Paul's Reflections Third Sunday of the Year - A. 23rd January, 2011

23rd  January, 2011      Third Sunday of the Year - A.

 

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In our prayers this weekend, we pray for the full recovery to health of Brian Lourigan who is very seriously ill in hospital in Brisbane…  (Brian is husband of Wendy Lourigan and father of Danny and his wife Chrissie), and families…

 

We  pray for the repose of the soul of Ruby Taylor, (late of Groundwater Lodge). Ruby is the mother of parishioner: Ashley taylor… and also the repose of the soul of Jane McKay, (late of Fairhaven) and also Jean Sheffield (late of Granville)> May they now be enjoying eternal rest in God’s house…

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“the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light! On those who live in a land of deep shadow, a light has shone.” 

 

This is a most beautiful and moving passage.  It brings hope and renewal to all who are burdened with pain, suffering, injustice, lack of the basics for living….  It brings hope and strength……

 

Christ is our foundations stone,  Christ is our hope and our light in times of darkness..   Christ is our source of unity.

 

Being followers of Christ, as St Paul points out,  is a personal and community based relationship with Jesus Christ. Our discipleship is about (first and foremost) not slogans and charismatic leaders, or even programmes, but it is about the person and values and message of Jesus.  

 

Our following of Jesus is about the complex, real and deep message of Jesus.  It is not (merely) about paraphrased. Generalised or watered down or generally held popular views of what Jesus is about.  Rather, it’s an ongoing journey of discover and deepening our understanding and relationship with the Person of Jesus, and who he is and who he calls us to be.

 

As Christians and even as good citizens of the community, we have to be wary of all kinds of catchphrases and slogans and clichés and simplistic assessments of who Jesus is.  In some way, we need to have a clear idea of who Jesus is and what he is on about, but a lot of damage can be done to neutralise his message if we buy-in too deeply to generalisations and ‘glosses’. For example, if a person were to ask us “ what is Jesus message, “  we could reply…  Jesus basically came to tell us to love one another and love God.

 

That is true, but then we have to ask ourselves, what do we mean by love in the context of who he is, his message, his values and teachings.   If by love we mean letting everyone do what they want and never challenging or inviting people to go deeper, then I think we have settled for a ‘clichéd’ definition of both the word love and also a cliché of who God is.

 

One of the biggest fears I have, and it has been borne out on various occasions in dialogue with people who are not necessarily Christian but who have a strong idea of what Christians should do and who they are and how they should act. I have frequently added the qualifying statement…   ‘we are called to love, as Jesus Loved. Jesus was not a doormat for everyone to walk over and take advantage of. His definition of love and acting by love does not mean licence to do whatever one wants and letting people do and be and say whatever moves them.  Jesus was no doormat, and neither should his followers be.  

 

“I thought you guys were supposed to be Christians. I thought you guys are supposed to love.”   One hears that kind of thing from time to time, (usually said by someone who did not get what they expected or demanded).  Parents hear that kind of statement a lot, I suspect, from children who have yet to learn that sometimes saying ‘no’ is the most loving thing a person can do. 

 

Fortunately it is not other people who will judge whether we have loved as Jesus does… it is Jesus himself.  He was regularly criticised for doing and saying and teaching things that did not (in others opinions) match up with the religious definition of faithful, obedient or loving, but (as we know all too well) who were they to tell God the Son how he should be faithful to his Heavenly Father. They were the ones who just didn’t get it and sadly never would!!! Jesus would (at times) get very distressed and at times exasperated and even angry when people (by their actions)  violated the inner point and values of God’s kingdom, and then justified it with false beliefs that they were just doing God’s will and being obedient to God’s law and God’s desire.  Jesus did what God desired, we don’t always do that.

 

Only those who watched, listened and learnt from Jesus and stayed very close to him and absorbed his values, would truly understand why he said and did and refrained from doing what he did in his lifetime. 

 

It is possible to call oneself a Christian all one’s life and yet not really ever come to know the person, meaning, value and priorities of Jesus.  It is shocking but true. If that is so, though, they are Christian in name but not fact. Or to be more precise, they are living without fully realising the fullness of their status as a beloved child of God and brother or sister of Jesus, the beloved son of the heavenly father.

 

Whilst God does not grant us pure license in this world….  He nevertheless gives us the gift of true freedom….  Freedom to become what God intends for us.. to be a free, loved, full member of God’s family….   It is so sad to witness, (far too often),  incidents when we accept the words of this promise but don’t act on them…..   when we say we believe in God as an unconditionally loving parent, and then act as if God is a parent who can never be satisfied with us, who is ready to punish and find fault in our every action…..    We proclaim that God sees with the heart, not purely external appearances.. but we can be enslaved by living up to appearances and worried that our actions might be judged more strongly than our hearts….  And we respond in ‘shoulds’ and ‘oughts’ instead of from the heart with a true regard for what is really best for us and for others.

 

The teachings and practices of the Church are helpful to us to pinpoint key aspects of Jesus’ values, teachings and actions. They flow from who Jesus is and what he does. At the same time, we must strive to come to a more deeper understanding of Jesus and a person and the values and principles that all flow from who he is and what he was called to do. 

 

Jesus called his disciples and they left everything to follow him.  Not many of us have taken this call so literally that we have left behind everything : home, family, possessions, job, and so on….   (everything!)  in order to faithfully follow this most amazing teacher (who, himself had no particular place to call his ‘home’).  However, we are all called to leave behind anything that holds us back from following Jesus and responding to the demands of our discipleship of Christ, in our lives and in our actions.

 

This includes letting go of any restrictive and narrow views of who Jesus is and what his vision is for us and the world… 

 

 

 

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REFERENCES:

 

·        FR. PAUL W. KELLY

 

Paul's Reflections homily: 16th January, 2011 Second Sunday of the Year - A.

16th January, 2011      Second Sunday of the Year - A.

 

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A Message from Fr Paul:

 

Thanks to everyone for last week and the way you generously and efficiently responded to the realities caused by the floods… 

 

It is absolutely stunning and hard to comprehend that three quarters of the State has been covered in flood water and devastated by the effects of it.

 

It is truly inspiring to see the wonderful side of humanity come out in people at times of tragedy and disaster.  Many times the message that goes out is that the world is a self-centred and selfish place….  But in times like this, we are reminded that the vast majority of people are compassionate, generous, brave and willing to do anything to help. The sight o complete strangers pitching in to help struggling people give hope to the heart. 

 

The generous response of people throughout this community and the state, and in fact the world, (including donations from the Pope’s peter’s pence charity)  has been wonderful.  People have been donating in big numbers to both the Premier’s flood appeal and also the St Vincent de Paul flood appeal.  If you haven’t had a chance to donate, there may still be Vinnies envelopes … or just drop in a blank envelope marked VInnies flood appeal, or send it in to the parish office.

 

Let us continue to pray for all those affected by the floods.  We keep in mind those who have died  .. and those who mourn them.   We pray for all the communities who have been just smashed by this flooding and its side-effects…. And we pray to our Lord to give strength to all who face the cleanup and rebuilding and healing.   May we stand ready to respond to whatever the Spirit calls us to do, as instruments of God’s love.

 

The second reading has St Paul writing with affection to the community of believers in the church in Corinth. It is a reminder that we are all united with eachother, and not even distance or time or culture separates us from our brothers and sisters everywhere in the world..  Like St Paul, we are united in prayer and in the Spirit with people everywhere and with the Heavenly community.  The grace and peace of Our Lord Jesus Christ stays with us and binds us together in good times and bad.

 

In the Gospel, St John  the Baptist declares…  “look! There is the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”    It’s a timely reminder. We need Jesus. We need saving..  Sadly, we humans are not the final authority on everything. We are not the masters of our own domain (and that can be extremely frightening and unsettling, because we would like to have a large measure of control over our lives, it’s a natural instinct for self-preservation).  But, the events of these last weeks remind us that although we are not helpless, nor ought we ever just allow ourselves to be tossed helplessly through the events of life, it is also very comforting and peace-giving to acknowledge that we are not all powerful and that we need God and we need to be saved by God. We are utterly helpless without God’s saving guidance and help.  

 

I am reminded of a painting that someone once did… it was entitled “perfect peace”  but it was a painting of a storm-tossed mountainside.  What is ‘peaceful about this… it looks anything but peaceful’   (people would naturally say!).  But a close look shows a small bird nestling in a little cave….   Sheltered from the storms that rage uncontrolled around us.    It’s a challenging and beautiful image…  peace comes not from stilling the things outside us, that we really have no control over…. But from taking shelter and receiving inner peace of heart no matter what storms rage around us….  Its not easy….. but at times it’s the only thing that gets people through…  its not a promise that everything will go right… because sometimes everything doesn’t… it seems to all go wrong….  But our God walks with us, and we are instruments of God’s compassion and care….   And that can make all the difference…

May God be with everyone as they rebuild..  and support eachother and may we cherish the values that last…

 

God bless and protect us all, with his peace.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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REFERENCES:

 

·          FR. PAUL W. KELLY

 

 

Paul's Reflections Baptism of Our Lord - A. 9th January, 2011

9th January, 2011      Baptism of Our Lord - A

 

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The Baptism of the Lord is about the revelation of Jesus as God’s only Son, with whom the Heavenly Father is well pleased. And then we are instructed to ‘listen to him.’ …. To learn from him……  to get to know him….. and watch his life… his actions….  His values….

 

By seeing Jesus, we SEE the Father….  And come to know God’s life and values.

 

As it mentions in the newsletter:

Here are some of these family resemblances as revealed in this week's readings?

The Father and the Son are both:

· Loving as well as beloved

· The source of generosity, justice, and peace

· Actively doing good for those in need

· Healers of the oppressed

· Animated by the Holy Spirit

· Committed to the well-being of the people

· A source of light for those in darkness

· Liberators of prisoners

· Obedient to love

· Righteous     

· Willing to pour themselves out for others

· Yearning for our salvation

If we want to know how God treats sinners, we only have to see how Jesus dealt with sinners, the way he related to them.

 

If we want to know how God feels about those who are being treated unjustly, people who are being left out….   And the poor, the sick and the widows and orphans……  then we see Jesus … in the midst of the people…. WITH THEM……  healing, forgiving, …  feeding…   speaking out against injustice….  And getting his hands dirty…. 

Living….  Dying….   Giving….  Among the people, as one of the people…..  and never sidestepping any human suffering.

 

The baptism of Our Lord is also about Vocation. Jesus mission to reveal the fullness of God’s love and to fulfil God’s plan of establishing the Kingdom… is revealed at Jesus’ own baptism.  This is the start and the commissioning of his earthly ministry….. his public ministry.

 

For us, whether we were baptised as a Baby… or later as an adult………(whether we were baptised in the Catholic Church, or the Anglican Church or the Lutheran church… and so on…..)…. There is only one baptism… and we all share in it… IT is the baptism INTO Christ…. Where we too are declared beloved Sons and daughters of God (forever!)….   And where we are commissioned to live our vocation (whatever field that may be in) as disciples of Jesus… as daughters and sons of God….  And to show God’s love and values and priorities by our own lives, actions, words and choices….  And to be instruments of God’s work to establish the Kingdom of God in its fullness…

 

We do this by staying very close to Jesus and constantly reflecting, praying and learning from the life and actions of Jesus…  God’s beloved son..

 

 

(p.s please consider prayerfully, contributing to the SVdP flood relief appeal we do at the gifts time….)

 

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REFERENCES:

 

·       FR. PAUL W. KELLY

 

Paul's Reflections Special Message.Update. Baptism of the Lord

9th January, 2011. Baptism of Our Lord. A.

A Message from Fr PAUL:

Hello everyone. My sincere apologies to everyone as I am stuck in
Brisbane after the Mary river flooded and cut off the highway at Gympie.

I drove all the way up to Gympie from Brisbane after a wedding practice, but the
flood waters caused me to have to turn back.

It could be a day or two before it is clear. I pray that people are not
affected badly by the floods in Maryborough and surrounds.

I have a wedding of two Maryborough parishioners, Cuong and Thuy Pham,
at St Stephens Cathedral, Brisbane, on Sunday afternoon, so now that I am
back in Brisbane I am at least relieved that I was not prevented from
being able to celebrate their wedding, (which would have happened if I had
not already been in Brisbane). So that is at least something.

Just a reminder that Aramara church is not on this Sunday the 9th
January.

It is scheduled for Sunday the 16th January at 6pm, but if flooding
continues that Aramara church will again be cancelled. Please contact
the parish closer to the date to save inconvenience.

Thank you to everyone who helped to arrange for liturgies of the word
with communion at short notice. I hope to be back as soon as possible.
Thanks for your understanding,

Sincerely,
Fr Paul.

(There is a special third collection this weekend in support of the
Saint Vincent de Paul Queensland Flood disaster appeal) . I invite the
collectors to take up the ordinary first collection (for the support of priests of
the archdiocese, at this point.. and the special flood appeal collection
will be taken up at the gifts time). There are envelopes in the seats. There
were limited envelopes given, so if there aren't enough, please just put
the money in the plate or, if you like, please put it into an envelope
and return it next week. The floods are an ongoing disaster and our support
is gratefully received. )

The Baptism of the Lord is about the revelation of Jesus as God's only
son, with whom the Heavenly Father is well pleased. And then, we are
instructed to 'listen to him.

We are requested by the Father to learn from Jesus, to get to know him.. and watch his life. His actions. His values. By seeing Jesus, we see the Father… and come to know God's life and
values.

As it mentions in the newsletter:
Here are some of these family resemblances as revealed in this week's
readings? The Father and the Son are both:
* Loving as well as beloved
* The source of generosity, justice, and peace
* Actively doing good for those in need
* Healers of the oppressed
* Animated by the Holy Spirit
* Committed to the well-being of the people
* A source of light for those in darkness
* Liberators of prisoners
* Obedient to love
* Righteous
* Willing to pour themselves out for others
* Yearning for our salvation

If we want to know how God treats sinners, we only have to see how Jesus
dealt with sinner, the way he related to them.
If we want to know how God feels about those who are being treated
unjustly, and people who are being left out and the poor, the sick, the
widows and the orphans, then we see Jesus and how he responded to them.
Jesus is always to be found right in the middle of people and their
lives.WITH THEM healing, forgiving, feeding, speaking out against
injustice.. Getting his hands dirty. . Living, dying, giving.
among the people, as one of the people. Never sidestepping any human
suffering.

The Baptism of the Lord is also about VOCATION. Jesus' mission to reveal
the fullness of God's love amd to fulfil God's plan of establishing the
kingdom is revealed AT Jesus'own baptism. This is the beginning of and
the commissioning for Jesus' earthly ministry, (his public ministry).
Whether we are baptised as a baby, or later as an adult. / and whether
we were baptised in the Catholic Church, or the Anglican Church or the
Lutheran church, and so on). There is only ONE baptism, and it is
baptism INTO Christ.

In this baptism, we (too) are declared beloved sons and daughters of God
(forever)!!

In this baptism, we are commissioned with the vocation to live as
disciples of Jesus and live as children of God. We each have a different field of
work, but the one vocation to be friends and disciples of Jesus. We are
commissioned to show God's love in our own lives, actions, words and
choices. We are to be instruments of God's love, to establish the
Kingdom of God in its fullness.

We do this by staying very close to Jesus and constantly reflecting,
praying and studying and learning from the life, actions and priorities
of Jesus, who is God's beloved Son.

(special collection for the flood will be taken up at the gifts time,
thanks).

++++
References:
Fr Paul Kelly.

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Paul's Reflections 2nd January, 2011. The Epiphany. Year A

2nd January, 2011. The Epiphany. Year A

 

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One gets the impression that the Wise men’s greetings and respectful visit to King Herod, was nothing compared to the honour and worship that they accorded the new-born baby Jesus. And rightly so.

 

Herod was very, very concerned by what he was hearing. People everywhere were saying that the sign of a star moving across the skies…  was a sure sign of political disaster for him…. And now there was talk that the coming messiah, a King, had been born. Next, foreign wise men come to pay tribute. It could not look worse for Herod.

 

Little did Herod and many others fail to realise, Jesus was not coming to take over an earthly kingdom. His kingship had nothing to do with the human concept of kingship, power and dominion. However, he was the king of all creation, and his birth was bad news to all who lived and acted by the old ways of privilege, domination, threat, control and ignoring the plight of the poor and downcast. 

 

Herod was well known for his ruthlessness. He had even killed two relatives in the past, who he felt was a threat to his power. So, he would have no hesitation in killing non-relatives who were a perceived threat to his power.

 

The Wise men, how many there were we are not sure. We know that there are three types of gift.. but the bible does not say there were only three wise men.   Some traditions say there were many more…  even up to twelve. 

 

In any case… the presents they give to Jesus are not just what is given to an earthly King… their presents indicate that they know that this is God whom they are worshipping. Gold for a King…. But frankinsense for a high priest…. And myhrr for someone who will suffer and die..  These foreign people of a different place, culture and religion realise that Jesus is the revelation of God… the King of all the earth and all heaven… and is to be worshipped, and not just bowed to….   Certainly Herod got none of this treatment……  It takes the breath away when we read the gospel that Herod says he too wants to go and do Jesus homage… when we all realise he probably would have had such hate and fear in his heart that he would have surely tried to kill jesus himself if he got anywhere near him… the wise men are warned of this and do not return to tell herod of Jesus’ whearabouts….

 

This feast is known is ‘little christmas’  because it recalls the revelation of God made human to the world….   It’s also the first and most ancient feast of Christ the King……. 

 

As we celebrate this fest of the Manifestation of God’s presence amongst us….  Let us ask ourselves these questions…

 

As mentioned in today’s newsletter:

Let us reflect on some of the points of the Gospel today:

.        The Magi asked for directions and followed them. Many people don’t like to ask for directions. Fewer care to take directions, preferring to follow our own authority.

•        The magi were men of means and purpose who preferred to be led by a higher authority than merely their own.

•        The Epiphany invites us to consider how ready we are to take the journey of faith.

 

In this Feast of the Epiphany:

• What more can I do to bring light to darkness in my own spirit as well as the hearts and minds of those around me?
• What "gifts" do I have to offer, and how can I best use them? Do I do everything I can to welcome people, just as the magi from the East were welcomed at the cradle of the infant Jesus?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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REFERENCES:

 

·          FR. PAUL W. KELLY

·          Prepare the word recources

·          OSV – Priest notes on the feast.

 

 

Paul's Reflections New Years Eve.

New Years Eve.

 

I do love this new year’s celebration.

 

Even though the church year starts at Advent.

 

The start of the calendar year is an important milestone. It is the year of Our Lord 2011. 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.

 

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 Many … its not so much a time of revelry and late partying..  but rather a wonderful chance to quietly reflect on the year ending anf the new one beginning.

 

In this mass, dedicated to Mary the Mother of God, the first and most perfect disciple of Jesus…. We offer up 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….

 

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

 

May god bless us and keep us in love, faith, hope and health in this 2011 and beyond…

 

Paul's Reflections 26th December, 2010 Holy Family. Year A

26th December, 2010      Holy Family. Year A

In many ways, today’s feast and readings continue on the Christmas message….

 

And it continues on my point from the homily at Christmas…….   God is truly with us on our lives and the ordinary and daily events of our lives….

 

“It is about 402 kilometres from Jerusalem to Cairo. Not bad if you have a plane or car.  But of course, no such luxuries were available in Jesus’ time.

 

I doubt the Holy Family- even had a donkey or a camel

 

In any case, it would have been a very difficult and uncertain journey.

 

Centuries earlier, the Chosen people, the Israelites, journeyed through that same desert, looking endlessly for the promised land;

 

Mary and Joseph journeyed too, but with God literally right in their laps the whole time.

 

Not to downplay the difficulties and challenges, but it must have made the journey survivable knowing that God was truly with them in their struggles and difficulties.

 

We, too, (in a symbolic sense)……wander through many deserts on our way through life, sometimes forgetting that the child Jesus is right there in our hearts.

As he spiritual writer Thomas Merton once said….  “The journey to God is a journey inwards…..”    we are searching and trying to find God is right there in our hearts…”(1)

 

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REFERENCES:

 

FR. PAUL W. KELLY

(1) MY DAILY VISITOR REFLECTION, December 26^th. Holy Family.

 

Paul's Reflections Christmas Mass. 24-25th December 2010.

Christmas Mass. 24-25^th December 2010.

The Feast of the Nativity of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

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I pray that this Christmas is a time of joy, peace and wonderful for you all………

 

The baby Jesus is the last part of the beautiful nativity scene.

 Loving God…Thank you.. for sending us Jesus, Your son..Jesus was born in a stable

And shared his life…With all of us…Help us..To show our love, and care

To our family and friends, may Jesus show us how to be kind… and loving always…

Amen…

 

As we give gifts, in this time of ongoing economic recovery.. (where many are still doing it really tough),  may we gain strength from the fact that any gifts we give are always intended to be a token of appreciation that echoes the one perfect gift that God has given us……  the gift of himself…   God who has become one of us…  God who has become human like us…..(in the person of the baby Jesus)……    So, of course, the greatest gift we can give each other is the gift of our own presence and attention and respect and care for each other…. If we give the gift of true Gratefulness "for the gift and uniqueness of one another"…  / if we are feeling overburdened by the challenge of providing ever more material gifts.. Let us recall that the season is about Jesus' birthday, and what he has given us….  Himself…..

 

(Tonight/today's) readings tell us that God show us a sign//…. //  Throughout history… (and perhaps in each of our lives too)….  Have we asked God: "Show us a sign"…..    "Show us that you care"…. "Show us that you are real"….  "Show us something that answers all our questions about the difficulties, challenges and tragedies of life"……..    I know many expect that such a 'sign' will be dramatic…  world shaking…..    spectacular….  (I suspect that in many ways, our modern society is constantly on the look-out for the "next buzz"… the next "world-shaking event"…..  the next "amazing sign"……….our society can get stuck on the fix of constantly moving from one all-time-high to the next……//..    But we should know by now that God does not do things by human standards, (but rather: by God's wisdom)….  So….// God DOES give us a sign… and it is extraordinary….  Well…  actually…   no….  (It is the opposite)……   the sign God gives is actually very, very ordinary….

 

The great SIGN that God gives us… is surprising… almost anti-climactic……  and not what we expect…..  the great sign that God gives to us…  for all time…. (Luke's gospel tells us)…… " This will be a sign for you: … (wait for it……)…….  you will find a baby,  wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a food trough."   (in a stable)…….     

 

The angels, and the later arrival of the Wise men…..    This is amazing.., but that is really just a side serving to what the real central sign is…….    And you know what?  It's so very ordinary!!!……..    It's so ……  simple……   so humble…………    and maybe that is JUST the point….. In a world where celebrities and people who are just famous for being famous… turn up to every big event in town that is going……    it's shocking that the biggest event in all history… was not for celebrities, rich and famous….  But for poor shepherds and foreigner wise men….  And the big event, was a baby born in humble surrounds to a loving, struggling young family…..   WOW>..   now THAT is true WONDER>..  and beauty….  It tells us that the simple things… the humble things… and the everyday people…. And values… THAT is where God's heart and presence is…. It's with US>>>>>> 

 

God doesn't go in for smoke and mirrors kinds of trickery….  Rather……. God wants us to realize that his lasting presence amongst us is to be found in the ordinary… in the everyday…. In the miracle of a baby.. in the context of a family…..   in the poor and the marginalized….

 

As Jesus became and adult and started preaching….  He continued to sstruggled with this perception problem all his life……   he wanted people to have 'wonder and awe so that they could open their hearts to God's presence and action in their lives…………   But….Some people would marvel at his Jesus works, but that's all they would do, marvel!!!. "Oh, my! Did you see that! Wasn't that something?" and they would go on with their lives unchanged. And there were some who wanted Jesus to perform wonders for their entertainment as you'd get a dog to jump through a hoop. They wanted "wonders on demand." And then there were those who viewed the working of wonders as a kind of litmus test to tell who has God's favour. If you make some magic for us, then you must be OK. If you can't or won't, you must not be worth listening to.

Rather…   we should give all our attention and to open our hearts to Jesus and his message…... To stand wordless before this scene of wonder and let the truth of it seep into us, our hearts, our minds, our bodies, our souls.

This scene of the Christmas crib……is an invitation and a promise. The invitation is to leave our pursuit of control and spectacle behind and instead enter into mystery. To be as vulnerable as this child and these parents. To be as open as these shepherds and as generous of heart as these wise men. To praise God like the angels and to pay attention like the townspeople.

The resulting promise is that we will meet God in these moments of ordinary life….. We will discover not only that Jesus is God, but that we, too, can share in God's life—not only in the heaven, but right here and right now.

AND SO HERE'S our invitation: 
• let us continue to Nurture our relationship with Jesus by paying attention to his presence in our day. And in the ordinary moments of life.

Let us continue to take time to Pray daily, perhaps before each meal with our family or friends.
• Let us avoid demanding signs from God and observe the many that are right before us. Let us pray that Jesus will give us the eyes to see God at work in our daily lives" And then start looking around. Love the people we encounter each day. Use our talents for the good of the world. And always be grateful for so many everyday gifts and wonders…

Let us not miss this moment of wonder now… and every day of the coming year….  God bless you always…

 

 

 

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REFERENCES:

 

·        FR. PAUL W. KELLY

·        Tom McGrath, Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas): Mass at Midnight.

 

 

Paul's Reflections 19th December, 2010 4th Sunday Advent. Year A.

19th December, 2010      4th Sunday Advent. Year A.

 

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

 

Well,

 

This time next week, it will be Christmas…   Hasn’t THAT come upon us quickly…..

 

I pray that this Christmas is a truly blessed, peaceful, joy-filled and moving time for you and for your family and friends…

 

And of course, safe and happy travelling (to and from your destinations)

 

In the Gospel, we see that God intervenes in human history in a quite amazing, bewildering way, that permanently changes everything from then on…. 

 

God’s amazing, saving action, comes through a young lady and her bewildered fiancé, who accept the work of the Holy Spirit working through them and in them….

 

We are told that Joseph is confused….  This confusion actually prepares Joseph to understand God’s ways and God’s actions, which do not follow human logic.

 

And maybe that is just the point….  If we expect and demand that everything always goes along normally and as expected … then we are not allowing for anything different to happen……    we are only capable of understanding a new and different thing is happening if we are prepared for the unexpected and the bewildering to break in and create a new reality in our lives and in our world. This is what happened to Mary and Joseph in  the most amazing way possible.

 

The “unexpected” and the “extraordinary”   disrupts and changes our plans for ‘more of the same’.   (if we always expect what we always had, then we will always get what we always got!!”)

 

And, the SIGN that God gives us of his faithfulness…. Is the most amazing and wonderful sign ever…..   God comes and makes his home among us and as one of us….  Forever….  You can’t get any closer than that!!!!

 

God will come and dwell in our midst…

 

“God pitched his tent (definitely) right in the middle of human history”.

 

It is always IN the midst of our human lives that we will encounter the real presence of God amongst us…

 

Mary’s humility and obedience…. Joseph’s bewilderment.. and Paul’s resolute faith….    These are the attitudes needed of the disciples of Jesus..

 

Joseph listened and obeyed God’s word…… 

 

As I mention in the newsletter… the Christmas story is a complex one….  And today’s gospel shows just what depths of anguish and confusion were at the heart of people like Joseph and Mary…..

 

Joseph was described quite deliberately as a “righteous man.”  We have lost the sense of the technicality of that word. This word meant that he was a man who followed scrupulously the law of God and did what was required and true and right. But, he was struggling.  If a woman was found to be with child that was not his own,

the law required an unthinkable and cruel penalty – death by stoning. But it is clear that Joseph also KNEW that Mary was innocent and had done no wrong and was a woman without sin. If he were to follow the letter of the law, an injustice and an untruth would occur of the greatest possible proportions. So, he decided that the really righteous thing to do was to quietly call off the wedding. So….  Even before Joseph knew what was happening…. He was already living according to the Spirit of God…….  Not merely the letter of the law of Moses…….  So…. He was a man open to the Spirit….  This was what was right and fulfilling the spirit of the law. He still didn’t understand what was happening, it was too enormous to comprehend.   And of course, when he got more information, in the form of the clarification in the dream that this was all happening because of God’s actions, he faithfully and righteously did all that was needed. He obeyed God and did God’s will even when it was all very confusing.  Joseph and Mary are a very big inspiration to us.

 

“As we come to the end of Advent we are challenged, (each of us), to listen to God’s Word, to accept God’s word, to understand how this word works in Scripture and in our personal lives. 

 

We cannot respond to this challenge without a daily reading of some small portion of Scripture. 

 

We come to know the Lord through the Church and through the Scriptures given to us in the Church.

 

Come, let us seek Him.  As we wait for the Lord, may our hearts be ever alert to what God asks of us.”

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REFERENCES:

 

·          FR. PAUL W. KELLY

·          SHARING THE WORD THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR. GUSTAVO GUTIERREZ.

·          The righteous person’s dilemma, by Alice Camille

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

 

 

Paul's Reflections Late announcement

Late Announcement. 

 

Due to heavy rains and localised flooding in low-lying areas, the Mass for Aramara church tonight (Sunday 12^th December,2010)  is cancelled. We apologise for any inconvenience, but it may be impossible to get there or to return, due to flooding of the bridges.   The next Mass for Aramara catholic church will be 3.30pm Chritsmas Eve Mass. See you there,

 

Thanks,

 

Fr Paul

 

 

 

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Fr. Paul W. Kelly

Parish Priest

Saint Mary's Catholic Parish, Maryborough.

 

269 Adelaide Street

Maryborough Queensland

Australia. 4650

 

Please visit our website: www.marycatholic.com

 

 

Paul's Reflections 3rd Sunday Advent. Year A. 12th December, 2010

12th December, 2010      3rd Sunday Advent. Year A

 

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I am grateful to Fr Dan Grundy who has celebrated the masses this weekend at ST Mary’s and Tiaro Church while I was doing a wedding.

 

I am back for the Aramara Church mass, Sunday night, December 12^th.

 

There is a consistent thread running through the Liturgy and the readings of this week’s Mass. Joyfulness, expectation, hope and thanksgiving. It lifts one’s heart. 

 

Why should we be joyful?  Because the Lord is near!  Why is the nearness of the Lord something to celebrate?  Because the Lord is our saviour who loves us and cares for us as a loving parent unconditionally loves their child. Because God is saying, he does care very much for us and the many worries and tragedies and in justices and needs that affect us in our lives. God wants to be near us, God wants to be one of us. God wants to walk with us in our joys and our sorrows, our graces and temptations.

 

From his jail cell, John the Baptist sends a message to Jesus and asks “are you the one who is to come, or should we wait for another.”  The answer Jesus gives must have given John and so many others a wonderful joyfilled heart….  What do you hear and see,,,,, the lame walking, the sick being healed, the prisoners being freed…  Yes.. this is the saviour at work….  We are right to hope in him and to put all our trust in him. Thank Goodness for the Lord……

 

For all those who are bowed down, suffering, and experiencing illness, bereavement, lack of freedom, injustice, lack of food, shelter and the necessities of life, the Lord says,….   Be strong..   keep hoping.. don’t give up…  I am coming…  I will never forget you….. 

 

This is enormously powerful and important…..  

 

We are to be people of hope who see with the eyes of faith even when things around seem bleak…

 

Finally…  jesus makes another important point…  He praises John the Baptist as highly as possible… but then adds something very special….. “as highly praiseworthy and special as John the Baptist is…  the least in the Kingdom of heaven will be greater than him!!!!’   Jesus (even now) reminds us that membership of the Kingdom comes with a different mindset… the lowly, the poor, the outcast, the rejected… these are IMPORTANT to God…  these are to be treated with as much reverence, respect and given what they need, because they are beloved, cherished members of GOD’S FAMILY, and to be fully given this respect…   this is astounding and wonderful news…  no wonder this Sunday is called “rejoice Sunday”

 

 

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REFERENCES:

 

·          FR. PAUL W. KELLY

 

 

Paul's Reflections ADVENT 2. DECEMBER 5, 2010.

ADVENT 2. DECEMBER 5, 2010.

 

whenever there is a bushfire .. even before you see the smoke or see the fire... you know something is coming.,.... because all the snakes and mice and wild-life come racing out of the bush... and getting out while they can.......... same with a ship sinking..... the rats desert the sinking ship......  

 

St. John the Baptist went about proclaiming that the day of the Lord was near and that now was the time to repent and change our ways or else......... all of a sudden he sees in the distance the Pharisees and saducees coming for baptism.. and he calls out....  well well... look who we have here.......   well if it isn’t the snakes.... getting out before the bushfire...... who told you what was coming?>....  The Pharisees and the saducees were well known for focusing on external things... how they were seen to be doing the right thing... whether or not they really were......but this didn’t fool John... your lives have to change... external rituals are not enough unless your heart is changed..... 

 

The first reading challenges us all......  God does not judge by what the eye sees of the ear hears... but  God looks at the heart...... with righteousness and equality.....

 

This is indeed good news for a world where (as one person once put it) the only exercise most people get is jumping to conclusions...........WE can continue to hope and work for a community where we refuse to judge by appearances.,... where we strive to live out the justice and harmony that Jesus asks....No matter how far off true harmony may seem, we are reminded that it is God who is steadfast towards us, and is constantly at work to bring about a change of heart. “God’s Spirit is at work when enemies begin to speak to one another, and ...nations seek the way of peace together” (Eucharistic Prayer II of Reconciliation).

 

What are the paths that we need to straighten in our lives and in the life of the church......  what barriers to we need to unblock in our preparation for the rebirth of Jesus in our hearts???

 

As individuals.....  what are our barriers.....  the best test of that is to analyse the things we do and say when we think no-one will hear or see or find out..... what things in our lives do we compartmentalise.....

 

Another thing that has struck me of recent years…..    we should ask more questions instead of making more statements…..  and we would be a lot happier if we asked open questions instead of judgement laden ones…  eg’s…..

 

I will never forget in a parish many years ago…   in the midst of a bit of tension between a school group and the parish over the use of a common hall..   I got a message asking me “why did you have the water supply turned off in the hall?”  to which I (trying to be polite) calmly replied…  “I didn’t HAVE The water turned off…  the pipe has gotten blocked and we have called a plumber to fix it”  ….   Why people jumped to assumptions I have no idea……..    actually… that was the same place.. and same groups… where… one day…  the parish had a meeting that ended with lunch…   and we had way too many sandwiches..  so, whilst  lunch was still occurring.. we offered  a plate to the p and f that was outside on a  working bee…  to which someone commented…   ‘ah, giving us your scraps…’  I was utterly horrified… and upset….   To think that people would think that I and they would give to others what we wouldn’t eat ourselves…   I think there was a lot of judging by externals and not from the heart going on….   Anyway.. that was a long time ago.. in a far, far away place…  

 

How often do I make judgements on the basis of appearance,, or hearsay.... how does Jesus message differ from this?

 

Who are the people I find hard to accept... how does Jesus invite us to relate?..

 

Let us continually present this barriers and blocked paths to the Lord of Justice.... and God will remove them... step by step……

 

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WelCome to new principal nathan wilson  (Saturday night mass)