The Summer School for Evangelisation (#sse17 #sse17pat) takes place for a week in January, one is held in Bathurst, others in Melbourne and Perth, and one in Paterson NSW (actually Tocal, a few kms north of Maitland). For the closing Mass at Summer School Paterson the principal celebrant was Fr Steve Fletcher MGL.
The Mass was for the 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A, and the homily is relevant for anyone who has just had a 'mountain top' experience with God and His disciples and is heading back to the plain of normal life. As usual, this is the gist of that homily, and many of the nuances are missing.
First Reading: Isaiah 8:23-9:3 God's promise to the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali that great light and joy will come to them, dispelling darkness and shadow.
Psalm 26 with response, 'The Lord is my light and my salvation.'
Second Reading: 1 Cor 1:10,13-17 I appeal to you, be reconciled and be united
Gospel: Matthew 4:12-23 At Capernaum Jesus began to preach and to call apostles.
Fr Steve Fletcher MGL
Thank You God for Your Word which resonates in us, and sets us free.
When people are exposed to an environment of faith, and the teaching of truth, and begin to hunger for God in their lives, then they change from living under shadows to living under bright light.
We've heard truth in the songs we have sung, the lectures we have heard, and the conversations we have participated in. Yet He speaks to us no less in our day to day lives and personal situations.
We came here as sad sinners. We leave here as sinners, too, but happier ones because we know we are loved.
The Lord has already accomplished everything, and we need to believe and trust in that even if we don’t know how His work will unfold. It is the desire of His Heart that we would be the light in the place where we are at. We have come and drunk from the Heart of Jesus this week. We need to do that every day. Daily prayer is the oxygen of our lives, together with the sacraments. The Holy Spirit, source of life, needs to flow into our lives each day.
We can put emphasis on the people of greatness around us, but none of them will ever replace Jesus.
'That person you admire so much, he didn't die for you. I did. They are a vehicle of grace for you, but they haven't been broken, given out and risen. I have.'
Every day have before you the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus. The power of the name of Jesus breaks every chain. If there is prayer, the chain will weaken and be broken.
The fruit of living in the light of Jesus is joy. The irrepressible sign of the Holy Spirit is deep abiding joy, a joy that can exist despite exterior sadness and grief.
Remember the words of Jesus, 'I am with you always. Peace be with you.'
When people ask you the reason for the hope you have, do like St Peter recommends and give an explanation: 'It is Jesus. He is my every thing.'
As we go, we do not go alone. Jesus is waiting for you wherever you are going to. Call upon His name.
Other messages shared by various people:
I saw each of us like tiny human pieces of Lego, and God's hands so big, so giant, so loving and so powerful. Very tenderly, and deliberately He took each one and placed him or her where they were supposed to be. Many were returned to what is normal, some were moved to something new.
We are sent out as God's agents, each with an individual Bluetooth earpiece. All your instructions for mission will come through this earpiece. Don't take this earpiece out. It represents daily prayer, particularly in the mornings, reading scripture and going to Mass.
We have been speaking of a river of grace, but Pope Francis has been talking about a current of grace. For our farm to have electricity, an uninterrupted electric current has to reach the farm. If the current stops, someone has to be sent out to find out where the current was interrupted and fix it. Each bit of the current is significant. Your choice matters. Every good choice helps the current of grace hit our world.
Pay out the nets with Jesus for a catch of fish. He will be with us, helping to do all the tasks, bringing in the nets, cleaning the boat, taking down the mast etc. It is not enough to do it today. Each day you need to have the readiness of heart to go out to the boat, and do it all again the next day with Jesus. Be bright and eager to begin each new day working with Jesus.
In your strengths and in your weaknesses, it is in both of them that you need God.
The Mass was for the 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year A, and the homily is relevant for anyone who has just had a 'mountain top' experience with God and His disciples and is heading back to the plain of normal life. As usual, this is the gist of that homily, and many of the nuances are missing.
First Reading: Isaiah 8:23-9:3 God's promise to the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali that great light and joy will come to them, dispelling darkness and shadow.
Psalm 26 with response, 'The Lord is my light and my salvation.'
Second Reading: 1 Cor 1:10,13-17 I appeal to you, be reconciled and be united
Gospel: Matthew 4:12-23 At Capernaum Jesus began to preach and to call apostles.
Fr Steve Fletcher MGL
Thank You God for Your Word which resonates in us, and sets us free.
When people are exposed to an environment of faith, and the teaching of truth, and begin to hunger for God in their lives, then they change from living under shadows to living under bright light.
We've heard truth in the songs we have sung, the lectures we have heard, and the conversations we have participated in. Yet He speaks to us no less in our day to day lives and personal situations.
We came here as sad sinners. We leave here as sinners, too, but happier ones because we know we are loved.
The Lord has already accomplished everything, and we need to believe and trust in that even if we don’t know how His work will unfold. It is the desire of His Heart that we would be the light in the place where we are at. We have come and drunk from the Heart of Jesus this week. We need to do that every day. Daily prayer is the oxygen of our lives, together with the sacraments. The Holy Spirit, source of life, needs to flow into our lives each day.
We can put emphasis on the people of greatness around us, but none of them will ever replace Jesus.
'That person you admire so much, he didn't die for you. I did. They are a vehicle of grace for you, but they haven't been broken, given out and risen. I have.'
Every day have before you the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus. The power of the name of Jesus breaks every chain. If there is prayer, the chain will weaken and be broken.
The fruit of living in the light of Jesus is joy. The irrepressible sign of the Holy Spirit is deep abiding joy, a joy that can exist despite exterior sadness and grief.
Remember the words of Jesus, 'I am with you always. Peace be with you.'
When people ask you the reason for the hope you have, do like St Peter recommends and give an explanation: 'It is Jesus. He is my every thing.'
As we go, we do not go alone. Jesus is waiting for you wherever you are going to. Call upon His name.
Other messages shared by various people:
I saw each of us like tiny human pieces of Lego, and God's hands so big, so giant, so loving and so powerful. Very tenderly, and deliberately He took each one and placed him or her where they were supposed to be. Many were returned to what is normal, some were moved to something new.
We are sent out as God's agents, each with an individual Bluetooth earpiece. All your instructions for mission will come through this earpiece. Don't take this earpiece out. It represents daily prayer, particularly in the mornings, reading scripture and going to Mass.
We have been speaking of a river of grace, but Pope Francis has been talking about a current of grace. For our farm to have electricity, an uninterrupted electric current has to reach the farm. If the current stops, someone has to be sent out to find out where the current was interrupted and fix it. Each bit of the current is significant. Your choice matters. Every good choice helps the current of grace hit our world.
Pay out the nets with Jesus for a catch of fish. He will be with us, helping to do all the tasks, bringing in the nets, cleaning the boat, taking down the mast etc. It is not enough to do it today. Each day you need to have the readiness of heart to go out to the boat, and do it all again the next day with Jesus. Be bright and eager to begin each new day working with Jesus.
In your strengths and in your weaknesses, it is in both of them that you need God.