Catholic Parish of Lindfield-Killara

Transcription

1 Catholic Parish of Lindfield-Killara Diocese of Broken Bay Holy Family Parish Church, Lindfield Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Church, Killara LINDFIELD: KILLARA: MASS TIMES: Saturday 6:00pm Saturday Vigil: 5:30pm Sunday: 8:15am Sunday: 9:15am 10:15am 12:00 (Chinese Community Mass) 6:00pm (for both our communities) Weekdays: Monday No Mass this week No Mass this week Tuesday 6:00pm this wk (see p.5) No Mass this week Wednesday 9:15am ~ Thursday 9:15am ~ Friday 9:15am No Mass this week Saturday 9:15am ~ SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: Saturdays 5:00 5:30pm (Lindfield) For 15 minutes after the 5:30pm Mass (Killara) *** Healing Mass for whole parish at 10am each 2nd Friday of each month TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME This week: Hab 1:2-3, 2:2-4; 2 Tim 1:6-8, 13-14; Lk 17:5-19 Next week : 2 Kg 5:14-17; 2 Tim 2:8-13; Lk 17:11-19 I am inviting you to fan into a flame the gift that God gave you. To fan into a flame the gift we ve been given. St Paul challenges Timothy in the Second Reading to keep alive the enthusiasm of faith and spirituality. Flames come in a variety of sizes. There are great forest fires and there are small scrub fires that are easily put out. St Paul s question to us is which of these describes the energy we bring to our discipleship? Is it a fire, or a flicker? Is it a hobby, or a way of life? Is it something which shapes all that we are and do, or a diversion kept for Sundays and the spare corners of our life? Fr Colin

2 2 Parish Staff and Contact Information We are the one parish of Lindfield-Killara containing our two distinct but collaborating and cooperating communities centred on our two churches at Killara and Lindfield. Holy Family Church: Immaculate Heart of Mary Church: Parish Priest: Fr Colin Blayney Cnr Pacific Hwy and Highfield Rd, Lindfield Cnr Fiddens Wharf Rd and Charles St, Killara Assistant Priest: Fr Thomas Alackakunnel Apart from the case of emergency please restrict the use of the above numbers to between 9:30am and 5:00pm. For office or routine enquiries please contact the Parish Office during office hours. PARISH OFFICE: Parish Secretary: Philita Marundan: Address: Level 1, 2 Highfield Road (cnr Pacific Hwy) Lindfield NSW 2070 (Postal: PO Box 22, Lindfield NSW 2070) Ph: Fax: parish@lindfieldkillara.org.au Parish Office Hours: Monday to Friday 9:30am-1:00pm and 1:30pm-4:00pm Catechist Coordinator (Primary Schools): Sue-Anne Sherwood Sacramental Programme Coordinator: Sue-Anne Sherwood Assistant Sacramental Programme Coordinator: Trish Rodgers Parish Bookkeeper: Alison Williams Parish Facilities Coordinator (voluntary): Anthony Cassidy sue-anne@lindfieldkillara.org.au sue-anne@lindfieldkillara.org.au trish@lindfieldkillara.org.au Parish Primary School: Holy Family School 2-4 Highfield Rd, Lindfield 2070 Ph: Fax: Principal: Mr Lou Dogao info@holyfamily.nsw.edu.au School Website: Parish Website: Saturday 1 Oct 8 Oct Lindfield 6:00pm Fr Michael Smith Fr Colin Blayney Killara 5:30pm Fr Colin Blayney Fr Michael Smith Sunday 2 Oct 9 Oct Lindfield 8:15am Fr Michael Smith Fr Colin Blayney Killara 9:15am Fr Colin Blayney Fr Michael Smith Lindfield 10:15am Fr Michael Smith Fr Colin Blayney Lindfield 12:00noon Fr Lucas Leung Fr Michael Smith Lindfield 6:00pm Fr Colin Blayney Fr Colin Blayney

3 3 RICHARD ROHR S MEDITATION: THE DELIGHT OF DIVERSITY One of the most wonderful things I find in the classic naming of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is its affirmation that there is an intrinsic plurality to goodness. Goodness isn t sameness. Goodness, to be goodness, needs contrast and tension, not perfect uniformity. If Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all God yet clearly different, and we embrace this differentiation, resisting the temptation to blend them into some kind of amorphous blob, then there are at least three shapes to the foundational goodness, truth, and beauty of things. God s goal, it seems to me, is the same in creation. It is the making of persons, not the making of a uniform mob, which means there is clear diversity and a kind of openendedness in all of nature. In other words, heaven is precisely not uniformity. The diversity of heaven was never something I considered in my earlier years. I thought we were all handed the same white robe and standard-issue harp, assigned to an identical cloud for all eternity. But how does Jesus himself deconstruct this big-box, strip-mall, McHeaven franchise? He tells us: In my Father s house are many mansions (Jn 14:2). Even in the eternal nature of things, you re somehow you in your you-ness, on the path that God is leading you on, the journey you are going through, the burdens that you are bearing. All of these are combining to create the precise alchemy of your soul, your holiness, and your response. In the eternal scheme of things, you discover that all God wants from you is you. It feels so insignificant, and yet this is the liberating secret: I am precisely the gift God wants in my full and humble surrender to my ordinariness which ironically is my eternal specialness. All I can give back to God is who I really and fully am! That is all God wants. Yet this seems so boring and pedestrian to us, if we want to be high flyers. The Trinity reveals a pattern of perfect freedom. We now have a full definition of the shape of Divine and also human Love. You can draw perennial wisdom from what I just said for the rest of your life. Indeed, it takes most of our life to realise that it is true. Adapted from Richard Rohr with Mike Morrell, The Divine Dance: The Trinity and Your Transformation (Whitaker House: 2016), OUR MONTHLY HEALING MASS Our monthly Healing Mass (including the celebration of the Sacrament of the Sick) will take place as usual on the 2nd Friday of the month (Friday week 14th July) at 10am. CHANGED VENUE: Please note that as the hall at Killara is still out of action the venue for this month s Healing Mass will once again be Lindfield church followed by morning tea in the Shirley Wallace Parish Centre. If you or someone you know would like to attend but is unable to get there or needs assistance in travelling please ring Fran Grant who will be happy to organise transport:

4 4 OUR CHURCH WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE 2016 NATIONAL CHURCH LIFE SURVEY Our church will amongst thousands of churches that complete the 2016 National Church Life Survey (NCLS) in October and November this year. The purpose of the NCLS is to help the churches to be more vital and effective. Through the survey our churchgoers will be able to give their thoughts, opinions and experiences of life church. The survey provides valuable feedback that enables leaders at local, regional and national levels to evaluate and plan for the future. After 25 years of experience you can be assured that this Christiaan mission research with proven academic credibility will lead to practical application in churches. Our church s contribution will form an important part of the national snapshot of the whole Australian Church. DEATH OF FR THOMAS MOTHER As a parish we extend our prayers and sympathy to Fr Thomas at the death of his mother Aleykuttel last Sunday. Aleykuttel had experienced poor health in recent years following several strokes. Fr Thomas has flown back to India for the funeral (which took place last Tuesday) and to be with his family. He will return to the parish on 10th October. Please pray for the gift of eternal life for Aleykuttel and for strength and comfort for Fr Thomas and his family. Fr Colin PROPOSAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE KILLARA CARPARK: There will be a Parish Meeting on Sunday 6th November at 11:30am in Killara church. This meeting is for the whole parish both the Lindfield and Killara communities - since the stewardship of our resources is a matter that concerns the future of us all in the parish. Emma McDonald, the Diocesan Financial Administrator will also attend and contribute to this meeting. The meeting will outline the steps taken to address parishioner concerns which arose in the Forums earlier this year, present the recommended proposal and allow time for clarification of any of the issues involved. Please note the date in your diary. Our next Parish Social Event: PARISH COMEDY TRIVIA NIGHT SATURDAY 22 7PM Trivia starts at 7.30pm MARY MACKILLOP HALL (next to Holy Family School) Share the fun of the parish comedy trivia night a great evening of general knowledge trivia and music hosted by comedian Stef Torok. Purchase individual tickets to join a table to make new friends or organise your own team of ten people. BYO table nibbles and drinks Tickets $20 includes a champagne/beer & nibbles upon arrival and tea/coffee & sweet treat for supper. Tickets available at

5 5 SPECIAL MASS FOR ALL YEAR 12 STUDENTS SITTING FOR THEIR HSC OR IB THIS YEAR. Take a break from studying and come to our traditional HSC/IB Mass! This year Mass will be THIS Tuesday 4th October at 6:00pm at Holy Family church. Please note that this date has CHANGED. We had previously announced the date of Wednesday 12th October but have since realised that this is the eve of the exams beginning. The new date is Tuesday 4th October. After Mass please join us in the Shirley Wallace Centre above the church for pizza and a time to catch up before heading home to study! If you d like to read or sing at the Mass, please contact Jean on or by at youth@lindfieldkillara.org.au SOME CHANGES TO OUR WEEKDAY MASS PROGRAMME WHILE FR THOMAS IS AWAY As you will read on page 4, last Sunday we received the sad news that Fr Thomas mother, Aleykuttel, had died. While Fr Thomas is away there will be no weekday Masses at our Killara church. Weekday Masses will be celebrated at our Lindfield church as per the front page of the bulletin although please note that there will be no Masses on Mondays until Fr Thomas return. We are grateful to Fr Michael Smith who will cover the Sunday Masses that Fr Thomas would have celebrated. Fr Colin REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR PARISH HALL AT KILLARA We re pleased to advise that these works will commence on 13th October. The annexe will be removed, though its roof will be retained to provide a covered outdoor area, drainage and ventilation will be improved, a new kitchen will be installed and the hall floor sanded and polished and storage cupboards built in (to replace the storage previously provided in the annexe). The hall will also be air-conditioned. The result should be a much-improved facility for our parish on our Killara site. The removal of the annexe and the replacement of the kitchen is due to the water damage caused in the rains earlier in the year, though the annexe did not itself meet building standards and long-term water issues had also created a health issue due to mould. The rectification however gives us an opportunity to improve the main part of the hall as a community facility of our parish. Fr Colin PARISH YOUNG ADULTS GROUP The next gathering is today Sunday 2nd October immediately following the 6pm Mass and will be held in the lounge in the Shirley Wallace Parish Centre on the first floor of Lindfield church. All young adults welcome a relaxed and informal time (with food). HOLY ROSARY A small group recite the Rosary on Wednesday mornings before Mass at Lindfield church, at approximately 8:50am. We would welcome others, especially during October, the month of the Holy Rosary.

6 6 THE PRAYERS AND RESPONSES OF MASS GLORIA: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen. INVITATION TO PRAYER LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST: Celebrant: Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours.. May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise & glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his holy Church. SANCTUS: Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. INVITATION TO HOLY COMMUNION: Celebrant: Behold the Lamb of God All: Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed. MEMORIAL ACCLAMATION:

7 THE PSALM Ps 94: Come, ring out our joy to the Lord; hail the rock who saves us. Let us come before God, giving thanks, with songs let us hail the Lord. Come in; let us bow and bend low; let us kneel before the God who made us for the Lord is our God and we the people who belong to God s pasture, the flock that is led by God s hand. O that today you would listen to God s voice! Harden not your hearts as at Meribah, as on that day at Massah in the desert when your ancestors put me to the test; when they tried me, though they saw my work. At Masses at which the Psalm is sung the response is: If today you hear God s voice, harden not your hearts. 7 THE APOSTLES CREED I believe in one God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, (all bow at the following words in bold): who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Alleluia, alleluia! The word of the Lord stands for ever; it is the word given to you, the Good News Alleluia! RESPONSES TO THE PSALM FOR WEEKDAY MASS THIS WEEK: Mon: The Lord will remember his covenant for ever. Tues: Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way. Wed: Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen Thurs: Blessed is the Lord God of Israel; for he has come to his people. Fri: The Lord will remember his covenant for ever. Sat: The Lord will remember his covenant for ever. CELEBRATIONS THIS WEEK: Tuesday: Memoria of St Francis of Assisi Friday: Memoria of Our Lady of the Rosary Our New Parish SCRIPTURE STUDY GROUP meets on the second Wednesday of each month (therefore next meeting is Wednesday week 12th October) from 10am 11am. The new venue is the Library in the Shirley Wallace Parish Centre. We are working through John s Gospel and so it would be helpful to have read John chp. 4 for the coming meeting. All welcome. Fr Colin

8 8 Some dates for your diaries Mass for HSC students THIS Tuesday 4th October at 6pm, followed by refreshments in the Shirley Wallace Parish Centre. Please note that this date has CHANGED! Blessing of animals Sunday 16th October at 11:30am in the grounds of our church at Killara. Bring your pet along to be blessed to celebrate the gift of God s creation. Parish Comedy Trivia Night Saturday 22nd October at 7pm. See page 4. Thank You Evening for Volunteers Tuesday 25th October 7:30pm Mass followed by food and drink in the Shirley Wallace Parish Centre for everyone in both of our communities who serves or volunteers in any way. Mass for those commemorated on Memorial Wall (Lindfield): Saturday 5th November at 9:15am Bishop Peter s Visitation Friday 11th Sunday 13th November Details coming soon Heralding Advent Ecumenical Service Tuesday 22nd November at 7:45pm. Venue to be advised. Mass for those commemorated on Memorial Wall (Killara): Wednesday 16th November at 7pm Carols Under the Stars Friday 9th December for the second year the parish and our school will collaborate in hosting this community evening on our site at Lindfield ENCOUNTER SHORT COURSE -Christian Spirituality: Awakening the Deep Spirituality is central to what it means to be human. This ENCOUNTER course will be highlight the meaning of spirituality and how it is understood within the Catholic tradition, including the stages in the spiritual life; the insights and wisdom provided by the Doctors of the Church; and the practical skills to encourage and deepen the spiritual life. Presenter: Very Rev Dr David Ranson, Parish Priest Holy Name Parish Wahroonga and Vicar General, Diocese of Broken Bay. Date: Thursday 20 October, 7:00pm- 9:30pm, Parish Hall, Forestville Or: Friday 28th October, 7:00pm 9:30pm, Wahroonga Parish

9 9 PLAQUES ACKNOWLEDGING DONORS AND/OR THOSE IN WHOSE MEMORY DONATIONS WERE MADE FOR THE RENOVATION AND BEAUTIFICATION OF HOLY FAMILY CHURCH LAST YEAR The above plaques have now been installed in Holy Family church and are located under the Station of the Cross on the left hand side of the main nave, immediately adjacent to the main foyer of the church. The plaque for Killara church will be completed soon. FOR INQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT THE PARISH OFFICE Henry & Gloria Cheung Parishioners Serving the Australian Construction Industry for 30 years UNIVERSAL INSTRUMENTS 326 Pacific Hway, Lindfield NSW 2070 Tel no Fax no Address: 319 Pacific Highway, North Sydney, NSW King Street, Newton 6 Pitt Street Parramatta Phone: / FAX: W: E: wnbull@bigpond.com.au Member of Australian Funeral Directors Associatio Lindfield Dental Practice Dr Peter Chung DDS, MDS, PhD Clinical Assoc Professor Open: Mon-Sat P: Suite 1, 345 Pacific Highway (Scholastic Bldg) Next to Lindfield Medical Practice Book of Remembrance The Book of Remembrance in each of our two churches in the parish will be put in its place of honour on All Souls Day and will remain in each church throughout November. Please write in the names of relatives and friends who have died in the last year: - at Killara the Book of Remembrance is on a stand in the middle of the church during this month of October - at Lindfield the Book of Remembrance is on the cupboards in the main foyer of the church.

10 10 CHINESE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY 常年期第二十七主日 讀經一 ( 義人必因他的信德而生活 ) 恭讀哈巴谷先知書 1:2-3; 2:2-4 上主, 我向你求救, 而你不垂聽, 要到何時? 向你呼喊 殘暴, 而你仍不施救? 為什麼你使我見到邪惡 ; 人受壓迫, 而你竟坐視不管? 在我面前, 只有迫害和殘暴, 爭吵不休, 辯論四起 上主回答我說 : 你寫出這神視, 清楚地刻在版上, 使人能流利誦讀 因為這神視有一定的期限, 最後必要實現, 決無欺詐 ; 若遲延了, 你應等待 ; 它必定來, 決不誤期 看, 心術不正的, 必然消逝 ; 義人必因他的信德而生活 上主的話 ( 默想片刻 ) 答唱詠詠 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 答 : 你們今天該聽從他的聲音, 不要再那樣心硬 ( 詠 95:8) 領 : 請大家前來, 我們要向上主歌舞, 齊向救助我們的磐石, 高歌歡呼 ; 一齊到他面前, 感恩讚頌, 向他歌唱聖詩, 歡呼吟詠 答 領 : 請大家前來, 一齊伏地朝拜, 向造我們的上主, 屈膝示愛 因為他是我們的真神, 我們是他牧養的人民, 是他親手所引導的羊群 答 領 : 今天, 該聽從他的聲音 : 不要再像在默黎巴那樣心硬, 也不要像在曠野中瑪撒那天, 你們的祖先, 雖然見過我的工作, 在那裡, 他們還是試探我, 考驗我 答 讀經二 ( 不要以給我們的主作證為恥 ) 恭讀聖保祿宗徒致弟茂德後書 1:6-8,13-14 親愛的 : 我提醒你把天主藉我的覆手, 所賦予你的恩賜, 再熾燃起來, 因為, 天主所賜給我們的, 並非怯懦之神, 而是大能 愛德和慎重之神 所以, 你不要以給我們的主作證為恥, 也不要以我這為主被囚的人為恥, 但要依賴天主的大能, 為福音同我共受勞苦 你要以信德, 及在基督耶穌內的愛德, 把從我所聽的健全道理, 奉為模範 ; 且依賴那住在我們內的聖神, 保管你所受的美好寄託 上主的話 ( 默想片刻 ) 福音前歡呼領 : 亞肋路亞 眾 : 亞肋路亞 領 : 上主的話永遠常存 這話就是傳報給你們的福音 ( 伯前 1:25) 眾 : 亞肋路亞 福音 ( 如果你們有信德 ) 恭讀聖路加福音 17:5-10 那時候, 宗徒向主說 : 請增加我們的信德吧! 主說 : 如果你們有信德, 像芥子那樣大, 即使你們給這棵桑樹說 : 你連根拔出, 移植到海中去! 它也會服從你們 你們中間, 誰有僕人耕田或放羊, 從田裡回來, 即給他說 : 你快過來, 坐下吃飯吧! 而不對他說 : 給我預備晚飯, 束上腰, 伺候我, 等我吃喝完了, 以後你才吃喝? 僕人 做了吩咐的事, 主人豈要向他道 謝? 你們也是這樣, 既做完吩咐 你們的一切, 仍然要說 : 我們是無 用的僕人, 我們不過做了我們應做 的事 上主的話 ( 講道後默想片刻 ) 華人天主教會北區中心 主日彌撒 12 時 彌撒後. 午餐聚會, 餐費 $5.00 歡迎 各教友參加. 牧職修女司徒金美修女 中心聯絡 Gloria Cheung /10-9/10 學校假期期間, 午餐暫停 供應, 16/10/16 恢復供應, Sunday School 主日學 12noon, Parish Meeting Room 主日學 2/10-9/10 假期 1610 恢復 ( 國 / 粵語 ) 慕道班, 11:00am-12noon 聯絡 : Sr. Anne Maria Come and learn Christmas Carols and Dance 9/10 and 13/11 after lunch at Parish Hall. All welcome. CCC Bulletin 下期主題 : 慈悲的化身 - 服務, 9/10 截稿, 華人天主教會高齡之家週年大會 將於 2/10 星期日下午二時十五分 時在在依士活中心舉行, 華人天 主教會週年大會亦都喺同日下午 三時在依士活中心舉行 誠意邀請所有會員出席, 唯必需成為會員不少於六個月 者, 方可擁有在大會上之投票權

11 11 (continued from page 12 ): There s a certain parallel to this in the seeming doubts suffered by Mother Teresa. When her diaries were published and revealed her dark night of the soul, many people were shocked and asked: How could this happen to her? A deeper understanding of faith would, I believe, ask instead: why wouldn t this happen to her, given her faith and her openness to enter into Jesus full experience? But, this has still a further complication: sometimes for person of deep faith it doesn t happen this way and instead he or she dies calm and unafraid, buoyed up by faith like a safe ship on stormy waters. Why does this happen to some and not to others? We have no answer. Faith doesn t put us all one the same conveyor-belt where one dynamic fits all. Sometimes people with deep faith die, as Jesus did, in darkness and fear; and sometimes people with deep faith they die in calm and peace. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross submits that each of us goes through five clear stages in dying, namely, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Kathleen Dowling Singh suggests that what Kubler-Ross defines as acceptance needs some further nuance. According to Singh, the toughest part of that acceptance is full surrender and, prior to that surrender, some people, though not everyone, will undergo a deep interior darkness that, on the surface, can look like despair. Only after that, do they experience joy and ecstasy. All of us need to learn the lesson that Nouwen learned at his mother s deathbed: Faith, like love, admits of various modalities and may not be judged simplistically from the outside. Fr Ron Rolheiser omi, from the Centre for Liturgy PHYSIOFIT Lindfield Parishioner PHYSIOTHERAPISTS: KERRY WESTON (Bogard) THERESA GUDE Hands on treatment Exercise prescription Exercise classes We are located at 7/345 Pacific Highway, Lindfield 2070 (Scholastic Building) Ph: Mob: kerry@physiofitlindfield.com.au Comfort Inn North Shore Family owned and professionally operated motel with on-site restaurant Address: 1 Gatacre Avenue, Lane Cove Phone: res@cins.com.au Website: Lord, in Jesus your Son, you restored to us the gift of everlasting life. Grant that life to: Recently deceased: Judith Power, Anthony Edwards. Please pray for those who are sick : Br Kevin Blyth fms, Braden, Brian Couper, Geraldine Haydock, Kieran Norton, Sean Maguire, Pakie Maguire, Naneth Bernado, Peter Norton, Adrian Selwyn, Marjorie Simpkins, Michael & John Swan.

12 12 REFLECTING ON THIS SUNDAY S SCRIPTURES.. Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink. You may eat and drink when I am finished. FAITH AND FEAR A common soldier dies without fear, yet Jesus died afraid. Iris Murdoch wrote this and that truth can be somewhat disconcerting. Why? If someone dies with deep faith, shouldn t he or she die within a certain calm and trust drawn from that faith? Wouldn t the opposite seem more logical, that is, if someone dies without faith shouldn t he or she die with more fear? And perhaps the most confusing of all: Why did Jesus, the paragon of faith, die afraid, crying out in a pain that can seem like a loss of faith? The problem lies in our understanding. Sometimes we can be very naïve about faith and its dynamics, thinking that faith in God is a ticket to earthly peace and joy. But faith isn t a path to easy calm, nor does it assure us that we will exit this life in calm, and that can be pretty unsettling and perplexing at times. Here s an example: The renowned spiritual writer, Henri Nouwen, in a book entitled In Memoriam shares this story around his mother s death: Nouwen, a native of the Netherlands, was teaching in the USA when he received a call that his mother was dying back home in the Netherlands. On his flight home, from New York to Amsterdam, he reflected on his mother s faith and virtue and concluded that she was the most Christian woman he had ever known. With that as a wonderfully consoling thought, he fantasied about how she would die, how her last hours would be filled with faith and calm, and how that faith and calm would be her final, faith-filled witness to her family. But that s not the way it played out. Far from being calm and unafraid, his mother, in the final hours leading up to her death, was seemingly in the grip of some inexplicable darkness, of some deep inner disquiet, and of something that looked like the antithesis of faith. For Nouwen this was very disconcerting. Why? Why would his mother be undergoing this disquiet when for all her life she had been a woman of such strong faith? Initially this unsettled him deeply, until a deeper understanding of faith broke through: His mother had been a woman who every day of her adult life had prayed to Jesus, asking him to empower her to live as he lived and to die as he died. Well, seemingly, her prayer was heard. She did die like Jesus who, though having a rock-solid faith, sweated blood while contemplating his own death and then cried out on the cross, anguished with the feeling that God had forsaken him. In brief, her prayer had been answered. She had asked Jesus to let her die as he did and, given her openness to it, her prayer was granted, to the confusion of her family and friends who had expected a very different scene. That is also true for the manner of Jesus death and the reaction of his family and disciples. This isn t the way anyone naturally fantasises the death of a faithfilled person. But a deeper understanding of faith reverses that logic: Looking at the death of Henri Nouwen s mother, the question is not, how could this happen to her? The question is rather: why wouldn t this happen to her? It s what she asked for and, being a spiritual athlete who asked God to send her the ultimate test, why wouldn t God oblige? (continued on page 11 )