Paul's Reflections Eighteenth Sunday of the Year - A

31st July, 2011      Eighteenth Sunday of the Year - A

 

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

 

Twelve million people are facing a horrifying hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa, (Somalia and the surrounding countries), and they are in desperate for food, water and safe shelter.

One can't help thinking of the plight of millions of people there and in many other places in the world, when we hear this weekend's gospel.

The disciples come to Jesus to ask what they are going to do about meeting the needs of so many people.

Jesus tells them to do something about it themselves.

But, of course, they cannot achieve such a difficult job unless they stay close to Jesus and do what he tells them.

The gospel reminds us that, as followers of Jesus, we must always keep in mind the vision of Jesus: compassion and concern for people around us.

Two thousand years (and more) after Jesus walked the earth and preached the good news, it could be easy to forget that the church is never meant to be merely a sleek, mechanical business, efficiently providing needed services and assitance, (as if it were a carefully packaged product, perfected over the last two thousand years-  and after all that time, - and with the grace of the Holy Spirit, - the catholic church and its members does many (many) things very, very well and very effectively!). But we keep in mind, from today’s Gospel, that the church is, (first and foremost), an instrument of Jesus' love and compassion; which then flows out into practical action; to respond to the needs we see surrounding us.

Jesus was able to change direction and adapt to changing situations by always putting people first and 'processes' second.

What the world needs more than ever, is followers of Jesus who convey the inclusive, compassionate, forgiving love of God to everyone we meet.

It is true that the world has become very civilised in many ways, but you only have to turn on the TV to see examples (here and abroad) of baying crowds calling out for mob justice, based on simplistic, half-baked assumptions. I wonder what Jesus would say about that kind of behaviour?  Jesus' message didn't ever side with hysterical or simplistic mob mentalities. In fact, things were often to have gone right off the rails whenever people did resort to that behaviour in the scriptures.  Nothing has changed these many years later. 

Jesus is still at work in our lives and in the world; inspiring people of goodwill everywhere to respond with compassion and practical action to help the starving, the homeless, the guilty, the dispossessed, the ill.. and so many others in need.

Let us always remember Jesus advice... "YOU give them something to eat, yourselves!"

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

REFERENCES:

 

·        FR. PAUL W. KELLY

·        Plus, Break Open the Word

 

Paul's Reflections 150th anniversary. (saturday night Mass) Seventeenth Sunday of the Year - A

24th July, 2011      Seventeenth Sunday of the Year - A

 

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

 

150^th anniversary of St Mary’s Parish. (Saturday Night Mass: Homily by FR Paul Kelly)

 

On this very day, (the 23^rd day of July, 1861),  the newly arrived Bishop of Brisbane, James Quinn, and two French Priests,  Fr Paul Tissot and Fr Renehan, boarded the steamer named the Clarence en route to Maryborough, and arrived two days later, and stayed several days.  

 

In fact, this weekend celebrates that Fr Paul Tissot remained here from that time on and became on the 25^th July the first permanent Parish Priest of Maryborough.  Here we are 150 years later and what a joyous occasion we celebrate this weekend and in particular tomorrow when Archbishop John will preside at a Mass of thanksgiving.  

 

We thank God for the enormous blessingsn and graces he has poured upon generations of people in this town and the surrounding regions, through God’s action in the church and in the people who form the body of Christ in this place.   We humbly continue on this good work started so long ago.

 

In masses this weekend we give thanks for the countless blessings bestowed on this community and the many people:  parishioners, community members, fellow church denominations and their pastors, civic leaders, priests, religious and friends who have cooperated with what God has been doing in this place.

 

We ask for continued blessings upon our town and the people who live and work here. Lord, grant success to the work of our hands.

 

The readings are perfect for this celebration and ironically they are the ones set for this ordinary season of the year. But they could not be better chosen.  

 

In the first reading, God offers Solomon anything he desires.  We could think of many things we could ask of God if given complete freedom. Yet, al he asks for is an understanding heart: wisdom. And God readily grants it.  In the end, money, long-life, prestige, does not mean a thing if we live our lives in ignorance and without an understanding and lovingheart. Striving to do God’s will in this time and place, as our forebears did before us, with God’s grace.

 

Today, we continue to ask for this gift. Lord, above all, grant us wisdom of heart, so that we may serve you in faithfulness all our days, to your greater glory.

 

I love the gospel… the parable of the treasure buried in the field…     This parish, this church is a treasure planted in a field…   and of course as beautiful as it is, its much more than the beauty of the building… it’s the presence of God that it represents and it’s the symbol od Christian dedication and grace that it proclaims…    James Cleary and his fellow Christians believes so much in the gospel, and in Christian education and in the need for the physical presence of the Church community in the life of the city that they put their time, energy and money into working for God’s glory in establishing this catholic community which we are part of today…  

 

It was worth selling everything to obtain.. and the gospel continues to be priceless and precious and worth all our efforts to this day and beyond…

 

May God, who has so graciously accompanied and given success to our work so often in the past, continue this good work in us and bring it to perfection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

REFERENCES:

 

·       FR. PAUL W. KELLY