Paul's Reflections Thirty - third Sunday of the Year - C. 14th November, 2010

14th November, 2010      Thirty - third Sunday of the Year - C

 

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ARCHBISHOP'S CENTACARE APPEAL

 Centacare's Pastoral Ministries need your help. The Archbishop's Centacare Appeal provide resources so Centacare's Pastoral Ministries can administer aid to those effected and marginalized in our community by physical illness (Hospital Chaplaincy), psychiatric illness (Catholic Psychiatric Pastoral Care), loneliness and isolation of seafarers (Apostleship of the Sea), imprisonment (Prison Ministry and Prison Chaplaincy), racism (Murri Ministry) and HIV/AIDS (Shiloh). Centacare's Catholic Family and Community Services programs also assist children and adults suffering from a range of problems stemming from emotional and financial issues.

 

Please give generously to the Archbishop's Appeal and help Centacare continue to meet the ever increasing demand for their services. Thank you.

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In 2009 the people of the Brisbane Archdiocese contributed a little over $501,644 towards the $700,000 annual cost of Centacare's Pastoral Ministries. ….•       Every year over 150,000 individuals and families are positively influenced by the care provided by Centacare. irrespective of social, religious or financial backround//……In following Catholic social teaching, Centacare continues to provide support for individuals or families who need assistance background. Centacare reflects the face of Jesus in today's world.

Donations of $2- or more are tax deductible - ABN 35 020 644 975.

 

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This weekend, Jesus warns his disciples that there are tough, stormy times ahead, not only for him, but for all who follow him…

But in the midst of this, he offers hope…  ‘don’t be fooled, the end has not come…..  witness to the truth of my message….  I will be with you,.. I will be faithful to you… even if following me causes persecution and breakups in ordinary family and social relations… “

The prediction of Jesus about the temple being destroyed…  is really horrific… and is to this day… the thought that the beautiful temple of God would be utterly destroyed… is still a fact wailed about thousands of years later… 

But again, this is an invitation to think and pray carefully about what we are putting our energies into…  what are we building…..  because some buildings…  MOST buildings, are not built to last forever… and even the ones that are..   DON’T!!!

Jesus is not just talking about physical building…   what are we putting all our hopes and dreams and energy into… because there may be a time when exactly that which is the object of all out time, effort and energy, will be knocked down (by natural disaster, illness, the malevolence of others…  and so on…)…  so Jesus implores us to put our energies and priorities into his Kingdom and its values that can never be torn down…..  

The reason that the early Christians endured such persecution, such horrors, and kept faithful was they they KNEW JESUs….   They met him, they walked with him…. Or they met those who did….  So they willingly would go to their deaths for what their Lord stood for… 

We will not be left standing unless we get to know Jesus deeply ….. and catch on fire with his person and message and values…….

 What are you building??? 

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REFERENCES:

 

·       FR. PAUL W. KELLY

·       My Daily Visitor reflections, Nov/Dec, 2010.