TAKING THE FIRST STEP
BEING INVOLVED AND SUPPORTIVE, BEARING FRUIT AND REJOICING.
Dear Parishioners,
Continuing to reflect with you on Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium we move to the section headed as above par 25. Pope Francis in this section writes saying:
“An evangelizing community gets involved by word and deed in people’s daily lives; it bridges distances, it is willing to abase itself if necessary, and it embraces human life, touching the suffering flesh of Christ in others.”
And
“It celebrates every small victory, every step forward in the work of evangelization. Evangelization with joy becomes beauty in the liturgy, as part of our daily concern to spread goodness. The Church evangelizes and is herself evangelized through the beauty of the liturgy, which is both a celebration of the task of evangelization and the source of her renewed self-giving.”
As we Celebrate the Birth of John the Baptist which brought Joy to John’s family and neighbours let’s see what new and maybe first steps we can make in our families and parish so that all around can sense the Joy and truth of this wonderful and amazing Mystery and Season of Christmas.
We hear in the opening Hymn below the Joy when we let God work:
John, the newborn child, has come as a voice for God Most High.
O Judean hills, rejoice! Aaron’s daughter gave him birth.
Exult, for this news has spread throughout the Church, bringing hope and joy.
Well Done Divine Word Family
We are blessed so many in our Parishes have taken many steps to help us experience the Joy of the Gospel. I on behalf of the Parish say well done to the Divine Word Family who Evangelise with Joy all Year round on Tuesday nights and all their activities and with the help the afforded Community and Youth Centre with their Garage Sale that
made available wonderful faith items as well as other useful items and raised $10,000.
And to all, remember from last week: “God does not need us! But we are here!...because he Loves us and we need Him and each other!”
So as Pope Francis continues:
Whenever we take a step towards Jesus, we come to realize that he is already there, waiting for us with open arms. Now is the time to say to Jesus: “Lord, I have let myself be deceived; in a thousand ways I have shunned your love, yet here I am once more, to renew my covenant with you. I need you. Save me once again, Lord, take me once more into your redeeming embrace”.
