Education in Faith

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C

Happy the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs!

In this week’s Gospel, from the crowd, a man called out to Jesus asking for help in a family matter. The man wanted his share of the family inheritance from his brother. Jesus first made it clear that he was not the man’s negotiator and refused to enter the quarrel. But Jesus did use the opportunity to teach the crowd that placing too much emphasis on the acquirement of material wealth would lead to greed and greed would lead to conflicts in families. 

Jesus continued by making the point that true security did not exist in a surplus of goods when he relayed a parable about a man who had a bumper crop. So huge was the harvest’s yield that the man decided to tear down his storage buildings and build new ones to hold all his grain. Once everything was stored, the man would have no worries and could spend his life without care. But God demanded the man’s life that night and we are left to wonder what good did all the abundance do the man?

Do not worry

This parable and teaching about the love of wealth is followed up by Jesus telling his disciples not to worry about what they will eat and what they will wear. He invites them to look to the birds of the air and flowers of the fields. God provides them with all that they need. Jesus tells his disciples to seek the kingdom, and all the other necessities of life will be given to them as well. Rather than focusing on accumulating wealth as the rich man in today’s parable, Jesus reassures his disciples that if they focus their lives on the kingdom they will have all that they need.

Have you thought? – Greed is good!

‘Greed is good! Greed is right! Greed works! … Greed – for life, for money, for love, knowledge – has marked the upward surge of mankind!’ Whilst the depiction was intended to parody and critique corporate behaviour of the 1980s, in many ways it came to define it instead. In the intervening decades, little has changed. The pursuit of more and more wealth and the ludicrous sums paid to corporate CEOs are exactly the imagery Jesus would use today for his parable.

Living the Gospel – This hoard of yours…

Our modern society is particularly dominated by a mindset of accumulating more than we might ever need. The saying ‘Whoever has the most toys, wins’ holds more than just a shred of truth for many people. Our consumerist lifestyle nurtures the desire to accumulate more and more ‘stuff’. Every time we turn on the television there is a new ‘must have’ gadget. We talk about built-in oldness of manufactured goods and every new technological device makes older models redundant so that we feel we constantly have to upgrade. How would we answer God’s question, ‘so this hoard of yours, whose will it be then?’

Make a list of all the “extra” things your family has. What things on this list bring your family security? Now imagine that a great disaster has been predicted for tomorrow and there’s a good chance you won’t be here the next day. 

Which of these things are now important? 

Is there anything you would alter on the list knowing that you only have a couple days left on this earth? 

When you have finished, ask each person what changes he/she might make in his/her life because of this exercise and then help or support one another in those changes.

Discussion Starters

In today’s gospel, what did the farmer grow?

What did he decide to build?

Why did he want to store everything up?

God told the farmer that he was foolish to try and store everything up because he was not going to live for ever.

Why does God warn the farmer against putting all his effort into storing up wealth and possessions?

How can we be ‘rich’ rather than ‘poor’ in the sight of God?

The riches I store up for heaven include . . .

I am especially greedy when it comes to . . .

The richest person I know in the sight of God is . . . because . . .

Thank you to Confirmation Candidates and their Families who participated in the Family Workshop on Wednesday. 

Please find below mass timings for Commitment Masses that children need to attend commencing from this weekend. Children will need to attend any ONE Mass, receive a Creed Scroll at church and bring it to school to share with their Home Group to celebrate their commitment before receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation.

• Saturday 30th JULY (5:00 pm or 7pm) at St. Kevin’s Church OR
• Sunday 31st JULY (9:00am or 11:00 am at St. Kevin’s Church OR
• Saturday 6h AUGUST (5:00 pm or 7pm) at St. Kevin’s Church OR
• Sunday 7th AUGUST (9:00 am or 11:00am) at St. Kevin’s Church

Sacramental News and Dates

Please note the following dates could change due to Covid -19 restrictions.

Sacrament Levy

There is a $15 Sacrament Levy to cover the cost for:

•  a guest speaker to conduct a Parent and Child Workshop for each Sacrament.
• professionally made stoles. 
• a candle for children receiving reconciliation.
• children receiving First Eucharist and Confirmation to travel to St. Kevin’s Church for Reconciliation, Eucharist practice, and reflection day by bus.

This levy needs to be paid in full to the school in an envelope clearly indicating your child’s name, Home Group and name of Sacrament being received before or on the day of your Family Workshop Session.

God Bless 

Rozeta Ambrose

rambrose@sfslynbrook.catholic.edu.au

GRADE 5/6 SOCIAL JUSTICE TEAM

MINI VINNIES

THE COMMUNITY SPIRIT AWARD

Teachers have been busily giving House points to students who demonstrate community spirit which includes demonstrating our school values. The points given last week are:

MACKILLOP – 107            TERESA – 103             PATRICK – 95                BOSCO – 75                        

Congratulations to MacKillop again this week! What a great effort!!

The total points for the Community Spirit Award so this year:

1st                    MACKILLOP             1695                           

2nd                   BOSCO                      1592   

3rd                   PATRICK                   1568   

4th                   TERESA                    1539   

Well done MacKillop again for taking the lead!!! But let’s see who will be leading next week!!!

Next Tuesday Mini Vinnies will once again collect the point sheets and add the points so that we can give students and staff an update through Morning Gathering on Wednesday and parents will be given an update via the newsletter.

Can’t wait to see who is leading next week after more House points have been distributed!!

Giuliana and SFS Mini Vinnies