Religious Dimension
Our Gospel Challenge this week is to.....
"...say sorry if we make a mistake".
“There’s good news, and there’s bad news”. A whole body of jokes begins this way and we laugh ruefully because that statement is generally true. The news is hardly ever good or bad but rather a mixture of results better for some than for others. One football team beats another; is this good news or bad? In this week's Gospel, Mark 1:1-8, John the Baptist preaches repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Good news or bad? It’s great news for sinners who repent. It’s good news for people who yearn to be forgiven and know they have reason to be. It’s not so good for people who have no intention of leaving their sin behind. And it is positively bad news for the self-righteous, convinced of their innocence and resentful that sinful types are getting off the hook.
The message of John the Baptist is comfort with a catch. The catch is baptism, a drowning of the old way and a resurrection into new life. We can’t find comfort in religion - not this religion! - if we intend to remain just as we are. John’s baptism is with water, bracing and cold. How does the message of John comfort you? How does it challenge you? Give a little comfort this season. Listen to someone who has a story to tell. Include the lonely at your table. Remember the poor.
Advent is a time of new beginnings, and John the Baptist’s ‘voice in the wilderness’ is a personal invitation to each of us to prepare a way for the Lord into our lives now. What special preparation for Christmas will you undertake this year? How may this be different from what you have done in the past?
Confirmation
Congratulations to the students who celebrated the sacrament of Confirmation last week. The ceremony was an intimate celebration with each candidate being able to invite only four guests. Fr Dispin received special permission to confirm the students rather than a bishop attending. The candidates brought their candle from Baptism along on the evening and lit it from the Paschal Candle, just as their Godparents would have done for them at their Baptism. The sacrament of Confirmation as the name implies, confirms and strengthens the new life received at baptism. Confirmation focuses on the gift of the Holy Spirit, giving the candidates the opportunity to make a more mature commitment to be bold, apostle-like witnesses to the Gospel teachings.
Advent
Students are all learning about the church's season of Advent. Below is a wonderful clip to explain the meaning of Advent in two minutes. Students at St John's have been exploring the concept of "light" and how they can be the light of Christ in the world this Advent. Students wrote their actions on baubles that are displayed on the Christmas tree in our foyer.
St John's Parish
St John's Parish Church is open for weekend masses. Please book online or call the Parish office for more details. Remember that Father Dispin will still record Mass each week for parishioners unable to attend the parish. It will be on the Parish Website along with the weekly Parish newsletter.
https://stjohnsmitcham.com.au/
Monica O'Shannassy
moshannassy@sjmitcham.catholic.edu.au