Catholic Parish of Lindfield-Killara Diocese of Broken Bay Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish Church, Killara Holy Family Parish Church, Lindfield 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 9:15am 7:30am Tuesday 12:15pm 7:30am Wednesday 9:15am ~ Thursday 9:15am ~ Friday 9:15am ** 7:30am *** Saturday 9:15am ~ ** NO 9:15 Mass at Lindfield nor 7:30am Mass at Killara on the 2nd Friday of each month *** Healing Mass for whole parish at Killara at 10am each 2nd Friday of each month SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 19 2-17 This week: Lev 19:1-2, 17-18; 1 Cor 3:16-23; Mt 5:38-48 Next week : Is 49:14-15; 1 Cor 4:1-5; Mt 6:24-34 We live in a culture of blame and expectation: most of the print space of our papers and the sound bites of our media reflect the everyday views of citizens: we live in a most privileged of societies and yet are so aware of what isn t happening the way we want it to: complaint is the bread and butter of the media. But perhaps it only reflects the mindset of its readers, viewers and listeners? Which is perhaps why today s Gospel is the least practised passage in the Scriptures: turn the other cheek, give them your cloak as well as your tunic. We re more likely to be aware of how we re being mistreated than of how we could go the extra mile. Yet here is the heart of the Gospel. Its very difficult heart. But does it describe our own heart? Fr Colin
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: cnr Pacific Hwy and Highfield Rd, Lindfield Immaculate Heart of Mary Church: cnr Fiddens Wharf Rd and Charles St, Killara Parish Priest: Fr Colin Blayney colin@lindfieldkillara.org.au 9416 7195 Assistant Priest: Fr Thomas Alackakunnel VC thomas@lindfieldkillara.org.au 0421 406 162 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: philita@lindfieldkillara.org.au Address: Level 1, 2 Highfield Road (cnr Pacific Hwy) Lindfield NSW 2070 (Postal: PO Box 22, Lindfield NSW 2070) Ph: 9416 3702 Fax: 9416 3913 Email: 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: Maia Schulze Tsang Parish Priest s Secretary: Maia Schulze Tsang Parish Bookkeeper: Alison Williams Parish Facilities Coordinator (voluntary): Anthony Cassidy sue-anne@lindfieldkillara.org.au 0416 141 508 sue-anne@lindfieldkillara.org.au 0416 141 508 Parish Primary School: Holy Family School, 4 Highfield Rd, Lindfield 2070 Ph: 9416 7200 Fax: 9416 9342 Principal: Mr Lou Dogao Email: info@holyfamily.nsw.edu.au School Website: www.hfldbb.catholic.edu.au/ Parish Website: www.lindfieldkillara.org.au Saturday 18 Feb 25 Feb Lindfield 6:00pm Fr Thomas Alackakunnel Fr Colin Blayney Killara 5:30pm Fr Colin Blayney Fr Thomas Alackakunnel Sunday 19 Feb 26 Feb Lindfield 8:15am Fr Thomas Alackakunnel Fr Colin Blayney Killara 9:15am Fr Colin Blayney Fr Thomas Alackakunnel Lindfield 10:15am Fr Thomas Alackakunnel Fr Colin Blayney Lindfield 12:00noon Fr Thomas Alackakunnel Visitor Lindfield 6:00pm Fr Colin Blayney Fr Thomas Alackakunnel
3 RICHARD ROHR S MEDITATION: OVERTAKEN BY OCEANIC ONENESS Today s guest writer, CAC faculty member James Finley, shares what it is like to be within nondual consciousness. We approach nondual consciousness by means of our contemplative experience. To contemplate means to observe carefully, to pay attention. Throughout the day, things catch our eye and we momentarily contemplate them. In the quietness of the sustained attentive gaze, we recognise a preciousness an immediate worth or value for which no words can do justice. And we sense this is so because the worth or value is God s presence pouring itself out and giving itself away in and as the gift and miracle in whatever it is that may have captured our attention. Furthermore, we recognise ourselves to be one with this intimately realised experience of God pouring itself out in and as the gift and miracle of our life. Let s say, for example, that you go out to do some gardening. You begin in dualistic consciousness, trying to get some things done. But while you are working in your deepening attentiveness to the earth you are graced with a felt sense of oneness with the preciousness of the earth and the gift of life. This attentiveness brings you an experience of oneness with the earth, which in turn gives rise to a sense of your own preciousness in your oneness with that life all around you. This experience is true for all of us. We have each had a taste of nondual consciousness: the face of our beloved, a child at play, the sound of running water, the intimacy of darkness in the middle of a sleepless night. Our lives move in and out of nondual consciousness. In these moments, we intuitively use the word God for the infinity of the primordial preciousness we, in such moments, realise ourselves to be one with. In these moments we realise that nothing is missing anywhere & what fools we are to worry so. As I reflect on this, it dawns on me that the root of sorrow is my estrangement from the intimately realised oneness and preciousness of all things. I m skimming over the surface of the depths of my life. Yet, I know in my heart that the God-given, godly nature of every breath and heartbeat is hidden in the ever present depths over which I am skimming in my preoccupations with the day s demands. So the question becomes, how can I learn not to play the cynic, not to break faith my awakened heart? In my most childlike hour, I have tasted the presence of God that is perpetually manifesting and giving itself to me as my very life. While the value of my life is not dependent upon the degree to which I realize this unitive mystery that is always there, the experiential quality of my life is profoundly related to the degree to which I am learning to live in habitual awareness of and fidelity to the God-given, godly nature of the life that I m living. I cannot make moments of nondual consciousness happen. I can only assume the inner stance that offers the least resistance to be overtaken by the grace of nondual consciousness. Two lovers cannot make moments of oceanic oneness happen, but together they can assume the inner stance that allows them to be overtaken by the oceanic oneness that blesses their life. My spiritual practice is to sit each day in childlike sincerity with an inner stance that offers the least resistance to being overtaken by the God-given, godly nature of myself just the way I am. This is my sense of what nondual consciousness is and the contemplative way of life in which we, with God's grace, become ever more habitually grounded in it.
4 WHAT IS FUSION? We are a safe place for teens to socialise with each other on a Friday night, learning about their faith in a relevant, fun way. We share a meal together, play some games and talk about the things that matter to teenagers. NEXT FUSION MEETING is Friday 24th February Yrs 7-8 meet 5.30 to 7.30 pm. Yrs 9-12 meet from 7 pm to 9 pm. 5 reasons why FUSION is great for teenagers: 1. Teenagers need role models and mentors. 2. Teenagers need community. 3. Teenagers need mission and a sense of purpose. 4. Teenagers need to learn about their faith from each other. 5. Teenagers need a safe place to confess and confide about the troubles in their lives. This week we explore reason #4: Teenagers need to learn about their faith from each other Youth group is a place where teenagers can wrestle through the theology you've been teaching them as parents and, for some, learning about in school. Whilst parents and other adults have great wisdom to share, the reality is that in the teen years, kids look towards other young people to guide their thinking. Youth groups and small groups should be a place where teenagers can ask tough questions and even share doubts and struggles with their beliefs without fear of rebuke. FIRST RECONCILIATION: ENROLMENT FOR PREPARATION FOR FIRST RECONCILIATION IS NOW OPEN: The (online) enrolment process is open until 26th February. Please go to the parish website (www.lindfieldkillara.org.au) and click on What s New? on the homepage. A MESSAGE TO OUR PERIODIC AND DIRECT DEBIT CONTRIBUTORS: HAS YOUR CREDIT CARD S NUMBER OR EXPIRY DATE CHANGED? If so the Parish Office has probably sent you a form to update the details for us. It would be very much appreciated if you could return that form in the next week since we cannot receive your promised contribution until we have the updated details. Thank you
5 AN UPDATE ON PARISH FINANCES In the first place thank you to all for your on-going financial support of our parish. However I d like to draw to your attention that we are currently showing an 11% decline on our Second Collection income compared to last year. As you d appreciate we cannot maintain our parish both physically and pastorally with a decline of that level. Indeed as we all know costs increase each year. Our First Collection (the wooden plates) (which provides for the care and support of the priests) income is stable (though we certainly want to maintain it at its current level) but our Second Collection (the wicker baskets), which provides all the funds for the running of the parish, its maintenance and the provision of our ministries and pastoral life, is the one which has fallen behind significantly. If everyone could contribute just $2 per week every week it would make a huge difference. Or you might be able to make a one-off additional contribution. Whatever you could do would be much appreciated and would be a great encouragement as we try to be a growing and serving Christian community. Fr Colin ROSEVILLE LINDFIELD KILLARA INTERCHURCH FELLOWSHIP LENTEN ECUMENICAL SERVICES We are blessed that this year we will again be having three Lenten Ecumenical Services with our fellow Churches in our local area. Please be part of this wonderful opportunity to build the bridges of Christian Unity during the Lenten season of renewal: Tuesday 7th March at 7:45pm at Roseville Uniting Church Lord St, Roseville Preacher: Rev. Colin Blayney (from Lindfield- Killara Catholic Parish) Tuesday 21st March at 7:45pm at Holy Family Catholic Church, Lindfield Preacher: Rev. Mary Pearson (from Lindfield Uniting Church) Tuesday 4th April at 7:45pm at Killara Uniting Church Cnr Arnold St and Karranga Ave, Killara Preacher: The Rt. Rev. Peter Watson, retired Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne
6 CARPARK LEASE AT KILLARA At the end of last year the Parish Pastoral Council, Parish Finance Committee, and the Killara Development Committee, both in separate meetings and then in Joint Sitting endorsed the move to put the proposal for the lease of a substantial section of the carpark at Killara for official approval by the Bishop and the College of Consultors. As you know this came at the end of nearly two years of research, negotiations and meetings at various levels within the parish. On 2nd February the meeting of the Bishop and the College of Consultors considered the proposal. During this last week we received the letter from Bishop Peter giving approval for the project. I think that this is good news for the whole parish as it ensures us of a sound financial future and the consequent ability to grow as a ministering community - which after all, is why we are here. I know that some will still be concerned but with time I hope that it will become clear that this is very much an investment in our parish's future rather than a threat to it. I would also like to re-state some of the important assurances that have been explained before: the site is being leased, not sold the leasee will be Group Homes Australia (GHA) who will build two houses (they are houses, not institutional buildings) for older residents who need varying levels of care. The operation of the houses will be entirely the responsibility of GHA. the development of the residences by GHA is at their expense and the lease will yield the parish a substantial annual indexed income at the end of the lease the two houses pass over into parish ownership in order to ensure that the lease arrangements are to the greatest benefit and protection of the parish we will engage a legal firm with Church experience to assist in the preparation of the lease contract. This will in turn be submitted to the diocese for approval. our aim is to provide twenty parking spaces for parish use At this point I would also like to thank all who have worked so hard to bring us to this point. Much hard work has been done to ensure that our parish is on a sound footing to move confidently into the future. The Killara Development Committee will now progress the project and, as stated above, in the first place engage a legal firm with Church expertise to coordinate the negotiation of the lease. We will keep you all regularly updated on developments. Fr Colin
7 DO YOU HAVE A WINDOWS PC OR LAPTOP THAT YOU COULD GIVE TO THE PARISH CENTRE? We need to create a work station for some of our volunteers in ministry who need computer access from time to time in the parish centre. Please contact Fr Colin or Philita if you can help. NEW MEMBER OF OUR PARISH STAFF We're pleased to advise that the successful candidate for the two positions of Assistant Sacramental Programme Coordinator, and part-time Secretary to Fr Colin, is Maia Schulze-Tsang. We will have more details next week. We expect that Maia will begin work the week after next. Please make her very welcome. Inviting New Members to Join the Parish Pastoral Council for Our Parish What is the role of the PPC? The PPC s primary role is pastoral planning working together with the priests of the parish to envision what needs to be done to keep our parish growing and evolving as the best possible Christian community it can be. Would you be willing to offer your time and wisdom to serve our parish in this way? Many of the current members are happy to renew their membership of the PPC and we invite nominations from up to six more people to join the PPC for a three-year term. We need representatives from both of the communities in our parish. Meetings are monthly, on the second Tuesday of the month at 7:30pm, with the venue alternating between our Lindfield and Killara sites. We need a strong and vibrant PPC if we are to grow as a parish please don t leave it to others but consider if you could help in this way. Also, if you can think of someone who would serve the parish well as a PPC member please discuss this with them and encourage them to put their name forward or get their permission for you to do that! Please contact Fr Colin by 19th March if you would like to join the PPC.
8 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:
THE PSALM PS 102:1-4. 8. 10. 12-13 My soul, give thanks to the Lord, all my being, bless God s holy name. My soul, give thanks to the Lord and never forget all God s blessings. It is the Lord who forgives all your guilt, who heals every one of your ills, who redeems your life from the grave, who crowns you with love and compassion. The Lord is compassion and love, slow to anger and rich in mercy. God does not treat us according to our sins nor repay us according to our faults. As far as the east is from the west so far does the Lord remove our sins. As a father has compassion on his children, the Lord has pity on those who fear him. At Masses at which the Psalm is sung the response is: The Lord is kind and merciful. GOSPEL ACCLAMATION : Alleluia, alleluia! Whoever keeps the word of Christ, grows perfect in the love of God. Alleluia! RESPONSES TO THE PSALM FOR WEEKDAY MASS: Mon : The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty. Tues: Commit your life to the Lord, and he will help you. Wed: The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. Thurs : Happy are they who hope in the Lord. Fri: Happy the people the Lord has chosen to be his own. Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands. Sat: The Lord s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him. CELEBRATIONS THIS WEEK: Wednesday: Feast of The Chair of Saint Peter the Apostle Thursday: Memoria of St Polycarp, bishop and martyr. 9 THE NICENE CREED I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible. I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, (all bow at the following words in bold): and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father & the Son, who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church. I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen
10 PARISH PLAYGROUP Characters Playgroup meets every Wednesday from 10:30am till noon (during school terms) in the Shirley Wallace Parish Centre on the first floor of Holy Family church. Please register via Trybooking: www.trybooking.com/jykw Please contact Sue-Anne for more details: sue-anne@lindfieldkillara.org.au PARISH YOUNG ADULTS GROUP The next gathering for the year takes place today Sunday 19th February 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 (including dinner). All young adults welcome. Gatherings generally take place every alternate Sunday night the full schedule of dates can be found on the parish website under Groups and Ministries Young Adults. RENOVATIONS & BUILDING MAINTENANCE CHRIS IACONO Parishioner All work large and small Lic 89879c Fully Insured 50 years experience Mobile : 0412 256 616 Phone : 9416 36 98 chris.iacono@bigpond.com Comfort Inn North Shore Family owned and professionally operated motel with on-site restaurant Address: 1 Gatacre Avenue, Lane Cove Phone: 02 9427 0266 Email: res@cins.com.au Website: www.cins.com.au Being a catechist is a calling, an invitation from God, an honour!!!!! We have 1 place waiting for special people to fill: Beaumont Rd Yr 4, Tues 11.30-12pm Classes began 14 February. Please contact Sue-Anne at sue-anne@lindfieldkillara.org.au
11 Making our two churches beautiful for the celebration of the liturgy - - providing/arranging flowers for the altar KILLARA: Each week, Killara Church has numerous generous volunteers who arrange flowers and clean the candles. We need more helpers to continue this tradition. No special skills or training is needed. Also, you may be able provide flowers on one or two rostered Sundays per year from your own garden. Or you may be able to donate the cost of the flowers for a given week. If you can help in any of these ways please email or ring Mary Hor (marymhor@gmail.com or 0414 394 338). LINDFIELD: would you be able to provide flowers on one or two rostered Sundays per year from your own garden. Or could you donate the cost of the flowers for a given week Or would you be willing to be on a roster to arrange the donated flowers If you can help in any of these ways please email Betty Harris (betty@honeypotmarketing.com.au) 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: 9416 3155 Mob: 0417 456 294 Email: kerry@physiofitlindfield.com.au Henry & Gloria Cheung Parishioners Serving the Australian Construction Industry for 30 years UNIVERSAL INSTRUMENTS 326 Pacific Hway, Lindfield NSW 2070 Tel no. 94165335 Fax no. 94161538 E:sales@universalinstruments.com.au Address: 319 Pacific Highway, North Sydney, NSW 2060 164 King Street, Newton 6 Pitt Street Parramatta Phone: 9519-5344/99545255 FAX: 95194310 W: www.wnbull.com.au E: wnbull@wnbull.com.au Member of Australian Funeral Directors Association Lindfield Dental Practice Dr Peter Chung DDS, MDS, PhD Clinical Assoc Professor Open: Mon-Sat P: 9416 5000 Suite 1, 345 Pacific Highway (Scholastic Bldg) Next to Lindfield Medical Practice
12 THE PARISH STUDY GROUP DURING LENT: as part of the parish Lenten Groups the Parish Study Group will meet weekly for prayer, and reflection on the Scripture readings for each Sunday commencing Sunday 5th March. Meetings will be held in the Library of the Shirley Wallace Parish Centre above Holy Family church, commencing after the 8.15 am Eucharist about 9 a.m. - and finish in time for those wanting to participate in the 10.15 a.m. Eucharist. Booklets from the Diocese of Wollongong will be used as guidelines. The booklets in former years have had commentaries rich with insights into scriptural texts, and can be expected to again. An invitation is extended to all to join the Group in prayer and discussions. No need to book or call, just take the lift to the first floor and be there. Coffee? No problem. ANNUAL WORLD DAY OF PRAYER SERVICE Churches within the Roseville-Lindfield-Killara area are invited to the World Day of Prayer Service rotated annually between these participating Congregations. This year s Service is written by women in the Philippines and is shaped by Matthew 20. 1-16 which invites the theme: Am I being unfair to you? Fri 3rd March at 10.30am at Killara Uniting Church, cnr Arnold St & Karranga Ave, Killara. Preacher: Rev John Barr until recently Uniting Church Director of World Mission. A collection will be taken up in aid of a Bible Society project in the Philippines. Enquiries & offers to join in leading the Service to Rev Ian Pearson (ihpearson@bigpond.com). Morning tea follows. HOW WILL YOU KEEP THIS LENT? The Season of Lent is an annual invitation to renewal in discipleship and strengthening of the Christian community. Please be part of a Lenten study group to reflect on the Gospel and the challenges of Lent together. The Lenten groups would begin in the week starting Sunday 5th March. Please detach and return to the Parish Office. Name(s): Phone: Email: I would like to be part of a Lenten group I would be willing to host a weekly Lenten group in my home I would be willing to lead a Lenten group I prefer a daytime group I prefer an evening group I am happy with either an evening or a daytime group
13 Gratitude Last weekend three people in our parish community received Papal Blessings for their long service to the St Vincent de Paul Society in its work to give financial and extensive practical care to people in need in Waterloo. They have helped people, mainly in Housing Commission homes in all manner of ways, from physically working while tending their needs to giving time to sitting, talking and giving comfort to the lonely. They have recruited other helpers from Holy Family School Social Justice Group and helped in their training. They are exceptional in that they have given of themselves far longer than any other volunteer said Jenny Cunningham, President of the Society Chatswood. Judy Dearn for 15 years, Anne Ridley 12 years and Michaela Breen who spent weeks planning, packing, and transporting Christmas hampers to the area. I would like to say THANK YOU to the people of the parish for their generosity each year providing hampers of food for the people in need, Jenny Cunningham said. SHORT PRAYERS FOR THE LONG DAY Slow to suspect quick to trust, Slow to condemn quick to understand, Slow to offend quick to defend, Slow to expose quick to shield, Slow to reprimand quick to forebear, Slow to belittle quick to appreciate, Slow to demand quick to serve, Slow to provoke quick to conciliate, Slow to hinder quick to help, Slow to resent quick to forgive.
常年期第七主日 19/2/2017 讀經一 ( 應愛人如己 ) 恭讀肋未紀 19:1-2,17-18 上主訓示梅瑟說 : 你告訴以色列子民全體會眾 說 : 你們應該是聖的, 因為我, 上主, 你們的天主是聖的 不可存心懷恨你的兄弟 ; 應 坦白勸戒你的同胞, 以免因為他 而負上罪債 不可復仇 ; 對你本國人, 不可心懷怨恨 ; 但應愛人 如己 : 我是上主 上主的話 ( 默想片刻 ) 答唱詠詠 103:1-2, 3-4, 8,10, 12-13 答 : 上主富於仁愛寬恕 ( 詠 103:8) 領 : 我的靈魂, 請讚頌上主 ; 我 的五內, 請讚頌上主的名 我的靈魂, 請讚頌上主, 請 你不要忘記他的恩寵 答 領 : 是他赦免了你的各種罪行 ; 是他治瘉了你的一切病苦 ; 是他叫你的性命, 在死亡中 得到保全 ; 是他用仁慈以及 愛情, 給你作了冠冕 答 領 : 上主富於仁愛寬恕, 極其慈 悲, 遲於發怒 他沒有按我 們的罪惡, 對待我們, 也沒有照我們的過犯, 報復我們 答 領 : 就如東方距離西方, 有多麼 遠, 他使我們的罪過, 離我 們也多遠 ; 就如父親怎樣憐 愛自己的兒女, 上主也怎樣 憐愛敬畏自己的人 答 讀經二 ( 一切都是你們的, 你們 卻是基督的, 基督是天主的 ) 恭讀聖保祿宗徒致格林多人前書 3:16-23 14 CHINESE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY 弟兄姊妹們 : 你們不知道, 你們是天主的宮 殿, 天主聖神住在你們內嗎? 誰若毀壞天主的宮殿, 天主必 要毀壞他, 因為天主的宮殿是 聖的, 這宮殿就是你們 誰也不要自欺 : 你們當中, 如果有人在今世自以為是有 智慧的人, 他該變為一個愚拙 的人, 好成為一個有智慧的人, 因為這世界的智慧在天主眼中原是愚拙 經上記載說 : 他以智者的計謀, 捕捉智者 ; 又說 : 上主洞悉智者的思 想, 全是虛幻 所以, 誰也不應以人來誇 口, 因為一切都是你們的 : 無 論是保祿, 或是阿頗羅, 或是 刻法, 或是世界, 或是生命, 或是死亡, 或是現在, 或是將 來, 一切都是你們的 ; 你們卻是基督的, 而基督是天主的 上主的話 ( 默想片刻 ) 福音前歡呼 領 : 亞肋路亞 眾 : 亞肋路亞 領 : 誰若遵守天主的話, 天主 的愛在他內, 才得以圓滿 ( 若一 2:5) 眾 : 亞肋路亞 福音 ( 你們當愛你們的仇人 ) 恭讀聖瑪竇福音 5:38-48 那時候, 耶穌對門徒說 : 你們一向聽說過 : 以眼還 眼, 以牙還牙 我卻對你們 說 : 不要抵抗惡人 ; 而且, 若 有人掌擊你的右頰, 你把另一 面也轉給他 那要與你爭訟, 拿你內衣的, 你連外衣也讓給他 若有人強迫你走一千步, 你就同他走兩千步 求你的, 就給他 ; 有人向你借貸, 你不要拒絕 你們一向聽說過 : 你應愛你的近人, 恨你的仇 人! 我卻對你們說 : 你們 當愛你們的仇人, 當為迫害 你們的人祈禱, 好使你們成 為你們在天之父的子女, 因 為他使太陽上升, 光照惡人, 也光照善人 ; 降雨給義人, 也給不義的人 你們若只愛那愛你們 的人, 你們還有什麼賞報呢? 稅吏不是也這樣做嗎? 你 們若只問候你們的弟兄, 你 們做了什麼特別的呢? 外邦 人不是也這樣做嗎? 所以你 們應當是成全的, 如同你們 的天父是成全的一樣 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聯絡 0419-426899 中心聯絡 Gloria Cheung 聯絡 0416-118089 www.ccc-inc.org.au E :contact@cccinc.org.au 主日學 Sunday School 12:00 Noon
15 (continued from page 16 ) : Then, perhaps most important of all, we need to seek each other s help, akin to the dynamics of an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. Alone we haven t the strength to love those who hate us. We need grace and community, God s power and others support, to retain the most difficult of all sobrieties, that is, to walk within a steady strength that enables us to remain warm, gracious, forgiving, loving, and joyful in the face of misunderstanding, jealousy, opposition, bitterness, threat, and murder. Speaking personally, I consider this to be the greatest challenge of my life, morally and humanly. How to love an enemy: How do I not let a jealous glance freeze my heart? How do I not let a bitter word ruin my day? How do I not demonise others when they oppose me? How do I remain sympathetic when I m misunderstood? How do I remain warm in the face of bitterness? How do I not give in to paranoia when I feel threatened? How do I forgive someone who doesn t want my forgiveness? How do I stop myself from slamming the door of my heart in the face of coldness and rejection? How do I forgive others when my own heart is bitter in self-pity? How do I really love and forgive as Jesus did? I often wonder how Jesus did it. How did he retain peace of mind, warmth in his heart, graciousness in his speech, joy in his life, resiliency in his efforts, the capacity to be grateful, and a sense of humour in the face of misunderstanding, jealousy, hatred, and death threats? He did it by recognising that this was, singularly, the most important challenge of his life and mission, and, under the weight of that imperative, by falling on his knees to ask for the help of the One who can do in us what we can t do for ourselves. Fr Ron Rolheiser omi (from the Centre for Liturgy, University of St Louis) Lord, in Jesus your Son, you restored to us the gift of everlasting life. Grant that life to: Recently deceased: Maureen Travers, Fr Paul Cahill, Fr Tim Crowley, Joan Clark. Anniversary: Cecille McKinnon, Mary Klauser. Please pray for those who are sick : Paddy Nolan, Ray Grannall, Cyril Ferriere, Br Braden, Brian Couper, Geraldine Haydock, Kieran Norton, Sean Maguire, Pakie Maguire, Naneth Bernado, Marjorie Simpkins, Michael Swan.
16 REFLECTING ON THIS SUNDAY S SCRIPTURES.. I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father. LOVING OUR ENEMIES Lorenzo Rosebaugh, an Oblate colleague shot to death in Guatemala six years ago, used to share at Oblate gatherings some advice that Daniel Berrigan once gave him. Lorenzo, contemplating an act of civil disobedience to protest the Vietnam war, was told by Berrigan: If you can t do this without becoming bitter, then don t do it! Do it only if you can do it with a mellow heart! Do it only if you can be sure you won t end up hating those who arrest you! That s hard to do; but, in the end, it s the ultimate challenge, namely, not to hate those who oppose us, not to hate our enemies, to continue to have gracious and forgiving hearts in the face of misunderstanding, bitter opposition, jealousy, anger, hatred, positive mistreatment, and even the threat of death. And to be a disciple of Jesus means that, at some point, we will be hated. We will make enemies. It happened to Jesus and he assured us that it will happen to us. But he also left us the ultimate example of how we need to respond to our enemies. When scripture tells us that Jesus saved the people from their sins, it doesn t just mean that in offering his death to his father as a sacrifice in one eternal act he took away our sins. It also points to his way of living and how, as he demonstrated, forgiving and loving one s enemies to take away sin, by absorbing it. Jesus great act of love, as Kierkegaard once said, is meant to be imitated not just admired. We aren t very loving and forgiving in the face of opposition! But how do we do this? It seems that we don t know how to love our enemies, that we don t have the strength to forgive. We preach it as an ideal and naively believe that we are doing it. But, for the most part, we aren t. We really don t love and forgive those who oppose us. Too often we are distrustful, disrespectful, bitter, demonising, and (metaphorically speaking) murderous towards each other. If there is much love and forgiveness of enemies in our lives, it s far from evident, both in our world and in our churches. As Ronald Knox once said, as Christians, we have never really taken seriously Jesus challenge to love our enemies and to turn the other cheek. I say this sympathetically. We need help. The old saying is true: To err is human, to forgive is divine. So how do we start? We might start by both acknowledging our failure and admitting our helplessness, individually and as churches. We aren t very loving and forgiving in the face of opposition! Next, we need to highlight this inadequacy and the importance of this failure in our preaching and teaching. Loving our enemies is the real moral and religious litmus test! We don t have a right to call anyone a cafeteria Christian or a compromised follower of Christ unless, first of all, we, ourselves, are persons who are gracious, respectful, loving, and forgiving in the face of anyone who opposes us. Let s start, all of us, from this humble place of admittance: We aren t very much like Jesus in the face of opposition. (continued on page 15 )