Our Lady of the Rosary Parish - Blogs

Rev Kev - 4th Sunday of Advent

20/12/2018

We have been looking back through the Prophets. We have studied John the Baptist. Now the Liturgy turns to Mary and the coming of the Christ Child.
The story of the Visitation is well known to us. Mary is promised a sign. The sign is that her cousin Elizabeth has already conceived and will bear a son. Is it any wonder that Mary went "as quickly as she could"? She wanted to check out the sign. She needed someone whom she could tell of the wonders within! Who better than an old aunt, the wife of the High Priest. Her long journey to Jerusalem (about 70 miles) must have been a journey filled with questions, but driven by hope.
Note the sequence of events as recorded by Luke. Mary goes into Zechariah's house. She greets Elizabeth. As soon as Elizabeth hears Mary's voice, the child in her womb leaps, Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth's greeting confirms all the prophecies made to her. She is "blessed among women," she is "the mother of my Lord," and "blessed is the fruit of her womb." We honour Mary as the mother of the Lord. To be in her presence is to be filled with the Holy Spirit. We acknowledge her privileged position as the mother. But Elizabeth turns our admiration to Mary's faith as one who believes. "Blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled."
The two women meet. One is old, the other is young. The whole scene is permeated by the Holy Spirit. Both women are blessed. Elizabeth is filled with and inspired by the Holy Spirit. She is honoured with a visit from the mother of her Lord. What an affirmation for Mary. She is greeted as the mother of Lord before she has time to say one word about her story. Elizabeth's words of knowledge totally affirm the words of the angel: "Know this too: your cousin Elizabeth, in her old age, has herself conceived a son, and she whom people call barren is now in her sixth month."
Mary is put before us in the Gospels as an obedient servant of the Lord. She is a model of faith and hope as attested by Elizabeth. She wisely sought to test the promises of the angel with practical haste. She wisely sought out aged advice and wisdom. Her faith moved her to believe promises.
He life was not always one of celebration. There were many moments of pain and suffering. Like all of us she was called to believe, to walk in faith and hope. We acknowledge her faithfulness and have her as a model.

Rev Kev - 3rd Sunday of Advent

13/12/2018

As mentioned last week, Sundays two and three in Advent are given to John the Baptist. Last Sunday aligned John with the prophets of the past, truly a voice crying in the wilderness. This week the Gospel is in two parts. Firstly John is teaching the rich and the soldiers and the tax collectors how to live honest lives. Then he is making the distinction between his role and the role of the Messiah.
The first part: All the people who came for baptism asked John, "What must we do?" To the rich he says share your food and resources. "Share with the man who has none, and the one with something must do the same." The soldiers and tax collectors are told :No intimidation! No extortion! Be content with your pay."
The second part: John addresses the feeling of expectancy among the people that he might be the Messiah. John is very clear. He baptises with water, but the one who is to come will baptise with the Holy Spirit and with fire. "He is more powerful than I am. I am not fit to undo his sandals."
Among the many other things that John said to exhort the people and to announce the Good News was this phrase: "His winnowing-fan is in his hand to clear his threshing-floor and to gather wheat into his barn: but the chaff he will burn in a fire that will never go out." This reflects the hell-fire stern teaching of John. Repent means to change your attitude or be swept up and burnt. The gospel of try-harder or burn was all he knew. But he did know and was waiting for the more that was to come with the Holy Spirit and fire of the Lamb of God.
We note that to this day there is a small number of John's disciples that have not changed to be followers of Jesus. We know that Andrew and Peter were probably disciples of john before they met Jesus. At the time of Luke's writing this was probably a big issue and is being addressed here.

Rev Kev - 2nd Sunday of Advent

6/12/2018

John the Baptist
Luke promises at the beginning of his gospel to "give an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us." the time and place of the events are placed int he reign of Herod and Philip and Lysanias and Annas and Caiaphas. Luke places the life of Jesus in history. His Gospel is a real story about a real person.
"The word of God came to John." This is how the Bible announces a Prophet.
Two important words in the Bible surround John's life. Luke talks about the wilderness of Judea and the hill country of Judea. You could not imagine two vastly different and contrasting neighbourhoods. The hill country is like the very best real estate in your city. It is where a high priest resides. It is where John was raised, where Mary visited. The wilderness is a desert where occasionally a reed blows int eh wind. There is nothing else. It is devastating. John lived there with great fasting, probably with an Essene community in a vastly penitential life. We read about the strange food and clothing. He was a Spartan!
John's message reflects his community life with the Essenes. His message is "Try harder" or "Shape up or ship out." "Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand." His baptism is a baptism of repentance. He knows there has to be more. He will point tot he one who is greater. he knows that repentance is basic to kingdom living. He can't wait for the more. He is waiting for "the Lamb of God."
John went through the whole Jordan region "proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins." Luke tells us that John is fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah: "a voice cries in the wilderness: prepare a way for the Lord." We have explained the term wilderness. The rest of the prophecy is a road building metaphor. The image is of an eastern oriental emperor sweeping away every obstacle in the same way a we see engineers building expressways. We see the huge machinery pushing great quantities of dirt up and down hills making level freeways. This is how Isaiah sees the coming of the Messiah. Prepare the way for the Lord. Remove every obstacle. The Messiah is coming.
How contrasting will it be to see Jesus coming on a donkey!1 We will see John in the gospel next week also. He will continue to point to the salvation of God.

Rev Kev - 1st Sunday of Advent

29/11/2018

Today is New Year's Day in the calendar of the Roman Church. Advent is a season of four Sundays preparing us for the Feast of Christmas. Sometimes Advent is confused with Lent which is a season of penance. This comes from the fact that both use purple vestments. This confusion must be avoided. There is little similarity between the two seasons. In Advent the purple represents royalty and kingship. It is a season of rejoicing. It is a time for JOY. We are called upon to be vigilant, to be awake and to be ready for the day of the Lord.

This year the Gospel readings every Sunday are from Luke. Today's scene takes place in Jerusalem, in front of the Temple on the last day of ministry in Jesus' journey to the Cross.

The themes of the Advent Season:
In each of the four Sunday of Advent there is a similar theme in each of the three liturgical years. Week one, the theme is a reflection on the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Coming of a Messiah. Week two and three give us a study of John the Baptist over each of the three years and week four introduces us to Mary, the Mother of the Lord.

Week One: Jeremiah and Daniel are the prophets.
The language of the Gospel passage is Old Testament and apocalyptic, based on the Book of Daniel. It would be well known to Luke's listeners but foreign to us. It is part of one whole chapter warning of the Fall of Jerusalem and the Second Coming of the Lord. Luke's Gospel is written after the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple. It is written in times of persecution and terror. The call to stay awake is much like our call today to be aware and not alarmed. Bad things happen and will happen. "Hold your heads high because your liberation is at hand."

Happy New Year to all as we prepare for the Christmas Season.

Rev Kev - Feast of Christ the King

21/11/2018

We read the full text of this Gospel on Good Friday. The account in John's Gospel of the trial of Jesus is very touching. Jesus is asked bout his being a king and the nature of his kingdom. There is a verbal to-ing and fro-ing between one with world power (Pilate), and one who claims to be king. Let us follow the questioning.
"Are you the king of the Jews?" Pilate asks. Jesus answers with a question. (We have noted many times this frequent tactic of Jesus.) "Do you ask this of your own accord, or have others spoken to you about me?" Pilate uses the same tactics and answers with another question. "Am I a Jew?" It is your own people and the chief priests who have handed you over to me." And another question. "What have you done?"
Jesus explains that this kingdom is not of this world. He has no army to prevent him being surrendered to the Jews. His kingdom is not of this kind. he is not threat to Caesar.
The questions continue. "So you are a king then?" There is no longer time for questions. Jesus answers Pilate, "It is you who say it. Yes, I am a king. I was born for this. I came into the world for this; to bear witness to the truth; and all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice."
We study the gospel of John always looking for the irony. The thirsty woman at the well met the living water. Then man born blind could see whereas the Sanhedrin were totally blind to a miracle. Pilate passes judgement on the King of Heaven and Earth! And yet it is judgement that is passed on Pilate.
Going past today's reading to verse 13 we read: "Pilate had Jesus brought out, and seated himself on the chair of judgement..." Does John leave us with the thought that Pilate is the judge or maybe Jesus is the Judge? This is the irony of John. The accused becomes the judge and the judge becomes the accused.
Thank God we have the chance to hear the whole passage in Holy Week. Today we emphasise the true majesty of Jesus as we end the liturgical year. Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega.

Rev Kev - 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

15/11/2018

The Eschatological Discourse
Talking abut the 'end times'. Lets start at the end of today's reading: "But as for that day or hour, nobody knows it, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, nobody but the Father." That surely puts an end to many discussions!
This gospel passage is obviously a pre-existing collection of phrases of Jesus adapted to the conditions of the infant Marcan Church. There is great persecution in Rome from where Mark is writing. Peter and Paul have almost certainly been martyred by this time. There is great turmoil. The call is for perseverance.
The context is about the Temple, its beauty and its longevity. Mixed with apocalyptic language of the Book of Daniel is a definite description of two actual events. The Temple will be destroyed by the Romans and the Second Coming of the Lord.

The Parable of the Fig Tree
Outside my kitchen window is a frangipani tree. I have spent the bleak winter watching its nakedness. Then on exactly the first of October the bald branches began to shoot buds that have become in six weeks very large leaves. I am waiting for the smell of the lovely white flowers! Jesus uses the example of the fig tree. I am not too familiar with fig trees, but I guess it is much the same as the frangipani. We know the 'end times' are near, at the very gates, when we read the signs.
Prophecy in scripture is rarely fully understood till after the event. All of the contemporaries of Jesus knew the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah but do you know any that understood them? Prophecy is a gift for this world only. We will not need it in heaven. We can talk face to face. It is a gift for this world. It is to encourage, to console and affirm us on the journey. These prophecies in the Scripture are to remind us that "heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away."
We know part of the answer. There will be tribulation. You can read the signs of the times. You are living now in the last age, the age between the crucifixion of Jesus and the end of the world. Live like the end is near. Leave any worries about the timing to the Father. This reading is to warn and encourage the Christian community to persevere.

Rev Kev's - 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

1/11/2018

Every Rabbi had his favourite answer to the question: Which is the greatest Commandment. Of the over 1,000 regulations in the Law, there was probably 1.000 different answers. Jesus doesn't go to any particular Law. He goes to their daily prayer and draws from it his answer to the question. This prayer they all knew and said many times a day. His answer put an end to all Rabbinical questions forever. The Scribe is completely satisfied. This new Rabbi, Jesus, puts an end to all controversy by quoting Moses, the ultimate authority.
A note on the New Law:
What is the meaning of "You are not far from the kingdom'?
If Jesus asks the same question today, how would you answer? What is the greatest Commandment in the New Law?

Rev Kev - 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

24/10/2018

Today's Gospel marks the end of a large section of Mark about discipleship. It is framed between two miracles of blind men. One is the man for whom Jesus prayed twice (Mk 8). The other is the story of Bartimaeus (Mk 10).
Bartimaeus is not the man mentioned in John 9. That man was born blind. Bartimaeus prayed that he could see again! His dark blindness is contrasted with his bright spiritual perception of Jesus as being "Son of David," a messianic title. His plea "have mercy on me: has come into the Mass as "Lord have mercy."
Again we see the disciples hindering people from coming to Jesus. This man is persistent in calling out to Jesus. He "shouted all the louder" when they told him to keep quiet. He shouted again: "Jesus Son of David, have pity on me." Jesus stopped and said, "Call him here." This blind man is blessed with a true insight into the nature of Jesus. All the disciples are still looking for higher places in the kingdom. This blind beggar is able to proclaim Jesus as Messiah. When Jesus hears this, he tells the disciples to "Call him here." So they called the blind man. With a total change of attitude, they call him. "Courage, get up; he is calling you."
This is followed by a strange line. "So throwing off his cloak, he jumped up and went to Jesus." this phrase has a significance in the story. It refers to his change of "habits" in his way of life. We are not told more!
Jesus asks him the same question that he asked James and John last week. "What do you want me to do for you?" what a different answer Jesus got. Bartimaeus asked for the lot! And he got it!!
Jesus said to him "Go your faith has saved you." His sight was returned immediately and Bartimaeus became a follower of Jesus.
Mark is telling us that there are none so blind as those who cannot see.

Rev Kev - 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

15/10/2018

This is the third warning of Jesus re his impending fate. We are getting nearer to the end. This time it is James and John with the question. Peter recently was rebuked as Satan for his question. This time James and John are treated more gently. Jesus uses Old Testament imagery like the cup of baptism to teach them about suffering. We know James was to die a martyr as Bishop of Jerusalem. (Acts 12:2) "The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many."
The other ten apostles are just as ambitious. They are looking for a place in a political kingdom. Jesus states that he did not come to be served but to serve and for the third time hints that he will give his life as a ransom for many.
Our Lectionary makes a clear connection between this last phase and the first reading, " He was bearing the faults of many and praying all the time for sinners."
We see in Jesus that being a servant doesn't mean to be weak and ineffectual. Jesus never was. His authority was impressive, because he never sought power over others. he was so compassionate and free and motivated by love, he could put all his power at the service of others.
"Serving doesn't mean that we passively accept that things continue as they are. Serving implies initiative and creativity, knowledge and efforts to build a humane, just, loving world."

Rev Kev - 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

4/10/2018

Divorce
Today's teaching is in two parts. Firstly, there is Jesus' response to a Pharisee's question and secondly a response to a question of the disciples. Let us look at them separately.
I repeat again that we must make a distinction about the questioning of Jesus. Some questions re sincere and often others just challenge his authority. Today's question is of the latter variety. It give Jesus a choice - to affirm the Law or to allow an exception. It is a trap. Let us look at it.
Jesus notes that Moses allowed divorce because they were so unteachable.
Jesus reaffirms in Mark without exception that "from the beginning God made them male and female... They are no longer two, therefore, but one body. So then, what God has united, man must not divide."
Jesus uses two authorities in giving his answer. He quotes Moses and he quotes the Law. That is a rabbinical argument. The argument is over.
The second part of the discussion is interesting. "Back in the house the disciples questioned him again about all this, and he said to them, 'The man who divorces his wife and marries another is guilty of adultery too.'" Jesus reaffirms his belief in God's original intention that marriage is a life-long commitment. Other New Testament writers are different (e.g. Mt 5:32, 1Cor 7.10-16). Mark doesn't make any exceptions.
It is noted that Jesus places husband and wife on equal footing.
Divorce has always been a difficult pastoral issue from at least the time of Moses. As Catholics we are lucky to have a Church that leads us through the difficult times. the Marriage tribunals in every diocese are staffed by extremely pastoral people who are available to help thousands of people through difficult times. In modern times there have been great advances as the church tackles issues on divorce and remarriage and communion, not to mention bio-ethical issues round the creation of human life. Never be afraid to seek pastoral advice.

About Our Lady of the Rosary

Since its inception in 1947 the parish has grown and today boasts one of the most beautiful and prayerful Churches in our Diocese. Substantially designed by Fr Reg Reynolds, the parish church caters for the permanent Catholic population as well as the many visitors who holiday here.

Site designed by Lisa O'Sullivan

Our Location

Our Lady of the Rosary Parish
239-243 The Entrance Rd
THE ENTRANCE NSW 2261
T: +61-2-4332 2216
F: +61-2-4333 5344