Morena,/ Good morning,
There are some important lessons and advice through our readings this weekend. It is easy to be seduced by power and prestige and believe that we are very important. More often than not we can be lured by the temptation to look good and have an air of importance when others are around. We can use our dress as a way of celebrating our importance and create a way of separating ourselves from others.
Jesus never does this and reminds us of the importance of humility. Not a false sense of poor me or looking for attention through acts of putting on sad faces or a front. Rather, it is being genuine, accepting ourselves with our limitations and then, allowing for this in others. No one is perfect! It is through our mercy and compassion that we seek and share opportunities to raise people up, showing generosity and welcoming others. To celebrate the gifts of people and like Jesus see that every encounter is an opportunity to see our ‘Creator God’, in action through mercy and compassion; releasing people and demonstrating that the greatest power at work, is love.
“If you have men who will exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men.”
― St. Francis of Assisi
Have a good week – God go with you,
Paul
Scripture Reflection: Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, 31 August 2025. ‘Learn from me’
God of might, giver of every good gift, put into our hearts the love of your name, so that, by deepening our sense of reverence, you may nurture in us what is good and, by your watchful care, keep safe what you have nurtured.
LECTIONARY READINGS
First reading: Ecclesiasticus 3:17-20, 28-29
Responsorial psalm: Ps 67(68):4-7, 10-11
Second reading: Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24
Gospel: Luke 14:1, 7-14
Link to reading – click here
The themes of today’s readings are humility, generosity, and respect and care for all. In the First Reading Sirach advises us to be thoughtful and attentive to others. We are to be modest, not seeking praise or approval for our action: everything good is a gift from God, and to be shared with others. The Psalm is a song of thanksgiving and hope, calling us to rejoice and trust in God’s care. Everyone is valuable in God’s eyes. This care for the suffering and oppressed points to Jesus, who came to serve the poor.
Jesus uses the setting of eating together at a feast to teach us the values of the Kingdom of God (Gospel). We are to put others before ourselves, showing kindness and compassion to everyone, especially those who cannot repay us. By following Jesus’ own values of selfless giving and humility, we radiate God’s love to others. We will be rewarded at the resurrection with our own place at the heavenly banquet. The Second Reading presents Jesus as the mediator of the new covenant. Each of us can rejoice, celebrating our identity in God’s family, where everyone has the same rights as a firstborn child.
As Pilgrims of Hope in this Jubilee Year, we pray to be attentive and kind towards everyone we encounter this week. We think especially of those on the margins of society, and in areas of violence and war.
National Passionist Family Meeting in Melbourne – August 22-24, 2025: Last weekend I was in Melbourne for the National Passionist Family Group bi annual meeting. Below is a photo showing the participants. I was the sole representative for New Zealand as we have no regional coordinators but key people who continue to support and assist where possible. The theme of the weekend was on ‘Nourishing’. A very appropriate theme and one that we will take up thought ‘formation’ in 2026 .
Paul Casey a psychologist and Regional Coordinator of PFG’s in regional NSW, presented a wonderful session on nourishing and this is a gist of what he covered.:
Nurturing in the widest sense can be considered our efforts to aid and support the growth of all living things. The meaning of life is, in part, about nurturing. Looking at it only in the context of human relationships, nurturing involves a special relationship, for example, such as exists between a parent and child or a teacher and student, where an often older, more life experienced person, provides various forms of care (I stress care) so that the one in their charge is helped develop physically, emotionally, socially, morally, spiritually, and intellectually. Nurturing both sustains and offers opportunities for growth.
As I present it here, we have a responsibility/dependency relationship, perhaps pictured as a vertical relationship, between (i) someone who has the requisite life knowledge, skills, and emotional maturity to be able to, as I said, both sustain and offer opportunities for growth and (ii) the growing person.
Please see the attachment Paul Casey sent me on ‘The Distance between two people is always only a story’
Formation: As stated in previous newsletter: “as part of this Jubilee Year- Paul will be offering to visit parishes and or regions to conduct a mini formation using two talks and discussion/sharing opportunities – one on ‘Belonging’ and the “On Being Church – Why community matters?”. If you or your community or region would like a presentation please let Paul know and dates that would suit you”. The sessions thus far have been very well received.
New Plymouth Sept 13; East Coast Bays September 23; Mt Maunganui Oct 10 and Whakatane October 11; Still to confirm – Palmerston North; St Hellier’s and Howick-possibly early November.
Safeguarding: “Working Together for a Safe Church”
Any complaints should be directed through the National Office of Professional Standards (NOPS) or report directly to the New Zealand Police or Oranga Tamariki.
Phone: 03 365 1993 or 0800 114 622
Email: prof.standards@nzcbc.org.nz
www.safeguarding.catholic.org.nz
Reminder: 5 Aims and Goals
- share & celebrate life & faith
- support one another (especially in need)
- reaching out to & include others
- build community/extended family
- show and give example to children
Please remember in your thoughts and prayer:
- Please remember Barry Straight brother of Murray who died last week and will be buried this coming Monday. We remember his wife Viv and all the family and extended family.
- Please remember Jocelyn Bryant, Kev and family in your prayer.
- Remember Rencha who is dealing with cancer.
- Pease keep Di Buckley in your prayer
- Pat Smith RIP and keep in prayer Maureen and family; Remember Pat Carson; Graeme Matthews; Adrian van de Pas and her son Robert ; Graeme and Margaret Armstrong
- Please remember Tim Bartells & family, Linda Darbyshire and family in your prayer, Christine Geoghegan’s daughter Kate and extended families, Pauline Prendergast, Robyn Burns (Hill) Sean and Ann Mulcahy, Dot and Neill Wilson (Invercargill) Paul Davenport, Clair and Ray Hague; Terry Nelson’s family;. Brian and Eleanor McFlynn ; Bryan Davidson; Richard and Sue Gibbs; Martin and Sally van der Wetering; Phil and Anne Drew .
- Keep in mind all those who are struggling with various aspects of mental health;
- Keep people in Gaza and Israel in your prayer along with the people of the people of Ukraine: Keep in prayer the people of Sudan and Syria.
- Pray for peace and sensible and just decisions by leaders across the planet.
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- Your own intentions
Humour:
- Why shouldn’t you tell secrets in a cornfield? There are too many ears around.
- What kind of underpants do lawyers wear? Briefs.
- What do you call it when a cow grows facial hair? A moo-stache.
- Did you hear about the two rowboats that got into an argument? It was an oar-deal.
- Did you hear about the cleaners who went to space? They ended up scrubbing the mission.
- What did the beach say when the tide came in? Long time no sea.
- Why do turkeys play percussion? They have drumsticks.
- I adopted a dog from a blacksmith. As soon as I brought him home, he made a bolt for the door.