Hail Mary, full of grace

We celebrate the Feast of the Assumption on 15 August. In Australia it is the only day the faithful are obliged to attend Mass other than Christmas Day. While Joseph is mentioned in Jesus’ early years, Mary alone is mentioned through the time of Jesus’ public ministry. Honouring Mary is appropriate in many ways. She was the mother and first disciple of Jesus, standing by him throughout his life. This alone would have taken faith, grace and courage.

We do not know the ways of the Holy Spirit. Honouring Mary throughout the centuries has been very orthodox but there is also a counter-cultural element to that honouring, given patriarchal influences at work up to and including today. We must not limit Mary to pretty pictures and plaster statues. Neither can these few words do her justice. Taking time to ponder her faith, grace and courage – and that of mothers in general – may be an interesting place to start.

Have a great week!
Patrick

Your brilliance

And majesty

Cut through

My early morning

Torpor

And awaken

My soul

My whole being

To hope

To joy

Just another sunrise?

Blessed to sense grace

I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me. (Ex 20:2-3)

This passage is a timeless reminder that faith in God saved us – and continues to save all people of faith. In a world of money and technology, it is easy to think we have everything we need i.e. we control our own destiny and we don’t need God. It is easy to keep this illusion up for a long time – until reality bites! Whether our focus is money, power, addiction or just control, our lives are not as they should be. This is not for the God’s sake – this is for us. If my focus is money, power, addiction or control then the world begins and ends with me. I am not in right relationship. Rather, my relationships are more like transactions, skewed towards me. We are made for relationships and despite the barriers we put up, our hearts will continue to yearn for them. We can burrow deeper into money, power, addiction or control but they will not stop the ache. We are each made to be with and for others. This is the path of wholeness, holiness…and sanity.

Have a great week!
Patrick

Jesus said to him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ (Mark 10:51)

As we each ‘get on with life’, it is easy that for many things that matter to us, including faith, we take a ‘whole headed’ approach. To use common parlance, we can ‘live in our heads’. Jesus’ question, aimed at the heart, brings us up short. What is my heart’s desire? Jesus’ question also calls us to strengthen our relationship with him.

There are many facets of modern life that can distract us from prayer & reflection. While we will provide such opportunities for our young people, we also need to remind them that God calls each of us into a deeper relationship with him. God loves each of us deeply and wants us to be whole. By becoming more whole, we become more holy since we more fully radiate our God-given goodness.

Have a great week!
Patrick

I believe, help my unbelief (Mark 9:24)

People speak of a ‘faith journey’ for a reason. Depending upon our circumstances, faith can feel easy or it can seem monumentally difficult. There are times when all is well – sunny, positive, upbeat. Then, faith is natural; it flows. Then there are other times when it is so difficult to feel anything positive. We then face a choice – to turn our backs on faith OR to wait and trust. In the words of the Taize hymn: “Stay here and keep watch with me, watch and pray”

Young people need to be reassured that God will not judge them (by us not judging them!) because of their struggles with faith. Neither is God threatened by their doubts. What we must share with young people is that faith is not just about being good. Faith is about being whole. Faith gives life meaning. St Augustine said it well: “Our hearts are restless until they rest in You”.

Have a great week!
Patrick

whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. (Mark 10:44)

We’ve heard this message so many times before – but we need to be constantly reminded! Why? Because ego takes over so easily and whether it is said, or just thought: “I’m your mother”, “I’m your teacher”, “I’m the principal”. However, I’m sure we all know one or more parents, teachers, principals (or others in authority) who live this passage daily – as an inspiration to their communities and to their credit.

For this passage to really register with young people, they need to see it lived – since it flies in the face of ‘conventional wisdom’. Look at the politicians of many countries around the world and you should catch my gist! This sort of leadership enables people and helps draw out the God-given goodness in each person; both for the benefit of the community and the glory of God.

Have a great week!
Patrick

Sing joyfully to the LORD (Ps 98:4)

We each have much for which to be thankful. An ‘attitude of gratitude’ towards our Creator is entirely appropriate. Life being what it is, there will be some times when we will ‘sing joyfully to the LORD’. There will also be times when it is difficult to see the positives. In my experience, taking my reality to God in prayer helps me to re-focus and count my blessings.

As educators, will young people see us ‘singing joyfully to the LORD’? Clearly, our lived example is important. However, it must be authentic. Our lived example might occur through how we care for those in need, as well as our participation in rituals. Our lived example might occur through our ability to speak of our faith and the blessings that we have received. Such lived examples may prompt young people on their faith journey. The rest is up to God.

Have a great week…and term!

Patrick

I’ve already shared a great video from thepopevideo.org. Themed around the Year of Mercy, there are others to check out, such as inter-religious dialogue, care for creation and respect for women. They are short (just over a minute) and very much to the point.

Just read a beautiful quote of St Francis. In a letter to the superior of a religious house who was upset with the conflicts in his community, Francis said:

Love those who act against you with violence, and do not ask of them anything but what the Lord gives you. And it is precisely in this that you must loive them, not even desiring that they become better Christians. And this is more valuable to you than life in a hermitage. And in this will I recognise that you really love the Lord and me, his servant and yours, if you do the following: let there be no brother in the world, even should he have sinned to the maximum, who after looking you in the eyes feels perhaps obliged to leave your presence without obtaining mercy, if he sought mercy. And if he did not seek mercy, ask him whether he wants to receive it. And if after that he comes before your eyes a thousand times, love him more than me, seeking to win him for the Lord. And always have mercy on such brothers.