Better World – Page 14 – Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Sunbury

November 25, 2012November 25, 2012

STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE

CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS

Today we celebrate the feast of Christ the King. He is the greatest king there is yet He does not sit on a golden throne. He hangs on a cross. As the King of Kings, Jesus hows us what true greatness is. It is loving and serving one another, giving ourselves in love for one another, and using the gifts God has given us to glorify Him.

In today’s gospel, Jesus tells us, “For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.” Likewise, we are called to use the lives God has given us to testify to the truth. We are called to bear witness to the gospel by the way we live our lives, giving of our time, our talents and our treasure to serve the Lord by serving one another. Then, people will surely see God in us, and we will call others to Him.

November 16, 2012

STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE

CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS

Today’s readings draw our attention to the final judgment. The end will come. “Heaven and Earth will pass away,” and though “of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father,” we do know that it will come. And each one of us will stand face-to-face with our creator. Will He be pleased with how we’ve lived, and with what we’ve done with the many gifts He’s given us?

Today’s apocalyptic Gospel message offers us a great opportunity to reflect on the meaning of our lives. We know that we were not created to live our lives on Earth forever. We were created to live for God, to live in unity with Him. Our lives in heaven will consist of perfect unity with God; our whole being will be centered on loving and praising Him. Yet, there is no reason for that to wait until we’ve entered eternal glory. In fact, it cannot wait. While we look forward to the day when we will greet the Lord, while we know that heaven is our home, that eternal glory is our goal, we are charged to live in the present. God has placed us here for a reason. He has a mission for each one of us, and He expects us to make good use of the time He has given us on Earth — to praise Him in the way we live our lives, to unite ourselves with Him in the sacraments, and to show forth His glory by serving others in His name.

November 12, 2012November 16, 2012

STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE

CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS

Today’s gospel offers us a great lesson in the stewardship way of life. Mark tells us that Jesus sat and watched as many people money into the treasury. And while he watched many wealthy men give enormous amounts of money, it was one widow who gave but two small coins who caught His attention. At first glance it seems clear that she did not give as much as the many wealthy people. Yet, Jesus assured the disciples, “she gave the most” because while the others were giving out of their surplus, she was giving of her first fruits. She was giving everything she had. For her, the gift was a sacrifice.

She stands as a great example to us. We are called to give our all. We give not because we have extra left over like many of the wealthy people in today’s gospel, we give – of our time, our talents, and our treasure, because we want to show God how grateful we are for all He has given us.

How well do our commitments of time, talent, and treasure express our gratitude to God? Are we giving because it’s easy, because we have a surplus from which to give, or are we giving because we are grateful for God’s many gifts, and, therefore, offering our whole selves back to Him?

November 2, 2012

CATHOLIC WORLD MISSION APPEAL

Thank you for your wonderful support in response to the Catholic Mission World Mission Appeal. Together as a Church, we raised $1107.40. Your generosity has helped missionaries in the Philippines and across the world reach out physically and spiritually to communities in distress– restoring their hope in life.

November 2, 2012November 9, 2012

STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE

CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS

“You shall love The Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. … You shall love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these.”
Love — that is what the life of Christian stewardship is all about. In an effort to show God our immense gratitude for the love and care that He continually bestows on us, we give our lives to Him in loving service. We love and serve one another as a response to God’s infinite love for every one of us.
That is what we were made for. That is the life we are called to. That is Christian discipleship lived through stewardship. It is constant self-giving in love of God and one another. Nothing else is more important!

October 26, 2012October 26, 2012

STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE

CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGSIn today’s gospel, we learn an incredible lesson about what happens when we act out in faith, even amidst opposing people.
The blind man (Bartimaeus) called out to Jesus, because he knew that Christ could heal Him, and He believed that Christ would. He had faith. And even when people around him tried to hush him, the man was not deterred. He continued to cry out with courage and conviction.
In turn, Jesus gave the man his sight back, and the gospel tells us that the man then followed Jesus “on the way.”
Christian discipleship begins with a faith response to Jesus. He has called us to Himself, and we must choose how we will respond. We must take ownership of the faith He has blessed us with and choose to live in faith, to live for Him — even when we face opposition.
We give Jesus our lives. We live boldly and courageously, giving our time, talents and treasure to serve Him, because, like Bartimaeus, we believe!

October 19, 2012October 19, 2012

LADIES SPRING RACING CARNIVAL LUNCHEON

St Anne’s Primary School is hosting a Luncheon to support the Caleb Faria Trust Fund.
The function will be held on Thursday 25 October from 12.30 to 2.30pm in St Anne’s General Purpose Room.
Tickets are $15 for light fingerfood and sweets.
Put on your fanciest race day dress and hat and join the fun.
Enquiries through Betty La Sala on 0408 398 173.

October 18, 2012October 25, 2012

STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE

CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS

Many of us often find ourselves seeking the recognition of the world. Like James and John in today’s gospel, we’d like to occupy a place of honor, to earn the respect of others, to be the best at what we do. These are the things the world tells us are important, and so we strive to attain them.
Yet, in today’s readings, the Lord calls us to bigger and better things. We are called to strive for greatness in His kingdom, not by looking out for ourselves but by loving and serving others – truly seeking nothing in return.
Jesus reminds us, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.” And so we follow suit.
Our lives as Christian disciples should entail constant loving service, following the example of Christ and showing those around us Christ’s love. It is a much more worthy call than the life that the world calls us to – seeking honor, power and prestige in the here and now.
Pope Benedict XVI put it perfectly: “The world promises you comfort, but you were not made for comfort, you were made for greatness.”
So, we are called to give of our time, our talent and our treasure, seeking the greatness that the Lord promises, a life eternally united to Him, the selfless servant par excellence!

October 13, 2012October 18, 2012

STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE

CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS

Listening to Jesus’ words in today’s gospel: “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven,” many of us sat back in our seats and breathed a sigh of relief. We are not rich, and thank God. It must be easier for us to enter heaven. Right?

But the fact is, whether we are wealthy according to the world’s standards or not, Jesus’ words are meant for every single one of us. We are all very rich. God has given us innumerable gifts – our time, our talents, our treasure, our very lives are gifts from the Lord. We have so much, and as Christ’s disciples, we are called to give it all to the Lord – to use our time, our talents, and our treasure to serve God and build His kingdom.

Living a life of stewardship as a Christian disciple requires giving completely of one’s self. It means living our lives for the Lord and giving all we have and all we are to serve Him. This is not an easy task. It is radical. It is extreme. And it is richly rewarding.

At the end of today’s gospel, Jesus exclaims, “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and the sake of the gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come.”

Have you given all that you have to serve the Lord?

October 5, 2012October 5, 2012

MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND

Married couples, we encourage you to prioritise your relationship. It underpins your family life. Please join us for a Marriage Encounter weekend. Our weekend helps you to remember why you married and gives you skills to maintain your love for each other. Couples and a priest present the weekend. It is based around catholic values but you don’t need to be catholic to attend. There is no group sharing.
Our last weekend for 2012 is 12-14 October in Melbourne.
For further information & bookings contact Marianne & Marcel Van den Bronk (03) 9733 0997 or Email vicbookings@wwme.org.au. Website for more information on www.wwme.org.au

October 5, 2012October 11, 2012

STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE

CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS

It’s no secret that married life isn’t easy. Most of us are living proof of that. It takes a great deal of commitment and constant self-giving love to truly live out the vocation.

But it is not just married life that requires such loving commitment and self sacrifice. The vocation of Christian discipleship, the vocation to which every one of us is called — married or single, clergy or layperson — requires that we give of ourselves in loving service, committing our lives to Christ forever. We give of our time, our talents, and our treasure as a way to show The Lord that we love Him and that we want to give our lives to Him. He has given us so much; it is an honor for us to give ourselves to Him in return.

It is not an easy task, especially when society is encouraging us to live selfishly, to want more and more things, to look out for ourselves before others, etc. Indeed, it is a higher calling to live for the Lord, to give rather than to want, and to lovingly put others first, and it is a life full of joyful rewards. In this, we will find true fulfillment!

September 28, 2012September 28, 2012

STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE

CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS

Today’s readings lead us to reflect on the gifts we have been given, and the source of those gifts — God.

In the first reading and in the gospel, we hear of men who raise objections when they see others participating in God’s mission. Moses’ followers were appalled when they noticed that two men who were not among their company had been given the gift of prophecy. Surely prophesying was not their place. And, in the gospel reading, Jesus’ disciples objected to men who were casting out demons in Christ’s name.

In both cases, the objectors were assured that the men had been given gifts from God, and their decision to use those gifts to serve God’s kingdom was indeed a good thing.

The readings serve to remind us that every one of us has been given great gifts, and we are called to recognize those gifts, to receive them gratefully, and to use them in service of God and neighbor. When we do this, we participate in Christ’s own mission of loving service. He came to give Himself for us, and He has given us many gifts so that we can join Him in His earthly mission, using our gifts to proclaim His truth and serve one another.

What gifts has God given you? How are you using them? Do you find yourself caught up noticing the gifts others have been given and wondering about their proper use of them? Or, do you rejoice in the gifts God has given you and others and do your best to participate in the mission of the Church, serving God by giving yourself and your gifts back to Him in gratitude for all He has given you?

September 21, 2012September 21, 2012

STEWARDSHIP……A WAY OF LIFE

CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS

Christian stewardship is all about selflessness. We are called to follow Christ’s example and give ourselves out of love for others and expect nothing in return.

In today’s gospel, we see Jesus explaining to the disciples that He must suffer and die. But they are confused. To them, the Messiah is one whom they praise and glorify, not one who suffers. So Jesus explains further.

His earthly mission is to give of Himself for our sake out of love. And He tells the disciples their mission as His followers is to do the same — to give of themselves expecting nothing in return.

So, we too, as present day disciples, follow the Lord’s example. We have all been called to be His disciples. Do we live the stewardship way of life, giving our time, our talent, and our treasure, in loving care of one another? Do we give of ourselves not because we want recognition, or because of the promise of earthly rewards, but because we are grateful to the Lord for giving Himself for us, and because we love both God and neighbor?