First Scripture Reading: 2 Thessalonians 3: 6-10, 16-18
We instruct you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to shun any brother who walks in a disorderly way and not according to the tradition they received from us. For you know how one must imitate us. For we did not act in a disorderly way among you, nor did we eat food received free from anyone. On the contrary, in toil and drudgery, night and day we worked, so as not to burden any of you. Not that we do not have the right. Rather, we wanted to present ourselves as a model for you, so that you might imitate us. In fact, when we were with you, we instructed you that if anyone was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat. May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. This greeting is in my own hand, Paul’s. This is the sign in every letter; this is how I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 23: 27-32
Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of filth. Even so, on the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing.
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the memorials of the righteous, and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’ Thus you bear witness against yourselves that you are the children of those who murdered the prophets; now fill up what your ancestors measured out!”
In light of today's Scripture readings, Fr. Bob's Prayer is:
Lord Jesus, you desire us to be pure, simple and faithful. Help us be people who spread your peace this day by the way we treat each person who comes into our lives. Help us to work hard for our reign, following the example of Paul, depending not on others, but expecting much from ourselves. When you look through us may we not be whitewashed tombs, who look beautiful on the outside but are dying within. Save us from our hypocrisy. Pour forth your Spirit of integrity. The tomb within us screams and haunts. Its emptiness grabs for more darkness. We pretend that we are not like our ancestors, even as we dutifully walk in their bloody footsteps. Continue to transform us from within, Gentle Jesus. Help us to look good where You see us - in the depths of our heart, spirit, attitude and mind. May we be as beautiful as You have made us, and not be whitewashed tombs of empty darkness and rotting bones of cynicism. Fill the vessel of our dysfunctional emptiness with the life of your Spirit. May we not be prisoners of our dark heritage, but rather enlivened and freed by the hopes and faith of our ancestors.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 25 August 2010 02:38
St Charbel Maklouf
Written by Kevin Lee
Wednesday, 21 July 2010 10:23
1828 - 1898Canonised a Saint by Pope Paul VI October 9, 1977
He was born May 8, 1828 in the little village of Biqa-Kafra which is situated in the high mountains of northern Lebanon. His parents were poor and he was the last of five children. He was baptised with the name of "Joseph".
He was raised in a very devout family which fostered piety and love for God. He was a prayerful youth who from his early years learned to detach himself from worldly vanities. He enjoyed his solitude which he used to pray and think about God.
When he was twenty-three years old he decided to leave home to discover his religious vocation as a monk and hermit. The Lebanese Maronite Order was founded in Lebanon in 1695 and approved by Pope Clement XII in 1732.
Last Updated on Wednesday, 28 July 2010 03:00
Good News Reflection
Written by Kevin Lee
Thursday, 08 July 2010 09:48
A businessman who needed millions of dollars to clinch an important deal went to church to pray for the money. By chance he knelt next to a man who was praying for $100 to pay an urgent debt. The businessman took out his wallet and pressed $100 into the other man’s hand. Overjoyed, the man got up and left the church. The businessman then closed his eyes and prayed, “And now, Lord, now that I have your undivided attention….”
This Sunday's Gospel records the event when our Lord first dictated to His disciples the template of all prayer: the one we know as "The Lord's Prayer" because He taught it to us. It is to be the pattern of all communal prayer. We pray as "us", as "we" and not "me" and "I". Jesus teaches us that our prayer should be moticated by a concern for the needs of others first.
Last Updated on Saturday, 24 July 2010 03:18
Joke of the Day
Written by Kevin Lee
Wednesday, 07 July 2010 08:07
There was a little baby boy and a little baby girl. Then the baby boy goes "I'm a boy, you are a girl!" Then the girl goes "How do you know?" Then the little boy goes "I'll show you when the nurse leaves." So about 10 minutes later, the nurse leaves. So the boy lifts up his gown and goes.........
"See I have Blue Booties, and you have Pink!
*********** A little old lady came home from shopping and found a robber in her kitchen. Scared and not knowing what to do, she raised her hand and quoted the Scripture "Acts 2:38." The robber froze in his tracks, so she called the police. When the policeman came, he saw this robber standing perfectly still and wondered what the lady had done. He asked her, and she replied, "I just quoted some Scripture." The policeman turned to the robber and said, "Why did that Scripture make you act this way?" The robber replied, "Scripture, what Scripture? I thought she said she had an axe and two 38s." *********** A woman said, "Father, that was a very good homily."
I said, "I have to give the credit to the Holy Spirit."
She said, "It wasn't THAT good!"
****
A man was sent to prison for 20 years. He was so bored while in there; he found an ant and decided to teach it tricks - like beg, play dead, roll over, jump hair etc. He served his time and was released. He took his ant with him in a matchbox. The first place he went was to a bar. He sat down, took out the matchbox and emptied out the ant. He then said to the guy beside him, "you are not gonna believe what this ant can do". He showed him all the tricks and the guy was impressed. He told him that he could make a fortune with the ant. The guy with the ant was excited and called the bartender over and said "Hey Barman take a look at this ant?"
The bartender put his finger on the ant, twisted it and said "Sorry sir it won't happen again."
*******
What are your best treasures?
Written by Kevin Lee
Thursday, 17 June 2010 11:53
I have a beautiful BMW motorcycle that I love. I sometimes sit in the garage with my dog Zipporah and admire that motorbike and all the great curves in its German design. Coincidentally, my dog is a German shepherd and tomorrow I am going to be celebrating Mass for the German sisters at Mt Schoenstatt (a name that means in German “beautiful place”. I started to think about how much these women have given up and their commitment to a life of poverty and this caused me to reflect on what I have and how attached I am to the things I have. I think part of the reason that I accumulate things is because we grew up with very little in terms of material possession. I am one of ten kids and as such had to realise life without much of the possessions that my class mates took for granted. We had no car, no colour TV, no bicycles, no pool... we never even went on holidays. I tell people we were so poor I didn’t get a birth-mark till I was six!
But the message of our Lord is to treasure what lasts and what is truly value-able. This is love, relationship and people in our lives, not things.
Fr Kevin
ope Paul VI October 9, 1977
I have a beautiful BMW motorcycle that I love. I sometimes sit in the garage with my dog Zipporah and admire that motorbike and all the great curves in its German design. Coincidentally, my dog is a German shepherd and tomorrow I am going to be celebrating Mass for the German sisters at Mt Schoenstatt (a name that means in German “beautiful place”. I started to think about how much these women have given up and their commitment to a life of poverty and this caused me to reflect on what I have and how attached I am to the things I have. I think part of the reason that I accumulate things is because we grew up with very little in terms of material possession. I am one of ten kids and as such had to realise life without much of the possessions that my class mates took for granted. We had no car, no colour TV, no bicycles, no pool... we never even went on holidays. I tell people we were so poor I didn’t get a birth-mark till I was six!
