Monday, October 31, 2022

You will be blessed because they cannot repay you.

Just a few thoughts

·        Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life. -- Omar Khayyam

·        We cannot know the Church unless we are in the midst of it and engage with it. Otherwise we will always be spectators who will criticise from the outside, without knowing the beauty it has to offer from the inside.

·        May our parish be warm in its welcome and hospitality to new parishioners and visitors, so that everyone is treated with respect and courtesy.

Reflections

ü Welcome Outsiders Into Our Inner Circle

ü Sunday reflection - Our universe is so tiny.

The Signs Of The Times

Ø ABC iView - Indigenous community leader, lawyer, academic and land rights activist Noel Pearson reflects on "Who we were and who we can be", in his 2022 Boyer Lecture.

Ø Hospitality of the Heart

Musical Reflection

¯ In Christ there is no East or West

¯ Many And Great

¯ Shine Jesus Shine

Sunday, October 30, 2022

Is our parish fit for purpose?

Just a few thoughts

·        You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you. -- John Bunyan

·        "A genius is often merely a talented person who has done all of his or her homework." -- Thomas A. Edison

·        May each one of us seek the mercy of God for our own weaknesses and sins, and strive to be worthy of our Christian calling.

Reflections

ü Australian Women Preach

ü Frank Brennan’s reflection

ü What glorifies the Lord is a person’s seeking the Lord first, above all

ü Time to come back to earth

 

The Signs Of The Times

Ø Synod text calls for ‘Church capable of radical inclusion’

Ø Acts of Cruelty: Australia’s Immigration Laws and……

Musical Reflection

¯ Come To Me

¯ Though the Mountains May Fall

¯ Take, O Take Me As I Am

Saturday, October 29, 2022

Humility V Ego


 Just a few thoughts

·        "Don't forget, while you are busy doubting yourself, someone else is admiring your strength." -- Author Unknown

·        "Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength." -- Arnold Schwarzenegger

·        May asylum seekers and refugees receive greater support from governments, communities of faith and community organizations.

Reflections

ü We are not a separate part from the rest of creation.

ü Knocking down ‘arrogant tall poppies’!

ü Cultivating A Heart Of Humility

ü Sunday reflection - Unveiling the Truth

The Signs Of The Times

Ø A Theology of Somebodiness

Ø Religious leaders join Pope in appeal for peace

Ø Deacons play ‘critically important’ role

Musical Reflection

¯ Take My Life And Let It Be

¯ Just As I Am

¯ Many and Great, O God, Are Thy Works

Friday, October 28, 2022

It is we who make the church building holy by our presence in it.

Just a few thoughts

·        I have three precious things, which I hold fast and prize. The first is gentleness; the second is frugality; the third is humility, which keeps me from putting myself before others. Be gentle and you can be bold; be frugal and you can be liberal; avoid putting yourself before others and you can become a leader. -- Lao Tsu

·        There is a growing legion of business people who are hungry to build something of enduring character on a set of values they can be proud of -- Jim Collins

·        For all Christians, making up God’s household, and built upon the foundations of the apostles- may we work towards that unity which is in the mind and heart of Christ.

Reflections

ü “Lord, what is all this about?”

ü The Great Story

ü Aligning Ourselves with God’s Heart

The Signs Of The Times

Ø Jude the Apostle

Ø Styles of Leadership

Ø ‘Scene-setter’ Budget gets mixed reviews

Musical Reflection

¯ Jesus, My Lord, My God, My All

¯ Take Me O Take Me As I Am

¯ God is love, his the care

Thursday, October 27, 2022

Do we want to live under His protective wing?

Just a few thoughts

·        When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one that has opened for us. -- Alexander Graham Bell

·        "Incredible change happens in your life when you decide to take control of what you do have power over instead of craving control over what you don't." -- Steve Maraboli

·        We pray for the priests of the Australian church, that their pastoral service will enrich the community, bring them fulfilment, and keep them close to Christ.

Reflections

ü Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord

ü Gathering One’s Brood

ü The Pharisee and the Publican

The Signs Of The Times

Ø Catholic organisations welcome Budget

Ø Don't lie to me

Ø UN inspectors locked out of Australian prisons

Musical Reflection

¯ Make Us True Servants

¯ Nearer, My God, to Thee

¯ Leonard Bernstein

Wednesday, October 26, 2022

The Narrow Door

 Just a few thoughts

·        "I'm not afraid of storms, for I'm learning to sail my ship." – Aeschylus

·        World Disarmament Week -May nations heed the words of the General Secretary of the United Nations, “Disarmament must be brought back to the centre of our common efforts for peace and security.”

·        We pray for Christian churches everywhere, that they will be havens of hospitality for all who are in need of healing and comfort.

Reflections

ü Money will get no one into the Kingdom of heaven

ü To go in the “narrow door” is to be actively committed to living the Gospel in one’s daily life.

ü Entry Into The Kingdom Of God

The Signs Of The Times

Ø What matters most to the social sector ahead of the release of the Albanese government’s first federal budget?

Ø God’s Loving Justice

Musical Reflection

¯ Hymn of the United Nations

¯ Create A New Heart

¯ Virtual Choir Sing "We'll Meet Again"

Tuesday, October 25, 2022

From small contributions come great things.

Just a few thoughts

·        "The longer I live, the more beautiful life becomes." -- Frank Lloyd Wright

·        May the Church always be a safe place, especially for the weak, frail and vulnerable, just as the mustard tree is a safe shelter for the birds.

·        We pray for financial decision-makers in all state and federal governments, that they will uphold policies that serve the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable.

Reflections

ü There is surely more to human life than being ‘consumers.’

ü How the reign of God spreads through the world.

ü Let us build the kingdom of God in our everyday lives

ü We Are Never The Same

The Signs Of The Times

Ø Beyond the garden gate – Our diocesan assembly focused on sharing and listening to each other. This event would be a step on the way, I think.

Ø The Example of the Prophets

Musical Reflection

¯ Come to the River – Bob Hurd

¯ Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis

Monday, October 24, 2022

Freedom and salvation

Just a few thoughts

·        We are called to be that light in the midst of so much darkness around us.

·        May the traditional wisdom of Indigenous peoples around the world help us all become true stewards of creation.

·        United Nations Day - may all nations be drawn together in solidarity, so that by working for world peace they may relieve poverty and hunger, protect children, overcome disease, protect the environment and preserve languages and cultures.

Reflections

ü They were for law, he was for mercy.

ü Do not make the law a burden on the impulse to do good

ü Sunday reflection - The Worst Kind of Pride

The Signs Of The Times

Ø Weapons cost more than money

Ø True Religion and the True Self

Musical Reflection

¯ Gather Us In

¯ Hymn to the United Nations

¯ You are all we have

Sunday, October 23, 2022

An hour of truth

Just a few thoughts

·        "Still round the corner there may wait, a new road or a secret gate." -- J.R.R. Tolkien

·        If you spend your whole life waiting for the storm, you'll never enjoy the sunshine. -- Morris West

·        We pray for the world in which we live, that Christians will take the message and person of Jesus to the ends of the earth, so that all will come to know the liberating power of his freedom, peace and love.

Reflections

ü Homily-Frank Brennan

ü One of the greatest gifts is for us to know our sinfulness.

ü The Love that Reaches Out

The Signs Of The Times

Ø Nobody should be left behind in future pandemics

Ø Why are millions of Australians still living in poverty? Experts say it's solvable

Musical Reflection

¯ The Cry Of The Poor

¯ All the lonely people

¯ Nunc Dimittis - Now, Master, you let your servant go in peace.

Saturday, October 22, 2022

Being patient and merciful

Just a few thoughts

·        Let us pray for all who are participating in the Diocesan Assembly today

·        "The only person who is educated is the one who has learned how to learn and change." -- Carl Rogers

·        Anti-poverty Week – may governments, community organizations and communities of faith all work together to support the many people who have been reduced to poverty because of war, natural disasters and domestic violence.

Reflections

ü The difference between reformation and transformation.

ü Resolving Our Difficulties

ü Australian Women Preach

ü A reflection for National Anti-Poverty Week

The Signs Of The Times

Ø ‘Walking in both worlds’ a key to reconciliation

Ø Real world problems can’t be solved by finance fictions

Musical Reflection

¯ A new heart for a new world

¯ Go To the World!

¯ Panis Angelicus

Friday, October 21, 2022

How to interpret these times!

Just a few thoughts

·        May the Church, the Body of Christ, visible in our local Archdiocese, grow in holiness as it gathers for its Assembly this evening.

·        We pray for parents and teachers instructing young children on the safe use of social media. May they rise to the challenge with wisdom and love

·        There was a time when local Christian churches organised times for us to get together and discuss various social, religious topics. I recall that Mgr John Swan was an active supporter.
Check out this local and topical event - Beyond the Garden Gate

Reflections

ü Look carefully and you will see everything

ü Applying right judgment

ü Catholic Social Teaching urges us to follow the 3 steps-See, Judge, Act
The Judge step could be better described as Discern, because as Pope Francis famously said, “Who am I to judge?”

The Signs Of The Times

Ø Making ‘My Island Home’

Ø With less than due respect

Ø Discovering the Right Questions

Musical Reflection

¯ Open My Eyes, Lord

¯ His Eye is on the Sparrow

¯ The Priests - Benedictus