Paul's Reflections Lent Week One March 1, 2009.

Lent Week One March 1, 2009. 

[ From this weekend’s Gospel, it is interesting to note that Jesus was driven…impelled into the wilderness…..   the power and the impelling nature of the Holy Spirit was so profound that it drove him out into the wilderness…..  he had to be there…..  and there he went through all manner of temptations and trials…….    and then appeared ready to proclaim that God’s Kingdom was now at hand……    Its also interesting that this gospel says that in the wilderness, Jesus was tempted by the devil and also surrounded by all sorts of wild beasts… and also surrounded by angels……  two extremes….     earthly and heavenly…..   one could say that each of us is surrounded by both the earthly and the beastly ….. as well as the heavenly and the spiritual……   we have both in our lives… and there can be a powerful struggle, not to be underestimated between the two forces……    Lent is a time of denial, prayer and generosity… so that we might allow God’s grace to operate in our hearts and lives and unify us….   reconcile the beastly with the spiritual and make them one, which is the mystery of the incarnation of Christ _ Jesus is both fully human and fully divine…..   he has reconcilied what before that might have been considered to be incompatible..in his very self… in his life… and he invites us to share in his victory….  ]  

 

What follows now….is the joint Lenten message issued by both Archbishop John Bathersby, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Brisbane, and Archbishop Phillip Aspinall, Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane,  in this year commemorating 150 years since both dioceses were formed, and also 150^th anniversary of Queensland becoming a separate colony. For the first Sunday of Lent. 1^st March, 2009.

 

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

We recognise and acknowledge that the Holy Spirit has been brooding over this ancient land and its peoples for thousands of years. In recent times – the last 150 years and more – knowledge of God has been given more concrete expression in the good news of Jesus Christ.

 

We give thanks and praise to God for the many blessings poured upon our respective churches over the last 150 years. We thank God especially for raising up generations of faithful men and women, who have witnessed to the love of God, known the grace of Jesus Christ, and who, in the power of the Holy Spirit, have practised Christ’s message and ministry of reconciliation and brought hope to others. They have lived as disciples of Christ, kept the faith, finished the race and shone as lights in our dioceses to the glory of God the Father; and have passed on a living faith to us.

 

We give thanks and praise to God for a growing together of our churches, recalling the prayer of Jesus “that they may all be one”. The personal friendship between past archbishops and bishops of our respective churches has been constant, and provided a springboard for a happy flowering of ecumenical co-operation, especially since the early 1960s.  This co-operation continues in our own time in many ways. Every year the bishops share a meal together and every year diocesan clergy come together for a day of common study and reflection. For 25 years the Brisbane College of Theology provided a common theological education for ordination candidates of both churches.                                                                                             

 

Every year the two cathedrals come together for common celebrations, such as the recent “street march” – part of the preparation for the Roman Catholic World Youth Day in 2008. We study together the documents of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission, the International Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission, and AUSTARC – Australian Anglican Roman Catholic Conversations; we share sympathy regarding tensions within both communions, and we rejoice in local parish initiatives of co-operation. In 2008, Archbishop Bathersby (in his capacity as Chair of IARRCUM) was invited as a guest to the Anglican Lambeth Conference and this further consolidated the friendship we share. Perhaps the appeal to God for the precious gift of unity was best articulated in May 1984, when Archbishops John Grindrod and Francis Rush signed a Common Declaration at St John’s Cathedral, which highlighted the warm relationships between Anglican and Roman Catholic communities of the respective dioceses of Brisbane.

 

In an increasingly secular society, the churches recognise the value in solidarity and togetherness. But more than this, we are motivated by a desire to be obedient to Jesus who prayed “that they may all be one … so that the world may believe that you have sent me”.

 

As we stand at the beginning of Lent, a season inviting us to special recollection and reflection, we also recognise the shadows that have sometimes fallen over ecumenical co-operation. At times each church has frustrated the Holy Spirit. For many decades, there was little or no contact between the churches. Sectarianism, suspicion, and hardness of heart have been part of our common history too. We have been driven more by fear than love; more by self-protection than hope; lacking in both insight and will in responding to the demands of the Gospel. We have failed to do what we should have done. 

 

For this reason – and to make our keeping of Lent and our common 150th celebrations more authentic – we invite as many Anglicans and Roman Catholics as wish to do so, to join us at St John’s Cathedral on Friday, March 27, for a common act of repentance for our ecumenical and other failings of Christ over the last 150 years, and to re-dedicate ourselves to the work of Christ in co-operation and goodwill to one another in the years ahead.

 

As well, on Friday, May 29, we intend to renew the 1984 Common Declaration and sign a Covenant of Understanding. Through this covenant we seek and anticipate God’s blessings in the years ahead. We pledge ourselves among other things:

 

•           to continue to pray for one another

 

•           to hold a celebration of an annual Ecumenical Liturgy of  Reconciliation

 

•           to invite the bishops to preach in each other’s churches on appropriate  

           occasions

 

•           to continue the joint clergy day of shared prayer, discussion and reflection

 

•           to explore possibilities for co-operative use of church plant and resources

 

•           to explore possibilities for further co-operation in theological education,

           priestly formation and lay education and training.

 

•           And to explore possibilities for co-operation in the development and

           presentation of church music, art, drama and appropriate public lectures and

           events

 

In all that we do this year, we seek God’s glory, conscious that the Holy Spirit is moving, inspiring and guiding us. We seek your prayers, as together we preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

Be assured of our prayers for you through this Lenten journey.

 

 

 

Archbishop Phillip Aspinall                          Archbishop John Bathersby

ANGLICAN                                                               ROMAN CATHOLIC

ARCHBISHOP OF BRISBANE                             ARCHBISHOP OF BRISBANE

 

 

 

--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
please reply emails to

holyjoe@ozemail.com.au

This was sent to you by Fr Paul Kelly from St Mary's Catholic Parish, Maryborough, QLD. My apologies if you did not want to recieve this, please contact me and I will delete the email if you do not want to continue receiving news. Back copies of previous logs can be found by visiting the parish website. www.marycatholic.com

and also please visit my photo pages by clicking this link:

www.mysteriousthree.com

or the direct link by pasting the following into your web browser

http://good-times.webshots.com/album/554239563oXJIdn

(some of the recent photos appear at the start of the page of photos, other new ones may be right at the last page)
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

Paul's Reflections Baptism of Our Lord - B

11th January, 2009      Baptism of Our Lord - A, B or C

 

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

 

WATER: This is the main symbol of baptism. Water represents washing clean and re-birth and renewal. Water is a perfect symbol, it contains so many meanings: It is an absolutely essential element for life……    

 

It contains so many meanings within itself………  Health and life, danger and threat (as we have seen by recent news….  the force and danger of flood waters…. the power and unexpected force of the frozen glaciers of New Zealand…. where two people recently met with terrible tragedy…..)….. water represents both enormous power and also soothing, renewing, gentleness, …..a washing and restoring.

 

Water and baptism….. is a wonderful way of showing that by following Jesus we want to ‘immerse” or “plunge” ourselves into Jesus’ way of life. Baptism is a word that literally means “Plunge” and we believe that Baptism is not just a sign of following Jesus, Baptism connects us to Jesus and makes us one with his life and with the life of all other believers in Jesus.

 

In baptism, we become a beloved and cherished child of God…….   children of the same Father in heaven… who is so generous, so lavish in love and praise.,… that the gospel today tells us, that the Father, upon Jesus rising from the waters of John’s baptism….   literally tears the heavens apart and pours down the most wonderful praise and confidence and blessing upon his beloved son…

 

as one commentator says….

We are told that God rends the heavens to lavish praise on his son— a son who, up to that point, had yet to accomplish much of anything.  It must have been indescribably affirming and motivating for Jesus as he was about to begin his most challenging and self-emptying ministry. Although Jesus is God made human, he was also fully human…. and in need of encouragement and affirmation and strength from his beloved father… who was in heaven… and who happened to be the father of all things…..   Jesus was now absolutely assured and commissioned in the loved and confidence of his heavenly father….that God the father was completely pleased with him. (Patrice J. Tuohy)

 

It is a timely reminder, that it is so important, so human and so affirming to praise one another…….  we live in a culture where it seems easier to voice criticisms…. and it seems that for some, if they are not unhappy with anything it is not so much praise that follows…. but silence…….  so we live in a world where there is either criticism or begrudging silence…….  or else… then we get the other extreme where people compliment others with empty and insincere words…….. that don’t connect with the reality of what is happenind… and so do very little good…..       others feel that they shouldn’t praise others for fear that it might give the other a ‘big head’ …….  or that the praise may be taken as mere flattery……….  having said that….. there is no substitute for sincere, heartful and constructive affirmation, encouragement and praise…… which is a form of gratefulness in words…. naming that which we are grateful for,…..,,, 

 

Praise is so important……..  Good managers know this as do teachers, coaches, counsellors, volunteer coordinators, and fundraisers—anyone who is trying to get someone to take the next step, stretch themselves, and constantly strive to reach a higher level of commitment or performance.

 

For people who live without affirmation and who live with constant criticism…. they get the crippling message that everything they do is not good enough….. nothing they do will really satisfy or meet with approval……   for a person who gets false praise…. they either feel that the words are meaningless….. or else rely on compliments that don’t really give them a good indicator of who they are and what they are doing and how it is affecting others for the better……..    and then there are those who get good, positive feedback and affirmation…..   even when setbacks and the occasional mistake or failure come their way, they are not defeated, because they believe in their value and the strength of their own worth…..  and persevere through the struggles and beyond….

 

I just want to mention the curious second reading from the first letter of St John. He mentions the rather obscure reference to Jesus being shown to be the Messiah not only by the water, but also by the blood. This is a little strange… but what it seems to mean is….  St John was writing this letter at the time when a heresy was taking hold in the church communities… some were saying that Jesus was really just an ordinary human and at his baptism he was adopted by the Father and the spirit fell upon him… he lived as God’s son and then on the cross… the divine spirit left and the mere human remained…. so God did not really suffer or die…. it was just the human who carried the divine spirit in him for a time….  but no… this is a heresy.. and is not the fullness of our Christian faith… St John reminds us that Jesus suffered and died… and shed real blood upon the cross… so that the true sign that Jesus was the real messiah and the beloved son of God…. Jesus was both truly God and truly human was that he gave his last drop of blood for us… and truly suffered and even gave his life for us…  so not only his baptism in the waters of the river Jordan… shows us his identity… but also his suffering and death….   Baptism and the cross are essential and un-divided elements of the perfect messiah… the two cannot be separated….. 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

REFERENCES:

 

·          FR. PAUL W. KELLY. Reflection on Baptism from Parish website, (http://www.parishes.bne.catholic.net.au/maryborough/baptism.htm).

·          2009 – A BOOK OF GRACE-FILLED DAYS. BY Alice Camille

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

·          PATRICE J. TUOHY, PrepareTheWord.com, 2008, TrueQuest Communications, LLC.

 

--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
please reply emails to

holyjoe@ozemail.com.au

This was sent to you by Fr Paul Kelly from St Mary's Catholic Parish, Maryborough, QLD. My apologies if you did not want to recieve this, please contact me and I will delete the email if you do not want to continue receiving news. Back copies of previous logs can be found by visiting the parish website. www.marycatholic.com

and also please visit my photo pages by clicking this link:

www.mysteriousthree.com

or the direct link by pasting the following into your web browser

http://good-times.webshots.com/album/554239563oXJIdn

(some of the recent photos appear at the start of the page of photos, other new ones may be right at the last page)
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

Paul's Reflections 4th January, 2009 Epiphany - B

4th January, 2009      Epiphany - B

 

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

 

At the turn of the new Millenium…..    Just minutes before midnight on new year's eve, DECEMBER 31^ST 1999, in london's Millennium dome,  2 young people stepped forward and began to sing a beautiful new hymn written by John Tavener, called " A New Beginning "…..

 

They sang…..

Let there be peace among all people, O Lord..

Let there be forgiveness for past wrongs..

And from this time on, a new beginning, O Lord….  "

 

What a wonderful way to see out the old millennium out, and the new one in…….   what a wonderful way to see the new year out…., and pray the new year in….. (That year and EVERY year)… including now…. in fact, now more than ever……..  

 

This is our prayer too…..

 

Homily for the Feast of the Epiphany (4/01/2008)

It is  fitting to think of this feast of the Epiphany … the revelation of Jesus as ruler of all the earth and all nations.

 

We, more than ever, can acknowledge that we belong to a global community.. and that the needs and concerns of our sisters and brothers in all places, especially those poor and struggling nations, those areas crushed under violence, war, and/ or poverty and injustice…….are our concerns too… Today we celebrate that Jesus came for all people; to form us into one family in God.

 

That’s the other wonderful thing about the feast of the Epiphany… its really the celebration of all the gentile nations….   us included… that we too…. although not ones of the chosen people of Israel, to whom God’s covenant was originally sealed…..  but now… that covenant and that invitation is for all people of all nations and cultures… for all times….. we are all invited to be part of one big family of God…….    so in a real sense … this feast is the celebration and thanksgiving for the gift of all converts…..    all people who have accepted the invitation to be part of God’s family from far and wide….

 

we think with grateful hearts of the many converts to our own faith and our own church community…..   so many who have converted later in life to the catholic faith who have been an enormous and priceless gift to our communities……  we give thanks for them and their contribution.. the gift of themselves and their experiences and involvement…….   

 

In the gospel today, the wise men are attracted to Bethlehem by a royal  star…. Matthew's gospel then says…. "When the wise men saw that the star had stopped over the place where the child was, they were overwhelmed with joy.

 

That line strikes me….

On coming upon the place were the "King of all time lay",.,,  they were overtaken by joy and delight… 

 

Jesus is the source of true and lasting joy…. He brings us the message of lasting peace….

 

It made me stop and ask myself…. When was the last time I was overwhelmed with joy?……. 

 

Or as the writer c.s. Lewis called it… "Surprised by Joy.' 

 

… It's important to have a remembering heart…  for all the big and small blessings that come with each day….

 

…..    There are some wonderful psalms in the bible that really capture this idea……  and I like them so much….   like…….   the line   “in the morning Lord, let me know your love……..    or …….like psalm 30 says…. 

"at night there are tears, but joy comes with dawn." That wonderful feeling of waking up and a new day (a new year) has dawned.. and feeling positive, hopeful, peaceful! Perhaps even waking every so often with a momentary sense of God's all-loving (wordless)…….presence and care -- that surrounds us always.

 

I have mentioned this before, but I do feel this is so important……………I wonder if we might consider getting a prayer journal… just a simple blank pad of paper or a booklet… where we can write down our joys and prayers… to remind us of all the daily moments of grace that we might otherwise forget… to sustain us on our journey, and encourage us in the dry times…

 

let’s Forget about the gifts brought by the wise men… lets keep our own gift register…. A prayer journal remembering the many gifts God brings us!

 

 

 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

REFERENCES:

 

<![if !supportLists]>·          <![endif]>FR. PAUL W. KELLY

<![if !supportLists]>·          <![endif]>Monastery of Christ in the Desert. Abbot’s homily.

 

 

--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
please reply emails to

holyjoe@ozemail.com.au

This was sent to you by Fr Paul Kelly from St Mary's Catholic Parish, Maryborough, QLD. My apologies if you did not want to recieve this, please contact me and I will delete the email if you do not want to continue receiving news. Back copies of previous logs can be found by visiting the parish website. www.marycatholic.com

and also please visit my photo pages by clicking this link:

www.mysteriousthree.com

or the direct link by pasting the following into your web browser

http://good-times.webshots.com/album/554239563oXJIdn

(some of the recent photos appear at the start of the page of photos, other new ones may be right at the last page)
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---