Faith UP! Your purpose is GREATER than all your PROBLEMS.” ― John Paul Warren John XXIII was pope during the turbulent 1960s when it seemed that everything was falling apart. The priesthood was in crisis, religious life was in crisis, marriage was in crisis, faith was in crisis, and the church was in crisis. The pope worked long and hard hours trying to address these problems. One evening, after an exhausting day in the office, he went to his private chapel to do his daily Holy Hour before retiring but he was too exhausted and too stressed out to focus or pray. After a few minutes of futile effort, he got up and said, “Lord, the church belongs to you. I am going to bed.” Difficulties might have driven the Pope to acknowledge that the church belongs to Christ. But Jesus himself said it 2000 years ago: You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). This passage is crucial for a proper understanding of what the church is, and our role in the church. For this is the most explicit statement that Jesus makes in the Gospels about the church. Firstly and foremost, Jesus calls the church “my church.” This tells us that Jesus is the owner of the church. Neither Peter nor the disciples owns the church. Pastors and church leaders who think and act as if they own the church are like farm workers who go about posing as if the farm belongs to them. All God’s people have been called together as co-workers in Christ's vineyard, though some work as foremen overseeing others. But we do not own the church. We belong to the church. The owner of the church is Christ. Secondly, the passage tells us that Jesus is the one who builds his church. He is the master builder who has the building plan in his hands. Human co-operators are like masons and carpenters employed by the master builder to help him with the building. Our role is to listen and follow his instructions, doing our own small part in the grand design of the master. Workers who stick to their own ideas of what the building should look like rather than follow the directives given by the master may find themselves working at cross purposes with the master. If Jesus is the owner and builder of the church, where then do we come in? We come in precisely where Peter comes in. Together with Peter we are the building blocks of the church. Peter is the foundation rock and we are the ppieces of stone with which the church is built: Like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:5). PARISH TEAM Parish Priest: Rev Vincent Savarimuthu Pastoral Associate : Sr Anna Conway Parish Secretary: Maria Hodgkinson JP Office Hours: Tues - Fri 9am - 4.00 pm Phone: 9654 2260 Fax: 9654 2261 e-mail: [email protected]Web Site: www.stmadeleine.org.au Address Parish House: 28 Annangrove Rd Kenthurst NSW 2156 St Mads Primary School Phone: 9654 6751 Principal: Jeanette Black Marian College Phone: 9654 6700 Principal: Lynn Bard St Vincent de Paul 1800 606 724 Playgroup –Tue 9.30am Children’s Liturgy 10am Mass during Term Parish Services Weekend Masses : Saturday EST 5.30pm (DST 6.00pm) Sunday 8:00 am 10:00 am Sunday EST 5.30pm (DST 6.00pm) Weekday Masses: Tuesday 9:15 am Wednesday 9:15 am Thursday 9:15 am Friday 12 noon First Friday of the month 8.25am at Marian College for the students Prayer Group: Wednesdays after the 9.15 am Mass Baptisms & Weddings: By appointment Reconciliation: Saturday 5.00pm 24 th August, 2014 21 st Sunday in Ordinary Time Is 22:19-23; Rom 11:33-36; Mt 16:13-20
Transcript
Faith UP! Your purpose is GREATER than all your PROBLEMS.” ― John Paul Warren
John XXIII was pope during the turbulent 1960s
when it seemed that everything was falling apart.
The priesthood was in crisis, religious life was in
crisis, marriage was in crisis, faith was in crisis,
and the church was in crisis. The pope worked
long and hard hours trying to address these
problems. One evening, after an exhausting day in
the office, he went to his private chapel to do his
daily Holy Hour before retiring but he was too
exhausted and too stressed out to focus or pray.
After a few minutes of futile effort, he got up and said, “Lord, the church belongs to
you. I am going to bed.” Difficulties might have driven the Pope to acknowledge that
the church belongs to Christ. But Jesus himself said it 2000 years ago: You are Peter,
and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevai l
against it (Matthew 16:18). This passage is crucial for a proper understanding of what
the church is, and our role in the church. For this is the most explicit statement that
Jesus makes in the Gospels about the church.
Firstly and foremost, Jesus calls the church “my church.” This tells us that Jesus is the
owner of the church. Neither Peter nor the disciples owns the church. Pastors and
church leaders who think and act as if they own the church are like farm workers who
go about posing as if the farm belongs to them. All God’s people have been called
together as co-workers in Christ's vineyard, though some work as foremen overseeing
others. But we do not own the church. We belong to the church. The owner of the
church is Christ.
Secondly, the passage tells us that Jesus is the one who builds his church. He is the
master builder who has the building plan in his hands. Human co-operators are like
masons and carpenters employed by the master builder to help him with the building.
Our role is to listen and follow his instructions, doing our own small part in the grand
design of the master. Workers who stick to their own
ideas of what the building should look like rather than
follow the directives given by the master may find
themselves working at cross purposes with the master.
If Jesus is the owner and builder of the church, where
then do we come in? We come in precisely where Peter
comes in. Together with Peter we are the building
blocks of the church. Peter is the foundation rock and
we are the ppieces of stone with which the church is
built: Like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy
priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ
The passive voice “let yourselves be built” indicates that God himself is the builder and not us. Our role is to allow God to use us.
The question we could ask ourselves today is: “How is God using me to build up his church? Am I letting God use me?” We must
not forget that no matter how small a piece of stone may be, the master builder could still use it to do something beautiful.
A famous stained-glass artist was commissioned to make a huge portrait for the window of the cathedral in Chartres, France. First
he laid all of the pieces he was going to use out on the floor of the cathedral. Among these awesome pieces of glass was a small,
clear piece about as big as a fingernail. As the stained-glass portrait was assembled, that little piece remained on the floor. Only the
big colourful pieces were used. On the day of the window’s completion the entire city gathered to witness the unve iling of the portrait. The artist pulled away the cover cloth and the crowd gasped at the beauty of the colourful window glowing in the su nlight.
After a few seconds, however, the crowd grew silent. They sensed that something was missing, that
the portrait was unfinished. The great artist then walked over to where the little clear piece of glass
lay, picked it up, and placed it in the portrait, right in the centre of Jesus’ eye. As the sun hit that little
piece, it gave off a dazzling sparkle. The work of art is now complete. Without the small piece the
work was incomplete. In the grand design of building the church of God, each one of us could consider
ourselves to be that small piece of glass – so small and yet so indispensable. (Fr. Munachi)
Congrats and special prayers to 78 children of our community who are receiving the Sacrament of
Confirmation on 27th and 29th of August! May they be empowered by the gifts of the Holy Spirit and
bear witness to God’s unconditional love in the given context of their life!
Fr. Vince
THIS WEEK’S MINISTERS 24th August, 2014 5.30 8am 10am 5.30pm
Welcomers Stephen Kinchington O’Connell Family Rosemarie & Ian
McMichael Romano Family
Acolyte John Puleo Darren McNeil Damien Murdocca John Harb
Readers Trisha Keating,
Colleen Dunlop
Nigel Saunders, Kay
Brooks Sue Martin, Marian Piper
Trish Maidens, Amanda
Harb
Eucharistic
Ministers Colleen Dunlop
Tricia Spencer, Fran
Sanders Ann & Mark Lee Gael Carpani
Junior
Ministers
Ruby Kinchington,
Beunka Putnam Johnny Polifroni, Jack
McNeil
Naomi, Malachi and Nathan
Young
Alannah & Imogen Tuttle
Musicians Richard & Matt Joan & David Merle & Doug Youth Group
THIS WEEK’S MINISTERS 31st August, 2014 5.30pm 8am 10am 5.30pm
Welcomers Maria Aiossa Rosa Carlino Adriana Kennedy
Acolyte Peter Balnaves Joe Gelonesi Phillys Hannah John Harb
Readers Louise Johnston,
Marciela Gregory
Ann Marie Duncan, Marietta
Nesci
Eucharistic
Ministers
Berenice Hart-
Gerometta, Judith
Gauci
Pat Lynch, Eileen
Sherlock
Marian Piper, Sandra
Tabone Maria Aiossa
Junior
Ministers
Kate Howlin, Lara
Sawaya
Patrick Wright, Jordan
Stubing
Rosie & Maryanna Coppini Jacinta Mifsud
Musicians Pat & Bev Richard & Matt Bobby & Matt Youth Group
Bankers June & Terry Brennan Children’s Liturgy Deb Rankin
Flowers Maria Marando Altar Linen Catherine Diekman
Counters June & Terry Brennan
New Planned Giving Envelopes Our new envelopes will be available for collection this week.
Please note that your envelope number has changed. It was
necessary to change all numbers in order to streamline the
Planned Giving process .
Mass on Thursday Mass on Thhursday will be held at 10.30am with the
funeral service for Des Tynan. There will be no Mass at 9.15. Our prayers for the bereaving family.
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