Noah’s Ark Now!
While the Movie Noah does depart quite alot from Bible Story in the Book of Genisis we can say that it carries some part of the Sacred message for us today. Firstly how the Animals are led to come to the Ark to be saved from the flood is very powerfully depicted and how the Ark saves Noah and his family.
The Spiritual Ark now that will save us is Jesus’ Cross that carries us into the new life of the Resurrection. Coming to Church today, this Hosanna (Palm) Sunday, and please God nearly every day this Passion (Holy) Week and participating in the Holy Liturgies we say we want to journey with Jesus as his People taking our place on the Ark His Cross that saves us and leads us to new life.
We were signed at the beginning of Lent on AshMonday with the sign of the Cross proclaiming with out the power of the Cross we would only die and be dust and ash only. However if we live the way of the Cross in Faith Hope and Love we Rise to Live.
Here at our Parish and the Mass Centres we will experience big crowds and maybe delays and no where to sit and maybe we can be frustrated. But let’s remember although there is some physical discomfort or shortage of parking or space, God’s Love in Jesus and the power of his Cross always has plenty of room for us. Often it is more our hearts that are over-crowded with pride, anger, jealousy and stress or selfishness and judgemental thoughts. When our hearts are full of Love and our minds thoughts of Faith then we can see there is spiritual room for everyone who is willing to board the Ark of Jesus’ Cross.
Please God what we have given up and taken up for Lent including a deep Confession for healing and forgiveness may lead us now truly step on board the Ark of the Cross. If we have drifted a little it is still not too late to step aboard with Jesus. May, Mary who we call the Star of the Sea our Heavenly Mother inspire us by her example and Prayers in stepping and staying aboard the new Ark.
Monsignor Shora Maree
God’s will be done this Holy Week
Last weekend 80 youth and Adults over 28 including three Mum’s and one Dad attended our Lent Retreat Weekend at the beautiful and newly built Benedict XV1 Catholic Retreat Centre at Grose Vale near Richmond.
Sr Margaret as per usual put in her extensive preparation on the Sessions and gave us all plenty to reflect over the Six Sessions over the weekend. These Sessions covered the central theme of God’s will be done focusing on Jesus’ words in the ‘Our Father’, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven,” our how we are called to say Yes daily Yes to God like Jesus to the Father and like Mary and being ready when suffering and the Cross comes to us to accept it.
I was especially touched by the faith sharing of many of the youth from the discussion groups, there getting on so well, and by one of the Gospel Songs Sr Margaret played during the opening Evening Prayer Session called “While you were sleeping” by Casting Crowns. The message of the Song is very appropriate for all of us now as we draw near to Passion Holy Week and the Resurrection. Here are some of the words to reflect on over your week.
“Oh Bethlehem, what you have missed while you were sleeping
For God became a man and stepped into your world today.
Oh Bethlehem, you will go down in history
as a city with no room for its King. While you were sleeping,
While you were sleeping
Oh little town of Jerusalem, looks like another silent night
The Father gave His only Son, The Way, the Truth, the Life had come
But there was no room for Him in the world He came to save
Jerusalem, what you have missed while you were sleeping
The Savior of the world is dying on your cross today
Jerusalem, you will go down in history as a city with no room for its King
While you were sleeping. While you were sleeping.”
The question is will WE be spiritually sleeping in Holy Week when we commemorate the Saviour of the World died for us. Let’s take our Holy Week Program and plan to prayerfully participate so as not to go down in history as a heart with no room for its King.
Monsignor Shora Maree
Encouraging our Children to speak with Confidence In Christ
Dear Parishioners,
Last years 2013 Dux of Our Lady of Lebanon College (now renamed Maronite College of the Holy Family) George Chamoun, also an active parishioner with his family began his acceptance speech in front of the College Community and his Family with the following words.
He began by saying:
“St Paul said “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13.
Good morning Monsignor Shora, Fr Tony, Sr Margaret, Sr Irene, Sr Marlene, Sisters, Teachers, Staff, Parents and Students.
I must start by saying that it is a great honour to be called Dux of Our Lady of Lebanon College for 2013, and in fact the last Dux under the old school name. I am privileged to count myself amongst the prestigious list of 22 Duxes before me.
The journey to this position was long with many obstacles, and I could not have done it on my own. The first person I owe my achievements, my success, my family, my friends and my life to, is Jesus Christ who lived as the ultimate role model and who died to give us eternal life.”
I felt so proud as a College Chaplain and Priest to hear such strong words of faith from a young man, words that were a powerful witness to all the young Students before him. I can imagine how proud his family, the Sisters and the Teachers would have been also.
Our Journey and Chase for the Day of the Resurrection in this Season of Great Lent is to live daily trusting and dependent on Christ Jesus in all that we are and do to be able to experience his divine power in our lives in all that we face.
Thank God as well as young George there are so many others in our Parish I am so proud of in the way they are humbly and courageously living their faith trusting and growing closer to Our Lord and sharing in his mission in their parish and in their families and the wider Community.
In the way we are living our faith daily are we leading our Children to be able to speak as young George spoke confident in the presence of God with us in Christ who strengthens us and died to give us Eternal LIFE.
Monsignor Shora Maree
Click here to read more Shepherd Corner articles
