I heard a parent say ..
In a nearby office I often need to visit from my workplace at Blacktown, I was talking with someone who was nervous at the thought of having everyone at home for what might become an ex
tended period. The family being talked about was parents, three teenagers and a smaller child too. This person I was chatting with, one of the parents, was wondering how they’d balance everyone’s needs; for school work from home, parents’ work from home, recreation time at home, quiet time, eating, managing strains etc.
Well, the following is not an answer – but it might make you smile ..
90 seconds of good fun! Just click on the little play button in the middle of the picture – you might need to click it twice. Enjoy!
And here’s Friday’s Gospel from Mass
A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to John (7:1-2,10,25-30)
Jesus stayed in Galilee; he could not stay in Judaea, because the Jews were out to kill him.
As the Jewish feast of Tabernacles drew near, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went up as well, but quite privately, without drawing attention to himself. Meanwhile some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, ‘Isn’t this the man they want to kill? And here he is, speaking freely, and they have nothing to say to him! Can it be true the authorities have made up their minds that he is the Christ? Yet we all know where he comes from, but when the Christ appears no one will know where he comes from.’
Then, as Jesus taught in the Temple, he cried out:
‘Yes, you know me
and you know where I came from.
Yet I have not come of myself:
no, there is one who sent me
and I really come from him,
and you do not know him,
but I know him because I have come from him
and it was he who sent me.’
They would have arrested him then, but because his time had not yet come no one laid a hand on him.
The Gospel of the Lord
Brief recorded HOMILY reflection below – based the Gospel above
(Let me know if you have trouble playing the following recording. There was a bit of a glitch as I prepared this one but I think it’s good now for every type of device or computer)
For today, let’s now use the ‘Preface’ of the Mass of the day as a piece of prayer.
The Preface is the prayer of praise right before the Eucharistic Prayer of the Mass.
Notice the Lent-related theme of this one. Feel welcome to take some minutes to ponder and pray the words slowly, a bit like a meditation.
Preface
It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God,
through Christ our Lord.
For by your gracious gift each year
your faithful await the sacred paschal feasts
with the joy of minds made pure,
so that, more eagerly intent on prayer
and on the works of charity,
and participating in the mysteries
by which they have been reborn,
they may be led to the fullness of grace
that you bestow on your sons and daughters.
And so, with Angels and Archangels,
with Thrones and Dominions,
and with all the hosts and Powers of heaven,
we sing the hymn of your glory,
as without end we acclaim:
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.
After some quiet reflection – you might like to pray the Lord’s Prayer – and then here’s the Prayer after Communion from today’s Mass
Let us pray.
Grant, we pray, O Lord,
that, as we pass from old to new,
so, with former ways left behind,
we may be renewed in holiness of mind.
Through Christ our Lord
The Lord be with you! (And with all of our spirits!)
May almighty God bless us all this day
In the name of the Father – and of the Son – and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
I wish you a peaceful and purposeful day friends – especially as we offer care to others in this very unusual and challenging time. Can I once again really encourage us all try to help someone become comfortable in an online space such as this – or to call and share news and perhaps some reflections from here with someone you may know, without internet access. We’re in for a very different time ahead and the more we can get people on board and feeling included, the more we’ll be able to have a sense that the Church – AS THE PEOPLE – is still open, growing and blessing the world God loves.
With friendship in God’s mission,
fr Paul
