Author: MtCarmel

Reflection on the Gospel-4th Sunday of Lent Year A, 30 March 2014 (John 9:1-41)

‘There are none so blind as those who will not see.’ Last week, we journeyed with a woman of Samaria from a superficial level of faith understanding to deeper insight into Jesus’ identity and mission and to stronger faith commitment. This week, we are invited on a faith journey with a man born blind and with the different groups of participants in the drama. All have the opportunity of coming to faith. Not all accept the invitation. Ironically, the blind come to see, both physically and spiritually, while those who are gifted with physical sight remain in spiritual darkness.

In healing the man born blind, Jesus performs the sixth of eight powerful actions or ‘signs’ in John’s gospel that reveal God’s power at work in Jesus and in the lives of those who seek life. The ‘signs’ invite the reader/hearer/viewer to accept Jesus and his revelation of God and God’s purposes.

Time features significantly in the story. Jesus heals the blind beggar on the sabbath. The Jerusalem authorities have already raised objections about Jesus’ sabbath healing activity (John 5). Once again they object that he is failing to observe the Sabbath. They label him a sinner. Ironically, in the final authoritative analysis, it is they who ‘remain in their sins’.

This story reminds us of the need to check out our assumptions. It also reminds us to accept the fact that we can be wrong about things we have always believed. It invites us to be open to see differently or from a new perspective. Jesus’ disciples, the parents of a man born blind, his neighbours, the religious authorities all operate out of unchecked assumptions. They mostly come to the wrong conclusions. Only those willing to admit that they have it wrong have any chance of coming to faith.

In the common estimation, the man was blind, so he or his parents must have sinned. Not so, according to Jesus. From the perspective of the authorities, Jesus heals on the Sabbath and is therefore a sinner. Not so, from Jesus’ point of view. The man was born blind, so needs others to speak for him. Not so, say his parents, he can speak for himself. He does speak for himself and quite eloquently, to the chagrin of the religious authorities. He presents them with the truth about Jesus but they refuse to accept the word of an outcast. Their reaction is violent: they drive him out. But Jesus goes in search of him and leads him to yet deeper levels of faith and understanding. You may like to read the story once more and put yourself in the place of the different characters. There is a little bit of each character in every one of us.

 

Tickets are now on sale for the April Concerts.

    This will comprise  excerpts from Bach’s St Matthew and St John Passions and Vivaldi’s ‘Gloria.’
The choir will be supported by two professional singers—Alexandra Flood as Soprano and Lotte Betts-Dean as Contralto. They will appear with a hand-picked chamber orchestra.
Patrons in Gisborne and surrounds will be delighted to know that we have at last found a venue in Gisborne suitable for our concerts. This is the Church of Christ new auditorium on Saunders Road and will be the venue for the first concert on Sunday 6th April starting at 3 p.m. This will be followed on Sunday 13th April with a performance at St Paul’s Anglican Church in Kyneton also commencing at 3 p.m.
In traditional style both concerts will be followed by afternoon tea.

Reflection on the Gospel-Third Sunday of Lent Year A, 23 March 2014 (John 4:5-42)

Those privileged to act as catechists in the RCIA program over the Lenten period will be introducing the candidates to some of our most treasured gospel stories. In 1963, Vatican II’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy called for the restoration of certain early Church practices. The two main features of Lent, baptism and penance, were to be given greater emphasis in the liturgy and in liturgical catechesis. More use was to be made of the baptismal elements proper to the Lenten liturgy. Some features that were part of an earlier tradition were to be restored. In response to this call, John’s stories of the Samaritan woman, the man born blind and the raising of Lazarus were moved from the weekday to the Sunday liturgy.

Thus, three weeks into Lent, the liturgy invites us to take a faith journey in the company of a courageous outsider, an unnamed woman from a despised religious group. She moves from bewilderment and misunderstanding to faith in Jesus and engagement in mission. The pursuit of water, a key baptismal symbol in the gospel tradition, provides the catalyst for a whole education in faith. A woman of Samaria comes to draw water from the well of Jacob, Israel’s great ancestor in faith. Jesus asks for a drink and elicits a bewildered response from the woman. Jews do not associate with Samaritans, the narrator explains. The woman’s response provides the opportunity for Jesus to move into an extended and constantly deepening exchange in which she proves herself as a knowledgeable theologian and worthy dialogue partner.

Commentators tend to focus on the woman’s marital status, usually in negative terms. Because she has had five husbands, many presume that she is a sinner although there is nothing in the text to support this position. Successive husbands may have died. Financial, religious or societal constraints may have functioned in her decision to remarry. The ‘husbands’ may symbolise the strange gods that claimed the allegiance of the Samaritans. There is no consensus among scholars.

At the outset, the woman views Jesus simply as a Jew who contravenes custom by asking her for water. She comes to accept him as the provider of living water. Jesus understands her life story and opens up the way for her to accept him as a prophet. She risks sharing her own convictions about the locus of worship and is gifted with new understanding and Jesus’ further self-disclosure. She leaves her water jar behind and brings others to faith in Jesus as Messiah and saviour of the world.

The Way of the Cross  will be held in St Anne’s Church every Friday night from 7.30pm to 8pm during Lent. The Way of the Cross is in the light of the Resurrection and follows Scripture. All are welcome.

A Lenten gathering will be held in the Parish Centre on Sunday 6 April after 10.30am Mass. An Easter movie will be shown from 12pm. We invite families to bring traditional food to share between 11.30am and noon. Those who bring food will be in the draw to win a Bunnings voucher worth $15.

The Friendship program at St Anne’s Primary school is for students who would benefit from spending one hour per week with a positive adult who relates well to kids. We need Mums, Dads, Grandparents and relatives or anyone over 18 years of age who has a current ‘Working with Children Check’. They would also need to have good listening skills, practice confidentiality and have some free time. If you are interested in participating in this program, please contact Marie D’Orazio on 9744 3055.