+ Sat 4th morning – Reflection from a parishioner – and have you seen the Palm Sunday plan?

03 April 2020

An Our Lady of the Way liturgy for Palm Sunday will be posted in the Parish Blog by late today – Saturday 4th

Happy Saturday everyone

Did you see the details in yesterday’s Parish Blog post entitled “Friday 3rd – Palms Drive-Through and Letter Boxes! Please Spread the Word”

See that ‘Friday 3rd’ post yesterday for full details of drive-through palms, pick-up times and to read the special message we’re using on cards to give to hundreds of others around the local streets. This week’s Parish Blog posts have had a street name theme each day. Let’s now leave a Palm Sunday message, suitable for all faiths and backgrounds in letter boxes, or even a palm branch and card, at some front doors.

Drive-through at the church

6pm-7pm Saturday AND 9am-10.30am Sunday
I look forward to greeting you during those times
Kindly do see that post from yesterday for full details and join in this special parish gesture

And today, a reflection from a woman / wife / mum / parishioner living in this time of COVID-19

Some of you know Cate. She is married to Dan and they have a young son, Tim. This is a reflection from Cate, as she and family have begun living in this new reality and doing their work and school from home.

by Cate Kensey: The morning of Mon 23^rd March, I read the reading of the day from the book of Isaiah. “For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind” (Is 65:17). I felt so uplifted, hopeful and inspired – I even sent this scripture quote to friends saying that I felt God was trying to encourage us with the knowledge that He is in control and that he can bring about good from a bad situation, even so far as to bring about a new earth!

However the rest of the day was filled with repeated bad news. All Masses were cancelled and Churches closed, our annual camping holiday at Easter was also cancelled, the swimming pool I was in, which I use for rehab and exercise, I was asked to get out of as it was now closed, effective immediately. And Tim’s schooling would now be done at home, sending me into a stressful spin trying to set up and organise everything for him. Dan too would have to work from home in our relatively small house. By the end of the day I felt overwhelmed and grieved – this can’t be the new earth God’s talking about?

Each day feels intense as we all struggle to adjust to the restrictions placed on us and while I can get caught up in my own little world at home, it is comforting that we are not the only ones in this position. People all over the world are experiencing the same thing.

I have moments of seeing and hearing God’s new earth. I have tried to spend some time each day in virtual adoration (stbenedicts.com.au). There I experience Jesus with His people, yearning for us as as we yearn for Him and offering love that never changes, even if our life situation does. There I hear Jesus’ words “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). I hang out for this prayer time with Jesus.

I have spoken to neighbours who I might ordinarily only wave to – and we aren’t talking about the weather! People are so open to share their struggles. When I go for a walk and I see someone on the opposite side of the road, my soul lifts – I want to talk to them, smile at them and connect in some way. I am amazed at how many strangers I’ve spoken to at the shops. I feel a unity and a warmth in these conversations. And despite the challenges of living in each others pockets at home, I trust God will strengthen us as a family and help us grow. On Sundays we have taken to going for long bushwalks in the National park. How wonderful it feels to be out of the house, to breathe fresh air and looking at creation instead of a screen! It is there too that we can “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Ps 38:8)

God is creating a NEW EARTH as He promised – we may have to be on the other side of the pandemic to see it fully, but if God is doing it then we can trust it will be ‘very good”.

Isaiah – the Israelites – Jesus: some additional words from fr Paul

Thanks Cate for sharing your experience and spiritual perspective. Cate has picked up on the scripture from our ancestors in the book of the prophet Isaiah and found some deep connections of hope. The context of that long book, actually written by more than one author over a very long time – was the ‘before and after sides’ of the Israelites’ exile from Jerusalem – to Babylon and isolation – to huge adjustment and needing of new ways – to glimmers of hope and possibility – and finally to a time of renewing back in their homeland.

Very many people in our long faith-family story have found a deeply powerful modelling in that story of transition of our ancient ancestors. And Cate has joined that long line of ‘cousins’ in her obvious surrender to trusting that God’s grace can bring us through .. through things we don’t like or want .. things that God doesn’t like or want for us either! Doesn’t this critical and grave time we’re in give new connection to Holy Week ahead of us – when we recall God entering into the darkest side of this world’s freedom – a freedom that can be beautiful and that can also be unspeakable.

Our God, in Jesus, faced into it all; the Gospel of Luke even describing his sweat as becoming like great drops of blood! (22:44) The same Jesus, in the fullness of his humanity felt abandonment. The same Jesus made us an Easter People! It is as this people, that we can embrace the pain of the world – and in our own pains too – and together say; ‘Jesus, in each other, in the world. and over all, help us trust in you.‘

And just for fun to finish ..

With Tokyo rescheduled, things obviously went further than just the Olympic rings socially distancing! But you’ve gotta hand it to some people for their wit!