Holy Week: The Holiest Week of the Year

Christ, the Son of God 

was willing to obey the will of His Father

 to die and rise 

so that the whole human race could be saved. 

Christ died and rose for ME.  

Let us enter into this holiest of weeks in the Church's Year
and accompany Christ on His journey to His death 
and Resurrection.

Ash Wednesday: Ashes and Sackcloths.

ASHES: Do you know what Ash Wednesday is?

I wonder what young children would think Ash Wednesday is?  Perhaps they would answer (a) Ash Wednesday fires of 1983 in South Australia and (b) Test Cricket series between England and Australia or perhaps they would not be able to answer at all.

The ashes are made from the blessed palms used in the Palm Sunday celebration of the previous year. The ashes are christened with Holy Water and are scented by exposure to incense.  It is not only the Church being 'green and environmentally friendly', but it links us to our past Lenten Season and reminds us of the ongoing pilgrim journey of repentance. 

On Ash Wednesday, the priest or extraordinary minsters of the Eucharist distribute the ashes on our foreheads saying ' Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return' or Repent and believe the Good News'. At Baptism we are sealed on our foreheads. The ashes sign of the cross connects us again to our Baptism, and the words remind us to that we are a pilgrim people- our homeland is with God in Heaven and that the Church provides us with the opportunity during Lenten season to review our lives and turn again to God with prayer, fasting and alms giving.

This simple ceremony to mark the beginning of Lent occurs in every Catholic Church throughout the world including St Peter's Basilica where the Pope both distributes and receives the ashes. As we receive the ashes, we are unity with the whole Catholic Church throughout the world. Everyone is following this same Lenten journey of repentance 'from the greatest to the least' as scripture tells us.

SACKCLOTHS:

Sackcloth was originally a coarse hessian style of cloth used to make sacks or a coarse cloth resembling sacking. Sackcloth is mentioned in scripture at least 60 times in both Old and New Testament   It was a physical and visual reminder to all the community of an interior disposition of of mourning.repentance and remorse.

A few Lents ago, I decided to buy my own 'sackcloth' -something simple to wear in Lent.  The simple purple twinset purchased from an opportunity, shop which I wore mainly at home, was a physical reminder of my Lenten observances. I felt I was wearing my Lenten armoury to fight the temptation of the fridge and pantry, and wearing it was physical reminder of the Lenten season. 

This Lenten season has been hot so my simple twinset is inappropriate. However, going through the wardrobe, I found another purple top, suitable for this hot Australian weather in Lent. It is now become my summer sackcloth!!!

May your Ash Wednesday be blessed

Gospel of Mark Series: Feeding four thousand for the way ( 8:1-10)

GOSPEL OF MARK SERIES.

 

THE BIBLE: GOSPEL OF MARK SERIES

Welcome again to my Gospel of Mark Series. I have not written for this series since mid-September 2012, so as I start another year, I am determined to finish this series during 2013, not just to complete it, but hopefully gain a fuller understanding of Mark's Gospel.

During 2013, 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.  In today's post, we explore chapter 8: 1-10 which is called Feeding four thousand for the way.

FEEDING FOUR THOUSAND FOR THE WAY.

Mark's second version of the loaves and fish, like the first ( 6:30-44), concerns a huge crowd of people, mentions the huge quantity of food left over, and takes place in the desert.  Again the central Christian action of the Eucharist is implied by the use of the three key phases: took, gave thanks over, and broke the bread.

Both stories conclude with a journey across the lake.  The context in Mark also suggest that whilst the first meal was in Galilee by the lakeside, this second meal was in a neighbouring Gentile region, where people also need the food that the Messiah brings ( 7:27-28).

There are difference too.  Five thousand eat from five loaves and two fish, and twelves baskets are filled with food left over in the first story.  In the second story, four thousand people eat from seven loaves and a few fish, and seven baskets are filled with the food that remained.

In the first story the compassion of Jesus was underlined by his readiness to teach the people, but in this story his compassion is shown by his desire to given them food to eat.  This second meat in the desert draw out attention to the need of this food for people who journey with Jesus in mission.  The people have been with him for three days.  Without this food people will become faint-hearted along the way.

An allusion to the Eucharist is more pronounced, since there is no mention of the few fish until after the people have eaten the bread.   This highlights bread, part of the central symbol of the Eucharist from the earliest Christian times.

The seven large baskets, each of which could be large enough to hold a a person, suggest that here is something for all the Gentile world, since the number seven in the Bible usually suggest completeness and universality.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

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-?  
• Imagine that you are in the crowd when Jesus orders people to sit down knowing there are seven loaves.  What do you see and hear and feel?
  What can I learn from this?
• Imagine that you yourself are the one of the disciples. What do you feel and wonder about what Jesus can do with seven loaves?  
• How would you feel if I were one of the disciples and were asked by Jesus to share my food with others?
• Reflect on my relationship with Jesus and this teaching in the light of this gospel passage. What are my experiences of trusting God for my needs?
• What are some areas in my life that need feeding from God?  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 (8:1-10)?
• How has this passage spoken to you- what does it say to you personally?

Opening Prayer SeriesL Collect for the Feast of the Epiphany 2013

COLLECT SERIES

THE MASS: ICON OF COLLECT SERIES.

COLLECT

The Collect for the Feast of the Epiphany reads as follows:

O God, who on this day revealed Your Only Begotten Son to the nations

by the guidance of a star,

grant by Your mercy, that we, who love You already by faith, 

may be brought to behold the beauty of Your sublime glory. 

Though 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.

GOSPEL REFLECTION

 In Chapter 2 of St Matthew's Gospel, there are 4 stories interwoven into the chapter namely

1. The Visit of the Magi,

2. The flight into Egypt,

3. The Massacre of the Innocents and

4. The return from Egypt.

It should be noted that in today's Gospel we hear only the first part of the story- the visit of the Magi. However, since today is also the closing of the Christmas season, I have chosen to reflect on the whole  of chapter 2 to present the 4 interwoven stories to give a complete picture. After all the visit of the Magi are our last Christmas characters to emerge.

The Magi were probably wise men who studied astrology, but later tradition portrays them as kings, who because of their knowledge knew that the star that appeared for them was something they had to follow. Their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh symbolised Christ’s royalty, divinity and passion.

They listened to what Herod had to say to them, giving him respect, but were not drawn into his dishonest behaviour, since they seemingly seemed aware of his insincerity and fear.

REACTIONS OF HEROD AND THE MAGI 

It is interesting to note the reaction of Herod who was governed by power and who

• felt threatened at the possibility there may be another king (someone to threaten his job),
• played the game pretending he wanted to worship also (sought out information about the threat and how he might overcome the enemy).

The Magi however stayed focused on what they came to seek- they were guided by the star, which filled them with delight because it helped them find what they came to seek- Jesus, Mary and Joseph in the manger. They were able to do him homage and offer their gifts.

We then encounter the flight into Egypt. Joseph is not a procrastinator.  He does what the angel tells him without delay ' He got up and taking the child and his mother with him left that night for Egypt.' One senses the urgency and the worry and the fear of knowing that Herod wanted Jesus killed- not the type of start to being the foster father of Jesus that Joseph may have hoped for.  Yet, Joseph as we know was a man of faith and believed in God's providence towards him and Mary. His faith and obedience to God sustained him in this difficult journey.

The wise men and Joseph’s fear of Herod is justified as we read the next phase of chapter 2 where Herod has all male children up to the age of 2 killed since he was outwitted by the wise men. He took revenge because he did not get his own way and made as many people suffer because of it.

Then in the final section of this chapter is the story of Joseph returning with Mary and the baby from Egypt after Herod’s death back to the land of Israel.  However, as Herod’s son had succeeded Herod, Joseph was warned in a dream not to go there but settled in the region of Galilee- at Nazareth.

What can we learn for our lives from these 4 connecting stories in this chapter?

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS

This week as we reflect on chapter 2, we may wish to:

• Stay focused and to give the Christ child homage, by bending our knees and offering our gifts to Him. We need to place God first in our lives at all times
• Be guided by the light of the star of faith just as the wise men followed the signs given to them. God gives us signs to follow through the church and the sacraments.
• Be attentive to what God is telling us to do. We need to be pro-active and responsive as Joseph. Spend some time in reflection to hear what God is speaking to us.
• Have compassion for parents who suffer and grieve through loss of a baby/child either through miscarriage, abortion or tragedy. We may wish to learn more about the issue of abortion
• Be alert and listen to the stirrings of God within us, since He desires the best path for us.

May the Feast of the Epiphany give you some special blessing today and throughout this coming week.

New year resolutions

Happy New Year to my readers.

At this time of the year, many of us make new year resolutions, some of which may last the year or a few months or sometimes a few days.  It seems to me that regardless of how long or short the actual resolution lasts, it is a good thing to do because the person making it stops and reflects and revisits his/her behaviours/habits and life generally.

However what is often missed in our new year resolutions is a resolve to look at our spiritual lives.
New year is a great time to be grateful for the year that has passed and to examine what has worked for us and what has not.  We need to also look at our spiritual lives in the same way  so that we can progress in spiritual growth.

Some people work to a plan whilst others do not.  I prefer to work to a plan, even if the plan does not go accordingly.  We are human but we have a reference point to refer.

God is our reference point. God is our goal and heaven is where we hope to be heading one day.
However, we do not just arrive there. We need to get ready for the journey. As I write this from an airport lounge, the concept of the journey is on my mind.

My suggestion is that we take a look at our spiritual lives before 2012 closes and name one area of our live that we will commit to during 2013 to improve.  God does not expect us to be perfect yet, but we are to try out best out of love for God.

May you all have a safe and happy new year physically,mentally , emotionally and spiritually.

I have written a lot less towards the end of the this year for one reason and another. My new year resolution for my blog is write frequently again.  However as I said previously I am at the airport on the way to have a short holiday.  So I cannot promise any posts but will try to at an internet cafe. I will try my best.  However when I return I intend to keep my resolution.

thank you for your interest in my blog even when posts have been at times infrequentt.

I hope that I will provide interesting posts for you again in 2013 and you continue in your journey of loving God and being close to HIm by the way you live.

Happy New Year  to you all.

Christmas message 2012

CHRISTMAS

Hymns have tried to capture all its wonder;

Books of wisdom leave it unexplained,

Paintings have attempted to portray it,

But its meaning will forever be contained

In the words a mother whispered by a manger

A word she heard God's angel first proclaim

JESUS

all the shining glory of Christmas

is found within that holy, precious name.

May all my readers have a happy and a holy Christmas Day 

and throughout Christmastide.

What gift will you give to God this Christmas?

Let us have a talk about gifts. We all like to be given gifts.  We all like to give gifts to those we love.The gift we gives shows that we love the person to whom we give the gift.  We like to give gifts to family and frinds to thank them for all their goodness to us.  We want that gift to be the best we can find since it shows our love for them.

So what gift will you give Jesus for His birthday since it is His feast that we are celebrating. God our Heaven ly Father loves us very much.  He has given us many gifts.  If we want to show HIm that we Love Him we must have the best gift that we can find for Him.

What can we give to God?  How can we thank Him for all He has done for us this year and in previous years?

So whilst we are doing our last minute preparations for Christmas, let us remember to prepare a gift for God since 

Jesus IS the reason for the season of Christmas.