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!
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?
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!
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?
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?
Today’s scripture readings focus heavily on the Lord’s almighty power and His love for all of us. In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah promises a savior who will heal the deaf, the blind, and the lame, and in the gospel, we see Jesus do just that. He heals a deaf man. But the message of today’s readings is not simply that God performs miracles (although we ought to recognize that He does). Today’s readings remind us of God’s infinite goodness. He loves and cares for each and every one of us in infant homage ways. He provides for all our needs. He gives us every good gift. He has come to save us all, offering every one of us everlasting life with Him – miracle of miracles.
We should, then, be like the people in Mark’s gospel who witnessed Christ’s healing of the blind man. They couldn’t keep their mouths shut. They were so awed by what He had done that they had to spread the good news! So should we. God has done so much for us, and He continues to. Our lives should be a witness to the world, proclaiming His praises to the ends of the earth. In the way we live our lives, in what we say and do, those we come into contact with ought to be able to see that God is good, that He loves each one of us, and that He is the source of all good gifts.
The Annual Parish Assembly was held in the morning of 1 September. The assembly was a very happy, peaceful gathering with a very positive atmosphere. The minutes of theassembly are at the Welcome Desk. Developments from last years assembly were noted, eg. re-introduction of Children’s Liturgy of the Word, further members of St Vincent de Paul Society, better audio visual at OLMC Church, an evangelising letter to 3550 Catholic households four times per year, the international day. Several groups including our two schools gave reports on the past twelve months. The schools highlighted religious education initiatives especially in social justice plus the developments in teaching and learning, including use of technology. The Legion of Mary gave their report of their pastoral care to those in aged care. Vinnies gave a report of their practical care to hundreds of people in Sunbury which was so inspiring. Fourteen proposals were put before the assembly. Seven proposals were requests for more assistance, generally of more workers to existing programmes: Baptismal Preparation team, Bingo workers, Communion ministers to sick and frail, Legion of Mary, RCIA Team, Small Christian Communities and the Youth Group. Seven new proposals were tabled: assist archiving of Parish Historical material, a bus for the Evergreens, Catholic Education Foundation for parish families; improve acknowledgement plaque; a memorial garden at St Anne’s Church; structure all parish meetings and support a health project in remote PNG. The fourteen proposals are on the walls of the Gathering space. Please take time to view them and sign up today or next Sunday to the proposals, either as a new volunteer or to go on a sub-committee to investigate one of the seven new proposals. Please sign up on the proposals. I thank the Parish Co-Ordinating Team for planning the Assembly and Michael McConville for his facilitating the Assembly (and for the photos).
In today’s scripture readings, we reflect on how living as Christian disciples is not about just giving of ourselves – our time, our talents, and our treasure – so that we meet some obligation, or so that others see what we do and are pleased.
If that is our intention, then we are like the scribes and the Pharisees in today’s Gospel, whom Jesus calls hypocrites. We are called to give ourselves solely out of love – love of God and love of neighbor, recognizing that God is the great gift giver, and we are grateful to Him.
Life as a Christian steward must be lived with an attitude of gratitude. Everything we do must be done because we love the Lord.
In today’s readings, we focus on the Holy Eucharist. Jesus tells us, “For my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.” The Eucharist is, in fact, Jesus’ body and blood. It is not simply a symbol. It is real. Christ gives Himself, whole and entire, so that we might have life in Him. It is our responsibility, then, not only to revere the Eucharist, recognizing its sacred nature, but to run to Christ in the Eucharist, to receive Him regularly and eagerly, with hearts burning to live for Him. What’s more, today’s readings challenge us to ponder how we live our lives. In response to God’s gift of Himself, do we offer Him ourselves, whole and entire, in return? St. Paul tells us, we are called to live for the Lord, “giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.”
It is as simple as that. There is no need for us to get caught up in the ways of the world – consumed with our possessions or achievements, focused on keeping up with the Joneses or being the best of the best. No. As St. Paul reminds us in today’s second reading, in order to be happy and fulfilled in our lives, in order to do what we were created to do, to glorify the Lord and live worthy of the lives He has given us, we must simply live in love. Notice how much more peaceful and manageable that calling is to the calling of the world which encourages us to attain more material possessions, to become a better businessman than the next one, to have the biggest most well furnished house on the block, and on and on. The world encourages us to find comfort and greatness in the here and now. It is exhausting just to think about. And, what’s more, it will never fulfill us, because we were not made for the here and now. We were made for God. God calls us to simply love – love Him above all else and love our neighbors as ourselves. And, the wonderful Lord that He is, He does not merely call us to do that, He gives us an example to follow. So, St. Paul urges us, “Be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed Himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God” (second reading). Living in love, in true, unconditional, Christian love, means giving oneself for the sake of another, just as Christ did. He offered His life out of true love for us, because He wanted us to have life everlasting, and He knew that in His offering Himself as expiation for our sins, that would be possible. Likewise, each one of us is called to love God and love our neighbor. In doing so, we look out for our neighbor. We offer him ourselves in loving service, for no other reason than because we care for him. There are plenty of ministries within our parish that offer us the opportunity to do just that. As Christ’s disciples, we should get involved. We should show true genuine Christian charity, and not in order to be praised or to check a to-do off our list, but solely out of love for one another. That’s what it means to be a Christian steward, to follow Christ, and to serve one another in love. And to think, we don’t have to do it alone. In His ever-present spirit of love for us, the Lord not only gives us an example to follow, He gives us His grace and His strength, especially through the sacraments, aiding us in carrying out our mission as Christian stewards. The more we participate in the sacraments, the more equipped we’ll be to live discipleship. “Get up and eat, else your journey will be too long for you” (first reading). Christ gives us Himself in the sacraments – His grace, His life – and He invites us to participate in them, promising us that when we do, He will strengthen us. “I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate manna in the desert, but they died… I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world” (gospel). So, as we live our lives, striving to follow Christ as His disciples, we are called to love, first God and then one another, and we ought to run to the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, to encounter Christ and to gain the strength to “live in a manner worthy of the call we have received”(Eph. 4:1).
“We have now realised that we need a cell system based on where people live. This “local church” needs a leader who is trained to coordinate the needs of that particular neighbourhood. Going hand-in-hand with larger pastoral areas, there must be smaller units with people who are able to draw others into fellowship. If the family is the domestic Church, your street is the neighbourhood Church. We rarely take account of the fellowship that neighbours can exercise in their baptismal priesthood which is often carried out in many wonderful ways. If the ‘Big Society’ the (the Universal Church) is important, it only draws its apostolic witness from my Catholic friend down the street. That witness is frequently in the smallest acts of kindness.”
The Lord is abundantly generous! He gives of Himself out of love for each one of us, and His gifts are unconditional.
Today’s readings draw our attention to the gift par excellence — the Eucharist. In this central mystery of our faith, Christ gives us Himself, completely — Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. It is so much more than we deserve, so much more than we can wrap our human minds around. It is Jesus Himself. And He invites us to partake of it — to consume Him — so that we might have life in Him.
“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst” (Jn. 6:35).
Every time we step forward to receive the Eucharist, we literally take the Savior into our own bodies. And in so doing, we are given a grace to live our lives to the full, to show forth God’s glory.
How will we respond to God’s gifts of self, to His unconditional outpouring of love?
Will we offer Him ourselves in return — unconditionally? That is what it means to be Christ’s disciples. We recognize His gifts, we see that they are given solely out of love — he expects nothing back — and we respond in sheer gratitude and awe struck wonder, offering Him our whole lives in return!
Today’s Gospel speaks to us of God’s unconditional love for us and His boundless generosity. He cares for our needs in such a way that we are not only cared for, but we are given more than we could ever ask for.
He does this on His own accord, of His own free will, and with His own capability. But He asks us to help. He wants us to help. He calls us to help.
Just as the boy with five barley loves and three fish was called upon to give what he had in order for Christ to carry out His mission, each one of us is called to give what we have to assist the Lord.
He loves and cares for every one, every single human being, and He longs to care for everyone — physically and spiritually. With that mission in mind, He calls each one of us to assist Him, to give Him all we have — our time, our talents and our treasure — so that, together with Him, we can feed the world, offering others the Love of Christ and sharing the Gospel with them.
This is what it means to be Christ’s disciples. We give of ourselves so that His mission, His ministry can be carried out here and now. This bring all those we meet closer to Him and spreading the Gospel throughout our parishes, our cities, and the whole world!
Xt3, the catholic website, has an article that may be pertinant to us today in our Parish. Click on the link below and read the article and peruse the comments.
This Sunday we celebrate the greatest event in all of history – Christ’s resurrection from the dead. It is the greatest mystery of all time and, therefore, today is the highest celebration of the liturgical year.
As Christian disciples, we not only rejoice in the reality of the resurrection, but, as St. Peter tells us in his speech in the first reading today, we are commissioned to proclaim the good news. We proclaim Christ to the world by the way we live our lives. Filled with sheer gratitude and joy for what Christ has done, we put Him first in our lives, committing to love and serve Him before all else. We recognize our time, talents, and treasure as gifts from Him, and we use them to give Him glory.
Then, those who bear witness to our lives see the beauty of Christ in us, and we invite them to live to love and serve Him as well.
This is what it means to be a disciple. We rejoice in the good news, and we proclaim it to all the world!
Ashfield Neighbourhood will be hosting morning tea this Sunday 1 April. Everyone is invited to join in for a cuppa and a chat. Please bring a plate to share. See you there!
In today’s Gospel, we hear the Passion of Jesus Christ proclaimed. He suffered and died a cruel death for the sake of sinners – for the sake of all of us. And St. Paul tells us in today’s second reading that Jesus Christ “humbled Himself becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross,” St. Paul tells the Philippians in today’s second reading. “Because of this … at the name of Jesus every knee shall bend and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
So, by sacrificing Himself the way He did (for the sake of others), Jesus gave glory to the Father. What does that mean for us today?
As His disciples, we follow in Jesus’ footsteps. We follow His example. This does not mean that we are all called to die a cruel torturous death. But we are all called to live lives of sacrifice – offering ourselves – our time, our talents, and our treasure – to love and serve the Lord by loving and serving others. What’s more, we do not do so in such a way that we give of our excess. Quite the opposite, in fact. Jesus’ Passion and Death shows us that this gift of self ought to be sacrificial. It ought to come from the first fruits of ourselves. In fact, we ought to give our whole lives – everything we say and do should be done for the glory of God and the service of others.
It is not an easy calling, but it is a noble one. The goal of it all, to give glory to the Lord our God.
“For God so loved that world that He sent His only Son so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life.” (John 3:16) This familiar verse which is a portion of today’s gospel reading speaks of a profound reality, a central truth of our Faith in which we wholeheartedly rejoice.
God the Father sent Christ into the world as a selfless, loving, life-giving gift to us and Christ, meanwhile, came willingly in order to give of Himself for our salvation.
How do we respond to such a gift?
We follow suit. We give of ourselves in utter gratitude to God. We recognize that He has given us gifts beyond measure, and we give Him our hearts and our whole lives. We live our lives in such a way that glorifies Him – lovingly serving one another. In so doing, we say “Thank you.”
In the gospel reading today, Jesus, upon seeing all the buying and selling that was taking place in the temple, flips over tables and throws coins to the ground. At first glance, his reaction seems a bit radical. As Mark tells it, Jesus even “made a whip out of chords.” Indeed, it is radical, and for good reason. Jesus wants to call the people’s attention to what’s important. He is angry that the temple has become a marketplace. Jesus’ reaction tells us just how important worshipping God really is. We simply must put him before all else, and we must live our lives accordingly.
Yet Jesus doesn’t tell us that and simply expect us to listen to Him. He takes it to heart in His own life here on Earth, putting the Father’s will above His own wants, even to the point of death. On the cross, Christ offers us an example of just how selfless we must be as Christian stewards. We are called to follow the Lord, and put His will for us before our own. It is, then, to the cross we look to discover what should be our way of life — a complete and total gift of ourselves to the Lord, offering our time, talents, and treasures to serve Him. And for some (those whom we call martyrs), this gift of self will involve a sacrifice to the point of death.
As St Paul reminds us in the second reading “there is great power in the cross.” When we respond to Christ’s call by following His example and giving ourselves completely in love and service to God and neighbor, we will feel incredibly fulfilled.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish Sunbury 
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