Gdn Advent 2019.Pub
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Galloway Diocese Advent Edition December NEWSNEWS 2019 The Marian Way “an expression of faith on canvas” “My love of the Blessed Virgin is life-long because it started early before I properly realised what honesty or integrity really meant in the larger sense. I was a young altar-boy, somewhat in awe of Jesus and not all that sure of the Blessed Trinity either, but I was always easy at the Lady Altar and I would talk to her easily as if she were a favourite aunt.” That’s how Dr John Cairney, actor, writer and lecturer, describes the seed which was to flower and blossom when, as an octogenarian, he painted “The Marian Way”. The story of these lovely paintings is on page 4. Fear of the stranger can make us wary of welcoming those we do not know, but The Bishop Bishop Nolan reminds us that the Holy Family Writes were also once refugees. hey are a blessing, not a threat. That is what Pope Francis repeatedly tells the world as many countries, confronted by large numbers of refugees, T resist letting them in. The refugee crisis in our world just now is unprecedented. The United Nations tells us that every day 37,000 people are forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. With over 70 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, no wonder there are so many migrants seeking safety and shelter and security elsewhere. We regularly see on our TV screens the hardships migrants face, the dangers they encounter, and the tragedies that can take away their hopes and their lives. Yet those in need do not always get a warm welcome. Family, like many families today, had to seek refuge in a Many countries take active measures to keep these people out. foreign land. That fact weighs heavily on the conscience of The United Kingdom in particular does its best to ensure that every Christian, for when tempted to turn refugees away I as few as possible reach our shores. must wonder would I have turned away Jesus and Mary and Recently Pope Francis unveiled a statue in St Peter’s Joseph. Square highlighting the plight of refugees. The statue is called ear of the stranger can make us wary of welcoming “Angels Unawares”, referring to a story in the Old Testament F those we do not know; large numbers can make us where Abraham welcomes strangers who turn out to be angels hostile. In order to look with eyes of compassion on those who sent by God. In the Letter to the Hebrews we are urged always seek our help we have to look beyond the numbers and the to welcome strangers, remembering that some who did so statistics and see a fellow human being in need. A fellow welcomed angels unawares. human being, Pope Francis tells us, who brings with them The statue depicts migrants from various cultures and gifts and talents that will benefit their new homeland, conflicts and countries throughout history. They are huddled someone whom we should see as a blessing not a threat. on a boat seeking a place of refuge. And there are three among The artist, Timothy Schmalz, is well known due to his them that all of us will recognise: Jesus, Mary and Joseph. earlier statue, the Homeless Jesus. He considers his sculptures Something that Christians can never forget is that the Holy to be visual prayers that confront us with the teaching of Jesus. Who can look on this statue and not think: “What you did to the least of these, you did to me”? The Christmas story reminds us of the flight into Egypt, when a mother with her young child and her husband flee for their lives. Someone in those days was blessed when they unknowingly gave a welcome to the Holy Family, may we in our day be blessed when we give a welcome to angels unawares. 2 Seek And Save The Lost Jim McKendrick reflects on the extraordinary transformation of Zacchaeus and asks what we would do if Jesus knocked our door. fter restoring his sight to blind Bartimaeus, Jesus will associate with him. In contrast to the crowd who shun and enters Jericho, and word of the recent miracle has despise Zacchaeus, Jesus calls him by name and emphasises A spread like wildfire. Zacchaeus is the chief tax the importance and urgency of this encounter “I must stay at collector for the district and a wealthy man. His job puts him your house today.” Jesus also changes his plan to pass briefly in a position to obtain money through extortion and by through Jericho so that he can bring salvation to this “lost overstating the debts of poor, powerless citizens. Zacchaeus one” and his house, and change Zacchaeus forever. has heard that Jesus is a charismatic teacher and healer (earlier Although they both happen on the same day, within hours in the day he has restored the sight of a blind of each other, the restoration of sight to beggar). Something stirs in Zacchaeus; he is Bartimaeus and the story of Zacchaeus involve drawn to Jesus; he must see him as he passes by. different faith and salvation experiences. They Zacchaeus rushes to the roadside; but he are a reminder to us that we must be alert and realises with dismay that his small stature is ready, whenever and however Jesus comes going to be a problem. “I don’t stand a chance of calling. Bartimaeus expresses very vocally his seeing him in this crowd. Nobody would stand faith and what he wants from Jesus: “Son of aside for their detested tax collector” he thinks. David, take pity on me!” Zacchaeus is silent, So he runs ahead and climbs a sycamore tree to almost dumbfounded, and lets Jesus take the catch a glimpse of Jesus as he passes by. When initiative. Although faith is not explicitly Jesus reaches the spot, he looks, up, their eyes mentioned, the rapid and generous response and meet, something in Jesus draws Zacchaeus to him The Sycamore tree that actions of Zacchaeus Zacchaeus climbed and stirs some long-lost hope within him. He represent a solid, hears his name: “Zacchaeus, come down. Hurry, because I positive expression of faith’s must stay at your house today,” and he hurries down and presence, which gains the response welcomes him joyfully. “today salvation has come to this The crowd complained because Jesus is going to be a house;” “the son of Abraham” has guest at a sinner’s house. Zacchaeus said to the Lord “listen, been restored to his spiritual Sir, I will give half my belongings to the poor, and if I have heritage. cheated anyone I will pay him back four times as much.” here is a knock on the door Jesus said to him “today salvation has come to this house, T and we answer it. Jesus is because this man too is a son of Abraham: the Son of Man standing there and says: “today I came to seek and to save the lost.” must stay at your house.” What do uke consistently shows how Jesus cared for those in we say? What do we do? L need and for those rejected by society. The story of Zacchaeus, is unique to Luke’s Gospel, as are the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the compassionate father. They illustrate one of Luke’s main themes, summed up by Dates Jesus: “the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” for your diary It is important to notice what happened to Zacchaeus, and Sunday 1st December 2019 how quickly it occurred. At the beginning of the story Sung Evening Prayer of the Church for Advent Zacchaeus is on the outside: he is a dishonest tax collector, he St Margaret’s Cathedral, Ayr at 6.00 pm is too short, he is condemned by all and he has nothing to say. At the end of the story, he is in the middle of the people, and Saturday 18th – Saturday 25th January 2020 he is standing his ground. He is talking for himself: he admits Week of Prayer for Christian Unity the wrong he has done, he undertakes to compensate, four Wednesday 26th February 2020 times over, the people he has cheated. And he promises to Ash Wednesday give half of his property to the poor. (Day of Fasting and Abstinence) This extraordinary transformation occurs because Jesus Sunday 1st March 2020 takes the initiative, pays attention to him, reaches out to him Rite of Election and accepts and respects him. He is surprised and delighted Venue and time to be confirmed that Jesus wants to be a guest in his house, when nobody else 3 Youth The Marian Way “an expression of faith on canvas” Ministry Office he Marian Way is a set of devotional paintings by T John Cairney which, with an exquisite touch of metaphor and illusion, illustrate the mysteries of grace in ather Jim Hayes, Parish the life of Mary, Mother of Jesus. The collection has been Priest of St Teresa’s, publicly exhibited in St Patrick’s, Anderston and St Dumfries, has recently F Andrew’s Cathedral, Glasgow and during the Marian been appointed as the Director month of October, the images were displayed in St of the Diocese of Galloway Joseph’s, Kilmarnock. Youth Ministry Office. On 13th October, a Father Jim writes: “As I have just taken on the role, Holy Hour was held to (having served in the role previously from 1998 till 2010) I focus on the paintings.