Year of Grace Series: Planning at a parish level.

Welcome to my series called Year of Grace.

The Year of Grace is an Australian Bishops initiative inspired by Blessed Pope John Paul 11's Apostolic letter Novo Millenio Ineurate. In this letter the late Pope challenged the Church to' contemplate the face of Christ and to Start afresh from Christ'.

The Year commenced on Pentecost Sunday 2012 and finishes on Pentecost Sunday 2013.
Although it is an Australian initiative from the Bishops, there is no reason why you could not join your Australian brothers and sisters in Christ through prayer for us, and by joining us on this spiritual journey. For example, you could bring the global world to your parish by including this intention of the Year of Grace in the Prayers of the Faithful at Mass, or perhaps use one of the decades of the rosary recited either personally or in your parish. You could even commit to saying the The Year of Grace prayer which I will include in the series, each day/each week.

In last week's post, I considered ways to plan personally for my Year of Grace. In today's post, I wish to explore ways to plan for my year of Grace at the parish level.

We are told that the Year of Grace is not a programme, but rather a spiritual retreat, a journey, a rediscovery of Christ. Yet, I know me, and without some planning, the Year of Grace would pass me by even with all the great intentions in the world.

So how am I planning at the parish level? At the parish level I am: 

• initially standing back and reviewing what my parish has to offer. Thankfully there is a lot on offer to review.
• seeing what resonates with me and exploring where the Holy Spirit might be leading me.
• Attending extra weekday masses where possible and being more conscious of the community level of attending Mass. By this I mean, being aware of people who seem to be alone in a pew or seem to be new to the parish. A smile or a nod at the sign of peace for someone alone in a pew is important- I know, I live alone. The sign of peace can be a lonely time in church for those of us alone in a pew.
• Encouraging the right people to reestablish some programmes that have disappeared that parishioners loved. By doing this I am hoping to affirm those both those who organized the programmes and those who attended, and hopefully giving other people a chance to experience these programmes too.
• Singing Evening Prayer with the Friars once a week. I could attend every night, but for now I am attending once a week, so as to reconnect with this type of prayer.  It is a prayer style that seems to be seasonal in my overall spirituality. It is community based prayer but it is also very personal singing the psalms and listening to God's Word in Scripture.
• Making the effort to attend functions/events in the parish. Last night I was given an invitation by one of the friars to attend a talk this afternoon which I did not know about.  I was pleased to be invited of course, but getting an invite from this particular friar made the invitation seemed nicer. It was a moment of grace I think.
• Composing lyrics for a Hymn of Grace sung to a well known melody to encourage parishioners to sing and to keep in their minds the Year of Grace throughout the year.
• Engaging with other parishes who are fired up about the Year of Grace.

From my experience so far, it is in the planning.  Examine what your parish has to offer and see how you can contribute. Be surprised and enjoy the graces given to you by God.  Many of the activities/events link with my own personal programme.  Because I live alone, it is important to engage at the parish level.  

Every parish is different. Some will embrace this opportunity and others will let it slip by.  However, with some planning, you can engage at a parish level even if your parish is not interested in the Year of Grace. Do not let that stop you from gaining all that God has to offer you in this Year of Grace. 

Reflection Series: Never alone

My reflection and prayer series is about sharing reflections and Prayers which have impacted upon me and have provided food for thought. I hope that they will also nurture your soul and spirit.

My post is called:

                                                               NEVER ALONE.

He knows just what it means to be alone-

to feel rejected, forsaken,

deserted even to death.

The One who endured the loneliness of the cross
 is the One who come to comfort you when you're alone. 
So in His comforting arms, you are never alone. 


When you feel alone,  it is hard to think
But remember Jesus is there with you.
You are never alone.

Gospel of Mark series: Chapter 3 Part 11 Jesus raises a young girl ( 5: 35-43)

Welcome to my Gospel of Mark Series. During 2012-13, each week, I will write a post about the Gospel of Mark as I review and explore each of the 16 chapters and how it may be applied in our daily lives. My goal is to understand and pray the Gospel of Mark.  I hope you will join me on this journey as we travel through the liturgical season of Year B.  In today's post, we explore chapter 5:35-43 which is Jesus raises a young girl.

This passage continue and concludes the story about Jairus and his young daughter at the point of death.  Here, as we noticed earlier, Mark uses his sandwich technique  by placing within this first story a second story about the sick woman in the crowd, who touches his clothes.  In this way Mark intentionally makes a close link between the two narratives.

In both stories, some is given new life by contact with the divine power brought by Jesus.  The older woman touches Jesus, the younger woman is touched by Jesus.  In both situations human efforts have failed, but Jesus brings new life, a sure sign that God’s power is being revealed in Him.

Notice how dramatically Mark tells the story, preparing us for the climax of the restoration of the young girl to life.  Jesus brings only three of His disciples with Him.  He sees the commotion from outside.  When he enters the house, He shuts out all but the family and his three disciples.  For Jesus, death is only a sleeping.

Despair has overtaken the house of Jairus when Jesus arrives.  he tells Jairus to keep trusting in God.  Then he goes into the house and stops the noise of traditional mourning.  His work needs faith not only in Himself but in those around.  He goes to where the death girl lies and restores life to her, and all wonder.

The episode ends with Jesus asking them to tell no one outside the little group of those who showed faith, and to give food to the girl.  

For Mark’s first readers, as for us today, the request of Jesus to give the girl food calls up images of the Eucharist which sustains all Christians in the new life given them by Christ in baptism.

In our journal and/or our discussion group we may wish to reflect on this passage as follows:

• Name the key points that you have learnt about the person of Jesus in this passage of scripture?
• Reflect on the keywords in this passage for they contain the substance and purpose of all the things Jesus said and did-
• Consider my relationship with Jesus  in the light of this Gospel passage.
• Try to feel what Jesu may have felt as the story unfolds in the brief words of Mark.
• Compare the touch that cured the young girl with the touch that cured the woman in the crowd?
• Try to share something of the feelings of the parents as their young daughter was dying?  
• Reflect on how Jesus has raised me to new life in my life?  What were these experiences and how did it impact on my life?
• How do I relate to this story of Jesus raising the young girl to life.  Make a list of areas in my life that need a change of heart and develop an action plan on how this change of heart might occur. (eg name an area and name one/two changes that you will implement with God's help.
• What impact does Jesus’ teaching have on you (5:34-43).
• How has this passage spoken to you- what does it say to you personally?

Gospel of Mark Series: Section 3 Part 10: Jesus heals a woman ( 5:21-34).

Welcome to my Gospel of Mark Series. During 2012-13, each week, I will write a post about the Gospel of Mark as I review and explore each of the 16 chapters and how it may be applied in our daily lives. My goal is to understand and pray the Gospel of Mark.  I hope you will join me on this journey as we travel through the liturgical season of Year B.  In today's post, we explore chapter 5:21-34 which is Jesus heals a woman.

In this passage, Mark uses his sandwich technique of placing one story within another.  The story of Jairus and his young daughter at the point of death is begun, but before it is ended, a second story is told of an unnamed woman in the crowd whom Jesus heals her sickness.

Both stories are of cures that no human power could work.  In different ways they each reveal the greatness of the power that is made present to people in Jesus, a power so divine and yet so available to people with faith in God.

Our attention is drawn to an important man in the great crowd that gathers around Jesus after his arrival in the boat.  He is one of the leaders of the synagogue in that place, yet he comes to Jesus in great humility to beg him to come and touch his dying daughter.  At once Jesus goes with him followed by the crowd.

Then our attention is shifted to a woman in the crowd.  She has been hemorrhaging for twelve years, perhaps since her puberty, which would make a woman in her early twenties.  With such an illness, marriage would be impossible, and by the Jewish blood taboo she should not appear in public.  Much less should she touch another person.

Secretly she comes to Jesus and touches him.  Jesus feel power going out of him and the woman feels healing.

Being human, he need to ask who has be cured by the divine power passing from him.  He does not accuses the woman for breaking the law, but praises her for the faith that drew divine power from Him.

In our journal and/or our discussion group we may wish to reflect on this passage as follows:

• Name the key points that you have learnt about the person of Jesus in this passage of scripture?
• Reflect on the keywords in this passage for they contain the substance and purpose of all the things Jesus said and did-
• Consider my relationship with Jesus  in the light of this Gospel passage.
• Imagine standing on the shore of the lake and watch Jesus arrive in the boat.  Look at Him as He steps from the boat and watch the crowd gather.
• Reflect on the scene of the woman needing healing. What risk are you prepared to take to receive healing from Jesus?
• Try to share something of the desperation of Jairus for his young dying daughter and the humility he had to ask Jesus. What is my inner need of healing and what is my disposition to ask Jesus for healing?
• What healings has the power of Jesus given me in my life? What was my experience of the power of Jesus in these incidents/events.
• How do I relate to this story of Jesus healing the woman.  Make a list of areas in my life that need a change of heart and develop an action plan on how this change of heart might occur. (eg name an area and name one/two changes that you will implement with God's help.
• What impact does Jesus’ teaching have on you (5:21-34.
• How has this passage spoken to you- what does it say to you personally?

Gospel of Mark Series: Section 3 Part 9 The healing of a madman ( 5:1-20)

Welcome to my Gospel of Mark Series. During 2012-13, each week, I will write a post about the Gospel of Mark as I review and explore each of the 16 chapters and how it may be applied in our daily lives. My goal is to understand and pray the Gospel of Mark.  I hope you will join me on this journey as we travel through the liturgical season of Year B.  In today's post, we explore chapter 5:1-20 which is the healing of a madman.

On the other side of the lake lived Gentile Gerasenes. The town of Gerasa was about 50 kilometres southeast of the lake.  A violent madman of great strength appeared out of the tombs.  Madness in the time of Jesus was popularly to be from an evil spirit controlling a person.

Jesus asks the name of the demon.  In the Bible, to know the name of anyone is already to have power over them.  The madman is broken and torn by many demons and names himself ‘legion’, an army division of six thousand or more soldiers.

Despite their great number, the demons know they are the presence of a greater power in Jesus.  They ask to be allowed to go and lived in a herd of pigs grazing close by.  Jesus frees the man from the power of the demons, but his power is so great that he frees the surrounding place also, for the pigs go rushing madly into the sea and drown themselves. Evil eventually destroys life.

The Jewish disciples of Jesus saw pigs as unclean and their drowning a good thing. The Gerasenes, however, ask Jesus to leave since they only understood the loss of so many of their pigs.

The drama which began with the rage of the madman and the power in Jesus, then shifted to the pigs and later to the people of that place, now returns to focus on Jesus and the former madman sitting peacefully and restored to his full humanity.

The man asks to go with Jesus, but his discipleship will be of another kind.  Jesus sends him among his own people to tell them of the great work of power God has done in him.  Instead, he tells others what Jesus did for him, and all who heard him began to wonder.  Wonder can be the beginning of faith.

In our journal and/or our discussion group we may wish to reflect on this passage as follows:

• Name the key points that you have learnt about the person of Jesus in this passage of scripture?
• Reflect on the keywords in this passage for they contain the substance and purpose of all the things Jesus said and did-
• Consider my relationship with Jesus  in the light of this Gospel passage.
• Reflect on the scene of the madman before he was healed and after he was healed. How does this resonate with the healing Jesus gives to you.
• Try to share something of the shock and terror of the Gerasenes watching their pigs rushing into the sea and drowning. What part of my life that needs the healing of Jesus would I like never to return?
• What healings has the power of Jesus given me in my life? What was my experience of the power of Jesus in these incidents/events.
• How do I relate to this story of Jesus healing the madman.  Make a list of areas in my life that need a change of heart and develop an action plan on how this change of heart might occur. (eg name an area and name one/two changes that you will implement with God's help.
• What impact does Jesus’ teaching have on you (5:1-20.
• How has this passage spoken to you- what does it say to you personally?

Opening Prayer Series: Collect- Nativity of John the Baptist.

The Collect ( Mass during the day) for the Nativity of St John the Baptist reads as follows:

O God who raised up St John the Baptist,

to make ready a nation fit for Christ Our Lord,

give Your people we pray,

the grace of spiritual joys,

and direct the hearts of all the faithful

into the way of salvation and peace.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son,

who lives with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God for ever and ever.

In making this prayer tangible, the following reflection questions emerged:

1. Why does the Church celebrate the  Nativity of John the Baptist?
2. How can I make myself ready for Christ this coming week?
3. How can I bring another person to Christ?
4. Why should I pray for the grace of spiritual joys?
5. What is the way of salvation and peace?
6. How can I be led into the way of salvation and peace this coming week?
7. What is my personal plan in this Year of Grace for this coming week?

In today's Collect, it says that God raised up St John the Baptist to make ready a nation fit for Christ the Lord.  In today's Gospel, which is Luke's account of the Nativity of John the Baptist, we sense the neighbours joy for Elizabeth and Zechariah, since having children was considered a blessing and to give birth to a child late in life raised the stakes of interest even further amongst the neighbours.

These neighbours would have remembered what they have been told about Zechariah when the angel appeared to him nine months before the baby's birth, (Lk 15:23) and now when the child is to be named, there is a break from tradition and he is called John, which his father communicated by writing. Then his power of speech returns and he praises God.  St Luke creates the awe and wonder experienced by the neighbours so well.  A birth of a child always creates interest from loved ones, friends and neighbours. But how much more interested would these neighbours been as they watched St John the Baptist grow and mature.

So, we are not Zechariah and Elizabeth's neighbours.  How does this gospel scene speak to us?

This gospel passage may encourage us to:

• Be aware of the presence of God in our lives and the lives of others and in experiencing it, express our gratititude to God.
• Appreciate the gift of new life in a birth of a child and experience and share the joy with the new parents.
• Pray for the new born child asking God to help him/ her to grow with His blessing.
• Understand that the naming of a child is important as it often indicates personality traits and future career path. If you are expecting a child, you may wish to ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in the naming of your child.
• Remain faithful to what we believe to be true especially if we have had some spiritual confirmation/experience.

May the celebration of the nativity of St John the Baptist 

give you encouragement  to bring others to Christ 

and to be faithful to your vocation to which God has called you.

Reflection and Prayer Series: God's Mercy

My reflection and prayer series is about sharing reflections and Prayers which have impacted upon me and have provided food for thought. I hope that they will also nurture your soul and spirit.

My post is called:

                                                     GODS MERCY.

Life's struggles won't impede God's stream of mercy

If we trust His love to always make a way.

And His Spirit will flow out from us to others, 

If we keep our eyes on Jesus day by day.

About the Mass series Vol 2:Why be faithful to the Latin texts?

Welcome to my new series called ' About the Mass Series Volume 2-New Translation'

In my third section of this series on Same Mass, New Words, Deeper Meaning and Greater Love of the Mass as an overview of why the English speaking world have a new translation of the Mass.

In today's post, I pose the question "' Why be faithful to the Latin texts?"'

Overall,the revised translation achieves a greater adherence to the original Latin than the former did.  At the time, the first rendering in English used a more dynamic principle of translation, one which took considerable liberty and freedom with the structure and content of the Latin sentences.  This resulted in texts that felt pleasantly idiomatic in the vernacular, despite the sacrifices of the nuances of the original texts.

It is important to realize that these texts served a purpose in that they moved us from the Latin to the vernacular, which at that time was a huge shift in liturgy.  However, nothing remains the same and after 40 or so years, it is time to realize that these texts served their purpose. They were never intended to be used as long as they have been.  Originally, the purpose was to get the texts into the vernacular quickly so that they shift from Latin to English could be made, and then, revisit these texts in 2-5 years once things had settled.  

So now, the visitation has at last occurred.  By turning attention to the original Latin texts, some people feared that some of the reforms of the Second Vatican Council would be challenged or compromised. Others feared that with the outreach to those who prefer the 1962 Mass in Latin that it may foreshadow a whole withdrawal of the vernacular. Neither of these fears are founded.

What we have received and are presently using with these changes in the texts of the Mass is something which was intended to occur many years ago but did not.  It is as though we are catching up for something that was intended 35-40 years ago.!!!  These texts will, I am sure, undergo further refinement in time, although I suppose the wait may not be as long.

The positive aspect of these changes is that they are a faithful and accurate translation of the Latin and that as a result, the English speaking world is  now praying in the vernacular what many other countries have been praying for years. It delights me to think that we are in unison again with the universal church as we pray these texts at Mass.  It is also a great opportunity to come to understand these changes and appreciate their richness.

Next week Appreciating the Poetic texts.

Year of Grace Series: Personal Planning.

Welcome to my series called Year of Grace.

The Year of Grace is an Australian Bishops initiative inspired by Blessed Pope John Paul 11's Apostolic letter Novo Millenio Ineurate. In this letter the late Pope challenged the Church to' contemplate the face of Christ and to Start afresh from Christ'.

The Year commenced on Pentecost Sunday 2012 and finishes on Pentecost Sunday 2013.
Although it is an Australian initiative from the Bishops, there is no reason why you could not join your Australian brothers and sisters in Christ through prayer for us, and by joining us on this spiritual journey. For example, you could bring the global world to your parish by including this intention of the Year of Grace in the Prayers of the Faithful at Mass, or perhaps use one of the decades of the rosary recited either personally or in your parish. You could even commit to saying the The Year of Grace prayer which I will include in the series, each day/each week.

The Year of Grace is not considered to be a programme rather :

• a spiritual journey to stop, renew and refocus.
• a journey of listening to the Spirit.
• recognising God's grace in our lives.
• encountering Jesus afresh.

In taking into consideration the above aspects, I consider this Year of Grace needs to be a 3 pronged approach- personal, parish and diocese. Today's post is about personal planning.

Thankfully God made us all unique and our approach to our spiritual lives will reflect that uniqueness. I know me,  and to leave this opportunity to chance or my whim will spell a wasted opportunity to grow in knowing, loving and serving God.  Therefore, I need personal planning to guide me. What I write therefore is a sharing of my approach in the hope that it will get you thinking about your approach to this Year of Grace.

Given that the Year of Grace is a spiritual journey to stop, renew and refocus, I started my personal planning by

1. Prayer: by asking God to show me how He would like me to grow  this year.
2. Stop and Review: examining my personal spiritual life at this present time. What is happening in my spiritual life right now, what are the areas that are problematic and have been for some time and what areas do I naturally gravitate towards improvement.
3. Personal brainstorming: writing down all the possible ways without discounting any of them opportunities for spiritual growth.
4. Refocus:Taking my personal brainstorm to Jesus and asking the Holy Spirit to enlighten me and help me refocus. This phase is important because this Year of Grace is about my relationship with Jesus. What does God want for me?
5. Decision and Commitment: Devising my own personal programme/ approach so that I can be renewed through the help of God. 
6. Progress and Tweeking: adjusting programme/approach as required to gain more benefit.

There are so many ways we can approach our own personal  programme. I know I need something that is achievable with the key being to keeping it simple as in any goal setting.  I have devised my personal plan over the 12 months with 2 month review. With some areas, I have chosen to explore something different/revisit. For example, in visiting my prayer life, I have decided to explore different prayer styles over a couple of months and incorporate these styles into my own prayer. So over the twelve months I will have become more familiar with 6 different styles and therefore am in a better position to see what style/s suit me best and how this may open the opportunity to start afresh with Christ.

With the sacraments of the Mass and Sacrament of Reconciliation, I have decided to take an educative approach in the hope that it will give me through the grace of God a greater understanding and love for these sacraments.  My blog series on these sacraments will be part of that process. Perhaps you will like to follow these series. For example, the sacrament of Reconciliation is what I call my spiritual achilles heel in its own way. It is time in the Year of Grace to experience some growth in this sacrament.

With both these sacraments, it also means the practical aspect of participation, since academic pursuit is not enough. However, it also has to be achievable and realistic. It is no use saying I am going to get up everyday to go to morning Mass when I have responsibilities that make that commitment impossible.  However, as we review our personal life, we may find that there is time with commitment to participate in Holy Mass one extra day or more depending on our circumstances.  As we make our own plan, consulting with our family may be necessary and we may encourage other family members to devise their own plan.  Perhaps you will have in your plan, a family plan for the Year of Grace.


Regardless of what personal programme/approach devised, the importance is the consistancy and perseverance. God thankfully does not expect us to be perfect. He knows that we are not, but He loves our effort and blesses it.

So in this Year of Grace, become a pilgrim and go on your own spiritual journey. Pray for your Australian brothers and sisters, but why not come on the journey too. With God, there is always more.. abundant grace ready to give each of us with His love.

Next week: Incorporating ''parish'' into my personal spiritual journey plan.

Gospel of Mark Series: Section 3 Part 8 Jesus calms a storm (4:35-41).

Welcome to my Gospel of Mark Series. During 2012-13, each week, I will write a post about the Gospel of Mark as I review and explore each of the 16 chapters and how it may be applied in our daily lives. My goal is to understand and pray the Gospel of Mark.  I hope you will join me on this journey as we travel through the liturgical season of Year B.  In today's post, we explore chapter 4:35-41 which is the parable of  Jesus calms the storm.

In the next phase of Mark’s Gospel, he gives 5 examples of how Jesus made the kingdom visible to action that shocked people and made them wonder.

Jesus asks His disciples to take Him over to the eastern shore of the lake.  Since He is already in the boat, they take Him just as He is.  Suddenly, there is a great storm of wind.  They wake Jesus and say they are sinking.  With great power He commands the wind and the sea and there is calm.

Comparing this story with Matthew’s account, (Mt 8:23-27), it becomes clear how the focus in Mark’s account is on the divine power acting through Jesus and the terror fo the power in the disciples.

The power of the kingdom breaks into their lives.  Unlike Matthew’s account where there is fear in the disciples before Jesus acts, and afterwards wonder, Mark has told the story like a cosmic exorcism on the evil in the storm.  It is important to note that control over the wind and sea in the Old Testament belongs to God as the Creator of the world (Genesis) and the Redeemer of Israel (Exodus). The action of Jesus is not meant to be magic, but to reveal His unique sharing in God’s creative and liberating power for the world.  What Mark tells us in this account therefore is not actually what happened in the storm, but rather, he tells us that the power of God was made visible that day in the lives of Jesus and His disciples when they nearly drowned together in the lake.

The experience  by the disciples of such extraordinary power in Jesus leaves them terrified and wondering who Jesus really is and what He brings to the world.

In our journal and/or our discussion group we may wish to reflect on this passage as follows:

• Name the key points that you have learnt about the person of Jesus in this passage of scripture?
• Reflect on the keywords in this passage for they contain the substance and purpose of all the things Jesus said and did-
• Consider my relationship with Jesus  in the light of this Gospel passage.
• Reflect on the scene of the storm tossed boat in the waves and notice what you begin to see and feel in yourself.
• Try to share something of the shock and terror of the disciples when they they saw what power Jesus used over the wind.
• What storms has the power of Jesus calmed in my life? What was my experience of the power of Jesus in these incidents/events.
• How do I relate to this story of Jesus calming the storm.  Make a list of areas in my life that need a change of heart and develop an action plan on how this change of heart might occur. (eg name an area and name one/two changes that you will implement with God's help.
• What impact does Jesus’ teaching have on you (4:35-41).
• How has this passage spoken to you- what does it say to you personally?

Gospel of Mark Series: Section 3 Part 7: a growing seed and mustard plant.

Welcome to my Gospel of Mark Series. During 2012-13, each week, I will write a post about the Gospel of Mark as I review and explore each of the 16 chapters and how it may be applied in our daily lives. My goal is to understand and pray the Gospel of Mark.  I hope you will join me on this journey as we travel through the liturgical season of Year B.  In today's post, we explore chapter 4:26-34 which is the parable of a growing seed and a mustard plant.

The parable of the growing seeds is found only in Mark's Gospel.  The farmer throws the seeds carelessly into the ground and goes off to do other things, but seeds have an inner vitality.  They sprout and grow, first the stalk, then the head coming from the stalk, and finally the ripe grain of wheat within the head. 

The tiny mustard seed, smaller than other seeds, grows surely and steadily into a shrub, three to four metres high with large branches, in the shade of which birds can come and sit.  What a large result from such a tiny beginning.

Both parables reveal the kingdom of God as a growth from small and insignificant beginnings.  The scattered seeds grow with an inner vitality of their own until the harvest.  The tiny mustard seed grows to produce a large shrub, out of all proportion to the tiny seed that was sown.  The parables give insights into the way the kingdom of God grows in the world- the small beginnings, the steady, silent growth, until finally the abundant and surprising results.  The action of God in Jesus may seem small and hardly noticeable, yet its great fruits will inevitably appear.

Mark concludes by reminding us that his collection of five parables is only a sample of the parables which Jesus told.  The parables offer understnding and faith to the degree each can grasp and interiorise what is heard.  Parables puzzle unbelievers, but give disciples deeper insights into the kingdom of God.

On a personal note, I have a big back garden and the constant maintenance is enormous.  I do notice that somehow even the seeds of the weeds grow and before long, left unattended, the weeds can be ready to take over.  I also notice that when I do concentrate and do some serious weeding, they are not gone for long. Only needs rain and some warmth and off they grow again.  Sometimes they dont even need that.

So too the weeds of our souls, left unattended they might be small faults first but they can take over the garden of our souls.  However, when we attend our garden of our souls, we can be like the mustard plant- do some good in even just a small way and it can have a ripple effect- it will not just be the birds that will take shelter. People will be drawn to us and we, through the grace of God will be able to give them shelter, nurture them and help them grow.

May you plant a small seed in your family,parish or work colleagues. Watch this seed grow and see what happens.  It may be a seed of kindness to a colleague that you do not generally talk or associate with, it may be a seed of hope with a smile or a encouraging word.

Whatever you decide- just plant it and let it grow.

In our journal and/or our discussion group we may wish to reflect on this passage as follows:

• Name the key points that you have learnt about the person of Jesus in this passage of scripture?
• Reflect on the keywords in this passage for they contain the substance and purpose of all the things Jesus said and did-
• Consider my relationship with Jesus  in the light of this Gospel passage.
• Reflect on how these two parables of the growing seed and the mustard plant and see if you can recognize any hidden or small beginnings of the kingdom.
• Look at some natural growing thing and compare it with God’s power coming into the world?
• How do I relate to these two parables.  Make a list of areas in my life that need a change of heart and develop an action plan on how this change of heart might occur. (eg name an area and name one/two changes that you will implement with God's help.
• What impact does Jesus’ teaching have on you (4:26-34).
• How has this passage spoken to you- what does it say to you personally?

Opening Prayer Series: 11th Sunday of Ordinary Time Yr B

The Collect for the 11th Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B reads as follows:

Let us pray,

O God, strength of those who hope in You,

graciously hear our pleas,

and since without You mortal fraility can do nothing

grant us always the help of Your grace

that in following Your commands

we may please You in our resolve and our deeds.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son,

who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit

one God for ever and ever.

In making this prayer tangible, the following reflection questions emerged

1. In what ways does God give me strength when I hope in Him?
2. What happens to me when I try to do something without Christ?
3. Why do I need to ask for the help of His grace?
4. What are the commands that I follow and what ones do I need more resolve to follow?
5. What commands do I follow in deed and what ones do I need to review so that my deeds match my resolve.
6. What am I doing this week towards living out the Year of Grace ( see Year of Grace series).

Today's gospel reflection can be found in my series on the Gospel of Mark Section 3 Part 7-4:26-34.

Gospel of Mark Series: Parable of the lamp and measure ( 4:21-25).

Welcome to my Gospel of Mark Series. During 2012-13, each week, I will write a post about the Gospel of Mark as I review and explore each of the 16 chapters and how it may be applied in our daily lives. My goal is to understand and pray the Gospel of Mark.  I hope you will join me on this journey as we travel through the liturgical season of Year B.  In today's post, we explore chapter 4:21-25 which is the parable of lamp and a measure.

In this passage, which contains two parable proverbs of the lamp and the measure, Mark has probably placed together five sayings of Jesus, which may have been spoken by him in different situations.

Four of the sayings are groups in paris, which Mark may have found already groups that way in the community tradition which was given to him.  The fifth saying, which Mark also used elsewhere by its central position(4:23) becomes the focus and the key for the reader to understand the whole passage.

The kingdom of God, the divine action coming into our human world, is not meant to remain hidden.  Nobody light a lamp to hide it under a basket for measuring grain or under a bed, but puts it on a stand where it can shed its light around.

The kingdom of God may at first seem hidden in the word and action and humble life of Jesus, but it will soon spread far and wide in his disciples as light shining throughout the world.

Like the parable of the lamp, the parable of the measuring basked also points to the way people welcome and respond to the kingdom of  God  coming into their lives.  The degree to which one gives to others and is open to the need of others is a direct measure and indicator of the degree to which God can share with that person his divine actions.  A person closed to another by that very fact shows a heart closed against God.  One’s giving to others measures one’s receiving from God.  

The more people welcome God’s action into their lives, the more they are able to receive God’s further action.  There is no injustice here.  It is simply a question of one’s capacity and willingness to receive.  The limit is on our side, not on God’s.

In our journal and/or our discussion group we may wish to reflect on this passage as follows:

• Name the key points that you have learnt about the person of Jesus in this passage of scripture?
• Reflect on the keywords in this passage for they contain the substance and purpose of all the things Jesus said and did-
• Consider my relationship with Jesus  in the light of this Gospel passage.
• Reflect on how these two parables of the lamp and the measuring basked teach something about how God’s power coming into me.
• Consider how the power which the gospel of God brings into the world depends to a large degree on how I welcome it?
• How do I relate to these two parables.  Make a list of areas in my life that need a change of heart and develop an action plan on how this change of heart might occur. (eg name an area and name one/two changes that you will implement with God's help.
• What impact does Jesus’ teaching have on you (4:13-20).
• How has this passage spoken to you- what does it say to you personally?

It is important to remember that St Mark wishes us to know the person of Jesus.

What does this passage of scripture tell you about the person of Jesus?