Education in Faith
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C
In this week’s Gospel, having reminded the apostles and the crowd that facing the coming judgment takes patience, Jesus now goes on to speak of how difficult it will be to wait. He tells them that he has come to set the earth on fire.
In Chapter 3 of Luke's Gospel, John the Baptist tells the crowd that he is baptizing with water, but someone mightier is coming who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. The fire Jesus speaks of here is the distress caused by the coming judgment. It is also the fire of the Spirit that Luke, in the Acts of the Apostles, will describe descending on the disciples on Pentecost. That fire will strengthen them to go out to the whole world to preach the good news of Jesus' Resurrection.
Jesus will be the first to experience the distress of the coming judgment. His baptism will be the conflict into which he will be immersed as he approaches Jerusalem and his death on the cross. His followers will not be spared that distress. The angels at Jesus' birth proclaimed peace on earth, and Simeon, holding the baby Jesus in the Temple, said to God: “Master, now you may let your servant go in peace.” Here Jesus tells the crowd not to think he has come to bring peace; he has come to bring division. Simeon said as much when he turned to Mary and said that the child was destined for the rise and fall of many and to be a sign that will be contradicted. Peace is the ultimate end of the Kingdom of God, but peace has a price. Jesus is warning the crowd that wherever the Word of God is heard and acted upon, division occurs. Fathers will be divided against sons and mothers against daughters.
The coming judgment forces us to look at the implications of our commitments. As Jesus warned in last Sunday's Gospel, a commitment of faith requires us to change our attitude toward material possessions and to take even more seriously our moral responsibilities. Here he reminds the crowd that those who commit to him will find it affects the way they relate to friends and family members. The angel who announced the birth of John the Baptist to Zechariah said John would go before Jesus to turn the hearts of fathers toward their children. But a commitment to Jesus forces us to change the way we live our lives, and this can put strains on relationships.
We don't expect to hear such difficult words from Jesus in the Gospel. But it is good to be reminded once in a while that the decision to do the right thing, the good thing, is not always easy and without conflict. Jesus himself did not make easy decisions and avoid conflict. In today's reading, he reminds his followers to be prepared for difficult decisions and conflict as well
Sacramental News
Confirmation Reflection Day
On Friday, 5th August our Confirmation, children had the privilege to meet Bishop Tony.
The children presented themselves with reverence and respect. The candidates were able to discuss why they chose a particular Saint and the special Gift and Fruit their chosen Saint possessed to help them in their journey of Faith to become young adults in the community. Bishop Tony was very impressed with the way our children were prepared.
On Thursday, 11th August, our Grade 6 children received the final Sacrament of Initiation at St. Kevin’s Church. Our candidates were confirmed by Bishop Tony.
In preparation for their Confirmation children prepared banners of their chosen Saint.
You are welcome to visit St. Kevin’s Church to see these beautiful banners.
Thank you to Confirmation Candidates from SFS and St. Kevin’s Parish Groupwho participated in the Reflection Day at school on Friday, 5th August.
God Bless
Rozeta Ambrose
rambrose@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au
GRADE 5/6 SOCIAL JUSTICE TEAM
MINI VINNIES
COMMUNITY SPIRIT AWARD
Teachers have been busily giving House points to students who demonstrate community spirit which includes demonstrating our school values. The points given last week are:
TERESA – 161 MACKILLOP – 145 BOSCO – 122 PATRICK – 84
Congratulations to Teresa this week! What a great effort!!
The total points for the Community Spirit Award this year:
1st TERESA 1947
2nd MACKILLOP 1941
3rd BOSCO 1837
4th PATRICK 1765
Well done Teresa for taking the lead!!! But let’s see who will be leading next week!!!
Next Tuesday Mini Vinnies will once again collect the point sheets and add the points so that we can give students and staff an update through Morning Gathering on Wednesday and parents will be given an update via the newsletter.
Can’t wait to see who is leading next week after more House points have been distributed!!
BREAD BAGS
Mini Vinnies are also helping P&F by counting the bread bags brought in so far. These will be added to the points for our Community Spirit Award, as not only are we helping our environment by recycling but we are also helping to provide sports equipment for SFS. So keep bringing in your bread bags. We’ll provide an update once we have finished counting the bags.
Giuliana and SFS Mini Vinnies