Soul selfie-15th Sunday of the Year.

With the best of intentions I hoped to write my usual posts for the Collect for the 14-15th Sundays.  I still may be able to write about this Sunday's readings but I am on holidays in UK. It is a long way from Australia obviously, but what I am realising is that in parish life, the same situations arise.  There are the people who get in there to help, the people who fear losing status so engage in all sorts of behaviours which are not helpful to the overall good.  There are the same problems and needs essentially- when I say the same, I mean there is a similar theme of need or desire.

I took this trip for a priest friend of mine's silver jubilee which was celebrated in style with a lovely Mass  followed by a garden party in the church's lovely English garden. No end of trouble had been spared to make the celebration one which will be remembered for many years to come by these parishioners.  Obviously they wanted to give my friend ( their parish priest) a beautiful celebration to express their gratitude to him for all that he means to them, which by the way, is enormous.

As a guest of the parish priest and never having been to UK to this parish, it was a little daunting for me as making small talk is my strong suit.  However, the amazing part about the whole day for me was this feeling of belonging there as if I had been .in their parish all my life.  This is significant because I have been in my own parish many decades.  This is not meant to be a downer on my own parish but just an expression of how I feel at this moment in time whilst I am on holidays.

What is also gratifying for me is to see how much his parishioners love him.  I have had many parishioners share with me their thoughts about their lives and how my friend, as their pp has impacted for the greater good in their lives. It is beautiful to hear for me for so many reasons- especially as he is my very good friend.  When there has been so much scandal and negativity about the priesthood in general and catholic life, it is great to see a parish who is displaying  catholic life in a parish at its best.

Obviously there had been a lot of preparation for the big day and all went beautifully, My priest friend was actually overcome and overwhelmed with so much love.  It was a delightful sight.
Still although it was a fabulous day, it was obviously to me that this parish have put in a lot of hard work at so many levels to make their parish what it is. Something like I experienced does not happen if it is not already there.

Anyway last night and today, I went to his Masses to experience his parish yet again.  At the family Mass, I have never seen so many young children.  This was not any school Mass or special Mass- no, just an ordinary Sunday Mass- but nothing ordinary about it.  For me, I am on holidays- so no responsibility of playing the organ or singing or playing and singing these last 2 weekends.  It was interesting to hear a different repertoire of hymns and part of the Mass.  I am lapping up the nurture for my soul as well- so important to regroup and soak up something for myself.  It is not only a holiday but turning out to be a retreat for my soul.

So I have shared something of my experience here.  I would love to share so much more. 
However I want to say how important it is to make parishioners welcome- something sometimes we can overlook, how vital it is to be connected as a parish and to work together as a community. all it takes is a smile, a nod, a hello to start with to the person in the seat next to you or in front.  That nod can be everything for someone feeling down, out of it, confused, worried or a visitor. I found it was taking the risk too- stepping out of my usual comfort zone and saying hello.  I asked myself whilst I am here how I would feel if I walked into my parish for the first time? Would I feel the same belonging as I have had the privilege to experience here in this lovely parish?  Daunting question but a necessary one, I think, to consider what we, as a parish could embrace in a tangible and centred manner.

It is vital it seems to me that if the parish priest/ pastoral council have a vision to try your best to embrace it and to support him as much as possible in the way that you can.  What ever you can to build up your own faith and the faith of others by your presence and support of your parish, the more we reflect Christ and his church in a beautiful way.

I do support my own parish in many ways but this holiday has given me time to appreciate, reflect, reenergise myself so that when I go back, I can commit once again with an enthusiastic and energetic heart. In the light of today's Gospel, sowing the seed in whatever way I can is important. God asks of us to sow in whatever proportion we can.- if we are capable of 100 fold, then we must do that, but if 60 fold or 30 fold is in reach of our capacity, then we must do all we can to reach our true potential in sowing the seed. I ask myself what is my true capacity and in the light of the seed types, what do I need to do to encourage growth in myself, in others and in my parish.

Perhaps this post might help you reflect on your commitment to your parish.  Perhaps too, it fits in with today's Gospel of sower and the seed.  I always like to ask myself when I hear this Gospel as to which seed am I right now.  Obviously we can be all seeds but at different times in my life,   I resonate with a particular seed type. It is always useful for me since it is like a photo or snapshot of my soul- perhaps it is like a selfie.!!!

So why not this weekend as you listen to today's Gospel take a selfie of your soul.  Ask yourself which seed are you right now?  Which seed do you want to be and what will you do this coming week to move towards becoming that seed?  What seed/s could you sow for your parish?

                                               May your soul selfie be an opportunity for change and growth in you.

Fourteenth Sunday of Year A

The Collect for the 14th Sunday of Year A reads as follows:

O God, who in the abasement of Your Son,

have raised up the fallen world,

fill your faithful with holy joy,

for on those you have rescued from slavery to sin

you bestowed eternal gladness.

 

In making this Collect tangible, the following reflective questions emerged.

 

1. What does it mean for me that Christ has raised a fallen world?

 

2.  What is the slavery and sin in my life?

 

3. What does it mean for me to  have eternal gladness.

 

4. How can I have eternal gladness every day?

 

 

 





Thirteenth Sunday of Year A Collect

The Collect of the 13th Sunday of Year A reads as follows:

O God, through the grace of adoption

chose us to be children of the light

grant, we pray,

that we may not be wrapped in the darkness of error

but always seen to be standing in the bright light of truth.

 

 

In making this prayer tangible for during the week the following reflection questions emerged

 

 

1. What does it mean to me to be a child of God through adoption?

2. How do I choose to be a child of the light in my life/ this coming week?

3. What are the hindrances in my life that impede my choice to a child of the light?

4. What does darkness of error mean for me?

5.  What does the bright light of truth mean to me?

6.  How do I show the bright light of truth in my life/this coming week?

 

What is it like to be in the presence of a holy man/woman?  We may struggle to put words to the experience and yet, we know we have experienced something that has uplifted our soul- perhaps you feel a physical reaction like your heart beating faster or perhaps you feel a warm glow or perhaps you don't have a physical reaction at all but you feel centred and at peace.

Whatever way it occurs, recognizing the presence of a holy man/woman is important as it can inspire us to review our life and to encourage us to do better in our quest for holiness.

 

In the Gospel Jesus tells us that we have to accept our cross since if we don't, we are not worthy of Him.  We are not greater than the Master. Jesus suffered and died on the cross for our sake. He gave His life for me and for you.- for the whole world.  We need to remind ourselves that He gave His life for me - it makes it personal. Feel the impact of the statement: Jesus died for me.

Now are you ready to accept your cross too to be worthy of Jesus?

 

However we do not suffer alone nor carry our cross alone.  Jesus is carrying most of the burden. We have to do our share. However the cross Jesus gives us is something we can bear because it is designed just for us taking into account our personality, our strengths/weaknesses  and temperament. Jesus takes this all into account and gives us something that we, with His help, can carry. I sometimes lose sight of this when the burden seems too much. I think I have to carry it alone and then the cross gets very heavy. Remember during the Passion, Jesus fell 3 times carrying the cross. He took it up again and kept going.

 

Are you prepared to stand in the light of truth this coming week?  Some people find it hard to stand out from the crowd and do not stand up in the light of truth when required.  It takes practice and perseverance and courage. However the Holy Spirit gives us the graces we need to step up. 

As Catholics even more than ever, we need to stand up for what we believe, to explain it to others in a way that is accessible, without watering down the real message of Jesus.  Sometimes we can feel bombarded or perhaps we feel we don't have the words.  Every day, every action, every word and thought can be an opportunity to witness and to stand in the light of truth. 

 

Make the choice and walk with Jesus this coming week.