FR KEVINS NOTES
ONE FEAST OVER THREE DAYS
Over these three days we proclaim Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection. It is such an immense and awe-inspiring mystery that we need three days to enter its truth. The mystery is called the paschal mystery. We gaze at the mystery on Holy Thursday as Jesus kneels on the floor to wash feet, sits at the table for the Last Supper and anguishes in the garden of Gethsemane. On Good Friday we gaze at the Cross and on Easter Day, we are gazing in another garden and see the empty tomb. There is no attempt to soften either the sadness or the joy.
THE PASCHAL MYSTERY—THE NEW CREATION—THE NEW TREE OF LIFE
John’s gospel presents Jesus as dying as a King and that Jesus is in complete control of his own destiny, with Jesus carrying his own cross.
John’s passion begins and ends in a garden—a feature unique to John. Jesus’s cross is erected in the middle of the garden. The tree of life was in the middle of the garden of Eden. His mother is called ‘woman’ the same term used for Eve in the Garden of Eden.
(Genesis 2:23)
Only in John’s gospel, there is the scene where Jesus from the cross says: “Woman, this is your son. Then to the disciple he said, “This is your mother” (John 19:26) This changed the relationship between Jesus and his disciples. Now we share the same mother as he—we hence become his brothers and sisters.
The body of Jesus is buried in a new tomb in the garden. In John 2:19, Jesus said “destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up”.
The risen Lord appears to Mary Magdalene saying: “Go and tell my brothers and sisters, I go to my Father and your Father” (John 20:17).
Jesus and we share a relationship of being children of God. We by baptism are the Household of the Father—the New Temple.
“As I have washed your feet, you should wash each others feet”.
At the Last Supper, Jesus shows he is Servant, one who is ready to do the dirty jobs, to be at the bottom of the social heap. He kneels on the floor to wash the feet. (John 13:15)
Today, attached is a list of the various ways we can serve each other in our parish. There is a tear off slip to leave today at the Welcome desk.
OUR PRAYERFUL SYMPATHY:
we offer to Fr Martin Ashe and to his mother and family in Ireland as his sister Maureen entered eternal life last week.
MATTRESS APPEAL:
The Bishop of Lismore, Bishop Greg Homeming has launched an appeal for mattresses for the people of Lismore who have lost their bedding in the wake of Cyclone Debbie. Our parishioners at Mass on Thursday evening donated to this appeal. Others wishing to give are invited to leave donations at our Parish office.
MELBOURNE PRIESTS RE-COMMIT:
Last Tuesday during Mass at the Cathedral, 254 Melbourne priests renewed their commitment to serve the people in the Melbourne Archdiocese. Please continue to pray for our priests and for more to follow in their footsteps as Melbourne grows bigger. Some parishes are relying on priests aged in the nineties to celebrate Mass for the people. Hundreds gathered for the funeral of their beloved pastor of 32 years Fr Jim Kierce on Wednesday.
OUR PARISH DONKEY:
We thank the Honner family for looking after our donkey on their farm. The donkey will feature on the “Melbourne Catholic” website melbournecatholic.org.au this week re-enacting Palm Sunday. The donkey is aged 25 years and in good health
…..Kevin McIntosh
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Sunbury 