{"id":668,"date":"2006-08-06T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2006-08-06T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lanuera.com\/cmwp\/?p=668"},"modified":"2006-08-06T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2006-08-06T00:00:00","slug":"thoughts-august-2006","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/church-mouse.net\/?p=668","title":{"rendered":"Thoughts August 2006"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Thoughts for the Month<\/h2>\n

The Jesus I know is no cold, hard Iron-Christ; nor does Jesus deserve to be reduced to smug, glib and uncompassionate irrelevancies when the real meaning of His love is what people need so desperately.<\/p>\n

“Who is Worthy?” Ted Kennedy<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\"\"<\/p>\n

W<\/span>e acknowledge the original owners and custodians of this land on which we stand and we pay our respects for the care they have taken and their continuing care.<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
\"\"<\/p>\n
T<\/span>oday is a special day for St.Vincents Parish as we welcome the Message Stick to Redfern.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\nFr Frank Brennan who was invited by Aboriginal people, is a long time advocate for Justice for Aboriginal & Torres Strait People. He will be the main celebrant.
\nThis relay is in preparation for the \u201cDreaming from the Heart\u201d celebration in Alice Springs in October.<\/p>\n

At a time when the Australian Government seems to have pushed into the background Reconciliation and Justice for Indigenous people, it is fitting that we focus on this ancient Culture which exists and has existed in our country for over 40,000 years.<\/p>\n

We welcome everyone to our Parish today especially all the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Sunday 9th July, 2006 Prophets in our midst.<\/h2>\n

I<\/span>n Ireland there\u2019s an old saying that when one tries to get above oneself people will say, \u2018Aud love they\u2019ve never lived further than a mile from the cow shed\u2019. A theme in today\u2019s reading could be based on the proverb “Familiarity breeds contempt”. Chesterton stated that the greatest of all illusions is the illusion of familiarity. “Is not this the Jesus we know\u2026” And that was the problem\u2026.they didn\u2019t know Him. Jesus\u2019 family saw only the lowly status from which He sprang\u2014a carpenter.<\/p>\n

They had missed the Prophet in Jesus.<\/p>\n

\"\" A prophet \u2014 one who looks at things as they have never been looked at before; who sees more that meets the eye and is prepared to voice the truth. In our own day , Fr Ted and Mum Shirl could be called prophets\u2014they stepped outside their comfort zone; the security of their station in life; out into a world of flack – “Who do they think they are?” And this came from their own family \u2014that is the religious family and group. Yes, they were prophets.<\/div>\n

\nP<\/span>erhaps we too fail to recognise the tender God we claim to know. Paul says, “God\u2019s power is at its best in weakness” and it is here that so often we can not see the God within, within each human being with whom we come in contact \u2013 in the poor, the weak, the marginalised. Rolkeiser believes that familiarity blinds the heart and mind; we are no longer open to surprises; it causes the death of wonder, awe and respect.<\/p>\n

\"\" Creation is a prime example. God has been at work in creation for billions of years. We have been so preoccupied, says O\u2019Murchu, in trying to master the universe that we have been unable to listen, to behold, to contemplate and to comprehend that which we believed we were so familiar with.<\/p>\n

Our Aboriginal brothers and sisters, who have no difficulty in recognizing and understanding the larger reality to which they belong, can teach us so much about getting in touch with the source of life and that is the sacredness of their relationship with God.<\/p>\n

\"\" Once a teacher took a class on an excursion to a rainforest explaining all the various wonders; the hidden beauties found there. At the end she asked them to write about some things they\u2019d seen. One little boy wrote two words, “No kangaroos”. But the teacher said, “What about all the other creatures that you saw?” “But” said the little boy, “I was looking for kangaroos!”
\nSo let us attempt to see further than we have ever seen before \u2014 to find God in all. <\/p>\n

Mary Mc Gowan<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Sunday 23rd July Praying for Peace<\/h2>\n

T<\/span>hese past weeks we have been struggling with the enormous suffering in our world, particularly in the Middle East. We feel helpless in face of it. Our first reading is from Jeremiah when he berates the leaders for not taking care of the people and for leaving them scattered and frightened; it is still happening today! Leaders at all levels perform, often out of self-interest, rather than base their activities and priorities on the needs of their people. We have people in positions of power rather than genuine leaders. Jeremiah offers hope to the people, promising a future leader who would be wise and do what is just and upright in the country.<\/p>\n

\"\" The words from Ephesians are poignant at this time with the theme of bringing people together; and they certainly came together in yesterday\u2019s gathering in the city. Literally thousands of people from many backgrounds were calling for the same thing\u2014peace and justice. They were anguished by the senseless killings and destruction taking place in Lebanon. This was a crowd on whom Jesus would have had enormous compassion. Security was evident \u2013police in big numbers with both horses and dogs; helicopters flew overheard, but no sign of violence. One can only believe that the Spirit of God was acting in this gathering.<\/p>\n

In the gospel too we find the people scattered and leader less, and Jesus comes into their lives bringing the food of God\u2019s Word for nourishment, and later bread. Perhaps we can find several invitations to us in our liturgy of the Word.<\/p>\n

1. The invitation to play our part in society and church, to wash the feet of others and allow others to wash our feet.<\/p>\n

2. The invitation to work towards breaking down barriers; Am I willing to cross to the other side as Jesus did? Am I willing to get out of the boat to meet the crowds? Ephesians says that we all have the same access to God regardless of who we are or where we are from \u2013there is now a new creation.<\/p>\n

3. The invitation to come away to some lonely place and rest for a while; not rest from activity and busyness but rest that allows one to reflect with others on one\u2019s involvement, a kind of accountability and appraisal; by going apart a new perspective can be gained and new learnings can happen; also the rest that allows one to touch into that deep place within where God is. Come to me all who are burdened and I will give you rest \u2013 learn from me.<\/p>\n

Esmey Herscovitch<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\"\"<\/p>\n

Rally in Support of the \u201cBlock\u201d<\/h2>\n

Thursday 10th August at 6pm<\/h3>\n

This will commence between the Redfern Towers and RSL Club for speeches.
\nThen as an expression of solidarity will process down to the Block.<\/p>\n

Anglican Bishop Macintyre will return from Vic to be present. Remember the last one we were reminded of spirits of the Ancestors present on the land, supporting us.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Pastoral Activities of St Vincent\u2019s Community<\/h2>\n

A<\/span>s the community of St Vincents Parish Redfern we continue to carry on the heritage which was left to us over many years. Since the arrival of the Neocatechumenate Movement in our parish with the appointment of priests who follow this Way this has been hard as the focus of the Way seems to be evangelization to the Neocatechumenate Movement.<\/p>\n

Following the Spirit of Vatican II, the parishioners have been carrying out pastoral activities in Redfern. Currently, we are involved in the following:<\/p>\n