Celebrity

W hat is it in our human nature that makes us so fascinated by celebrity, by fame, by stardom? What is it

that equally fascinates us when those whom we once admired fall from grace? Modern communications

mean that celebrity has taken on a whole new dimension and people can now become world-famous virtually

overnight. For those who do become celebrities it can bring its own stresses and strains, including sometimes the

envy of those who wish to emulate them.

(continued over page)

I n the very place where he should have been accepted and understood, Jesus is rejected. The people take

offense at him. They question what he teaches and with what wisdom he teaches.

Jesus teaches outside of the Jewish tradition, where truth is not supposed to be found. But what is discovered

is that is where truth exists. Jesus speaks in his own name; a teacher usually speaks in the name of his teachers.

Where did Jesus get his authority to teach without having been taught, that is, without being grounded in

tradition?

“A prophet is not without honour except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house,” was

Jesus’ response to them. In other words, just as in the past God spoke his word through the prophets, who were

rejected by the people, so now he speaks his word through Jesus, the greatest of the prophets, who is rejected by

his own people. Jesus’ authority, like that of the prophets of old, comes from God.

The people see a carpenter; no other Gospel refers to Jesus as a carpenter. This is Mark’s way of contrasting Jesus’

authority with his lack of ancestry. The people refer to Jesus as just another common, hometown boy with

brothers and sisters in their midst. Jesus’ uniqueness is contrasted with that of the common crowd.

The lack of faith on the part of the crowd distresses Jesus. Here we are warned not to look for great displays of

power in order to believe. Faith comes through powerlessness. The prophet Jesus, who is without honour in his

native place, will be put to death. Those who lay claim to discipleship must be willing to relinquish all power in

order to profess faith.

365 Days with the Lord Mark G Boyer

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B Cyle I 4 July 2021

Hometown Rejection

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Celebrity (continued)

And so the media embark on the seemingly never-ending cycle of putting people on

pedestals from which they then seek to remove them. And if we are not careful we

become part of the game, following the gossip and joining in the tweeting and twitter-

ing that fuel it.

Of course, every generation has had its celebrities, its stars, its people with what our

society calls the ‘X factor’. And even without the assistance of modern methods of

communication, such was their influence that their names have come down to us

through history. In some cases we can see how “the mighty have fallen,” but in

others their hero status has not been impaired by the passage of time: sometimes quite

the opposite.

Jesus of Nazareth did not need a talent contest to establish his credentials two

thousand years ago. Yet, by the same token, his fame and his popularity were enough

for his own townsfolk to become suspicious and start casting aspersions. How could

someone they knew so well be a prophet? Of course, the real trouble was that Jesus

was challenging their complacency, and so they succumbed to the classic temptation of

seeking to discredit him. Even Jesus was taken aback and expressed his dismay. But

perhaps what is more remarkable is that because of their attitude towards him, Jesus

was rendered powerless and unable to minister to them.

We should not be surprised by all this. Jesus had not come to force the issue, either

with his own people or with us. He had come to show people the truth and to point

them - and us - in the way of honesty and integrity. Inevitably this will expose the

duplicity and hypocrisy in people’s behaviour and attitudes - including our own.

St Paul was able to grasp the paradox of all this and allow Christ to help him see a

true reflection of himself in the mirror of his personal experience. This enabled him to

recognise that he could cope with his weaknesses because they were a reminder of

how dependent he was on Christ’s saving power. And so he was able to provide us

with the ultimate paradox: “It is when I am weak that I am strong.”

You and I do not need to discredit others in an attempt to reassure ourselves that we

are not so bad after all. Rather, we are called to allow Christ to be our Way, our Truth

and our Life. Only then can we imitate St Paul and not allow our weaknesses and

failings to become sources of discouragement but rather allow Christ to turn them

to good.

However, the challenge for us today is even more complicated than that. We can be

tempted to take solace in other people’s weaknesses and failures in order to show

ourselves in a better light - thinking, perhaps, “I may not be perfect, but I’m not as bad

as them.” But are we aware that our own attitudes and behaviour as member of

Christ’s Church, including our willingness to recognise and admit our faults, may have

an effect on how others perceive the message of the Gospel? If ever the Church needed

to reveal to the world the importance of humility, it is now. Jesus humbly accepted the

limitations of his human condition and triumphed through the humility and horror of

his passion and death. Here surely was the ultimate proof of St Paul’s paradox on

weakness: we even speak of the triumph of the cross.

The afflictions besetting the Church in many parts of the world may seem like a

disaster, but if they help us to be a more humble Church - a Church in which we

readily accept our mistakes and learn to apologise for past and present hurts; a Church

in which we recognise that we do not have all the answers but can hear the prophetic

voice of God in unexpected places - then the Lord may surprise us by showing us once

again that it is when we are weak that we are strong.

The Living Word Redemptorist Publications

Winners Week 6 $50 - No 8

Week 6 $25 - No 50

Congratulations Winners and good

luck to all!

Physical environments in the Parish must be set

up to maximise natural surveillance,

minimizing opportunities for children to be in secluded areas.

The

Catholic

Weekly

Now on sale

on the

Church

tables.

$2 to the poor

box please.

Bible Café Consuming the Word with Dr Scott Hahn

& Mike Aquilina Will return after

lockdown.

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Truly Precious

with Fr Kevin

Join us for a study

of the next Sunday’s Gospel under the

guidance of Fr Kevin O’Grady. Tuesdays

will return after lockdown

Please Note

Alive in the Spirit Online Conference

New vision, new energy, new life - to be the community that Christ calls us to be.

8-10 July. Register now: aliveinthespirit.com.au

Free Information Seminar - Wills, Enduring Guardianship, Powers of Attorney

Saturday 17 July 2021 2 - 3:30pm The Light of Christ Centre, Yardley Ave, Waitara.

Register: www.trybooking.com/BPNGJ or david.armstrong@bbcatholic.org.au

Remember Your Covid Safe

Practices Face masks, check-in,

sanitise and stay 1.5m apart.

D evotion to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus is as old as Christianity. The early

Fathers say that the Church was born from the pierced side of Christ, and that

the sacraments were brought forth through his Blood. In the first century, Pope St

Clement I wrote “Let us fix our gaze on the Blood of Christ and realize how truly

precious it is; it was poured out for our salvation and brought the grace of conversion

to the whole world. God chose the sign of blood, because no other sign is so eloquent

to express the supreme love of life given for others. This donation is repeated in every

Eucharistic celebration, in which alongside the Body of Christ, his precious blood is

made present; the Blood of the new and eternal Covenant, shed for all for the

redemption of sins.”

www.stillromancatholicafteralltheseyears.com/

Fan the Flame

T owards Plenary Assembly 1 October 2021.

“Do not be afraid; only have faith.” (Mark 5:21-24, 35-43)

While being conscious of the work to be done, we also have much to be thankful for.

There are many signs of hope in that members of the faithful persevere with the prac-

tice of the faith… and are living their commitment to love of neighbour in myriad

ways. (Instrumentum Laboris #65) www.plenarycouncil.catholic.org.au/fantheflame/

Face Masks~Check-In~Sanitise~1.5m Apart

The Servant is Not Above the Master

L ike the prophet Ezekiel in today’s First Reading, Jesus was sent by God to the re-

bellious house of Israel, where he found His own brothers and sisters obstinate of

heart and in revolt against God.

The servant is not above the Master (see Mt 10:24). As His disciples, we too face the

mockery and contempt we hear of in today’s Psalm. And isn’t it often hardest to live

our faith among those in our own families, those who think they really know us, who

define us by the people we used to be - before we chose to walk with Jesus?

As Paul confides in today’s Epistle, insults and hardships are God’s way of teaching us

to rely solely on His grace.

Jesus will work no mighty deeds in our lives unless we abandon ourselves to Him in

faith. Blessed then are those who take no offense in Him (see Lk 7:23). Instead, we must

look upon Him with the eyes of servants - knowing that the son of Mary is also the

Lord enthroned in the heavens.

Dr Scott Hahn - StPaulCenter.com Subscribe to “This Sunday’s Bible Reflection”

The Popes Prayer Intention for July

Social Friendship; We pray that, in

social, economic and political situations of conflict, we may be courageous and

passionate architects of dialogue and

friendship.

OLR Kids Club

Join us on Saturday 18 July for lots of fun, friends and

food! For kids 5-12 years (younger must

be accompanied) from 3-4:45pm in the

Muldoon Room.

Serving the Catholic Community of The Entrance and extending the Kingdom of God

PARISH PRIEST & DEAN Fr William Stevens DEACON Dcn Paul Simmons

SACRAMENTAL COORDINATOR Br John Verhoeven FSP

Office Hours Monday-Friday 9.30-5.00pm Tel 4332 2216

Postal Address PO Box 189 THE ENTRANCE 2261 Street Address 239-243 The Entrance Rd THE ENTRANCE 2261

Email info@ourladyoftherosary.org.au Website www.ourladyoftherosary.org.au

PROPERTY MANAGER Michael de la Motte Tel 4334 7600 (BH)

OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY PRIMARY SCHOOL Tel 4332 5594 ST PETER’S CATHOLIC COLLEGE Tel 4351 2344

THE ENTRANCE PARISH DIOCESE OF BROKEN BAY

Mass & Devotions in Ordinary Time - when not in lockdown Sunday Masses Saturday Vigil 5:00pm Sunday 8:00am & 9:30am

Weekday Masses Monday - Thursday 9:00am Friday 11:45am Saturday 9:00am

Reconciliations Saturdays 9:30-10am & 4-4:30pm

Liturgy of the Hours Saturday 8:40am Rosary Monday-Thursday 8:35am Friday 11:20am Saturday 9:30am

Cenacle Wednesday 9:30am

Volunteers Needed! The Gift Centre is open each weekend before and

after the 5pm Saturday and 9:30am Sunday Masses, in the foyer of the Church.

If you could help in the Gift Centre at any of the Masses please let us know at the parish office.

4332 2216

Keep Us In Your Prayers There is no gift more precious than prayer - Fr Benedict Groeschel

Recently Deceased: Franz Leitl, Margaret Hilton, Sr Charmain Bourbon, Yvonne Dunn, Peter Connolly, Doreen Coleman, Maria Sansone.

Anniversaries: Norman Allen.

Remembrances: Pat Smith, Marie Powell, Jill O’Sullivan, Nell Davis, Margaret Pizzuto, Betty O’Neill, Arthur Vella, Joe Bond, Kevin Hughes and all the Holy Souls in Purgatory.

Families: Hughes, McKay.

Sick: Bonnie Chamberlain, Luna Allen, Helen Garnsey, Murdoch Paterson-Barrie, Rove Varman, Carmel Cramsie, Simone Moffitt, Karen Stone, Leo Lowe, Betty Lamont, Delma & Michael Clarke, Pauline Fowler, Abigail Holt, Leo O’Meara, Peter O’Grady, Linda Read, Antoinette Grech, Tanya Doorn, David Drinan, Kelly Will and all those suffering from long term illnesses.

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time Ezekial 2:2-5 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Mark 6:1-6 Entrance Antiphon: Your merciful love, O God, we have received in the midst of your temple. Your praise, O God, like your name, reaches the ends of the earth; your right hand is filled with saving justice.

Responsorial Psalm: Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.

Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia! The Spirit of the Lord is upon me: he sent me to bring Good News to the poor. Alleluia!

Communion Antiphon: Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed the man who seeks refuge in him.

Our Lady of the Rosary

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