14th Sunday Ordinary Time
SUNDAY REFLECTION
The role of a prophet is not a very comfortable one and yet that is what are called grow into as a result of our baptism. How do we grow into this? First we need models. Pope Francis is performing a prophetic role for he is reminding us that to follow Christ we need to be visible among the marginalised. He is also reforming the Vatican by getting the Curia to clean up its act. There are people performing prophetic roles in our community by taking initiatives that come from their commitment to the Gospel. This is a response to the Holy Spirit. The dynamic of the Spirit is always to go forward. We read at Mass during the week of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, cities in the Bible that have become synonymous with evil. It was Lot’s wife who looked back and turned into a pillar of salt. Negativity turns us into pillars of salt and that is not what we want to be.
Our Gospel relates the story of Jesus visiting his hometown of Nazareth. But his own townspeople do not accept him for they know him as the son of Mary and Joseph and the member of what is a large family, so they reject his teaching. He couldn’t do anything there for their lack of faith apart from healing a few sick. It is another demonstration of how our image of God governs our lives. His own people had a boxed image of him and would not accept that he had anything to offer them. We too can fall into the same trap with having a boxed image of Christ. I often recall a saying of Meister Eckhart, “I prayed to God to let me go of God.” In other words it was a prayer to go beyond the image in order to come to know God as God truly is. That is the challenge. As we grow in self-knowledge so our understanding of God grows. If our understanding of God does not grow then our faith remains infantile.
St Paul is a good model for us. Today’s reading follows on from a vision he had of the unspeakable joy that awaits us. But to prevent him from becoming too proud he was given a “thorn in the flesh.” What this so-called thorn is we do not know and it is not important. It kept him humble and was a constant reminder that he still had work to do both on himself and in witnessing to Christ. It shows a very human Paul and serves as an encouragement to us that however much we fall short of witnessing to the Gospel, we should never allow ourselves to be so discouraged as to give up. As he says at the end of the reading: “When I am weak, then I am strong.” Despite his failures he can still be an instrument of the Lord’s work.
Peter Murphy
Birthday morning tea in the Ryder Rm for Fr Maliu after 8.30am Mass today, please bring a plate.
Master-plan for Development of Church Buildings and Site
– Next Sunday 12 July 1-2.30pm in the hall, for all parishioners.
Parish Feast Day –– The Assumption of our Lady – 16 August, all are invited to wear their national costume, we will pray in many languages. School Ministry Mass 10.30am, shared lunch follows in the hall.
Parish Retreat – Saturday 17 October at La Valla, Tuakau.
Speaker: Dr Tony Molloy. See Fr Peter for information
Parish Family Pilgrimage – January 2016 – welcome “young and old”
Mercy Spirituality Centre, 104 The Drive, ph 09 638 6238 orinfo@mercyspiritualitycentre.org.nz
Friday 10 July, 7-9pm, Fr Merv Duffy is speaking on Bishop Pompallier and his preaching to the Maori. Great preparation for the Paris Family Pilgrimage Jan 2016!, See noticeboard for details, to car-pool and make a block booking contact: Margaret 09 2697515 or mjfairweather@gmail.com
Men’s Retreat – Discovering the Divine Within 27 – 28 June 2015 (Sat 10am – Sun 2pm) St Francis Retreat Centre, Mt Roskill. $155pp (All incl.) Led by Br. David Leary, ofm (PhD in Counselling & Health Psychology) Book/info. 09-625 6651 or director@stfrancisretreatcentre.org.nz.
Dove Catholic Fellowship for Women invites you to our next meeting. Come along, bring a friend. Tue 30 June, 7.30pm at St Anne’s Parish Hall, 126 Russell Rd, Manurewa. Speaker: Annette Woodnut – on Patience. Info: Grace on 577 3479 or website, www.dove.org.nz
Dove Retreat ‘Love Outpouring’ – in Auckland Friday 31 July to Sunday 2 August, come and join us in a weekend filled with the Holy Spirit that includes inspirational presentations by our two keynote speakers, Brendan Woodnutt and Ann Brereton. In addition be challenged and uplifted by attending one or more smaller workshops presented by the speakers, see noticeboard today or visit the website for more.
MIT Maori and Pasifika Trades Training Scholarships – recruiting for Semester 2 – Free tuition fees for up to 1 year, specialised Support to ensure you are work-ready upon completion of your course to go straight into a trades apprenticeship or trades job. “Navigator” industry-focused support right throughout your course and into employment plus 6 months, to support your transition into sustainable employment, see Fr Peter or Fr Maliu.
Inner Healing Seminar – Come and experience the healing power of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Saturday 11 July , 9am – 5pm. Contact Betsy 09 8263937 for venue/ info. No registration required.
BYO – Bible, notebook / pencil & Lunch.”
July: St. Columba Centre, 40 Vermont St, Ponsonby
Fr. Brendan Ward, Rector of Holy Cross Seminary, will be speaking on “Discernment and surrender: Matching our plans with God’s” Fr. Brendan will be speaking about his personal journey from lay person to priesthood, in particular his personal challenges before finally accepting God’s mission for his life.
Tuesday 21 July, 6 – 7.15pm. A free event, register at Akld.CCN.Express@gmail.com
WYD Auckland Experience – 11 and 12 July. 1000 young people registered for this event will focus on issues of today and call young people to be advocates for those in need. On Sunday from 4pm Phil Glendenning from Edmund Rice Network will be sharing a framework for advocacy that we can all use. Young and young at heart are all welcome. Go to http://www.akyouth.org.nz/auckland-wyd-experience/for programme and registration details. Call/text Teresa on 021649012 for more info.
Walk by Faith aims to help people deepen their understanding of their faith journey and their relationship with God. Open to people from every walk of life. Information evening: Monday 20 July, Pompallier Diocesan Centre, New St. from 7.30 – 8.30 pm. Walk By Faith begins with the first Seminar on Sunday 2 August, 10 – 4pm – Pompallier Diocesan Centre, 30 New St, Ponsonby, Auckland. Info: Dianna Fouhy: ph 9)3603010; diannaf@cda.org.nz “Did not our hearts burn within us when He spoke with us on the road?” (Luke 24:32).
ALONE AGAIN? Widowed, Separated or Divorced? The Beginning Experiencea well established programme with the motto “Weekend Away for a Lifetime of Change”. Designed to help people work through their painful loss. Participants find new hope, increased emotional health and renewed energy.
11-13 Sept, Contacts: Bev (09)298-9943, or David 027-440-2105 visitwww.beginningexperience.org.nz