Mission News

Prayers

• We pray for all those in our community who are unwell or suffering at this time.
• We pray for Michael Hefford who is unwell (Father of James Hefford Year 12) 
• We pray for staff member Yorker Williams who is unwell.            
• We pray with joy for teacher James Furminger and his wife who welcomed their first baby.

May our loving God, with Mary and Champagnat, walk with all members of the Marist family. Amen

Chaplain’s Corner

Reflection for Monday 1 August, the 18th week of Ordinary Time. In today’s first reading from the prophet Jeremiah we have an instance of a “prophet war.” Jeremiah spoke the truth but was unpopular. Hananiah spoke half-truths (he was the official or “house” prophet) which brought false hope to the people.

Hananiah’s words were “feel good” words. He told the king and court what they wanted to hear, that the problems with the Babylonians would be over soon, God would protect them so life can go on as normal.

Jeremiah, on the other hand, spoke of repentance and renewal as the way to a secure future in God’s grace. His was not a popular message because repentance never is. If Jeremiah had spoken of conversion of king and court, the people may have agreed. But he spoke about wholesale repentance in which the nation would have to change its ways. That made him profoundly unpopular.

Sometimes our analysis of the problems that face our nation or our time suggests that more laws, more regulation, a new administration or less law and less regulation will solve the problems. What so many popular diagnoses fail to require is sacrifice, repentance, a change of life by individual citizens. If a nation is to go back to fundamental, healthy values repentance is needed not only of the Prime Minister, Senate, courts or media but from all the people. That is a profoundly unpopular message. As the saying goes, “repentance is for you, for thee, for the guy behind the tree but never for me.”

We need to be careful about the “quick fix”, especially in the spiritual life. There is no express lane to the spiritual strength and vitality of a life lived in the power of the Holy Spirit. We need repentance, purposeful change and consistent effort. We should appreciate the people in our life who are like Jeremiah and challenge us. When we accept the Gospel challenge, we grow.

What we get easily, we lose easily. Spiritual strength and health don’t simply happen. They require work and grace.

Mary, our Good Mother, pray for us. 

St. Marcellin Champagnat, pray for us.

St. Mary of the Cross, pray for us.

And may we always remember to pray for one another.

Wednesday Morning Mass Schedule for Term 3