Category: - Our Lady of the Rosary Parish

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.

Deak's Diary - Pentecost

16/5/2018

Our first reading today from Acts 2:1-11 tells of the apostles in that locked room when the great wind came and they were “filled with the Holy Spirit.” This is the “Pentecost event” so it must have some meaning for me.
When I think of this Pentecost event I’m reminded of what a friend once told me, “Life isn't about understanding the mystery of God. It’s more about experiencing it.” Jesus taught us that, when he said the Kingdom of God is “within” us (Lk 17). Baptism gives us one of the most tremendous gifts that Jesus promised to and gave to us, the gift of the Holy Spirit (which we celebrate in a special way every Pentecost). It is the Holy Spirit which leads us to truth, by opening our eyes to ourselves, our world and to Jesus. It is intended by God that we experience his presence right now.
Too often we worry about what’s happening now and in the future, sometimes even the past. When we confuse our life with such undue concerns, it is almost impossible to live in the present. Many of us have a favourite way to reduce the stressful demands on us. That usually means waiting for “later,” such as going to the beach, snow or mountains to relax. Or maybe you have an occasional hobby such as gardening or visiting museums. All of these are helpful. But we also need ways to relax and experience the presence of God during the pressing demands and stresses of the day.
Firstly, we need to focus on God, and consciously look for his fingerprints in all of the things he has created in nature. Can I see Jesus in my neighbour, and can he/ she see Jesus in me? After all, if we’re truly living the Christian life to the fullest, then we should be a mirror image of Jesus. But, if that mirror-image isn’t there, what steps could I take to put it there? Do I really act like I believe that the Spirit of God lives within me?
It is most important to remember that on that first Pentecost the believers were all gathered in one place, and as usual, were praying; their focus was on the Lord, who had promised them an outburst of the Holy Spirit. This special mystery of God is experienced with the eyes of faith, a gift that enables us to believe in his presence within us.

Deak's Diary - 3rd Sunday of Lent

1/3/2018

Our First Reading (Exodus 20:1-3, 7-8, 12-17) talks about Jesus getting angry with the distractions going on at the temple forecourt and encroaching into the temple proper. So if Jesus took such action at temple maybe there is some significance of the old Temple in our modern times.
Are we really, truly aware that baptised Christians are temples of the Holy Spirit? Do the ways we pray each day reflect that reality and in the way we live our daily lives? Is our temple kept pure, dirt-free and focused on its solid foundation? Or has it perhaps become what someone has compared to a “rundown shack that will collapse in the first strong wind”?
Our First Reading reveals how the Lord provides the People of God with a guide to keep us from harming our temples. But if we ignore those guidelines (actually Commandments, not just guidelines), then harmful straying is inevitable. This is what happened to the old Temple system. It had become corrupt, in the sense that it had become simply a “mechanical function” to perform with no real transformation of the heart. It needed a real inner cleansing, and the symbolic actions of Jesus in “cleansing the temple” (John 2:13-25) are intended to focus on the need for real spiritual action and reform. Jesus is saying that he himself is the new temple, one that will last forever and cannot be destroyed.
We need to be fully aware that the Sacraments, especially Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist, are the nourishment that we need to cleanse and transform us. Holy Eucharist really is Jesus; it really is the power to transform us from within, and its worthy reception (i.e., after Reconciliation) is the key to a properly- placed spiritual journey to God.
We are half-way through Lent – a good time to check the condition of our temple and humble ourselves to accept a house-cleaning with God’s help! We will be able to minister to each other effectively only if we first cultivate to our own spiritual health.
Jesus annually went up to the Temple as the privileged place for the meeting with God. He was far from being hostile to the Temple. His hostility was only directed at the way the system had been corrupted. He identified himself with the Temple by presenting himself as God’s absolute dwelling place among men.

Rev Kev - 2nd Sunday of Advent

6/12/2017

Mark introduces Jesus
We begin today our study of the Gospel of Mark. We start at Chapter one, verse one. Mark is the first of the Gospels chronologically, and he introduces us to Jesus: “The beginning of the good news about Jesus Christ, the Son of God”. This phrase, “the Son of God”, we will see again at the Baptism of Jesus and Tabor and Calvary. The climax in Mark’s Gospel is the Centurion who proclaims, “this is truly the Son of God”.
John the Baptist is introduced to us by Mark. Mark quotes from Isaiah and Malachi. A messenger is to come to prepare the way. In the gospel, the messenger is the Baptist, Jesus is the coming of Yahweh… “the voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord”.
The credentials of John are clearly established from the Old Testament. Mark now introduces John’s teaching. John is a preacher. John’s message is repentance, the very message that Jesus will take up and will be preached by his disciples. John and Jesus and his disciples are related in that they all preach repentance. The whole reference to John as the one who preaches to prepare for the coming of Yahweh is focused on Jesus when John points to the One who is stronger than he, who works out of the Spirit of God.
John lived in the wilderness. This is in contrast to his parents who lived in the hill country of Judea. He left the soft life for the barren lands. He lived off the land. His penitential life was well known. Later the Pharisees were to challenge Jesus about this!!!!
John is only the messenger. He always pointed to the One who is to come ‘who will baptise you with the Holy Spirit’.

Rev Kev - 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

14/9/2017

FORGIVENESS
Peter asks Jesus, “How often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me? This famous question we put to Jesus seeking his mind on this topic.
Jesus response to Peter is the parable of the Unjust Steward. He is forgiven multi dollars by his Lord and extracts the last cent out of his own debtors. It is a self-explanatory teaching.
Jesus answer is that forgiveness is continual and unlimited. Jesus, by His death on the Cross has offered us this unlimited and continual forgiveness and he expects us to do the same. We can ask, “why should I forgive?” The answer is simple. “Because Jesus has forgiven me”. From the Lord’s Prayer, we say: “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us”.
We note the setting of the story. There is a great Oriental palace and there are great amounts of money involved. The exaggeration is monumental. Millions of dollars versus cents in our language. But this is no exaggeration in heavenly terms. It really is close to the mark in terms of Salvation History and our Redemption.
Vengeance is mine says the Lord. We are given the Cross as our example of forgiveness. No matter how much we have been wronged, we are called to forgive. This is the essence of Christianity. Like all the teachings of Jesus, it is impossible without the grace of the Holy Spirit.
I am sure Peter expected a pat on the back for his question. What a surprise he got!!! We will always get the same answer, no matter how hurt we feel about things!! On our knees before the Crucifix we will learn the answer.

Deak's Diary - 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

28/6/2017

As we read Matthew’s gospel today (Matthew 10:37-42), we notice it contains a lot of talk about “rewards”. I don’t think he means this as a way of buying our way” into heaven.

Friends, we’re not dealing here with a “Reverend Ike” philosophy. He was am American preacher in the 1970’s who promised his radio and TV listeners that they would receive a blessing and prosperity if they would send him money. He was noted for saying that “it is the lack of money that is the root of all evil.” His ownership of many homes and over two dozen cars (including a few Rolls-Royces) displayed his success in raising money with such empty promises.

When St. Matthew quotes Jesus as promising a “reward” for those who take care of his prophets and missionaries, he’s not setting up a kind of hierarchy to make sure that such people would get rich. Instead, he is saying that all disciples of Jesus must do all they can to advance the kingdom of God, and that especially includes taking care of His evangelists. Jesus does not tell us to do this “and receive a monetary reward.” All of us are called, as baptised disciples of Jesus, to be “Christ-ians” or Christ-bearers. Can people see the face of Christ when they look at you? If not, why not? You and I are called to become a blessing to everyone we meet.

These are tough times, times that call for us to be “stand up” Christians, to fight pro-actively for Christian values in a very sick society that is made so by proabortion and pro-euthanasia advocates. Siding with Jesus may cause divisions in families; but if you are clinging to the Truth as taught by Jesus Christ, then any division caused by others is really their own challenging of the Holy Spirit!

Adam and Eve tasted the forbidden fruit. It was very tempting, very tasty, but brought its own reward: eviction from the presence of God. Remember that old saying-“Be careful what you wish for!” Remember, all is grace. Every morning, ask God to show you how He wants you to serve Him, and He will provide those opportunities for you to serve others.

Deak's Diary - Pentecost

1/6/2017

THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

It is important to note that this year we are reading from John. All the Synoptics (i.e. Mt, Mk and Lk) recount the events of Easter and Ascension and Pentecost in chronological order. John wrote much later and was aware of the other three accounts. He sees all the events happening at the moment of the Resurrection.

Jesus came and stood among them and said “Peace be with you”. I have often meditated on the thought: What Jesus could have said!!!!!. This was the moment of Resurrection. After betrayals and denials and desertion, Jesus’ only words are words of peace. “Shalom,” he says!! And he says it again:“Shalom.” Peace.
Last Sunday we read: All authority on heaven and earth has been given to me. Go therefore……Today we read: As the Father has sent me, so…………….The Gift of the Holy Spirit is a consequence of the Father sending Jesus. The breath of Jesus communicates God’s love and Spirit to those gathered in the upper room. They receive the Holy Spirit. They are forgiven, they must forgive others.
We have celebrated the last of the 50 days of Easter. We finish with Pentecost.
This is a great feast for the Church. The Church was born from the side of Christ on Calvary. Today it has a public birthday when the Church goes out of the upper room onto the verandah to proclaim the good news to all the world with power.

Deak's Diary - Pentecost

1/6/2017

The Pentecost event is so overwhelming that it may be difficult for us to appreciate it and then go about applying it to our own lives.
This is one of those Sundays where a person tends to hear the readings and look “out there,” not realising that the message is also meant “in here” for us today. We don’t seem to get our bearings around such remarkable happenings, things like “tongues of fire” on everyone present, Jesus’ surprise appearance through locked doors, and then a “now it’s your turn” mandate to carry on his mission.
Anytime we’re reading about or experiencing supernatural events, we find ourselves in the presence of “mystery.” It is not for us to understand the “how”; rather, for us to believe that all of this fits into God’s plan of salvation. That means that we simply trust him, listen to him, and follow his commands.
John’s gospel (Jn 20:19-23) packs a powerful punch in only a few words. We could paraphrase them like this: “I give you Peace; I give you the Holy Spirit; I send you to do my work; you will be forgiving and compassionate like me.” All of that sounds like a “graduation” speech for a small bunch of people who were hiding behind locked doors, probably petrified that they might receive the same treatment as Jesus, and not knowing what to do next.
The beauty of Pentecost is the reminder that we have the Holy Spirit within us, as a very precious gift from God. Baptism and Confirmation empowers us with a fullness of the Spirit that is sufficient to carry out our part in God’s plan of salvation. That is all we need to know is trusting in that fact, we can avoid the paralysis of fear when confronting our ill culture. Jesus confronted his ill culture also, in a teachable, non-threatening way. He dwells within us by the power of the Holy Spirit; all we need do is to try to imitate his gentleness and courage, challenging and encouraging those we meet to reach for better values.
Apostolic succession started when the Risen Jesus imparted his power of sanctifying to the Apostles, who in turn entrusted that power to their successors, the bishops. In a certain way the Sacrament of Confirmation, spreads the grace of Pentecost throughout the Church.

Rev Kev - Ascension of the Lord

25/5/2017

I especially like the story in the Acts of the Apostles (first reading) and the question of the Apostles: “Lord, has the time come? Are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” It is of great consolation to me that after three years of teaching and formation the Apostles did not understand that the kingdom of Jesus was not a political one - that it was not of this world. I think all parents and teachers can be consoled when their message does not seem to be getting across. Jesus states: “it is not for you to know the times and the dates that the Father has decided on his own authority…….but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.” We have to constantly meditate on the teachings of Jesus. It is so easy to miss the point!
Ascension marks the beginning of the first Christian Novena. The apostles were told to go to Jerusalem and WAIT to receive Power. They did not know it would be only ten days. They were of one heart and mind in prayer. The Novena is biblical in origin. It has its origin in apostolic times.
Despite their disbelief, the apostles were commissioned to go out to the world and proclaim the Gospel. “Going out they preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the signs that accompanied it”.
Traditionally we begin today the Novena for Christian Unity. We wait on the Holy Spirit. “It is” he said, “what you have heard me speak about: John baptised with water but you, not many days from now, will be baptised with the Holy Spirit”.
We read today Matthew’s farewell speech of Jesus. “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me”. All our authority is delegated. It comes from Jesus and he has received it from the Father. What we must do is: make disciples, baptise in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and to teach.
The order is significant.
There are five accounts of the Ascension in the Scripture. In the Second reading we have the account in Acts. In the first reading we have the account in Luke. In the Gospel we have the account in Matthew.

Rev Kev - 6th Sunday of Easter

18/5/2017

The Holy Spirit

After five weeks of Eastertide we are approaching Ascension and Pentecost. Today the Holy Spirit is foreshadowed by Jesus in His Last Supper prayer.
It is interesting to note the names of the Spirit used by Jesus. Firstly, He is the Advocate. This means literally the one to whom I cry out. In the Greek it is the Paraclete, the one to whom I cry. The promise is he will be with you forever.
He is also called the Spirit of Truth whom the world can never receive since it neither sees nor knows him. Elsewhere the Spirit will teach us everything and remind us of all the things that Jesus said.
It is interesting to study how Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit. Here we see some examples: the Spirit of Truth and the Advocate, the Teacher and the one who helps our memory.
“In a short time you will see me …..because I live and you will live. On that day you will understand that I am in my Father and you in me and I in you.”
Jesus’ promise to us in His farewell prayer is union with the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit!!!
This is a far cry from being left as an orphan!!!!!!!

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