Mersey Leven Catholic Parish
To be a vibrant Catholic Community
unified in its commitment
to growing disciples for Christ
Parish Priest: Fr Mike Delaney
Mob: 0417 279 437
Mob: 0417 279 437
Priest in Residence: Fr Phil McCormack
Mob: 0437 521 257
Mob: 0437 521 257
ssm77097@bigpond.com
Postal Address: PO Box 362
Parish Office: 90 Stewart Street
(Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10am - 3pm)
Office Phone: 6424 2783 Fax: 6423 5160
Secretary: Annie Davies / Anne Fisher
Pastoral Council Chair: Jenny Garnsey
Parish Mass times for the Month: mlcpmasstimes.blogspot.com.au
Weekly Homily Podcast: mikedelaney.podomatic.com
Our Parish Sacramental Life
Baptism: Parents are asked to contact the Parish Office to make arrangements for attending a Baptismal Preparation Session and booking a Baptism date.
Reconciliation, Confirmation and Eucharist: Are received following a Family–centred, Parish-based, School-supported Preparation Program.
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults: prepares adults for reception into the Catholic community.
Marriage: arrangements are made by contacting one of our priests - couples attend a Pre-marriage Program
Anointing of the Sick: please contact one of our priests
Reconciliation: Ulverstone - Fridays (10am - 10:30am)
Devonport - Saturday (5:15pm – 5:45pm)
Care and Concern: If you are aware of anyone who is sick or in need of assistance in the Parish please visit them. Then, if they are willing and give permission, could you please pass on their names to the Parish Office. We have a group of parishioners who are part of the Care and Concern Group who are willing and able to provide some backup and support to them. Unfortunately, because of privacy issues, the Parish Office is not able to give out details unless prior permission has been given.
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Archdiocesan Website: www.hobart.catholic.org.au for news, information and details of other Parishes.
Parish Prayer
Heavenly Father,
and calling us to serve as your disciples.
as we use our gifts to serve you.
as we strive to bear witness
to the Gospel and build an amazing parish.
Amen.
Weekday Masses 19th - 22nd September, 2017
Tuesday: 9:30am Penguin
Wednesday: 9:30am Latrobe … Sts Andrew Kim Tae-gon
Thursday: 12noon Devonport (Mass at Karingal cancelled)
7:00pm Penguin Healing Mass
Next Weekend 23rd & 24th September, 2017
Saturday Vigil: 6:00pm Penguin … St Pius of Pietrelcina
Devonport
Sunday Mass: 8:30am Port Sorell
9:00am Ulverstone
10:30am Devonport
Ministry Rosters 23rd & 24th September, 2017
Devonport: 
Ministers of Communion: Vigil:
Ulverstone:
Penguin:
Latrobe:
Port Sorell:
Readings this week – Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
PREGO REFLECTION:
I read the Gospel through slowly.
How does this teaching on
forgiveness make me feel?
What questions does it stir in me?
Are there times
when I have struggled to forgive others?
Has someone found it hard to forgive
me?
I talk to God about this.
I read the Gospel again, and this time I imagine
seeing Peter and Jesus talking like close friends.
What do I notice?
Why does
Jesus put so much importance on forgiveness?
How important is forgiveness and
compassion in my life?
I talk to Jesus as I would to a close friend about this
parable.
I listen to what Jesus says to me.
In time I finish my prayer, saying
“Our Father ...”
Readings next week – Twenty-Fifth Sunday
in Ordinary Time Year A
Your prayers
are asked for the sick: Margaret Kenney, Rex Bates, Victoria Webb, David
Welch, Vern Cazaly, Dawn Stevens & …
Let us pray for those who have died recently: Cyril Smith, Geoffrey Graham-Jones, Rita Walker, Katherine Adams, Ray Duffy, Lyn Otley, Dorothy Leonard, Wendy
Lander, George Flack, Kuppala Devadoss.
Let us pray for those whose anniversary occurs about this time: 13th
– 19th September
May they rest in peace
Weekly
Ramblings
With your Bulletin this weekend there is page which
includes a response from the Parish Pastoral Team to the material collated from
the Parish Forum held on 27th August. At the Forum we used the image of being
on a ‘bus’ and invited participants to come on a journey with us as we explore
how we might further develop our Parish Vision. As you can see from the handout
our focus is on two areas of our Prayer life in the Parish – the Weekend Mass
and Personal and Communal Prayer. Over coming weeks we will be providing
further information and inviting your response to some of the challenges that
the Forum has given us to reflect on.
Somewhere in your Mass Centres this weekend there is a Bus
Stop. This will become a place where we will regularly update materials from
the Forum and the Pastoral Team as we move forward. This weekend we have the
collated responses from the Forum into headings which approximate to the
headings on the handout. If you have a questions about the material please feel
free to speak to one of the members of the Pastoral Team – their names will be
announced during the Notices at Mass this weekend.
ST PATRICK’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL:
Parishioners are warmly invited to the official Blessing
and Opening of St Patrick’s Catholic School’s ‘Pathways to the Past” on Tuesday
19th September at 2pm to be held in the open area.
HEALING MASS:
SACRED
HEART CHURCH ROSTERS: are now
being updated. If you would like to help as a reader, minister of Communion,
cleaner, arrange flowers or with hospitality please see Barbara O’Rourke or
phone the Parish Office. Also, if you are unable to continue on a roster please
let us know. Many thanks to all who
help!
PERPETUAL NOVENA TO OUR MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP
WITH ROSARY AND DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET: Held every Wednesday after 9:30am Mass Latrobe.
Queries 0414 416 661.
MACKILLOP HILL
SPIRITUALITY IN THE COFFEE SHOPPE:
MACKILLOP HILL LIBRARY: Library opening hours 10am – 5pm Monday to Friday.
COLUMBAN CALENDARS:Mission
Footy
tipping margin for 8th September – 51 points - winners: Nancy Maney
GRAND FINAL FOOTY MARGIN TICKETS:
BINGO -
Thursday Nights - OLOL Hall, Devonport.
Eyes down 7.30pm!
NEWS FROM ACROSS THE ARCHDIOCESE:
JOURNEY TO CARMEL THE BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAIN: A weekend retreat on Carmelite
Spirituality at the Emmanuel Centre, Launceston. Friday 20th – 22nd
October. Fr Paul Maunder OCD Retreat Director. Cost for weekend $170.00
includes all meals and accommodation. Bookings are essential to Robert Archer
6396:1389.
DIRECTED RETREAT AND INDIVIDUAL DAYS OF REFLECTION
"TO KNOW THE SHEPHERD" - MARYKNOLL RETREAT CENTRE
THE JOURNEY CATHOLIC RADIO PROGRAM – AIRS 24 Sept 2017
Francis did not wish for himself or his followers to be
priests, to take higher places on the Church’s hierarchical ladder of
education, prestige, and power. Francis was apparently ordained a deacon,
likely under pressure, because he never talks or writes about it. The sign of a
true Franciscan heart is devotion to the Gospel, regardless of title, group, or
official status.
These hallmarks of the Secular Franciscan Order (from the
formation manual For Up To Now) can be claimed and practiced by anyone:
Re-read these qualities of a Franciscan and discern if you
are called to live in such a way, making the Gospel the very core of your
day-to-day doings and being. What is yours to do?
Reference:
[1] Marie Amore, “Vocation: God’s Call,” For Up to Now:
Foundational Topics for Initial Formation (Secular Franciscan Order: 2011) http://skdregion.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/5122011funmanual.pdf,
11-12.
GOD’S COMMAND TO KILL THE CANAANITES
The original of this article can be found by clicking here
In his autobiography, Eric Clapton, the famed rock and blues artist, shares very candidly about his long struggle with an addiction to alcohol. At one point in his life, he admitted his addiction and entered a rehab clinic, but he didn’t take his problem as seriously as was warranted. Returning to England after his stint in the clinic he decided that he could still drink light spirits, beer and wine, but would give up hard liquor. You can guess the result. Before long he was again enslaved inside his addiction. He returned to the clinic, to appease friends, but convinced that he was still strong enough to handle his problems on his own.
But grace intervened. Just before his second rehab stint ended, he had powerful experience within which he was shaken to his very soul by the recognition of his own helplessness and the mortal danger he faced from his addiction. On the basis of that grace, he finally gave himself over to the program with his whole heart, accepting that he could never touch alcohol again. He has retained his sobriety since.
His story can be helpful in understanding the meaning of certain texts in scripture which, when read literally, can give us the impression that God is arbitrary, cruel, and murderous.
We see such texts, for example, in the Book of Exodus and the Book of Joshua where, before entering the Promised Land, God instructs Israel to kill all the people and all the animals who at that time inhabit that land. Why such a command to exterminate others simply because they’re living in a certain place?
Obviously we need to ask ourselves: Is this really the word of God? What kind of God would give this kind of command? And what about the people being killed, aren’t they too God’s people? Does God play favorites? What about the Canaanites whom Joshua is asked to exterminate, don’t they count? What can be behind this kind of command?
These texts, though divinely inspired and rich in meaning, clearly should not be taken literally. This command, while not exactly metaphorical, is archetypal, meaning that it’s not meant to be taken literally as a command to kill what’s foreign to us, but rather as a counsel teaching that when we’re trying to enter a new way of living we must take all the necessary measures to ensure that we can properly enter that life and sustain it. Metaphorically, we need to “kill” off every element inside us and around us which, if left unaddressed, might eventually compromise and choke off the new life we’re trying to live. Jesus, in fact, gives us the identical command, except he employs a softer metaphor: Don’t put new wine into old wineskins.
People in Recovery Programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous tend to more quickly understand what’s asked of us in these texts. Like Eric Clapton they’ve learned from experience that to enter the promised land of sobriety demands that one kill off all of “the Canaanites”, that is, accepting that all half-measures won’t work but that some brute, raw, bitter renunciations have to be made.
This biblical image, the command from God to kill the “Canaanites”, can serve us well too in other areas of our lives, particularly, I believe, in our struggles with making commitments and being faithful to them.
For example, consider someone entering a marriage. Like Israel they’re entering the “promised land”, but for them to establish this new life and remain faithful to it, they need to kill off a good number of things, namely, former romances, old relational habits of promiscuity and infidelity, the propensity to flirt with attractive temptations, the belief that one can have one’s cake and eat it too, and the long standing habit of putting one’s own needs first and worrying mainly about taking care of oneself.
Every choice is a series of renunciations. To have a life-giving marriage means renouncing a lot of old habits, otherwise these old habits will eventually sabotage the marriage. There are things one must do before entering a marriage or any serious commitment.
But what about those “Canaanites” that already inhabit the land we’re entering? Who might they be today?
In terms of threatening to contaminate a marriage, I would submit that what must be killed off today in order to have a life-long, life-giving marriage is our present cultural ethos about sex, namely, the belief that sex need not be confined to monogamy, permanent commitment, and marriage. If we don’t kill off that ethos as we enter a marriage, we will not sustain ourselves life-long in that Promised Land.
To live lives of sobriety, commitment, and fidelity demands more than half-measures. An alcoholic in recovery knows that he or she cannot have it both ways. The same is true in terms of sustaining ourselves in any life-giving commitment. New wine must be put into new wineskins and this demands some bitter renunciations.
God’s commands, properly understood, aren’t harsh and arbitrary. They’re wise and universal.
and calling us to serve as your disciples.
as we use our gifts to serve you.
as we strive to bear witness
Amen.
Weekday Masses 19th - 22nd September, 2017
Tuesday: 9:30am Penguin
Wednesday: 9:30am Latrobe … Sts Andrew Kim Tae-gon
Thursday: 12noon Devonport (Mass at Karingal cancelled)
7:00pm Penguin Healing Mass
7:00pm Penguin Healing Mass
Friday: 9:30am Ulverstone
Next Weekend 23rd & 24th September, 2017
Saturday Vigil: 6:00pm Penguin … St Pius of Pietrelcina
Devonport
Sunday Mass: 8:30am Port Sorell
9:00am Ulverstone
10:30am Devonport
11:00am Sheffield
5:00pm Latrobe
Ministry Rosters 23rd & 24th September, 2017
Devonport:
Readers: Vigil: P Douglas, T Douglas, B Paul
10:30am: J
Phillips, K Pearce, P Piccolo
Ministers of Communion: Vigil:
M
Heazlewood, B Suckling, G Lee-Archer, M Kelly, P Shelverton
10.30am: M Sherriff, T & S Ryan, D & M Barrientos
Cleaners. 22nd Sept: P Shelverton, E Petts 29th Sept: K.S.C.
Piety Shop 23rd September:
L Murfet 24th September: D French
Parish House mower roster
September: Tony Davies
Ulverstone:
Reader: B O’Rourke
Ministers of
Communion: M Murray, J Pisarskis, C Harvey, P Gretch
Cleaners: M
McKenzie, M Singh, N Pearce Flowers: C Stingel Hospitality: K Foster
Penguin:
Greeters: A Landers, P Ravaillion Commentator: Y Downes Readers: E Nickols, A Landers
Ministers of
Communion: J
Barker, M Murray Liturgy: Sulphur Creek C Setting Up: F Aichberger
Care of Church: J & T Kiely
Latrobe:
Reader: H Lim Minister of Communion: M Eden, P Marlow Procession of gifts: M Clarke
Port Sorell:
Readers: M Badcock, L Post Ministers of Communion: E Holloway Cleaners/Flowers/Prep: V Youd
Readings this week – Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
First Reading: Sirach 27:30 – 28:7
Second Reading: Romans 14:7-9
Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35
PREGO REFLECTION:
I read the Gospel through slowly.
How does this teaching on forgiveness make me feel?
What questions does it stir in me?
Are there times when I have struggled to forgive others?
Has someone found it hard to forgive me?
I talk to God about this.
I read the Gospel again, and this time I imagine seeing Peter and Jesus talking like close friends.
What do I notice?
Why does Jesus put so much importance on forgiveness?
How important is forgiveness and compassion in my life?
I talk to Jesus as I would to a close friend about this parable.
I listen to what Jesus says to me.
In time I finish my prayer, saying “Our Father ...”
How does this teaching on forgiveness make me feel?
What questions does it stir in me?
Are there times when I have struggled to forgive others?
Has someone found it hard to forgive me?
I talk to God about this.
I read the Gospel again, and this time I imagine seeing Peter and Jesus talking like close friends.
What do I notice?
Why does Jesus put so much importance on forgiveness?
How important is forgiveness and compassion in my life?
I talk to Jesus as I would to a close friend about this parable.
I listen to what Jesus says to me.
In time I finish my prayer, saying “Our Father ...”
Readings next week – Twenty-Fifth Sunday
in Ordinary Time Year A
First Reading: Isaiah 55: 6-9
Second Reading: Philippians 1: 20-24. 27
Gospel: Matthew 20: 1-16
Your prayers
are asked for the sick: Margaret Kenney, Rex Bates, Victoria Webb, David
Welch, Vern Cazaly, Dawn Stevens & …
Let us pray for those who have died recently: Cyril Smith, Geoffrey Graham-Jones, Rita Walker, Katherine Adams, Ray Duffy, Lyn Otley, Dorothy Leonard, Wendy
Lander, George Flack, Kuppala Devadoss.
Let us pray for those whose anniversary occurs about this time: 13th
– 19th September
John Hill,
Jan Deeka, Cyril Scattergood, Sybil O’Connor, John Stanford Hall, Molly Page, Melba
Robertson, Dorothy Crawford, Leonard Payne, Patrick Laird, Margaret Scanlan, Shirley
Ranson, Aubrey Sheridan, Donald Philp, Joyce Barry, Arokiasamy Xavier and
Stanley Henderson. Also Fr
Jim McMahon, Jim & Beatrice Barry, Muriel Fabian, Martin Xavier, Ryan
Jackson, Joan Lee Augenblink, Catherine
McLennan and relatives and friends of the McLennan family.
May they rest in peace
Weekly
Ramblings
We welcome Fr Paschal to the Parish this weekend following
his ordination in Hobart on Friday evening. We extend our congratulations and
prayerful support to him as he begins his priestly ministry in the Archdiocese
and pray that he might have a long and fruitful ministry amongst us.
With your Bulletin this weekend there is page which
includes a response from the Parish Pastoral Team to the material collated from
the Parish Forum held on 27th August. At the Forum we used the image of being
on a ‘bus’ and invited participants to come on a journey with us as we explore
how we might further develop our Parish Vision. As you can see from the handout
our focus is on two areas of our Prayer life in the Parish – the Weekend Mass
and Personal and Communal Prayer. Over coming weeks we will be providing
further information and inviting your response to some of the challenges that
the Forum has given us to reflect on.
Somewhere in your Mass Centres this weekend there is a Bus
Stop. This will become a place where we will regularly update materials from
the Forum and the Pastoral Team as we move forward. This weekend we have the
collated responses from the Forum into headings which approximate to the
headings on the handout. If you have a questions about the material please feel
free to speak to one of the members of the Pastoral Team – their names will be
announced during the Notices at Mass this weekend.
Please take care on the roads and in your homes,
ST PATRICK’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL:
Parishioners are warmly invited to the official Blessing
and Opening of St Patrick’s Catholic School’s ‘Pathways to the Past” on Tuesday
19th September at 2pm to be held in the open area.
HEALING MASS:
Catholic Charismatic Renewal are sponsoring a HEALING MASS
at St Mary’s Catholic Church Penguin, Thursday 21st September commencing
at 7:00pm. All denominations are welcome to come and celebrate the liturgy in a
vibrant and dynamic way using charismatic praise and worship, with the gifts of tongues, prophecy, healing and
anointing with blessed oil. After Mass teams will be available for individual prayer. Please bring a friend and a
plate for supper and fellowship in the hall. If you wish to know more or
require transport contact Celestine Whiteley 6424:2043, Michael Gaffney 0447
018 068, Zoe Smith 6426:3073, or Tom Knaap 6425:2442.
SACRED
HEART CHURCH ROSTERS: are now
being updated. If you would like to help as a reader, minister of Communion,
cleaner, arrange flowers or with hospitality please see Barbara O’Rourke or
phone the Parish Office. Also, if you are unable to continue on a roster please
let us know. Many thanks to all who
help!
PERPETUAL NOVENA TO OUR MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP
WITH ROSARY AND DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET: Held every Wednesday after 9:30am Mass Latrobe.
Queries 0414 416 661.
MACKILLOP HILL
SPIRITUALITY IN THE COFFEE SHOPPE:
Monday 25th September 10:30am – 12 noon. Don’t miss a
lively discussion over morning tea! Bring a friend!
123 William Street, FORTH. Phone:
6428:3095 No bookings necessary.
MACKILLOP HILL LIBRARY: Library opening hours 10am – 5pm Monday to Friday.
COLUMBAN CALENDARS:
The 2018 Columban Art Calendar is now available from the
Piety Shop's at OLOL Church and Sacred Heart Church for $10.00. When you
purchase the calendar, you are participating in God's
Footy
tipping margin for 8th September – 51 points - winners: Nancy Maney
GRAND FINAL FOOTY MARGIN TICKETS:
$10.00 tickets are now selling – hurry and get yours today! The winner of the $10 tickets will
receive $500.00 and the holder of
the ticket with the number either side of the winning number $100.00. The $10.00 tickets are only available from Our
Lady of Lourdes Church Devonport or by phoning the Parish Office 6424:2783. The
weekly $2.00 footy margin tickets will be sold (as normal) during the finals.
BINGO -
Thursday Nights - OLOL Hall, Devonport.
Eyes down 7.30pm!
Callers for Thursday 21st
September – Merv Tippett and Graeme Rigney.
NEWS FROM ACROSS THE ARCHDIOCESE:
JOURNEY TO CARMEL THE BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAIN: A weekend retreat on Carmelite
Spirituality at the Emmanuel Centre, Launceston. Friday 20th – 22nd
October. Fr Paul Maunder OCD Retreat Director. Cost for weekend $170.00
includes all meals and accommodation. Bookings are essential to Robert Archer
6396:1389.
DIRECTED RETREAT AND INDIVIDUAL DAYS OF REFLECTION
"TO KNOW THE SHEPHERD" - MARYKNOLL RETREAT CENTRE
28th October - 4th November.
You are welcome to come and stay for the entire time or for individual
days, as each day will stand alone with its content. For more information or a
retreat brochure please contact Sr Margaret Henderson RSM on 0418 366 923 or mm.henderson@bigpond.com
THE JOURNEY CATHOLIC RADIO PROGRAM – AIRS 24 Sept 2017
This week on the Journey, the Gospel of Matthew is reflected on by our very own Fr Stephen Varney of Shellharbour City Parish. Wisdom from the Abbey with Sr Hilda encouraging us In The Memory of God, Pete Gilmore reminds us of “What We Search For?” in his Living The Gospel segment, and Francine Pirolas has an interesting take on a Relationship Meltdown in IKEA. Our music this week is a lovely thread to weave our show together helping us to create a show for you that is all about faith, hope, love and life. Go to www.jcr.org.au or www.itunes.jcr.org.au where you can listen anytime and subscribe to weekly shows by email.
The Franciscan Calling
This article is taken from the daily email from Fr Richard Rohr OFM. You can subscribe to receive these emails here
Francis did not wish for himself or his followers to be
priests, to take higher places on the Church’s hierarchical ladder of
education, prestige, and power. Francis was apparently ordained a deacon,
likely under pressure, because he never talks or writes about it. The sign of a
true Franciscan heart is devotion to the Gospel, regardless of title, group, or
official status.
These hallmarks of the Secular Franciscan Order (from the
formation manual For Up To Now) can be claimed and practiced by anyone:
• Simplicity
(A spirituality that is genuine; without pretense)
• Poverty
(Love of Gospel poverty develops confidence in the Father and creates internal
freedom)
• Humility
(The truth of what and who we really are in the eyes of God; freedom from pride
and arrogance)
• A genuine
sense of minority (The recognition that we are servants, not superior to
anyone)
• A
complete and active abandonment to God (Trusting in God's unconditional love)
• Conversion
(Daily we begin again the process of changing to be more like Jesus)
• Transformation
(What God does for us, when we are open and willing)
• Peacemaking
(We are messengers of peace as Francis was) [1]
Re-read these qualities of a Franciscan and discern if you
are called to live in such a way, making the Gospel the very core of your
day-to-day doings and being. What is yours to do?
Reference:
[1] Marie Amore, “Vocation: God’s Call,” For Up to Now:
Foundational Topics for Initial Formation (Secular Franciscan Order: 2011) http://skdregion.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/5122011funmanual.pdf,
11-12.
GOD’S COMMAND TO KILL THE CANAANITES
The original of this article can be found by clicking here
In his autobiography, Eric Clapton, the famed rock and blues artist, shares very candidly about his long struggle with an addiction to alcohol. At one point in his life, he admitted his addiction and entered a rehab clinic, but he didn’t take his problem as seriously as was warranted. Returning to England after his stint in the clinic he decided that he could still drink light spirits, beer and wine, but would give up hard liquor. You can guess the result. Before long he was again enslaved inside his addiction. He returned to the clinic, to appease friends, but convinced that he was still strong enough to handle his problems on his own.
But grace intervened. Just before his second rehab stint ended, he had powerful experience within which he was shaken to his very soul by the recognition of his own helplessness and the mortal danger he faced from his addiction. On the basis of that grace, he finally gave himself over to the program with his whole heart, accepting that he could never touch alcohol again. He has retained his sobriety since.
His story can be helpful in understanding the meaning of certain texts in scripture which, when read literally, can give us the impression that God is arbitrary, cruel, and murderous.
We see such texts, for example, in the Book of Exodus and the Book of Joshua where, before entering the Promised Land, God instructs Israel to kill all the people and all the animals who at that time inhabit that land. Why such a command to exterminate others simply because they’re living in a certain place?
Obviously we need to ask ourselves: Is this really the word of God? What kind of God would give this kind of command? And what about the people being killed, aren’t they too God’s people? Does God play favorites? What about the Canaanites whom Joshua is asked to exterminate, don’t they count? What can be behind this kind of command?
These texts, though divinely inspired and rich in meaning, clearly should not be taken literally. This command, while not exactly metaphorical, is archetypal, meaning that it’s not meant to be taken literally as a command to kill what’s foreign to us, but rather as a counsel teaching that when we’re trying to enter a new way of living we must take all the necessary measures to ensure that we can properly enter that life and sustain it. Metaphorically, we need to “kill” off every element inside us and around us which, if left unaddressed, might eventually compromise and choke off the new life we’re trying to live. Jesus, in fact, gives us the identical command, except he employs a softer metaphor: Don’t put new wine into old wineskins.
People in Recovery Programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous tend to more quickly understand what’s asked of us in these texts. Like Eric Clapton they’ve learned from experience that to enter the promised land of sobriety demands that one kill off all of “the Canaanites”, that is, accepting that all half-measures won’t work but that some brute, raw, bitter renunciations have to be made.
This biblical image, the command from God to kill the “Canaanites”, can serve us well too in other areas of our lives, particularly, I believe, in our struggles with making commitments and being faithful to them.
For example, consider someone entering a marriage. Like Israel they’re entering the “promised land”, but for them to establish this new life and remain faithful to it, they need to kill off a good number of things, namely, former romances, old relational habits of promiscuity and infidelity, the propensity to flirt with attractive temptations, the belief that one can have one’s cake and eat it too, and the long standing habit of putting one’s own needs first and worrying mainly about taking care of oneself.
Every choice is a series of renunciations. To have a life-giving marriage means renouncing a lot of old habits, otherwise these old habits will eventually sabotage the marriage. There are things one must do before entering a marriage or any serious commitment.
But what about those “Canaanites” that already inhabit the land we’re entering? Who might they be today?
In terms of threatening to contaminate a marriage, I would submit that what must be killed off today in order to have a life-long, life-giving marriage is our present cultural ethos about sex, namely, the belief that sex need not be confined to monogamy, permanent commitment, and marriage. If we don’t kill off that ethos as we enter a marriage, we will not sustain ourselves life-long in that Promised Land.
To live lives of sobriety, commitment, and fidelity demands more than half-measures. An alcoholic in recovery knows that he or she cannot have it both ways. The same is true in terms of sustaining ourselves in any life-giving commitment. New wine must be put into new wineskins and this demands some bitter renunciations.
God’s commands, properly understood, aren’t harsh and arbitrary. They’re wise and universal.
DEDICATION OF A CHURCH
This is taken from the weekly blog by Fr Michael White, Pastor of the Church of the Nativity in Baltimore. The occasion was the blessing of the new Sanctuary on the weekend 8th September 2017. You can find the original of the blog here
Father in heaven, source of holiness and true purpose, it is always right that we praise and glorify your name.
For today we stand before you, to dedicate to your lasting service this house of prayer.
Here is reflected the mystery of the Church.
The Church is One, the dwelling place of God on earth: a temple of the Spirit, with Jesus Christ as its cornerstone.
The Church is holy, your chosen instrument for the renewal of hearts, transformation of society, and the salvation of the world.
The Church is Catholic, Universal in her mission as a shelter to the homeless, refuge for the lost, true home for all God’s children.
The Church is Apostolic, founded on the faith of the apostles, built up by the blood of the Martyrs, enriched and adorned by the holiness of the saints, united with all Christians everywhere in the Cross of Christ.
Lord, send your Spirit from heaven to make this church a holy place, an increasingly holy place, and this altar a ready table for the sacrifice of Christ.
Here may the waters of baptism overwhelm the shame of sin; here may your people die to sin and live again through grace as your children.
Here may your family, gathered around your altar, celebrate the memorial of the Paschal Lamb, and be fed at the table of Christ’s word and Christ’s body.
Here may prayer, the Church’s refuge and strength, resound through heaven and earth.
Here may the lost find their way, may the unchurched find a home and those far from you draw close.
Here may the poor find justice, the victims of oppression, true freedom, the marginalized dignity, the stranger welcome those who mourn comfort, those who fear strength.
Here, may the hearts of your sons and daughters be made glad.
May this be a place where grace abounds, hope prevails, and love conquers all.
Bless this house, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
This is taken from the weekly blog by Fr Michael White, Pastor of the Church of the Nativity in Baltimore. The occasion was the blessing of the new Sanctuary on the weekend 8th September 2017. You can find the original of the blog here
Father in heaven, source of holiness and true purpose, it is always right that we praise and glorify your name.
For today we stand before you, to dedicate to your lasting service this house of prayer.
Here is reflected the mystery of the Church.
The Church is One, the dwelling place of God on earth: a temple of the Spirit, with Jesus Christ as its cornerstone.
The Church is holy, your chosen instrument for the renewal of hearts, transformation of society, and the salvation of the world.
The Church is Catholic, Universal in her mission as a shelter to the homeless, refuge for the lost, true home for all God’s children.
The Church is Apostolic, founded on the faith of the apostles, built up by the blood of the Martyrs, enriched and adorned by the holiness of the saints, united with all Christians everywhere in the Cross of Christ.
Lord, send your Spirit from heaven to make this church a holy place, an increasingly holy place, and this altar a ready table for the sacrifice of Christ.
Here may the waters of baptism overwhelm the shame of sin; here may your people die to sin and live again through grace as your children.
Here may your family, gathered around your altar, celebrate the memorial of the Paschal Lamb, and be fed at the table of Christ’s word and Christ’s body.
Here may prayer, the Church’s refuge and strength, resound through heaven and earth.
Here may the lost find their way, may the unchurched find a home and those far from you draw close.
Here may the poor find justice, the victims of oppression, true freedom, the marginalized dignity, the stranger welcome those who mourn comfort, those who fear strength.
Here, may the hearts of your sons and daughters be made glad.
May this be a place where grace abounds, hope prevails, and love conquers all.
Bless this house, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
The Exaltation of the Holy Cross
The feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on 14 September commemorates two historical events: the discovery in 326 of what was regarded as the true Cross, under the temple of Venus in Jerusalem, by Saint Helena, the mother of the Emperor Constantine; and the dedication in 335 of the basilica and shrine built on the site. Harry Elias SJ assists in the Hurtado Jesuit Centre in Wapping, East London. The complete article can be found here
However, a real understanding of this feast is not to be found in the historical descriptions of those events and what followed them. Instead, one has to go to Scripture and look especially at John’s Gospel and the way in which it treats the first reading that we hear on the feast, the story of Moses and the bronze serpent (Numbers 21:4-9). In that story, Moses is commanded by the Lord to set up a bronze fiery serpent on a pole, so that whenever a person was bitten by a serpent, that person would look at the bronze serpent and live. In the feast’s gospel reading (John 3:13-17), Jesus tells Nicodemus that he, as Son of Man, must be ‘lifted up’, as was the serpent, so that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
The first meaning of the Greek word that translates here as ‘lift up’ is ‘exalt’, a term which is associated more readily with the resurrection than the crucifixion. However, by its association with the incident of the bronze serpent, John seems to have in mind both the setting up of Jesus on the cross, the crucifixion, as well as his exaltation in the awesome splendour of resurrection.
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