18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 Today has a hard saying: "...vanity of vanities! All is vanity." (Eccl 1: 2) Does that land with me? How much of what my life is about things that are temporary? Jesus tells us: "For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life?"(Mk 8: 36-37) How much of what today's culture is about saving myself? Can "values" save me? What can I do that will overcome the inevitability of judgment and death?: "For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." (2 Cor 5: 10) Today's readings are a "wake up call" to remind us that our live are not defined by those things, visible and tangible, that obsess wider society. No, rather we look to the reality created by Christ in his resurrection: "But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness will be at home." (2 Pet 3: 13) When we gather for Mass we are not focused on the immediate and the tangible. We look to the world that is to come: "So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but what cannot be seen, for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal." (2 Cor 4: 16-18)

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 In our recent pastoral day for clergy and laity in Palmerston North the focus was on the Holy Spirit. There are three keys to the Divine Renovation project for parish renewal: priority of evangelization, leadership and the Holy Spirit. Hence, this was the third key. Our synodal meetings looking at the future for the Catholic Parish of Hastings are designed for us to listen to one another and to have ourselves listened to. The other major component of this, however, is that we listen to the Holy Spirit. The vision we aspire to as a "God sized vision for CPH," can only come about if we are docile to the movement of the Holy Spirit. That is why we pray in silence for ten minutes before we begin talking in small groups. We can only be attentive to the Holy Spirit when we come to silence and open our hearts to that which the Holy Spirit wants to communicate to us in the depths of our being. To do this we need to trust in a loving and generous God who desires our happiness and is the best of fathers: "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Lk 11: 13)

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 The question that occurs to me with this gospel is - what prevented Martha from asking her sister Mary directly for help?  Furthermore, what was the history of the relationship between the sisters and indeed also with Lazarus their brother? Where was Lazarus in this moment and, if he was present, why would Martha not speak to him first? My opinion is that Martha was looking to vindicate herself, just as we heard about with the lawyer last Sunday, in the presence of Jesus. On occasions I have had people in the sacrament of reconciliation who were intent on naming the sins of everyone else rather than addressing their own failings! There is no doubt that Martha is someone who wanted to please the Lord and was doing a good thing in providing hospitality for him. The response of Jesus indicates however that actions pleasing to God flow from first of all listening to his Word. This is the better part because the words of God are "spirit and life." (Jn 6: 63) If I am stuck in my grievance and/or self-righteousness I may be unwittingly acting as an obstacle to God's Word. Not that I can frustrate it since: "... it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it" (Is 55: 11), but I will frustrate myself, as Martha did.

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 I never cease to marvel that the Jesus who speaks to the lawyer in the gospel is also the one of whom it is written in the Letter to the Colossians: "Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation..."(Col 1: 15) This must be because the man who died on the cross also rose again and the early Christians were convinced of this and it changed their whole understanding of life, the Universe and everything. So, what Jesus says in his parable about the Good Samaritan is not just anyone's opinion or take on the human condition. I cannot say: "Jesus told us to love your neighbour as yourself but I think otherwise." It is God speaking His Word to us and we are the ones who are privileged to hear it. Not only that, but also to receive the Word made flesh in Holy Communion. This is why we process the Book of the Gospels at Sunday Mass. This is why we stand for the Gospel. This is why we gather Sunday after Sunday, week in week out, in heat and cold, holidays and work time. Our job as missionary disciples is not only to listen to Jesus but also take his message to others since: "For in Christ all the fullness of God was please to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross." (Col 1: 19-20)