The Peaceful Dove

Tuesday, 3 March 2015

The Joy of Love

During the week I was in Sydney and completed the preparation of two young couples for the Sacrament of Marriage.

While I was there one of the young women received the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation, and First Eucharist. As they have been preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage I have noticed rising excitement of this couple. During this week as she received the Sacraments of initiation and healing her anticipation became palpable. God had ignited her faith and she was equally anticipating what lay ahead for her not only in her life as a Catholic but in her married life. In a very real way she had during this week a glimpse of what her life can be and of what God has given her the capacity to reach.

So it is with the story of the Transfiguration on the mountain. Jesus is transfigured with Moses and Elijah to show us what we can be. That scene lifts us out of our normal life as it did the apostles and allows us to see both where we have come from and where we are able to go. It is our story, that of the people of God, guided by the law and excited by the words of the prophets, going forward with confidence knowing that God is with us.

Naturally Peter wanted that situation to remain, just like that young woman, excited at her Confirmation and First Communion, quite possibly wanted that feeling to remain. However, soberly looking towards the future, isn't there so much more that is possible if we accept the moment of grace, allow it to strengthen us, and then go forward, knowing that God accompanies us in our journey of life. Peter, James & John descended the mountain calmly and quietly because they knew the impact of what had happened.

The Transfiguration changed them because it was an encounter with God who called them towards situation they did not know but they were given the grace to accept.

The Sacraments strengthen us for our journey. Some young people here with us this evening are beginning preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This is our sacrament of healing where we celebrate that Christ loves, guides, and heals the hurts that we create for ourselves and those that others cause us to suffer. This is part of our journey as Christians. Christ accepts us in our weakness and helps us to understand and accept the faults and weaknesses of others. So healed in this Sacrament, we go forward in strength to follow our Christian life.

Last week Pope Francis was on retreat. Fr Cantalamessa, the Preacher of the Papal Household, challenged him and the assembles Vatican Staff that personally meeting Christ in the Sacraments is imperative for us as Catholics. He reflected on Pope Francis’ recent letter Evangelium Gaudium and shared that the Pope: “is not thinking obviously of a personal encounter that substitutes the ecclesial; he wishes to say that the ecclesial encounter must also be a free, desired, spontaneous encounter, and not purely nominal, juridical or habit-bound. We need the Sacraments, and we need to approach them in a fresh way. Those who have been recently catechised for the Sacraments are the best to show many of us who received them long ago how they can change our lives this Lent.

Friday, 20 February 2015

Don't Survive, Thrive!

For most of my 24 years as a priest I have lived in the desert, at Bidyadanga and Balgo. The desert taught me a many things, and some of them have been crucial to my survival.

The first is that you need to be aware. In the desert, people who don’t know what is going on around them die: it’s as simple as that. I have buried many people who did not believe this fact.

Second, little things make a difference. If a person travelling or living in the desert is prepared, they check and double check their fuel and water, they check when they come up to an unfamiliar crossing or track. They will survive when something goes wrong.

If a person in the desert follows this, they will not only survive but thrive. The desert will be a home of plenty that supports and nurtures that person.

The most important decision times for Jesus were in the desert. There he sat, thought, fasted and gained strength: He listened to God.

Lent is our desert time. During the next six weeks, take time to listen (pray with your mind, see where you are and what is right and wrong with our life); take time to go without something, to fast from food (pray with your body, knowing that we are tempted and that we need to make ourselves strong against temptation); take time to do good things for others and helping people a long way away through Project Compassion (pray with your actions, putting our faith into practice). The order is important, because it makes no sense to fast without prayer (it is not about dieting), or to give to others if we don’t acknowledge our connection as humans created by God (it is not about making us feel good)

In all of this, smile, because you and I know something that is wonderful, that Jesus is real and that people who believe in him can alter that course of our world. Lent is a great time, a chance that you and I have to make our lives and this world better for all people.

If you want to join this, come and be signed with ashes, but remember, if you are signed with ashes you are saying that there is something more to life than you can see around you, and that this lent you are going got make a difference to your life and the lives of others.

This Lent don’t just survive, thrive!