Season of Epiphany
Priests Sunday
Sunday’s Readings: 1 Timothy 4: 6-16 & Luke 12: 42-48
The wise and trustworthy steward “ The Lord replied 'Who then is the wise and trustworthy steward whom the master will place over his household to give them at the proper time their allowance of food? Blessed that servant if his master's arrival finds him doing exactly that. I tell you truly he will put him in charge of everything that he owns.
But if the servant says to himself "My master is taking his time coming " and
sets about beating the menservants and the servant-girls and eating and drinking and getting drunk his master will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not know. The master will cut him off and send him to the same fate as the unfaithful.
'The servant who knows what his master wants but has got nothing ready and done nothing in accord with those wishes will be given a great many strokes of the lash. The one who did not know but has acted in such a way that he deserves a beating will be given fewer strokes. When someone is given a great deal a great deal will be demanded of that person; when someone is entrusted with a great deal of that person even more will be expected.” Luke 12: 42-4
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Reflection of the Week
The life of a servant
The journey to Jerusalem provides a training site for Christ and the apostles. Their conversations unfold like the story of our lives. All passages in life - from birth to death and the things that lie between, be they school, university, work, marriage, religious vocation, suffering, grief and all the other circumstances of life - require faithfulness to the goal and watchfulness along the way. We need to concentrate on living the life of a servant rather than being concerned with the timing of the final revelation of Jesus. As disciples we will be judged on our service to others. If we follow Jesus in a life of service, we will enjoy the intimacy of the Messianic Banquet with Jesus and experience Jesus Himself ministering to our needs. It is something offered to everyone who follows Jesus faithfully.
The Challenge
Priests have accepted the challenge of carrying the cross of Christ. The way of Jesus involves suffering, and priests who help lead the people of God on the road to salvation, are not exempt from this truth. Part of the priestly life is helping others to bear their burdens and to bring them closer to Christ. It is important that we provide our priests with help and support. They are human beings with the frailty of our nature. We tend to sometimes view our priests as "super" humans who do not have the same needs as our-selves and so become very demanding of them. Today, may we show our appreciation for priests every-where who are almost always avail-able and approachable to help us in many ways. May we show our care, thanks and encouragement for all priests and especially the monks who have served and continue to serve in St. Charbel's Parish, by remembering them in our prayers. May God bless them with the graces necessary to persevere in their vocation, especially in times of hardship, so that they may live out their lifetime dedicated to life in Christ.
A Life Of Witness
How important is our role as witnesses to our faith?
All of us need other people to bring us to Christ. Others will not come to know Jesus by us merely speaking about who Jesus is, but more so through our actions. There is a saying, which states, "Actions speak louder than words." Faith is a gift from God and even if we have had the gift of Baptism into the Christian family, if our faith is to grow it also involves a helping hand from others. As witnesses to Jesus, we can become the link between Jesus and the people who come to believe in him. People don't come to know about Jesus in a vacuum but rather through their contact with Christians like us. Part of our role as believers is to give Jesus a face and a voice and a presence in our world. We need to ask ourselves the question: "What is it about me that would make someone interested in the faith that I profess?" Parish and church communities also need to ask themselves" "What is it about me that would make someone interested in the faith that I profess?" Parish and church communities also need to ask themselves" "What is it about us as a parish or community that would attract people to us?"
Priests’ Sunday
Through Baptism, we all share in the priestly mission of Jesus, but there are those who have a special ministry in the Church. The ordained priest assists lay people to be more spiritual in their lives. Through ordination, the priest receives the authority to serve the people of God. The priest is not another Christ or a mediator between God and man. Like everyone else he is part of the Mystical Body of Christ.
Today we pray for all priests, both living and deceased, who have given their lives in the service of the people of God.
Through Baptism, we all share in the priestly mission of Jesus, but there are those who have a special ministry in the Church. The ordained priest assists lay people to be more spiritual in their lives. Through ordination, the priest receives the authority to serve the people of God. The priest is not another Christ or a mediator between God and man. Like everyone else he is part of the Mystical Body of Christ.
Today we pray for all priests, both living and deceased, who have given their lives in the service of the people of God.
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SAINTS OF THE WEEK
Saint John Bosco (+1888)
Maronite Feast Day: January 31
Maronite Feast Day: January 31
Saint John Bosco (born Giovanni Melchiorre Bosco، known in English as Don Bosco; August 16،
1815 – January 31،1888)، was an Italian Catholic priest، and recognized educator who put into practice the dogma of his religion employing teaching methods based on love rather than punishment. He placed his works under the protection of Francis de Sales; thus his followers styled themselves the Salesian Society. He is the only Saint with the title "Father and Teacher of Youth."
St John Bosco succeeded in establishing a network of centres to carry on his work. In recognition of his work with disadvantaged youth he was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1934. One of his students، Dominic Savio، was subsequently also canonized becoming the youngest non-martyr to be named a saint.
1815 – January 31،1888)، was an Italian Catholic priest، and recognized educator who put into practice the dogma of his religion employing teaching methods based on love rather than punishment. He placed his works under the protection of Francis de Sales; thus his followers styled themselves the Salesian Society. He is the only Saint with the title "Father and Teacher of Youth."
St John Bosco succeeded in establishing a network of centres to carry on his work. In recognition of his work with disadvantaged youth he was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1934. One of his students، Dominic Savio، was subsequently also canonized becoming the youngest non-martyr to be named a saint.
Saint Simeon the Elder and
Anna the Prophetess
Maronite Feast Day: Feb 3
Simeon the Righteous (also Simeon the Elder Simeon Senex، Simeon the God-Receiver، or Holy Simeon) is the "just and devout" man of Jerusalem who according to Luke 2:25-35، met the Virgin Mary، Joseph، and Jesus as they entered the Temple to fulfil the re-quirements of the Law of Moses on the fortieth day from Jesus' birth. On taking Jesus into his arms he uttered the prayer Nuncdimittis which is still used liturgically in many Christian churches، and gave a prophecy alluding to the crucifixion. St. Anna the prophetess، the daughter of Phanuel، also came to see the child،
recognising Him as the Messiah and making Him known to the people. St. Anna was then 84 years old.
Anna the Prophetess
Maronite Feast Day: Feb 3
Simeon the Righteous (also Simeon the Elder Simeon Senex، Simeon the God-Receiver، or Holy Simeon) is the "just and devout" man of Jerusalem who according to Luke 2:25-35، met the Virgin Mary، Joseph، and Jesus as they entered the Temple to fulfil the re-quirements of the Law of Moses on the fortieth day from Jesus' birth. On taking Jesus into his arms he uttered the prayer Nuncdimittis which is still used liturgically in many Christian churches، and gave a prophecy alluding to the crucifixion. St. Anna the prophetess، the daughter of Phanuel، also came to see the child،
recognising Him as the Messiah and making Him known to the people. St. Anna was then 84 years old.
Saint Gilbert (+1190)
Maronite Feast Day: February 4
Saint Gilbert of Sempringham (about 1083—February 4، 1190) became the only Englishman to found a convent. He was born at Sempringham in Lincolnshire، the son of Jocelin، an Anglo-Norman lord of the manor، who bucked the usual trend of the day and actively prevented his son from becoming a knight، instead packing him off to the University of Paris to study theology.
He was imprisoned in 1165 on a charge of aiding St. Thomas of Canterbury when Thomas had fled from King Henry II after the council of Northampton، but was eventually found innocent. Then when he was 90 some of his lay brothers revolted، but he received the backing of Pope Alexander III. Gilbert resigned his of-fice late in life because of blindness and died at Sempringham in about 1190، at the age of 106.
Maronite Feast Day: February 4
Saint Gilbert of Sempringham (about 1083—February 4، 1190) became the only Englishman to found a convent. He was born at Sempringham in Lincolnshire، the son of Jocelin، an Anglo-Norman lord of the manor، who bucked the usual trend of the day and actively prevented his son from becoming a knight، instead packing him off to the University of Paris to study theology.
He was imprisoned in 1165 on a charge of aiding St. Thomas of Canterbury when Thomas had fled from King Henry II after the council of Northampton، but was eventually found innocent. Then when he was 90 some of his lay brothers revolted، but he received the backing of Pope Alexander III. Gilbert resigned his of-fice late in life because of blindness and died at Sempringham in about 1190، at the age of 106.
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Link:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Charbels-Maronite-Catholic-Church-Sydney/365277440154672
Link:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Charbels-Maronite-Catholic-Church-Sydney/365277440154672
