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Opening our eyes “Hear this, foolish people, you have eyes but do not see,”
said the Prophet Jeremiah (5:21). Or as more popularly expressed: “There are none so blind as those that cannot see!” In neither case is it a question of physical blindness, but the blindness that lacks insight, and perhaps the courage, to see reality for what it truly is.
This is the spiritual blindness of those who do not see the presence of God in creation, nor the hand of God at work in human history and in their own lives. This is a blindness which we all share whenever we give into despair or cynicism, thinking that God has deserted our world.
In today’s gospel, Jesus provokes a new way of seeing through the healing of the blind man. First, Jesus makes it clear, against accepted belief of the day, that physical disability has nothing whatsoever to do with guilt. Secondly, as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Jesus’ ministry is not limited to physical healing. Rather, he seeks to cure people’s more devastating spiritual blindness. For this reason, he confronts the narrow-minded Pharisees.
A major part of the story tells of the blind man’s healing through various stages beginning with his physical cure and then his growth to full spiritual vision. He simply describes his healer as “a man called Jesus.” Next, he recognises Jesus as “a man from God” and a “prophet.” Finally, he gains fullness of insight and worships Jesus as “Lord.” This gradual awakening to the true identity of Jesus is the path of Christian faith. It is the path of Christian discipleship.
At the heart of Christian faith is the belief that Jesus reveals the fullness of God. The question we need to ask is why God has chosen us to be Christian when there are millions of others, often better people than us, who do not receive this revelation? There is something of an answer to this in the first reading from the Book of Samuel. When it is time to choose a king for the people, Samuel suggests one or other of Jesse’s older sons. The Lord replies that “God does not see as man sees” and chooses David, Jesse’s youngest, a poor shepherd boy nobody thinks has much talent, to be king.
Our challenge is to learn to see as God sees or, in Christian understanding, to see through the eyes of Jesus. For most of us, this is a life-long process of gradual awakening. May we, like the blind man in the Gospel story, learn that Jesus is truly ‘Lord’ and ‘God’ who invites us to be his disciples through celebration of the Eucharist and sacraments, by serving Christ in the poor and in loving our neighbour. May our eyes be opened to experience the divine presence in our lives and throughout all God’s creation.
Choir practice - Sacred Heart Church - 6pm - Thursday this week.
~ APRIL ~ 03 Rosary & Prayers
04 First Reconciliation Retreat Day
04 First Reconciliation - Sacred Heart
05 St Joseph’s Primary Holy Week Liturgy
12.10pm OLPS, Sth M’bah 05 II Rite of Reconciliation & First Reconciliation - St Anthony’s, Kingscliff 06 Mt St Patrick Primary - Stations of the Cross - 9.30am Sacred Heart Church 07 10am Mass - M’bah Nursing Home 07 Adoration & Reconciliation 7pm-8pm
09 PALM SUNDAY - YEAR A 7.45am Commemoration Jesus’ Entrance into Jerusalem - Sacred Park with the Anglican Community - procession to Sacred Heart Church for 8.00am Mass 10am Mass - OLPS, Sth M’bah Baptisms 10 Chrism Mass
11 Baptism Preparation Meeting THE SACRED PASCHAL TRIDUUM 13 Holy Thursday 14 Good Friday 9.30am Practice for Good Friday Gospel readers 15 Holy Saturday 10am - Practice for Easter Vigil readers 16 Easter Sunday
Lent led by Legion of Mary (following 12.15pm Mass)
ADORATION &
RECONCILIATION will be held on Friday evenings
during Lent 7.00pm - 8.00pm
in the Sacred Heart Church
Friday: 31 March, 7 April
EASTER LITURGY ROSTERS The liturgy roster for Palm Sunday (Gospel readers) and the Easter ceremonies will be prepared this week.
Readers for the Gospel on Palm Sunday morning. People for all ministries for the Easter ceremonies.
Please add your name to the Roster sheet, if you would like to volunteer for any ministry.
PLEASE NOTE: Practice for Readers -
Palm Sunday Gospel readers -10am Saturday 8th April
Good Friday Gospel readers - 9.30am Friday 14th April
Easter Vigil & Sunday readers - 10am Saturday 15th April
The BEGINNING EXPERIENCE: A personal encounter weekend
for those grieving the loss of a spouse/partner through separation,
divorce or death will be held 5-7th October 2017 at “Arabella
Garden Inn Motel” in Wollongbar. For further details call Judy 6624
1549 or visit our website: www.belismore.org.au
Applications close on 15th April 2017.
The Bishop’s LENTEN TALKS The Bishop’s series of Lenten talks is available for viewing on the Lismore Diocese website. The talks is being streamed now and subsequent
Tuesday talks will be streamed in sequence. This is a great opportunity for parishioners to be able to listen to our Bishop’s Lenten reflections.
CHOCOLATE PASCHAL LAMBS Something special for Easter!
White and Milk Chocolate Paschal Lambs (Cadbury chocolate) - $8.00 each.
To order, phone Philomena Zambelli 6672 4635. By purchasing one of these little lambs, you are supporting the Michaelite Mission Priests in Papua New Guinea.
INVEST WITH PEACE OF MIND www.dif.org.au Phone 1800 802 516 Paying 2.15%
Agents: Egan Simpson Solicitors: 15 Prince Street, Murwillumbah.
FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT - Yr A
RESPONSORIAL PSALM: (Ps ) R: The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I
shall want. GOSPEL ACCLAMATION:
Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus Praise and honour, Lord Jesus Christ. I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life. Praise and honour to you, Lord Jesus Praise and honour, Lord Jesus Christ.
With limited support in Vietnam for the education and social inclusion of children with disabilities, young Nguyet lived an isolated life. Then, through a neighbour, her family became involved with a Caritas-Australia supported program offering her education, creative outlets and community interaction, and strengthening her parents’ skills and support networks. Now Nguyet’s mother has great hope for her future.
Please donate to Project Compassion 2017 and give children living with disabilities in Vietnam the opportunity for education and inclusion in their community.
You can donate through Parish boxes and envelopes,
by visiting www.caritas.org.au/projectcompassion or phoning 1800 024 413.
Fourth Sunday of Lent
HOLY WEEK CEREMONIES PASSION SUNDAY - 9 April
Saturday Vigil: 6.00pm - Sacred Heart Church
commencing with the blessing of palms.
Passion Sunday: 7.45am - Blessing of Palms in
Sacred Park with the Anglican Community, then procession to Sacred Heart Church