 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16

- Romans 16:25-27

- Luke 1:26-38

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- The events of the annunciation of great news to Mary, occurred more than two thousand years ago. The news Mary received was the start of the fulfilment of God's promise that was made to King David one thousand years before that. That is a long, long time.

- It is a reminder that God has a very, very long memory. And also, humans have a long memory too. The people of Israel hoped and trusted in the promise made by God to King David. And as the years went on, that hope was boosted, and then seemingly shattered and then rebuilt. The people of God had an up-and-down reaction to God's promises. Sometimes they remembered God's promises with deep expectant hope. Other times they would have remembered God's promises with impatience. At other times, with frustration, sometimes even bitterness, scepticism…and resentment..

- God remembers everything with a loving heart and a determination to fulfil what God has promised.. in God's time.. and in God's way….

- Human's remember things in a different and flawed way, because we only ever see part of the picture; our lifespan is relatively short..

- And now we arrive at the wonderful scene of the Annunciation. After all this time and in the fullness of time, God's primise is being fulfilled in this home of a humble maiden.

- Here we can learn our response to God's words and promises: Be it done to me according to your word. If only we could all learn to respond to the Lord in such a wonderful way as Mary did! As we continue to allow God to form us with His word, surely our lives will change and we shall be able to say more readily and with joy: Be it done to me according to your word!

- Mary is the model for all of us who want to follow God's ways. She was a humble servant of God who tried to be faithful to the Lord. In her lowliness, God chose her for the most important role: the mother of His Son. …..

- This weekend's gospel, for the closing Sunday of Advent is all about the greatness of the word "YES" in Mary's life and in the life of all of us who choose to be disciples of Christ. Mary's trust in God's promises is absolute. Mary continues to trust and live according to God's ways even if what is happening doesn't appear to make sense to her most of the time.

- Mary's words in response to the announcement of the angel Gabriel are both profound and also very simple. Her simple "yes" changed the world. With that response, Mary welcomed God in a special way into her life. Her "yes" is the yes we can say daily as we welcome Jesus into our lives.

- Mary was a woman of faith. She believed in God and in the wonderful things God had done not only for her, but also for her people over many, many centuries…. She remembered Abraham, Moses, Deborah, David, and all the men and women throughout history who God had chosen to help the people keep-their faith.

- In joy, Mary rejoiced in the goodness of God in sharing life with us. Loved by God, we, too, rejoice in God's coming and in gladness welcome God into our lives.

- What does Mary's "YES" mean to each of us in our lives. What does it mean for us to say "YES" to God's plans in the world.

- One thing I find really striking and challenging. Mary said to the Angel.. "I am god's servant." The idea of being a servant seems difficult in this day and age. Slavery has been abolished. People are free and equal. So, what do we make of Mary saying to God, "I am your servant." I am your humble slave; let it be done to me according to your word.

- Whilst it is true that human slavery is not abolished and to be rejected, the concept still applies and is a helpful counterpoint in our understanding of God. We are God's servants. We are God's slaves. But we are not unfree, and we are not unthinking. We are also God's children, but we are also God's servants. We are to do things God's way, not our way. When God the master askes something of us, we might be tempted to say, "but why" - and the reply to a servant is, 'because I have asked you to do it." And we might be tempted to say to God, "but it doesn't make sense and I would do it differently," to which he will say, "that I why I am the master and you are the servant. Do as I tell you." This seems such foreign thinking in this day and age. But we are not celebrating next weekend the birth of our own selfish, self-absorbed egos into the world.. we are celebrating the birth of our God, as a human. We are commemorating God coming to save us and the birth of our salvation and the Messiah who will establish God's Kingdom and the everlasting house of King David's line. So, perhaps the world needs more than ever, handmaids and servants (men and women) like Mary, who do things God's way and persevere even when things are not clear. Precisely because we have put ourselves intot he hands of our master and do as he wants, not as we want. Mary has shown us the perfect example in this. It does not 'enslave us' but actually frees us to be disciples of Christ to the full.

- May this Advent bring us all close to the Lord because He is always close to us. May we recognize that God loves us and sends His Son to save us. We have been given enlightenment in the Holy Spirit. May Mary intercede for us as we learn from her complete trust in God's plan and learn to serve her Son, Jesus Christ the Lord.

- O Wisdom, holy Word of God, Jesus Christ, all things are in your hands, come and show us the way to salvation.

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REFERENCES:

· Fr. Paul W. Kelly

· Celebrating the Gospels.

· My Daily Visitor, Nov-Dec 2011.

· Monastery Of Christ In The Desert. Abbot's Homily. http://christdesert.org/about_us/abbot_s_and_cellarer_s_pages/abbot_s_homily/index.html

Paul's Reflections 3rd Sunday of Advent

2011-12-10T21:53:00.001+10:00

I am away, attending to another commitment this weekend. Thanks to Fr Dan Grundy for celebrating masses this weekend. I will be back for the Aramara Mass on Sunday night this week.

Here is a reflection from the Abbott of the monstery of Christ in the Desert. Always good food for thought.

God bless,

Fr Paul

3rd Sunday of Advent

Cycle B

2011

FIRST READING

Isaiah 61:1-2a, 10-11

The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the Lord and a day of vindication by our God.

I rejoice heartily in the Lord, in my God is the joy of my soul; for he has clothed me with a robe of salvation and wrapped me in a mantle of justice, like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem, like a bride bedecked with her jewels. As the earth brings forth its plants, and a garden makes its growth spring up, so will the Lord God make justice and praise spring up before all the nations.

SECOND READING

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Brothers and sisters: Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophetic utterances.

Test everything; retain what is good. Refrain from every kind of evil.

May the God of peace make you perfectly holy and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body, be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will also accomplish it.

GOSPEL Cycle B

John 1:6-8, 19-28

A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, "Who are you?" He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, "I am not the Christ." So they asked him, "What are you then? Are you Elijah?" And he said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No." So they said to him, "Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?" He said: "I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, make straight the way of the Lord, as Isaiah the prophet said." Some Pharisees were also sent. They asked him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?" John answered them, "I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie." This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

My sisters and brothers in Christ,

Today our focus shifts strongly to look at the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. John the Baptist again points out the Lord to us by denying that he himself is the Messiah. Instead, the role of John the Baptist is always to point to the Lord who is to come.

The Lord, the Messiah, foreseen by the prophets of ages past, is referred to in the first reading today, from the Prophet Isaiah: As the earth brings forth its plants, and a garden makes its growth spring up, so will the Lord God make justice and praise spring up before all the nations. The Messiah is justice and the Messiah in the praise of God. The Messiah will teach all of us how to be justice and praise for God.

The second reading today, from the First Letter to the Thessalonians, tells us to rejoice always; pray without ceasing; and in all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. This Sunday is often called Gaudete Sunday because we are told to rejoice. When Advent was a much more penitential season, the reason for rejoicing was clear. God\'s people had now completed half of the penitential season.

Today, when Advent is no longer clearly penitential, perhaps the best reason for rejoicing is that God is near us and we continue to receive His word.

This same letter tells us: Do not despise prophetic utterances. Test everything; retain what is good. Part of Advent is listening to many prophetic utterances and meditating on them to understand how they point us to Christ. It is always good advice, when reading the Scriptures, to retain what is good and moves us to the Lord.

When we return to the Gospel of today, from Saint John, we can perhaps ask ourselves about the spiritual values that we follow. Perhaps too often, our spiritual is not really formed by the Scriptures but formed simply by survival and what helps us survive. This is not entirely wrong. We need to survive. In order to survive we need to make some sense out of our world. Religion can become such a means of survival. On the other hand, religion as it is found in inspired Hebrew-Christian Scriptures is about coming to know God and allowing God into our lives entirely.

Let us ask today that God\'s word may become more alive in us, that we may know the living God and rejoice in Him. Let us ask God to break the word open for us so that we can see the word for what it really is: a presence of God, a presence of the Lord Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. In that word, then, we rejoice!

Your brother in the Lord,

Abbot Philip, OSB

Paul's Reflections LAST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. Christ the King - A

2011-11-19T18:02:00.001+10:00

LAST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST. Christ the King - A. (REVISED COMMON LECTIONARY)

I am preaching at ST Paul’s Anglican Church this weekend, and then accompanying Fr Jim to the Uniting Church for their celebration of 130 years of worship. It will be a delightful ecumenical weekend.

(Save a tree. Don't print this e-mail unless it's really necessary)

Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24

Thus says the Lord GOD: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of the land. I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord GOD. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice.

Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD to them: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide, I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged; and I will judge between sheep and sheep. I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them; I, the LORD, have spoken.

Psalm 100 Page 729, BCP. Jubilate Deo1

Be joyful in the LORD, all you lands; *
serve the LORD with gladness
and come before his presence with a song.

Know this: The LORD himself is God; *
he himself has made us, and we are his;
we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
go into his courts with praise; *
give thanks to him and call upon his Name.

For the LORD is good;
his mercy is everlasting; *
and his faithfulness endures from age to age.

Ephesians 1:15-23

I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Matthew 25:31-46

Jesus said, "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, `Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' And the king will answer them, `Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those at his left hand, `You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, `Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?' Then he will answer them, `Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

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- It is an honour and a joy to be here again with you and to unite in praising our gracious God, from whom all good things come. Thanks to Fr Jim for your friendship and the whole St Paul’s community for the strong bonds of friendship and prayer that we share.

- You may have heard that my Catholic archbishop of Brisbane, John Bathersby, as had his retirement accepted by the Pope and so he is now retired, effective immediately, and the Catholic archdiocese has a temporary administrator , Bishop Geoffrey Jarratt of Lismore to look after the archdiocese until the pope appoints a new archbishop. The now emeritus Archbishop John has always been a great supporter of ecumenism and it was one of his major priorities. It is the agreement between him and your Anglican Archbishop Phillip Aspinall, which formed the template for our local agreement here between St Mary’s and St Paul’s. Please, if you would keep the Catholic archdiocese in our prayers, so that the process discernment for the new archbishop will be continue to be inspired and excellent. May the Holy Spirit choose a leader who will continue to foster the wonderful ties such as we have formed in this region.

- The gospel this weekend is very special. I have always found that it goes to the heart of Jesus’ message and mission. How different the world would be if all people took this gospel on face value. Quite literally. “just as you did it to one of the least of these… you did it to me”..

I think of a shocking example where this did not happen…. Such as the when an internationally acclaimed opera singer lay helpless at a bus stop for more than five hours after suffering a stroke . Delmae Barton, 66, was ignored by about 1000 people when she collapsed and became violently ill several times at a bus stop at a university campus in February 2006. Although a passer-by twice alerted security officers to her predicament, no one called an ambulance or checked on her wellbeing until a group of Japanese students found her and sought help. Ms Barton was employed as an Aboriginal elder at the same Brisbane university. People thought that she was merely drunk… (which even itself is odd, because people who are collapsed, are also at risk of dying). But the assumption was wrong, and she was not at all drunk, just very ill. // That was virtually Christ lying on the ground, stricken, ignored by 1000 people….. For the words of Christ ring in our ears… “just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me”

- On a much milder example… there is the possibly apocryphal story of Queen Victoria, who when on vacation once took a walk on one of her estates. On the country walk, the Queen was dressed very discretly in walking clothes. A storm blew up and Queen Victoria retreated to a neighbours house and asked if they would kindly lend her an umbrella. The neighbour begrudgingly lent the umbrella, but when the Queen walked off and opened it up it was full of holes and quite useless. The next day, the Queen sent one of her attendants back to return the umbrella, with polite thanks. When the neighbour saw the regal attendant and realised the truth, they were mortified and said. I am so sorry, if I had known it was Her Majesty, I wouldn’t have given her that umbrella.” (well, whether that situation happened or not, the point is a good one.) what did it matter WHO it was, why would you give someone a hole-ey umbrella that was useless ireespective of who they were or not. “That person was virtually Christ … and this gospel calls upon us to treat everyone with the reverence and graciousness we would reserve to God… // why are we at times tempted to make distinctions in the ordinary matters of human dignity and respect which is due to all people.

- Closer to home, a trivial, almost funny situation. I have been a student for priesthood in a parish south of Brisbane, and I have been trying to be more involved in the local parish school, but hadn’t much luck. I did one or two small projects there, but the year was coming to an end. I was invited to the school graduation dinner and I was looking forward to at least being part of that. But as I walked into the place where the dinner was being held…. My glasses fell apart and the lenses rolled into a nearby garden. I was completely helpless.. I couldn’t see a darned thing!! I was bent over with my hands over the ground feeling desperately for the lenses… and calling out politely for help from the guests who were attending the same dinner, asking or help…. And the blurry shapes just kept walking in… no one came to my help… eventually I went inside.. unable to see a thing. I didn’t enjoy the night because (being unable to see made me effectively deaf as well, because I didn’t know who was speaking and if they were talking to me, and so… I was very confused). Being short-sighted, I couldn’t borrow anyone else’s lenses, they didn’t work. Fortunately at the end of the night someone came out with me and helped find the lenses but I couldn’t get them back in, so they also had to drive me home in my car, as I couldn’t see to drive. My mum had told me to keep a spare st of glasses in the car, which I do now always. But the incident at the start of the night, was amusing but also sad… ‘what you do to even the least of these.. you do it to me.”

If the world took this very seriously and literally, we could change the world… All humans would have the dignity and respect befitting our God. Which, I believe is the intention of Our Lord.

- The reading from Ezekiel… is also very fitting. The Lord will be our shepherd, lead us, guide us, heal us, …seek the lost, feed us, and he shall set up a servant (and his successors by implication) who will serve the people on behalf of the shepherd…. (The fat sheep come in for some very negative comment here in this gospel, because in this narrative they have pushed around the others and not let them eat and have pasture. The Well-off ones have scattered the poor needy sheep and the master is very unhappy with this.).…

In that first reading, God recognises that among the people (among every group or people) there are some who are struggling and experiencing weakness, (all of us do in different ways)… and some who are feeling lost and disconnected and injured… as well as strong and satisfied…. And the co-responsibility of people to support and encourage each-other is an expectation of the Kingdom.

- In the epistle today…. From the Ephesians.. I hadn’t noticed before, but the wording of it indicates that St Paul has probably not directly visited the people he is writing to..// He has “heard good reports and is filled with thanksgiving to God for the good news that he has received about them.” It is inspiring, even to us these two thousand and more years later. God is truly great. The gift God has given us is beyond full comprehension. It makes us want to strive to be the best person one could be.. and the church is spurred on to put its best foot forward… The church is called to be a beacon of goodwill, compassion and justice for the inspiration of the world. This is no small responsibility, and we pray to God for forgivness and strength for the times we have failed to be that shining beacon. With God’s help, we persevere and ask for renewal and guidance.

Thank you for inviting me to share some of these thoughts with you today. I join you in proclaiming that we are all God’s people, the sheep of his pasture… (this is a great gift that God offers to all people; with a corresponding and great responsibility of care for others that goes along with it). Together, We give thanks to God.. Anglicans, Catholics, the Uniting church whom Fr Jim and I will be greeting today at St Stephen’s 130^th anniversary celebrations)… and all denominations.. all brothers and sisters in Christ….. and we ask for God’s guidance and grace as we look out for others.. especially the most vulnerable……. We move forward, joyfully remembering always that the Lord is Good… his mercy and faithfulness endures from age to age!!”

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REFERENCES:

FR. PAUL W. KELLY
New Jerome Bible Handbook. Geoffrey Chapman Publishers. 1992.

Paul's Reflections 15/11/11/ 6PM. ST MARY'S COLLEGE CLOSING MASS 2011. 15/11/11.

2011-11-15T21:14:00.002+10:00

ST MARY’S COLLEGE CLOSING MASS 2011. 15/11/11/ 6PM

(extended version)

Tonight, we have so much for which to give thanks!

It has been an excellent year, filled with so much hard work and wonderful events… and truly excellent teaching and learning.

We thank God for the gifts and graces experienced in and through St Mary’s College this year.

It is always an honour and a pleasure to work with Principal Mrs Joy Massingham and all the staff, the students and their families. It is a great community and I know the wider Catholic parish family, represented here tonight, always takes great pride and interest in the developments of the college.

The readings for tonight are a timely reminder; as our year twelves leave us to continue along their grand journey of life; --// and as the rest of the school continues along its important educational journey….

At St Mary’s you have been given a firm foundation in education. An education for life and an education in Christian faith as well. The two go wonderfully together.

The formation of students as whole human beings, (integrating knowledge, values, faith and justice), is the goal of that Christian Education.

I congratulate College captains: Padraic O’Connell and Danielle Waterson for their leadership and representation at many events in the community throughout the year and particularly their Awards Night speeches. In their speeches, they captured so much of the values and vision of this college. I was particularly taken by Padraic’s quote from Poet, William Butler Yeats: “education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire To continue along that line….. Christianity is not merely a “filling up to the brim” of knowledge about Jesus (and who he is and what he did)….. but rather, it’s about a life of integrity based on that knowledge of Christ and even more… it’s about being “set alight” by Christ and burning with compassion, love and care.

This goal is summed up in your College Motto, which has always intrigued me and made me ponder deeply. I think is very apt. “INTEGITY AND KNOWLEDGE!”

English author and moralist Samuel Johnson once said: “Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous …..”

“INTEGITY AND KNOWLEDGE!” - The two complement and counter-balance each other.

St Mary’s seeks to respect the dignity of everyone, recognise the responsibility of all people, and inspires people to see their lives in terms of generous service of God and neighbour and the wider community. And we thank God for the many signs of this through this last year.

The first reading tonight goes to the very heart of what it means for us to be Christian people. To be people of “love”. For when we show Christian love and concern for those around us, we encounter God, because GOD IS love.

But,…..// Isn’t being a caring, loving person the goal of virtually all people of good will, (Christian and non-Christian alike??). In many ways…YES!! . (And after all, Jesus did tell us, “…whoever is not against me, is for me” ?.// So, we give thanks for all the wonderful human values that we share with all people of goodwill. As the second Vatican Council says: “Nothing genuinely human fails to raise an echo in Christian’s hearts.”[i]

So, year twelves.. (and indeed all students).. your education is preparing you, ..// as you go from here with our blessings and prayers,//…. to continue to engage in the community and in the world…. As Christian disciples with a lot to offer.. // You will be affirming all that is good and worthwhile… and supporting all that is consistent with Christ’s gospel.

And then, ///You are also commissioned to (go a step further)… and keep fostering the different values of Jesus’ Gospel, // the values that surprise non-Christians and sometimes, sadly which leads to negativity and ridicule from others. We are called by our Lord to go the extra mile…// To do good without counting the cost. //The give without expecting the return,// to love and to be compassionate and giving and forgiving even when there is no response, because that is how God acts ……

We don’t just settle for less.// We strive to be the best people we can be. We reject any values that lead to the community being selfish, mean-spirited, simplistic and intolerant.

You have probably learnt already (and you will certainly learn time and time again).. that SOME of the values of the world we live in are NOT consistent with the message and teaching of Jesus. The thinking of this world… (much of it enlightened and good) is not ALL enlightened and good…. // And sometimes discerning the difference is not at all easy, because many things in society may be POPULAR, but that does not make them good or right! And yet, that is the basis for so many self-justifications today.

The thing that strikes me about so many GREAT men and women of history… (including many inspiring Saints), such as Saint Mary of the Cross, Mackillop, …. Is that they had such a “fire” in them…// such a “vision”… //So, they knew when to go along with the ways of things.. and they also knew when to turn and stand against the tide of the times.. //

We make no apologies or exaggerations when we say… BE the great men and women of the future… Be the visionaries… the people who support and critique.. and question… and sometimes stand against the tide ….

DO not be afraid of your faith…… or your Christian tradition……. Do not be embarrassed…. Never apologise for it…… and don’t make excuses ……// please, never join the seemingly endless and disappointing line of people you hear on tv and radio saying…. “I was brought up catholic… but…..” (I won’t tell you what I think or say to God when I hear that old “chestnut!”)……Let us not feel hesitant about standing up for values and thinking of the Gospel that are different // (very different)…..// from the thinking of this world.

Don’t be cajoled into silence rather than to critique the “trendy” . Feel inspired to question the clichés and half-baked concepts that the media and society throw up all the time, ..////and which so many people regularly “swallow whole” (without chewing).

Your education has taught you to discern, to question, to research, …//to delve and check …// May this be an enormously powerful instrument for you in your daily life.

There are some things this world cannot understand about the Christian way of thinking and acting. By all means, we embrace the good in society……, //but we, (then), go deeper, think further and pray constantly, ..//and keep connecting with the faith community to be renewed and also challenged, as Jesus’ apostles were so often challenged by him. Because so many of the ways of God are NOT like human thinking.

And, You, the young people of this generation ARE important. The church NEEDS you. The Church values you. And the community needs your contribution too.

Let us be instruments of change and also (at times) instruments of challenge.

May God who has begun this good work in you……// this (at times), counter-cultural and thought-provoking work, // ….May God bring this work in you… to perfection. God bless always.

[i] (Gaudieum et Spes paragraph one)

Paul's Reflections 33rd Sunday Ordinary Time, Year A

2011-11-11T15:20:00.001+10:00

33rd Sunday Ordinary Time, Year A

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This weekend we will be taking time after the gospel to prayerfully fill out the archdiocesan sanctioned Church Life and mission survey that is undertaken five yearly on a Census year.

In the meantime, here are some thoughts on the Gospel this weekend.

This parable today says quite a few extraordinary things….

Believe it or not, we are not the best judge of our own gifts and talents. God is, and others around us, loved ones and friends and trusted mentors may have a lot to offer us on our own gifts and talents.

We can be our own worst enemies when it comes to saying, ‘I am not good at that’ “ I can’t do this”…. God knows what we are and are not able to do, and if we have been given gifts they are for using, not storing.

Did I tell you about the time I was in grade three. I was actually a fast runner. So I thought, if I don’t run around I can store than speed and go faster when I need it. Unfortunately for me, we humans are not like batteries that keep storing and changing… if you don’t use it you lose it. So next time I went to run really fast, I got puffed and wasn’t anywhere near as fast… some wasted energy there??? Definitely. And perhaps an early lesson that some things just don’t store up. They need to be used and fostered and nurtured.

“This weekend’s gospel speaks of the gifts God has given all of us. There has been, within the universal church, a movement calling upon all members of the church to create a "culture of discernment." In such a culture, people would develop the skills and habit of reflecting on the gifts they bring to the world. They would not only know their gifts, but also put them to good use in response to God's call. Today's gospel offers an opportunity to invite people to reflect honestly on the talents, skills, and traits that are part of their personality and how they multiply life's goodness by using those talents fully. This culture of discernment can also be used to reflect upon the reasoning and excuses offered up by modern society and to carefully weigh up the true merit of some popular attitudes and ways of thinking. We need this culture of prayerful discernment more than ever. The foolish person who hid his talent had what he thought was a perfect excuse to offer to the master, but the master soon

labelled it for what it really was - nonsense!”

- Pharisees and scribes focused on preserving and keeping the law…. “building a fence around the law” keeping the law pure and unadulterated…. they were thus focusing on simply keeping it and handing it back exactly as they had received it, without change or growth or improvement….. They had lost the point….. The Law had become an end in itself…. “keeping the rules” was the only thing that mattered….. earning God’s reward by keeping the rules, but not doing much else…. had distorted the Good news of God’s Kingdom…….. What they were doing is a bit like handing back a seed that you have been given and saying to the farmer… here it is… you gave it to me.. I have preserved the seed… froze it… and her is the seed back exactly in the same condition as you gave it to me…. but how crazy… the seed is for the sowing.. it is for planting… and for germination… it is to produce a plant which will bear fruit….. // This would be just an interesting parable if it wasn’t for the fact that this tendency still occurs today…. // the tendency to miss the forest for the trees…. and to focus on restrictive rules as opposed to the purpose and reason and spirit of the law and what it was trying to achieve….. can be a constant obstacle….

- God has distributed talents differently to different people…… we don’t all have the same qualities and talents…….. // (but the talents each of us have…. are given to share for the common good of all…..) // but we also know that there are some very talented people who have under-utilised their talent and produced mediocre fruit…// there are countless stories of saints and famous people who overcame great obstacles (including very poor health), and limitations to produce the most amazing (disproportionate) fruits and results in their lives….. through determination, hard work (and of course, by the grace of God)….and utilising well the talents and vision they DID possess….. // it’s the old ‘tortoise and the hare’ syndrome….

- The reward, in God’s kingdom is still more work to be done.. urgent.. important and competent/. Those who produced the fruits were given even more to produce….. so it is with us… there is no time like the present… and the harvest is plentiful… the labourers are few….

- If you use your gifts you will develop them.., they will increase in significance and effect…. if you don’t lose your gifts you will calcify them… you will lose them…… so the best way to keep our gifts is to use them in the service of God and our fellow human being…

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Sources:

- Fr Paul kelly

- Prepare the Word Resources, 2011.

Paul's Reflections 32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time. A

2011-11-05T20:01:00.001+10:00

Homily 6th November, 2011 32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time. A

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The only thing that seems excessive in this story is ……-okay--….. so they weren't prepared for the arrival of the bridegroom!!... They messed up!! So?........... Surely it is a happy occasion when everyone is celebrating and in a good mood?......The bridegroom is a nice guy..... Why lock out the bridesmaids because they were a bit scatty and unprepared????

But firstly…. Their whole purpose is to await the bride and groom and they missed it due to carelessness and foolishness.... They didn't care enough about the Bride and Groom to do their job properly and have let the whole show down. ... Plus... Once the party was started…….. it was too big and noisy to hear those calling out in the dark outside...

And also…. On a wider level….. the parable has at least two universal warnings.

(i) It warns us that there are certain things which cannot be obtained at the last minute. It is far too late for a student to be preparing when the day of the examination has come. It is too late for a person to acquire a skill, or a personal quality or character, if they do not already possess it, when some task offers itself to them. Similarly, it is easy to leave things so late that we can no longer prepare ourselves to respond. And likewise, one can leave things too late to prepare to meet with God. When Mary of Orange was dying, her chaplain sought to tell her of the way of salvation. Her answer was: "I have not left this matter to this hour." Well said! To be too late is always tragedy. And if it is too late, it does not reflect on the goodness of the one who shuts the door.

(ii) It warns us that there are certain things which cannot be borrowed. The foolish bridesmaids found it impossible to borrow oil, when they discovered they needed it. A person cannot borrow a relationship with God; They must possess it for themself. A person cannot borrow a character; they must be clothed with it. We cannot always be living on the spiritual capital which others have amassed. There are certain things we must gain or acquire for ourselves, for we cannot borrow them from others.

Tennyson took this parable and turned it into verse in the song the little novice sang to Guinevere the queen, when Guinevere had too late discovered the cost of sin:

"Late, late so late! and dark the night and chill!

Late, late so late! but we can enter still.

Too late, too late! ye cannot enter now.

….

Have we not heard the bridegroom is so sweet?

O let us in, tho' late, to kiss his feet!

No, no, too late! ye cannot enter now."

There is no too so laden with regret as the sound of the words “too late!”

It takes a lifetime to foster and develop and allow God to transform our attitudes and characters into those consistent with the Gospel of Jesus. It requires constant openness and willingness to change and be transformed by God. It requires an openness and a transformation that simply must not be left to the eleventh hour!.

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REFERENCES:

· FR. PAUL W. KELLY

· THE DAILY STUDY BIBLE. GOSPEL OF Matthew (REVISED EDITION). BY WILLIAM BARCLAY.

Paul's Reflections 31st Sunday in ordinary time, year A. Homily 30th October , 2011

2011-10-29T19:07:00.001+10:00

Homily 30th October , 2011 31st Sunday in ordinary time, year A

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How to keep up-to-date with parish news.

Have you signed up to receive the various St Mary’s, Maryborough Parish emails? A fast way of keeping up-to-date

For more info, please visit: http://stmaryextras.blogspot.com/2011/08/have-you-signed-up-to-receive-various.html

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The readings this weekend depict an age-old problem of abuse of power and double standards. The readings are really strongly worded and they sure tell us a lot about what God thinks of those who misuse their authority and miss the whole point of their role… // service and love.

Interestingly, Jesus in his teaching makes a very strong distinction. He criticises the leadership of his day for not practising what they preach. He attacks their scandalous hypocrisy, but he refuses to deny their teaching authority. Rather, he bemoans the fact that they are not living up to what they are teaching.

This is a rather novel approach. Too often we hear people saying.. they don’t believe in religion because too many things have been done that don’t live up to the teachings. But, it seems that is actually throwing out the baby with the bathwater.

“Jesus tells his disciples to follow the teachings of the Scribes and Pharisees, because the truth is always the truth. But he warns them to be suspicious of their own practice of what they are teaching.

To use an analogy… a maths teacher is still correct when they teach their subject irrespective of whether they are a nice person on not..

It is a thought-provoking concept.. how many times have you heard someone say.. ‘I won’t listen to such and such.. because they have a nerve tell me what to do.. look at their own life… they can’t talk…. “ but that misses the point.. ‘do as I say.. don’t do as I do…”

I have always found it ironic… for example… there may be an older person who (in their own life) has really been through the wringer! They have had a hard life and made many mistakes and they try to warn a young person not to make the same mistakes as they have. But they are rebuffed and told.. ‘you can talk.. look at your own life.” but in fact, that person has missed the point.. they actually CAN talk… they know what mistakes they have made and they are trying to get the other to not have to learn the hard way.. they are inviting the person to learn from another’s mistakes without having to make it themselves.. but too often people are dismissed when they probably have so much to say… just because they have been educated in the school of hard knocks… .

Jesus teaches us to listen and learn from anyone who has something worthwhile to say…. But to be discerning about the contradiction of their actions.

People who reject the Christian message because of the sins of the people who profess to follow the gospel, forget that Jesus never gave anyone permission to do the wrong thing. Jesus never told people to abuse their position and live in a hypocritical way..

In many ways, I subscribe to the great quote from the English Writer G.K. Chesterton when he says: (to paraphrase)… “it is not that Christianity doesn’t work… its just that nobody has really tried it yet! “ We should not blame God for the failures of his disciples to live up to his Gospel.

But that is not to excuse or minimise the enormous harm that is done when people fail to live up to the message of Jesus… but let’s not get complacent…

St Paul’s second reading is a refreshing contrast to the failures of the religious leaders of Jesus time. St paul is a different kind of leader. Although Jesus criticises those who take on titles and make a big show of outward appearances to the detriment of others around them, St Paul speaks from the heart. He is so passionate about his fellow Christians. He has come among them as a brother and yet has enormous attachment to them… like a mother or a father has for their beloved sons and daughters… St Paul came into the community to assist them and not be burden to them. He worries about them like a parent and speaks up to encourage or rebuke them only for their good and for the good of the gospel. This is so different from those Jesus taught against. They want to make themselves better than others, they create double standards and forget they are there for the support and up-building of others and not to meet their own selfish needs.

Jesus teaching is virtually always positive. Its not about “don’t do this and don’t do that” he leaves those kinds of words to his enemies. He devotes his actions and his teachings to the opposite.. being loving, serving others, being like a brother, sister, mother, father for others… and caring for what is best for those around them..

Jesus had no time for ‘don’t do this and don’t do that’ he was too busy (rather) DOING what was worthwhile… and encouraging people to do the same… when someone stopped him and told him ‘you shouldn’t have healed that person, you shouldn’t have forgiven that man, you shouldn’t have included that woman…” he was already off onto the next good work…. That, I think is the key to the message of Jesus…

Positive, not negative…

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REFERENCES:

· FR. PAUL W. KELLY

· Break Open the Word 2011

· My Daily Visitor Sep-October 2011

Paul's Reflections Mission talk: October 2010. Maryborough

2011-10-22T22:31:00.001+10:00

For this Sunday’s Mission Appeal, we welcome a special guest speaker, Meg Connors. Meg is a Parishioner from St. Patrick’s Church in Gympie. In 1981-82 Meg and her husband Dave and their 2 children, spent two years working in Zimbabwe as part of Australian Aid Abroad funded by the Federal Govt. Meg is a volunteer parish office helper and volunteer on the Liturgy Committee and Care and Concern Group in Gympie. Here is a copy of Meg’s Talk:

Mission talk: October 2010. Maryborough

Good evening/morning. I would like to thank Fr Paul for his welcome and for giving up his homily time for our talk today

This is World Mission Day and it is an opportunity to focus on the broader picture of events on a world wide scale. It is a really humbling experience and a privilege for me to be able to be the voice on behalf of all the missionaries and indigenous people around the world, and so I hope and pray that I can do them justice.

Catholic Mission is the Australian name for the three Mission societies under the patronage of the Pope – The Propagation of the Faith, Children’s Mission and the Society of St Peter the Apostle. These three Societies have been part of the Catholic Church for 186 years and are working in 160 countries. You can help priests, religious and lay missionaries around the world bring practical and Spiritual assistance to people in great need.

I have experienced what it is like to work in a missionary capacity. In 1981-82 Dave myself and our 2 children accepted a position from the Dept of Foreign Affairs to work in Zimbabwe for 2 years. To help out financially Dave taught in one of high Schools in Bulawayo and I worked part-time in a building society. Our children attended black African schools. The biggest challenge that faced us was to understand the struggle of the white people and how their situation fitted in with the Gospel values and to appreciate how very poor were the African people and how they had been treated. Our personal faith and values were tested at every corner and with that we grew to understand God’s plan for us. The Zimbabwe we experienced back then is certainly not the Zimbabwe of today.

We met and worked with nuns and priests from the African suburbs helping with literacy and numeracy programmes for adults, helping at an African medical clinic, organizing marriage encounter weekends and visiting patients at a mental asylum which was pretty primitive. Last year an article in the Catholic Leader said the country had the highest rate of unemployment and the highest orphan rate in the world both running at about 90%, because of the high incidence of aids and government policies. How would I feel now if that offer back then were to present itself to us now? I honestly don’t know and we would have to have a long prayer list to God.

Exodus in the Old Testament tells us that back then, times were very tough. God warns Moses that his people were to treat widows and especially those borrowing money, well. That meant not charging interest, and returning borrowed items by sunset, otherwise they would experience God’s wrath. Different to today isn’t it? This reading is a precursor to the Gospel reading.

In the second reading St.Paul praises the Thessalonians for the way in which they had embraced the gospel and their faith in God, in the face of very strong opposition. He speaks enthusiastically about how others have told him how they have become a model for all believers.

St. Matthew’s Gospel is one we have heard many times. There is no surprise when we hear it again. Perhaps this is the Challenge: to listen with new ears and a receptive heart. You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. How do we really fare with this? Do we hand over to God our whole love or do we still have strings attached? Do we really enter into the heart of God and abandon ourselves to him to love unconditionally without holding to a part of ourselves?

You must love your neighbour as yourself. This is the 2^nd greatest commandment. Who is our neighbour? Let’s face it. We all have people in our lives who we find very hard to love. I’m reminded of the aboriginal lady who lay ill on a transit seat at Mt. Gravatt and not one person went near her or at least phoned for an ambulance because they thought she was drunk. In St. Lukes Gospel, loving our neighbour is tied in with the parable of the good Samaritan. But Matthew gives it importance by having it on it, own Can we cross our own boundaries and help someone who seems repugnant to us? Can we cross over the boundaries of colour race or creed? We are faced daily in our communities, by the media especially now on the subject of asylum seekers. We all have views, but are we game enough to make a stand on what God is asking of us to do, or do we put it into the too hard basket?

Today we will look at 2 indigenous communities featured on your envelopes The Q’echi people in Guatemala and Our own indigenous people from Wadeye in the Northern Territory. The Q’echi people live in a place of peace now after enduring injustice, 36 years of civil war and torture, from which over 200,00 people have died. Their Bishop was murdered two days after delivering a damming report on the injustices of the civil war. Catholic Mission helps to train Catechists as the Parish Priest can only visit the villages every 6 or 8 weeks. Life is tough and faith is all they have to keep them going Don Pedro is a catechist who has been trained with the help of Catholic Mission. He helps to continue the life of the Sacraments in his village by holding Liturgy of the Word and Communion Services, training leaders to help him and by taking the Sacraments to the sick and dying as well as officiating as funerals. Catechists are essential to the life of the Church and Catholic Mission supports 2,800 Catechists in the diocese.

Here at home we have our own opportunity to hear the voice of our own indigenous Australians. Bishop Eugene Hurley of the Darwin Diocese said it has been a great privilege for him to discover the depth and prayerfulness of the Catholic Faith and the people’s association with nature, and the land they say is a gift from God which is treated with respect. Carmelita and Angela from Wadeye in the NT are two leaders, who with 280 students attend the Indigenous Nungalenya College which is supported by Catholic Mission and the Diocese of Darwin.

They are trained as Spiritual leaders and study Liturgy and Ministry in English and their own Language. Your support helps to meet their living costs, travel and many essential costs. The Diocese runs the only indigenous school from years 1-12 where students learn English and their own language which helps to preserve their culture and dignity.

Across the world the Church hears the voice of 300 million indigenous people as they face incredible challenges. Please pick up the appeal envelope in front of you to see how you can donate by including your name and address so that we can keep you informed of our work and the difference you make. You can use a credit card or cash or become a regular donor. For $20 a month you can support the training of local leaders in more than 1,100 Dioceses. In the past you have been very generous with you support and Mission Sunday this weekend is an opportunity on behalf of the Holy Father to thank you for such tremendous generosity and to encourage and affirm the continuation of this missionary support and for hearing the voice of these indigenous communities and for believing that together we can raise up new leaders and hope for the next generation

We’ll give you a couple of minutes to think about your donation and if you did not bring anything please take the envelope home and bring back next time.

Once again on behalf of Catholic Mission thank you

Paul's Reflections Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

2011-10-22T19:27:00.001+10:00

HOMILY – PAUL KELLY. Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

World Mission Month DVD

The “Hear My Voice... Believe” DVD takes us to two remote Indigenous communities. It shows parishioners the work of Catholic Mission here in Australia and around the world and inspires them to hear the voice of Indigenous brothers and sisters. View the “Hear My Voice... Believe” DVD below at this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=13Rto-VdxWc

Different ways and projects to be involved in:

http://www.catholicmission.org.au/about-us/our-programs

As we celebrate World Mission Day on Sunday
23 October 2011 we are encouraged to hear the voice of our Indigenous brothers and sisters in Guatemala and here in Australia – to celebrate their Indigenous Catholic faith; their unique culture, language and spiritual traditions.

This 2011 World Mission Month, Pope Benedict XVI invites all Catholics around the world to go and proclaim the Gospel to all peoples – to stand in solidarity with them as part of the Universal Church.

The 2011 World Mission Month poster features Leon Gilbert and Clare Narburup, two Indigenous children from the Wadeye community in the Northern Territory. The image portrays the joy, dignity and pride of our Indigenous brothers and sisters.

· In the first reading, the voice of God warns not to oppress the alien and the widow and take advantage of the needy. How do we promote the just treatment of the vulnerable?

· Saint Paul commends the Thessalonians for spreading the Word of the Lord. In what ways does our faith in God go forth?

· The essence of the law, Jesus teaches, is to love God with everything you are, and to love others as yourself

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Paul's Reflections 29th Sunday of Ordinary Time

2011-10-15T17:00:00.000+10:00

Fr Dan Grundy will be celebrating masses this weekend, as I have another commitment. Thanks Fr Dan.

Meanwile,

Here are some thoughts from a great resource:

The Monastery of Christ in the Desert Homily for October 12 2011

29th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Cycle A

2011

FIRST READING

Isaiah 45:1, 4-6

Thus says the Lord to his anointed, Cyrus, whose right hand I grasp, subduing nations before him, and making kings run in his service, opening doors before him and leaving the gates unbarred: For the sake of Jacob, my servant, of Israel, my chosen one, I have called you by your name, giving you a title, though you knew me not. I am the Lord and there is no other, there is no God besides me. It is I who arm you, though you know me not, so that toward the rising and the setting of the sun people may know that there is none besides me. I am the Lord, there is no other.

SECOND READING

1 Thessalonians 1:1-5b

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace to you and peace. We give thanks to God always for all of you, remembering you in our prayers, unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father, knowing, brothers and sisters loved by God, how you were chosen. For our gospel did not come to you in word alone, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much conviction.

GOSPEL Cycle A

Matthew 22:15-21

The Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech.

They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. And you are not concerned with anyone's opinion, for you do not regard a person's status. Tell us, then, what is your opinion: Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?"

Knowing their malice, Jesus said, "Why are you testing me, you hypocrites?

Show me the coin that pays the census tax." Then they handed him the Roman coin. He said to them, "Whose image is this and whose inscription?" They replied, "Caesar's." At that he said to them, "Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God."

My sisters and brothers in Christ,

Who is chosen by the Lord? Perhaps too often we think that only those who are faithful to their religious obligations are chosen by the Lord. The Scriptures keep telling us over and over that this is not so. God chooses anyone and everyone. God will the salvation of every person who has ever lived. God makes us of those who are His chosen people but also those who belong to the pagans and the gentiles. It is important for us to realize this so that we don’t think that just because we are Christians, we have a special right to God’s divine life.

In today’s first reading, from the Prophet Isaiah, we see God using Cyrus and calling Cyrus his anointed one. Yet Cyrus was not one of the chosen people. We also know that in the genealogy of Christ, there are present some women who did not come from the chosen people. God works where God wants to work and uses whatever person He chooses.

Today’s Gospel from Saint Matthew teaches the same kind of reality. The Pharisees are trying to trip Jesus up with their way of thinking, so that they can show others that Jesus is not anyone special. Jesus outwits them, as usual. God’s presence and love do not depend on keeping the all the rules that the Pharisees had found in order to protect the Law. We should not ridicule all of these Laws because they really did help keep a strong practice of faith. The problem is when the small laws become more important that the enormous values they are supposed to be protecting.

We Christians should listen to the words of the First Letter to the Thessalonians today, wherein we are told: For our gospel did not come to you in word alone, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much conviction. Living the Gospel is not just knowing the words, but living in its power by our daily actions, living in the power of the Holy Spirit, both with actions and with conviction.

Christianity is not a philosophy so much as a way of living daily life.

We want to be followers of Jesus Christ, living as He lived and striving to love all others as He did. May our listening to the Word of God today move us from attentiveness to strong living actions of faith.

Your brother in the Lord,

Abbot Philip, OSB

Taken from http://christdesert.org/About_Us/Abbot_s_and_Cellarer_s_Pages/Abbot_s_Homily/index.html

Accessed 12/10/11

Paul's Reflections Twenty - eighth Sunday of the Year - C. Homily 9th October, 2011

2011-10-08T09:39:00.000+10:00

Homily 9th October, 2011 Twenty - eighth Sunday of the Year - C

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The disturbing thing about today’s gospel is that the excuses given by those who decline the wedding invitation are actually (in the main) good and worthwhile things: attending to one’s business and one’s livestock, at least.

The thing is, they have their priorities wrong.

The most important thing they should have been at, (at that time), was the wedding banquet (which they had already accepted) and now were too distracted by other things to bother doing what was most important.

It is so easy to get caught up with the ‘urgent’ that we lose sight of the ‘important’.

The other thing is, that even for people who aren’t overly religious, most people in the community would know that Christians believe that God wants to invite all people to be part of God’s family, part of God’s Kingdom. Christians and non-Christians alike know that God loves all people and invites everyone to be part of God’s family. The only problem is that some seem to make a big deal of that aspect whilst playing down and ignoring the second aspect of the King throwing out one of the invited guests because they were not properly attired and had no good excuse for it.

The Christian message has been watered down by some who overplay the first point and ignore the second. You see people falling into that trap when they publicly recommend this kind of thinking: God is a God of Love and compassion, God loves everyone (and that is true), so.. God wouldn’t care about how people live (that… is not true)…

This parable warns us, we are all invited to the banquet feast.. We are all invited to be part of God’s Kingdom, but it does not mean that we can then do as we please, live as we want and make up our own relativist mode of morality to suit ourselves. This parable teaches us that Christianity is not a ‘design-your-own’ lifestyle group. The baptismal garment, or the wedding garment that symbolises the entry into Christ’s life and death, is not a mix and match costume… one size fits all and that is Christ.. When we accept the invitation to be a part of Christ, WE ARE, as St Paul says, “clothing ourselves in Christ… we are ‘putting on Christ’ and his way of living and loving. Today’s parable warns us that if we do not put on Christ’s garment, we will be thrown back outside.

Contrary to some false prophets in this society…. NOT “everything goes” in the Kingdom of God. We have been given true freedom as sons and daughters of God, but that is freedom to keep God’s will and not break it. (this is a definition of freedom that many in modern society would find confusing. But it is the Judeo-Christian definition of freedom. Freedom to be everything God calls us to be, not freedom to do as we please).

I sometimes joke that that wonderful hymn “come as you are” which I like a lot, does NOT have a sequel for the end of mass “go as you please” ….. nor is there another hymn called “Do as you please, that’s how I want you…..” Because, once we are approach God, no matter whether we feel unworthy or sinful.. (and we all feel like that)… nevertheless, then God invites us to be transformed (heart, mind and soul) into the people God calls us to be, and to live and behave as children of God, according to his values.

This parable is sobering and powerful. Those who were invited thought they could take the goodwill of the King for granted and they also had all sorts of excuses about how what they were doing was more important than what the King was asking them to do at this time. They were fooling themselves, and they were taking their status for granted… and so Jesus warns them, they will all be kicked out and people from other nations, other cultures and other religious… sinners and saints alike will be given their place and invited to be part of the family… but they too must put on the garment of salvation and live a new way.. leaving behind their old garments and old ways….

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REFERENCES:

· FR. PAUL W. KELLY

· THE DAILY STUDY BIBLE. GOSPEL OF Matthew . (REVISED EDITION). BY WILLIAM BARCLAY.

Paul's Reflections Sermon preached by Fr Jim. 8am. St Mary’s Catholic Parish. 2 October 2011

2011-10-02T13:04:00.001+10:00

Thanks To Fr Jim from St Paul's Anglican Parish Maryborough, for preaching the homily for Sunday the 2^nd October at St Mary's Church.

Here is a copy of his sermon:

The Anglican Parish of Maryborough

Sermon preached by Fr Jim McPherson

at St Mary's Catholic Parish

2 October 2011

Isaiah 5.1-7; Matthew 21.33-43

I am delighted to be here! It was good to reaffirm our agreement in August at St Paul's, and we look forward to Fr Paul joining us for the Feast of Christ the King.

*****

We read the first reading, from what Christians call "the Old Testament", because it is part of our family history. These readings are addressed to us; the tangled family dramas of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph (Israel's founding family) are our story as well as Israel's. We do Jesus himself a disservice, and the Christian faith we profess a disservice, if we think it all started with Jesus as though he just landed on terra nullius and started from there.

The gospel reading makes this clear, when Jesus takes the vine/vineyard (one of the well-known symbols of the nation Israel) and one of the well-known prophetic rebukes to faithless Israel, and reworks it as a prophetic challenge to the religious authorities of his day, "the chief priests and the elders".

The story tells of God's persistent and determined efforts to get through to his wayward people; prophet after prophet sent, and ignored; eventually God sends his Son, whom they recognise as Son, and therefore kill – in hope of gaining the vineyard for themselves. (I understand this was a realistic strategy in Jesus' day; after a specified time, an inheritance left unclaimed could go to the first reasonable claimant; or occupation over several years would entitle to ownership.)

So now they won't have to worry about the previous absentee landlord, God ‑ or any of God's inconvenient requirements. And the Son joins the succession of murdered prophets.

The way Matthew's gospel tells it, the details of the Son's death correspond to the recorded realities of Jesus' death … and the "wretched end" probably describes Rome's invasion and defeat of Jerusalem (including the destruction of its Temple) in AD 70.

*****

This parable of Jesus taps into something really deep in the way our minds tick over.

We humans are all experts at smug. [1] That is, we are excessively proud of how good we are, what we have achieved, what nice people we are, etc; and therefore complacent about anyone challenging us to change. We are such nice people, bumping along satisfactorily (for the most part) with our lives, so that sort of criticism is not only unwelcome, it certainly does not apply to us …

Because of smug, we tend to overlook the gospel's concluding sentence: "I tell you, then, that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit." Clearly that applies to "the chief priest and elders of the people", whom Jesus addresses directly. But we are nice people, we are Christians, we know better, we wouldn't do anything like this, especially rejecting the prophets and killing the Son ….

Here are two questions, to St Mary's, St Paul's, to the Christian communities in Maryborough:

Is God an absentee landlord for you? As in Fiddler on the Roof, the blessing for the Tsar: "Lord, bless and keep the Tsar …… far away from us".

As God surveys our vineyard, is the yield worthwhile? The fruits of the kingdom: justice, mercy, peace, righteousness … How's the yield?

And if it's not up to the mark, what can we do about it?

Maryborough Qld 4650

www.anglicanmaryborough.org.au

[1] "having or showing an excessive pride in oneself or one's achievements: he was feeling smug after his win" ‑ http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/smug (visited 29 September 2011)

Paul's Reflections Twenty - seventh Sunday of the Year - A. Fr Paul's homily

2011-10-01T22:25:00.001+10:00

Homily 2nd October, 2011 Twenty - seventh Sunday of the Year - A

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We welcome Fr Jim McPherson as guest preacher at St Mary's for the 8am Mass this weekend. I will publish online a copy of his sermon after Sunday morning's mass.

I also might pinch some of his good ideas for tonight's homily. I am sure Fr Jim won't mind! J

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The readings this weekend carry a very consistent image in each of them: the ancient and powerful image of the Vineyard planted and left to people to look after and the landowner returning to claim his rights, only to be rebuffed and all his messengers mistreated and killed, and even his beloved son is rejected and killed. It is very chilling!

It is clearly speaking of the people of Israel as the tenants of God's vineyard, and the messengers are the prophets of God, and the son is clearly Jesus.

Jesus is warning the listeners, particularly the chief priests and scribes, that they think they are holy and righteous, but they are in a long line of people who killed God's prophets and have set themselves against God's will. IT would be shocking to them to hear that. They certainly saw themselves as righteous and doing God's will. It must be everyone else who is doing wrong, not me. Isn't that a familiar cry from so many people… I am right, it's all these other people who are in the wrong!

When I think of the image of the vineyard, I also can't help but think that God has given us this beautiful world to live in and care for its natural resources. In return, in many ways, we wreck the things given into our care. God would not be impressed by a lack of care for our environment and for the people and creatures that live in it. We are called to responsible care and management and respect of the resources that God has entrusted to us; to avoid waste or destruction and pollution and excess and exploitation.

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This gospel also calls upon each of us to consider the gifts God has entrusted to us to nurture and to bear fruit…

The Gospel parable reminds us that God is very patient with us and very generous… But God is also just and won't give us endless time to produce the fruits God wants…. So.. are there areas in our lives where God has been exceedingly patient? Are week taking that patience for granted in any way?.....

are we producing the fruit?… what kind of fruit is it? And is it for the purposes of the Kingdom; and are the fruits we are producing intended for the King from whom we received these gifts and resources?

Is God an absentee landlord for you and I……?
What kind of fruit are we producing.. And if it's not up to the mark, what can we do about it?

Is it overripe?... are we not producing at the pace we could…

Are we producing sour grapes...afraid to show love, kindness and joy…

Are we producing colourless grapes..hesitant or sparing in showing and sharing our talents

Are we producing wild grapes.. going it alone, not working with the faith community… not supporting or being challenged by the wider community…. A law unto myself..

Are we producing tasteless grapes….absorbed by our own needs and wants…. ?

May the Son inspire and strengthen us to produce the fruits of the Kingdom… justice, mercy, peace, and righteousness

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REFERENCES:

· FR. PAUL W. KELLY

· Revd James M McPherson, Maryborough, 2011

· MISSION 2000 – PRAYING SCRIPTURE IN A CONTEMPORARY WAY. YEAR A. BY MARK LINK S.J.

· Celebrating the Gospels, 1981-2003.

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How to keep up-to-date with parish news.

Have you signed up to receive the various St Mary's, Maryborough Parish emails? A fast way of keeping up-to-date

For more info, please visit: http://stmaryextras.blogspot.com/2011/08/have-you-signed-up-to-receive-various.html

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Paul's Reflections sixth Sunday of the Year - A. 25th September, 2011

2011-09-23T21:00:00.001+10:00

Homily 25th September, 2011. Twenty - sixth Sunday of the Year - A

 Save a tree. Don't print this e-mail unless it's really necessary

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How to keep up-to-date with parish news.

Have you signed up to receive the various St Mary's, Maryborough Parish emails? A fast way of keeping up-to-date

For more info, please visit: http://stmaryextras.blogspot.com/2011/08/have-you-signed-up-to-receive-various.html

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I think that today's gospel, although very short, is really a key teaching in Christ's gospel. It goes to the heart of what Our Lord was doing and saying.

Jesus did not come to do away with the religious tradition of his day, but rather to fulfil it. And at the heart of this religious tradition is the core of God's message. However, Jesus taught on several occasions about the danger of a mere outward observance of religion. Much more important, (and ultimately the only thing that really matters), is that one is faithful to the truth of God's message by DOING God's will, irrespective of whether one SEEMS to be living up to the message or not. Appearances can (so often) be quite deceiving.

The irony of today's message is that all of us can say, "well of course! That is common sense." OBVIOUSLY the son who said no to his father but ended up DOING his will is the righteous one, and the one who SAID he would obey his father but didn't is in the wrong. It is so blatantly obvious. I imagine that the listeners of Jesus when he first taught this would also have probably responded, 'well of course.' The trouble is, that we KNOW this teaching is right, but so many people still continue to fall for the trap of it nevertheless..

Perhaps we all keep falling into this trap, of judging by appearances and not by realities. Since none of us can see inside the heart of another, we naturally go by what we see and by what people say or how things appear to be. But, I do wonder, why do we keep falling for the trap of appearances versus realities.

This parable of the two sons is vital.

St Paul picks up on this same theme in his famous and popular passage in his first to the Corinthians 12:31, and following….-

"Strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing."

This teaching is so central that Saint Thérèse of Lisieux experienced a most profound and permanent inner conversion of heart whilst reading this same text from St Paul… as well as the earlier chapter 12……

Saint Thérèse writes….. "My eyes fell on the 12th and 13th chapters of the First Epistle to the Corinthians. I read that all cannot become Apostles, Prophets, and Doctors; that the Church is composed of different members; that the eye cannot also be the hand. Without being discouraged I read on, and found comfort in this counsel: "Be zealous for the better gifts. And I show unto you a yet more excellent way." [14] The Apostle then explains how all perfect gifts are nothing without Love, that Charity is the most excellent way of going surely to God. At length I had found peace of mind.

"When I had looked upon the mystical body of the Church, I recognised myself in none of the members which St. Paul described, and what is more, I desired to distinguish myself more favourably within the whole body. Love appeared to me to be the hinge for my vocation. Indeed I knew that the Church had a body composed of various members, but in this body the necessary and more noble member was not lacking; I knew that the Church had a heart and that such a heart appeared to be aflame with love. I knew that one love drove the members of the Church to action, that if this love were extinguished, the apostles would have proclaimed the Gospel no longer, the martyrs would have shed their blood no more. I saw and realised that love sets off the bounds of all vocations, that love is everything, that this same love embraces every time and every place. In one word, that love is everlasting.

"Then, nearly ecstatic with the supreme joy in my soul, I proclaimed: O Jesus, my love, at last I have found my calling: my vocation is love. Certainly I have found my place in the Church, and you gave me that very place, my God. In the heart of the Church, my mother, I will be love, and thus I will be all things, as my desire finds its direction."" [The Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. (1898).Chapter XI ].

I have mentioned in a homily last year, but its so key, I will briefly repeat it. Saint Thérèse (whose insights are so profound but simple, that she was declared to be a Doctor the Church), was all-too-aware of the dangers taught by Christ in this weekend's parable… So much so, that Thérèse took no comfort from praise and little distress from criticism. A person could be praised for a particular action that appears heroic and charitable…..but inwardly (perhaps unknown to others) their attitude and desires are not loving or consistent with God's ways… And also, a person might conceivably be motivated by deep and selfless concern but their actions are taken wrongly by others and appear to be selfish and worthy of criticism. The message appears clear…. We are to do what is right and loving irrespective of the appearance… and be cautious in jumping to conclusions about people's motives. They are known to God alone.

As I say, we know this all conceptually… but Jesus would not have had to repeat this teaching in various forms unless he was well aware of the fact that we so often can fall for the trap of appearances. This can cause enormous mischief and misunderstanding, and can thwart the real object of Our Lord's teaching.

Let us ask the Lord to help purify our inner life… and our inward dispositions and attitudes, so that everything we do, in thought, word and action, be motivated by love of God. Love of neighbour as oneself… and may we have the strength to continue to do actions (motivated by love) that could risk attracting condemnation and criticism of other's who base their judgement on merely outward appearances.

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• FR. PAUL W. KELLY

• The Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. (1898).

Paul's Reflections Twenty - fifth Sunday of the Year - A. Homily 18th September, 2011

2011-09-15T18:57:00.003+10:00

Homily 18th September, 2011 Twenty - fifth Sunday of the Year - A

P Save a tree. Don't print this e-mail unless it's really necessary

We had a Deanery retreat at Ormiston on Friday night and Saturday and representatives from parishes in the deanery gathered to have a time of prayer and reflection.

The opening scripture for this time of retreat was very pertinent. It was St Paul to the Ephesians, chapter three:

¹⁴ For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family^[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

And Our Lord spent his ministry teaching his disciples (and us) about how we might be able to (in some small way) grasp the unimaginable depths of God's generosity, love, forgiveness and care. It is quite beyond the human concept. this parable, this weekend, is attempting to convey a taste of that depth and breadth of God's love and generosity and inclusion....

The Gospel this weekend is truly wonderful. Our Lord teaches us this parable to open up for us what is really the unimaginable depths of God’s generosity, love, kindness and care.

God’s ways are truly wonderful and they are in marked contrast with many human attitudes. This parable of the generous landowner and the workers in the vineyard really challenges us to accept a new way of thinking and acting that does not measure up what we can get from things – like one who keeps a balance sheet of what they have gotten and what they have given.

In Jesus’ time, and even in this day and age, many people seem to asses what they should put their energy and time into by what they can personally benefit from it. In many ways, there is nothing wrong with an attitude of ‘win-win’ where everyone ends up benefitting from a situation. The only trouble is, in this world there are many people who are severely disadvantaged and in need. And all things are not equal. In a world where people get something only if they can give something of equal value back, there are many people who are in a dire situation because they are so poor or disadvantaged that they are not seen as being able to benefit anyone – so they miss out. They don’t fit into the system and are left on the margins. Jesus went out to the margins and searched for these people and made special effort to ensure that they too were included in his Kingdom. This is what the generous landowner is doing. The workers who were left without any days work after the eleventh hour (still a term we use today) would have gone without a days food. The landowner knew this and also knew that the harvest is plentiful and the labourers few, so he gave them what they needed - a days food (pay). Not that they ‘earnt’ it, but that they NEEDED it. And in any case, when it comes to God’s gifts none of us have really earned God’s favour and love, it is freely and generously given and its offered to all.

God is generous and kind. God gives us love and care and invites us to be part of his family because God is generous and loving, not because we have earnt it. Jesus wants us to have that same generosity and welcome to others around. They too are welcome because God is loving, forgiving and generous to them, as God is to us as well.

What a wonderful and quite revolutionary attitude. A world-changing attitude.

What would the world be like if everyone was striving to outdo eachother in hospitality, welcome, generosity and giving, and less about what do I get out of this? But how is this benefitting me? What can you give me? Why did he get that, I should have gotten more.. and so on….

To summarise this gospel… a writer once said….

“the world asks, HOW MUCH did the landowner give ? But Jesus invites us to ask the better question? WHY did the landowner give as he did, (not how much did he give)?”

The answer is.. because God is generous, God is loving. God gives us what we NEED.

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REFERENCES:

· FR. PAUL W. KELLY

· Mark Link. Vision. Praying Scripture in a contemporary way. Year a.

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How to keep up-to-date with parish news.

Have you signed up to receive the various St Mary’s, Maryborough Parish emails? A fast way of keeping up-to-date

For more info, please visit: http://stmaryextras.blogspot.com/2011/08/have-you-signed-up-to-receive-various.html

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Paul's Reflections 11th Septmber, 2011. 24TH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR - A

2011-09-10T11:21:00.001+10:00

11th Septmber, 2011 24TH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR - A

P Save a tree. Don't print this e-mail unless it's really necessary

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How to keep up-to-date with parish news.

Have you signed up to receive the various St Mary’s, Maryborough Parish emails? A fast way of keeping up-to-date

For more info, please visit: http://stmaryextras.blogspot.com/2011/08/have-you-signed-up-to-receive-various.html

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· Just some practicalities… a quick reminder…. whenever we are using a spoken response now, it’s the new translation of mass. It is important that we “keep our eyes on the card”, because some of the responses are different /… or start the same but end very differently… / It’s helpful, whenever a response is required.. grab the card and read along with it…… . The card will be needed.

· For the Eucharistic prayer that is being used on a Sunday… and the preface choice, just a reminder, that for several years now I have been putting on the back of the newsletter (where hymns are) and also in the online email version of the newsletter.. (particularly at the end of the document) the various Mass options that I am using for the weekend masses.”

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The gospel values revealed in this Weekend’s readings are really central.

The principles on which Our Lord’s parable is based have had such a profound effect on not only Christianity, but also legal and ethical systems throughout the world.

In some ways they are common sense and simply about consistency, justice and fairness, and yet, even now the world cries out for this common sense and fairness to be applied evenly… Even to this day, people suffer because of the hypocrisy of double standards that are actually indefensible.

“Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you!” “The Golden rule”, which is so profound that it is an important part of our Western Legal system.

And yet, how often do people, inexplicably not follow this sensible and just principle. People can be masters of justifying loopholes whereby they are entitled to be treated differently (often better) than others. Conversely, some people seem to justify treating others worse than they would like to be treated in the same situation. It is senseless..

Our Lord strengthens this teaching in other lessons where he warns.. ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ (Matt 25:40).

This gospel is given by Our Lord as a warning that we must be constantly on our guard against not applying the graciousness, forgiveness and charity that God gives to us, to others around us.

The other major problem is that some people just don’t seem to see those around them as their brothers and sisters in Christ.. or (at the very least), fellow citizens in the same commonwealth for common good… so they act with disregard for anyone but themselves and perhaps their closest relatives and friends…

Jesus rejects this approach totally as well.. He reminds us, if we do good to those who love us, what difference does that make, even the pagans and the sinners do that… Our Lord is preaching universal fraternity and goodwill to all…. Because we are ALL God’s children…

The parable of the Unforgiving Servant… is really appalling. It is very powerful. The nasty servant has a debt to the master which he would NEVER ever be able to repay. IT is ENORMOUS…. And the master, in compassion forgives the debt entirely. But then this nasty piece of work goes out and does not do the same to a fellow servant who has a debt to him that is quite payable in time… maybe a 100 days, but it is manageable given time…. It is pathetic. This nasty servant shows no empathy, no connection to others. He does not identify himself with the feelings and plight of others. He does not see this poor fellow servant as a brothers in similar need.

We see this all the time in our society. It is sad and quite frankly bewildering. This kind of attitude makes the world a meaner and nastier place. It is so unnecessary and so opposite to the gospel.

This very weekend, is the tenth anniversary of the World Trade Centre Terrorist attacks in New York and in Washington. Ten years later, it is still horrifying and frightening.

The terrorists obviously did not see those they were attacking as their brothers and sisters… they didn’t spare a thought for how they or their family would feel if someone did that to them or their loved ones? When retaliation occurred, these terrorists are outraged when their loved ones and friends and colleagues are affected, but don’t seem to identify with the outrage and untold damage done by them. It is totally senseless and contradictory. It is the highwatermark of the opposite of the gospel.

The gospel seeks to break the cycle of hurt, retaliation and violence that comes from refusing to do unto others as I would have them do unto me… We have seen the terrible damage done by refusing to see that we are all irreplaceable children of God.

Let us pray for peace.. and healing.. and an end to hatred and violence .. and the cycle of violence and retribution. Let us pray that the blatantly fair and reasonable message of justice and equality that comes from the golden rule, may find a home in the hearts of all. May our communities and nations be rid of the hypocrisy of double standards and a lack of empathy and brotherhood and sisterhood…

This gospel applies in big issues and in small issues of everyday life… the small things of life, while they might not be anything like the horrors of the “911” events and the other horrific terrorist acts of the last decades, still make life more or less tolerable.

In the small things, I think of so many thoughtless and irksome things that you see people do…. And one prays to not do those or similar things in one’s own behaviour….

A small but interesting example….. the other day, I was in a long line of traffic lined up at a set of lights… I could see a car was parked at the side and indicating to come out… I knew he or she would be waiting a long time … so I let them in… they returned the favour by immediately putting their indicators on to turn right into a cul-de-sac. I thought to myself… what in the world are they doing.. now they have blocked the traffic and I and everyone behind me couldn’t get past. So the lights turned back to red and we were all stuck there… while I was waiting.. this car used the cul-de-sac to simply turn around and drive in the other direction… that was so annoying… I was dumbfounded… that person, ignorant of everyone behind now blocked traffic just to do an extended. When all they NEEDED to do was turn left at the intersection, going with the flow of traffic and go around the block…. I was also embarrassed because my act of well-meaning letting them into the line, had unwittingly let this thoughtless person block the traffic, so I was wondering what everyone behind me was making of that!!! I thought, why are people so thoughtless and ignorant. It might be a small incident… but I think some of this thinking shows itself in big and small ways…

Whatever the situation.. I thought … well, I can’t change that person and I have no idea what they were thinking, if at all… so all I can do is learn from this and use it to be more aware of others and their needs from my own actions and behaviours…. After all this parable today is directed at the listeners, not the unforgiving servant!

Let us continue to foster that awareness that we are all in communion with one another in the One God… and what we do to others.. we do to God….

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REFERENCES:

· FR. PAUL W. KELLY

Paul's Reflections St Mary's visits St Paul's: The Anglican Parish of Maryborough

2011-09-06T13:15:00.000+10:00

(Here is the Sermon preached by Fr Jim

at the St Paul’s ceremony last Sunday. It was a wonderful morning. Thanks everyone)

The Anglican Parish of Maryborough

Sermon preached by Fr Jim

4 September 2011

St Mary’s visits St Paul’s

Romans 13.1-10; Matthew 18.10-20

Saturday a week ago, my wife Marcia and I were in Canberra for

the first ever reunion of the theological college where I studied for

ordination in the mid 1970s. A special occasion, wonderful to be

able to be there. We were able to catch up with friends, relive old

memories, recall those with whom we had shared this special

formation time, and review the courses of our own lives. Some had

come through smiling; some had died; others had not been able to

stay the distance. A family reunion within the family of God.

During my time in theological college, we confronted each other in

some pretty forthright and challenging ways – but this is partly what

“formation” is about. And I remember my delight, one day in the

college library, in discovering one of Israel’s proverbs, which said it

all for me: “Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens the wits of

another” [NRSV]; “As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a

friend” [New Living].1 Not that it was always the clash of steel upon

steel, but that – thrown together by God’s peculiar calling, and

having no say in who might join our exclusive community - we were

good for each other … Exactly like the Christian Church!

Notice how relational today’s readings are. “Owe no one anything,

except to love one another.” “Take care that you do not despise

one of these little ones.” “If another member of the church sins

against you …” It is a happy coincidence that today is also Fathers’

Day, when we acknowledge that we are not self-sufficient and that

our fathers (and mothers) have shaped us for good or ill, and that

we are of their genes and share their temperaments; even as we

retain our individual identities and must assert ourselves against our

parents – in mature and appropriate ways - from time to time.

This all relates strongly to what we are doing together here today.

In the Reformation, the Church of England strongly asserted itself

against, and eventually separated from, the Catholic Church; each

side persecuted the other, depending on whether Catholic or

Protestant was on the throne; we each have our martyrs from that

period. Now, centuries later, we recognise our family ties in Christ

even though we now dwell in separate houses; we retain our

individual identities, but respect each other and have been working

towards being better sisters to each other.

Which is why Fr Paul and I are both delighted to reaffirm the

agreement we signed here two years ago … and I would like to say

again what a pleasure it is work alongside him and all of you,

Catholic and Anglican, in our shared witness to Christ’s gospel here

in Maryborough.

“As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend”. What are we

doing, to sharpen each other? Certainly, we do together whatever

we can which, sadly, does not extend to our being able to make

Eucharist together; Fr Paul & I preach in each other’s pulpits; we’ve

been able to join in special celebrations together, most recently

your 150th; we share Stations of the Cross on Good Friday; we

pray for each other, and it has been very heartening for me to

know that both St Mary’s and St Paul’s have been upholding my wife

Marcia in prayer.

My biggest regret, however, is that our Lenten studies didn’t quite

get off the ground … St Mary’s supported them better than St

Paul’s, but it all tapered off before Holy Week. Well, Fr Paul, we’ll

have to get our heads together on this one! It may just be that Lent

studies is not the best way forward, but perhaps a lengthier daytime

study program … we’ll see … but it’s important that over they

years, we not only keep the agreement alive but strengthen it. As

iron sharpens iron …

Our family ties are too strong to let it be otherwise. We are not

self-sufficient; we belong to Christ and through Christ to each other –

in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Maryborough Qld 4650

www.anglicanmaryborough.org.au

1 Proverbs 27.17.

Paul's Reflections Twenty - third Sunday of the Year - A. 4th September, 2011

2011-09-03T10:22:00.002+10:00

4th September, 2011 Twenty - third Sunday of the Year - A

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On this Father’s Day weekend, the readings are rather fitting, by coincidence, because they remind us of how each and every one of us belongs to a family, (a community); ….. and it is from our influential family members and elder mentors that our values are formed and shaped.

We give thanks to God for our Fathers… and all parents who pass on the values that matter.

To me, the Scriptures this weekend teach us that we are formed and called to be a loving community, in union with God and in goodwill and love and care with one another. That is the core of everything in the law and the prophets. It is the core of the Gospel message.

One of the big problems in our world today, seems to me is that there is this mentality of many people that they are like a solo performer who just happens to be living in a community, rather than an inter-dependent member who is a part of the community in which he or she lives… There are too many people who are alienated and often antagonistic to the wider values and significance of the community or family within which they exist. It causes terrible results, as people with that mindset can act selfishly and thoughtlessly, without regard or respect for the communion good, or the needs of their brother and sister around them. This thinking at its worst would not even acknowledge they the people around them formed ANY sort of brotherhood or sisterhood of humanity.

The Christian message is that one cannot be a solo Christian. God calls and forms us to be a people of God, a chosen people and a member of the BODY of Christ.

I think of some sayings that are consistent with the concept of belonging to a community in which Christ is present.. and in which the values of the Gospel are taught and learnt.

Sayings such as…..

· “It Takes A Village to Raise a Child.” Others have challenged that saying, somewhat, and said.. “actually it takes a family to raise a child”… (noting the differing values that a community can have for better or worse, as compared with a family and the values they pass on…..).

· No man (or woman) is an island, complete of itself.

· You start building a good neighbourhood when you yourself decide that you will be a good neighbour.

Then I think of a wonderful reflection that is quite popular…

Children Learn What They Live (1998). by Dorothy Law Nolte (1924 - 2005)

· If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.

· If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.

· If they live with acceptance, they learn to love.

· If they live with approval, they learn to like themselves.

· … with sharing, they learn generosity.

· ….. with honesty, they learn truthfulness.

· …. with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.

· If they live with criticism, they learn to condemn.

· ……and so on..

I would add another one… “If children do the wrong thing and then see their parents siding with them against authorities that are rightly challenging their bad behaviour… then children learn to disrespect authority, and learn not to be accountable for their actions. They learn to be a real pain in the neck and a worry for the community.”

One sees that FAR too often in society.. people who have done the wrong thing and are in the wrong… challenged by the authorities and rules that guide our community… and their parents, instead of backing up these authorities, and seeing them as instruments of their role in transmitting values and morals, take the side of their children when the issues are actually indefensible. Its misguided. That is a distortion to the concept of “unconditional love.” Love is accepting the person, it is not necessarily accepting bad behaviour. In fact it can be very unloving to do so… because its choosing something that is not for their good.

One often hears people say that in the old days… when they were younger… if the police for some reason had to drop them home to their parents because of some incident… because they had somehow got into some problem with the law… no matter how minor… they knew they would be in equally big trouble with their parents!! But today, all too often, one hears incidents of people being dropped back home to their parents by the authorities only to get a mouthful from the parents… its all THEIR fault.. their child couldn’t possibly be the problem…. (it must be someone else’s child who is out all night causing trouble… it just looks like their child…. There is a bad lookalike causing all the trouble…… or they are just being picked on….. )…. That is really a worrying attitude.. and ultimately will do no good whatsoever.

And, of course, for some reason, over the years, even in the church, an erroneous concept has grown up that one can be a fully participating Christian disciple and hardly ever darken a church door… a bit like joining a footy club and never turning up to training and never playing a game… and never paying the dues… it is nonsensical… but it’s a widespread attitude… but the Scriptures say otherwise… the Christian community gathered has the presence of Christ.. and it is not an optional extra…

The Community, Church and wider, is an essential part of a person’s life. The family and the community, and the church community are key instruments in passing on and teaching the values and principles of the things that have abiding value.

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REFERENCES:

· FR. PAUL W. KELLY

Paul's Reflections Twenty - second Sunday of the Year - A. 28th August, 2011

2011-08-27T17:00:00.000+10:00

28th August, 2011 Twenty - second Sunday of the Year - A

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Just a reminder that we are now using ALL of the new translation responses for all SPOKEN responses in all parts of the mass. Please bring along your supplemental missals or make use of the pew cards around the church.

It is really helpful to “watch the texts carefully”.

Some texts that seem similar have minor changes to them that can trip the unwary. If in doubt and you are not sure of the new responses and you aren’t close to a card, it might be advisable to say the responses quietly. If you make a mistake and say the old one, don’t worry.. it take a while to get used to something we have been saying for forty years… if possible, don’t start again and say the new one, just catch up, or else “go inaudible” - or else it will trip those around you too…

We are all doing very well, I think. It is just a learning curve….

Anyone who is attending our nursing home masses, it’s too difficult to expect many residents there to change to the new mass, so let’s allow the residents to set the pace there.. we can say our new responses inaudibly.. to save confusion…

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The gospel this weekend is very challenging.

St Peter has just declared that Jesus is the Messiah, the chosen one, and the Son of God. Jesus has rewarded this inspired declaration with the statement that he will build his church on Peter’s rock-solid profession of faith and upon Peter’s leadership.

But now, only moments later, Jesus is rebuking Peter. Calling him a stumbling block.

This is very, very important.

How easy it is to go from being someone who is supporting the vision, to being an unwitting barrier or obstacle to the project!! Very sobering stuff!!

It reminds me of something. I often joke around that when it is time for me to meet my maker, I want them to put on my headstone these words: “HE MEANT WELL !”

That tickles me for some reason! And isn’t it so true. So often, people do the things they do with the best of intentions. People rarely do actions to be deliberately mean and spiteful nd destructive. They often do things for a good motive, but sometimes that is misguided. If someone had an epitaph “he meant well’ it kind of makes one raise the eyebrows and say… ‘oh dear, I wonder what went wrong.”

Poor St Peter. HE MEANT WELL. He pulled Jesus Aside and said to him he MUST not go and be executed in Jerusalem. This MUST NOT HAPPEN. Peter meant well. He loved and respected his master and wanted to protect him and preserve his life. He was trying to be a good friend, but he unwittingly was becoming an obstacle to Jesus because Peter did not understand that Jesus’ whole mission was to sacrifice his life for the salvation of all. HE MUST go to Jerusalem and be handed over and sacrificed. Peter MUSt NOT get in his way or try to stop him, or he will be nothing but a stumbling block to be gotten over.

I find it very helpful to always keep in mind that good intentions are not the be all and end all. Sometimes meaning well can end up defeating the purpose of what we are here for.

I think as Christians, inspired by the situation Peter found himself in today, we have to prayerfully and carefully always contemplate..

What kind of disciple are we?

I think that there are two types of disciple…..… the “helpful” disciple… and the (for want of a better word) “overly helpful” disciple.

The helpful disciple watches and listens and learns from our Lord and does anything to serve our master in his mission of building up the Kingdom.

Whereas, the ‘overly helpful’ disciple falls into St Peter’s trap of thinking they are helping but aren’t really watching and listening…. And don’t comprehend the mission….. and so, end up doing the exact opposite of what God is actually trying to achieve.

Today’s gospel demands of us deep and regular prayer, contemplation and reflection, so that we can be a rock, and not a block… and that we can not only “mean well” but also “achieve well” when we act according to the Lord’s vision.

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REFERENCES:

· FR. PAUL W. KELLY

Paul's Reflections 21st August, 2011 Twenty - first Sunday of the Year - A

2011-08-20T17:00:00.001+10:00

21st August, 2011 Twenty - first Sunday of the Year - A

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Just a reminder that its important that you bring along your mass supplements for the new translation of the mass.. there are published copies and also some photocopied sheets with all the new parts. From now on; whenever we SPEAK any responses, they will all be the new response. If we sing any responses, we will take our cues from the musicians and they may for the time being be the old translations.

+++

It is nice to have our reconciliation candidates with us this weekend and their families. They are beginning their classes to prepare to receive their first Reconciliation… // which itself is the prerequisite to their next year: making of the sacrament of Confirmation and making their first holy communion.

In the Gospel Jesus gives St Peter, the first amongst the apostles, the keys to the Kingdom.. Jesus says… “whatever you bind on earth, will be considered bound in heaven. Whatever you loose on earth, will be considered loosed in Heaven.” Jesus invests upon St Peter, and his succesors, the popes… and upon his holy Church, the power to bind and set free.. He does this built upon the solid rock of the confession of faith that St Peter gives and answer to Jesus’ question: “who do people say I am?” Peter says: You are the “Christ, The Son of the living God”.

So, it is not just Peter, the apostle that Jesus is calling Rock!. It is not just Peter alone upon whom Jesus is building his Church upon solid rock. Also, and just as importantly. Jesus builds his church on the solid rock of the truth of the profession of faith that Peter makes and that we all make too.

The church is BUILT upon the solid foundation of the profession of faith that “Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ, the chosen one. Jesus IS the Son of God who shows us what God is like. Jesus is the one who forgives our sins and sacrifices his life so that we may be saved. That we may be restored to God’s house. Jesus is the one who invites us to share in God’s gifts and promises and if we accept, we become Jesus’ brothers and sisters. We become Jesus’ disciples and children of God - Part of God’s family forever.

There is another time in the Gospel that Jesus says similar words… it is when Jesus first appears to the gathered disciples and he breathes on them and says “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whatever sins you forgive, they are forgiven.” This is why the church believes and professes that Jesus has given the church the power to forgive sins on his behalf. And assure people of God’s mercy and forgiveness when they do the wrong thing and sin. This is what we celebrate in first reconciliation, which is a celebration of God’s forgiveness and mercy and that God loves us. God will always love us. When we wander away and sin.. Jesus, the good shepherd searches for us until he finds us and welcomes us home.

I love the second reading. It is a wonderful hymn of praise and wonder to God. St Paul says, basically: “whatever happens to us and to all God’s people,… God’s mercy and faithful love is constant and everlasting. For this we should never cease to thank and praise God.

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REFERENCES:

· FR. PAUL W. KELLY

· Break Open the Word. Liturgical Commission. 2011.

Paul's Reflections ST MARY'S CATHOLIC PARISH DEBUTANTE BALL

2011-08-19T23:03:00.001+10:00

ST MARY’S CATHOLIC PARISH DEBUTANTE BALL. SPEECH BY FR. PAUL KELLY. PARISH PRIEST OF ST MARY’S CATHOLIC PARISH.

(I silently dedicated this speech and this year’s 2011 Parish Debutante Ball to the memory of parishioner Len Byrne, who passed away suddenly today. He was in my prayers and thoughts as I gave this speech. I also keep his wife Marj and their family in my prayers and thoughts. PWK).

Distinguished Guests, Friends, Debutantes and your partners…

Congratulations to you on this very special night.

The ever-increasing number of debutantes participating in this event, is an ongoing testimony to the importance and relevance of this wonderful night.

This is the 82^nd annual St Mary’s Catholic Parish Debutante Ball. A truly extraordinary milestone. And in this year where the parish celebrates its 150^th anniversary.

I would also like to say a special word of thanks to Mayor Mick Kruger who has been present at our special 150^th anniversary celebrations including the parish, and the college and the primary school. And, this night is another special part of that celebration of 150 years of St Mary’s Parish, Maryborough.

Although this is the Catholic Debutante Ball, It’s wonderful that there is a beautiful variety of faith traditions represented in our debutantes, their families and in our many wonderful volunteers… all working in perfect harmony, friendship and goodwill.. This too is a symbol of what tonight represents: unity in diversity. Celebrating grace and respect.

I know that your families are rightly so proud of you, and we join in giving thanks for you and look forward with enormous hope and optimism to what you will all contribute in your adult lives, for the greater good of the community.

Tonight is an opportunity for an enjoyable night of formality, grace and poise.

There are not many opportunities such as this where one can engage so beautifully in a formal occasion where style, formality, etiquette, and dance are perfectly combined.

Equally importantly, because this is a Catholic parish event of such long standing, it is a wonderful, annual opportunity for the Catholic community to give a special and formal word of encouragement, support and best wishes to you, (our young participants) and your families. It is an honour and a joy to say to you, (on behalf of the whole Parish and Catholic school community, with principals Joy and Nathan from the St Mary’s College and the St Mary’s Primary) : CONGRATULATIONS! And you have our best wishes and prayers for you…..now and into your wonderful future. It is all ahead of you! May your future be blessed.

May Our Lord Jesus, who is the ultimate example of true graciousness – (especially in the way he related to and treated those he met - With respect, kindness and gentleness), be a wonderful guide for your lives…

And may style and graciousness always be welcome companions throughout your journey of life.

On this, your special night, you stand ready to take your place in adult society: comfortable and engaged in both formal and informal events in society. This night is a celebration of that!

May God bless you always - and bless everyone who has taken part in and (in so many ways) assisted in making 82 memorable years of graciousness!