From the Heart of Your Loving Shepherd
BE NOT AFRAID. TAKE COURAGE
In the Gospel of Matthew 14:27, Jesus grants us a ray of hope, when we are cowed down and bowed down with uncertainties of life with the following words: "But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”
I must most humbly acknowledge that I have learned, observed and researched in all my past thirty-eight years of my religious life and particularly in it, the twenty-eight years of my pastoral and priestly life that, in reality, no one is immune to the fears of FEAR itself! Therefore is there any kind of ‘shield’ available to safeguard ourselves from the fears of life? Will our lives be successful in spite of the unexpected fears that most of the time threaten our day-to-day living? I think one of the best positive 'shield' available for me is to strengthen myself in the face of the fears of my life is to reinforce and deepen my COURAGE. In order to strengthen my courage, I need to clearly delineate the contours of fears and the stranglehold it has on my personality and in the joy of my life!
COURAGE DRIVES OUT FEARS
Jesus rightly exhorts the crowd around him chiding them, yet sternly, “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid." Jesus' expression of 'Be courageous,' is not only found in the above Matthean text alone, but quite often in Gospel Jesus injects courage into the life of many particularly the passage relating to the woman caught in adultery; And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” Rfr., John 8:1-11.
Courage is not a guaranteed psychological attribute that can totally root out every fears from my life. But courage on the contrary grants me the faith in 'myself' and in the FAITH of the Divine companionship to face the fears and yet not be consumed by them!
REAL FEARS and ILLUSORY FEARS
Human growth and joys of life are today based on many factors than in the past decade. The rapid growth of psychological sciences and other related human sciences, have enabled us to comprehend our spirituality and fears in a better way, the research journal Psychology Today talks about for example; "Debugging humankind's most common fears. Fears are tasked with the function of keeping us alive. Our fears give rise to in the modern terminology to the Phobias of our lives which are seen obstacles and barriers of the joys and peace of our day-today living. For example Social Phobia, Fear of heights, Fear of bugs, snakes or spiders, Fear of closed spaces, Fear of flying, Fear of the dark, Fear of getting a disease." Similarly it is quite interesting to note that the journal talks about a fear of hierarchy in our lives. "A fear hierarchy is a process used in systematic desensitization (a behavioural treatment for phobias). The client and therapist work together to develop the hier-archy, where they rank a list of situations relevant to the phobic stimulus from least to most terrifying."
The best way to overcome fears is to face them in small steps. To do this, one can create an Exposure Hierarchy that will gradually “expose” me to the situations that I fear until I can face my fears with a minimum of concern. Avoiding my fears never helps me and in fact may even make them worse.
The readings and research materials that I have done have given me a great understanding of fear and I most humbly fear to say that I am fully comprehending the length and breadth of Human FEARS! Many psychologists and noteworthy researches carried out by eminent intellectuals though lists Human Fears in relation to Human Behaviour with a long list, for the convenience of this reflection, I would Like to summarise all of them into two dimensions: REAL FEARS and ILLUSORY FEARS. Let me explain a little so that we can understand the encouraging words of Jesus, ' "Why be Afraid? It' I. Have courage, ' in a greater depth: Real FEARS are those that happen in real-time of our lives, which have to be confronted and immediately to avoid further consequences and damages. Let me give an example; When I see that an unexpected object seems to target me while I am driving, it is a real occurrence that could harm me and hence I need to understand that it's a REAL FEAR and I need to react immediately to overcome the negative outcomes of that REAL FEAR. Real FEARs of our lives are existential and may harm us in a short term or may take a long term to create the imbalances of our self and life! The Financial fears of our lives and a host of other similar fears could be in this long list of REAL FEARS.
The Illusory fears of our lives could be illusions most of the time. Illusory fears can be mostly imaginative fears of our lives, most of the time. Most of the time, Illusory fears spring out without real foundations reasons and facts. I think, I have observed and learned that our Illusory fears destroy our personalities more than our Real Fears!
(To be continued......)
Your Loving Shepherd Servant,
Fr. Joseph AMAL SDB., Parish Priest
South Land of the Holy Spirit
- Reflection by Fr Michael Tate
The Beatitudes we just heard are at the beginning of the ‘Sermon on the Mount’. This sermon provides a picture of a society where the usual expectations of how people relate to each other are overturned.
Australia is a place to which people have been attracted by a vision of a different future, a future where human beings could relate to each other differently to the old order in their society of origin.
De Quiros, the Portuguese explorer of the 16th Century, set out on a quest for ‘Terra Austrialia del Espiritu Santo’, South Land of the Holy Spirit.
I am convinced that ‘Australia’ is a work of the Holy Spirit. One of whose most distinctive works at Pentecost was the breaking down of ethnic and language barriers between people.
Australia is a place where that Pentecostal impulse is creating a new society. Have we responded to the Holy Spirit perfectly? No. Treatment of the earliest inhabitants of this land was shameful, and is not yet fully remedied as the Lord of the Sermon on the Mount desires.
But, we could pause for a moment and thank God.
For our land abounding in nature’s gifts of beauty rich and rare.
For the divine Spirit of Pentecost attracting us to follow Jesus in this South Land of the Holy Spirit.
© Fr. Michael Tate
Rev Prof Michael Tate graduated in Law from the University of Tasmania in 1968, and in Theology from Oxford University in 1971. He lectured at the University of Tasmania from 1972-78, being Dean of the Faculty of Law in 1977-78. He was a Senator for Tasmania from 1978-93, being Federal Minister for Justice from 1987-93. He served as Ambassador to The Hague and the Holy See from 1993-96. He then returned to Australia and was ordained in May 2000 and has been a parish priest in the Archdiocese of Hobart since then. He is an Honorary Professor of Law at the University of Tasmania where he lectures in International Humanitarian Law.
- 2021 Sacramental Classes
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St Luke’s Catechist Group will again be offering a Sacramental program this year. The program comprises of one hourly lesson a week, over ten weeks. It is designed for children wishing to prepare to receive the Sacraments of First Reconciliation, First Eucharist and Confirmation.
If you or someone you know may be interested to enrol their child / children into our Sacramental program, please come to one of our registration days.
Our registration days will be held on Sunday January 24th and February 7th, 2021 in the Church foyer after the 8:30am & 10:00am Masses.
Should you require more information, please contact Maria Bonato on 0411-445-558
Maria Bonato
- St Luke’s Catechist coordinator
- Reaching Beyond 2020
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People of all trades and professions are being requested by communities abroad seeking to build the capacity of their organisations and the skills of their people. Restrictions this year have made communities’ needs acute, but your assistance will help to develop self-reliance and sustainable solutions to poverty.
Palms Australia will provide you with thorough preparation to ensure your readiness as travel resumes, and support on assignment.
See www.palms.org.au/ and talk to Roger on 0431-995-058, or email
- Need For Volunteers
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We are in urgent need of volunteers to:
- visit and bring Holy Communion to the sick and elderly in the nursing homes.
- clean the Parish Centre on a fortnightly basis.
- set up the Altar and arrange flowers.
Please see father or let the parish office know if you are able to help.
Thank you.
- Stewardship Corner
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"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."
COLOSSIANS 3:2
On this day we thank God for His Son, Jesus, who died and rose for us. We celebrate and sing "Alleluia."
Let's try to keep the joy of this Easter season in our hearts throughout the year!
Pray daily and listen for God's response on how we should use our gifts to fulfill His plan.
- Happy Families Pray Together
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"The family that recites the Rosary together reproduces something of the atmosphere of the household of Nazareth: its members place Jesus at the centre,
they share his joys and sorrows, they place their needs and their plans in his hands, they draw from him the hope and the strength to go on."
- John Paul II, Apostolic Letter on the Rosary of the Virgin Mary
View Rosary Prayer Card
- Individual Confession vs. "General Absolution"
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The Church hasn't banned the Third Rite which, by the way, consists in the general
absolution of a large number of people at once without individual confession.
The rite was first introduced during World War I to allow priests to absolve a large
number of soldiers before they went into battle when it would have been impossible to
hear all the confessions individually. At the time of the World War II the conditions
were extended to other circumstances of imminent danger of death, and finally in 1972
they came to include situations such as those in mission territories where, if the
priest did not absolve a large number of people at once, they would have to go for a
long time without the grace of the sacraments through no fault of their own.
The norms on what has come to be called "general absolution" were incorporated into
the 1983 Code of Canon Law in Canons 961-963 and into the Catechism of the Catholic
Church in paragraphs 1483-1484 (cf. J. Flader, Question Time 1, Connor Court 2012,
q. 80).
Up until some 15 years ago the Third Rite was used in many parishes in Australia.
Significant numbers of people took advantage of it, partly because they were helped by
the readings from Scripture, prayers and often a homily, and because many others were
attending as well, emphasising the communal, ecclesial aspect of the sacrament. And
since there was no need to confess their sins individually to the priest, they found
it much easier than going to individual confession.
Why did it suddenly stop? Perhaps the more apposite question would be why it began in
the first place. It is clear that the conditions required for its use simply do not
exist in Australia, particularly the condition that if the priest did not absolve a
large number of penitents collectively they would have to go for a long period of time
without the grace of the sacraments through no fault of their own. While the number of
priests has diminished somewhat, we are still well served with priests and parishes so
that the sacrament of Reconciliation is readily available all over this country.
By the late 1990s the use of general absolution was fairly widespread, especially in
some dioceses. During their five-yearly ad limina visit to Rome in 1998, the
Australian bishops discussed this matter, along with others, with Pope [St.] John Paul
and Vatican officials. At the end of their visit a long Statement of Conclusions was
signed by representatives of the Australian bishops and of the Roman Curia. Among
other matters, it encouraged the use of individual confession and, with respect to
general absolution, said: "Unfortunately, communal celebrations have not infrequently
occasioned an illegitimate use of general absolution. This illegitimate use, like
other abuses in the administration of the sacrament of Penance, is to be eliminated.
The bishops will exercise renewed vigilance on these matters for the future, aware
that departures from the authentic tradition do great wrong to the Church and to
individual Catholics" (n. 45).
Naturally, while general absolution is not to be used in this country, it still
remains an option in countries where the conditions for its use exist.
Those who do take regular advantage of individual confession know how much good it
does them. Apart from receiving forgiveness of their sins, they have an opportunity to
do a thorough examination of conscience, to tell their sins personally to God through
the priest and to receive helpful spiritual direction and encouragement. With the
abundant grace the sacrament gives them, they begin their spiritual struggle anew each
time, with their soul free from sin and filled with hope.
Pope [St.] John Paul II, in an address to priests at the beginning of Lent in 1981,
said that "confession periodically renewed, the so-called confession 'of devotion',
has always accompanied the ascent to holiness in the Church." And on 13 March, 1999,
he told priests hearing confessions in the patriarchal basilicas of Rome: "It should
not be forgotten that the so-called confession of devotion was the school which formed
the great saints."
Would that more people made frequent use of this sacrament. Their growth in holiness
through it would be a great blessing for themselves, for their families, for the
Church and for the whole of society.
Fr John Flader
The Catholic Weekly,
www.catholicweekly.com.au
12 May, 2013
- Consecration of The House To The Sacred Heart of Jesus
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Please speak to Fr. Joseph or the parish office to organize day and time.
Fr Joseph would like to congratulate everyone who had their house consecrated recently.
- Consecration Of The Family
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View / Download full flyer
- Daily Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary
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Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary,
I consecrate my entire self to the Most Holy Love of Your Two Hearts. I wish to make reparation for all the sins of the world, including my own. I offer these things for the love of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
I will keep my mind on beauty and turn my thoughts from evil things. I will hold my temper and bear the mistakes of others with love and a forgiving heart. I will admit when I am wrong and ask others to forgive me. I will not show off, but remain humble. I will offer up all my sufferings, sicknesses and hurts and seek God’s Will, not my own. I will show appreciation for the kindness and blessings that I receive, and thank God for all things. I will do everything in my life for love of God and I will love others as God has loved me.
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, through the intercession of the Im-maculate Heart of Mary, receive the offering and consecration I now make of myself to You. Keep me faithful until death and bring me one day to the happy home in heaven. I desire to live forever with God the Father and the Most Holy Spirit and You my Lord Jesus, together with Your Most Immaculate Mother.
Amen.
Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary,
please protect us.
- Pope Francis Urges Young people To 'Download A Good Heart' and Pay Less Attention to Technology
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Pope Francis has wrapped up his Polish visit with a huge outdoor Mass where he told young people to look beyond the instant gratification afforded by technology and instead try to change the world.
Hundreds of thousands of young people, many of whom camped out for the night, waved national flags and cheered as Pope Francis arrived to say the mass in a large field on the outskirts of Krakow at the end of his five-day trip to Poland where he presided at the Catholic Church's World Youth Day festivities.
He urged the young people to "download the best link of all, that of a heart which sees and transmits goodness without growing weary".
He said their response to the challenges of life cannot be "texting a few words", that prayer should be given pride of place over their internet "chats", and that God's memory was not a "hard disk" filled with files on everyone, but more of a compassionate heart that wants to help them "erase" evil.
Pope Francis encouraged them to continue "to be dreamers [who] believe in a new humanity, one that rejects hatred between peoples, one that refuses to see borders as barriers".
He announced the next World Youth Day would take place in Panama in 2019.
For full story: www.abc.net.au/news
- Pope Tells Teens:
Happiness 'Is Not An App'
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Happiness is not an app you can download on your mobile phone, Pope Francis told thousands of teenagers on Sunday at a mass to mark a weekend dedicated to youth.
"Freedom is not always about doing what you want. In fact it is the gift of being able to choose the right way," he said in a homily punctuated by regular bursts of applause from the crowd on a packed St Peter's Square.
"Your happiness has no price. It cannot be bought and sold: it is not an application you download on a mobile phone. Even the latest version cannot help you to grow and become free in love."
An estimated 70,000 teenagers were in Rome for a weekend of events to celebrate Francis's Jubilee year dedicated to the theme of mercy.
In a surprise move on Saturday, the 79-year-old pontiff heard confessions from 16 of them and a video message from him was broadcast at a rock and rap concert in the Stadio Olimpico.
One of the teenagers chosen to confess to the leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics said she had been trembling as she approached the chair on which the pope was sitting in St Peter's Square.
"But as soon as I sat down I had the feeling of being next to a normal person rather than the pope. Francis is really one of us," Anna Taibi, 15, told La Repubblica newspaper.
The Sicilian teenager said she had been touched by Francis's tenderness as he listened to her confession.
"I expected him to give me a penance ... instead he absolved me and let me go."
The importance of mobile phones to contemporary teenagers was also reflected in Francis's message to the concert.
Clutching an iPhone, he told his audience that living without Jesus was like not having any signal. "Always be sure to go where there is a network: family, parish, school," he said.
www.businessinsider.com/afp-pope-tells-teens-happiness-not-an-app-2016-4?IR=T
- Australia's Premier Organist
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On Friday 5 February, 6:00pm to 7:00pm, Australia’s own concert organist and internationally acclaimed organ virtuoso Thomas Heywood will play the organ at St Patrick’s Cathedral nearly 60 years after its installation.
Thomas Heywood is considered one of the world’s finest concert organists, having travelled 1.2 million kilometres across the globe performing solo concerts on the world's most celebrated pipe organs. As Founding President and Australian National Director of the Australian and New Zealand College of Organists, Heywood is committed to promoting and preserving Australasia’s unique pipe organ heritage.
The Archdiocese of Melbourne has an invaluable heritage of pipe organs in parish churches and schools, but most notably, is the famed Cathedral Organ at St Patrick’s Cathedral. The Cathedral Organ was installed in the west gallery of St Patrick’s Cathedral in the late 1870s by Robert Mackenzie and completed in 1880 by George Fincham, and later rebuilt in 1962 by pipe organ design and building firm George Fincham & Sons.
Tickets may be purchased online at www.trybooking.com/events/landing?eid=697859&.
Tickets will also available at the door.
- Help for Marriages Under Stress
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The coronavirus pandemic and lockdown may have caused stress to many marriages. Restore hope for your relationship’s future.
Visit: www.smartloving.org/breakthrough.
- Serra International
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Serra International - Prayer for Vocations
"Heavenly Father, help us respond
to and live out our mission in the
Church. Help all your people to
know their vocation in life, and
assist them to prepare for it.
For your greater glory, and for the
service of your people, call many
to be Priests and Religious. Give
those whom you call the grace to
respond generously and to
persevere faithfully. We ask this
through Christ Our Lord.
Amen."
For information about Serra or Vocations:
www.scanzspac.org
View / Download Prayer Card (296kB)
- Altar Servers
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Presently the parish has few altar servers.
Their service and prayerful presence enhances the liturgical celebration.
Fr. Joseph is calling for more children to take up this ministry.
What It Means To Be An Altar Server (Video)
- Take Mary Home
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As we noticed that our lady statue (Take Mary Home) has been on the bench every couple of weeks in a month. With great thoughts and inputs from various members in the leadership team, considering the weight of the original statue as it is quite heavy to be carried, we would like to make it much easier for our parishioners to take an alternative statue (Our Lady of Fatima) which is much lighter to carry and it also comes in a box where the statue could be handled more safely. We are happy to leave both the statues on the bench behind the divine mercy image. Make yourself comfortable to put your name in the book with your contact details, the tone of the mass which you are planning to take and also which statue as well based on your convenience. I hope and pray that the above arrangement would help the parishioners to take the statue every week so that Our Lady visits every family in our community to intercede for our families and community.
Thanks for your cooperation and understanding.
Rosy Paul
- Facing Facts, Coming to Terms With One’s Past Brings Peace, Pope says
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People need to make peace with their lives and anything they are running from, rather than lose themselves to escapism and playful distraction, Pope Francis said. There is an ‘industry of distraction’ in full force today, which paints the ideal world as being ‘a big playground where everybody has fun’ and the ideal individual as one who ‘makes money in order to have fun, find satisfaction’ in the many ‘vast and diverse avenues of pleasure,’ he said during his weekly gen-eral audience. Such an attitude leads to ‘dissatisfaction with an existence anesthetized by fun, which isn't rest, but alienation and escaping from reality,’ he added.
Finding peace is a choice, he said. It is not changing one's past, but is becoming reconciled with what has happened, ‘to accept and give value’ to one's life.
https://melbournecatholic.org.au/News/facing-facts-coming-to-terms-with-ones-past-bring-peace-pope-says
- Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta
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Holiness is not something for the extraordinary.
Holiness is not a luxury of the few.
Holiness is the simple duty for each one of us.
- We Need Your Help
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We would like to hear from tradies, handymen and technicians in our community who would like to be included in our directory.
We may have odd jobs around the Church and would very much appreciate your help.
Please contact the parish office or get in touch with Fr Joseph.
- Extraordinary Ministers of Communion, Readers & Counters
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Our parish would like to invite parishioners to become Readers and Extraordinary Ministers for our Masses. These roles are a small but significant way
to quietly participate in our parish community and your contribution would be greatly appreciated.
If you are able to assist, please contact Daphne Cheah (9720-3956) or the Parish Office (9801-8411).
Thank you to all who contribute their time and talent in this way.
- To Love To The End: Who will make your choices?
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is a
Melbourne Archdiocese initiative to focus on an area of bioethics
where we can positively contribute to building up a civilization
of life and love.
The theme, "To Love to the End", deals with issues
about dying and caring for our loved ones, the meaning
and purpose of suffering and our duty as Christians to
show love to every human being to the end.
Please collect
a copy of the informative brochure and prayer card on
this theme from the tables at the church entrances or
you can view/download the brochure and card below.
View Respect Life Prayer Card (359 kB)
- Overcoming Despair With Hope
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Through Respect Life Sunday the church aims to equip
Catholics to better love those around us by providing vital information about the dangers of
the new abortion drug, RU486.
Pope Francis provided a beautiful example of how we reach out to women facing an unplanned
pregnancy recently, when he took the time to listen to a story of a 35 year old Roman woman,
then telephoned her to offer a listening ear, hope, encouragement and practical support for when
the baby was born.
Read more when you pick up your copy of the green Respect Life brochure in the foyer, or
- Pope: We Must Ask the Lord for the Gifts of Love and Joy
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Pope Francis has reminded believers that Jesus' love is infinite and true, unlike worldly passions that seek power and vanity.
"As the Father loves me, so I also love you" said Pope Francis quoting from the Gospel reading of the day to highlight the fact that the Lord’s love is infinite.
He said the Lord asks us to stay close to Him and to observe His Commandments: “the Ten Commandments of course are the foundation, but we are also called to follow all the things that Jesus has taught us, the commandments of daily life that represent a Christian lifestyle.
There are “passions” that distance us from the true love of Jesus. “There are other loves. The world itself offers many other loves: love of money for example, vanity, boastfulness, pride, love of power which can even lead to unjust actions to achieve more power…” he said.
For full article:
For full ull article: http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/05/18/pope_‘we_must_ask_the_lord_for_the_gifts_of_love_and_joy/1313086
- Pope Francis' Letter to Young People
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Pope's Letter to Young People on the Occasion of the Presentation of the Preparatory Document of the XV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops
My Dear Young People,
I am pleased to announce that in October 2018 a Synod of Bishops will take place to treat the topic: "Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment." I wanted you to be the centre of attention, because you are in my heart. Today, the Preparatory Document is being presented, a document which I am also entrusting to you as your "compass" on this synodal journey.
I am reminded of the words which God spoke to Abraham: "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you." (Gen 12.1). These words are now also addressed to you. They are words of a Father who invites you to "go", to set out towards a future which is unknown but one which will surely lead to fulfilment, a future towards which He Himself accompanies you. I invite you to hear God's voice resounding in your heart through the breath of the Holy Spirit.
When God said to Abram, "Go!", what did he want to say? He certainly did not say to distance himself from his family or withdraw from the world. Abram received a compelling invitation, a challenge, to leave everything and go to a new land. What is this "new land" for us today, if not a more just and
friendly society which you, young people, deeply desire and wish to build to the very ends of the earth?
But unfortunately, today, "Go!" also has a different meaning, namely, that of abuse of power, injustice and war. Many among you are subjected to the real threat of violence and forced to flee their native land. Their cry goes up to God, like that of Israel, when the people were enslaved and oppressed by Pharaoh (cf. Ex 2:23).
A better world can be built also as a result of your efforts, your desire to change and your generosity. Do not be afraid to listen to the Spirit who proposes bold choices; do not delay when your conscience asks you to take risks in following the Master. The Church also wishes to listen to your voice, your sensitivities and your faith; even your doubts and your criticism. Make your voice heard, let it resonate in communities and let it be heard by your shepherds of souls. St. Benedict urged the abbots to consult, even the young, before any important decision, because "the Lord often reveals to the younger what is best." (Rule of St. Benedict, III, 3).
Such is the case, even in the journey of this Synod. My brother bishops and I want even more to "work with you for your joy'' (2 Cor 1:24). I entrust you to Mary of Nazareth, a young person like yourselves, whom God beheld lovingly, so she might take your hand and guide you to the joy of fully and generously responding to God's call with the words: "Here I am" (cf. Lk 1:38).
With paternal affection,
FRANCIS
For full version:
https://www.catholic.org.au/commissions/pope-francis-letter-to-young-people
- Rome Report
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Address by Pope Francis before praying the Sunday Angelus, 31 August 2014
Dear brothers and sisters, Good Morning!
In the Sunday itinerary with the Gospel of Matthew, we arrive today at the crucial point in which Jesus, after confirming that Peter and the other eleven had believed in Him as the
Messiah and Son of God, "began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly…,and be killed and on the third day be raised." (16,21).
It is a critical moment in which Jesus and the disciples' way of thinking emerges. Even Peter feels compelled to reproach the Master, because he cannot attribute such a shameful end for
the Messiah.
Jesus, in turn, severely reproaches Peter, He puts him "back in line" because he does not think "as God does, but as human beings do." (v.23) and without realizing that he his playing the
role of Satan, the tempter.
The Apostle Paul, in this Sunday's liturgy also insists upon this point when writing to the Christians of Rome, saying: "Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the
renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God" (Rm. 12,2)
In fact, we Christians live in the world fully inserted in the social and cultural reality of our time, and rightly so. But this carries the risk that we become "worldly",the risk that
"the salt loses its flavor", as Jesus would say (cfr. Mt. 5,13), that is, that the Christian is "watered down", losing the charge of newness that comes from the Lord and the Holy Spirit.
Instead, they should be the opposite: when the strength of the Gospel remains alive in Christians, they can transform "mankind's criteria of judgment, determining values, points of
interest, lines of thought, sources of inspiration and models of life" (Paul VI, Apost.Exhort. Evangelii nuntiandi, 19).
It is sad to find watered down Christians, who are like watered wine. You can't tell whether they are Christian or worldly. Like watered wine, where you can't tell whether it is wine or
water. This is sad. It is sad to find Christians that are no longer the salt of the Earth. And we know that when salt loses its flavor, it is no longer useful. Their salt has lost its
flavor because they are committed to the spirit of this world. That is, they have become worldly.
Therefore, it is necessary to renew oneself continuously, to draw this sap from the Gospel. And how can one do this in practice? First and foremost, by reading and meditating the Gospel
every day, so the word of Jesus may always be present in our life. Remember, it would help you to carry a Gospel with you, a small book of Gospels, in your pocket or in your purse, and
read a small passage during the day. But always the Gospel because it is carrying the Word of Jesus and being able to read it.
Also, participating in Sunday Mass, where we find the Lord in the community, listening to His Word and receiving the Eucharist which unites us to Him and one another. And then, days of
retreat and spiritual exercises are very important for spiritual renewal.
Gospel, Eucharist, Prayer. Do not forget: Gospel, Eucharist and Prayer. Thanks to these gifts from the Lord, we can conform not to the world, but to Christ, and to follow Him on His
path, the path of "losing one's own life" in order to find it (v.25). "Losing it" in the sense of donating it, offering it for love and in love - and this involves the sacrifice, even
to the cross - to receive it again purified, freed from selfishness and from the debt of death, full of eternity.
The Virgin Mary always precedes us on this path; let us be guided and accompanied by Her.
- Tweet Others As You Wish To Be Tweeted
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Tweet others as you would wish to be tweeted is a scripture based guide to social media for the Church.
It takes the command from Luke's Gospel to do unto others as you would have them do unto you, and applies it to social media.
Further information:
https:www.catholic.org.au/world-communications-day2015/
