Homily by Father Chris Hope.
4
Homily by Father Chris Hope. We’ve all had to put up with boring speeches or sermons from time to time, whether it be from politicians, preachers, at school speech nights or the local service or sports club. Every now and then though we come across someone who really arrests our attention. It mightn’t be only that he or she puts words together well; it’s often a combinat ion of that and something in the content that strikes a chord. Maybe we are even envious of the obvious gift that person has. This is surely how Jesus came across to those people in the synagogue. This was someone quite different; they had had their share of the run of the mill scribes with their tired old platitudes. Here was someone who really meant what he said and was able to back it up with fearless engagement with a power from which they shrank in ignorance and doubt. It is not without importance that this is the first public appearance of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark. Over the next few weeks we will witness the popular acceptance of Jesus as he battles with a force that takes various forms – physical sickness, opposition from entrenched mindsets, the accusation of collusion with the enemy itself. This is the ‘gospel’, the good news that Jesus invites the people to accept readily by changing their lives. The same ‘gospel’ is offered to us for we are dealing with a power that can change our lives, not merely a set of nice, pious sayings. Too often we reduce the gospels to that and so remain relatively unmoved by the dynamic challenge they contain. As we know, in that society possession by ‘unclean spirits’ was a general term that covered all kinds of conditions for which we today have medical or social explanations and sophisticated labels. We can therefore approach these stories with a type of superiority as if they either don’t occur anymore or are best left to experts to deal with. Yet isn’t it true that all of us are ‘possessed’ in different ways by forces over which we have to admit to having little or no control? Some people are enslaved by addictions to drugs, alcohol, food, gambling and so on. Many of us suffer from more subtle addictions so that we don’t even want to admit to ourselves, let alone to anyone else, that we are virtually powerless to control them. All of us know deep down that many of our habits and ways of dealing with others are so much a part of our make up that we can do little to change them. The people who acclaimed Jesus realised that he had something special that could influence them to change their lives. The authority and healing power of Jesus is present today in his body, the Church, through the Sacraments, but also in the love, care and compassion of every community of faith. We only have to look around us when we are gathered for the Eucharist to name it and accept it. It is when the Church is able to back up teaching and doctrine with the same concern for the troubled lives of ordinary people that it is most effective in continuing the mission of Jesus. That is why in the Gospels he is always accompanied by followers learning how to be genuine ‘fishers of men’.
Transcript of Homily by Father Chris Hope.
Homily by Father Chris Hope.
We’ve all had to put up with boring speeches or sermons from time to time, whether it be from politicians, preachers, at school speech nights or the local service or sports club. Every now and then though we come across someone who really arrests our attention. It mightn’t be only that he or she puts words together well; it’s often a combination of that and something in the content that strikes a chord. Maybe we are even envious of the obvious gift that person has. This is surely how Jesus came across to those people in the synagogue. This was someone quite different; they had had their share of the run of the mill scribes with their tired old platitudes. Here was someone who really meant what he said and was able to back it up with fearless engagement with a power from which they shrank in ignorance and doubt.
It is not without importance that this is the first public appearance of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark. Over the next few weeks we will witness the popular acceptance of Jesus as he battles with a force that takes various forms – physical sickness, opposition from entrenched mindsets, the accusation of collusion with the enemy itself. This is the ‘gospel’, the good news that Jesus invites the people to accept readily by changing their lives.
The same ‘gospel’ is offered to us for we are dealing with a power that can change our lives, not merely a set of nice, pious sayings. Too often we reduce the gospels to that and so remain relatively unmoved by the dynamic challenge they contain.
As we know, in that society possession by ‘unclean spirits’ was a general term that covered all kinds of conditions for which we today have medical or social explanations and sophisticated labels. We can therefore approach these stories with a type of superiority as if they either don’t occur anymore or are best left to experts to deal with. Yet isn’t it true that all of us are ‘possessed’ in different ways by forces over which we have to admit to having little or no control? Some people are enslaved by addictions to drugs, alcohol, food, gambling and so on. Many of us suffer from more subtle addictions so that we don’t even want to admit to ourselves, let alone to anyone else, that we are virtually powerless to control them. All of us know deep down that many of our habits and ways of dealing with others are so much a part of our make up that we can do little to change them.
The people who acclaimed Jesus realised that he had something special that could influence them to change their lives. The authority and healing power of Jesus is present today in his body, the Church, through the Sacraments, but also in the love, care and compassion of every community of faith. We only have to look around us when we are gathered for the Eucharist to name it and accept it. It is when the Church is able to back up teaching and doctrine with the same concern for the troubled lives of ordinary people that it is most effective in continuing the mission of Jesus. That is why in the Gospels he is always accompanied by followers learning how to be genuine ‘fishers of men’.
You are once again invited to consider participating in a prayerful Lenten experience by
joining one of the groups for the Lenten Program. “Blessed and Broken” is the Brisbane
Archdiocese program for 2018 which was prayerful and enjoyable last year. If you wish to
prepare for Easter in this way, please contact Mary Collins for an evening session on
4671 2288, or if you prefer a morning session, please contact Yvonne Isaak, on 0427 761
214. There will also be an opportunity to attend Adoration between 5.00pm and 6.00pm each
Thursday during Lent, beginning on the 15th
February. God Bless your Lenten journey.
Congratulations to Jeff Suhr and Karra Nosworthy, who announced their
engagement this week. God’s Blessings to you both.
St. Vincent
De Paul
Meeting
12th February, 2018
5.00pm at
the
St. Vincent de Paul
Shop.
There has been some enquires made recently from parishioners regarding the possibility of a candle prayer devotional stand in the chapel. Recently some material
arrived advertising these stands. The cost of a 22 light stand is $3,600. To gauge whether people would like to look at
getting one, I have placed on the table two designs. If you believe the purchase of one would be a good addition to our
church and prayer space please place a beside your preference, or alternatively if you do not think it is desirable,
please simply place a X. Thank you.
Congratulations to
Fletcher Allan
Leven, baptised last
weekend.
Son of Matthew and
Louise.
May the Holy Spirit
continue to inflame
his heart.
MARK THIS DATE IN YOUR DIARY!
Ash Wednesday will be celebrated
on 14th February with Masses at
7.30am and 5.30pm, or alternatively
you may wish to join one of the
school classes throughout the day.
GROUNDS ROSTER
JANUARY: THOMPSON FAMILY
FEBRUARY: DAN & LISA GALL
VOLUNTEERS
MASS TIMES Tuesday……(Kaloma)…….11.00am
Wednesday ……5.10pm Rosary…..5.30pm Mass Friday……………………5.30pm
27th/28th January, 2018
SATURDAY EVENING: Goondiwindi 6.00pm
SUNDAY MORNING: Goondiwindi 8.00am
NO FAMILY MASS
3rd/4th February, 2018
SATURDAY EVENING: Goondiwnidi 6.00pm
SUNDAY MORNING: Weengallon 8am & Daymar 10am
10th/11th February, 2018
SUNDAY EVENING: Goondiwindi 6.00pm
17th/18th February, 2018
SUNDAY MORNING: Goondiwindi 9.00am
24th/25th February, 2018
SATURDAY EVENING: Goondiwindi 6.00pm
SUNDAY MORNING: Goondiwindi 8.00am
and Family Mass 9.30am
WE PRAY FOR THOSE:
Who have entered your kingdom:
including Barry Kindt, Gwendolyn “Henny” Makim,
Epigenia Cabus (Claire & Rose’s sister), Barbara Duffy, Vince O’Brien
(Roma), Bishop John Gerry, Laurance Martyn, Frank Brosnan, Max
Hohn, Kath Johnson, Muriel “Sis” Plain (Len Cleal’s sister), Robert
Miller, Elaine Symes, June Corish, Ted Heironymus, Gloria Glasser,
Therese Sullivan, Helen Farrell, Fr. Merv Ziesing, Joan Lawson, Thea
McNaulty, Kevin “Skeet” McMaster, David Hollis, Frank Lawless
(Stasia’s son), Pauline Pollock, Monica Peters (Kath Gore’s Aunt), John
Clancy, Margaret Cook, Marie Dutton, Patricia MacBeth (Lismore),
Kevin Heironymus, Patricia Manton, Helen Zeller, Richard Everingham,
Rosemary Keehn, Jim Coleman, Tim Murphy, Margaret Piedl, Margaret
Murphy, Glen Manton, Father Tom Sheeran, Veronica Rayner.
Whose anniversary is at this time: including Isabel Coleman, Philippa
Day, Grant Carrigan, Paul Zacka, Albert Knight, Joyce Turvey, Georgia
Bourke, Carolyn Sewell, James ‘Ally’ Brennan, Molly McDonald, Joan
Turvey, Patrick Morrissy, Brett Linton, Joan Price, Tom Simpson,
Leslie “Cloudy” Marsh, Willy Heynen, Kevin Percival, David Webster,
Joan Smith, Irene “Ronnie” Blomley, Marj McMillan, Patrick Burns, Beth
Cook, Thelva O’Shea, Lynn Sutton, Rachel Cowmeadow, Barbara
Bishop, Fay Gore.
Who are ill: including Loretta Brennan, Donna Lindores, John Abbot,
Angus Rigney, Steve Aspinall, Jan Jan Charles, Tom Turvey, Bill Dyer,
Trish Dyer, Brian Freeney, Pat & Teresa Mullins, Deanna Dawson, Anne
Hunt, Kevin Lawless, Ray Mackie, Peter Keehn, Joan Fleming, Gloria
Bale, David Croft, Tim Bourke, Joe Cowmeadow, Shirley Schluter,
Stasia Lawless, Paul Lloyd, Mavis Gordon, Jean Ramada, Stella
McGovern, Jean Sizer, Francis Lloyd, Madonna Nicoletti, Kathy
McDonald, Steph Adamson, Bailey Brennan, Pauline Robinson, Win
Skinner, Sonya Horrigan, Helen Paige, John Toohey, Marie Cook, Phillip
Carney, Shirley Riley, and Joseph Hord; also those ill at home, in
hospital and for those in Kaloma.
WELCOMERS AT DOOR
KAREN CAIRNS & MARY BELL (28/01)
JENNIFER MAKIM & DI DALZIEL (04/02)
DENISE MCCORMACK & MARIE LLOYD
(11/02)
WELCOMER AT MICROPHONE
ROBYN LINDORES (28/01)
CLAIRE CHARLES (04/02)
ST MARY’S SCHOOL STAFF (11/02)
1ST
READER/PSALM
CAMILLE KELLOWAY (28/01)
MARY COLLINS (04/02)
MARY BURCHELL (11/02)
2ND
READING/ALLELUIA
ST MARY’S SCHOOL STAFF (28/01)
ANDREW ERBACHER (04/02)
GRAHAM MCGOVERN (11/02)
EUCHARIST MINISTERS
MICK CLANCY, ROS PHILLIPS
& BRETT POLLARD (28/01)
MARY BURCHELL, ANNE WEBSTER
& ST MARY’S STAFF MEMBER (04/02)
CARMEL SCHAUMBURG, SUE MCGOVERN
& MICK CLANCY (11/02)
DATA PROJECTOR
PAT THOMPSON (28/01)
ST MARY’S STAFF MEMBER (04/02)
ROS PHILLIPS (11/02)
MONEY COUNTERS
TERESA HEYNEN & BELL FAMILY (28/01)
KERRY O’CONNOR & CLAIRE CHARLES
(04/02)
TERRY & MARGARET RYAN (11/02)
Thank-you for your contributions:
22/01/18
Envelopes: $309.00 Loose: $323.00
Parish Bank A/C Details
A/C Name: ADF St Mary’s Parish
Goondiwindi
BSB: 064-786
A/C Number: 518826001
If paying by direct deposit, please use
your initials/surname as the reference.
THANK-YOU FOR YOUR Contributions: 2
ENVELOPES $324.00 LOOSE $165.00
4TH
SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
28TH
JANUARY, 2018
Introduction
Throughout his ministry, Jesus responded to and addressed the needs around him. Today we hear of his early teaching and confronting evil with authority through an
exorcism. We recognize his profound actions as miracles. We, too, are called to
respond to the needs around us with compassion. We rely on him for the
support we need to address what we see, including dark and difficult issues. Doing
that is a kind of miracle in itself.
First Reading Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Moses speaks of a future prophet.
Responsorial Psalm If today you hear his voice,
harden not your hearts.
Second Reading 1 Corinthians 7:32-35
Paul addresses concerns about marriage.
ALLELUIA! ALLELUIA! A people in darkness have seen a great light: a radiant dawn shines on those lost
in death ALLELUIA!
Gospel Mark 1:21-28
Jesus begins his ministry with exorcism.
Prayers of the Faithful For the church as it continues the ministry of Jesus in every time and place, may we
offer open ears and hearts and seek understanding and compassion in all that
we do ... we pray,
For those called to confront the dark forces of evil in violence, war, poverty and
inequality wherever it is found in the world ... we pray,
For those suffering from the dark forces of physical or mental illness, poverty or
addiction, depression or despair, especially in this community; and for those
who work to assist and heal them ... we pray,
For the needs of this community ... we pray,
For a spirit of quiet hope in this community, especially among the sick, the
dying and the grieving … we pray
Let us pray together: Holy God,
you sent your beloved Son to speak and act prophetically in your name. You gave him power over the dark forces of evil for the sake of the whole world. We
are called to hear his voice and to continue his work of confronting evil
wherever we many find it. Help us, we pray; and empower us in
his name. Amen.
Parish Priest: Fr. Michael O’Brien Phone: 0422 308 955 or 4671 1091
St Mary’s School: Mr Brett Pollard Ph: 4671 1730 Care for the Aged Co-ordinator: Mrs Jane Blomley Ph: 4675 4132 Parish Safeguarding Rep: Mrs Carmel Schaumberg 0419 786 738 Father Michael’s house Phone: 4671 1091 [email protected] 69 Callandoon Street or PO Box 45, Goondiwindi 4390
Parish Secretary:
Mrs Kath Gore
Mobile No:
0427 771 478
Office: 4671 5087
THURSDAY (please
note change of day)
9.30am – 3.30pm
PARISH
INFORMATION
