RE News
SCRIPTURE REFLECTION
Matthew 3:1-12
John the Baptist begins to preach in the desert
The Gospel
When John the Baptist performed baptism it was for the forgiveness of sin. The baptism he gave was a mark of the desire to enter into a new life of right action. It was not a baptism of initiation into community that is the case today. John had two key words that he is recorded as preaching: repent and prepare. His call for repentance was a call to turn away from sin; a call to have a change of heart; a call to turn one’s life around and make a fresh start. His call for preparation is in the long line of prophets that includes the great prophet Isaiah from whom we take today’s first reading. All of the prophets urged the people towards hope in the future. Isaiah and others spoke specifically of a person – a Messiah – who would bring that hope to reality. But the tradition demanded a readiness for the Messiah and that was the call to preparation that John the Baptist echoed at the beginning of the public life of Jesus.
John’s taunting of the Pharisees and Sadducees is an indication of this need for preparation and readiness.
He accuses them of being too confident of their own rightness. He demands proof from them of their honest repentance: ‘but if you are repentant, produce the appropriate fruit’. Rather, he suspects that they think that salvation is assured for them by virtue of being a Jew; a son of Abraham. He warns them that an axe hangs poised to cut down any part of the Jewish tradition that is failing to produce good fruit. This is a theme that is picked up later by Jesus himself; you can’t be complacent about your own position, you have to welcome the new truth revealed by Jesus and give yourself wholeheartedly to God.
Living the Gospel – Prepare Ye!
John the Baptist’s call to ‘Prepare the way of the Lord’ is a summary of the purpose of the season of Advent. Every year, as we celebrate the Nativity, we celebrate once again the presence of God in our world. God became incarnate in the world through Jesus but also always was and continues to be incarnate in the world through each person. If we are to accept this reality and live it out, we need to remind ourselves this Advent to prepare the way for the Lord to be present in and through us every day of our lives.
By Greg Sunter
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Please be aware that if you wish for your child to receive the next year, they will need to enrol in the Parish Sacramental Program. While the school provides learning about our faith and the Sacraments, children must be formally enrolled and attend the program through St John Vianney’s Parish in order to receive the Sacrament.
Enrolments for the Reconciliation Program will close on 12th December 2025. After this date, enrolments cannot be accepted.
Families who do not enrol by the closing date will need to have their child complete the Sacrament the following year or through a program offered by another parish.
Other key dates include:
Rite of Acceptance: Saturday 7th February at 6.00pm, or Sunday 8th February at 8.30am, 10.00am, or 5.30pm Masses
Workshop: Saturday 14th March at 11.00am
Sacrament of First Reconciliation: Saturday 21st March at 11.00am
If you wish to enrol, please contact the Parish Office on (03) 9546 3831.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to the Parish or the school.