PictureJesus tells of His death

Deacon Wayne's Homily on Peace on 14 January 2024 .    ​
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22 September 2024: 25th Sunday of the Year (Cycle B)
Parishioner’s Gospel
Contributor: Bob Skudder 

Mark 9: 30-37
Imagine you are with a group of friends, one of them tries to explain that he will die soon because of a serious illness, however this statement is lost because everyone is so interested in talking about the football match they just watched and how they feel they could have played much better.

Now let us look at Jesus’s motley crew, how once again they let him down. The context is far more tragic.    Jesus shared with them that he was going to die on the cross. Can you imagine the pain that Jesus must have felt sharing that with them?  Jesus has expressed his anxiety to his disciples about where his journey is leading him.
Their response is to argue about which of them is the greatest. They are so concerned about their own achievements and miss exactly what Jesus is telling them but without him they wouldn’t have any share of glory.
We can also get wrapped up in own achievements and importance, looking for glory at work and unfortunately sometimes at church.    We have seen in groups, in and out of church, where someone thinks they are better doing things and want to dominate, dictate and control everything. In reality this kind of behaviour drives people away from the groups and the church.
True glory cannot exist outside of the death and resurrection of Jesus. This is what is the disciples missed.
I read an article about the humble heart which I would like to share with you.
“The proud heart is confident in how much they know. The humble heart is humbled by how much they have yet to learn.
The proud heart is self-conscious. The humble heart is not concerned with self.
The proud heart privately keeps others at arm’s length. The humble heart is willing to risk getting close to others.
The proud heart is quick to blame others the humble heart accepts responsibility and sees where they could be wrong.
The proud heart has a hard time saying “I was wrong.” The humble heart is quick to admit their failure and seek forgiveness.”    

​We are all blessed because Jesus’ heart is always open to each and every one of us.

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29 September 2024: 26th Sunday of the Year (Cycle B)
Parishioner’s Gospel
Contributor: Cecilia Skudder Cjs.

Mark 9: 38-43,45,47-48
John he spoke to Jesus, “Master we’re concerned, for a man not one of us, cast out a devil we have learned.
He did this in Your name, so we told him he must cease.” Jesus said this then, “Leave this man in peace.
If he does this in My name, he’ll not speak ill of Me, if not against, he’s with us this you’ll surely see!
If water you are given, since to Christ you do belong, then the one performed the act, indeed has not done wrong.
For efforts such as these, there’ll be no lost reward, but anyone who obstructs, any faith in the Lord, ...‘twould certainly be better, were they thrown into the sea, with a millstone round their neck, such will My anger be!
Should hand or foot cause sin, cut off that wretched limb, better crippled be or lame, lest extremely evil bring!
If your eye should be the reason, whereby iniquity you do, then tear it out, but do leave one, or hell is there for you.
For in the misery of Hades, the fire does always burn, and the torture is eternal, and death’s denied to any worm.!”

Passionately Jesus tells us, avoid evil or face hell, to shun temptation always, or with Satan we will dwell. Be ruthless in our fervour, , self-control is paramount, may our living be for Christ, let every moment count. 

Jesus often spoke in hyperbole to emphasis how important it is to live as He teaches.  There is to be no watering down of our faith.  We are to turn our backs on any visual act of sin, let our eyes be closed to wrong viewing, and from any physical wrongdoing, as if we had not sight and no physical means of doing what would harm others or ourselves..

Cut ourselves off from Satan and all his wiles, whatever the cost.