+ Friday 24th – A grief reflection in our COVID times – Scripture, homily, Catholic teaching – Weekend Mass plan ahead

24 April 2020

Dear friends,

The cover picture for today’s post in the Parish Blog is a reminder of the many effects of the world’s current health crisis. As a funeral hearse leaves the driveway of Our Lady of the Way church, even a close family stands socially distanced – and a grieving widow stands alone at the front. I had two reflections about this …

1. that there was the highest chance that everyone would’ve been fine – BUT – that their following of the social distancing requirements, even in the tender moment of a mother/grandmother standing alone in sadness – was in effect a show of deep empathy with the dangerous fears being faced by so many in the world. In this sense, in a symbolic extra way, the grief of this loss in the life of Valerie and her beautiful family reaches across and embraces the world’s people.

2. that even with the added comforts of physical closeness and hugs normally possible, and that can help us enormously – isn’t it true nevertheless, that there is often a part of grief that is pretty solely your own?! The shift and change and separation that YOU experience in loss, is unique to YOUR particular relationship with the person who has died. In the reality of that unique and very alone element of grief, let’s especially pray for anyone in the world at the moment who doesn’t have a faith that can connect them to something more. Even the best of faith doesn’t take away the sadness or the unique element of grief – and neither should it, as the loss of physical access to those we love deeply impacts our real and current, earthly experience of love and connection! But faith can bring, even in that sadness, a dimension of sure hope on which to hang our separation. Let’s pray for the gift of faith for many, today.

Today’s readings set down for Mass

First Reading

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (5:34-42)

One member of the Sanhedrin, a Pharisee called Gamaliel, who was a doctor of the Law and respected by the whole people, stood up and asked to have the apostles taken outside for a time. Then he addressed the Sanhedrin, ‘Men of Israel, be careful how you deal with these people. There was Theudas who became notorious not so long ago. He claimed to be someone important, and he even collected about four hundred followers; but when he was killed, all his followers scattered and that was the end of them. And then there was Judas the Galilean, at the time of the census, who attracted crowds of supporters; but he got killed too, and all his followers dispersed. What I suggest, therefore, is that you leave these men alone and let them go. If this enterprise, this movement of theirs, is of human origin it will break up of its own accord; but if it does in fact come from God you will not only be unable to destroy them, but you might find yourselves fighting against God.’

His advice was accepted; and they had the apostles called in, gave orders for them to be flogged, warned them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them. And so they left the presence of the Sanhedrin glad to have had the honour of suffering humiliation for the sake of the name.

They preached every day both in the Temple and in private houses, and their proclamation of the Good News of Christ Jesus was never interrupted.

The word of the Lord.

(image: Chris Thompson, Wendy’s husband who went home to God recently)

Responsorial Psalm

Response> One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord

The Lord is my light and my help;

whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life;

before whom shall I shrink?

R> One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord

There is one thing I ask of the Lord,

for this I long,

to live in the house of the Lord,

all the days of my life,

to savour the sweetness of the Lord,

to behold his temple.

R> One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord

I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness

in the land of the living.

Hope in him, hold firm and take heart.

Hope in the Lord!

R> One thing I seek: to dwell in the house of the Lord

Gospel Acclamation (Matt 4:4)

Alleluia, alleluia!

No one lives on bread alone,

but on every word that comes from the mouth of God

Alleluia!

Gospel

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to John (6:1-15)

Jesus went off to the other side of the Sea of Galilee – or of Tiberias – and a large crowd followed him, impressed by the signs he gave by curing the sick. Jesus climbed the hillside, and sat down there with his disciples. It was shortly before the Jewish feast of Passover.

Looking up, Jesus saw the crowds approaching and said to Philip, ‘Where can we buy some bread for these people to eat?’ He only said this to test Philip; he himself knew exactly what he was going to do. Philip answered, ‘Two hundred denarii would only buy enough to give them a small piece each.’ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said, ‘There is a small boy here with five barley loaves and two fish; but what is that between so many?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Make the people sit down.’ There was plenty of grass there, and as many as five thousand men sat down. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and gave them out to all who were sitting ready; he then did the same with the fish, giving out as much as was wanted. When they had eaten enough he said to the disciples, ‘Pick up the pieces left over, so that nothing gets wasted.’ So they picked them up, and filled twelve hampers with scraps left over from the meal of five barley loaves. The people, seeing this sign that he had given, said, ‘This really is the prophet who is to come into the world.’ Jesus, who could see they were about to come and take him by force and make him king, escaped back to the hills by himself.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Homily reflections

What do you make of Gamaliel for us today?

(image: Lynne and Mario, who represented the community at the altar at last weekend’s OLOW Mass – see weekend liturgy post)

Mass Parts – a bit of encouraging teaching!

Someone left a comment yesterday about the idea of just printing one small part of the Mass prayers to encourage our more focussed reflection. So today, how’s this for minimalism? I’m just printing the Entrance Antiphon from today’s Mass prayers! I reckon there’s a month of reflection in it. Clue: the ‘priests’ don’t only refer to today’s ordained priests .. and not only to the ritual priests of our Jewish or early Christian tradition. Rather, as our Catholic teaching says – By baptism, we ALL share in the threefold ministry of Jesus; priest, prophet and king. Our priestly identity makes us all channels between heaven and earth, whose lives offer prayer and sacrifice that carries the grace of God into real life. So, here’s the entrance antiphon – for a lots of powerful reflection on our lives and possibilities:

You have redeemed us, Lord, by your Blood,

from every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

and have made us into a kingdom, priests for our God, alleluia.

Hope the grief reflection, readings, homily and Mass part focus above can enrich your own spiritual life and practice today

Weekend Mass ahead at Our Lady of the Way?

Streaming Sunday 9.30am – and will continue to be viewable afterwards – Help us spread the word among the community

As you know the approach to Mass/liturgy for Our Lady of the Way has been a mix. There are lots of live streams around plus TV Mass – and we live also streamed through Easter. Last weekend we again used a combination of images, guided texts of the Mass and voice recordings. And I’ve been welcoming any feedback via [email protected] – A number of people have said that the combination structure has been good for them to be able to take their own initiative or leadership with the liturgy – compared to only using the approach of watching liturgies and trying to enter into them that way. I was glad to get that feedback – a good sign that we can use this time in some way to grow our respective confidence or capacity. No-one has directly asked for another live stream Mass at Our Lady of the Way – but again I’ll be keen on feedback about that. Maybe some people are being polite by saying nothing so far.

In any case, for this weekend, in the spirit of taking a mixed approach, we will live stream Mass. It will stream via Facebook at 9.30am (stream open 5-10 mins before) on Sunday 26th April. And the Mass will be around 40 mins maximum.

Just google anything like Emu Plains Parish Facebook and you’ll find it – or use the link https://www.facebook.com/olowparishemuplains/

Streaming Sunday 9.30am – and will continue to be viewable afterwards – Help us spread the word among the community

Just for fun

As part of my Institute for Mission work (www.ifm.org.au) I had to attend an online meeting this morning with an Australian Catholic University (ACU) committee. This particular committee is involved with the development of an ACU campus in our diocese at Blacktown. The chairperson of the meeting finished it with a quip about loving like Jesus and washing hands like Pilate! The curiosity in me googled it – and yep, there it is, all over the internet!!!!

Some people have been asking if it’s possible to leave a comment following posts in the Parish Blog space, as is the case with many online blogs. That facility has now been set up below. Comments that are published appear online before the next post

See you in the next post – and

with friendship in God’s mission,

fr Paul

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