Faith & Mission
A Reflection
As I write this reflection we are entering Holy Week with its turbulent journey of highs and lows.
The Lenten mass readings remind us that this very human journey encompassing despair and death, hope and new life, cycles through century after century.
At one point, we hear the psalmist singing of the mercy of God. “With God there is forgiveness and fullness of redemption.” At another we read of God putting Abraham to the test by asking him to make sacrifice by killing, Isaac, his only son.
We read of Jesus raging with anger as he drives the merchants and money changers out of the temple area. Then we pray the beautiful Psalm 23. The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.
We re-enact the triumph of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Then we hear the gut wrenching despair of Jesus, as he cries out ‘Father, save me from this hour’.
We hear Jesus say that ‘unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat. But if it dies, It produces much fruit.’
We hear it. But do we really believe this? Can we let go of the comforts and certainties of our lives? Can we turn away from trying to measure our worth by the supposed standards of worldly success? Can we let go of our prejudices and engrained fears of those beyond our tribe?
Pope Francis constantly reminds us that, it is precisely at the margins, in the mess of human life, that Jesus is and wants us to be.
A friend of mine used to say “May the peace of Christ disturb you”.
Throughout history, right up to our current times, church and community leaders have claimed that they can discern limits to God’s mercy and power.
Ancient Phoenician religious leaders, whose influence on the people of Israel is easily identifiable in the Bible, taught that the gods wanted the sacrifice of children in order that their city states would be safe and secure.
In our times, we witness the Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill, claim that the ‘god’ of the historical Russian empire supports the sacrifice of Ukrainian children in a brutal and bloody war.
We have seen Hamas leaders claim that the ‘god’ of freedom condoned their sacrifice of Israeli children. Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet respond by sacrificing Palestinian children to the ‘god’ of national security.
In a recent episode of Compass on ABC television, Rami, an Israeli man whose daughter was killed by a suicide bomber and Bassam, a Palestinian man whose ten year old daughter was killed by an Israeli army patrol share a stage to speak of peace and reconciliation.
In an address to a combined Palestinian / Israeli audience, Bassam said “We are peace activists. We have the right to exist and we must exist together to share this holy land as one state, two states, five states. Otherwise we will share the same land as two big graves to our kids.”
The Easter message that speaks to me is a challenge to identify those occasions in which I fall into the trap of arrogantly thinking that the mercy of God is in any way limited to those whom I judge to be worthy. Those that I do not cancel.
Easter is a time for the peace of Christ to disturb us.
Catholic Education Week: St Patrick’s Day Mass
I was privileged to be able to join our Year 10 Student Leaders at the Catholic Education Week mass in Melbourne’s beautiful Cathedral. We joined students from across the whole Archdiocese who had travelled from as far as Geelong or the Dandenongs. It was very nice to enjoy a pleasant stroll with the students down through Fitzroy!
Petra Hrstic of Year 10 wrote:
“Some of the year 10 leaders represented The Academy of Mary Immaculate at the St Patrick's day mas for all catholic schools in Victoria at St Patrick's cathedral on Friday. They had a great experience and were happy to represent their school proudly. As they arrived at the cathedral, they were met with our Japanese exchange students who were on an excursion. Two of the students carried the College flag in the entrance procession representing our school with honour.
End of Term
As we reach the end of Term One, I extend my thanks to all in our College community who have worked hard for a productive term of teaching and learning.
A well deserved holiday break awaits. I wish all members of our College Community a happy and holy Easter break. May it renew all in mind and body and spirit.
Mr Mark Hyland
Director of Faith and Mission
