The Good News from Your Parish
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TheThe GoodGood NewsNews fromfrom YourYour ParishParish OUR LADY OF LEBANON MARONITE CATHOLIC CHURCH - HARRIS PARK Sunday 21 September 2014 Issue 47 www.olol.org.au First Sunday after the Holy Cross The Gospel The Epistle James and John, the sons of Zebedee, You then, my child, be strong in the grace that came forward to Jesus and said to him, is in Christ Jesus; and what you have heard “Teacher, we want you to do for us from me through many witnesses entrust to whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, faithful people who will be able to teach oth- “What is it you want me to do for you?” ers as well. Share in suffering like a good sol- And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at dier of Christ Jesus. No one serving in the ar- your right hand and one at your left, in your my gets entangled in everyday affairs; the sol- glory.” But Jesus said to them, dier’s aim is to please the enlisting officer. And “You do not know what you are asking. in the case of an athlete, no one is crowned Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, without competing according to the rules. It is or be baptised with the baptism that I am the farmer who does the work who ought to baptised with? ”They replied, “We are able.” have the first share of the crops. Then Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with Think over what I say, for the Lord will give which I am baptised, you will be baptised; you understanding in all things. Remember but to sit at my right hand or at my left Next Sunday’s Readings Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descend- is not mine to grant, but it is for those for ant of David — that is my gospel, for which I whom it has been prepared.” 1Cor 15:19-34 suffer hardship, even to the point of being Mk 24:1-14 chained like a criminal. But the word of God is When the ten heard this, they began to be an- not chained. Therefore I endure everything for gry with James and John. So Jesus called them the sake of the elect, so that they may also and said to them, “You know that among the QUOTE OF THE obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with Gentiles those whom they recognize as their WEEK eternal glory. rulers lord it over them, and their great ones 2Tim 2: 1-10 are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great “The more Prayer of the Week among you must be your servant, and whoev- er wishes to be first among you must be slave Lord of Peace, of all. For the Son of Man came not to be painful In a time of anxiousness and fear, we seek Your served but to serve, and to give his life a ran- Peace. som for many.” the cross, In a time of uncertainty and confusion, we seek Your Truth. Mark 10:35-45 In a time of anger and frustration, we seek the greater Your Serenity. In a time of isolation and loneliness, we seek Consecration of Your Companionship. Our Lady of Lebanon Church our Guide us Lord, to be messengers of Peace, Love and Forgiveness. Grant us the wisdom to deal as a Co Cathedral with each obstacle and situation. Help us to Mass & Consecration Ceremony on advantage” understand that violence and retaliation is not Saturday 11 October 2014 at 6pm the answer to the problems of the world. By Your example upon the Holy Cross, teach us to Saint Paul of the Cross repeat Your words: “Forgive them Father, for Want to receive the Newsletter by email, they do not know what they do”. Amen subscribe online at www.olol.org.au\newsletter SUNDAY HOLY LITURGIES (Masses) OLOL Church - Harris Park 8am (Arabic), 9:30am (English Family), 11am (Ar/Eng), 5pm (Ar/Eng), 7pm (English Youth) Mass Centres 11am St. Joseph the Worker, Auburn (Ar/Eng) / 6pm St Patrick’s, Guildford (Ar/Eng) WEEKDAY HOLY LITURGIES (Masses) Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 7am, 8.45am & 6pm. Wed 7am, 8.45am & 5:30pm; 7pm (English Youth) Sat 7:30am & 6pm (Ar/Eng) CONFESSIONS Before and during Saturday 6pm and Sunday Masses or by appointment on weekdays WEEKDAY DEVOTIONS Rosary / Divine Mercy: Mon, Tues 8pm, Wed 6:30pm, Thurs 7:30pm Sun 6:30pm Fri 7:30pm Adoration Hour: Thursdays 8pm – 9pm 42 Hour Adoration: Every First Friday of the Month from 9:30am - Sat 7:30am Parish Contact Numbers: Office: 9689 2899 Fax: 9689 2068. Email: [email protected] Msgr Shora Maree P.P. 0418 969 844. A.P.s Fr Pierre 0411 735 258. Fr Tony 0433 211 248. Fr Raphael 0401 627 777. Fr Sam, Fr Antoun 9689 2899. Fr Paul 0414 900 016. Fr Bernard 0411 811 807. Fr Yuhanna 0435 764 824. Light from the Word Soldier On Saint of Week We are in the Season of the Cross in our Maronite Lectionary and it is accompanied with connota- Saint John the Beloved tions of suffering. Perhaps this Season suits us best 26th September in the current climate of terrorist activity and in- creasing Christian persecution. The Reading for this Sunday, taken from the Se- St. John, the son of Zebedee, and the brother cond Letter to Timothy, reminds us that God’s of St. James the Great, was called to be an Word is powerful and Christian living requires ac- Apostle by our Lord in the first year of His pub- tion and strength, perseverance and will power. lic ministry. He became the "beloved disciple" The passage has much to say about being Christian and the only one of the Twelve who did not in a world of continual threat. forsake the Savior in the hour of His Passion. Firstly we read, ‘be strong in the grace that is in He stood faithfully at the cross when the Sav- Christ Jesus’ (v1). These words offer comfort in the ior made him the guardian of His Mother. His face of suffering but also encouragement and the call for bravery. later life was passed chiefly in Jerusalem and Secondly we read, ‘what you have heard . entrust to faithful people at Ephesus. He founded many churches in Asia who will be able to teach others as well.’ The Christian message is some- Minor. He wrote the fourth Gospel, and three thing that should not be silenced, but rather, joyfully given to all. Epistles, and the Book of Revelation is also Thirdly we read, ‘Share in suffering like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.’ We attributed to him. Brought to Rome, tradition are not passive victims but called to fight for justice, no matter the pain relates that he was by order of Emperor inflicted on us. Dometian cast into a cauldron of boiling oil but came forth unhurt and was banished to the Fourthly the Reading today makes use of the terms soldier (v4), athlete island of Patmos for a year. He lived to an ex- (v5) and farmer (v6), suggesting being a Christian involves effort and com- treme old age, surviving all his fellow apostles, mitment, hard work and determination. and died at Ephesus about the year 100. St. Fifthly we read, ‘the Lord will give you understanding in all things.’ We John is called the Apostle of Charity, a virtue cannot accept falsehoods and lies, but must pursue truth, even if it is he had learned from his Divine Master, and costly to us. which he constantly inculcated by word and Sixthly we read in verse 9, ‘I suffer hardship, even to the point of being example. The "beloved disciple" died at Ephe- chained like a criminal.’ The Christian life is not always an easy path. sus, where a stately church was erected over Seventhly we read in verse 10, ‘I endure everything for the sake of the his tomb. It was afterwards converted into a elect.’ We may well ask ourselves how far will we commit our lives for the Mohammedan mosque. John is credited with sake of the Gospel? the authorship of three epistles and one Gos- pel, he is also known to be the author of the Finally we read in verse, ‘so that they may also obtain the salvation that is book of Revelation; in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.’ Christianity is not a personalised Prayer: St John the Beloved, you provided for choice but a way of being in the world for all people. us an example of faith when you followed our Passivity, denial, ignorance and nonchalance, are not the armour of a Lord on the way of the cross remaining firm in Christian. Rather it requires deliberate involvement in the affairs of this your faith regardless of the consequence. In world, all for the sake of transforming it through Christ’s love. Amen these days of persecution and uncertainty we Sr Margaret Ghosn mshf ask your intercession that we may too stand firm in our Christian faith, giving testimony to Think before you the joy of life in the Gospel through our faith, Shepherd’s Corner hope and love. Amen press “ENTER” Dear Parishioners, Think before you press or speak out. From the happenings of this week I think we can learn something vital. By now I’m sure most would be aware of the single incident of a verbal threat made from a passing motorist to a School Staffmem ber near the School crossing that occurred on Tuesday afternoon.