Time out: time to be recharged and renewed

Dear Parishioners,

Last week I took one week from my annual leave for a break travelling to visit Perth for the first time.
On my breaks I look forward to being re charged having time torest, to slow down, to spend quiet time with God, to see a new part of his creation and people, to read, to reflect on the 6 months passed and the 6 months ahead, to exercise and walk, and this trip to catch up with some brother priests. The sign in the photo captures a what a good break is about especially the Peace.
In visiting Perth I realised that as yet it is not as fast and big as

Sydney so people did not seem as rushed and stressed and had time to say hello as you passed by. I went down history lane visiting Freemantle the first Australian port many of our ancestors first touched base on in Australia on their way to Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.

I think the importance of a holiday and break is that you bring back not just some new energy that can fade once you return to the fast pace of our lives, but also renewal from good things you noticed and and values and purpose you re- learned from the place you visited and to commit to live these out days ahead in a better way with God and each other.

I had a chance to finish reading A. Lincoln, a 670 page biography (by Ronald C. White, Jr.) of President Abraham Lincoln, a man who lead his country through the most difficult time of the 5 year Civil War. The Book recounted the family background and life journey of this humble, self-educated lawyer, Congressman, President and family man who, lost two young sons, and served his Country according to his growing faith. The writer shows through Lincoln’s handwritten notes and speeches how he always deeply searched for God’s will and purpose in his situation and decisions.

In his last speech of 701 words, his second inaugural as President, Lincoln mentioned God 14 times, quoted the Bible 4 times and invoked prayer three times unprecedented by any president before or after him. He spoke of the suffering of the war as the penance necessary for the sin of slavery and he called all to forgiveness and reconciliation. It was the beginning of Lent. Six weeks after this speech, on Good Friday night, Lincoln was shot. It was Good Friday 14 April 1865 and died on Holy Saturday.

Homilies in the Churches on Easter Sunday all spoke of his sacrifice for his people modelling on Jesus. This was a powerful reminder to me of what Lent should mean for us, a spiritual Journey to Good Friday and Easter, a extra special time of reflecting on God, His Word, invoking prayer, recognizing, naming and confessing our sin, asking for forgiveness, doing penance, working for reconciliation and to be ready to sacrifice for others.