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Author Archives: Deirdre Fleming


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1st Sunday of Lent, Year B | Spiritual self-discipline

Noah Flood Joseph_Anton_Koch_006

Landscape with Noah’s Thank Offering, Joseph Anton Koch, ca. 1803, oil on canvas, Pinakoteck, Munich.

While all the confused western world watches and reads Fifty Shades of Grey, which elevates the degrading practices of bondage-discipline-sado-masochism, the church instead invites us to impose our own spiritual self-discipline during the six weeks of Lent: more prayer, more repentance, more fasting, more charity and almsgiving, all to be done with joy and without drawing attention to oneself.  Today’s gospel describes how Jesus prepares himself for his public ministry by 40 days of fasting in the wilderness.  Download today’s readings here:

Word format: Year B Lent 1st Sunday

Pdf format: Year B Lent 1st Sunday

What does all this have to do with the picture of Noah shown above?  Listen to Fr Barron’s homily here:

Click-here-to-listen

 

… and for a Scripture Study on these readings, go to Dr Michael Barber’s commentary here.

By the way, if you want an entertaining read about where the craze for Fifty Shades of Grey comes from, you can’t do better than Fr Dwight Longenecker’s Why Sado-Masochism is going to be huge and his excerpt from The Gargoyle Code, Pipteazle on Porn for Gals.  Seriously though, it’s scary that so many people are taking the wide and easy road to a place that ends in spiritual death.  Please pray for them.  By the way, no, I haven’t read it – the Wikipedia entry was enough for me to get a general idea.


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6th Sunday in Ordinary Time | The leprosy left him and he was cured

Ilyās Bāsim Khūrī Bazzī Rāhib, Jesus Cleanses a Leper, Arabic Gospels, 1684, Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, Maryland, Manuscript W.592, fol. 89b.

Ilyās Bāsim Khūrī Bazzī Rāhib, Jesus Cleanses a Leper, Arabic Gospels, 1684, Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, Maryland, Manuscript W.592, fol. 89b.

How interesting it is that at the same time that Stephen Fry’s YouTube video on God is going viral, our Gospel Readings are all about the healing miracles of Jesus.  This Sunday’s readings can be downloaded here:

Word format: Year B 6th Sunday

Pdf format: Year B 6th Sunday

We can respond to Fry’s comments on suffering in a variety of ways.  Two of these are:

1.  Suffering can be redemptive (if you are willing to offer it in this way).  Many Saints offered their suffering united with the cross of Christ: think of Therese of Lisieux, Gemma Galgani, Maria Goretti, Chiara Badano … the list is very long.

2. Suffering can be healed.  Jesus provides ample evidence of his ability to perform miracles through our faith-filled prayer.  Two huge volumes by Craig Keener give numerous examples of well-attested miracles, for those who want to take a scholarly, historiographical approach.  And then there are websites like this giving public testimony of Jesus’ miracles, intended for a more general audience.

But if you just want to reflect on today’s Scriptures, I would recommend this Scripture Study by Dr John Bergsma, and this homily by Fr Robert Barron.

Click-here-to-listen

Apologies for the irregularity of my posts lately.  I have been in South Africa and when I returned, my internet connection was down as a result of lightning strikes!

 


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4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B | He taught them with authority and power

Jesus casts out an Unclean Spirit, illuminated manuscript, folio 166R, Tres Riches Heures du Duc du Berry, Limbourg Brothers, 1412-1416, Musee Condee, Chantilly, France.

Jesus casts out an Unclean Spirit, illuminated manuscript, folio 166R, Tres Riches Heures du Duc du Berry, Limbourg Brothers, 1412-1416, Musee Condee, Chantilly, France.

Apologies for not posting last week.  I am in South Africa visiting my mother who has been ill.  Your prayers for her would be greatly appreciated.

One of my friends recently told me it was her opinion that the Bible was ‘man-made’ and not inspired by God.  One of the many counter-arguments to this is the numerous fulfilments of Old Testament prophecy in the person of Christ.  In this week’s readings, Jesus reveals himself as the prophet foretold in Deuteronomy 18 (First Reading).  The Gospel describes the astonishment of the people in the Synagogue as Jesus supports his authoritative teaching by carrying out an exorcism.

The people were so astonished that they started asking each other what it all meant. ‘Here is a teaching that is new’ they said ‘and with authority behind it: he gives orders even to unclean spirits and they obey him.’ And his reputation rapidly spread everywhere, through all the surrounding Galilean countryside.

Jesus didn’t just talk, his miraculous acts provided the evidence that here indeed was someone possessing supernatural power.

Word Format: Year B 4th Sunday

Pdf Format: Year B 4th Sunday

For a Scripture Study on this week’s readings, read Dr John Bergsma’s article here.

And to listen to Fr Robert Barron’s homily, click here.


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2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B | Are you listening for God’s call?

Eli and Samuel, John Singleton Copley (1780), Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford, Connecticut.

Eli and Samuel, John Singleton Copley (1780), Wadsworth Atheneum, Hartford, Connecticut.

Today in our readings we have the story of the call of Samuel.  To appreciate the story fully, read the whole of 1 Samuel, Chapter 2 and 3.  The priest, Eli, has not fulfilled his responsibility as a priest in teaching his sons to respect God, and God raises up Samuel to prophesy against him.  God will allow Eli to be chastened by his enemies.  In his homily for today, Fr Robert Barron relates this story to our own times: many priests and bishops have not fulfilled their responsibilities in caring for their flock, and so the Church in many ways is being chastened by its enemies (largely the secular media and secular society in general), in order to cleanse and purify us.

We can see this also in the wider world in the events of the past two weeks.  Aggressive secularism (typified by the blasphemous magazine, Charlie Hebdo) does not teach people to respect God, and so God allows them to be chastised by their enemies, aggressive Islamic fundamentalists.

Listen in full here: Click-here-to-listen

Download today’s Mass readings for Australia:

Word format: Year B 2nd Sunday

Pdf format: Year B 2nd Sunday

For a further Scripture Study of today’s readings by Dr John Bergsma, on the personal nature of God’s call, go here.

 


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The Baptism of the Lord | Did Jesus need Baptism?

The Baptism of Jesus, fresco, Orthodox Church of St John the Baptist, Bethany-beyond-the-Jordan, Jordan.

The Baptism of Jesus, fresco, Orthodox Church of St John the Baptist, Bethany-beyond-the-Jordan, Jordan.

Why on earth does Jesus, the sinless God-made-flesh, need to be baptised?

For the background on this, first download this Sunday’s readings:

Word format: Year B Baptism of the Lord

Pdf format: Year B Baptism of the Lord

Some answers:

  1. The humility of God expresses itself through His immersion into the human condition so that he can lift people out of their slavery to sin. (listen to Fr Robert Barron’s homily here);
  2. This is the first great theophany of The Trinity (see Fr Steve Grunow’s comments here);
  3. Just like David and Solomon before him, Jesus is being anointed for his kingly mission (see John Bergsma’s comments here).

 


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The Feast of the Epiphany | God reveals himself to the truth-seeking heart

Adoration of the Magi, Domenico Ghirlandaio, 1485-1488, Tempera on Panel, Ospedale degli Innocenti, Florence.

Adoration of the Magi, Domenico Ghirlandaio, 1485-1488, Tempera on Panel, Ospedale degli Innocenti, Florence.

Today’s readings are rich with meaning, and we have some snippets to help you reflect on what God has revealed about himself.  First, the Mass Readings for today:

Word format: Epiphany

Pdf format: Epiphany

The Epiphany is all about God’s revelation to the world.  But how does God reveal himself to you personally?  Fr Barron talks here about Oprah-style ‘spirituality’ versus God’s particular revelation of himself in Christ.

Click-here-to-listen

 

Want to do some quiet adoration?  Let God speak to your heart through the music and art in this video.

Finally, Fr John Speekman has some great insights on God’s plan here.

Here is a small distillation of his thought, but you need to read the whole article to get the explanation.

And so, from the Epiphany event we learn a few truths:

  • The Father is presenting the world with his only Son, born of the Virgin. He is indeed ‘King of the Jews’, as the wise men call him, but only when he is ‘exalted’ on the Cross will the title take on its most accurate meaning.
  • The Father has a plan to make his Son known to the world. It is a sovereign plan; which, despite all resistance, will be fulfilled. Herod may plot but God’s purpose will be accomplished– the wise men will simply return ‘by a different way’.
  • God sees the heart. The presence of God’s Son on earth will reveal what lies in the hearts of men. The Magi who travel to seek the divine child travel in a line as straight as their hearts; while Herod shows himself to be evil. He is the precursor of all those throughout history who will oppose Jesus in one way or another, trying to expunge him from the earth.
  • God has come for all men. The Magi were pagans, perhaps even astrologers, and were invited to find and worship the Lord of the Universe. He was revealed to them and before him they fell to their knees and ‘did him homage’.

 


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A Blessed Christmas to you | Today is born our Saviour, Christ the Lord!

No. 17, Scenes from the Life of Christ - Nativity: Birth of Jesus Giotto di Bondone (1304-1306), Scrovegni Chapel, Padua, Veneto, Italy.

No. 17, Scenes from the Life of Christ – Nativity: Birth of Jesus
Giotto di Bondone (1304-1306), Scrovegni Chapel, Padua, Veneto, Italy.

A very happy and holy Christmas to all our parishioners and other followers!  Readings for the Vigil and the Mass of Christmas Day can be dowloaded here:

Word format:Christmas

Pdf format:Christmas

 

 


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Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year B | His reign will have no end

The Annunciation with St Dominic, Fra Angelico (1395 – 1455), Cell No. 3, Fresco Cycle in the Dominican Convent of San Marco, Florence.

The Annunciation with St Dominic, Fra Angelico (1395 – 1455), Cell No. 3, Fresco Cycle in the Dominican Convent of San Marco, Florence.

In the Gospel reading for this Sunday, the angel says, “He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end.”

How is Jesus the fulfilment of Old Testament expectations?  Fr Robert Barron talks about kingship from Adam to Jesus in his homily here:

Click-here-to-listen

 

Download the readings here:

Word format:Year B Advent 4th Sunday

Pdf format: Year B Advent 4th Sunday

For a scripture study on these readings, see John Kincaid’s commentary at The Sacred Page.

And if you are fascinated by the idea of angels bringing messages from God, watch Professor of Philosophy, Peter Kreeft, discussing angels (and demons) here:


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Christmas Mass Times

Nativity of Christ, Domenico Ghirlandaio, c. 1492, tempera on panel, Pinacoteca, Volterra, Italy.

Nativity of Christ, Domenico Ghirlandaio, c. 1492, tempera on panel, Pinacoteca, Volterra, Italy.

If you are new to our Pastoral Area, Christmas Mass times are as follows:

6 p.m. Christmas Eve, 24 December: Vigil, St James Church, 2 Lagoon Drive, Yanchep.

8 a.m. Christmas Day, 25 December: Guilderton Community Hall,  Wedge Street, Guilderton

10 a.m. Christmas Day, 25 December:  33 Gingin Road, Lancelin.

Confessions: before Mass on request


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3rd Sunday of Advent, Year B | Make a straight way for the Lord

Baptism of Christ, altarpiece, triptych, oil on wood, Gerard David, ca 1507, Groeningemuseum, Bruges, Belgium.

Baptism of Christ, altarpiece, triptych, oil on wood, Gerard David, ca 1507, Groeningemuseum, Bruges, Belgium.

Apologies for not posting last week: Saturday was spent preparing Christmas Cards!  The readings for this weekend can be downloaded here:

Word format: Year B Advent 3rd Sunday

Pdf format: Year B Advent 3rd Sunday

Need some inspiration for Advent?  Listen here: Click-here-to-listen

 

And what exactly is the Good News or εὐαγγέλιον (Greek: euangélion)?  Jesus is not just a ‘wise teacher’ or a guru.  Find out more here …