Paul's Reflections Trinity Sunday 19th June, 2011 and also Body and Blood of Christ 26th June, 2011

Trinity Sunday - 17^{th June, 2011. (Saturday and Sunday Masses and Youth Mass Sunday night)}

The celebration of God as Trinity also reveals to us the true nature of God and the true meaning at the heart of the universe… community… communion… unity… sharing…. Giving and taking…. Harmony… LOVE…… the world cries out and hungers and thirst for that which God has in God's own inner nature! Jesus invites us to share in and participate in this wonderful relationship with God and with one another… and it (in turn) makes us more generous, sharing, community focused and serving and sacrificing… more loving… that is at the heart of the discipleship into which Christ calls us.

^{If we look at what Jesus hungered for and what he did not hunger for, it is very revealing… he did not hunger for money… in fact he warned us to be very wary of its hollow charms… we cannot serve both God and wealth…. He did not hunger for popularity.. and in fact by the end of his earthly life he was reviled, abandoned and condemned… the popularity contest was shockingly won by a theif and a brigand and a murderer… Barabass.. who was released instead of the innocent one!! The gospels reveal so many more thirsts and hungers of Jesus….and their opposites…. He longed to share… with others.. he thirsted for other's faith and participation…}

It breaks your heart doesn't it… seeing so many people searching for something that will truly satisfy their longings…. And yet… they go down paths that seem lifegiving.. seem attractive… but ultimately prove to be dead ends and unsatisfying…… but does it stop us…. No…. we rush down the path of the next attractive glittering possibility…. Whether it be pursuit of money, power, influence, celebrity, ….. so many things in this world and in this society cry out for our attention and invite us to get enmeshed in them…… May the Spirit of truth guide us as we discern, through the light of Jesus' words and actions, just what are the lifegiving treasures to put all our heart and soul into…

^{Can i just add, that in this parish, in so many ways, people have asked themselves "now that i am following Jesus, what shall I DO in practical ways.... to make a difference......" God has answered their prayers in many very satisfying ways that bring grace and benefit and service to so many.. people have joined the St Vincent de Paul society and done practical actions to make a difference.. others have joined the Catholic Women's League or so many of the ministries and activities of the parish's mission ... the list is wonderfully long./... there is so much to do.. and God is calling each one of us...}

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**Our archbishop, John Bathersby, has issued a nice message of encouragement and support to our young people

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THE FEAST OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST 26TH JUNE 2011

The world is hungering for what only God can truly and completely satisfy.

We see that so many people are hungry for something… in some instances it simply the necessities of life.. food, clean water, medical support, shelter, education, peace… others hunger for much more… many people seem to be hungry for and chasing their desire for things they can't have or don't really need… or else.. they just hunger for what won't really satisfy …**

(Quoting the reflection in the newsletter) ……"Hungry hearts are all around us. Those mourning the loss of a loved one, in need of a job, desperate for wise counsel, unable to curb an addiction, angry and bitter, unforgiven or unforgiving, in poor health, worried about finances, unhappy in a relationship, unsure of their commitments, hard on themselves, afraid of the world around them, and the list goes on and on. These are the people Jesus offers to feed—not with a temporary fix (which is usually what most of us want)—but an everlasting source of sustenance that can be found in the change of heart that happens each time we gather to share a meal in Jesus' name."

Jesus offers us himself – as real food for our lifelong journey….. and he offers us his word and his vision of the Kingdom… his values for living that will truly and completely transform us and satisfy us…. But it means a progressive changing of priorities and values to match with his values…

^{……Throughout all of time, including today, many of us experience a deep desire to develop personal relationships built on authenticity and common values. We do not want to settle for an average life. We want something that is great, that is new. This desire, which is a gift from God, evokes deep questions in our hearts and minds at all stages of our life journey. At times we will ask ourselves: What meaning does my life have? What purpose and direction should I give to it?}

^{Our identity is shaped through our parents, families, experiences, education, work, relationships, and the culture of our country. There will be times when we experience certainty that we are on the right path. These will be contrasted by times when we will try to recapture that certainty.}

^{Decisions that affect our lives require time and a great effort to discern. "Will I be able to live up to God's call in my life?" "Do I believe enough?"}

^{When we enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, Christ makes known our true uniqueness. Jesus, "in the very revelation of the mystery of the Father and of his love, fully reveals humanity to itself and brings to light its very high calling" (Gaudium et Spes, 22). Having someone to journey with in faith, to talk about these deep questions and to share experiences, is vital if we are going to answer the question – Why am I here?}

^{…... At the core of what it means to be a Christian, at the very centre is the person of Jesus and what he has done for us ………../ We firmly believe that Jesus Christ offered himself on the Cross in order to share with us his divine life and give us his love.//………..We are invited to enter into a personal friendship with Jesus and to develop it in faith. //}

^{How do we do this?//}

^{When you want to build a friendship with someone you do this by spending time with them, getting to know them and their hopes and dreams for themselves and for you. We can get to know Jesus better by reading the Gospels and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. You can speak about your life, share your feelings and reveal yourself openly with Jesus in prayer.}

^{Friendship requires listening also. You may not hear Jesus' voice in prayer but a word or phrase or image may come to you. It may be straight away or a few days later, through a conversation with a friend, a paragraph in a book, a line in a song, a feeling you notice or any number of ways. When you are open to listening, the response will show up. We also find support when those who are dear to us, share their experiences of faith, their moments of struggle and disappointment as well as their time of certainty and joy.}

^{Thank God for the faith you have received and do all you can to build up your friendship with Jesus. Spend time with him, trust in him and he will never betray you. Your friendship with Jesus will assist you to know – Who do I want to become?}

^{Remember too that you are not alone. Through Baptism we become members of this great family the Church. This is the gift of being Catholic. We carry each other, support each other and we are fed and nourished through the celebration of the Eucharist. We become who we receive and so are able to be spiritual/emotional nourishment for each other and we are sent to go out and transform the world.}

^{……if you believe, and if you are able to live out your faith and bear witness to it every day, you will become a means of helping other young people like yourselves to find the meaning and joy of life, which is born of an encounter with Christ!"}

^{Desire is a primary way that God leads people to discover who they are and what they are meant to do. An attraction to being a doctor, a farmer, a teacher, a priest or a religious, for example, helps us to discover our vocation. Discover what you desire in life. Our deepest desires, which lead us to become who we are, are God's desires for us. Expressing what you desire for your life brings us into a closer relationship with God and will ensure you know - How do I make a difference?}

^{….My young friends, ….Jesus Christ is calling on you to devote your lives to witnessing to God's love to all people, and in a special way to your contemporaries. The Church needs you to respond generously to this call to mission. Do not underestimate the incredible power you possess to do good. (Most Rev John A Bathersby DD. Archbishop of Brisbane).}

Paul's Reflections Sunday 12th June, 2011. Pentecost Sunday 2011

Pentecost Sunday 2011. Sunday 12^th June, 2011.

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

(Please note, due to various circumstances, including various parishioners being away and the weather and also the Maryborough events in town on Sunday evening, there will be no mass at Aramara this weekend. It is usually on every second Sunday of the month. We will be back to Aramara on the second Sunday of July. Sorry for any inconvenience). ///

This Pentecost, and for the last few months.... and in fact in the coming months, there is change in the wind! The new mass is slowly but surely being implemented, and has a lot of very beautiful aspects about it. I particularly like the fact that no matter where we are in the world... no matter what language the Mass is celebrated in, we will be worshipping with one voice... and with the same meaning..... we will be united and in communion with God and one another.. in Spirit, Truth and in the words for worship we use.

On a totally different tac, you know how some cars in this country have the indicator on a different side? Some European cars have the indicator on a different side; because (as we all know), they drive on different sides... In Australia, most indicators are on the right hand side of the steering wheel, to allow the gear shift to be on the left... but if you have a European car.. the indicator might be on the left... it causes some funny things... when you aren't used to it, you go to turn the corner and the windscreen wipers come on instead of the indicator... it can be frustrating until you get used to it...

Why am i saying this in mass??? Because, in my view, the same sort of thing is happening with the changes in the mass.. Things we have automatically gotten used to saying, are changing.. and we might find ourselves absentmindedly doing the "liturgical/ church" equivalent of "putting the windscreen wipers on when we were only intending to turn"... when we use the wrong responses..

I had a "V.W." for a few years (i loved that car!!) and then had to go back to a Ford (actually, i love that car too!!).... and the indicator for both of those were on different sides.. It was initially confusing..(and amusing)..... but i found a great trick to focus on what i was doing... i sat in my car before i drove it.. shut my eyes tightly and put my fingers to my temples and then said.... ... "left hand, left hand, left hand, left hand" and then... amazingly.. i drove without another worry.. with the indicators being used correctly ... (the only time it didn't work was ion rare occasions ui might have been a bit distracted and befuddled and the old habit came back.... but in the main.. that once or twice focus was enough..)...

I think the same or similar techniques can be used to get us into the changes...

To sit, to quietly focus and to repeat..

"the Lord be with you,/ and with your Spirit" ; "the Lord be with you,/and with your Spirit" ; "the Lord be with you, and with your Spirit"

The peace of the Lord be with you always/ and with your spirit....!!

Perhaps that will click us into gear... (but in any case, lets be prepared for a few gear crunches as we trip over a few new words or differently phrased sentences... I am almost halfway there... i have half of the new responses in my head.. so if i have to go back to the old ones (like i did for the nursing home masses last week... i could hardly remember the old way and had half the new/ half the old in my head... )

On this feast of Pentecost, it is really fitting to return to our ancient form the the Christian greeting... And with your Spirit. This will be an appropriate recognition that the Catholic church is a Holy-Spirit-filled church.. a "Pneumatoligical" or Spirit-filled people... We can't do a thing without the power and inspiration of God's Holy Spirit... We are a church filled and commissioned by the very breath of God.. a warm breath that gives life to all around it...

The Holy Spirit makes us disciples able to be the Warm breath of human kindness at a time of terrible coldness and need.....

Its also timely then, in this winter of cold and wet... that today out local Saint Vinnies people are launching their winter appeal... a wonderful and practical way of putting into action the warming breath of God's Spirit of justice, love and practical care...

"God breathed on us the first the day he created us. Genesis tells us that the Lord put his lips to ours and breathed in us and gave us his spirit of life. And so we became human beings. And John tells us that on the day of Pentecost, the risen Lord breathed on us a second time and gave us new life. Courage replaced caution and a fire was lit in our hearts that has scattered the darkness of fear forever. We, like those first disciples are new creations. We have been called to a heroic life, to be instruments of God's peace and mercy in his beautiful and broken world."

(St Mary's College daily diary, with weekly reflections).

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REFERENCES:

· FR. PAUL W. KELLY

· Also quoting from the St Mary's College daily diary entry on the Holy Spirit.