Divine Mercy Sunday—3rd April 2016 Thomas is often judged quite harshly for being a doubter and “wanting proof”. But maybe such demands reflect his understanding of the gravity and implications of the resurrected Jesus. Thomas seems a very headstrong person. We first meet him in John 11:16: While the others recoil in fear of going to visit Lazarus in Bethany, Thomas proposes that they go and die with Jesus. He was willing to take on the implications of that trip. Similarly, he knew that if what the other disciples were saying was true, his life, and theirs, could never be the same again. No wonder he wanted something concrete. Jesus does not reprimand Thomas for his demands. Instead, he grants Thomas’s request, and Thomas responds with the most absolute statement of Jesus’ divinity in all of scripture: “My Lord and my God.” It seems to me that great faith and great doubt go hand in hand. In the same way that courage is expressed in times of fear, doubt accompanies faith. Fear is not the opposite of courage, cowardice is. Doubt is not the opposite of faith, unbelief is. So I think in this passage in the Gospel, John’s main purpose is not primarily to show the importance of believing without the privilege of seeing, but to show that doubt itself is the necessary prerequisite to faith. So, if not to cast aspersions on Thomas’s request, how should we consider Jesus’ statement “Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe”? I think this is the beginning of the transfer from direct witness of Jesus to the witness of the church. It will be the wounds of the church which will transmit the faith – the blood of the martyrs bearing witness to the crucified and risen Christ. The resurrection is God’s “yes” to everything that Jesus represented after the world had reject- ed him. Without the resurrection, the life of Jesus would have been forgotten. There would be no band of witnesses willing to die for the truth that they had seen. And without people like Thomas and those witnesses, we would not be celebrating Easter in Coorparoo in 2016. Paul Asnicar, Parishioner OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL PARISH in the care of the Carmelites since 1937 www.mtcarmelcoorparoo.org.au PRIOR OF CARMELITE COMMUNITY Matthew McPhee O.Carm PARISH PRIEST Paul Sireh O.Carm ASSOCIATE PASTORS Jerome Watt O.Carm Martinho Da Costa O.Carm PARISH SECRETARY Donna Moloney PARISH FINANCE Jenette Free PARISH OFFICE 312 Cavendish Rd [entry via Norfolk St] Coorparoo 4151 Phone: 3397 1587 Email: mtcarmel@bne. catholic.net.au OFFICE HOURS: 8.30am - 4.00pm Mondays – Fridays
Transcript
Divine Mercy Sunday—3rd April 2016
Thomas is often judged quite harshly for being a doubter and
“wanting proof”. But maybe such demands reflect his understanding
of the gravity and implications of the resurrected Jesus. Thomas
seems a very headstrong person. We first meet him in John 11:16:
While the others recoil in fear of going to visit Lazarus in Bethany,
Thomas proposes that they go and die with Jesus. He was willing to
take on the implications of that trip. Similarly, he knew that if what
the other disciples were saying was true, his life, and theirs, could
never be the same again. No wonder he wanted something
concrete.
Jesus does not reprimand Thomas for his demands. Instead, he
grants Thomas’s request, and Thomas responds with the most
absolute statement of Jesus’ divinity in all of scripture: “My Lord and
my God.”
It seems to me that great faith and great doubt go hand in hand. In
the same way that courage is expressed in times of fear, doubt
accompanies faith. Fear is not the opposite of courage, cowardice is.
Doubt is not the opposite of faith, unbelief is. So I think in this
passage in the Gospel, John’s main purpose is not primarily to show
the importance of believing without the privilege of seeing, but to
show that doubt itself is the necessary prerequisite to faith.
So, if not to cast aspersions on Thomas’s request, how should we
consider Jesus’ statement “Happy are those who have not seen and
yet believe”?
I think this is the beginning of the transfer from direct witness of
Jesus to the witness of the church. It will be the wounds of the
church which will transmit the faith – the blood of the martyrs bearing
witness to the crucified and risen Christ. The resurrection is God’s
“yes” to everything that Jesus represented after the world had reject-
ed him. Without the resurrection, the life of Jesus would have been
forgotten. There would be no band of witnesses willing to die for the
truth that they had seen.
And without people like Thomas and those witnesses, we would not
Weekdays: Monday to Saturday 9am The first Wednesday of each month, a Mass of Anointing is held at 10am. This replaces the 9am Mass.
Reconciliation: Saturdays 9.30am – 10am
Rosary: Mondays –
after 9am Mass
Next Sunday’s Readings:
Year C: 3rd Sunday of Easter
Acts: 5:27-32, 40-41; Apoc 5:11-14
Gospel: Jn 21:1-19
Every three years
The Carmelites in Aus-
tralia and Timor Leste
have their
Provincial Chapter.
This year it is being
hosted in Queensland at St Teresa’s
Centre at Ormiston from
Monday 25th to 29th April.
It is a very significant time for the
Province to discern their lives and
elect their new Prior Provincial and the
Council.
We ask for your prayers through April
for the success of this Chapter.
Wed 6th - Mass of Anointing at 10 am followed by morning tea - note there will be no 9am Mass on this day. Sun 10th - Baptism’s at 10am Mon 18th - Friends of Zumalai meeting at 7:30pm in the community room. Wed 20th - Finance Council Meeting at 7:30pm in the CCR Thur 21st - Senior’s Morning Tea at 9:30am CCR Sun 24th - Baptism’s at 10am Sun 24th - Baptism Preparation Session 10am in CCR Sun 24th - Fr’s Antonio & Roque from East Timor in parish for weekend. Mon 25th - ANZAC Day - Carmel Cellars/East Timor Function at 4pm Provincial Carmelite Chapter commences at Ormiston for the week Tues 26th - Parent Information Session in the Church for the Sacrament of Confirmation from 7pm to 8pm.
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Thank you to those who participated in our Easter
ceremonies, particularly the Liturgy team, the choir,
readers, RCIA team and all who volunteered, making
Easter a very blessed and joyful occasion here at
Mt Carmel.
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On the table at the back of the church are free copies of the magazine ‘Australian Catholics’. Please remember to grab a copy to take home.
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TWO-MINUTE HOMILIES Priests from around the Archdiocese are preparing “Two Minute Homilies”
and uploading them on social media platforms on a weekly basis now.
To view or listen to a podcast please visit http://brisbanecatholic.org.au/
multimedia/two-minute-homilies/ at your leisure.
They are also accessible by ‘liking’ the Archbishop’s Facebook page or the
Archdiocesan Facebook page.
Next Week’s Rosters - 9/10th April
Ministers of the Word
6pm : Brian & Erica Kennedy
8.30am: Marita Fox, Joe Tracey
5.30pm: Debra Austin, Cathie Johansen
(Facilitator: Debra Austin)
Ministers of Communion
6pm : R Heath, M Heath, B Kennedy,
E Kennedy, M Martin, M Sayer,
M Sayer
8.30am: I McCarthy, P Mitchell,
M Nicol, M Pascoe, M Pigram,
S Robinson, C Sheehy
5.30pm: S Hale, R Kelly, R Kreger,
A Mahoney, M O’Leary Chay, L Oliver, B Sullivan
Communion to the Sick
M Martin, E Martin, C Main-Down
Children’s Liturgy of the Word
NO CLOW (school holidays)
Reflection
Tricia Ryan
We remember those in God’s care…
Recently Deceased:
Bp Alphonse Chaupa, John Hassell, Mary Quinn, Margaret Shaw, Kathleen Greene and for all who have died recently.
Eternal Rest grant unto them O Lord, may they Rest in God’s Peace.
Anniversaries and Memorials:
Fr Bernard Shah, O.Carm, Fr Michael Camilleri, Ocarm, John Roelofs, Michael Wallis
We pray for our sick…. Kate Parry, Paula O’Sullivan, Lanie McPhee, John Eide, Ille Uscinski and any of our unwell parishioners at this time.
To have someone included in the Newsletter, please phone or email the Parish office Names for the sick will be removed after two months, unless notified for them to continue.
Deanery Trivia Night
On Saturday 7th May at 7pm
At St Thomas’ Parish Camp Hill
Get together your own table (max. 10) or we
can place you at a table.
The Trivia Night is held once a year and is always a lot of fun.
Forms available at the back of the church
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Cherish Life Queensland are holding a
High Tea on Tuesday 19th April, 10:15am
WHERE: Bundaleer Rainforest Gardens, Brookfield Book and pay here.
