Religious Education

In today’s gospel, Jesus provides his disciples, and all Christians, with a model for prayer. In keeping with this modelling by Jesus, it is significant that the Lord’s Prayer, or Our Father, is the common prayer of all Christians, regardless of denomination.

Luke's version of the Lord's Prayer, which has only 38 words, is an example of how only a few sentences can impact not only individuals but the whole of humanity.

There are six themes running throughout this universal prayer: hospitality, compassion, prayer, forgiveness, the common life and care for the outsider. Themes that are pertinent to engendering a just and compassionate world for all.

Jesus teaches us that prayer is really all about relationship and presence so there is really only one answer to every prayer, God. Not that God answers our prayer but that God is the answer; God’s presence, his  life, love, beauty, generosity, compassion, forgiveness, wisdom, justice, mercy. Jesus tells us that God gives God’s self as the answer to our every prayer. We’re not telling God something that God does not already know. We are reminding ourselves of what already is, always has been, and always will be.

Perhaps the greatest difficulty of prayer is that sometimes we just want our prayers to be answered by action. We don’t want God, we want something from God. We want God to change our circumstances. Yet, while God can and sometimes does change circumstances, I believe that God, more often than not, changes us. God’s self-giving sustains, nourishes, strengthens, empowers, emboldens, and enables us to face the circumstances of life. We do so, sometimes with joy and gratitude, other times with pain and loss, but always with God. And on those days my prayer is… “Lord, teach me to pray.”

Bless all Grandparents and keep them in Your care. Bless them with peace, health and healing. Reward them for their Faith and fidelity, for their work and goodness, for their love and thoughtfulness, for their gifts and prayers. Give them a long and happy life together. May old age come to them in the company of family and friends. And when life is over, unite them again, where parting will be no more, in the Kingdom of Your love.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

 AMEN

DATES TO REMEMBER

Tues 26th July - Unfortunately the Prep /Year 1 Grandparents and Special Friends Day Mass has been cancelled. Hopefully another day will be organised later in the year!

Tues 26th July- Yr 6 Confirmation 5pm & 7pm

Wed 27th July- Yr 6 Confirmation 5pm & 7pm

Mon 8th August- Feast of St Mary of the Cross (Mary MacKillop) Special Lunch-Sushi Day!

Sat 13th/Sun14th August- Yr 5 Level Masses

Mon 15th August- Feast of the Assumption Mass for Year 4-6