RE NEWS

Faith Reflection

The parable of the fig tree (Luke 13:1-9) 

When Jesus is asked about the deaths of some Galileans and some residents of Jerusalem, he seizes the opportunity to remind his audience that their obsession with the ‘sin’ of the victims is misplaced. He challenges all who are listening that unless they repent, they will all perish in a similar fashion. This would have been very confronting to those in the audience who were ingrained in the thinking that ‘bad things only happen to bad people’. The purity codes of the day stated that if one maintained purity of action – obeying the Law and respecting the prohibitions on certain actions – then one was fulfilling one’s duty and maintaining right relationship with God. Jesus chastises the people for this attitude and tells them that they all must ‘repent’. For 1st Century Jews, the word ‘repent’ had a greater depth of meaning than our current understanding. Rather than simply ‘being sorry’, to repent meant to completely turn life around – both individually and as a society. His injunction to repent would be seen as a challenge to question motives and actions and set a new direction.

To follow this up, Jesus tells his audience a parable about a fig tree that has not borne fruit after three years. There are many interpretations of this parable and it is often interpreted in isolation from the gospel passage that immediately precedes it. Given the challenge to ‘repent’ that is given so strongly, we can see the parable as an example to the listeners that their time for repenting is running out. The one year reprieve for the fig tree is an indication to the listeners that their change of heart and change of spirit had better take shape in the very near future.

by Greg Sunter

Holy Week 

Later this term, we will be celebrating Holy Week, the pinnacle of the Catholic calendar, as we commemorate the passion and death of Jesus Christ.

At school, each class will engage in meaningful reflections and responses:

• The Foundation and Year 1/2 students will share their reflections at school assemblies, focusing on Palm Sunday and Easter.
• The Year 3/4 students will create a mural, which will be displayed for the community. We encourage families to visit and take time to reflect on their work.
• Finally, our Year 5/6 students will lead the Stations of the Cross, reenacting the Passion of Jesus through the stations.

We warmly invite all families to join us for this special Stations of the Cross service on Wednesday, April 2nd, at 2:15 PM in the Performing Arts Area.

We look forward to coming together as a school community to journey through Holy Week in prayer and reflection.

Class Masses 

Class Masses play a key role in the school culture, providing a regular opportunity for our school community to come together in celebration. Each Mass is led by a different class, with every student having an important role to play. Parents are warmly invited to contribute by bringing a dish to share at a morning tea with families and students from the class. Please see below for the roster of Class Masses from next term onwards. Please note that, due to unforeseen circumstances, dates may occasionally change.

NB: Please note the change of date for the 5/6 N Class Mass