Faith and Mission

Community Mass

Next Friday’s Community Mass will be prepared by Magis students. All families are welcome to attend Mass and to have coffee in the Circle of Friends Café after Mass.

Community Mass summary

• College Chapel
• Fridays in term time
• Starts: 8:00am and concludes 8:30am.

Good News for 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Mark 7:31-37

The reflection on Sunday’s Gospel, in the context of Season of Creation, is by Nick Brodie. Nick Brodie is an Australian historian and author of several books on Australian history and numerous essays on historical, political, and religious topics.

One of the most important messages in today’s Gospel is that right speech follows from clear hearing. When Jesus cures the man the signs of healing are that his ears open first, then his tongue starts working. As with everything Jesus said and did, this has wider implications for Christianity: a message needs to be heard before it can be proclaimed. 

Jesus’ vision of a listening Church is expressed many times in the Gospels and has endured throughout the centuries in diverse forms, from local synods to Ecumenical Councils. From long experience the Church learned that by listening to the signs of the times Christians could better proclaim Christ to each new generation.

In our own time, as Pope Francis puts it, the Church needs ‘to hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor’. Environmental and human degradation are everywhere, crying out for remedy. In this Season of Creation we might ask ourselves whether we are good listeners. Do we listen to the warnings of scientists about climatic change, to the stories of climate refugees, or do we block our ears in closed-minded self-interest and ignore Jesus’ command, ‘Ephphatha’ – be open. ©Nick Brodie